Howdy, folks, how's it going?

Hope you all are doing well in these difficult times, and I hope this update will make going through them just a little bit easier for you.

As always, a shout out to Chaos for his help. And let me tell you, it was very much needed, cause this chapter was fighting me a bit.

And as always, I own neither RWBY nor Magic. If I did, Beacon wouldn't have fallen so early in the former and we'd know what the hell is Marit Lage supposed to be exactly in the later.

And now, on with the show.

/

It was with the faint feeling of someone softly tapping at her cheek and a nearly overwhelming wave of disorientation that Amber found herself slowly returning to the waking realm. Confused, the young woman tried to shake the disorientation away, wincing as that only brought into sharper focus the aches she was feeling all over as the world seemed to spin around her.

What the hell happened…?

"…ight?"

She realized someone was trying to talk to her, the fretting voice accompanied by a more insistent, soft smacking at her cheek, hastening her return to consciousness.

"-She's not answering, crapcrapcrapcrapcrap, don't tell me I overdid it…" The voice was muttering to itself, clearly distressed. "Hey, hey, c'mon, wake up. That was barely a love tap."

Reluctantly, Amber opened her eyes, blurry vision quickly focusing on the indistinct figure by her side. A few seconds later, things finally began settling into place, and she realized she was lying flat on her back on the floor. Then she noticed the red shade was actually the kid taking a knee by her side, silvery eyes staring down at her from a face that looked equal parts worried and embarrassed.

"Hey," The girl… Ruby pressed, smacking her cheek a couple more times for good measure. "You ok?"

"Hhhhggh." Amber could only eloquently groan in reply, a slow turn of her head as far as she was able revealing there was a Godsdamn crater on the amphitheatre's wall with a suspiciously familiar outline… "Did anyone get the number of the Goliath that stepped on me…?"

Ruby blinked twice, mouthing the word 'Goliath?' in apparent confusion before grimacing slightly. "Yyeeeaah… Sorry, that was me. I got a little bit carried away…"

It was at that point that it finally clicked for Amber what exactly just happened. She had just gotten her ass handed to her by the 15-year old she was meant to be testing. The realization… stung.

The sound of approaching footsteps then caught the Maiden's attention, as she slowly turned her head towards the approaching Qrow and the others.

They had seen what happened.

Unable to look him or any of those present in the eye, Amber simply turned her head back to stare blankly at the ceiling. Unbeknownst to her, the sheer disillusionment and shame she was feeling didn't go unnoticed by her opponent.

Ruby didn't have the time to wonder about the downright depressed surge of emotions however, for as soon as she got up to face those approaching she found herself nearly bowled over, literally and metaphorically. Metaphorically, by the surge of pure fear and relief that now muted all other emotions in the amphitheatre. Literally, by the figure generating said feelings that was now clinging on to her like a lifeline, and it took her a few moments to realize was just Yang.

Why was she so-?

Oh. Oh…

The activation of her aura, the white flash that usually follows… She had unwittingly just triggered memories of the worst trauma the other girl had ever felt.

'Smooth, Ruby, real smooth…'

"Hey…" The young Planeswalker addressed her sister, soothingly placing her arms around the distressed blonde. "Yang, it's ok, I'm here, I'm here…"

"Don't go…" A soft whimper replied.

"I'm not going anywhere." Ruby promised, rubbing soothing circles on the other girl's back, which little by little managed to calm down her anxiety and fear. After a few moments like this, seemingly convinced, Yang finally gathered the courage to let go, murmuring a small apology as she did so, Ruby simply smiling encouragingly in reply. Then she finally returned her attention back towards the woman she had knocked to the ground.

"Hey, can you stand?" She inquired. She didn't think she had put enough power into the spell for truly serious damage, but then she also had no idea what the average durability of Remnant's people was. She herself could be as average as can be or a freak of nature for all she knew.

"I…Think so." The woman ventured, slowly placing her elbows to the ground and trying to sit, wincing as she did. "Yeah, I think I can, but I feel sore all over…"

Unable to really respond with more than a little nervous smile, Ruby crouched down and helped her up, the brunette initially surprised by the initiative but not resisting, wrapping an arm around the younger girl's shoulder for support.

It was to that scene that the professors finally arrived, Qrow in tow. Port had a bushy eyebrow raised in wonder as he gazed around the damaged amphitheatre. The hag kept a prim and proper demeanour, only the slight tightness in her step betraying the surprise and confusion she was feeling. Qrow seemed conflicted, unable to decide between pride and grumpiness, though him and his emotions she could understand more than all the others, even if she stuck by her choice. On the other end of the spectrum, Ozpin, as always, gave next to nothing away, but there was something to his posture that seemed… lighter than before.

"Amber, are you alright?" The Headmaster inquired concernedly.

"Y-yeah…" The woman replied, a wince once more crossing her face as she did. "But I think a trip to the infirmary wouldn't hurt…"

"Of course. Glynda, if you would-"

"Actually," Ruby interjected, drawing the attention of all present. "I can help her get there. I mean, I feel kinda bad and I am already holding her…" She turned to look at the woman. "You know the way, right?"

"Uh, yeah…" Amber replied, somewhat awkwardly, before staring questioningly at Ozpin (and trying very hard not to look at Qrow).

"Yes, of course." The headmaster replied at length. "It's even quite fortuitous that you've offered, Miss Rose, it'll give us the time to review your… performance. Please, do help Amber to the infirmary. Miss Xiao Long, you're free to accompany them if you'd like. Qrow and I will be there shortly."

At that, the young planeswalker glanced at her uncle.

"Yeah, it's alright squirt, get goin'. No sense in not getting her checked pronto."

"Alright then," Ruby shrugged lightly with her free shoulder, and begun carrying the assistant professor towards the exit, with her sister in tow. Only then did the headmaster turn to his subordinates.

"Well, what do you think?"

"Honestly?" Port replied, after a rare moment of quiet to gather his thoughts. "If anything I'd say Miss Rose is overqualified to be a student. Granted, the match with the Ursa, spectacular as it was, gave us precious little to go on. But she was controlling the spar with Miss Herbst from the moment it started. Far as I'm concerned, she passed with flying colors."

"I am inclined to agree." Glynda added, her expression pensive. "Miss Rose is certainly full of… surprises. The question now is, how did she do it? As far as we know, all Maidens are accounted for, or at least their general location."

"How indeed…" Ozpin conceded, but left the question unanswered. Even he had to admit that, whatever he had been expecting to see, this had not been it. And when one had lived as long as he did, surprises like this had long since become a rarity. "I suppose we'll have to ask her in a bit. Meanwhile, however…"

It was perhaps time to address what he had really intended to do with all this. So thinking, Ozpin turned to Qrow, the scruffy man not looking particularly pleased with the way things had developed.

"Well, Ozpin." He grunted, his slumped posture and blasé words belying the bitterness in his tone. "Guess you're getting what you want after all, uh?"

The older man did not reply, simply staring at his once agent and friend with a stoic, yet weary expression. A silent stare off that lasted for long enough that eventually the other man looked away first, frowning in discomfort. Then, without saying a word, the headmaster reached for his jacket's pocket, pulling out a folded couple of papers, and extended them to the black-haired man.

And eyebrow raised, Qrow glanced between Ozpin and the proffered papers, until, with a heavy sigh, curiosity got the best of him, and he took them, swiftly skimming through what was written… and then with a double take reading much more attentively.

…

…

"…You're kiddin', right?" The raven-haired man muttered, eyes wide in disbelief.

"I am being entirely serious, Qrow."

"…Why? What are you planning, Ozpin?" He pressed, suspicion now lacing his expression. "What do you-?"

"Qrow." Ozpin said, silencing the huntsman's questions. "As you are aware, I have made many mistakes throughout my life. More than anyone could make in a single lifetime. And that, is a weight that I've always bore as well as I could. But I won't hesitate to try and correct my mistakes when I believe I can." He smiled then, a sad, brittle smile. "I never expected these developments with Miss Rose, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious. But this? This is not an attempt to make you return to the fold. It is not an attempt to manipulate people who were close to me like pawns, or getting those they care about involved in the webs I've weaved. This, this is just an old man, trying to help a friend in keeping his family together."

For what seemed to be the longest time, Qrow did not reply, staring at the papers in his hands like they might bite him. A myriad emotions seemed to cross his face in the span of those few moments, before he finally let out a mirthless chuckle.

"I suppose you still haven't lost your touch when it comes to sales' pitches." He commented at length. "My answer will depend entirely on what Ruby and Yang decide." He the then stated, in a tone that brooked no arguments.

"That is fair." The headmaster readily agreed, allowing himself to feel some small measure of relief. "I suppose we should then go see what that decision is, no?"

/

It seemed that awkward silences had been happening a lot since she had come back to this plane, Ruby found herself realizing. It made for a kind of depressing thought.

In the massive, entirely too white and awful smelling division (even now it was taking her a conscious effort not to gag…) that was the academy's infirmary, the young planeswalker and her sister sat in a couple of chairs, right next to the bed on which Amber was currently resting. The healer, a grumpy, curmudgeonly old man called Dr. Ernest Foster, had given her a look, a few pokes here and there, grumbled she just needed some rest to let her aura return and take care of the issue, and left them there in the patient room while muttering under his breath about "darn reckless whippersnappers doin' stupid things before the year even begun". Now granted, Ruby had no idea what was considered the norm around here, but even to her the guy's bedside manner left something to be desired. Reminded her of another old, grumpy healer she had met, she wondered if it was a trend…

But that was a consideration for another time. For now she really should find a way to break the ice and try to figure out what was the deal with the woman she had cratered into a wall. Let's see now, how to do it…?

"So," She started, drawing the attention of her fidgeting sister and the oddly despondent woman. "What's the deal with you and my uncle?"

She might as well have said she was considering killing her while she was down with the way the brunette sputtered and stared at her in utter shock and panic.

"E-e-excuse me?" Amber stuttered, a noticeable flush on her cheeks.

"I mean, in the short time I've known you, you been stealing glances his way, perking up considerably when he's nearby, and blushing when he gives you the smallest bit of attention. If you were trying to be subtle about your interest, you weren't doing a particularly good job." Ruby said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Amber for her part, stared at her in disbelief, then with an embarrassed groan let her head fall back into the pillow. "Is it really that obvious?"

"Yeah… For what is worth, I don't really mind." Ruby said encouragingly, before turning to her sister, eyebrow raised inquisitively. "Do you, Yang?"

"Uuuuh…N-not really…" The blonde mumbled, in reply, flustered at suddenly being put on the spot. "Uncle Qrow spend so long taking care of me, he n-never had the time to find anyone…" She smiled a shy little smile at the brunette. "A-and you seem nice…"

"…Great. So it is obvious to everyone except him. Fantastic…" The woman deadpanned, before heaving a frustrated sigh. "To actually answer your question… A while back your uncle saved my life when I was in a really tight spot, and… well, to me he looked really gallant while doing it." Her cheeks once again flushed as she mumbled out that last bit. "Since then I've been trying to… show my appreciation for what he did. It's been kind of a work in progress." She grew despondent once more then, so strongly that Ruby could feel it. "Starting to think it's hopeless. Why would he be interested in a looser like me?"

"…That's kinda harsh, don't you think?" Ruby asked, blinking in confusion. The brunette's mood was dropping faster than an Ojutai dragon in a freefalling contest…

"He had to save me from a trap I was too naïve to notice until it was too late." She chuckled self-deprecatingly. "And you said it yourself, shortly before effortlessly kicking my ass, that I'm no good at this. Weak. Doesn't really paint the most impressive picture of my capabilities…"

…

…

Wow, this woman had some self-esteem issues. Ruby made a mental note to get back to that at some point, but for now…

"That is not what I said, though." She clarified, earning her a confused stare from the brunette. "I said your control is terrible, and I stand by that statement. However, that has nothing to do with you being weak. If anything, the problem is the exact opposite."

Amber blinked at the admission.

"Come again?"

"You're too strong." The young planeswalker elaborated. "Even now your power's flowing through you like a waterfall, flooding this entire room. But when we fought, you weren't channeling it properly. You were just throwing it around, unformed and untamed. You might as well have been swinging around a war hammer when a needle would do."

"…What?"

"Yeah, I was never as good at metaphors as my auntie. The point is, you're plenty strong, you just seem to have no idea how to tap into that strength properly."

"…I shot lightning at you." Amber noted, as if that were a point that deserved special attention.

"A minor manifestation of what little mana you did manage to use. Elemental magic is powerful, but some of the simplest." Ruby shrugged. "Any elementalist worth their salt would have stopped it even more easily than I did."

…

…

…

"Uuuuh, Ruby?" Yang, who had been growing increasingly more confused as the conversation unfolded, finally managed to interject. "W-what are you talking about?"

The young planeswalker took a moment to consider the question. So, she really wasn't aware of what exactly had happened, but was that the norm around here? She glanced at Amber, but the woman had also grown quiet, seemingly not sure what she should say…

Ah, screw it, the brushwagg was out of the bag, might as well keep at it.

"I'm talking about magic, Yang. I'm a mage." She said casually, earning her an uncomprehending look from her sister and a surprised one from the brunette, to whom the younger girl pointed. "She is too. That's what we were using at the end of the fight. But it's like nobody bothered to properly teach her the basics."

"…Magic?" The blonde queried, clearly not having expected such a response. "D-don't you mean, like a Semblance?"

"If you're talking about things related to aura, the only thing I can do is teleport and run really fast." She vanished from the seat and reappeared on the other side of the bed to prove the point, although she immediately felt some guilt at the flinch and minute stab of panic the resulting floating petals cause her sister to feel. She was quick to go back the normal way and hold her hand comfortingly. "Everything else I can do, is magic. That's how I slammed her into the wall, and how she threw lightning at me. Though in all honesty, you don't seem to have been very well instructed."

"Rub it in, why don't you…"

"Just calling it as I see it. You're limiting yourself the way you're doing it."

"Oh yeah?" Amber grunted, her frustration at the telling off reaching a peak. "And what exactly-?"

"-Could this little shrimp do if she's so darn wise about all this?" Ruby finished in a drawled grumble, her entire demeanor doing a complete 180 from calm and collected into sarcastic petulance, and Amber startled when all the frustration and annoyance she had been feeling were reflected back at her by the younger girl's scowling expression. Seeing her surprise, the reflection vanished as quick as it had shown, the young planeswalker giving her a small, cheeky smirk.

"…Did you just read her mind?" Yang couldn't help but ask in wonder, both her and Amber blinking in confusion when the red-cloaked girl grimaced at the question.

"Hell no!" Ruby all but shouted, looking positively offended. "Mind magics are a pain in the ass and I want nothing to do with them! What I did was empathy. Though to be fair, you're not being exactly subtle about it."

"So," Amber started hesitantly. "You can feel what I'm feeling…?"

"You're frustrated and embarrassed, probably because I beat you, feeling ashamed, worthless and powerless, which I can't really see why as I'm not a mind mage, when we first met you were terribly afraid, and every time you look at my uncle you feel incredibly flustered and just a bit hor-"

"Ok, ok, you made your point!" The heavily blushing brunette cut her off, before once more grumbling. "Yeesh, Ozpin could've warned me about another Maiden coming along before throwing me in the ring with you." Then she became more serious, staring at the young planeswalker with a contemplative expression. "So, which one are you? Spring, Summer, or Winter?"

…

…

"The hell are you talking about?" The young planeswalker replied, for the first time being the clueless one in the conversation.

"I believe I can answer that one."

All three of the girls startled at the unexpected answer, turning to see Ozpin and Qrow approaching from the entrance.

"I'm afraid you are thinking about this the wrong way, Amber." The headmaster clarified when he finally got close enough. "The Maidens are all accounted for, and Ruby is not one of them."

Ruby blinked in confusion at the statement, even more so when it caused the brunette's head to whiplash in her direction with a shocked look, while Yang just seemed confused and Qrow seemed resigned. The headmaster, on the other hand, and contrary to all the other times where he kept his emotions well-guarded, felt positively giddy…

"What's a Maiden?" She asked, fairly certain that in this context the word had little to do with marital status.

"I believe that some clarifications are necessary." Ozpin stated, a pondering expression on his face. "Allow me to start with the basics." He turned to look at the blonde, who at this point was wondering whether she should even be a part of the conversation. "What I am about to tell you, Miss Xiao Long, is a secret that has been kept hidden for generations. Can I trust you to be discrete about what you'll learn?"

Yang looked at the headmaster like a dear in a dragon's stare, before glancing at Ruby, Qrow, and Amber in quick succession. The young planeswalker felt the hesitation she was feeling right now, and to her confusion, some fear. Eventually, however, the blonde gave a meek, hesitant nod.

"…Very well, then. I'm sure that you're familiar with the old fairy tales that are told to children, correct? Well, the fact is that there's a fair few of those stories that have some truth to them. You see, it is not a well-known fact among the kingdoms, it is indeed a very closely guarded secret, but magic is real."

As the explanation proceeded, Ruby's mind was racing even as she listened, trying to consider all the implications. It didn't make sense. Even in planes where sorcery was mistrusted and frowned upon, it was still considered common knowledge, a simple truth of existence. She supposed in the infinity of the Multiverse, it was inevitable that she'd eventually find a place where this wasn't the case, but what were the odds that place would've been her home plane? It felt a little too coincidental-

"And one of the reasons it is such a secret, is the fact that it is not abundantly available. Once, perhaps, in a time long forgotten by history, but nowadays, only four people can use it."

-Say what, now?

"The Maidens, so named after the old legend. Four women with power over the seasons and the elements, a power that has been passed down from vessel to vessel for countless generations. I have spent most of my life ensuring the secret of their identities stays hidden, to avoid them falling prey to those who would use their power for their own interests. Amber here is the current Fall Maiden. And I suppose it'd make sense for her to think you'd be one too."

Ok, what the hell? None of that made any sense. How was it possible for only four people in the entire plane to be capable of magic? What did he mean the power transferred? If no one else could use magic, what did that say about her? Just what was going on in this place?!

Unaware of the young planeswalker's increasingly more flabbergasted thoughts, the headmaster leveled a pondering gaze at her. "However, as mentioned, you can't possibly be one of the four, Miss Rose. Which begs the question of how exactly you have managed to apparently do the impossible."

An interesting question, one that Ruby would really love to have some answers to, but her mind was still reeling at the whole "can't use magic" thing. Sure, even in other planes there were those with little to no talent for it, but for an entire populace to be entirely incapable of using it? Inconceivable. Specially when she herself stood as testament that it couldn't be the case. Unless her spark had something to do with it…

Although none of it showed in her collected demeanor, it took a while for Ruby's thoughts to settle enough for her to realize that the man was still waiting for a reply, an odd sort of hopeful curiosity radiating from him. Honestly, to Ruby it was obvious he knew more than he was letting on. However, nothing she could see in the man suggested he had any sort of ill intention, and it wasn't like Ruby wasn't keeping secrets of her own…

"Well, I wouldn't know about any of that." She eventually said with a light shrug. "What I know about magic, I learned from my father."

"Ah, yes," The man nodded, seemingly reaching some sort of conclusion that made his hopefulness soar. "I was told by Qrow, that you were raised by a hermit in Mystral. He'd be the one that taught you, then?"

Ruby realized then, that the man was so very clearly wanting for something to be true that he was drawing his own conclusions based on what little he was being told, which were unlikely to be the right ones. On the one hand, she felt kind of bad for the deception, but on the other she supposed it just made keeping her secret all that much easier.

"That's right." She confirmed, making a mental note to find a map of the plane as soon as possible to learn where the hell was this "Mystral" supposed to be. "Dad's very… reclusive. And he warned me to be discrete with my abilities, for much the same reasons these Maidens are kept secret, I suspect. He never told me anything about their existence though." Mostly because he didn't know about this plane's existence. Dad was wise as only a positively ancient dragon could be, not omniscient. Big difference.

"Hmm," The headmaster hummed ponderingly. "I suppose living in seclusion would've made him unaware of world affairs. Honestly, I would love the opportunity to meet him."

"That would be difficult." The young planeswalker replied. Actually, it wouldn't, it would be extremely easy, but he didn't need to know that, or it'd defeat the whole purpose. "He's… hard to reach."

"I can imagine why he'd be. And I would not think to impose." Ozpin conceded all too easily, either he was humoring her, or she'd underestimated just how much he wanted to believe what he thought he knew, but she wasn't complaining. "A thought for some other time, then. For now though, I would also like to address what you said to Amber during the match. You seem to think her skill with her power is… insufficient?" He said as tactfully as he could, but that didn't stop Amber from wincing.

"It's not her skill that's the issue." Ruby once more clarified. "Far as I saw, she seemed to manage to manipulate her magic in a way that works for her. The issue, as I see it, is that the way she was doing it, compared to the way I know how to do it, feels woefully inefficient. It's like whoever taught her how to control it didn't properly teach the basics."

"Uh, yes, well…" For once in the conversation, the headmaster fumbled, his expression one of contrite embarrassment. "We tried the better we could do to help her, but one of the downsides of this secret is the lack of information to go on, I'm afraid." Then his expression once more grew contemplative, though with a far more serious edge to it than before. "I will not mince words, Miss Rose. You have proven yourself a more than worthy candidate to my Academy. In fact, were it not for the potential fallout of doing away with the student part entirely and inducting an underage girl as a fully-fledged Huntress, I'd do it without a second thought, but sadly certain appearances must be kept. What I would like to know now is, do you still wish to join the Academy? And if so, would you be willing to show Amber the proper way to use her abilities?"

…

…

Once again, Ruby got the feeling this was meant to be a very poignant moment for some reason.

"Sure." She said with a shrug, her casualness about it seemingly throwing the man for a loop. "I mean, I was already intending to join, or I wouldn't even be here. And now that I know there's a problem with magic involved, I feel compelled to correct it. Call it professional pride if you must." She turned to contemplate the brunette in question. "Would you be willing to learn?"

"…You think I can?" Amber replied at length, feeling at once subdued, curious and expectant.

Ruby considered the question. To be honest, she'd never had a student before, but Dad, Uncle Sarkhan and Auntie Narset did well enough in teaching her, some… unpleasant training experiences aside. How hard could it be?

"I guarantee it." She assured with a small smile, making an effort to not make it seem too predatory.

"Well…" Amber hesitated, glancing at Ozpin, then and Qrow, gulping nervously before gathering her resolve. "Let's give it a shot then."

"Excellent. I'll make sure to spare some time in both your schedules to allow for this once the year begins." Ozpin said, sounding very pleased with the development, before turning to the other man in the room. "And what say you, Qrow?"

The raven-haired man let out a long, resigned breath, a mirthless smirk crossing his features. "I guess we're doing this after all."

"Uncle…?" Yang questioned, voicing the confusion the three girls were feeling.

"Ozpin made me an offer, Yang." The man explained. "The transfer papers are at the ready. When the school year starts, I'll be a teacher here." There was a bit more genuine warmth to the smirk now. "Couldn't really leave my girls alone, now."

Uh, so in a way, the whole family was going to school. If nothing else, that should be interesting.

Now, if only she could ignore the rampant emotions of the flushing maiden at the news. Just because she was ok with it didn't mean she wanted to know the details…

/

Later that evening, when the family had long since returned to their apartment, Ruby stopped pretending to be asleep, silver eyes opening wide as she sat up from her lying position on the floor (seriously, screw beds…).

A quick check around the house confirmed to her that her sister and uncle were fast asleep. The perfect moment to do this.

Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, the young planeswalker focused inwards, calling to the magic. It took her a moment to gather what she actually needed, so rich and powerful was the sudden, eager influx from the local leylines, but soon, a soft, translucent white glow covered her entire form, lifting her a few centimeters off the ground.

And in this state, Ruby allowed herself to think.

'Hey Dad. I know, hasn't been that long since we last saw each other, but a lot has happened. After so long looking, I finally found it, Dad, I finally found my home plane, the one with the shattered moon.

Remnant… is a very weird place. Something feels off about the local mana, and apparently only four people in the plane can actually use magic, or at least that seems to be what the few that even are aware that magic is a thing believe, which as far as I am concerned really doesn't add up. And I met one of those four, and she wasn't even doing it properly! Have you ever seen something like this happening before?

But that's unimportant compared to this next bit. You see, shortly after I arrived I… I found out that people knew about me. I have a family here, Dad. And all this time they thought I was dead.

I have an older sister, Yang. You remember I mentioned a girl was there, the night my spark ignited? That was her. Boy, was that a surprise… really shy girl, she blamed herself for what happened. She was so happy when she saw me, and so sad when I couldn't remember her…

Then there's Qrow. Not very original as names go, I know. He's a sort of honorary uncle to me and a real one to Yang. Apparently we have a complicated family tree. He looks like a bum, and acts grumpy a lot, but he's been supportive and patient the entire and admittedly short time I met him. I like him.

And as it turns out… I also have a biological father. A man called Taiyang, but he's… broken. My disappearance was the last straw in a series of misfortunes, and he couldn't bear it.

They are all broken, in one way or another, dad, broken because I wasn't there for them. And even though I still can't remember…

…I made a promise to Yang, in a moment she was particularly scared I might vanish again, that I wasn't going anywhere. I surprised myself with how much I meant it. These people need me, Dad, and this time, I will be here.

I suppose in a way, now the both of us are bound by duties we feel the need to bear, uh?

So, yeah, for the foreseeable future, I'll be sticking around here. I'll keep you posted on how things progress. Say hi to Uncle Sarkhan and Auntie Narset for me, and keep me posted if something happens elsewhere.

You're still my favorite father in the entire Multiverse, Dad, and I hope to see you again soon. Love you.'

As she finished her message, the glow around her separated from her figure, coalescing and taking the form of a serpentine, spectral dragon.

"You know what to do." She said softly to the construct, as she landed back on the ground. With no sign of having acknowledged the words, the apparition vanished from existence.

And Ruby merely slumped backwards, allowing herself to fall asleep for real.

/

Worlds away, not in Tarkir, where a mere projection of his being awaited, but in a small realm of placid, clear waters reflecting the cloudy skies above, the Spirit Dragon perked up curiously as he felt his daughter's message reaching him.

"…So, she has finally found where she belongs." He mused to himself, feeling an odd feeling of pride and melancholy, allowing himself a small chuckle at the realization it was so. The girl had left a bigger impression on him than he'd care to admit.

At the thought of family, his eyes focused on the serpentine figure lying despondently in the distance.

"I hope yours proves to be better, child…"

/

And that's that.

At the end of the day, Ruby walks out of the situation with more questions than answers, but I like to think she handled things with the proper Red philosophy.

And if anyone thinks it's a bit hypocritical that Ruby doesn't like mind magic but is perfectly fine with empathy, well, in her opinion they're too very different things.

Next time, we will perhaps tackle a few events before the start of the school year, and then the beginning of the initiation.

First however, will come the next update to Of Red Petals and Black Feathers, so look forward to that.

Cya all on the next one, stay safe.