The group of nine had made it most of the way back to the clifftop once most of them had entirely finished laughing, though Memnol had been speaking with Weiss the entire time until now.
The effects of the adrenaline and humor having worn off, the group could get a closer look at Memnol and what he wore. At his side was a leather Handy Haversack, and his hands had a ring each, the left an intricately engraved platinum Ring of Adaptation, the right a Ring of Weaponbreaking appearing as a simple black iron band. Just beneath the literal silver lining of a black silk Robe of the Archmagi they could occasionally see flashes of a circular black Greater Amulet of the Planes with its gold chain, identical to a regular Amulet of the Planes save for its improved spell, which was resting against the red velvet and also literal gold of a Vest of the Archmagi. Beneath that was a long-sleeved grey silk shirt, though the sleeves were only visible when he raised his arms while speaking which revealed a pair of metal Bracers of Epic Armor. Below these were a leather Belt of Many Pockets, on his left hip was a Bag of Endless Caltrops, a belt loop to his right held a Spool of Endless Rope, and a normal pair of linen pants tucked into a pair of pale green Boots of Tracklessness. The man wearing all of this appeared pale with spindly-thin hands, his face was clean-shaven and free of any particularly distinguishing marks.
Of course, the other eight knew nothing of what these were or did, simply seeing them as fine clothes, jewelry, and other equipment. Ren was the only one to notice that Memnol left no footprints when he walked.
"... and is the leading dust supplier in Atlas," Weiss said, finishing a long spiel on the Schnee Dust Company.
"I believe I have a rough understanding now of your actual standing. You must admit however that I was close in all but terminology." Memnol said.
"Fine, I suppose I'll give you that," Weiss said, sighing, for a moment. "How could you tell, though?"
"A number of details fit, an entirely white and embroidered combat suitable dress with what appears to be velvet lining can't come cheap anywhere I'd imagine, there are hints of some sort of etiquette training based on your walk and posture, and rapiers have always been the preferred weapon of nobility, family heirlooms notwithstanding. That isn't mentioning you're one of only two others here who are wearing jewelry and even there the gems on yours are of a far better cut even at a glance." Memnol said.
"I mean, they seem pretty similar to me," Jaune said.
"If Ms. Nikos paid a price even faintly similar to what Ms. Schnee paid then she was scammed to a frankly incredulous degree. I know a quality gem when I see or cut one. One of my works, for instance-" Memnol said and took out from a belt pocket a single black gem around three inches across at its widest.
To call it merely black didn't do it justice however, as it appeared almost like a void even in the day. Even when Memnol held it directly in the sunlight for everyone to see, it was nearly impossible to see any cuts that weren't at the perspective edge of it. Memnol soon put it back away with care, smiling lightly. Moments after this, they had reached the clifftop and were met with Glynda and Ozpin.
"Why hello there young man, I don't remember sending you into the Emerald Forest. Do you by chance know who I am?" Ozpin said, looking at Memnol.
A moment passed, and after utilizing his Vatic Gaze on the two in order, Memnol smiled.
Memnol said, "No, though if I were to take a guess, you would be a very important person in the world, wouldn't you?"
Ozpin said, "I am Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy. I doubt you're aware of this, but you've accidentally wandered into our newest applicant's initiation-" Some mild worry had shown itself on Ruby's face, "and yet managed to pass."
The group now seemed confused aside from Nora, who appeared rather, well, Nora.
"Interesting," Memnol said, "Is there anything I've won having done that by mistake?"
Ozpin said, "Possibly. Tell me, would you like to attend my school, even briefly?"
Memnol thought, though not yet at his full prime since he was extremely disoriented and mentally finding his ground from the banishment, "What do I stand to gain, what do I stand to lose? Gain; I am being handed a decent cover story by a likely respected source with a pretty bow on top. I will be able to make and maintain amicable contact with another powerful caster, and the only other one I've met so far, presuming my Vatic Gaze is correct. Shame I can't quite perfectly place him as more or less powerful than me, either the Gaze has lost some efficacy or it's some aspect of his own defenses. As this is an academy I will end up being taught much of what I need to maintain a reasonable cover, as well as other knowledge about the world. As an academy I will likely be freely given some amount of knowledge overall, which is a large point in favor. As an academy it is likely a Lawful place, which is another immense point in its favor.
Lose; I will likely be under his employ for a while, extremely minor, I may even turn this into a plus by being the first one to propose it. What else is there? I have an odd feeling there might be something else, but I cannot tell right now. Regardless, the Gains outweigh the Loss many times over, and even then it isn't as though I'm incapable an authority above me like some sort of Chaotic simpleton."
Memnol said, "If I may."
Ozpin said, "Alright then, Glynda and I will inform you in more detail in my office after the ceremony and provide you with a scroll, unless you already have one. For now, simply look at the one Glynda's holding."
Memnol quickly figured out what Ozpin meant by scroll and looked at the device, curiosity steadily swelling inside him. "First these 'Guns', now this other advanced technology, I wonder how many new secrets there are to wake from sleep there are in this world."
----------------------------------------
"...Led by, Ruby Rose!" Ozpin said, announcing team RWBY on stage. Once they had left the stage Ozpin spoke again. "Memnol Elodyr." Memnol walked onto the stage and kept his hands behind his back the way the others had which ended up revealing the rest of what he wore beneath the cloak to everyone in the hall. There were a decent few sounds among the crowd at the sight of this, a few who thought the Schnee was the rich kid soon reconsidered what 'rich kid' could mean, and several swore deja-vu when they saw an almost-Jaune.
Ozpin said, "You collected no piece, yet showed great strength and potential. You will be on the general reserve."
At this, there was spattered and confused applause, though there was some heavier applause from the few who had done their research on the academy's less obvious policies.
Ozpin said to the room, "You are all dismissed to settle into your rooms, the numbers and locations of which have been sent to your scrolls. Dinner will be later today, at six."
As the students began dispersing and the newly formed teams RWBY and JNPR started talking with Memnol, Ozpin walked over.
"... What second attack? I thought the bird just died from having only half a face." Yang said.
"Not exactly, which is why I must correct you earlier than later, you see-" Memnol began before noticing Ozpin approaching, "Oh, pardon, I believe I'm needed elsewhere. I'll explain over dinner if that works."
Ozpin said, "Excuse me, we shouldn't need Memnol for long. We just need to make certain he's aware of what it means being on the reserve and some other things."
After a chorus of agreements and teams RWBY and JNPR heading to end up remodeling their rooms, Ozpin said, "Glynda, would you mind leading the way to my office?"
Glynda said, "Not at all. This way."
----------------------------------------
The gears of the room and tower around were -Tick. Tick.- ticking, just as they had been the day before when the three arrived into Ozpin's office by the elevator with Memnol just behind Goodwitch and in front of Ozpin. Goodwitch gave a nod to Ozpin and walked next to his chair in the office, which he soon took.
"Thank you for helping me guide our new reserve student here Glynda," Ozpin said, returning the nod, though his eyes hadn't left Memnol since he sat down.
Memnol sat down in a simple wooden chair set opposite to Ozpin's in front of his desk, one of an apparent set of chairs Ozpin kept by one side of his office, likely for meetings with teams or students such as this.
Once Memnol sat down he seemed to fidget nervously in the chair, a foot tapping, glancing at Goodwitch -Tick. Tick.- and Ozpin in turn before shrinking in on himself while looking to Ozpin, scratching the top of his head with three fingers -Tick. Tick.- then a cheek with two.
Ozpin's soft smile ever so slightly shifted towards a grin. He looked up as if in thought for a few moments -Tick. Tick.- before returning to eye contact with Memnol.
Memnol raised an eyebrow slightly, though it fell back down soon enough. He glanced outside through an open window near the edge of the office, before taking a deep breath in, sighing back out. He pulled his thumb and index across his face to the bridge of his nose, and scratched behind his earlobe with a finger, then looked down and towards the light coming in from the window.
Ozpin's smile would soften again as he took out his scroll and pushed a few buttons. A number of metal shades, which were gear-like to match the office's theme, began slowly closing the windows to Glynda's visible surprise. She knew about the blackout procedures since she had helped design them with Ozpin but she hadn't expected them to be used now of all times. Ozpin turned off the scroll, collapsed it, and put it into an otherwise empty drawer in his desk. He looked at Glynda and nodded, and she turned off her scroll as well and placed it in the drawer as well, which Ozpin closed. She drew her riding crop and held it in both hands to keep them busy, as she appeared to be growing a touch uncertain about the situation.
Once the last of the outside light had been blocked from the room, Memnol's fidgeting seemed to stop in a single instant. He slowly corrected his posture, leaning back and straight into the chair with his feet firmly planted in front, his hands slowly moved to his lap with the left below the right with his palms up, though only the right's on top was visible. His head lifted to reveal his once apprehensive expression was now a simple grin.
Glynda swore that for a few moments the air in the room flowed colder than normal and in the wrong direction. She visibly tensed and took a half-step backward, her eyes focused and her weapon now properly brandished in a battle stance, as a moment of fear had come over her, though she couldn't pinpoint at the moment why she felt as though she had looked into the eyes of an elder Grimm for the first time. She took a moment to catch herself and remember Memnol was just a student, not an enemy, and put her weapon back in her hands and stood normally during a period of silence, though the leather quietly groaned as her knuckles slowly lost their color.
After some short time, Memnol began speaking, his voice coming out in a smooth, constant rate with a pleasant baritone, "I admit that it is a grand and pleasant surprise to have crossed paths with you in nearly all regards, Headmaster Ozpin. Chance seems to have permitted me a break when it led me here, perhaps so that I might do the same with the bread you provide to my rather vibrant peers and me, hear the words your teachers are willing to speak, and warm the air beneath your roof. For the latter matters, I give my utmost appreciation to you of course. You have my gratitude for this assistance and knowledge, and so also my first debt in these lands, which by the same event that brought me here erased even the most personal of my previous arrangements, so therefore now my only debt."
Ozpin said, "Your sincerity is appreciated. Besides, the other school's headmasters would have never let me hear the end of it if I not only left a young man traveling without offering at least some direction but didn't even try to recruit one who showed the… Aptitude," Memnol's grin turned upwards at the edges, "You clearly did. That and the reserve system has been well established since Beacon's origins for the events of a single student being expelled, clerical error, simply walking off in that one instance, or other matters that are best not said so early in the school year. That and I personally think that it'd be a touch odd to turn away people who could have protected humanity because we used the same logic as early division."
"That being?" Memnol said.
"Ignore the remainder and move on to the next problem," Ozpin said.
Memnol and Ozpin shared a brief chuckle, which had the side effect of relaxing Glynda somewhat, the leather of her weapon no longer quite as tense, though still held close. Memnol said, "The concept of the alternative is amusing in its own right, however. I admit the benefits of putting in that touch of extra work are particularly visible on your campus, especially within the gardens I spotted in the distance on the walk over here."
Ozpin leaned in slightly, taking off the glasses he normally wore and tucking them over his scarf with the lenses facing out, just slightly to his left of the cross pin. Glynda simply noted internally that there was no possible physical angle to see the garden from the courtyard, except for from there in Ozpin's office.
Memnol continued, "The attention to detail in that regard has given you a number of already clear blooms, though the beds seem to hold primarily growing buds as is normal. Naturally, there are some that are at various degrees of wilting. Yet the second most prevalent sorrow must be those ones at risk of parasites. Pardon my asking while I already owe you, but do you do the gardening yourself?"
"I trust the gardeners to manage that, though I am somewhat involved in what seeds are planted and where. However, 'second most prevalent' you say?" Ozpin said.
"Yes, I believe it must be worse when some students do end up accidentally destroying the early blossoms, or when some do so intentionally for whatever nonsensical reasons they may have. By chance do you have a groundskeeper to deter that kind of student, keep them from entering the garden, or remove them if needed? I'd imagine that may be rather helpful." Memnol said.
"At the moment, no, we do not have a dedicated groundskeeper. If I were to find someone who could do that it would be nice. Given what they'd actually be doing they may not even need to know how to garden, just how to inform the staff that does." Ozpin said.
"Yes, I must say that it is among one of the best I have visited, though I'm not much of one for gardens myself. I always preferred to just pay for a flower at the end of the process and leave the rest to those who are better at it than I, even if it means leaving some wealth behind too. Personally I most enjoy the cliff-edge beaches with clusters of great rocks and spires, just enough land to rest on with the sound of the tide hiding how far down the water goes." Memnol said.
Ozpin put his glasses back on as he said, "I can personally see how one might enjoy that, though if I were to vacation anywhere I would rather like a change of scenery, so I think I'd visit plains of some sort."
Memnol laughed again as he said, "Alright then, to an extent I deserved that jab. I suppose I ought to leave us to move on."
"Yes. I called you here for a number of reasons, though you have resolved some already." Ozpin said, leaning back into his chair as his normal expression returned, "The most pressing thing that's left is how to proceed from here in regards to your displays of what seemed to be magic. Now, of course, everybody knows that magic isn't real, so I'm hoping to clarify what you actually did."
"That is perfectly reasonable, though I'm afraid some of my own reason has left me and I cannot quite remember all of the details. Perhaps if we spoke on the powers of others then it may come back to memory. For instance, would Ms. Schnee's use of glyphs?" Memnol said.
"The glyphs she uses are her Semblance, the unique way her soul affects herself and the world around her, though glyphs seem to be notably hereditary among the Schnee family, which isn't uncommon. This is aside from Aura of course, which allows a person's soul to shield their body for a time and other soul-based abilities. The flames were also just a product of Dust, a common material with various elemental properties sold almost anywhere." Ozpin said.
"Could I have a refresher on these soul-based abilities? I hope I may recognize one, as I think I may have learned something close to that from my home village." Memnol said.
"There is the ability to channel Aura through your weapons and ammunition, or other equipment to enhance them that many students know, as well as the ability to sense danger or other presences beyond what your normal senses would allow which some students know, and the ability to unlock the aura of others. Through use, however, one's Aura will eventually dry up and may take some time to recover much how a physical wound takes different times to recover. Then once the Aura is gradually lost through combat and use, the abilities and Semblance go with it." Ozpin said.
Memnol said, "I believe I remember now how to explain this. Tell me, since I'm certain you already know of this to some degree, are there any flaws in this explanation? To begin…"
A short while and one aura unlocking later Memnol and Ozpin sat back down when Ozpin said, "Yes, I've heard of that before when I was younger, and that's believably accurate. Now looking at the time dinner's already started, so I will keep the details of being a reserve student brief. As a reserve student, you will have the unique challenge of finding your own lodging each night, whether you manage this through other teams or as an individual is also a challenge for you to figure out. You may also be swapped in and out of other team's compositions during any assignment or activity, including sparring, even teams you may never have worked with before. These challenges are deliberate so that a reserve student can work to fit into any team where needed, as well as become a well-rounded solo Hunter later in life. That reminds me, you may not know what a Hunter is. A Hunter or Huntress is someone who fights against Grimm, monsters like the Nevermore you fought, in order to protect humanity. Finally, this is somewhat unique to you, I am informing my colleagues that these can be teams of any year and that they may request you as reinforcement for any mission at nearly any time."
Ozpin stopped to catch his breath and said, "Right, that should be all you need to know, for now, everything else you can ask your peers about or will receive through your scroll when the time comes." Ozpin reaches into another drawer in his desk and handed a scroll to Memnol, saying "Here is your scroll, by the way. The default password is just the number One. You are dismissed."
Memnol placed the collapsed scroll into a pocket on his belt and bowed before leaving the room for the cafeteria.
After he left Glynda breathed out and said, "I think I understand now why we escorted him here so cautiously. You saw that too, right? A silver aura with so many... black spots."
Ozpin said, a grave expression on his face, "I felt them when I unlocked his aura, Glynda, they were more than just spots. They were deep, deep stains and scars, nearly to the core of his soul by the feel. I am only glad now that we reached him before She did. Glynda, please take the rest of the day off, Headmaster's orders. I'll send out the memo myself and be up here until further notice."
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Glynda hesitated before slowly walking to the elevator, the last thing she saw before its doors closed was Ozpin looking deep into his mug.
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After a short walk, Memnol arrived and got a tray and some food, copying what the few others who were left were doing. Looking over the cafeteria he soon saw Ruby waving his direction, just over the heads of a dark-skinned man with red hair and a woman with rabbit ears from his perspective, gesturing to a spot between her and Nora in the center of the two teams who were sitting at the same table.
Walking over Memnol set his tray down as Ruby and Nora moved over slightly.
Memnol sat down and soon Yang said, "So, you were gonna explain the whole two hits thing?"
Memnol said, "Yes, I said I would, didn't I? Well, this will make the most sense if I start from the beginning and say that the way you," he gestured around the table, "And I use our souls is extremely different."
Jaune said, "You mean Aura?"
Memnol said, "Sort of, but more than that. What my home village taught me is based on similar concepts to your Aura use with heavily diverging practice. Whereas your system all pulls upon the same generalized pool, I was taught a far more discrete method. I was taught how to… budget my soul and its energies in discrete parts would be a simple way to describe it."
"That seems interesting, but why learn to do that?" Ren asked.
"This way I could learn how to use these already portioned slots of energy to create various dust and semblance-like effects, which we call 'Pieces'," Memnol said. "Yes, Pieces. Certainly no Spells here." Memnol thought, unworried by the possibility of thought readers. Last time anything tried that the Balor was stuck clutching their head until it came off.
"Ooh! Like a painting!" Nora said.
Ren seemed ready to speak again, but before he could Memnol said, "Yes! Almost exactly, as us practitioners call this method of soul use 'The Art'. We do it by focusing these soul slots through specific movements, sounds, and sometimes materials that we call components, though that isn't enough on its own, as it also requires that I have a deep and unique mental understanding of each individual Piece as well."
"So those gestures you made before shooting the Nevermore were the 'Components' to that 'Piece'? Sorry if that's a dumb question." Pyrrha said.
"Yes and yes, although the specifics of the components can vary wildly from person to person, except for the material ones. The Art is very complicated even with me trying to simplify it." Memnol said.
"You mean this is just the basics?" Weiss said.
"Surface level." Memnol said, "Now much like your use of the soul these capabilities improve as I do, allowing me to be more effective even with the same portions as before, as well as split off new and larger portions of the soul for increasingly more potent effects. This also lets me use these abilities even when my Aura is entirely gone, as the split is a complete division. Luckily this hasn't appeared to stop semblances from manifesting, though mine hasn't yet."
"Then how has this only stayed within your village, all that just for a little extra work sounds great," Yang said.
"Well even within the village, barely anyone knew how to do this. I believe I was around the fourth or so active after I had begun learning." Memnol said.
"What? Were they all stupid? Why wouldn't they try this 'art'?" Weiss said
"Well, in a relative sense they were when compared to those who knew The Art. It's not just 'a little extra work' as Ms. Xiao Long put it, it's- well, hmm." Memnol turned to face Ruby, "Ms. Rose, pardon me asking the worst possible question, but how old are you? You seem a touch younger than your peers."
"Wha-" Ruby jumped slightly since she had been listening closely, "I'm fifteen, and you still owe me for asking. Also, you don't need to be so formal all the time, we're friends!"
"Friends?" Memnol said, a look of slight confusion leaked on his face as he turned back towards the group as a whole. "Did I do something for her without intending it? I know I haven't started enchanting yet. Odd. Note to self: Figure out later." Memnol thought.
Memnol said, "Anyhow, It's just for a reference point, thank you, Ruby. Now for someone roughly akin to Ruby working alone, it may take them anywhere from 6 years of almost constant research, calculation, theorization, and practice for those who are lucky to use one of their pieces at a rate of once per day, to simply never being able to do even that before their death."
At this, Yang's fork paused halfway up before she said, "Woah, so like Beacon for six straight years?" She muttered slightly, "I mean, for a power like that, or two like you say, even once a day that's not too bad. I'd say it's Disinte-Great!"
Ruby groaned at Yang's pun, while Memnol formed a smile after she said that oozed elitism as he said, "Well, from the schedule I've been given and understand so far, Beacon teaches for around 8 hours or so each day once you remove time to eat and allows weekends off. This Ruby-like person, however, would be taking about 8 hours of rest, about 1 hour throughout the day for eating and other necessities, with the remaining 15 or so purely on the previously mentioned research and practice. Every single day. That might get them to the point of being able to, once a day, create a cone of very mildly harmful fire or make a small disk that can hold 100 pounds or so for an hour that slowly follows them around."
Yang said, "What?! 6 Years of nonstop dedication to do less than what a handful of fire dust can do? Forget what I said earlier, regular Aura is fine by me."
Weiss added, "I have to agree. If I didn't know it could somehow lead to nearly downing a Nevermore in one shot I'd call it pointless."
Blake asked, "Wait, if it takes 6 years to learn that little, then how did you manage that at your age?"
Memnol's face returned to neutral as he said, "That time is if you're alone with a grasp of the concept around equal to what I've told you now. I'm able to do all this because my father took me as an apprentice and due to an experiment just after my birth, my father's work as well."
Weiss gave him a look he didn't notice and said softly, "Your dad experimented on you?"
"Yes," Memnol said, "He had pushed the boundaries of The Art and managed to Awaken a humanoid, that being myself, and at only two days old no less. Even now I'm more than a touch impressed given the limitations he had worked with."
Jaune said, "So, he woke you up when you were sleeping as a baby? And that gave you a death ray?"
"No, it is a Disintegration ray and Awaken is the name of a piece used by certain practitioners of The Art that instantly gives a beast or plant humanoid intelligence ranging from moron to genius as well as the ability to speak with knowledge of some of the practitioner's languages."
Weiss said, so quietly that it might've been missed had the rest of the table not also gone silent, "You mean, your father…"
Memnol said, "Yes, he had not only reworked the Piece to affect me and had managed to maximize its effects, meaning that at two days old I had enough intelligence to rival a scholar and knew four languages. It was quite impressive of him given his normal limitations."
At this, it felt like the rest of the cafeteria's sounds were distant to the teams, as well as the two unintentional eavesdroppers from team CFVY.
Memnol shrugged and went on as though nothing of note was said, "Anyways, The mortality rate also scared off a good number of people and killed off the others."
Blake blinked out of her stupor as did the others and said, "Mortality rate?"
Memnol continued on, no sign of interest on his face, "Yes, there are very heavy trade-offs to our power. With our division of our souls, our Aura amounts are small compared to what they could have been and utterly pitiful against the normal use of Aura, making us naturally fragile on top of physical atrophy from constant research. That and many of us tend to early on accidentally, or deliberately later on like myself, rip pieces off of our souls-"
Both teams and the nearby eavesdroppers heavily recoiled in horror, though Memnol didn't so much as pause,
"-to use certain abilities that require the extra purity of energy or make equipment with similar effects to a Piece, such as these." Memnol gestured to his attire, "Though that process does set back our growth, it allows our incredible capabilities and use of powerful Pieces. This rationing of the soul also makes regular and proper rest even more important for us as we need to spend some time at the beginning of each day deciding what Piece goes to each portion of energy, while it's fresh and malleable, then mentally 'budgeting' this force yet again by going over the notation we've created for these."
"So you need to always have a notebook on you?" Nora said.
"Yes, as it is wholly necessary for me to go over the notation for a piece, even if I use it daily," Memnol said.
"Oh by the brothers, you really do have to study every day no matter what," Yang said, partially in disbelief.
"Yes, In order to use the Disintegration Piece, I must mentally reapportion the information in my notation for it in the morning and I must do this multiple times for one Piece if I intend to use it multiple times in that day. As such, I will admit that this book," Memnol took out from his bag a 1 foot by 8-inch leather-bound book, with iron and silver overlays by its edges and the only marking being an Arcane Mark* on the spine, "Is my single most important possession. As such, do not attempt to damage or alter it in any way. Even if you somehow got past the lock the pages within are heavily trapped. Quite honestly I'm rather miffed that I only have this one, as it's not even the full essentials so far as I consider it."
Memnol sat down, put the book away and began quietly eating.
After some time Ruby asked, "That image on the spine, was that your Emblem?"
Memnol said, "Emblem? As in some form of symbol representing oneself or a cause?"
Ruby said, "Yeah! This one's mine," Ruby pointed to her emblem on her belt while smiling proudly, "Was it?"
Memnol said, "It's called a Practitioner's Mark back in the village, made by the Piece of the same name, but yes, I suppose that would be mine."
Spoiler: Memnol's Arcane Mark
https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FpfxWD4c.png [https://i.imgur.com/pfxWD4c.png]
Ren said, "Right, you said you used two Pieces. One of them was Disintegration, but what's the other one?"
Memnol said, "Oh, yes, the original question. The second Piece was Finger of Death."
Blake said, "That sounds… Lethal."
Memnol said, "It is."
After a few moments of silence, Memnol said, "Well, I don't plan to impose on you any further than I have already for now. Good evening to you all."
Memnol got up and walked off, passing by the counters again before leaving the dining hall.
Unknown to the group he was speaking to externally, he was at the same time speaking to his Ice Assassins of Himself through the Permanent Interplanar Telepathic Bond he had with them.
Now, was this immensely expensive to set up? Yes, extremely so. However, it was also near essential when one frequently traveled across planes and needed to be kept up to date on all missions. Even if it cost him more than the time he went on a five wish spree.
Some of the particularly well-read amongst you may have wondered, 'Wait, isn't it a bad idea to make an Ice Assassin of yourself given that it has a constant desire to kill the original and can only be directly controlled when within a mile? To answer this, yes, it is a very bad idea to do that, particularly if you are a trapmaking, glyph setting, geometer assassin. Memnol learned that the hard way with the first Ice Assassin he ever made and let go beyond 1 mile, which nearly killed him thirty-four different times with Glyphs, Traps, and other proxy assassins while hiding itself from the spells and other divination effects. Not to mention that since it knew where he kept his backup book stashes, it took them first and used them against Memnol. That first Assassin was the reason Memnol kept Discern Location in every single spellbook he owned afterward.
This risk is negated however when one 'simply' goes through the process of turning a new Ice Assassin into a Thrall. Also a very expensive project, but highly worth it. Then a hop, skip, and two Epic Spells later and you've got the perfect assassins; Invisible, Incorporeal, Obedient to the death, can act as your eyes and ears anywhere, assist in Epic Spellcasting, and appear close enough like the original that they can serve as convincing stand-ins should the earlier Epic Spells be dismissed.
These 10 Assassins were all given the same set of equipment; a +2 Ethereal Reaver Shortsword and Sap, a Type 1 Bag of Holding, a featureless spellbook, an Everlasting Rations bag, a Decanter of Endless Water, and a Crystal Mask of Dread to hide their identity, so when someone could see the invisible nothing got pinned on Memnol since they kept their hair cut extremely close with their blades as well.
He ordered them to split into three groups, one 4 Assassin group to explore and map the school, after "acquiring" writing tools. Another group of 4 was assigned to check the school's surroundings for any sign of civilization, then to also "acquire" mapping tools and do the same. Finally, the last two were to serve as bodyguards and copy one of their spellbooks into his, which one had just hovered off somewhere to do once given Memnol's after he left the hallway. As it turns out two wizards can, by deliberate coordination or one being a near-perfect copy of the other, share the same spell notation, making spell transferral extremely fast especially into a Blessed Book. Neat, huh?
Memnol still had more pressing concerns, namely, finding a room for the night. Normally he would just shift into his demiplane, but that wasn't exactly an option anymore. As much as he loathed it, he would have to ask for lodging. Though first he wanted something to bargain with and would be able to feel out the local Weave in one swoop by casting an Epic Spell.
He took from a pouch one of a dozen napkins he had taken on the way out, and soon cast the spell he named Perfected Polymorph, and after some seconds of gibberish and handwaving, he now held a thin sheet of pure Adamantine. Another cast of the three he had prepared that day turned it to gold instead, a more easily valued metal to the common man so far as Memnol saw it. That and Memnol realized that, unless it was present in this world as well, he could be the only source of Adamantine or other such materials.
"Very useful, I suppose." Memnol thought. "Though that does confirm that the Weave here is, freer, I suppose. Fewer restrictions, maybe less divine involvement? Hopefully. I need a proper laboratory again for a proper conclusion beyond simply feeling it out. I also need to do this while under True Seeing for a better understanding until I can set up properly."
Memnol went to the dining hall doors, just as the two teams were leaving.
Memnol walked up to them and said, "Well, I realize that I might have to go back on what I said earlier, my apologies. Would either of your teams be willing to let me stay in your room, for the time being? I'm willing to bargain if you'd like anything."
Before anyone else could say anything, Ruby rushed forward with her semblance and said, "Canipleaseseeyourweaponifyouhaveone?"
Memnol said, "Pardon me, could you repeat that?"
Yang laughed while stepping up and said, "Ruby's a bit of a weapons nut, wants to see yours if you have one. Do ya?"
Memnol said, "Yes, and I suppose I can let Ruby handle it briefly if you'll let me stay in your team's dorm. Do we have a deal?" He extended his hand to Ruby.
Ruby nodded vigorously and said, "Deal!", shaking his hand.
Memnol reached into his right sleeve and tapped the faint spot on his arm left by Absorb Weapon causing his dagger to appear in his left hand. To the others, he just appeared to pull it from his sleeve. He paused however and took out a few of his hidden napkins, using them to carefully wipe off something from the dagger, then placed it into Ruby's open hands.
Ruby openly marveled at the dagger, it was slightly curved and so utterly sharp that she could feel her aura blocking the occasional cut that would've happened simply from handling it so brazenly. The hilt was made of some sort of hide and provided a near-perfect grip. The metal itself was a solid, polished steel color, though it clearly wasn't steel by the apparent density alone.
Ruby asked in a flurry, "Does it transform into anything? Does it have a name? Is it steel? What can it do? Why'd you wipe it off?"
Memnol, to his credit, managed to decipher on his own this time and said, "No, this doesn't transform, It's called an Assassin's Dagger,-" Blake narrowed her eyes without realizing it, "It can kill a variety of creatures, and that was because it was coated in Terinav Root. Before anyone asks, Terinav Root is a potent contact poison that typically leaves victims incapable of any form of movement whatsoever for at least a full day."
Ruby said, "Thanks! We were on our way to our room now, come on."
Ruby made to start walking when Yang grabbed her shoulder, hard, and said, "Blake, Weiss, could you guys show ol' Memny to the room? I need to talk to Rubes, family stuff."
After the two agreed and the other team walked with them, soon discovering they were just across from the hall from the other, Yang pulled Ruby aside and was now firmly gripping her shoulders and looking her dead in the eyes.
Ruby didn't like how serious Yang was and asked, "Yang, what's wro-"
"Ruby!" Yang whispered urgently, "Do you have any idea about the implications of the guy you've invited to our room?"
"Uhh, He's pretty tough?" Ruby guessed.
"Ruby, Grimm aren't affected by poison. You know what that means, right?" Yang said.
"Not really," Ruby said.
"That means he's poisoned people, Ruby! He's an Assassin! A murderer! Who else would have an Assassin's dagger and poison it! I've never heard of a good guy using poison Ruby!" Yang whisper-shouted, her eyes turning red for a second.
"Ex-Assassin!" Ruby said back, her voice firm, "Alright, I'll admit that he maybe, probably, okay definitely was once, but he isn't now! I don't think so anyway. I think he's trying to do something good with what he knows. That and, maybe it's just habit to poison his weapons? Just, give him a chance, okay?"
Yang sighed and said, "Alright, fine. But if he tries anything at all," Yang let go of Ruby and punched a fist into her palm, "Okay?"
Ruby lightened up and said, "Fine, let's catch up. I hope he can actually appreciate the bunk beds."
Yang laughed and said, "I never thought you'd like the 'I'm a cold professional' type. 'Specially since he talks like one of those old books we had to read at Signal."
Ruby turned red and said, "I don't like him like that! I just think he should get a chance like the rest of us."
Yang ignored her and started in a sing-song voice, "Ruby's got a cru-ush, Ruby's got a cru-ush."
Ruby simply got redder and hid her face in her cloak as much as she could.
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Once they got back, they found Memnol standing outside of the room. As they approached Memnol he said, "Ah, the other two asked that I wait outside while they changed. Go ahead, I can wait just fine for you as well."
The two went in and after some time Ruby popped through the door and ushered in Memnol.
Memnol stopped in the tracks he didn't leave when he saw the beds and state of the room.
Memnol said, "Thank you for letting me in. If nobody minds I'll sleep right there." He pointed to a spot to the right of the door, which as Blake noticed internally, would let him see the rest of them and the window while hiding him from the doorway's view if it wasn't open all the way since the door itself would hide him.
Without waiting Memnol walked over to the spot, began to take off his robe, and said, "That and if no one minds I'll leave my vest on the desk chair for the night with the rest on the desk."
Memnol had just removed his rings and amulet and was starting on the vest when Weiss said, "Wait, do you intend to-"
"Absolutely not." Memnol cut her off, "I will be sleeping in my robe and pants, as I lack any more appropriate nightwear." Or rather, it was somewhere in a demiplane in his homeworld, waiting for some astral traveler to loot it.
Yang leaned over and whispered to Ruby, "Okay, I guess you might've got us a good view tonight, nice one Ruby."
Ruby just turned red again and while she almost turned redder when Memnol had removed his shirt, she and the rest of the room couldn't at the sight.
He was just as pale around his torso with a body that could be described as 'lean but without the muscle'. At least that's what could be seen beneath the variety board of old wounds on display. An ugly scar here, some evidence of past bruising elsewhere, a puncture mark there; claw rakes, bites, burn marks, and more Team RWBY couldn't place nearly concealed him. Noteworthy among these marks that climbed throughout his body were a pair of long scars, one running parallel to each shoulder blade whose bottoms they started at, ending just before they'd climb over the shoulders. The only reason they could be picked out so easily is that they appeared to be the most recent.
Memnol soon put his robe back on while RWBY took the chance of his distraction to give each other a look that conveyed the same message, "Don't bring it up,". In the middle of putting the robe on Memnol stopped and his face took on a look of immense surprise.
After finishing he walked over to the room's window and opened it, then he leaned out of it and reached down. Memnol leaned back into the room now holding his Spellbook, which the Ice Assassin hovering just below the window handed him, and tucked it into the Haversack he put on the desk.
Yang blinked twice before asking, "Wait-what-when, how did you just put away a book that was already in that bag?"
Memnol yawned as he sat down and leaned against the wall where he chose to sleep, before putting his hands in the air and saying, "The Art," As though that explained anything.
Weiss groaned and said, "Why do I feel like that's the best answer we'll ever get from you."
Memnol said, his eyes now closed, "Probably because it likely is."
In a few moments, his head slumped slightly forward as he slept and the rest of the team soon went to bed too. The last one up was Blake who was reading in the dark just fine due to her heritage before she bookmarked her page, gave one more look at Memnol, and finally fell asleep.
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Today's Skill: Intimidate Memnol: +50 (+3 Ability Mod, +42 Ranks, +3 Misc) Glynda Goodwitch: Predicted +5 to +15
Epic Spell:
PERFECTED POLYMORPH
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC: 66
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: 300 ft
Effect: One creature or inanimate, nonmagical object is permanently transformed into another creature or inanimate nonmagical object.
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Fortitude Negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 594,000 GP; 12 Days; 23,760 XP
Seeds: Transform (DC 21).
Factors: Transform a nonmagical, inanimate object into a creature of type or transform a creature into a nonmagical, inanimate object (+10), change a creature of one type into another type (+5), up to 20 Hardness (+10), 1-Action casting time (+20)
The epic evolution and improvement of Polymorph Any Object, this spell can effectively duplicate that spell, any spell it can duplicate, and numerous other transmutation effects such as ‘Transmute Rock to Lava”.
Memnol often uses this to make his enemies useful as adamantine or other materials, or to turn a nearby small or larger object into a servant for some time.