Chapter 19

Wakefulness came slowly to Ella, the transition from dream to reality unusually long. The bed was comfy, warm, and a familiar throwback to past days, all reasons for her struggling not to open her eyes. But her trained body was already acknowledging the effects of a night of restful sleep, and it could not remain still for long now.

She dozed in this fashion for endless minutes, until the morning rays of dawn shining right on her face made it impossible for her to lie there any further. She opened her eyes, blinked a few times to clear the haze, and stretched luxuriously, basking in the serenity and relaxation of the moment. Her journey with Eileen had seen them rest in shifts, with one asleep while the other kept watch, and this past night had been much needed.

With a soft groan, she slowly set herself into a sitting position, with her right hand pressed against the mattress to keep her up. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door to her right, and then said door opened slightly. It took her a second to register that it was her mother.

"Oh, you're awake." She said gladly with a gentle smile.

"Morning, mother." She said almost tiredly.

"Good morning to you, too. I've just finished making breakfast. So come on down when you're ready."

"Thank you." She replied gratefully.

She nodded and left the door open as she went back down the stairs to the kitchen. Ella took her time to get off the bed as she pushed the covers off her legs and spun herself to the edge of the bed. She stood up and took some more stretches to relieve the lingering stiffness off her joints and muscles, then left her guest room to meet up with her mother down in the dining area, never bothering to change out of her pajamas. Just as she was halfway down the stairs, she could smell her mother's cooking. Aside from the smell of bacon, the smell of the eggs was… odd yet pleasing to her senses. She soon made it to the dining area to see everything set on the table, with a delicacy she never thought to have seen or cooked.

"Mother, what exactly are those? Are they eggs?" She asked curiously.

"They're not really just eggs, sweetie, they're called egg cups." She specified, and they did look to be in the shape of very short cups, and the size of them were enough to fit two on one plate. "They contain bell pepper, mushrooms, goat cheese, and basil to liven the eggs. It's all you need for a healthy morning."

"Hmm…," 'I wonder how good it is,' she wondered as she sat down. To sate her curiosity, she grabbed a fork and knife, and started cutting a piece of the egg cup, just a sizable enough sample to fit in one bite. She stabbed the piece with her fork and took it into her mouth. The flavors were bursting from the eggs and other recipes as she chewed, suddenly bringing up a feeling that had her realizing she tasted this before. Besides the questionable choice of goat cheese, she softly hummed in satisfaction, giving off that relaxed smile as she soon swallowed it and went for another.

"That expression means you remember." Selene said with a satisfied expression as she cut up a piece from her egg cup.

"Sort of. It came to me as somewhat of a surprise." She explained after swallowing her second bite. "I didn't think I had this before, but the taste felt so familiar."

"I used to make them for us on special occasions." She reminisced. "I remember you and Cinder both didn't like the look of it when I first made them for you; never wanted to try and taste it. It only took you to try it in order for your sister to like it too."

"Huh… For some reason I can't seem to remember that day." She tried thinking back, but even with her mother's story, she ended up frowning in self disappointment.

"It was a long time ago. I guess there would be some events you won't remember." She reassured.

"Heh, I may not remember the first time I tried, but I can assure you now, I'll never forget the taste." She joked as they both chuckled at that. Then they went back to enjoying their breakfast in peace, and it remained that way for a while. It was after Selene took a sip of orange juice right after eating a piece of bacon did she ask what was on her mind.

"So what will you be doing now, Ella?" She wondered. "I'm sure the others would love to see you again."

She paused as she halted herself from taking another bite when she heard the question. It took only a second to register what she meant by "others"; she meant the rest of the family. She had to admit, her parents and her sister were the only ones on her mind, the only three she wanted to find more than anyone. She had never stopped to think about the other members of her family who were still alive, even after she had obtained the files on them. "I haven't thought about the others. You, father and Cinder were the only ones who were on my mind."

"Well, I do feel flattered that you thought about us, but you mustn't forget about the rest of the family. They've missed you dearly as well."

"Of course, I… should've thought about that." She apologized feeling embarrassed. "Maybe I should go meet them as well? Or maybe call them?"

"That's up to you to decide. Either or would be fine. Just as long as they know it's you."

Ella exhaled through her nostrils. She felt bad for not thinking about them, but on the bright side, she now had the memories of them being in her childhood. That would be enough ammunition to convince them she was the real one. The only problem was how to go about telling them. She still had a job which dragged her back to the options which Ozpin had given her. Then there was the matter with her missing sister. With all her childhood memories returned to her, she felt torn. More than that, she did not know what to do.

"What's the matter, dear?" Selene asked after seeing her daughter change her expression to being distraught.

"Ozpin proposed a choice to me." She replied. "He said I could either return to Beacon and continue my career, or I can quit the job and be with my family. It would've been nice to retire, but…," she sighed. "You and father being divorced, my sister gone missing to who knows where. It just isn't the same." She lowered her head as she said it. "I don't know what to do."

She frowned seeing where this was going, and she felt she did not blame her.

"I mean," she continued with the feeling of guilt, "I… I feel like a part of me is still missing! It's not just the memories…"

"You really miss Cinder, don't you." She answered how she felt.

"I really wanted to see her, ever since I kept looking at my locket every time." She then wrapped her arms around herself. "But now… I think I won't be able to, and I'll never know what happened to her." Now she looked miserable.

Selene glanced to the side to ponder. She missed her a lot as well, and though it felt good for Ella to return, she admitted it felt incomplete without the other. One part of her wanted to have Ella quit her job to live her life in peace and safety, but she soon shut the idea down after looking back at her grown daughter, a woman who had seen and experienced so much to never change back to what she would picture her as. Right now, however, she looked more vulnerable, and it pained her to see her this way.

"I would have preferred that you quit the job to live with me." She said, but then she shook her head. "But I know that would just be selfish of me. Looking at you, what once was a little girl when I last saw you, you're all grown up now, and I've got to accept the truth." Ella looked up at her mother from her miserable stupor, listening very carefully to what she had to say as she continued. "Heh, what mother wouldn't want in the whole world than to see her little girls come home." She smiled at the thought, and her daughter finally smiled back, though with sadness. Then she proposed an idea. "You know, why not have Ozpin help you search for her? He helped you find us, right?"

"I thought you wouldn't want anything to do with Ozpin." She stated with confusion after being surprised that her mother would look to the Headmaster for help.

"I should, but that's irrelevant now. Having you here helps me think he finally kept his promise. So I believe he would be your best shot to pick up her trail. Well?"

She was a bit surprised by her declaration and compassion, then she looked away and paused for a moment in thought of the proposal. She honestly did not think about getting Ozpin to help her find her sister. She would assume he was a powerful man with plenty of connections, and the files she gained from him were proof enough, but could he be able to help her find a single missing person? In this day and age, the possibilities were worthwhile. 'Maybe there's still a chance for me after all,' she thought.

"You know what," she decided as she looked at her mother, "I think I'll stay at Beacon for a while longer… just until I find my sister."

Her mother softly smiled and nodded in understanding. "Just make sure to bring her home in one piece, okay?" She pleaded.

"I promise I will," she said as she smiled back.

With that said, after a moment Ella took another bite of the egg cup, and they went into eating up their breakfast.

"Mm, I know..." Selene perked up with an idea after gathering the dishes. "Why don't you and I go shopping before you go?"

"That sounds grand, mother." She liked the idea. "I wasn't able to explore more of the market level, but I would like to visit the wine shop again."

"Then that will be our first destination. But first, let's clean up the table… and change into better clothes." She pointed at her pajamas, which the wearer softly laughed.

Later in the morning, Ella in her casual attire (carrying a bag of two wine bottles), and Selene had gone walking down together to the base level as they explored more of the market level. They were having a pleasant bonding moment between mother and daughter along the way, exchanging recipes and yoga ideas, and other times would laugh about their own misadventures. Eventually they made it to the bottom level, and the area was brewing with more townsfolk going about shopping or doing their business, either or. Soon they were in sight of the Hissing Trident inn when Eileen suddenly walked out the door, and the Huntress soon spotted them coming a second later.

"Good morning you two," Eileen greeted with pleasant surprise. "Was just about to look for you."

"Afternoon to you as well." Ella returned. "Enjoyed yourself?"

"Of course, I've got a few trinkets to take home. This town isn't so bad, if not for the tight security." She explained. "Other than that, I just might come back here someday. So, I see you're out shopping about. You've made your choice yet?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I've decided to head back to Beacon for a while longer."

"A while longer?" She questioned with a raised brow. "What for?"

"I'm going to see if Ozpin can help me find my sister while I still have my job. He's given me where my parents were, so I'm hoping that maybe he could use his contacts to help me in my search."

"Gaining profile information is one thing," Eileen stated as she frowned a bit and crossed her arms, "but finding one missing person is easier said than done. Are you sure about this?"

"Positive."

She felt a little unconvinced. "I've known him long enough to know he won't always make promises he knows he can't keep. But if you can convince the old man to help you one more time, then so be it." She unfolded her arms. "Just be sure to call him and let him know. Are we heading out then?"

"Not yet," she shook her head. "I would like to explore more of the market level before we leave."

"Take your time, then. I'll go grab my things and wait by the inn until you're ready."

They split up again, and while Eileen was back inside gathering everything back in her suitcase, Ella and her mother/tour guide went to market. They went from shop to shop. Some they browsed about out of curiosity, some saw them add weight to their bags as some items caught Ella's eye: some souvenirs, an exotic pair of sandal-heeled shoes, a new book to read, some treats. They even stopped at a restaurant for her to try out a dish she had never had. And all the while, she took a dozen pictures with her Scroll.

By the time they went back to the inn, it was already around 1pm. Eileen was sitting on a bench with her suitcase placed next to her, looking down at her open Scroll as she waited. She looked up when she heard footsteps approaching her. "So, enjoyed yourselves?" She asked casually.

"I really have," she smiled gladly. "Sorry to have kept you waiting this long."

"It's fine," she dismissed her. "Family matters. So, are we ready to leave?"

"Yes," She nodded. "Let's head to my mother's place to gather my things first." It was merely a plan to have Eileen and herself place all their things inside the coffin.

"All right, let's head there then." The three started heading up the main road to Selene's home. This was the second part of the plan; to store all the items in the coffin so they would leave the same way they came in empty handed. Ella had already placed her suitcase in the coffin, and all that was left was for Eileen. The only setback to the plan was the guards becoming too suspicious, but if they get lucky with a little sneaking around the back alleys, they might end up at the front gate without raising alarms. Though the guards have already seen them with their bags, so far they had not stopped them for questioning. There was a very small chance that the two guards they met before would spot the difference, but that was just it. The Huntress might not even run into them on the way out.

"Hold it!" As if the universe finally started having a sense of humor, two guardsmen, with a voice sounding very familiar, walked over to them from off the side of the road. What were the odds that they would run into the same two guards that once stood outside the main entrance yesterday? One in a thousand, maybe, and the one thing running through their minds right now was '...Shit.' "I don't recall seeing you carrying a suitcase, Huntress. And you, are you really leaving town with your hands full?" He asked both of them accusingly and with suspicion.

'Damnit, should I do it?' Ella asked herself in worry. Never would she have a moment of feeling caught off guard like this, but since they looked like they were not going to wait another for her think it over, she had no choice but to face the music and hope for the best. "It's true that we came here without our luggage, and it's all my fault."

"How is this your fault, madam?" He asked, and Ella's mother was becoming equal parts confused and worried for her daughter.

"It's because of my Semblance, you see." She explained cryptically.

'Her Semblance?' What is she talking about?' Her mother was now more confused, since she explained to her that her Semblance allowed her to absorb heat and use it as both a weapon and a generator.

"Your Semblance? Explain." He was now a little more irritated.

"It would be best if I showed you." She answered as she turned herself around to face the main road upward, and when she snapped her fingers, a coffin appeared out of thin air and landed flat in front of her. The two guards, and those both guard and civilian within line of sight of the spectacle, were guffawed by the appearance of a human sized coffin. Her mother was surprised, but also disturbed since it looked to be her daughter's size. Ella placed one boot in front of the coffin to keep it from sliding down the road, knelt down and opened it to reveal the black void. It both baffled the guards more, and creeped her mother out more so because the darkness still shrouded the inside even in broad daylight. She lifted her bags and dropped them into the hole one at a time… and no thudding sound could be heard even after a minute. This now left everyone (excluding Eileen) to wrack their brains in hopes of understanding this phenomenon, but ended up failing.

"My Semblance has the ability to summon a pocket dimension with the snap of my fingers," she explained as Eileen tossed her bags and suitcase into the void. Then she closed it and stood up, snapped her fingers again and the coffin quickly faded to nothing. "It's how I'm able to travel light without any worries, and I can store as many items as I want, just as long as I remember them all."

"Huh…," was the only thing he could mutter.

"But, Ella dear, why a coffin?" Her mother asked, but of course it was also the question that had been on everyone's mind.

"I've seen a lot of things during my time as a Huntress, and… nearly died from said things." She rubbed the back of her neck out of faux nervousness. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"After explaining this to me," the guard said after recovering, "I really should be seeing this as a security risk. But since you've been cooperative with us, I'll let this one slide.. for now. You all can move along now." They then went the other way and left them alone.

"Why didn't you tell me you have a second Semblance?" Selene asked, feeling a bit hurt that her daughter was hiding this from her.

"I'm sorry, mother." She apologized as she sighed, as much as it pained her to lie to her mother again. Still, she thanked whatever gods are up there that her knew very little about Huntsmen and Huntresses. "I didn't want to tell you about my other Semblance since I feared you would freak out about the coffin, and I don't want to give the guards the wrong idea."

"Well I… guess I can understand your reasons." She reasoned, "but still you should've told me." She scolded.

"I'm sorry." She apologized again out of guilt.

"I'm curious, though. Is it common for Huntsmen to have two Semblances?"

"No. In fact, the chance of having a second Semblance are one and one hundred. I know it's opposite to my heat absorption Semblance, but I do consider myself lucky to have such a useful ability."

"I can see the usefulness in it, if it weren't looking like a coffin sizeable enough to fit you in it." She commented.

"Ehheh, well, the appearance changed on me after being nearly killed several times. I'd rather not talk about it." She rubbed the back of her neck again, not just to keep hiding the secret, but this time in an effort to relieve herself from the memories of the many horrible deaths she experienced. It was not something to talk about lightly.

"Oh… well, I won't try to pry." She politely backed down.

Everyone was quiet for just a moment, until Ella spoke again. "So…," she turned to Eileen. "I've already had my things stored away. Let's continue straight to the gate, yeah?"

The Night Huntress nodded, and the three continued up the road. Eventually, they made it to the top to see the front gate up ahead. Only after they stood in front of the gate did she turn to face her mother.

"I'm sad that you have to go." Selene said with a sad smile. "I wish you could've stayed longer."

"I know, and I would love to stick around for one more day here," Ella replied with a sad smile. "But I should be heading back to Beacon and start my search for her. Maybe then…" She left the rest unsaid as her mind wandered off. But then she was surprised by her mother giving her a hug, but she welcomed the gesture and feeling, and she returned in kind.

"Just be sure that you both come back, okay? Promise?" Her mother pleaded.

"I promise," she answered.

They both parted, but her mother then placed her right hand on her cheek and gently lowered her head for a peck on the forehead. With a mother's love given, she took a step back. "...Guess this is goodbye."

Ella nodded. "I'll call you when I get back. So long." She turned around and walked with Eileen after making her goodbye. The guard ordered the gate open, and soon the two had gone through, and the gate started closing behind them soon after. They were silent for a while until the Good Hunter sighed with contempt.

"Something wrong?" Eileen asked.

"I hate lying."

"In what way?"

"I had to lie to her about my survival and how I got back." She explained

"You know it's for the best."

"I know." She lowered her head.

"So you really are serious about your missing sister." She stated.

"Of course I am." She said with conviction. Then she looked up at the sky. "She's out there, I just know it. It's like… I feel she's still alive."

"Then you better hold onto it. And when you do find her, then what?"

"Well, I'll take things one step at a time."

"Sounds like a plan, then." And so, they spent the next two days traveling back to the port. And strangely enough, with little interference along the way.

Meanwhile…

It would most often be a busy day of nothing but paperwork for the Headmaster, but luckily this was not to be one of those days as his eyes focused on the pages of an old book while lounging behind his desk. The task of having to look after the school's needs day after day can be tiresome and unhealthy. Which is why he chose this day to ease his mind and relax for the whole day. His focus was suddenly broken by the sound of his Scroll beeping on his glass desk. He wondered who it could be at this hour, so he placed a bookmark where he left off, closed the book and set it aside as he replaced it with the Scroll in his hand before answering it.

"Hello?" Ozpin asked after hovering it over his ear.

"It's me, Ella. I'm calling in regards to the proposal you gave me."

"I see, and have you made your decision?" He asked a bit curiously.

"Yes sir, I've decided to return to my duties at Beacon." She answered.

This made him raise his brows and made him more curious. "Oh, you want to return? Don't get me wrong, this is simply your decision. But may I ask why?"

"I'll be straight you, it's about my sister, Cinder. I'm very grateful that you and the academy have helped me recover, and you went out of your way to help me reunite with my parents… but I don't think I can rest well without finding out about my sister. I know I'm asking a lot from you, but can you help me one last time?"

"You feel incomplete without her." He deducted.

"She was the one person I've always wanted to see the most since I left that world," she sounded sad, "but she's run away to who knows where and… I just worry she might actually be dead or…," she breathed to recollect herself. "I just want to know if she's okay."

"I understand that you must feel anxious for your sister's whereabouts, but you should know that it would take perhaps a year or so to find one person," he stated. He heard her sigh, but he did not let her answer as he continued. "But that doesn't mean I won't lend a helping hand to one of my fellow staff."

"R-really?" She asked in surprise. "Thank you! And.. if it's not too much, I would like to take part in the search."

"That will not really be necessary, but I will inform you of any updates."

"Thank you." She said sincerely.

"Now you better get back to Beacon as soon as you can. Glynda and Iosefka seem to miss a great deal with you not being here."

She chuckled over the Scroll. "Of course. Have a good day, Professor."

"You too, Miss Fall. Have a safe trip." Then he ended the call and set it back on the desk. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. Deep down, he was hoping that she would quit the job and live her life as a Huntress near her family. Then a moment later, the elevator dinged, and the door opened to reveal the good doctor strolling in with a full tea set in both her hands. To him, this was a sight for sore eyes. "Ah, good afternoon, Iosefka."

"Good afternoon to you too, Ozpin." Iosefka greeted cheerily. "I've made the tea you like." She was referring to the special tea leaves she had picked up earlier.

"Ah, that is most excellent!" He replied back positively as she soon was at the desk with the tray set upon it. Iosefka went to work in pouring the special hot tea (from the hot plate) into the two cups meant for just the two of them. She passed the filled teacup and plate to him, and he thanked her while gladly taking it from her. She took her tea and took a seat as the two soon took sips and went into a state of bliss from the taste.

"I never thought I would taste this again." He stated with renewed calmness. "As always, your brewing is as impeccable as ever."

"Oh, come now, Ozpin." She said bashfully as she blushed and chuckled. "You give me too much credit." She took a sip. "You were the one who told me the story and its whereabouts. Had I never heard of it, I would never have gone out of my way to try its miraculous properties."

"You always have aimed to be the pinnacle of health." He commented casually before he took a sip. "It suits you."

"And so should you." She stated.

He chuckled. "I really must thank you for this. I thought I would never enjoy having tea again." Then he changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Ella had just called me. She will be returning to Beacon for the time being."

"That sounds good to hear, I've missed her already." She was delighted with the news. "I'm very certain Glynda would be glad to have her back, despite what she'll say." But then her expression changed. "But you said "for the time being". I feel there is more to it than that."

"And your feeling is right. She asked for my assistance to search for her sister, and I accepted her request."

"You've already helped her a great deal." She said. "Not that I'm against it, but why go the extra mile for her? Wouldn't that be abusing your station?"

"I wouldn't necessarily be abusing my power." He replied. "I rather see it as returning the favor. She has done much for the professors and the students after all, so I believe it would be fair to fulfill one more request."

"Are you sure it's not something personal?" She smirked.

"Perhaps, but I assure you that is behind me now."

She gave a reassuring smile, trusting his judgement. "I wish you luck, then. It won't be easy finding one lost girl."

"Since when has that ever stopped me?" He smirked. "I'll have my agent scour Vale for any clues. Ella also wishes to be part of the search, so if anything comes up, I'll inform her."

"Good. I'm glad she's determined to find closure. She always wanted to see her twin sister, but I fear she might end up finding what's left of her… or worse." She said with concern.

"We'll never know the state she's in until we find her. She had nearly made it to completion in combat school after all before she vanished." He had looked into Cinder's profile information, and learned she had plans to enter Beacon Academy after completing her combat training. She had the high grades to prove she had a promising future as a Huntress, but her behavior spoke otherwise. She had been reported to be socially cold and distant to anyone around her, and her complete focus on becoming better than everyone had left her no room for any form of relationship. It's the kind of characterics like these which would only get her so far in his academy, but he sympathized with her reasons for being cold.

"Yes, there is that to consider," she pondered, "but there are very few tales of former students surviving this long. I can only pray she finds her closure eventually."

"So do I." He concluded, then took another sip.

She finally happened to notice the old book lying on his desk after taking a sip. "Is that another old book you're reading?" She asked.

"Of course." He answered.

"I know you tend to love old books whenever you get the chance. So what's this one about?"

"It's about the dangers of certain Semblances and how to control them." He said straight forward.

"Dangerous Semblances…?" She wondered aloud. "There was a book on that? I know it's obvious they can be dangerous if used to harm people… but that's not what you mean, isn't it?" She tilted her head to the side a bit.

He nodded. "Dangerous to oneself to be specific."

This topic was odd even for her. "Hmm, and how many of these dangerous Semblances are categorized in that book?"

"It contains about three hundred pages covering a dozen known Semblances that could potentially be harmful to the user. It explains the effects and changes in a Semblance if the user is emotionally compromised or… unstable."

"Why read a book about this?" She asked after listening to his morbid explanation. Though she had already known about the destabilization of a Semblance when not being balanced with both mind and emotion, the thought of the Headmaster suddenly taking an interest in unstable Semblances troubled her.

"Truth be told, it has to do with Ella's Semblance." He could pretty much tell this got her attention, so he continued. "Ever since I first witnessed her Semblance, there was something about it which felt familiar, and this feeling made me uneasy. Yes, the way she uses it on Grimm can be unnerving, but that was not what bothered me. So I searched for answers in the library when I had the chance, and eventually I found this." He pointed to the book.

"...And did you find the answer?" She asked, but she feared what he found.

"Sadly, yes," he answered. "Her heat absorption Semblance has been deemed dangerous."

"How dangerous did it say?"

"If the user of the heat absorption Semblance becomes extremely unstable, their Semblance will continue to absorb the heat and their own Aura to become a walking time bomb, soon ending both their life and that of a kingdom." This made her eyes widen with fear at the implication of the blast radius. He noticed this, and it was good he knew enough to reassure her. "But, as long as she is in full control of herself, and her mind and emotion remain stable, her abilities and her career will get her very far in life."

"By the gods…," she said in exasperation. "Then it really is good that her family is alive."

"Indeed. I'm sorry for telling you this while in the middle of our tea time." He said with regret.

"No, this was my fault. My curiosity got the better of me." She dismissed. "At least now I have more reason to stay in touch with her." Then she thought about the others. "Should we inform Glynda and Eileen as well?

"We could inform Eileen. Knowing miss Goodwitch, however, she's going to need some convincing."

"I do believe you on that. She really cares for the safety of the students after all. And what of the Good Hunter? Should we not inform her?"

"I will tell her myself when the time is right." He assured.

She nodded, then changed the subject to something more private. "...Also, about your tests. If she passes them and decides to join us, what then?"

He set his tea on the desk and clasped his hands together. "Then I will be sure to tell her everything."

Three days later

Ella and Glynda were at their tables eating their dinner, hours after school was done for the weekend. The former spoke and gave the data of today's combat statistics during her time as a substitute, while the latter was out taking the scheduled student teams to Forever Fall Forest. Once that was done, it became Glynda's turn to regale her of her interesting venture, one which would surprise even the Good Hunter.

"I thought everything would go smoothly when I believed the teams can handle a scant few Grimm on their own." Glynda said, but she was a bit upset. "But, out of nowhere, Yang ran to me about a big Ursa attacking Cardin."

"Sounds like you jinxed it." She giggled, but then she caught on to a little detail that was off. "Wait, you said Cardin was attacked? What about his team?"

"Apparently, his team ran away out of fear and left him for dead. Luckily, Jaune was there to save him. And to my surprise, he actually killed the Ursa Major on his own."

She was now surprised by what she heard. "Wait, him? On his own?"

"I was shocked as well! A boy who hardly was able to defeat anyone in combat class, managed to kill an older Ursa! I'm not sure what to think of this."

"I guess it comes to show there's more to him than meets the eye." She concluded.

"Perhaps," she said with doubt, "but we'll have to see how he'll apply that experience to combat next time."

She nodded seeing the obvious, and the two went back to eating their dinner. Ella, meanwhile, smiled from the news of the boy finally standing up for himself. 'I knew you could do it, Jaune.'

"You seem to be thinking of something." Glynda noticed.

"Baby steps, Glynda." She answered cryptically as she smirked. "Just baby steps."

She raised an eyebrow, but then shrugged it off and went back to her meal. Then she remembered the conversation they had before on the topic about her trip. "So where were we on about your trip to Elatorion? I'm curious as what you saw while you were there."

She raised her brows but soon remembered the conversation they had prior to her return. "Ah yes, I promised that, didn't I?" She organized her thoughts and began where she left off yesterday. "Elatorion is such a beautiful place once you've gone through the gates, and the people and their culture are amazing." she then held up her Scroll. "I've got plenty of pictures to show."

Glynda smiled in agreement, and that expression was enough to convince her to show her what she found through her Scroll. Thus, they spent another hour or two. Yet, throughout the day, there had been one thing on her mind, a single question which bugged her to be answered.

Just how did Jaune manage to kill an Ursa Major by himself?

A/N: about time this was done! Again, sorry to keep you boys and girls waiting on me to update. So, it looks like Ella has decided to head back to Beacon to find her sister, though that is going to take a while, according to her.

As for the other sections, I figured I would introduce you all to Ozpin's new/renewed addiction to tea, plus a new dark revelation to Ella's Semblance. When there's an upside there will always be a downside, and Ella's got quite a dangerous one.

Now I'm sure you've already noticed this chapter is short. This reason was because I once had a long section which explains a small change in canon where Jaune, instead of walking away from his friends to do what Cardin says in canon, he decides to turn back around and tell his team the truth, and end up gaining more trust from his team than he originally thought, though in the end he still chose to take care of his problem on his own, but not without a plan. I may or may not plan to place that section in the next chapter to show how thing's changed, but we'll have to see.

As always, shoutout goes to CruxMDQ for his amazing proofreads, suggestions and editing.

This is Kyro2009, signing off.