Unexpected Incarnate (RWBY Ozpin Incarnate SI)

A day has passed since that event, in which Zack and Weiss fell out of Argus Limited and into the freezing tundra. After answering several questions from Katherine about their friend, she had kept her promise and released them, though it still brought everyone on board no comfort about their friend's safety all by themselves.

In fact, team RBY, JNR, Qrow and Neo had finally reached Argus, and it was quite a sight for those seeing the port city for the first time. Maria had also chosen to follow the gang instead of her intended destination at the request of Qrow to help Ruby out with her silver eyes. Even more convenient is that they're heading to the same destination to Atlas.

As for Katherine, she had also made her quick departure to meet up with her mistress as soon as the train had arrived in the city port, though her interrogation the day before still earns the worry of every one of them. Especially Qrow whether she would keep her promise to stay silent relating to their Faunus friend's 'additional' features.

Nevertheless, that is the issue of the past, and now they have to focus on an important issue. Where can they stay? Though that was quickly resolved when Jaune suggested that they can stay at his sister's house not too far from the train station. Then there's the other task of whether it is possible to ask for help to rescue their friends left behind.

Of course, they still need to find a way to get to Atlas, but their safety takes priority, seeing how their fox Faunus friend has the Relic with him.

"So, where is your sister's home at?" Nora asks her best team leader ever as JNR walks through the streets of Argus by their lonesome. Everyone decided to split off to do multiple tasks at once, so Jaune, Nora and Ren are heading to Saphron's house, which was not too far away from the train station, while team RBY spit off to seek anyone who could help rescue Weiss and Zack while Qrow went off to see if there's a way to get to Atlas.

As for Maria, she went off to a café to rest.

"We're not too far, actually." Jaune explains as he rubs the back of his head. It's been a while since he checked on his sisters, especially after the Fall of Beacon. "I hope they will let us use some of their spare rooms to stay in until we move on again."

"You said they," Ren perks up. "Is your sister staying with someone else?" He continues before his team leader gives a sheepish grin before confirming it.

"Well, yeah. My sister's married to her wife and son over there."

"Ohhh! Does that mean we get to meet your nephew while we're there, Jaune?" Nora pranced excitedly around her team before they caught something not too far away in a park. A statue of a familiar face stood in the middle of the garden, and every one of their eyes widened in surprise.

"Is that… a statue of Pyrrha?"

"It is…" Ren quickly confirms his, not girlfriend as he looked uncertain while turning his head towards Jaune. "Should we go there before heading over to your sister's flat?" Jaune noticeably gulped at the thought of going there. They're supposed to be going to his sister's house to ask if they can stay there but…

"I… I think we should. I know she's watching over us, but. It'll be nice to see it up closer." And thus, with a slight detour, Team JNR made their way towards Pyrrha's stature that actually had quite the crowd gathering around it. But it was not the crowd that drew their attention the moment they walked closer, it was the person standing right before the Pyrrha's memorial statue that interested the group.

A young girl, dressed in a simple white dress and of a similar age with a prosthetic left arm painted black with brass on it, respectfully pays her respects by clasping her hands together while resting close to her chest with eyes closed. By her side was a maid who looked to be in her mid-thirties who stood by her side and cradled in her arms was a basket filled with yellow tulips.

"What is Miss Schmitt doing here?" One of the people passing by whispered softly to another, but it was loud enough for team JNR to pick it up. "Doesn't she have another performance coming up soon?"

"She does, from what I could tell, she simply wishes to pay her respect to Pyrrha Nikos, and let her. It's rare anyone outside of Argus does this. Especially someone well known in Atlas like her."

After a moment of silence, the young girl brought her head up as she took the basket of yellow tulips from her maid and placed it at the base of the statue. "I will not lie…" Her violet eyes seemed to brighten up in the light as she stood back up and looked at everyone watching her from behind.

"As someone who grew up as a normal child in a lonely town in Mistral to becoming an heiress of a growing trading corporation, I always admired Pyrrha Nikos when I first heard of her achievements through the CCTS. Her skills in battle. Her selflessness to help others in need. Though I may have never known her personally. But I do know the legacy she left behind and the lives she impacted with her actions." Celeste's voice grew ever louder as her eyes surveyed the crowd around her as team JNR blended in with the others.

"I have no doubt her death affect everyone here in Argus. As it has affected me." She says as she brings her head down for a moment while resting her prosthetic hand on her chest. Then, Celeste looked up again as she brought her hand down, with her voice louder than ever.

"But her death made me realise that she fought for what she believed in, and even if the world grows dimmer in times of hardships with the loss of the CCTS and the Fall of Beacon. We must bear the resilience and ability to overcome such adversity and see that even in times of darkness, hope for a better future will never die as long as we refuse to let it go without a fight!"

Drawing Sarastro from her pocket and pointing it into the air before a blade emerges from it, Celeste announces. "Therefore, I officially announce my choice to become a Huntress once I return to Atlas! And just as Pyrrha had inspired me to take a stand and become more than I am now, I hope I can do the same with you and the rest of the world with my actions and song! In honour of Pyrrha! In honour of those who gave their lives for Beacon!" Celeste roars out as loud as she could before the crowd follows her.

"In honour of Pyrrha! In honour of those who gave their lives for Beacon!"

"Now, enjoy the rest of your day, people! I have one last performance to give to Argus before I make my leave back to Atlas, and I hope to see you all there!" With a flurry of cheers from everyone, the crowd slowly dissipates to continue with their day, though a few stuck by to speak to Celeste while JNR stood by slightly in awe at the speech they just heard.

"That's quite the speech, if I ever heard of one."

Jaune admits, while Ren simply nods his head in agreement, while Nora brims with excitement as she's literally vibrating on the spot. "That. Was. AWESOME! Jaune! Renny! Can we drop by and see that performance? I have never been to one, and it sounds cool to see! Don't you think so?" Their orange-haired teammate had an excited grin on her face the whole time before Ren pointed out the obvious.

"Nora, it's not a good time as much as it would be interesting to attend one."

"Aww… Please?"

"Maybe." Jaune mutters just loud enough for his teammates to hear with a hand on his chin. I've never been to one, but we got our tasks to finish first, then we can possibly go and see it, okay?"

"Yes!" Nora cries out with pure joy as she leaps into the air with her fist above her. Though, all that noise she's been making alerted Celeste to their presence. And for a moment, she was temporarily stunned by their sudden appearance, before recomposing herself and walking towards them.

"Excuse me?" She spoke as team JNR turned their heads towards Celeste as she approached them. "Apologise, but I couldn't help but listen in about wishing to my last performance? And… are you all three Huntsman by chance? Newcomers to Argus? I've never seen you three here before."

"More accurately, we're all Huntsman in training, and we only just arrived in Argus hours back." Ren explains as Celeste perks up.

"Oh! Well, that explains it! My name is Celeste Schmitt and welcome to Argus. May I know yours?" She then asks after giving a presentable bow to team JNR.

"I'm Jaune, he this Ren and-"

"Nora! It's a pleasure to meet you, Celeste! Are you an aspiring Huntress?" Nora jumps into the conversation, as Celeste was slightly taken aback by her sudden interruption.

"Um… were you three listening to my speech earlier?" The black-haired girl asked sheepishly with her cheeks tinted with a hue of red as if embarrassed about the whole speech she gave to everyone. Nevertheless, she quickly wiped the embarrassment off her face as she looked at all three of them again. "Well yeah. I always wanted to be one, but I lost the drive to become one after that happened…" Celeste's eyes slowly shifted towards her prosthetic arm, and all three of them understood what she meant.

She lost her arm in some accident in the past…

"But after the Fall of Beacon, and witnessing the statue of Pyrrha Nikos here in Argus months ago, I realise that I can use my songs to give hope to those who need it. That I can be like her, just as she inspires me to become something more and officially decide to become a Huntress. So, I can do the same for others."

A moment of silence washed over the four as Jaune found his eyes at Pyrrha's statue not too far behind, Celeste as she caught where he's glancing at. "Do you… know her?" Her voice was notably soft and slow, as if worried that she would say something that would offend Jaune, but that wasn't the case.

"Yeah, she was my partner."

"But that would mean…" Celeste's eyes widened in horror when it clicked to her. "You're survivors of the fall… I cannot imagine what it must be like for you three. To see your Academy falling and losing a close teammate. Forgive me for mentioning it." She apologised.

"Yeah… it was rough for all of us."

Ren chimed in, though notably softer. But before any of them could continue talking, Katherine showed herself, and Celeste's mood notably improved upon seeing her friend walking in. "Mistress. There you are. I feared the worst when I couldn't find you at your hotel."

"Mistress?" Ren mutters as all three of them perk up. So Celeste is Katherine's mistress?

Huh…

A small world, it seems.

"Katherine! You're back! It was getting boring without you."

"Likewise." Celeste's caretaker offers a small smile as she then brings her attention to team JNR. "Jaune Arc, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, a pleasure to see you three again, and thank you for watching over my charge. I hope she hasn't caused any trouble to any of you."

"Hey!" Celeste blurts out with her cheeks in a deep red again as she pouts. "I haven't been acting the way you think I have been doing while you are away. Besides, I've finally made my own conclusion to choose to become a Huntress." Even though Katherine gave her the raised eye treatment, she can't deny being happy to hear that statement from Celeste.

"It is about time you come to your decision. Though… I doubt your parents would be pleased with your decision. Nevertheless, we have other topics to address."

"Of course, mistress. But it's time we go, we have other matters that need addressing." Katherine explains as Celeste immediately regains her composure before looking at the team JNR and back at her close friend.

"Right… Then we should do that but first," Celeste then turns towards team JNR and gives a formal bow. "Thank you for the conversation, it is a nice experience to speak with you, I'll admit. But for now, I must make my departure. Farewell and until we see each other again." With a final wave, Celeste made her departure, with Katherine and the maid with her earlier following closely behind.

Leaving JNR behind in Pyrrha memorial garden.

"She's in a hurry to leave… I wonder what she needs to deal with?" Nora audibly wonders out as she glances at her not boyfriend and team leader who were lost in thoughts before Jaune snaps out of it.

"Right. That was interesting, but let's get going. We can pay our respects to Pyrrha later with the others." And with that, Jaune leads the group as they depart to find his sister's home. As for Celeste and Katherine, they soon made their way back to their hotel and after some time to cool down, Katherine walked into Celeste's room and happened to be in the midst of resting on a chair near the window while holding a tea cup in her hand.

"So, Katherine, what do you have to report?" Celeste asks with her face as cold as stone as she stares out the window.

"Your orders to watch over those individuals are done, but there is something you should know." Celeste's caretaker said as she walked over to her dear friend with her scroll in hand. "The boy you call Oscar Pine did not show up. But a Fox Faunus called Zack Ara-"

*PFFFFFT*

Celeste spat her tea all over the window before descending into a coughing mess, while Katherine simply tilts her head in surprise and takes out a towel from her suit and hands it over to her master, who accepts it and cleans her mouth. "Katherine, I must be mistaken, but did you just say Zack Arakan?" The once stone-cold features on Celeste's face melted away to disbelieve.

"Yes, Celeste. Instead of this boy called Oscar Pine being there, according to what you stated in the notes, a fox Faunus called Zack Arakan has taken his place."

"Zack…" Celeste could only limply lay on her chair. How long has it been since heard of her friend after her family moved to Atlas? Months? Years? Never, in fact, she hasn't got any messages from her dear friend and the Fall of Beacon and the loss of the CCTS made things extremely inconvenient.

But how is this possible?

Unless things are not going as she knew at this point… Something Celeste would have to think about another time.

"I doubt that's all right?"

"Not at all, my mistress," Katherine shook her head. "Doing the midst of our travel here, Argus Limited was attacked by a group of manticore being led by a Sphinx, it was during this fight, two passengers fell off the train, that being Zack Arakan and Weiss Schnee who assisted with the people with them to protect the train and its occupants." She continues as Celeste pauses with her tea close to her lips before bringing it down with her eyes wide.

"Oh. That's not good…" She mutters as Katherine agrees with her.

"Indeed. Furthermore, I should have mentioned this earlier, but the Fox Faunus unusually is in possession of additional animal traits. It appears that he has vulpine ears, two unusually large and fluffy tails, and some sort of tattoo marking on his right arm, though it is covered by his jacket. He also has a stripe of purple on his cheeks and fangs." Celeste could only blink dumbly in response. Last she remembered, her childhood friend only had a fox tail, which was his only Faunus trait.

What happened to him? What's she missing out on?

"Katherine, would it be possible for you to have everything that happened written down, please? I need some time to think about what you told me. I'll read the whole report later." Katherine simply nodded her head and quietly made her departure, while Celeste stared out through the tea coated window.

"What is going on out there?" She could only mutter out.

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Zack POV

Fuck my life, man!

That thing is still on our ass, and we had no choice but to run on foot again because using Weiss' glyphs to stay ahead of that thing is draining her aura! It also didn't help that Grimm had figured out our evasive manoeuvres and now aimed ahead of us, which led to a ton of close calls!

I'd count us lucky that neither Weiss nor I had been slammed by a tree, but that's far from the situation we're in.

In fact, it's only been a few bloody minutes and that thing just has to let out another ear-piercing howl that drowns the noise of everything in the vicinity! It got even worse for us when those small Nevermores that fluttered around us like carrions to a corpse while cawing loudly began to harass us by biting or grabbing onto our clothes and tugging at us!

Hell! Those bloody birds won't stop biting my ears and tails!

Speaking of which, "Incoming!" Weiss and I immediately ducked under a small flock of Nevermores that were behaving more like pesky bees, since they would fly off and occasionally zip back for another attack run. Thankfully for us, a single strike from Myrtenaster or Oathkeeper was enough to instantly split them into two, though their numbers are irritating.

"We can't keep running like this! I think that thing is trying to make us tired and attracting more Grimm with all the racking it is making." Yeah! No shit! It's purposely keeping its distance from what I manage to observe and constantly keeping us on the move with no time for rest! It doesn't help that this cold is not helping us at all, but what are we to do? Turn and fight against it? If Ozma went up against that monster and died, then what chance does the both of us stand against that thing?

Slicing another tiny nevermore that got too close to me in half, I agree. "Clearly! But what choice do we have? That thing will butcher us both should it get its claws on us!" I cried out as we jumped over another log before I felt something pull my jacket from behind and found myself stuck in the air. My friend cried out to me and saw that the Wendigo had caught me by the jacket!

"OH, FUCK MY LIFE, IT SEEMS!"

"Zack!" Weiss cried out to me while I twisted my body and sent a slash at the Grimm's claws holding my jacket and me in the air. But to my shock, Oathkeeper simply bounced off its boned tip claws and the Grimm laughed. Yeah… It laughed at my poor attempt to free myself before wrapping its other hand around me so tightly that it's difficult to breathe! "Let go of him!" I heard Weiss cry out as a barrage of aura arrows came out of numerous glyphs she summoned and petted the Wendigo, but nothing's working!

It got me in its grasp and seemed so disinterested in Weiss's attempts and mainly focused on me in his hand while I felt so cold in the face with its dark glowing red piercing eyes staring into my soul.

"Curious…"

Did…

Did it just speak?

The only one that I know can speak is that Hound thing Salem made with a Faunus inside it! Just how old this thing might have been to gain the ability to speak? Or is it that only Wendigo Grimms can talk? Either way, I need to get out of here!

"Oh no… It didn't speak the last time I went up against it…" I heard Ozma whispering in my head in horror as I swear it just took a deep sniff at me.

"But clearly now it can, Ozma! Can you do something? I don't intend to die this day!" I couldn't help but cry out while I struggled to break free of the Wendigo's grasp. But Ozma said or did nothing! I think he's consumed by terror, judging from the amount of it I'm feeling from him in our connection!

"Your… fear… familiar… I… sense… it…"

It growled in a deep and slow tone before it brought me closer to its eyes while I was about to enter a panic attack! Even worse when I spot Weiss using her glyphs to bounce around before darting straight for the Wendigo's eye only to be swatted aside like she was not a threat! Weiss cried out in pain when her back hit a nearby tree and sent snow everywhere, and I couldn't do anything but struggle!

"Weiss!" I could only helplessly blurt out. Please be alright! But - OW! Fuck! It's squeezing me tightly and my bones! I think a couple are going to break at this point if it keeps this up!

"Stop crushing me! Do you know it hurts, you bastard!?"

"Ah… familiar… stench… emitted… when… you… died… before… by… me. Now… come. Die… again…"

Without any time to spare, the Wendigo threw me face-first towards Weiss, and pain erupted all over me as we collided and tumbled for a bit on the snowy ground. Damn, that really hurts my poor face! "Zack, are you alright?" I heard her calling out to me as we slowly got up to see the Wendigo watching over us with an almost psychotic grin from its maw. Even more were the countless tiny Nevermore, all circling around us as if daring us to flee.

"Everything hurts like hell, but I'll live. Though, I believe we have no choice but to fight." Drawing Oathkeeper again into my hand, I could see Weiss doing the same with Myrtenaster as we got into our stance, though the look of worry and doubt permeated her pretty face, making it apparent that she's not optimistic about our chance of success against it. "Clearly, it wants to play with us for a bit before killing us. What a sadist." I scoffed.

"Then what do we do?"

"Frankly, I don't know." I shook my head as the Wendigo Grimm, strangely enough, appeared to be waiting for us to act first. Probably because it knew we cannot win if Ozma's right about dying to it before. But I fear how ancient this monster must be to develop the ability to speak. If it's smart enough to do that, who knows what tricks it has to bring up on us?

Hell, as much as I'd like Ozma to help us with this, he's too terrified to do anything right now.

"But running's not going to help us here." I finished off as I pulled out a vial of wind Dust, but even before I could absorb them with my Semblance, I picked up the sound of something or someone running towards us through my enhanced hearing. The thing is, there's multiple of them, like a whole group, and it's definitely not Grimm from what I can tell. "Weiss, you're not gonna believe this, but someone's coming to our location… It's not Grimm, that's for sure."

"Really? Who could be coming towards us currently?" My friend glanced at me before we noticed the Wendigo Grimm turning its head towards where I picked up movement from as it snarls and point's one of its claws at that current direction, and as if obeying it, all of those tiny Nevermores circling over us began flying at that direction and cawing painfully loud.

"On the plus side, it must be a serious threat for it to do that." Weiss observes as she readies up a glyph, while I drained some wind Dust and generated a wind sword in my other hand. "While I do not like our chances against that thing, perhaps we can buy time working together for whoever's on their way here." I like how you are thinking that, Weiss.

That could work, actually.

"Understood. Then let's do this together." I said right as I was rewarded with the sight of Weiss's cheeks turning a shade of pink with her eyes wide at me. I swear I'll get answers about why she's acting this way once we make it out of this alive…

"Um… Right. Let's do this." With that, putting our fears about the chance of our death aside, and we charged at the Wendigo as one while it roared challengingly at us.

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"On the double, people! We're getting close to the source!" Nerium yelled out her orders as she and the forgotten ones sped through the snow-covered forest while jumping over or sliding under logs with a hefty dose of parkouring involved. Though it had only been a few minutes since they moved out, it was relatively easy for them to cover ground thanks to their dexterity, except Adam, who was notably lacking behind due to his inexperience with parkouring.

"Sister Nerium! I'm picking up I think hundreds of flyers heading straight for us! What are your orders?" A bat Faunus with bat ears ran up and asked while still sprinting at inhuman speeds before leaping over a rock in the way.

"Keep moving! Draw your weapons! Kill anything that stands in our way! They're not going to stop us from going straight for the source!"

"Aye! You heard her! Draw your weapon and kill anything that dares stop our hunt!" With that, every one of the forgotten ones, including Adam, draw their weapons as the swarm of Nevermores appear could be seen deep in the forest heading straight for them while cawing loudly. It got even more chaotic when another ear-piercing howl echoed in the forest and a fight broke out soon after.

"There! Just through the horde and we reach it!"

Nerium yelled out again before one of the forgotten ones offered an observation and suggestion. "Sister Nerium, if I may. I suggest you head through with Adam Taurus as your support and find the source. From the looks of it, these Nevermores are just here to buy time." He explains before splattering a Nevermore against a tree.

"That is a possibility, brother." Nerium hums as she crushes a tiny Nevermore beneath her cannon before bisecting another and kicking what remains of it aside. "Very well. I am putting you in charge of the group while Adam and I pursue the source. Do hurry, however, it would be a pity if you and the others miss out on the hunt."

"I and the others wouldn't dare to let you have all the glory, sister, with our newcomer. Go! We'll carve a path for you!" With that, he dashes forward and slices through another Nevermore. "Everyone! Clear a path for Sister Nerium and Adam to push on ahead of us! They must make it through this horde! Do not fail her!"

He roars before leaping into the air and slamming the ground with such force that spikes of rocks sprang out of the ground and impaled numerous Nevermores in the way. "Understood!" The various members yell out in unison and while Nerium turns to Adam, just done cleaving several tiny Nevermores that tried to dive on him.

"Adam with me! We're going after the source while the others deal with them!"

Nodding his head, Adam agrees. "Lead the way!" And so, both ran ahead and through the cloud of Grimm as the other began to cover them from behind by either slicing or blasting any Grimm that dares to get in the way. In but a moment, a gap between the Nevermore flock was all Nerium needed as she grins under her mask as she brings her cannon which changed into a mini-gun and unleashed a hose of bullets that cleared a path for Adam to run ahead and cut through more Grimm on the course to intercepting him.

Back to Weiss and Zack, neither of them were doing well since all attempts to hurt the Wendigo have been minimal so far. In fact, just as Ozpin had warned, the monstrous Grimm has proven to be intelligent and seems to be in possession of tricks of its own. As it turns out, with horror from both of them, the Wendigo can bring more of those tiny Nevermores into the battle by violently vomiting them out of its mouth.

That clearly sounds far too painful.

As if it is puking out chunks of itself to create more of those Nevermores.

Even more was its ability to use its intelligence and centuries worth of experience to deal with Weiss and Zack together by pretending to be distracted by one of them, only to immediately lash out at the other as soon as they got within its range. In fact, both Weiss and Zack had already been thrown around a couple of times, and Weiss even summoned a Nevermore to attack it.

Only for the Wendigo to immediately catch Weiss's summon by the neck when it tried to close in for an attack and bit it into two. So much for that plan. The only good thing is that whenever the Wendigo has a good grip on either Weiss or Zack, the other can intercept and free the other by attacking its exposed wrist.

"I don't think either of us can keep going at this rate." Weiss pants before stabbing a tiny Nevermore through the mouth, with the tip of Myrtenaster sticking out at the other end.

"Clearly… I'm only surprised we're lasting this long, and it's been minutes at this point." Zack mutters as he boots a Nevermore away before plunging Oathkeeper down on another. "But frankly, I think we just made it mad." And in truth to the Fox Faunuses words, the Wendigo was now audibly growling with cuts and lacerations all over its body. Furthermore, its posture now notably more unrestrained and feral, with more black smoke radiating from its limbs.

With its frustration over its prey refusing to die, the Wendigo let out a howl that was so inescapably terrifying that it froze everyone in place, including the Nevermores it spawned. It then began charging at unnatural speeds on all fours towards its prey without stopping, and anything that so happened to be in the way of its rampage was utterly flattened beneath its weight. Even rocks were crushed into fine powder as if they were made from cheap concrete.

"Split!" Zack frightfully cried out as he and Weiss dashed away from the Wendigo's charge as it uttered in a spine-chilling calmly calm tone and surprisingly audibly unlike the time it spoke in a more slow and guttural form from earlier.

"You have ceased to amuse me. Your little game will soon be over."

Without even stopping after missing its targets, the Wendigo Grimm immediately swung its head, and by extension, its antlers, to the right at such speeds that Zack didn't have enough time to move out of the way and was painfully whacked over the head with his aura gleaming in response and the poor fox Faunus could only sprawl on the ground while disoriented from the sheer impact to his head.

"Zack!" Weiss felt her very soul freezing with anguish as she pushed her legs to the very limit to see the Wendigo Grimm bringing its claws into the air like a primed guillotine before bringing them down directly on the stunned fox Faunus's head below. "NOOOOOOO!" For Weiss, time seemed to slow down, and she could only watch helplessly with her hand reaching out as the Faunus boy she had fallen over was about to die.

It would be her fault that she ended up dooming the world with this failure, and the failure that she was unable to confess her affection towards a friend she fell in love with before his passing.

Wouldn't it?

However, fate has other plans...​

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Nerium POV

I see it! Just over a hundred metres ahead! A Grimm of disproportionate size seems to loom ahead with its head high above the trees. Furthermore, I recognise its features. It's the Bloody Hidesman, from a story I've read since I was a little girl, meant to scare me to fear the darkness by my mama once upon a time.

So that Grimm exists, huh?

Well…

From the looks of it, someone's fighting against such a mythical Grimm. And barely holding their ground from the looks of it. Leaping over another log, I took a second to glance back to see Adam right behind me. Good to see that he can keep up, it would be a shame if he is unfortunately left behind by my speed.

Though, I believe whoever the Bloody Hidesman must have really pissed it off, judging from its howling so loud that I'm sure anyone near it would go deaf from it. I must intercept it before someone dies of it. Assuming they haven't died yet, of course.

Focusing on fortifying my legs with my aura and running faster than I ever could to close the distance between me and my prey, I was taken by surprise when someone cried out so loud that it was clear for anyone nearby to hear.

"NOOOOOOO!"

Tch.

As much as I wished to observe the situation more before going in, I have no choice but to intervene now. Whoever they are, they have already earned my respect going up against such mythical Grimm and living this long. "Adam! I'm going in first!" And without waiting for an answer, I sped off first with my semblance activating and chains began to wrap around my arms.

The seriousness of the situation turned out to be true as I cleared the forest only to see a battlefield with rubble and uprooted trees all over the place. In the skies, more of those Nevermores flutter around like annoying bees while circling all over the place. And in the middle of this ruined battlefield was a familiar white-hair girl crying out while the Bloody Hidesman about to bring its claws on someone underneath it.

Speaking of the girl, she looks like that Schnee girl I remembered spotting when my Khan wishes for me to watch our target. Speaking of which, the boy about to get his face clawed off is none other than the same boy I tested weeks back!

What are the odds of that happening?

Fate must have woven so that we would meet again, it seems.

He does look off, though. Don't remember seeing him in possession of an additional tail there and… ears? Those features must have come after our fight, but that doesn't make sense, how did he get those?

No matter, I can get my answers eventually after I save his life. Though I never seemed to realise until thinking through it, the boy's facial features reminded me of the Khans for some reason. Could they be related somehow?

"Enough of me pondering. It's time to act."

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Although Zack appeared to be nearing his end, the sounds of chains rattling in the forest swiftly altered his course, until they suddenly appeared out of nowhere and wrapped around the Bloody Hidesman's arm first before spreading all over its body, causing its claws to be just inches away from the fox Faunuses face.

Weiss, on the other hand, couldn't believe what she saw as her head snapped towards where those chains came from to see Nerium not too far away, visibly struggling to hold the Bloody Hidesman in place with her feet already in the process of digging into the soil below. "OI! Stop gawking at me and get him out of the way while I can hold it off!" Nerium begins cursing out while grunting in exertion thanks to the Bloody Hidesman struggling to break its chains.

Numbly nodding her head, Weiss sped off pass the Wendigo Grimm that was too distracted currently with the chains wrapped around its entire body to notice her slipping underneath it as she gently picks up her Faunus friend, who's still clutching his head in pain from the headache he'd got from the impact to his skull.

"Owww… my head…" Zack groaned out while Weiss felt relieved that her friend was relatively alright as she cleared some distance, though it appears that the Wendigo really hates it when its prey is getting away. It began struggling even more vigorously than before, that cracks began to form in the chains themselves, much to Nerium's chagrin, since she had hoped that her Semblance could hold it in place for much longer.

Despite all that, Weiss still managed to bring her friend to relative safety next to Nerium before her semblance finally reaches its limit and shatters, while the Bloody Hidesman lets out a furious roar again. Despite that, she appears to be ecstatic under the mask as she draws her weapons. "See if he's alright. I'll handle it."

"I don't know who you are or where you're from, but… Thank you…" Weiss's eyes soon sank to Zack laying on the floor, still rubbing his head. "For helping me save him."

"He matters much to you, does he?" Nerium says with her eyes still focusing on the Bloody Hidesman as she draws a flare gun from her pocket and shot it into the air. Though if she had her eyes on Weiss, she would have noticed the ex-heiress gently bushing her finger on her friend's cheek with worry in her eyes. "Then see to it that he gets back on his feet. I have reinforcements coming in soon and together, we'll drive this monster to the earth."

"You want to go up against that thing? We've been running and fighting against that thing for a while since it found us." Weiss could only utter in disbelief, but Nerium either ignored or didn't see the need to give a reply because she just charges in before bringing her cannon up and fires a single shot at the Bloody Hidesman's face as the two engage.

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Zack POV

Ugh… Christ on a bike, my head won't stop ringing! Ever since I ate a face full of antlers from that thing, my head has been a mess! "Zack, can you hear me?" Ozma? What is it now? Can't you feel that state I am in right now? Anyway, who saved me? I remember seeing that thing's claws falling on me, then… it stopped?

Followed by Weiss picking me up and running?

"The person who saved your life, I believe she's the same one who you fought against back in Mistral."

Wait.

WHAT?

"What?!" OW! Damn, my head! Okay, maybe I shouldn't have done that. Now my brain feels like jelly again, sitting up this fast but, she's back? That woman who tormented and made me fight against Ruby is here? And she's going up against that Wendigo monster?

"Zack! Are you okay?" Weiss… Right, she carried me away from that thing when I was vulnerable. Yet, I couldn't face my friend because my eyes were on that bastard woman with her red ponytail now loose and fighting that thing off by herself. I felt fury in my heart. I will never forgive her for taking control of my body and making me go up and attack my friends unwillingly!

Especially Ruby!

"Why is she here?" I cannot lie, I must have sounded more sinister than usual in my tone because through the corner of my eye, I noticed Weiss flinching back while I stood back up. "She's the one who tested me and put me through hell with her Semblance." My eyes narrowed down as I watched that woman jump over the Wendigo's claws before firing another shot at its face while it roared with fury.

"She's the one? Then why is she here then?" Weiss asks behind me as the Wendigo snatched that woman out of the air before throwing her aside before it began charging at us again! While I hate her guts, that woman and whoever might be with her might give us the edge to hopefully kill it or force it to retreat, since it's intelligent for a Grimm.

Though, before either of us could move out of the way, another person joined the fight and intercepted the Wendigo's path with their blade out!

Hold on a minute.

Is that ADAM TAURUS?

"Why is he here? What is even happening anymore?!" I recognised Wilt and Blush anywhere with their dark colours and red blade and Adam's red hair with horns sticking out of his head! But… he's… wearing an entirely different colour set of white and grey than the black and red I know he wears!

Yet, the colours he has now are just like that woman who fought me weeks back…

Is he in leagues with her and her Khan right now?

Weiss and I could only stupidly stare and gawk at a familiar face before Adam used his Semblance to send the Wendigo Grimm stumbling back before falling! Wow! I'm aware how his Moonslice works, but to see him absorbing that attack and redirecting the force back to that monster is shocking. Even though it appears to only scratch it.

"Adam?" I heard my friend call him out with Myrtenaster drawn before he turned, and I spotted what clearly is a piece of cloth covering where his SDC scar should be. I have many questions. Like, why is he here with that woman and not in Argus? Isn't he supposed to be stalking Blake, like in canon?

Not like I want that to happen but, it is perplexing, you know? Even more so, that he appears baffled by my friend calling him? Does he not recognise Weiss at all? He should have been going absolutely berserk being near a Schnee for what they had done to him, yet here he is, almost confused that Weiss knows his name.

"Yes, that's my first name. How do you know about it?" Something is not right here…

"I concur…" Ozma whispered in my mind as I glanced at Weiss to see that even she was caught off guard by his response. "From what we know of Mr Taurus, he should not be here… Or behaving this way towards Miss Schnee."

"Yeah… Yet, he is here with that bitch…"

"Language Arakan."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. We have bigger things to worry about."

"That can be addressed later, we have a common enemy to deal with." That bitch then reappears beside Adam, almost like she's his boss now. Yet, despite the precarious situation with that Wendigo, I couldn't help but draw Oathkeeper and point it directly at her!

Work with you against a common enemy?

You're joking!

"After what you've done to me and made me go against my friends weeks back?!" I yelled out with all the fury I could muster and made both Adam and my friend take a step back. Yet for a moment, I felt my vision turning red and there's this feeling of burning rage inside me that threatened to spill out had I not put a muzzle on it to control myself, even if a fraction of it still got out.

"I don't care if we have a common enemy to deal with right now! What you forced me to do that day is unforgivable!" I yelled out, yet she seemed unimpressed by my actions.

"Say what you wish. I believe that what I did that day is required to see you grow stronger. After all, you did change after that event, didn't you? I don't exactly remember seeing you developing additional traits or tattoos on your cheeks the last time we fought." The absolute balls of this woman to say this to my face!

"Zack!" Weiss's hand then suddenly came into view and pushed down Oathkeeper while I couldn't help but glare at my friend. What do you want to say? "I understand your grievances with her, but we need all the help we can get to go up against that thing." My friend points out, and as much as I hate to admit it.

She's right. I don't think any of us can take on that thing alone…

"At least your girlfriend can talk some sense here."

"Girlfriend?!" Weiss and I squawked at the same time, and I felt my cheeks burning with what I'm sure was Ozma chuckling in my mind as if it were a funny joke! Thankfully, though, I never thought I would be thankful for Adam of all people, but I am since he steps in and diverts our attention away from this embarrassing thing.

"Not to interrupt this conversation, but that thing is about to attack again." In truth to his words, the Wendigo is about to throw a rock at us! Shit!

"Get down!" Weiss, I and even Adam ducked down except for that bitch who I still don't know her name, she simply swung her cannon on her back and smashed the rock without care and threw dust all over the place!

Holy shit! What sane person does that?!

Completely nonchalant about the whole smashing a rock in front of everyone, she utters out. "Well, with that in order, I think it's about time we deal with the Bloody Hidesman now, talking isn't going to make it die faster." Yeah… I'll work with you on this threat. Perhaps I'll expend all my rage on that Bloody Hidesman for a change.

With a simple nod, all four of us turned on the Wendigo, which must have sensed the change of the winds of battle, since a horde of Grimm suddenly began to reinforce it at a substantial rate! Had it the whole time been preventing any of them from joining the fight? It must really want to kill me and Weiss with its own hands, I mean claws.

The point still stands.

Guess that changed quickly when it realises how dangerous it must be to fight a whole team.

Which only brings into further question.

Just how old is this monster?

It has to be centuries old. Perhaps even thousands of years old to be intelligent enough to speak and think. Which is terrifying to imagine just how many kills it had already taken. Thousands? Tens of thousands? I don't want to know. "On your right!" Weiss called out to me as I ducked underneath an Ursa's attempt to claw me and jammed Oathkeeper through its head by its chin before yanking it out as I sent a wave of ice from my gauntlet at the approaching Beowolves in front of me.

"Thanks for the heads-up!" I call out to Weiss, who simply smiles at me with a nod before refocusing and stabbing a creep through the eye.

In addition, as much as it pains me to admit, that bitch's good in a fight. I know it after going up against her, but, bloody hell. She must be going easy on me because right now, she's taking on the Wendigo and its tiny nevermore escorts by her lonesome and not losing ground! Hell! She's even using her Semblance to get more 'unwilling allies' when she used it on an Alpha Ursa and ordered it to tear its own kind apart.

It was during our fight that Ozma whispered into my head. "Zack, the Wendigo's distracted right now. With its back turned away from us, you might be able to cut its arm off."

"But how, Oz? Oathkeeper can't fully cut through its tough skin, I'm sure you have noticed that I tried it before, and it didn't work." I said back before catching a tiny Nevermore trying to peck my eyes out and throwing it to the ground before me and crushing it beneath my foot.

"This is true. But perhaps channelling your magic into it could be what is required to cut through it. I've done something similar far back when I had more magic with me" Right. The sister's magic in me… I've rarely used them over my fears that they could speed up my merger with Ozma. But if it can be used to weaken that monster, I got to try at least.

"Right. I still don't know what will happen to us should I use it but for this. I'll do it." Closing my eyes to focus, I willed the magic in me to flow into Oathkeeper and when I opened my eyes, the blade's glowing violet just like my aura. Wow… it's pretty… "It worked! It actually worked!" I expressed my excitement before Ozma seemed happy about this.

"Yes indeed, Arakan. You should strike it while it's distracted." Despite the confident tone Oz is giving me, I can still feel his terror over it.

"You're still scared of it, are you?"

"I am. But I have faith, you could be the one to kill or make it retreat. In any case, it would be cathartic for me to witness it through your hands." Right. Pouring more aura into my legs and feeling myself more energised than before, I break into a full sprint towards the Wendigo while dodging and weaving around any Grimm that tries to intercept me.

And once I was close enough, I took to the air with the assistant of my grapple hook with Oathkeeper glowing in its pole arm mode in my hands. "This is it! Take this!" With a roar of my own and the Wendigo's arm within reach, I bring Oathkeeper down and cleave though it with little resistance!

It worked! It actually worked!

I severely wounded it!

In fact, my attack was so sudden that even that bitch was stunned by my work and the Wendigo howled in agony for the first time since we started fighting against it!

And by the time I landed back onto the ground and turned to face it, the Wendigo was clutching its stumped arm in almost disbelief at the damage I did with my attack, with its severed arm on the ground not too far and dissolving. In fact, I might have triggered its survival instincts, as it actually took several steps back away from me and that bitch!

Staring at the stump before looking back at me, it growled loudly before several people in white and grey suddenly showed up and began decimating the Grimm in the vicinity! They're wearing the same colour pallet as Adam and that woman. I think they are the reinforcements she talked about earlier. Hell, some even have semblances of their own but are not Huntsman themselves.

Who are these people anyway? They seem too organised for a simple bandit tribe if I were to guess they were.

"This isn't over. We will meet again, and the next time, you'll suffer for this."

And there it goes. Yup, the very same monstrous Grimm that manages to terrify Ozma is now running for its life. I originally intended to chase after it, but with how fast it was gone, I honestly doubted I could catch up to it in this state. In fact, despite the Wendigo getting away, I felt Ozma's cathartic relief washing over me as I watched it run and disappear into the dark forest. Speaking of which.

I feel exhausted.

So exhausted, in fact, that the snowy ground looks so appetising to sleep on. "Perhaps resting on the floor for a bit should be alright for a bit. Maybe just enough to catch my breath at most." I did just that, getting down on my knees with my eyes shut for a short rest. I'll handle that bitch later after a moment of rest after feeling the adrenaline out of my system, and I should probably check up on Weiss.

Likewise, I am sure she is as tired as I am after all this fighting and running that we did.

Speaking of which, I spot Weiss slowly walking towards me with a fatigued yet beautiful smile on her face, while at the same time, her Arma Gigas she summoned moments ago slowly fade away now that the battle is won. "You did it. You actually managed to make it retreat." I can feel the joy radiating off my friend about my achievement the whole time as she speaks and kneels next to me.

"True. But I didn't do it alone. I have you, and the others as well, to thank for giving me the chance to hurt it."

"Yeah… what you did was remarkable." I give a smile in return before she suddenly lunches and pulls me into a tight hug! Weiss! When are you this clingy with me?! But… I'll let it off for now. I, no doubt, could use a hug, especially after this mess.

Even more so when my tails begin to wrap around her.

"I'm glad you're okay…" I heard her whispering into my ears while I leaned in close to my friend. Feeling her arms holding me close as I whisper the same.

"Yeah. Same for you..."

And feeling this hug we share. It's comforting…

I wouldn't mind staying like this for a while after everything we just went through…

…

"See what I mean? Totally in a romantic relationship." Aw fuck! I had completely forgotten that bitch was still standing there!

Hearing her words made our heads snap towards her, and she happened to have her mask taken off her face while giving the most shit eating grin I've seen in a while. As for Adam, he was simply by her side and glancing at her like a confused child. Even more was Weiss's reaction when she gently shoved me away to give herself some space from me, which I understand to hopefully spare both of us from embarrassment.

But… Why do I suddenly feel so upset having to break our hug?

Am I…

Falling for Weiss?

No, I can't afford to get distracted by this, I got a war to win first.

Even then… She deserves better to be with her for the rest of her life, other than some Faunus boy whose soul would be taken over by Ozma. I still don't know how much time I have before I'm gone… Feeling a weary sigh leaving my lips, I glance at that bitch while I slowly push myself off the floor. Now that our common enemy is dealt with, I think it's best we depart on 'relatively' good terms.

I have enough fighting for today, nor in the condition to start another one, no matter how pissed I am at her.

"We're done here and should best be moving on. My friend and I have to leave to get to Argus as soon as we can." I mumbled as I could see Weiss glancing at me as she nodded her head. But despite what I've said, that bitch shook her head with humoured disbelief.

"You and your friend? Alone to Argus? Hah!" She cracks up into laughter, while Weiss and I can only frown in response. "In this state when you're exhausted, are you out of your mind? You'll most likely die on the way there, should you run into more Grimm. Alternatively, either the cold will kill you, or your lack of supplies would." She shook her head before wearing her mask.

"What point is she making?" My frown grew ever deeper as she did a formal bow towards me and Weiss.

"While we never introduced ourselves, I am Nerium, the Sword of the Khan. And you have earned the attention of our leader and are important to his plans. While I do not know or care why you are part of it, I cannot let you go out alone with your friend over the chance that you'll die out there." Wonderful. Just… Wonderful. You're not going to let us go?

"Besides, I have no doubt you have questions about us, and we have questions about you."

"And why should we come with you?" Weiss says as she stands protectively in front of me while gesturing with her hand at me to let her talk. "After everything you've done to him, how could we trust you? Why is he so important to your 'Khan'?" You know... Having Weiss taking charge to protect me is a nice feeling to have, and I swear it just made my stomach flutter for a second.

I must really have grown fond of her.

"Maybe too fond of her for her own good..." A dark part of my mind whispered back.

"Well, Miss Schnee," She spoke, as I believe my friend's eyes widened slightly in response. Of course, they are aware of her name, it only makes sense with this group keeping an eye on me. "If it makes you feel any comfort, we'll offer you protection, food and shelter while with us. And answers about us as well, just as long as you answer ours." Bitc- I mean Nerium explains before I look at Weiss as she does the same to me.

"Do we even have a choice here?" I voiced my worries out while my friend gave me an uncertain look as I looked back at Nerium. I still don't like you. "If we are to come with you, will we at least have some guarantee that nothing will happen to either of us?" I still don't trust her to keep to her words, but it is partially clear to me that this Khan needs me alive for some reason.

The reason why? I do not know yet.

"Oz, can I have your input on these people? Do you know, they are? They never appear in the show, maybe Leon knows them?" I asked before Ozma gave me an answer seconds later.

"They could be the Hunters we heard in the rumours back in Mistral…" Hunters… Yeah, that could be the case. These people do wear a white mask, just like the description of the Hunters, plus the white fluffy coat as well. It could be, but I'll need more evidence before coming to that conclusion.

But soon my talk with Ozma was interrupted when another one of those guys with a white mask and cloak walked towards before prostrating himself before me. "Forgive me for interrupting your conversation," The bowing is unnecessary, and I don't understand why you're doing that. "While this is far too late to change things, I only wish to beg for forgiveness for what sister Nerium has done to you."

"Forgiveness?"

"For you see, sister Nerium normally uses her Semblance on those who are scourges of civilization, like bandits or Grimm. You, of all people, do not deserve to suffer going through that experience. If it brings you any comfort, she has been reprimanded by our Khan for disobeying his commands."

"Why tell me this?" I growled before changing Oathkeeper back into its sword mode and sheathing it away.

"Just as sister Nerium had said, you are important to our Khan's plans, and while her actions have no doubt indeed soured our potential relationship and trust. We only wished for what's best for this world. So please, just for this instant, come with us with your friend, and I swear we'll help you in all we can." The man finished his explanation while I simply continued staring at him before Ozma spoke in my mind.

"Zack, he's being genuine with his words. I believe we can trust him and the organisation he's part of. To a certain extent. If anything, a place for you to recoup supplies and rest will be beneficial." Perhaps Oz… Perhaps. Bringing my eyes over to Weiss pondering through the man's words as she rests her elbow on her hand and with the other under her chin, she looks at me.

"I don't know about you, but I think he's being honest with us." She muttered as my ears and tails twitched.

"Way to steal my show, Brother Asphod." Nerium says with her arms folded before Asphod stood back on his feet and looked at her while Weiss and I simply watched quietly.

"I am simply keeping a promise I intend to keep, sister." Asphod looks back at me. "Now. What will your answer be? Will you allow us to escort you somewhere more appropriate and safer?" Do I honestly want to take this chance? He seems genuine enough that he has mine and Weiss's safety in mind, but I have my doubts about the others.

They all saw how I looked, and I doubt they'll keep quiet about my features, that, and my grievances with Nerium's ain't going away anytime soon that easily. Furthermore…

Adam…

I don't know what happened to him. But how is he with them? How did he not recognise Weiss? I know for sure that the Schnee's are a berserk button for him, thanks to what the company had done to face. Yet here he is, confused about how she knows his name and in addition, his demeanour has changed from what I know.

He is not his murderous self filled to the brim with bitter hatred over Humanity, nor is he the obsessed yandere who stalkers and tries to kill Blake and everyone she knows. It is almost as if Adam went through some sort of mental change. Mindwipe? Mind control or something along those lines? Adam's an entirely different person from what I can tell, and that's unnerving.

Though… since Adam is more passive now, perhaps we can find out why he is different?

"Very well then." I mutter as I open my eyes after having them closed earlier to ponder. "We'll follow you, but this better not be a trap." I stated my words firmly, as Asphod seemed ecstatic by my response.

"Then we leave at once." Nerium says loudly. "Asphod, help escort those two back to our sanctuary with the others. I have a call to make." With that, Nerium walks away while Asphod nods his head and signals to us.

"We should get moving now before the daily blizzard hits, and fear not, we will make sure that no harm comes to you or your companion as our guest." And so, Weiss and I began to follow Asphod and Adam, with the others surrounding us like bodyguards.

"What do you think we'll find there at this 'sanctuary'?" Weiss asked me as soon as we were side by side.

"Frankly, I don't know…." I admitted. "Only that what happens next, I hope they can help get us to Argus as soon as we can." And so Weiss and I are escorted somewhere deep into the forest.

After separating from the group, Nerium found a nice tree branch to rest on, and after typing on it and making a call to her master, the Khan's head appeared on it. "Nerium, report."

"My Khan. We found the source coming from an ancient Grimm from what I can tell. The fairy tale of the Bloody Hidesman is true. We found it fighting a pair of Huntsman, but the identity of them is what would be surprising for you, I suspect." Nerium explains.

"The Bloody Hidesman… Did you kill it, and who are these huntsmen?"

"No, we unfortunately could not. It managed to flee as soon as it realises that the situation's not in its favour. As for the Huntsman. It is the boy you asked me to watch a week back and the Schnee girl who happens to be with him. How they ended up in the middle of the forest by themselves is a mystery in itself for now." Nerium mused.

"I see… this is unexpected…" The Khan hummed as his head looked down as he pondered. He honestly didn't expect this to happen. How did that boy end up there? Furthermore, they only had the intention of continuing to watch him, but a distraction with a case of bandit hunting brought him and many of his people from that.

"Speaking of that boy, he's much different than before now." Nerium added further as that fact alone made the Khan visibly pause.

"Different? Different in what way? Explain." He asks while Nerium hums with her head, pondering how to explain with her head staring into the skies.

"Unlike before while I last reported to you, he appears to have developed some new physical traits, firstly he apparently now has vulpine ears as well as a second tail somehow. It also appears that tattoo markings have now shown up on his cheeks, and finally, he has grown fangs." She explains while her master froze. "Should I bring him to you? Perhaps you understand what's happening to him?" She asks, while the Khan remains silent for an uncannily long time before speaking.

"This is a sign from the Gods, Nerium. There's no other way to explain how this boy the seers foretold would play a part in our future, even more now that he appears to have physically developed more fox traits than is the usual one for Faunuses. If my suspicions are right, that boy could be chosen by the Gods." The Khan concludes. "Here are my orders, bring him and his Schnee companion to me alive and well. Under no circumstances should any harm occur to the boy. Khan out."

Staring her scroll for a moment, Nerium sighs as she leapt off the tree and slowly makes her way to join the rest as they escort that boy and that Schnee girl.

"Honestly, I suspect that this is not a coincidence… How else could we so happen to stumble across each other this soon? And the changes he received. What is he becoming to possess those traits? Perhaps the veil behind the mystery will be revealed soon enough…"

And as the red-haired woman disappeared into the forest, up above the highest clouds lie Ishmael, observing the whole thing the whole time. Ever since, Zack and Weiss found themselves separated from their friends, to them being chased after by the Bloody Hidesman, to encountering several of her sister's worshippers, to the Hidesman being wounded enough to force it to retreat.

She's seen all of it and in fact was tempted to step in to protect her Champion from his unfortunate situation. But it seemed to have resolved itself with no need of intervention.

"Curious… The little fox's now using some of his magic. Not only to protect himself and his companion, but to enhance his weapon. He's getting creative with our gifts. But… I sense an instability in his soul." The goddess thought silently before she frowned. "No… an unintended side effect? As it had been, ours and the Brother's magic should have repulsed each other, but now they're intertwining within him? How is that possible?"

"My sister needs to know about this. Whatever's happening within him certainly will affect his life in unpredictable ways… even if he's on a time limit." And so, Ishmael vanishes away with a final thought in her mind. "Speaking of which… He needs to know eventually that time will not on his side. As much as this could prove detrimental."