Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows

Rating: T/M

Series: RWBY

Volume 5: Revelation

Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equals. 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:

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


Chapter 28


The scent of seawater filled the lungs of Aganju and Blake as they watched the horizon. The ocean was all that engaged his vision, the call of the gulls mixing with the boisterous waves. The fox silently leaned on the railing, hoping to calm himself as they neared their destination. He'd been a bit uneasy ever since their journey had begun and it didn't seem that things were going to change soon.

He was only a week removed from fully recovering after regaining his aura, courtesy of Raven. Normally, one would be working on getting back into shape but, sadly there was no time for that. He watched as some of the other passengers strode past, their carefree conversations drawing envy from him. His mind then began to drift back to the day that started this path. More specifically, it was the man he had admired who solidified Aganju's resolve to act.

Ironwood...


[One Week Ago]

Surprised wasn't the best way to describe Aganju yet it was the closest description possible at this point. While out meditating near the resting place of his late aunt, he managed to spot something approaching him from above. Clutching his worn weapon, his apprehension soon melted into realization when he noticed long orange hair.

Thankfully, her mechanical optics were able to ascertain his identity before landing in front of him. Against all conceivable notions, he now found himself looking into the worried eyes of none other than Penny Polendina. Even more surprising was the reality that she now possessed the powers of the winter maiden. A swirling wave of silver and blue shrouded the robotic girl until her feet touched the earth below.

"It is good to see you again, Aganju!" she greeted with a half-hearted smile, clearly showing signs of her true feelings.

"Penny?! What are you doing here? Where are the others?"

"There's not enough time," She grabbed his arms, panic finally emerging in her tone. "Is Blake with you? I have so much to say!"

Aganju brought the android girl back to the Xiao Long home, the duo was greeted by an astounded Blake Belladonna. She rushed and hugged Penny, expressing her glee, though it quickly shifted to concern as the same inquiries filled their conversation. Tai and Raven soon joined the conversation as the information was given. Penny explained the situation currently plaguing Atlas.

"So, that bastard is going to execute Qrow?!"

"Unfortunately, that seems to be the case," Penny solemnly nodded. "Even though there were other fingerprints on the weapon, the general is refuting any other options other than convicting Qrow Branwen for the murder of Clover Ebi."

"Not on our watch..." Aganju growled, his blood boiling after hearing this. Thankfully, Raven and Blake placed a hand on his shoulders, pushing the faunus to take a deep breath. It did little to calm him completely, but, it was enough to keep him from going off the deep end for the time being. "What about the others?"

Penny began to fidget a little while turning away for a moment. It seemed the bad news was nowhere near over. She explained the circumstances involving the group's incarcerated, careful to leave out any details that may anger the fox. Blake picked up on this but, she wouldn't press the matter unless it was necessary. In the meantime, it was revealed that they'd been split up, with certain 'key' members being taken by Salem while the others were left in Atlas.

She studied the faces of the four, taking in their reactions to the unfortunate news given thus far. Thankfully, she found no traces of an outburst on any of their features, showing that she'd accomplished her task of keeping things tranquil.

"Do you know who was taken by Salem?"

Hearing the desperation in Tai's voice, Penny clenched her eyes shut. She inwardly cursed the brothers for such terrible timing. Why couldn't the father of her best friend just leave well enough alone? Despite that, she bowed her head once again.

"Before I left to find you, I managed to link my mainframe to the criminal database. From what I was able to gather, Jaune Arc, Roxanne Octane, Lie Ren, and Oscar Pine are still missing after attempting to rescue the latter. Meanwhile, Yang Xiao-Long, Weiss Schnee, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, and Ruby Rose are currently in custody within Atlas' prison sector."

All eyes fell on Tai-Yang.

The older male simply stood up with a dark look on his face before heading up the stairs. The air around them grew quiet as each of the remaining guests listened intently for any sign of trouble. It was nothing short of odd for Tai to be the serious one in any circumstance, and yet, here they were. Soon, his footsteps were heard once more, the wooden steps giving way to his heavy stomps of determination.

When the others saw his form again, he was outfitted with dual gauntlets that appeared similar to Yang's older model.

"What are you doing?" concern left Raven's lips as she stood in front of her partner.

Eyeing her as if she was insane, Tai pushed past her.

"I'm going to save my daughters..."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" the pale woman crossed her arms, not at all giving in to the dark look he shot at her. "Communications are still down worldwide and you have no practical means of getting there on your own."

"Then we'll use your semblance to get there!"

"How would we get back?" she deadpanned.

"Um... I- We... Gaah!" he yelled in frustration at the woman poking holes in his impassioned disposition. "Must you always criticize my ideas, Raven?"

"Only when those ideas could result in you being reckless and getting hurt." The couple settled their little spat before returning to their seats across from a standing Penny. Though she was still learning about human interactions, she was grateful to have learned about 'reading the room' before her arrival. "Please continue, child."

"Thank you," she replied, a small grin starting to form on her lips. "There is also the matter of finding that Grimm whale. Nobody knows, not even the general, how to get in without having to fight a horde of Grimm. It would be better to try and rescue the others from his custody first. It would be a more optimal option going forward. With their search for the relics and maiden powers, they'll be too preoccupied with those tasks to expect a feat."

"So, what's the plan? Do we storm the most secure place in Atlas?"

Penny didn't miss the sarcastic edge in the foxes' tone but didn't feed into it.

"I have a better idea..."


Aganju...

Aganju?

"Aganju?" he blinked repeatedly, shaking off the fuzziness in his head. It was Penny who tried calling out to him, her eyes filled with worry for his wellbeing. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah... I must've spaced out."

"I'm sorry! I know this news isn't what you were hoping for..."

"NO! No... It's fine," he assured, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "I just got stuck in my head, but I think I'm fine now."

Penny shifted her gaze for a moment, her troubled soul growing more obvious by the second. The fox tilted his head slightly at the sudden shift in demeanor in the girl and he wasn't certain if he liked it. For her part, Penny worked to fix her face, flashing an unconvincing grin of her own.

"Something on your mind?"

"It's nothing."

"No. It's not 'nothing', Penny." he insisted firmly. "There's something you want to ask. So, just ask."

Aganju had his arms crossed now, his lips tugging into a soft frown. Penny began to fidget, clearly uncomfortable with sharing whatever truth she'd been hiding at this point. "You're concerned about Miss Nikos, aren't you?"

"Yeah..." he replied glumly. "I couldn't deny that even if I wanted to."

"What is that like?; Feeling concerned for someone?"

This was unexpected. The small and gloomy clouds began to vanish while the boy's head lifted slightly as he pondered the abrupt question. Then again, given that Penny was, technically, a robot that'd been given a soul, it wasn't abnormal for her to wonder about the machinations of humanity, particularly emotions.

"I guess, it's both a good and bad feeling..."

"What do you mean?" she asked with curiosity.

Aganju faltered somewhat, trying to find the best way to explain things without overcomplicating them. He watched the innocence dance behind Penny's green eyes as she patiently awaited his answer. It was like a child asking their parent about how the world works, sending warmth through him.

"It's a mix of feeling love for the people you care about. Having them on your mind typically makes you feel good inside. However, concern also brings with it a sense of anxiety that they may be in trouble."

"So, it's fear and hopes that fight for control within us?"

"That's one way of putting it," Aganju chuckled to himself. "Usually, in the case of our loved ones, it is a sign that they mean a lot to us. Family. Friends. Romance. Those feelings grow stronger based on how close our bonds are to others. It's a part of what makes us human."

Now it was Penny's turn to frown as she began to stare at the wood planks that made up the ship.

"I suppose it's a feeling that I can't truly understand?"

The vulpine shook his head, placing his hands on the girl's shoulders. As their eyes met, Penny watched as the Faunus did something that caught her off guard. He let out a confident smile, one that revealed his white teeth. It wasn't a 'cool guy' smirk or a grin, but a big smile that carried with it confidence and assurance.

"Penny, you said Pietro was the one who made you, right?" she bowed her head. "Then, that makes him your father, i.e. family. You've made friends with us as well. That proves that you have the potential to feel concerned, just like Blake and I. Even Ruby has said that you have a soul. No amount of machinery will change the fact that you are just like us!"

"You think so?"

"I know so, Penny. You're more human than most people I've met."

Penny giggled softly, feeling the cloud over her head begin to break away. It was comforting to know that she was viewed as more than a machine by those she considered friends. Penny then wrapped her arms around the faunus, enfolding him with glee. A surprised Aganju simply stared at her for a second before returning the embrace.

At that exact instant, Blake cleared her throat with an amused expression on her face.

"Are you trying to build a harem, Aganju?"

The pair separated in shock at the feline girl's sudden appearance.

"It's not what it looks like!" he blushed, making his sweetheart snicker in response. "Why must you be like this?"

"Because you're adorable when you fall for it. Seriously though, I'm glad you two are getting along."

Penny nodded in agreement. Atsura rolled his eyes, albeit playfully. It was nice to unwind a little, emotionally. However, they still had a mission to accomplish. The air around them became more serious as the fox turned to the raven-haired girl.

"So, anything to report?"

"We'll be reaching the shores soon enough and I was finally able to reach our contact. They'll be meeting us once we dock."

"That's good. Penny, are you sure you want to join us? You don't have to get involved if you don't have to."

Green eyes flashed with determination, making the girl's intentions known.

"We're in this together."

"Then I guess there's nothing more to say then-"

"Land Ho!" The cries of the ship's captain pulled the trio's attention. "We'll be docking into Vale in a matter of minutes."

The three watched as the kingdom of Vale grew larger as they neared her port. Anticipation flowed through their frames. This wasn't a part of the plan though. They were supposed to catch the ship to Vacuo and try to reach out to its headmaster about the summer maiden. So, why were they going to Vale?

Aganju moved a nervous gaze at Blake and Penny, the latter concerning him greatly.

They needed to be prepared before returning to Atlas and that would start with a supply run. Raven's instructions were clear, though the execution would be key once they met with their contact.


The kingdom of Atlas was in a state of misery. Her people were forced to remain indoors after General Ironwood enforced Martial Law. None of his colleagues on the council or within military ranks dared to question his actions, but they didn't approve of them either. One such decision was the incarceration of the young huntsmen after they were captured.

Below the school grounds, the slightly smaller dormitories sat. Unknown to the public, James had the underground levels worked into a prison unit as a precautionary measure. It was unjust and downright barbaric to have such a place stationed beneath a school, yet the general secretly had it built years ago, far from the knowledge of his fellow council members.

As he wandered down the various hallways, his cold and soulless gaze froze the blood of any who foolishly locked eyes with him. Some would flinch just slightly enough for his calculating glare notice; it mattered not to the high-ranking officer. Whether through respect or fear, as long as their loyalty to his mission was not in question, Ironwood cared little for the means of such a pledge.

Of course, he knew that Salem's presence had also played a huge role in his authoritarian approach. He saw the apprehension in the eyes of the inhabitants that he swore to protect. Mantle & Atlas were both petrified under their joint rule. He only acquiesced to ally with Salem with the caveat that he'd work to locate Penny Polendina, the winter maiden as collateral in exchange for protection from the Grimm.

As a result, he knew all too well that they were on borrowed time.

It's worth the sacrifice...

That is what he continued to tell himself, plunging what remained of his empathy into the depths.

He marched past the cells that housed the former students, not even sparing a glance. A few of his prisoners were still rather rambunctious such as Nora who was practically frothing at the mouth upon spotting the older man. It was clear that there was no love lost between the two, but it all became even worse after Ironwood allowed the immortal witch to take her Ren.

The same could be said about Yang Xiao Long whose eyes swelled up, enraged. He finally ceased his movements when she began pounding against the force field sealing her inside.

"YOU MONSTER!" she roared, setting her hair on fire. "I WILL KILL YOU!"

The outburst didn't last long though as a sudden surge of electricity began coursing through her body. She shrieked in agony as the metal cuff on her left wrist continued to pump extensive shocks until the blond was once again subdued.

"I suggest that you refrain from using your semblance as those restraints are going to keep shocking you."

"Shut up! I'm still going to kill you, bastard!"

James merely shook his head before pressing on. He then located his favored subordinate standing next to the cell she was specially appointed to. He noticed the conflicted look on her face, her icy orbs constantly shifting in guilt and sadness. It was a fitting punishment for her failure months prior.

"How is she, Schnee?"

"My sister still hasn't said a word to me." Winter saluted. "I've never seen her so defeated. So... broken."

"It is a small price to pay for the victory that's to come. You're not going soft on me are you?"

Even without looking directly at the special operative, Winter Schnee couldn't help but shiver somewhat from the cruelty in his tone. She continued to hold her position, not wanting to be berated by her superior. Still, it was clear that she didn't like this situation at all.

"N-not at all, sir. I will maintain my post for as long as you need me to."

"Good. Make sure the Ace-Ops are still up for the task as well when you see them. I'll be having an important meeting. Do NOT disturb me unless it's about Salem, the relic, or the winter maiden..."

"Yes... Yes, Sir."

Ironwood proceeded onward, his mind preparing for her next prisoners. Unlike the others, these two were considered far from the average inmate. He traversed a flight of stairs into a worn-out rustic hall where stifled threats and obscenities filled the cryptic corridors. The general paid little mind to what was said, rather, following them until he found herself staring at a lone door that would double as a dead end.

In front of the doorway, a stoic two of the Aces stood guard.

"Elm. Marrow."

"Sir!" they acknowledged with forced vigor.

"What's the status?"

"They've been at it for hours." the full-figured woman sighed.

James could feel the murderous intention seeping through the cracks of the room which prompted her to proceed with caution. By now, the threats had only grown louder and untamed from the inhabitants inside. "I'm going in. Report in with Schnee and do not interrupt us. Am I understood?"

Both saluted before taking their leave. Once they were no longer in sight, Ironwood finally exhaled. His eyes softened a bit, revealing the exhaustion that'd been clawing at him for what felt like an eternity. He then hesitantly approached a small keypad and pressed a short series of digits before a soft hiss granted him entry. Inside, the room was nothing more than a metallic cell, now silent as he crossed the threshold.

"You've got a lot of nerve showing your face..." the first voice snarled, murderous intent pouring from his lips.

"Qrow..."

"Save it! Don't you dare fucking patronize me, Ironwood!"

"Please, let me explain..."

"FUCK YOU!"

James looked into the death glare from the tumultuous Qrow Branwen, discerning nothing but judgment and spite. He was fortunate that the walking bad luck charm had been restrained thoroughly enough or else, he'd be worried. There was little to work with so the Atlesian turned his attention to the other denizen sitting along the far wall with a demonic glare directed at him.

Like the others, the young woman had been fitted with aura-inhibiting restraints and outfitted in an orange jumpsuit that marked her as a true inmate. She was less feral than her older cellmate, but her eyes held no less rage. Her restraints were attached to the chilly walls, preventing her from going far from her corner of the room.

"Are we comfortable Ms. Nikos?" a small amount of sympathy dressed his words. He noted how quiet the teen became even though her scowl remained. "You must forgive me for the rather unconventional wardrobe change but, it was for your good."

"I'd be a bit more comfortable if you'd let me out of this room..." she returned in a mockingly saccharine tone.

"We both know that's not happening," the man chuckled. "Besides, if you had just cooperated, you wouldn't be in this dreadful place, to begin with. You shouldn't have tried to attack my men as you did."

"It's called following my heart, general!"

"It's called INSUBORDINATION!" he yelled back, shattering his false persona. "You're actions have pushed this kingdom to the brink of destruction. If you and your little friends hadn't tried to stop my plans, we'd be away from Salem and the Grimm!"

"Then you would've condemned the rest of Mantle to death."

James Ironwood pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a migraine coming on. There was no getting through to those who were governed by their hearts instead of logic. He was right all along; it was a notion that he constantly brought up in his mind when looking back at the way things were before the witch's arrival. Now, they were racing against time.

"You're correct, hence the reason you're here while your significant others are still missing... Possibly dead. Or perhaps they've managed to escape and hide away together without you. It wouldn't surprise me to find out they'd abandon you in favor of safety; a faunus rogue and the Menagerie princess who stole him away."

That was a low blow, especially knowing that it was the missing Aganju and Blake that caused Pyrrha's breakdown. It was just another symptom of his heartless nature finally coming to the forefront. Green optics narrowed with hatred and smoldering resentment. They wouldn't do that! Yang said that he was severely injured and Blake stayed with him. However, their whereabouts were still unknown.

Her body shook. Tears began forming along the corner of her eyes. She grits her teeth as the pain pierced her heart, like a twisting knife.

"Wow. Big bad, James has been reduced to teasing children? That's low even for you."

Ironwood turned his attention back to his former ally, his calm gaze showing that he was unfazed by the insult. He walked over to the man, once more studying the ire behind those blood-red eyes.

"It's 'General' Ironwood to you both," he corrected. "I wanted to inquire with you both about the possible whereabouts of the winter maiden in exchange for a lighter sentence, but now, I see that there's no point in trying to reason with such irrational people. As of now, Qrow, your execution will commence in a week by orders of Salem. As long as it keeps her off my back, I'll give her what she wants."

Qrow spat in his face. Ironwood responded with a hard backhanded slap that echoed throughout the room. Despite the ache, the scythe-wielder started grinning. That soon shifted into a low rumbling of hilarity.

"You're calling us irrational?" he humorlessly answered. "I'm not the one who just sold out an entire kingdom, as well as his allies, out of fear."

"What do you know, Qrow?!"

"I know that before this is all over, you're going to pay for what you've done."

Ironwood turned in anger, starting for the door. As he neared the threshold, he halted his departure for a moment, sparing a look back at his prisoners.

"I hope you've made peace with the brothers by that time, Qrow..."

Leaving, the door slammed shut behind him, leaving the pair to reflect on what'd just happened. Pyrrha's life was nowhere near in danger, but, the man across from her wasn't so fortunate. Of course, what little fire he had left, flickered out almost instantly once they were locked inside.

"Same to you, James."


"So where's this contact of ours, anyway?"

Aganju, Blake, and Penny wandered the streets of Vale, each looking around the outskirts of the city. After over a year away, it was surprising to see that not much had changed since they all left. Sure, there were fewer people around, but, things appeared to be pretty normal. Most of the shops were back up and running, trying to draw in customers as they could.

For Blake, this venture was a little nerve-racking; it was a constant reminder of her failure as a friend after all. She wouldn't dwell on the issue for too long as she noticed someone near the warehouses. A woman with blond hair wearing a pencil skirt and cape stood in front of one of the structures.

"She's just up ahead." the feline tilted her head toward the figure. "Miss Goodwitch!"

Both Aganju and Penny watched as the woman turned toward them, a soft grin adorning her normally stern features. She motioned for them to heed her as she entered the warehouse. They soon followed, carefully inspecting the area out of caution.

"Children! I'm glad to see you made it!"

"Professor Goodwitch. You're our contact?"

Glynda bowed respectfully, a shadow of joy dancing behind her eyes while pushing her glasses firmly on her nose.

"Indeed. Once Miss Branwen managed to reach me, I just knew that I had to help however I could. I must admit that things here have been less than ideal but, we're slowly getting back on track with keeping the city safe from the creatures of Grimm."

"That's good to hear... Wait. We?"

Glynda, using her crop, lifted a few boxes around to reveal the answer to Aganju's question. Stepping from the darkness, a tall and slender man with green hair and a stout man with a self-proclaimed magnificent mustache emerged with confident grins on their faces.

"Professor Port?!" Blake blinked.

"Hello there, young Huntsmen!" he bellowed heartily.

"Professor Oobleck?" Aganju gawked before the man zoomed in front of him.

"Correction, DOCTOR Oobleck."

Those within shared a short laugh before returning to the matter at hand. Glynda explained what'd been going on with Beacon Academy while the three hunters shared their experiences, mostly keynotes involving Ozpin, Ironwood, and Salem. Penny made sure to give any information about the current fates of the other students as well as Qrow. Aganju made sure to add the details of Leonardo Lionheart's defection to Salems's side as well.

"So, it's come to this..." Glynda's look of contemplation hardened. "Lionheart was the reason Cinder and her forces were able to infiltrate Beacon and now Ironwood is consorting with Salem by using our students as bargaining chips?"

"It would appear so," Penny answered. "Before I left, I happened to discover the execution order on Qrow Branwen. Thankfully, his sister is working toward a plan to prevent that which is why we're here."

"Excellent! Though I am shocked to find Raven Branwen is on board, it is a relief nonetheless!"

Same old Oobleck... Blake & Aganju thought simultaneously.

"So, that just leaves the reason for you three coming here instead of going to Shade Academy."

The trio turned to one another, each a little skeptical about their detour to the kingdom. Once they revealed their reason, there would be no going back. Nevertheless, the need for this outweighed their uncertainty.

"We're here for three things..." Penny started. "First, we wanted to let you know that I am the current Winter Maiden. I intended to keep this a secret but, we are looking to use this as a way to combat the Grimm and get down to the vault below the school."

"But, why?" Goodwitch raised an eyebrow.

This time Aganju stepped forward. His eyes reflected the conflict behind them, alerting Glynda immediately. Without a word, she pleaded with the faunus not to bring it up. Despite her best efforts, he had already made up his mind.

"I need Raiva e Miseria..."

"Why on earth would you want that old thing?" Oobleck questioned, chuckling nervously. "It's nothing more than..."

"Professor Ozpin told me all about it before. It's a mystical weapon that resonates with the soul of its wielder," Aganju frowned deeply. "My old blade is useless now and I need another one if I'm going to be of use. With Ironwood and Salem buddies at this point, I'm going to need that weapon to stand a chance."

"Young man, using that isn't wise. Surely, you've learned from Oz's notes that it's a cursed relic created to..." Port suddenly stopped in realization. "You're going to use it for that, aren't you?"

He silently nodded.

The darkness behind his eyes troubled the educators, but Blake and Penny were left clueless as to what Aganju was talking about. The more they talked, the more Blake realized that this was heading toward more division. The fox didn't back down from the repudiation, standing firm in his perspective. However, none of the teachers would relent either, creating an impasse.

"It could give us the edge we need to win!"

"Young man! This is nothing more than a display of force, one that will result in nothing more than needless bloodshed and turmoil in the long run." Glynda fired back, growing more impatient by the minute. "Have you ever considered the reason why Ozpin never told you where he put it?"

"It would be in the vault, right? He has it stashed with the relic of choice; it only makes sense."

The headmistress spared a glance at the girls before sighing to herself.

"It seems that his secrets go beyond our circle," she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Raiva e Miseria acts like a symbiote, drawing on the aura of its host. It's a cursed relic that belonged to the god of darkness. It would drive the wielder to madness to the point where they would be like a Grimm in human form. Ozpin knew this and decided to mention it only because it echoed its call to you... To the part of you that remains dormant."

Aganju tilted his head in confusion but he didn't speak. He'd only touched it once, in secret. That moment was intense, to say the least, and he kept that experience to himself. What he saw that day was not something he'd want to witness again. Professor Goodwitch made a solid point.

"What can we do then? I still need a weapon and..."

"You finally realized it, haven't you?"

Blake finally broke her silence, watching as her crush dropped his head in frustration. Port and Oobleck smiled sadly at the young male, each placing a hand on his shoulders.

"What's going on? Aganju?"

"You haven't told them yet?"

He bit his lip, turning to the feline with disappointment behind his gaze.

"I... I don't have a semblance, Blake," she blinked in confusion.

"That doesn't make sense. I watched you during the Vytal festival when you used your semblance on that girl!"

Aganju was about to speak when Glynda stepped in. She flashed a look that requested his permission to explain and he agreed. Words were exchanged while the men left with the faunus. A lot needed to be explained but they were running out of time.


Unknown to everyone, including herself, her eyes began broadcasting a visual signal, although the quality was terrible. The spectator watched intently, a wicked grin forming on their mustache face. Due to the lack of global communication, it was a stretch to get any form of signal through the android, especially when she arrived at Patch.

Now in Vale, he was able to make out bits and pieces to try and ascertain what was going on. "This should prove rather interesting. Perhaps, her Grace would like to know more about this 'new relic'?"

Cracking his fingers, the male got to work trying to pull up more information. He did his best, grabbing any tidbit of knowledge whilst blocking out the screams of suffering from outside of his room. He truly loathed the barbaric use of force, preferring a more technical approach but...

"That's merely Tyrian's way. Or was it Cinder?"

Just as he said that he heard the faunus's demented cackles from outside his door along with the angry grunts of Cinder Fall. It wasn't any of his business what happened to the lot and he wouldn't make it his business unless it was necessary. For now, he was content with tinkering with the codes and files flashing before him regarding the weapon, only stopping once he found the one he'd been searching for.

As he read the contents, he marveled at such a demonic tool, admiring the possibilities of its many uses. Though he knew little of its true nature, Arthur Watts couldn't help but grin wickedly as the chorus of torture continued to ring behind him.

"I must inform her immediately."

As if on cue, he heard the door begin to creak open. The familiar sounds of tentacles and cracking filled his ears, as Watts turned around in his seat. Right on time. he mused as the seer Grimm approached. The sanguine clouds soon gave way to the image of a calm Salem.

"Any progress, Watts?"

"Yes, ma'am. I am happy to report that while it is a little clunky due to the CCT being down still, I was able to track down the machine that holds the maiden's power. She's currently in Vale alongside Ozpin's allies, Goodwitch, Port, and Oobleck."

"Excellent. I'll send young Cinder to retrieve her immediately..."

"Actually, ma'am..." he interrupted, watching what little smile she had quickly morphed into a dark scowl for his discourteous act. "I don't mean to be rude, but there is more to report."

"What else is it, Arthur?"

"She's being accompanied by the Belladonna girl and the Branwen boy."

Salem's scowl then turned into chaos as her brows knitted together in perplexion.

"Branwen boy?"

"Erm... I believe his name is Aganju, ma'am. The boy who vanished before you arrived at Atlas. They appear to be in Vale looking for the Summer maiden, though the connection through Ironwood's doll gave out before I could gather where. I'm sure it'll have something to do with Beacon and the vault possibly."

Salem took the man's words to heart, pondering her next move carefully. She'd only had indirect forms of contact with the boy and yet, she felt a steady smoldering anger welling up from within her. Perhaps, it was because of his involvement with her 'dear Oz'? Or maybe it was how he came to possess magic during his encounter in Mistral? No... it was something far more personal that made the woman's already bloody eyes glow hot in rage.

Should she send Cinder, her Fall Maiden?

She couldn't afford to have her lose control though.

Not like this.

"Is there anything else to report?"

"Well, have you ever heard of Ravia e Miseria?"

For the first time in the conversation, Salem relaxed in wicked glee, upon hearing that name. It was like seeing a child's eyes light up after being told they'd get ice cream. Arthur explained his findings, further granting the eternal being repose.

"In that case, inform Cinder and Tyrian that I want them to locate the children. I want them to scout out their whereabouts and observe until they can confirm that they've either found the vault, maiden, or weapon."

The former Atlesian scientist agreed to the command.

"It shall be done."

"Oh, and Watts?" she called out just before he ended the feed.

"Y-yes ma'am?"

"Make sure that young Cinder understands this: If she should engage the boy, I want him brought to me alive. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"...And unharmed," Salem added, her eyes flaring with resolute authority. "Ever since Beacon, I've been curious about her connection with the faunus and it's becoming an issue. Inform her that I don't want a repeat of their previous encounter in Atlas. Understood?"

"As you wish..."

Arthur Watts watched as Salem's face soon departed, leaving only the cloud inside of the creature. Her face, while still eager, held a hidden promise of punishment that would be inflicted on any who failed her at this point. With his role as simple as relaying a message, the good doctor scurried off to find the pair, making sure to use the painful cries for direction.

Meanwhile, in her chamber, Salem sat along the edge of her bed in deep contemplation. After the good news, one would think that she'd be pleased. Surprisingly, she felt something inside of her that she hadn't felt in her soul in millennia...

Anxiety.

With everything so near yet so distant, she couldn't steady her now widespread thoughts. The closest thing she had to solace was the prospect of getting the artifact that'd eluded her for so long as well as the possibility of capturing the maiden. She figured that whoever it was, they'd be in Vacuo but if they were in Vale, she wasn't going to complain.

Still, this tiny amount of pleasantry did little to calm her nerves. She reached over to her nightstand, opening the top drawer. Inside, were various clear orbs that rolled around before one was lifted into his hand. This one, in particular, began to glow a sickly pale yellow before an image started to appear. She watched as an illustration of a baby faunus crying flashed from the sphere.

Its soft and innocent wails gave way to a darker image of the child right outside of Sanctum Academy protecting a young girl with red hair. His eyes truly matched hers, if only for a moment, before returning to their normal hues. She replayed the visual over and over again, each time making her heartache as if she'd known the boy all of his life.

So, why couldn't she recall anything about him? Only a subtle melody rang a bell.

"...One day when you're big and strong," she mumbled to herself. "...you'll shed the blood of kings."