Chapter 22: The Teacher
"I must say, that's an elegant design."
"Thank you. I've only done this once, I didn't think beyond the idea."
Cinder and Ozpin were in the underground room again, where she could train her powers. As a start, Ozpin asked Cinder what else she could do. Rather than showing feats of strength and power, Cinder showed the Headmaster the little tricks she learned. Once she showed him her small use of ice at her hand, Cinder used her fire to burn the air and re-create the glass shoe she made at Korkie's party.
"Truly, these 'tricks' are impressive, Cinder," said Ozpin. "Now, I want you to try and expand them. What you've done so far is useful, but it will be better to use it to defend yourself. Have you considered how to do this?"
"Well, there was one time when I used my Semblance to think outside the box," Cinder said, recalling her time in Vacuo. "I was able to turn sand into glass knives by heating it. Then I was able to use my powers to do it with the air."
"That's very creative. Try it again, using your fire and the air."
Cinder held out her hand, and pictured a knife instead of a shoe. The air slowly turned into embers, and the embers combined into a new form. Sitting in the palm of her hand was a glass shard.
"Very good," said Ozpin. "In time, this process will be faster. If you like, you could try to do the same with ice."
"Well... I don't think I can." Cinder threw the glass knife at the wall and watched it stick out. "Fire was one of the first powers I used, and I've built on it a lot. Ice has been a challenge for me."
"Then we should build on that." Ozpin moved out of her way and continued to instruct the child. "Now, while all Maidens are capable of using their new found powers as soon as they receive them, their initial use is just the tip of the iceberg."
"So that's why my fire can come naturally to me."
"Talent without training is nothing, Cinder. Maidens who were young and inexperienced suffered from accidents and injuries that would have been lethal if they were inflicted on a common person. That's why we're here now, for you to gain experience."
"I'll be careful, then."
"Good. Now, I want you to try to use ice the same way you use any of your powers. Visualize the ice, feel the cold of it connect to your soul. Once you feel it, externalize it."
Cinder understood what Ozpin meant. This was how she could use fire so easily. It was said that a person's Aura was a manifestation of their soul. But now, Cinder's connection to her soul had been amplified with the power of the Fall Maiden. She could feel warm inside with fire, feel the wind give her goosebumps, and the lightning send painless jolts throughout her body.
But the cold didn't spread throughout her body. It only manifested on her hand, so she created another knife like Ozpin asked. Only, the knife was much shorter.
Ozpin looked at the knife very carefully. "Good. But it seems the ice has a weak connection to your soul."
Cinder sighed. "It does. I can feel the elements inside me, but they don't hurt. Instead, I feel like they give me life. But ice only manifests on my hands."
"It will take time and energy. Even now, you can expand on your fire, make it do other things. Perhaps we could learn how to defend yourself with your powers rather than creating means of attacking your enemies."
"That... sounds like a good idea." Cinder liked the idea of how the Maiden powers could defend her and others rather than attacking and destroying. After all, from what she heard from her book, a Maiden was supposed to give new life to the surrounding nature.
"Now, have you ever defended yourself or anyone else before?"
"I used my wind to stop a wave of fire from burning my father and friends. It hurt, but it worked."
"Very good. It's very rare for a Maiden to control elements that are caused externally rather than internally, so it would be wise for you to know your own strength."
"What about my fire? I could use it to melt ice, couldn't I?"
"True, but it's also possible for the flame to reach the melting point of metal. Bullets, knives, you could reduce them to a puddle. And since you prefer to use fire, we can start there."
Before they could start, the elevator door opened to reveal Glynda with the Mandalorian. Cinder walked up to her father with a smile.
"I waited upstairs for her like you asked," said Djarin, who hugged Cinder when she walked up to him.
"You said you wanted to discuss something with me, sir?" asked Glynda.
"I do, Glynda," Ozpin said as he walked up to the clan of two. "Over the weekend, I've been training Cinder to see what she can do with her powers at the moment. But I've also seen them train together."
"I see. And has she been to able to learn more?"
"She has. And so have I. Which is why I think it would be wise for Mr. Djarin here to assist you in your class."
"Assist me?" Glynda looked back at Djarin but also saw Cinder giving her an unfriendly stare. So, she turned back to Ozpin. "With all due respect, I don't believe I need any help."
"I would normally agree, but these two have trained in a way I believe to be essential."
"Which is?"
"Fighting without their Auras."
"Without-?!" Glynda turned back to the Mandalorian. "Are you insane? She's only a child!"
"So was I when I learned to fight. Even without our Auras, we were expected to train in hand-to-hand combat." Djarin looked down at Cinder. "I've only stopped when she asked me to or when she was hurt badly. Because of our training, she's more than capable of defending herself."
"But this is inhumane!"
Cinder moved forward and gave Glynda a piece of her mind. "Couldn't you say the same about fighting the Grimm? Or against Salem's forces? You can't expect anyone to stop fighting when their Aura is broken."
"..."
"This was the best thing Mando could do for me, and I'm grateful. I mean, I still have to get stronger, but I'm not the same girl I was when he found me."
Glynda was about to answer her, but Ozpin stopped her. "She has a point, Glynda," he said. "I saw them train together this weekend, and they certainly know what they're doing." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Mr. Djarin wants to focus this aspect on just-hand-to-hand combat with our students. They won't use their weapons, and the only injuries they'll have will be a few bruises here and there."
"...You really want to do this?" Glynda asked the Mandalorian.
"I do," he answered.
"And you believe this will help our students grow?"
"I have no doubt."
Glynda looked back to Ozpin, who simply nodded. She sighed, and gave Djarin her answer. "Alright. But while you're doing this, I'll be in the room with you at all times. If I believe things will get out of hand, I will put a stop to them."
"...Understood."
Glynda's first class of the day began with first year students arriving at 11:15 in the morning. Multiple students were sitting in rows of chairs above a large, flat area. This was where Glynda did most of her teaching. First, she would begin with a small lecture and let two students come to the large area to begin their combat. Once the battle was finished, Glynda would describe each combatant's flaws and improvements. Once the first fight was over, two more students would come and fight. The process would continue until class was over. While students were required to wear school uniforms, which consisted of black suits with a red tie and black blouses with a red skirt, Glynda's combat class let them wear their casual attire.
Glynda walked up to the flat area and began her lesson. "Good morning, everyone," she said in her normal, strict voice.
The chatter from the students ceased immediately as Glynda continued to speak. "Today's class will be a little... different than usual. My syllabus stated that we would be conducting hand-to-hand combat in two weeks. But, Professor Ozpin has seen it fit to advance my schedule and have you train with both your weapons and hand-to-hand."
The students wordlessly understood and accepted the change in plans. Some were even excited, and began throwing a few fake jabs to show their enthusiasm.
"Now, that won't be the only thing changing in my class," Glynda continued. "Professor Ozpin has also hired an assistant for this class. After two of you conclude your usual combat lesson, he will be taking over." The students understood again, and didn't say a word. Glynda took this as a sign to continue with her lesson. "Now, then. Let's begin with our lesson." She took out her Scroll and began to look at a list of her students. "How about... Mr. Jay and Mr. Blut?"
Two male students, one wearing a blue T-shirt with jeans and another wearing a red shirt with black pants, made their way to the area. Once they reached Professor Goodwitch, they stood on separate ends of the area. "Ready?" the Professor asked. The students pulled out their weapons, a sword with a blue handle and an axe with a red blade. The lights began to dim, and Glynda spoke again. "Begin."
The students charged at each other with their weapons ready. Once they clashed, sparks flew for one moment. The students locked the hold for five seconds before the axe rose up. While one would think Blut lost his weapon, the student had a strategy behind this. Jay was still pushing on the sword, and the force caused him to lose his balance. Once he did, Jay was caught in a headlock.
Blut applied pressure, forcing Jay to block out the pain with his Aura. But then, the ground under him began to feel cold. Wind began to form under the students, blowing both into the air. Jay had used his Semblance to get in the air, and landed on his back to make sure Blut took the brunt of the impact.
Once he did, Jay punched his opponent's ribs and picked up his sword. The axe was out of Blut's reach, so he had to use his Aura to protect him from Jay while he reached for it. Once he did, he blocked one more strike from his opponent. But Jay used his sword to cut Blut's hand and make him lose his axe. Once Jay delivered three more slashes with his weapon, a bell sounded and the lights began to brighten.
"And that's the match," Glynda said. "Very good use of your Semblance, Mr. Jay."
"Thank you, Professor," the student said.
"Mr. Blut, your strategy was impressive, but it left you without your weapon. If you lose your weapon and your first plan backfires, make sure you have a backup plan. Or consider changing your strategy."
"Yes, Ma'am," said Blut, who was standing back up.
"Now, in a tournament style match, the official may call the match once one student's Aura is in the red. But now..." Glynda saw the two students approach back to their seats, but she stopped them. "Mr. Jay, Mr. Blut, please stay where you are." The students stopped walking. "You two will be conducting your hand-to-hand now."
"But my Aura's in the red," Blut protested.
"Exactly."
Glynda and the students turned to look at the source of the new voice. The students gasped at the sight of a Mandalorian walking up to them. The students above gasped as well and began to whisper to themselves.
"Settle down, everyone," Glynda ordered. The whispers stopped and everyone turned to the Professor. "Now, this is the second chance I mentioned earlier." She gestured to the Mandalorian. "This is Mr. Djarin, and yes, he is a Mandalorian. He recently came to Beacon Academy because Professor Ozpin believes his experience in the field and his... beliefs may be of assistance to you all. I will stay here to observe his lessons, but Mr. Djarin..." Glynda turned to the Mandalorian. "You have the floor."
Djarin walked to where Glynda was and looked at the two students who finished their combat. "As I said, I know your Aura is low. But that doesn't matter now," he started. Djarin looked up at the crowd. "I understand the Vytal Festival will commence soon, and that some of you will be participating in its combat tournament."
"..."
Djarin took their silence as an understanding, so he continued to speak. "Can anyone tell me the rules for a combatant's elimination in the tournament?"
Everyone was silent again, but a few hands raised in the air. Djarin chose a girl whose hand stood alone amongst the students in the rightmost corner of the room. "Go ahead, Ms..."
"Rainart, sir," the student said as she stood up. "And regarding your question about elimination, there are two rules. The first is if a combatant is knocked out of the arena, and the second is if their Aura levels fall-"
"Fall in a certain range," Djarin finished. "That's right." As the student sat back down, Djarin continued to speak. "Now, teachers in all the academies believe its safe for students to fight in their combat lessons and tournament duels with this rule. While I can guarantee following this rule will prevent injuries in class, this will not protect you once you graduate. Strictly relying on your Aura and Semblance in a fight has consequences that prevent you from reaching your true potential, or worse, losing your life to the Grimm."
The students looked at each other again, some of them nodding in agreement.
"Once your Aura breaks, your body will take hits you would normally ignore or block out. This leaves you vulnerable and liable to a faster defeat. If you are not prepared to fight when your Aura breaks on you, then you are not prepared to fight at all." The students whispered again, but Djarin quickly silenced them by talking to the two students with him. "That's why you are still here. You will begin your hand-to-hand combat, without engaging your Auras."
The students quickly turned to each other with dropped jaws. Once they recovered from their shock, they turned back to the Mandalorian. "But, sir, we might hurt each other!" Jay protested.
"I know," Djarin responded. "In time, your bodies will grow stronger, begin to be accustomed to the pain. Then, you'll be prepared to handle the Grimm once your Aura breaks. That time starts now."
Jay and Blut looked back to Glynda, who simply nodded. So the two reluctantly raised their fists and prepared themselves.
"...Begin," Goodwitch reluctantly ordered.
The fight was over before it even began.
Both students were bleeding and out of breath. Blut was hunched over while Jay was on the ground, having trouble getting back up. Glynda declared that Blut was the "winner," since he was still standing. But after that, everyone was having trouble finding the right words to describe the fight.
Everyone except the Mandalorian.
Djarin walked in front of Goodwitch and spoke. "This... is the result I was expecting," he declared. "Before we began, both of these men were ready to fight, the only damage inflicted on them was drained Aura. Now you can see how no proper defense had consequences." He walked over to Blut. "How do you feel?"
"Not... too good," he confessed. "I can't... feel my hands."
Djarin noted his observation and didn't bother asking Jay how he was. The student couldn't engage his Aura to heal everything, he couldn't even stand up without help. So, the Mandalorian turned back. "Professor Goodwitch saw it fit to end the match, but you won't find this kind of mercy from the Grimm. I'd suggest you think about this when you come back next class."
"Class dismissed," Goodwitch ordered. The students above them left, but two came down to help Jay get on his feet and take him away. When everyone left, Goodwitch turned back to Djarin and said something unexpected. "Thank you... for letting me stop the match," she said.
"You're in charge," Djarin retorted. "I'm just your assistant."
"I still find these lessons to be dangerous."
"This is a dangerous world we live in. A trained Huntress like yourself should know that."
"..."
Djarin began to walk towards the door. "When will the next class be?"
"After lunch," Glynda answered, remembering one key detail about this lesson. "You'll be helping me with third year students. Maybe they'll have the results you're looking for."
"Maybe. Or maybe we'll need to start at square one."
"..."
One week later
"And that's the match."
A teenage girl began to catch her breath at the sound of those words. After a few more seconds, she helped her opponent, a boy with red hair, off the ground. Once he stood up, he began to move his left arm in a semicircle in an effort to shake off his pain.
"Jeez," he said. "Nice work, Adora."
"Thanks, Jesse," Adora said. "How's your arm?"
"All good. You landed some good hits, I was surprised."
"So was I."
The students turned back to the Mandalorian who began and ended their match. He turned to Adora as he continued to speak. "You're getting faster with your strike, Adora. And your defense has gotten better."
"I think I'm staring to get the hang of all this," Adora said as she looked at her hands. "You wanted us to see that a new kind of defense is just as necessary as offense."
"That's one of the things you need to learn, you're right." Djarin turned to Jesse. "When you started your fight, I could see you were calm and collected. It's good to have a level head, but I could see you were expecting all of Adora's strikes."
"I was," Jesse confessed. "I've always been her sparing partner, and I was expecting most of her moves."
Djarin looked back to the students watching him. "Never underestimate your enemy. That was Jesse's first mistakes. Adora has been learning a lot in the past week, and her efforts made her the victor of today's final match. Hone your defense over the weekend, and we'll see how much you've improved. Dismissed."
The students above the Mandalorian all stood up and left, with Adora and Jesse following them. When Djarin left the room, he found Professor Ozpin waiting by the door. "May I speak with you for a moment?" he asked. Djarin nodded and began to walk the halls of the academy. "How would you say things have been going?"
"I just came out of a successful class of third year students," Djarin noted, following to Ozpin's right. Some passing students stared at him for a moment, but Djarin ignored them as he continued to talk. "I thought they would struggle like the first and second year students, but they seemed to understand what we were doing after a week of class. Now, the third year students are able to get back up after taking a good hit, and they've improved on their defense since the first day."
"So you believe your methods have contributed to Beacon's academic curriculum and the future generation of Huntsmen and Huntresses?"
"I do."
Ozpin stopped walking. "Mr. Djarin, I'm glad to hear that you're making progress. And from what I just saw, some of the students seem to think this idea was for the best. But I'm afraid not all of your students are learning very well."
"If you're talking about the first and second years, I agree they've been slow. But the Foundlings I grew up with were trained at a much younger age than them. Once they reached the age of your students, they were strong enough to train for almost ten minutes straight."
"So you feel that my students have... fallen behind?"
"In a way. With all due respect, I feel that first year students have to be the first to learn the importance of not relying on their Auras."
"I agree. But my problem is not that they're struggling. My problem is that they're rebelling."
"What do you mean?"
Ozpin slipped a hand into his suit. "The reason Glynda wasn't with you today was because she was speaking with me." He removed his hand and took out an envelope. "She found this in the mailbox on her door, its from an... extensive amount of first year students."
"..."
The Mandalorian took the envelope and opened it. There were two pieces of paper inside, and Djarin pulled out the first one. It was a list of names, divided into four rows of signatures. "These are your first year students?" he asked.
"A vast majority of them, yes. This is a petition, Mr. Djarin. I haven't seen the students take an action like this in a long time."
"What are they petitioning?"
"You should... read the other paper."
Djarin took out the second piece of paper, which revealed itself to be some kind of letter.
"Professor Goodwitch,
The second paper inside this envelope is a petition made by the first year students of Beacon Academy. This petition is a demonstration of our disappointment and disapproval of the new teacher at Beacon Academy, the Mandalorian who you said Professor Ozpin hired. You have seen the extensive 'training' he puts us through, and how student after student has walked away from your class. We have come together to show that the way this man thinks is both dangerous and reckless, and it is our goal to see that he no longer teaches at Beacon Academy. If this does not happen, we are prepared to present our case to the Vale Council, who we know oversee the events of Beacon Academy."
*POOF*
The petition and the letter had just turned to ash and cinders as Cinder used her Semblance. "This is outrageous!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "It's unfair!"
Djarin sighed at Cinder's response to what Ozpin showed him. Of course he was going to tell her about his problem, he just didn't want to see her get so upset. He was upset as well, and he knew something had to be done. He just didn't know what to do.
"Now, Cinder," Ozpin began. Djarin brought Ozpin back to his room to discuss their problem in private. "There's no need to get upset."
"Of course there is! They can't take his job away, he's trying to help!"
"I know. That was my original goal when I asked your father to teach with Glynda. I didn't think students speaking out against us would be one of the results of our efforts."
"So, it's real?" Djarin asked calmly. "The students can go to the Vale Council about this?"
"If they feel the need to. They're simply expressing their freedom of speech and freedom to protest. And they're doing a fine job of it."
"And we can all imagine how that will go," Cinder included. "They'll say Mandalorians are 'dangerous' and 'reckless,' just like these stupid students said!"
"Cinder, please." Djarin put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out, but you need to calm down. Being angry won't get us anywhere."
Cinder took a deep breath and sat down on the bed. "I'm sorry, I just... I hate being treated like something I'm not."
"Cinder, this doesn't have anything to do with you," Ozpin said.
"Ozpin's right," Djarin agreed. "They're not trying to attack you, they're going after me."
"But Mando, don't you remember what I said when we escaped Atlas? How an attack on one Mandalorian is an attack on all?"
"...I remember, but-"
"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant." Cinder stood up. "If they're going to try and come after you, they'll have to come after me too."
"..."
Ozpin was both shocked and impressed at Cinder's triumphant display of loyalty. He had seen it in other students and Mandalorians before, specifically from within their own teams and clans. But he had never seen a young girl so willing to stand up for her father, even though the fight wasn't hers to begin with.
While Djarin shared Ozpin's sentiments, he still felt unsure about this. "Cinder, it's not that I don't appreciate you wanting to help me, I just don't want you getting involved with something that's not involving you."
"I get that, but I really think I can help." Cinder turned to the Headmaster. "Professor, what will happen to us if the students go to the Vale Council?"
"I'd imagine they'll agree with the students and I'll have no choice but to ask your father to step down from his position," Ozpin explained. "Worst case scenario, they may want me to ask him to leave the school grounds. And while I'm more than willing to continue our training and have you stay, this will pose a problem."
"I agree," said Djarin. "I know you'll do everything you can to protect her, but I don't want to leave her at Beacon alone. Wherever she goes, I go."
"The same goes for me," said Cinder.
Djarin nodded and asked another question. "What if we present our side of the story? The advanced students are learning, and maybe we can ask them to help us show that I'm not a threat."
"That could work. I could see some rules prohibiting you from teaching the first and second year students, but that may be for the best."
"I still think the first year students should learn."
The rest of the conversation seemed to fade out for Cinder. She agreed with her father, and it was her idea to start with the first year students. She was living proof that her father's lessons were for the best, and she had no idea why the other students disagreed. Sure, she felt sore and had a couple of bruises afterwards, but it helped her prepare for her fights with the insurrection and the Saxon Clan. She didn't have a lot of experience with Grimm, but Cinder knew the same concept applied. Maybe the Vale Council did need a demonstration.
Or maybe... the first year students should see one too.
Cinder turned back to Djarin and Ozpin. "I know what we need to do."
Many first year students made their way to Glynda's classroom, talking amongst themselves.
"So, I heard Professor Goodwitch found our note," one black haired boy in an orange shirt said.
"Yeah, and she showed it to Professor Ozpin," said a blonde girl in a white T-shirt. "And how much you wanna bet he showed it to you-know-who?"
"You think this will help though?" another boy asked. "All of this could have been for nothing."
"It's not like they're going to punish us," the same girl pointed out. "We're just students displaying our right to petition, expressing our freedom of speech!" She raised her fist in the air. "And we deserve to have our voices be heard!"
"Oh, jeez, here we go again."
"Always the activist, aren't you?"
The girl put her hand down and looked to her friends. "Come on, guys. You know that I'm right."
"Yeah, we know. We just don't want any unwanted attention, that's all."
"Why not? Attention is good. That's how we get support."
"Yeah, but we're just trying to get Ozpin's attention."
"Well, it worked. Be proud of yourselves, this was a group effort."
"Let's just see how it goes. Then, we'll decide if we can be proud."
All of the students entered Glynda's classroom and sat in their seats. After a few minutes, they were surprised to see the Mandalorian walk in front of them with a little girl rather than Professor Goodwitch.
"Before we begin, I'd like to address something," said Djarin. "Professor Ozpin has brought to my attention that most of you... disagree with my lessons and have signed a petition to have this class changed once again."
Some of the students gulped and pulled their collars, starting to feel nervous about the Mandalorian's reaction.
"I understand your reasons behind this," Djarin continued. "So, I'd like to know if anyone in here signed the petition."
The blonde in the T-shirt was the first to raise her hand, and a few other students slowly followed.
"I see." Djarin had a feeling there were more students than this, but they didn't want him to know. "Based on the first signature, I believe I know who started the petition. Is there a 'Corvo Nightshade' here?"
A student wearing a purple hoodie with black hair rose from his seat and spoke. "You're right. I was the first to sign it."
"Could you come down here, please?"
"..."
Corvo began to make his way down to the area. Other students began to whisper protests to him, having a bad feeling about the idea. But Corvo continued to walk down, not afraid of what would happen. Once he was in the area, he stood two feet away from the Mandalorian.
"You believe my lessons aren't suitable here?" Djarin asked.
"I do," Corvo answered. "Every evening, students are supposed to spar before dinner. Ever since you started teaching, members of my team have been struggling to even throw a punch. And when Professor Port wants us to demonstrate our weapons against Grimm, other first year students can't do it."
"..."
Corvo continued to stand by his point, and Djarin was silent. He understood his point of view, even he had trouble some days during his Aura-less training. But Djarin was able to grow stronger because of it, and he felt every student needed to do the same. So, he made his choice.
"I am prepared to respect and accommodate to your request," he said to the students.
They all began to whisper among themselves, surprised that he was willing to do this.
"See?" the blonde said to her friends. "I told you this would work!"
The voices stopped when Djarin spoke again. "I can teach the advanced students rather than-"
"I think we were clear earlier," said another student, who bravely rose from his seat. "You shouldn't be teaching here at all."
The Mandalorian briefly turned to the standing student before looking back at Corvo. "...Alright. As I said, I'll respect your demands. But on one condition."
Corvo raised an eyebrow, but he had an idea where this was going. "You want me to fight you," he said with confidence.
"No. You're going to fight my first student."
Everyone began to whisper amongst themselves, and Corvo was also confused. "You mean... one of the first year students?"
"No. My daughter."
Just as he said that, the young girl stepped forward and stopped next to the Mandalorian. He put a hand on her shoulder and spoke again. "This is my daughter, Cinder. She's ten years old and we've been training together for weeks, even after my classes. After she heard about your petition, she decided to help share what I've been teaching you."
The row of students suddenly erupted, united by one word. "WHAAAAAT?!"
After the cry vanished into the air, Corvo spoke again. "You want me to fight a kid?"
"No," said Cinder. "I want you to fight a kid."
"You... can't be serious."
Cinder crackled one of her knuckles and asked a question. "How serious do I look?"
"No. No way." Corvo looked up at Djarin. "I'm not going to fight a child without an Aura. If she wants to, then that's her problem."
"What's the matter? Scared you'll lose?"
Corvo just sighed and looked down. "Look, kid. I don't know what your dad taught you, but this is a Huntsmen Academy. You know I could really hurt you, right?"
"Not without your Aura you can't," Cinder argued.
"Yeah, but what about after? I bet you don't even have an Aura."
Cinder grabbed Corvo's arm and activated her Semblance. The student felt his arm burn and he pulled away. His Aura quickly healed the burn, and Cinder looked up at Djarin. "Looks like he lost his bet."
Djarin shrugged and looked back at Corvo. "We presented the idea to Professor Ozpin, and he approved. If you beat my daughter in Aura-less combat, I promise you will never see me again."
"There's no way Ozpin would-"
Djarin pulled out a Scroll and handed it to the student. He read a text from Ozpin that said he approved of the idea and would respect the outcome. There was just one more thing that would happen.
"He wants to watch this?" Corvo asked.
"Yes." Djarin took the Scroll back and walked to the edge of the room. Earlier, he put a tripod in the room which he could place the Scroll on and make a live video that Ozpin would watch.
"So what's the catch?"
"No catch." Djarin turned around. "If you win, I'll stop teaching and you'll never see me again. But if Cinder wins, you and every other student will drop the petition and let me continue my lessons."
"Say I really hurt your daughter. Will you take responsibility for what happens?"
"You won't face any consequences." The Mandalorian walked over to Corvo and extended his hand. "Do we have a deal?"
"..."
Corvo looked up at the other students, who began to stand and applaud. They saw no risk or danger in the proposed deal, and were calling out to Corvo to take a chance.
So Corvo shook the Mandalorian's hand. "Alright, you have a deal," he said. "But just to make sure nobody cheats, let's break our Auras rather than not engage them."
Djarin turned back to Cinder, who nodded. Corvo went to the other side of the room and began to use his Semblance, which was strengthening his biceps on a whim. Cinder began to warm her hands so she couldn't use her Semblance, and she made a mental note not to use any of her powers.
Before the fight began, Djarin kneeled down to Cinder. He and Cinder talked about this last night, but he had to make sure she liked the idea she presented. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked one more time. "He's right, you could get hurt."
"I'm sure," Cinder replied. "This is something I need to do. Not just for you, but I really need to improve my hand-to-hand. Please, let me do this."
Djarin smiled under his helmet and rubbed her head. "Just be careful, okay?"
"Okay."
After another minute, Corvo's Aura broke along with Cinder's. They each got in a fighting stance. With that, Djarin officially started the fight. "Begin."
Cinder rushed to Corvo and sent her right fist to his face. He blocked it easily, which was what Cinder expected him to do. Cinder usually sent two fists to the Mandalorian's face when they trained, and she learned they would be easy for him to block. So, she made a strategy to distract her opponent with a false strike and send her real attack to Corvo's stomach.
The punch made Corvo lower his head and let Cinder strike him again with an uppercut. He immediately recovered and stopped underestimating the young girl. Once he did, he grabbed her next fist and swung her in the air, letting her go after half a spin. Cinder quickly recovered and charged again.
"Not bad," a student whispered to his friend. "So, she's had a little training."
"I don't think it matters," his friend said. "Corvo knows what he's doing, and if that kid get hurt, it will help us see that he really is dangerous."
Corvo dodged more punches and was able to grab one of Cinder's fists and squeeze. Cinder kneeled at the pain, but used this to kick Corvo in the side. He slightly moved, but it wasn't enough to break his grip. So Cinder pulled on his arm and kicked his leg. Corvo's body moved down, and Cinder hit him with her head.
Corvo let go and Cinder began to shake her hand to get feeling back. He could hear students gasp at this, and this caused the student's blood to boil. Once it did, Corvo let his anger out and sent a fist towards Cinder. She quickly pushed it away, but Corvo kicked her stomach and pushed her back. She stumbled and failed to notice a fist hit her face. Once it did, Cinder hit the ground.
Djarin was about to stop the match and declare that he lost, but Cinder slowly began to get back up. Corvo ran to Cinder and swung his leg, but Cinder moved out of the way and grabbed his leg. She began to push it up to make Corvo hop on one leg. The child knew she could hit Corvo's other leg to make him fall on the ground.
But Cinder had a better idea.
*CRACK*
"OOOOHHHH!" The students yelled together at the sight of Cinder hitting her opponent in the groin. Even Djarin recoiled, surprised that Cinder knew that move.
The match ended when Corvo fell to the ground and felt a kick to his face, knocking him unconscious.
"..."
Cinder stood over a bleeding Corvo, victorious and feeling very triumphant. The rest of the students didn't make a sound as Djarin put a hand on his daughter's shoulder and spoke. "Now that I have your attention, I hope you all learned something today. Like I said, my daughter is only ten years old and she's been training for weeks with me. Since a deal was made and you're all witnesses, I can safely say you'll all be learning from me more often. And if you're lucky, you'll have a fraction of Cinder's strength before you graduate. Dismissed."
The students silently walked out of the classroom, unable to comprehend what they just saw. Out of all the students who left, only two helped Corvo stand up. They looked back at Cinder and opened their mouths, but no words came out. So they took Corvo and left.
"Good job!" Djarin said as he kneeled down to Cinder. "I knew you could do it!" Before he could say anything else, the Scroll on the metal stick made a noise. So the Mandalorian teleported himself to the Scroll and picked it up. He saw a message from Ozpin, who indeed saw the whole thing.
"I look forward to hearing about your next lessons."
The Mandalorian smiled at the message and walked back to Cinder, who was holding her hands on her nose. "Take a look at this," he said. Djarin reached for her hand and was about to walk Cinder outside. "Looks like you just-"
"Ow!"
Djarin quickly moved his hand back. Putting down the Scroll, he kneeled down to Cinder. "...What's wrong?"
"..."
Djarin took both his hands and gently moved Cinder's hands away from her face. Once he did, he saw that Cinder's nose was bleeding. And it looked like it had been bruised. Djarin's joy at Cinder's victory immediately turned into worry and regret. "Oh, no..."
"...Lucky shot," Cinder said as she wiped her nose.
The Mandalorian quickly stood up and took her hand. "Come on. We'll get you looked at."
"This may be a little uncomfortable, but it will stop the bleeding."
"Thank-" Cinder immediately stopped talking at the sound of her voice. Or rather, her different voice.
"Oh, and you may talk a little funny as well," said the woman who was looking at Cinder's nose. "But don't worry, it will only stay in for a few minutes."
The Mandalorian stifled a laugh at the sound before speaking. "Thank you," he said.
Just as he said, Djarin took Cinder to the campus nurse for her nose. Luckily, it was just a nosebleed and not a broken nose. So, the nurse just put a tissue in both her nostrils to stop the bleeding. But even so, Cinder seemed to be discouraged about her situation.
"Thank you, Cinder."
Her spirits lifted up at the sound of her father's gratitude. She looked up at him in confusion.
"I think you just saved my job," Djarin continued. "Maybe now, the students will start to understand the gravity of their situation."
"Mr. Djarin, I heard about what you're teaching our students," the nurse said. "Is it true that you want them to fight without their Auras?"
"Yes. The Grimm or your enemy isn't going to wait for you to rebuild it. Cinder and I have been training like this for a while, and she wanted to help me teach this lesson to the other students."
"Well, I didn't see any bruises or anything else on her. How did the fight go?"
"She did great. Her opponent landed a lucky shot, but she beat that student right there."
The nurse turned to see Corvo, who was brought in by his friends. His face was swelling and he seemed to have multiple bruises under his shirt. She was wondering how this happened, but now she had her answer.
"You did?!" The nurse turned to Cinder. "All by yourself?!" Cinder nodded. "My word, I can't believe I would live to see the day!"
"..."
Cinder just looked down at the floor, and dried her eyes.
The nurse looked back at Djarin. "I'm sorry, did I-?"
"No, it's not you." Djarin moved closer to Cinder. "She's been... harsh on herself, ever since we've been training harder. She won that fight, but I think she's upset about that student landing a hit in her." He kneeled to Cinder and gently picked up her head by moving her chin. "Cinder, is that right?"
"..."
Cinder didn't speak, but nodded.
"Cinder, you shouldn't be doing this to yourself. You have to understand not only the age difference between you and the students here, but also how strong they are." Djarin smiled under his helmet while he was talking. "It's good you want to get better and stronger, but don't forget what you did today. You did great, and I'm proud of you. And I guarantee when you're older and just like everyone else, I'll still be proud of the fighter you'll become."
Cinder dried her eyes again and smiled. She then pulled the Mandalorian in a hug, one which he reciprocated.
The nurse smiled at the display of affection, and spoke once they broke the hug. "My dear, I wasn't there to see all of this happen, but I think I can vouch for your father based on the student behind you."
Djarin suddenly remembered something. "Cinder and Professor Ozpin asked me to record the fight, I can show-" He was reaching for his belt while talking, but couldn't find the Scroll he was looking for. "I left the Scroll in the classroom. Would you mind-?"
"I can watch her just fine," the nurse promised. "She'll only need a few more minutes here."
"Thank you." He turned to Cinder, who nodded at him. With that, he left the room.
But just as he did, Glynda Goodwitch walked down the hall. His back was to her, so he didn't notice her behind him. Glynda was hoping to ask the Mandalorian how the lesson went, and was partially hoping she could take over teaching again. But her new focus was on why he had just come out of the nurse's office.
"Good morning, Professor Goodwitch," said the nurse. "Boy, do I have a story for you."
"Is that so?" Glynda asked as she came inside the office. "Would it have anything to do with-?" She stopped talking when she got a look at Cinder. Even though the young girl looked away, Glynda could see her bruised nose and tissue in the nostrils. "Oh, my... What happened?"
"Oh, she's fine." The nurse walked over to take a look at Cinder. "She just-" The nurse stopped talking when Cinder immediately shook her head. The nurse was confused at first, but respected her wishes. "Actually, she doesn't really want to talk about it."
"..."
Glynda took a look at Cinder, noticing her unwillingness to talk. She thought it was still the child's stubbornness, but then she remembered seeing the Mandalorian leave the nurse's office. Putting the pieces together caused a scowl to form on Glynda's face and her hands to turn into fists. She immediately turned heel and walked away.
"Professor, where are you-?" The nurse didn't get a chance to finish her question as Glynda picked up her pace. "Oh, dear. I wouldn't want to be the person she's angry at."
As Djarin made his way back to the classroom, he couldn't help but feel disappointed in himself. He knew Cinder fighting an older student would be dangerous, but he was willing to let it happen so he could save his position at Beacon. He knew it was Cinder's idea and that she wanted to do it, but he could have told her that she wouldn't do it.
But instead, he let her fight and get hurt.
The Mandalorian had been Cinder's father for only a week and he already made a mistake. He was having a hard time thinking how it could be different from the other times he let Cinder down, when he accidentally hurt her feelings. But he knew the only thing to do would be to learn from this failure and do a better job next time.
But even though he had his mind set on this idea, Djarin was wondering what Cinder was thinking. And not just her, Ozpin might think of this situation as a bad idea. He might even talk to Cinder about this privately. And... Cinder might have second thoughts about being his daughter.
The idea haunted Djarin as he made his way into the room and picked up the Scroll off the ground. He turned around to see Glynda walking towards him. "Glynda," he started. "You should know that I-"
Glynda flicked her riding crop, which caused multiple purple projectiles to fly at the Mandalorian. Some hit his arm and armored torso, but Djarin used his Semblance to teleport himself to the other side of the room.
"What are you-?!" Djarin didn't get a chance to finish as chairs from above flew at him. Djarin teleported again, but this time grabbed Glynda's wrist. She immediately fought back with a sharp jab to his throat. He used his Aura to protect himself and back away. It was then that he noticed the soul-shattering scowl formed on her face.
"You hit the girl, I hit you," Glynda spat.
"What?" Djarin asked. He suddenly realized what Glynda was talking about. "No, I didn't-!"
Glynda didn't stop to listen as she continued her assault on the Mandalorian. Djarin dodged more projectiles and tried to fight back. But Glynda was able to use Dust to make certain attacks, such as a purple shield and ice projectiles. The ice hit Djarin, but he let his armor protect him. He could see that Glynda was past the point of reason, so he knew he had to defend himself. So he used the Darksaber to cut the chairs and pieces of the wall the Professor flung at him, but some of her attacks found their mark.
Once his Aura broke, Djarin stopped for a moment to catch his breath. He suddenly realized that Glynda wasn't going to stop there. "What's the matter?!" she yelled. "I thought you wanted students to fight without their Auras!" She sent another projectile at him, with made impact with his arm. Djarin swung the Darksaber at Glynda, but she created another shield to protect her. "I should have never let you stay here!" Glynda continued to scream. "You're a monster! You and all your kind!" Glynda formed a giant spike out of debris and fired it at the Mandalorian. She knew she was exhausting her Aura, but she didn't care. "Abusers, murderers, all of you!"
"I didn't do anything!" Djarin yelled as he swung his blade, making contact with Glynda's flashing Aura. "If you would just listen-!"
"No!" Glynda made her opponent fly across the room. She stood over the Mandalorian, who was slowly getting back up. The fight wasn't over yet, but she could see one more blow could finish it. So, she moved in for the kill by using her Semblance to raise the entire floor into chunks of debris. "I made a promise that if I ever saw another Mandalorian, they wouldn't hurt anyone else," she said. "Well... it's time to live up to that promise."
Glynda began to send all the debris Djarin's way with a yell.
"DAD!"
The rocks stopped just in front of the Mandalorian.
Glynda turned just in time to see Cinder rush towards her with two fists. Her initial shock died down as she generated another Dust shield to protect her. Just as she did, a dark blade cut her crop, breaking it in half. The shield died down, and Cinder punched Glynda in the stomach. Her Aura broke, but Glynda was still standing.
"What do you think you're-?!"
A hand grabbing her shoulder caused Glynda to turn and see Djarin raise a fist and punch her in the face. Her Aura couldn't protect her, and Glynda slammed into a desk from the punch.
Cinder lowered her hands and ran to her father. "Dad, are you okay?!" she screamed as she hugged him. "Why did she attack you?!"
Djarin returned her embrace as he answered. "I'm fine, Cinder, I'm fine."
Glynda began to stand back up. Her Aura couldn't heal her back or the nose she believed to be broken. But she did her best to ignore the pain and focus on Cinder. "He... hits you... hurts you... and you still fight for him?!" she screamed.
"Hit me?!" Cinder yelled as she held her father. "What are you talking about?!"
Djarin had caught his breath and joined Cinder. "You think I'd want to hurt her?! After everything we've been through?!"
The noise had drawn the attention of all the students and some of the faculty.
"Whoa, what happened here?"
"Looks like a fight."
"Holy crap, are they fighting Professor Goodwitch?"
"I think it's that kid again."
"First a student, now her? That's one tough kid."
The banter and shocked faces caused Glynda to calm down. She recognized one of the students as her own, that had Combat Class with her. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.
"Huh?" The student looked confused. But his train of thought returned to him instantly. "Um, his daughter wiped the floor with one of the students. She took a bad hit to the face, but she still won."
"..."
The truth and gravity of the situation weighed down on Glynda as she looked around. The room was destroyed, the students didn't take their eyes off her, and she had just attacked the Mandalorian for something he didn't do. She didn't need to see his face to know he was staring daggers at her. Cinder was holding her father, but was still ready to attack.
"I-" Goodwitch began, but Cinder raised her fists again and prepared to defend herself. But before anyone did anything, Professor Ozpin walked inside.
"Now, now, everyone," he said as he looked to the students. "Perhaps you should find a better place to spend your free period." Everyone left the room without a word, leaving Glynda alone with the Headmaster and the clan of two.
"Ozpin, I-"
"She attacked my dad!" Cinder screamed at the top of her lungs. "He didn't do anything!"
Ozpin's neutral glare didn't fade, but Glynda could clearly hear his disappointment when he spoke. "Glynda... we should talk."
"..."
Glynda left the room without a word, unable to look at the Mandalorian again. But Djarin didn't care if she looked back at him. Right now, all of his attention was on the young girl hugging him. His body was sore, his right arm was hurting, and Cinder's embrace slightly hurt his side.
But Djarin felt like this was one of the happiest days of his life. Today, he knew that Cinder truly saw him as her father.
Cinder just called him "Dad."
"Now armed with the elements, the very powers of nature, and the unimaginable magic of the wizard, the four maidens, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, promised to carry on with their journey, using their gifts to aid others, just as they aided him.
One by one, the sisters left. Before they did, they made one final promise.
They promised to return each and every year, to visit their dear friend."
Djarin closed the book, finishing The Story of the Seasons once again. He put the book down on the nightstand and looked down at a smiling Cinder. "I'm surprised you wanted to hear that one again," he confessed. "Knowing you, I bet you'd want to hear every story in this book."
"I do," said Cinder. "But this one's actually my favorite. And I love the way you read it."
Djarin smiled. "Good. I'm glad."
Cinder smiled back at him, but it began to fade. "Dad, I'm sorry about today. I didn't mean-"
"Cinder, it's okay. None of this was your fault. Like I said, you did a great job helping me today. If anything, I should apologize about your nose. How do you feel?"
"It's fine. It stopped hurting around dinner, you don't need to worry about it anymore."
"Good. As for Goodwitch, I think-"
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
Djarin and Cinder looked up at the room's only door. Djarin got off the bed, put on his helmet, and opened the door. Professor Ozpin stood on the other side with his usual neutral glare. "Good evening, Mr. Djarin," he said. "I understand you've had an... eventful day."
"I have," Djarin replied. He turned to Cinder. "Both of us."
"I was hoping to discuss it with you. May I come in?"
Djarin looked back to Cinder, who was still laying down. "Would you mind if we talk outside? Cinder was just about to-"
"It's okay," Cinder said. "I want to talk about it, too."
Djarin stepped out of Ozpin's way and he entered the room. Ozpin pulled up a seat and turned to Cinder. "First off, I think you'll be happy to know that I spoke with one of the students who began the petition. And after your demonstration, she felt your father's lessons could be useful. I'm sure other students will begin to feel the same way."
"That's good to hear," said Djarin, who walked over to Cinder and rubbed her head. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Cinder said nothing, but she smiled at her father. But her attention refocused on the last part of her day at the academy. "What about Goodwitch?" she asked Ozpin.
"Well, to begin, I'd like to sincerely apologize for her actions. Just like the first night you came here, her actions were completely out of line."
"Where is she now?" Djarin asked.
"Home, in Vale. I've trusted her for years, and while she is one of the best professors at this school, she is not above its rules. I've suspended her without pay for one week."
"With all due respect, Professor, I'm not sure that's good enough. She's attacked me twice now, and I'm worried Cinder may get caught in the crossfire."
"Dad's right," Cinder vouched for Djarin. "I'd stand by his side anytime, anywhere, and against anyone. Including Goodwitch."
Ozpin removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I understand. While I believe her services at Beacon are more than required, I am prepared to restrict her from your presence. She won't be allowed to stay in the same building as you two. If she is, it will be under my watch."
"That sounds fair," said Djarin. He turned to Cinder. "I know you don't like her, but Ozpin is right. This sounds like the safest option."
"Okay," Cinder agreed. "As long as she stays out of our way, I'll stay out of hers."
"Very good." Ozpin stood up. "In that case, I bid you good night." The Headmaster made his way to the door and left the room. But just as he did, Djarin teleported himself to the end of the hall and walked up to him.
"Ozpin, I just have one question," he said. "Why does Professor Goodwitch have it out for the Mandalorians?"
"It's... not her fault, Djarin. Her hate is... justified, really. Perhaps we could talk about this privately."
Djarin moved back to his room and opened the door. "Cinder, I'm going to talk with Ozpin. I'll be back in a little while."
"That's fine. I'm going to bed, anyways." Cinder turned off the lamp at the nightstand. "Good night, Dad."
Djarin smiled one more time at the sound of that word. "Good night, Cinder." He closed the door and looked back to Ozpin. "Can we talk in your office?"
"Of course, maybe we can-"
Djarin put a hand on Ozpin's shoulder and activated his Semblance. In a few moments, they appeared in Ozpin's office.
While Djarin stood still, Ozpin fell over and back into his desk. He dropped his cane and put his hands on the table to recompose himself. After taking a few breaths, he looked back to Djarin. "Please... don't do that again," he requested.
"Sorry." Djarin said as he took a seat. "Now, about Professor Goodwitch."
Ozpin took one more breath before picking up his cane. "Yes. As I was saying, it's not her fault." Ozpin sat down behind his desk and put his cane to the side. "Do you ever wonder why she's here?"
"I'm... sorry?"
"I'm sure you've noticed she is a very skilled woman and her Telekinesis is a powerful Semblance. Normally, it would be for the best if she decided to hone her skills amongst the Grimm rather than stick to teaching."
"I suppose. Despite her aggression, she is a talented fighter. Even without her Aura, I'm sure she would have wanted to continue the fight we had."
"I wouldn't be surprised. But Glynda's greatest strength...was perhaps in her team. She was partnered with exceptional students, and together they passed every class with flying colors. They helped each other, grew closer together..." Ozpin smiled at the memories of Glynda's teammates. "They were perhaps the pride and joy of Beacon Academy itself."
"Her teammates..." Djarin had met many Huntsmen and Huntresses in his travels, and they were usually alone. So the Mandalorian was having an idea about what happened. "Did they separate after graduating?"
"No, they died."
"...Died?" Djarin's first idea was thrown out the window, so he tried to guess again. "Mandalorians?"
Ozpin slowly nodded. "It was their final year at Beacon. Their final mission before becoming official Huntsmen and Huntresses. I don't know exactly what they did, but Glynda was the only survivor. The airship that brought her team only found Glynda, stripped and bleeding."
"...So she sees all Mandalorians as enemies."
"It was... hard to blame her. She was tortured, beaten, branded, it was a miracle she survived. But... surviving isn't always enough."
Djarin couldn't blame Goodwitch for hating Mandalorians, but that wasn't an excuse for her earlier actions. But still, her ordeal sounded like it was beyond excruciating. And Ozpin's descriptions left Djarin with one question. "What did you just say?"
"Surviving isn't always enough," Ozpin repeated. "Glynda spent a while in therapy, but she was still able to graduate and-"
"No, no, something about a brand." Djarin stood up. "Did you say these Mandalorians branded her?"
"Sadly, yes. She only talked about it once, but I never-"
Djarin backed away and came to a conclusion. "Kyr'tsad."
Ozpin tilted his head. "What? Wait, does this mean something to you?"
"I think so. I'd like to talk to her."
"Well, she'll be back in a week, you can-"
"Professor, I need to see her now."
Glynda awoke to the sound of a kettle going off. Getting up from the chair, she walked through the living room of her apartment and went into the kitchen. Taking the kettle off the top of her stove, Glynda poured herself a cup of tea. Taking a sip, she moved back into the living room and drank her tea. She had a feeling this would be a time killer for her each day of the week, since she was temporarily out of a job.
Glynda was still reeling over her reckless attack on the Mandalorian and Ozpin's talk with her. While she regretted destroying an entire classroom, she didn't change her mind on the Mandalorian. Both she and Ozpin knew her attack was more than just about mistaking Cinder's nose for child abuse. And Ozpin made sure to remind her of that.
Which was why Glynda was still reeling over her punishment. Not only was she suspended from Beacon for a week, Ozpin had the nerve to suggest going to a therapist. She insisted that she was fine, that she never acted like this in all the years she worked at Beacon. But Ozpin believed her scars ran deep, and they always show in a matter of time, one way or another.
Today was probably the first time she hated being in Ozpin's office. She had to listen about the consequences of her actions and be reminded why the Mandalorians left scars that needed to be healed. Standing in that office and sitting alone in her apartment only made her feel worse, and miss her friends even more.
Lamenting over her failures for ten minutes made the tea in her cup too cold to drink. So, Glynda moved to the kitchen to pour her cup out, and maybe look for a better beverage.
That was when she heard a knock on her door.
Putting the mug down, Glynda opened the door to reveal Professor Ozpin on the other side. "Ozpin?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry to arrive unannounced, Glynda, but we were hoping to talk to you," Ozpin stated. "May we come in?"
Glynda moved aside to let Ozpin in, but then remembered something he said. "Did you say 'we?' Who else is-" Djarin's presence answered her question, but left another one to be answered. "Oh, Gods, what?" she asked, already exhausted. "Why are you here?"
"..."
Djarin moved away from Glynda and closer to Ozpin. "I just spoke with Mr. Djarin, and he believes there may be a way for you two to bury the hatchet."
Glynda sighed as she sat down. "Listen, I'm sorry about what happened. I understand Ozpin will take measures to-"
"Take off your shirt."
Both teachers glared at Djarin, but Glynda was the first to speak. "What?" she asked impolitely.
"I want to see your brand," Djarin requested. "I can-"
"You told him?!" Glynda yelled at Ozpin. "How could-?!"
"I'm sorry, Glynda," Ozpin said with sincerity. His neutrality had turned into sympathy as he turned to Djarin. "Djarin, this is a sensitive issue, you can't just come here and make demands such as this." He turned back to Glynda. "Glynda, I'm sorry, but I had to tell him. He knows what happened and he wants to help."
"Help? Help?! Here's how you can help!" Glynda rose from her seat and jabbed her finger in Djarin's direction. "You can start by stop hiding your face under that trash can! Or better yet, tell your people to go back home!"
"Glynda, he-"
"No, wait, here's something I really need! Bring my FRIENDS BACK!"
"..."
Djarin knew it would be wise to let Glynda vent, to let it all out. He expected her anger to rival most of his enemies, but he didn't expect to see Glynda begin to cry after her tirade. She backed away and continued to cry, which caused Ozpin to rise from his seat.
But the Mandalorian stood up first. "I know about your team," he said calmly. "I know they were important to you. Just like what happened to you was important as well." Glynda turned back to him quickly. "It caused you to see me and my people as your enemy. But now, I need to be your ally, Glynda. And I want to start by helping you with this. But first, I need to see what they did to you."
"..."
Glynda dried her tears, and put her glasses back on. "You can't help," she said. "There is nothing you, or anyone, can do to change anything."
"Maybe. But I think I know the people who did this to you. We can go after them, bring them to justice."
"...You really want to do this?" Her skepticism was clear for both men to notice. "Why?"
"Because like it or not, we're on the same side. We may be working together, but we're not... working together. I think... I hope... that by going after these Mandalorians, it will help us start working together."
"..."
Glynda had every reason to turn Djarin away, and she wanted to. She wished she never met him, she wished things were different, but more importantly... she wished her teammates were here with her. But Glynda knew she couldn't always get what she wanted.
"You're not going to take 'no' for an answer, are you?" she asked.
"No."
Glynda let out a heavy sigh. "Just don't touch it." Djarin nodded, and Glynda turned around. "Ozpin, could you leave the room, please?"
The sound of a door closing gave Glynda the confirmation she needed. So, she took off her glasses. Then, she removed her cape. Then, she began to unbutton her shirt. Then, she removed it, along with her bra.
Djarin was staring at Glynda's naked back, the only thing on it was a dark red mark. Djarin removed his helmet to get a clearer look. He was staring at what looked like a horned crown, with three horns on the top and three smaller ones at the bottom.
Djarin quickly put his helmet back on and spoke to Glynda. "You're a very lucky person," he said. "I hope you realize that."
Glynda put her clothes back on, and turned to the Mandalorian. "So... you know about this?"
"Yes. Glynda, you're wearing the symbol of the most dangerous Mandalorians in the world. Most clans have places where they survive. These ones... they're pure conquerors. Other clans I've met have spoken about them taking cities outside the kingdoms, killing everyone they pleased."
"Have you... Have you changed your mind, then?"
"No. I'm keeping my word, Glynda. This is the Way. I have a plan to find them, and I'll help you bring them to justice."
"...Who are they?"
"While my people gave them the name 'Kyr'tsad,' they call themselves... 'Death Watch.'"
Author's notes: hope you enjoyed this chapter. Like I said, I managed to make it longer than the last chapter, so I'm sorry about the wait.
To GojiraFan455515, glad you enjoyed it (especially with the small humor). Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To The Avenging Titan, I think you found your reason. And you got the concept of Djarin's teaching, he wants the students to be ready when Aura fails them. This happens a lot in RWBY, when a character can't get up when their Aura is broken. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To thrawn92, good to see you're caught up! You're right about the Marigolds and Henry, but May is Henry's cousin, not his sister. Glad you liked my idea for May's backstory and Boba's takeover. I'm glad you find it interesting for Cinder to train, and you're right about Penny and Winter. But Cinder is a child and not all Maidens are that good with their powers. You remember what happened to Amber, and how Qrow said she was young and inexperienced? Ozpin's training will help with that. Either way, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To Rider126, yep. You'll see more of it next chapter.
To TheStrangerThatCameFromNowhere, not Clan Vizsla, but much worse. Hope you liked Djarin's teaching, and I'm glad you liked the story so far. Hope you enjoyed this one.
To NacNak, hope you enjoyed Beacon's new hand-to-hand combat teacher. Glad you like the story so far.
To Marc Ello-Re Yes, glad you're excited to see Djarin as a teacher, hope I didn't disappoint you.
To 1228248, yeah, I wish they did something like that. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
To D.N Works, exactly Djarin's point. You get what you get. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I think you'll enjoy the next one.
To StarShredder, wow, thank you so much! I think you're the second person I met that binged my story, and I'm still just as surprised people are doing that. Glad you like my idea and story, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To hirshja, glad I was able to meet your expectations. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
To Rook435, well wonder no more, my friend. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Thanks again for reading and reviewing. If you haven't already, please leave a review so I can hear what you think. And if you like the story so far, please consider adding it to your Fav/Follow list. That's all I have for now, see you next time!