Even if life was difficult, it was scary to think about losing it in any way; like it would all suddenly be over, and then there would be nothing left. No regrets, no ambitions, no desires, just an emptiness often described as a release from worldly obsessions.
It was all bullshit.
This wasn't the real reason that death was scary.
Death was scary because no one knows what happens in death.
Even as a street kid that grew up scrounging for food and learning to keep her head low when the crime lords made their routine sweeps, Emerald had been forced to mature early.
There was nothing pretty in death.
She'd seen dozens of individuals down in the alleys getting offed by would-be assassins and screaming in wretched anguish from bleeding wounds and broken bones. When the screaming would stop, there was no peace on the features of the assailant, nor blankness as their life had ebbed away. What she saw was nothing but terror and grief, and she vowed to never end up in such a position; especially when she saw the soulless women left used and discarded out of sight of society.
They'd been beautiful, and she didn't think herself becoming any less beautiful than them in the future, but their ends were tragic; her end may even be more so due to her youthful exotic features, tanned almost brown skin, and unique emerald-coloured hair. She would surely have sold well in an underground market.
That wasn't going to be her, she had vowed.
By chance or by sheer luck, she'd eaves dropped on a group of passing Huntsmen regarding the topic of Aura and Semblances, and somehow managed to unlock her own. This put her head-over-shoulders above the rest among the dingy thieves in town. Ordinary shanks and physical confrontations were meaningless to her as she could overpower anyone without an Aura to rival her own. Moreover, life was starting to look up from its previously low point.
Specifically, with her Semblance that could create illusions on targets, the whole word could be her oyster if she was careful enough.
Then what was happening now?
A throbbing pain emanated from her left thigh where she could see a bullet buried half-way into the muscle of her leg after penetrating through her Aura.
The shot came too suddenly, unpredictable, and bloody accurate in fucking everything up for her without warning.
She was in shock, her fingers clamped over her wound in a subconscious attempt to stop the bleeding, but this also meant that her concentration on her Semblance was broken. The vendor she'd stollen from seemed to wake up from a daze and look right at her and what she'd stolen.
No. No, not again.
Her eyes dilated as the vendor reached out for a walking stick leaning against his shop, and she choked up immediately, her body going stiff.
Memories of days before she'd unlocked her Aura came to mind in horrific fashion.
Helplessness, pain, fear, and unshed tears gave way to childhood trauma.
Caught thieves, even children, were never dealt mercy out here where resources were precious. With her Aura broken she'd feel every bit of pain delivered on her, and with her leg injured, she couldn't escape.
She whimpered as the first blow landed, her knees wobbling before her injured leg gave out and caused her to topple on the ground.
"S-Stop!" She pleaded as she drew into a fetal position, hands over her head.
"You selfish thieves are pests!" The vendor wouldn't relent, and it may have been her fault.
She'd stolen from this guy dozens of times, and now that he'd caught the illusive thief, there was no way the man would let her go easily. Thievery was practically the same as murder out here where food wasn't stable.
The blow kept raining down, the acute throbs of pain accompanying every strike turning numb as her forearms bruised and purpled. This wasn't eve counting the anguish of having a bullet pierce into her leg.
Carelessness and agony caused her curled up form to straighten if only for a moment, but it was enough for the vendor to aim a kick at her stomach, causing her to wretch and her eyes to water.
This couldn't be happening.
Things were supposed to be different after she'd unlocked her Aura, and precisely because things were different, she'd not experienced this kind of beating in years. Worse, she wasn't a little child anymore who could get mercy from pleading with the crowd using alligator tears.
So long as the vendor didn't attempt to outright kill her, no one would help a thief get their just desserts.
Was stealing for her own survival worth this much karma?
This was life on the streets. There was no fairness involved, and only the shrewdest survive. Glaring at all the passersby just staring at her, she felt entirely disillusioned with all of them. In the end, they weren't any different from her. The only difference was that they were born with a golden or silver spoon.
Bastards all of them.
One day, she wouldn't even care if all of them just died and the world burned. Just like how they disregard her, their circumstances would have nothing to do with her either.
She stifled a sob as the vendor ended up striking her wounded leg, causing the bleeding to worsen, and a terrible shudder to shoot up her spine.
"You bastard," she chocked out with her features scrunched in torment.
"What did you say?" The reply was icy, causing her blood to run cold as the man raised the cane higher.
She flinched, shutting her eyes and curling up her body again, arms over her head.
The whistling sound of the cane swooping down on her echoed loudly in her ears, but the accompanying blow never came.
"You're being a bit heavy handed, now aren't you?"
Was someone actually standing up for her?
This was her first thought when a steady voice sounded from above her.
Blearily, she craned her chin up and glanced at the masked figure in a black trench coat and combat pants holding the vendor's cane firmly mere inches away from her face. The figure looked young, sounded young too, but his disposition was one of a veteran's.
"She's already injured, so just let her off."
Who was this guy?
Emerald couldn't wrap her mind around what was happening. She'd had no expectations of receiving help of any kind, but here it was regardless. However, what was this guy planning on doing?
A sizable crowd had been attracted towards the spectacle, and the vendor who was at the center of it all was going red-faced in anger.
"Let her go? Do you know how many times she must stolen from me?! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just ignore you!"
The vendor was incensed, granted, the last thing Emerald recalled making the man imagine wasn't exactly the most pleasing.
"I can grant you a small favour?" The masked youth offered.
"You?" The vendor spat.
It was the same thought running across Emerald's mind. As if the man's favour was really worth anything.
Rather than speak, the masked man drew closer to the vendor, and away from the prying eyes of the crowd, lifted his mask up enough such that only the vendor could see his face.
H-He took off his mask. What was that supposed to do?
Oddly enough, the vendor's face revealed abject shock and traces of awe, fear? It was hard to tell when her vision was spinning.
She passed out a second after, but not before seeing the look of concern on the youth's face directed at her. It was the first time such an expression with all the genuine feelings behind it was leveled on her who no one cared about.
Why do you look at me like that?
There was no answer.
Of course, there wasn't, but at least in some manner, a part of herself wanted to hear that she was special, needed, but who was she kidding?
Such fantasies born from princesses and heroes weren't meant for reality, and she was no princess anyway. She was scrawny and had that vicious gleam in her eyes from her life in the alleys.
This bastard likely wanted something from her, and that was all. Like she'd honestly believe anything else.
Her thoughts soon left her before she stopped thinking entirely, falling into a blissful reprieve away from the pain coursing through her body.
Left to settle the situation on his own, the masked youth watched the vendor back away and accede to his request before directly yelling to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, the masked youth knelt by Emerald's side, scrutinized her injuries, and then frowned beneath his mask.
He'd apologize later, but he tore the shirt across Emerald's mid-drift as he needed something to bandage around her injured leg.
Once Emerald was bandaged up and treated to the best of his medical ability, the masked youth gingerly carried her in his arms and let his shoulders slump.
Now what should he do about this?
Emerald blearily woke up from her state of unconsciousness, and rapidly bolted up into a seated position, fearing the worst as she felt a cold wind blow across her exposed navel. She patted herself down in a panic, and quickly noticed her torn clothes, her complexion rapidly paling until she saw that only her shirt had been torn to make a bandage around her leg which looked far better than before.
Someone had treated it by cleaning up the blood, removing any traces of the bullet, and firmly wrapping it up. She touched it gingerly, almost stunned to hardly feel any pain.
Out in the streets, she'd seen numerous people injured with all kinds of wounds, but she'd never heard of a person recovering from a bullet wound so quickly. This also went for herself. Her heeling factor wasn't that strong, and she knew this from experience.
She chanced a look at her forearms and quickly noted that the bruises had also vanished.
Did the masked youth do this? Was it a Semblance?
Emerald gradually nodded her head. It was the only reasonable explanation she could come up with coupled with the realization that the youth must have been a Huntsman.
Regardless, this didn't answer the question of why he'd helped her, nor what he wanted from her?
Grunting she stretched to remove the stiffness of her body, feeling for any abnormalities, but detecting none other than the dull throb in her wounded leg. Next, she observed her surroundings.
She was in a warm blanket, and on a soft bed, luxuries she'd never before afforded…and they felt nice, comfortable. It was a far cry from whatever she'd had in the past, and the memory of using cardboard for a blanket as a five-year-old stuck out in contrast.
It was the little things that make all the difference. Things such as hygiene, womanly products, and a home to a return to that made all the difference, and if she couldn't have them, then she would steal them all the same.
She pulled the blanket up to her neck, her eyes darting around the room she was in.
It was rather small, but it felt homely. At least, that's how she imagined it would feel like.
The floors were made of lacquered mahogany and had this musky forest scent, while the low lighting across the room illuminated the basic closet, dresser, and mirror on the far corner. It may not have been much or too fancy, but compared to her prior living arrangements, the difference was practically night and day.
The place looked like one of those rooms in an inn she could never legally enter, and now she found herself in one at the machinations of a stranger. She didn't know how to feel about that, but the notion that it was done out of kindness eluded her mind as she consciously rejected the option.
It was practically impossible for her to believe it considering the environment she grew up in.
Right now, she was just confused and equally apprehensive of the intentions of the masked youth.
Hearing the sound of creaking floor boards and bickering voices, she closed her eyes and lay back down on the bed as the door of the room was pushed open.
"So, this is the thief you saved. I could have handled it while you gave chase, you know?"
Emerald tried to place the voice, but it wasn't anyone she knew, not even the masked youth. It sounded like an older woman, cheerful, yet subdued.
"No. It wouldn't have gone so well for you." This time Emerald recognized the voice as it belonged to the masked youth that saved her. "All I had to do was let the man see my face to get him to back down. What would you have done other than cause a bigger scene?"
The noise of offended pacing and scoffing echoed out.
"You know you're right, but I'm getting this strange sense of frustration at your tone." The woman spoke in defence of herself. "I'm pretty capable, you know?"
"What happened to the woman that shot her then?" The youth rebuked.
The knew the bitch that shot her? They were chasing her? Emerald felt a swell of anger towards the shooter nearly blew her cover as a sneer almost made its way over her mouth.
"…She got away," the woman's voice was whispered, equal parts sheepish and embarrassed. "But it wasn't my fault. Seriously. She jumped into a crowd and yelled that a 'masked weirdo' was chasing her. Indignant as I was, it suddenly wasn't as easy to keep up with her, and she made it out in the commotion."
"Great, now what then?"
"It's alright. She's still in the city. I can feel it, vaguely," the woman answered. "This city is on the border near Vale and is fairly remote. They likely have their own Huntsmen teams on patrol against Grimm, and as such, it's unlikely that Grimm can come to her rescue. Salem wouldn't risk deploying Grimm enmass against a city of this size near Vale lest she alert Ozpin. This woman will have to get out on her own," the woman concluded.
Emerald listened intently, forming a vague idea of who had shot her as the discussion between the two strangers continued.
"Where do you think she'd go?"
"Definitely not on foot. We'd capture her if she left out in the open Grimmlands, so she's likely somewhere with a bullhead or a means of transportation."
"In that case, she's not going anywhere," Emerald interjected. She opened her eyes and stared face to face with the masked youth and similarly dressed and masked woman.
What was this? New fashion trends?
Emerald cast aside her wayward thoughts and stared at the two's questioning gazes.
"We don't get many bullheads here unless there's a shipment from Vale," she elaborated. "The last shipment came almost a month ago and the next one is due in another week."
This was to say, a week was the deadline, and by then there'd be too many bullheads from Vale for the shooter to make a getaway in. The shooter had to be captured in this time frame.
"I don't know what you want or why you're chasing this woman, but I want in," she pointed at herself, then down at her bandaged leg. "I owe this bitch a favour, and I intend to return it."
She thought the two would agree immediately, as this must have been the reason that they helped her. She was a local, a thief nonetheless. None would know this city's layout better than her, if she could say so herself. However, things differed from what she expected rather quickly.
"Revenge is a silly reason to take you along," the masked youth rejected her outright.
The woman looked pitifully at her. Was she treating her like a child just because of her age? Bullshit. That's not how street life worked, and she'd be damned if she let this woman pin her lofty societal expectations on her.
Old enough to eat. Old enough to steal.
"I've seen guy's shanked for less," she said disagreeably, her fingers curling over the edge of her blanket draped over her.
"You'll need to give me a better reason," the masked youth remained stubborn, utterly unmoved.
Don't stare at me with those eyes.
Emerald didn't know how to feel about the genuine concern being leveled on her. It wasn't normal in her life, and what was worse was the sincerity in the words. They weren't implying that she was incapable, but she didn't have to go out of her way to do it, and that she could rely on them to get the job done themselves. This was the crux of the matter, and it thoroughly befuddled her.
Blood was rushing up to her cheeks as she grew flustered and entertained the idea of hiding herself under the bedsheets until she could calm down, but this wasn't the time.
When had she had anyone to rely on other than herself? The fact that they expected her to just let them take care of it was baffling in that it flipped over every fixed notion she had of other people.
In this case, didn't that mean that the masked youth had helped her on the simple premise of 'just helping' with no ulterior motive?
I can't accept that.
After all, this would mean that every time she had wished, begged, or hoped that someone would come and rescue her from this hellhole of trash and filth out of their own kindness was validated; like someone like this masked youth, some hero would just come into change her life and save her; like it was a real option.
Then why hadn't one come sooner?
The bitterness in that one selfish thought was too much to bear, and as her frustration built, something happened that derailed the current topic.
Her stomach growled, and she curled up in shame and mortification.
"I think a bit of lunch is well in order," the masked woman spoke up.
"Food?" Oh God did she say that out loud?
Looking at the traces of pity in the masked woman's eyes and body language, Emerald felt even more flustered. Even the masked youth's stance softened.
Emerald watched as the two left the room and came back a few minutes later carrying some burgers and fries which they left in front of her. This staple fast food all but confirmed that she was in some kind of traveler's inn.
Did she have to pay for any of this?
Noticing the odd expression that she must have been making on her face, the masked youth quickly assuaged her doubts by saying that everything was all paid for already.
"You're not eating?" Emerald asked slowly.
The two strangers shook their heads, and this was all Emerald needed to immediately horde the food onto her side. Taking a burger into her hands, she bit down without any consideration for manners or her image. She was almost feral as she ate as if they'd take it back from her at any moment.
Mayo stained the sides of her cheeks, but she didn't even seem to notice in her haste.
"Careful," the woman warned her like a doting mother.
Emerald gave her the stink eye, or at least she thought she did, but it didn't seem to be very effective considering her cheeks were bulged like a chipmunk's.
"So, what's your name?" The woman asked wryly.
"Emerald," she gave a perfunctory response while stuffing fries in her mouth and moving onto the next burger.
"I'm Scarlet Rose," the woman introduced then gestured to her colleague. "And this is Archer."
Code names, or something? Emerald raised a brow before her eyes widened and she began smacking her chest and looking for the nearest source of fluid. She found the cola and began chugging it down to clear her throat before starting up again on the rest of the food. None of it was going to be for waste.
In any case, she wasn't so ignorant to believe that the names Scarlet and Archer gave her were their actual names, but there was no need for her to pry.
Instead, she focused on her meal until she ate everything. A look of satisfaction came over her features as she rubbed a hand over her stomach. She hadn't been able to eat this much in a long time. Sure she could steal food, but she'd generally have to use her Semblance and that was exhausting in its own right.
"If you're good, then we best be on our way," Archer said with a curt nod, snapping Emerald back into attention.
"You wanted a reason to take me?" Emerald challenged, causing Archer and Scarlet to pause. "Not only do I know these streets like the back of my hand, but what if we can apprehend this bitch without much of a fight that may involve others?"
The two masked individuals glanced at each other, before Scarlet hummed in thought.
"How will you go about doing that?" Scarlet inquired.
Emerald just grinned knowingly.
It wasn't until Archer tapped against Scarlet's shoulder that Scarlet realized that there was something wrong.
"You were talking to a wall," Archer explained.
"I was what?" Scarlet was taken aback before she looked at Emerald again.
"Like I said, without much of a fight," Emerald smiled lightly and insisted. "Take me with you."
If Archer was impressed, he didn't show it; however, the mood ended up becoming solemn.
"You really shouldn't get involved in this," he dissuaded her even still. "There are things in Remnant that can't be explained nor should curiosity be allowed to meddle with. This is one of them, and once you learn too much, you'll be in too deep to extricate yourself and claim un-involvement."
What an elaborate way to say no. Emerald didn't really buy the excuse. However, she froze rooted in the next second when a hand tousled her hair and a bubbling warmth in her chest caused her thoughts to halt.
"I can tell that your life has been hard enough. I don't want to make it harder on you," he said in earnest as if he actually understood. His fingers had combed through her hair and turned it into a mess, but she didn't even have the strength to be angry with him as he took his hand back.
No one had ever done that for her before, and she didn't know how to react to it. Despite mentally maturing early due to her environment, in some aspects, she was still childish.
There was a very different kind of emotion she'd never felt before brewing in her heart. She scowled as she couldn't make sense of it.
It was an odd thing, hard to place and elusive, but there nonetheless.
She pursed her lips, thinking deeply.
Even if she didn't know what she was feeling, she knew it had something to do with Archer so she needed to keep him around. She'd be a fool to miss this opportunity, and now all she needed was an excuse. A calculative gleam appeared over her features, the edges of her mouth curving.
Two birds with one stone.
She made up her mind.
What were the words that the smart whores said when you find a suitable man that was kind and you didn't want them to leave you? Ah, yes that was it.
"Take responsibility," she said slyly, the tips of her cheeks rosy despite trying to be nonchalant.
Utter silence.
Well played, Archer seemed to eye her.
Archer then calmly stood up and tried to walk out of the room, beads of sweat forming over his brow.
He didn't make it to the door before Scarlet tackled him and put him in a chock hold with no mercy.
-Elsewhere...
Qrow swooped in from the skies in his crow form towards an unassuming little house with a wide front and back yard near the woods in Patch. It was Tai and Summer's home that the two had first moved into after Raven ended up leaving the group due to disagreements with Ozpin.
Gliding in the wind, he maneuvered himself to perch in the living room window where he could practically hear Yang's animated shouting.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Her voice reverberated.
Qrow peaked inside the living room to see the blond bundle of joy calling out at Tai a distance away with a megawatt smile on her face.
"Did you see that!" Yang kept repeating. "DID YOU SEE THAT!"
On the T.V. screen reporters were going over the highlights of the battle of Mt. Glenn from the appearance of the Huntsman of Red to the final arrow shot by a bloodied and valiant mercenary. Presently, it was on the sense of Archer releasing the attack that slayed a dragon, and Yang was all over it.
"Yang! For the last time yes! Now stop trying to jump into the T.V.!" Tai appeared to be at his wits end with his eldest daughter and tiredly shook his head.
"He's so cool!"
"She's not listening to me," Tai let out an exhausted breath before contemplating the cons of just shutting off the T.V. in Yang's face. She'd likely scream at him as young teenage girls do, and no matter how hard Tai tried, girls would always reach that certain age.
Now Ruby, she was a trooper who definitely wouldn't turn her back on her old man.
Yang had been going on and on about Ruby leaving for a mission with this 'Archer' fellow earlier who Yang was obsessed with as of late. However, the fact that Archer appeared on T.V. and Ruby didn't, made it almost certain that Ruby had created a far-fetched lie. She was silly in that way.
Ruby was a good girl. She wouldn't be out there putting her life in danger. She likely just made an excuse to spend more time fiddling with Crescent Rose in the weapon shop.
Tai nodded to himself resolutely before resolving to begin the arduous task of convincing Yang that all boys who weren't father were menaces.
Seeing the look on Tai's face, Qrow could guess what he was thinking and knew this was his time to take action while his teammate was distracted.
Tapping his beak on the window pane before him, none noticed the sound other than the raven perched high on the opposite side of the room.
That raven wasn't just an ordinary raven. That raven was his sister.
He gestured subtly to Raven with his eyes.
Code for, 'meet me outside,' back when he was young and a vagrant of the Branwen bandit tribe.
The issue of Summer was the main reason for why he'd decided to visit Tai's home in Patch rather than go back and report to Ozpin in person. However, he didn't wish to break the news to Tai yet since he could tell that Summer's circumstances weren't normal, and Tai may do something rash. Moreover, if he slipped up and mentioned that Ruby was indeed present on Mt. Glenn, Tai would certainly flip. Tai was too much of a worry wart, and he definitely wouldn't react well to an "I lost track of your youngest daughter at the end of the battle," line.
Yeah no. He didn't have enough liquor to handle that conversation, and his pride as a former bandit had taken a blow after not being able to locate that damn Archer.
Speaking of which, it was precisely because he'd lost Archer that he came here, not for Tai, but for Raven.
Acknowledging his signal, Raven flapped her wings and exited the living room through an open side window. She then soared into the sky with him trailing after her to a secluded area at the back forest of the house.
In an instant, she morphed into her human form with a scowl over her features. "What?" She spat.
Qrow had no time for Raven's crankiness. She'd never told Tai that she could turn into a raven, and being so close to Tai after years of separation was certainly causing Raven to feel antsy.
Qrow knew Raven, and her discomfort was likely due to lingering feelings and guilt, but those were her problems…and he came to add more problems on top of them. Well fuck, but he didn't have much of a choice.
"I need your help," he said while turning back into a human. "I need your Semblance," he further specified.
Raven's Semblance was special in that she could create a portal to anyone she'd made a bond or connection with at will. She had one such portal for everyone she both cared and hated enough to leave an impression, and Summer was on that list.
Raven's lip twitched, her arms crossing. "Not this again. I already told you last time that she was dead, but you and Tai kept insisting that she wrote you a note saying she was trapped and never gave up."
Qrow didn't deny the claim. Ordinarily, this was where he'd sigh and bicker for a bit before Raven had enough and started ignoring him, but this time was different. He knew what he saw and felt.
"I saw her Raven. I talked with her," Qrow grimaced, feeling helpless at his sister's feigned indifference. "Summer was right in front of me, so stop fighting me on this and just try!"
Raven didn't like his tone and immediately narrowed her eyes in annoyance. She was the leader of the Branwen tribe and it was an insult to be ordered around especially by a traitor.
"You've got to be shitting me Qrow. Why should I care about what you want me to do?" Raven sneered, the sword by her waist clinking as Qrow placed a hand over Harbinger and Durendal which he still carried. "You think you're stronger than me now that you have a new magic sword?"
Qrow didn't say it, but he felt smug when he noticed apprehension and trepidation behind Raven's tough act. This was a sword used by the Huntsman of Red capable of a power beyond mortal comprehension. In fact, if Ozpin wasn't adamant that this wasn't the Sword of Destruction, then Qrow may have believed it. Still, this wasn't the point.
He eased the grip he had and placed his arms up in the air in a show of surrender.
"C'mon Raven, just humour me," Qrow sighed.
Raven frowned while inwardly relenting. There was no problem just checking anyway, and she already knew the result, as she's already tried this numerous times before. It was to the point that she was already mouthing off an instinctual response. "I've told you before, but I can't feel anyth-"
Her words hitched in her throat.
I-It was impossible.
A bond she once thought- no knew was lost, was undeniably there once again in the recesses of her mind. Her pupils dilated in disbelief.
She grabbed Qrow by the collar of his shirt and roughly hoisted him up enough for his feet to dangle, anger, anxiety, and confusion strewn over her features. "What games are you playing Qrow?! This doesn't make any sense!"
Judging from Raven's reaction, Qrow grew solemn.
"I don't know either alright!" Qrow grumbled while thrashing to get out of Raven's hold. "None of us know what happened to Summer on her last mission, and just when I almost got her to tell me, something wrong happened!"
Raven was stunned while memories of Summer in her time in Beacon came to the forefront of her mind.
Meanwhile, Qrow finally wrestled out of Raven's grip with a grunt and scowled while straightening his clothes. "Can you, or can you not open a portal to her for me?"
Raven didn't answer. She just stood there in silent thought.
"Raven!" Qrow called out.
She clicked her tongue, her jaw line visible as she gritted her teeth.
"I don't owe you any favours," she turned her back on Qrow. "You lost that privilege when you abandoned the tribe."
Raven turned into bird form and left before Qrow could react.
"Raven, get back here! We're not done!"
Yes. Yes, we are.
Raven didn't want Qrow to see her trembling at the revelation. Her Semblance was good and all, but it all tied into the aspect of bonds. Contrary to thought, Raven wasn't unfeeling, just untrusting. Those that did manage to make some sort of bond with her had to have had some meaning for her, and as for Summer, it was as the first friend she'd ever made outside the Branwen tribe.
Summer had died for a lost cause.
Raven had always believed this after she learned that the secret enemy Ozpin wished to face was an immortal with no way of killing.
Tai, Qrow, and Summer couldn't see the meaninglessness of it all, but she did.
How could she still stay behind to be a sacrificial pawn to that calculative headmaster's game? Tai had rejected her offer to join the Branwen tribe, and so she'd left.
Summer continued to believe in Ozpin, and then look what happened to her: dead, well at least Raven had thought so.
This was how Raven had always viewed things in the past, but the times changed and 'learned' that Ozpin had been hiding hidden trump cards other than the Relics.
If before there was no hope in victory, then now there was in the form of Archer.
In the Mt. Glenn broadcast, she'd seen his prowess first hand, and heard his words regarding magic.
If it was him and his weapons of legend he had on hand, then surely, he may have a means to kill an immortal? Didn't this mean her choice was wrong, and the mistakes she'd made could no longer be fixed?
She pursed her eyes closed tightly; a single team photo taken in her first year in Beacon coming to mind.
Team STRQ
No matter how buried they were, old memories die hard. They would fight together, and they would win.
Could things go back to such a simple time where it felt as if they could take on anything?
She was already attempting to smooth things over with Yang, why not add someone else on the list?
She sighed, equal parts bitter and reminiscent as she looked at her sword, considered her Semblance, and thought about what she should do from here.
The choice was in her hands.
Thanks for reading, and thanks to my newest patrons: Florian M, Lightstorm, and Calvert H!
I have a new novel out and the link is below for Survivor's Log: Reflections. Samples can be read at Fiction Press, and the Paper back is also available now.
Next update: Birth of a Legend V2
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