Jacen had placed himself on one of Beacon's tower balconies.
Once he was sure he was alone, he began shaking and covered his face with his hands as he sank to the ground.
It was just like on Pantora when he'd heard Palpatine's declaration of a new order instituting the formation of the Galactic Empire, and Jedi were branded as traitors to be eliminated.
He'd been prepared to give into his hatred, but his master's voice had kept him from going over the edge.
Had he truly been so utterly damaged from the horrors of the Clone Wars that he'd forgotten how to control his emotions? He felt like a reckless Padawan learner again.
"Daro would be ashamed," a voice rang in his head. He was afraid that he was only moments away from performing something he would never be able to take back.
He nearly killed someone he might have called a friend, and it was in the most public view of most of the first-year students.
What had been burned in his mind most was the look on Yang's face. Now he felt that she wouldn't see him the same way again.
He was so wrapped up in his self-loathing that he almost failed to realize that Yang had found his spot and sat beside him.
"I guess wolf boy went overboard," she said quietly.
When he finally turned to face her, Yang's expression wasn't one of horror; she was concerned.
"It's not the Jedi way, what I nearly did back there," he said.
"In letting ourselves be consumed by our anger, we risk falling to the Dark Side of the Force."
Yang showed a thoughtful look, "You looked like you were possessed," she said.
"You know, when you first brought up the Force, I can't help but think, it's not just a semblance, is it?"
Jacen admired Yang's sharp intuition, though he felt that this was also the time he was hoping to explain his experience, his true story.
"Yang, I have something to confess," Jacen finally said.
Yang looked at him confused, "If you mean you're trying to explain that you were trying to teach wolf boy a lesson for how he was toward Ruby, you don't need to."
"It's not about that," Jacen said.
"You remember when I was explaining what group I came from?" He asked.
"The Jedi?" Yang asked, still confused.
"What if I told you that the reason you've never heard of the Jedi until you met me is because the Jedi aren't from Remnant?" Jacen asked, though he knew this wouldn't be an easy conversation.
"What do you mean not from Remnant?" Yang asked.
His eyes turned, and Skipper faithfully positioned himself between them.
"Bare with me, Yang, 'cause this is going to be an unbelievable story," with a nod, Skipper activated his holo-projector, and the space above them showed the galactic map Jacen had been so familiar with.
Yang's eyes widened with surprise, "What is this?" She asked.
"There's so much outside the scope of Remnant than anyone can imagine," Jacen answered, then motioned for Skipper to highlight areas from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim, then indicated a world in the Core.
"Though not there originally in times past, The Jedi Order came to reside on a world known as Coruscant," Jacen could see the look of disbelief in Yang's eyes.
"Wait, you mean to tell me you're actually an alien?" She asked.
She made an odd gesture, putting her index fingers above her head, "Thought you'd have antennae or something," she said.
Jacen gave a short laugh, "No, I'm human, as were most members of the Jedi Order, though the Jedi didn't place one race over the other," he explained.
"The Jedi regard themselves as equals regardless of race, species, or gender," he continued, then paused thoughtfully.
"The Faunus wouldn't receive the kind of ridicule or ostracism from the Jedi that they typically get from most humans here."
Yang seemed unable to speak for a moment, "So how exactly did you come to be part of this," her words trailed off in search of the right words.
"Order," she decided to say.
"Whenever children are born strong enough to use the Force, some families willingly gave their children to the Jedi; other times, the Jedi had Seekers that sought them out before other, less savory people got a hold of them," Jacen answered.
"Most considered it an honor, while others simply couldn't understand and were eager to be rid of them," he stopped when he noticed Yang's face had a look of apprehension.
"Which option were you?" Yang asked.
Jacen sighed, "I'm not sure myself," Jacen said.
"I don't have any memories of my parents or even what world I came from."
"I thought Daro Kilaeon was your father," Yang said pointedly.
"In a way, he was, even if we weren't related by blood," he replied, then motioned toward Skipper, who showed a life-size image of Daro alongside Master Kaiya, with a younger Jacen standing beside Maru, the day Jacen had become a knight.
Looking at it, Jacen reflected that he'd nearly forgotten Daro's face, and then he turned toward Yang.
"While the Jedi typically preached that attachments were forbidden, that didn't stop us from forming bonds with those we served alongside," he explained, motioning toward the image of Daro.
"This is Daro Kilaeon," Jacen said.
He noticed Yang studying the image of his old master, "He almost reminds me of Qrow, though without the messy clothes, and he looks like a well-rounded fighter," she said.
"Well rounded is putting it mildly; Master Daro was among some of the Order's greatest lightsaber duelists, and during the war, he demonstrated his capacity for strategic planning, even if it tended to be unorthodox," Jacen explained.
He then gestured toward the familiar figure of a female Echani Jedi standing on Daro's right side.
"The one on Daro's right side is Master Kaiya Fenni, part of the Jedi Sentinel class that specializes in intelligence gathering and covert operations," he paused to let Yang study the group.
"You look like you're all family," Yang said thoughtfully.
"In a way, we were," Jacen admitted.
"Daro was like my father, while Kaiya was probably the closest thing to a mother I had, though I think that was more true for Maru," he indicated the red-haired boy beside Jacen's younger image.
"Maru Thorne was very much like my brother, especially whenever we got into trouble," he tried, sounding excited to share this part of his story.
He laughed when recalling the time Maru and Jacen infiltrated the Bogan Collection without being caught.
"Oh, so you actually have a rebellious streak," Yang said as she playfully patted Jacen on the back.
"What exactly was in this collection?"
"In laments terms, an archive of forbidden artifacts and knowledge," Jacen explained.
His mood seemed to change as he looked upon the image of his friend; he felt great sadness as he looked upon the image.
Of the entire group, only Jacen was still alive.
Kaiya was slain by Dooku's mechanical beast Grievous on Taris, and Maru was presumed dead.
He'd been in forward command when the battle of Taris began.
Despite his efforts, even with those of his master, their forces were overmatched.
Jacen was aware of other fleets in the area and had requested backup, but the Council ordered a retreat.
Jacen was insistent that they should have taken more action, and his anger had boiled over upon reading the after-action report on what happened at Taris.
In the devastating battle, a total of ten thousand clone troopers, who were genetically engineered replicas of the feared Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett, perished. Additionally, fourteen Advanced Recon Commandos (ARC Troopers), who were highly skilled Special Forces soldiers, were also lost. The battle also saw the destruction of five Venator class destroyers, which were the backbone of the Galactic Republic's fleet. Lastly, thirteen squadrons of Starfighters, comprising of hundreds of fighters, bombers, and interceptors, were also lost in the battle. The loss of these troops and resources was a severe blow to the Republic's war effort.
Kaiya and Maru were among the casualties on the surface.
The meeting held in the Council chamber hadn't elevated his ire.
There wasn't any strategic reason why the Jedi refused to send reinforcements; they were so wrapped up in their dogma about attachments that they sacrificed both.
They tried rationalizing it, claiming it was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good.
Even Daro had stated that there was a difference between a sacrifice that gained something and one that was a wasted opportunity.
Daro had even gone so far as to say they should consider every possibility of ending the war, at the risk of sounding like Dooku himself.
With his fists clenched and his face twisted in anger, Jacen stormed out of the Council chamber. He couldn't believe that they had decided to label Maru's death as a sacrifice for the greater good, especially when the outcome was just another world falling into enemy hands. The thought of all the innocent lives lost and the devastation caused by their decision only fueled Jacen's rage, making it difficult for him to even be in the same room as the Council members.
Daro eventually pulled him aside. Although he agreed that the situation in Taris was a terrible disaster that achieved nothing, Daro reminded Jacen that death was inevitable no matter what, and that one had to let go of the fear of death.
Despite the reassuring words from Daro, Jacen had been the one in charge of the fleet over Taris. He couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment and regret, as he perceived the outcome as a major failure that would continue to torment him for the rest of his days. The weight of the responsibility he held had become an unbearable burden, and he couldn't help but wonder if he could have done things differently.
Yang noticed his expression changing when she asked, "Can you explain what exactly happened?"
Jacen, in a long, drawn-out sigh, decided that this was the time to get things straight.
"I'll have to start with the war that the Jedi found themselves involved in," he said with a nod. As he spoke, the images flickered and became a jumbled recording of events that occurred during the Clone Wars, in which he and his master had taken part.
Clone troopers lead ground assaults against droids, space battles ensue, and lightsaber duels occur.
He saw Yang looking almost horrified, "What is this?"
"Remnant had the Great War," Jacen said.
"The war the Jedi fought is known as the Clone Wars."
As he spoke, Skipper cycled through relevant records for information.
"On one side, the Jedi fought to defend the Republic, the government they swore to serve," he gestured to the images of the Jedi Temple and Clone troopers in armor.
"On the other side, led by the charismatic Count Dooku, was the Confederacy of Independent Systems," he motioned toward the images of hundreds of battle droids and the Count himself.
Jacen turned around to see Yang looking confused. "So, you're saying you can grow a new person that looks like the original?" she asked.
Jacen nodded, "The technologies where I'm from are a bit more than what one might expect to find in Atlas," he said.
He noticed Yang was studying the image of Count Dooku, "So what's the story with old and grumpy here?"
"That is Count Dooku, he was once one of the order's greatest lightsaber duelists, not to mention being well-versed as a political leader," Jacen answered.
"According to my master, Dooku was always a stern master who emphasized the importance of honing one's skill, at least he was while Daro served as his Padawan," Jacen explained, though there was a look of confusion on Yang's face.
"Wait, so this royal bearded grumpiness was a Jedi, too? Why would he fight against his own?" Yang asked.
"Dooku had become disillusioned with the Republic and the Jedi Order, both of which were fraught with issues, hypocrisy, and corruption," he paused to let seriousness into his voice.
"However, when Dooku fell to the Dark Side, his noble aspirations were replaced with acts of cruelty," Jacen looked out the balcony to see that Remnant's shattered moon was visible and casting a bright light within the chamber.
Jacen walked until he was near the balcony, then turned to face Yang.
"The brightest lights cast the darkest shadows," he explained as he pointed toward his extended shadow on the floor.
"If everything has a shadow to it, the Jedi's shadow was the Sith."
With a quick flick of his wrist, the hologram switched to images of crimson lightsaber blades, Force lightning, and beings with burning blood-rimmed yellow eyes.
"The Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice, while the Sith, driven by their hatred and desire for power, engaged in continuous wars to defeat the Jedi," Jacen said.
"Every time they did, innocent lives were destroyed in the process," he added with melancholy.
"Most Sith were Jedi at one point, but they were seduced by the power the Dark Side gave them or rather what they thought it would give them."
Many people would have dismissed him as insane by now or even demanded that he stop, but Yang was not as dismissive as she had initially thought. She was actively trying to comprehend and process the information that was being presented to her.
"So this Dooku guy became a Sith and waged a war based on the concept that the Republic and Jedi were corrupt," she said thoughtfully.
"Were there more of them?" She asked.
"It had long been said after the Sith faded into the stuff of mythology, that they only ever numbered two at any time, a master and an apprentice," Jacen answered.
Yang's eyebrow went up in question, "Only two? How many Jedi were there?" She asked.
"About a thousand," Jacen answered.
"Two against all those Jedi?" Yang said with a hint of disbelief in her tone.
"That gave them much more anonymity; with only two, it's easy to move about the masses without drawing attention when it isn't needed," he explained, his voice holding utter seriousness.
"It's effortless when the order you're trying to undermine is so overconfident in their supremacy," he added.
Yang raised an eyebrow, "If I recall, you said they were rigid to a fault," she said.
Jacen explained that the Jedi had become too complacent and misguided in serving a Republic plagued by corruption, believing it to be the will of the Force.
"They were also so set in their old ways that they weren't willing to change."
"The war simply revealed how blind the Jedi had become," he continued.
"During the war, while Dooku was leading his armies against us, it was his master, Darth Sidious, who was pulling the strings."
Yang appeared alarmed when Jacen mentioned the name. "That sounds ominous," she said.
Jacen nodded in agreement, "Before the war began, Dooku told one of the masters, Obi-Wan Kenobi, that the Republic was already under the control of Sidious, though that was initially written off as improbable," Jacen said.
"As it happened, despite Dooku's other deceits, that part was probably the one truth he told after his fall."
"So, what happened? Did the Jedi ever find him? What about the war? Which side won?" Yang had a flood of questions coming, and Jacen took another long breath before replying.
"The war was just a trap for the Jedi invented by the Sith," he explained. He winced as a familiar, haunting voice cut through the silence.
"Execute Order 66," the words even made Yang shiver slightly.
"I still don't know the complete story, but apparently there was some conspiracy that the Jedi were looking to overthrow the Republic by arresting or some even say, attempted to assassinate Chancellor Palpatine, the leader of the Republic throughout the war," he explained.
"Many reports even stated that the Jedi had engineered the war to assume power over the Republic."
"So, who gave that order? Palpatine or Sidious?" Yang asked.
"The clones were created to obey any order and answered directly to the Chancellor. My guess is that Palpatine had something in place for what he saw as a potential Jedi coup," Jacen said.
Yang appeared deeply focused before speaking, "Do you think Palpatine and Sidious worked together since the old count said Sidious controlled the Republic?"
"I'd been asking myself the same question for weeks afterward," Jacen answered.
Jacen couldn't shake off the memory of Palpatine's face, which had been permanently altered. The scars and disfigurement were so severe that it was clear that Palpatine had been through a great deal of suffering. However, Jacen also remembered something he had learned about the Dark Side: the deeper one delved into it, the more it would take a toll on their physical appearance and mental state. This was known as Dark Side degradation, and Jacen couldn't help but wonder how much Palpatine had delved into it before his bold declaration of a new order.
Physical changes often occur, starting with yellow eyes and followed by loss of skin color.
The Dark Side could leave its users physically transformed, resulting in a barely human visage for the most severe cases.
A realization hit Jacen with a cold splash of irony, "I think Palpatine and Sidious are the same," he finally said.
Yang's eyes widened as she spoke, "So, everything you and your friends fought for was for nothing."
"Knowing about that doesn't matter. What matters is that the Jedi Order was destroyed and is now outlawed," Jacen explained.
"Any Jedi that survived were ordered to go into hiding now that we'd been branded as traitors to be executed on sight."
Yang looked at him with sadness and asked if the clone troopers had killed his master during the order.
Jacen nodded somberly.
"How could the entire army follow an order that would have them kill people they must have thought of as friends?" asked Yang.
Jacen pondered that question as it was one he hadn't quite figured out either.
"Towards the end of the war, there was a bizarre conspiracy involving something called an inhibitor chip, which had been implanted in the clone troopers to make them less violent and more compliant than their original template," Jacen explained.
Jacen nodded, "Though the presence of the inhibitor chips was to ensure they could follow orders and act as soldiers are expected to," he paused when he remembered an unpleasant memory from one of his covert missions on Coruscant.
"So, how exactly did you find out about these chips?" Yang asked.
"I was on Coruscant when my master informed me of the incidents that occurred both on Ringo Venda involving Tupp, a clone trooper serving under General Anakin Skywalker's 501st Legion, who had gone crazy and killed one of the Jedi masters that was aiding in the battle," Jacen explained.
"Then another incident occurred involving ARC Trooper Fives on Kamino, where the clones are created and trained; that was where I first heard about the chips."
Yang had adopted a look of deductive thinking mixed with puzzlement, "I'm guessing, you're master had concerns about these two incidents, and he wanted you to find out more?" She asked.
"He told me to go undercover to find out more," Jacen explained.
"Though I happened to be in the right place when I ran into, or rather when Fives ran into me."
Yang looked at him for further details.
"Fives was practically frantic as though he were running for his life after discovering something he probably wasn't supposed to," Jacen said.
"I tried to reach Fives to find out what he discovered, but he was killed."
"The official story regarding the chips was that the one in Tupp had been infected by a parasite native to Ringo Venda while the act of Fives removing his drove him crazy."
Jacen never truly understood the depths of whatever Fives had uncovered, and he still couldn't shake off the memory.
The Shock Trooper commander opening fire, which hit Fives in the chest; Rex calling out Fives's name while striking the active ray shield, then the heart-wrenching final moments where Fives died in Rex's arms, whispering something about the mission being over.
"If you don't believe what I've said, I apologize."
"After all that I've seen you do with the Force and after what happened during the Emerald Forest battle, I'd say I'm a bit more open than most," Yang said with her hands on her hips.
"Though I can understand why you didn't want to share all of this before."
"When Palpatine proclaimed that the Republic had been reorganized into an Empire, he made it abundantly clear that the Jedi would be hunted down, and while he didn't actually say it, anyone that helped the Jedi would be found just as guilty," Jacen said.
"Which is why I didn't initially want to involve you or Ruby."
Yang placed a reassuring hand on Jacen's shoulder and said, "I don't believe you would ever be involved in anything underhanded. You're a good person." She paused for a moment.
"Though, that dark power you used on Wolf Boy will probably get the wrong kind of attention on you," she added.
"I can understand; wolf boy was asking for it for how he was bad-mouthing your master and that he's also been giving Ruby grief, but what happens if you keep going down that hole?"
Jacen collapsed to the ground, "It's a miracle I've been able to resist the darkness after all I've been through. Lately, it's been a struggle," he confessed.
"I think I know something about struggling," Yang said as she sat beside him.
"You're a good person who's been through horrible things, and if possible, I want to try and help you however I can."
"It's a dangerous game, Yang," Jacen said.
Yang smirked and slammed one of her fists into the palm of her hand, "If the empire tries to come here, they'll have to deal with me. First; you've done a lot for Ruby and me; let that be how I return the favor," she said.
Despite himself, Jacen admired Yang's commitment, though he hoped the empire wouldn't find its way here.
He knew that Yang was practically a brigade's worth of firepower who'd give even the most seasoned clone troopers a full fight.
If that didn't dissuade them, the presence of the Grimm might prove to be a decent repellent.
He turned toward Yang, and a slight grin crossed his lips.
"The war had its moments of peace," Jacen said as he stood up and took Yang to the balcony. Together, they looked up at the starry sky.
"I've seen all kinds of celestial phenomenon during my time as a Jedi and Remnant's moon; even though shattered, it still has a majesty to it," Jacen said, then looked at Skipper.
"Do you still have the recording from when Daro and I went to Aldhani?" Jacen asked.
Skipper's holo-projector responded to the request by displaying a breathtaking valley surrounded by towering mountains in the distance. The valley was adorned with lush greenery, a flowing river, and a clear blue sky above. At the center of the valley stood a magnificent ancient temple with intricate carvings and symbols etched into its stone walls.
Yang stood up in amazement, "What is this?" She asked.
This is Akti Amaugh, the Valley of Caves, a sacred place for the Aldhani," Jacen explained.
He gestured towards a stone structure at the valley's center, "Nasma Brani, a sacred temple right in the center."
At Skipper's command, the image of Daro and a young Jacen appeared on the screen, their figures more defined and clear than before. Jacen's Padawan braid was still intact, reminding him of his past training. The duo was seen approaching a figure that seemed to be adorned in the traditional trappings of a tribal leader. As the image zoomed out, it became clear that the valley was filled with thousands of similarly dressed individuals, creating a mesmerizing and captivating sight.
"Back when I first became Daro's Padawan, he insisted that we had to go beyond whatever we read about cultures within our extensive library," Jacen explained.
"He insisted that to truly understand a culture, one must experience it firsthand. This led us not only to the inhabited worlds of the Core but also to other worlds content with their own unique traditions."
Yang seemed intrigued, "What exactly was on Aldhani that's so sacred?" She asked.
Jacen grinned slightly, "Have you or Ruby ever looked into the night sky and seen a shooting star?"
Yang thought momentarily, "When Ruby and I were young when Summer was still with us," she regarded Jacen's grin, "Why?"
"Every three years, the Aldhani gather at this spot for a celestial event they call Mak-ani bray Dhani, or the Eye of Aldhani," he indicated the temple area where his younger self and Daro handed the Aldhani chief a gift of furs, then saw hundreds of similarly dressed individuals beginning to gather at the spot.
Yang asked him, "What exactly is it about this Eye thing?" She asked.
"Imagine a sky filled with 50 meteor showers happening simultaneously, creating the illusion of a curtain being pulled over the sky," as he moved his hand, the holo showed the night sky during which the event was taking place.
Hologram or not, Yang looked in wonder at what she saw, "It's incredible," she stopped when she saw Jacen pointing at a particular area.
"As this curtain continues, the Eye becomes visible over the horizon," as if on cue, the eye was visible over the horizon, and Yang could only stare in awe.
The horizon was filled with a shower of colorful crystalline particles until the eye was fully visible.
Yang was transfixed by the phenomenon, even if it was simply a holographic recording.
"That's exactly the expression I had when I saw it for the first time," Jacen said.
"How many times have you seen this event?" Yang asked, still in awe.
"I've seen it twice," Jacen answered.
He noticed that Yang was looking at him with a new respect, "I take it you don't want too many people knowing about where you really come from?" She asked.
"I'd prefer it to be kept between us, though Gray will definitely have a field day from all that information just now," he paused and then raised his voice.
"Did I give you enough material, Gray?" He asked.
In response, Gray climbed up onto the balcony with Rouge close behind.
Gray now looked at Jacen with a sense of awe, then looked at the paused image of the eye.
"Have you seen other worlds as a Jedi?" he asked with excitement.
"I've seen a lot," Jacen answered.
"How'd you know we were here?" Rouge asked, adjusting her hat.
"I sensed your presence, but appreciate your restraint in not interrupting our conversation," Jacen replied.
Yang seemed more curious about how Gray and Rouge got there, "How'd you two even get up here?" She asked.
Rouge tapped her heels together and noticed a fading black hue on her boots, "My boots are equipped with gravity dust that I activate by tapping my heels together," she held up her hands, letting her claws elongate slightly.
"Though sometimes these help me scale walls too," she added.
Jacen couldn't help but whistle, "Impressive," he said.
Yang looked from Rouge to Jacen, "I know wolf boy is a faunus, but I didn't notice that Rouge was one, too," she said with keen interest.
Jacen looked at Rouge and Gray. "Please keep this between us," he said, looking mainly at Gray.
"I don't mind if you gather information about me, but I don't want to risk drawing attention with the Empire out there," he added.
Gray tilted his head slightly, "Do you think the empire would actually come here?" He asked.
Jacen considered the situation and spoke gravely, "Even if it's highly unlikely, the presence of a Jedi here could be detected by the Empire, and in that case, not even the Grimm will deter them."
"How would the empire even know?" Yang asked.
"I heard a rumor about a tall, black-suited figure that appeared on a world called Mukhana," he said with noticeable apprehension.
"He made use of a crimson blade," he added severely.
All three faces turned toward each other, but Yang was the first to look back at Jacen.
"Like Dooku," she said in a knowing tone.
"Even he might not yet know about me, and I hope to the Force he remains ignorant," Jacen said.
Rouge seemed to be pondering something before she spoke, "What about what happened during the duel?" She asked.
Jacen's mood turned solemn. "I was angry at how Rowan was adding weight to what Weiss was saying about Ruby not belonging here," he said after a moment.
"However, that's the danger that Jedi face when they let anger consume them," he added.
"Because that leads them toward the Dark Side," Gray said, reviewing his notes.
Yang looked at Jacen with concern, "Has that happened to you before?" She asked.
"It nearly happened toward the war's end," Jacen answered.
"Though it's not frequent, whenever it does happen, it feels almost primal, like I'm filled with an uncontrollable feeling," he placed his hand on his chest.
"It's intoxicating and very dangerous."
Everyone took a moment to contemplate that meaning.
"If that happens," Yang said, touching his shoulder.
"Let me know if I can help somehow," she added.
"I want to be able to repay you for the times you saved my neck and Ruby's."
Jacen was happy he'd met Yang when he first came to Remnant.
Despite her abandonment issues and being an excessive partygoer, often drowning her troubles in booze, she'd proved to be reliable and willing to help him when he needed it.
Although the Empire and the mysterious dark-armored warrior were probably out hunting other Jedi while constructing infrastructure, he would try not to dwell on these unfounded concerns.
It was unlikely that the empire had the resources to reach this world, which was situated on the border of the Unknown Regions.
Still, the matter of Rowan made him contemplate.
Rowan was undoubtedly rethinking his poor display of personality, and it would take time for him to come to terms with it eventually.
Ruby, of course, would need all the support she could get to overcome this uncertainty and become a good leader.
"For now, I think we need to come to figure out how to get our teams on track," Jacen finally said.
Gray looked skeptical, "You think Rowan will listen after what happened earlier?" He asked.
"Rowan's not necessarily a bad guy. However, I feel he needs time to atone for what led up to what happened," Jacen said.
"If Wolf Boy turns over a new leaf, that only leaves the Ice Queen to thaw out," Yang said.
Weiss, Jacen thought, she definitely must be feeling a mistake was made in making Ruby the leader after her humiliating defeat in class.
As bad as his duel with Rowan was, he hoped that Weiss and Ruby wouldn't have such a confrontation.
Though he sensed that, too was inevitable given Weiss's indignation.
"I'll do what I can to build up Ruby's confidence, but eventually, Ruby will also have trials that I can't help her with," he said.
"Being a leader isn't an easy job," he added matter of factly.
"I know she will become a great huntress just like her mother; I feel that in the Force," he added confidently.
Once that was completed, everyone followed him out from the balcony tower.
END