As I began to come to again, I glanced around the room, noticing that the only adult in the room was a single man with dusty black hair, a red cape, and a silver flask in his hand.
"Morning, kid."
"So it wasn't a dream after all…" As I spoke, I heard a voice that seemed hardly mine, but recalling what happened before I passed out it made sense. 'I hope this passes soon.'
"Man, you sound like shit." It seemed as though his response was automatic, like a natural reaction, because though he had grinned when he said it, it quickly went away.
"Well, I definitely feel like it." Dark humor hadn't really been my thing so far during this life, but feeling the tears well up again I couldn't help but try and push them back with humor and a self-deprecating smile.
It seems he noticed it because he gave a similar smile in response.
"Aren't you going to ask where we are or who I am?"
"Why would I?"
"Well, what if I was a bad guy?" Thinking he made a fair point, Qrow began to take a sip from his flask.
"You're with Professor Ozpin, so you can't be bad. Besides, Salem wasn't trying to kidnap me with all those footmen." Slightly choking on his alcohol, which hurt a lot for Qrow, he was about to question my knowledge of Salem, when he remembered what Oz had told him.
'I guess the kid knows more than we thought.'
"Well, I'll answer those questions anyways. I'm Qrow, a Huntsman, and you're currently in the house of Taiyang and Summer, two of my teammates."
'It seems my suspicions were right.' Having remembered her silver eyes and motherly nature, as well as her connection to the others that were in the room at the time, it only could've been Summer.
'Though I guess my knowledge might only bring me so far, because for as strong as my parents are… were, they should've made some appearances in RWBY.'
"Well now that you're awake, I'm going to bring the others here. Is that okay with you?" With a shaky sigh, I sat up and nodded my head, so Qrow left the room, leaving me to my thoughts until they arrive.
Despite having accepted their deaths had happened, I still couldn't quite believe it. Worse yet, I never got to say my parting words to the others.
"I made good on my promise to live, you two, but why did it have to be without you?" As more tears began bubbling up, I was about to shove my emotions away when I remembered Summer's words, and I let them freely fall.
'I don't think I'll be able to let go, but I will never forget.'
As my silent sobbing slowly died down, I heard the door lightly creak open, but assuming it was just the adults I rubbed my eyes free of moisture. But the light pittering of children's feet got my attention, making me look over to the source.
Standing at the bed's side was a small girl no older than 6. She had blonde hair in pigtails draped in front of her shoulders, an orange scarf around her neck, and lilac-colored eyes that gave off a confident shyness.
Partially hidden behind her was an even smaller girl, probably a year or two younger. She had short hair that resembled Summer's, a color scheme mostly of black and red, and a pair of curious silver eyes.
While I processed the presence of two of the future members of RWBY, a tiny hand shot my way and opened for a shake.
"My name's Yang. What about you?" The straightforwardness truly was an inherent trait apparently, because it caught me off guard, and in my confusion, I shook her hand.
"Argento… what're you doing in here?"
"We heard you being sad, so we made these for you!" As she said this, I noticed Yang bringing out a piece of paper, which had a very bad drawing of a yellow bike on it.
"Ruby, show him yours too." As I took the paper from Yang, Ruby walked forward and gently handed me a similar piece of paper, but this time with what I had to assume to be a red flower.
"When I'm sad, mommy shows me pictures of fwowers, cuz dey make me happy!"
"And I love riding my bike because it makes me happy!"
They were terrible drawings, I could barely make out what either of them really were, but seeing the two poorly drawn objects of their affection brought back memories.
Moments from a young Braxely taking care of his sister, who happily drew pictures for her proud older brother.
The memories of losing her grew in strength, spurred on by my recent loss of even more family, and these two reminded me so much of her. As I was in my mind, the adults had silently arrived at the room, watching this unfold.
Slowly some tears came out again, this time in remembrance of my long-gone sister, as a sad smile formed on my face and I looked up at the two girls. "Thank you. I love them."
Giving proud smiles, the adults finally came into the room fully, as Taiyang knelt down to his daughters. "How about you two go play in your room?"
"'Kay!" Happily pattering their way to their room, I looked back down at the slightly tear-stained papers, unable to let go of them.
A comfortable silence pervaded the room until I could finally pry my eyes away from the papers, to see Summer once again taking the seat next to the bed.
"Argento, we have some things we would like to talk about, but only if you're ready."
"… I'm not ready, but when will I ever be? I'm already taking so much of your time, the least I can do is share what I can." Noticing I am faring better than yesterday Summer gave me a small reassuring smile, before looking toward Ozpin.
"As hard as it might be, I do want to start with what we know. There were four bodies found at the site of the battle, all adults."
"Only four…?"
"Yes, your parents and what looked to be a married couple, the female had dark green hair, and the male had black hair."
"Laela and Deagan…" More silent tears came, but I ignored them. "They were the Cassinovas, and they were the parents of Ivy Cassinova. Did you not find… her body?"
"No, we looked but there was no girl there, but there were a lot of petrified Grimm." At Qrow's words, I quickly looked up at him, clearly showing my sorrow and surprise.
"Petrified Grimm? That must be Ivy's doing, but how could her body have not been there?" My statement confirmed the thoughts of those in the room, but it brought up the question of how I knew of the silver-eyed powers.
[Oz] - "We do not know where her body is, but there was another minor clearing that had signs of a battle having taken place. Were you with anyone else?"
[Argento] - "Yes. With us was Trivia Vanille, Cromwell, and some Vanille guards." At the mention of Trivia's last name, looks of recognition went around the room.
[Taiyang] - "Vanille, as in Jimmy Vanille?"
[Argento] - "Yes, that is her father. I've never met him, but Trivia would always complain about him." Giving a small laugh at the memory, more tears began being supplied to my eyes. 'Damnit, why the hell won't my tears stop?!'
Taking in the information he was given so far, Ozpin nods his head to his thoughts. "I can't promise anything, but I will look into what happened with their bodies as soon as I can."
Showing him a smile of gratitude, I noticed a look was given Summer's way, which she took as the chance to catch my attention.
"With your parents gone, there are few people left who are strong enough to protect you from Salem, should you be found again. That being said, how would you like to stay here until you can protect yourself?"
I listened to her offer, and looking over at Taiyang he seemed to readily agree with this decision, but as I was about to agree it struck me.
'Won't I be putting them in more danger if I'm here?' As if she could read my thoughts, Summer reached over and gently grabbed my arm with a smile.
"You being here won't be putting us in more danger, because no one knows you're here. We will continue to hide and protect you, and once you're old enough you can enroll in Beacon where we can all openly protect you."
I could feel her words were not meant to sway my decision, merely to put down the unrest in my heart at putting even more people in danger for my protection.
And with these words came the understanding that the others' situations made it so I couldn't be with them without major risks.
"Then I apologize for the intrusion." Lightly bowing my head in a show of appreciation, silence once again reigned over the room, until Glynda stepped forward.
"I do not wish to rush you, but the longer Ozpin and I stay here the more likely people are to catch on. We must ask, is there anywhere you wish to depart with your loved ones?"
"I… I don't know. I would like for them to be buried somewhere close so that I can visit them freely."
"We can arrange that. It will happen later this evening if that is okay with you."
All I could do was nod, my eyes already running dry again. Having requested to be alone for now, the adults relented, making sure I knew they were but a hallway away.
Time passed in both a blur and at a snail's pace. Nothing around me made much sense, but it felt like I was stuck in a loop of contemplation.
So many things ran through my mind that I got dizzy, but I ignored them and continued. Until finally, Qrow came to my room to get me.
"Kid, it's time."
Being brought out of my room, everyone but Glynda was there, and soon we all set off toward the edge of the island. When we finally arrived, I could see Glynda standing near 4 open caskets, all with cloth covering everything but their faces.
Seeing them like this hit it all home that much more; this was the last time I'd ever see them again, and I couldn't even see them all off.
My face was scrunched in pain as I stepped closer to them, getting a full look at their paled complexions, drained of all color of life I remembered them having.
There was no fanfare, there was no dress code, and there was nothing said. As Glynda led a prayer of leading their souls to rest, my eyes began squeezing out what little tears I had managed to replenish in the last few hours.
My hands were clenched tightly by my sides, while on one shoulder I felt Qrow's hand, and on the other, I felt Summer's.
Their presence made it just barely so I wouldn't collapse as Glynda used her Semblance to shut the caskets, gently lay them into the ground, and lightly cover each of them with the dirt she had displaced earlier.
Above each of their resting spots was a gravestone, with nothing more than their names beautifully scribed into the stone.
As the dirt settled, leaving barely more than bare land for evidence of burial, I walked forward again, staring out at the setting sun. Bringing forth every emotion I could, I yelled in one breath, letting myself feel everything.
With tears streaming down my face, my eyes shone with resolution. This pain I am feeling is something no person should have to experience.
Salem's reign of terror on the unwitting hearts of so many will go on no more. I will not stand idly as she does so; for everyone in this world, and for those I lost, I will bring it to an end, even if it costs me my life.
"Victoria Aut Morte!"