I apologise for dropping off the face of the earth for a while, I was simply stick on where to take this story now that everything I'd initially planned was done. As such, this will be the concluding chapter, I figure that it would be better to end on an actual conclusion and mark this story 'complete' than leaving it unfinished like so many other works.

Speaking of which, I do believe we've passed 90k words! Now, it's a damn shame this story will never reach the 100k words mark but I hope you have all enjoyed this journey as much as I have.

The discord link is discord .gg/ c753RU7q2Z just remove the spaces.

It had been surprisingly enjoyable to be back home with her parents, despite how she'd originally agonised about her decision to return. Blake was currently enjoying the creature comforts of her own room and the most delicious food she knew, which would be a step above her accommodations at Beacon and several times that of what she 'enjoyed' while with the White Fang.

But while she'd helped her parents out with this and that while Sun enjoyed looking around, getting to know the small country, she felt lethargic here. All Blake did was check the news about Vale, eat, sleep and occasionally watch some series or other with her parents. Was this really her life after all she'd been through?

It seemed Sun felt the same, he'd stopped going out a few days ago and mostly resorted to sparing against some of the guards which hung around the house. Likewise, she'd picked up Gambol Shroud around the same time and went into the jungle which covered much of the uninhabited areas of the country, but it seemed that the Hunters around here were doing their job too well and she found nothing to fight on several occasions save a few weak Boarbatusks.

That's why she was currently sitting down with her blonde friend, two cups of tea separating them.

"I think you feel it too, right Sun?" she asked

"You mean the boredom? Damn right, I was looking forward to a vacation, only to realise that I actually rather enjoy fighting Grimm and saving fair damsels from the clutches of villains" Sun joked "I notice you're not as chipper as you were when we met your parents, I take it you're also pumping to get some action?"

"That's not the terminology I'd use but yes. I think that it's time for me to return to Vale…"

"I'm down for that. Though, since Beacon kinda got destroyed I was wondering what you'd actually be doing there. Sitting in a comfy house where you're treated like royalty is probably better than doing the same in an abandoned ruin after all"

"The news reported that the government in Vale is looking for any Hunters they can get their hands on, they're re-building the walls and clearing any stray Grimm out of there"

"Sounds fun, but what next? I mean something like that will take a few months at most, for all we know by the time we return it will all be done"

"Then… I'm going to find Ruby"

"Ruby? She's gone off with those Overseers, what do you need her for?"

"I owe her a debt and I am fully intending to pay it off. Don't worry, I won't see you as any less a friend for not coming with me for that"

"Well, I doubt I could change your mind anyhow. Though we'll have to figure some way to break this to your parents, any ideas springing to mind?"

Fighting against the longer sword used by Overseer Lutz was not actually that difficult after the first few times. She'd been caught out by his reach and ability to use the reverse edge initially but learned to keep it in mind during subsequent fights, likewise she learned that the two-handed weapon left him with no option to use a pistol or grenade in the other, even if the larger blade made it easier to block her weapon.

"Come on Ruby, this session won't be over until you get me to at least 75%" taunted her fellow as he swung upward.

These were clearly training spars but she got the distinct impression that Lutz was trying to get her to switch to a longer sword like his. Well, she was certainly impressed with the greater power and leverage he had available, reminding her of the days when she still used her Crescent Rose for combat rather than as a keepsake.

"Gah" she cried as the Overseer took advantage of her distraction and kicked her in the stomach as he drew her sword away with his own blade.

"Keep spacing out like that and it might cost you your life Rose"

She didn't respond but nodded, taking up her stance once more.

The two were about to clash once again when one of the garrison troops ran over, gasping for breath "Overseers, one of our reconnaissance flights has spotted another horde of Grimm incoming. The commander has requested for you to be on station should the worst occur"

The Overseer pulled his sword back and nodded to the man "We'll take care of it today, you are dismissed"

Ruby nodded and walked to him as Lutz checked the paper the man had passed him "So we're doing this today, Sir? If the horde is still a day or two away, we could keep training"

"No, what you need to learn is that cup of prevention is worth a bucket of cure. If we wait for those Grimm to reach this area there's no guarantee that all of them will come at us and the soldiers. Many could wonder off into the surrounding area while others might attack townspeople"

Ruby nodded and followed him to the offroad kept on site for just such occasions, taking the time to stop at the quartermaster's to stock up on provisions before bundling into the passenger seat of the vehicle. As he began preparing to drive off, Ruby looked ahead at the opening gates and mused "Sir, I've been here for a good few months now. No offence to you but I feel a bit… stuck here, not that I'm complaining about you off course"

"It's a common feeling Rose" he nodded as the car jolted into motion "When you're still learning every day feels like something new and there's tangible achievements along the way to guide you. But you're a full Overseer now, and that means the path ahead of you is like an overgrown forest now, you can't see where you're going and you're not sure how to get there. But, so long as you know your goal, what's beyond that forest, and keep working at it you'll make it there in the end"

"My goal all this time was to become a Huntress, then an Overseer, because I wanted to help people, to do some good in this world just like my mother did" she looked out over the rough road ahead "Now I'm doing just that but what's next? Just do this until I'm too old and then retire?"

"Sounds like you're lacking direction" mused the Overseer "I can't tell you what your next step will be, only you can do that. But what I can say is that what you describe as an ending is in fact a beginning. Sure, us Overseers don't tend to live well into silver hairs, but you seem to be underestimating just how much time twenty or even forty years is"

Lutz smiled "There's all sorts of specialities that are needed in the Order, now that you're one of us you could work towards that, perhaps even get into leadership and become the next Hight Overseer once Campbell kicks the bucket. Or I suppose, once your contract is up you could go freelance, get a huntress licence from some other Kingdom or even retire outright to manage a weapon shop in town or something. But that's all up to you"

Ruby nodded and continued to look ahead "I suppose there's plenty of time for me to think about it"

Ever since she'd returned from Vale in shame, Weiss had felt somewhat lethargic. No, it wasn't the fact that they'd been beaten by their former teammate, nor the fact that's she'd been bundled onto the first airship back to Atlas without getting so much as a goodbye to her teammates. Rather it was her father, who had apparently had enough of her rebellion putting her to work on company events and public functions.

Knowing him, he'd put her in this position out of a mix of spite and some attempt to regain control of her. But at this point, she didn't feel like packing a bag and running off to the city, she had missed some of the comforts of the family manor while at Beacon after all.

The knock and opening of her door drew her out of musing. Her sister, who stood prim and proper as any soldier of Atlas was trained to, came over and sat on the sofa opposite her own.

"Weiss. How are you doing sister?" she asked as she put a small briefcase on the table before them.

"Alright, dad is still being himself and mum is doing no better than when I left. At least Whitley seems to be alright even if he's still a bit of a prat to me"

Winter nodded "I made the suggestion to General Ironwood that you would be good to have on staff as an advisor. The Overseer Order's delegation arrives today and you're the only one we have easy access to who has experience in combat with them. In exchange, the General is offering to put you on a fast track course though Atlas Academy, at the end of which you can either join me or go on to become a Huntress"

"You know sis, I left to go to Vale at least in part to get out of dad's clutches, just like you did. I'd much rather go to continue studying somewhere else"

"I would suggest taking the offer Weiss, don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough. But this is your decision, the forms and offer details are in here, pass them to me once you've made your decision"

For Yang, someone who fought, ate and did pretty much everything else with two hands, learning to use just one was infuriating. What was even more infuriating was her dad, no doubt he'd seen Ruby alive while watching her at the tournament, she would have talked to him but frankly she wasn't much good at these sensitive conversations where if he got even a whiff of why Ruby had ended up with those Overseers, she'd at best be out on her ass or at worst get locked up for attempted murder.

This couldn't go on, she had to leave and soon at that. She still had some money in the bank from all the missions their team had done over the past few months. That would tide her over for a while, but she needed a more long-term plan.

She was self-aware enough that losing an arm was pretty much 'career over' territory for a huntress outside of some Atlas prototype prosthetic that'd probably cost her an arm and a leg.

Well, at least she still had he humour.

And that's a wrap!

All four of our MCs have themselves a little outro while my OCs had a mention of what they'd be up to last chapter.

I thank you all for reading this work and supporting me all this time.

Fin