The Knights of Grimm - Act 5 - The Oncoming Shadow

Chapter 10 - Through the Ashes

Ozpin

The old Professor stared through the smoke, seeing the Grimm still pouring through the streets of this once beautiful city.

Now just mass grave for so many poor souls.

Glynda rushed ahead with him, taking the chance as soon as the Grimm were gone, then they dived behind the cover of a burning truck. The stench of its ignited fuel filled the air. It made them feel ill, that alongside that repulsive stench of the dead bodies nearby. Glynda had a cast iron stomach. Not much could make her feel sick. But seeing how these people died in immense agony? It was horrific... words could not describe the emotions that swelled in her chest.

The closest she could find – was rage.

Ozpin, however, was completely composed in his mind. Glynda stared at him with disbelief at how he could stay so calm despite everything happening. But then again... it was Ozpin. He had lived a longer life than she could comprehend. Watched and helped cause the descent of his own civilisation, then watched and helped build something new from its ashes.

They did it once... they could do it again.

Maybe...

How does anyone come back from this?

Ozpin gripped his cane tighter, then held Glynda back before she could go forward, and he just held his finger to his lips. Then... she heard that chilling whistle in the air, that song that they all knew off by heart... the song that practically meant he was here.

"A grin as candid as children, as sweet as bee honey,"

"His voice kind and sharp, as the blade of a razor,"

"Brings you from elder to youth, within the blink of an eye."

"Wishes be granted, be it: love, riches or luck,"

"His face like a mirror, fear shall consume you,"

"Anger through truth, loss through acceptance."

"For the end of your journey, Death will come for you,"

"Charcoal Cities, come waiting for you,"

"The Soothsayer shall wait, for his voice will control you,"

"Torment and Control, till the moon will shatter..."

It was Vir Nominis Umbra; he walked through the flames, hands held behind his back as he embraced the suffering in the air. And he was not alone. They heard the howl of two wings cutting through the air. Fear and Fury both landed behind him and knelt down, bowing their heads.

"What news do you bring?" Vir Nominis Umbra questioned as he turned to face them.

"Ruby Rose and her compatriots have escaped the city border with the Drift of Wandering Star." Fury answered. Vir Nominis Umbra snarled, then Ozpin's eyes widened, and he swiftly grabbed Glynda and dove into a crater in the ground. A wise move, because Umbra's anger led him to smash his hand straight through the burning cabin of the truck and he launched it into one of the destroyed buildings. The two Knights did not flinch, and he stared down at them.

"Ortega!" Umbra barked in rage. "I should have cut him down long ago."

"Things are not yet failed, sir... we know Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch did not join them. They are still somewhere in the city." Fear explained, Umbra stopped in his tracks, then turned to face the Knight. He then closed his hand into a fist, clenching it tightly, then he chuckled softly.

"Clever old bastard... probably still has the Relic on him. Wants to divide my efforts..." Vir Nominis Umbra guessed, Ozpin listened to his words as he kept his head down, ready to fight just in case.