Path Of Blood - 58 Chapter 50

Pyrrha retold her meeting with Ozpin to Haruki. The others stayed back and just let the two converse.

Neo on the other hand sat beside Pyrrha, because she was in this as much as Pyrrha was.

——————–

Ozpin was facing the windows of his office as he moved.

Neo and Pyrrha were sitting side-by-side as they observed Ozpin pacing back and forth, Thinking about something.

Qrow stood at the back, silently leaning on the pillar.

Ozpin then stops, He looked at the two of them, “The two of you have fought well, the matter of The Homunculus had been staved of because of your efforts, although I do commend Emerald and Cinder by performing equally well…

That is not the reason why you two are here… Ms. Neo I Never expected you to be a maiden…”

Neo frowned and shrugged her shoulders, (I wouldn’t have revealed it if the matter wasn’t so pressing.)

Pyrrha on the other hand flinched when she heard the mention of the homunculi. But she looked up when she heard the word ‘Maiden’

Pyrrha wanted to know what Ozpin and Neo meant. “Professor why did you call us here?”

Ozpin calmly sipped his tea, “What is your favorite fairytale?”

Pyrrha raised her eyebrows, “I’m sorry?”

Ozpin crossed his hands and spoke, “You know, fairy tales. stories from your childhood…”

Pyrrha recounted the stories that she liked when she was younger.

Ozpin leaned forward and said, “What about the story of seasons?”

Pyrrha nodded her head, “Of course!”

She retold the story of the Four Maidens.

She added, “My mother loves that story.”

Ozpin smiled, “Would you believe me if I told you that story is true?”

Pyrrha then seriously looks at Ozpin and nodded, “Professor with what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was true.”

Ozpin then looks outside his office, “There were four Maidens existing in this world that could wield tremendous power without dust…

Like magic…if you will Ms. Neo…”

Neo created an ice sculpture of herself, out of thin air.

Pyrrha was shocked, but after seeing the craziness of the sins, she was immediately convinced. “Then tell me professor why are you telling me all this?”

Ozpin looked at Qrow, They nodded at each other, seemingly confirming that they have come to a decision.

“We’re telling you Pyrrha Nikos because we believe that you are next in line to receive the fall maiden’s powers.”

He said towards Pyrrha.

Then suddenly the elevator opened, “Sorry we’re late.”

Pyrrha looked behind her and saw, Both Glynda Goodwitch and James Ironwood.

Neo calmly prepared herself on what’s to come.

Pyrrha shook her head and asked, “What is all this? Who are these people?”

Glynda spoke towards Pyrrha gently, “You know who we are… we’re still the same teachers and headmasters you met when you arrived at beacon.”

Qrow straightened his posture as he spoke, “‘Cept we got a little part time job.”

Ironwood then said, “We are the protectors of this world.”

“And we need your help… both of you…”

Ozpin said as he looked at the both of them straight in the eye as earnest as possible.

Then they proceeded to guide both Pyrrha and Neo towards the elevator.

As they were going downwards, Pyrrha couldn’t help but ask.

“Professor? where are we going?”

“To the vault, under the school…”

*Click*

The elevator door slowly opened and they all slowly walked towards the direction of the current fall maiden.

“I still don’t understand how am I supposed to receive the maiden’s power? What do you mean by that?”

Glynda calmly explained to Pyrrha the origins of the maidens, Neo listened in for she too wanted to know the origins of her powers.

Pyrrha asked, “Why tell me this now? why not wait until I’m ready?”

Qrow sighed, “Honestly, we’ve run out of time. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but thing are getting a lot scarier out in the world, not even counting the sinners we found a few days back. The tensions are high, and it’s not gonna be much longer before this peace we’ve all been enjoying so much goes out the window.”

Qrow then drones on why he can’t tell her more details, She needed to agree to be on their side. And one of the maidens we’re attacked. The one thing he didn’t say was who attacked the maiden.

Pyrrha scoffed, Haruki told her this before… that He worked for the big bad herself, She was honestly just playing dumb. She wanted to see if Ozpin was just using her.

They arrived in front of the fall maiden. Ozpin sighed, “She’s the current fall maiden. Amber…”

Pyrrha gasped, “she’s still alive!”

“For now…” Ozpin said, Ironwood continued. “We’re using state of the art Atlas technology to keep her stable.

Bit there is a lot about this situation which is… Unprecedented.

We don’t know what will happen if she passes.”

Pyrrha then said, “Won’t her power transfer to the next Host.”

They all nodded. They told her that the power of the fall maiden was only half of what it used to be. That if would probably seek it’s other half.

“And that would not bode well for any of us…”

She went near the Vat, “Why keep it all a secret then? Why not just tell everyone!?”

“We founded this group to protect both mankind and Maidens… But if we reveal this to the world, we would only be painting a huge Target on our backs, and theirs. Especially for the maidens.

And we can’t reveal that we’re on the brink of war… it would only cause panic and paranoia.”

Qrow said as he looked towards Ironwood.

Ironwood sighed, and he did his best to ignore Qrow’s judging stare.

“Are you talking about Salem?”

Everyone’s expression darkened. “Who told you that? was it Haruki?” Qrow said.

Pyrrha nodded, “He told me about her…”

Ozpin then nodded his head, “That’s why the maiden’s have to be a secret… If she knew she would come clawing at our walls at a moment’s notice.”

Ozpin then continued to tell her about the conditions on becoming the next fall maiden, the way that Ozpin devised.

Pyrrha was in a dilemma, But she said “Can I have a little more time to think about it?”

Ozpin nodded, “Think it over… Although we are pressed for time, You can give us your answer a before the vytal festival.”

“Although it’s still a long time away, I hope that you could give us your answer soon…”

Ozpin then looked at Neo hoping he could convince her too, “You too Ms. Neo.”

Neo nodded her head and they both walked away, Ozpin knew deep down that if Haruki knew of this he would be storming in his office.

—————————-

Pyrrha finished her story and Haruki’s expression was Grimm.

The sky was already dark after Pyrrha finished, Pyrrha laid down next to Haruki as she slept, Drained from the things she has gone through for the past three days.

Haruki then told the others to go get some rest.

They all got some shut eye.

A few days have passed and Haruki has already long recovered.

Pyrrha on the other hand wasn’t herself for the past few days, clearly she has been bothered by everything that has transpired.

Even her teammates noticed this and asked Haruki on what happened, He just told them to give her a little space, that she needed to sort out some stuff on her own.

Haruki Then walked into Ozpins Office.

Inside his office, Everyone of Ozpin’s people were there. Winter stood beside Ironwood.

“You’re here… I expected that you would be here sooner.”

Haruki shrugged, “Why her?”

He got straight to the point,

“She was the most qualified… and in case you didn’t notice, Salem is preparing her forces as we speak, the amount of White fang attacks have been getting more and more frequent. Also the sins are getting more and more involved.

I had no choice…” Ozpin replied.

Haruki slammed the table, “Bullshit! There still another way!”

“What other way!? Her forces grow stronger as we speak! We can’t just sit idly by as we wait for her to make her move!!”

Qrow said as he screamed back towards Haruki.

“I have a way… just give me time… I have a way… I probably have a way to cure the current fall maiden…”

Haruki said.

“That’s exactly what we don’t have! we only gave her that kind of time frame so she won’t get pressured… But we will slowly coerce her to become the next in line…”

Haruki clicked his tongue, “Ozpin… this will be that last time I ask, I just need time will you trust me or not?”

Qrow said towards Haruki, “Watch your tone kid…”

Ozpin raised his hands to stop Qrow, “I’m sorry Mr. Haruki, but that I couldn’t do, especially when the sinners and Salem are right out at our doorstep.

You and I both know, that You and I couldn’t stop her…

We need to protect the people, that’s why we need the maidens.”

Haruki was silent, He thought to himself. ‘Was it my fault that the sins are here? why did this turn this way? This is too soon…’

“I can’t risk their safety, Not even to fight Salem… I won’t let you do it…”

He said as he glared towards Ozpin.

Ozpin then glared back and said, “Does that mean our partnership ends here?”

“It depends…” Suddenly the sound of glass breaking resounded all over the room.

Neo undid her semblance revealing everyone on Haruki’s side. Mercury, Raven, Emerald, Cinder.

They slowly surrounded them.

“Raven!? have you forgotten what we owe towards Ozpin!?” Qrow shouted at his sister…

Raven shrugged her shoulders. And proceeded to ignore him.

Ozpin was shocked and he narrowed his eyes, “What does this mean?”

Haruki smirked, “Take it anyway you want, this is my team… I wanted time so I could heal the Fall maiden but you won’t let me…”

Cinder ignited her hands, revealing that she was the one who attacked Amber.

Ozpin frowned, “Are you declaring war?”

Haruki shook his head, “No… but if I can’t convince you… it’s war you’ll get.”

Ironwood was about to speak but winter pointed her sword towards him. Making the others move against each other. They were all on a stand still.

Ozpin raised his hands to stop his team, “Winter… you’re in this too?”

She gripped her blade, and looked away.

Ozpin sighed, “Fine Mr.Haruki… You win this time.

But know this, This will not happen again…”

He pointed at the ticking clock on his clocktower.

“And remember this… time is running out…”

He said as killing intent flowed, He wanted to avoid a confrontation, against Haruki, both He and his team are essential on defending beacon.

Haruki answered back with a smirk, “Of course…” His killing intent was more dense than Ozpin as it flooded the entire room.

They glared at each other, as they put down their weapons.

Raven on the other hand immediately opened a portal, She nodded at Haruki and gave him a paper letter and said, “That makes two…”

Haruki smiled wryly and thought to himself, ‘Can’t this woman be charitable atleast…’

She looked at her brother, “See you around Qrow…”

The tension finally left the room, As Haruki’s team walked out, Ironwood spoke to Winter.

“Winter! Are you sure about this? What you’re doing is insubordination…”

Winter gripped her blade tightly, “Please trust Haruki sir… He has a way…”

Ironwood’s expression darkened but he let winter walk away. He would let Ozpin handle the boy for now…

After a long moment of silence.

Qrow looked at Ozpin seemingly helpless, “What now?”

Ozpin looked below as he watched Haruki walk away from the tower.

“For now we try and get the things back to normal, then… we wait and see.”

Haruki sighed this was the opposite of what he aimed for, but He has a trump card he could play without killing Amber.

That was the ideal scenario… but if things went South, he would have to get his hands a little dirty…

Neo asked Haruki what now, (Our relationship with Ozpin is a little shaky right now… what are we going to do now?)

He smiled and patted his wife’s head, “we show them that they need us…”

On the other hand winter was thinking if what she did was right…

Haruki thought about Pyrrha, He sighed… This is going to be a little tough…

He thought to himself, ‘I don’t aim to maintain the status quo…I aim to change it, and if I manage to convince Ozpin, the rest will follow suit. I don’t intend to build an army… Just enough Fire Power to end all of this madness…’

“I hope that you guys just act normally, Ozpin let us off for now… but I’m going to bet that he’s going to keep a close eye on us.”

Emerald raised her eyebrows, “are you suggesting that we just pretend nothing happened?”

Haruki nodded his head. They all agreed to just live as is, as they walked away side by side.