"I told you Jaune!"
"I didn't do anything!"
"I warned you!"
"I was right there the whole time!"
"Yet you still managed to do something wrong!" Summer howled with clear anguish, chasing after Jaune through the long, bland corridors of the Circle's main base, forcing him to skirt past all manners of different Supernatural creatures that looked amused at the antics unfolding before them. "How?! I don't even know if I'm furious or impressed! How?! How did you do it?!"
"I don't know!" Jaune protested, yelping as her fingers barely slipped past the fabric of his shirt. "Guys back me up here!"
"I'm a gal." Pyrrha replied, deliberately being obstinate in order to justify watching the unfolding chaos.
"I am a gal too." Blake said innocently, a slight frown on her face as she looked at him. "Though I must profess I too am curious as to how you are capable of and can manage to be such an able instrument of chaos."
"Summer is my superior, and she'd have my hide if I stopped her." Ren paused guiltily. "I think."
So entertainment, curiosity and worry over their future career stopped his traitorous friends from helping him in his moment of need. Jaune would remember that and come up with a suitable punishment for their harsh betrayal.
Then Summer caught him, and every random thought jostling about his head stilled and went silent, hoping that such silence would make the danger think he was dead so that it left him alone.
"M-Mercy?"
"Ozpin needs you intact." Auntie Summer replied, silver eyes practically shining. "Not unharmed."
"P-Pretty p-please?"
"You're lucky I'm not evil enough to actually follow through with my promise to spank you if you dragged yourself or me into hijinks for a hijink you didn't cause." Summer sighed, letting him go and smoothing his shirt fussily. "At least not directly caused by you. No, this is a Ozpin hijink, and I already know I'm going to have a headache worse than the one I currently have for the rest of the day because of it. Ren, Pyrrha, take Blake to get the Accords signed. I'm taking Jaune to the Grandmaster."
"I will not leave Jaune." Blake frowned, freezing momentarily as Auntie Summer levelled a fierce glare her way.
"Do you not trust me, his own aunt, to keep him safe?" Summer demanded, and Blake looked away guiltily, missing Jaune's wide-eyed and silent plea for her not to leave him, to not fall for the ancient familial art of guilt-tripping.
"I...But...I suppose you are his family." Blake replied, looking at Summer directly, and somehow missing Jaune's waving hands. "Do you promise to ensure he is safe and well?"
"Of course." Summer returned, voice determined and brokering no doubt as to her honesty. Blake nodded in response before turning to Ren and Pyrrha, her shoulders relaxing as she handed over Jaune's fate into his aunt's merciless hands.
"I trust you two will not drag me into another escapade like the last guide Summer appointed did?"
"No." Ren replied amusedly, stepping forward and giving Jaune a commiserating look. Pyrrha was too busy stifling her giggles at Jaune's attempts at miming to say anything in reply to Blake, and considering the brewing animosity that seemed to be shared between the two that was probably a good thing. "Follow me please."
"I will see you later Jaune." Blake smiled, and he weakly returned it and watched as the three of them left him to his fate, which could be briefly summarised by the words "long" and "agonising" and "torture".
A firm hand rested on his shoulder, and he winced with embarrassment and only a slightly minor amount of fear.
"I can walk you know?"
"The last time I let go my boss called you to his office." Summer replied bluntly. "This hand is staying where it is until you are where you need to be and not a minute sooner."
"But I look like a prisoner!"
"So?"
"I haven't done anything wrong!"
"My headache says otherwise."
"I need the toilet."
"Fine. The nearest ones are just around this corner."
Summer steered him to the right suddenly, and his eyes widened at a blue door with a male stick figure on it that rapidly approached.
"You'll let go to let me pee right?"
"Wanna bet?"
"I really need to pee!"
"Then you'll be done quickly. Nothing to worry about then."
"I can go to the toilet by myself, I'm not four anymore."
"The last time I had to help you in the bathroom was when you were ten."
"There were exigent circumstances that time! Are you always going to throw that in my face?"
"When I have to. Grown-up privilege."
"You can take that grown-up privilege and shove it-wait, wait, wait!"
Summer's hand hovered inches away from the blue metal door, her gaze piercing and with an eyebrow raised sharply. Not even a brick wall would have gotten in her way at that moment.
"I don't need to pee."
"Didn't think so." Summer remarked, turning away from the male's bathroom and dragging him away to his fate. "Come on. I want this over and done with as soon as possible."
Jaune couldn't help but agree when the grim reality of the director of the shady Supernatural law enforcement agency wanting to see him after he'd witnessed an eldritch abomination try to break through dimensions and nearly got into a fight with a member of his shady organisation.
The more Jaune thought about it the worse his miserable day became.
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Time was a commodity, and it was one that was as invaluable to her as food may have been to the average Valean. Food, for the average Vacuoan was much more precious than it was to the average Valean, and time was much more precious to Humans than it was to herself.
"Bring me another." Willow Schnee ordered calmly, frown marring her otherwise beautiful, ageless visage as she handed her glass of blood to the only servant to have managed surviving dwelling in the Schnee Clan for more than a century. "This one is too tart for my taste."
"Apologies my lady." Klein bowed, utterly unfazed by the prospect his ill-chosen food could potentially earn him death or a fate worse than that. "I shall select something from the newer batch, the chattel we recently acquired from Vacuo."
"That would sound like the correct course of action." Willow replied simply, and Klein bowed once more before leaving the room. "I hear we are marshalling our strength in Atlas and here in order to regather that which we have recently lost."
"It is only our right to respond to the provocations of the Marigolds." Winter spoke calmly, not letting anything show other than cold, clean professionalism. Her disdain for her mother was well hidden, though Winter was not fool enough to believe Willow was unaware of her hatred towards the woman who had birthed her. "We have nearly lost all of the territories of our homeland."
"Atlas had not been our home for centuries." Willow responded simply, eyes cold in the dimly lit library where her mother spent most of her time, feasting like a glutton and lazing around with outdated books. "What little we still used to hold there is not worth the effort and resources taking it back will cost us."
"We did not lose just material possessions, mother." Winter retorted calmly, only a hint of coolness working her way into her tone. "Our prestige will be dented severely if we just allowed the Marigolds to oust us from our foothold in Atlas. The Marigolds will grow materially stronger with an entire kingdom finally under their dominion and our recent loss will make our Clan seem the weakest. How long will it be before the others start sniffing around inside of Vale or offering support to our vassals to incite internal strife?"
"Soon." Willow shrugged. "Or never. I have plans of my own, plans you certainly won't be privy to in light of your recent actions. Do not mistake my leniency as something that will stretch as eternally as our natural lives daughter. Step out of line like this again and I will deal with you like how I dealt with your father."
"It took all of us to usurp father." Winter snapped internally, but rather than letting loose her long held torrent of hate she inclined her head and bowed before the Schnee Matriarch.
"I apologise my mother." Winter offered as she fell to one knee and knelt. "I acted rashly, and should have sought your permission and advice before embarking on a hasty expedition to recoup what we lost to the Marigolds. Please forgive me."
"This is your last straw Winter." Willow warned, letting Winter kneel for a few more seconds to absorb the warning. "Now rise. I have need of you, and it isn't as general of this military expedition you have forced my hand into launching."
"Whatever for mother?" Winter asked, genuinely confused. She would have thought it would have taken a few decades, or some sort of extraordinary feat on her behalf, to return to her mother's good graces, as her mother would not have need of her to do something unless it was of at least some importance. For all her many faults Willow still knew when and when not to utilise certain assets. Winter tried not to bristle as her mother smirked, her reaction seeming to have amused Willow.
"Your sister has gotten on the wrong side of a Shadowling by trying to consume its spawn." Willow informed her, and Winter resisted a sigh as she knew where this conversation would end. "Specifically the Shadowling calling itself Juniper Arc. Do you remember her?"
"I do." Winter acknowledged, a bitter taste in her mouth as she felt something she had thought she'd managed to forget long ago.
Juniper Arc had gone on a rampage after sniffing out one of the Clan's vampires hunting one of her female spawn, one that was Human and as such would not be able to defend itself. Said rampage had reminded Winter of what it meant to be scared, to feel fear. Thankfully an accord had been reached, the agreement being they would leave one another alone.
An accord her foolish little sister had just broken.
"Good. Do I need to explain the ramifications of your sister attacking her only son?"
"No mother."
"Fix it dear."
"Yes mother."
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Jaune tried not to fidget as people and not-Human people stared at him as if he was a particularly curious thing as he was practically frogmarched to the Grandmaster's office by his Auntie Summer, who looked about as happy as a single person on Valentines Day hanging out with their friends who were all dating and being all coupley with their partners.
As they passed a corner they almost stumbled into someone barrelling around it, and Jaune nearly apologised until he realised it was Yang, who was looking at him with a wide-eyed expression he was probably emulating. She took one glance at Summer before darting around her and scurrying away, the crowd lining the corridor throwing looks of coldness or hostility her way as she passed.
Jaune turned, wondering why he wasn't being driven on by his slave driver, only to freeze when he saw Summer genuinely stricken, her eyes watching Yang's retreating form for as long as possible before she disappeared around a corner.
He knew he had to do something, but he had no idea what. He had to comfort her, but he also had to do it in a way that wouldn't be too embarrassing, as they were still in a busy corridor, though everyone traversing it had stalled to stare and wonder.
"Well that was awkward." Jaune blurted out, and he seemed to shake Summer out of her weird mood. She turned to him, expression unreadable, before she rolled her eyes and pushed him onwards, though it was half-hearted at best and she no longer felt the need to keep a hand on his shoulder to stop any shenanigans occurring.
They turned into a narrower but still large hallway that was lined with armed guards wearing black armour and helmets with red visors. Jaune could help but stare at the sight of the guards, who were at ease and had those strange assault rifles Ren and Pyrrha had had. At the end of the hallway was a bulky Minotaur sat behind what looked like a security desk, and as she frogmarched him towards certain doom Jaune thought about what had transpired between his Auntie Summer and Yang
Jaune was at a loss as to how to help Summer, as to do so he'd need information first, and he knew himself well enough that were he to ask he would somehow managed to do it so tactlessly the universe itself would feel the need to hate him, though considering all that had happened recently he was tempted to believe it already did.
To prove that point a burly, bulky Minotaur suddenly stepped forward, pressing a hand the size of Jaune's head against his chest to prevent them going onwards.
"Identify yourselves." The Minotaur instructed with a rumbling, baritone voice.
"J-Jaune Arc s-the tannoy voice said we had to coke here." Jaune replied, catching himself before calling the Minotaur 'sir'. He didn't know what a Minotaur woman might look like, and had no intention of pissing them off if this was what they looked like.
"Hmm." The Minotaur said simply, turning to Summer, likely wanting her to identify herself too, but all the identification she gave the Minotaur was her middle finger.
"Joe Mama." Summer told the Minotaur harshly, sliding around it and dragging Jaune with her. "You really need to get that stick out your ass. Ironwood is less uptight than you."
"Protocol is in place for a reason, Agent, especially with shapeshifters and magic in existence." The Minotaur retorted as they entered an isolated hallway leading to an elevator.
"Magic really is real." Jaune wondered aloud, silently apologising to all the magicians he had slandered over the years, chief amongst them bring Ren, who he had teased a fair bit for wanting a cheap looking magic kit for his birthday when they were younger.
"You're just realising that now?" Summer remarked, raising an eyebrow before shaking her head as she pressed the button to the elevator at the very end of the corridor, two hulking statues on either side of the walls that looked all too alive for Jaune's tastes somehow. Probably magic. "You're lucky Shadowlings are monogamous to the absolute extreme."
"Huh?" Jaune blinked confusedly. "Are you talking about Blake? What does that have to-is she magic to?!"
"No." Summer replied bluntly, before cocking her head in thought. "Actually she might be. I can't really remember how it works. There's too many Supernatuals species and sub-species to remember everything about them all the time, which is probably why our mission briefings have such a long refresher course going over what Supernatural does what and etcetera."
The doors dinged open, and Summer quickly pushed him inside the elevator. The doors slid shut, almost ominously, and Jaune saw her glance at an obvious camera before turning to Jaune.
"Knowing Ozpin he'll send me out so he can talk to you about whatever it is he's called you here for." Summer said with a guarded tone, and Jaune had the distinct feeling she was being careful as to what to say under the lens of the camera above them. "Considering the camera is visible you shouldn't worry, but in all likelihood he wants to know what you know about the eldritch incursion that happened earlier and to get your version of events that happened with Yang."
"Why do I not need to worry since the camera is visible?" Jaune asked, and Summer gave a teasing smirk at him.
"You're a smart boy, figure it out." She said, before straightening visibly as the elevator stopped a serious look settling on her face. "Don't worry Jaune. There's nothing to be afraid of. The Circle...can be unorthodox but it isn't an inherently evil organisation. You'll be fine, we have to obey the law after all."
"I doubt that for some reason." Jaune murmured aloud, quickly snapping his mouth shut as the elevator slid open, revealing the Grandmaster's office. Summer stepped inside first with ease that told Jaune she'd been there many times before, and he managed to push his fear away from his legs and wobble out of the elevator wearily.
The sounds of gears echoed through the wide, spacious room, and when Jaune looked up he saw large metal gears clicking and clacking overhead, clicking together in layers and layers, big ones and small ones, all spinning in well-oiled unison. There were open windows that revealed a massive cave, filled with tiny huts and roaring bonfires, little green figures bustling about. Jaune gasped when the windows turned foggy and the scenery changed, showing endless white clouds bathed in the orange glow of the sun, two dragons roaring and chasing each other playfully as they flew through the air with a gracefulness that seemed otherworldly for such large creatures. There was a desk in front of it, with a wide chair facing away from them, and on the wall nearby was what looked like a kettle, a coffee machine and a decanter.
"Grandmaster Ozpin." Summer said loudly, and the chair spun around quickly, revealing a startled elderly man with a mop of messy grey hair, a gentle face and bespectacled kind eyes.
"Summer!" The Grandmaster, apparently called Ozpin, replied cheerfully, before turning to Jaune and making a knowing 'Ah!'. The windows swirled with fog again, turning into plain old planes of glass that revealed nothing. "Mister Arc, I sincerely apologise. I did not expect you so soon."
"Summer was a slave driver." Jaune blurted out, earning a swat to his arm. "We thought it best not to keep you waiting...sir?"
"Grandmaster or Ozpin is perfectly fine Mister Arc." Ozpin smiled kindly, pushing his thinly framed glasses up his nose. "Summer, would you please grant us some privacy= to speak? I have some questions for Mister Arc, and I am sure he had more than a few of his own to ask me."
"Very well." Summer replied, though she stood still and pointedly stared at the Grandmaster before turning around, putting a hand on Jaune's arm and squeezing reassuringly. "I'll be just downstairs Jaune."
Jaune smiled weakly at her and watched as she strode to the elevator. She smiled reassuringly until the metal doors slid shut, and there was an awkward moment of near silence filled by the grinding of gears above him.
"Would you like something to drink Mister Arc?" Ozpin inquired, shaking Jaune out of his reverie. He turned and shook his head, even as he struggled to form words with a dry mouth.
"No sir. Thank you sir." Jaune replied quickly, and Ozpin only smiled kindly.
"I told you already there is no need for such formality from you Mister Arc." Ozpin reminded in a gently chiding tone, pointing to a pair of seats in front of his desk. "Please sit, and remember that there is no need to refer to me as anything other than Ozpin, unless you have joined the Circle that is?"
"I don't think I really plan on doing that sir-Ozpin!" Jaune replied quickly, stepping forward and pausing as he stared at the two chairs. They looked completely normal, but for some reason the one on the left just seemed unsettling. He stared at it cautiously before taking the chair to the right, feeling at ease quickly and withholding a sigh as he sat back into it. Ozpin looked at him curiously. "Is something wrong?"
"You have done nothing wrong Mister Arc, but I am afraid there are many 'wrong' things wearing down on me today." Ozpin said, leaning forwards and holding his hands together on his desk. "Tell me, is it the incident with Miss Xiao-Long that has deterred you from joining this organisation?"
"No." Jaune answered hesitantly, shifting nervously. "Is that what you called me here to speak to you about?"
"Partially." Came the worryingly cryptic response. "Firstly, I would like to apologise to you about Miss Xiao-Long's actions. She has been raised within the Circle for nearly all her life, and if we had not invested so much time and effort raising her - and training her once she chose her future profession - I would have banished her from this organisation and kept her under close watch to make sure she did not cause harm to any others. As it is, Miss Xiao-Long has been completely demoted, and instead of graduating later this year will have to restart out Agent Training Course from the very beginning. Furthermore, I believe it is likely she will be assigned to latrine duty for quite some time by Staff Sergeant Ironwood once he has recovered from his illness. I believe it was Staff Sergeant Ironwood who greeted you before Summer saved you from his interrogations?"
"Uh...yeah." Jaune replied unintelligently, well aware of how much of an ass he must look but not really sure how to change that. He was one after all. "He...yeah."
"That seems to be like most responses I get from the newcomers who meet him." Ozpin chuckled, and Jaune felt himself ease due to the fact it was clear the old man wasn't laughing at him for some reason. "Now, I would like to ask if you remembered anything that happened this morning at the Seventh Sea?"
"Met a god called Poseidon and some other cool Supernaturals and ran when I was told to." Jaune shrugged, before scratching his head. "Then...I'm pretty sure another god tried flirting with me."
"Male or female?" Ozpin inquired, and Jaune blinked.
"Male."
"Zeus." Ozpin exhaled with a long suffering sigh. "I sincerely apologise for his actions as well. If you like I can put in a sexual harassment report and launch an inquiry on your behalf if you so-"
"No need!" Jaune blurted out. "It wasn't that bad - not that I enjoyed it! - it just...I...It wasn't sexual harassment."
"Are you sure?" Ozpin asked firmly. "I know it may not seem like it due to the chaos and poor behaviour you have witnessed today, but I do not tolerate lapses of discipline so great that my people sexually harass others. If Zeus has done so you can let me know and I will see to it that he is punished."
"It's fine. Honestly." Jaune managed to breathe out, feeling all too uncomfortable with the conversation. It was like he was talking to his grandfather, and he sure as hell didn't want to be talking to his grandfather about this. "Is there anything else we need to talk about it or was this it?"
"I have a request. Possibly two, but one for now." Ozpin replied, leaning forward, calm gaze almost piercing to his soul with utter intensity. "Do you remember what happened in the Colosseum? What is said?"
"It said I could fight and that Yang had dishonoured it." Jaune answered honestly, and Ozpin sighed.
"I knew I'd have to make it up to the damn thing." Ozpin muttered, before shaking his head. "No, Mister Arc, the Colosseum said something else. Before any fight, it announces the species of the combatants to itself and the crowd. What did it say for you?"
"Huma..." Jaune trailed off, the Colosseum's voice echoing in his mind.
"Our second combatant Jaune Arc, Victor of no bouts within this arena and loser of no bouts either. Species: Uncertain."
"Uncertain." Ozpin said, echoing Jaune's thoughts. "The Colosseum has born witness to millions of fights in its lifespan, which is why it knows who is what and what to proclaim. You are something entirely new."
"How?" Jaune asked weakly, voice strangled by a strange mix of emotions. How could he comprehend the fact he might not be...that he wasn't even human? "How is that possible?"
"Certain Supernatural genes can skip generations of a family line." Ozpin answered. "Or their traits are incredibly subtle. You could be the first discovery of an entirely new species of Supernatural beings Mister Arc, but we need to confirm it first."
"How?"
"Blood tests." Ozpin replied honestly. "We will take a little bit of your blood and run tests on it. Within a few weeks our labs will be able to discover if there are any anomalies to be aware of. For all we know the Colosseum may finally be going a bit kooky with age rather than just being a bit weird in general."
Jaune giggled at the frank assessment of the Colosseum, which was weird considering they were talking about an apparently sentient arena and Jaune felt like his mental sanity had been strangled to death and burned to ashes that were scattered to the winds by all the strangeness of the past few days. Was this the moment he finally snapped and went on a rampage until he got shot and died? He certainly hoped so if it meant this madness would end.
He didn't really mean that, but he couldn't deny the tired part of him that longed for some sort of rest and respite, even if that meant doing so for eternity.
"Sure." Jaune shrugged, still giggling slightly. "Why not?"
"Have you eaten yet Mister Arc?" Ozpin inquired, and Jaune shook his head. The Grandmaster opened his desk draw and Jaune blinked as he procured a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. "It would be better for your sanity if you don't question it."
If Jaune was feeling rational in any way, shape or form he'd probably question the quality of the suddenly procured goods. Instead he shrugged once more and hungrily dug in, the cookies baked to perfection, the chocolate chips inside them warm and gooey and the milk just warm enough to be lip-smacky. He was nearly finished eating, blinked, and suddenly his plate and glass for full again.
"It would be best to not ask to better safeguard your-"
"-sanity, got it." Jaune nodded, choosing to not be a complete pig and leaving the cookies. He chugged down the milk and slid glass and plate to Ozpin, who tapped his fingers against the rim of the plate and glass as he handed Jaune a napkin he used to clean his face from cookie crumbs and chocolate smears. "Thank you, those were delicious."
"Summer is quiet adept at making cookies, but from what I hear from a number of jealous rants over the years it's your mother that is able to do everything else to perfection. Warming up a glass of milk for the children before bed for example." Ozpin smiled, and it took Jaune a few moments to register the fact the food had changed from cookies to roast dinner and the glass into a cup of what smelled like warm cocoa. Ozpin noticed and put the magical plate and glass back into his drawer. "I will give you some time to think on whether or not you want those blood tests, but do not feel pressured to make a decision either way. In the meantime, I'd like to offer you a rare opportunity."
"What opportunity?" Jaune asked, trying not to sound standoffish as he immediately felt weariness surge inside him, feeling very much like little Red Riding Hood lured by the big bad wolf into a false sense of security.
"A basic training course, though in reality the aim of your participation will be to educate you on spotting Supernaturals to be able to avoid dangerous ones, teaching various means of self-defence, and making you eligible to partial access to the Circle and its resources should you ever find yourself in need of us." Ozpin said, a neutral look on his face. "You are more than willing to reject this offer, but I would advise you against such a decision. Many who we manage to rescue and are introduced to the Supernatural world through less than favourable means undertake it in order to better survive the world, with a large degrees of success so long as they don't run around as amateur Supernatural hunters. I will warn you, this will not be fun. A lot will be demanded of you, and there a times where you will feel pained due to some of the more physical training courses, but you may drop out at any time during the process. There is no shame in doing so."
"I have two questions first." Jaune replied, making Ozpin raise a brow slightly. He leaned back and nodded, hands steepled together thoughtfully. "Why can't the Circle do anything about the Schnee?"
"Because a war is brewing between them and a rival vampire Clan. I originally hoped to able to push for concessions from them during it, but reports have come in suggesting both sides want this conflict over quickly. You cannot tell anyone this, but both the Schnee and their enemy has requested the Circle act as a mediator to ensure peace talks run smoothly, something we have done many times before. As such, soon we will be focusing our pre-planned efforts on protecting innocent civilians and preventing an escalation of the conflict within the wider Supernatural world whilst also attempting to mediate a truce. We cannot do so if we antagonise the Schnee, and if we were to take advantage of the war to attack the Schnee whilst their backs are turned in retribution we will only unite the Clans against us. The war will end and all four Vampire Clans will do their best to destroy us. They won't succeed, but they would be willing to unleash a wider war between Humanity and the Supernatural world as a last resort when defeat proves to be inevitable. Even if we tried pressuring them to make concessions whilst they are busy battling their rivals they will likely just refuse, as they are a prideful lot, and we will be unable to present ourselves as a neutral arbiter during peace talks if we are actively antagonistic to the Schnee." Ozpin replied, each example following the other quickly. He shook his head sadly. "If it was any other time I would have tried more, but as it is my hands are tied by the wider geopolitical situation. I apologise Jaune."
"Alright then." Jaune blinked, slowly digesting the information. He paused for a moment. "In that case my only other question is if Blake can sign up too? She's powerful but she would need to know who she's dealing with if she's being attacked for whatever reason and what they can do."
"Of course she can." Ozpin smiled. "Once she signs the Accords she'll be offered the course anyway. I believe she is on her way to sign it now?"
"Yes sir."
"Then I suggest you hurry and speak to her about your idea about the two of you signing onto the course. Thank you for your time Mister Arc."
"Likewise sir." Jaune replied honestly, allowing a small smile to return Ozpin's own as he shook the older man's hand before rushing to the elevator, pausing halfway. "I'd like to do those blood tests sir. I... I want to know if I'm...you know."
"That's fine." Ozpin smiled kindly. "I'll make sure they are arranged for tomorrow though. You've had a busy enough day as it is."
"Thank sir."
Jaune hurried to the elevator, and when the metal doors slid shut Ozpin sighed and pressed a button under his desk, descending down the stairs that appeared in the middle of his office. At the bottom was a small, metal room with a wooden pedestal and a crystal ball atop it. Ozpin stared into the crystal ball, wading through the waters inside until he saw the Seventh Sea. He saw the monster that had tried destroying it and their dimension inside it, his mind aching at the mere memory of its image, and he found himself watching Blake, who looked worryingly like a young Kali Belladonna, her amber eyes turning molten gold as she communed with the great, terrible monstrosity that was her distant kin.
And he saw the young man at her side, giving her strength even if neither of them noticed.
"What does fate have in store for you young man?" Ozpin wondered aloud, frustrated for the hundredth time that for all it's power, the Eye of Salem could never grant answers to his ever growing, ever complex questions. "And will the world be able to survive it?"
A/N: Next update ?/?/?