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Chevalier
My mind raced in response to Ozpin's question. Why the hell is he asking that? Is he going to tell me about the maidens? Now?Is Autumn already injured? I guess there's no reason the timing couldn't work…
Aloud, I asked, "I beg your pardon?"
"Your favorite fairy tale, Mister Arc," Ozpin repeated, resting his elbows on the table and lacing his fingers to stare at me like a genial, silver-haired Ikari Gendou. "'The Infinite Man', 'The Warrior in the Woods', 'The Grimm Child'… Or, have you not refamiliarized yourself with such things, after your injury last summer?"
Try as I might, I couldn't come up with a way this could be a trap. It has to be about healing her, right? I suppose he could know my public Semblance from the hospital, assuming he didn't know it already after the Flight 1387 debacle. It's the only thing that makes sense.
Whether I would try to heal her wasn't in question — my oath would permit nothing else, not to mention I wasn't such an asshole that I would refuse to try even without that — the real question was… Is my [Lay On Hands] even strong enough to heal whatever soul damage Autumn had taken?
I didn't know. I did, however, have an answer for him.
"Actually, I did read through a book of fairy tales my sister had in her apartment. I was quite fond of 'The Girl In The Tower'."
Ozpin's face twitched for an instant before he pulled on his impassive mask again. "Yes… I was too, once upon a time."
Oh? Do thinly-veiled allegories about your ex-wife bother you? Come on, drop me some hints! "Why the past tense, sir?"
He stared me down for a full minute before replying. "It occurred to me, after many years, that the princess may not have been entirely honest. The king's side of the story was never told, after all."
I tilted my head, considering that. "In a metatextual sense, that's probably an important thing to keep in mind, because if we take the story as written, it's essentially propaganda," I allowed. "But on the other hand, is there such a thing as a good reason to keep your child magically imprisoned?"
"Ah," he said, lowering his hands to the desk. "Have you heard from your parents, recently?"
Did he fucking know about [Yellow Death]? Because otherwise that's a non-sequitur. "I haven't, no. I met my grandmother a few months ago, and I've been reintroduced to most of my sisters. Were you going somewhere with this question, sir?"
"Bear with me a moment, Mister Arc. Jaune. I assure you, I am going somewhere with this. You told me that you made yourself a promise about who you want to be, going forward. I would like you to elaborate on that."
Why–? Ah, fuck it, I'm not going to out-think the immortal chessmaster. Might as well just be honest and see where this goes. "Holism, to improve myself, mind, body and soul," I summarized. "Goodness, to help people. Justice, to protect the innocent. Steadfastness, to stand by my principles. Joy, to remember what I'm fighting for. An oath sworn on my mind, body, soul, and life; to walk the path of a knight."
Ozpin's expression didn't change, but his eyes were a million miles away. "That is a heavy charge," he said finally.
"Is it really any different than what a Hunter is supposed to be?" I asked rhetorically. "It was probably implicit, but even without my nepotistic connections in Mistral, I am going to be a Huntsman. The Grimm have to be stopped."
That seemed to bring his attention back onto me, though his gaze was heavier now. "There will be no victory in strength against our foe," he said softly. "Even the most brilliant lights eventually cease to burn, and when they have gone, the darkness will always return."
Kingdom Hearts speeches, don't fail me now! "Only if those brilliant lights fail to ignite others to take their place," I argued. "A single wall can't hold up a building, and a single hero can't hold up a society, but they can inspire change. Everything starts somewhere. Look at my Semblance: without my accident, without my oath, it might have been entirely different, and I wouldn't have been able to heal the Flight 1387 passengers. Or I might have unlocked it later, and never been on the plane in the first place. If it still crashed, everyone on it would have died. Instead, almost all of them went home to their families. One of them works with me now at the hospital, and she tells that story to every one of her patients and mine. No matter how embarrassing it is, it always raises spirits."
Ozpin said nothing.
"Or, look at your own students," I pointed at the door we'd come through. "Leo was a homeless kid I bought lunch one time, and now he's an accepted trainee. Sometimes a tiny light is all that's needed to inspire someone."
"And his look, or a word he hath spoken, wrought flame in another man's heart…" Ozpin murmured, apparently to himself. He pushed himself to his feet, one hand snaking out to grab his cane despite not putting any weight on it. "Come," he instructed, heading for a door on the opposite side of the room.
I rose, but hesitated. "Should I send Blake home?"
"We will return here shortly, Mister Arc," he assured me, and I strode after him. He wasn't running, but he was almost as tall as Doctor Oobleck, meaning that I did have to power walk to keep up.
He led me down a somewhat narrow hallway, emerging into a much broader corridor through a door with a security lock, and conducted me into an elevator, which started dropping sharply. Holy shit, he really is taking me to Autumn. He didn't explain about her, though…
"May I ask about why fairy tales came up, sir?"
Ozpin hummed, staring at the door. He might have looked casual, but the way his fingers were alternating between clenching and relaxing on the grip of his cane suggested he wasn't quite sanguine about bringing me here. "I find it is a good icebreaker," he said finally. "For many, they are formative stories. Even for someone like yourself, who does not remember your childhood, it was still… enlightening." He shot me a sidelong glance. "If only from hearing you defend your selection."
…Ah. You know, in hindsight, maybe saying I was interested in Salem's story and sympathetic to her plight might make the man who's sworn to kill her a bit wary of me. Oops. I hope he's not bringing me down to the vault to kill me.
"Fables are an interesting study, because more often than not, they reflect truths about the world, as seen through the lens of the storyteller," he went on. "Sometimes that truth can be as simple as explaining the climate… And sometimes even that truth can obfuscate something else."
The door opened, and Ozpin stopped talking, simply striding down the vast, empty room and clearly expecting me to follow.
Well, that tells me jack shit, and if I didn't already know what you were hinting at, I would be real fuckin' confused right now, I kvetched internally.
"Is 'The Story of the Seasons' your favorite, then?" I asked.
I wondered if he'd miss a step, but I suppose I was underestimating him. Rather than answer directly, he asked, "Suppose that story was true, Mister Arc. That four young women in the world did, in fact, have the ability to wield true magic. What if, one day, one of those young women was attacked, and rather than being killed, a piece of her soul was stolen away." He came to a stop, and I could see the shape of an odd machine behind him, though Autumn's body was concealed behind his frame as he turned around, resting both hands on his cane as he planted it between his feet. "What would you say to that?"
"I'd say, 'get out of the way and let me try to heal her'," I replied. "…Sir," I added belatedly.
Ozpin looked me in the eye for another long moment before stepping aside.
Inside the pod, which was tilted at a forty-five degree angle, lay an unconscious woman with shoulder-length brown hair. Her skin was a warm olive tone — except for the darkened scar across the left side of her face, which didn't detract from her obvious beauty — although she seemed a bit pale. She wore a simple white tube-top and skirt to protect her modesty, but from up close her cheeks looked a bit hollow, and the shapes of her ribs were starting to be visible. Beneath that, she seemed fit, but not especially muscular; no stranger to combat with Grimm, but not a frontliner like me. Which makes sense for a magic-wielder. Her eyes were closed, but looked like they would be wide and expressive if she were conscious.
I stepped forward, and looked closer. [Observe].
[Name: Ambeř̷̢̫̰͙̻͗͆̽̾͊ ̷̣̱̖̤̝̟̩͈̬̩͇̓ͅ ̷̝̱̮̗̪͎̳̹͖͂́͒̿̎́̎͑̽̾̍̾̕̕͝͝ ̴̡̗͇͇̤̺͍̲̞̜̀̿́́̀̓͆̚͠ͅͅ ̸̡̨̛͔̘͕̱̦̭̤̲̯̈́͊́͛̒͂̇̓́̑͒̎ ̷̧̗̫̰͇͉̰̒́̓̈́̑̌̇̕̕ ̴̫̥̜͖̪̲̀͛́̚]
[LV ?]
[Title: ?]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 22]
[Job: Maiden of Autumn]
[Class: True Mage]
[Semblance: ?]
[HP: 57/625]
[MP: 0/6187 (12375)]
[Stats: 67 STR, 34 CON, 72 DEX, 124 INT, 32 WIS, 54 CHA]
[Background: The current Fall Maiden, one of only a few true magic users left on Remnant. She inherited the mantle less than a year ago. She was recently attacked, and half the mantle was stolen by dark sorcery. Although the Soul Drain was interrupted, she has yet to reawaken.]
[Emotions: None (unconscious).]
[Relationship: Stranger.]
[Status: Comatose]
[Status: Aura Shock (Highest)]
[Status: Soul Reft (Moderate)]
The duration on her Aura Shock was very high, and moreover, it wasn't going down. Probably because of the other effect:
[Soul Reft]
[Debuff]
[Far beyond any physical wound, a piece of your very soul has been torn away. Causes and symptoms can vary wildly. Recovery is challenging, and often hampered by comorbid conditions, for true injuries to the soul are rare and dangerous.]
[Current level: Moderate]
Well that was a load of nothing; thanks for that. I heaved a sigh and tapped sharply on the glass. "I need this open if I'm going to [Lay On Hands]."
Ozpin moved over to a console, but I kept my focus on Amber, preparing [Bull's Strength], [Bear's Endurance], [Fox's Cunning], [Owl's Wisdom], [Reinforcement], and activating my [Aura] as the lid swung upward with a hiss of released air. Wasting no time, I pressed my palms to Amber's forehead and heart, activated [Lay On Hands], even as the pod's bed raised to a sixty-degree angle, and closed my eyes to pull on [Gaia's Pulse].
The CON boosts gave me a larger pool of HP, which meant larger passive HP Regen. STR also contributed to HP Regen more directly, if at a different rate. INT and WIS did the same for my MP and MP Regen, before the active component of [Aura] converted all my MP Regen into HP Regen. And thus, at the low, low cost of 170ish MP/min, my total HP Regen jumps all the way up over 1100/min. [Lay On Hands] shares a bit under two-thirds of that, meaning we can expect Amber's HP bar to be full in less than sixty seconds.
…Why is her total HP so low? Her CON isn't great but even Blake had more HP than this– Wait, no, other Hunters' HP is still Aura. Considering she has 0 MP and can't regenerate her Aura right now, this amount of raw HP is actually kind of impressive.
I opened my eyes to make sure her HP bar was actually filling back up, but fortunately it was. She looked a little less pale, and the scar on her stomach, which I hadn't noticed on first inspection, was thinning and lightening. The ones on her face, however, were not.
Movement on her other side drew my attention, but it was just Ozpin attaching a clip to her finger. A pulse oximeter, I could almost hear Heather's lecture. Records pulse rate and strength, and measures oxygen saturation in red blood cells.
"Her heart rate is both stronger and steadier," the headmaster reported, obvious relief coloring his tone.
Her HP was full, so I deactivated my [Aura], letting the glow dim away until only my hands shone, before that also faded. With her HP full, I could cut all the physical buffs, leaving only [Fox's Cunning] and [Owl's Wisdom], along with the passive boost from [Aura]. Regen 400ish MP/min while meditating with buffs, sharing 66% at the cost of 42% means I can dump 250ish MP/min into her and still keep it up indefinitely.
My gaze flicked back to her Status, but her current MP kept flickering from 0 to 1 and back, so fast it looked more like Φ. [Soul Reft] wasn't moving, but [Aura Shock]'s timer was; only one tick every five or so seconds, but moving.
"She should be in better physical health," I reported without looking up. "I'm pouring as much Aura into her as she can take, and I think it's helping, but she's not retaining any of it yet."
Ozpin hummed, but didn't reply.
"Do I get to ask what happened to her?" I asked. "Evidently whatever magic she has didn't save her from it."
"Even the greatest magic-user can be caught by surprise, or defeated by numbers," Ozpin replied eventually. "And the nature of her magic is that she was not born with it. Rather, she inherited it only a short time ago."
"Inexperienced with it, then?" I wondered.
"Quite. Magic, like all skills, must be practiced and mastered," he mused. "And I'm afraid Amber was quite independent, preferring to spend her time traveling the Kingdom's outlying villages, completing Hunts and protecting trade wagons rather than training."
"Places she had to keep it to herself," I guessed.
"That would be everywhere," Ozpin said drily. "I must say, you seem relatively willing to accept the premise of magic, Mister Arc."
"Eight months of memories," I reminded him. "Lacking context, magic seems no more unusual than Aura, Semblance, and Dust. It's a power some people control and don't know everything about; you could have called it 'ontokinesis' for all it matters. Hell, put electricity in that list and you're still in the ballpark. I'm not in much of a position to call anything impossible."
"Some might call it impossible that you find yourself prepared to attend a prestigious academy a mere eight months after being hospitalized for full retrograde amnesia," he observed.
"Was there a question in there, sir?"
"'Be direct', then, is it?" Ozpin hummed approvingly. "Very well: How did you go about making yourself strong enough to join my school so quickly?"
"Push-ups, sit-ups, and plenty of juice," I deadpanned. "Also, having properly-trained sparring partners makes a big difference. Other than that, it was pretty sink-or-swim." Now I glanced up. "I presume it's an open secret at this point that I killed Krios a few months before Samiri?"
Ozpin's face was, as expected, inscrutable. "I was aware."
"Well, I don't recommend it generally, but struggling and surviving against nigh-impossible odds is good for the soul's growth, it turns out," I said, only half joking. "Can I ask a question?"
Now I thought he smiled slightly. "Of course. I am, above all else, a teacher."
"Why did you bring me down here? What made you think I could help? Or would?"
Ozpin had an approving look in his eyes as he responded, "I was, as you guessed, aware of your triumphs, and of your Semblance thanks to your work at the hospital. Our own school physician works there over the summer, if you were wondering."
"Ah," I said.
"Having heard of what you can do, and being impressed by your answers during the exam, I decided to take a risk. That being said, knowledge of the truth of magic, of the Maidens, and most especially, of Amber's presence here, must remain secret," he intoned, and I sighed.
"Sure, what's one more geas?" I muttered.
"How do you know what–?" Ozpin cut himself off. "No, rather, how are you already under a geas? Stacking them is dangerous."
"I'm aware. Are you familiar with the term 'paladin'? My oath isn't something I can violate lightly. If I did, I'd probably be looking at a reft soul myself."
He was silent for a full minute, obviously considering that. "Tell me of your oath."
It wasn't a question, but I decided to let that go, and filled him in on both the tenets and explanations.
"That is… rather interestingly worded," he said finally.
I shrugged, not moving my hands off Amber. "A stricter oath could easily be twisted to choke me, or distract me at a critical moment, or become a blanket justification for doing 'lesser evils' in service of some nebulous 'greater good'. This way, I can focus on the big picture without losing sight of the good that can be achieved at the local level."
Ozpin took another moment, apparently to ponder my response. "Then you wouldn't mention such things lightly, would you?"
"Not unless doing so was good or just," I replied solemnly.
He nodded slowly. "I think… I will accept your word on that, Mister Arc. Do you know how much longer you might need?"
I let my eyes drift over the [Aura Shock] screen as I looked back 'at' Amber. The status had finally dropped to [High], and I thought the remaining duration might be ticking faster than it had been. "A while. Her Aura isn't regenerating on its own, it's like Aura Shock she's not recovering from." Exactly like it, as it were. "I'm hopeful that if I can use my Semblance to bypass the Aura Shock, I can jumpstart her own production. Eventually."
"You truly believe she can recover?" His tone was an odd mix of hope and disbelief.
"Her body — or soul — is accepting my Aura, so I'm achieving something. I was planning to continue until her Aura starts coming back on its own, or until mine runs out," I replied, neglecting to mention that the latter couldn't happen at my current rate of expenditure, even with both [Fox's Cunning] and [Owl's Wisdom] still active. "Whether she'll be the same if she wakes up… I'm not a doctor, but I can't imagine injuries to the soul wouldn't leave some trauma."
Besides, I'm not gonna give up when this is free EXP.
[Lay On Hands has increased by 1!]
Yeahhh, that's the stuff, whole 'nother percentage point of regen to share.
"I should probably tell Blake something came up though," I added.
"Your Scroll will not connect from down here," he declared, straightening up. I was pretty sure that wasn't actually true, because my Semblance was bullshit, but I didn't contradict him. "I shall inform her that there was a complication in your paperwork, and it may be several hours to correct."
"Tell her she can keep waiting if she wants," I suggested. "Maybe show her the library, she'll love it. Oh, and if you want her to believe you, tell her I said Sierra Charlie Viridian."
Ozpin's eyebrows flew up. "A duress code? No… I suppose this would be the opposite. Very well, Mister Arc. I will return shortly." He strode back toward the elevator.
Not even gonna call Goodwitch back down here to make sure I don't do anything untoward? Did I actually earn some trust? I wasn't planning to do anything, obviously. Nor could I, without violating my oath. I guess he probably knows better than most what a geas means.
Shrugging, I kept pouring MP into Amber and turned my attention to the notification I had minimized earlier.
[Quest Phase Complete!]
[The Shining Beacon, Part 1]
[You have gained 135,000 EXP and 1,000,000L. You have obtained the title [Academy Student].]
[Bonus: You have gained 67,500 EXP, skill book "On The Nature of Aura".]
[Secret Objective complete: Be the highest level student accepted.]
[You have obtained the skill [Prodigy].]
[This questline will continue.]
[Level up! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1!]
Nine levels, holy shit. I was expecting 150k but [Enlightened] kicked it up over 200k. Best passive skill, godsdamn. …Wait, didn't this quest also promise my weapon if I passed– I thought, before my Scroll buzzed with a text from Olivia.
DM:Akasha→ Paladin | Friday 11:49
‹Akasha› I know you'll have passed; I wanted to have your weapon ready today, but it looks like they need another week. Expect it for your birthday.
Ha, knew I could get a connection. Suck it, laws of physics!
‹Paladin› I did, in fact, pass
‹Akasha› Congratulations, Jaune. I'm proud of you.
‹Paladin› cheers
‹Paladin› Blake got in too, I'm thinking dinner out to celebrate
‹Akasha› I'll make reservations at your favorite sushi restaurant. Indigo passes on her congratulations as well.
Fuck yeah. Now, what else did we get?
[Academy Student (Beacon)]
[Obtained by enrolling successfully at a Hunter Academy. You have proved that your mind is as sharp as your blade, and that you are as willing to hone the one by studying as you are the other by training.]
[While title is active, all non-combat skill experience is increased by 10%.]
[Prodigy (Passive) LV MAX]
[Obtained by enrolling in a Hunter Academy with significantly more power than the average freshman. You are a once-in-a-lifetime student, and your growth reflects it.]
[All combat skill experience is increased by 10%.]
Shame they're both static, but at least I can use them both at once, and they'll still stack with [Enlightened]. No more bonuses to level EXP, but I feel like my skills are falling behind again. And right after I just spent five months grinding them up to be on par with my level. Without further ado, I equipped the new title.
Next I examined the skill book without taking it out of my inventory, since my hands were busy.
[You have received the skill book [On The Nature of Aura]!]
[Would you like to learn the skill [Awaken Aura]?]
[Y/N]
Sure, why not?
[You learned the skill [Awaken Aura]!]
[Awaken Aura (Active) LV 1 EXP: 0.00% MP: 2000]
[A skill to draw out the potential of others, enflaming one soul with another. Through the granting of great power, sweep away the lies that hide the light within, releasing a soul kept bound by mortal flesh.]
[Awakens the Aura of another living being.]
Damn, that's expensive. I guess I can afford it, though. All right, quest continues. What's next?
[Quest Alert!]
[The Shining Beacon, Part 2]
[Ozpin has revealed a part of the truth to you. Amber, the Autumn Maiden, was attacked, and a piece of her soul stolen. It is your duty as a paladin to preserve life; do what you can to bring her out of her coma.]
[Reward: 50,000 EXP, 100,000L, quest continuation.]
[Time Limit: Vytal Festival, 12th October.]
[Bonus objective: Heal Amber before classes start.]
[Bonus Objective Reward: +10 ranks to Lay On Hands, new Paladin title.]
Neat. Now, how are we doing on that Aura Shock? Ideally each time the severity lowers it should continue ticking down faster–
The woman under my hands suddenly gasped a breath that made me jump, her brown eyes flying open and looking around wildly. She began to struggle, and I had to put some real effort into keeping her in place.
"Who are you? Where am I!?"
"Easy!" I said soothingly. "You're safe. You're in Vale, my name's Jaune; I just healed you from a coma." She stopped trying to force her way up, staring at me, so I let her go and took a big step back, holding my hands up to show I meant no harm.
"How did I get to Vale?" she demanded, still breathing too fast, gaze darting around the massive, empty room.
"I imagine Qrow Branwen brought you here after chasing off the people who attacked you," I answered. "You need to calm down or you're going to pass out again."
She took a moment to gulp some deep breaths. When she looked slightly calmer, I asked, "Can you tell me what you remember?"
"I…" she clenched her teeth, wincing. "I remember… a country road? A… little girl, crying. But then she vanished and… I was attacked. They ganged up on me, knocked me down when I tried to–" She cut herself off, glancing at me nervously.
I gave a reassuring smile, triggering [Eagle's Splendor] with a thought, hoping to set her at ease. "When you tried to use your magic, I assume? I'm not fully read-in to Ozpin's business, but he mentioned a little when he brought me to heal you. And I know a bit outside of what he's told me, but I'm keeping that a secret."
"Really?"
I grinned, holding up an empty hand. "Nothing up my sleeve…" Accessing my [Inventory], I withdrew a canteen with a straw from 'thin air' and offered it to her.
"That was magic!" she exclaimed. "But, you can't be a Maiden."
"Definitely not," I agreed. "As for it being magic… let's go with 'yes, but no'. Like I said, I'm keeping some things secret." I tipped her a wink, then held the canteen out again. "You must be thirsty."
Her eyes were still wide, but she took it hesitantly and sipped, sighing at the cool sensation in her dry mouth. "Thank you. You said your name was… Jaune?"
"Jaune Arc." I offered a hand, and she shook it. Her grip was firm, despite having just awakened from a however-long coma. "Nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Jaune. My name is Amber– Agh!" She dropped the canteen, clutching her head. "I can't remember? I can't remember my last name!" Tears were starting to form in her eyes, and I wasn't sure if they were from the pain or the trauma.
Unwillingly, my eyes flicked up to the words above her head.
‹The Beautiful Changes In Such Kind Ways›
LV 91
Amber
Like Ozpin, it doesn't even try to display her last name. Is… that part of what was stolen from her? Is that how souls work?
"If it makes you feel any better, I woke up in the hospital eight months ago with no personal memories at all," I offered.
Amber glared. "Are you making fun of me?"
I held out a tissue. "Not at all. That's when these came from." I tapped the scars on the side of my face. "I learned my name because my sister was there when I woke up, and I only know we're related because of the family portrait. I still got accepted to Beacon today regardless, and it sounds like you've retained more than I did, so don't sweat the small stuff."
She drew another shaky breath, but nodded. "I guess you're right. I've got my health, at least. Thanks to you."
"Happy to help." I was going to ask further about what she remembered, when the elevator dinged again, opening to reveal both Ozpin and Goodwitch.
I had enough time to blink before Ozpin's form blurred and he was suddenly standing beside us, cane held loosely at his side as he gazed down at the now-conscious Maiden. "Amber, you're awake!"
"I noticed." Her reply was waspish, and I felt my eyebrows shoot up. I guess there was a reason she spent her time outside the city. Betting there's a story there.
Ozpin looked briefly pained before his face cleared. "Yes, I… know we've never quite seen eye-to-eye, my dear, but I am delighted to see you up and about. I truly had not dared to hope…"
"Is that why this machine has a second pod?" I asked. I probably could have kept quiet, not rocked the boat, but Amber deserved some honesty.
Goodwitch gave me a stern look, but Ozpin sighed and seemed to deflate. "Yes. It is both a medical stasis chamber, and an experimental Aura-transference device. After the damage your soul suffered by the partial theft of your magic, I didn't expect you to ever wake up, and I decided we couldn't risk the remainder seeking out its missing half in the event you died."
Amber looked furious, but I was a bit surprised by his honesty. "I can see the logic, but that's kind of a harsh thing to say to someone who's just woken up, sir."
He nodded tiredly. "I am aware. Yet, is it not better to be up-front, rather than try to conceal such a thing?" He glanced my way. "I would have expected you to approve."
"I do," I agreed. "But if you were so certain, I'm wondering why you decided to even have me try."
Ozpin sighed, leaning on his staff. "As I said, I was impressed by your answers during your exam. You showed a drive I have seen in few, and convictions that I think may exceed even my own, at least at my age. While I suspected the attempt would be in vain, I decided there was no harm in trying. Needless to say, this is… beyond my expectations."
"I want to leave," Amber interrupted. She started to pull herself out of the pod. Ozpin and I both stepped forward, but she jerked away from him immediately, and he didn't try again.
"A bit harsh on your end, too," I whispered, since she accepted my hand.
"Get me out of here and I'll apologize," she hissed back. Then, aloud, she added. "Can I get some clothes?"
Ozpin hesitated, exchanging looks with his deputy, who sighed and headed for the elevator. "Of course, but Amber, the person who attacked you wasn't caught. It is very likely she will continue to try to steal the remainder of your magic."
"I don't care," she said stubbornly. Standing, she was about as tall as Azure, making her a full ten inches shorter than Ozpin. "I wouldn't let you keep me in a cage before, and I won't now." Her strong words were undercut slightly by the fact she hadn't let go of my hand, and was leaning on my shoulder to stay upright.
"Regardless, you need time to recuperate," Ozpin insisted. "I won't demand you remain down here, but even you must admit you need proper rest and recovery time."
"I may have a solution," I put in, drawing both their attention. "My sister, Olivia, was renting an apartment in the city. When she moved to Mistral next weekend, I took over the lease, but since I'll be living at Beacon most of the year, the space will be available." I glanced down at Amber, whose grip on my hand was just short of painful. "That way you can recover your strength, and I can be on hand if you need more healing."
There was a few minutes' silence as they both considered the offer, during which Goodwitch returned with a long skirt and a blouse that looked like they would fit Amber, as well as a pair of sandals and a long staff with a Dust crystal embedded in either end.
"Summer's End!" Amber exclaimed, grabbing her weapon even before the clothes and hugging it to her chest. "I… Thank you, Glynda."
Goodwitch's typically stern expression creased in fondness. "Let's get you dressed," she said.
Taking the hint, I made sure Amber could support herself by leaning on the pod, then took a few steps away, facing the wall with the elevator. There was a soft tapping noise, and Ozpin came to stand beside me. "I won't ask if you're certain about your offer, Mr Arc. I know your family, and you seem to have inherited their iron will, even if you happen to not remember it.
"I don't," I agreed. "But I've met five of my sisters now, not to mention my grandmother, and I'm certainly capable of spotting a pattern."
Ozpin hummed. "All the same, I urge you to be cautious. Whoever attacked Amber somehow stole part of her magic. You lack the context to understand just how impossible that should be."
Not gonna even drop a hint about Salem? I guess that's good OpSec, since as far as he knows I'm just a normal, if talented, incumbent student. "As much as a machine that transfers Aura?" I suggested, keeping my tone bland.
"A prototype, which has never been tested, and could quite possibly not work as intended," Ozpin sighed. "Had you not been able to heal her, it may very well have turned out to be a particularly horrific execution chamber."
At least he sounds remorseful. Probably a cold comfort to Amber, if she can hear us, but better than the alternative for sure. "Whoever attacked her obviously knew about her magic, if they knew enough to steal it," I reasoned. "They also know she was rescued, so they'll probably be expecting her to be hidden away. Like, say, to pick an entirely random example, in a secret vault under the school."
"What a curiously specific, yet wildly unlikely hiding place," Ozpin deadpanned.
"But they won't expect her to be relaxing in a penthouse apartment a few blocks from the river in a nice part of town," I finished. "Besides, it sounds like there's no precedent for recovery from this sort of… ailment. So I'd prefer to be nearby in case she needs more healing."
He didn't answer right away, and seemed to be pondering the scenario. Eventually, he nodded. "Very well, I can see the logic. And… Mr Arc, whatever else may come, you have my sincere thanks for your help today, and for your discretion. While Amber has never been fond of me, I assure you the feeling is not mutual. While they are all independent — of the Kingdoms and of me — I consider myself something of a guardian of the Maidens. At the very least, to offer help when it is needed."
"That falls in line with my oath of Goodness," I mused. "If I happen to encounter the others, I'll be happy to offer what help I can."
"Jaune," Amber called, and I turned back. She was dressed enough to not raise eyebrows in public, and seemed much steadier on her feet. She was still carrying her weapon, and her other hand was clutched around a Scroll that had come from somewhere. "I'm ready to go."
"Sure," I said, nodding to Ozpin and Goodwitch, but continuing to speak to Amber. "We'll pick up my friend Blake from the library, and you can get dinner with us. My treat."
She smiled. "Let's rock."
The elevator ride back up was a little awkward, considering Goodwitch's silent disapproval and Ozpin's obvious resignation, but neither made any attempt to persuade Amber to stay.
[Quest Phase Complete!]
[The Shining Beacon, Part 2]
[You have gained 67,500 EXP and 100,000L.]
[Bonus: [Lay On Hands] has increased by 10! You have obtained the title [Chevalier].]
[This questline will continue.]
[Level up! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1! Your level has increased by 1!]
Godsdamn do mainline quests bring in the EXP. And the cash. Now what's this title?
[Chevalier (Paladin)]
[Obtained by living up to an oath. You have proven your commitment to upholding your selected oath. You are beginning to serve as an inspiration to others.]
[While title is active, you and your nearby allies are resistant to emotional upheavals and negative morale changes during combat.]
Oooh, that's interesting. I was kind of hoping the paladin-type lowercase-A auras would be skills that I could upgrade, or just start out at MAX so I could stack them, but this isn't too bad. If I'm Hunting alone, [Grimm Slayer] is much better, but considering I'll be working with a team for the next few years, and especially in light of some of the shit that might go down in the coming year… Still, as long as he was studying or training, [Academy Student] was the obvious choice.
The elevator door opened at the ground floor, and Amber and I stepped out. Keeping a hand in the frame so the doors wouldn't close, I raised an eyebrow at her.
She flushed, but turned back to the teachers. "I'm sorry for my attitude. I've made no secret I don't like closed spaces or being kept in one place, but… thank you for saving my life."
Ozpin inclined his head gravely. "Qrow deserves the credit for bringing you here, and young Jaune for reviving you, but I'll pass your words on." His gaze shifted to me. "I leave her in your care, Mr Arc, for as long as your paths align. If you find yourself in need, please reach out to one of us."
I nodded back, offering him my hand, and he shook it solemnly.
"Please take care, Amber," Goodwitch said, a bit of a maternal tone detectable in her no-nonsense voice.
"Now then… where's the library?" I asked once we were alone.
"Huh? Don't you go here?"
"I passed the admittance exam about an hour before I healed you," I shrugged. "Term doesn't start for a couple weeks; I don't know where anything is yet. Hang on."
Closing my eyes for a second, I activated [Detect Aura]. There weren't too many people on campus, and I was able to narrow down which one was Blake fairly quickly, which gave me a heading. However, I also noticed…
[Observe]… Damn it.
"Amber, how are you feeling?"
"Uh, fine, I guess? Still a bit weak, but that should change once I get some food in me!"
I nodded, but my nervousness remained. I had topped Amber up to her full capacity of 6187 MP before she woke up. But now, barely half an hour later and without really exerting herself, she was missing a little bit. Some quick and dirty mental math, assuming the rate was steady, told me that her Aura would empty out in about 12 days… but only if she didn't use it for anything else. So is Soul Reft just nerfing her Aura regen, or is it flat out not working? Either way, I'd better keep an eye on it, and her, to make sure she doesn't collapse again.
[Quest Alert!]
[The Shining Beacon, Part 3]
[Amber, the rightful Autumn Maiden, is awake and alive thanks to you. However, her soul has still been damaged, and her Aura cannot regenerate properly. Keep her alive.]
[Reward: 50,000 EXP, 500,000L, quest continuation.]
[Time Limit: Vytal Festival Tournament Finals, 23rd October.]
[Bonus objective: Help restore Amber's soul to its rightful condition.]
[Bonus Objective Reward: +150,000 EXP, new Paladin Title.]
Well… there you have it.
Swinging by the Beacon library to pick up Blake, she accepted my assurance that Amber was a friend who would be crashing in Olivia's guest room — mine, now — without too much suspicion. Or, well, I knew her well enough to recognize she was totally suspicious, but she trusted me enough by this point to not press. Amber seemed to have recognized the book Blake was reading when we arrived, and they soon struck up a conversation about a popular series that I wasn't familiar with.
Hearing them both espouse its quality, I agreed to give it a try when I had some time. I wasn't exactly planning to slack off, but now that I had secured my place in Beacon, I thought I had earned few weeks' vacation. And that was before I gained twelve levels today.
Still, I hadn't allowed myself much opportunity to read for pleasure since I'd woken up in Remnant, so I would be lying if I pretended not to be looking forward to indulging in my one of my last life's favorite hobbies.
As we settled into seats on the bullhead for the short flight back down into the city, I pulled my Scroll out.
DM: Paladin → Akasha | Friday 12:23
‹Paladin› hey, so
‹Paladin› make that one more for dinner
Name: Jaune Arc
Level: 44 (Next: 14.21%)
Title: Academy Student
Race: Human
Age: 17
Job: Beacon Student
Class: Paladin
Semblance: The Gamer
HP: 4385/4385
MP: 2756/2756
STR: 99.6 (52)
CON: 111.8 (50)
DEX: 124.8 (53)
INT: 77.6 (43)
WIS: 98.5 (52)
CHA: 72.8 (33)
Points: 148
Money: 1,237,811L
Status: Cursed – Yellow Death [High]
A/N: If you aren't caught up with RT's slapdash worldbuilding, 'The Girl In the Tower' is an in-universe fairy tale that is about (and was, perhaps, originally written by) Salem. Locked away like Rapunzel, she tricks her captor into providing her pen and paper, and writes [allegedly] the very fairy tale to entice a knight to come save her. The power of stories to affect reality is rather thematic for both Remnant's culture (re: colors and the Great War for self-expression) and for what Monty seemed to envision for RWBY.
Fun fact: Jaune's passive MP regen is now high enough to keep one of his animal buffs active all the time.
Side note: Trimmed some tags to read less like a Tumblr post.