Where there was mystery, there was magic, and magic is the work of miracles unexplained.
It was difficult for Shirou to piece everything together since his stay in Remnant, but it was now abundantly clear that magic was once a principle concept of the world. His visit to Mountain Glenn and the subsequent reactions of official Huntsman and Huntresses when exposed to the presence of mana were proof enough.
Their bodies absorbed the magical energy as if starved of a precious resource for too long.
Shirou could observe the process simply due to his nature as a Heroic Spirit that relied on magical energy to sustain himself. As a Heroic Spirit, he could determine the amount of energy individuals had in order to devour them in the case the Master couldn't provide enough energy. It was a darker aspect of Heroic Spirits with many outright refusing to resort to such means so it was certainly off the table for him.
The point was, he could feel the swell of magic energy congregate within everyone present near a source of magic. It reflected in the blaze of their Aura surrounding each like flames, either enhancing their capabilities, or unlocking Aura for those who've yet to do so.
The miracle clumsily held within Jaune Arc's hands created a dome of energy ten meters in diameter even without the activation of the Noble Phantasm. This was the power of the flag's presence alone, and it blazed throughout the room, granting comfort, granting strength, and granting reprieve.
Where this banner goes, victory shall surely follow.
Before the eyes of all, the injured in attendance stared in muted shock and growing wonder as all within the flag's light gradually began to heal. Much to the alarm of the crowd, someone desperately rushed out of the gathering at the revelation of the miracle only to immediately return with a sickly woman in his arms.
Anxiously, the man pushed through the assembly to reach a location merely two meters away from Jaune and his family who looked rattled at all the attention.
"Please. Please." The man said nothing else, only pleaded more to himself than anyone else that this would work.
The woman the man had brought in was dying not from any Grimm attack, but sickness.
The thing was, even before the man began pleading, the woman's constitution had visibly begun to improve upon entering the passive circle of light emitted from the flag pole in Jaune's hands.
Gaunt features began to redden, and sunken cheeks began to fill out. Under the eyes of all, the woman who looked moments away from death, now just seemed sick with a high fever.
The light of hope emitted from the flag…it was working.
Seeing this was all it took for a few others in the assembly to push through the gathered crowd and out of the assembly just to return with more of the sick and gravely injured which they placed near Jaune and his family. The crowd unanimously made way for them all.
Jaune and his family weren't going to be leaving for a while. Moreover, Jaune's father seemed to have a lot going on in his mind.
As for the leaders upon the podium, many had been rendered mute with the turn of events. Just when they'd all given up, a sign had come wreathed in warm light, bidding them to remain steadfast.
Morale was infectious, and for some leaders including Priam Verdant, she saw something within the miracle born from her own fond memories.
'A duty of a Huntsman and Huntress, is to lay down their lives for the sake of those that can't.'
The motto of the Verdant family played in Priam's mind while she imagined her fallen family members standing in line with all those that stood to oppose the decision to evacuate. A flicker of longing welled in her features, before she sighed.
"This meeting is adjourned," Priam said through the speaker. "Return to your posts and prepare for battle. We will not abandon the city our loved ones have bled and died for. Revelation or sign of a higher power or not, rally to the Arcs, hope lies in the miracle we saw on this day."
Yes. Just as in the history of another world, all it takes to turn defeat into victory was faith.
Shirou understood what the symbol of the flag in Jaune's hands truly represented.
From small beginnings, life emerges and becomes something greater than it once was. The purity of the soul is reflected in the character of an individual, and the selfless of heart are the purest of all.
Shirou could see that Jaune Arc was no one remarkable. He was untrained, lanky, and chasing for dreams beyond his current ability, but it was in his earnest desire that the flag was called upon.
It's not wrong to help others.
It's because Jaune didn't have the ability to achieve his own heart-felt desires that the faith of the Maiden of Orleans would respond to a parallel world counter part.
Ever heard of Heroes of circumstance?
This was what the Maiden of the Hundred Years War was, someone powerless at the start, but granted a means to aid her fellow countrymen and die for them at their own machinations.
Jaune's fate may not end up being as tragic, yet one thing was clear as Shirou watched Jaune disregard his own discomfort at being abruptly surrounded by the sick and injured.
Jaune and Jeanne of Arc were strips of the same cloth.
May the light of their souls guide the way to salvation upon the flag of a glorious Battle Standard.
"We can do this." The voices started out small, nothing more than murmurs. Then came the flood as people began exiting the assembly and yelling to the skies. "WE'LL PUSH BACK THE GRIMM!"
Much to the shock of Mt. Glenn's citizens, every single Huntsman and Huntress that walked out of the assembly was wreathed in the flames of their Aura. Their forms were beacons that stood in contrast to the bleak optimism pervading throughout the settlement.
Semblances of past wonders were discovered and displayed in varying fashion as the defenders of Mt. Glenn took position around the walls. Momentarily, reds, yellows, greens, purples, blues, the colours stood as torches of warmth blazing in the darkness of Grimm infested lands.
It was like something out of a story book.
A second wind heralding the arrival of something more, and the birth of new heroes and legends.
Shirou could feel it the in air, the shifting of the tides. More than that, he could feel it within him as many of the Huntsman and Huntresses that had witnessed his feat of power at the northern wall placed their faith in him…and faith was divinity, the root of all religion and the strength of all Gods.
As a spirit being affected by the energy of the people's belief, obligation to act was near impulsive. Already, the religion spreading about the Huntsman of Red and the covenant of the Eternal Sun was both influencing him and bolstering his capabilities.
If all of Remnant suddenly began viewing him as a God, then as a spirit, that was exactly what he would become, and he wasn't sure if he was keen for such a role right now.
In any case, what mattered was that the will to fight had returned to all.
"Ruby," he called out softly, breaking her out of her stunned stupor. She'd been just as captivated as everyone present. There was nothing like seeing something you've only read in the story books play out in real life, willing the question about the truth of fairy tails to be asked.
Regardless, Ruby and Qrow had more to dwell on other than just the sight that they'd just seen.
"We should go," he planted a hand over Ruby's shoulder, but she wasn't as responsive as he'd hoped, and he knew just whose fault it was.
"J-Just a little longer," she muttered softly, inching up on her toes just to gain a little more height to peer over the passing crowd.
Ruby was tiny even for her age. She barely reached the shoulders of the average citizen of Vale, and this was with the high-heeled combat boots she wore. Moreover, he knew exactly whom she was scouring for in the passing crowd while feigning calm.
Just like any parent can spot their child in a crowd at first sight, the same can be said about children and their parents. Honestly? Summer was just being stubborn, but it wasn't his place to dictate her decisions, merely to advice and hope she chose best; however, his Master's distress was his concern.
Wordlessly, he picked Ruby up and sat her over his shoulders, the extra height more than enough to give her a view over the crowd. At any other time, she would have grown flustered as she wasn't a child anymore, and a teenager being piggy-backed stood out like a sore thumb; however, she didn't even care as she smiled at him before once again falling into a daze while picking Summer out in the crowd.
"Shirou, d-do you see the person Uncle Qrow is nearby?" Ruby whispered, bending down to place her lips near his ears.
He did. It was kind of hard not to notice with the way Qrow followed a flustered Summer like a blood hound as she tried to get away on the other side of the assembly. Unfortunately, Summer did manage to get away before he could answer Ruby's question, prompting a vexed Qrow to shove his way through the crowd to no avail in pursuit.
Summer was sleeker than Qrow, and she slinked by the people congregating near the Arcs like a slippery eel. There was no way that Qrow was going to catch up, and following that realization came the crashing down of Ruby's hopes.
"D-Did you see the person Uncle Qrow was following?" She rephrased the question softly.
He nodded slowly, already knowing what his Master was going to ask of him. Worse, if the pleading he could see settling into her Master's eyes was anything to go by, she was growing desperate enough to ignore the questioning gazes of the friends she'd made in Mt. Glenn able to see her distress.
The thing about Ruby riding on top of his shoulders was that she stuck out, plain as day.
"C-Can you find her?" Ruby finally forced out, her voice cracking as he tentatively placed her back on the ground. Her gaze was towards her feet, and her hands were gripping onto the hem of her skirt. "S-She said the Rose family, a-and I'm a Rose too." She stressed, digging the toe of her foot over the floor before she stomped and stared up at him anxiously. "So-so we have to find her!"
Wow. That reasoning was superb, and Summer was just digging herself into a deeper hole. Nothing good ever came from keeping secrets away from family.
Summer shouldn't be able to blame him for this.
A Servant's duty was to obey the will of their Master after all, and in this, Ruby wasn't the one being unreasonable.
"Alright," he conceded, the sheer relief that permeated out from his Master reflected in the desperate way she flung herself at him in a tight hug.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" She buried her face into the crook of his shoulder.
He didn't have the heart to remind her that people were watching.
He wouldn't actively search for Summer to acquiesce to Summer's own wishes, but he'd give her a warning in advance to stay hidden. If he found her, then he was going to bring Ruby.
This was his promise.
The mark of a strategist is to plan for all possibilities, but no one was omniscient.
Cinder bit the nail of her thumb, her brows furrowing in consternation born from stress while doing her best to blend in with her surroundings. The latest revelations brought to her by attending Mt. Glenn's emergency assembly were daunting as they were tempting.
She was no fool, and had been by her Queen's side long enough to get a feel of what magic felt like, and this was it, yet utterly foreign to her.
The light of that flag attached to a bladed battle standard was warm; it was kind; it was accepting; it was everything that her Queen's was not, and it unnerved her that magic, a tool that could grant the greatest power in Remnant, could be wielded by a naïve boy who she could fold with a single well-aimed kick. Not that it would be different for any other man, but a weakness was a weakness.
Regardless, her Queen would surely show interest in the battle standard in the possession of the Arc Family, yet it didn't make sense.
Nothing was making sense no matter how hard she thought about it.
The battle standard had come out of nowhere, radiating such presence and power that it gave her flashbacks of the scene she'd witnessed over CCT about Vermillion and its Huntsman of Red.
Cinder's focus was less so on the famed Huntsman, but on the sword that she was half-convinced was the Sword of Destruction, a Relic of great power her sources indicate to be stored in Shade Academy. The one in the academy might just be a ruse to deflect attention, but there was no way to be sure without capturing Shade Academy's corresponding Maiden to unlock the academy's underground vault.
Then what did this make the battle standard that appeared in the Arc boy's hands?
Hidden relics unknown even to her Queen? She surmised.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance, but plastered a smile on her face while following the crowd out of the assembly space.
Her initial objective to scout out the capabilities of the mercenary named 'Archer' were just going to have to wait. This was why she preferred recruiting her own loyal subjects to move at her will, but the Queen has deemed it unnecessary for the time being.
The more followers she had, the more difficult it would be to prevent a slip of the tongue.
What mattered now were two things.
One, was to somehow steal the relic of magic held by the Arc Family, and the other was a method to plot Mt. Glenn's subjugation by Grimm.
Contrary to belief, Cinder was still confident of the settlement's defeat. Unlike everyone else present, she alone was aware of the ticking time bomb hidden deep beneath Mt. Glenn capable of spawning an untold number of Grimm in an instant.
In didn't matter how strong something was in the exterior if the inside was already rotten.
This 'ticking time bomb' was precisely how the Beringels managed to infiltrate through Mt. Glenn's walls undetected through a network of underground tunnels dug up by blind worm Grimm. This was also how Cinder had infiltrated the settlement after growing cautious of the power 'Archer' had displayed.
She'd have to bode her time well.
No one would suspect her, a common civilian of anything nefarious.
She just had to play her cards right, and this meant knowing what was important and what wasn't. She was alone in Mt. Glenn aside from the control she had of the Grimm granted by her Queen. Moreover, her Queen was insistent that her identity remain uncompromised lest Ozpin discover her and move to prevent her future acquisition of the Autumn Maiden's powers.
The means for Cinder to strike a lethal blow on her own were low considering the number of capable Huntsman and Huntresses around her, but there was more than one method to reach the goal.
To choke a large animal, was to strangle the neck until not even a breath is left.
To strangle a city? Choke out its life blood until everything runs dry, and strike when the chain of command is weakened.
With an inner thought, she instructing the Grimm order by order.
'It's not about overpowering an enemy. It's about taking away what power they have.'
Good. Good this was perfect.
She disengaged from the crowd and strutted off into the shadows of obscurity.
Preparations needed to be made, but first, a phone call to a special line.
The Queen would certainly 'chastise' her in light of not filling her in on something regarding magic. She shivered, realizing the instability of her current position.
Soon though. Soon she'd have power, and power was everything.
It was sudden, but the Grimm had just stopped attacking ever since the initial raid on Mt. Glenn's walls. Many found it suspicious, but many more began to attribute it to strange rumours regarding the Arc Family and some sort of heirloom blessed by a miracle.
As a person who witnessed the authenticity of the rumours spreading through Mt. Glenn, Qrow could guarantee that they were real. He didn't want to admit it, but as the soft glow of the flag had enveloped him, he felt that not even his Semblance of misfortune could bring catastrophe within that tender light.
It was magic. He was sure of it. Which meant that the battle standard itself was a relic of a bygone era that not even Ozpin had been aware of much like the Sword of the Sun in Vermillion.
Speaking of which, the video that he'd recorded on his scroll in the assembly and had sent to Ozpin was met with a silent wonderment and the single message of 'light from light.'
What he'd just seen apparently wasn't just mere magic, but something that bore striking resemblance to what Ozpin attributed to the pure light of one of the brother Gods.
A relic. It was certainly a relic if it carried even a fraction of the authority and divinity belonging to a God. At least, Ozpin all but guaranteed it with a strange reminiscence in his tone as if recalling a distant memory.
By the end of the messages, one thing became clear, the Arc boy had to be recruited into the fold. If not, then the forces of the Queen would surely jump at the opportunity to capture such a vulnerable resource.
Ozpin said it was a good thing that Qrow had discovered the miracle in Jaune Arc's hands before any of the Queen's workers, but there was something about the way that Qrow skirted around a different issue that drew attention.
'Why did you send Archer to Mt. Glenn with Ruby?' He'd messaged.
The reply was obscure, but managed to nearly get Qrow to punch a wall in frustration as his growing suspicion was verified.
Ozpin assured him that Archer was there for an entirely different and 'classified' reason entirely different from his own. As for Ruby, Ozpin hinted strongly at that, to keep her safe as Ozpin worried that Archer may not be able to fully take care of her.
It honestly sounded kind of weird. Why trust Archer with Ruby if you didn't think Archer could take care of Ruby?
Regardless, Qrow just went with it for now as he was too occupied with his current headache.
If he was sent to aid in Mt. Glenn's defences and flee in bird form in the case of failure, then what did that leave for Archer to do and was classified from him by Ozpin?
There was only one variable that may have caught Ozpin's attention.
Scarlet Rose.
Ozpin must have known, or at least had an inkling of something.
Qrow just felt pissed that even if it was only a small clue regarding Summer, Ozpin had held back. The Headmaster of Beacon should know how much effort he and Tai had been putting into finding their teammate for years. A single lead was better than nothing even if the results turned out negative, but in this case, it wasn't negative.
Summer just had to be Scarlet Rose.
It was obvious that she wasn't trying to hide it from him, but was hesitant about something else that was surely stupid, and it was just so Summer that it hurt and reaffirmed his resolve to confront her.
After a week of tracking and leaving Ruby under Archer's watch, he'd finally located what he presumed was Summer's hiding place in a secluded location south of Mt. Glenn's central plaza.
There would be no hiding now.
Gliding on the wind in his crow form, he abruptly swooped in through a cracked window and turned back into his human form just in time to deflect a blade with Harbinger, his scythe-sword.
Just like old times. A grin creeped up Qrow's mouth as he stared at the shocked eyes of 'Scarlet Rose.'
What? Did she really think that someone of his calibre whose been stuck with solo scouting missions into the Grimmlands wouldn't be able to find her?
As for 'Scarlet's' sudden attack, it was all an ingrained response curtesy of Raven.
Raven was Summer's partner, and ever since Raven obtained the ability to turn into a bird, Raven had taken it upon herself to make sure that the team was always on their toes. She'd turn into a bird and strike when least expected, so for all of Team STQ, they struck first and asked questions later. Good old team STRQ.
Scarlet Rose's subconscious reaction to his entry in his crow form was only further proof of her real identity.
"Are we finally done playing hide and seek?" Qrow put strength into the grip he had over his weapon and pushed the black sword-gun carefully away for where it aimed at his neck.
As for Scarlet, she froze and became stiff after realizing that the jig was finally up. He had her cornered, and unlike last time when she'd gotten away, there was no crowd to work through.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," the masked woman lowered her blade and glanced away.
Neither of the two adults missed the way Qrow positioned himself to block the exit of the room, and unlike Qrow, Scarlet couldn't turn into a bird.
"Oh, but I think you do," Qrow stepped forward, his body towering over Scarlet's petite form, her head bowed in guilt. "Enough games Summer."
"I told you that I may or may not know that name," she squeaked, her index fingers childishly pressing together.
Her eyes simply would not meet his.
Qrow called bullshit right here and now, but outwardly he did nothing but stare. No matter how sure he was of the identity of the woman in front of him, it wasn't certain.
"Fine," he seemed to relent. "But I'm still calling you Summer."
Scarlet's mask was featureless, making her eyes the only viable method for Qrow to determine her true feelings, and Scarlet's eyes had certainly widened. Panic was a universal emotion.
"B-But you can't do that," She argued.
And why couldn't he? Qrow grunted. Was it because a certain Ruby Rose was running around Mt. Glenn asking around for a certain Summer Rose?
"You have no proof!" Summer pulled at straws.
Qrow merely shrugged. While Summer had stayed the same over the years, Qrow had picked up a thing or two about getting people to say what he wanted. It comes with the package of being a former bandit.
"If there's one thing I know about Summer that I should probably let Tai know," Qrow began snidely, catching Summer's attention as she bit down on her lower lip. "It's how indecisive she can be to let her teammate fuck the man she'd crushed on since the start of Beacon while crying alone in the bathroom because she was too-"
Qrow felt the slap land on his face before he could even finish the sentence.
"You said you wouldn't talk about that!" She tilted her head up and rounded on Qrow with a hiss before abruptly covering her mouth when Qrow's eyes narrowed sharply from the side.
Summer back pedaled.
Oooooh, the poopy face had tricked her.
"…And how would you know that?" Qrow straightened his mug from where Summer's slap had forced it to the side. He was grinning from ear to ear. Nothing that could be said could deter him from the truth which was plain as day.
"Woman's intuition. Scary thing it is. There's no man or child that can hide from it." Summer was fumbling for any kind of explanation, her hands flailing before frustration won out and superseded all. "Clearly you're still a child." She accused.
Qrow had heard worse insults. Summer always sucked at making fun of others. She'd probably called him a poopy face in her mind.
She suddenly spluttered indignantly.
Oh? Did he say that out loud? Must not be sober enough. In any case, moving on.
"Ruby's here and she's been looking desperately for you. I can bring her right to you. She's missed you and is the only one of your two daughters to believe you're still alive." Qrow switched to a warmer, more familiar tone that quickly eased some of Summer's tension. However, bringing up Ruby caused a reaction.
"Please don't." Summer clasped her hands. "N-Not yet."
"And why not?" Qrow grumbled, a hand scratching the back of his head as he frowned. "So, you can hide again when I leave Mt. Glenn?"
Summer flinched while tentatively wetting her suddenly dried mouth. "I wasn't intending on hiding, just give me some time," she said in a small voice, trying and failing to hold back the emotions Qrow had stirred by bringing up her daughter.
"Its been years Summer-"
"And I just got out!" Summer's shoulders slumped as the admission stunned Qrow into silence. Tai had shared with him the little note he'd gotten from Ruby all those years ago in Summer's hand writing.
The word 'trapped' was what stood out to both male members of STRQ, and agitated them to no end. What if Salem had gotten her and did unspeakable things to her? The thought was always present, but left unsaid as the years went on. Now though, there was clearly truth in the possibility.
A vein popped over Qrow's forehead as his tightened fists revealed the whites of his knuckles. All was unnoticed by Summer.
Qrow raised a hand to place over Summer's shoulder, but reconsidered when Summer stepped away.
"I-I just got out," Summer repeated in a weaker voice. "All these years it was like I was swimming through water. I could see and hear things I cherished, be there in spirit for you, Tai, Yang, and Ruby, but I was never able to get close. It was torture."
"Its, ugh, its over now. You're out," Qrow tried to comfort his teammate, but her next words floored him.
"I'm not even sure if I'm still even me."
"What," Qrow fumbled while looking for the right words, his mouth suddenly drying. He wet his lips before his features creased in concern. "What are you implying?"
"That I might be a danger to Yang, to little Ruby." Summer laughed before going entirely serious. This was the Summer Qrow knew that went solo on missions weaker Huntsman and Huntresses had always failed. She was being honest.
But…But-!
"That's ridiculous." Qrow gritted out through clenched teeth.
"Is it?" Summer looked away. "Because I don't yet know myself. You and Tai can defend yourselves against me, but my little girls wouldn't be able to lift a finger in defence."
Qrow was having trouble understanding everything, but he did know how to read people, and Summer as a former teammate was even simpler to read especially when she was nervous.
Qrow observed Summer up and down in silence, noting that not a single piece of skin other than her eyes was shown in her sleek black outfit. Even the cloak was black and Summer had always preferred white.
Suddenly it clicked.
"What's behind the mask, Summer?"
She froze, the action minute, but all too telling to Qrow's eyes. His heart pounded in his chest, dread pooling within him the longer Summer's silence stretched.
What did the Queen do to her?
"It's 'Scarlet,'" Summer chided weakly.
"What's behind the mask?" Qrow repeated in a more subdued tone.
"Qrow, c'mon now isn't the time," she deflected.
"'Team STRQ, truth buddies and teammates forever.'" Qrow cocked back a brow, watching the words sink in for Summer. "Your words. Not mine." He reminded.
Summer looked less reserved as fond memories came to mind. "And it never worked on Raven," there was mirth in her tone.
"But you're not Raven." Qrow coaxed. He knew that he wasn't good at these sorts of talks, but he was damn well trying.
"No. No I'm not." Summer conceded staring at Qrow with a mixture of gratitude and helplessness.
Qrow was certainly still the Qrow she knew.
She looked up furtively at him. "No more secrets, right?"
"Damn straight." Qrow did his best to reassure Summer. "Teammates watch each other's backs. You can trust me, Tai, the team."
Slowly, Summer nodded. She moved a hand to take the mask off her face, but paused as the ringing of alarm bells interrupted the moment. She aborted the action and suddenly clasped her hands in front of Qrow.
"Just give me some more time. Look it's an emergency outside and we don't have time to waste on this!" She suddenly pleaded and reasoned in that damn way Qrow had never been able to refuse, and it was working.
Whatever Summer was hiding behind the mask, it wasn't going to be resolved in only a couple minutes.
"Ah fuck it all," Qrow grimaced, taking a swig of alcohol from his hip flask before wiping his mouth. "Whether or not Mt. Glenn falls, you aren't going to be able to weasel your way out of an explanation, Summer. You have until after this shit's over."
Summer merely nodded before the two members of team STRQ made their way to Mt. Glenn's central plaza.
The mood grew heavy the closer they got to their destination.
It wasn't long before bad news began to trickle in down from central command and it wasn't long after until everyone was made aware of sudden developments.
The tunnels leading back to Vale and providing essential supplies had unexpectedly been collapsed by tunneling Grimm. Worse, the Grimm that had been spotted idling in the distance three days ago began a slow forward march as if to choke all in fear.
All personnel were to stand by for battle.
Mt. Glenn had stood for years, yet now would come its final stand. It's final test.
Over the past week, all of Mt. Glenn's defences had been bolstered to the best of the engineer's ability, Huntsman and Huntresses readying their resolve.
In the midst of it all, one figure stood in silent vigil over the tallest building of the settlement overlooking everything in the distance, a red mantle billowing in the wind.
Stars tell the tale of ages past.
A mask was carefully taken off, bronze coloured eyes hardening while a broad back became the very picture of strength.
'Archer' was no more.
The earth reveals the scars of ancient battle and legend.
In every world, in every society, and every collective, there exists a mutual understanding regarding times of crisis.
Something must be done to avert tragedy. All else becomes meaningless.
Yet did you not know?
If there was no avoiding it, then so be it.
A hero's splendor will never be contained.
He would be their Huntsman of Red.
-The Sword of Remnant.
Thanks for reading and happy Halloween! It's going to be a rough week with midterms and assignments, so please bear with me if delays occur.
Next updates:
-Fate Alternative
-Fate: Beyond the Gate
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious
Fiction Press: Survivor's Log: Reflections (New novel coming out near December)
Book link: Fatedlegacydark. ca