So it is done

Jonathan waited the dozen minutes it took for Ghira to send off the ambassadors, magnates, and a host of other Menagerie elites before there were only the two of them left. Well, there's Ghira's family as well of course, but that's beside the point.

Thankfully, Ghira and Jonathan's friendship was well-treaded news, so the fact that Jonathan stayed after all the guests had left won't be a cause for any gossip or news later on… Though, joking about it was also something Jonathan didn't want to entertain at the moment.

So, as he exited the building, Jonathan paused for a moment, looking at Ghira sending the last guest's motorcade away. As Ghira turned, he seemed to be shocked to see that Jonathan was still here, he could see that Ghira had become somewhat pale.

Nodding slightly, giving Ghira a sign that it is time, and Ghira could nod slowly, reluctantly, in response.

In the end, they both had known that today would decide the fate of Menagerie

And the friendship between the two men.

Silently, Ghira started walking back to his home, nodding to the side towards the direction of his office, and Jonathan followed close behind, the two not saying anything.

Both rulers under the protection of their intelligence agents, and yet Ghira looked as if he was actually heading to the gallows, rather than his office. Of course, he knows that his Secret Service has no protection against Jonathan.

And it's not like his protection would be there when the fate of Menagerie would be decided. No, this would be a closed door meeting.

When they reached the place that Ghira had deemed most suitable for negotiations, Ghira nodded to his subordinates. They would wait just outside the door. "Stay here."

Jonathan repeated Ghira's actions, nodding to his agents, then entered the room after Ghira, closing the door behind him.

"I see you got rid of your cane…" Ghira, in an effort to lessen his nervousness, started with some small talk. Without going straight into a serious and unpleasant conversation, Ghira pointed to a detail in Jonathan's appearance.

"I left it at home." Jonathan said slowly, and then fell silent, the dialogue between the two friends dead in its infancy, the last word hanging in the air with an unpleasant, sticky atmosphere.

"I think we'd both better sit down…" Jonathan said forcefully after a few seconds, then nodded at the couch next to the coffee table. Ghira could only nod his response, his tongue feeling lead. As they sat down however, while Jonathan looked, at least, relaxed if only on the outside, Ghira could barely appreciate the soft couch. He was too nervous to even rest his back, sitting ramrod straight with his hands on his laps.

The uncomfortable silence that had been dispelled for a moment returned with renewed vigor as Jonathan found himself unable to speak the words. So now there's simply two friends, staring at each other, both waiting for the moment for the other to start talking first, even when they already know what they would say.

A second, a second, a third… The deafening silence that pressed on his ears forced Jonathan to open his mouth and, licking his parched lips, to say what he had to say: "I came here to put pressure on you, Ghira."

Ghira did not react to the perhaps too blunt statement, already well aware of what Jonathan is going, no, needed to do as soon as Ghira shows any ounce of independent movements. Seeing Ghira's lack of reaction, he continued, forcing each of the words out.

"I… You understand why I have to do this, don't you, Ghira? I'm just trying to do what I have to do, help the people of Glenn, protect their interests, lead them to a new tomorrow that will be brighter than yesterday…"

Ghira didn't react to Jonathan's reasoning as well – after all, he too was in agreement with them. He understood that Jonathan in the current situation was not a monster, presenting a danger out of some unknown reasons, or an insane villain who wanted to bring pain and suffering to people.

Ghira was in this mess for the same reasons, after all.

Jonathan fell silent a moment after saying those words before slowly covering his eyes.

What is more important to know that there is a goal – or to go towards that goal?

"I… I never wanted this," Jonathan looked up at Ghira, unable to squeeze out even the faintest smile. How could he? Ghira looked like a man who was being read his last rites.

"I really didn't…"

Ghira only nodded a little, acknowledging Jonathan's words as the truth, knowing perfectly well that Jonathan was not lying at that moment. But it only serves to make the situation worse.

Once again, silence fell in the meeting room, before Jonathan broke it, speaking slowly., "And I still don't want to."

Ghira looked up at Jonathan, under any other circumstances, his face would have been impenetrable, having a poker face a basis for all negotiations… But not under these circumstances.

Right now, Ghira's eyes seemed to reflect all the years of his life, his family, the people of Menagerie, the history of generations of faunus. Should he condemn Ghira now, what would stop him from sacrificing so many others?

Jonathan covered his eyes and then said, without any hesitation, "I have been thinking about threatening your family."

Both politicians were well aware of this possibility, or perhaps inevitability. Ghira knew, without speaking with each other, what lengths Jonathan would go to accomplish his goal. That Jonathan was seriously considering such an action, and yet if it had not been said, both could pretend it had not happened, that it had not yet been decided. That things could still be discussed, that negotiations and compromise would win the day… Even if everyone knew inside, deep down, that it wasn't.

However, the words have been spoken, Jonathan had voiced out, as if to give form to the worst and ugliest thoughts and fears of the two politicians. After such a declaration, it would have been expected to see anger, resentment, or even fear and apprehension on Ghira's face.

However, Ghira only tilted his head slightly, looking down a little sadly, as if acknowledging the truth of such words, showing his understanding, and yet, at the same time not condemning Jonathan… Which only made Jonathan cover his eyes in response, before opening them again, looking at Ghira.

"I wasn't seriously planning to do that," Jonathan said truthfully and solely, not in an attempt to excuse himself, but only because he had decided to be honest about everything that concerned Ghira. That he had also needed to be honest about himself.

"I just figured you'd break down, back down with the possibility of your family being threatened," Jonathan said slowly, making Ghira cover his eyes. Inwardly, Ghira knew, long before Jonathan spoke of it, what those threats would include. Just as he knew what his response to those threats would be. He knew, but he didn't want to admit it.

The silence that settled was stifling, the air seemed to be charged with something disgusting. And yet as Jonathan finally spoke about what had burdened him, it felt… Relieving, perhaps. It was like excising a rotten wound, letting the built-up pus flow out. A disgusting and nose churning sight, yet one that brought great relief.

Jonathan paused, for a moment, letting his words settle, as he took a glance at Ghira, before he averted his eyes towards the window, at the night sky filled with twinkling, and…

Jonathan Goodman's reflection.

He returned his gaze to Ghira quickly, the awkward conversation something he could at least stomach. He already had his answer, there was no more room for doubt or second thoughts.

"And I don't want to do this, Ghira… My friend."

Ghira looked up at Jonathan with a start, a surprised look on his face as the silent moment stretched into a second, two, ten… And Jonathan reached out his hand towards Ghira.

"I'm offering friendship," Jonathan said openly, a smile on his face.

"The only chance we both have of keeping the remnants of what once was." Ghira could only look at the offered hand like it was a snake that was about to strike, and Jonathan could only chuckle at such a sight.

"I'm offering my friendship," Jonathan repeated, "And only friendship. An alliance. Co-operation. Brotherhood."

Politics had no place for friendship, trust, or human emotions, it was an axiom that required no confirmation or reflection. That was the nature of politics and government itself.

Nations existed in a world of competition. Survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle ruled in a world in which there was no room for weakness, every ruler worthy of his title endeavored to provide for his people. It was a zero-sum game. To provide for his people, with everything he could provide, others must lose it – but was there anything wrong with that?

Competition is the basis of life. There were too few resources, lands, and people in the world for it to go around. The numbers and lines growing in the charts were more than just summary reports, each rising percent was a family with full bellies, and each unit of measurement represented a happy child whose future was guaranteed.

The fiercest competition and the most horrific wars grew not out of hatred for other people's people, but out of love for their own.

And so, in absolute defiance of these facts, Jonathan held out his open hand to Ghira. Offering him the one thing the elites who could move billions of lien, collapse empires and create cities in a single order did not have.

Trust.

"I'm not going to pretend that this is going to fix all the problems," Jonathan said calmly, without even the slightest cheerfulness in his voice that would give away his nervousness. He was somewhat glad that Ghira hadn't just reached out his hand as well, otherwise he could have felt just how clammy Jonathan's hand was, showing just how nervous he actually was.

"I don't know how to make an idea like this work. I don't know if it will last more than even a day, and I can't guarantee what result our agreement will come to. I don't know…"

Jonathan covered his eyes before opening them and speaking slowly. "I don't know a lot of things, or anything really. But… Maybe sometimes knowing the goal isn't as important as moving towards it," Jonathan said slowly, closing his hand, and then opening it again, after a simple cantrip to clean his hand.

An open, trusting gesture.

Jonathan didn't know what his choice here would lead to in the future. He didn't really know what exactly he was offering at the moment, nor did he know where such an agreement would lead.

What he does know however was that he was proposing to go against the self-evident truth of this world, the world of politics. Jonathan held out his hand to Ghira offering the only chance of peace, for both of them...

And Ghira, looking at the offered hand that was extended to him, slowly extended his own in return.

The handshake between the two kings, the two politicians, clasping hands, looking into each other's eyes, hoping not for a result… But they could at least try to make it happen.

"So it is done…" Jonathan spoke before releasing Ghira's hand and looking away.

The last invisible contract and the only way to save himself and Ghira… Was done.

All that was left for Jonathan now was to live with the consequences of his decision.

***

Ozpin sat silently as his car passed through the teleportation gates before, with a flash of light, arriving at the gates of his academy. Exiting the vehicle, he nodded to the drive, as with another flash of light, the car disappeared, leaving him alone once again.

Of course, officially, neither the vehicle nor the driver were his own. Through a network of favors and connections, with messages lost amongst the intricacies of mutual social courtesies and work emails, Ozpin had hired him. Or more specifically, someone else had hired him, and just happened to cancel at the last moment, allowing Ozpin to use the service without his name ever appearing in any documents.

Lost amongst hundreds of other messages, phrases, blurred by the inarticulate hum of concessions, proposals, and agreements, Ozpin literally 'slipped' between the lines of agreements, always as an 'addition' to other, much more important agreements. Agreements whose contents of which were so difficult to specify. A set of 'some' agreements and messages or other with Ozpin, 'accidentally' involved.

No, of course, there were those that have a direct contact with Ozpin, there is no need to make simple things complicated after all. But, when things required subtlety, and most things often does, the further down the chain of acquaintance one found the target of Ozpin's manipulation, the more and more blurred the professor's involvement became.

It was quite easy when Ozpin moved openly, that people regularly missed his hidden hand, or the ace in his sleeves. A simple conversation with a friend, hinting on some future meeting or proposal is easy to see, not the fact that he was aiming at the eavesdropper, nor when he was actually aiming for the janitor.

For instance, his latest stunt.

A simple gossip that is meant to be overheard by one of his staff with loose lips, who just happens to be a regular at a particular bar. A bar where one of its usual patrons was a 'secret' lover of one of Vale's diplomats to Menagerie. Leading to the cheating wife to hint to her husband that he needs to have some prominent figure accompanying him for his latest diplomatic visit to Menagerie. And that she cannot go with him because of a sudden death in the family.

Thus, the diplomat went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to invite the Minister, and the wife could commit adultery without her Husband anywhere near Vale.

Coincidentally, when the diplomat approached the Ministry, the Minister, busy with his own affairs, decided to delegate the matter to his subordinate – an old acquaintance of Ozpin's. Of course there were many arguments as to why Ozpin would fit as part of the Diplomatic entourage, he is after all one of Vale's councillors.

Not that Ozpin would allow for any other options of course.

And thus, without ever even hunting on the fact that he wanted an invitation to Kali Belladonna's birthday, he had it in his palms. Through a multitude of other hands, so that no one could claim for certain how exactly Ozpin received it, his desired invitation made its way to Ozpin's desk.

A multitude of coincidences and third hands that were virtually impossible to discern, and Ozpin's desired action was performed to the considerable surprise of the likely observer.

However, even in the event that the potential observer could trace Ozpin's entire path and his extremely extensive network of contacts, it did not answer the much simpler question that should have been asked of the potential observer much earlier.

"Why did Ozpin need to do this?"

Why would Ozpin show up at Kali's party, given that neither Ghira, much less Jonathan, would have perceived his appearance as a friendly gesture on his part? The answer to that question was simple enough, and yet somewhat more complicated than one might have guessed.

Ozpin wished to test Jonathan.

Outright killing Jonathan posed significant problems for Ozpin. For all the bluster of the RATS, they were considered the best Secret Service in Remnant for a reason, and would rank high even in Ozpin's memory later on among the many other outstanding examples of their kind. Vast government resources, legal support and free teleportation technology ensured their extremely high status among a possible list of other contenders for the title of 'the most powerful Secret Service in Remnant'.

Should a need arise in Ozpin, RATS ensured that Jonathan, or his loved ones, would be extremely difficult to eliminate, even given his incredibly extensive connections and experience… But still not impossible.

In any other circumstances, Ozpin would probably have preferred one of his oldest and most tried and tested tricks, which had never failed him before. Wait out his opponent.

Ozpin was immortal, and such a trait opened many possibilities, including among the political moves available to him, that are unavailable to others. A mere hundred or two hundred years, what does it matter to him? A span of time that is like a blink of the eye to him, and Ozpin could be guaranteed to get rid not only of his opponent, but also of his legacy, his heirs, and the rules he had established. Just a dozen generations guaranteed to turn the labors of even the greatest of men into the history of the past.

It remained one of the most favored options that Ozpin – sometimes the simplest and most appropriate of actions was inaction.

No one could live forever, except Ozpin and Salem… And so the current situation did not fully fit into Ozpin's usual paradigm, where he was very active on the world stage. Even when he was actually a King he had usually delegated more, preferring to act from behind the throne, even when he was sitting in one.

And there was only one reason for this.

Magic. The magic Jonathan possessed was the variable that distorted Ozpin's plans.

Could he take the same step he had taken in the past and simply let the sands of time consume Jonathan? He could have, but only in a situation in which Jonathan's demise from his advanced age could have been predetermined. However, magic, the unknown variable in this equation, meant that this time, to simply 'wait out' Jonathan's demise was a dangerous risk… Perhaps even a mistake.

So Ozpin had to act, far more actively than he would otherwise have preferred.

Though for ordinary people plans stretching over years and decades would be a perfect demonstration of the word 'long game', for Ozpin, accustomed to centuries of thoughtful intrigue, such actions felt like improvisation on the fly. Something which Ozpin himself had become quite unaccustomed to over the millennia of his life.

Killing Jonathan would be… A difficult undertaking, but perhaps not impossible. At the very least, killing his 'political' power would be a lot more doable. Getting rid of a powerful teleporter capable of being anywhere in Remnant at the snap of a finger would probably be too difficult even for Ozpin, but the right words spoken into the right ears could bring Glenn down… With varying results, though.

Ozpin shouldn't forget about magic, an unknown variable in regard to Jonathan.

But, even excluding the possibility of getting rid of Jonathan, the likelihood of which was not guaranteed at all, there was a question of greater priority in determining Ozpin's strategy.

And that question was whether Ozpin should get rid of Jonathan altogether.

Yes, Jonathan was young, dangerous, and ambitious, but all of these qualities could also be an aid to Ozpin's mission of getting rid of Salem. Questions of world order, civil rights and freedoms were of little concern to Ozpin after all his endless struggle with Salem.

Ozpin's struggle was not to ensure a quality of free life for the people of Remnant, which would be nice, but a secondary objective to which Ozpin had devoted, quite literally, the eternity of his existence.

The existential question of Remnant's very existence.

The destruction of Salem was an endeavor that to Ozpin was far more important than the history of tyranny over several generations. The chains of slavery or freedom – that choice itself would mean nothing if there was no one left capable of making that choice.

And Jonathan had magic, and if there exists a force that could end his eternal adversary once and for all – magic was certainly among those.

Ozpin certainly possessed magic of his own, and by his own estimation quite a good amount of it when compared to the practitioners of the past, when magic was common in the lands. But in his case, magic was a finite, irreplaceable resource, and he had lost much, now Ozpin did not possess even a hundredth of his past magical powers. Using it now, even for the smallest of actions, deprived him of even the crumbs he possessed.

Perhaps if he had possessed the knowledge of Salem that he possessed now, thousands of years ago, when his power was still great, perhaps…

There was no point in thinking about it, regrets of the past had long ago ceased to bother Ozpin, he had survived too much to continue indulging in despondency.

And so, Ozpin viewed Jonathan's capabilities through a very specific lens, judging his usefulness.

One way or another, however, Jonathan represents a chance, Ozpin's chance to get rid of Salem for good – eliminating Jonathan would mean giving up that chance.

Jonathan's usefulness versus the danger he represents was the problem Ozpin faced.

If Jonathan could still serve Ozpin's plans, if he could provide the help that all of Remnant needed in the eternal war against Salem, if he could end it… Then Ozpin had to take that chance.

But only if Jonathan himself could help him, that is, if he wouldn't instead become a problem, perhaps even bigger than Salem. A third eternal player in the arena, possibly capable of killing the other two? Big potential problem.

Worse, Jonathan's current state of mind was somewhat… Discouraging to Ozpin. Jonathan had become overly immersed in the political games of this world, the confrontation with Ghira and the politicians of this world, forgetting about the fight against Salem almost entirely. He was acting as if Salem, the Grimm and the true nature of Remnant's endless invisible war had not been revealed to him. As if, knowing the nature of Ozpin's eternal battle, Jonathan chose to choose petty political intrigue and ruling the states over fighting Salem.

Perhaps Ozpin could understand Jonathan's position. Once upon a time, centuries, millennia ago, so long ago that history had forgotten, he had been like Jonathan. Where the battle with Salem had become, for him, the distracting 'background' of his life. After all, his mission was not actually to kill Salem, no, his mission was to bring the people of Remnant together.

Only to realize later, that it was not in the realm of possibility.

At that time, he had also cared for people, guided nations… And paid for his decision. Repeatedly.

Salem was an adversary that could not be left unattended, all other actions not directly related to the survival of humanity were secondary. Educating the nations and selecting the most favored method of ruling the masses were important, certainly, but only in the sense that a functioning society could create arms and provide soldiers for his eternal war.

It was far less indispensable than destroying Salem. If it helped him against Salem, he would become the greatest Emperor of Mankind, uniting Humanity, if through force, against Salem. It doesn't, he had tried countless times.

Jonathan, however, preferred to leave Salem out of it. No, instead, Jonathan preferred to immerse himself in politics and his actions in this area did not speak in his favor either.

That's why Ozpin chose to appear in public, in front of Jonathan's eyes, to act as a reminder… And to observe Jonathan, to see his actions up close. To give him a chance, and to see how Jonathan's actions would change in the future.

In order to make the final decision, about whether Jonathan should continue living. Or whether Ozpin should use his powers and deal with things once and for all.

"Well, Jonathan…" Ozpin took a step inside his office and shifted his gaze to the night sky of Vale, leaning on his cane. "The choice is yours…"

***

Coming back home, Jonathan made his way into his house. It was unlit, the corridor dark, with only the light of the stars and the streetlamps illuminating its inside, with Jonathan's silhouette casting long shadows into the corridor.

Closing the door, the corridor was returned to its dark state, and Jonathan, with practiced ease, quietly took off his shoes in the hallway, hanging his cloak as well.

Walking the quiet hallways, Jonathan's eye was drawn to the lit kitchen, and up the staircase to the second floor seeing that it was empty. Before he could take another step, however, his eyes were drawn to the side, in the living room, to see Cinder waiting for him.

Sitting on the sofa, Cinder put aside her book and looked at Jonathan. She stared silently, not making any comment, simply looking into his eyes, as if waiting for Jonathan to act, trying to understand his state of mind at the moment.

"Hey," Though she didn't show it, Jonathan knew that Cinder was worried, and seeing such a sight and the simple greeting, Jonathan suddenly smiled. Such a small, sincere and calm smile, which had not often appeared on his face in the past…

Days? Months? - "Why are you still up?"

Years.

Jonathan slowly made his way to the couch next to Cinder before collapsing onto it, his body was tired, his stamina spent… And yet there was a kind of lightness in his movements? Not the kind born from the body, but a lightness of mind.

"It's not even eleven o'clock in the evening, too early for my four-hour nap," Cinder replied, barely able to hold back a relieved sigh at watching Jonathan's relaxed expression.

She smiled back, daring to ask her next question carefully, "How was the birthday party?"

Jonathan looked up at the panoramic window framing his living room, and his smile deepened, "Good. Very good."

After his answer, there was silence in the room… A nice, comfortable silence, as if everything that needed to be said had already been said, and those things that were left unspoken had to stay that way.

"I'm glad," Cinder replied into the silence, and then the pleasant silence returned again…

That's it, Jonathan. You've almost won.

I did, huh? What was I playing? What am I winning?

Does it matter, Jonathan?

Jonathan silently looked at Cinder, he looked into her eyes, looked at her long hair, then he looked away. He looked out the window, only to see, among the night stars and streetlights…

Myself. It's you, Jonathan Goodman. It's us. We see ourselves in the mirror again.

Jonathan slowly lowered his gaze, then hummed slightly before looking at Cinder again.

"Cinder, you're a big girl now, aren't you?"

Jonathan smiled as he looked at her, Cinder smiled back, letting a sly sparkle slip into her eyes and answered slowly. "The answer to that question will depend greatly on what the question implies…"

Without a pause at the implication of Cinder's words, Jonathan continued.

"And it's not like the last few days at the academy are that important to you…"

Jonathan didn't answer Cinder's question, only holding out a smile in response as well, before he nodded slowly, internally counting down his perennial mantra, "Cinder… Do you happen to have a fancy for some wine? Admittedly, the celebration at Kali's birthday party was a bit too dry for my taste."

Jonathan squinted for a moment before continuing. "To be honest, I don't think dinner was all that substantial either, so maybe… Would you mind joining me on a late-night dinner trip? Right now?"

Cinder let one eyebrow raise in mute surprise before she smiled and nodded, "I'm definitely old enough to do that…" Jonathan looked away from her eyes and looked up.

Jonathan looked away from Cinder and nodded to his reflection in the mirror, as if to give it an invisible sign of understanding, and it nodded back.

So it is done.