Qrow adjusted his grip slightly as Ruby shifted in his arms, her tiny hands clutching onto his clothes even in her sleep.
The road back was nice and quiet, with no noise bothering him.
Normally, he'd have a drink by now to take the edge off, let the aftermath of a successful mission settle, drown out the usual noise in his head. But tonight… his thoughts wouldn't sit still long enough for that.
They kept drifting back to Phainon's dojo
"Phai..." Qrow muttered under his breath, glancing down at Ruby for a second before looking ahead again.
Something was off.
Not wrong.
Just… off.
He'd known Phainon for years. Not close like Summer was, but as usual, Qrow didn't do "close" outside of a very small circle, but close enough to understand the kind of person Phainon was, as he was Talkative. Reliable. Cheerful and charismatic, the kind of guy who would help anybody in a time of need and always showed up when it mattered.
But Phainon was also a survivor.
He was someone who had already lost too much.
Qrow remembered when Phainon told him about his village that was destroyed by the Grimm and lost his parents, friends, and his own home...but a few minutes ago, it all seemed...off.
Qrow frowned slightly.
"Something felt off with Phai when he started talking about Summer. At first, I brushed it off, but there was that glint in his eyes, that tension in his muscles... Like he was hiding something beneath the surface. It's like that feeling you get when someone's not just telling you the whole story? Yeah, it was definitely there, just hiding in plain sight. I want to brush it off, but...my instincts are telling me not to." Qrow pondered deep in his mind, as his instincts were never wrong; it was connected to Summer.
For the first time in many years after leaving the Branwen tribe and finally finding a new family in his eyes, Qrow had felt something deep within starting to come out, and he knew what it was...
Fear.
Not the kind you feel in a fight.
Not the kind you feel when facing Grimm for the first time.
But the kind that comes from knowing something is going to happen… and being unable to stop it.
Qrow's empty left hand tightened slightly.
"…What the hell are you hiding?" he muttered.
Ruby stirred again, letting out a soft, sleepy mumble.
"…Cook…ie…"
Qrow blinked.
Then just smiled softly.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll tell firecracker, you bullied Phai for snacks," he murmured, shaking his head. "Kiddo has already got him wrapped around her finger."
A couple of minutes later, as Qrow made it to the location where the bulkhead should be arriving soon, only for a Ruby who was in his arms to quickly be gone from them as he turned to his right, only to see Summer, who was holding Ruby softly in her arms.
Qrow didn't even flinch.
"…You could at least tap me on the shoulder when you use your semblance," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The woman standing before him smiled faintly, silver eyes soft as she adjusted the sleeping child in her arms.
Summer Rose brushed a stray strand of hair from Ruby's face, her expression and eyes holding the warmth and gentleness of a kind mother.
"Where's the fun in that?" she replied lightly.
Qrow huffed, but there was no bite in it.
"She give you trouble?" Summer asked, glancing down at Ruby, then back at him.
Qrow snorted. "Not me. But to Phai, that was a different story."
That got her attention.
"Oh?" she tilted her head slightly. "How bad?"
Qrow let out a low chuckle. "Let's just say…All I saw was this kiddo in your arms, who was fast asleep in Phai's lap, but I can tell he was exhausted from taking care of her."
Summer let out a soft laugh, the sound light but warm as she looked down at Ruby.
"I did warn him," she said gently. "Ruby doesn't run out of energy easily, and what happened to Tai and me's previous babysitters."
Qrow smirked. "That's one way to put it. You had to pay those babysitters extra for the damage Ruby had done to their emotions and physical health while with Yang...more hospital bills when they touched her hair."
But as the moment passed.
Summer had seen Qrow's expression shift in a way she knew something was bothering him.
Her smile softened as she studied him. "Alright… what is it?"
Qrow clicked his tongue, looking away for a second before exhaling through his nose. "You always do that."
"Do what?"
"Know when something's bugging me."
"We have known each other for years now, of course, I would notice." Summer spoke as her eyes stayed on him.
Qrow hesitated for a second.
For most people, he would've brushed it off. Made a joke. Took a swig from his flask and called it a day.
But this was Summer.
"…It's Phai," he admitted.
Summer blinked once. "Phainon?"
"Yeah." Qrow rubbed the back of his neck. "He...Sounded off."
Summer tilted her head slightly. "How off exactly?"
Qrow frowned, trying to put it into words.
"Not hurt, that's for sure. If anything, it's hard to land a scratch on him…" he paused, searching. "…But he sounded guilty. Like he knows something that he should not know."
Summer's gaze grew thoughtful.
"He's always been observant, and he is always a hard worker and protective," she said.
"Yeah, but this isn't that." Qrow shook his head. "It's like...like he's already seen what's coming."
That made her pause.
A flicker of something crossed her eyes.
"…That's a strange way to put it," she said quietly.
Qrow scoffed lightly. "Tell me about it. I can't even explain it right."
He looked down at the ground for a second, then added more seriously:
"And when I mentioned you… something changed."
Summer's entire body turned protective; if anything were to happen to her family, there would be hell to pay.
"Changed?" she repeated.
Qrow nodded. "Just for a second. His body tensed, his eyes… I don't know. He mentioned if you were going on any missions, and I told him you asked for one or two months off." He frowned. "…But it felt like he was holding something back...But I think I'm overthinking it for him being worried since Grimm activity has been getting higher."
Silence enveloped them as the sun set. Stars began to twinkle in the night, accompanied by a refreshing breeze.
Summer looked down at Ruby again, brushing her thumb gently across her daughter's cheek.
"…Qrow," she said softly, "we fight Grimm every day. Bad things are always going to happen, even with Grimm activity rising."
"Yeah," Qrow replied, voice low. "But this felt different."
He lifted his gaze to her.
"It just...It just felt really off."
Summer didn't answer immediately.
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes… her eyes weren't as carefree as before.
"…Phainon has always carried a lot," she said at last. "Losing his village, building himself back up, helping others despite that tragedy that happened to him… people like him don't just stay the same forever. After all, he did say there was more going on when his village was being destroyed, but we respected his choice not to tell us."
Qrow watched her carefully.
"…You think that's all it is?"
Summer met his gaze, her smile returning gently, reassuring.
"I think," she said, "that if something was truly wrong, he would tell us. He wouldn't lie to us after all we've been through together."
Qrow looked at Summer's gaze for a few seconds longer.
Then he sighed.
"…Yeah. Maybe you are right."
But his instincts told him a different story.
They were warning him to keep an eye on Summer.
Summer shifted Ruby slightly, turning as the distant sound of an incoming transport could be heard approaching.
"We should head back," she said. "Yang and Tai are probably waiting for us to arrive tomorrow in the morning."
Qrow nodded, falling into step beside her.
"…Hey, Summer."
"Hmm?"
"…Just be careful on your next mission when your break is over."
She glanced at him, amused. "Since when do you say that?"
Qrow shrugged. "Since I get this bad feeling."
Summer smiled softly.
"Qrow," she said gently, "you always have a bad feeling."
"…Yeah," he muttered. "…but not like this."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Summer reached out with her free hand and lightly flicked his forehead.
"Hey."
Qrow blinked. "What was that for?"
"That," she said with a small grin, "was to remind you not to overthink everything."
Qrow huffed, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, yeah…"
But as they continued walking…
"Oh yeah! I also heard from Ozpin while I was on a call with him about the aftermath of the mission, while you were picking up Ruby, that our old school nurse from Beacon is finally retiring." Summer informed him.
Qrow blinked while raising an eyebrow.
"…Wait, seriously?" he asked, his tone shifting from casual to mildly surprised. "That old hag is actually retiring?"
"Qrow. That's rude. She had healed many of us when we were still in Beacon. But yeah, that's what Ozpin said. It's been a long time coming, apparently." Summer informed him and scolded him for the "old hag" comment.
Qrow let out a low whistle. "But still… never thought I'd see the day. That woman patched us up more times than I can count back at Beacon."
"Same here," Summer chuckled softly. "She deserves the rest."
Qrow tilted his head slightly.
"…Ozpin say anything else?" he asked.
Summer glanced at him. "Just that he is already looking for a replacement soon before the school year starts, but I wonder who they are going to hire this time, as finding a school nurse like that is going to be hard."
"Yeah… Beacon's not exactly easy to fill. Whoever they pick's gonna have their hands full." Qrow answered, knowing what Beacon is like...whoever is the new school nurse, good luck to them.
"Well, looks like our ride is here. Come on, Qrow, we can't be late!" Summer said out loud as she entered the bulkhead first with Ruby in her arms.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going." Qrow replied only to turn around to see Argus one last time and decided to thank Phai one last time in his mind as he decided to trust his instincts and keep an eye on Summer this entire time until his instincts tell him otherwise.
But what Qrow and Summer didn't know was that a new talk of the kingdom was going to be a new huntsman that villagers call the Flame Reaver, who is slaying Grimm and bandits, and the search for a new school nurse in Beacon Academy is going to be one of a kind, with a doctor who has candy for students to give out.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
One Month later...
The sound of wooden swords hitting each other could be heard throughout the dojo.
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
"Let's try this once more, then you guys can rest," Zack said with a smile, standing at the center of the training floor with a wooden sword resting loosely in his hand.
Circling around him, a group of teenage students from nearby villages and a few aspiring applicants to Haven Academy and Beacon Academy tightened their grips on their practice weapons. Sweat dripped from their brows, their muscles trembling from exhaustion, but none of them dared to slack off.
Not in front of him.
"Your stance comes first. Power comes after," Zack continued, his voice was calm, but there was also excitement. "If your stance collapses, everything else crumbles down."
A boy rushed forward first, swinging wide in an attempt to overpower him.
Zack didn't move much.
He shifted half a step.
The boys' strikes missed widely.
Only for a light tap from Zack's wooden blade landed on the boy's wrist just enough to knock the weapon out of his hand.
Clack.
It hit the floor.
"You were too slow and too open," Zack said, his eyes showing a hint of an apology.
"Y-Yes, sir!" The boy replied, rubbing his wrist while getting up and getting out of the way of the fight, as he was out.
Another student came from behind, trying to take advantage of the opening.
Zack's body reacted before his mind needed to.
As he parried and redirected the weapon out of his direction onto the wooden floor, he tapped her shoulder.
"Smart on taking advantage of my distraction, but too predictable," he added.
Within seconds, three more students tried together.
Only for it not to matter.
As Zack disarmed them like nothing in a few seconds.
Every movement was efficient. Every step was precise. There was no wasted effort and no hesitation. It wasn't flashy, but it conveyed overwhelming strength.
To the students watching, it felt like they were trying to fight someone who had already seen every move they would ever make.
Because, in a way…Zack had Phainon's 33,550,336 cycles of experience with a sword, so he knew exactly which basic moves these students would make and how to refine them to fit their style.
"Alright, that's all for today. I suggest getting some rest today and practicing your stance a bit more, but overall, you all did great, no doubt. Class dismissed!" As all the students started putting the wooden swords back in the rack in order and began leaving the dojo, Zack waved goodbye to them.
As the last of the students left the dojo, Zack finally let out a long breath.
The building, which had been filled with the sounds of training moments ago, gradually became quiet once more.
"...Good work today," he muttered to himself.
The past month had gone by much faster than he expected.
At first, he thought adapting to Remnant would be difficult.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Thanks to the history the System had implanted into the world, everyone already knew who Phainon was. His dojo had regular students, villagers greeted him on the streets, and even local Huntsmen occasionally stopped by to exchange stories or seek advice.
It still felt strange to him, as it still feels like this isn't real; it all felt like a dream.
After all, a month ago, he had been an ordinary student from Earth.
Now, he was apparently a respected sword instructor in Argus.
Life was strange, alright, but he didn't hate it, as it made things a bit easier.
Ding.
[Daily Quest Completed.]
[Train Students x20 For Today's Dojo Class]
[Disturbing Quest Rewards Now...]
[Character Card Fragments: Cipher +4]
[Character Card Fragments: Mydei +4]
[Character Card Fragments: Nayuta +4]
"At least these missions are keeping me inspired after all, I'm not complaining," Zack said as he stretched his arms above his head after a long day
His fragment totals had increased steadily throughout the month.
[Character Card Fragments]: Mydeimos 25/50 (Honkai Star Rail)
[Character Card Fragments]: Cipher 24/50 (Honkai Star Rail)
[Character Card Fragments]: Nayuta 22/50 (Nikke: Goddess of Victory)
Twenty students.
That was today's count, and if it were counting the whole week, it may be around almost 150 students, depending on certain days.
A month ago, he would've never imagined himself teaching people how to fight in another world, if anything, it was terrifying, but he was able to adapt and make it become a routine.
Which ended up becoming...
Waking up.
Make breakfast
Open the dojo and start training students.
Complete daily quests.
Take care of whichever village kid wandered into the dojo looking for snacks or advice.
Repeat.
"...Honestly, this is way less stressful than high school exams," Zack admitted.
Ding!
[Host has completed 31 consecutive days of Daily Quests.]
[Achievement Unlocked.]
[New World, New Routine]
[Reward Granted.]
[Character Card Selection Box x1]
"...A selection box? Wait, doesn't that mean I get to pick a new character card already!" Zack questioned as he could already choose the second character to appear in Remnant.
A small golden chest then formed and appeared before him.
Unlike the normal blue quest windows, this one looked much more valuable.
Zack immediately opened it as three character cards appeared, showing their names and universes.
[Character Card: The Doctor and Counselor at Startorch Academy]
Name: Luuk Herssen
Title: Head Physician and Attending Doctor
Origin: Wuthering Waves/ Solaris-3
Classification: Spectro Resonator
----------
[Character Card: The President and the Head of Startorch Academy]
Name: Lucilla
Title: The President
Origin: Wuthering Waves/ Solaris-3
Classification: Glacio Resonator/ Memory??
---------
[Character Card: Unknown construct a (Alpha)]
Name: Lucia
Title: Crimson Abyss
Origin: Punishing: Gray Raven
Classification: Construct / Ascendant-Level Combat Unit
----------
Zack stared at the floating cards.
One doctor.
One academy president.
And one walking apocalypse that has the Punishing Virus in her body like a walking nuke.
A white-haired girl wielding a crimson katana.
An existence that had cut through armies, corrupted machines, and monsters that could destroy entire cities.
One of Punishing Gray Raven's strongest warriors from a world that had already lost almost everything.
"...Yeah, that's definitely the dangerous option," Zack muttered.
Not because Alpha herself was dangerous...Well, she is, but...from everything he knew, Alpha was one of the most reliable people imaginable.
The problem was what came with her.
The Punishing Virus.
The virus that nearly wiped out humanity and corrupted machines that made humanity leave Earth and go to space, while sending constructs to Earth to reclaim it.
Even if the System adapted characters to Remnant's rules, Zack wasn't eager to gamble on introducing something connected to that...Maybe later, but he will not gamble the cause at this moment.
His gaze moved toward the other two cards.
Luuk Herssen.
Lucilla.
Both from Solaris-3.
Unlike Lucia, neither of them came attached to an extinction-level disaster.
"...Let's think about this rationally."
He crossed his arms.
If he chose Lucia, he would gain an absurdly powerful card.
Stronger than most Huntsmen alive.
Stronger than most of the future cast.
Strong enough to casually cut Grimm apart by the hundreds.
Which sounded amazing.
Until he remembered he currently lived in a world where two-year-old Ruby Rose still occasionally wandered into his dojo looking for cookies.
"...Yeah. Maybe introducing a walking sword saint right now isn't the smartest move."
His eyes shifted to Luuk.
A doctor.
A counselor.
Someone capable of helping people.
Someone who would fit naturally into Remnant.
Then his eyes shifted toward Lucilla.
President of Startorch Academy.
An educator.
A leader.
Someone who understood how to manage people.
"...This is harder than I thought. Choosing between these two is not easy." Zack muttered to himself.
Zack stared at the two cards for several more moments.
Then he began weighing the pros and cons.
"Luuk would help the most people."
"Lucilla would probably change the future in some ways."
He rubbed his forehead.
This was somehow harder than deciding who to pull for in a gacha banner.
At least with a gacha banner, bad decisions only hurt your Stellar Jade count.
Bad decisions here might alter the future of an entire kingdom.
"...Okay. Let's look at the current situation."
Vale was relatively peaceful.
Beacon still stands, and Summer is still alive, while Ruby is still two years old; Yang is also a kid, Salem is still hiding, and the fall of Beacon is still years away, which means he doesn't need strong combat power just yet.
What Remnant lacked wasn't another warrior.
It lacked support.
His eyes drifted toward Luuk's card.
A doctor.
A counselor.
Someone capable of treating both physical injuries and emotional wounds.
And then a thought suddenly appeared.
"...Wait," Zack said to himself as he quickly pulled his scroll from his pocket and opened a recent file he'd seen before.
"Beacon Academy is searching for a new school nurse!
Beacon Academy is seeking a school nurse for the upcoming school year, and the application period is now open. Please look at the description for all the necessary requirements to apply. Thank you, and join us in helping the next generation.
Apply Now!"
"...No way...I think I just found my answer after all, Luuk fits as the next character card to choose." Zack smiled as he found the perfect card that could carry the story further than before.
The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
A medical professional, an educator. Someone who worked with young people. Someone who could naturally integrate into Beacon's staff. Someone who would be present during countless future events.
Someone who could help Team RWBY and Team JNPR
Including getting intel from the inside and outside, as Luuk Herrsen could also gather intel from the enemy side, as he did with the Fractsidus.
[Character Card Selection Confirmed?]
[Luuk Herssen]
[YES / NO]
Zack didn't hesitate and clicked yes.
The card exploded into golden light.
The dojo trembled.
Countless golden particles surged into the air.
Memories.
Records.
Documents.
Histories.
An entirely new life was being written directly into Remnant's foundations, to follow the rules of the world.