Capítulo 31: Sleeping
POV War
Death had notified him and his siblings of his plan and the likely results of it, but it still seemed a bit unreal to War. Death had always seemed so unbeatable to him, especially since they arrived on this world called Remnant. Among him and his siblings, Death was the first to awaken his aura and also remain to this day the only one to know what his semblance was.
And Death's semblance was indeed incredible, and was the main thing that made War see Death as unbeatable lately.
Now, though, while he was not dead, Death was in a coma, apparently due to mental backlash. This was within Death's expectations, but War still wanted to reject this reality. he did not like the very idea of his eldest brother being in such a vulnerable state.
He was thinking these things as he headed to Ozpin's office, planning to ask to see his brother, who was in a place called 'the Vault'.
When he entered the office, though, Ozpin wasn't alone. One of Death's girlfriends, Amber Quince, was there, along with Death's companion Ultear and a familiar angelic woman "Uriel, long time no see. You haven't changed a bit." he greeted the angel.
"War...You got smaller." Uriel retorted.
"Should have seen us when we came to this world, we were just brats and our memories were a tattered mess." War admitted and smirked "Musta been some kind of reincarnation that brought us here. Best we can guess is this 'One-Above-All' who sent us here, knew that we were born as adults, and never got a chance to be children, so we became children. You look like ya kept your original body, though."
Ozpin looked at War "I suppose you wish to see your brother, the same as them?" he asked.
War grunted and nodded to Ozpin "Yes, see Death." he verified.
"Very well." Ozpin agreed and got up to lead them to the vault
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POV Ozpin
He internally sighed as he got up to lead these people to the vault. In his heart there was still a voice nagging at him that he was too trusting, but after all that Death had done, he trusted that boy, at least. These people were people that Death trusted, so he resolved himself to trust in Death's judgment here.
More importantly, though, he had learned a bit more about these mysterious Nephilim from War's explanation to Uriel. He had always wondered why the four siblings had their memory issues, and secretly wondered if it was a ruse, but after hearing that they believed this 'One-Above-All' reverted them into children to let them experience things like childhood, family, and love, it made a lot more sense.
If their bodies were made children while their minds retained their prior memories in full, it likely would have been far more difficult for them to adapt. It seemed plausible that this deity messed with their memories specifically to help them out with forming such bonds.
Finally having an explanation that made sense, Ozpin felt rather relieved inside, as the last doubt that had lingered in his heart became no more.
Among this group, the one he trusted the most was Amber. She had grown up into a fine young woman. He remembered her as a toddler, before his last host had passed away. She had been a beautiful and sweet girl then, and now she had grown into a beautiful and respectable young woman.
He had an awkward conversation with her after returning from Haven, in private of course. She had realized during the little show that Death put on that he had reincarnated over and over again and that his last life had been as the last king of Vale, her grandfather.
Apparently, the poor girl had thought he had disliked her when he tried to persuade her not to receive the Fall Maiden's powers when the previous maiden was about to pass away, but the truth was that he just did not want to involve his granddaughter in the war with Salem.
She had insisted that she wanted to do it, ironically because of her grandfather, because of his actions in the great war. In the end, he agreed, but it hurt a bit that his instinct to protect her had been misinterpreted in such a manner.
'At least she didn't inherit Silver Eyes from her father' Ozpin thought as they entered the elevator.
It was no coincidence that her father was a silver-eyed warrior, as that seemed to be common with many of Ozpin's children. It was very likely that even Summer Rose and by extension Ruby Rose, had descended from one of his previous lives. With the exception of May Zedong, who had awakened her single silver eye in an unusual manner, Ozpin believed himself to be to root cause of the silver-eye trait existing at all, which was why he always took such an interest in the well-being of them.
Yes, if they chose to enter the battlefield, Ozpin tended to not step in the way of that, and tried to do what he could to increase their chances at surviving. He did not like it, but he knew the stakes in this war and knew he couldn't turn down the help, especially since Salem would still target them regardless of whether or not they wanted to fight.
Amber had just been a bit different, he had held in his arms as a toddler and doted on very much. He could only hope for her safety and happiness now, though.
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POV Amber Quince
As the elevator descended towards the vault, she studied Ozpin, her grandfather, or at least the one that her grandfathers soul had merged with after his Death. His reluctance to let her become a maiden at that time made a lot more sense now.
While she knew that he had made many mistakes over his long life, she knew that none of them were maliciously done. After that day at Haven, she had been worried about General Ironwood going nuts like she had seen him do in what Jinn had shown all of them, but Death had changed her mind.
Death pointed out that they did not have all the details, that there was obviously more that they were not shown, and he pointed out the missteps the others had made as well, failing to trust Ironwood and not even trying to reason with him before he got to the point where he was set in his position.
Because he felt alone, Ironwood depended on his semblance way too much, and it caused him to snap and think his way was the only way, but Death pointed out that if the others had not been so distrustful of Ironwood, and if they'd shared in his burdens and actually talked to him, he likely would not have gotten to that point.
He didn't completely blame the others for Ironwoods mental breakdown in that original series of events, arguing that there was likely plenty that was not shown from their side that led to their distrust. Both sides were trying to do what was right, but when they should have been mentally together, they instead built a wall between them and left General Ironwood isolated to wade through the hellish ordeal that Salem had brought to Atlas.
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POV Ultear Milkovich
Ultear had been pretty quiet on the way to Beacon from Amber's apartment, and she remained as such all the way through Amber's meeting with Ozpin, and on the elevator ride down to the vault, merely quietly observing the others, and she noticed something interesting.
Amber and Ozpin were appearing as expected. There was a slight bit of awkwardness between them now that Amber knew that Oz had inherited and merged with the soul of her grandfather. Slight awkwardness aside, Ultear thought that Amber was happy about it and Ozpin was glad to not have to pretend to not have an interest in her as more then just a huntsman.
Amber, of course, had not told Ulltear about this fact, nor had Death, yet she knew this fact even before they went to Haven. The reason was simple, of course. Ultear had been looking into Amber's future so much to discern any threats with might come her way, to help protect her as asked by Death, but the consequence of doing that so often was it being quite hard for Amber to truly have privacy.
Ultear felt a bit bad about it, but knew that she could not stop now, especially with Death not around to help as well. Ultear let Amber, War and Ozpin off the elevator first, but caught Uriel's arm to slow her down and have them fall behind a bit.
"What?" Uriel asked as she looked at Ultear.
"So, you and War?" Ultear asked Uriel with a smile "I noticed you keep sneaking glances towards him. Is he your type?"
"I...don't know what you are talking about" Uriel said with a barely visible blush.
"It might not be possible for you to ever return home." Ultear reminded Uriel "I know you are a warrior, but you are still a woman, and you must feel the call to have some kind of family, am I right?" Ultear insisted, but didn't wait for Uriel to respond before she continued "Don't tie yourself down to the past. Remember that you need to think about your own happiness as well, for today and for the future. If you like him, then tell him. After all, you might not be the only one interested in him. There's a girl from Haven that he spars with a lot, there might be some chemistry there."
"How can a human compare to an angel?" Uriel blurted before thinking "I mean...why would I like War in that way?" she said, trying to backpedal.
"I don't know. I personally prefer Death, but to each their own." Ultear insisted.
"And does Amber know that you like Death?" Uriel countered towards Ultear, trying to divert the conversation to something less troublesome to her.
"She does." Ultear insisted "Death, though, see's me as a subordinate and a friend, so we have not crossed the line into romance yet. At least that's what he says. It's probably more accurate to say that he is afraid that since resurrected and summoned me, I might be under some compulsion to love him, and he doesn't want to take advantage of that, so he keeps his distance. Regarding Amber, though, she wont be upset if it comes to that, considering that he is already dating multiple girls and they are fine with each other. I would just be another sister if he showed any inclination of wanting me."
"Are women of this world so accepting of such relationships?" Uriel asked with a stunned expression.
"It is...not typical...It does happen, from what I've read." Ultear admitted "Death, however, openly discloses that he suspects the got that sent him here gave him some sort of power that subtly influences those that like him to be accepting of such relationships. Even if he is right, though, Death really treats the women who pledge themselves to him extremely well. Those who are with him have heard that someone might have twisted their wills a bit and still chose to remain with him. The important thing is it is not something he consciously controls, and it seems to be a double-edged sword, where he falls in love with those that pledge their love to him."
"Then it is fortuitous that Death is not my type" Uriel insisted.
"Because War is." Ultear agreed.
"Exactly....Wait, no...Why would he be my type?" Uriel tried denying it again.
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POV War
Alongside Amber and just behind Ozpin, he entered a room and found an Atlesian stasis pod with his brother, Death inside of it.
"Hello, Death." he heard Amber greet his sleeping brother and watched her approach the pod and place her hand upon it, seeming genuinely elated to see him, even if he couldn't talk right now "I know that what you did was really important for the rest of Remnant and all that, but I really miss you already, you know Maybe I have become a bit too dependent upon you, but I don'tt give a damn about that. You are my whole world, so you better not leave me waiting too long, you got it?"
Amber's words surprised War a lot. Sure, he knew Death was dating her, but he had no idea that her affection towards his brother was to that extent.
"I love you, Death" Amber said to the pod. Even though she logically knew he couldn't hear her say it, she still felt she could not meet him without at least saying those words.
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POV Ozpin
Amber's words really surprised Ozpin, even more then the did War, after all, she was basically his granddaughter. Ozpin generally trusted Death, but knew that he had a lot of female friends, so he suddenly was feeling worried that Death might break Amber's heart.
"I'm not sure if the others will be allowed in here to see you or not, but Team RWBY, Velvet, May, and the Twins are definitely missing you as well, so you have to come back for all of us." Amber insisted, still speaking to Death "No need to mention Neo. She can speak for herself since she followed us down here to see you."
There was the sound of shattering glass, and Neo appeared next to Amber, holding a large flower pot with nothing in it but soil. The only ones not surprised were Ozpin and Amber. Ozpin had sensed Neo following thanks to the gigantic beacon that was her maiden powers, but he had just let her think she was being sneaky. He was a bit surprised that Amber noticed it though.
Neo set down the pot near the stasis pod that Death was in and use her maiden powers to cause a beautiful rose bush to grow inside the pot "I...walked to bring you a bit of color for when you wake up, my love" she stood next to Amber and put one hand on Death's pod, like Amber was doing, after which the two girls wrapped their free arm around each other and embraced like sisters.
Ozpin felt like he had just hit his head or something, because it sounded as though two of the four maiden's, one of whom was his own granddaughter, had just confessed their love for the same young man and then embraced each other like sisters. That was too crazy to be true, wasn't it? He suddenly wondered if any of those other girls that Death associated with were also in love with him.
Ozpin could only quietly contemplate what he had just learned. If Amber was fine with Neo also loving him, and yet they remained this close, what right did he have to complain? He was truly worried about Amber though. Grandfather's prerogative, so he decided he was allowed to worry, even if he could not do anything about it.
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