The music was beginning to die down. Couples slowly left the floor, laughter drifting into the hallways as the night drew to a close. The grand ballroom lights dimmed into a softer glow, leaving the atmosphere gentler, quieter.
Ruby leaned against the balcony railing outside, the night breeze brushing her hair as she looked up at the moon. Her dress shimmered faintly under the starlight, though her expression was thoughtful—almost hesitant.
Footsteps approached. Hyunwoo stepped out, his jacket slung casually over his shoulder, his spear locker already sealed away for the night. He stopped beside her, resting one hand on the railing.
"You disappeared again," Ruby said softly, her tone playful but carrying a hint of concern.
"Needed air," Hyunwoo replied. His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it. He glanced at her, then back at the stars. "Tonight wasn't just a dance for us. Too much... waiting on the horizon."
Ruby tilted her head, eyes searching his face. "You mean what happened at the tower?"
Hyunwoo didn't answer right away. The silence between them stretched, filled only by the faint music still drifting from inside. Finally, he exhaled. "Something like that. Just... things I can't ignore anymore."
Ruby bit her lip. Part of her wanted to push, to ask what he meant—but she could see it in his eyes, that guarded heaviness. Instead, she smiled gently. "Well... at least you didn't ignore this." She gestured down at her dress, her cheeks turning pink. "You showed up."
A small smile tugged at Hyunwoo's lips.
The two stood in silence, the world around them slowing. Finally, Ruby broke it, her voice tentative. "Do you think... after all this fighting, after the Vytal Festival... we'll still get moments like this? Just... normal ones?"
Hyunwoo looked at her for a long moment, then gave the faintest nod. "If I can help it, yeah."
Ruby smiled softly at his words, her shoulders relaxing. For the first time that night, the heaviness lifted, replaced by something warmer, quieter.
The music inside came to an end, signaling the close of the night. Ruby glanced toward the door, then back at him. "Guess that's our cue."
"Guess so," Hyunwoo said.
But neither of them moved right away. They lingered, side by side, under the night sky.
Hyunwoo still leaned against the railing, quiet as always, while Ruby fidgeted with the lace of her dress, trying to steady her racing heart. She glanced at him, then away, then back again.
"Hyunwoo?" she said softly.
He turned his head, meeting her eyes. "Hm?"
Ruby swallowed, suddenly unsure of herself. But she forced a small, nervous smile. "I just wanted to say... tonight, being here with you, even with everything going on—it meant a lot."
Hyunwoo tilted his head, studying her. "...You mean that?"
Ruby nodded quickly. Her cheeks warmed as the words tumbled out faster than she could stop them. "I—I mean, you're... important to me. More than just—"
"Ruby!" Yang's voice cut across the moment as the ballroom doors opened behind them. "Come on, we're heading back to the dorms!"
Ruby froze, her face turning crimson. She spun toward the doors. "C-Coming!" she shouted back, her voice cracking.
Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing her flustered state. "More than just...?" he asked calmly, echoing her unfinished words.
Ruby panicked, waving her hands. "N-Nothing! Just—uh—more than just a regular night! You know! Because of the dancing and... and—" She trailed off, wanting to disappear into her dress.
For the first time in a long while, Hyunwoo allowed himself a small, quiet laugh. He didn't press her, only said, "Alright, Ruby."
She glanced at him, embarrassed but smiling despite herself. Then, with a deep breath, she turned toward the doors.
As they walked back inside, Ruby couldn't help sneaking one last look at him. Her heart still raced, the words she hadn't been able to finish hanging unspoken between them.
And Hyunwoo, though silent, felt the weight of them too.
____
The morning sun poured gently through the wide windows of Ozpin's office, casting long golden beams across polished wood and glass. The room was quiet, save for the faint tick of the clock on the wall, until General Ironwood's voice broke the silence.
"They've already begun to move," he said, his tone clipped with frustration. His broad shoulders were squared, and his gloved hand tightened against the back of a chair. "Cinder infiltrated the CCT, slipped past our guards, and almost left without us even noticing. We can't keep stalling, Ozpin. While we're still looking for right time, she's already taking action."
Glynda's eyes flicked toward him, her posture straight and stern as always. "You're right that she's dangerous, James. But you're also the one who insisted on relying on Atlas guards. They were no match for her, and you know it."
Ironwood's jaw tightened. "Then what do you suggest? That we rely on Hyunwoo Kim alone? He's strong, yes. More capable than most students his age. But one boy is not a full solution."
Ozpin, who had been listening silently with his hands folded over his cane, finally spoke. His voice was calm, measured, almost too steady compared to the weight of the topic.
"Hyunwoo is not meant to stand alone. But his presence has already shifted the course of events. Without him, last night would have ended differently." His eyes moved from Glynda to Ironwood, his tone carrying the weight of quiet conviction. "And we both know the decision regarding the Guardian must be made soon. Amber cannot hold on forever."
At the mention of the name, the room grew heavier. Amber Autumn — the Fall Maiden — still clung to life only through Atlas' machines, suspended between living and gone.
Ironwood exhaled sharply, almost scoffing. "So that's it then? You'd place all your trust in a successor we haven't even chosen yet? In a plan built on hope and theory while our enemy moves in the shadows?"
Glynda's gaze hardened, though she did not interrupt.
Ozpin's expression softened, but his words cut through the tension. "James... this is not about trust in one successor, or even in Hyunwoo alone. It is about preparing for what is to come. Cinder seeks power, and the Maiden's are at the center of it. If we do not make the right choice for Guardian soon, then all our soldiers and strategies will mean nothing."
The general's eyes narrowed, the steel in his voice returning. "Then we are running out of time. And I don't care what hopes or secrets you cling to, Ozpin—we can't afford another failure. Not when she's already inside the walls."
The clock ticked again, steady and merciless, as the three of them stood in uneasy silence. Outside, the city of Vale bustled with life, oblivious to how close its peace was to unraveling.
An alert chime rang through the office, soft but sharp against the tense silence.
"Come in," Ozpin said without lifting his eyes from the desk.
The elevator doors slid open, and Ruby Rose stepped out, her cloak brushing against Hyunwoo's suit jacket as the two walked inside. Ruby raised a sheepish hand.
"Sorry it took so long," she blurted out quickly. "Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the way up here." Her eyes darted from Glynda to Ironwood before she added in a rush, "It wasn't me."
"It's her,"
The room stayed still.
Ruby cleared her throat. "Okay, so that's the tone we're going for. Got it."
Ironwood's expression softened just a fraction, his voice firm but carrying an edge of approval. "Ruby, I think it's appropriate you know this—what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat, you acted, and you did the best you could under the circumstances."
Ruby's lips twitched into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, sir."
Ozpin finally raised his gaze, his hands folded neatly over his cane. "The general has already informed us of what transpired at the tower. But now that you've had some rest... we'd like to hear your perspective. Did you notice anything else?"
Ruby's expression grew more serious. "She was wearing a mask the whole time. Never said a word to me. But..." She hesitated, replaying the fight in her head. "She fought with glass. I don't think that was her Semblance, though. Her clothing—it lit up every time she attacked."
Glynda's sharp eyes narrowed. "Save for the glass, that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby."
Ironwood crossed his arms, his voice steady. "Embedding Dust into clothing is an age-old technique. That doesn't narrow the field—it could've been anyone."
Ruby frowned. "Wait... you think she's connected to Torchwick? And the White Fang?"
Ozpin's expression gave away nothing. "It's possible. But we lack the evidence to draw that conclusion."
Ruby's brow furrowed as something surfaced in her memory. "Actually... I think I remember her saying something. About a hideout, maybe? Southeast of Vale. Just outside the kingdom."
That made Ozpin pause, his eyes sharpening with interest. "Interesting."
Glynda turned her head sharply toward Ruby. "I thought you said the intruder never spoke to you?"
Ruby froze under Glynda's sharp stare, fumbling for words she didn't have.
Before the silence could stretch any further, Hyunwoo finally spoke, his voice steady and calm.
"Well... the intruder did speak," he said, drawing all eyes toward him. "Not to Ruby—she kept her focus on the fight. The woman spoke to me. That might be why Ruby seemed to... forget about it."
Ruby glanced up at him, wide-eyed, relief flickering across her face.
Ozpin tilted his head ever so slightly, studying Hyunwoo as though trying to read beneath the surface of his words. "And what exactly did she say to you, Mr. Kim?"
Hyunwoo hesitated, carefully choosing his phrasing. "Nothing direct. But enough to suggest there was something southeast of the kingdom. A hideout. That's how I know Ruby wasn't mistaken."
Ironwood's gaze hardened. "So they're planning something outside Vale's borders." He turned to Ozpin, his voice low but pressing. "We can't afford to wait any longer. They've already made their move. Relying on a few students—and one boy—isn't enough."
The tension in the room thickened, Ruby looking down at her boots, her hands twisting together, while Hyunwoo stood straighter under the weight of the adults' scrutiny.
Ozpin set his cane against the desk, his eyes never leaving Hyunwoo. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you."
"Yes, sir." Ruby turned to leave.
"And, Miss Rose," Ozpin added, his voice firm but not unkind. "Please try to be... discreet about this matter."
Ruby winced slightly at the reminder but managed a determined, "Yes, sir." With that, she left, the soft sound of her boots fading down the hall.
Ozpin's gaze shifted, calm but piercing, to the boy who had stayed.
"While you, Mr. Kim," Ozpin said, folding his hands neatly before him, "we need to talk."
Ironwood and Glynda exchanged glances, both waiting to hear how the headmaster would handle this particular student—this anomaly who had proven himself useful, yet unpredictable.
Hyunwoo straightened, ready for whatever was about to come.
___
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