Once again, I was back in Ozpin's office. But this time I wasn't the only one.
Every staff member that had been in the city and participated in the defense of the city had been called in to give a report about what they saw and what they did.
Many of them, such as Professor Port, didn't have too much to say about the whole event beyond what type of Grimm they faced off against, whether they focused on protecting the students or hunted down the more dangerous variants, and a general question of confusion on why so many Grimm had stayed in the plaza instead of trying to expand into the rest of the city.
Ozpin made no attempts to get anyone to offer information on that last part, nor did he make any pointed glances in my direction. Something I did appreciate in the moment.
A few, like Proffes– sorry, Doctor Oobleck, had more detail to share with Oobleck giving a recount of how the scouting mission to Mountain Glenn had turned into a running battle when Team RWBY had stumbled onto the White Fang's preparation area and tried to stop a train full of dust explosives from reaching Vale.
Several of the staff gritted their teeth about a team of first years being put in that position, but no one said anything about it.
The simple fact about being a Huntsman was that sometimes you found yourself in situations you weren't prepared for. There was no point getting upset about a hazard of the profession they were training for. The only option was to make sure they were trained to handle the next mission as best they could.
And then it was my turn to give my report.
I started off the same way most of the others had - explaining what I was doing in Vale before the Breach and what alerted me to the trouble.
That already got me some weird looks because I was the only one that had been attacked by a White Fang hit-squad minutes before the train breached the city.
Something I, uh, might have forgotten to follow up about until just now. So they had probably escaped in all the chaos.
Oops.
But the bigger shock was when I admitted I was the reason the Grimm had been kept inside the plaza.
"–as most of you know, my Semblance allows me to make objects with certain properties attached to them." I 'explained' to the group. "I got to the Breach early enough that the Grimm hadn't spread out much yet and managed to put a 'box' around the plaza that would keep the Grimm inside while letting people move in and out."
"You managed to contain the Grimm in a box?" Professor Port asked, normal exuberant personality contained for now while he stroked his mustache. "That easily?"
"It wasn't easy, it was probably the most complex use of my Semblance I've ever done in my life." I denied with the wave of a hand. "And it only worked because the Grimm were in a relatively small area that was easily defined, and because they had other things to focus on instead of how to break out. I honestly wasn't expecting it to hold up as well as it did."
"But it did and you possibly saved a lot of lives with the effort Ms Cross." Ozpin said before anyone else could ask more questions. "If you don't mind, I'd like you to stay behind to discuss it more while the other staff can return to their day. It's been a much more exciting morning than anyone was expecting and I'm sure everyone is busy in some way now."
It was a very polite dismissal and no one decided to challenge the Headmaster on it.
Partly because they obviously trusted him to handle it and let them know if they needed more information, and partly because he was right – even though the Grimm had been driven off, everyone was still dealing with the fallout of a massive number of them being released into the city.
So once the rest of the staff filtered out, it was just me, Ozpin, Goodwitch, Ironwood, and Leona remaining.
I did tilt my head at my apprentice for choosing to stay behind, but she just shot me a look that declared she wasn't going to budge about this.
Fair enough.
Once we were done our silent conversation, Ozpin decided to start the actual meeting.
"Thank you for staying behind, Ms Cross." he began. "Especially since I'm sure you would like to go rest after pushing your Semblance so much."
It was an out, one I wasn't expecting from the man considering I was sure he was going to use this situation to draw us closer to his group. But at the same time, one I found myself appreciating.
Even if I wasn't going to be taking the offer.
"It's fine. Setting up a Bounded Field like that takes a bit of preparation, but actually maintaining it once it's active isn't much of a strain." I replied. "I just don't want people assuming I can set those up whenever I want."
The atmosphere in the office sharpened.
"So you're finally willing to be more open with us then?" Ironwood asked.
I shrugged. "I guess that depends what you decide to ask about. Some of our secrets aren't ours to share. But yes, I don't think politely ignoring the fact Leona and I can use magic."
"Magic? The both of you?"
"Yeah, and in the spirit of being transparent about it – neither one of us are Seasonal Maidens." I clarified.
My admission visibly startled the others and I wasn't sure they entirely believed me, but at the same time Ozpin didn't seem interested in pressing that particular issue.
Not right now anyway.
"Then the more important issue, how were you able to set up a barrier – I believe you called it a bounded field? – and why did you know to do so?"
"A combination of Runes to define the effect and dimensions of the barrier and a discipline called Jewelcraft to power the whole thing." I explained. "And would you believe the both of us are from outside this dimension and may have seen some future events before we got here?"
"Miss Cross," Goodwitch said sternly. "This is most certainly not the time for jokes."
None of the others looked like they were going to entertain that statement as the truth either. Oh well, I'd figure out a way to make them accept that fact some other time.
So instead I gave them something different but still true. "I'm sure you've all seen the reports of concerns the local White Fang elements have been working with members of a Grimm worshiping cult?" I asked rhetorically. Between my own actions and the rumors I've encouraged among the less rabidly militant members of the White Fang, there were plenty of reports submitted by people unrelated to me speculating on a possible cult connection – one I was sure would be considered mostly confirmed after today. "Some of them don't really appreciate the direction their leaders are taking them and passed me some rumors that there was something planned around the plaza sometime soon. Nothing specific that I could warn anyone about, but solid enough that I decided to take some precautions."
"And you decided that meant a magical barrier in the middle of the city?" Goodwitch said dryly.
"I think the more pertinent question is where two magic users came from. Especially if they aren't directly connected to a Maiden." Ironwood added, looking between me and Leona. "If they're telling the truth then we need to find and protect them before… she finds them."
Ozpin looked at us closely. "I don't think you need to be discreet with these two, James. They know."
"What?! How?"
"I wasn't just making up rumors when I told the White Fang they were working with Grimm cultists." I replied. "Both of us know about the one controlling them."
"Alexandria more so than me." Leona spoke up. "I'm aware of the person in general, but little beyond that."
"Well, that will help save some time in future discussions. Now back to why you decided to create a magical barrier inside of the city." Ozpin said lightly.
Ironwood objected immediately. "OZ!"
"We'll get to that topic in time, James." The Headmaster said with a raised hand. "Let's first get the complete story about what happened this morning before we start chasing other interests."
Ironwood didn't look happy about that decision, but ultimately took a step back and ran a hand through his hair while muttering something under his breath.
Goodwitch took the order with more grace, but the look in her eye also told me she wasn't letting the topic be forgotten either.
"Now then, you were saying about preparations?" Ozpin continued.
"Right. The main issue was I didn't have a solid timeline for when whatever the White Fang was planning was supposed to happen so I couldn't just pass along the information and hope the city would be able to deal with it. So instead I looked up any reasons why that plaza was chosen in the first place and found the tunnel leading to Mountain Glenn. I decided to make sure in case anything came through it, the citizens would have time to get away."
"Ms Leona didn't help you with the preparations?"
"My own skills are mostly focused on medical spells, mystic code creation, and a handful of battle spells." Leona replied. "I'm not familiar with the branch of magic Alexandria used beyond the basic theory."
I saw the others add another question to the growing list they had at the mention of branches of magic.
"Mystic codes?" Ironwood couldn't help but ask.
"Enchanted objects meant to perform certain spells when given magical energy." I briefly explained. "Pretty much the same thing as an app on your scroll."
Ironwood and Goodwitch both looked at Ozpin.
"It's not a name I'm familiar with, but the idea is similar to others throughout history." He replied.
"Once the attack began, I just made sure nothing slipped past the Bounded Field and focused on killing the Grimm until someone could plug up the breach itself." I continued, basically reiterating what I had told the rest of the staff earlier. "So, questions?"
I had partially expected Ironwood to start grilling me on a list of things he wanted to know, but now that I opened the floor it seemed that they were going to let the headmaster take the lead.
Ozpin leaned forward on his desk slightly and laced his fingers together while I waited for the first question.
"I suppose the first thing I want to ask you, Ms Cross, is what the purpose of this demonstration was supposed to be?" He asked, surprising me a bit because that was not something in the top ten list I'd expected. "You say that you were forced to use a magical barrier to contain the plaza, but there were plenty of other methods you could have used that would have disguised or even hidden that fact, instead it seems like you deliberately advertised your abilities to those that know about them."
Well, never let it be said Ozpin couldn't be smart.
"Because in some ways I did." I replied. "I'm not sure if you've made the connection, but there are some people working for the one behind the Grimm that have begun poking around the city. Even parts of Beacon."
"The woman Ms Rose encountered in the CCT tower." Ozpin nodded. "We considered it was a possibility."
For a moment I considered just telling them that woman was actually Cinder Fall, but until I could prove that Headmaster Lionheart had turned on them, anything I said could potentially make its way back to Salem. Especially if they decided to give him a call after this meeting. So instead I just nodded back. "She's one of them, but not the biggest threat. I wanted to use the Breach as bait to try drawing them out but I won't know if it worked for a while. I also figured you'd recognize it too since you already hinted at knowing about magic."
"I've dabbled learning about it in my time." Ozpin said with a small smile before growing serious again. "And then this other agent… you have a plan for them?"
"I do." I looked at each of them in turn. "And if it's going to work, I'm going to need help from each of you."
I smirked internally as previously I'd had their attention.
Now?
I had their interest.
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