Julius was breathing slowly in and out in an attempt to calm his overwhelmed nerves.
Was he in over his head taking this job? One Grimm attack was already terrifying enough as it is, but two? And he had seen the attack almost firsthand, or at the very least the horrible horrifying bloody result of it.
"Winchester was a prick but he didn't deserve this" the detective mumbled to himself.
He saw the young man's face still fresh in his mind. Clinging to life desperately, his entire body mauled by an unseen deadly beast. As much as Cardin Winchester was a certifiable prick, even he didn't deserve this way.
The door opened as his companion Pius entered the door, in his hands two cups of hot tea. He placed the cups on the table right in front of the budding young detective and proceeded to sit in front of him.
Julius stared at the cup of tea for a moment before grabbing it "thank you Pius" he said as he took a sip of the hot but relaxing beverage, soothing his anxious nerves. Or at least it did for a little bit. He couldn't help but think back to Cardin's mangled figure.
"Are you sure you're alright sir?" Pius asked concerned.
"Yeah of course I am. I am perfectly fine after you know finding a student practically mauled to death in the dark of the night! Yeah of course I will be perfectly fine after witnessing all that" Julius shouted a bit too overdramatically before laying his head in his hands.
There was a tense silence before the young detective spoke up again.
"You should've seen it Pius….it was…horrific. I knew Grimm attacks where bad but I had no idea they could be…"
"You still think it is a Grimm attack sir?"
Julius extended his arms dramatically and flapped them up and down "what else could it be?"
"Perhaps the attacker was a member of the White Fang. There have been rumors of them being seen here around Vale. And from what I've been managed to gather Mr. Winchester was particularly cruel to the Faunus students here."
Julius shook his head "nah I don't believe that. The signs point way more towards a savage animal then a calculated attack. The White Fang is a lot of things but they aren't sloppy and certainly wouldn't attack a freaking high schooler as obnoxious as he may be."
Pius nodded in that assessment. The two men softly drank their tea in silence as both their minds got to thinking. Pius observed Julius and smiled. He remembered when the boy was still young, a budding detective wanting to be just like the man whom he idolized, as wacky as the man was, no doubt his detective skills where superb and where absolutely in the family.
"Sir if you don't mind me asking. Are you sure you want to continue this assignment? There is no shame in admitting that it is too much for you" Pius spoke politely.
Julius looked up at his companion, and shook his head.
"I can't give up Pius. This is a real mystery, a real case to solve. To finally prove I can do this. To prove to him that I can do this!" Julius said.
Pius simply responded with "are you trying to prove yourself to him or to yourself. Julius, he already knows what you're capable of. You don't need to prove yourself to him, he just wants you to be safe, hence why he asked me too…"
"AHA so he did send you to look after me!" Julius shouted triumphantly.
A small smile appeared on Pius's face "well of course he did sir. And again look at that incredible observation skill from you. You don't need to prove yourself, especially not to him. You are quite capable."
Julius was suddenly silent, slipping back in his seat behind his desk. He picked up the cup of tea and slowly drank it until a sudden knock on his door made him spit out the beverage overdramatically and opened a nearby drawer and pulling out a wooden stick.
"Be careful I'm armed!" the young detective shouted.
Pius sighed in response "sir that's a stick. Come on in"
The door to his makeshift office opened and the authoritative figure of Glynda Goodwitch stepped inside, observing Julius with a curious glance as he stood there with a stick in his hand like he was waiting for a big fight.
"Mr. Jackson what are you doing?" Glynda asked crossing her arms.
Julius quickly threw the stick on his desk before saying "nothing Mrs. Goodwitch uhum….how may I help you?" he said politely with a wild smile.
Glynda groaned internally before responding with "Director Ozpin is holding a speech about the recent happenings. He would like you to be there as well if possible."
Julius nodded "of course. Give me a moment to grab my things and I will be right there."
Goodwitch left the office and Julius immediately looked at Pius, who nodded in understanding. The man standing up and grabbing his hat from the nearby coatrack and placed it on his head. Julius picked up his signature sunglasses from his desk and put them on before he and Pius exited the office.
The auditorium was filled with the students from Beacon. Talking amongst themselves, curious about why the headmaster had called them all out there. By now everyone had heard about the attack on Cardin Winchester but had no idea about the details.
In that crowd of people, Weiss could only tap her foot multiple times to the floor as she had her arms crossed. The remains of Team RWBY and Team JNPR talking amongst each other. But all Weiss was looking at was the sight of Jaune and Alida being so close to each other.
The new girl basically clung to him to like glue. She was simply so distraught over all that was occurring. Perfectly acceptable considering everything that had occurred from the moment she arrived.
But Weiss found it odd to say the least. Odd that not even two days after Alida arrived there had been not one but two supposed Grimm attacks and it made her wonder just a little bit…
Suddenly she was snapped out of her thoughts by the sudden silence of the crowd as Ozpin took center stage and started to address them.
"Good afternoon dear students," Ozpin started "as you all no doubt have heard. Your fellow student Cardin Winchester was attacked last night. He is currently being treated for his injuries by the Vale Medical Institute and we have not yet heard further updates on his conditions. But right now at this moment I wish to address your concerns and lay out a few a clear rules. For your own safety you will not be allowed to leave your dorms at night and if the need must arise you will not go alone. I understand that these are drastic matters but they are for your own safety."
Weiss looked around to see a small commotion forming, fellow students who did not like this restriction. As her eyes turned back to the stadium she noticed the strange detective standing to the side.
"It's that weird detective guy again," Ruby said walking up to Weiss "why is he wearing sunglasses indoors?"
Weiss didn't respond but kept looking at the detective. Wondering what was going on behind those sunglasses.
"And I would also like to add. That if you see anything strange or worrying. Inform me or the staff or if you will our associate Mr. Julius Jackson over here, who has offered to investigate these strange happenings."
Julius looked like he was wanting to say something but Pius placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. And Weiss looked at the pair before setting her eyes back on the nearby Jaune and Alida, a strange feeling forming inside of her.