I also want to give credit to someone for writing the prompt for the Grimm Reaper, but I forget who it was so... Thank you unknown reader, whose name I forget, for the idea and prompt for the later part of this chapter.

Chapter Seventeen "The White Magician and Grimm Reaper"

Teal eyes opened for the first time in nearly two decades. The owner slowly sat up, coughing. The coughing persisted as the owner carefully removed the tube that had been functioning in place of his insufficient lung during his long slumber.

Alarms started blaring, and the lights flickered in various shades of red after the teal-eyed man had removed his breathing tube.

A door leading into the room opened and a woman rushed in. She had fair skin, slate-blue eyes, and white hair tied up in a bun.

"Father, you're awake!" cried the alarmed Willow Schnee. "You mustn't remove the breath-"

"Don't worry, Willow!" He interrupted his daughter. "Don't forget that I was a very famous and accomplished doctor before I became the founder of the Schnee Dust Company." He smiled while tapping his chest proudly. "Come here and give your father a hug."

"Willow didn't contradict her father. "Father!" She exclaimed happily as she brushed aside the fact that the breathing apparatus that had been working in place of her father's lungs for nearly two decades had been removed. "I missed you so much! It's been hard on me," the middle-aged woman complained, and she started to vent her frustration like a young girl before her powerful and wise father, who could handle anything. "You have to do something about Jac-"

"Jacques Gele has the audacity to engage in so many unethical and illegal actions in the pursuit of growing the company that I entrusted him with!" growled Nicholas Schnee as the medical devices shattered around him from the sheer amount of Aura he exerted in anger.

"Father!" Willow exclaimed, her voice laced with both alarm and relief.

She was alarmed because her father had been in a coma for a good part of two decades, and it seemed unwise for his health to exert so much Aura. Yet, a part of her was also relieved at what she was witnessing. The fact that her father was able to use so much Aura without any visible signs of fatigue or sickness likely meant the new Tohsaka Industries medical treatment taking the medical world by storm was working as advertised.

For a moment, Willow considered whether or not to hand over the information she had collected over the years, just in case her father miraculously recovered.

"Here is all the information I was able to secretly gather on the SDC's activities under Jacques' leadership," explained Willow as she handed her Scroll to her father.

Nicholas thanked his daughter for her hard work and reviewed the Scroll. What he found first made him frown in displeasure, and his expression darkened as an hour passed. After he finished reading a summary of information regarding Jacques and the SDC's illegal and unethical deeds, he snapped.

The Schnee Mansion began to shake as if hit by an earthquake, and at the same time, a bloodthirsty aura washed over the estate like a wave. The murderous intent was so powerful that many fainted outright, and those still conscious collapsed to the ground as if gravity had increased several-fold. The rare few people able to stand, or leaning on something for support, were war veterans and former or retired huntsmen working as security for the Schnee estate. Even for them, it was difficult to comprehend that something emitting a power comparable to some of the strongest Grimm lurked within the Schnee Mansion.

"Jacques Gele, get your ass over here right now, or I'm going to come over and beat the shit out of you, you traitor of humanity and faunuskind!" roared Nicholas Schnee, a legend of the Great War nicknamed the White Magician, as he had been the closest thing to a magic user that Remnant had seen for centuries since Ozpin had disappeared into the darkness. "I'm going to execute you right here and right now if you ever think of resisting!"

The Schnee Mansion staff and security personnel were utterly paralyzed by the sheer force of Nicholas Schnee's aura and murderous intent. Those who remained conscious could barely stand, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. The air was thick with fear, and even the most seasoned veterans among the security detail found themselves overwhelmed, their training and experience offering little protection against the overwhelming pressure.

Terrified whispers spread through the mansion's halls, as servants and guards alike prayed that Jacques Schnee would heed the summons and spare them from the wrath of the legendary White Magician. The very foundations of the estate seemed to groan under the weight of Nicholas' power, and many feared the entire structure might collapse if his fury was not appeased.

In the midst of the chaos, a lone figure emerged, slowly making their way away from the source of the disturbance.

Jacques Schnee's heart pounded in his chest as he navigated the pandemonium unfolding around him. Alarms blared, crowds of people shouted and scrambled in all directions, and the air crackled with an undercurrent of fury. His usually confident stride had been reduced to a cautious, halting pace as he approached the center of the chaos.

This was not how things were supposed to go. Jacques had spent years carefully cultivating his image, burying his company's darkest secrets and exploiting legal loopholes to maintain his power and wealth. But now, it seemed, the veil had been lifted, exposing the ugly truth for all to see.

As he drew closer, Jacques caught sight of the awakened patriarch - his father-in-law, the former head of the Schnee Dust Company. The old man's eyes were alight with a righteous anger that Jacques had never seen before. This was a man who had been betrayed, deceived by his own flesh and blood.

Jacques swallowed hard, feeling a cold dread seep into his bones. He had always prided himself on his cunning and ruthlessness, but in the face of his father-in-law's wrath, he was utterly powerless. All the money and influence in the world couldn't shield him from the consequences of his actions.

Steeling himself, Jacques approached the patriarch, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. "F-Father," he stammered, hating the weakness in his own voice. "I can explain-"

But the old man cut him off with a contemptuous glare. "Save it, Jacques. The time for your lies and excuses is over." He shook his head, a mixture of disappointment and disgust etched on his features. "You've disgraced this family, and now you'll have to face the consequences."

Suddenly, the air around them crackled with energy, and Jacques felt a powerful force slam into his chest, knocking the wind out of him. He stumbled backward, eyes wide with shock as he witnessed the patriarch's Aura abilities unfold.

Glyphs of pure white energy erupted around the old man, spinning and converging with dizzying speed. With a sweep of his hand, he sent a barrage of razor-sharp icicles hurtling towards Jacques, each one glowing with the intensity of his Aura.

Jacques cried out in pain as the icy projectiles sliced through his flesh, his Aura flickering and fading under the relentless assault. The old man's mastery of Aura was unlike anything he had ever seen, a display of power and precision that defied comprehension.

"This is for the lives you've ruined, the people you've exploited," the patriarch growled, his voice laced with a righteous fury. "May you feel the weight of your sins, Jacques Schnee."

With a final, devastating surge of Aura, the old man conjured a massive, spectral knight that towered over Jacques, its sword poised to strike. The Schnee scion could only watch in horror as the spectral blade descended, knowing that he was powerless to stop it.

As the blade slammed into him, Jacques felt his world shatter, the agony coursing through his body like a tidal wave. He crashed to the ground, gasping for breath, his vision blurring as the weight of his misdeeds threatened to consume him. In that moment, he realized with a sinking feeling that he might not survive this encounter - that his reckless actions had finally caught up with him, and the consequences would be dire.

Weiss winced, pressing a hand to her throbbing temple as she tried to make sense of the events unfolding around her. The pulsing music and flashing lights of the faunus nightclub still lingered in her mind, a stark contrast to the quiet solitude of her current surroundings.

Her new cat ears, a product of the BioSyn implants that had replaced her human ears, twitched in discomfort, the amplified sounds only exacerbating her growing headache. And the fluffy white tail that had materialized the night before swished back and forth anxiously, a physical manifestation of her unease.

Weiss couldn't quite believe that she had actually gone through with Blake's invitation to the club, let alone the blind date with Neptune that had followed. It had all been so overwhelming - the sensory overload, the wary glances from the other patrons, the awkward tension between Sun and Neptune. She had been completely out of her element, and the memory of it all left her feeling drained and unsettled.

As she took a deep breath, trying to center herself, Weiss couldn't help but wonder what other surprises the day might have in store. If the previous night was any indication, it was bound to be an eventful one. With a resigned sigh, she steeled herself for whatever was to come, her newly enhanced senses on high alert.

Weiss's Scroll began to vibrate on the nightstand, the shrill ringtone cutting through the pounding in her head. She groaned, squinting her eyes against the dim light as she reached for the device. Her new cat ears twitched in discomfort, the sound amplified by her BioSyn implants.

Fumbling with the Scroll, Weiss finally managed to accept the call, wincing as she pressed the device to her ear. "H-Hello?" Her voice was hoarse, betraying the lingering effects of the previous night's indulgences.

"Weiss? It's Winter. Where are you?" Her sister's voice was laced with urgency.

Weiss took a deep breath, willing herself to focus. "I'm...I'm not sure. What's going on?"

"Weiss, you need to come back home right away..." Winter's face on the screen paused as she stared at Weiss. "Is that a pair of cat ears on your head?"

"Yes, but that doesn't matter if you called right now," Weiss brushed aside her sister's curiosity. "What's so important that I need to come back home?"

"It's Grandfather! He's back!"

"Grandfather is back? That makes no sense? He is dead."

"I had the same thought until I talked to the old guard at SDC who had retired or been forced out when our father took over the company. They can all confirm that our Grandfather, alive and well. It's not someone pretending to be Grandfather, as no one could use Glyphs the way he does, like they're magic."

"Magic exists. I have been learning in at Beacon. You should have heard the news."

"I know magic exists, but you know before Rin Tohsaka revealed her shocking discovery, the closest thing to magic had been Grandfather's Glyphs."

"We can talk about that later. I picked some strings to get permission from Vale's authorities. Tell me where you are. A private plane operated by our company is going to pick you up."

Weiss didn't even have time to respond before Winter disconnected.

Weiss winced, her head pounding as she spoke. "Argh, we are going to have to postpone our plans for today."

Blake grimaced, one hand pressed against her temple. "That's okay." She waved weakly. "Can I still come with you? I always wanted to meet Nicholas Schnee. He was a paragon of honesty, hard work and treated faunus well before the company he founded become the ruthless SDC it is today under your father."

The white-haired girl stared at Blake, her vision slightly blurred. "Even the faunus looked favorable at Grandfather?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Yea, that's right." Blake nodded slowly, the movement making her wince. "Every Faunus knows that he treated every faunus he employed fairly. It was a time faunuskind looked eagerly to work with SDC, just like they do these days with TI."

Weiss took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "If you're happy to meet my grandfather, I would love to take you there. My grandfather would be delighted to meet you."

Suddenly their ears started to ring as a loud noise came closer and they found themselves near the roaring engines of plane landing near them.

Weiss didn't even have time to get out of bed when there was a knock on the door.

Weiss and Blake moved sluggishly, their hangovers weighing them down as they dressed. Weiss grimaced, her new cat ears twitching in discomfort as she pulled on her clothes. Blake winced, her sensitive faunus senses overwhelmed by the simplest of tasks.

"You can came in!" Weiss and Blake shouted together.

The door opened, and a soldier wearing the SDC security department uniform stepped inside. "Miss Schnee?" he asked, his gaze flickering between Weiss and Blake.

"That's me," replied Weiss, taking a step forward. Blake followed closely behind, her cat ears twitching curiously. "How did you get my location? I never transmitted it."

"I apologize for the invasion of privacy," the soldier said. "The location of all Schnees are known to the security department. Our group's mission is to protect SDC's assets, but our founder, Nicholas Schnee, made it our primary objective to protect your family."

Weiss's brow furrowed. "I didn't know that the security department was founded by my grandfather."

"Many outside of the security department don't know that," the soldier explained. "We have a long history interwoven with the creation of the Schnee Dust Company."

Blake spoke up, her voice tinged with curiosity. "So your sole purpose is to protect the Schnee family? That's quite a responsibility."

The soldier nodded. "Indeed, Miss...?"

"Belladonna," Blake supplied. "Blake Belladonna."

"Well, Miss Belladonna, Miss Schnee, we should get moving," the soldier said, gesturing for them to follow. "There's a plane waiting nearby."

He guided Weiss and Blake out of the building and towards the waiting aircraft. As they approached, the pilot leaned out of the cockpit window, shouting, "Hey! We gotta go right away. You don't want to be the one to catch old Nick's ire. Old Nick just executed a couple of SDC executives and members of our department! I don't want to join them."

Weiss's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? My grandfather executed SDC executives and members of the security department?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm.

"That's right, but don't let Emma spook you!" the co-pilot quipped. "The ones that Old Nick executed deserved it. They were involved with intentionally harming and deaths tens thousands. Some of the wildest rumors going around even estimate the number reaching in the millions. Supposed they were part of a conspiracy to fan the flames of war, hoping that a civil war on the scale of the Great War between humans and faunus. The fact that former CEO Jacques was accused as a traitor to humanity and faunuskind supports this conspiracy theory."

Weiss and Blake listened eagerly as the pilots and the aircew of the plane filled them in as the plane lifted off and departed for the Schnee Mansion.

In another part of Remnant, an equally shocking event was taking place inside the Beacon Academy's Headmaster's office. Ozpin sat behind his desk, brow furrowed as he reviewed a stack of reports detailing the latest Grimm activity in the region. Glynda Goodwitch stood beside him, her stern gaze fixed on the holographic displays projected before them.

A sudden knock at the door broke the tense silence. Ozpin glanced up, his perpetual calm demeanor slipping for a moment as he registered the unexpected visitor. "Enter," he called out, exchanging a puzzled look with Glynda.

The door swung open, and familiar figure approached.

"Marie?" Ozpin asked, recognizing the familiar silhouette. "What are you doing here? I thought you had sworn off any involvement with us."

The weathered face of Marie Calavera, a former ally and renowned critic of Rin Tohsaka and Tohsaka Industries, cracked open a smile then clicked her fingers.

Ozpin and Glynda were left stunned as Marie's true form was unveiled – a young, athletic woman in the prime of her youth, her eyes shining with a newfound vitality.

"How…?" Ozpin stammered, struggling to comprehend the transformation before him.

Marie tossed her head, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. "You have to thank your newest Professor and her husband, Ozpin. They used magic potions and items to not only restore my Silver Eyes, but they reversed the aging process." She struck a playful pose, a mischievous glint in her eye. "How do I look?"

Ozpin remained silent, his mind racing as he processed this unexpected development. Glynda, however, found her voice, her tone laced with a mixture of awe and trepidation.

"Who so important about her?" Glynda asked in confusion as while she was shocked to see an elderly woman become young again, Ozpin's shock seemed much more then that.

"Marie was known as the Reaper when she was younger," explained Ozpin as he started to regain his composure.

Glynda's eyes widened. "The Reaper? As in the Grimm Reaper?"

Marie's expression hardened, her youthful features taking on a steely resolve. "That's right."

Glynda swallowed hard, her gaze flickering towards Ozpin, silently seeking guidance. The headmaster, however, was lost in thought, already making mental notes to investigate what Rin and Shirou had done to Marie – and the potential implications it held.

"Magnificent," Ozpin murmured at last, a slow smile spreading across his face as he rose from his seat. He moved towards Marie, clasping her hand in a firm handshake. "The Grimm will once more fear the Reaper."

Marie waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes shone with pride. "There is no need to treat me respectfully," she chided, though her tone held no real bite.

Ozpin chuckled, his earlier trepidation replaced by a renewed sense of hope. "On the contrary, my friend," he said, gesturing towards the open window, where the sprawling grounds of Beacon Academy lay beyond. "The tides of war seem to be changing since Rin Tohsaka had established her company. I just didn't know it until she started teaching at Beacon."

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Thank you for reading!