It took days before Vale was returning to a sense of normalcy. After the Grimm horde had been pushed back, Atlas machinery returned to their control, and White Fang members arrested, much of the things that happened during those few days were spent in searching for survivors. Those that did not were then gathered in one place as a mass funeral ceremony was being held for the dead. Friends, families, loved ones were all gathered as one to pay their respects and say farewell to those who were unfortunate enough to have met such an end. Civilians, soldiers and huntsmen were all mixed with no sense of division among them. In death, they found solace in one another's companionship regardless of where their place is in society.

For those of Beacon Academy, they felt their lost when the figure of their former headmaster Ozpin was among them. The professors and staff were there and were the ones who cried the most. There were also teams who lost their members. Team CRDL lost Sky Lark at the hands of Mercury Black. Their only reprieve was that the culprit, along with Emerald Sustrai and a lifeless Cinder Fall, were caught. General James Ironwood personally handled their interrogation after giving Jeanne his thanks. She had honestly never seen any stronger conviction or focus in anyone else. He promised them a reward for their efforts.

Jaune had requested that Ren and Nora be a part of this secret as their reward. It would have been suspicious if Jeanne was able to manifest herself indefinitely without draining his aura, and his semblance evolving to be more efficient to this scale would have been noticeable to them. As such, they were eventually let it on the truth on the condition that no one else would know from them.

"So, you are uncertain as to where the Fall Maiden's powers went, Jeanne?" now headmistress Glynda Goodwitch asked. The two were in a single tent, the acting-headmistress of Beacon was busy handling all other affairs relating to the school and was thus was mostly found here in case anyone has any immediate concerns. "We might have to start searching again, then."

"Should I have kept her alive?" Jeanne asked.

Goodwitch shook her head. "Ideally, yes. It would have been better if we could transfer those powers to someone else. However, given the circumstances, I will not reprimand you for this. Our only concern now is whether the next Maiden will be loyal to our enemies or if they can be brought in soon. Even if they choose to be neither, so long as she would not be with them would be well enough. We will have to search for them again. Although, with recent developments, there might be a change in dynamics."

Jeanne didn't need to be told that Goodwitch meant her, the fifth Maiden. The Holy Maiden, as she has been called. During the funeral ceremony, Jeanne gave her prayers as a saint should when it came to the departed. While helping everyone else, some have claimed that they felt a calming presence whenever she was around. At some point, someone had started to call her a Holy Maiden and it stuck. Jeanne internally laughed at the thought. Some things never change, huh?

Ozpin, before passing, chose to break away from traditions and made a fifth Maiden. What magic he had left was now completely gone. Much like how team JNPR had a fifth member, Jeanne is now an addition to a group of four. Although, it wasn't really a formal group. She could still dematerialize as before. Both she and Jaune agreed that most of the time, Jeanne would be the one to have access it. It was most helpful that Jaune's aura could be used more liberally now that she had her own power to rely on. They were uncertain if there is a limit to her powers or if she could use it indefinitely. If it was the latter then there would be no problems. If it were the former then they'll worry about it when it arrives.

"So, what now?" Jeanne asked.

"Right now," Goodwitch replied. "Beacon would need to repair and rebuild. Any Beacon student is free to transfer to the other academies should they wish to continue their education. Those that choose to stay here would be held back until our facilities are up and running again."

"I mean about me. These Maidens. Relics. What are we going to do about it?"

Goodwitch leaned back on her chair. Her expression spoke of a deep contemplation. They were still students, after all. Even with the powers of a Maiden, there were still dangers that lie outside of Vale. It was the mistake that they had made with Amber when she traveled alone. Jeanne wouldn't be alone but it was still a risk. It would be difficult making the decisions without Ozpin's advice here.

Finally, Goodwitch said, "I'll have something for you five when James comes back from his interrogation. They had come from Haven Academy so perhaps we might send you there. The headmaster there has questions that he needs to answer to, if nothing else. Until then, I suggest you rest and recover with the rest of your team. Dismissed."

With a final bow, Jeanne then turned and exited the tent. Outside, the repairs were still ongoing. Ruble was being cleared and missing people were still being found. No Atlas machinery can be seen for they were recalled. The people were understandably nervous around them. To add to that, Atlas soldiers removed their helmets. Perhaps by seeing faces of people rather than machines, they could calm down better.

Huntsmen and huntresses who were still able were more focused at the Grimm just outside the walls. With the incident that has occurred, negativity was rather high. Paranoia, anger, grief and many more were drawing Grimm like easy food for predators and scavengers. Any good news was met with jubilation. They needed any positivity they could get to combat the negative if they were to keep going like this.

Jeanne stopped when she saw Cardin Winchester. He was doing his daily routine of bringing flowers and candle. She could still feel a tinge of guilt in her heart at the sight of him. I asked him for help and his teammate paid the price. He never showed it in front of her. Never showed any anger or pointed the finger at her. Didn't scream that if she never asked, Sky would still be here. Jeanne felt that this was worse. She kept her distance and waited until he was done before Jeanne herself would visit Sky.

She did not have that luxury this time. "Don't," Cardin said as he caught her. "You want to visit the guy. You visit the guy."

There was no response that Jeanne could have made. Instead, she chose to do as he asked and stood beside him as they both stared at the inscription on the tombstone for what felt like many times this week. It still feels as though it was their first time seeing his name there. She was the first to leave. Cardin usually stayed until night, spending his training period with the rest of his team there. In a way, team CRDL was still together. It was a miracle that he recovered quickly. Then again, he wasn't moving as fast as he usually does; he's still taking it easy. Either that or he didn't have much energy to keep going after what had just happened.

Jeanne went on around the city. Wherever she could, she would help with whatever was necessary. This could be some rebuilding process or caring for someone still ailing or wounded. At some point, she met up with Jaune's father—her father—Jacques Arc.

"Grimm excursion up north," he said. "Much fewer this time. Things are looking up for Vale, it seems."

"That's good." He usually starts like this. Often making some kind of report before going for a more casual talk.

"How about you?" There it was. "You doing okay?"

"As good as I'll ever be, dad," she replied. Sadly, she couldn't tell him about her current circumstance either. At the moment, for the public, Jeanne and Jaune had to keep their peculiar status a secret. As such, Jeanne would still periodically dematerialize just to maintain the loss of aura. She couldn't do that to her father just to escape that conversation. "Beacon is lost however. Many students are choosing to transfer to other schools to finish their education. Those that didn't will be stuck behind."

Jacques Arc waved his hand in dismissal. "There's more than one way to be a huntsman. Besides, with what you all did here, I'd say you all more than earned that right just pass the exams."

"Thank you, dad." Jeanne bowed her head. It was an opening taken as he gave her a pat on the head. She didn't really resist. "Where is Jaune by the way?" she asked with messy hair.

"With the rest of your team, of course. That partner of his got one major beating and is only just recovered. It will take days before she can move without exhausting too quickly."

Pyrrha Nikos really needed it. When team JNPR reunited, it was more for the two blondes. The other three were still out by the time they arrived. By now at least, Ren and Nora should be doing well enough to walk around. When Jeanne arrived, Pyrrha was still asleep. Her aura had been low for a long while now, working overtime to heal all her injuries like that. Jeanne took a seat next to Jaune.

"Hey," Jaune greeted. Ren and Nora were out, walking as a means to recover themselves and return to their best conditions. "What did they say? Anything we can do?"

"We'll have to wait on General Ironwood on that," she replied. "All we do know is that Haven Academy is our lead."

Jaune nodded. "Team RWBY is still recovering for the most part. Well, three of them anyway."

The two of them sighed. They believed that it was more than an overbearing father but Weiss was sent back to Atlas. The other three are still recovering all the way back at Patch, the home of Ruby and Yang. Ruby especially needed that time to recover with what she went through. Blake was a welcome guest at that household.

"So this is it, huh?" Jaune then said. "After all this, we just sit around and wait?"

"It's still fresh. Give it a few days and we should have something else to do."

"I know. I just feel like there could be more that we could do here."

"We do." Jeanne made no argument. "Rebuilding homes, finding the lost, burying the departed—" she nearly choked when she said that last part. It was never easy when these things happen. "But the night has passed. A new day is coming and I like to think that it means something."

Jaune's eyes were closed as his lips curved upwards. He then stood and extended a hand. "Then, we should be going out there doing some good, yeah?"

Jeanne took his hand. After one last farewell to a still sleeping Pyrrha Nikos, she said, "just follow my lead, Master."

It had taken a few more days before they all reunited properly. By then, the interrogation had been finished and they all received their answers. All five members of team JNPR then made their preparations for their next mission. It was suggested that they would have to do so under the pretense that they wish to investigate on their own and take matter into their own hands. After everything that has happened, there were certainly enough individuals who would probably investigate on their own.

Team JNPR accepted it without question. All five of them made their preparations as they were tasked to follow their lead in Haven. They still have much to do.

/-/

Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch sat in her chair. After having given team JNPR their missions, she resumed in the rebuilding process of Beacon and the affected areas of Vale. A crow smelling of alchohol landed nearby.

"Was it really a good idea to send them?" Qrow asked.

"James has retrieved his information," Glynda responded. "It seems that Haven is compromised. We can't spread ourselves too thin and it would be better that they go under the pretense that they wish to right the wrongs on their own." She then turned to face the huntsman. "How are your nieces?"

"Recovering," he replied. "Wasn't surprised that Ruby tried to take on that Wyvern on her own. Just glad that she's alright."

Glynda smiled.

"Still," he continued. "Why those five?"

The new headmistress of Beacon gave Qrow a newspaper article. On it, it showed the five members helping out in the relief effort. Journalists have noted that such an action gave some kind of elevation to the people. It was a good thing as they needed it to combat the negativity that would attract the Grimm. "Ozpin once told us that by uniting humanity, we would be able to defeat her once and for all. This might be a good step towards that."

"Uniting everyone, huh," said Qrow. "Sure is a lot to ask for a tournament fighter."

"I wasn't referring to Miss Nikos, Qrow." Glynda waited for a response. When his surprised expression did not change, she continued. "It is a gamble, I know. But somehow, I have faith in our more public Maiden."

Qrow then looked back at the paper in his hands. There was one statement there in particular that had his attention. When he read that again, he snickered.

That statement that was read contained the words "The Holy Maiden." Qrow shook his head. They were hiding in plain sight.

AN: With that, Ideal Semblance must come to an end. As said in last chapter, I'll be back here someday in sequel format. In the meantime, I'll finish up Knight War Order and try out some other ideas for fics that I noted down throughout this time. Feel free to leave your reviews and comments.