The morning light seeped weakly through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. No one in the group had slept well. The previous night's events replayed endlessly in their minds—Crimson's monstrous form, his complex emotions, and the revelations that had co to light.
By afternoon, they gathered in the living room, subdued and silent, listening to the news report on the attack at Haven Academy. The news anchor's voice was grave as she detailed the destruction inflicted upon the school and the tragic loss of its headmaster. Officially, it was said that the headmaster had died heroically defending the academy, but the group knew the truth. He had been a traitor, and his death was at the hands of Crimson.
The report continued, outlining the extent of the damage. Haven Academy had been severely ravaged, but the attackers were defeated. Among the fallen were the White Fang's high leader, Sienna Khan, and Adam Taurus, the infamous swordsman whose na inspired fear throughout Remnant. The Branwen tribe, which had allied with the White Fang, was obliterated. Tyrian Callows, the deranged serial killer, was confird dead as well.
Despite the grim news, there was no ntion of Crimson or the horrors he had unleashed the previous night. The destruction he wrought was more terrifying than any Grimm could ever be. For the sake of the world's fragile stability, his role remained hidden—a nightmare best kept in the shadows.
As the report ended, Qrow descended the stairs. His voice broke the tense silence. "She's awake," he said.
Yang imdiately rose to her feet, and Ruby followed without hesitation. The others tactfully stayed seated, understanding the need for a family conversation.
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In the dimly lit bedroom, Raven Branwen lay in bed, her body wrapped in bandages. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with the deep red of her eyes, which now held an unfamiliar vulnerability. As Qrow, Yang, and Ruby entered, her gaze shifted to them, a flicker of gratitude passing over her face.
"Thank you... for saving ," Raven spoke weakly, her voice strained. She paused, her lips trembling as she searched for words. "That... monster... he—"
Qrow crossed his arms, his expression grim. "Be careful how you talk about him. Call him Crimson."
Raven shivered slightly, recalling the nightmare, and she nodded fearfully, her fragile deanor uncharacteristic of the formidable warrior they once knew.
Yang stepped closer, her expression a mix of sadness and anger. "You shouldn't have joined Salem," she said, her voice tinged with disappointnt.
Raven sighed heavily, her gaze lowering. "I know…"
Raven sighed heavily, her gaze lowering. "I wanted to survive... I wanted my tribe to survive. I felt like I didn't have a choice. If I refused Salem, she would have killed and wiped out everyone in my tribe. She's relentless." Her voice faltered as a pained expression crossed her face.
"I made it worse," she admitted, her tone filled with regret. "I hastened their end. I led them straight to him, not knowing what he truly was capable of." She paused, taking a trembling breath. "I believed Ozpin and his followers were dood, that they'd be wiped out entirely. I thought it would all end there."
Her eyes flickered with a trace of vulnerability as she continued, "But if, through all of it, I could at least save you, Yang... I thought it would be worth it."
Yang's fists clenched. "Why do you suddenly care? You left . You abandoned all of us. Don't pretend you're so selfless savior now."
Raven's expression grew heavier with guilt, her voice softening. "That life... it wasn't for . I was torn, afraid, and convinced I couldn't be a good mother. But after Sumr died..." She hesitated, her gaze dropping. "I watched over you, Yang. Always. In my bird form, I stayed close, keeping an eye on you from a distance."
Yang's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "Do you really expect to believe that?"
Raven sighed, leaning back against the pillows. "If you don't believe , ask.... Crimson."
Yang blinked in surprise, glancing at Ruby and Qrow, who looked equally taken aback.
Raven continued, her voice trembling slightly. "He always knew. Even as a child, he could sense . No matter how far I stayed, no matter how many birds or animals were around , he'd look directly at as if daring to approach. He was... aware of everything around him. He felt like a predator, always prepared to strike. It spooked ."
She paused, her eyes darkening with a mix of fear and regret. "As he grew older, that instinct of mine—my sense of danger—it scread louder and louder. I knew if I got too close, he'd see as a threat. Eventually, I stopped coming near your house altogether. And then... I noticed sothing else."
Raven's lips curved into a weak, humorless smile. "The Grimm stopped appearing near your ho. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but it wasn't. Crimson... he was eliminating them. Anything he saw as dangerous never lasted long. Your house wasn't just a ho; it was a death zone, and he was the beast lying in wait."
She let out a bitter laugh, wincing from the pain it caused. "My instincts were right. If I had kept stalking you, I might have been one of the threats he eliminated years ago."
Ruby swallowed hard before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… how? How could he do that for years without us ever noticing?"
Qrow exhaled slowly, his gaze distant yet thoughtful. "With his skill, strength, and speed... it's not impossible. If he made up his mind to do sothing, especially sothing like this, he'd find a way. We never noticed because he didn't want us to."
Silence fell over them as the weight of that truth settled in. Crimson's silent vigilance, his relentless protection, and Raven's hidden presence—all of it painted a picture they hadn't fully grasped until now.
It was a revelation that perfectly aligned with everything they had learned the night before, and it left them grappling with an even deeper understanding of the brother who had shielded them from the shadows.
"Last night was the first ti I ignored my instincts," Raven continued weakly, her voice trembling. "When he hesitated mid-battle, and we managed to take him down... I felt an inexplicable fear. It didn't take long to realize the nightmare we had awakened." Her face grew even paler as she recalled the harrowing experience.
Her breathing grew ragged, and tears welled in her eyes. "When that... thing looked at , it felt like his glare was dissecting every inch of my being. Even Salem's presence feels saintly compared to that. That wasn't a human."
Ruby, Yang, and Qrow exchanged uneasy glances, uncomfortable with how Raven referred to Crimson, yet none of them spoke up to protest. Raven was visibly shaking, her face pale and streaked with tears. The terror etched into her expression was undeniable.
They could see she was deeply traumatized, reliving the mont in her mind. And despite their feelings, they couldn't bring themselves to bla her. They, too, had felt a chilling fear, even from a distance—and Crimson's wrath hadn't even been directed at them. For Raven, who had faced it head-on, it was clear the encounter had left her scarred for life.
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Ruby descended the stairs and entered the living room where her friends sat, their expressions heavy with the weight of the recent revelations. Weiss was the first to notice her. She set down her teacup and asked, "How is Raven?"
Ruby sighed as she took a seat on the couch. "She's... not doing well. She's shaken, traumatized. She can barely talk about what happened without shaking. Yang and Qrow stayed with her. They're both worried."
The group nodded solemnly, their thoughts reflecting a shared understanding.
Ruby took a deep breath, preparing herself to recount what she had just learned. "There's sothing Raven told us. After Mom—Sumr—died, Raven... she watched over Yang from a distance, in her bird form. She didn't co close, but she was there."
Blake furrowed her brows, her voice soft. "why?"
Ruby shook her head. "She thought she wasn't fit to be a mother. She was scared, and she kept her distance. But that's not all."
The room fell silent as Ruby continued, her tone uneasy. "Raven said Crimson always knew she was there. Even when he was just a kid, he could sense her. She said he was constantly on guard against her. From her perspective, he wasn't just aware—he was... dangerous."
Sun shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Dangerous? How?"
Ruby's expression darkened. "She said her instincts warned her to stay away even when he was a kid. And as Crimson grew older, she felt like his presence was more and more threatening. Eventually, she stopped coming near the house entirely because she was scared of him."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but Ruby pressed on. "And there's one more thing. Raven noticed that Grimm activity around our ho started to drop over the years. At first, she thought it was luck, but then she realized... it was him. Crimson was hunting anything that might have been a threat. She called our ho a death zone, with him as the beast lying in wait."
The room fell into a stunned silence. Blake was the first to break it. "He's been protecting all of you... all this ti. And none of you even knew."
Weiss looked down, her hands folded tightly in her lap. "To go to such lengths, silently... it's unimaginable."
Pyrrha spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "That makes worry about him even more. He didn't seem okay when he left. And when he said he was 'too tired'... I don't think he ant just from the fight. I think he ant his mind, his emotions. He's... broken."
Ruby looked down, guilt washing over her. "I didn't even think where he would go. I was so focused on everything else..."
The group hesitated, their unease palpable. Most of them still felt the fear of Crimson's monstrous form from the night before. Even now, the mory sent chills down their spines.
Finally, Ruby clenched her fists and stood. "We have to find him."
Pyrrha nodded firmly. "I agree. He needs us"
Weiss and Blake exchanged glances, then slowly nodded. "We are with you," Weiss said, though her tone was laced with unease.
Sun, Ren, and Nora hesitated for a mont but eventually nodded as well. "We're in," Ren said.
As the group prepared themselves for the search, Oscar, with Ozpin's consciousness sharing his mind, remained silent. His gaze was distant, lost in thought.
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