Posted on: 2023/01/14
Yang looked around the office she had been sent into anxiously, tapping on her arm with her fingers as she focused on the empty office chair on the opposite side of the desk she sat at.
The sound of the door's handle turning made her jump as her head whipped toward the origin.
"You'll have to excuse me for my delay, miss Xiao Long. I cannot say that I was prepared for such a situation so early in the morning." Said professor Oobleck, setting two coffee mugs on the desk.
"O-oh, uh, y-yeah, no problem. I mean, I get it. Early mornings, right?" Awkwardly jested the blond, wrapping her arms around herself.
The green-haired man observed her for a few seconds as he sat on his chair. He then shook his head while pulling on one of the desk's drawers. He took out a small tray with two containers which he set down next to the mug meant for the student.
"I'm afraid I was not made aware of how you prefer your coffee. You may add as much sugar or cream as you wish." He explained, motioning towards the set.
Yang raised an eyebrow as she pointed toward the drawer the man was closing. "You, uh, just have that in there?"
"Yes."
They both sat in silence while the blond hesitantly picked up the cream container. She noticed the square compartment underneath the small tank filled with ice dust as she poured a certain amount into her mug.
"Aaalright then..." She mumbled.
"The medical staff informed us that there was nothing to worry about, but just in case: Does your bruise cause any alarming discomfort in any way currently?" He asked, motioning towards her neck where her skin had darkened slightly.
The brawler winced, raising a hand to her throat, gently rubbing the bruise while the memories of the recent events replayed in her mind. She could still feel the man's rough hands holding tightly onto her, how his muscle tensed as her life was milliseconds away from being forfeited.
She suppressed a hitched breath, feeling her eyes moisten before answering the green-haired man with a huff. "T-that's nothing. I got worst from an Ursa while at Signal."
The teacher eyed her trembling hands as they picked up the sugar container.
He then sipped on his drink and gained a serious expression, linking his fingers together before addressing her. "Is that so? Well, think it would be best if we approached the topic of this meeting head-on."
Yang's gaze remained focused on her mug as she froze, a spoon of sugar hanging above the liquid apprehensively.
"I'll have to request for you to be more precise, professor." Said Weiss, sitting upright with both of her hands set neatly atop her lap. "There are various topics which this meeting could be about."
Peter Port sighed as he combed his mustache. "Now, miss Schnee. There's no need to be so stiff. What you've been through is certainly not what your average young adult commonly experiences."
"This was nothing. If I hope to ever stand out from my father, I cannot let such an event disturb me." She coldly replied, her face void of any emotion as she stared into the man's eyes.
The large man shook his head. "If you wish to stand apart from your father, I would recommend being more honest with your feelings. Nevertheless, you are at Beacon and as a teacher of this great institution, I can guarantee that everything said today will remain in this room."
Weiss' lips thinned into a line, yet she remained silent. Her hands balled into fists while she took a few calming breaths.
"If you need time, I will speak first. I do not want to hide from you that the headmaster has made us watch the recording of what happened."
The heiress' eyes widened as images flooded her mind. The mangled bodies of the White Fang, the intense pressure and fear felt while standing near the silver-eyed beings, the overbearing exhaustion from using her semblance over and over; fighting for their lives, the sword piercing through Ruby's chest followed by the same woman eating another human's eyes right in front of them.
Peter reached into his desk and took out a box of tissues which he slid towards her.
Confused at first, Weiss finally noticed the tears which had been dropping onto her hands and skirt. She then reached for a few tissues and dabbed her eyes, staining the textile with her makeup.
"This wasn't your first experience of death, but you have never seen the bodies before, haven't you?" He asked with a reassuring tone.
A sob escaped the heiress. "I..."
"... May I ask you something first, headmaster?" Requested Blake, her fingers flowing through her ribbon which she held on her lap before pocketing it.
Ozpin leaned back into his chair, raising his mug to take a sip of coffee. "Of course, this session is for you after all."
The last few days of events replayed in her mind while she massaged her tired eyes. "Well, honestly, I have so many questions, but those are better asked to someone else." She muttered loud enough for the gray-haired man to hear her.
Raising her head to stare into the headmaster's eyes, she finally asked. "Miss Goodwitch told me that you knew about... my past. Why did you let me in Beacon then? Why have you not arrested me?"
Ozpin smirked while staring into the light brown liquid he sloshed around. "Do you believe me devoid of sin, miss Belladonna?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you believe that, as headmaster of Beacon, I have never made a single mistake or never committed what some would consider a sinful act?" He clarified then took a sip before setting the mug aside.
Blake stared at him momentarily then followed his lead, gulping down her drink before discarding it. "I don't think anyone can live a life free of sin, depending on what one would consider a sin. Though, I fail to see how that answers my question."
"I have let you attend my school because I believe in the people's will to change, to better themselves. You have spent your childhood amongst the White Fang as they — unfortunately — progressively radicalized themselves, tarnishing the very cause they fought for in the eyes of those who believed in their original goal." Replied the gray-haired man with a solemn shake of his head near the end.
He then propped his elbows onto his desk while leaning onto his linked hands. "While the risk of you being an agent on the inside is a concern that has been raised by others; I would rather believe that a young woman with a background such as yours desires to work for the betterment of the world rather than its end."
The cat Faunus remained still as she gazed at the desk. "That's..."
Ozpin shook his head then took hold of his scroll pad. A few maneuvers later, a holographic screen came out of the desk, displaying a very familiar picture.
"Additionally, I doubt that someone who'd wish the downfall of humans would have let herself be paraded around on one's shoulders." Added the headmaster, sending an amused smirk her way.
Blake's eyes widened once they landed on Ruby's face, more specifically, her lips which reminded her of the woman biting down on a pair of eyes.
Ozpin took notice of the faunus' distress. "Be honest with me, miss Belladonna. How do you feel about tonight's events?" He asked while dismissing the hologram.
The ashen-haired woman blinked a few times then wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm... I feel... lost."
"That is perfectly understandable. Let's try a different approach then."
He swiped a few times on his pad, changing the image displayed by the hologram. Blake instantly recognized the information shown in front of her and sent a suspicious glare at the headmaster.
"I hope you'll forgive this intrusion, but I was wondering why you've been borrowing books related to fairytales, fables, legends, and the likes these past few weeks?" He asked, raising a hand in a calming manner.
Her eyes swayed between the display and the man in front of her, unsure of if she should answer. A few seconds later, she released a defeated sigh.
"When Miss Rose told us about her eyes, something bothered me at the back of my mind; as if there was something familiar that I was missing." She explained before pointing towards a distinct log. "That's when I remembered a fairytale my mom used to tell me when I was a child."
A subtle smirk graced Ozpin's lips. "'The Warrior in the Woods' correct? An exemplary and beautiful tale. One that warns children of the dangers of the woods and of relying too much on the help of others."
"Or to offer help in whatever way we can. Although that's not exactly a fool-proof moral." Blake added, leaning back into her chair.
The headmaster nodded with an amused smile. "Indeed, your mother has great taste in stories. However, I would wager that their moral is not what has drawn you towards fairytales."
The cat faunus shook her head. "The woman in 'The Warrior in the Woods' had silver eyes. That's one of the few details we know about her since it's one that infatuated the man. The odd thing is that it isn't the only mention of silver eyes I've found. If we take what they're able to do into account, there's a bunch of stories that could have a silver-eyed being as the main character or at the very least, featured one. And that's ignoring the vague tale saying that silver-eyed people are meant to become great warriors."
She started rubbing her arm nervously, hesitating for a moment before pursuing once Ozpin motioned for her to continue.
"Then there's that old book the librarian gave me. Everything in it seems to have been written by hand, but the legends and fables it contains are even more fantastical than any I've found before."
Ozpin nodded then took a slow sip of his coffee. "Know that it isn't a book I would allow any students to borrow. I hope you've been treating it with care."
She sent an incredulous stare toward the man. "You... headmaster, those stories, if they hold any semblance of truth; how is the world still standing? You've read them, right? 'The Warriors of the End', 'The Infinite Man', 'The White Witch in the Woods', 'The Two Brothers'?"
"Stories tend to embellish over time." He proposed with a chuckle. "You certainly are a fast reader. These are quite far into the book."
Blake swiftly stood, arms spread aggressively while her features creased in irritation. "Are you not even a little curious about the truth behind those myths?! What if-"
"They are stories of the past, miss Belladonna." Interrupted the gray-haired man.
Gone were his hospitable features, his mere presence now made the cat faunus' hair stand with how serious his expression became.
"You fear events that never came to be. People that are most likely long gone. You worry about a world which does not exist. Meanwhile, people suffer from tangible threats; things that can be dealt with today, not in a distant past or an uncertain future. Is that not why you came to this academy?"
Blake remained quiet, observing as the headmaster released his tension with a sigh. She then side-eyed the holographic display before speaking hesitantly.
"Then... why did you let me read that book? If not to worry, what for?"
Ozpin leaned into his chair, humming humorously, clearly pretending to be in thoughts. "I wonder. Why did you try to search this extensively into silver-eyed beings?"
"I told myself that I would become the best teammate and partner for Ruby. If I could at least understand a little bit what she is, I thought I'd be able to help her somehow, but even with everything I've found, I can't just ignore what happened today, right?" Her cat ears flattened against her head as she hunched over guiltily.
The gray‐haired man leaned back and hummed pensively, bringing his mug close to himself. "Miss Rose's case is... indeed unique. However, she has proven herself to act for the benefit of mankind so far."
"I wouldn't call cannibalism beneficial, headmaster." She disputed, her eyes narrowing skeptically.
The man drank from his mug and then released a sigh. "We will have a bounteous amount of time to question her latest actions later on." He reached into his desk's drawer and took out a notebook along with a pencil which he slid towards her. "For now, however, I will leave you with a little homework which I will ask you to complete in two parts."
"A... homework?"
"Indeed. I would like you to write any thoughts which you feel unable to communicate through a conversation until our next meeting." Pursued the man while motioning towards the book.
"Thoughts on...?" She asked once more.
"Insecurities, fears, dreams, or nightmares along with any possible struggles you face following tonight's events. You could even leave questions related to the legends you have yet to read." He explained, a soothing smile on his lips. "Your teammates will be given the same task and I shall be the only one to have access to what you wrote unless any of you demand otherwise."
Blake reached for the book, observing it hesitantly then picked up the pencil. "You said two parts, right? Is the first one to write all of my current thoughts?"
"Very perceptive, miss Belladonna. You can take as much time as you wish. Once you'll be done, we shall move on to miss Rose's interrogation."
The cat Faunus blinked a few times, staring at the headmaster. "Her what?"
Sitting on a bench in Beacon's garden, Ruby observed the night sky. Unfortunately, her mind was currently filled with too many thoughts, making her unable to truly appreciate the sight.
Resting on her lap, was her opened notebook in which multiple rough sketches of weapons could be seen. Most of them had notes attached to various parts while others had been completely crossed out.
The sound of footsteps coming from behind made her tilt her head backward, her gaze meeting the approaching monkey Faunus who had been looking upwards as she was.
"Heh, not bad. We could see it better back in Vacuo though." He commented, bringing his head back down.
He then immediately looked away once he caught sight of Ruby's pose which gave him quite a luxurious view of her ample bosom. A slight tint of pink on his cheeks appeared as he approached her.
The ravenette shifted sideways, letting him sit on the backrest next to her, then went back to admiring the sky. "Yeah..."
"How's that Goodwitch lady?"
She released a sorrowful sigh. "She got a pretty severe concussion. Won't be able to do much for the next few weeks. Someone's gonna have to replace her for the exam period."
Sun leaned onto his hand, still gazing at the stars. "Well, a scary woman like that, I'm sure she'll be back in no time, mean as ever."
Ruby focused on the ground, grimacing regretfully.
"Aww, you seem troubled? Were these pets important to you?"
"Shut up..." She mumbled spitefully.
"Huh? You said something?"
The ravenette shook her head. "It's nothing." They remained silent for a few seconds. "So? You're not having a one-on-one with a teacher like the girls?"
The Faunus huffed humorously as a confident smirk graced his face. "Oh please. The moment I told them about Vacuo, they let me off the hook almost immediately."
He then took out his unopened scroll and waved it around. "They did give me a number to call if I ever needed it, though."
Ruby's guilty expression resurfaced as she attempted to gaze anywhere that wasn't toward the monkey Faunus. "I'm... sorry. About your tribe."
A hurt expression crept onto the blond's face which he shook away before assuming a bored posture. "This again? I'm pretty sure I've heard you say sorry a million times by now." His eyebrows furrowed as he gazed away. "I already told you. There's nothing that we could have done."
"If I had just a fraction of the power I have now, I could have-" Ranted the charming woman only to be interrupted by the Faunus.
"You could have done jack shit. You didn't have the strength to do it back then, there's no changing that, but neither did I." He reprimanded, hopping off the bench to face her. "You want to 'redeem' yourself? Help the people you can now."
"Huh, kid's a lot more mature than he looks." Said a voice familiar only to Ruby, who looked over her shoulder towards the man who spoke.
"Back from your mission already, old man?" She asked, closing the notebook on her lap and standing up to face the approaching man.
Standing barely shorter than the ravenette, a graying, dark, spiked-haired man marched closer with his hands shoved into his black pants pockets. A tattered, red cloak attached to his long-tailed grey dress shirt flew behind him with each step he took toward them.
Once close enough, he rubbed a hand on his stubble as his faded red eyes scanned both individuals in front of him.
He chuckled while scratching his neck. "Yeah, you could say I had a little help."
He then subtly took out a wilted black rose from his pocket, immediately making Ruby's eyes widen momentarily before swiftly hiding it once more.
Sun stood awkwardly beside them with a nervous smile.
"So... Hi, I'm Sun. One of your..." His gaze alternated between both of them hesitantly. "...Daughter's(?) Friend."
They shared a glance, stunned, before softly chuckling.
"Close enough. I'm her uncle; Qrow Branwen. On and off teacher at Signal and Beacon-licensed huntsman." Replied the dark-haired man, extending a hand for a handshake which the Faunus eagerly accepted.
Red eyes met the notebook in the celebrity's hand making their owner raise an eyebrow. "Didn't take you for the kind to have a diary." He teased, earning a hit to the forehead with the aforementioned book, courtesy of the ravenette.
"I was drawing weapon concepts, dummy." She smirked before making the notebook disappear.
The two men stared at her, the oldest in surprise while the youngest seemed confused.
"Since when can you do that?" They asked simultaneously yet paid it no mind.
Ruby gazed at her hand and then shook her head. "I'll explain once everyone's gathered."
Qrow scratched the back of his head with a dejected expression. "Here I thought I knew the most out of everyone since we met in Mistral, then turns out you told everything to Tai. Well, can't say I blame you for that. Just thought you'd let your uncle feel a little special for at least a few minutes."
She rolled her eyes playfully then wrapped her arms around the man, embracing him in a tender hug. "I missed you too." She mumbled, nestling her head in the crook of his neck.
He returned the embrace with a chuckle. "This ain't bad either."
Sun stood uncomfortably on the side, attempting his best not to disturb the moment. Fortunately for him, all three of them received a message on their scrolls which ended the hug they shared.
Ruby read the message and then groaned. "Alright, let's get this over with."
As they marched towards the elevator to the headmaster's office, the ravenette raised an eyebrow as she looked around. "Where's dad, by the way? I remember seeing him when we came back from the warehouse."
"He's waiting around Oobleck's office. Wanted to be close to Yang should she need him." Replied the older man while combing his hair back.
"Ah." Was the woman's answer as they entered the lift.
They waited in silence as the machine ascended until Sun was left unable to bear the quiet.
"So, uh, what kind of weapon were you sketching?" He nervously asked, playing with his tail as he awkwardly stared at the elevator doors.
"Nothing fancy. Mostly disposable weapons with various purposes."
Qrow sent her a quizzical glance. "Disposable? That doesn't sound like the weapon maniac I used to know."
Ruby released a chuckle which she lightly covered behind her fingers. "Yeah, it doesn't feel right to me either."
Her expression hardened as she stared at her reflection in the elevator doors. "But if I'm to fight against Light's Chosen again; I doubt any weapon I'll make will last long against theirs."
The two men sent her quizzical gaze as the elevator bell announced their arrival at Ozpin's office.
She shook her head while waving them off. "I'll most likely get to it during our conversation."
The headmaster's office, sitting atop Beacon Tower, featured various clockwork contraptions behind glass panels whether it be the floor, roof, or walls.
Facing the opposite direction of the tower's massive clock, a desk of clockwork design sat surrounded by a few other chairs which felt out of place in the room's unique design.
Ozpin sat at his desk, his usual carefree expression ever present as he watched the trio enter. "Wonderful, once the others arrive, we'll begin."
Sitting on one of the nearby chairs, Blake sat still as if attempting to make herself unnoticed. Her gaze, however, had remained locked onto the ravenette the moment she had entered the room.
Ruby had noticed her partner's surveillance but judged that it would be preferable to feint ignorance. She then gazed towards the opposite side of the room, finding a singular chair directly facing the others.
Through nonchalant steps, she approached the seat, running a hand along the backrest while staring out the windowed walls. "I know I'm repeating myself, but you certainly don't value your privacy, headmaster."
The man chuckled. "While I don't doubt the possibility; anyone who would attempt to eavesdrop on anything discussed here would most likely be swiftly discovered."
Ruby looked over her shoulder, studying his expression before gazing outside once more. "Eavesdrop... right..."
The elevator's chime attracted their attention, revealing the two missing teammates of team RWBY along with two of their members' father.
The ravenette worried once she noticed how her sister's eyes were slightly inflated. She took a step forward and then attempted to call out to her, only to stop in her tracks when Yang seemingly refused to look at her.
A twinge of heartache shot through her — which intensified once she notice the bruise on her sibling's neck — before she turned around, sending a blank stare outside in an attempt to suppress her rising emotions.
Had she not done so, she would have seen the instantaneous expression of regret on the young blond's face sent her way.
Weiss, whose eyes were in a similar state as her partner, placed a hand on Yang's shoulder and then motioned towards the chairs near Blake.
Ozpin watched as the two women joined the cat Faunus to his right then gestured towards the remaining chairs on his left to the men. "Gentlemen? If you would take your seats, I believe it is time to start this interrogation."
Ruby huffed humorously. "At least you didn't try to hide it behind intricate words."
The headmaster chuckled before reaching into his desk, taking out a recorder which he placed in front of him. "From this point on, anything said here will be recorded. Do not worry miss Rose, this content will only be sent to trusted individuals."
She faced the group before taking her own seat. "Alright, I'm gonna give a little condition then."
"Yang." Harshly warned Taiyang, forcing his miffed daughter to sit back down. A sigh escaped him as he gazed at his eldest. "No offense Ruby, but I don't think you're in a position to do that."
The ravenette crossed her legs and then leaned on the armrest while shaking her head. "Not a condition in the sense that I won't answer certain things. More like that this will be split into two parts."
"Two parts?" Wondered the headmaster.
"First part: you guys will ask any of your questions that are solely related to me. Then part two will be everything else." She explained, raising a finger for each part.
"Wanna explain why you're doing this?" Asked Qrow while leaning back into his chair.
Ruby silently stared at him for a few seconds before raising her free arm in front of her. She then snapped her fingers before three black roses appeared between her digits.
Qrow's eyes widened in shock. He then fished out the withered rose from his pocket and held it in front of him.
Unlike his, Ruby's roses seemed perfectly healthy at first glance until he noticed the subtle details of plastic along the thorny peduncle.
"Those are fake." He uttered before raising a curious eyebrow. "Why?"
The red-tipped ravenette made the flowers vanish before twirling a strand of her hair. "That'll be for part two."
Sun, groaned impatiently. "Alright, then here's my part one question: Since when can you make stuff appear like that?"
Letting go of the strand, Ruby hummed curiously for a moment. "Technically a bit after I was born, but I've only been able to use it consciously around my later months in Vacuo."
"And why can you do that?" Asked Qrow, crossing his arms as he made himself more comfortable in his chair.
"It's a... mutation that I have." She hesitantly replied, her eyes darting aside to avoid meeting their gaze.
Her uncle seemed confused until he received a gentle nudge from Taiyang.
"I'll fill you in on the gaps later." He told him before focusing on his daughter once more.
Qrow slowly nodded at the celebrity. "Alright, and how many of those... 'mutations' do you have?"
Ruby clicked her tongue before smirking in entertainment. "You think I have more than one?"
The dark-haired man mirrored her expression. "Hey, I'm your uncle, Petals. I can feel those kinds of things. Plus, I doubt that morphing weapon you had was all mechanics."
She hummed playfully as she sat sideways on her chair, her legs hanging off the side while her back arched over the armrest. The absence of her oversized drape made the sight quite erotic which had the men awkwardly gazing away, most of them from second-hand embarrassment. The three women present, however, were not pleased with her action which they demonstrated through their glares.
"As of today, I should have five." Replied the ravenette, passing her hands through her hair, letting it flow behind her.
Her reply surprised her teammates who gave her various expressions of surprise.
"Five?" Wondered Weiss.
"As of today...?" Hesitantly probed Yang.
Blake remained as quiet as she had been since they came in. However, the curiosity in her gaze spoke in her place.
"You already know of my ability to morph matter. The other that you've already seen is my spacial storage." Explained Ruby raising a hand to conjure the three black roses from earlier before dismissing them in quick succession.
Sun perched himself on his chair as he let his tail wiggle in excitement. "That's what it was? Awesome! What else you got in there?"
"Oh, y'know? Stuff that I couldn't make through Thorn's blade like leather, plastic, a scope or two, a whole lot of bullets and dust. I also have a first aid kit, one or two protein bars, a change of clothes and underwear, my notebook..." Listed the ravenette counting each on her fingers. "Oh! And various hygienic utilities."
"That's... quite the amount of items." Ozpin commented raising an eyebrow in her direction. "Is there no limit to what you can store?"
Ruby tapped her chin pensively. "Well, back in Vacuo, the biggest thing I could store was bullets for Crescent Rose. I never reached a limit in quantity though. Not that I ever bothered limit testing it beyond what I already had on me back then."
"From what you've told us so far, I'd say that this ability is quite strong as it is. Are there no drawbacks to storing larger objects?" Pursued the headmaster.
"It's minimal from what I've stored so far, but the larger the object, the longer it takes to summon." Ruby answered, proving herself by conjuring a toothbrush in one hand and a first-aid kit in the other as she properly sat on her chair.
The latter object, while barely noticeable, had a slight delay in its complete materialization compared to the former.
She then blinked a few times in realization before storing her items. "I can't store any living beings. Honestly, I don't even know where these things go so I would rather not discover what would happen should I be able to."
Qrow gazed at the gray-haired man with a confused expression. "You didn't know about all of that? Doesn't sound like you, Oz."
"We've discussed her mutations the day of her initiation. However, time proved itself short, leaving the details to be revealed at a later date. It would seem said date is today." Calmly replied the headmaster, his ever-optimistic expression present on his face.
"What about the other three?" Asked Yang, staring into her sister's eyes with a slight scowl.
Ruby scratched the back of her head, her gaze never leaving her sibling's.
"One of them's a bit complicated to explain. I guess you could call it a passive, like in video games." She began, crossing one leg over the other as she leaned onto her fist.
She then outstretched her free hand as four table knives appeared between her knuckles. Her eyes drifted across the glistening blades analytically while she lightly moved them with her fingers.
"Huh, feels weird as ever." She mumbled before making the knives disappear with a flick of her wrist.
"That explains nothing..." Deadpanned Sun resting his head onto his hands.
"Ah... right... sorry. The mutation allows me to assimilate the expertise of those I fight. No matter the weapon, I... 'learn' how to use it." She replied, enacting quotation marks with her hand.
"That sounds... extremely convenient for someone who traveled the world. Explains how you got the hang of your scythe so quickly when I trained you." Commented Qrow, crossing his arms.
"Oh, no. I got that mutation in Vacuo. I totally whooped your ass by myself back then." Said the ravenette with a teasing grin.
"Hang on, got?" Questioned Yang with a raised eyebrow.
Ruby raised a hand towards her sibling. "Everything will be explained. Give it a moment."
She shifted her focus back on the group as her expression became neutral once more. "As for said mutation, it's not that simple. While I can replicate the moves, my brain does not recognize those movements as my own. I still need to train my body to cement that expertise."
Her audience remained silent, nodding curiously.
"In Vacuo?" Softly wondered Sun before shaking his head. "What about the other two?"
Ruby sighed and sank into her seat. Her head tilted backward along the backrest while she raised a hand in her cone of vision.
"I won't be able to show one of them 'cause I don't really know how to use it yet." She said, turning her hand over and inspecting her digits.
Weiss broke the silence she had fallen into, interpellating the ravenette with apprehension. "Yet...?"
The silver-eyed woman raised her head to gaze at her white-haired teammate, then the others with a sigh.
"You see, I'm not exactly normal. Even by the standards of Light's Chosen."
A chuckle escaped her once she was met with a few bewildered stares. She then eyed both the headmaster and her father, receiving nods of affirmation.
"I was born with silver eyes which were inherited from my... mom... but I also came with something extra." She said, her eyes darting downwards hesitantly.
The mention of her mother made the members of her family wince awkwardly which most noticed.
"Amongst silver-eyed people, there's this extremely rare condition which — as far as we know —only has two kinda recorded cases."
She intertwined her fingers in a pose similar to the headmaster's, her eyes glowing menacingly in the low lighting of the room.
"They gave that condition the name of 'Devourer'."
The atmosphere instantly became tense. Various grim expressions surfaced on the celebrity's audience, all understanding where this was leading to.
"I asked The Chosen if they knew the reason why we... I, exist, but..." Ruby shook her head. "Anyway, I'm sure you've already guessed what being a Devourer entails."
She paused, examining their reaction then rested her forehead against her crossed hands.
"The natural predator of their fellow blessed kin. That's how they view it. Makes sense, really. Is that not how you would view someone who can become stronger by eating other silver eyes?" She sighed, not missing the way most shivered at the revelation.
"Stronger... how exactly?" Carefully asked Qrow, leaning onto his knees.
"Instant regeneration of wounds to a degree, increase in the physical enhancements of the eyes based on the consumed one's power, increase in efficiency when using mutations and..." She replied, not missing a beat before slowing down, reaching the final point. "... Assimilation of others' mutations."
Sun almost fell from his chair in shock which was shared with the ravenette's teammates. "Wait you mean...!?"
Ruby nodded. "Once I ate Cecilia's eyes, I also gained her mutation, whatever it was. Unfortunately, I won't be able to use it until I get the hang of how it works."
"Eh, not like there's a rush or anything." Shrugged Qrow nonchalantly after a few seconds of stunned silence. "So, last one?"
"I... can't really show that one either right now. It's my strongest one for sure which comes with an incredible strain for my eyes." She started, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "Most of you have technically seen me use it twice so far."
Silence fell in the room while she waited in case any would attempt to guess.
True to her intuition, Blake — who had made herself small for so long — slowly perked up as she gained a hesitant expression.
"Back when you... 'sparred' against Pyrrha and Yang at the beginning of the semester. Your eyes started bleeding when you left." She said; eyes pointed at her partner carefully.
Yang turned to look at her Faunus teammate, shocked as she remembered the state her sister had been in when she rescued her from the silver-eyed man earlier.
Facing the celebrity once more, she softly mumbled. "The container yard..."
Ruby nodded. "When our eyes get overexerted, we get affected by various ailments depending on how far we pushed ourselves. First is mild pain which increases until we bleed. Should one continue to use their eyes still, their vision will start to blur which they can still recover from after a good night's rest. However, if they push too far, they can permanently blind themselves."
"Then it must be incredibly powerful to instantly reach such a state." Mumbled Weiss, arms crossed as she sported a pensive expression.
"What's the furthest you went?" Asked Qrow, his features hardened gravely with worry hidden behind his eyes.
"Blurry vision." She honestly replied. "Thankfully, being a Devourer means that I can heal back to normal as soon as I eat anyone's silver eyes."
"Miss Rose." Interrupted Ozpin, his expression showing that he meant no offense. "I believe it would be better to stop delaying the reveal."
"Right..." She sighed. "I... can, kinda, stop time..."
A loud crash could be heard as Sun actually fell off his chair this time while the ravenette's teammates stood up in shock.
"What?!" They all exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the older woman in front of them.
"Not for long though. About 0.5 seconds at best, but it certainly gives an edge where it counts."
"The duration doesn't really matter at this point, petals..." groaned her uncle, burying his face in his hand as he shook his head.
He then gazed at the two older men in the room. "You both knew about that I'm guessing?"
They nodded before the golden-haired patriarch spoke. "I didn't want to hide anything from anyone, but I'm not just gonna disregard my kid's request."
His gaze drifted towards the younger members present, observing their various shocked expressions before releasing a sigh.
"What happened to you, kid? You dodged the question in Mistral and I get that, but you owe me an answer." He asked, staring intensely into the red-tipped ravenette's eyes.
She started to play with her hands in a mix of nervousness and irritation.
"A bit before I turned eighteen, I was... contacted by one of Light's Chosen."
The shock which filled the younger members of the room was made quite obvious through their various reactions. However, they were all shadowed by the sisters' uncle, who abruptly stood up, knocking his chair over.
"You what?! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Are you seriously asking that after seeing what happened tonight?" Argued the silver-eyed woman with a glare. She then lowered it with discontent as her hands tightened into fists. "Besides, they had made it very clear that their strength was beyond anything we've ever seen."
"What did they want?" Asked Blake. "If they sought you out specifically, there must have been something they wanted from you."
Ruby nodded, the corner of her lips subtly raising at her partner's perception. "They did. However, it started as a warning: A powerful being threatened the safety of the world. A rather huge bomb to drop on an eighteen-year-old if you ask me, but it certainly caught my attention."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Asked the ravenette staring cautiously at the pale woman sitting in front of her.
Said womanbrushed a hand through the white-streaked side-bang which covered her left eye. Her gentle fingers flowed through the dark locks revealing a glowing silver eye underneath. She then gazed over her shoulder towards the group of armed people standing further behind, engaging in small talk while they shared a light meal.
"I shared this knowledge with you because you are the only one who may defeat this grave threat." She replied, turning back towards the silver-eyed young adult.
Ruby's eyes drifted across the woman's thin dress which slowly slid along her skin as she moved. She would be lying if she said that she wasn't bewitched by her beauty, but she couldn't let herself be distracted just yet.
"How does that make any sense? All I've ever done is protect my sister. There's no way that makes me qualified for something like that."
The woman shook her head while adjusting the brooch which held her dress. "As cruel as it might sound, it isn't about who you are, but what you are. Your fate was determined the day you were born. The simple fact that we are capable of having this conversation is proof of it."
The ravenette glared at the older woman. "You can't just claim something like that and expect me to just accept it like it was nothing."
The dark-haired woman gazed downwards pensively. A few seconds of silence later, she met the young adult's gaze with a determined expression in her visible eye. "You live on that secluded island around the center of the Sanus continent, Patch, correct?"
Ruby's glare intensified. "Is that a threat?"
The pale woman's eyes widened and shook her hands defensively. "Oh, no, no. Please, I truly wish to help you."
Seeing as the ravenette's tension remained the silver-eyed woman sighed as her features hardened.
"If not for the world or yourself, at least think of your sibling." She raised a hand when Ruby suddenly stood up aggressively. "Nothing you can do will protect her against such a threat unless we work together."
The young adult exhaled with hostility. She then sat back down before passing a hand through her hair.
"Alright, Oracle. Assuming that you're telling the truth, who or what is this big threat and how am I, of all people, supposed to help against it?"
Soft lips tugged into a relieved smile while the dark-haired woman held a hand over her heart. "Do not worry, I will prepare the necessary means to help you become more powerful than you could imagine. They will be situated in various hidden landmarks throughout the world. All aimedto steadily encourage your growth and increase your knowledge. The first can be found at the furthest point to the east of your island."
Ruby blinked a few times in stupefaction. "Okay... Ignoring that this sounds straight out of a fantasy book, that still doesn't tell me what I'll be facing."
The Oracle slightly bowed. "Forgive me, this was the next subject I was about to reveal." She met the ravenette's gaze with a grave expression. "Should you dutifully accomplish your tasks, the most eminent threat is one whose existence is much like your own."
She paused to look over her shoulder once more before facing the young adult again.
"Her name is Rose."
Ruby leaned into her chair once she finished retelling the events from long before. "That weekend was... Interesting."
"Wait, you mean the weekend when you left for 'personal training'?" Asked Yang in revelation.
The older sibling scratched her cheek in embarrassment. "Yeah, kinda surprised none of you asked anything about it, but I sure wasn't gonna look at that Ursa in the mouth."
Qrow rubbed his neck as a humorous chuckle escaped him. "Well, considering how you came back way stronger than before, it seemed pretty legit." He then raised a curious eyebrow. "What did they leave you over there anyway?"
"A lesson." She simply answered.
"About?" Questioned Weiss.
The ravenette met the Schnee's gaze as her eyes momentarily glowed. "Myself, and those I would face."
The room fell silent, they could ask more but were now more curious about the second part of this interrogation.
Seeing as they waited for her, Ruby stood up and stretched before addressing them.
"Alright, let's take a short break. I need to stretch my legs a bit and a bathroom break doesn't sound bad either." She inspected the time on her scroll. "Let's all meet back here in fifteen minutes, alright?"
The students seemed hesitant, but once they noticed the grateful expression on the adults' faces, they acquiesced.
"Fine." Grunted Yang, heading for the elevator, flanked by her teammates along with the monkey Faunus.
Once the doors closed, Ozpin turned towards Ruby with an amused smirk. "Well done, Miss Rose."
Ruby shook her head as her relaxed expression turned into a frown. "They'll know the whole thing one day, but not now."
Qrow scratched his chin with an unimpressed expression. "Can't say I didn't expect that. So, how much of that whole thing was a lie?"
"Everything I've said is the truth, but not the entirety of it. This is enough for what they need to know." She explained, marching towards the window behind her chair.
"And I'm guessing that I get to hear the rest?"
The ravenette smiled at him from over her shoulder. "Not from me, dad will fill you in. Not here though, we wouldn't want the others to simply walk in on it."
The dark-haired man sighed. "Alright. What now though?"
Ruby approached the elevator and pushed the call button. "I don't know about you gentlemen, but I was serious about that bathroom break."
The four students walked down the empty halls of Beacon, their footsteps echoing around them as they headed back to the headmaster's office.
Each held a partly eaten cookie in hand, Yang holding onto the plate on which a couple more rested, while they engaged in small talk.
"Do any of you know what you'll ask her?" Inquired Sun, strolling behind the three women while munching on his own treat.
"Do you?" Countered Blake, raising a doubtful eyebrow at him over her shoulder.
"Duh, that thing about a God of Light? You prevented me from asking that guy back at the container yard, remember?" He replied before shoving the rest of his treat in his mouth. "Though she did mention someone named Rose which I remember hearing back at the yard."
"I'm pretty sure we already know what happened to that person though." Replied the cat faunus, taking a bite of her confection while avoiding the gaze of her peers once the deity was mentioned. Her ears subtly twitched in delight at the taste which she quickly suppressed then turned toward her teammates.
"I'm probably gonna ask her to elaborate on those Light's Chosen. Might as well learn as much as we can about what we're up against. What about you two?"
Yang seemed deep in thought, not realizing that the plate of baked goods was slowly slipping from her grasp until Weiss spoke.
"I'm... not quite sure to be perfectly honest. Something will most likely come to me as she answers other questions."
She then reached for another cookie which snapped Yang out of her thoughts, allowing her to reinforce her grip on the plate clumsily.
Her teammates sent her confused expressions.
"Are you ok, Yang?" Asked Blake while Weiss warily raised her treat to her lips.
The blond blinked a few times. "Y-yeah. Sorry about that. Just... thinking about stuff."
"Eh, there's no rush. I'm sure you'll find what you want to ask like snow girl over there." Shrugged Sun as he took another cookie, ignoring Weiss' cry of protest at the nickname.
"Huh?" Wondered Yang, unaware of the conversation they were previously having.
She turned around to face the blond faunus only to freeze as her gaze met a smooth hand that took hold of a cookie on the plate.
"I was wondering why so many were missing." Said Ruby as she took a bite of her confection, humming in satisfaction from the sugary assault on her taste buds. "God I'm good."
"Miss Rose? What are you doing here?" Asked Weiss while subtly wiping her lips of any potential crumbs.
The silver-eyed woman raised a perplexed eyebrow. "You know the break was as much for you as it was for me?"
The heiress released an awkward chuckle while adjusting the collar of her outfit. "O-of course. That's perfectly understandable."
The ravenette glanced at the time on her scroll before swiftly swiping a few more cookies between her fingers. "We should head back though. Don't worry, I'll leave the elevator to you."
"How are you going up then?" Asked Sun with a curious expression.
Ruby simply answered by winking at them and adopting a charming pose before dissolving into a cloud of petals that flew away from them.
"I don't understand. How can she be acting as if nothing happened?" Scowled Yang, resuming her walk toward the elevator.
The others shared a glance before following after her.
"We've talked about this before. She's been doing this for five years and we now also know why. She had to get used to it." Defended Blake, sending a disapproving expression at the brawler.
The blond winced as flashes of mangled corpses, along with the image of her sister biting down on a pair of eyes, appeared in her mind. The bruise on her neck suddenly flared, the few seconds which lead to its cause looping like a never ending nightmare.
The cat Faunus caught the plate of cookies that slipped from her teammate's grasp then sent her a worried glance.
"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, placing her free hand on the brawler's shoulder.
Yang raised a hand to her neck, massaging it while releasing a groan. "You don't just get used to that."
They remained silent for a moment, letting her recover as they sat against the nearby windows' borders.
"It's... not the greatest thing to say, but you're right. You don't get used to it; you learn to live with it." Said Sun in the most somber tone any of them had heard from him. "I would know... most of Vacuo would know."
Yang's eyes widened in realization before glancing downwards in guilt. "Right... sor-"
She was suddenly silenced when Sun used his double to shove a cookie into her mouth before vanishing.
"I didn't say this to earn pity. What happened tonight, while unusual, is part of the job we're training for." Said the Faunus as he stood up.
He then headed towards the elevator but not before stealing the plate from Blake's hands.
"Besides, I'd love to kick some ass with all of you and my team once we're licensed. I'd be a shame if you'd quit because of something like that."
The girls watched him devour a cookie while pressing the elevator call button with his tail before disappearing as he entered the cabin.
Yang released a sigh and stood up. "Well, better not waste too much time."
"Hey, you don't need to force yourself." Said Blake, joining her.
"Nah, I'm good. It's not like he's wrong. Besides, we'd better hurry before he eats the entire plate." Replied the buxom brawler, marching after the monkey Faunus.
Weiss scowled and tightened her fist as she followed them with a growl. "He better not..."
"Now that everyone is well and refreshed, we can resume." Announced Ozpin, his ever-present smile never faltering while dipping a cookie into his coffee.
The students sent blank expressions towards the adults who each had one or two confections in their hands while their plate found itself empty.
"We're the ones who fetched them though..." Silently lamented Weiss, earning a comforting hand on her shoulder from Blake.
Qrow chuckled before facing his eldest niece. "So... part two, right?"
"Just a second." Replied Ruby, shoving her cookies into her mouth as she stood up.
Much to the onlooker's confusion, she approached the window behind her before retrieving her scroll from her pocket. She then raised it with a slight shake, her other hand motioning toward the device.
"Ruby?" Questioned Taiyang, sharing a perplexed glance with the others in the room.
The silver-eyed woman's scroll suddenly rang, to their surprise, before she answered.
"Thought you'd be watching." Coldly said the ravenette shocking those present.
A faint voice could be heard from the device which was suddenly cut off by Ruby.
"You're not the one I talked to a few weeks ago. You got a name stranger?"
She then sighed before shaking her head.
"Nevermind, I already know what you're gonna say. How fast can you get in here? I'll allow you to hear this part. Hopefully, that'll get your Boss to understand what they're messing with."
Suddenly, a light flashed next to the ravenette from which a masked and cloaked woman appeared.
Not even a second passed before the aforementioned woman was slammed onto the ground, cracking the reinforced glass underneath. Ruby stood over her, a hand holding tightly onto the mysterious woman's mask with which she pressured her head into the ground.
"I would appreciate it if you didn't break my floor, Miss Rose." Calmly commented Ozpin, although his expression made it obvious that he was vastly interested yet wary about this new arrival.
A few seconds went by until Ruby finally released her captive, standing up with a sigh.
The masked woman suddenly stood up, albeit with some difficulty, before deeply bowing at the ravenette. "I swear I didn't mean to cause a scene!"
Her sudden outburst surprised the onlookers whose curiosity grew exponentially.
Ruby pinched the bridge of her nose with an annoyed expression.
"How about a warning in that case?" She groaned before pointing at the chair she previously sat on. "Sit."
The unknown woman immediately followed the ravenette's order, sitting in a bashful manner while attempting to avoid the onlookers' stares.
She squeaked when the silver-eyed woman yanked her hood behind her head, allowing the others to observe the mask she was wearing.
While it lacked texture — having a simple oval shape which perfectly hid the entirety of her face while a dark veil covered the rest of her head — its pitch-black foundation was decorated with a design of serrated thorns leading towards a gigantic dark rose.
Qrow was about to reach for the rose in his pocket until he, along with the others, noticed a peculiar feature that made them jump on their feet, weapons drawn and ready to fight.
Impressively, however, they had managed to keep hold of their cookies.
"You have silver eyes." Pointed out Ozpin who remained seated, glaring at the masked woman.
Ruby rolled her eyes before roughly patting the woman's head. "Would you guys relax? She's not a Chosen."
"A what?" Asked the intruder before moaning in pain as the ravenette tightened her grip on her scalp.
"Wanna explain how you got in first?" She growled, her eyes glowing ominously.
"M-my semblance allows me to transport myself wherever I have a line of sight!" She quickly stuttered while waving her hands defensively.
Ruby gazed at Ozpin with a smirk on her face. "And you said that your office was safe."
The headmaster shook his head regretfully before activating the tower's lockdown system. Effectively covering every glass surface with thick metal plates.
"Woah..." mumbled Yang, looking around the room with her teammates.
"Now..." Started Ruby staring back down at the masked woman. "What stupid codename did they give you? Say it loudly for the class."
"S-Stargate, ma'am!" She exclaimed, squirming in her seat.
Silence fell over the room, the muffled sound of the tower's clockwork gears audible for only a moment before being overtaken by the celebrity's snicker.
"L-like the TV show?" She asked, lips quivering in restraint. Unfortunately, her eyes betrayed the humorous mood she was in.
"I didn't choose it!" Stargate defended herself.
The mysterious atmosphere she previously had when she first appeared was now shadowed by the pity of the onlookers towards the bullying she was being subjected to.
Ruby hummed playfully before letting go of the woman's head. "Alright, whatever. You're clearly a threat to no one in this room."
Stargate sulked at the jab. "May I at least know why you've asked me to reveal myself to so many people? The Boss will definitely make my life hell once she finds out."
"No, she won't." Replied Ruby, standing in front of the woman and extending a hand toward her. "Not with what she's getting in exchange."
Silver orbs widened before lowering towards the small bag attached to her belt underneath her cloak. Stargate reached into the container and took out a black rose which she delicately lowered into the ravenette's hand before bowing her head.
"What would you ask of me?" Said the masked woman, her voice gaining a serious edge.
Ruby dismissed the rose into her storage and then waved at Stargate nonchalantly. "Nothing that serious, geez. Just to listen and talk when needed."
Stargate tilted her head in a confused manner. "Is that... all? It's... a lot less demanding than what you would usually ask for a rose."
A chuckle escaped the ravenette as she sauntered behind the chair and leaned on the backrest, her chest resting just a few centimeters behind the masked woman's head.
"We'll see about that. Introduce yourself, properly." She ordered, leaning onto her hand while motioning the onlookers to sit back down with the other.
Flustered from her proximity to the celebrity's bosom, the silver-eyed stranger hastily stood up and posed in what most assumed to be a military salute.
"Codename S-Stargate, Blossom rank of the..." She hesitantly gazed over her shoulder towards the ravenette who motioned her to go on. "The Black Rose. Our objective is to assist miss Rose while assuring the safety of the world in whichever way we can without affiliating ourselves to any nation."
"Wait a minute, so that rose that I got was from one of your guys?" Asked Qrow, showing his withered Rose to the masked woman. "Why was mine real while you've been giving fake ones to Ruby?"
Keeping her rehearsed pose, Stargate eyed the dead flower before answering. "The flowers are our organization's signature. However, receiving a fake one means that you are indebted to us."
The entire room focused on Ruby, who glared back at them aggressively. "That's between me and them. I won't budge on that."
Stargate shivered from the pressure radiated by the ravenette behind her, eyes darting to the side as she resumed talking. "W-we've been helping her through her journey across the world, s-sometimes at the cost of a rose."
"Help she says." Quietly scoffed the silver-eyed beauty before shaking her head. "Anyway, stop doing that stupid pose and sit down. You guys can start asking your questions."
The students shared an indecisive glance with the adults while Ozpin carefully bit into his half-coffee-soaked cookie.
"Who and what exactly are those Light's Chosen?" Asked Blake, taking the first opportunity for herself.
Stargate leaned sideways to gaze at the ravenette, her eyes displaying the curiosity that plagued her ever since the Chosen had first been mentioned.
"A thorn in my side more than anything." Ruby Jested, picking at her nails until she noticed the unamused expressions sent her way.
Rolling her eyes, she pushed herself away from the chair she had been leaning on and rested her back on the glass pane behind her.
"An ancient civilization of silver-eyed people. They managed to keep themselves hidden thanks to a powerful mutation which seemingly created some kind of pocket dimension they call 'The Ark'."
"A pocket di- seriously?!" Shouted Sun, eyes gleaming with excitement while the rest stared at her incredulously.
"Crazy, huh? Imagine what it felt like to enter it."
Qrow massaged his temples with a groan. "Hang on, you went in there?"
"Can't say I had much of a choice." Shrugged the ravenette before focusing back on her partner. "They value strength above all — with a few hypocritical exceptions — answering to the one who stands above all, The King."
A somber expression appeared on the onlookers while Stargate seemed focused on memorizing every word uttered by the legendary figure behind her.
"To rule over these monsters... not only does he possess a powerful mutation, but also possesses great strength?" Anxiously commented Weiss, biting on her thumb.
Ruby scoffed as she crossed her arms under her breast. "That's one of those exceptions. I could fold that guy in half while making lunch if we're talking about raw strength." She then shook her head. "No, that guy only rules 'cause of his mutation. There are only four recorded cases of people being able to resist his orders and live."
"I'm gonna guess that one of them is you?" Said Sun, slightly raising his hand as one would in class.
She nodded with a somber expression. "Almost didn't make it... luckily it got easier after the first time."
The room fell silent for a few seconds, each pondering an alternative world where the ravenette had fallen under the control of these already powerful foes.
"When we were interrogated by that man, Samuel, on the roof of the warehouse. He mentioned something about a descendant of one he called 'The Warrior'." Said Weiss, moving the conversation along.
"I wouldn't worry much about that. Their society is classed based around 'The Grand Ancestors'. Beings rumored to be the very first people to have silver eyes." Shrugged Ruby with a dismissive shake of her head. "Each were given a name which apparently reflects the blessing they were given, mutations as I call them."
She paused, making sure that none of them had anything to add before pursuing.
"Plague, Famine, War and Death."
Ozpin spared a subtle glance towards Blake whose eyes widened at the familiar-sounding names which the ravenette instantly noticed.
"Thought you'd recognize them. Yes, these are the same names as the old myth of 'The Warriors of the End'. Four beings said to bring the end of things wherever they pass. Seeing a myth told from two perspectives makes you wonder if it's really just a story in the first place."
The students shared a worried glance before Sun raised his hand once more.
"Wait, where does that Warrior guy fit in all of that?" He wondered, causing the others to focus on Ruby again.
"You don't need to do that..." She sighed before shaking her head. "The Warrior is kind of the black sheep of the group. Created along the other ancestors; he apparently had no mutations, being the first normal silver-eyed being and unlike his peers, fought to protect the people instead of for the thrill of it."
"A one versus four? Without those big mutation things? Something ain't right." Mumbled Qrow which earned him a nod from the ravenette.
"And yet, if you believe the legends told by the Chosen, he managed to defeat all of them. Though he apparently 'cheated', however that works." She replied causing most of them to send her surprised gazes.
"If a fight of this magnitude truly happened, how is the only trace of it found in simple myths?" Hesitantly asked Weiss.
"Who knows really..." Was Ruby's simple reply, staring at the ground before glancing toward her own hands. "In any case, no one should have that much power."
"Y-you said they were created, not born. Were they not humans?" Hastily asked Sun the moment he noticed the ravenette's spiraling thoughts.
A subtle sigh of relief escaped most of those present, all thankful for his action. Unfortunately, that respite was short-lived once she answered him.
"Am I human?" She wondered with a somber tone.
A chill ran down their spine, her expression was hard to read of any specific emotion, but they could clearly see that this was a thought-provoking subject for the silver-eyed woman.
Releasing a sigh, she paced around Stargate's chair to grab her by the chin, turning her head towards the group which made her eyes easier to observe.
"We look like one, so it's up to you to decide I guess." She released the masked woman and faced the blond faunus. "According to the Chosen, the ancestors were created by their god: The God of Light or just Light if you can't be bothered. The why is... up to interpretation."
While most of the students simply absorbed the information given to them, Blake noticed how the adults' postures hardened once the deity was mentioned. She then shared a subtle glance with Sun who nodded at her.
"Are we talking about the same god as the one from The Tale of the Two Brothers?" She asked curiously.
The other students, Sun included, stared at her with perplexed expressions.
"Your parents read you a lot of bedtime stories or did you really read all of those by choice?" Jested Yang, lightly jabbing the cat faunus' arm with an awkward chuckle.
Rubbing her appendage with a hiss, she sent the blond a pointed look before answering. "Let's just say that I've done some independent research these past few weeks."
"If being a huntress doesn't work out for you. We'd be glad to-" Started Stargate only to be hit on the back of her head by Ruby.
"If you want to keep your tongue, I'd stop moving it." She threatened. Her eyes glowed with a promise of hell while a minute but worrisome pressure radiated from the ravenette.
"Y-yes ma'am!" Exclaimed the masked woman.
Ruby grunted in discontent and then faced her partner.
"To answer your question: Yes, the god they worship is the very same as the fairytale. If that means they're real or not; I'll let you decide but if a god that represents creation and all that is good truly existed, I doubt we'd be living in this mess." She replied, locking eyes with the headmaster at the end of her speech.
"Then again, they are a god. They can do whatever they want." She added, returning to her place behind the chair upon which Stargate sat. "We'll just have to do the dirty work ourselves."
Taiyang clapped his hands, bringing the room's attention to himself as he stood up.
"Alright, I think we've been through everything there is to know. It's getting pretty late and you girls still have exams this week. Let's-" Said the blond man, attempting to dismiss the meet-up only to be interrupted by his youngest daughter whose surprisingly weak voice cut through his speech.
"Was I really the reason you left back then?"
Before any of them could react, Ruby had vanished from where she stood and reappeared kneeling in front of her sibling. Both remained silent, staring into each other's eyes with complicated expressions as if trying to read what the other was thinking.
The ravenette reach out with one hand towards the blond, asking permission to hold her hand. They remained still for a few seconds before the brawler gently slid her fingers across the older woman's palm and then through her digits until both held onto one another.
A smile of relief crept its way onto the older sibling's lips as she softly brought them onto her sister's knuckles before resting her head against their joint hands.
"I..." She tried to start before swallowing her nervousness. "Yes. I won't lie. The mere chance that leaving their warning unchecked could have put you in danger was what convinced me to leave."
Yang winced although it was not because she found the truth hurtful, but because it made her feel as if the woman standing in front of her was a result of her inadequacy.
Sensing the blond's inner turmoil; Ruby tugged on her hand, bringing to two closer.
"You were... you are my entire world. Without you I am nothing. I know that I've hurt you. That even if you say otherwise, a part of you deeply hates me for leaving. But if that's the price for keeping you safe? I would do it as many times as it takes."
By then, both had tears flowing from their eyes, staring passionately into the very soul of the other while the older sibling spilled her heart out.
Ruby's eyes met the bruise on the blond's neck once more. Her heart throbbed painfully, holding back the mix of sorrow and fury that rose in her knowing that this was entirely her fault.
The mere reminder of its presence made the contusion flare once more, causing the blond to wince. She painfully swallowed down the hurt as she raised her free hand onto her older sibling's cheek, caressing it tentatively. She stopped once nearing her lips, an apprehensive chill running through her fingers which she pulled away.
It lasted only a fraction of a second, but Yang had seen the dread in the ravenette's eyes which surfaced at her action, sending a pang of regret through her heart. Regret turned into anguish as the dread vanished into a bittersweet relief.
Ruby's grip lessened, a forced smile resting on her lips while she stood up, turning to face the headmaster.
"I'm... gonna need a copy of that recording and the footage of the warehouse."
"What for if I may ask?" He asked, raising a curious eyebrow.
"Let's just say that I have a responsibility to uphold as a teacher and a friend." She replied, subtly eyeing her teammates.
"Very well. They will be sent to your scroll once this recording has been properly verified."
"Thank you." She replied, bowing her head slightly.
"There are, however, two declarations that remain to be said." Ozpin suddenly announced, piquing the room's curiosity.
He swiped a few times on his pad before a ring came from Ruby's scroll. Opening the device, her eyes widened once she read the information displayed.
"A huntsman's license...?"
"A temporary license to be exact. It will only function in Vale and will automatically expire in a year. You still have to complete your courses here should you wish for an official license. Unfortunately, leaving you without the authority of a huntress could prove detrimental in the coming years." He explained, finishing in a rather ominous tone.
Ruby nodded while pocketing her scroll before facing the headmaster once more.
"And the other thing?"
The gray-haired man pointed toward Stargate with an impassive expression.
"What shall we do with her?"
The reminder of her presence made everyone in the room stare at the masked woman who timidly waved at them.
Yang raised a hand to wave back but was interrupted by Weiss who pushed her limb back down with an unimpressed eyebrow raised. "Seriously, Yang?"
Ignoring the small commotion at her side, Ruby waved at Stargate dismissively. "I need her alive if she's to inform her boss of all of this. Besides, you heard her; you have nothing to worry about unless you become a threat to the world."
Her mocking chuckle had not gone unnoticed by the masked woman who crossed her arms seemingly to sulk again. This made the ravenette roll her eyes before heading toward the blocked-off elevator, motioning for her to follow.
"Come on, I'll walk you out."
Stargate tilted her head in confusion. "I can simply-"
"I'll walk you out." Coldly interrupted the celebrity, a harsh gaze pointed at the Black Rose operative.
"Y-yes ma'am..."
Ruby nodded in satisfaction and then faced Ozpin. "May we?"
The headmaster observed Stargate momentarily before releasing a sigh.
"Very well. Do not forget that you also have your own exams, miss Rose. Have a pleasant night." He said, releasing the lockdown allowing both women to enter the cabin.
"Unless you two decide to stay around, I'll see you back home." Said the ravenette to her father and uncle before the door closed.
Silence reigned for a few seconds, broken only by Qrow's sigh. "She's still as much of a handful as ever, huh?"
Taiyang sighed in turn. "We'd be lucky if we were able to sit her down for longer." He then faced Ozpin, scratching the back of his head lazily as he addressed him. "Got anything else for us before we leave?"
The man nodded while crossing his hands together. "I do. In fact, it concerns Miss Rose."
Every member present in the room shared an apprehensive glance before focusing on the headmaster, dreading what could possibly need to be said during the ravenette's absence...
Hello Everyone! Been a while again, huh? For those who have managed to read to the end (I wouldn't blame anyone who didn't). Yes this is an exposition dump chapter which any good author would not have done and instead would have conveyed all of this information more naturally. Unfortunatly I'm not one of those authors. I did try to make it not JUST endless blabber, but you guys will be the judge of if I managed to do so. I wanted to finish this chapter for Christmas but hey I'll take a few weeks later.
With this chapter ends Vol.1 of RWBY but it's not over yet for this story. The next chapter will be shorter and an epilogue of this fanfic's Vol.1.
I hope you will continue to follow me as I continue writing this story despite my shortcomings.