Chapter 10

Glynda led me through the lower floor of the dorms on our way towards the headmaster's office before she continued speaking to me. Any question I asked was answered curtly and I was told to stay vigilant until we were there.

Unfortunately for me, the nervousness set me back. The uncertainty brought back that burning feeling in my stomach that made me think of hunger, and I was afraid. How long could I hold it? How long until my fingers clenched around someone I didn't want to hurt?

Shaking my head, I entered the headmaster's office with Glynda. She sat down behind the desk, Ozpin's desk, and motioned for me to take a seat in front of it. I did.

"Before I begin," she said. "I believe we should clear what you know first, and what exactly happened two weeks ago."

I nodded, my hands clenched over my legs. My body felt rigid, tense. Nervousness did not even begin to describe what I was feeling right now.

"I'm not sure," I said, my voice sounding vaguely distant. When the blonde teacher frowned, I hastily continued. "Where to begin, I mean. I'm not sure where it began."

That was kind of a lie. I knew exactly where it began. I just needed to find that thread, to focus on that train of thought. Glynda opened her mouth.

"When the attack started," I began, stopping Glynda. "The headmaster took me to the machine, we tried to have the Maiden's powers transferred, but Cinder came and killed Amber before the process was finished."

She nodded. So she knew? Jaune must've told her.

"I went and fought her after she beat the headmaster," I continued. The burning feeling increased in intensity and my chest began hurting where the arrow had struck. "She killed me."

Glynda blinked. I didn't say anything as she stood up, walking around the desk and up to me before putting a hand on my arm. I was still cold to touch, I'm sure.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I died," I said, my voice croaking the word out. It was one thing discussing it with Roman, who went through the same things, but actually telling someone who was unaware of it all? That was… strange. It felt wrong, as if it was something I shouldn't talk about. Something that I should hide. "I can't breathe anymore, and my heart doesn't beat. My body's cold…"

I wanted to tell her about my hunger for aura, but I couldn't. I didn't want to worry her, or make her suspicious. I trusted her, but I didn't know just how much she trusted me.

"Ms. Nikos," she began, uncertainty in her voice. "Sometimes, during near-death experiences, things might be a bit different than we remember them."

I shook my head as I stood up, the chair falling down behind me. She let go of my arm as I took a few steps to the side. She didn't believe me. But I needed someone to confide in, no matter how wrong it felt.

Grabbing the remains of my weapon, the makeshift sword on my hip, I was about to cut my arm to prove what I was saying. Glynda was faster, raising her wand and stopping my arm from moving with her aura. I felt hungry.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, her mouth drawn into a thin line.

"Proving that I'm not lying," I said. "I can't be wounded anymore."

"By stabbing yourself?" she said, swinging her wand around and ripping the sword out of my hand. I wasn't able to resist, the experienced woman in front of me much more powerful than I was.

"You don't believe me," I said. What was I doing? Was proving what I was saying so important that I would go this far? I couldn't say, but if there was someone who could help me, it should be her. It would've been her. "If Ozpin was here, he would."

My mouth said the words faster than my brain could process them, and when the pained expression crossed Glynda's face, I regretted them. She shook her head, the sword traveling back to my side with an off-handed swing of her wand. Moving back to Ozpin's seat, she stood besides it.

"I'm sorry-" I immediately said, stopping when she mirrored my words as well. Shaking my head, I spoke up again. "What are you sorry for? I've stepped over the line…"

"You're not wrong, Ms. Nikos," she said, sighing. "The headmaster kept many secrets from everyone, even from me and the others. If there was someone who would know about your condition, it would be him."

I thought so too, of course. Headmaster Ozpin was an enigmatic man with a lot of knowledge in every field. There was a reason people respected him so much, and why there are a lot of people immigrating to Vale to go to his school.

"Then let me fill the blanks," Glynda continued, still not sitting down. "After your defeat by Cinder Fall, Ruby Rose took her down."

"How?" I asked, interrupting her. She continued without missing a beat.

"It seems that Ms. Rose inherited some kind of power from her mother," she said. "Qrow insists that it is not a Maiden's power, but was not very forthcoming on the information. I'm not privy on that information myself, I admit, it was not something that Ozpin had shared with me."

Ruby? A Maiden?

I'd not say that'd be impossible, but the feeling that Cinder had given off, compared to Ruby, was like day and night.

Not different as such. They were both powerful, though Ruby was still rough around the edges, but still contrasting in a way. It was hard to put into words.

"If you wish, I could try to contact Qrow and ask if he knows about what happened to you."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I… I want to meet my friends."

I trusted her, but she wouldn't just straight up believe me. She didn't believe me when I'd said that I was 'dead', and she wouldn't believe me if I tried to tell her about how an old man told me that the end of all Grimm was within my grasp. As much as she might try, Ozpin's shoes were hard to fill.

"Ah," she said. "Yes, after the attack, we have suffered a few losses. Students who left, team RWBY and JNPR among them."

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know," she answered. I could see it in her eyes, the worry, the annoyance at being left in the unknown. "Ms. Xiao-Long ended up resigning due to physical injuries. She will be in rehabilitation for a while."

I winced. I would have to visit her soon. I knew where to find her compared to the others.

"Ms. Schnee has… agreed, to drop out on the insistence of her father to undergo with necessary training to inherit the Schnee company," Glynda continued. "And Ms. Belladonna has simply vanished. Ms. Rose's father informed me that Ms. Rose has left with your team."

I nodded. I knew all that, well, most of it, from the information the students had. It seems that she did actually keep them in the loop, and I appreciated that.

"Okay," I said. "Then…"

Then what? I had too much on the plate right now, and I didn't know where to start.

Repair my weapon and shield, buy a scroll and call my mom, visit Yang. In that order. I had all the time in the world. I have no need to sleep, after all.

"Alright," I said. "Then I'll go and contact my mother."

And repair my weapon. And contact Roman's friend. I sighed, the motion coming to me automatically without much of a sound. I became vaguely aware that I couldn't actually sigh as such. Every time I did it, it must have looked strange to onlookers.

"Of course." She nodded. "And, Ms. Nikos…"

I looked towards her before I left the room.

"It's good to have you back."

"I'm glad to be back, Glynda."

Even though I would leave soon, this familiarity was still wonderful.