Chapter 2: Cast in Eternity
The girls stood in front of the strange warrior, weapons ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Their opponent watched them, completely unfazed by the weapons aimed at him.
Seconds of dreading silence passed before Weiss regained her composure.
"Who are you? I´ve never seen those symbols, that are all over this place. Where are we anyway?", the questions poured out of her mouth like a waterfall.
"As i said my name is Ralhyn, i am a tenno of the Naramon school.", Ralhyn answered calmly.
"To answer your question for the symbols, that is tennobeth, the language used by my kind.
Regarding the place we are right now. I think you would call it a tomb or something like that"
"A tomb… like an ancient burial ground?", Blake wondered.
"Well not that i was actually buried here, more like put to sleep.", Rahly commented, scratching the back of her helmet.
"How long did you sleep?", asked Ruby, lowering crescent rose.
"Karis, how long?", Ralhyn asked turning to the object behind her.
"It's been approximately 3521 years 4 months and 8 days since you entered cryosleep", replied Karis in a robotic manner.
"There is your answer, red… That reminds me: Who are you?", the tenno asked the four girls.
"I am Ruby Rose, leader of team RWBY, i know, it's confusing.", introduce Ruby herself.
"My name is Weiss Schnee, heiress of the Schnee Dust company, the….", said Weiss only to be interrupted by Ralhyn.
"Yea, yea ice queen, i wanted to know your names not your family history.."
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?", pouted Weiss at the rude comment.
"She does have a point, Weiss. My name is Blake Belladonna, nice to meet you.", said Blake bowing her head slightly.
"And finally… I´m Yang Xiao Long, Ruby's half-sister.", added Yang.
"So… why are you here?... My guess would be you were sent by someone who knows of our existence.", Ralhyn demanded of the group of girls.
"We were sent by our headmaster, to investigate something. He didn't tell us much details, only where to go.", answered Ruby.
"I would like to meet that head master of yours, if possible.", stated the tenno calmly.
"Well it will be a long trip, since it took us about a day to get here.", commented Blake.
"That should be less of a problem. We can take my ship.", said Ralhyn earning looks of disbelief from team RWBY.
"The only entrance is a tiny hole in the side of the hill. How do you want to get your ship out of here?", asked Yang.
"Ever wondered how it got down here in the first place?," commented Ralhyn with a smile resonating in her voice.
"Now get in there and i will show you something pretty cool."
The ride was shorter than any of them expected. It took the group a little over 15 minutes to reach the cliffs near beacon academy.
In the meantime, Ralhyn had changed her armor into a more female looking on, wearing something similar to a hood, covering her head. In addition she had grabbed a bow, some throwing knifes and a short dagger from her armory, which was located in the center part of her ship.
Karis, who turned out to be an artificial intelligence, a so called cephalon, piloted the ship so that the passengers could drop straight onto the top of the cliffs.
"Karis, while we are away, stay hidden. Reveal yourself only if absolutely necessary, understood?", ordered Ralhyn the cephalon.
The ship faded into invisibility as it landed at the bottom of the cliffs, disengaging its engines.
"Well now, lead the way to that headmaster of yours. I will follow silently.", with those words also Ralhyn turned invisible with a nearly silent laugh.
"Right, we should pay Professor Ozpin a visit. Let's go.", said Ruby
Ozpin sat in his office, sipping his coffee, reading reports of different missions and about the progress the preparations for the Vytal festival had made that day.
"Professor?", said Ruby as the elevator door to Ozpin's office opened.
"Ah, Miss Rose. I see you already returned. What can i do for you?, asked Ozpin, lowering his Scroll.
"There is someone who would like to meet you.", replied Ruby as she stepped aside, revealing the Ralhyn in her hooded armor.
"I see. And may i ask who you are?", questioned Ozpin.
"My name is Ralhyn, and i am a tenno of the Naramon school. It's an honor to meet you, sir.", replied the tenno, bowing in respect.
"I am glad to see, that my suspicion turned out to be true.", said Ozpin, stroking his chin with one hand.
"Suspicion,sir? What suspicion?", asked Ruby, tilting her head in a questioning manner.
"The suspicion regarding the legends of ancient guardians, who fought for balance on remnant.", replied Ozpin.
"I think i heard those legends before. In a time before the kingdoms or huntsmen. There were warriors, cast in metal and light, fighting for balance in the world. Guided by a motherly presence.", recited Blake.
"That is correct, Miss Belladonna.", commented Ozpin.
"It is also said that in a time of need, these guardians, the tenno as they called themself, will rise once more to bring balance to the world."
"So you were serious about it, Oz", said a male voice, coming from the elevators. The person attached to said voice was none other than Qrow Branwen, Ruby and Yang's uncle.
"Serious? About what uncle Qrow?", asked the little red reaper.
"About sending the five of you to retrieve an important object from a highly concealed place.", relied Qrow.
"I would like to ask you not to talk about my body as an object.", Ralhyn commented dryly.
"Your body?", wondered team RWBY in unison.
"But you're standing right in front of us…", added Yang.
"Well, that is only partly true. "While my conscious currently resides in this body, my true self lies hidden and locked away in the second dream.", explained the tenno to the confused girls.
"It will be your task to assist Miss Ralhyn in retrieving her true self and bring both back here.", stated Ozpin.
"In the meantime we will prepare something for our new friend here.", added Qrow, arms crossed in front of his chest.
"I recommend you leave as soon as possible, Miss Rose.", commanded Ozpin.
With a confirming nod the team and their extra headed for the elevators.
As soon as the elevator door closed Qrow turned to Ozpin.
"You´re sure they will be able to handle this,Oz?", he asked, sorrow hinting in his voice.
"I´m sure they are ready. Remember two of them are your nieces.", replied Ozpin, his tone calm and collected as ever.
"That's exactly why i'm worried…", commented Qrow adding a light chuckle to it.