Beacon Academy Armory-

Ruby Rose. Huntress in training, consumer of cookies...and unrepentant gun nut. She'd built her own High Caliber Sniper Scythe before she'd turned sixteen. Dust-enhanced weaponry was her passion. It's fair to say she got on better with people than weapons.

Just not today.

"Stupid mainspring! Just. Go. In. Your. Slot!"

Ruby had Myrtenaster's revolving dust dispenser carefully disassembled. What she hadn't expected was to be greeted by a mechanism more like a fine watch than a gun. It was a beautiful piece...without a doubt the finest craftsmanship she'd ever seen in a weapon. But she'd needed to ditch her screwdriver for jewelers tools, and a five minute spring repair was approaching hour two.

There. It's back in! Weiss is gonna be so proud of me!

Speak of the devil…

INCOMING CALL FROM: WEISS SCHNEE

Ruby snapped her scroll of the workbench.

"Hey, Ruby? You missed lunch. Is everything ok?"

"Yeah yeah Weiss, all fine. I just finished up down here. Why don't you come check it out?"

"I'll be right there." Weiss ended the call and started for the armory.

Ruby was alone in the room...or so she thought. But another malicious presence hid in the shadows.

ScANning.

From a long slumber, the heart of an ancient devil began to thaw.

ThiS OnE IS NOt CoMPatIBle

It took stock of it's surroundings, shook away the dust of a millenia spent asleep...

AuRa Level InSuFFiciEnt.

ConTAiner MISmaTCH.

And discovered it's new prison.

Ruby spun around when she felt it. Somebody entering the room.

"Oh hey Weiss! That was…."

Nobody was there.

Not that she could see at least.

The lights on the cigar case on Port's workbench were now a soft orange.

Beacon Academy Lecture Hall

"...and with that, students, the Second Battle of Blood Gulch ended in a crushing defeat for Lopez the Heavy! Simply devastating beyond words! And as his army lay in ruins he said..."

Professor Oobleck paused for a moment, searching for the words to end the tangent he'd taken his class on yet again. The end-of-period bell cut him off. "That's all for today class! Remember: there will be a test on Tuesday! Origins of the great war! DO! NOT! BE! LATE!"

The students of Beacon Academy rushed out at the stroke of the hour. Weiss collected her papers but remained behind. She had a few questions of her own, and a suspicion the wily professor might hold some answers.

"Doctor Oobleck! Do you have a few moments?"

"For an inquiring academic mind? Of course! Though it's rare to see you without the red one these days! Skipping class again is she?"

"She's in the armory."

"And I'm in my lecture hall. We all have our places, don't we? Now what did you want to know?" Oobleck downed another cup of coffee.

You know, I've never seen him fill those up…hmm

"I had some questions about aura. And creatures of Grimm." Weiss wasn't quite sure how to approach her question. Grimm with aura...living suits of armor...it sounded like a fairytale. She's wouldn't believe it herself if she hadn't fought one.

"That's more Port's area, but I'll tell you what I can."

"Ok. Then what do you know about possession-type Grimm?" Weiss had no idea the magnitude of what she's just asked.

"Hush! Where did you even hear that term!? That's nothing a student-even an honor student like yourself-should know about!"

"I fought one. At least I suspect I did. That's what gave me this scar." Weiss traced the dueling scar that marred her otherwise flawless beauty.

Oobleck drew close to Weiss, his voice now a harsh whisper. "I'll have to clear it with Ozpin, but if he's OK with it...I think I can answer some questions. No promises."

First National Magic University Affiliated High School

It was December 2095, and for the first time in nearly a month the Shiba siblings could rest easy in their well-appointed apartment. Tatsuya had neither duties in his guises as Taurus Silver nor Special Lieutenant Ooguro Ryuuya to attend to this Sunday, which left him free to spoil his precious Miyuki.

Though modern home automation could handle any household duties, Miyuki still took it upon herself to prepare her brother a fresh meal in the French style. To complete the theme she somehow procured a dress in the style of a French Maid of the previous century...though Tatsuya appreciated the touch, he couldn't help but think perhaps his cute sister had mixed the roles of Maid and Chef...though in light of her present cheerful mood, he knew better than to bring such mistakes up.

Tatsuya couldn't understand why Miyuki wouldn't just make reservations in Tokyo if she wanted a french meal, though he suspected he'd missed the point.

Miyuki disappeared into the kitchen again, carrying a silver serving tray.

She came back with a disappointed look on her face.

"Oniisama, there is a call waiting for you. It's from FLT."

"Tell them I'll take it on my private terminal."

"Oniisama, can't it wait? I've almost finished the meal!"

"Miyuki, I'll only be a minute. I'm eager to sample your cooking. I have no doubt it will be superlative." Saying such things with no consideration of shame, Tatsuya patted her head from behind. She was glad she faced away from him, or else Tatsuya might have noticed the sudden flush of color that took to her face.

He went downstairs to the research lab that served as his basement.

Turning on the wall-mounted terminal, the face of lead researcher at Four Leaves Technology, the man whose work on the Loop Cast System had revolutionized modern systematic magic, resolved into view. Ushiyama, the head of FLT 3rd Division.

"Mr Taurus. To what do i owe the honor?" Tatsuya so greeted Ushiyama

"Mr. Silver! You're far too formal." Ushiyama maintained their official nicknames as always, in case the call was monitored.

"I'm about to have dinner with Miyuki upstairs so please, make this quick."

"Yes. yes. It's about an artefact. Lady Maya had it delivered yesterday."

"So? You need me to analyze it?"

"No, we're fine here, but Tatsuya...it's singing."

"Singing?"

"Just listen."

Ushiyama held up a small silver box, not much larger than a cigar case. It appeared to be a high-end CAD-but with no visible controls. A faint lyrics came from inside.

They see you as small and helpless./ they see you as just a child ….

"There's no record of that melody anywhere. We've checked. It's almost as if…"

"Once I put Miyuki to bed I'm heading over. If that's what I think it is…."

"Then we need to destroy it ASAP. All right, I'll let the staff know to expect you."

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