Chapter 27: Terra
The loud horns and exhaust of the moving cars were a vast new wilderness for Y'mhitra. She had seen things like this in Vacuo's capital city, but Vale was so much different. The people there seemed a lot friendlier, not at all armed to the teeth. Humans and Faunus walked the streets, no glares, no hateful comments, nothing like she was used to back home. The concrete jungle was so much different than the rolling sands, but she knew she would have to adapt.
She looked around for a moment as she pulled her nephew along, making sure her grip was tight around his hand. They had been traveling for many months, and it had shown. They were covered in dirt, their clothes looking like they had been through a war. Her once pristine white coat was covered in dark splotches and frayed at the edges, but the rose emblem in the middle of it stayed bright. It was the only thing about her precious cloak that she still liked.
It didn't take her long to realize where it was she had wandered into, the slums. She could see various men and women hanging around, a few of them drinking out of bottles. There were a few boys and girls as well, running around barefoot, while some women kept their eyes on them, likely their children. The houses around them looked old and abandoned, and hardly any cars passed through it. One man stumbled forward, his lips parting into a disgusting yellowed grin as he looked her up and down.
"Oh ho, lookie what we got here… fresh meat… and she brought a kid. We were looking for someone to run drugs for us," he said, taking a sip from his bottle. "You look like just the type to-"
Y'mhitra punched him in the face, he was unconscious before he hit the ground, the bottle shattering on impact. The others only watched as she glared at each one of them, her silver eyes flashing a bit. "Whatever food you all have, I want it. It better be clean, water too. I don't care if you have to steal it. I want it, now. And leave the children out of this, no child should have to witness this kind of thing."
They all nodded, eyes glassed over as they walked away, gathering whatever fresh food and water they could find. Y'mhitra knelt down before her nephew, giving him a bright smile. "We'll be okay here, sweetie. That evil scorpion man isn't going to hunt us down. Vale is too big."
"That's what you said about Nautilus, but that man still found us just outside of it," he said sadly. she ruffled his hair, giving him a kiss on the forehead.
"I'll be better soon."
"It had taken them months to make it to Vale, but they had done it, and almost immediately, she had used her semblance to put people to work. It was terrible, but it was the only way for her to survive. She knew her nephew wasn't going to live if he didn't have what he needed. She would rather have others steal for her and bring her the food than for her to do it herself."
Many more weeks passed, reflected by the images Levi was seeing. She saw Y'mhitra using her semblance countless times, convincing others to steal for her. He saw her fighting everyone who attempted to take food from her, all while shielding her nephew from seeing what was going on. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, as he always watched the woman fight, and usually end up defeating everyone who was around. There was a point in time where the slums were empty, and no one hung around. Y'mhitra and her nephew were hiding underneath a bridge, covering themselves with dirty blankets, struggling to stay warm.
But then, something happened. A familiar-looking cane emerged into the scene, making Levi's ears twitch a bit.
"Professor Ozpin?" he questioned, watching as the man approached the bridge. Y'mhitra told her nephew to stay hidden, walking out from behind the post, holding her ax tightly in her hand as the gray-haired man approached, looking around the area, taking in his surroundings.
"You know, this isn't a place for a young mother to raise a child," he said, causing the miqo'te woman to laugh.
"So I've noticed. Who the hell are you? Someone else who thinks they know what's good for me and my nephew?" she exclaimed, pointing her ax at the man. "I'll have you know, I've fought people all my life. I'm not going to take it easy on you either. So why don't you turn around and go back to where you came from?"
"I'm afraid.. that won't be possible. You see, there had been reports recently of a woman who has been hurting the people of this district. Not only that but there has been a rise in petty theft and arrests, all around this area. This coincides with your arrival, a few weeks ago this area was calm, and now look, it's devoid of life. Several people have alerted the authorities about you and will likely try to take the boy with them." the man said.
"No one is going to take me away from my auntie!" the young boy cried, causing the man to look down, seeing the boy holding a gun to him. He had his finger curled around the trigger. The man merely smiled at him.
"No, of course not. No one is going to take you away from her. She is clearly doing the best she can with what she has. You two have been through a lot. Normally, I would have you arrested, but I come with a choice for your aunt." He said, retrieving his scroll. He held it out to her, her eyes widening a bit when she read it.
"A licensed huntsman? No… wait, I know you, you're the Headmaster of Beacon Academy!" she gasped, her eyes wide.
"Yes, I am… and I've noticed something peculiar about the two of you. You both… have Silver eyes."
Y'mhitra stiffened a bit, holding her ax tighter than before. "So what if we do?"
"You have a gift, a very special one. I am offering the two of you the chance of a lifetime. Come to my school, train, and earn your license. Become a huntress, and perhaps, maybe down the line, someone I can trust. You can give your nephew the life he was meant to have, not… this." he said, gesturing to his surroundings.
Y'mhitra looked down at her nephew, who had a curious gaze on his face. He looked back at her, head tilted slightly as his ears curved downward. At that moment, she remembered the promise she made to her sister, how she would take care of her son, and make sure he had a good life. She realized what a failure she had been. She had risked his life, taught him how to use his silver eyes, trained him how to fight, and robbed him of his childhood. Even worse, she had never once shown him an ounce of love. That would change now. She knelt down in front of him, her eyes glowing as she looked into his eyes.
"We're going to be alright, sweetheart. Things will become better for us. We've been living in these slums practically since you were born. But now we get the chance to become good people. Just know that no matter what happens, your mother will always love you." she said, earning a hug from the young boy. She picked him up, turning back to face Professor Ozpin, who had a curious look on his face. "Alright, Professor. We will accept your offer."
"Excellent, then accompany me to my ship. First, we need to ensure the both of you are nice and clean. Do not take offense to this, but the two of you are way past ripe."
The woman hardly reacted, shooting daggers at the man. He cleared his throat as he walked, clutching his cane tightly. "Might I inquire your name? I haven't learned it yet."
"My name?" she asked, glancing around for a moment. She focused for a moment, spotting a word that stuck out to her, just outside of a terracotta pot store. She looked back at the professor, a firm look on her face. "My name is Terra, and this is my son, Levi."
"Son? I thought you said he was your…"
"He's my son, nothing more nothing less. Our last name is Athan, I'm sure you'll need that for your fancy files or somesuch," she said firmly.
"Of course, let us go then, we have quite a lot of things to do and not a lot of time to do them in."
"And thus, Y'mhitra's new life began. No longer was she going to live on the streets, and no longer was she going to make her nephew suffer. She would make sure that he had everything he needed, and would be safe and sound. Even if she had to let go of parts of her past, she would. She would do whatever it took, to make sure her nephew, her son lived as comfortably as he could."
Beacon Academy swirled around him, the familiar spire of Beacon Tower standing tall before Levi. There were students walking in all directions, young huntsmen and huntresses in training could be seen walking its vast hallways. By now, Terra had become used to being around so many people.
She no longer looked like a bum, having gotten a new set of clothes made. She was wearing a polished set of armor, a long-sleeved shirt covering her torso, while she wore a pair of black shorts and thick leather boots. Her cloak was ever present. She had a genuine smile on her face as she strode toward the academy. Many years went by, and as she continued honing her skills, so too did her son grow. By now, she had earned her huntress license and had been taking missions for the kingdom, just like she had wanted. But it was when her son had turned eleven years old that things had changed.
"There is a reason why I brought you to Beacon Academy, Terra. It wasn't just for you to become a huntress or for you to take the reigns of your own class as a professor. You have become one of the strongest huntresses of your generation. So it is time that I share with you the truth of your being here."
The doors behind her opened, and in walked several people she had only ever seen from a distance. Glynda Goodwitch moved to Ozpin's side, standing faithfully beside him. There was a handsome-looking young man, with dark gray hair, and a scowl on his face, a sword strapped to his back. But there were three other men she hadn't ever met, well, she was familiar with only one, which was what took her by surprise the most.
"Professor Theodore?"
The man tilted his head, his eyes widening a bit. "My goodness, Y'mhitra is that you? Why… I had thought you had perished when Eorzea had been attacked. My, look at how much you've grown!"
"I've been the same height since we last met, Professor, back when my father was still alive. I go by Terra now, please refer to me as such. I'd… like to forget about my old name, at least for the time being."
"Of course, my mistake," he said, sounding rather sad. Ozpin stood up, tapping his cane on the ground.
"Miss Athan, the reason you have been brought here today is of vital importance. You see, we have been keeping an eye on you for quite a long time. Let's just say we… have a bird's eye view of everything you've been through. We also know that you've had a run-in with Salem."
"S-salem? How do you know about that lady?" Terra asked, her voice filled with fear.
"We've known about her for quite a long time," James Ironwood said, standing firmly beside her. "You see, Professor Ozpin isn't most men. He has been around for… a long time. The information we are about to share with you is very sensitive, so we ask that you be discreet about this."
"And, just like you and your friends, Terra was filled in on everything. About Salem, about the Gods, about Ozpin's task. Though he kept one vital thing out of her knowledge, the fact that Salem could not die. Terra, admittedly, took it all quite well. They had been expecting her to freak out. To call them liars, to kick and scream in protest. But she hadn't. She remained still as she processed everything. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she looked up at the Professor, a firm look on her face…"
"Why are you telling me this? Why trust me with such sensitive information?"
"Normally, we wouldn't," Leonardo said, shying away from her glare. "I-it's just… you've seen this woman face to face. We are also aware of what you did to her. With your eyes."
"Salem has been hunting down silver-eyed warriors for a long time. They are seemingly the only thing that can harm her. So she has set out to eliminate as many of them as possible. This came to a head 500 years ago, when she attacked the Kingdom of Eorzea, and the survivors were scattered to the wind." Ozpin explained, causing Terra to look up at him. "She has been hunting down your kind for a long time, and she has almost succeeded in wiping them out. Now, only a few tribes remain, under the protection of the Kingdoms. You and your son, are the only survivors of the tribes in Vacuo."
Her eyes widened by this revelation, her hand flying to her mouth. "There's… no one left?"
"I'm afraid not. Professor Theodore tried to get Eorzea relocated to Vacuo City, but the chief refused, saying Eorzea would never perish. But it did. Oz didn't make you this offer just for giggles, girl. He did it to make sure you and your son are safe, and so you know you are part of the people who are going to stop Salem, once and for all." Qrow said firmly.
"I have made arrangements as well. You will be provided top-notch security here in Vale, and no one will ever find you. Not only that, but Professor Ozpin has sent me the design plans for your weapon. I trust that you will find what we have created in Atlas to be satisfactory." General Ironwood said, snapping his fingers.
The lift doors opened, and in walked a white-haired young woman, carrying a large case in her hand. She gave them all a bow, holding the case in front of herself. "My name is Winter Schnee, thanks to the partnership of the Schnee Dust Company and the Atlas Military, we have been able to make great efforts in Huntsman and Huntress weaponry. I do hope you find this weapon useful."
She set the case down on Ozpin's desk, flicking it open. Terra's eyes widened, as she saw the weapon that lay within. It was a twin-bladed ax, with thick dust-infused steel blades which had been sharpened to a razor's edge. The center of the ax was gold in color, lined with violet gravity dust. The handle extended downward, ending in a leather grip. She saw several buttons on the handle, each of them likely doing something. She grabbed ahold of the weapon, testing its weight. It was rather heavy, but nothing she couldn't handle.
"It feels different than what I am used to."
"If I may?" The General said, holding his hand out. He flipped the ax around, pressing the button, detaching the blades into their own separate one-bladed axes. "These axes have been infused with Gravity Dust. Allowing you to do heavier strikes, but there is another uniqueness to this weapon that I believe you might like."
He threw the weapon with all of his strength, everyone watching as it flew all the way toward the back of the room. Just before it struck the wall, he pressed the button on the side of it, causing both axes to glow a deep violet. He held the one in his hand up, catching the other half with it. "A boomerang effect. No matter how far it lands, you will always be able to recall it."
"That's neat," Terra said, as she retook her weapon. She looked it over, looking at the other button. "What does the red one do?"
"Press it."
She nodded, pressing the button, watching the blades begin glowing a bright orange. She could feel the heat rising from them, and realized why. "A dust infusion system."
"Indeed, you can change the element by adding a different kind of dust to your weapon. And since you will be working directly under Professor Ozpin, and by extension, General Ironwood, the Schnee Dust Company has agreed to pay for the costs of any and all dust you use." Winter said, holding out a scroll. "Just as long as you keep your scroll with you at all times. If that is all, General, I shall take my leave. My father is beginning to grow impatient. He probably knows I have plans to join the Army already."
"Of course, it was a pleasure as always, Miss Schnee." the General said. Winter left shortly after, causing the man to look back at Terra. "That is where we stand. Salem is a powerful foe, but I believe that working together, while in secret, will be beneficial to our cause. We've already started working on new models for a type of robotic soldier that will replace men on the field. Atlas will be hosting the Vytal Festival this year, perhaps it will do you good to watch the students, and learn a few more tricks."
"I… can do that… thank you, General. I appreciate it, but I have another question… what are these for?" she asked, holding the white case out to the man.
"Ah, yes that. Those are contact lenses, specially crafted in Atlas to hide your eyes. I understand that you may be proud of your gift, but it is also a dangerous one. Salem has men and women searching all over Remnant. You have changed a lot since the last time she saw you, I'm sure, but those silver eyes are a striking feature. We must ensure that you are safe at all times."
Terra looked down at the case, frowning a bit as she stared at them. "What about my son? He has silver eyes too."
"Your son will be protected by Beacon Academy, and by extension, Vale. You have been training him for the last few years. So when he is of age, we plan on enrolling him in Signal Academy. There, Professor Qrow and his brother-in-law, Professor Taiyang will keep an eye on him. Make sure his training is coming along well." Professor Goodwitch said.
"You plan on making him enroll in combat school? We never discussed that!"
"Do understand, Miss Athan. He is also in danger due to his eyes. The faster we train him, the better prepared he will be. So long as he's safely in the kingdom, no harm shall come to him." Leonardo said.
"Alternatively, you can leave him in my care. The Atlas Military has been training soldiers for many years now. He will not only be safe in Atlas, but he will also receive a fine education." Ironwood said, placing a hand on Terra's shoulder. "Ultimately, the choice is yours."
She looked at the case in her hand, pondering her options before looking up at the General. "Do these come in child sizes?"
"The general had been taken aback by such a query but reassured her that something could be done. That was how Terra not only became a Professor at Beacon Academy but also joined Ozpin's inner circle.
And so time went on, and Terra explained things to her son. She made him put on the contacts he had been given, and once in place, used her semblance to make him forget he had silver eyes. She handed him some eyedrops and told him to use them for his allergies, allergies that never existed. It was all just another lie for her to make sure the young boy was safe.
But as he grew older, and enrolled in Signal, things were beginning to take their toll on the woman. She was beginning to grow frazzled, especially due to how things were progressing. She looked back at Ozpin, slamming her fist against his desk. "What do you mean Fall was attacked? By who?"
"We aren't sure yet. Qrow was going to give us a detailed report when he returns to the Kingdom. All we know is that she is in grave danger now that half of her power is gone. We have reason to believe that girl you saw near Evernight Castle might be the one who stole it." Goodwitch said, making Terra growl.
"That girl… she was just a kid the last time I saw her. She couldn't have been much older than I was when I started my training. She's poisoning her mind, deluding her into thinking she can give her what she wants."
"Yes, and it's sad. But there isn't much we can do until we find the right candidate to receive what is left of Amber's power, all we can do is take care of Amber until then." Ozpin said, sipping his coffee. Terra took a deep breath, hoping to calm down.
"Okay… okay… she only has half of her power, maybe we can track her down and kill her. But that won't heal Amber, will it?"
"I'm not sure. Until Qrow returns with her, we won't be sure." Goodwitch said, making the woman even tenser. "Terra, I understand you are nervous. I'm certain you have seen a lot of awful things, all at the hand of Salem, but you cannot lose focus on our goal. If you give in to your fears, we lose."
"I know that, Glynda. I know that. I'm just scared, we have it made here. I'm keeping my promise to my sister and making sure her son is safe. But I am starting to wonder if staying in Vale is a good idea." she said, glancing back at the two. "I'm starting to wonder if taking James's offer would have been better for me."
"You may leave for Atlas if you wish, as long as you feel safe. That is all that matters, but do remember, there is no hiding from Salem. She knows you are out there and it will only be a matter of time until she finds you. Remember, it isn't a matter of if, it's a matter of when." Ozpin said.
Terra nodded, sinking down into her chair, rubbing her eyes. "I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I just said, I'm just starting to freak out. Levi is turning twelve soon, and I'm starting to disappear more and more. It's his first year at Signal, and I won't be at his entrance ceremony."
"It's difficult, but we must make sacrifices in order to save the world. I apologize, Terra, for making you leave your son alone so often. None of us were expecting Raven to leave, and your friend Sienna, we didn't think she'd lead the White Fang. We'll make sure your son is safe at Signal. Qrow and Taiyang will guide him along. But you also have your duties here at Beacon. One day, he will be your student, and it will be up to you to make sure he's ready for the horrors of this world."
The miqo'te woman nodded rising to her feet. She grabbed her scroll from the professor's desk, opening her map. "Salem has a group of goons working out of Mistral?"
"That's right, we have a reason to believe they're planning on infiltrating the last remaining miqo'te village in Mistral. Since you yourself are a miqo'te, we figured you could intervene." Goodwitch said, earning a nod from the woman.
"I'll be right on it. Maybe if I finish early, I can actually spend time with my son."
Terra left in a huff, the trail behind her vanishing into thin air. Levi looked around for a moment, finding himself in a vast forest. He looked up, seeing the broken moon hanging overhead. He saw a familiar-looking feline racing through the forest, running as if its life depended on it. The cyan dust swirled around him as the scenery changed, showing the feline jumping into the air, encompassed by a white glow, transforming into Terra. She let out a cry as she brought her ax down on a man, taking his head clean off.
She wasted no time, slaying everyone in the group. She threw her ax with all her strength, the weapon swinging around a man. She held the other half up, recalling the one she had thrown, the blade burying itself in his head. She ran forward, grabbing the handle, swinging both blades with all her strength. She panted for breath, lowering her weapons when she realized everyone had died. She glanced over her shoulder, sensing someone else there.
"So, you're the one who's been killing Salem's men. I'm surprised, I wasn't expecting it to be a faunus." a firm voice said, causing the woman to turn around. The hulking figure of a man, with pale white skin and oriental clothing, stood before her, reaching behind his back for a gigantic broadsword. "Too bad you won't be making it back home."
Terra cracked her shoulders, holding her axes tightly in her grasp, activating their dust blades. The large man moved forward, swinging his broadsword at the woman, who dodged it with ease.
The fight didn't last long, as she activated her semblance, urging the man to stop. She told him to turn off his aura and when he did, she sprung forward, slicing his head off, a fountain of blood gushing from his neck. She looked around at the scene, at all of the bodies she had left in the wake of her fighting. She glanced up at the moon, staring at it for a brief moment, before walking away. She jumped into one of the trees, turning back into a cat, dashing away into the night.
"This must have been that mission she told me about. When I asked her if she had ever killed people. She had been killing people connected to Salem." Levi said, shuddering a bit. The following scenes were of Terra fighting various men and women all connected to Salem, it all ended the same way, with her standing over them, disappearing into the night.
"It wasn't all about killing, however. At the end of the day, she was doing everything for the only person that mattered in her life. You." Jinn said, making the young man frown.
The forests of Mistral were replaced by the sprawling concrete jungle of Vale. Terra was standing in front of her son, as he was about to enter his first year at Beacon Academy. She had a look of pride on her face as she stood before him. "I can't believe my baby is all grown up and heading to Beacon Academy of all places! I'm so proud of you!"
"Only because you kicked my ass into gear. I have you to thank for getting me this far. But I'm still nervous. What if I don't make it in? What if I don't have what it takes? What if Professor Ozpin just decides I'm not ready?"
"He won't."
"How do you know that?"
"Um… I'm a professor? I didn't become a huntress for fun you know. Besides, you've met Professor Ozpin and everyone in Beacon. They all have high hopes for you. All you have to do is follow your instincts, just how I showed you." Terra said, giving him a smile. She noticed him fidgeting a bit, making her frown. "Are you alright sweetie?"
"Yeah, it's just… my eyes are really itchy. I ran out of eye drops earlier and I haven't been able to get a refill," he said, trying not to scratch his eyes. Terra sighed, reaching into her pocket, pulling out her own drops, which she handed to him.
"Here you go, we use the same brand. Next time, tell me you ran out so I can get you some, alright? You know how important it is that you keep these with you." she replied. He nodded, dropping a few into his eyes, feeling a bit of relief.
"Thanks, mom, I don't know what I would do without you. Just knowing that you'll be there for me at Beacon if I need you calms me down," he said, giving her a tight hug. She hugged him back, her face remaining neutral as he hugged her.
"How much longer will I maintain this lie. I should never have lied to him, I shouldn't have hypnotized him. My poor baby boy." she thought, as she looked up at the sky.
"I can't do it anymore, Oz!" Terra shouted as she glared at the man. Levi jumped a bit at the sound of her voice, causing him to turn around. He found himself back inside Beacon Tower, standing next to the headmaster's desk. Only he and Terra were in the room, the man watching the huntress pacing around the room. "I can't keep lying to him. If he finds out the truth he's going to hate me, but I also can't let him remember everything about his past, about Salem!"
"I understand your concern, but at this stage of the game, there is nothing else we can do. You have to get a grip of your emotions, Y'mhitra. You are doing fine as both a mother and as a huntress. It is thanks to you that Remnant is safer than before."
"Safer? SAFER? I don't know if you noticed but Remnant is not safe. An entire village in Anima went up in smoke because of Raven Branwen, and there was that town in Vacuo that was destroyed. Oh and let's not forget Roman Torchwick and his dust thefts all over Vale? It's as if she's starting to converge on us." Terra said, shaking a bit. "Salem's influence is spreading, and the Grimm are getting stronger. They are nothing like they were seventeen years ago."
"Which is why we must focus on preparing the youth as best we can. They will never be truly ready, but we also cannot sit on our laurels. The relics might be in danger. Have you found the Summer Maiden's location yet?" the man asked, causing the miqo'te to shake her head.
"No, we've heard rumors about a girl who can control the weather in northern Vacuo, up near the badlands of Almyra," she replied, earning a nod from Ozpin.
"We must follow every thread, Terra. It is of vital importance that Salem does not get the Relic of Knowledge or the Relic of Destruction. Especially the latter, Salem is a terrible force without the power of destruction, we don't need her getting the sword."
"Then Shade should be safe for now. As long as Summer is out there, Salem won't find her."
"I wish that was the case, but you know how finicky the powers are. We need to acquire Summer as fast as possible. We have decided the best candidate for those powers is you, Terra. And you must be ready for that. I understand your fears about heading into Vacuo, but this is imperative." the professor said, causing the woman to sigh.
"Yeah, I'll get it done. What's one more lie, eh? I doubt Levi will mind if I miss his initiation."
She turned her back on the professor to leave, causing him to stand up. "I understand your struggles, Terra. But telling him the truth won't make what happened to them go away. You have been through so much already. Perhaps letting him live in ignorance is for the best. After all, wouldn't it be better to spare him the stress and anxiety of Salem looming over him?"
She didn't reply, instead choosing to leave the office. She had quite a lot to think about.
Terra walked forward, her white cloak billowing in the wind as she strode through the sandy terrain. She looked around for a moment, glancing at the blinking dot on her scroll. She nodded to herself, following the path that she had jotted down on her map.
"Terra continued taking missions, but it was during this particular mission that her life would once again change. It would be 9 months later that she would experience Vale's greatest tragedy." the voice of Jinn said, slowly disappearing into the sands. Levi held his hand over his eyes, cringing a bit at the sand. Despite it being an illusion, it felt rather real.
She arrived in a desolate village, only a few huts being visible. The people around her started muttering as she walked further into the village. Some even tried to attack her, but when they saw her silver eyes, they all backed away. She continued walking forward, heading toward the large hut in the center. She strolled right in, the two women who were inside gasping a bit.
There in the center of the hut, was a young woman, around fifteen years of age, with long bright orange hair. She had dark caramel-colored skin and vibrant orange eyes. She was wearing a pink halter top, with a matching light pink skirt, and gladiator sandals. Various beads and leather straps were wrapped around her arms. She has a decorative headdress atop her head, laced with various dust crystals. She could smell the light scent of incense sticks burning. She also noticed there was an altar nearby, filled with offerings of fruits and vegetables, even dried meats. Terra moved forward, the two women stepping away, one going as far as brandishing a knife on the silver-haired woman. Rather than attack, Terra knelt down, bowing her head a bit.
"You know who I am?" the young girl asked.
"You can control the powers of the weather, fire, ice, lightning, wind, water. All of these acts of magic have been passed on for generations. And now you were chosen to bear them. My name is Y'mhitra Raul, of Eorzea, I have come to pay you tribute, Susan Storm."
The young girl's eyes widened as she looked at her handmaids. She cleared her throat, gesturing for them to go. "Leave us, me and my guest have much to discuss."
Jinn shifted the scene, a firm tone in her voice. "And discuss things, they did. Terra explained everything to the young girl. Told her about her powers, what they meant and what she had to do. She told her stories of the past, the things the previous maidens had done, and how she could prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. She didn't believe her stories, nor did she believe that she had actual magic. She assumed it was just her semblance, but that was when she was told about Salem. And the things she had done to Eorzea. All this did was frighten the girl. She started cursing her fate, scared about Salem and the stories of Eorzea she was told.
So, with no other choice, Terra decided to take the young girl to Shade Academy. She needed to prove to the girl once and for all that her powers were in fact real. With permission from Professor Theodore, the three headed down to the vault.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Terra?" Theodore asked, earning a nod from the woman.
"Professor Ozpin gave me a mission, and that was to secure Summer. She doesn't believe her powers are magic, and this is the only way to do it," she replied, earning a sigh from the man.
"If you say so. As long as Ozpin said it was alright."
They continued moving down, down the stairs until they reached the very bottom, finding themselves within the Vault. Susan could only gasp, seeing the sprawling area in front of her. Terra and Theodore walked ahead, guiding the young woman along, stopping in front of a large set of doors.
"Only you can open this door, Susan. All you have to do is put your hand on the vault door." the man said.
"You said there's a sword in there right? What does it do?" Susan asked.
"It does sword things," Terra replied, shrugging. She urged the girl on, making her move forward. As if by magic, a bridge of logs flashed into existence before her, causing her to shy back a bit. Terra stepped up behind her, guiding her toward the door.
Susan finally reached the door, standing in front of it, taking in its massive appearance. She placed her hand on it, glancing back at Terra. "So is it magically supposed to open now?"
"Just watch."
Susan rolled her eyes, gasping a bit as she saw the runes on the door lighting up. She stepped away for a moment, watching as the door opened. Inside was a pocket dimension, one of unimaginable scale. There was a lush forest inside, filled with beautiful trees, thick and green. The ground was covered in dark green grass and flowers. Susan could feel the wind blowing softly. She looked past the entrance, spotting the relic that lay within.
A golden sword, stabbed into a stone. It was made entirely of gold, the hilt being surrounded with thin pieces of gold creating a handguard. The blade itself was a sky blue in color, pulsing with unknown energy. Susan stepped inside, moving toward the sword, feeling an odd warmth coming from it. Terra followed suit, staying close to the young girl.
"Do you believe me now, Susan?"
"I… I don't know, I…" she paused as she reached the sword, looking closely at it. "It's beautiful. This sword is being guarded here, but why?"
"Because Salem wants it. That woman that destroyed Eorzea, has been trying to get these relics for years. And it is because of your power that it is kept safe." Theodore said. "That is why you are so important, Susan. Your strength will keep all of Vacuo, nay… all of Remnant safe."
The young girl looked back at the relic, feeling a sense of dread coming from it. All of this only served to scare her even more. Terra turned to face her, placing a hand on her shoulder, looking deeply into her eyes. "You don't have to be scared, Susan. Everything will be fine."
"But how can you say that? When that Salem woman is out there, killing so many innocent people. It's too big of a responsibility!" she exclaimed. Terra gave her a smile, her eyes glowing slightly.
"You don't have to, you can give it to someone else. When you die, you can choose who gets your power. Why don't you give it to me? I'll take care of it." She said, giving the girl a pat on the head. Susan nodded eagerly.
"Yes, you can have it! I am so done with this kind of crap. I just want to live my life like normal!" she said. Susan stepped away from the sword, walking back toward Professor Theodore.
"Satisfied? Now that you know this place exists, you can help us protect it!" he said cheerfully. Terra kept her head bowed as she grabbed a hold of the Relic of Destruction, slowly drawing it from the stone.
"Nah, I decided to give my powers to Terra. She deserves them more than I do. She said all I have to do is choose her when I die. But that isn't going to happen soon, is it?" she asked, a gleeful smile on her face.
Before anyone could react, a bright blue blade pierced straight through her chest. Susan let out a gasp, looking down at her chest, eyes wide as she saw the blade that had run her through. Blood was dripping from it, the blue blade turning purple as the blood continued soaking into it.
"Terra, what are you doing?" Theodore shouted, looking up at the woman. She had an emotionless mask on her face as she pulled the sword free from the girl's body. It fell to the ground with a squelch, blood pooling around her. It was only seconds after that she felt foreign energy swirling through her body.
Terra felt herself lift off from the ground, her eyes erupting a bright silver as the energy of the summer maiden coursed through her body. She held the Sword of Destruction tightly in her body, pointing the blade at Theodore. "This stays between us, Theo. Ozpin told me to secure Summer, and I have. We'll just say she had a training accident and she passed her powers to me. We'll give her a burial and be done with it, alright?"
"Terra this is wrong. It was our duty to train this girl, not to murder her in cold blood for her powers."
"Shit happens," she said with a shrug. She twirled the Sword of Destruction around her wrist, stabbing it down into the stone block. She brushed her hands, walking past Susan's body, stepping out of the vault. "I'll leave that to you. I have places to be."
Theodore watched her go, shaking his head in disappointment and disgust. "Oh Y'mhitra, what has happened to you?"
The scene shifted back to Terra, walking through the halls of Beacon Academy, brushing past students, a pensive look on her face. "Terra had done quite a lot of things in her life but never had she taken the life of a child. It didn't matter to her anymore. She had grown accustomed to death and knew if Susan died, that power was going to someone else. She didn't need that to happen. She needed the strength of the Summer Maiden for her own personal plan. To find a way to kill Salem, so she could finally feel free."
"I have been informed by Theodore about what happened to the previous Summer Maiden. I trust those months in Vacuo were spent earning her trust?" Ozpin asked, earning a nod from Terra. She looked up at the man, her eyes glowing with the magic he had gifted the original Summer Maiden so long ago. "I see… very well done, Terra."
"I hope you are happy, Oz. I've done a lot of terrible evil shit to get where we are. We can't keep beating around the bush anymore. We need to attack Salem before she makes a move. And believe me, she's making a big one."
"Hmm… am I to assume you spoke with Qrow?" the professor asked.
"Of course I did. He's the only one who ever contacts us. Leonardo has gone silent, James is bolstering his forces and Theodore is handling the bullshit that is Vacuo. We don't gather up like we used to anymore. But we need to start thinking about the future." Terra said. "Let me go to the castle, let me attack her. With the power of my silver eyes and the Summer Maiden, we could end this."
"That is out of the question. You haven't trained with those powers, your huntress training alone isn't enough. We do know that your silver eyes have a great effect on Salem, but she cannot die. We need to find a way to immobilize her, forever." he said.
"Ugh… this is bullshit, Ozpin. You said once we had the strength of a maiden we could attack her! We need to act or else we'll-"
The lift doors opened, causing Terra to stop in her tracks. Levi stepped out, followed by Aria, Cadence, and Sonata. Ozpin rose to his feet, a smile on his face. "Team ACPL! Good of you to come."
"Of course, Professor. What's so important that you needed to pull us out of class?" Aria asked, as roughly and as rudely as ever.
"There is an urgent mission that must be handled, and your team has been picked out of all the second years. It is a mission of vital importance. I require the four of you to head to the Kingdom of Vacuo. There is a village that requires a team of huntsmen and huntresses to clear out some Grimm. This is an area of importance for Dr. Oobleck, as there are ancient ruins he wishes to study. If you accept it, you will be given free entry into the Vytal Tournament."
"What? Are you serious?" Cadence asked, taken by surprise.
"Sonata and I have been training hard for this. If we take this mission we'll seriously get in? Without any qualifiers?" Levi asked.
"That's right, Mr. Athan. You will be accompanying Professor Athan here, as she will be retrieving an important relic from those ruins. You not only will prove yourselves to her, but you will also help the nearby settlements with clearing Grimm. You have an hour to get ready."
The group of four hastily left, causing Terra to look at the professor. "What's your angle? You know that ruin is under the protection of Atlas Academy."
"And there lies the issue. General Ironwood lost some very sensitive instruments in that ruin, instruments that are used in conjunction with the Relic of Creation. I can only trust someone in my inner circle to do this concisely and discreetly. Team ACPL was chosen because they are among the best teams in the second year. I also figured you could use some time with your son. Here are the coordinates." he said, sending the details to her scroll. She opened the device, eyes widening.
"But this… this is the cave where… my sister…"
"I understand it might be painful, but it is imperative we get these devices back. If they fall into the wrong hands, it will spell disaster. Can I count on you?" the professor asked, causing her to sigh.
"You really know how to break my balls, Oz. Truly."
Images of Terra and Levi on their mission flashed before the young man, jogging his memory. He saw images of himself and Aria sleeping in a cavern, the wolf faunus holding him closely. He also saw images of himself and his teammates fighting against a horde of Grimm while Terra supervised, cheering them on.
"I remember this trip… it was the one where Aria sang that lullaby for me. Mom told me this mission was to retrieve some things for Dr. Oobleck, but I didn't know it was an Atlas sanctioned mission."
"It was indeed, among other things. This mission was meant to secure a certain set of items that had been lost in the dig. Items that the General had been testing off-site." Jinn said, shifting the scene, one last time. "Alas, this mission would be the final one Terra would go on. Months later would be the end, but not without first telling someone close to her the truth..."
"You've been acting odd since you came back from Vacuo, Terra. Please tell me what's wrong?" Thumbelina asked, holding a cup of tea out to her friend. The two had hit it off practically since Terra had joined Beacon Academy as a professor. They had become best friends, and in a way, had filled the void left in Terra's heart after losing her sister. The woman in question gratefully accepted the tea, taking a sip from the steaming cup, sighing audibly.
"The power of the Summer Maiden, it wasn't given to me by Susan. I used my semblance to hypnotize her, and then I ran her through with the sword of destruction. I had to make sure that power was mine, Lina." she said, glancing down at her hand, seeing a swirling flame dancing in the palm of her hand. Thumbelina remained silent, swishing the tea in her mouth around for a moment before downing it. "I have done so many horrible things, killed so many people... and for what? For some vain attempt at safety? With each day that passes, I get more and more nervous. Salem is out there, and even with these powers, I feel powerless. What good is magic if I can't use it to destroy the bitch that destroyed my life?"
"I know it isn't easy, Terra. Nothing in life ever is... but you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Look at how far you have come, you've trained hard, become a good huntress. What you have done has saved lives. You've made Remnant safer." her fellow professor said, turning away from her. "We've all done evil things in order to ensure the future of Remnant. I didn't join Ozpin's inner circle for fun, you know. I joined because my particular skill set was needed. We needed to make sure the future generations are ready."
"For another war? Do you think they'll be ready?"
"No one ever is, Terra. You should know that you said your great grandfather took part in the last war, right? Your people have fought countless battles in their long history on this planet. If there is one thing that never changes, it's war. It is cruel, it is awful, and it comes for everyone. Which is why we need to make sure they are ready. Your son carries with you a legacy that he is unaware of. You should tell him the truth." the woman said firmly, giving her a smile. "Even if he ends up hating you, you are still his mom."
"I'm not though... I just took care of him all his life. A mother doesn't hypnotize her son into thinking his aunt is his mother. A mother doesn't hide the truth from him. A mother doesn't kill behind his back and act lovey-dovey when he's around. I am a killer, Lina. Perhaps that's all I ever was, and all I ever will be." she said, letting the fire vanish from her palm. She swayed her palm around, a swirl of ice forming around her, hundreds of little snowflakes danced around her fingertips, a small smile on her face. "He truly does love snow... perhaps we can go to Atlas after the Vytal Festival."
"It may be for the best, Terra. Some mother/son bonding is what you need. Once you feel like it's time, tell him. Maybe not the entire truth all at once, but just the important parts." her friend said happily. Terra hugged her tightly, much to Thumbelina's surprise. "Whoa, what brought this on?"
"You're my best friend, Lina. That's why... if something happens to me, Summer will go to you. Understood?"
"Huh? Me?" she asked, eyes widened in surprise. She shook her head. "But I can't, I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility."
"You said it yourself, none of us are. Because if there's one thing that's the same, it's war. War never changes, and I'm afraid war is on the horizon. I know you'll do what must be done when the time comes. I have full confidence in you, Thumbelina. I... hope you'll take care of him if I do pass on."
"Tch." the woman snapped, shaking her head. "You take care of your son yourself, woman. I'm not your babysitter."
Terra couldn't help but laugh. She smiled, placing a gentle kiss on Thumbelina's cheek, much to the woman's surprise. "Thanks for being my friend all these years. It couldn't have been easy."
"No... it wasn't. Just don't say goodbye, okay? I don't think I can handle it."
"Sadly," Jinn began, erasing the touching memory the pair were watching. "That was a promise she wouldn't be able to keep."
"Warning, Warning. This is Not a Drill. A Level 9 invasion has been issued. This is not a drill!"
Terra let out a roar as she brought her ax down on an Ursa, splitting it in half. She turned back in time to deflect a strike from a Death Stalker. It chittered loudly as it attempted to stab her with its tail. She ducked to the side, cutting the tail off. She spun around, sending several blasts of magic at it. With a flick of her hand, she created a giant ax of fire, bringing it down on the Grimm. She turned around, sending the flaming wave as the Ursa and Beowulves racing at her. She panted a bit, the flames of her Maiden powers disappearing.
"Mom, do you read me? I'm trying to call my teammates but none of them are responding. Where are you?" Levi's scared voice said, causing Terra to stop.
"Sweetheart, don't worry about them. They're here in Beacon Academy with the other students. They're defending the academy. But we need to focus on the civilians too. I want you to head down to Vale and help as many people as possible."
"What? But mom I can't! I have to be there with my teammates!"
"No buts, you are a huntsman and a huntsman protects the people. Your teammates will be fine, I'll make sure of it. Now go! Focus on your mission!" she cried, throwing her ax at a boarbatusk, killing it instantly. She turned her scroll off deciding to focus her all on the Grimm.
Once she was done, she started moving toward the main building of the academy, avoiding the large features of a Nevermore. She jumped back in time, slicing some Atlas Knights clean in half. She made short work of the robots, continuing her way toward the main academy, only for her to slide to a stop.
"HELP! HELP US, PLEASE!"
Her ear caught the cries, her head snapping toward the amphitheater. There was a group of students standing at the front, fighting off several Nevermore. There were a few of them on the ground, parts of the walls had caved in. She looked back at Beacon Tower, moving toward it, only for her to change directions, racing toward the frightened students.
"I'm not going to let these kids die. A Professor is supposed to protect her students, not leave them to die. I've killed enough people already for me to do that again!" she thought to herself, as she jumped into the air. She spun around, slicing the head clean off of a Nevermore. She landed in a crouch, an ax in each hand as she fought the creatures off.
"It was a valiant effort, but one done in vain. No matter how much she fought, no matter many Grimm she slays, eventually, she was overwhelmed. She knew she couldn't use her silver eyes or the powers of the Summer Maiden, not without exposing herself to the people who had planned this. By the time she realized what was going on, her aura had broken.
She was sent flying back. Bloodied and tired, she grabbed her weapons and kept fighting. And she fought. She fought and fought, and ignored every hit shit took. The students behind her only watched as this woman fought tooth and nail to ensure their safety. Humans who had been racist toward the faunus were left shocked, faunus who had been bullied only witnessed the sheer strength of someone of their kind. Terra continued doing what she believed was right, remembering her original dream."
"I want to be a huntress so I can protect the people. So that no one has to suffer in pain anymore."
"She fulfilled that promise. The final Grimm fell, and she dropped to her knees, battered, but alive. She forced herself to stand up, gesturing to the students behind her." Jinn said, as the scene showed Terra facing her students.
"Come on, we need to get out of here."
"She lead them away, from the broken amphitheater, through the destroyed courtyard of Beacon Academy. She looked up at the CCT, only to see a brilliant flash of silver at the top. She knew what it had been. The young girl she had met earlier that year, had finally tapped into her power, the same power that she had. The same curse that she had.
So much had happened to her, because of her silver eyes, and now, she was witnessing the end of Beacon Academy. She could only think of her son, and how he was fighting down in Vale. She continued walking, her vision blurring as she stumbled forward. She forced herself to walk forward, her weapons feeling unnaturally heavy as she walked forward.
She didn't know how long it had been, but all she remembered was moving forward. She spotted a familiar face nearby, her close friend, Professor Peach. She told her students to seek help and marched forward. All she remembered after that was collapsing into the woman's arms."
The scene changes to a tent, where Terra is being looked over by various doctors. She's laying on a bed with a mask over her face, oxygen being pumped into her body. There's a monitor attached to her, measuring her vitals. Professor Goodwitch stands beside her, along with Professor Peach. The woman opens her eyes, staring at the two women.
"Glynda? Thumbelina?" she asked, causing the latter to grab a hold of her hand.
"Terra. We're so happy to see you awake."
"What… happened?"
"You ended up fighting a horde of Grimm, they broke your aura and you fought them regardless. The students said you didn't give up until they were all dead. You lead them all the way to rescue, where you fell in Thumbelina's arms. I don't want to scare you but, you aren't looking very good." Glynda said, earning a frown from the woman.
"I see… it's alright, I figured something like this would happen. Thumbelina, would you mind giving me and Glynda a few minutes?" she asked, earning a nod from the woman.
"Don't you go croaking on me before I get back," she said, wiping her tears away. Once alone, Terra faced Glynda, a firm look on her face.
"This is my last life, Glynda. I got reckless while out on Oz's missions, and I lost all of them. Being turned into a cat was wonderful, but my lives were wasted. I didn't think things through. I did a great number of evil things, all in order to keep my son safe. But I never once decided to tell him the truth. Don't let him find out. He can't ever know I wasn't his mother."
"I won't tell him, but what about you. Have you decided who will get Summer?"
"Yes, I have. There is only one person I can trust with that power, and you already know who that is. I've done a great number of bad things in my life, Glynda, committed a great many sins. But I just wanted to fulfill my promise to my sister, make sure her son was raised right and learned how to fight." she said, her eyes swirling with tears. "All I ever did was use my semblance to do horrible things, I've killed so many people I've grown desensitized to it. And now I'm…"
Glynda sighed, placing her hand over Terra's, giving it a soft squeeze. "You are a hero, Terra. You did your duty and you did it admirably. You only ever killed people that needed to die. It was unfortunate that you had to take Susan's life, but it was also for the best. These powers cannot fall into the wrong hands. It's only a shame you weren't trained to use them as efficiently as you could have."
"My only regret is not spending more time with Levi. My beautiful baby boy… even if I wasn't his mother, he became my everything. Make sure he finishes his training, alright Glynda? Make sure he stays on the right path. I did a horrible thing, by making him forget his past. But he needs to understand he's in danger. Don't let him use his silver eyes, I don't want Salem to find him." Terra pleaded, earning a nod from the blonde woman.
"I won't, Terra. I'll keep everything a secret for as long as I can. Though if he finds out on his own I… I can't promise anything."
"That's… alright… just… make sure he knows how much I love him, okay?"
Terra let out a cough, smearing the inside of her mask with blood. Her heartbeat quickened as she struggled to breathe. Glynda called out, Thumbelina rushed in followed by some medics, but it was too late. The monitor flatlined, Terra was gone and there was nothing that could have been done to save her.
Glynda and Thumbelina stood over their friend, both shedding tears for her. It wasn't long before General Ironwood and Qrow arrived as well, both staring at her in disbelief. They hadn't been expecting her to fall in battle. They discussed several things, even the Summer Maiden's powers, looking at Thumbelina, wondering if she had inherited it, but when she hadn't, they all grew confused. Eventually, they left the tent, only for hours to pass. Jinn showed Levi an image of himself, as he stared at his mother and cried, blaming himself for what happened. Only for it all to go white.
"Terra had done her best to raise her son, even if he truly wasn't hers. She had fulfilled her promise and had given her all to protect the people. Just like she had wanted to do when she was growing up. She didn't make the best choices, but the ones she did make would certainly affect those closely tied to her.
But what about the powers of the Summer Maiden? What happened to them? She said she had chosen her successor, and yet they didn't manifest in Thumbelina Peach. What other secrets could Terra Athan, or rather, Y'mhitra Raul be hiding? I suppose we can find out, at a later time. I'm afraid our time is up, dear Levi… I hope this story was… satisfactory."
Levi shook his head, blinking a few times as he returned to the vast whiteness of the forest. The wind resumed blowing, the cold snowflakes returning him to the area where he had started. He held the lamp tightly in his hand, the beautiful being of knowledge glancing down at him, a hopeful look on her face. "Do you require any more knowledge?"
"No… I don't."
"I see… do feel free to call me again. I am here to answer anything you'd like. Perhaps you can use the big question next time?" she asked. Just as she was about to return to the lamp, the boy called out her name.
"Jinn?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
She blinked a few times, being taken by surprise. She gave the man a smile, bowing her head. "You're welcome."
With that she disappeared, returning to the Relic of Knowledge, only when she was fully gone did the young man screamed, his voice echoing through the forest.
Ruby awoke the following morning in a daze. She felt the floorboards beneath her creaking under her weight. The fire had long since gone out, making her shiver from the cold. She pulled the blanket off of herself, holding back the urge to yawn as she made her way to the window, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She opened the curtains, peering outside only to be met with the same whiteout snowstorm she had seen when she had gone to sleep. She took a deep breath, pressing her hand against her face as another shiver raced up her spine.
"Hgn… close the window."
She glanced over her shoulder, seeing a rather annoyed Weiss glaring at her, her eyes half-lidded. Blake and Yang were nuzzling together, sharing warmth while Oscar was bundled up in his blankets. Maria was in the armchair, her book had fallen to the floor. She didn't see Neo anywhere, the only other person that was missing was Levi. She closed the window, stretching her arms above her head.
"Sorry, Weiss. I just wanted to see how things were outside. The snowstorm hasn't passed, and we're out of wood for the fire." she said, making the former heiress frown.
"Of course, I suppose I can help you find some more wood. I'm already awake, I may as well be up," she said, pulling the covers off of herself. She slipped her heels on, shuddering a bit from how cold they were. "Where's Levi? I don't see him anywhere, and Neo too?"
"I'm not sure. They were gone when I woke up, I had a bit of a bad dream. I guess I was a bit restless after what Jinn told us." she said softly. Weiss stood up, undoing her ponytail, letting her long curtains of alabaster fall down to their full length.
"It's alright, Ruby. After everything we've been through, I'm surprised any of us got any sleep. If I'm being honest, after seeing those corpses, I didn't think I'd get a wink. But I was just so… tired, you know?" she said, her eyes drifting down. Her eyes widened in surprise, her tiara falling to the floor. "Uh… Ruby, where's the Relic?"
"What do you mean? It's right here on my hip," she said, patting her belt. She patted around for a moment, her vision slowly drifting down. She let out a scream, causing everyone else who was sleeping to shoot awake.
"AHHHH! WHAT?!" Yang shouted, causing Blake to fall to the ground, the girl crying in pain as her rump hit the hardwood floor.
"Fuck, I think I just cracked my ass."
"Isn't it supposed to be cracked?" Oscar questioned, still half asleep as he spoke.
"Ugh… you children give the rudest awakenings. And I was having such a wonderful dream too. A dream of me being at the beach in Vacuo!" Maria said, jumping to the floor, cracking her old bones. "Ah, there we are. Now then, what has you screaming so early in the morning?"
"The relic is gone! It was on my hip last night but now it isn't here!" she said, checking under her blankets and around the room. "Ahhh! I'm a terrible relic watcher person! I knew it was too much responsibility."
"Hey, where's Neo?"
"That little shit! She waited until we were asleep to steal the relic! Of course! We shouldn't have trusted her! Why, when I find her, I'm going to snap her like a twig!" Yang cried angrily, only for someone to tap her on the shoulder. She looked down, her red eyes turning lilac when she met the angry gaze of the ice-cream-themed woman. "Ehehe… that's what I would say if you had in fact stolen it… hehe."
"Do you know what the medulla oblongata is?" Neo's scroll asked as she glared up at the blonde. "That's the part of the brain that controls body functions. Did you know if you stab it in the right place, you can cause a person to piss themselves for the rest of their lives without hurting any other part of the brain? I'll do that to you if you ever threaten me again, got it?"
"Everyone, just calm down. I'm sure the stupid lamp is somewhere around here? Did you check under the couch, Ruby? Maybe it slipped under there last night." Blake suggested, making the red-clad girl lift the couch.
"It isn't there, but hey, I found twenty lien!" she said cheerfully, slipping the card into her pocket. She set the couch down, sitting atop it. "Ugh… I should have been more careful with it. I should have-"
The door suddenly opened, causing a wave of cold air and snow to flow into the house, making the group shiver. They heard a bit of growling, along with sounds of dragging, making them move toward the front of the house. There stood Levi, hands wrapped around the antlers of a large buck, but what drew their attention in was the Relic of Knowledge attached to his belt. He gave another large heave, pulling the rest of the deer inside the house.
"Fuck me, this bastard was hard to get in here," he said, shaking his head a bit, brushing the snow off his shoulders. He glanced to his right, seeing all of his friends staring at him. "Uh… morning?"
"What the hell are you doing?" Yang asked, making him knit his brows together.
"Uh… dragging this buck inside the house so we can eat? I already gutted it and left the innards half a mile out so the Grimm don't come here."
"She's talking about the Relic," Blake replied, pointing to the lamp at his hip. "When did you take it?"
"Did you use the last question?" Ruby added, a worried look on her face. It was the same look on everyone's faces. He sighed, closing the door once he had fully cleared the buck.
"I asked Jinn a question, but I didn't use the question if you are curious."
"Huh?" Oscar said, clearly confused. Levi unhooked the lamp from his hip, holding it out, watching as it grew twice in size.
"The Relic of Knowledge has a hidden feature, one that Ozpin neglected to tell us. You can ask three questions per 100 years. But there is another way you can get knowledge from Jinn. But you have to sacrifice something important in order to get what you want." he said firmly.
"Sacrifice? You have to sacrifice something to Jinn?"
"Please tell me you didn't anything stupid? Levi, please. No information is worth sacrificing something, no matter what it is." Blake said firmly. He shrugged his shoulders, hooking the relic back onto his belt.
"That wasn't your choice to make, I'm afraid. There was something I needed to know, something that was bothering me since Ozpin told me Terra wasn't my mom. I asked, I got what I wanted to know. I learned that my entire life was a lie." he said, forcing a smile onto his face. "You know that saying "Ignorance is Bliss?" Yeah, I experienced first hand the meaning of that saying."
"So… you learned everything, I take it?" Qrow asked, having woken up from the commotion. He was holding a bottle in his hand, looking rather tired. Levi nodded, starting to drag the buck toward the kitchen.
"Yes, I learned everything. I learned about Y'mhitra, how she wanted to be a huntress, how she hypnotized my grandfather to achieve her dream. I also learned about my birth mother, Y'shtola, how she fought Salem to the end after she had killed my father. I learned about the struggles my mother went through to raise me. I learned about her secrets, her lies, and how she made me believe I was her son when I wasn't. I learned about the people she killed, the things she did, and how she killed the Summer Maiden using the Relic of Destruction and hypnotized her into giving herself that power." he said, taking a deep breath.
"But I also learned about her promise, how much she cared about me. How she did what she did to make sure I was safe, away from Salem. I saw her final moments, after years of killing people, she finally did what she wanted to do as a kid. She protected her students, she fought until her aura broke, and kept fighting. She walked out of that battlefield, battered and bruised, and refused to die until she was sure those kids were safe. She wasn't my birth mother, but she loved me as if she was. She's my hero, and I will honor her. She joined Ozpin's inner circle to stop Salem, and she couldn't do that. So I'll do it for her. We just have to get to Atlas."
Qrow gave him a nod, watching as he dragged his kill into the kitchen. Neo followed suit, a worried look on her face. She wanted to make sure her friend and partner were doing alright.
"Professor Athan was the Summer Maiden?" Yang asked, disbelief clear in her voice.
"Who has her powers now? Is the Relic of Destruction safe?"
"Is there anything else Ozpin hid from us that we should know?"
"Cool your jets guys. The power of the Summer Maiden was a recent development, as of earlier last year in fact. She didn't have those powers for long, and we're not sure who has them. She had chosen Thumbelina Peach to be the next Summer Maiden, but she never got them. We're still trying to figure it out. As for everything else? That's up to Levi to share with you. It's his past, his life. Try not to bother him too much with it, alright?" the man said, tipping back his bottle. "At least we get to eat some venison for breakfast. That must have been one hell of a catch."
"I'll say," Oscar said, watching the drag marks across the ground.
"Poor guy, it's like life just keeps punching him in the face, and he just takes it," Yang said, glancing toward the kitchen. "I was super pissed about him taking the lamp, but hearing how sad he was, that somber tone in his voice…"
"It makes me wanna hug him," Ruby said, earning a smile from her sister.
"That is just another aspect of life, girls. All of us will have our own personal stories. No amount of pain will compare to the pain of another person. But it's the camaraderie we get when we share our pain and grow together that makes us stronger. It's a life lesson that's better learned young, and not old." Maria said cheerfully, as she headed toward the stairs. "Now then, I call the bathroom first."
"Fat chance, Granny! I gotta piss like a racehorse!"
"Yang! Why must you be so vulgar?" Weiss snapped, glaring at the blonde.
"It's okay Weiss, I'm sure you gotta piss like a racehorse too, because sure do," Blake said, earning a snort from Ruby.
"It's a good thing this house has three bathrooms then. I'll go quick and then you ladies can go ahead." Oscar said, darting down the hall toward the downstairs bathroom. Qrow tipped his bottle back, glancing out the window as he finished his liquor.
"You know, Uncle Qrow you shouldn't be drinking like that so early in the morning. At least eat something, okay?" Ruby asked, making him sigh.
"Sure thing kiddo. How badly do you have to go? We need firewood, so it's best we gather it now rather than later."
"I don't have to go so badly. I'm down to chopping some logs. Weiss, would you care to join us?"
"Of course, not like I can do anything else since all the bathrooms are taken." the former heiress said, quickly tying her hair up, making sure her tiara was firmly in place. "Let's go, it's starting to get freezing cold in here."
The three bundled up as best as they could and walked out into the snowstorm. They didn't know how much longer they would have to stay inside the house, but the vibe was starting to change. They just hoped this snowstorm blew over as quickly as possible.
A/N: I couldn't wait to post this chapter. I just had to post it today haha. Whelp, with this chapter, Levi knows the truth behind his mother as well as everything she did for him, but I'm afraid that isn't everything that has been happening with Terra. I must say... there's an adorable cat wandering around Remnant, keeping a close eye on Levi, and I'm certain that cat will be back at some point. Who knows, they might be important later down the road...
Now then, to my reviewer, Cooldude, I must say I like the question, but this isn't something that Levi will ask Jinn right now. Yes, I am planning on him asking this type of question down the line. But for now, he needs to figure out how to use the lamp and make sure he gets information out of Jinn without sacrificing too many memories or using the big question. He already tricked Jinn into telling him about using Memories, so I am sure he's going to get way more out of her in time. At the moment, asking a question of that nature isn't on his mind. After all, he hasn't seen what is going on with Atlas, so once he does and sees everything, he'll get more testy with Jinn, and believe me, the Atlas Arc is going to be a lot different than in canon. I've got plans lol. I must say that yes, this is a good question, and I like how it's worded. I feel like Ozpin made a mistake when he was asking about Salem and that's something that Levi will realize. But he also has to be tactful. He can't reveal to Ironwood that he can exchange memories for knowledge. Also to answer a previous question about copying memories, it wouldn't be a sacrifice if she copies memories and they still retain them, there's a reason I made it this way, you'll see why later.
Lelouch of Zero, I hope this chapter answers your question about what Terra did to Levi's eyes lol. Yeah, a lot of heavy shit went down in this one, it was both fun and not fun to write. Well, fun for me, not fun for Levi haha.
Anyway, that's it for now. I'll be posting Chapter 28: Apathy sometime next Wednesday. I'm focusing mostly on Genshin and FGO so all my time is going to that right now. Hope you all have a nice weekend, see ya!
