Chapter 5 Honor
Glynda stood in the center of the classroom, watching for any signs of cheating while the test was in progress. Having already made an example of Cardin Winchester last semester, she really didn't expect a repeat performance.
The perpetual frown deepened at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. As Edda moved into the doorway she met him with an icy glare. 'Not now!' she silently mouthed at him.
A shrug of the shoulders told her he was going to follow through anyway. " Professor Goodwitch?"
It was the politest request she'd had from him in twenty years, but not enough to excuse his actions.
" Yes Mister Odson?"
The tone of her response seemed to drop the temperature in the room several degrees. The students were rather pointedly trying not to look up from their papers, a few failing.
" I fear I require one of your students at this time."
Pens stopped moving aimlessly as everyone gave up the attempt to look interested in the assignment, all eyes on the pair.
Her eyes promised retribution for this.
" Very well!"
" Weiss Schnee! You will come with me, please."
Weiss looked down at the test paper sadly. An entire night of studying wasted!
Ruby's elbow connecting with hers , a pointed reminder that an answer was still necessary.
Dropping the pen, she stood. " Yes sir." She was about to ask her partner to take her books back to the dorm room when the redhead winked at her.
" Good luck, Weiss!"
She sniffed scornfully. " Luck will have nothing to do with it!"
Glynda stepped in front of the old Hunter.
" Miss Schnee, you will have the chance to take this test tomorrow during your free period."
The girl's relief was apparent on her face. " Thank you, professor."
This was not as easy as she'd anticipated. Every blow, Dust blast, or glyph had been blocked, deflected, or dodged. The wily old Hunter had frustrated every attack she'd made since they started.
'One last thing to try!'
Holding out her right hand, she extended the first two fingers and gave a flip of the wrist.
Seven shining glyphs appeared around him instantly. A backwards sweep of the arm created the eighth behind her. Leaping onto it, she streaked across the room at her opponent.
Confidence turned to consternation as she watched him copy her move, using the glyph she'd intended to land on. Shield foremost, he rocketed at her, the impact sending the girl spinning across the room.
Sheathing his sword, Edda strode across the room to where she was sitting on the floor. Looking down at the dizzy girl, he grasped her hand, helping her to stand.
Staring at him wide-eyed, she flapped a hand towards the spot her glyphs had been. "What?...How?"
Still holding her hand, he led the way to the chairs, stopping briefly to retrieve her weapon. Once they were seated, he began to explain.
Holding Myrtenmaster crosswise between them, he spun the chamber until a Fire crystal aligned with the edge. The blade began to glow as he looked across it.
" Glyphs are powerful weapons, but like any weapon they can be turned against you by anyone who knows how." Extinguishing the blade, he placed the hilt in her hand.
" You must learn to make them your own, usable only by you. I will ask Professor Goodwitch to add that to your lesson plan."
Humbled, she took the weapon and clipped it to her belt.
" Thank you, sir."
Taking her hands between his, he let his Semblance reach inwards to touch hers.
She sits at a dead man's desk.
Older now, she looks back across the years and thinks of the price she and others have paid to reach this instant.
With a silver pen, she signs the paperwork in front of her. From this day forward, Faunas employed by the Schnee Dust Company will be treated in all ways as equal to humans. A sense of accomplishment settles over her as the pen is capped. With a simple signature her family's honor is restored.
Reaching to one side of the desk, she retrieves a wide picture frame from the polished surface. Sitting back in the tall chair, she gazes fondly at the mass of people displayed on it.
Taken in her last year at Beacon, they are all of the friends she'd made in four years.
" I wish you all could be here!" she whispers to the empty office.
Weiss was looking a little disconcerted when the vision left him. His gentle smile seemed to relieve her a bit.
" Miss Schnee, you are greatly concerned about your family's honor, aren't you?"
Unable to comprehend how this strange man would know about that, she could only nod in response.
" Child, you have received a wonderful gift. True friends who care greatly about you, friends who will do anything to see you achieve your goal even at the risk of their own lives. They will be the key to restoring that honor."
As he spoke, he gently opened her hands with his, revealing a small key with four joined hearts forming it's base.
Awed, she looked up at him. " How did you do that?"
Releasing her hands, he sat back in his chair. " Young lady, there are two types of magic in this world. You and Professor Goodwitch wield what is commonly called ' Greater Magic'. This allows for attack and defense, such as your glyphs." He gestured towards the key. " The ' Smaller Magic' is less well known and much, much weaker. Among the Hunters and Hunteress' one in ten is capable of 'Greater Magic', one in ten thousand can use ' Smaller'. I discovered my ability when my Semblance first appeared. It allows me to do only little things." He smiled wanly. " Your teacher could destroy and rebuild a city block if she put her mind to it! In comparison, the best I could do is pop a soap bubble."
Weiss was smiling at the analogy when he pointed at the four hearts on the key.
" There will be three who will help you most. Their spirits, joined with yours, will allow you to overcome any obstacle in the path to your goal!" Rising, he offered a hand to help her up.
" Take the rest of the day and consider what we have discussed."
Holding onto his hand, she squeezed it tightly. " Thank you Mister Odson!"
" Call me Edda, for I would be honored to be considered a friend."
" Thank you...Edda."