Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows

Rating: T/M

Series: RWBY

Pairing:

Volume 1: Spring

Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series. (Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)

Author's Note:

Salutations!

I'll keep this brief. This volume will most likely be concluded here as it was to be similar to Volume 1, which didn't have a lot to work with. The next chapter will start the Summer Volume which will consist of major moments from Volume 2 canon as well as the game tie-in, Grimm Eclipse. Yes. I am going to use Grimm Eclipse as well as it will play heavily to Team Azure's story.

Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to my first reviewer:

xXFARTSALOTXx. Thank you and I hope that you continue to enjoy the rest of the story as things unfold.

Lastly, I had the hardest time finishing this chapter due to multiple rewrites and adding new content. I was supposed to post this several days ago but, well... better late than never right?

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.


Chapter 3


[Beacon Academy/Lunch Hall]

"There we were... In the middle of the night." Nora Valkyrie spoke in a dramatic tone to her friends at the table.

"It was daytime." Ren corrected.

"We were surrounded by Ursai!"

"They were Beowolves..."

"DOZENS OF THEM!" she stood up to emphasize her point.

"Two of them."

"But, they were no match, and in the end, Ren and I took them down!" she announces triumphantly to basically Yang, the only one paying attention. "And we took them down and made a boatload of lien selling Ursa-skinned rugs!"

Jaune and Blake were concentrating on their food and book respectively. Pyrrha and Ruby noticed the former's depressing mood, though neither could do much aside from gazing at him as he poked at his peas.

"She's been having this recurring dream for almost a month now..." Ren sighed, masking his amusement with stoicism.

Meanwhile Pyrrha and Ruby eventually did their best to try and get some answers from the blond boy. It'd been weeks now since their first day and there were some standard issues that the two teams couldn't deny. From Miss Goodwitch's strictness in combat class and Professor Port's boring (or entertaining, depending on how one views it) lectures to Dr. Ooblecks energetic near-skittish moves during lessons, these were minor annoyances at worse; typical school woes.

One such issue though stuck out above them all, even making an appearance when a cry of pain broke through the group's pleas to Jaune.

"Ow!" a rabbit faunus, Velvet, was the one who made the sound while a boy with brown hair in a crew cut style tugged at her ears. Sky Lark, Dove Bronzewing, and Russel Thrush all laughed at their leader's terrible act. "That hurts!"

Cardin Winchester, the leader of Team CRDL (Cardinal) was a bully. He was your typical jock, big and brawny, and not much going on upstairs. He believed that true strength came from how big your muscles were and anyone smaller than him was meant to be dominated by those like him. His team (or cronies, if you'd prefer) would encourage his brutish behavior and within only a few days, they had established themselves as the resident bullies, ready to pick on anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths, with only a few exceptions.

This was never more present with how Jaune would deflect from the boy's actions against him, counting them as 'games' rather than him being picked on. This only provoked more prodding from his friends, until another timid moan came from the bunny's lips as she tried her best to maintain her balance without dropping her tray of food.

"Please let go..." Velvet pleaded.

"See? I told you it was real." Cardin boasted.

What followed was a chorus of laughs followed up with words like 'freak' and 'animal'. This was all witnessed by Pyrrha and the others who, despite finding the action appalling did little to help. In truth, even Blake seemed content to just speak on the issue rather than actually do something. Nobody would come to Velvet's aid it seemed. Coco and Fox were in the middle of classes while Yatsuhashi had a session with Professor Peach, meaning that her own team was unable to do anything either.

That is... until a certain pair arrived.

"Would you mind letting her go?" the first voice asked, venom dripping onto his otherwise calm request.

"And what if I don't want..." Cardin turned to find two pairs of glares directed at him, one silver and the other violet. "...to?"

Aganju and Esu stood in their school uniforms, black suits lined with gold, accompanied by blue vests, white shirts, and red ties. Esu was the one who spoke up in defense of Velvet, who was still struggling under Cardin's callous grip while Aganju's evil stare grew darker by the second. Hearing the arrogant reply, the fox began cracking his knuckles, a grin matching his glare perfectly.

"We'll make you...!"

Pyrrha and the others watched as the altercation began to heat up, neither of them sure whether to intervene or stay out of it. As things began to escalate, Cardin released Velvet's ear, but only to pick a fight with the dragon and fox. The air in the place grew thick, nearly smothering as the other students watched to see what would come from this.

"Do you know who this is?!" Russel barked.

"Should we care?"

"T-This is Cardin Winchester! The best huntsman in the whole school!"

The pair turned to one another before shrugging and walking past, each checking on Velvet and ignoring such a pompous claim. The brunette male didn't take kindly to such a disrespectful display and grabbed Aganju's tail, looking to replicate his previous crime. Pyrrha and Blake noticed this and were about to warn the fox only to find the animal part wrap around Cardin's wrist.

"I'd advise against doing that..." Aganju peered over his shoulder with a dangerous look in his eye.

The brute didn't take kindly to the looming threat, showing that he wasn't just some meat-brained idiot. That said, it still didn't help that he tried to rip his hand away from the rather tight grip but to no avail. It was like being caught in a bear trap but it paled in comparison to the look in Aganju's eyes. Bright violet gems had long disappeared in favor of sanguine rubies, shrouded by an inky abyss.

"Let me go!" Cardin grunted, his natural strength failing to reclaim the limb.

"Spare the guy, will you, Aganju?" Esu stepped in, placing a hand on his leader's shoulder.

"Whatever..."

The vulpine then released his arm, swatting it away before joining Esu in comforting Velvet. While Ruby and the others sat, impressed, Pyrrha couldn't help but feel an uneasy presence, if only for a moment. It was a dark presence, one that felt similar and yet, foreign. At that moment, she also felt bad for not having done anything to help, but, seeing her friend and leader departing, maybe she could rectify her mistake.

If she could be convincing enough.


[Kingdom of Vale]

After classes, Aganju decided to check out the city as he wanted to get a change of scenery. In truth, he'd been on edge since the incident with the first year, Cardin Winchester. His team did their best to keep him calm after that, reminding the fox that people like him unfortunately existed in the world. Still, his feeling of anger wouldn't go away so easily.

Rather than stay on campus and risk running into the insufferable punk again, Aganju decided to come to the city. Walking down the city streets, he headed toward the shopping district. Seemingly wandering at this point, the vulpine allowed his feet to carry him until he arrived near a block away from a bookstore that he hadn't noticed before.

"First time for everything..." he shrugged, heading toward the venue.

His entrance triggered the doorbell, literally causing the instrument to jingle, signaling his arrival. He was greeted by a man with thick sideburns that connected to his beard along the side of his face. There was also a girl leaning against the counter, one he recognized immediately as she turned around. It was the mysterious girl with the amber eyes.

"Welcome to Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun!" the clerk greeted with a large smile, showing off his canines. "Let me know if you need anything."

He nodded at the man and proceeded to browse his inventory. From biographies and nonfiction to fantasy and romance novels, there appeared to be some truth to the store's branding as he turned to the more supernatural genre where several books began to catch his eyes, some even enchanting him. One such volume happened to be about dark powers and mysteries behind the discovery of semblances.

"I hear that's a really good title..." the girl's voice broke his trance. "I hear that it's rare to find nowadays but, it could help with Oobleck's class down the road."

He turned to the young woman, surprised to see her out of uniform and in her traditional garb. She wore a black, buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button on the front. Underneath this is was a white, sleeveless, high necked, crop undershirt, and white shorts with a zipper on the front of each leg. Of course, there was that familiar black bow that he recalled from the initiation footage.

"Thanks," he allowed a small smile to grace his features. "Brothers know we could use all the help we can get."

They both shared a laugh at his statement, mostly because it was true.

"I agree. He's not exactly the easiest professor to follow..." the girl noted.

"Are you referring to his style of teaching or the inexplicable way he moves faster than the eye can see?"

"Both."

Another wave of laughter filled the room. Only when it died down did the owner loudly clear his throat, his own amusement finally drawing the attention of the teens.

"While I'm glad that you both are enjoying your conversation, but this isn't a library" he chuckled softly. "I am trying to run a business."

They both apologized to him before taking their respective books to the front for purchase. He happily rang their purchases and the two bid the shopkeep goodbye.

"I'll have to remember to check this place out," Aganju chuckled softly. "I've been here over a year and I'm just now knowing about this place."

The girl giggled at his pseudo-shame while clutching her new book, "Howl at the Moon" to her chest. He had his own book tucked under his arm while they continued to walk through the district. They continued to chat about their time at Beacon so far and the girl even made a motion to applaud him for standing up to Cardin as they approached a clothing store.

"By the way, I never got your name..." the fox chuckled sheepishly.

"I'm Blake..." she replied meekly, forgetting to introduce herself back at Tukson's. "...and I believe you're Aganju, right?"

"Yeah! How'd you know?"

"I remembered hearing your teammate," she frowned slightly at the mention of that unsavory moment. "I... saw what happened with Cardin..."

"Oh..."

"But, I also saw how well you handled bullies like him too!" Blake quickly added. "Not many people would've done what you did for..."

"...Those like us?"

Blake froze in her tracks, her breath hitching in her throat. On instinct, she looked around in terror to see if anyone around had heard him. Thankfully, the citizens were two enraptured with their own company to care about the conversation of two Beacon students. While she was relieved to see this, Aganju merely stared at the girl with confusion, only to be met with a glare.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about..." she hissed, showing a stark contrast from her previously serene attitude.

"So... You're content with playing human then?"

"I'm not playing at anything!" she snapped back, cursing herself when those around them caught her outburst. "I'm just... It's complicated, okay?"

Aganju could see the slight twitching of her bow once again, and like before, it was barely noticeable unless one either sought it out or was really good at spotting details; Thankfully, he was the latter. He noticed how her shoulders fell slightly, revealing that there was something far more significant than just her true identity bothering her.

"I'm sorry... Whatever it is, you don't have to mention it if you don't want to."

"Thanks," a tiny grin began to surface, though she didn't meet his gaze. "It's just that... My past wasn't exactly pleasant and..."

"You're trying to forge a new future?"

Blake bowed her head. It was enough for Aganju to grin before continuing on.

"We should head back before Professor Goodwitch comes looking for us."

"Agreed! The last thing we want is detention for breaking curfew," Blake giggled softly.

The pair made their way back to the bullheads that would take them back to campus. The trip wasn't long, mainly due to the light-hearted conversations aboard the near-empty ship. Blake began to open up a bit, careful to only bring up certain topics that were appropriate for their current relationship status. Aganju did the same, creating an air of mystery about him that did much to the feline's delight. Soon, they were back on the school grounds, the sky illuminated by the soft green glow of the lamp-posts stationed all around.

Aganju and Blake walked to their dorm only to stop midway when the sounds of shuffling caught their ear. This was followed by soft grunts and whines from a familiar voice. Sure enough, the two found a rather scraggly blond boy in the friendly headlock of none other than their least favorite person.

"What is Jaune doing with Cardin?" Blake raised a brow, uncertain of what to make of this display.

Aganju on the other hand merely shook his head and kept moving.

"It looks like he's buddy-buddy with that Cardin guy..."

"But... It's doesn't make sense."

"You can go over there and try to figure it out..." the fox yawned, his tail swaying lazily. "I'm going to bed."

Blake contemplated his suggestion but settled for heading inside, leaving Jaune and Cardin to their own devices. Little did they know, their inability to act would prove beneficial in the long run.


A week had passed and all Beacon could talk about was the newly formed friendship between local bully, Cardin Winchester, and perennial punching bag, Jaune Arc. It was an unusual duo, one that seemed to fill the halls and messages of the students of the academy. Even some of the teachers found it rather shocking as the two seemed to go together like oil and water.

Needless to say, this was high ranking news.

Among the young minds, one individual had grown tired of the murmurs and conversations pertaining to this matter.

The vulpine had found himself plagued by the news, feeling it turn from a minor annoyance to downright infuriating. He tried to keep his composure, but each day that passed, it became increasingly clear that his patience was wearing thin. It showed itself blatantly in his physical performance and behavior. During training exercises, his professors would notice how much more vicious he was becoming in his approach, most noticeably Professor Goodwitch as her students were departing the training room.

"Mr. Umbrae!" the blond called out down the main halls, snatching the foxes' attention. "A moment of your time, please?"

His team looked back with worry, but a quick nod from their leader halted any protest that they may have had. Once they left, Glynda Goodwitch led her charge to an office within the room where he sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment. Eventually, the faunus couldn't take the unnerving atmosphere anymore.

"Am I in trouble?"

The typically stern educator sat down in her seat, green eyes filled with a rare softness; concern.

"Tell me, Aganju... How is your mindset?"

"I don't understand."

"Here at Beacon, we pride ourselves on training and developing the best huntsmen and huntresses on Remnant. Not only do we cultivate a hunter's physical strength but also their mental and psychological," she announced with a sigh. "That being said, it's quite clear that you're dealing with something that has severely affected the latter two. So, I ask again, are you okay?"

Greyish ears splayed back and his shoulders slumped forward. Glynda watched as he clutched his head in frustration, though he remained silent. It was troubling to see the vulpine in such a shape, but it was made even worse when she also knew his past. When he finally sat back upright, a grim smirk now adorned his face.

"No."

It was plain and simple, leaving no room for ambiguity. Still, this was barely much to work with and the vice-headmistress wouldn't be content with such a small answer.

"Aganju, I don't want to pry but, it's become increasingly evident that whatever is bothering you has taken a massive toll on your performance. Dr. Oobleck and Professor Port have noticed how your grades have slipped a bit and, while it's not by much, it is rather odd that someone with your perseverance capacity. This wouldn't happen to be related to the murmurs of Mr. Winchester and Mr. Arcs... ahem... 'Friendship', would it?"

When Aganju shuffled in his chair uncomfortably, that was all she needed to confirm her answer.

"Given what I previously stated about your standard composure, it's worrisome to note that something so petty would unnerve you so significantly-"

"It's not that!" Aganju erupted, clamping his hand over his mouth almost as quickly, surprising the educator. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to snap like that."

Glynda Goodwitch simply pushed her glasses up, maintaining her own composure.

"That being said, it's quite clear that there's more to things than just this incident. While I won't pry into what that might be, I would suggest that you take a moment to do some soul searching to figure things out," she noted with a calm yet motherly tone. "Over a year ago, I recall a young faunus coming here with little confidence in himself and a dark power he'd yet to master. Now, you're the leader of one of the highly regarded teams and a great warrior in his own right... You're full of untapped potential and, though I'm supposed to wait, your team is in the running to represent Beacon in the coming Vytal tournament."

"R-Really?" Aganju's ears shot up.

"Yes. That being said, I want you to be at your best, both mentally and physically."

The fox understood his teacher's words and thanked her for taking time out to see to him. He took a moment to apologize once again for his outburst before Professor Goodwitch guided him out of her office in preparation for her next class, ironically, the first years. As he left, he failed to notice the eyes on him.

Pools of green, while pleased to see his spirits lifted slightly, could also see the weight of something else pressing down on him. Perhaps the owner of those eyes would investigate further? But, it would have to wait until after classes were over.


[Beacon/Rooftop]

Sitting on the rooftop of the dormitories, violet eyes peered at the shattered moon his weapon drawn. Ngaungus was what he called it, slowly spinning it in its glaive form. It was the most elegant style, coupled along with his graceful movements as he spun the armament. His body swayed perfectly and fluidly with each motion, matching his movements with the springtime breeze.

He continued this, picking up speed while spinning it around his back and neck flawlessly. The smoothness of his motions meshed with the whistle of the world around him as Ngaungus began to create a sphere of slashes; a seemingly impenetrable shield. He paid close attention to his breath as he tried to clear his mind, but, while controlling his movement was one thing, mastering the demons that plagued his soul and thoughts were a completely different task.

You're pathetic...

The fox grit his teeth, painfully exposing the canine in the corner of his mouth. His head began to throb as an image began to materialize before his eyes. Though he never told a soul, Aganju knew the root of his rage.

Why would anyone care about a weakling like you?!

Golden eyes burned like fire.

Hair as black as the night.

That cocky grin.

I'm better off on my own.

In a matter of seconds, more of the figure's identity became clearer to the faunus, making his movements shift from a graceful and serene display to a more aggressive and brawler style. No longer was his intentions to just practice technique, each action he committed to was out for blood as he envisioned the source of his angst.

"Leave me alone, Ella..."

An arrogant smirk that ate away at his soul was all he'd get before her lips parted to speak.

Weak.

Weak...

Weak!

"Go away" he snarled at the phantom, his now sanguine eyes reflecting his inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry..."

Aganju snapped out of his furious stupor, hearing a voice that didn't match up with the taunting image. The voice wasn't soft and full of pride, but now gentle and... hurt? The fox shook his head, noticing the figure begin to fade away, giving way to another. The dark raven hair morphed into scarlet locks. Amber turned to emerald green. That dark and heartless smirk gave way to a saddened expression.

"What?" he whispered, blinking several times.

Just then, a sharp pain hit his head causing the confused fox to stumble forward, dropping his weapon in the process. Before any more damage could take hold, Aganju would feel something warm wrap around his body.

"Are you alright?" the girl rushed to his side, forgetting his harshness just minutes before.

Aganju didn't truly know. One moment he was focusing on perfecting his technique and the next...? He only remembered waves of hatred arising to overwhelm him, dragging his soul into a dark void. Now, here he was gazing back at the troubled expression of his helper, though their face was still a little hazy. He could hear her voice as she tried her best to ensure that he was okay.

"Pyrrha?" he groaned, taking a deep breath. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you were okay. I went to your dorm after classes but nobody knew where you were."

As his vision cleared, the image of Pyrrha's worried face greeted him as the pain steadily began to subside. Groaning and clutching his head, Aganju let out a heavy sigh, one that gave his friend the answer she needed. With his head bowed and his shoulders slumped, his body now reflected his mind's fractured condition. For her part, Pyrrha remained by his side.

"T-Thanks..." he finally spoke, his voice dry and scratchy. "I guess I lost my focus or something..."

Pyrrha wasn't buying this explanation though, frowning at her friend.

"It was more than just 'losing concentration'. You were giving off such negative energy, I'm shocked that the Grimm hadn't shown up. I don't know who this Ella person is, but, it appears that she has a powerful effect on you, and not for the better."

Aganju sat up, slowly. There was no doubt that Pyrrha's words were true in every sense. A part of his mind did wonder how come a swarm of Grimm had not come but, it was the least of his issues at the moment. Right now, he had hurt his friend by lashing out, albeit unintentionally. Even worse, he'd allowed himself to fall into a mental trap that he would now have to confront if he was to ever move forward.

"I'm sorry, Pyrrha... I didn't mean to-"

"Who is Ella?" she cut him off, her tone calm yet unwavering.

"I..." Aganju breathed for a moment to collect his thoughts. "She's the reason I've been... on edge lately. Rather, she's the root cause."

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Do you really think I care about the Cardin guy or his racist beliefs? I don't... He's not the first person to think like that and he won't be the last. However, after hearing about your partner's friendship with him, it reminded me of my own past, back at Argus." He looked to her, expecting a question. When the fox received nothing aside from a nod, he continued. "Ella was a former friend who I met and lived with before I came to Sanctum Academy. She and I were inseparable. Whenever one would get involved in something, the other was sure to follow and life was a little less shitty..."

Aganju looked to the night sky, almost reminiscing about the old days with a soft smile. Full of innocence, he chuckled bitterly to himself as his friend watched carefully.

"But, like everything else in my life, I learned the hard way that sometimes those we call friends or family may not care about you like you think they would."

"What happened?" she asked, her voice now barely a whisper in the wind.

"Ella ditched me. One night, I tried to protect her and got my ass handed to me as a result. It was some guy with a comically thick mustache and a faunus with a scorpion's tail. Needless to say, she pulled a 180 on me by leaving me to die and leaving with the two. I don't think that I ever really forgave her for that, but, I used the pain as motivation to get stronger."

The sadness and anguish in his words pressed down on the Amazon as she continued to observe the faunus.

"You were abandoned..." she added, receiving a silent nod.

"On top of that, I don't ever remember having parents who loved me, only a pair of bright red eyes. Ella was the closest thing I had to family and when she left, it broke me... I got stronger, but, that hole still remains, and sometimes, I can still hear her taunting me."

For the first time in his life, Aganju felt that same weakness and despair he had on that night, triggering a well of pain he'd hoped to keep hidden. It proved too much to bear though as his body began to shake violently against the wall of the school. That familiar stinging in his eyes began to surface while his throat tightened. He loathed this feeling as it reminded him of what he considered was his greatest failure...

...and yet, Aganju would find something else in his time of vulnerability.

Two warm limbs wrapped around him, gently pulling his head toward Pyrrha's chest. He didn't fight it, or more accurately, he COULDN'T fight it. This wasn't the top-notch huntsman-in-training being coddled. No, this was a little boy who truly sought to fill the void in his heart. While she comforted her friend, the flood won out as tears began to fall. For now, Pyrrha would provide that comfort, though she wasn't foolish to believe she could do it alone.

"It's okay..." she whispered in his splayed ears, stroking his hair softly. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. This Ella... She hurt you deeply, as well as your parents, and you deserve to feel how you do. But, she isn't the end. You've come so far since that time and it's evident that she was wrong about you."

"But..."

"No buts," she calmly cut in. "You went to Sanctum, graduating and getting invited to Beacon by Professor Ozpin. You're the leader of a team and, from what Goodwitch says, you're one of the best fighters in your year. You've made friends... no, family up to this point and you're not even halfway into the year yet. That is enough to prove that girl wrong."

"You really think so?" Aganju asked, a ghost of a grin beginning to appear.

"Do you want to call Professor Goodwitch a liar?"

"Point taken..."

The two shared a laugh at that, mostly to shake off the uncomfortable idea of going to the woman and declaring that she was wrong. Still, it made for a better atmosphere now as Aganju, reluctant at first, sat up, wiping away the streams that'd begun to dry on his face. He took a moment to let Pyrrha's words digest in his heart, realizing the truth behind it all. Esu. Scylla. Roxanne. Team CFVY. Even the members of Team RWBY and JNPR were growing on him. They all held much significance to him.

He wasn't foolish to believe that he'd completely overcome the void, but thanks to his friend, he believed that he was on the right path to recovering and that was a start.

"I guess, Professor Goodwitch was right..." he chuckled to himself. "Thanks, Pyrrha. I really needed this."

The girl smiled brightly at his gratitude.

"I'm happy to help. Though, I wonder what it would feel like to spar with someone endorsed by our combat teacher sometimes."

Aganju's ears perked up and his tail swayed back and forth.

"Maybe we can find out tomorrow? I'm really drained from all of this" he chuckled, sighing more out of relief than exhaustion. He then noticed Pyrrha pouting at his declination. "Though, I am pretty hungry. Want to join me for dinner before the kitchen closes?"

His offer appealed to Pyrrha who happily nodded.

"That sounds lovely," she giggled. "Besides, Nora and Jaune probably finished off the pancakes Ren made so..."

Aganju smiled and pulled himself to his feet, assisting Pyrrha as well. From there the two would rush off to the cafeteria in hopes of getting a decent meal before curfew.

Among the trees though, a rather peculiar figure had been watching from the trees, just far enough to avoid detection. Their reason for being there was unknown, though one of the two may have been the reason. The wind around the figure began to pick up, signaling the end of their allotted time, however, there was one more thing they needed to do before leaving.

Across the balcony, there sat Team RWBY laughing and talking about the day as they finished things before bed. They cared little for the girl with the bow and the one with white hair, blood-red orbs were focused more on the sisters, more so on the energetic blond who made a terrible joke that resulted in silent groans and head shakes from the rest of her team.

Typical... they mused before finally pulling away from the scene. The unknown watcher felt a wave of sadness behind their sanguine eyes before transforming, changing their form into that of a bird flying off into the distance. I wonder how long those smiles will last?

Unknown to the figure, Professor Ozpin happened to be in his office observing the grounds of the school when it passed by. He didn't so much as flinch when the bird soared by him, almost making eye contact. To anyone else, they would be forgiven for thinking that a bird could direct warning and anger behind its gaze, but Ozpin was not just anyone else, feeling the brunt of those emotions and more before the raven disappeared from view.

"I understand..." he uttered, taking a sip of his hot chocolate.