𝐈𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 (English)

Chapter 81

It was Miss Goodwitch who found them, and with no small amount of confusion given Cinder was carrying Emerald over her shoulder and Jaune had a small boy at his side. Once the child was handed off to a huntsman whom Glynda had called in to assist, they were ushered onto a Bullhead and taken back to Beacon.

"Is Qrow safe?" Jaune asked.

"He's injured but will make a full recovery." Glynda kept her eyes firmly on Cinder, no doubt wondering why she wasn't antagonistic. "I am going to assume, Mr Arc, that there is a good explanation for this."

"There's definitely an explanation..."

Glynda sighed.

Honestly, that was about how he felt as well.

On landing, they were smuggled quietly into the school and out of sight – Cinder still being officially a criminal – and brought to Oswald's office. The man took one look at him, and then at a docile Cinder, and lowered his face into one hand.

"Oh, come on!" Jaune cried. "It's not my fault."

"Isn't it, Mr Arc?"

"Well... I mean, it is, but it's also not entirely."

"Then what," Oswald asked, patiently, with a gesture toward Cinder, "—is this?"

"This... This would be my adoptive daughter."

Oswald didn't even look surprised. Glynda just looked annoyed. Cinder, on the other hand, smiled and stepped up to stand beside him, proud of her title. Jaune wasn't sure how she reconciled the many differences between the dream memories and reality; he'd bombarded her with a fake childhood, but it had been made up on the spot.

Didn't she think it suspicious that he was still the same age? Didn't she think it suspicious that he was a student and not a doctor like he had been when he adopted her? Those were all things she was likely to notice and question going forward but probably hadn't had the time to do yet.

"Of course she is," Oswald said. "Of course she is. Very well. Miss Fall, can you tell me what you remember of this evening? Give me a quick report."

"Fall...?"

"Ah. Miss Arc. My apologies. I had a Miss Fall in here earlier and got my names mixed up."

"Hm. I woke up first in a place I didn't recognise and looked around to get my bearings. There was a young boy there and the girl – Emerald, I think her name is. The girl talked to me like she knew me, asking me if she should kill my father. I panicked but she seemed to be waiting on my decision, so I said no. Once she stepped away from Jaune, I attacked and subdued her." Cinder smirked, her superior attitude remaining. "That's all."

"I see." Oswald met her gaze head on. It had been no accident he asked her to recount events. He wanted to make sure he didn't provide any contrary information to her. "Well done, Miss Arc. I'm sure your father is proud of you." Jaune winced. "I need to have a meeting with him privately. Do you..." He hesitated, eyes flicking to Glynda. "Refresh my memory, Miss Arc. Which room are you staying in currently...?"

Oh hell. Jaune had given her a fake childhood, but he couldn't remember giving her any explanations for why they were in Beacon or what her circumstances were. He hadn't given her a team, a room, a story – nothing.

And Cinder realised it, looking momentarily confused. "I... I don't know. I can't... Dad," she whispered, urgently tugging on his sleeve. "Why can't I remember?"

Jaune panicked. "Amnesia."

"Amnesia!?" she cried. "Why? But when—?"

"From the coma," Oswald answered, before Jaune could dig a deeper hole. "It's to be expected, really. You ran afoul of a nasty condition and have been asleep for almost a year now, young lady. Your father came to Beacon in order to secure our aid in treating you – which I'm pleased to say was successful."