Chapter 20 – Ozpin
Ozpin makes his way to the infirmary at the Academy. As he walks over, he sees the other teachers escorting students to airships to help evacuate the kingdom. He arrives in the room to sees Jaune and Pyrrha of Team JNPR and Ruby and Blake of Team RWBY surrounding the wounded Ren. He was banged up over his chest over what had happened last night.
"Students, did you hear the announcement? The wounded are meant to be evacuated first. Why are you all here still?" He says fearing the answer. The student all look at each other and trying to find a reason that could allow them to stay and fight. The first to speak up is Pyrrha.
"Professor Ozpin, we want to help defend this school. All of us are trained and capable of fighting. We all do not want to see this place overrun."
"What about your comrade Ren, he is in no condition to fight." Ozpin answers.
"And he will not, we are just trying to connive Nora to let him leave but she keep saying she did not want him to miss all the action. She ran off saying she would return with a way to heal him." Jaune responds.
"Professor Ozpin, we cannot have this Academy fall to our enemies. We have battled them before a beat them, let us help you." Blake beseeches the professor.
"You cannot have that mindset now, this is different. Our enemies are much stronger than you realize. If you try to fight them, you may end up like your friends yesterday!" Ozpin shouts as the room grows silent. He then goes silent as he realizes what he said. Ruby tries to speak up.
"We know the risks, but we still have to take them out to protect what we care about. That is what our friends believed in. Now please, let us help in the fight." Ozpin listens as he looks into Ruby's silver eyes.
"…Alright, but Ren has to be evacuated. Go to the gate of the academy and you will meet a team that is going to intercept our enemies. Be careful, our enemies are going to be incredibly strong because they are from another world, as unrealistic that sounds." Ozpin says begrudgingly as he walks out the room. The students all look at each other in with a mix of confusion and worry.
On his way out the room, Ozpin bumps into Nora carrying a large, fully cooked chicken.
"What are you doing with that, Miss Valkyrie?" Ozpin says.
"This is for Ren, so he can get his strength back for the fight." Nora says before she walks in the room filled with her friends. Ozpin looks in back at her in astonishment but remembers this is not the strangest thing someone has said to him today. He starts run back to the Beacon tower.
"So, what did I miss?" Nora says in a bubbly tone.
"Nora, where did you get that chicken?" Jaune say as he points to the food.
"It was in the cafeteria, nobody was eating it so I took it. Now Ren can get back his strength for the fighting Grimm." Nora says as she drops the plate on Ren's lap.
"Nora, I am not eating this because I am not going." Ren says as he pushes back the plate. Nora frowns as looks at her friends.
"He was stabled near the heart and still has not recovered his aura." Pyrrha says, "He has to be evacuated." Nora looks down at Ren's wound.
"It is okay, I know you can beat the enemies without me. I will sit this one out." Ren says in a non-regretful tone to Nora. Slightly smiles back as she picks up the cooked chicken
"We will get someone to take you to an evacuation airship on our way out." Blake says to Ren as she the others walk out the room.
Ren nods. Once his friends are far enough away, he looks down, tightening his grip and shutting his eyes. Tears begin to form as he speaks.
"Please, do not die."