Astolfo was already there when Jeanne arrived. Jeanne had to wait since it had taken Taiyang some convincing to come along. Yang still wouldn't budge but that was more to do with the individual who had just come in to Ozpin's office than it did anything else. On Yang's end, she was slowly recovering enough to at least move in and out of the house. She still hadn't taken that prosthetic that the general of Atlas had gifted her. But when word of Raven Branwen's presence in Ozpin's office had appeared, there was a moment where Yang's fire had returned. It had lasted only for a rage-fueled moment before it quickly died down with Yang saying "whatever" and proceeded to change through the channels on the television.

Jeanne's Maiden powers had been explained away as some advanced form of semblance. It is for that reason that most weren't too surprised to see her flying about, carrying Taiyang. She had used much of it to deal with the occasional big Grimm that would come too close to Vale's cities. At times, she might have reached further out in hopes of bolstering their numbers. The rebuilding process on the civilian side may have been moving smoothly but the active huntsmen would be stretched thin once that moved outwards. Students were being pushed further into professional status just to keep the numbers going. Quality of Vale's professional huntsmen went down as a result.

It was Glynda who informed them about Raven's sudden appearance and her being subsequently subdued by Saber. Raven had tried to fight back with her own Maiden powers but that wouldn't do well against most Servants, especially against those with the advantage of being in their own territory. Raven didn't have anywhere else to go.

"Out of everyone she would go to," Taiyang sounded so disappointed yet unsurprised. "She didn't go back to her family."

Glynda couldn't offer any answers, not even that Raven might want it straight from Ozpin. "Raven's only other option is to run on her own."

"With this Grail War going? Where would she even run off to?"

Astolfo was hopping around them. While everyone else had a serious expression mixed with some disappointment with Raven, Vale's Companion Rider was unaffected by it all. Like Jeanne, Astolfo was also responsible for bolstering Vale's huntsman numbers. He was doing them remarkably well enough though that had more to do with personality traits than any actions.

Jeanne could only bury her face in her hands. Astolfo, for all of his great actions in stemming the negativity of the Grimm, was remarkably dense in regards to the feelings of the people, as far as she could see. The number of people having a sort of awakening in themselves was too high for Jeanne's number. Only Port was able to connect with him and that didn't really make things better.

Speaking of Port, he had arrived as well. "Final count," he said. "Fifty-two."

Astolfo was wowed. "Fifty-two? That's not bad for a mustached-muscle man." He pointed to himself. "I myself am sitting pretty on fifty-three."

The two shared a hearty laugh. Their hands shook. No. Rather, their hands locked and their biceps flexed. "I'll get you next time, partner!"

"Looking forward to it, comrade!"

Just like any other time, the two ended their camaraderie with a sounding headbutt. It was either a testament to Astolfo's surprising restraint or Port's apparent sturdiness that the latter never seemed damaged outside of aura reserves considering the force behind them. How many times had they done this now? At least the people of Vale are stemming the negativity with this sight. The casualness of these two made things easier in people's head. Jeanne wondered if Astolfo was that clever.

With Glynda leading the way, Taiyang, Jeanne, and Astolfo made their way towards Ozpin's office. The reconstruction of Beacon was still on-going without any signs of it finishing soon. It would be safe to say that Beacon wouldn't have students for a while in these halls. Loud noises of hammers pounding away and the strong scent of paint filled their noses. Tiles where being replaced and there was much dust that littered these hallways. Clouds of dust rose and fell quite a lot and left noticeable impressions on the soles of their shoes. None of them could be avoided unless they could fly.

Shouts were getting louder as they got closer to Ozpin's office. There was no mistaking that it was Raven's voice that they heard. Taiyang was the first to act by walking faster. Glynda readied herself to restrain Taiyang if the confrontation ever becomes terrible. A useless gesture since Jeanne had already did the restraining earlier. There was a reason that it had taken them some time to get here and Yang's own temper was only part of it.

The office was still in good shape and there were no lights peeking out of the gaps. It didn't turn physically violent yet, only verbal on Raven's end. If Ozpin had spoken during Raven's moments of silence, he didn't make his voice heard.

"…this time!" Raven continued to shout. "Everything could have gone better! And all you did was hope for some miracle from another world that would fix all of this? What would have happened had this Grail War not come? How many lives would you throw at her in the hopes that something would stick?"

The group had managed to get close enough to hear Ozpin say, "if you wish to strike me, miss Branwen, I recommend this eye. Your brother already decked the other one when he knew of the truth."

"Don't mind if I do." They felt a sudden chill coming from the door. "At least my little brother still has a head on those shoulders."

"Enough!" Glynda wasn't about to let it happen. Her semblance, telekinesis, held even a Maiden-powered Raven back. It wasn't without effort. She was visibly straining as Raven tried to push on. Raven's eyes burned brighter.

Jeanne took that initiative and physically held Raven back. As an added measure, her own eyes burned bright as well, sending a clear message. Doing that without any effort, courtesy of her Servant status, certainly helped.

"It's hell you're wa—"

"Companion Servant: Lancer," Jeanne interrupted. She knows exactly what she was getting into. "Fifth Maiden, Jeanne d'Arc."

"Fifth?" Raven looked to Ozpin for answers.

"Technically." The headmaster shrugged. "It wasn't me me exactly. Different times."

Astolfo chuckled in the background.

"So Ray," Taiyang said. "Nothing to say? You don't call. You don't send a letter. Just got back and already got called into the headmaster's office, just like old times."

Glynda placed a hand on Taiyang's shoulders. There was a slight tightness in her grip. Jeanne looked downward to his hands; they were loose and relaxed. He was fine. It was Raven that wasn't doing so well as she froze in place and wasn't even looking at her ex-husband's eyes.

"Ray." Taiyang adopted a fatherly tone. What was Raven? A child? "Look at me, Ray. Ray, Look at me."

Raven eventually turned around, albeit with clear discomfort. "Hello, Tai. How's Yang?"

"Oh she's doing fine. She was clearly emotional when she heard that you came back."

It was Jeanne's turn to snort. Emotional certainly sounds right.

"She's a bit scared about the prosthetic."

"Prosthetic?" For once, a semblance of motherly instincts had painted Raven's face.

"Oh you didn't know?" Taiyang's tone was simmering in disappointment. There was no sign of violence. "She lost an arm."

"If she were strong enough—"

"It is precisely because she is strong that this happen. Headstrong." Taiyang wasn't going to let her finish. "And it was used against her. I'd like to say that she got it from your side of the family but at least Yang stuck around to fight and didn't turn tail to run."

Jeanne turned to catch Ozpin sighing. The number of huntsmen and huntresses were still low. Astolfo's more joyous nature really was a better fit for Vale. Astolfo couldn't be that clever to have known it and acted accordingly, right?

"You already know the truth, Tai." The volume Raven's voice raised. "Yet, you still side with Ozpin? After everything that was revealed?"

"Who said that I still have a good relationship with Oz?"

"Mr. Xiao Long's right," Ozpin confirmed. "Even before this, technically and—never mind." He noticed the look that both of them were giving him.

"Besides," Taiyang continued. "This happened before we even knew what was going on. Before Yang even knew what was going on."

A minute of silence passed. Glynda had let go of Taiyang when it was clear that he wouldn't turn to violence and Jeanne let go of Raven when she wouldn't run away.

Then, Raven said, "I'm not going back, Tai. Not to you."

"I don't expect it, Ray." Taiyang sounded unsurprised. "But you can't exactly go back to your tribe now, could you?" He then turned to Ozpin. "What happened exactly?"

Ozpin never got a chance to answer. Raven wasn't about to let him answer. "An enemy Servant came in and brought the Grimm with them."

"Berserker," Saber answered. "Qrow must have been the one who sought you out? How unfortunate."

"They're alright," Raven said. She noticed the worry on Taiyang's face. "Qrow was the only one there when it happened. I cannot say the same for the rest of the tribe." She covered her face. "Everything we've accomplished, everything we've done, all of it, gone in an instant. First is Salem's immortality and now these Servants. They're too powerful, Ozpin. How do you expect to combat them?"

"There are three of them in this very room, miss Branwen," Glynda answered.

Raven counted Saber and Jeanne. The only one left is the only happy person in the room.

"Hullo." Astolfo waved. "Two went to Mistral. Just want to add."

"Counting Berserker," Ozpin continued. "And whoever is Mistral's Companion, that is five Servants at least."

"And you think of putting me in the middle of it?" Raven scoffed at a thought.

"We are not interested in your combat ability, miss Branwen," Ozpin answered. "We are interested in the Relic of Knowledge, and only you can get us access to it."

"That's it? Just open the Vault and you'll let me go free?"

Ozpin turned dark. "Just the Vault. We will ask nothing more. If you even wish to join Salem's side after this, I will not stop you either."

Everyone turned to Ozpin at the declaration. Even Saber showed surprise at the cold dismissal of Raven's value.

"So just the Vault?" Raven asked again. "Wouldn't even make me join in the fight?"

Ozpin shook his head. "If you are so insistent on self-preservation, then who am I to stop you? You are correct, Raven. My hands are drowning in red for all the lifetimes I spent trying to find something to Salem's immortality. Most of them aren't even those friends that you all are filling in for; most of them are innocent men whose lives I've robbed just because they are too similar to myself."

He stood up before he continued. "Now, two other Masters are my own students and I would have to face them as an opponent. They have their own desires, I'm sure. If not by our enemies' hands, then I will be the one responsible for denying their wish for my own. The only solace I can give you is that their hearts will be broken at the loss of what could be their close friends but they will live out their lives."

Eyes stared out of the window. If they had been at the higher levels, Ozpin would be looking down at the people of Vale. As it was, he would be looking at them in the eyes.

"Salem's immortality will end with this Grail War." Ozpin finished. He stared deathly into Raven's own eyes. The fires of the Spring Maiden died down as she took a seat. He waited for a minute. They all did. Then, Ozpin spoke again. "You could use any of the classrooms if you wish to think."

Raven's voice was meek. Gone was the façade of strength and power that she usually had. "Alright, I will."

Glynda and Saber stayed in the room while the others departed. They both went two rooms next to Ozpin's office. The classroom was still quite dirty and empty of chairs. Only the desks remained.

Taiyang and Astolfo had kept their distance while Jeanne stayed close. The two Maidens weren't too close but Jeanne couldn't let Raven go that easily. The Spring Maiden had much to think about.

When Raven finally spoke, she didn't have that air of strength or power. The fires of the Spring Maiden were absent from her eyes.

"I had to become a monster, you know?" Raven said. No one was certain who it was she was talking to. "Salem can't be killed. Her immortality was a terrible thing when we realized it."

"We?" Taiyang asked.

Raven bit her lip. Then, she said, "Summer told me to run. Leader's orders. And no, Ozpin didn't know any of this."

Taiyang broke the desk he was sitting on, jolting both Astolfo and Jeanne. Only Raven didn't appear fazed and was in fact, expecting it in some way. Jeanne hadn't been worried about Taiyang's anger earlier but that isn't the case now. Not even she knew what had happened in her timeline.

"We both tried our best," Raven continued. "It wasn't enough. Not even to hold her back. The thing that I had to do after what they did to her, Tai, it's—it's terrible."

"What did they do?" Taiyang asked.

"Summer was made into a thing like Salem. They called it a Hound. A Grimm that had the silver-eyed warriors as their core, kept in existence—kept alive—by aura."

"Nobody else knows this?" Jeanne asked.

"They've hunted down every silver-eyed warrior just for this," Raven.

"Ruby." Taiyang's eyes widened. "They're going after Ruby!"

Astolfo held Taiyang back. "Wait! Wait! Wait! They've got a Servant with them! Two. They seem strong. One of them is the Rusted Knight!"

"Does it matter? That's my daughter they're going after!" Taiyang showed a surprising amount of strength in being able to move a few inches despite Astolfo pulling strength. Granted, Astolfo clearly was restraining himself. Then, he stopped. "Does it work on Servants?"

"Servants?" Jeanne asked. "A Silver-eyed Servant?"

"I'm sorry, what?" Raven's fires returned to her eyes. "There's a silver-eyed Servant? Don't tell me…"

"It isn't." Taiyang shook his head. "And now I'm wondering if Summer could ever come back like that."

"She might," Saber said, suddenly appearing in front of them. "Silver-eyed warriors are a collective of people, each of them would manifest with an appropriate face. Summer is potentially one of them. And before you ask, would any of you rather risk losing Summer Rose again?"

Saber paced back and forth, face pondering deeply.

"Salem's spellbook," he said. "So this had been her plan all those years ago?"

"What plan?" Raven asked. "More secrets?" Frustration started to bubble.

"Not on my nor my Master's part," Saber answered. "We didn't know any of it either. Much like this Hound, Salem sought to feed her spellbook with aura—souls. A terrible thing would have come out of it all. But with this Grail War…"

"Oh great, that's fine," Raven said sarcastically. She figured something out. "Immortality problem solved. Now we just need to deal with a terror even greater alongside it. Maybe put throw these Servants into the mix as well. That's just fine! Absolutely fine!"

Raven noticed that none of the Servants in the room are terrified.

"Do you people not realize what this could mean?"

It was Astolfo who answered saying, "we're Servants, Raven. Being our Master's sword and shield is what we do." He gave her a toothy grin, unbothered at the prospect of being turned into a Grimm's core.

"You're not even the slightest bit terrified? Have your lost your mind?"

"I mean, that sounds yucky. But we aren't going down without a fight of our own!"

For a moment, Jeanne felt a little inspired by Astolfo's words.

"That is what it means to be a man!"

And it's gone. Port and Astolfo are friends. Jeanne had to remind herself of that.

"Oh my god, there's two Ports." Raven said. It went that far back? Huh, who knew?

"We Heroic Spirits have already lived our lives," Astolfo continued. "From the seas to the skies, we kept going on and on. If the living wants us to give them a little push, who are we to deny them?"

Astolfo's talk turned to rambling. Most had already begun to tune him out except for Saber who listened intently. Taiyang tried to keep up but he too lost track, mumbling something about Port again.

Raven, by contrast, looked away. Her eyes were on the windows that led outside. There was nothing there except for the sunlight still entering the room. Leaves occasionally flew past those windows, along with a few birds. She was shaking her head.

"I need time," she finally said.

"You might want to take a different place," Taiyang said. "Not sure if Yang would want to see you right now."

"There is a tree there? I'll take a nest."

Taiyang sighed. "Do what you want. If that is all, I think I have to check on Yang and assure her that you won't be coming back."

By contrast, Raven continued to stare out of the window in silence. The only noise was Astolfo's continued ramblings. Jeanne didn't know where the conversation went and she has no plans of keeping track of it. Raven got closer to the windows, her palm glowed the light of the Spring Maiden.

She then opened the window. Turning into a bird, she flew into the direction of Patch. There was nowhere else she could go here on account of being a criminal bandit.

Jeanne turned around and managed to catch a saluting Astolfo. "Yes, sir!" He soon left as well.

"A mission?" Jeanne asked.

"To the west side of Vale," Saber confirmed. "I'm beginning to think that each Companion had been assigned a location for a reason. Here in Vale, Astolfo just brings a joyous and happy occasion that puts everyone at ease."

"Astolfo has always been a free spirit," Jeanne said. She herself could not deal with it.

"Have you ever wondered what was yours?"

"All I know is that I had something to do in Vacuo. It is probably why I manifested there, in that crater."

"The Vacuoan crater?"

"Is it important?"

"Only that it occurred during the Great War. There were rumors and legends about that place, probably the Grail War of that time."

Jeanne shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't know if there was. But I did what I could there before I came here to Vale. I made my choice."

"And the people of Vale will always be thankful for your service, Jeanne d'Arc. I only wish that Gilles was here and see you both fight alongside one another like those stories he always told me."

"Gilles really did good here, didn't he?"

"Better than I ever did in any lifetime."

"Don't sell yourself short, Saber. You're already doing what you could for Vale."

"I am still sending children to fight my own battles, Jeanne. It is the choice I have been making."

Jeanne stepped out of the room. Before she did, she patted Saber on the back. "You'll do fine. I've once fought for a king in the name of the Lord. I'm doing the same here and I'm having a better turnout than I did that time."

She had to return to the Xiao-Long household. Outside, Beacon's halls were still filled with the workers rebuilding and repairing the school. Some had taken this time to take a break with the others doing lighter work as the day reached the later hours.

Vale's rebuilding was slowed here in the inner cities. The momentum increased further out as the cities infrastructure was returning. People have slowly regained their jobs as the city itself was healing.

Still, there were those who had turned to crime in desperation. Oddly, those didn't turn to violence. Smuggling of information and substances was had but there was an order to them. A market that kept itself in check and even enforced its own laws as the threat of imbalance would cause Vale to return to chaos. Jeanne herself never learned of the reason but talks were had about some organization that was taking over the entire underworld. It was new and only took a root deep enough in Vale during the attack of Beacon.

Taking the quickest way back to patch, Jeanne's eyes burned the fires of the Holy Maiden as she flew across Vale's airspace. Airships were still absent and in strict control for any possible weapons that may be smuggled in and out of the kingdom. Constructions continued as she neared the docks and flew over the body of water separated Patch from the mainland.

Landing on the shores, Jeanne turned around to take one more sight of Vale's city. Purpose. Each Companion Servant had a purpose behind their location. Astolfo's free spirited nature aided against the negativity of the Grimm. Jeanne looked to her flag, flowing in the breeze, in rhythm with the waves.

Purpose, Jeanne thought. She shook her head. Vacuo was fine. She had stayed for a while before she had left. The negativity of the Grimm was probably why each Companion had manifested where they were. Admittedly, she was a little hurt at being chosen for Vacuo when it was Vale that she was most connected to. But it wasn't Vale specifically that connected her there. I wonder how they are doing right now?

Team JNPR was in Mistral at the moment. Just like they had in her time. By now, they should have arrived at Haven Academy and confronted Leo.

Berserker, she thought again. No. Jau—Rider will do fine. He is a Heroic Spirit himself now. Part of her wished she could be there with them right now. Fight alongside them as a Servant herself. But Vale was also their home. This was the home that they would return to. She just had to make sure that Vale was thriving to welcome them back. Once that was done, she'll run towards them.

The serene and calm atmosphere of Patch's woodland was interrupted by the progressively tense noise coming from the direction of the Xiao-Long-Rose household. It wasn't the kind of shouting match that one would receive at the sudden arrival of an unwanted family member; it was something else.

Jeanne's walk hastened to a jog, then hurried into a run. Raven herself could be heard shouting while Taiyang was in agreement with her. Gunshots were heard and Jeanne lengthened her strides, practically leaping across the ground like a pebble skipping across water.

Her banner sparked as she was caught off-guard by a shot. She had been made to stop just outside the house. She found Taiyang and Raven together but kept their distance from the home. Raven's eyes burned bright while Taiyang wanted nothing more than to rush in.

When she turned to see what was going on, Jeanne found Yang had been taken hostage by a multi-colored-hair individual. She was petite and her eyes had different colors as well. She wore a bowler hat on her head. Her umbrella was clearly her weapon as she kept the point directly close to Yang. Yang didn't resist though she certainly had tried.

Behind the silent girl was an older, mustached man. He was thin and didn't appear menacing. He was lanky and had many rings on his fingers. On one hand was a gun and on the other was a scroll. Jeanne's eyes widened when she noticed that at the back of the man's hand were three red marks. Command Spells, indicating his status as a Master.

Jeanne tried to rush in herself. Being a Servant meant that she could handle many threats coming her way. However, another shot came for her that kept her in place. They weren't ordinary shots and Jeanne couldn't see where they were being fired from. The mustached man was smiling. Archer. It had to be an Archer.

"So you must be Vacuo's Companion," said the man. "Dr. Arthur Watts and in case you haven't met my current accomplice, miss Neopolitan." The mute girl gave her a nod. "Don't be surprised. I may not exactly be a consultant detective but I do have skills in other areas, miss d'Arc."

"You know me already?"

"Simple matter really. Both you and Astolfo are registered names in Vale's records of huntresses. My Servant, Archer, only had to tell me that you two are Servants. From there, it is a matter of finding when your names have been registered and figuring out which one is a Companion for whom." He tutted. "Running away from your purpose in Vacuo, are we? Well no matter. It serves my, and the League's purpose well enough. Certainly beats the need to travel again. I could focus more on our expanding business here."

Watts raised his gun and had the barrel kiss the back of Yang's head. Taiyang took a step and another warning shot kept him in place. Even Raven couldn't act.

"Believe me," Watts said. "While you could kill me right now and it is indeed a simple matter. I'm quite certain that none of you would be fast enough to save goldilocks over here. Even Servants like yourself wouldn't be able to get to her in time."

"What do you want?" Jeanne demanded.

"Simple," Watts answered. "The League has use for Beacon's Headmaster. That had been the initial plan anyway. But right now, I see that other tasks are here as well." His gun then pointed towards Raven. "A Maiden, huh?" The gun then went towards Jeanne. "And one as a Servant as well. That is certainly fascinating to know."

"So what?" Raven made her demands. She drew her blade. This time, she showed no signs of running away. "You want to bring a Maiden to serve Salem?"

"Salem?" Watts feigned offense. "Good heavens, no! Salem is a Master in a Grail War that could end her immortality problem once and for all. I'm a Master myself, don't you see? I have my own wish for the Grail. Of course, I'm keeping that a secret for now. No. My reasons for being here and for both of your services are more to do with the League."

"The criminals of Vale," Taiyang guessed. "You're behind all this?"

"Not alone, I assure you." Watts' humility was filled with arrogant bragging. "I'm just the tech behind them." He coughed. "Certainly dry for the throat around here, how about we go inside for some tea? If not, well, water is fine as well. I can't stand coffee."

"Let Yang go first," Raven demanded.

"But of course, what kind of gentleman would I be if I don't accommodate? Miss Neopolitan, if you please?"

Neo gave him a look of disapproval but she complied. Yang didn't miss her chance to elbow the shorter woman as she made distance. Yang ran straight for Tai. Another shot was fired just in front of Jeanne. A warning that it wasn't an opportunity to attack.

Jeanne didn't really care. She was a Servant and a Maiden on top of it. Her eyes burned bright as she rushed at them like a bullet of her own. The spearhead of her banner pointed directly at them. Both Watts and Neo didn't even look to her direction. Neither of them would have the time to react. More shots were fired and Jeanne swung at them and kept her spearhead steady after every swing.

After her attempted thrust, Jeanne was surprised that Watts and Neo only shattered like glass.

"What?" Jeanne asked. "How?"

"I hope you don't mind," Watts' voice was heard behind them. "But we helped ourselves to some tea of yours ahead of time. You people have no taste in the finer leaves if this is all you have to show for yourself."

Both he and Neo took a sip. Neo, in particular, had a smug expression on her face that just screamed "what? Is there a problem?" They had control of the situation since the beginning. But it took quite the toll on Neo for Jeanne could the slight labor in her breathing. Neo had pushed her semblance to the limits just to get past a Servant? Jeanne could give her that respect. Neo turned to Watts and performed some actions with her hand; it was sign language.

"Considering that you have come to us by recommendation, miss Neopolitan," Watts answered Neo's mute query. "It wouldn't do if we could not meet expectations. It must have been quite the journey for you to smuggle yourself to Mistral and back."

Neo continued her sign language. Her breathing was returning to normal. Jeanne missed her chance to go at them again. There was no way that semblance of hers could keep up against Servants.

"Be that as it may, we still have our own duties to perform here," Watts answered. He then turned towards them. "Now then for my request, miss d'Arc. I am willing to forgive the unprovoked attack if you would be so kind as to bring the headmaster, along with Saber, his majesty."

"You wish to engage with Saber?" Jeanne asked.

"That would be the obvious answer now wouldn't it? But no. Saber has many lives and Archer himself is uncertain how many shots it would take to get through all of them."

"It would be a fair fight, then." Jeanne may not be a Ruler-class Servant here but she could oversee this one if she wanted to.

"Not quite. I have a deal I wish to make with the headmaster. We both have a common enemy in Salem with this Grail War."

"And you and Salem have a common enemy in Ozpin."

"Indeed." Watts didn't even deny it. "We would all backstab each other sooner or later. I'm just making sure that it would be later. I think it benefits us both, don't you think? Besides, I have, in good faith, information about this Grail War that I'm sure Ozpin would want to know."

"That being?"

"Assassin. Assassin and their Master. Yet another common enemy."

/-/

"Miss d'Arc?" Ozpin would freely admit that seeing Jeanne's sudden return to his office had caught him off-guard. There was worry and panic that painted her face. Saber prepared the sword. "What is wrong?"

"Archer," Jeanne answered. "Archer and his Master, Watts, are keeping them hostage. They have use for Raven, headmaster. Watts is working for and against Salem."

Ozpin pulled out a scroll. "Glynda," he said once Glynda picked up. "I have a sudden appointment I need meet. I leave the rest of Beacon in your hands." He put down the scroll. "Saber."

Master and Servant were off. Not this time. Ozpin will not let Salem's ilk get to his students.

AN: Characters like Astolfo have proven difficult for me. That difficulty is trying to find that bubbly, free-spirited nature without making him cartoonishly annoying. This specific note is more to remind myself really.