I woke up two hours late yesterday because I had silenced my phone for a meeting and forgot to unsilence it. Thankfully, it didn't make me miss work or anything, but the extra sleep didn't even leave me feeling refreshed. I feel cheated out of those two hours.

I also have an update on the cover art – just got shown the first draft on it. Hopefully it'll be done soon! I'll leave artist credits on first and next chapter after I post it.

To xfel, this chapter will give you a bit more insight on Ozpin's logic. You raised excellent points, and because of that, I decided to give a bit more of his reasoning.

To the anonymous Guest, I re-read the last chapter to see if I mentioned Lionheart by accident, but I found no trace of him. In any event, that's also clarified in this chapter.

Chapter Forty-Four: Silver Eyes

Ozpin's voice was hollow and soft, tickling the edges of Cardin's ears. Its gravity drew him and Ruby back into the room, and Ironwood shut the door behind them. "It was they that led mankind out of the darkness, banishing the Grimm with their powers and protecting the settlements in their infancy. Under their watch, mankind flourished, learning to harness Dust and drive back the Grimm themselves. Over time, they no longer needed the silver-eyes, and in time, the admiration mankind had held for them turned to envy and fear. The silver-eyes were driven out, cast into the wilds, or sent on suicide missions. Some were hunted, and some were shunned, leaving their bloodline to die with them."

Ruby trembled at the account. She sat back down and asked, "What happened?"

Ozpin shook his head. "They vanished. There hadn't been a silver-eyed warrior for centuries, not since before the four Kingdoms. At least, not until one came to Beacon sixty years ago. I – my predecessor Oswald knew her for what she was and protected her secret, knowing she would be assassinated if anyone learned of what she could do. In time, that someone became one of the greatest Huntress who had ever lived, slaying Grimm and saving lives across the continents. Many towns owe their existence to her, as do many of the citizens of the kingdoms who rely on the crops they grow." His tone darkened. "Unfortunately, someone must have spotted her using her ability, or had known the lost history, someone who wanted her bloodline to disappear once again. She was cornered during a mission by a group of assassins, and while she slew them all, they had taken her eyes. She could never banish Grimm again."

"I take it this Huntress had a child?" Ironwood asked.

Ozpin nodded. "My predecessor was careful to conceal their existence. He related the identity of this person only to myself."

"My mom," Ruby said.

"Yes. This time, I made sure not to tell her anything, so she wouldn't be tempted to use her powers. I had hoped that, in time, the silver-eyed warriors could return to Remnant, and with modern technology, drive back the Grimm once and for all."

"Didn't she die too?" Cardin asked.

Tears welled up in Ruby's eyes. She hugged the cloak close to her face and asked, "She died because of the Grimm. Would she be alive now if you had told her?"

"Perhaps," Ozpin said, "But more likely, she would have died before having you, and the bloodline may have been lost forever."

"You don't know that!" Ruby vanished in a flash of rose petals, appearing next to Ozpin. She grabbed him by the collar of his coat and shook him. "How many more people could she have saved if you told her the truth?"

"How many more would have been saved if I had forbidden her from becoming a Huntress?" Ozpin countered, prying Ruby's hands off him. "What if, instead, I had instructed her to raise as large a family as possible, so a future generation could purge the whole continent of Grimm?"

"What are you going to make me do that?"

"For the sake of Remnant, I might have to."

Ruby backed away, an expression of horror and disgust twisting her face. Blake stood and put herself in front of Ruby, arms spread out as if protecting her. "That's horrible!"

"That's reality. Do you think I want to do any of this?" Ozpin regarded each of the students in turn. "Do you think I want to teach you, raise you, watch you come into my school, only to be sent out to slay Grimm until they destroy you? My job is to keep you all safe, and I will do whatever is necessary to make that happen."

"What if we don't want to be safe?" Ruby asked. "What if it's not worth it?"

"You can't be there for someone when you're dead," Ozpin said grimly. "How do you think Yang would feel if an assassin slit your throat because of your eyes? Your father? I've consoled countless grieving families who had me to blame for the death of their loved ones. I've stood over countless graves, giving variations on the same departing words until they all blur together. Nothing is worth more than human life, and I will make the decisions that preserve as much of it as I can." He put his hands gently on Ruby's shoulders. "If I have to let one person die to save a thousand, I will. I have to let a thousand die to save one life, knowing that the one life will go on to save a million, I will."

"That's…" Ruby stammered, face reddening. "That's awful!"

"He's got a point," Cardin said. "Being able to turn Grimm to stone just by looking at them would make expanding the settlements a lot easier. Considering that there are well-funded individuals using Grimm to achieve their goals, I wouldn't be surprised if you became a target."

Ozpin gave him a raised eyebrow. "You don't care about that, or you would've kept this to yourself."

"What can I say? I think Ruby has the right to know."

"That, or you're hoping to keep Mr. Schnee as a benefactor. Rather difficult to do that if Weiss ends up dead."

"Can't it be both?"

"Enough," Ironwood growled. He flung open the door, which he had closed as Ozpin told the history of silver eyes. "If we're going to do this, it better be before Weiss wakes up."

Ozpin rose, towering over Ruby until his shadow covered her. "Ruby, if you do this, our enemies will almost certainly realize what you are, and if they do that, I cannot protect you. They will kill you."

Ruby drew herself up and straightened out her cloak. Her hands tightened around the piece of tattered cloth around her neck. "I'm not going to let my friend die."

Ozpin stared down at her for a moment. His knuckles were bone-white from clutching his cane, but his arms didn't twitch a muscle. After a moment, he sighed and tapped his cane on the floor. "Very well, let's go." He went to the door and passed the General. They exchanged sour glares and a curt nod. "The rest of you will leave with Winter. Ruby will return once this is over."

Winter bolted up and went to the door. "Sirs, with all due respect, I won't leave my sister. Please let me stay."

Ozpin looked back at Ironwood. The General studied his Specialist for a moment and nodded. "I understand. You may accompany us, but the moment we are done, you are taking the students back to Beacon."

Winter smiled uneasily and bowed her head. Cardin walked up to Ruby's side and crossed his arms at Ozpin. "I'm seeing this through as well. I'd like to have a first-hand account for Weiss' father."

"We cannot allow that," Ozpin said. "No one outside this room must know what we are doing here."

"Jacques can be a powerful ally," Cardin said. "He has little influence in Vale, but he can lend Ironwood more Lien and Dust."

"And he can keep the senators off my back." Ironwood tapped the doorframe, filling the silence with loud thunks. "I think Cardin is right." In a low undertone, he added, "Jacques knows most of my secrets anyways."

"What's going to stop him from selling this information to the highest bidder?" Ozpin asked.

"Common interest," Cardin said. "I'm sure that Mr. Schnee will be very eager to hear of a way to clear an entire area of Grimm to establish defenses for new mining operations."

Ozpin studied Cardin warily. "I imagine you intend to make a recording?"

"How else could I get him to believe me?"

The Headmaster ground his teeth. "Fine, but I will be present when you send the footage, and you will delete it once you have no further use for it."

"I'll reserve us a room at the CCT."

As they went to leave, Blake came after them. "I want to see as well."

"Blake, you cannot–"

"I want to know the truth." With a glare at Cardin, she said, "I'm not believing a word that comes out of his mouth until I see it." As an afterthought, she added, "Besides, I'm Weiss' teammate."

Ozpin sighed and rolled his eyes. "I suppose all of you will be joining us, then?"

The remaining students exchanged looks and shook their heads, except for Jaune, who tentatively rose. "Maybe you'll need me? I mean, my Semblance does heal people."

"Very well." Ozpin examined the small crowd following him to the medical room and dryly observed, "I don't think the doctor will approve of this many visitors at once."

"He will make an exception," Ironwood replied absently, having missed the joke.

When they arrived at the medic's office, the doctor watching Weiss took one look at the collection of somber faces in the doorway and bolted out of the room. Cardin sat up on a counter, nudging a tray of medical implements out of the way, and took out his Scroll, checking the lighting and the angle. He pulled out its stand and propped it in position, leaving his arms free to grab the counter.

Weiss lay on the bed, eyes closed, breathing easily. Winter stepped forward, hand reaching for her, but she drew back, glancing at the General. Weiss twitched once, groaning in her sleep, and everyone in the room held their breaths.

"Okay," Ruby said, stepping up to Weiss' bed, "What do I do?"

Ozpin shut the door and looked everyone over before clearing his throat. "All I know is that the power comes forth at times of great peril. The desire to protect, to save life, is what drives it. Think very hard about saving your friend's life, and your eyes will do the rest."

Ruby stared down at Weiss, contorting her face in a variety of comical positions, crossing her eyes and fluttering her eyelids, all to no avail. After a minute of forcing her eyelids open, she staggered back, blinking away tears.

"Nothing's happening!" Ruby cried. "Why won't it work?"

"I should have warned you this might happen," Ozpin said. "It takes discipline and experience to use this ability on command, years of training that you don't have."

"But we have to save Weiss now!"

"It might not be possible." Ozpin put a hand on Ruby's shoulder, drawing her back. "I am sorry, Ruby, but staying here puts us all in danger."

"I'm not leaving! Either tell me what I'm doing wrong, or just go." Tears ran down Ruby's face as she tore away Ozpin's hand. "I'm not leaving."

Ozpin took a deep breath and stepped back. "I will have the doctor bring more anesthetic. We can keep her under for a few days, but after that, we'll have to face facts."

As the Headmaster walked out of the room, Ruby sank to her knees, crying into the paper sheet covering Weiss' mattress. Winter walked up to her and patted her on the back.

"I know you tried your best," Winter said, holding back tears of her own. "Thank you."

"But I wasn't good enough!" Ruby wailed. "I couldn't save her!"

"You haven't given up yet, have you? Ozpin gave you a few more days. Stand up and try again. Even if it doesn't work, at least you'll have given it everything you had."

Sniffling and wiping her face on her sleeve, Ruby rose and examined her friend.

"Maybe imagining the Grimm would help," Cardin offered. "I could give a pretty terrifying description."

Before Ruby could answer him, Weiss' eyes opened. Her eyes darted back and forth, taking in the room and its occupants. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Ironwood. "I see. You're the ones that captured me."

Glyphs sprang up around her, bluish-white in color. Winter's eyes widened, and she drew her rapier. "Get back Ruby!"

Glowing white Nevermore, about the size of crows, darted out from the glyphs and dove straight for Ironwood. Winter sliced two out of the air, while Ironwood drew a pistol from his coat and shot the third. The Nevermore vanished as the weapons passed through them, but more Glyphs, both the pale summoning Glyphs and darker manipulation Glyphs, fell like snowflakes from the ceiling.

A pulsating black one brushed against Winter's shoulder, and she was thrown against the far wall, smacking her head hard enough to leave a dent in a metal cabinet. Her rapier rolled out of her hands. One Nevermore latched onto Ironwood's pistol while another clawed at his face. Ironwood's arm swatted the summoned Grimm with superhuman speed, scattering white motes in the air, but more flew in from every direction.

The storm of Glyphs hadn't left the students untouched as well. Jaune was balled up on the floor, shielding himself with his arms as his Aura weathered the raking claws of two Nevermore. Blake nimbly leapt over medical equipment, reaching for a surgical saw, but when she touched a black Glyph, it rocketed her past her mark, right into the waiting claws of a miniature Beowolf. It tore her ribbon to shreds as it clawed at her head.

A Nevermore went after Cardin, but he snatched up a scalpel and drove it into its neck. The blade passed through without resistance, but the Summon faded away. As a black Glyph drifted towards him, he leapt over it, landing at the side of Weiss' bed. Her eyes widened, and her face tensed. Another pale Glyph sprang up next to him, but Cardin broke it before anything could appear.

A summoning Glyph appeared over her head, and it grew wider and wider until it swallowed up the ceiling. The point of a sword jabbed out from it, slicing down at Ruby's head. Red petals swirled around her as she raced back. The sword reached for her, forcing itself further and further out with each slash, but Ruby nimbly avoided each attack. Soon, a hand appeared, followed by an arm. A second hand, bearing a shield, pushed through the Glyph, and a helmeted head loomed out of the ceiling.

Sweat dampened Cardin's hands, and he nearly dropped the scalpel as his hands shook. He glanced at the door, listening for Ozpin's footsteps, but there was no sign of him or the anesthetic. Ironwood had beaten back the Nevermores and reclaimed his gun, but the Knight threw its shield, pinning his right arm against a wall. Ruby leapt forward, trying to reach Weiss' bed, but the giant sword kept her away. Each time she leapt around the bed, the sword swerved to stop her advance.

Cardin watched the Summon enter the room inch by inch with the sinking realization that it could hack the ship to pieces around them. With a few slashes, the Defender would crash into the city, killing everyone on board. He could only hope Ironwood and Ozpin would help him hide the truth from her father.

When the sword was on the other side of Weiss' bed, Cardin leaned forward, the scalpel gripped in his hand. The sword slashed at him as the Scarab in Weiss' head saw the new threat. Cardin plunged the scalpel down, slamming it into Weiss' Aura. The translucent barrier held, but it buckled underneath the force of the blow. He pushed his Semblance into his arms, adding all his weight and more to the scalpel. Thin cracks leapt through Weiss' Aura as it bowed inward, letting the point get closer and closer to Weiss' cold, listless eyes. The summoned sword cut into his Aura, but he grit his teeth and pushed on through the pain.

Ruby's eyes widened as she saw the point of Cardin's scalpel brush Weiss' eyelashes. With a heart-rending scream, she leapt towards Weiss, eyes blazing like twin suns. Cardin froze as a wave of blinding light washed over him.

When he rubbed away the tears and flashing lights, he saw Ruby, standing taller than life above Weiss's bed, looking down with incandescent eyes the color of the shattered moon. The Glyphs and Summons had frozen in place, each flickering like a faulty Scroll.

"Get out," Ruby said. Her voice had an air of command that made Cardin shiver.

Weiss' back arched, and one eye was squeezed aside. The Scarab crawled out, stumbling over itself and screeching as black motes drifted from its dissolving carapace. The glow in Ruby's eyes brightened, and the Grimm howled as it fell apart, vanishing into thin air. Its dying scream echoed a few seconds longer, as though its departing soul was burned to nothing by Ruby's eyes.

The Glyphs winked out of existence. Ironwood hauled himself onto his feet, holding a hand over the tear in his coat. Blake and Jaune stood together, holding hands as they stared in open-mouthed wonder at Ruby's power. The scalpel fell from Cardin's fingers and clattered on the floor, and he stepped back until he hit the counter.

The light faded from Ruby's eyes. She sank onto the bed and buried her eyes in her arm, saying "Ow" repeatedly, hissing in pain, and asking "Why does that sting so much?"

Weiss blinked, groaned and sat up in the bed. "Ugh," she said drowsily, "Where am I? How did I get here?"

Ruby jerked up. "Weiss? Is that you?"

"Ruby?" Weiss squinted, struggling to focus on her teammate. "Of course it's me. What's going on?"

Ruby leapt forward, snaring her teammate in a tight hug. "Thank goodness, you're okay!"

"I won't be if you keep crushing me," Weiss said, struggling to breathe. "What happened?"

Cardin walked up to her. Weiss smiled for a second before looking away. "What's the last thing you remember?" he asked.

Weiss frowned. "I remember having breakfast with you and Klein, then my stomach started hurting. I went to the hospital." She bit her lip and stared up at the ceiling, but after a moment, she shook her head. "That's it."

"Does the name Watts mean anything to you?"

Weiss froze. "I think so? I think he was the doctor. He – he strapped me down to a chair. I remember that."

"What about a beetle?" Cardin asked. "White body, beady red eyes–"

As Cardin started the description, Weiss gasped and grabbed at her face. She gasped for air and scrambled back on her bed. "No, get it away from me!"

Ruby rushed after her, hugging her and stroking her hair. "Ssh, it's okay, you're going to be okay Weiss. You're fine."

"What," Weiss stammered, "What the hell was that?"

Cardin briefly explained what he knew about the Scarab. Weiss shrank into the bed and felt at her eyes.

"That – that happened? I had a Grimm inside of me?"

"It's gone now," Ruby said. "We got it out."

"How?"

Cardin looked around for his Scroll. Miraculously, it had stayed upright and had recorded the whole thing. He played it back, skipping past the part where he had nearly gouged out Weiss' eye, and made a mental reminder to edit out that part before showing Mr. Schnee. He showed Weiss when Ruby's eyes started glowing. Weiss watched with mingled fascination and disgust as the Grimm crawled out of her eye and died.

Looking up at Ruby in wonder, Weiss asked, "How did you do that?"

Ruby chuckled nervously. "Uh, well, I kind of have magic eye powers, or something?" She turned towards Cardin and smiled. "Cardin figured it out. If it wasn't for him, Ozpin would've uh…" She trailed off, looking uneasily back at Ironwood.

"We can talk about that later," Cardin said. He felt a wave of panic as Weiss gave him a teary-eyed smile and held his hand.

"Thank you," Weiss said.

Cardin drew his hand away. "No problem. I'll go find Ozpin."

As he walked towards the door, he heard footsteps just outside of the room. He stepped aside as the door opened and Ozpin walked in. The Headmaster took one look at the scratched furniture, scattered papers and instruments, Winter's body, still slumped against the wall, and Ruby's smiling face before setting the bottle in his hands on a counter.

"I take it Miss Schnee has been cured?" he asked, looking at Cardin. When he nodded back, Ozpin walked up to Ruby and looked into her eyes. Ruby blinked and leaned away, darting looks at Cardin and Weiss as Ozpin's face came within an inch of her own.

"We need to get you all back to Beacon," the Headmaster said. He turned towards Jaune, who was examining the scratches on Blake's head, and asked, "Could you treat Winter? It looks as though she took a rather nasty fall."

Jaune gave a start and looked at Weiss' sister. A trickle of blood had pooled up next to her cheek, but she was breathing calmly. Jaune put a hand on her shoulder, and light flowed down his arm and into her. Moments later, Winter's eyes fluttered and she clambered to her feet, clutching her bloodied head.

"Is Weiss okay?" she mumbled, leaning against the wall.

"I'm fine," Weiss said back. "What happened to you?"

In response, Cardin rewound the video. Weiss watched with wide eyes as Summoning Glyphs sprang up around her.

"How did I do that?" she asked, pointing at one of the pale Glyphs.

"You just kind of did it," Ruby said.

"That's not fair! I can't summon anything no matter how hard I try, but some Grimm stuck in my head can? Why can't I remember any of it?"

"I'm sure you will figure it out later. Right now, we really need to get back to Beacon. There's a lot you missed."

"Ruby is right," Ozpin said, stepping in. "I will explain everything I can once we're back at Beacon. In the meantime, do not speak with anyone." To Winter he said, "Make sure no one approaches her. We don't need this spiraling out of our control."

Her eyes darted to Ironwood, who nodded. "Yes sir. I will take care of them."

"Thank you." Ozpin tapped Cardin on the shoulder as he left and held him back as the others went out. "As for you, Mr. Winchester, we will have to discuss what you have done in further detail, before we speak with Jacques." With a sly smile, he added, "I look forward to seeing you volunteer for the upcoming soup kitchen four times a week."

The emphasis on the number left no doubt that the Headmaster had adjusted Cardin's punishment. He hid a grimace with a curt nod, tightened the overshirt of his student's uniform, and went out the door. Cardin thought about lingering outside the door, to see if he could hear what words might be exchanged between the General and the Headmaster, but Winter's stern command drew him towards the waiting Bullhead.

Once the students were gone, Ironwood and Ozpin were left alone in the doctor's office. After he checked the hallway, ensuring they were alone, Ozpin noticed the cut in Ironwood's coat and examined the bionic arm underneath.

"How is it?" Ozpin asked.

"Nothing was damaged," the General said. His expression soured. "When were you planning to tell me about Ruby?"

"I wasn't," the Headmaster admitted. "It was not something you needed to know, and it's easier to keep a secret when fewer people know about it. Only Qrow and I were aware of it, or at least, I had hoped."

Ironwood's metal hand slammed on the counter, leaving a dent. "We could have studied her gift, maybe found a way to replicate it. Imagine if we could build that ability into our Knights and Paladins, if we could build a whole army that could banish Grimm just by looking at them!"

"I asked Djinn about it. The silver eyes came from the Brother of Light and to tamper with them is beyond even my abilities. The Relic of Creation couldn't make its equal. Speaking of which…"

"You know the war against the Grimm has been at a standstill for decades. If we don't act, we're just asking to be wiped off the map."

"Using the Relics is exactly what Salem wants us to do. Once the Relics leave the vaults, she can take them and use them herself."

"Which is why," Ironwood said, "We should take the fight to her. If the Relics can end the war, let's end it on our terms. Just one of the Relics could let us reclaim a continent, imagine what we could do with all four at once!"

"Humanity is not ready." Ozpin sighed and took off his glasses, examining the lenses. "If we tried to bring the Relics together, humanity would be destroyed as surely as if Salem had them herself."

"Then when will we be ready?"

For a long moment, the Headmaster had no answer. He put his glasses back on, twirled his cane in his hand, and answered wistfully, "I don't know, but standing around here chatting won't get us any closer to it." He opened the door and beckoned out with his cane. "Let's go, James. We have work to do."

Changelog:

10/22/19 – clarified Cardin's reason for trying to stab Weiss.