Chapter 4: Pieces in Motion
"As you're all well aware, Aura is the manifestation of your soul. This is a fact established through years of research in humans, Faunus, and even the creatures of the Grimm. It is the presence of Aura within us that proves the existence of the soul… and its absence within the Grimm. However, there is more to Aura than just being a manifestation. One aspect you future huntsmen and huntresses must know is that Aura requires a power source. That power source is Spiritual Energy."
A week has passed since the kerfuffle in the cafeteria. Cardin Winchester was given his due punishment courtesy of Professor Goodwitch, ensuring that his racist behaviors were taken care of. The five new teachers managed to settle whatever errands they had the week prior and promptly returned to teaching their subjects.
…And Teams RWBY and JNPR?
They have been given a heads-up by the recent additions to the teaching faculty about a new subject that was added to the school curriculum. The details of the said subject were quickly uploaded to the school's system, thereby updating their scrolls to the schedule for which this class will be conducted and who will teach it.
Currently, they and all the other students are in one of the bigger lecture halls listening to Professor Komamura discussing a concept foreign to most hunters in general which is Spiritual Energy, or Reiryoku, as it is spoken in their native language.
The tall wolf Faunus wasn't alone, however, as he had both Bambi and Shūhei serving as his assistants to better manage a class this uncommonly large.
"Before we delve deep into the basics of Spiritual Energy, we must clear up any misconceptions," Komamura stated while raising a finger. "All beings possess Spiritual Energy. While it is true that it is the power contained in the soul and is what fuels your Semblance and Aura, it doesn't mean that it is exclusive only to us. Spiritual Energy also exists within inanimate objects. These are called Spiritual Particles or Reishi. By extension, these can also be found within the Grimm."
That statement caused some murmurs among the students. Such an idea contradicted the established studies on the dreaded creatures for millennia.
Shūhei noticed this and quickly spoke up to clarify the statement. "As Professor Komamura said, Spiritual Energy is inherent to all things. While it is true that the soul – which is composed of Spiritual Energy – is a fundamental aspect of gaining Aura and a Semblance, it doesn't exempt the Grimm from possessing the same energy. The only difference is that the Grimm are soulless, therefore they dissipate into Reishi particles when killed. Understand?"
A round of "Yes, sir," was heard throughout the lecture hall.
"With that being cleared, let us proceed to how this subject will flow!" Bambi stepped forward, taking the reins as she explained what this subject would entail. "First off, you will be undergoing a training program called 'Aura Refinement.' This program aims to increase your Aura pools, refine your control over your Aura, and enhance and explore the limits of your Semblances."
A hand was raised. The three professors pointed to the student and gave her permission to speak. It was Weiss.
"Professor Bambietta, what do you mean by Aura pool?"
The woman gave the heiress a grin and replied, "This…"
Bambietta Basterbine, the lively yet unassuming new professor of Beacon, was suddenly bathed in a bright fountain of power that flowed upward. The students were caught off guard by the display as they had never seen Aura, or Spiritual Energy as their teachers call it, be visible to the naked eye like this. The only time they witnessed Aura was when the defenses it provided shattered like glass.
To the would-be defenders of Remnant, this was an avenue newly opened to them; a means of becoming better equipped to fight the dark forces that plagued their home for eons.
Bambi let her powers subside before looking at the wide-eyed gazes of the students present. She grinned, no doubt enjoying the reaction she elicited. "That, right there, is the goal we intend for all of you students to reach. To physically unleash your Spiritual Energy. That could only come from increasing your energy reserves and gaining proper control."
"…And such control can only come from proper discipline and focus," Komamura finished. "That is why our subject will be divided into three activities – meditation, application, and combat. Meditation will serve as your exercise in refining your control over your Aura. The application of that would be during combat which would push your Semblances to their limits.
"I will reiterate, students, that those three activities will make up the core of this subject in the coming months in conjunction with Professor Goodwitch's classes! The Vytal Festival is fast approaching, and we aim to prepare not just those who will be eligible to participate, but everyone in this class to be the first generation of huntsmen and huntresses to fully utilize the true potential of Aura and its origins."
"Besides," Bambi interjected, "with our teachings, you get to kick ass in style!"
The students burst into laughter at their instructor's shenanigans. Sajin and Shūhei just sighed.
"At least she's not gunning for our necks like before," they both thought.
Shinji knew that making contact with Junior was a good thing. While not as prominent as it used to be, the Hei Xiong Family Syndicate still held a tight grasp on the distribution of relevant information in the seedy underbelly of Vale's criminal world and beyond.
The Beacon instructor got what he needed from the bar owner and the information he managed to obtain was plentiful. As expected, there were some Valean council members under the criminal payroll. Not that surprising considering the officials that used to manage the military from where he came from were much worse. There was also that info regarding the tightening of security in Atlas for some reason. Shinji didn't know how Junior managed to procure that info, but he was glad, nonetheless. The next tidbit that he got from the crime boss was the disappearance of huntsmen and huntresses in Mistral. This lined up with what Sajin and Kensei managed to obtain from Raven and thus needed to be looked into further. Finally, and this is the most important of all, there was a series of Dust robberies all around Vale headed by Roman Torchwick.
If he were to base his opinions on the profile provided by the intel he and his colleagues obtained from hacking the CCT Network, then the methods Torchwick was implementing in his thefts were not part of his regular modus. The gentleman thief was a calculative individual who rarely made impulse decisions during his heists. What he was doing right now contradicted everything that his criminal records indicated.
However, what was most intriguing was the involvement of the White Fang in his thefts. Why would an anti-human group work with a known felon? What would they gain from assisting Roman Torchwick in stealing enormous amounts of dust?
That's another thing regarding this whole conundrum that he found odd. All of Torchwick's thefts now only had the Dust taken, leaving the money and other valuables behind. For what was he going to use all that dust?
Funny enough, Shinji was aware that Roman doesn't use that much Dust; so, the only conclusion he has is that the White Fang would be the one to need it. They are a large organization, and they needed some supply to keep their operations going. However, the White Fang can do all these things and not need the help of a criminal, which begs the question:
What connects Roman Torchwick to the White Fang?
"You seem to be busy."
Shinji looked up and saw Kensei entering their quarters. "I was just thinking about the connection between that guy, Roman Torchwick, and his involvement with the White Fang. In all honesty, I don't see any reason for him to associate himself with a bunch of terrorists."
"Yeah, I don't see it myself." The hand-to-hand combat instructor had to agree.
"Although Junior did mention that something big is going on with the White Fang branch here in Vale. That could be the reason why they need that much Dust."
"Maybe. Still, that doesn't explain why they need Torchwick for this when they can just do it themselves."
"And based on the data we managed to gather, Torchwick isn't sloppy when it comes to his operations. And while he does target Dust shops now and then, he takes everything of value and bolts it before the police officers or huntsmen show up."
"If that's the case, then the only conclusion we could come up with is that he's being forced to work with the White Fang." After saying that, Shinji felt his lips tug upward into a mischievous grin.
Kensei saw this and immediately knew what was up. "You're planning something, aren't you?"
"I am," confirmed the blonde. "If my hunch is right, we may just have another potential ally in our hands."
Kensei stared at Shinji before looking up, his thoughts going over what his friend said and understanding what he meant. "If he is being forced to work with the White Fang, we can provide him with an out but under some conditions."
"Exactly. However, we still need some more info before we come up with anything conclusive."
Kensei nodded at that. He then sat down on the sofa and took out his scroll for any news that might be relevant. "I just remembered; did you happen to include that suggestion I posed when we were coming up with that updated syllabus?"
"Which one?" Shinji asked after looking up from his scroll.
"The one regarding on team formations."
"Oh, that! Yes, it was part of the syllabus along with the subjects we presented. We need to thank Yoruichi for that."
"Yeah." Kensei thought that the huntsmen system had the right idea of having four huntsmen/huntress trainees in a team. What irked him was the lack of supervision from any veteran huntsman. Sure, they were mostly attending classes and whatnot, but theory could only get you so far. The students need more in-field experience, and it would be foolhardy to send them without any oversight. What they presented was the same system implemented in the place they lived in as a refuge during their exile before finally hiding in Karakura Town. "Besides, we both know killing Grimm isn't the only job for huntsmen. If this keeps up, they'd be overwhelmed by the dissonance between what they thought was being a huntsman and what it is in reality."
"Don't worry about that," said Shinji rather calmly. "I already have a plan put in place to handle that sort of problem. All I need is a permit from Oz and we'll be set. That said, I might get some spectators from the rest of the faculty. In that case, I want you and the others to set up a barrier to prevent them from interfering."
Kensei didn't care what kind of plan Shinji had as long as it got the job done. "Sure. So long as they understand that the profession they chose isn't all rainbows and sunshine, then by all means, go for it."
"Gladly," Shinji replied with a chuckle. He heard the bell ring for the next period. "Well, I guess I have to go." He picked up a few books on the coffee table and stood up. "I still have some lessons for the second-year students. Just so you know, I've been tracking Team CFVY and their improvement. The third years also have some exceptional teams such as SLVR."
"I know. I handled those two teams during my subject, and they did impress me."
"Which means that Ozpin might have plans for them much like RWBY and JNPR." Shinji had a devious little grin on his face. "I can't wait to fuck up every little scheme he has. Oh, the pleasure I'm gonna get from it."
"You're crazy, you know that?" deadpanned the white-haired man.
"I prefer being called a troll instead." With that, Shinji turned to the door and left Kensei by himself in their quarters.
Shrugging, the close-quarters combat instructor searched the CCT Network for any relevant info.
Back in the classroom, the lesson on Aura Enhancement was going rather smoothly. Currently, the students are meditating to familiarize themselves with the nature of their Aura. Since Aura was powered by the soul, what they were essentially doing was tapping into the Spiritual Power lying dormant within them.
The form of meditation the three instructors were implementing was derived from the spiritual practice known as Jīnzen. Though not intended for such a purpose, they modified the traditional Jīnzen method to suit the goals they set for the students.
Observing the students, Komamura can already tell which among the prospective huntsmen/huntresses have an affinity for Aura control. His eyes were focused on Ren, Pyrrha, Blake, Weiss, and to some extent, Yang. These five students among the whole class exhibited the best control; Lie Ren more so if you take into account the steady flow of greenish Reiryoku around him.
The boy's achievement was soon attained by his peers as well. Mistral's Invincible Girl followed closely behind her teammate when a bright red flow of energy emanated from her. She was followed by Blake who radiated a purplish black power and then Weiss whose energy took on a bluish-white tone. A little later, Yang accomplished the basic meditation exercise when her fiery yellow Spiritual Energy gushed out of her.
However, much like any class, some wouldn't be able to comprehend the lesson as easily as others. As both Shūhei and Bambietta pointed out, a few of the students weren't able to tap into their Reiryoku reserves. They somewhat expected the resident bullies from Team CRDL to do poorly since they barely paid attention to the earlier lecture. What the teachers didn't expect was the underwhelming execution from Nora Valkyrie, Ruby Rose, and Jaune Arc.
Bambietta's favorite student was trying to forcefully and failing to enter a relaxed state. That said, it was somewhat understandable since the activity they were doing now was a complete contradiction to Nora's demeanor. Perhaps they should approach this lesson differently regarding the electrically hyperactive ginger.
Jaune Arc, on the other hand, had a different problem. Unlike the other students, what made it difficult for him to get a handle on his energy reserves was the sheer size of it. The trio of instructors took note that the young Arc's Reiryoku was more than any student in this class, maybe even in the entire school. If they were to use a comparison, Jaune had the energy pool of a seated officer ranging from the seventh seat to the fourth seat. The more energy one has, the more difficult it is to control, and Mr. Arc simply had too much for a novice like him to manage.
Case in point, there was a certain gingerhead with too much power that constantly leaked out of him. There was also one blonde knucklehead Shinji mentioned who had the same problem.
Finally, there was Ruby Rose. Sajin, Shūhei, and Bambi were aware of the girl's hidden legacy and were intent on bringing it out to its full potential. As such, meditation was the first step in achieving mastery of her gifts. However, much like Nora, she was also hyperactive thanks in no small part to her Semblance.
"All right, class, time's up!" the wolf Faunus said as the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Picking up the materials he had on the teacher's desk, Bambi, Shūhei, and himself got ready to leave but not before giving some instructions. "Don't forget to practice your meditations, especially those who haven't tapped into their reserves yet. It is of utmost importance that you familiarize yourself with your Spiritual Energy since it is the primary foundation for this subject. Also, be prepared for the combat class supervised by Professor Hirako next week. That would be all and have a pleasant day."
With that, the Beaconites shuffled out of the auditorium to either the next subject for some, or off to enjoy the rest of the day. The three teachers followed close behind as they exited the teaching hall but once they were out, they headed to the staff lounge.
"Any standouts that caught your attention during class?" Komamura asked while adjusting his glasses.
"Aside from the obvious eight in the file, none," answered Bambi. "Most of the students managed to get the gist of the discussion and were able to tap into their Spiritual Energy."
"There is one for me," Shūhei interjected. "That kid, Arc. Did you feel the amount of power inside him?"
"I did," answered the wolfman. Bambi nodded to him in agreement. "At the very least, Mr. Arc has enough power to match a fifth seat in the Court Guard."
"And a high-ranking Soldat in the Wandenreich," added the Quincy. "Maybe even a lower-tier Sternritter."
"It is said that the Arc clan boasts huntsmen of unrivaled Aura throughout Remnant's history," Sajin commented. "It's no surprise that Jaune Arc would have that trait."
"Speaking of control, I was just surprised at how fast Lie Ren managed to tap into his spiritual reserves," Hisagi remarked; recalling his mild surprise when the boy suddenly released a faint green glow. "Hell, if I have to be honest, those kids are just astounding if they managed to accomplish this much in a day. Usually, it takes the average student from Shin'ō Academy a week before they get a handle on their Reiatsu."
"True, but you have to remember that these children have had their whole lives training and familiarizing their Aura which in and of itself could be considered the first stages of Reiatsu control."
Nodding, Shūhei conceded. "Fair point."
"Guys," Bambi interrupted, "I just got a message from Shinji that Oz approved of the sparring session for the first-year students next week."
Hearing that, Komamura sighed. "The question now is which one of us will be the one facing the students."
"Also, the other professors want to watch the demonstration as a set condition for the permit." Bambi shut off her scroll and stared at her fellow instructors. "Yeah, that little shit just wants to observe us for any weaknesses."
"Good luck finding any…" remarked Hisagi.
Ending the conversation, the three decided to go ahead to the faculty lounge and wait for the next subjects they were going to teach.
-{}-
Nora Valkyrie was currently pouting. Cute as it may be, behind that frustration-ridden face held a sense of dejection and disappointment in herself. It wasn't obvious to most of her friends, but to one Lie Ren, she was like an open book.
"Nora?" the ninja-themed teen asked his lifelong friend who was undoubtedly feeling down. "Nora, are you frustrated about not tapping into your spiritual reserves?"
The gingerhead's reply was to throw her hands into the air and groan. "Ugh! No matter how hard I tried, I just can't seem to do what you guys did!"
She wasn't the only one who had the same problem. Jaune Arc was looking dejected while walking with his friends. He also wasn't able to tap into his Reiryoku and, add to the fact he was the weakest among the first years, made him feel even more pathetic. Even Pyrrha's attempts to cheer him up barely did anything.
"Jaune, it's all right," said the Spartan girl. "This is just the first session and your first attempt. There's still many more to come and I'm sure you can do it too."
"Thanks, Pyr." The blonde knight was appreciative of his partner's concern, but deep down, this just proved how much he was lacking in being a huntsman. If this keeps up, there's no question that he'll be left behind.
Finally, there was Ruby Rose. unlike the other two, she wasn't as frustrated. No, she was pretty close to tapping into her spiritual power but, just as she was within reach, it vanished.
It was a head-scratcher on its own but what truly intrigued her was the familiarity she felt within her supposed soul. The young Rose could feel it; something old, ancient even, yet familiar in some way. It was like a small part of her that wasn't just hers but someone else's.
"Ruby."
Initially, Ruby thought it was just like her mother's warmth when she gave out hugs when she was a wee little girl. However, it was closer to that of someone from long ago watching over His children.
"Ruby, you there?"
And that's what's weird. The rosette never knew any of her relatives except for her father's late grandmother whom she brought sweets when she was younger. Perhaps it could be someone from her mother's side. That could be it.
"Yo, Rubes, can you hear me?"
Then again, Ruby barely knew anything about her mother and her family. All she could remember about the Rose matriarch was that she was a kind and loving woman who baked awesome cookies and told her and Yang bedtime stories.
A Supermom.
"Hey, Ruby!"
So, what could it be? What is this sensation that's hidden deep within her soul when she tries to tap into it? And why does it feel so… so… so ancient?
"RUBY!"
Ruby jumped at the sudden cry of her name. turning around, she saw her sister looking at her worriedly. The others were also looking at her with concern.
"Ruby," Yang spoke softly, "you were spacing out."
"I was?" asked the little reaper.
"Yeah. I've been calling your name, and you weren't responding."
"Is something wrong, Ruby?" Pyrrha asked, equally concerned for her friend.
"Nothing's wrong," Ruby quickly assured. "It's just that, when I tried tapping into my Spiritual Energy during class, I felt something strange."
"Strange how?"
"Well…" Ruby continued walking along the hallway while the others listened intently, "during the meditation, I felt something strange in my soul. I don't know how to describe it other than someone… or something ancient is locked inside of me."
"Hey, wouldn't it be awesome if it were some ancient powers that tied directly to some dead god!" As usual, Nora came up with the most outlandish of theories.
Ren sighed. "Nora, I don't think it's that simple… or bonkers."
"But Renny…"
Ren and Nora's banter aside, the others prodded further at the rose reaper. "Can you explain what you felt, Ruby? Maybe we can figure out something to help you," Blake suggested.
"I'm not sure how it felt," answered Ruby with some uncertainty. "All I know is that it's super old and–"
Ruby suddenly stopped. Her eyes grew wide, and the world shifted into a hazy static. A splitting headache followed, causing the young girl to clutch her head in pain as her sister and friends came to her worried.
"Ruby!" Yang cried, holding onto her younger sibling's shoulder. "Ruby, what's wrong!?"
However, Ruby couldn't hear Yang or the cries of her other friends. The outside world was muted as the sound of static grew louder in her head. And, just as it seemed to get unbearable, the pain and the ringing stopped.
Thinking it was all over, the young rosette was suddenly assaulted by images of an unknown world - lashes of people and monsters fighting for survival. Battles of unparalleled scale raged, and countless souls perished and became one with this primordial plane.
The visions changed, now showing the birth of what could only be described as a god whose wrath was unleashed upon the beasts that prayed on hapless spirits. Scores of the dreaded abominations perished and the mightiest of them all fell at the hands of this god; its ashes becoming the sands of an endless wasteland.
The landscape changed, and now Ruby can see a tumultuous shift in the ever-stagnant world. The transcendent being stood at the center of the cosmos as he held the keystone to the world; the emptiness began to ripple like a cosmic tapestry unfurling. The void transformed into a chaotic swirl of power and life.
The cosmic maelstrom eventually subsided, settling into universes with its cosmology and expanse. One world was ridden with the ashes of the titanic beast and its ilk, another became the refuge of the many inhabitants of the primordial world, and the last was the realm with many facets and many possibilities that would serve as a chance for the spiritual denizens to take on a physical body.
However, another vision flashed in Ruby's mind. She didn't know if this happened before or after the first set of images, but it appalled her nonetheless because of what she witnessed. The god who shaped the vast expanse of emptiness into the three great realms now found itself in pain and resignation. The girl gasped as the limbs and organs of the omnipotent being were severed and scattered throughout all of creation. And, to add insult to injury, the god was sealed inside a transparent chrysalis to be nothing more than a mutilated body that pitifully serves as a figurehead in his creation's cruel joke.
While despair had worked its way into Ruby's frail and innocent heart, the huntress-to-be finally came face-to-face with the sealed god. Wiping her tears away, she gazed at the imprisoned deity in both pity and wonder. Finally, Ruby Rose saw the eyes of the transcendent being. To her surprise, she didn't just see one pupil but four in each eye which were resting on the corners of his sclera.
The majestic orbs glimmered in an otherworldly hum of divine power. As Ruby eyed them with more scrutiny, she noticed that they were in constant change of color – red, blue, green, black, gold, and to Ruby's interest, silver. Those eight orbs stared at her just as much as she stared at them.
"My child…"
Ruby took a small step back at the voice coming from the sealed god.
"My child… taken from your home… born in the dark…"
"Wha–"
"Last scion of the Silver, it is time… to open… your eyes…"
Her vision was assaulted by a bright flash of light.
And then, she screamed.
Yang didn't know how this happened. It started like any other day after classes when all of a sudden, Ruby started clutching her head as if it were being hammered furiously. Looking at her sister's eyes, the blonde brawler was horrified at the blank, lifeless gaze the little reaper had.
She repeatedly called her name to snap her back to reality, but no matter how much she tried, Ruby was still in a pained daze. Even the others tried to help but it also amounted to nothing.
However, what truly made Yang afraid was when Ruby unleashed a blood-curdling scream.
"RUBY!" Yang quickly caught her sister when the girl collapsed. "Ruby, what's going on!?"
The said girl was now twisting and turning as she held on to her eye sockets. "It hurts!" she screamed. "Yang, my eyes! It's like they're burning! AAAAAHHHH!"
"Shit! Somebody call a teacher!" Jaune yelled out loud.
Ren didn't waste any time and ran to the teacher's lounge with Nora not far behind.
Students began to flock to the scene, congesting the hallway and making things more difficult for Yang, Weiss, and Blake to do anything. "This place is getting too crowded!" Weiss said.
"Everybody get back!" Blake shouted. "Can't you see you're crowding the place? She needs some space and you people being here is just making things worse!"
Pyrrha and Jaune decided to take matters into their own hands. While the remaining members of Team RWBY were comforting their leader, they would handle crowd control until a teacher arrived.
"Please, behave yourselves!" Pyrrha exclaimed as she herded some of the curious students away from the scene.
"Everybody move back," Jaune said following his partner's lead.
Suddenly, the two present members of Team JNPR heard a gasp. They turned their heads to the source and saw blood coming out of Ruby's eyes.
Yang was now openly crying. She truly didn't know what to do at this point except hold her dear sister close to give her some comfort.
Rushing footsteps could be heard from the crowd as relief finally came in the form of Ren and Nora with instructors Shinji and Goodwitch.
"We're here," the deputy headmistress announced. "What happened to Miss Rose?" she quickly approached the sisters and examined the rosette's condition.
"I… I don't k-know," Yang answered between sobs. "She just collapsed and… and started screaming that her eyes hurt."
"Can you do something, professors?" Weiss asked the two.
"We need to get her to the infirmary. Come on, help me bring her there." Just as Goodwitch and the rest of Team RWBY were about to leave, they were stopped by Shinji who was carrying a vial of green liquid.
"No need for that," the blonde man said. "Let me have a look at her."
"We don't have time for this, Mr. Hirako!" Goodwitch argued. "Miss Rose needs to get proper–"
The buxom headmistress paused when she was met with a demonic glare from Shinji. A primal fear consumed made her stop as golden pupils on blackened sclera glared at her.
"Let me take a look at her," requested the new professor. "I sensed the sudden spike in Reiatsu and immediately rushed– SHIT! Back up!"
As soon as he said those words, Ruby let go of her eyes and she screamed louder. A pulse of Spiritual Energy blasted from the silver-eyed girl, pushing everyone back except for Professor Hirako.
"Damn it, this is bad." Shinji quickly approached Ruby and injected the serum he had into the girl's skin.
The reaction was immediate. The agony Ruby felt gradually subsided until she could feel no more pain. The blood from her eyes stopped pouring and her Spiritual Energy stabilized.
Yang, in a fit of worry, rushed to her sister to check up on her condition. "Ruby!" she cried out and cradled Ruby into her arms. "Ruby, please wake up…"
The silver-eyed girl heard her sister's voice. "Y-Yang?" she croaked.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Relief washed over the blonde huntress-in-training. "How do you feel? Do your eyes still hurt?"
"A little…" Ruby carefully stood up. Yang kept on wiping the blood stains all over her face while Blake and Weiss helped her keep her balance. "I feel weak."
"Get her to the infirmary and let her rest for the whole day," Shinji instructed. "Tell whoever is in charge there to keep her under observation. If anything happens, immediately call me or any of the new teachers."
Yang argued no further and quickly took her younger sister to the infirmary. Blake and Weiss followed behind, not wanting to leave their leader alone.
"Alright, students, get back to your class immediately!" Glynda didn't miss a beat. She showed her riding crop and glared at the gathered trainees. Fearful of the stern teacher's wrath, they wisely left the scene and headed to whatever activity they had scheduled. Once the last student left the hallway, the Deputy Headmistress turned her attention to Shinji. "What was that back there, Professor Hirako?" she asked rather forcefully. "What was that thing you injected into Miss Rose?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Shinji replied dismissively. He was about to leave when he felt a strong grip on his arm.
"You haven't answered my question." The glare Glynda was giving the blonde wasn't enough to faze him. "What happened to Miss Rose? I heard you mention something called Reiatsu earlier. What is that and what does that have to do with Miss Rose?"
Shinji pulled his arm away and replied, "Everything."
"That's still not enough." However, Glynda at least had an inkling as to how this Reiatsu connects to Ruby. "Is this about her Silver Eyes?"
Shinji stared at his fellow blonde for a second before giving her a sly grin. "You're just as perceptive as I thought, Glynda. Then again, I already spilled that I know more about Ruby and her people than someone like Ozpin who's been at this for millennia."
Glynda's eyes grew wide. This was the last thing she expected Shinji to say. "How… how did you know?"
"Please. Did you honestly think that Ozpin can hide the fact he has a layered soul?" he answered like it was the most obvious thing. "Also, we're aware of your little secret underneath the academy."
If Glynda wasn't concerned before, she is now. Knowing Ozpin's curse was one thing but for them to be aware of Amber's existence was concerning. These people, whoever they are, know about the secrets of their inner circle.
"Surprised?" asked the grinning blonde, snapping Glynda out of her stupor. Having had his fill of entertainment at the woman's expense, he decided to leave but not before leaving a few parting words. "Word of advice? Whatever it is your motley crew is planning, leave the students out of it. I'm well aware that you're going to choose one of the girls as your sacrifice, so in that regard, I might just have to kill all of you."
Despite her strength, Glynda knew she was hilariously outmatched if she ever came to blows with Shinji Hirako. She already suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Bambietta Basterbine even with the help of his superior, how much more against this man? If Shinji was just as strong as Bambi, then she had no chance of winning.
And the threat just now; the Deputy Headmistress knew that Shinji could follow through with it, and by the way he said it, he isn't one to shy away from bloodshed. Looking at his eyes, the blonde woman knew that she was staring into the eyes of someone who had taken countless lives. He will kill her and everyone in their circle.
"But I won't be doing that," said the devious professor suddenly. "I find it more enjoyable to just fuck up all your schemes." His toothy grin grew wider as he inched his face closer to Glynda's. "And the only reason why we're not taking action is because it'd be too easy. Well, that's all I've got to say, Glynda. I do hope you and everyone in your group heed my warning." However, just after taking a few steps, Shinji glanced at Glynda with a side eye and added, "We're not selfish as to deny help. Our only condition is to not involve the kids in whatever it is you buried yourselves into."
Glynda was eventually left there alone in the hallway still staring at the space where the mysterious new professor stood. She didn't know what to make of this encounter, but she knew that Ozpin, Ironwood, and Qrow needed to hear this. Now that others were aware of their much-kept sensitive information, she and the others needed to prepare for an eventual confrontation. But alas, doubt seeped into her mind when the threat of death from Shinji returned. If a confrontation did happen, would they even survive?
Far from the reaches of civilization lies shrouded in the darkness. The skies above it are painted in a bloody red hue while the earth is nothing, but a vast stretch of lifeless dirt filled with cracks and deceased trees. Its inhabitants are the dreaded Grimm that has plagued humanity for countless ages and the waters that run through its many earthly veins are the vile ichor from which the hideous creatures spawn.
In the heart of this wasteland lay a palace as intimidating as the unholy ground it stood. Within the walls of this dark bastion, we find a man long thought to be dead pacing calmly to the castle's gathering chamber.
"Milady, I have arrived as you requested," said the man as he finally entered the hall. He quickly bowed in respect for the master he served.
Said master was a woman shrouded in shadows. The figure did not face the visitor and instead opted to gaze into the shattered moon that orbited Remnant.
"Arthur," greeted the mistress of the palace. "Please, take a seat." The man now identified as Arthur took the seat closest to his master's throne. "What news did you bring for me, Arthur?"
It wasn't a piece of welcoming news, unfortunately. "This is regarding my former associate, Merlot."
"Oh? What has become of Winston Merlot? I once heard that he is secretly occupying a secluded island somewhere."
"And you'd be right, milady. Merlot has indeed taken a far-off island as his sanctuary. However, it wasn't secluded enough for him to be unnoticed."
This caught the attention of the palace's ruler. "Elaborate."
"Much to his misfortune, Winston Merlot has been murdered. On the day of our second meeting where I'd get a response from him, I found his island riddled with dead bodies of his guards. Even the security system which exceeds that of Atlas was destroyed. When I reached the control center of his base, I found his body relieved of its head."
Merlot was one potential ally that they could've had in their secret war against the light. His passing was unfortunate yet ultimately inconsequential to their cause. That said, had her nemesis finally decided to take on the offensive?
"Was Ozpin responsible?"
Arthur shook his head no. "No, milady. I do believe, however, that this is the work of a third party."
"Another faction?" the mysterious woman raised. "And they are not associated with Ozpin?"
"I believe so and yet, their reason for standing against us eludes me."
"It matters not," she assured. "Regardless of who they are, they are merely little distractions in the greater scheme of things. That said, it is never wrong to be cautious. Continue your work, Watts, while I send Hazel and Tyrian to investigate these new players."
"Very well. I have to ask, though, what of Cinder and her little pose?"
"Everything is proceeding as planned on her end. Mistral's huntsmen forces are slowly weakening, and its cowardly headmaster is in the palm of her hand. It's only a matter of time before the Vytal Festival."
"Even so, that woman's ambition is dangerous."
"I'm well aware, Watts, and I am not worried in the slightest."
Watts gave a confused look. "You're not?"
"Cinder may be ambitious, but she knows that she needs me. Her ambition is to gain power and only I can give it to her. She can have the power as long as the relics come to my possession. However, in the event of her betrayal, she can do nothing against me. Even if Cinder had all of the Maiden powers, she is still far beneath me."
"I see." Truth be told the assurance wasn't necessary. Watts already knew that his mistress was unmatched in both power and influence. None could defy her if they tried. "I'll be taking my leave then, milady."
"Then go and continue your good work, Arthur. The day reckoning is drawing near, and you will be needed soon; so, be ready for my summons."
"As you command, Lady Salem."
With Watts gone, Salem was left to herself once more. She continued gazing into the night sky and the moon that was shattered. However, there was something that was nagging her mind.
Earlier today, she felt a sudden surge of power from beyond her domain. She recognized that power anywhere; it was the power of the Silver Eyes. A survivor with those wretched eyes is still out there but this one felt different. Unlike the others whom she persecuted; this one actually shook her. Looking at her hands, whoever this bearer of the Silver Eyes was unique among them. The power released was… primordial; something akin to the gods whom she despised.
"No, it felt older than that…" she corrected.
The last warrior of Silver met her fate years ago and her powers were never this ancient. Perhaps her original assumption was wrong and that the Silver-eyed Warriors were not the scion of the God of Light but someone or… something more powerful.
"But who? Who could stand above the Brother Gods? What kind of being would be more powerful than those two?"
As much as she wanted to figure it out, the main priority was eliminating this holder of the Silver Eyes. Without that hindrance, her goals would be one step closer to fulfillment. For now, she would focus on her pieces as the day of unity draws near. With months of preparation, there is no doubt in her mind that the artifact hidden within Beacon would be hers.
"Soon, I will have all the relics and… I shall be free of my curse."
When Ruby opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was white. Everything was hazy, but at least her eyes no longer hurt. When she looked around, she deduced that she was in the infirmary. Her sister and the rest of her team must've rushed her here after her episode.
Speaking of said episode, the rosette can perfectly recall the events that transpired which led her here. The hazy vision, the headache, and the pain. However, what truly intrigued her was the visions she experienced during that.
A god who shaped the cosmos but in exchange for his kindness, was butchered and imprisoned. It was sickening to have witnessed that. Why would they do such a thing to their savior?
Finally, there was that meeting she had with said god. Despite being merely visions, the being spoke to her as it had known her. His words resonated with her as the power she had attempted to tap into was somehow linked to this deity.
But that can't be right. Sure she saw silver when the god's eyes changed colors but that's merely grasping at straws. Still, Ruby could not shake the feeling that she should recognize this god as someone important to her because…
"Why did he call me his child then?"
These were many things that her young and innocent mind couldn't understand yet. She still had more to do and to let these strange visions distract her would be detrimental to her goal of being a huntress. For now, she will leave them be.
Unbeknownst to the little reaper, her pupils almost split in two before fusing back as one.