Man, I am honestly tired of writing essays. Granted, they're far more preferable than Powerpoints and especially Excel assignments, but still… I sure am looking forward to being done with school for good.

That aside, I did have a good Thanksgiving, not to mention a trip just prior to it that I'd really needed. Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving too. And to those of you who don't celebrate the holiday, hope you've been doing well nonetheless.

Been itching to get around to doing this chapter, especially Ozpin's section, since it does advance the mystery behind the Liminals to some extent. Some of you might consider it to be a bit too much of an advancement, depending on how you interpret it all… but I assure you, this is but the tip of the iceberg still. I'd done my best to create quite the lore for Liminals that ties in with my own take on lore established with the RWBYverse itself and I like to think it'll hold up to scrutiny.

Not much else to say at this point, so without any further rambling this time, onto the chapter!

Chapter 13 – Precipice of Disaster

"I'll take that!" a young man cried out, hoisting up some odd bills of lien.

Ozpin, still disguised, smiled and took the money before handing the item in question to the man. Said man beamed and trotted off, happy as could be.

He was far from the only one around as well, with several people all but literally swarming the undercover headmaster in search of something interesting.

It's been approximately an hour since he'd arrived at the town where Eva had been born. People had been welcoming enough and with no particularly odd behavior standing out despite the driver's warning earlier…

…Well, except for the fervor with which some people approached him.

For the most part, many people had kindly acknowledged his existence and went about their day, but over this past hour, after introducing himself in the center of town as a peddler, dozens of people had flocked to him to see what he had on hand.

It was certainly a good thing that he'd stocked up on numerous items to help sell his cover better, but even then some items had sold out in so swift a manner that even he felt blindsided.

Just why were some of these people so obsessed with otherwise common products like lotions or card games from Vale?

While a part of him wanted to chalk it up to this town being often too isolated to have much contact with the rest of this continent, let alone other kingdoms entirely, this still didn't account for the intensity some of these people showed.

"Hey, I wanted that!" exclaimed one older looking woman to another as the latter now gripped her new kitchen knife like it was a lifeline.

Said woman shielded it immediately. "Get your own! You know I absolutely need this for hunting!"

It was a good thing Ozpin's fake glasses covered up his eyebrows partly, because he quirked one quite high at that comment. Using a common kitchen knife, albeit of high quality, for hunting…?

"And you know I also need a knife for-!"

Whatever the first woman was about to say, Ozpin would probably not know as he interrupted gently. "Now, now. I've a few more in stock. Maybe not as high in quality, but still the same brand."

"I'll take one!" The first woman faced him with such speed that it was wonder she didn't give herself whiplash. "How much?!"

"Hmm, about forty lien-."

The woman pulled some lien out of her cleavage of all places and all but slammed the bills into his face. He faked a stumble as he held out the knife and the woman snatched it desperately before dashing off… though she did yell out thanks.

At least she had some manners.

And such was the case with others, the citizens of this nameless town scoping out his wares and latching onto the oddest of trinkets as he unveiled them.

It was quite the learning experience.

With how quick they were to approach him and now treat him most affably thanks to his selling, the disguised headmaster supposed now might be a good time to start asking some probing quest-.

"Alright," called out a husky voice. "That's enough for now, all of you."

Immediately, the people that remained around Ozpin now froze in place before parting, revealing the newcomer.

A woman, roughly equal to him in height and possessing a broad and muscular frame with especially powerful looking arms and legs. She appeared to be roughly in her early to mid-forties, her face still rather beautiful yet with some noticeable crows' feet that only added to her stern expression.

Despite being dressed in a plain brown button-up shirt and trousers, she radiated authority as she approached. It probably helped that she had her hands directly on her hips, accentuating her thick frame.

That said… no one appeared afraid of her despite clearly abiding by her command.

"Give the man some time to breathe," she continued upon having everyone's attention. Her dark grey eyes scanned the small crowd. "Besides, the mayor would like to have a word with him anyways. You can come bother him again afterwards."

Some of the people huffed in annoyance at having their shopping interrupted but didn't argue and dispersed immediately.

Ozpin was instantly wary. Something about this woman felt different. Not in the same way as Veratyr – that young man was still quite unique somehow – but this still unnamed woman's presence felt much greater than Eva's.

"Uh, am I in trouble?" Ozpin asked, still keeping his guise up. "Nothing wrong with peddling, right?"

"…No," the woman answered as she shifted her sandy brown hair, done up in a side plait, around. "It's unusual, to be certain, but hardly something worth fussing about on my part. I'm simply doing what I must. In any case, my comment just now was no lie – the mayor does wish to meet you."

"Alright then…" Ozpin began. "I'm Oscar. Nice to meet you, Ms…?"

"Terra," she replied. "Just call me Terra. Now come along, I don't like to dawdle if I can help it."

The woman did an about face and Ozpin was quick to follow along. He remained alert; the woman, despite still having her hands on her hips, was ready to move in a heartbeat. Whether that meant she was itching for a fight or something else, he didn't know for certain yet. She didn't seem the fight-happy type, but the fact she seemed prepared for violence was off-putting.

Could it be that she's also…?

"So what brings you here, Oscar?" Terra asked as she led him down the street. "Here to merely peddle your wares?"

"Well, yeah," he replied. "But also to check out more of the land. Anima is a pretty big place, after all. It's only natural I'd want to see more of it in any way I can."

"Fair enough. What do you think of our quaint little town so far?"

"It's definitely unique," he replied with a little laugh. He didn't have to put on an act with that reply.

Most towns and villages out here on the continent of Anima tended to be more simplistic in design and with influences that ranged from a variety of cultures that had long since been birthed here. However, this still unnamed town… while certainly beautiful what with its small but lovely homes and corner stores, was quite uniform in design. It almost seemed like something more at home in Mantle rather than here the borderline of the kingdom of Mistral. The structures were too modernized, to be frank, too clean. It was as if the surrounding land didn't touch these structures, which made the contrast all the more startling if some citizens still did their own hunting as the woman from moments ago indicated.

Unless, of course… most – if not all – of the people here were like Eva-

-That is, they were all Liminals.

…Yes, he could sense it better now. Having had a taste, so to speak, of Veratyr's and Eva's odd energy signatures, he could sense vaguely similar traits from Terra here and the other citizens earlier.

The driver who'd taken him relatively close to here had been spot-on – this town was definitely not normal.

Terra hummed, sounding almost pleased. "Unique… that is one way of putting it." She paused. "We're here."

She stopped just outside of what looked like a city hall, which looked more like a church of olden days rather than a proper city hall. Even the design of the place harkened back to an earlier era, with stone and mortar being the standout components of its structure.

However, upon entering the building a few seconds later, there was no mass hall to be found, but rather a small series of offices and the like… with the one straight ahead clearly being more important looking than the others.

Someone was inside, in the process of looking over a document, though said person glanced up as Terra closed the doors behind her.

The person inside the office – a man, this time – stood up and quickly went to open his office door for them. "Ah, there you are. Please, come on in."

Said man was noticeably shorter in height compared to the two of them, almost a whole head shorter, in fact. He was of a comparable age to Terra as well, if not a little older. With reddish-brown skin and white hair tied into a neat braid, the man cut a striking figure in his light grey button-up and black pants and boots. Though clearly not the spriest one around anymore, he still possessed a fairly lean and solid build, showing that he took good care of himself.

Still following behind Terra, Ozpin entered the quaint office and immediately felt at home in it. It reminded him of days long past, long before he ever began this current life and he'd lived by himself as the Wizard. Even though that particular life had been a bitter one before the four who'd become the first Maidens came along, he still couldn't help but look back at his solitary lifestyle and miss some aspects of it.

Ozpin was roused from his nostalgia trip when the man, clearly the mayor, chuckled. "Glad to see you approve of my setup here."

"I do indeed. Very homey," Ozpin replied. "Name's Oscar by the way. Nice to meet you."

"Name's Nicholas," the man introduced. "It's nice to meet you too… Ozpin."

Ozpin's heart practically did a flip at his name being mentioned. He was immediately reminded of how his encounter with Veratyr had gone. It was only the fact that the man used his current name rather than his original one that kept him from outright panicking.

"Oh, no need to get too startled there," Nicholas quipped, chuckling yet again. "We mean you no harm."

"So long as he keeps the peace," Terra sternly warned. She'd hung back by the door to the office. She'd closed it quietly behind themselves and now openly removed her hands from her hips. Her knuckles were quite prominent, indicating she was used to fighting.

Ozpin was still plenty confident he could fight his way out if – and only if – things went down that route, but he'd rather not start a fight where it could be avoided.

"Terra." Nicholas drawled her name out in that way only an exasperated man could do with longtime friends. "Come on, show the dear man some respect."

"I am," she responded. "By respecting the kind of damage he could do if he so desired."

With a sigh, Ozpin removed his false glasses to rub at his eyes. "I come here in peace. And would very much love to leave here in peace, if you'd allow it." He spoke firmly but not unkindly. Though he'd probably need to keep up his current disguise out in the town, it was a different matter in here.

"Excellent," Nicholas commented, smiling gently. "Then please take a seat."

Ozpin sat across from Nicholas just as the man himself gently plopped back into his own chair. "I can take a guess why you're here," the mayor began. "We may not exactly be the most connected town out here, but we do get the major news."

"Then you're aware of Eva?" Ozpin, deciding just to get to the heart of things, responded plainly.

The mayor's expression fell. "Yes, we all are. The poor girl… she never did quite have a chance."

Terra huffed, albeit with a hint of pity to the sound. "We all can't choose our ultimate purposes. She just had the bad luck of being born that way. But it doesn't excuse the harm she did, Nicholas."

"I know. Even so, things like this can be rather pitiable."

"Apologies for interrupting," Ozpin began. "But what do you mean by purpose? Eva made mention of such a thing, but never was able to elaborate."

While still on guard with how forthcoming these two were being, now was the best time possible to get all the answers he could ever need.

"…What exactly did she tell you?" Nicholas asked as he rested his chin upon his interlocked fingers.

"That she is a being between fantasy and reality… a Liminal, to use her term," Ozpin began. "And that her purpose had been to 'shine,' vague as that was."

Nicholas didn't answer right away, instead merely humming. He remained silent for a few seconds, thoughtful. "It is more or less as she said then. Liminals – that is to say, all of us in this town and elsewhere – are being in between fantasy and reality, the world of humans… and something else entirely. Biologically, we are human, but spiritually… well, our souls are a mixture between human and something else. Magical, for lack of a better way to put it."

The mayor leaned back in his seat now, staring up at the ceiling. Ozpin stared, captivated by the man's brief explanation thus far. "…How we came to be, only a few of us really know. It's been so long that the exact details have escaped us despite our attempts to keep the knowledge of our past intact. The fault of sticking to oral traditions when it came to passing on stories." He chuckled tiredly at that. "But our ancestors, the very first of our kind… they're not from this world, that much I can confirm. And it was because of how they came here that is responsible for the nature of our existence."

"And 'purpose' is what guides our existences," Terra now chipped in. Though she sounded hesitant to add to the conversation at all, something still compelled her to do so, it seemed. "From the very moment of our births, we Liminals have a 'purpose' that must be fulfilled no matter what. Calling it an obsession wouldn't be entirely inaccurate… but still undersells things."

Nicholas sighed. "Indeed. Purpose can vary from one Liminal to another, though given enough time for our numbers to grow, you might see some overlap… but that'd be digressing. Anyways, we all try our best to carry out this purpose as best as possible while still living just like anyone else… sadly, Eva had an especially rough time of it."

"To shine…" Ozpin murmured.

The mayor nodded. "Mhm. To become the most brilliant existence there is, a shining star like no other… not exactly an easy thing to accomplish. But her Principle sure helped with that."

Yet another term he recalled Eva mentioning. "I take it this Principle is something akin to a semblance? She was able to entrance others into obeying her."

"More or less," Nicholas said. "In addition to a few other abilities… but those are standard when it comes to us Liminals. Eva's ability to enthrall others through her very existence… that was unique to her alone."

Nicholas ceased speaking. Terra didn't seem eager to speak up again, instead settling for folding her arms across her broad chest.

Ozpin, for his part, took this chance to collect himself. It really did feel too good to be true, getting all this information. By all rights, he should count his blessings and be on his way at the very first chance he got… but he still must push.

There was still far too much to learn.

"…Eva knew things that she shouldn't have been able to know," Ozpin said. "She also claimed to be part of a group. What do you know of that?"

Terra grunted harshly. "Must be Rya. That brat always was strongarming others into following her."

Nicholas grimaced, seemingly sharing in the large woman's evident displeasure. "I suppose so." He closed his eyes and bowed his head in exasperation for a moment before finally addressing Ozpin again. "While I can't comment on these things she knew without you specifying, I can tell you about her… friends."

The mayor took a breath. "…We're not the only town of Liminals in Remnant," he stated plainly. "There are more settlements out there, on the other continents. Oh, please don't worry, we're not going to eventually overthrow humanity via breeding or anything." The mayor allowed himself a light chuckle at the way Ozpin started at his statement. "We're very much a minority in the grand scheme of things. Even the Faunus at their smallest population size in history exceeds us Liminals in terms of numbers. But like I said a moment ago, our kind has been around for quite some time. Centuries, really."

Nicholas shifted into a more comfortable position before continuing. "Anyways, though we all tend to stick to ourselves – the towns and villages, that is – we do still sometimes make contact. It's how we often tend to know who is who and whatnot. Rya, undoubtedly the leader of the group Eva had joined up with, hails from a town in the northeastern-most part of Sanus, well past Vale's border… ah, and don't bother trying to look for the town; it was wiped out almost fifteen years ago. A combination of a large Grimm attack and in-fighting from what we know of it."

"Rya's always been one to try dominating others," Terra now added. "Always trying to lord over others like some grand being. It's her purpose and she adheres to it far more intensely than most of our kind. For what reason, we couldn't say… but it's led her to do things most of us can't really condone. Not quite condemn, but only a relative handful of us agree with her way of doing things."

Ozpin was silent, absorbing every last word and picking them apart, trying to search for any hidden meanings. One thing he could be certain of at the moment was this: this was turning out to be far, far more than he'd ever imagined.

"Even though you don't know why she's doing all this… can you envision what her end goal is? What she intends to do?" Ozpin eventually asked. "Can you perhaps guess how many people are in this group?"

Nicholas spoke up again. "I wish we could tell you the answers to those particular questions, Beacon headmaster. Truly… but I'm afraid we can't. The things we Liminals would sometimes do to live up to our purposes… you'd be shocked just how far some of us would go, the ones without restraint. And as to how large her group is… I can't even guess. She's always been a selective one, so I can't imagine it being particularly large."

Terra snorted. "Just call her a bitch," she dully commented. "An arrogant, selfish, and picky bitch."

Nicholas' left eyebrow twitched at the woman's harsh words, but didn't deny them. "Don't forget powerful," he added, all but whispering it out.

Terra's stern expression tightened further, even twisting in frustration. It was something she couldn't contest, apparently.

"Moving on," Ozpin began. "What about another one? What do you know of a man named Veratyr?"

The air grew tense the very instant he finished uttering the young man's name. So great was the tension that the ancient magic user almost instinctively prepared to fight.

"…Figures he'd be involved in all this too," Nicholas grumbled.

"I take it he isn't a popular one among his fellow Liminals?" Ozpin assumed.

"…Not quite." The words came out cagey. Nicholas clearly had more he could say, yet showed no signs of desiring to elaborate.

"He never should have been born," murmured Terra, the woman actually shivering in clear discomfort. "He's… not someone that should have existed…"

Ozpin almost recoiled. Though plenty of people throughout history have uttered such harsh words about others, this was the first time he'd heard the words spoken so… so desperately instead of scornfully.

The mystery behind the young man only continued to grow… but Ozpin wouldn't be able to unravel it any time soon, not with how badly these two had taken to his name being uttered.

Feeling that it was finally best to make this comment, he spoke again. Tentatively. "How did you even know who I was, by the way? Why tell me all this?"

His sudden segue jolted Nicholas and Terra alike from their apprehensive states. It was the former who responded, recognizing the topic switch for what it was and being visibly grateful for it. "Ansuz – one of our post office workers – happened to be near where you'd been and overheard your brief cover story. His Principle lets him passively discern truth from lies and he came running to tell me." Nicholas snorted, amused now. "As for why… well, it's my purpose. I'm always here to help as much as I can."

That explanation gave Ozpin some pause.

It would certainly explain why Nicholas was the mayor – it was the position that could best help the town, at least in theory. But at the same time… given Eva's own fixation on fulfilling her purpose, just how much agency did Nicholas really have in calling him here to explain all this? Would the man have been perfectly fine speaking with him if he'd had the choice? Or… does he perhaps dislike, even resent, having to step in like this when he likely didn't need to?

Given that he felt so antsy talking about Veratyr just now, that did imply some measure of free will there… but it could also just be a case of him trying to keep himself from talking as long as possible since Ozpin was still in desperate need of answers.

"Easy now," Nicholas softly said. "You'll make your palms bleed like that."

Ozpin blinked. His hands were balled into fists so tight that aura or no, he would've eventually torn the skin on his palms.

As someone condemned to an unending cycle of reincarnation, the idea of such little agency… it bothered him. Immensely, even more so than most other atrocities he'd bore witness to throughout his countless lives.

Nicholas seemed to figure out what bothered him, for the man smiled kindly. "Don't sweat the small things too much… it'll only wear you down. Just know that while life is certainly a bit more chaotic for us Liminals, it's something we're used to."

Ozpin stared, uncertain of what to say to that. Why, he wasn't certain if he should say anything at all.

"…Is there anything else you would be willing to tell me?" How he managed to utter those words so calmly was a mystery in and of itself.

Nicholas took a whole minute to think that over. Then finally… "Just that you should be careful. Very careful. I don't know who Rya has on her side now, but she alone would be the greatest challenge of your life. What little we know about what she can do… it's not something you can handle."

Ozpin knew not if that statement was exaggerated in some way. There have been plenty of people who'd been described as unbelievably powerful throughout history, but reality often tended to be disappointing to varying degrees each time.

But the very existence of Liminals, still unknown in their origin, allowed for things far different from the established norm. Eva, despite clearly not being a fighter, had still proven difficult. If she'd done things a bit differently, then the consequences would have been dire.

"I see. Thank you very much," the Beacon headmaster said. "If that is all, then perhaps it'd be best if I'm on my way now."

"Yes," spoke Terra. "Perhaps that would be best, especially if Rya is after you for something."

That was about as indirect as the woman would apparently dare to say 'get the hell out of town now,' Ozpin surmised. But it lacked the strict tone from earlier. Whether she had somehow softened up around him or just a lack of energy now in general, he didn't know.

As he finally found the strength to stand, Ozpin paused. He wasn't sure if Eva had been referring to this group she was a part of or not, but even so…

"At the very end," he began, causing Nicholas and Terra to perk up. "Eva said that she'd done her very best."

Though the woman had moved to Vale as a child, it was clear there had still been a bond between the woman and her hometown.

Nicholas closed his eyes and his expression saddened. "I see. That's good to hear," he whispered in a bittersweet tone. It looks like those words meant more than just the obvious, with how many different emotions now flashed across his expression.

Even Terra appeared to look torn between being proud about something and in grief.

"I will see myself out now," Ozpin quietly said as he adjusted his disguise. "…Please take care."

"You too," murmured Nicholas.

And so with nary a sound made, Ozpin took his leave.

Leonardo Lionheart had never really thought of himself as a brave man. At least, not in the same way that others would define bravery. When other people thought someone to be brave, they typically confused it with fearlessness, something quite different.

And he was anything but fearless. But he'd always managed to put a clamp on his fear and push onwards… his due diligence, so to speak. It was this sense of diligence that had allowed him to do things and make calls that he'd never once imagined himself being capable of doing. It was this sense of diligence that had allowed him to work his way up to being headmaster of Haven Academy.

And now, it was this same sense of diligence that had him fulfill the 'obligations' of his more recent job:

Reporting to Salem.

"…And that is everything?" the woman asked after he'd given his report.

Leonardo, kneeling like a servant before his lord, like some twisted scene of eras long since passed, could only nod. "Y-Yes, James could only tell me what he knew… but the man would never mislead or hold back information if it could be helped."

Just a little while ago, his longtime friend and fellow member of Ozpin's cabal, James Ironwood himself had reached out to him with a level of desperation he'd rarely seen in the Atlas general. He'd seen the man worked up, even outright irate plenty of times in the past, but seeing him so alarmed and worried like that had been a sight unlike any other.

What had made the brief call all the more worrying had been what James had reported to him.

Of new beings called Liminals.

Of how one had worsened the Grimm incursion in Vale immensely merely by existing, it seemed…

…And how Ozpin, having come to Anima in disguise, might be walking into an ambush.

A lengthy call that had boggled his mind. Not since he'd learned the true terror of Salem – of her true immortality – had he ever been so shocked, so… terrified.

It was easy to persevere in the face of most odds. At least those had some chance of being beaten, no matter how skewed the odds may be.

But in the face of Salem and now these unnatural existences known as Liminals… that was a different matter entirely.

James, for all his faults, was a good man who'd reached out to him in the hopes that he could find Ozpin, provide him some form of support. Alas said hopes would be for naught; Leonardo was a traitor to their cause, Salem having reached out to him via her agents and making it perfectly clear what horrific power she truly wielded.

This shadow war wasn't one that could be one, only prolonged. That had been the terrible truth he'd learned that day. It had led him into the deepest pits of despair and in that despair be forced into being her newest pawn.

Having been 'gifted' a Seer to act as a communications node between the two of them, he would funnel what useful intel he could get back to Salem. Unfortunately, he suspected Ozpin may be onto him. This was a suspicion he'd confirmed thanks to James' call, the information of which had completely blindsided him despite there having been plenty of time to keep him apprised.

"W-What…?" he began fearfully. Salem was a surprisingly reasonable being most times, but there had also been times where her mood could shift drastically. He didn't know if said shifts were genuine or merely an act, but he feared those moments all the same; one misstep could mean his demise. "What should I do…?"

Despite his turncoat actions, the good man he once was desperately wanted to send aid to Ozpin. James' trust in his ability to locate the Beacon headmaster wasn't misplaced, at least that much was true. But Salem could just as easily have different priorities.

And this seemed like an ideal situation for her.

Salem, however, didn't answer right away. Instead, as he dared to raise his head a little, she appeared to be looking contemplative about something, but that was roughly the extent to which he could read her expression.

"Locate him," she finally replied. "Act as though you're still the good man the dear general believes you to be. Having Ozpin at Haven would, in fact, be much more beneficial to me than having him potentially encounter these Liminals you speak of."

Despite knowing better, the Haven headmaster couldn't help but gape at her command. "Are you certain?" He even dared to stand, such was his surprise.

"Better for Ozpin to be in my grasp than in this unknown group's," Salem replied tersely. "You've your orders for now, Leonardo. Get to it… and do be sure to look into these Liminals as well should you find the chance. I'd prefer you verify the truth of the general's words as an extra precaution at this stage of our little… war."

The image of Salem displayed through the Seer now disappeared and the Grimm fell into an inactive state. Leonardo stood awkwardly as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.

Finally, he found it in himself to move, the Lion Faunus' tail swishing forlornly behind him. Leaving the hidden space and walking back into his office, he let out a great sigh. Oh, how cruel time had been to him, he noted, looking into a nearby mirror and seeing just how much his hair had lost its luster and how clammy his skin had become.

He then let out a tired and self-deprecating chuckle. Look at him, silently mourning his fading youth while he helped mankind's greatest enemy get one step closer to victory. All the huntsmen he'd intentionally sent out on suicide missions just to thin Mistral's security. Whether it was on Salem's orders or not, he'd still been the one to carry this all out.

If the day ever comes where his friends discover his treachery… he wasn't sure what would kill him first: them or his shame.

Letting out yet another sigh, he took a seat at his desk and prepared to go through the process of finding the head of this hidden cabal. Given that Ozpin's goal in Anima was to personally dig into Eva Lambros' past, he should have a few huntsmen go out and scope the area she originated from. Said knowledge was public and while the town itself wasn't officially marked on any map, the region in and of itself was, so that already narrowed down the search area considerably. Additionally, given that it was an outright town and not a small village, that meant it likely had a perfectly functioning society, which would include a post office that handled deliveries from other towns and regions in general. That was yet another good way of tracking the town down.

He just hoped Ozpin would still be in the region by the time he could get some people out there. But… hmm, who to send? Through his own actions, the number of huntsmen available in Mistral was painfully low. Only a relative handful remained, enough to give the public appearance of things looking normal so far, but he's had to rely on traveling huntsmen from other kingdoms to pass by to provide aid.

Perhaps Argus Limited could provide a few helpers? He's heard that two huntsmen from there, Dee and Dudley, were looking to stretch their legs away from the train for a little while…

The headmaster was roused from his thoughts when his computer pinged… and not with some random email either.

Mistral was sadly known for its criminal underbelly, with the likes of the Spider gang running about when they thought no one was looking their way. It'd taken a lot of time to establish connections and set up CCTV in certain regions, but he'd been able to build up a security web that let him know when the more prominent criminal groups moved out of their usual territories, if only in the regions closest to Haven Academy itself.

Setting aside his 'work' for now, he checked the notification… and the diligent huntsmen that he once was awakened within him in that moment, critically eyeing what he was being shown.

Some members of the Spider gang, typically confined to their turf within Mistral's city, were seen 'casually' strolling around territories closer to Haven. Not by a whole lot, to be perfectly honest, but that it pinged his security web at all was noteworthy.

It was through this security network and his leadership of Mistral's huntsmen that he came to be known as the kingdom's most powerful individual.

And it looks like Lil' Miss Malachite, second only to him in this respect, must finally be growing sick of being in second place. That he could now spot more Spiders pretending to be casually going about their business in all the wrong places spoke volumes. And quite ironically, it was his web and not hers that was being put in use right now.

…The Spiders might very likely be targeting Haven of all places. But to what end? To launch an attack? While the huntsmen population had dwindled and the students were only barely returning from the tragedy in Vale, he still didn't think this to be a situation that the seasoned criminal could take advantage of.

Fact of the matter is, while the two of them might be first and second place in terms of power respectively, the gap was far smaller than Lil' Miss likely thought. His security setup only really extended into the regions directly around Haven Academy and not much further. Out past that point, he could only rely on old-fashioned methods and intuition to keep the gangs on their toes and prevent them from stirring up too much trouble, especially with how entrenched they are. One slip-up on his part could lead to a power shift.

…Could the criminal have somehow sensed this now? That somehow, he was on the precipice of disaster? It wouldn't be the first time Lil' Miss had sensed blood in the water.

The Faunus headmaster now bit his lip nervously, his previous demeanor gone and his fear taking root yet again. Dealing with such oddities from the Spiders was already something that would warrant concern. Dealing with that on top of everything else he'd just learned was triggering every alarm bell in his mind.

It's all connected somehow. Has to be. Can't be coincidence.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of his own paranoia… but to no avail. A healthy sense of paranoia helped keep one alive, but ever since Salem sunk her hooks into him, everything about himself had been thrown off balance, as though he were on a rocking boat lost at sea…

…And heading straight into a massive storm.

Hazel let out a grunt as he entered Vacuo's capital. Compared to the rest of the kingdom's land, the capital was a far better sight than the dunes and roughneck encampments set out there. But only by a little bit.

Not because he couldn't appreciate the beauty of the capital, but rather because its luster was ruined by the rather noticeable lack of people around. He's actually been to Vacuo a few times in the distant past and even now he can recall well just how much the place bustled. Tourists and locals alike flocked to the capital to peruse the shops and small but delicious eateries here and enjoy the other attractions the colorful place in this sea of sand could provide.

But now it was something of a shell of its former self. It still had plenty of people around, but it was a massive far cry compared to before. As the huge man walked past a few street vendors, he took note of how barren they looked, with hardly much of a crowd around.

And that wasn't even getting into the tense expressions a lot of the people – the locals, specifically – wore. It didn't take much to determine the cause of said tension either, for one person eating on his lonesome at an outdoor table let out a mucus-filled cough out of the blue, earning him immediate glares from everyone within earshot.

"I-I just swallowed wrong…" the man said after managing to regain control of his vocal cords.

Some people seemed to entertain the idea that it really was just that… but Hazel could only watch as anyone even remotely close to the man scurried away, not wanting to catch whatever he might have.

Hazel grimaced. It would appear that the illnesses from out in the desert have started to creep their way into Vacuo's capital. Given the information Watts had shared with him, the large man was willing to go out on a limb and say that these Liminals might have had something to do with this. It was quite the stretch, making such a connection, but after having worked for Salem for so long, he's found himself entertaining notions that he never would have before.

Well, regardless if a Liminal truly is responsible for this brewing crisis or not was irrelevant. They were still a subject of interest, if not an outright obstacle to Salem's plans in the long-run, thus it would be best for him to locate them and act accordingly. Such was the logic he was sticking to in light of his conversation with Watts.

He could only hope that Salem, if and when she discovers this course of action, takes it in stride. According to Watts, a Liminal by the name of Alisa had forged an alliance with the immortal woman. What that will mean for them all, he didn't know. And if even Watts himself is uncertain of this entire ordeal, then that meant he should be especially on guard; Watts was intelligent and certainly not lacking in confidence when it came to making deductions, so if the former Atlas scientist was hesitant to guess what could happen, it might be bad.

In any case, here he now was, wandering the streets of the capital like some random tourist. As it is, he had no real lead to follow here. For one thing, there was not the slightest hint as to what this Liminal looks like, not even their gender being known. For another, there was a possibility they were either a member of this Cradle trio that Alisa is a part of, or a member of another group that is actively hostile.

In other words, he's here to somehow locate a potential ally… or an enemy.

He grunted. How troublesome. Having such a huge lack of details to work with and with no discernible way to pick up a proper lead was one of the few situations that could irritate the huge man. It would appear he's gotten a bit too spoiled, having the likes of Watts to provide him intel up until now.

…

…Right then. He's had his little moment of silent complaining. Time to get to business.

First thing's first, he needs to rein himself in. Fall back onto skills he'd learned long ago, when it'd only been himself that he had to look out for.

Look for what doesn't belong. That was always one of the most fundamental lessons anyone should learn in life.

Given the recent outbreak of illness, everyone was on edge. Even the most outwardly stoic of individuals moved about with some tension in them, like they're ready to either bolt on the spot or straight up kill anyone that might have something worse than the common cold. So, unless the Liminal was acting, they were likely moving about without a care in the world. Anyone without any sense of tension about them at all would, at the very least, be worthy of greater scrutiny.

For the next hour, as the blazing sun finally began to set, Hazel traversed the capital slowly and thoroughly. He even went as far as to buy himself a little something to eat on the go, in order to keep his energy levels up. Although not the size of Vale's capital or even Mistral's, Vacuo's capital was still huge. It would take him a few days of continual work to fully traverse the entire place and that was assuming the Liminal didn't just leave at some point or another.

However, such a possibility was one he wasn't too worried about; in light of the conversation he'd had with Watts, Hazel had mentally gone over how the illnesses and diseases appeared to spreading… and it looked to him as if a path was forming, traveling from the kingdom's outskirts towards the capital itself.

That would imply this Liminal was moving with a specific goal in mind, be it to cause wanton mayhem or something else entirely. Either way, they were likely still in the capital and simply biding their time. Hazel would thus need to bide his time as well and continue to search thoroughly.

However, he must be careful. With how twitchy many people are now, there was a chance of unwanted attention if he does anything that the locals may find too suspicious. He'll need to act like a simple wanderer exploring the capital. Easy enough to do.

Nevertheless… he too was feeling a little… offput. There were far too many new variables to account for and with such little time to adapt. These Liminals, due to being new factions with still unknown capabilities, currently held the upper hand and would continue to do so until the playing field is leveled. This situation could very right or terribly wrong.

Hazel could only do his part to ensure the former occurs, not the latter.

"…!" As he finally decided to call it a quits for the day, heading for a cheap inn within the capital's denser area, he paused as he spotted one particular individual from a distance:

Qrow Branwen.

One of Ozpin's best huntsman around and the one who'd stepped in before Cinder could fully obtain the Fall Maiden's power.

Hazel switched mental gears, now deciding to trail the man. Said huntsman didn't appear to be alone either, walking alongside a short woman that he couldn't immediately identify from this distance. But it only took a glance to tell that she too was a huntress of considerable power and skill. Given Qrow's very presence here in Vacuo and the expressions he'd glimpsed on their faces, he'd venture to say the woman was part of Ozpin's cabal as well.

They clearly weren't here for him. After all, he'd just barely arrived today and it wasn't as if Ozpin's side had any way of learning his identity in general.

That meant… that meant they were likely on the lookout for the Liminal as well, whether they knew what the Liminal truly is or not.

Either way, the two of them were traversing the streets with some purpose. Perhaps that meant they had a bit of a better lead to follow than he did. It wouldn't hurt to tail them for a while to determine if this was truly the case.

But now that he knew Ozpin's side was looking for the Liminals as well… perhaps he can use this.

Maintaining his usual stoic expression, Hazel walked in the same general direction as his two new targets.

Meanwhile, in a different part of Vacuo, Valentino was enjoying himself an early night ice cream treat… all while pondering the best possible way to get inside Shade Academy.

Took me way too damn long to write such a straightforward chapter. Just goes to show how busy I got with school and whatnot. Sorry about that. Hopefully I can get one more chapter out before the end of the month, but it depends on how the grading for my most recent final assessment goes since that might mean I'll need to focus on that.

In that particular case, just let me wish you all a Merry Christmas and possibly a Happy New Year as well. Nonetheless, I can hopefully get out another chapter in time for the holidays.

Anyways, as the chapter title indicates, shit is about to go down. I've pretty much all the current players assembled in both Mistral and Vacuo, so this is where things start to go crazy. And just wait until you see what I've in mind for the former in particular…

That said, again, please don't go thinking that the reveals in Ozpin's section were done too easily; there's still a bunch more lore to unveil about the Liminals, even in spite of all the massive hints I've been dropping up until now about them. Said remaining secrets won't be revealed in the expected context either, so that too should hopefully add to the intrigue.

Now with all that said… time for me to get back to my most recent obsession outside of fanfiction, ha ha.

Until next time, everyone. Take care!