Blake.

She stopped, tilting her head to listen.

There will be time to gather information later. For the moment, your body is overtaxed and your Aura strained. Despite your advantages, channeling my power and mind is not simple or without consequence.

"...You told Ozpin once that time is precious."

Yes. For all things require time. Including healing.

She looked down at her right hand, blinking as she flexed the shadow fingers. "...I'd... forgotten about this. It feels so natural..."

...During our merge, you absorbed some knowledge from my mind. The extent is unknown at this time.

She stared at the shadow for some time, lost in her thoughts. Finally, she nodded slowly. "...All right. I'll find a place to rest for a bit." She began walking, idly experimenting with her false hand; tapping it against her skin, using it to smooth out her damaged clothing... then frowning. "...Yeah, maybe some rest would be a good idea. I don't... completely remember these wounds." She ran her fingers across the holes in her outfit, and the gash across her shoulder as she walked towards the mountains in the distance. "...So when you say 'my advantages,' what do you mean?"

You have formed an unforeseen connection.

"What?"

Your Aura has completed its new Semblance. Through complex means, you are now connected directly to my power, much like Penny... or the Frozen Flame. The Flame is no longer necessary for our communication.

Her steps halted with a gasp. "...I did that?"

Yes. The link is your own doing.

"Okay." Her smile is a quiet thing. "...And the merge? Was that my doing?"

No. Drawing on too much of my power is dangerous; intervention was necessary to limit the danger.

"...You could have cut me off, couldn't you? Just... prevented me from drawing too much. You didn't have to put yourself at risk for me, Obsidian."

Consciously or not, you requested aid, and thus aid was given.

Blake sniffed, blinking her suddenly watery eyes. "...Thank you." She resumed walking, her shoulders held a bit higher.

"I have a question."

Ask.

"You... can use my magic, can't you? Even when we're separate."

Yes.

"Why don't you?"

Your choices, and your actions – your successes and your failures, in the pursuit of your Dreams – belong to you alone.

"So... you want me to do things on my own?"

You will gain knowledge and power, and refine both into skill. So armed, you will pursue your Dreams and when, as heroes do, you find yourself overwhelmed... you will rise. And should you find yourself falling... then call, and I shall answer.

"...Oh." Her head facing down, she wiped at her eyes. "I guess... I was being a bit stupid?"

Your agency, your ability to act on your own, your ability to choose and reshape the future; each of these is important to who you are. They are not, however, your core, and you should not mistake them for it.

"What is my core, Obsidian?"

You must decide that for yourself.

For a time, she walked in silent thought.

Blake leaned back, wrapping her shadow around herself. It was a... strangely comfortable gesture; the Flame held in her lap, warming her, as her shadow cradled her... The cave blocked the wind outside, and as the sun set, she allowed herself to relax.

"Have you determined anything? You've been quiet."

As we departed from the future Beacon, the weave of time has stabilized... but my mind remains orphaned. For the time being, do not expect to rely on my power; it will fuel you, through our connection, but little else.

She nodded. "I've noticed that... my magic comes easier. Is that a side effect of the merge, or of the connection?"

Yes. There is a gateway within your soul; as a Semblance, you have a measure of control over it. It would be inadvisable to open it at this time... but my power passes through it always, and you are familiar with its use. It is likely that you will never run out of magic, although you may exceed the flow. Your increased skill, however... it is likely an echo of memory. Our minds were close together, and the line between them blurred. I strove to prevent you from losing the aspects of your identity, but you appear to have gained more.

The shadow that was her hand shifted rapidly between different shapes. "...Yeah. I'll have to practice, it feels... different, somehow."

There will be time for that later.

"...Yeah. Okay. You'll... keep me safe, right?"

Yes.

A serene smile crosses her face as her eyes close. You are left... not alone, but closer to it than you have been before.

It is a strange experience.

A skill has increased and mutated! Shadow Magic: B- has become Transcendent Magic: E++ - The ability to manipulate energy by will alone, transformed through contact by a greater mind. An inhuman method of spellcasting, its limitations and effects are not clearly known... For the time being, the difficulty of all Shadow Magic has decreased significantly.

Additionally, Blake has retained her specialty, Shadow Sculptor.

Blake has gained a trait! Black Hand - Deprived of her right hand, Blake has absorbed your solution. Unless she is prevented from using magic, a constant prosthesis is formed, made of pure condensed shadow. This can be manipulated by will just as any other shadow, forming weapons or strange shapes, and it retains the properties of Blake's other shadows.

As Blake sleeps, you observe her surroundings. Deprived of the safety of the Academy and of her allies, she depends upon you to keep watch... and an attack in her sleep would be a truly disappointing end.

You will refrain from Dreaming with her tonight; the touch of your mind is still fresh, and you wish to grant her some distance to avoid overwhelming her.

Still, there is no reason you cannot consider while you observe..