Qrow sat down with me. “Well, what if I told you that magic was real?”

“Isn't that just our Aura and Semblances?” I snarked.

“Corey, be respectful.” Ruby stroking my arm.

“Fine.” I replied.

Qrow leaned back in his chair, his flask spinning lazily in his hand. “Smartass remarks aside, kid, I’m being serious. What if I told you there’s something out there stronger than Aura or Semblances? Something ancient, powerful, and very, very real.”

I arched an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “Alright, I’m listening. What’s stronger than Aura and Semblances?”

Ruby gave me a gentle nudge. “Be nice, Corey. This is important.”

“Fine, fine,” I said, glancing at Qrow. “Lay it on me.”

Qrow took a long sip from his flask, his crimson eyes narrowing. “The Four Maidens. Ever heard of them?”

I blinked, the name ringing faintly familiar. “Maidens? Like… fairy tales? You’re telling me they’re real?”

“They’re more than fairy tales,” Qrow said. “The Maidens are living embodiments of magic. Each one has a fraction of immense power—strength, elemental control, and abilities that make our Semblances look like parlor tricks. They’ve been around for generations, passing their powers to a successor when they die.”

Ruby nodded eagerly. “It’s true. We’ve seen it. Magic is real, Corey.”

I leaned back, trying to process it. “So… you’re telling me there are four people running around out there with god-like powers, and nobody knows about them?”

“Pretty much,” Qrow said with a shrug. “It’s not common knowledge for a reason. Imagine what people like the White Fang or Salem could do with that kind of power.”

The mention of Salem made my stomach tighten. “So, you’re saying she’s after them?”

Qrow’s expression darkened. “Salem’s been hunting them for centuries. If she gets her hands on all four powers, it’s game over for the rest of us.”

I sat quietly for a moment, my mind racing. “Okay, so magic is real, and there are Maidens out there with crazy powers. Got it. But... this reminds me of something.”

Ruby tilted her head, curious. “Of what?”

I smirked faintly, leaning forward. “Back in the day, there was this story I used to love about a guy who could use magic. He had these cool rings and would transform into a hero. His whole thing was about using magic to bring hope to people, to fight despair.”

Ruby’s eyes lit up. “That sounds awesome! What happened in the story?”

“Well,” I continued, “he fought these monsters called Phantoms—beings created from people who fell into despair. His goal wasn’t just to beat them, but to save the people they were born from. His motto was all about hope, pushing through impossible odds, and finding strength in the people around him.”

Ruby beamed. “That sounds exactly like you, Corey! Fighting to protect people and never giving up hope.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well, I’m no magical hero. I’m just trying to figure out who I am and where I stand in all of this.”

Qrow chuckled, his usual gruff demeanor softening slightly. “Kid, you’ve got the right idea. Hope’s a rare thing these days. Just don’t lose sight of it.”

I nodded slowly, Qrow’s words settling in my mind. The story of the Maidens, the idea of magic, and the importance of hope—it all felt like a puzzle piece falling into place. Maybe I wasn’t a wizard, but I could still be someone who fought for hope.

“Alright,” I said, standing up. “If there’s magic in this world, and people like Salem are after it, then I’m all in. Let’s protect it.”

Ruby smiled, her hand brushing mine briefly. “That’s the spirit, Corey. We’ll do it together.”

Qrow smirked. “Good answer, kid. Just remember—magic or not, it’s all about what you’re willing to fight for.”

I nodded, the resolve in my chest solidifying. Magic or no magic, I’d fight to protect the people who mattered. That was something I knew for sure.

_________________________________________________________

~A Day Later~

I was rewatching the video that Azu and Sumire left me. I was trying to cry during it. Auz’s words of “And you know what, Senpai? You’re stronger than you think. I saw it. When you didn’t back down, when you kept fighting even when it felt impossible, that’s who you are. Not the guy who loses control. You’re the one who finds a way to save everyone—even if you can’t see it in yourself right now. That’s why I believed in you. And that’s why I want you to keep going, no matter what!”

Ruby saw me in tears. “Is everything alright?”  I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

“I was watching the final words of Azu and Sumire. I miss them.” I took out my contacts and let my silver eyes be seen.

“You… have silver eyes?” Nora noticed them.

“Yeah?” I wiped my tears away. 

“You see, Silver Eyes aren't just a rare trait. Like I told Ruby, But there's one Oz told me from a very long time ago. Back before Huntsmen, before Kingdoms, it was said that those born with silver eyes were destined to lead the life of a warrior. You see, the creatures of Grimm, the most fearsome monsters mankind had ever encountered, were afraid of those silver-eyed warriors. They were the best of the best. It was said that even a single look from one of these fighters could strike Grimm down. Heh. It's a ridiculous story.” Qrow takes a swig from his flask.

“I'm not special.” I told them. “I was out for three months after my eyes shined back at Beacon when Pyrrha died. It did something to the Wyvern.”

“Well, you petrified it.” Ren explained.

Wait, did I kill Azu because she was in her Grimm form? Did my silver eyes kill her? Am I responsible?

The weight of Ren’s words hit me like a truck. My breath caught in my throat, and my chest tightened as a dark thought clawed its way to the surface.

Did I kill Azu because of my Silver Eyes?

I looked down at my hands, trembling slightly. My claws extended briefly, but I retracted them immediately. The memories of that day at Beacon flooded back—Pyrrha’s scream, the Wyvern’s roar, and the blinding light that erupted from my eyes.

“What’s wrong, Corey?” Ruby asked, her voice soft and full of concern.

I shook my head, barely able to form the words. “If… if my Silver Eyes petrified the Wyvern, then what about Azu? She turned into a Grimm, right? Did I—” My voice cracked, the weight of the possibility suffocating me. “Did I kill her because of them?”

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Jaune stepped forward, his expression pained. “Corey, you can’t blame yourself for what happened to Azu. The Wyvern was—”

“She was my teammate!” I snapped, standing abruptly. “I was supposed to protect her, Jaune! If my Silver Eyes—if I—took her life…” My words faltered, the grief in my chest threatening to spill over.

Qrow placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. “Kid, listen to me. The power of Silver Eyes is unpredictable, especially when you’re just awakening it. What happened at Beacon wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know what you were doing. Hell, I don’t think anyone fully understands how Silver Eyes work.”

“But I was there,” I said, my voice shaking. “I was the one who activated it. If my power hurt her, how can I live with that?”

Ruby stepped closer, her silver eyes glimmering with tears. “Corey, I know how you feel. When I first used my Silver Eyes, I didn’t know what I was doing either. It’s scary, and it feels like a burden. But… Azu believed in you, didn’t she? She saw who you really are. She wouldn’t want you to carry this guilt.”

I clenched my fists, the tears I’d been holding back finally spilling over. “How do you know? How can any of you know?”

Jaune’s voice broke through the tension, quiet but steady. “Because I know what it feels like to blame yourself for something that wasn’t your fault.”

I turned to him, his blue eyes meeting mine with an intensity that silenced the room.

“When Pyrrha died,” he continued, his voice thick with emotion, “I replayed it over and over in my head. What I could’ve done differently. What I should’ve done. But blaming myself didn’t bring her back. It didn’t help anyone. It just made it harder to keep going.” He took a deep breath. “You didn’t kill Azu, Corey. Salem and her monsters did. Don’t let her memory turn into something that tears you apart.”

Ruby nodded, her voice soft but unwavering. “Azu and Sumire believed in you. They trusted you. And you’re still here because of them. Don’t let what happened to them take away the person they saw in you.”

I collapsed back into my seat, burying my face in my hands. The pain in my chest didn’t fade, but their words cut through the fog of guilt, letting in the faintest sliver of light.

“I don’t know if I can forgive myself,” I admitted, my voice muffled.

“That’s okay,” Ruby said gently. “You don’t have to forgive yourself today. Just… don’t stop trying.”

Qrow took another swig from his flask, his expression unreadable. “You’re stronger than you think, kid. And you’ve got people here who’ll make sure you don’t forget that.”

I nodded weakly, wiping my face with the back of my hand. The path forward still felt impossibly hard, but I wasn’t walking it alone. Maybe that was enough for now.

I left. Sitting around and doing nothing won't get us anywhere. My hood was on, as the cold weather hit me. People were mumbling about something.

Then a familiar voice hit me. “Oh boo boo!”

“Josh?” I looked at him.

“Yeah, what are you doing here in my home Village?” Josh looked at me.

“I decided to go back on the road.” I looked at him. I made sure to keep my robotic arm under my sleeve.

“I remember you lost your arm when Beacon Fell?” He looked me up and down. “Did you get a Prosthetic one?”

He knew already? 

Josh crossed his arms, his flamboyant demeanor toned down slightly as he looked me over. Despite his usual air of lightheartedness, there was something sharp in his gaze, something that told me he saw through the walls I was trying to keep up.

“You’re a mess, Corey,” he said bluntly, cutting straight to the point.

I blinked, caught off guard. “Thanks for the observation,” I replied dryly.

He smirked, shaking his head. “Oh, don’t give me that attitude. I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice. You’re still carrying all of that weight, aren’t you? The guilt, the fear, the doubt. And let me guess, you think being on the road is going to fix it?”

I clenched my fists under my sleeves, trying to keep my robotic arm hidden. “What do you know about it?”

“More than you think,” he said, stepping closer. His voice softened, but his tone remained firm. “I know what it’s like to lose people. To feel like you’re responsible for it all. But let me tell you something, Corey—you can’t outrun that pain. It doesn’t matter how far you go.”

I looked away, the cold wind biting at my face. “So, what? I’m supposed to just sit around and let it crush me?”

Josh grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to look at him. “No, you face it. You let yourself feel it, but you don’t let it define you. You keep moving, but not because you’re trying to escape. You move forward because that’s what they’d want for you.”

His words hit harder than I expected, stirring something deep in my chest. “I’m trying,” I admitted, my voice barely audible.

“Trying isn’t enough,” he said, his expression softening slightly. “You’ve got to believe in yourself again. You’re stronger than you think, Corey. You’ve always been. I saw it back at Beacon, and I still see it now.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You sound just like Azu.”

Josh smiled faintly, his hand dropping from my shoulder. “Maybe because she was right. And if you can’t see it for yourself yet, then let the people around you remind you until you do.”

I stared at him, his words settling in my mind like a puzzle piece falling into place. “Why do you care so much?”

“Because I’ve been where you are,” he said simply. “And because you’re my friend, Corey. Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me.”

For the first time in what felt like ages, I felt a small, genuine smile tug at the corners of my mouth. “Thanks, Josh. I… I needed that.”

He grinned, his usual flamboyant energy returning. “Of course you did, darling. Now, let’s get you out of this cold before you freeze your tail off.”

I chuckled, pulling my hood tighter against the wind. As we walked toward the village, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. The road ahead was still uncertain, but maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as lost as I thought.

Josh and I walked into the safe house. Ruby hugged me tightly. “I thought you left for good again.”

Josh smirks, and he throws off his jacket to reveal a purple and blue combat suit. “Boo boo, looks like we got someone that missed you.”

I couldn't breathe as Ruby crushed me with her embrace. “Well, it's nice to have someone that you're close with.” Ruby let go of me and I lay on the floor. My face was completely blue.