Illithid Behind the Curtain: The Devil went down to Patch (Patreon)

I buried her on my island. Somewhere high, with a headstone formed from the stone with the words engraved, 'Here lies Amber. Loved by someone.' It was an act that let me calm down and not go bursting into a situation that would see me into yet another incident I'd regret, mere days later. Ozpin would have his due, but I'd be a poor partner if I denied Taiyang his pound of flesh and as I breathed out, I settled back and put my mind to work.

Fact. Ozpin had chosen someone to be his new Fall Maiden. Which left it a choice between Nora, Pyrrha, Weiss, Blake, Ruby and Yang. These are not only everyone connected to Beacon, but also those trained here in one class or another. I could dismiss Nora out of hand, Ozpin had an agenda in mind so choosing her would be counter to it.

Pyrrha was a definite suspect, she had power in spades. But there had also been a time limit involved, less so here. Weiss.... No, Ozpin would never allow Jaques to gain a foothold over the power in that fashion. Even on the periphery, such as it was. Blake was far too flighty and too much of a risk with her background and if she thought a bow was enough to hide her, I'd eat my own foot.

No. I knew already who he had chosen and was just distracting myself from it all. He'd never give Ruby that power, not with her silver eyes making it a case of all your eggs in one basket. But Yang? Yang the protector, Yang the big sister? My Yang?

Yes, she'd be quite the tempting choice between them all and I snarled, eyes glowing violet as rocks began to float around me before forcibly pushed down. Calm. I needed to be calm and then suddenly I turned to look at the skies.

I could sense a mind approaching, full of rage and fear and desperation. And then with a cry, a raven transformed into Raven Branwen, who immediately dropped to her knees and bowed.

I blinked.

"Please, save my daughter!"

I blinked again.

Wat.

===

It was the work of minutes to conjure up a Magnificent Mansion and as I sat across from Raven, I looked at her truly. From the show, she had always been something of a strangely written character. Someone terrified, someone violent, obsessed with strength but scared of anything that came her way. Real life wasn't like that and nowhere was that more evident than my experiences here in this world.

Taiyang the side character, Raven who sat across from me, with a subtly, desperate look as I spoke slowly.

"I'm going to need you to explain."

She took a deep breath, hand clutching her sword which had yet to release before she spoke.

"You know of the war between Ozpin and Salem?"

I nodded, once and she nodded back. "I thought so. The night we spoke, the power you displayed... It frightened me. Thinking of you in that position, able to do what you do. I hadn't felt that way since learning the truth about Salem and her immortality. I'm strong."

She said it as though it was a universal truth as she added. "I had to be, where I was raised. And because of that strength, I could keep those that belonged to me safe and secure. And then I learned of Salem and realized that strength meant nothing, that we were only ever pawns for immortals, who'd spend us and our children's children without another thought." Her fist clenched as she scowled.

"No one listened to me. Not Summer, not my own brother. Not even-."

She choked her words before scowling, as she spoke. "So, I left. And then you came around, began to change the game entirely."

"Why did you leave Yang?" I asked and she scowled as I added. "And be truthful. Because despite your words, I have no reason to look at you with any favor."

"Because of what my teammates said about me?" She said bitterly and I spoke quietly. "Because of your actions regarding Yang. She's mine now. Mine and Summers. I was there for her birthdays, I was there when she'd fall over, I read her stories and she is mine as much as she was once Summers too. You've forfeited all claim."

I expected all sorts of replies. I certainly didn't expect anger, nor for her to flare up as she spoke softly.

"How dare you. You bitch. You think I did it out of spite?! That I walked away with a laugh, free to do whatever I wanted? My tribe is strong and that strength has allowed us freedom from the cities and the Grimm. I was honed in that place, fighting till I could finally walk without fear. What makes you think I'd want that for any child of mine?!" She rose to her feet, her vitrol radiating on my psionic senses as she finally let loose what I think had been there, for the longest time without release.

"She would stay with her father. Be raised by Summer and her heroism, by her father and his... His.... Nature." She took a breath and slumped as she added quietly. "....And in a moment of weakness, when I went to fetch her I saw him. Barely alive, barely moving save for where the girls were involved. When I did, I... I thought him pathetic. And I left Yang alone, knowing he needed her too."

He would had too, in canon. With only Qrow around between his missions for Ozpin, no close neighbors and an isolated home, it'd be easy to know how shattered he'd have been after Summers death. In fact, it had taken Yang and Ruby nearly losing their lives to get him out of it, after Yang took her sister on a wagon and.... And....

That hadn't happened, had it?

Instead, the sisters found a tower and the wizard that was calling it home. And the rest was history.

I paused and a few moments later, I spoke. "I'm sorry. I'm also scared." Raven glanced at me and I gestured to the island. "All of this, everything I've made had been for the sole purpose of ensuring they don't have to fight. But they will, because they've been raised by heroes. On tales of team STQR and everything else. And I'm scared it won't be enough. All I can do, is ensure that they are as prepared as I can muster and be there if they are not."

We looked at each other, recognizing the irony as Raven let out a twisted smile.

"Should I be flattered or worried, that Taiyang seems to like women with baggage?"

I snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. I don't think I could ever like you, not fully now. Maybe in future, we'd be friends. But here and now, I think we have similar goals."

"Can you kill Salem?" She asked as she mirrored our last conversation and I nodded.

"Will you?"

I shook my head and Raven looked infuriated as I held up a hand to stop her tirade.

"Killing Salem will do nothing. A full subversion of her curse may only incite the worst case scenario, which would be the Brother Gods returning to blow up their creation. No, in order for the side effects to be cleansed, we must need deal with the underlying cause. Its not Salem that is our end goal. In order for Remnant to truly be free?"

My eyes glow violet again, as I extend a hand as Raven takes it, arcane power crackling as I seal a Pact in power and twisted psionic bindings.

"The Brothers must die."

=====

I watched my newest Warlock fly away, with a promise to keep in touch. I left some subjects out for now, all the better to use later when needed. Such as the fact she was the Spring Maiden which in turn, would enable me to grab the Relic from its hiding place. But if Ozpin was smart, he'd have some kind of alarm system on the vault... I don't know for sure.

All I could do was prepare, as I realized I missed my kids first fight, dealing with this and I prepared myself to leave before a voice spoke... A very familiar one to C'gorath's memories.

"Retirement has treated you well, dear Doctor."

I froze. My hands flicked out, ready to cast a spell or grab my weapon as I slowly turned to face the other. A smiling human, dressed in a black suit and shades, that I knew if removed would reveal burning eye sockets, full of malice and hatred.

"Dessiter." I all but hissed and the Contract Devil chuckled, inclining his head as he spoke.

"Let's talk, shall we?"