Chapter 8

"Is that all?"

The words came simply, but both men knew what was implied.

Qrow huffed, "Yeah, that's about everything that happened. We finally get there, the jumpy crew can't be bothered to wait, a huge fight breaks out, some Grimm mutant kicks my ass, then Raven manages to portal me out while she's still under."

He took a swig from his flask, his eyes narrowed. "The one person missing from the excursion team is a silver-eyed kid. Tough, gruff, and mountainous nabbed before the place blew. No idea what they plan on doing with him, but let's hope it's quick."

"Indeed."

Ozpin sighed as he reached for his mug, the sweet, tantalizing temptation of the hot chocolate within calling him. Someone with silver eyes was found and lost within the span of a few moments. While a single person hardly helped in his war, the added power that comes from those eyes was certainly welcomed. Sometimes he was tempted to kidnap a few of them and forcing them to produce more silver eyes for his side, but the thought was quickly discarded.

He had fought a war for the people of Remnant to have the ability to express themselves, he wasn't about to throw away the sacrifices that resulted from that war just for a chance to bolster his side. Besides, how could he claim to fight for the future of the people when he ripped that same future from them.

"What about the Grimm? You said it was odd?"

Qrow reclined his chair. Ozpin could hear the groan just before it collapsed. 'Note to self: get stronger chairs.'

Qrow groaned as he lifted himself into a seated position. "Odd is putting a little lightly. At first it kinda looked like that… that… uh, what'd Leo call that thing?"

"Nuckelavee."

"Yeah, that. It looked a bit like how Leo described that. Just with a sort of gooey blob for a body, three legs, a stumpy goo head, and two gangly arms. Honestly, it didn't look like that much of a threat. Really wasn't at first. It had to support itself with one arm just to stand. Seriously, the limbs were practically twigs. Anyways, cut off both of its arms, then it just regrew them, and made them massive. At that point, it launched itself around by slamming them into the ground."

He took a quick swig. "Can say, that was more of a challenge, but nothing too bad, then it…shrank?"

He shook his head. "Probably not the right way to describe that, but close enough. It grew a whole bunch of noodly arms. Looked like a snake with way too many limbs by the time it was done, kept the two big arms too. Not too sure how I'd have done it, but I could've managed. That's when the kid stepped in and blasted it. Didn't kill it, just made it lose even more of the goo. Got even faster after that, got the drop on both of us. That's when I noticed the bomb. Really hope I don't have to go through that again, who knows if Raven will be able to pull of the same trick again."

Ozpin offered the man a small smile. "Indeed. The bar's of Remnant owe her a debt not lightly repaid."

"Oh, ha ha. Laugh it up." Qrow rolled his eyes. "So, got any ideas as to what that thing even was."

Ozpin reclined in his chair, the warm sunlight blanketing him. "It certainly sounded like it was a Grimm."

"But Grimm don't just change what they are."

"Indeed. Grimm take on a singular form, typically in the shape of an animal. This Grimm is different. It has a vague animal-like form and is capable of regeneration as well as changing forms and producing new ones. Despite these differences, it was still effected by silver eyes."

"Don't know if the kid was new to it or not, but the thing took a full blast with no protection and still got back up."

"Perhaps it is more appropriate to say that it had some level of resistance to the ability."

Qrow scoffed. "How would that even be possible? I seriously doubt there are many normal Grimm able to take a hit like that and still be able to do anything afterwards."

The wizard hummed as he spun his chair to look out the window. "I agree. In the few occasions I've had to witness the ability in the field, they seemed a guaranteed way to debilitate if not outright destroy any Grimm they came in contact with."

Qrow stood up and walked to stand by the window. "You thinkin' She had something to do with this?"

Ozpin closed his eyes. "It would certainly explain how a bomb of such caliber was implanted into it. It would just leave the question of how she managed to do it."

He took a deep breath, then opened his eyes. "Thank you, Qrow. I know that this came up in a rather inopportune time for you, but I appreciate that you've still taken the time to assist us."

Qrow huffed. "Don't mention it, Oz. Summer'd kick my ass if I just ignored something like that. That said," he turned to look at the Headmaster. "You haven't just been sitting on your hands all this time have you?"

Ozpin lightly chuckled. "I suppose that is certainly one way to look at it. There was a group trying to establish themselves in Vale, roughly around the time you left for Vacuo, that was ultimately uprooted by our mutual associates. According to some of them, the group had managed to grab two children before being dealt with. The children were recovered, but due to a lack of documentation or even missing persons' reports, the children have found themselves in the guardianship of one Roman Torchwick."

Qrow grunted as he headed for the door. "Good to know. I'll be sure to give my regards when I pick Ruby up."

"About that, Qrow."

He knew that tone. That tone meant that Ozpin was plotting something, something that would no doubt cause headaches for everyone involved. He whirled around. "You cannot be serious."

"Unfortunately, I am."

"She's a little girl, Oz! She should be playing with dolls and eating crap food. You know! Kid shit! Not being twisted by some two-bit crook!"

Ozpin patiently let Qrow vent his frustrations. He understood what the man meant. It was hardly a good idea to leave a child, a child of a close friend no less, in the hands of a criminal, no matter how benevolent they may be. But what options did they have?

Taiyang had made it quite apparent that he wanted nothing to do with the girl, Qrow's Semblance made it difficult for him to be in a single place for too long, and there was no way that any of the faculty had the ability to provide the home atmosphere that the girl no doubt required.

Things simply hadn't panned out for them, so all they could do is play the cards they had. Ozpin explained as much to Qrow. His scowl deepened, but he held his tongue.

"I know this is hardly an ideal situation, but we are hardly without any ways of keeping track of her."

The frustrated glare he received was enough of a response for him to continue. "Recently a new Deputy Headmistress was voted in. One Glynda Goodwitch, niece of-"

"Niece of that old bat." Qrow pinched his brow. "At least she'll know how to kick ass and protect herself."

The Headmaster nodded. "And should a situation requiring us to come to her aid crops up, we have a way to find her, or rather find Roman. It shouldn't be too hard to ask Glynda to keep an eye on the girl, given her aunt's position in the underworld. I doubt any would question her if she set out for her target."

Qrow snorted. "Still got that stick up her ass?"

"Her morals are rather rigid, but her heart is in the right place."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever, I'm gunna go crash. Haven't gotten a wink of sleep since I dropped in last night."

With that, Qrow entered the elevator at the front of the room and left, leaving Ozpin alone in his office.

With his friend no longer in the room, Ozpin turned his chair fully to look out across the Valean skyline. "Just what are you planning?"

And deep within his heart, another question was asked. 'Just how far will you fall?'

He pushed the thoughts aside as he took a small sip of his hot chocolate, the delight doing little to ease the weight he felt on his shoulders.

It was official. Red hated training and Mrs. Goodwitch. Not that she would ever say that to the woman's face, that would be a mistake, and she was already in more trouble than she wanted.

"Again."

She felt her tired body move itself as Neo stood across from her. Despite her mental protests, her body assumed a combat stance, mirroring the one that Neo took. She threw a tired punch, her form falling apart immediately. Neo casually brushed it aside as she retaliated.

Red's head cracked back as her Aura barely held. She stumbled, eventually falling onto her backside. She groaned as she sat up. She saw Neo's fist coming, she saw Neo's unwilling face. She hated this. This wasn't how were supposed to go. They were supposed to be untouchable, beating all the Hunters and police back as they took what they wanted from whoever they wanted. Roman standing with them, proud of who they were.

She wasn't supposed to be getting beaten like this. She hated the pain, she hated feeling it, she hated getting hit. She was supposed to be the one doing the hitting. Not to mention her cool superpower that made her eyes glow. She could literally destroy whatever she touched. Nothing she didn't want to touch her should be able to.

Red grit her teeth and closed her eyes as she waited for the blow to come, but instead of feedback her Aura provided whenever she got hit there was nothing. She opened her eyes. Neo wasn't in front of her anymore, more standing to the looking from her hand, then to Red. A quick glance at the Goodwitch revealed her to be scowling in the young girls' direction.

It was then that Red noticed her Aura broke and an odd cold sensation hit her. It wasn't like the other times her Aura had broken; this was different. It was more like when she got out of the bath. She looked down and saw why. Her shirt was gone.

Her confusion must have been visible because Neo tapped her on the shoulder and pointed behind the younger girl. Red turned around and there sat her shirt. She carefully stood up, her body protesting. She scooped up her shirt and carefully put it back on.

When she finally managed to wriggle her shirt on, she heard Goodwitch approach her.

"Congratulations. It would appear that you've managed to unlock your Semblance."

Red's eyes lit up. She had unlocked her Semblance! Sure she wasn't sure what it was, but no doubt it was awesome. She wanted to bounce and jump about in celebration, but the first motion had her practically collapsing.

The witch chuckled. "Indeed. It is a wondrous thing to unlock one's Semblance. I was hoping that we would have more time to work on the basics before you unlocked it, but it shouldn't impact training too much. Besides," a dark twinkle glinted in her eyes, "This just means we have to train even harder."

Red shivered. This woman was evil, pure evil. She sent Neo an uneasy look, but Neo was hardly any better and met her gaze. It was then that the two knew for certain that things wouldn't get better anytime soon