ℝ𝕎𝔹𝕐 𝕌𝕥𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕒 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝟙: 𝒢𝓊𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓂 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝒹☯𝓌𝓈 (Oc X Blake)

Chapter 38: A Much Needed Talk

After the battle against Tyrian, the group set up camp in a nearby forest, where they had proceeded to patch up Qrow to the best of their ability. The campfire burned as they all sat around it. Ruby and Setsuna sat together on one log while Ren and Nora sat together on another. Jaune sat by himself on one while Qrow sat on the last one. As for Dante, he just leaned against the nearby large rock, his arms crossed. The two men had finished informing the group about everything they know, considering the Maidens, Magic, Salem and everything that happened at Beacon Tower concerning Pyrrha and Akito. The team of 5 were all just stunned into confused and conflicted silence as they took in this new information. Setsuna especially was surprised, learning that not only was Ozpin the true father of Akito, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, but that they all had inherited their father's abilities, such as magic. All of this just made her sigh and hold onto her head, the face of Akito appearing in her mind.

Qrow: "Really? No questions?"

Jaune: "Of course we have questions. This is just... a lot to take in." he said, while glancing down at the burning fire. Qrow just sighed and nodded.

Qrow: "Sure, of course."

Setsuna: "So... Akito, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter... Their real biological father is Ozpin and all inherit his original abilities?"

Dante: "Yep."

Ruby: "These... 'Maidens'... They're powerful fighters that don't need Dust to use 'Magic'."

Qrow: "Yeah."

Nora: "And there are four of these Maidens. And Akito's sisters, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter were all the reincarnations of those original Maidens. And since Akito was their brother, that explains why they always vanish into his mind and why at the Docks, he seemed to be running off of this... Magic."

Dante: "Uh huh."

Ren: "And whenever one of the Maidens dies, the power transfers to someone –a female– that they cared about?"

Qrow: "Whoever was in their thoughts last. Important distinction. Best option is someone we can trust. Regardless, their souls become combined in a way."

Jaune: "And that's what you were trying to do to Pyrrha. The night the tower fell. You were trying to turn her into one of them?" The anger ever growing in his tone was obvious to everyone as the blonde clenched his fists.

Qrow: "The previous Fall Maiden, Amber had been attacked. She was young, inexperienced and her assailant, who we now know is Cinder, somehow managed to steal some of her power, but not all of it. We were afraid that if we didn't do something, the rest would go to her as well."

Jaune: "So you forced it on Pyrrha. And Akito knew about this?"

Dante: "Listen, kid. No one forced anything. The situation was clearly explained and Pyrrha was given a choice to make, one that even if she had declined, we would have worked to find another way. But she accepted it in the end. She made her choice. You were there, weren't you? You heard her." Jaune said nothing and stood up before walking away. "And so did Akito. Not only was he Oz's biological Son, making him one of the strongest warriors out there, but he was the best candidate to become Pyrrha's Guardian. And with his sisters' connections to them, he'd be able to monitor all the Maidens' statuses and locations."

Qrow: "...Unfortunately, from what the kid said when he woke up that night, all four of them are gone."

Dante: "And add onto that, Oz is gone too. And you all saw how he was when he let everything sink in..."

Everyone fell into a somber silence, remembering the Maiden sisters and their sacrifice and the night after the Fall, how frantic Akito seemed to have gotten after realizing everything he lost; his best friend, his sisters and his father... all in one night. Dante mumbled to himself, with a small curse before he sighed. Ruby decided to change the topic, to keep the conversation going, her comforting hand patting Setsuna's shoulder.