Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a rainy day, like almost every day in the islands. Many people thought that because they were not in the United States they would be spared the extraordinary happenings. Men of steel flying around with beaming smiles, dark knights guarding the streets, red blurs running from place to place solving problems.

But John Constantine knew that wasn't remotely true. Even if all the villains had a predilection for that colonialist-founded land mass they called the United States of America, there were far older and deeper evils that threatened the world as a whole. And to Constantine's misfortune, usually what stood between the demons and the Earth was himself.

He was in a cab, heading for a site near Caerphilly in South Wales. He was riding with his hinged phone glued to his ear, the only form of technology he trusted, though he didn't doubt the Bat had put a tracker on him somewhere. And if so he wouldn't blame him, he would do the same.

“I still don't know why you're sending me to do your job, Barry.” said the Brit as he fiddled with his lighter. “Is it so bad that you need freelancers?”

“John, you know that the Justice Incarnate is very busy lately. It's not just making sure all the Earths are safe, Darkseid and other villains have started to move.” said the speedster on the other side. Constantine was very fond of him, as were most who had met with him, even if he was erring on the side of caring too much. “Zatanna is on a mission with Fate, and you are the greatest magic expert we know.”

“As much as I love married men's compliments, that's not going to work on me you restless arse.” Constantine put a cigarette in his mouth, but at that moment the taxi driver tapped on a sign above him. ‘No smoking’. The Englishman reluctantly put the cigarette away.

“C’mon John. This is work, and you'll be paid accordingly. Whatever it is, I can convince them.”

“All right. Tell them it will be my normal fee for these matters, a hundred thousand pounds. And in addition, I want a vial of Diana's blood.”

“What? Why would you want that?”

“She's a goddess now, she's shared little secrets with the Spectre and Phantom Stranger. In this job you come across a lot of false gods and evil gods, the blood of a goddess of life could save my bloody arse.”

Flash sighed on the other end.

“Give me a second.” Constantine heard an irritating sonic hum, then returned to normal. “Diana says she's fine, but if you ask her for anything else she'll send you to guard the Rock of Eternity.”

“I love her too. Say hello to Iris for me.”

“I will. And John, be careful.”

“Please Barry.” Constantine hung up. “If I was careful, I wouldn't do this fucking job.”

It was ten minutes before the taxi stopped dead in its tracks.

“Get out.” the taxi driver ordered curtly.

“Here? Don't fuck with me Jake, I'm a fucking mile away.”

“There are rumours about this castle you want to go to. And I know you too well. I'm not going any further.”

“Fuck... Give me at least an umbrella.”

With his shoes soaked through, and a poor-quality mackintosh on, Constantine finally arrived at the abandoned castle he had been told about. “Son of a bitch... I preferred it when the rituals were in Irish pubs.”Constantine lit a cigarette, activating a small spell that left his clothes dry. His brown trench coat was battered, but he liked it too much to get rid of it. Besides, that and the red tie were his trademark, clients had to know they were hiring the right guy.

“Let's see what happens here, I hope you didn't send me to my death, Barry. Last time I left when they were still asleep, and I didn't even make them breakfast.”

Cautiously, he entered the abandoned castle. Usually the stories of haunted houses were lies and hallucinations. Bad doors, rusty hinges, and all those things that make noise. But castles were different. Castles were inhabited by nobles and servants, too many people to rule out a particularly vengeful soul against the living.

The exorcist reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a packet of drawing pins. He threw a few on the floor, which rolled into a pile.

“Bollocks...”

Omens and all that old town gossip were Constantine's best weapon, they let him know if someone was messing with things they shouldn't be. And a couple of drawing pins ending up in the same place indicated that someone was using magic in that place. He took a puff on his cigarette, moving on through the site. Soon, he heard a series of chants in a language he did not know. Carefully, he approached what appeared to be the entrance to the castle's ballroom.

There, in the centre, was a pentagram made of blood and magical patterns drawn in chalk from each point. These patterns ended in hooded people, who were responsible for the chanting. Constantine instantly recognised what they were doing, if he let them finish, the result could be disastrous. Fortunately for him, these people seemed to feel very safe, otherwise they would not have chosen this method.

He strode confidently into the room, surprising the summoners.

They stopped chanting, causing the spell to lose its power.

“Who dares to enter here?” one of them said in a deep voice.

“Easy mate, I'm just looking.” Constantine looked around, they seemed to be alone. “Is this a secret club? Sorry for coming uninvited. But I had some unfinished business here.” One of the five went to leave his position, but the one who had spoken before, clearly the leader, shook his head. Then, Constantine approached confidently to the pentagram. “Good boy, stay there. We don't want the spell to go to shit, do we? Let's see... candles with human wax, handmade chalk and this is...” Constantine pulled a cotton swab out of his pocket, taking some blood from the staff and sniffing it. “Virgin's blood. This stuff doesn't come cheap, you've done your homework.”

The leader looked nervous, not expecting to meet an expert. “Who are you?”

“You don't know? Then you must be new. My name is John Constantine, exorcist, demonologist and master of the dark arts. I also play the cards, I'm short of money.”

“Constantine?” the summoners whispered among themselves. ”The scholars in England were talking about you, you were supposed to be in America.”

“You know, you always go back to the shithole you came from. I don't know what language you're speaking, but I know a summoning ritual when I see one.” Constantine approached the leader, blowing smoke in his face “And now let's see who you are.”

The wizard removed his hood, revealing a middle-aged man with grey hair and a wide nose.

Constantine rubbed his chin, his face was familiar to him. He passed the person on the right, revealing a woman in her fifties, blonde and with clear signs of having undergone several cosmetic surgeries. The wizard let out a surprised laugh. ”Look at that, my dear, I know you. You're Lydia Duff, aren't you? The talk of the tabloids. Which royal third cousin are you with now?”

“I don't have to say anything to a rag like you.”

“Formalities aren't necessary, love, but you go about your business. Right, we've got a famous three-quarter, let's see the rest.” Constantine removed another's hood, revealing another woman he could only describe as a harpy with a human body. “And I know you too. You're…” Constantine snapped his fingers. “I don't know what Hill, property developer. You've put a lot of people out on the street, and I bet you sleep like a baby.”

Next up was a man with an elongated face and a beaky nose. Constantine started laughing at the sight of him.  “If it isn't Arthur Wright, the failed comedian!” The exorcist squatted down, staring at the man defiantly. “Are you going to tell me a joke, or are you going to do your signature trick of making minors disappear in your car?”

“There was no proof of that!”

Constantine stood up, flicking a cigarette butt at him as he lit another cigarette. He moved on to the last one, who was a handsome man in his thirties. His beard was trimmed to perfection, and his toupee highlighted his blue eyes. Constantine whistled.  “Hello handsome, and who are you?”

“Don't you know me?”

“No, I couldn't possibly have forgotten about you. Although that face…” Constantine reached into his pocket, pulling out a newspaper clipping he kept for the day's crossword puzzles. “Well, if it isn't John Turner, that's what you look like. I haven't seen you for a long time, I guess one of the main MeToo accused doesn't get any offers.”

“Bunch of ungrateful bitches.”

“And you.” said Constantine pointing to the leader. “You're his representative, that Cooper guy.” he began to clap his hands slowly. “And with me we complete this scum club. It will be a pleasure to see you in hell when our time comes.”

Cooper began to turn red with anger. 

“You don't understand, we belong to the elite, we must do this. We must...”

Constantine snapped at him. 

“Save it, if I hear one more speech from an amateur saying that dark magic is the only option for fame, I'm going to lose my temper. And I don't want that, the last ulcer didn't heal well. Let's move on to more interesting matters than you, regarding what you are invoking....”

A small hole of darkness appeared above the pentagram, startling the summoners.

“Quick! Intonate the mistresses’ song!”

The summoners began to chant again, feeding the pentagram. Constantine watched in interest. 

“Good, good. A full-fledged summoning spell. I've done them too, though mine are different. You see, this is the safest method, but it has one small flaw. It cannot be disturbed by anything in the world.”

Constantine took a last drag on the cigarette, flicking it into the hole. The cigarette butt became a tiny ball of magical light that penetrated the darkness, interfering with the spell. The magical patterns began to break, causing the summoners to writhe in pain.

“No! You imbecilic, idiotic, street rat!”

Constantine sighed with a grin. 

“Yeah, there's nothing like these hellish islands. Sorry it had to end this way, fellas, but magic comes at a price.” The summoners' bodies began to turn into a dark, tar-like mass, scouring the ground until it was sucked into the dark hole, which closed immediately afterwards

.

Constantine went to light another cigarette, but the pack was empty.

Annoyed, he tossed it aside as he picked up another one he had stashed away. He had to let Flash know what had happened. It was bad enough that he had to deal with the regular demons, but after so many Crises, a lot of the rogue wizards were trying to summon demons from the multiverse, just in case he didn't have enough of the usual ones already. At least he had been able to stop them. Constantine was struggling with the plastic of the new package when he noticed that something was wrong. The pentagram was still emitting a faint light.

“That's not normal.” Constantine went over to examine it. But at that moment, the hole appeared again, this time at a worrying size.

From the portal, a huge dark claw with nails of bone emerged. Another one appeared, enlarging the portal. Constantine fell on his ass when he saw a large maw emerging from the hole of darkness. The creature appeared to have a bone mask with red paint and glowing eyes. But that didn't scare the exorcist, who had dealt with Trigon and other demons from the last circle of hell several times. No, what scared him to the core was that this was the first time he had seen this kind of demon. The monster came out in full force, getting down on all fours and sniffing like a mangy dog. Its gaze focused on Constantine.

The Englishman ran off without a second thought, pursued by the doggy creature.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck!” he swerved down one of the corridors, avoiding the monster that slammed into the wall. He tried to escape up some stairs, but the monster was already on top of him. Halfway up, it grabbed his foot. “Go! Away! You! Bloody! Mutt!”

The exorcist kicked him repeatedly in the nose until he fell down the stairs. He continued his flight, he had to think of a way to bring him down. He mentally checked his spells and resources, he could try his most basic attacks, but he didn't know if they would work. Then, as he fled he saw a grandfather clock.

An idea formed in his mind. Quickly, he turned towards the clock, shattering the crystal that held the disc.

The creature was approaching rapidly, and Constantine nervously manipulated it until the hands were at twelve o'clock.

“Ictum Chrono!”

Constantine hurled the disc towards the black dog, which leapt towards him with its jaws open. Constantine fell to the ground as he stood still and his face was filled with panic. In front of him, the huge dog stood paralysed in mid-air.

The exorcist sighed in relief. Still on the ground, he pulled out the unopened package again. “Let me hold this for a moment.” Using the fangs of the paralysed beast, he broke the plastic, taking the new

cigarette into his mouth.

The sound of a clock filled the room. The disc Constantine had thrown was the cause. The hands were moving fast, in two hours it would have made a complete turn, breaking the spell. “Plenty of time to find out what the fuck you are.” Constantine took a puff on his cigarette as he circled the creature. It was no ordinary demon, that much was clear. Perhaps some kind of imp in the shape of a dog. He thought back, but there was no pantheon with a similar creature to its credit. “Let's see what our friends have to say.” Constantine pushed the disc with difficulty, for he was paralysing the huge creature. When it was his turn to go downstairs, the exorcist was spouting expletives that had not come out of his mouth since he was twenty years old.

Back in the great hall, Constantine checked the time. He had about an hour and twenty minutes left. He checked the clothes that had been left behind. For some reason unknown to Constantine, they had their wallets on them. He looked at the ID cards, he had got their identities right. And like the rich men with delusions of grandeur they were, their wallets were full of pounds, easily ten thousand in all. Glancing over his shoulder, he pocketed the notes and went on to search the leader's alcove. There, underneath all his clothes, was a book. 

“Now this is more interesting.”

The British man opened the book. His writing, at first intelligible, changed to a perfect English translation. Constantine read on, though he was not surprised by what he was discovering. In short, the book promised power and riches in a new order, all in exchange for summoning someone.

Salem.

Constantine didn't say the name out loud, names had power, and he didn't want to fuck up at this point like a rookie. 

“Bloody idiots... So much money and influence, and all you wanted was more.”

He stubbed out his cigarette, extinguishing the embers in the book itself, letting it burn. The instructions for the portal were a basic spell, no specific commands out of the ordinary. If his guesses were correct, this was a chimera, a creature made with magic. He looked the monster in the eye, with human-like determination. 

“I don't know if you can see through these things, but I give you a little warning, courtesy of wizard to wizard. Stay off my Earth.”

With his hands, Constantine made a series of movements, creating a yellow magic circle in front of him. He pulled out his lighter, which gave birth to a small flame. As he blew, a fire capable of melting the rock erupted from the magic circle, reducing the monster to ashes. With the job done, Constantine pulled out his mobile phone to alert his trusted speeder. It was then that a horrible scream chilled his blood.

“What the hell is going on now?”

The scream came from none other than the burning book. A cloud of darkness shot out, heading straight for the centre of the pentagram.

“You sneaky daft!” Constantine tried to create a barrier spell, but his magic broke, it was too late. The portal that had been closed opened again, sucking everything in with supernatural power.

Constantine clung tightly to the carpet, watching as the summoners' clothes were sucked in as well as the book. With the situation becoming increasingly desperate, he dialled the speedster's number on

his phone. He wasn't picking up, of course he wasn't picking up. For all his speed, Barry was always late.

The voicemail rang and Constantine, furious and nervous, left a single message.

“Find me!”

The carpet came off the floor, being swallowed up along with Constantine, who screamed as he fell into the darkness.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

It was night, the magician's head was spinning. He put his finger to his ear, it was bleeding. That didn't worry him, it wasn't the first time he had been traumatized. He stretched, feeling his body

screaming in pain.

It was then that he looked up at the sky and saw it for the first time. A huge, bright moon in the sky, shattered as if the boy from Kansas had hit it with all his might. With that, he didn't need any more clues, Constantine knew only by the way the air he breathed felt. He was no longer on his Earth.

“Heroes... they always drag me into this shit shows.”

Chapter Text

Constantine stared at the broken moon, trying not to panic. It wasn't the first time he had travelled through the multiverse, and most of the time it had been against his will.

But the feeling of being torn from your home, from the place where you belong, is never pleasant. So he did what he always did. He put a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it with his trusty lighter.

He exhaled the smoke, trying to calm himself. It was a miracle that it still had an effect on him at this point. Calmer now, he looked around, realising that he was in some kind of tundra, but his trench coat managed to keep him warm.

‘Where the hell am I?’ Constantine bent down, taking out a small iron rod he always kept handy.

He carved a circle in the ground, then spat inside it.

The saliva began to move around the circle, indicating where there was a population centre.

He took a drag on his cigarette, throwing away the butt as he set off.

It didn't take him long to see something that took his breath away. In the air, a huge city rose into the sky, full of shiny, pure white metal. Just below, there was what appeared to be a larger city with brown, neglected metal walls.

Constantine clicked his tongue, digging his hands into his pockets. “A big, ostentatious city floating above a bigger, shabbier one. A hell of a mix for a bloody class war.” Constantine pulled out a silver coin. He tossed it in the air and caught it. A picture of a ruined cathedral appeared. The exorcist smiled. “I’ve always been into dark alleys.”

The exorcist waited in line at the entrance, watching the guards ask for ID before letting him in. The exorcist patted the pockets of his jacket until he found what he was looking for: one of his business cards. With one of the markers he always carried, he drew a series of magical patterns on the back. When he finished, he held it to his lips.

“Eil…”

He put it back in his pocket, confident. He would never thank Zatanna enough for teaching him a bit of her magic. Soon, his turn came.

"Documentation," the guard ordered. His voice was like a drill in Constantine's head. They clearly weren't speaking English, but the words reached him translated. He assumed it was something from that world; he didn't usually bother with translation spells, and casting a spell for all languages was extremely complicated.

The exorcist handed him the drawn side "John, John Constantine."

“John Constantain, plumber.” Constantine frowned. It wasn’t the lie he would have chosen. “Visit or work?”

“Work, my friend, and plenty of it.”

The guard handed him back the card. “Come in. Welcome to Mantle, protected by the glorious Atlas, Mr. Constantain”

“ConstanTINE,” he said angrily as he left. He didn’t mind that they didn’t know his name, but he hated it when they got confused by his last name.

Once inside the city, Constantine took a deep breath. Everything smelled of pollution, alcohol, and marginality. He felt like he was back in England. Everything he saw didn’t give him a good feeling. The city was full of screens with messages from the city above; the people on foot were wearing clothes that had already been through a lot. He could feel the precariousness in the air.

Arriving at an intersection, he could see a convoy guarded by soldiers. The transport read "Schnee Dust Company." The exorcist had no idea what this Dust was, but it seemed important enough to be so closely guarded. He lit a cigarette, approaching a woman who was looking at the cargo resentfully.

"What's going on there?" he asked, his hands in his pockets.

"Huh?" The short woman turned to look at him. That's when Constantine realized she wasn't a normal human; she had sheep ears. "Well, it's the usual, the Schnee bragging about their resources. All that Dust should be going to the town." The sheep woman stared at him. Constantine's outfit didn't look like the ones they usually wore in Mantle. "Your face doesn't ring a bell... Are you from out of town?"

Constantine took a drag on his cigarette. “Yeah, let’s say I am. I’m John Constantine, and you, love?” he said with a smile.

The woman blushed slightly. “Fiona Thyme. Are you from Vale? Or Mistral?”

“Well, it’s been a bumpy ride, to be honest.” Constantine flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, approaching Fiona in a soft voice. “Look, I actually have a problem, Fiona. I was robbed along the way, and I’m out of money. Do you know where I can get some fast?”

“I… I really don’t know. What can you do?”

Constantine took a deck of cards from his inside pocket, shuffling them skillfully. “I can read cards. In fact, I’m going to give you a free reading.”

“Thanks, but maybe I should go. I…”

Constantine looked closely at his clothing; he had a pin on his jacket. “Oh, I understand.” You're meeting up with your group. They're good people, I can see that.

The woman's eyebrows rose in surprise. "How did you know that?"

"Jackpot" Constantine thought, he could keep pulling at that thread. "I told you, darling. I read cards. Just with a glance, I could see your immediate future. Look, I'm going to propose something just for you because you've been so kind. Let's go to a bar, you buy me a drink, and I'll read your cards. Deal?"

Constantine extended his hand.

Fiona thought for a moment, clearly hesitant. She took some kind of holographic device out of her pocket, which Constantine found so technologically advanced that he cringed a bit. She typed a quick message and saved it, smiling at Constantine. “I already told Robyn I’ll be late. I know a bar, I’m eager to know my future.”

“You go first.” The exorcist followed the woman, though he felt a little bad for her. His card readings weren’t smoke and mirrors; they were real. Knowing someone’s future was fine for a third party, but for the person in question, it could be dangerous if they became obsessed.

Constantine tried not to think too hard about it. He intended to spend just the right amount of time on Earth, and to do that, he needed money if he wanted a hot meal.

“Here we are!” Fiona said cheerfully as she walked in. Constantine noticed that all the customers had some animal traits. “Go grab a seat, I’ll get you something.”

“A blonde, a bit soft."

“Blonde?"

“Don't you have yellow beer here?"

“Aaah, you say beer. You Vale people are really strange."

“You have no idea." Constantine took off his trench coat, leaving it on his chair. He settled in and began to move his collar, loosening it. Carefully, he laid out the tarot cards; he must be very thorough at reading them.

“Here it is." Fiona arrived with Constantine's mug.

“You don't drink?"

“No, I don't like alcohol."

“Well made, this will destroy you inside." Constantine took a big swig. They were better than the ones back home. “Okay, let's get this started. Give me a hair of yours."

“Hair?" Fiona asked, frightened.

"It doesn't work well if I don't have something about the person, in that case the reading would be mixed with the rest of the bar." Constantine brought a cigarette to his mouth, but when he went to light it, he saw the bartender glare at him. He put it away, annoyed. "There's always got to be an asshole..."

"A hair… You have a very strange Semblance."

Constantine had no idea what a Semblance was, yet he shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.” Nervously, Fiona plucked a hair from her head, giving it to the wizard.

“Thank you very much.” Constantine dipped it in the beer mug and swallowed it, making Fiona gag. “Okay, we can begin.”

Constantine shuffled the cards like a professional croupier, astonishing Fiona. There wasn’t really a need for such dramatics, but he learned those tricks when he was dating a croupier, and the customers always liked it. When he finished, he slammed the deck, causing two cards to fly out.

“Let’s see what the future holds. Look, the wagon has come out. This could mean you’re going on a big trip, or that you’re going to be part of a big group.”

“Oooh.” Now the other one, the other one.

When Constantine turned over the second card, her blood ran cold. It was death, emanating a powerful aura.

Fiona was frightened. “Am I going to die?”

“No… not you, at least. This card is death, but you also have to read its intention. You won't die, but you will witness death. Sometimes, I don't know which is worse.”

Fiona looked scared, but soon acquired a look of determination. “If I've seen death, it means I fought for Mantle alongside Robyn, and I can't imagine a better future.”

Constantine looked at her sympathetically. That girl was a heroine. I wish she weren't. Heroes suffer fates no one deserves, Constantine knew that firsthand.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Constantine. This has made me even more determined. Here.” Fiona placed some colored cards on the table. “One thousand liens.” It's not much, but it should last two weeks at the motel, although food is the most expensive part. If you're not a hunter, I don't know what kind of work you can do, although if you're desperate for more... dirty jobs, ask Ruffle, the bartender.

Constantine looked at the bartender, a tall man with antelope horns and a sour face.

“Thanks, Fiona, you're a sweetheart. I promise I'll pay you back.”

“Don't worry, you're from Mantle now, and we'll help each other. See you, Mr. Constantine, good luck.” The woman left happily, skipping a little.

The magician abandoned his smile, leaning back in his chair. “Justice Incarnate, my balls. If they're so vigilant about the multiverse, they'd know I'm here.” Constantine finished his beer, grabbing his cards and going to the bar while putting on his trench coat.

“Hey, buddy. I think you heard that beauty,” Constantine said, looking tired. “Tell me you have something.”

“I'm doing this for Fiona,” the bartender clarified, wiping a glass. “I only have one. There's a loan shark who wants a client's money back. It's forty thousand lien.”

“Debt collection? Fuck…” Constantine held the bridge of his nose. "Okay, who's the jerk?"

The waiter nodded, indicating a table with three people in fairly bad shape. All three were broad, strong men, with animal features that made them even more dangerous. Crocodile scales, hippopotamus tusks, and bat wings on their backs.

The exorcist cursed under his breath in a dead language.

"Do you mind if I do it here?" the magician asked.

The waiter threw the rag over his shoulder and whistled. All the customers except the three targets quickly got up and left the place. The three debtors looked at Constantine.

"What are you looking at, human?" said the crocodile.

"Yeah, you should know this bar is for faunus only," the bat continued.

Constantine felt a little relieved. He'd dealt with fauns more than once, and they were never easy. Too wild and unpredictable. Who knows, maybe these ones weren't so much of a problem; they seemed more civilized.

"Okay, mates. Apparently you owe someone money. I'm an errand boy here, so let's take this the easy way out."

The three men stood up, looking over at Constantine. They gave him a wicked grin as Constantine slowly began to back away.

A brown figure shot out of the store, crashing through the window at high speed. Constantine began to cough as he struggled to his feet. He brushed the shards of glass off his trench coat, feeling his face burning.

"Fuck you, you bloody idiots..." Constantine carefully brushed the shards of glass off his face. That's when the three fauns emerged.

"Do you still want to get paid?" " said the crocodile faun.

Constantine smiled, his cheek bleeding. "My mother hit me harder."

The enraged faun punched Constantine in the stomach, dragging him and his friends into an alley.

There, he threw him against the wall, causing him to fall to the ground. The three fauns began beating him on the ground, kicking his body and face. Constantine felt like he was going to lose consciousness, but he had to resist. Soon, the three thugs grew tired.

"Is he still alive?" asked the hippopotamus.

The bat kicked him; Constantine didn't move. He turned him over, seeing that he was holding a letter between his fingers.

Constantine opened his eyes. "The Sun!" He threw the letter to the bat, which turned into a powerful ball of light.

"Aaagh! I can't see, I can't see!" The bat fell to the ground, clutching its face as it groaned in pain.

"What Semblance is that?" the hippo said in fear.

Constantine made a quick movement of his hand, pulling out another card and throwing it. "The Strenght!" The card hit his chest, unleashing a shockwave that slammed the faun against the wall, instantly knocking him unconscious.

"Bastard!" The crocodile faun launched a right hook, but Constantine made a series of hand seals.

A circle of yellow light with intricate patterns appeared, absorbing the force of the blow. The faun recoiled in fear; he had never seen anything like it.

"The Hanged Man!"

Constantine threw another card at the thug's leg. The card disappeared, and the thug began to levitate by his leg, landing upside down at just the right height to look Constantine in the eye.

"You… You have two Semblances, that's impossible."

Constantine took out the pack of cigarettes, putting one to his mouth. He indicated with his finger that the man should wait, and calmly lit it. He took a deep drag, blowing the smoke in the faun's face.

"I said to do this the easy way. Now for the money."

"Screw you! Two Semblances… You're a monster, only one could…"

Constantine took out another card, showing it while frowning; he had grown tired of playing. "Read the card."

"You won't…"

"Read. The. Card."

"Death. It says Death."

"Well done. Now tell me, what do you think will happen if I throw it to you?"

"Give it to him, man!" the bat shouted. "He blinded me!"

Constantine made a sound of weariness. “Calm down, you'll see figures again in two days. As for full vision… between one and two weeks.”

“What?!”

“Look on the bright side,” he shrugged. “It's better than what awaits your friend if he doesn't talk.” Constantine placed the Death letter in front of him, watching panic flood his face.

“All right, all right! The address's in my pocket! I wrote it down in case I forgot,” the frightened faun replied. Constantine smiled; at least one thing had gone right for him since he arrived.

Outside the alley, several citizens gathered at the entrance. Many had seen Constantine being dragged away, but didn't want to get involved in the dispute. The antelope waiter was among the first to leave; at first, he thought they were going to beat him up, but then screams were heard and flashes of light were seen.

Constantine emerged from the alley, bleeding from his head and his white shirt stained red, calmly smoking. The citizens were surprised, and some thought this man with such a nonchalant demeanor was actually a hunter.

Constantine approached the waiter, handing him the paper he had taken from the thug's pants. "The money address, have the pawnbroker send it to someone. Now the money, my friend."

The antelope looked impressed. He reached into his pocket, pulling out cards worth three thousand lien. "Here, that's all the pawnbroker offered for the job."

"You're kidding, Fiona gave me a thousand."

“Fiona’s too kind for her own good. Those thousand lien were her monthly allowance. She’s all about helping out. Now don’t come looking for me again. Freelance hunters bring trouble.”

“Okay, okay, fuck it. At least tell me who might hire me. And just so you know, I only kill monsters, I’m not a hitman.”

“I’ll ask around. Stop by my bar tomorrow and I’ll tell you something.”

“See you then, Ruffle. And remember the name.” Constantine handed him one of his business cards.

The bartender read it. “Exorcist? What the hell is a…?”

When he looked ahead, Constantine was already walking away, hands in his pockets, his attitude nonchalant.

The exorcist was in a lot of pain; he probably had broken ribs, and considering his bad luck, a crack in his skull. But he couldn't pass up the opportunity that had presented itself.

He wandered through the streets, attracting the frightened glances of people who saw a man bleeding while walking so calmly. He went down one of the alleys, climbing a side staircase.

When he reached the roof of one of the buildings, he coughed forcefully into his hand, expelling a large amount of blood. The magician drew a large circle on the ground with it, then began to draw ancient symbols and a pentagram.

He stood up, raising his hands to the circle.

"By the dark forces of the nine circles, may this blood spilled for unjust reasons serve as an offering and meaning to you! May the suffering of the righteous guide you, may your sword take vengeance in my name! May your hellish fire incinerate this offense!"

The pattern of blood began to burn, and Constantine brought a cigarette to his mouth. From the circle, enormous orange hands began to emerge. Finally, from the hellfire, a demonic orange figure emerged, dressed in red armor and a tattered blue cloak. On its back, a sword as old as the earliest civilizations could be seen.

"My sword will avenge you, innocent soul! Point out the guilty one and I will be their judge, their jury, and their executioner!" The demon then fixed its red eyes on the one who had summoned it. Upon seeing him, its neck stiffened, and its eyes seemed as if they would bulge out of their sockets. "CONSTANTINE!"

The demon pressed its face against the magician's, expelling a tongue of fire that lit Constantine's cigarette. "Hello, Etrigan. I have a favor to ask."

The demon grabbed him by the neck, lifting him into the air. "Dirty, lying rat! A cheat born in the most poisonous swamp!" How dare you ask me for a favor!? You of all people!

Constantine kicked, gasping for air. “Etrigan… let me go, you stinking nitwit…”

Etrigan let him go, snorting at him. “I’m sick of your machinations, Constantine. I was busy dealing with real threats, and you called me to…” The demon looked around, clearly confused. “Where are we, meatbag?”

Constantine rubbed his throat, clearing his voice. “First of all, Etrigan, I may be a liar, but I’m on your side.”

“You played the protector of Gotham.”

“And then Batman played me, detective stuff.”

“You almost destroyed the Avatar of the Green.”

“It was his plan! Ask Alec.”

“And you condemned a little girl to hell, Constantine!”

“Don’t you dare mention Astra!” "The wizard shouted back, advancing furiously on the demon, poking his finger in his chest. "I know I'm the biggest bastard ever born, I know it, I have a mirror!" He tried to calm himself, taking a deep breath. "And now, as for where we are... I'm not going to tell you, I'm tired of talking to your ugly face. Bring the other one."

"Watch your words, you cheap sorcerer."

"That stuck-up Fate is a sorcerer, I'm a magician. Now let the other one come, or you won't know anything, and you can't leave until I make my request."

Etrigan snorted, breathing fire from his nostrils. A ball of fire appeared out of nowhere, engulfing him. When the fire dissipated, a handsome, fair-skinned man appeared. He wore a white one-piece suit and had perfect red hair, with a long gray hair sticking out. The man craned his neck, keeping his eyes closed.

When he opened them, he revealed captivating red eyes. “John.”

“Jason.” Constantine placed a cigar between his fingers, offering it to him. “A cigar?”

Jason Blood, the human linked to the demonic existence Etrigan, brought his lips to the mage’s cigarette. Constantine handed him the lighter, lighting it.

“So, John Constantine. What trouble are you in this time?”

Constantine took a deep drag, releasing a cloud of smoke. “A very big one, Jason. Our little friend Flash asked me to investigate a disturbance in space.”

“The first or the second?”

“The first, the blond one. Anyway, I showed up where he said and found some assholes summoning.”

“With the pentagram and the magic chains?”

“Yeah.”

Jason took a drag on his cigar, clearly angry. "Newbies… you always have to make one that allows you to run away."

“That's what I thought. The thing is, I disrupted her spell, but something emerged from the portal. It was magical, but… it wasn't a demon. It looked more like a golem made of flesh and darkness.”

“Strange… something like what you're describing seems like the work of a powerful wizard.”

“And not only that.” Constantine finished his cigarette, throwing the butt to the ground. “Those rookies had a fucking instruction book. It promised them the usual in exchange for bringing an entity to our plane.”

“Do we know them?”

Constantine shook his head. He took out his marker, writing the name on the ground. Salem. “I still don't dare say her name; I don't know if she has any kind of power.”

Jason Blood finished his cigarette, bending down to get a better look at the name. “You and I know the last witches in that slaughterhouse, and none of them have the knowledge to deal with these ‘golems’ you're talking about.”

“About that, I've been listening out while I've been here. The locals call them Grimm.”

“Funny name, certainly evocative.” Jason raised his eyebrow. Constantine had just said “the locals.” “Constantine, where are we?”

“If I had to bet, I'd say on another Earth, a very different one, too. I haven't seen any variations of the usual ones. No Superman, no Batman… no nothing.”

“Constantine. You just summoned Etrigan to another Earth using only magic. That shouldn't be possible.”

“Please, Jason. You know the laws of magic as well as I do. For magic, multiversal boundaries are made of paper as long as you know the right spell.”

“You don't understand, Constantine. Things… have gotten complicated.”

Constantine was alarmed. Jason Blood wasn't an easy person to upset. “Don't mess with me, Jason. Tell me what happened.”

“We believe Darkseid is planning his next move, Eclipso is free, black rings have reappeared.”

“Jason, everything you're saying sounds like an apocalyptic scenario to me. I mean, same as always. I'm sure we can handle it.”

“That's not the worst of it, John. Justice Incarnate is missing, they've gone out to confront Darkseid. And besides, Superman isn't here.”

“What?”

“He's left the planet, we're without our greatest champion, at least for now. His son is trying to fulfill his role.”

“Fuck… Fuck!” Constantine kicked the terrace step, hurting his foot. “I have to go back, Jason! We have to start planning!”

“No "haves," Constantine. Until Justice Incarnate returns, you're trapped here, and I can't take you through hell; the Spectre would prevent it.”

“Fuck Corrigan and the stick he's got up his arse! Take me back!”

“Listen for once in your life, Constantine. I can't do this, and I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that request. Now, choose your favor wisely.”

Constantine rubbed his face, trying to calm himself. “Okay, fine. I'm going to trust you guys to handle this. My request is that as soon as possible, you notify the small group of multiversal vigilantes and tell them that John Constantine needs a way back.”

“Deal accepted. Pleasure talking to you, Constantine.”

“Until the next crisis, Jason.”

The man surrounded himself in a pillar of flame, once again making way for the demon Etrigan. He looked at the mage, snorting. “I'll keep the deal, I'm a man of my word. Not like you, Constantine.”

“Yes, yes, go away, Etrigan, I have things to do.”

The demon re-entered the circle Constantine had drawn, disappearing from that plane.

The mage stepped off the rooftop, feeling pain in his side. He put his hand to his head; it was still bleeding.

He cursed silently; those three thugs had really hit him. He didn't have the resources to cast a healing spell on himself; he'd have to find someone willing.

He was thinking about that sheep girl, but he wasn't going to be able to dazzle her twice. As he walked, a bolt of pain shot through his abdomen, causing him to fall to the ground.

"Shit... I'm fucking going to die here." Constantine reached for his shoe, undoing one of the laces. "Viri!"

He threw the lace, which transformed into two identical small snakes. They quickly slithered across the floor, with Constantine following. It didn't take long to reach a door. The snakes climbed up it, coiling around each other, leaving a space between them.

"The Staff of Asclepius..." Constantine knocked sharply.

"Well, who's here at this hour?" The door opened, revealing a dark-skinned, white-haired man in a four-legged chair. His attire, consisting of a red vest and a white shirt decorated with a huge pink bow tie, brought a smile to the magician's face. "Can I help you?"

Constantine smiled, opening his trench coat slightly to reveal his bloodstained shirt. With a small cough, a little escaped from his mouth. "I hope so."

The man looked alarmed, turning toward the house. "Penny! Grab the bandages and my gear!"

"Ha... I'm still good at that trick." Constantine, relieved to have found a place to lick his wounds, let the adrenaline that was keeping him going fade, falling unconscious on the spot.

Constantine felt like he'd had the worst hangover of his life. He tried to open his eyes, but was blinded by a bright light. When he adjusted, he had two huge green eyes staring at him.

"Woah!" he exclaimed in alarm, clutching his heart. That's when he realized he wasn't wearing a shirt, but was bandaged all over.

Regaining his composure, he realized the owner of those eyes was a fair-skinned, red-haired teenager with a large pink bow and a white and gray dress.

"Sa-lu-tions!" she said cheerfully, waving her hand. "It's good to see you're all right, sir."

"Gosh, that's a loud voice..." the magician complained. "Hey, kid. Isn't there an older man around?"

"I'm here, friend." The man in the chair with legs approached smiling, holding a strange device. He pointed it at Constantine, scanning him. "Wow, you're almost recovered now; you have a formidable aura. Although I'd like to make an observation, sir... excuse me, I haven't had a chance to ask your name."

"John Constantine, I'm a detective. My card's in my trench coat. You haven't checked it, have you?"

"Of course not. I respect the privacy of those who come for help."

“Well, those pockets can be tricky. May I know your name?”

“You don't know me?”

“No, sorry, friend.”

“So how did you know to come to me?”

“Let's just say it was a feeling.”

“Ah, I see. That must be your Semblance. My name is Pietro Polendina, a scientist and doctor when it comes to it. And this lovely girl is my daughter, Penny.”

The girl gave him a radiant smile; Constantine found it hard to look at such a pure person after all the meanness he'd committed.

“Hello, kiddo. Thank you so much for getting me ready, old man, but I think I've already abused your hospitality enough.”

Constantine stood up in pain. Penny approached him to help him to his feet.

Pietro stood in front of him, his expression concerned.

“Mr. Constantine, please listen to me for a moment. I've done a scan, and the results are… worrying.”

“Is it lung cancer? All the doctors think I have it, but that's covered up.”

“No, it's not a disease as such; it's related to your body.” The scientist pressed a button on his chair, displaying a hologram of a skeleton. It was riddled with cracks and bones in an odd position, as if they had healed incorrectly a thousand times. “What have you done to be in this state? Even the most skilled hunter would need to retreat after so many injuries.”

Constantine did a mental rehearsal. He'd recently been beaten up by thugs, the League of Assassins had nearly killed him, Swamp Thing had tried to strangle him several times, he'd tried to punch the bat, and once the Spectre had put him in a cycle of death and resurrection.

In the end, he shrugged. "Occupational hazards. You're good stuff, Mr. Polendina. Why are you in this hole of a city?"

"Mantle is still my home. When I'm not working for the government, I come here to help everyone I can. I fix things around the house, treat them if they're hurt. Anything I can. I've had no problem with you, just look at this." With another button, a dense mist formed around Constantine's X-ray. "I've rarely seen someone with such a dense aura, although their shape... Well, it won't be important."

Constantine looked at that "aura" intrigued. Hecate had once measured his and Zatanna's magic before confronting them. The sorceress possessed a great deal of power, which didn't surprise him; he knew her capabilities firsthand. But John's own power seemed small at that moment. He remembered Hecate calling him "a disaster" due to the mix of knowledge. Apparently, in this land, they used that aura to heal and protect themselves; he'd have to start using that trick.

"And one last thing, Mr. Constantine. I'm kind, but that doesn't make me an idiot. You're not in the system, and that's… worrying to say the least."

Constantine looked the old man in the eye. He was clearly kind; the fact that he didn't call the authorities indicated his willingness to trust people. He could take advantage of that.

"Pietro, I'll be honest with you, and that's a privilege not many have. I'm out of the system because my job required it. For a time, I was with… questionable companies back home. I saw Mantle because I want to be better." You're obviously familiar with gadgets and such. Can I ask you a favor?

Pietro seemed curious. He glanced at Penny, who nodded as she prepared to go into combat mode.

"Tell me."

"Get me into the system." Pietro's eyes widened, which Penny interpreted as him letting his guard down. "I want to start a new life, and I can't do it being an outcast. But I hate bureaucracy with all my heart, and it would be too many questions. That's why I'm asking you."

Pietro sighed. It was an odd request, but at least Mantle's security detail and Atlas could come after him if he went back to his old ways.

"Okay. I can do that. You were John Constantine, right? I'll fill out a standard form for you; just tell me your occupation."

Constantine thought about it for a while, but in the end, the answer seemed obvious. "Detective, I'm a detective."

Pietro went to his computer, typing quickly. “That’s it, now I need your scroll, so I can link it.”

Constantine handed him his flip phone. Pietro stared at it for a while, then at Constantine. “What’s this?”

“A scroll. Well, an old one, a family heirloom.”

Pietro looked through it, fascinated. “I can give you a new one, but if you want to keep this one… I can fix something up, but I’m warning you, it’ll only be used for texts and calls.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Then give me a moment. Go change.”

It wasn’t until he said this that Constantine realized he was shirtless.

“This way, Mr. Constantine,” Penny indicated cheerfully. She led him to a bathroom, where his clean, ironed clothes were. “I took the liberty of cleaning them and putting perfume on them.”

“Fuck… you shouldn’t have bothered.”

“It wasn't a bother at all, Mr. Constantine. It's just that the smell of dead animals was horrible.”

That overwhelming sincerity hurt Constantine in a way he hadn't expected. He quickly put on his shirt and tie, leaving his trusty trench coat for last.

He quickly lit a cigarette; he was already missing the nicotine in his system. Upon returning to the main room, Pietro handed him his cell phone.

“Well, that's it, you're a citizen now.”

“Thanks, Pietro. If you and your daughter ever need anything, look me up. John Constantine always returns the favor. Once in a while.”

“Best of luck, John. And I hope you find a home here in Mantle.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Constantine!” Penny said briskly.

With a smile, Constantine headed off to Ruffle’s bar, already having an idea in mind.

After asking the bartender a small favor, an hour later he was inside a run-down building, looking at one of the apartments.

He was accompanied by an older man in his sixties, his black hair already showing a large amount of gray, threatening to cover his entire head.

“So, what do you think, Mr. Constantine?”

“It’s dirty, smelly, and I’m sure I saw a leak.”

“W-well, sir, this building isn’t exactly meant to be lived in, even though it is, and the price is cheaper.”

"I know. I'll keep it."

"Perfect, then the rent is as we originally agreed, fifteen hundred a month."

"You said one thousand," Constantine replied.

"No, no, sir. The standard price is fifteen hundred lien a month."

Constantine placed his hand on the real estate agent's shoulder, and the magician's eyes began to spiral. "You're confused, you said one thousand."

"I... I..." The seller, disoriented, soon recovered. "True, true. We agreed on one thousand, my bad, sorry for the inconvenience."

The magician let him go, not that he felt particularly bad about using suggestion against a housing speculator. "Don't worry, it can happen to anyone. I'll transfer the property to you right now. And if you don't mind, I'd like privacy in my new home."

"Of course, of course." Just sign here and send the money within twenty-four hours.

Constantine took the pen from the seller, signed his contract, and dismissed him. Once he was alone, he went to the door of the dwarf apartment. With a hammer, he placed a sign on the door.

"John Constantine"

"Private Detective"

Entering his office, Constantine sat down in the chair, putting his feet up on the desk.

"Well, if I'm going to be stuck here, I might as well go back to my old ways."

The wizard smiled, lighting a cigarette as he planned his future on this new Earth.

Chapter Text

The sun shone on the city of Mantle, where a heavy atmosphere was the order of the day. There, the less wealthy citizens lived under the shadow of Atlas, who held most of the resources.

However, the city had its defenders. Walking through the streets was a blonde woman with long hair tied back in a bun. Her build was robust, making it clear she was capable of great physical feats. She wore an olive-green outfit with a blue vest and her signature green scarf, on which she wore a pin.

That was the pin of the Happy Huntresses, a group of high-level huntresses who had repelled Atlas's army to protect Mantle. And she was none other than their leader.

Robyn Hill advanced with a light gait and a hint of fury. She didn't want to have to make the visit, but they didn't know who else to turn to. It had been two months since a new hunter had appeared in the city, and his name quickly became known in the underworld.

He called himself a detective, but he was capable of anything as long as they paid, always following a malleable moral code. Robyn didn't like those traits at all, as she had already argued with the man several times since their first meeting.

She entered a dilapidated building, going up to the second floor. There, one of the doors had a sign that had tilted, but she didn't stop to read it. After all, she knew the owner.

Robyn swung the door open, making her anger clear. "Constantine! We need to talk—Aaaah!"

Something jumped at her face, scratching her face before leaving her alone.

"The door! Close the fucking door!" a man's voice shouted.

Robyn, surprised by the attack, slammed it shut, trying to see her attacker. What she didn't expect was a chicken hopping around the office.

"What the hell?"

Behind the chicken, there was a man wearing brown pants and a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up. He had a red tie awry, and a brown trench coat hanging on the coat rack.

"Come on, pretty girl, come with Johnny." The man snapped his finger several times, and that's when Robyn realized there was also a woman in her fifties in the room, wearing typical Mantle clothing. "Ms. Cota, turn around and pull her towards me. If I miss her, we're screwed."

Robyn tried to recover from the shock. "What the heck are you doing, Constantine?!"

"Hey, sweetheart, nice to see you, as always." Constantine dove forward, catching the chicken in mid-air. The man stood up triumphantly. "Aha! Gotcha, you feathered bitch!"

The older woman approached Constantine. "So, will this help my son find a mate?"

“Yes, what you should do is feed your son eggs from this hen every three days for two weeks. These critters will eat anything, so don't worry about giving him special food.”

“And after two weeks?”

“That's up to you. Keep it, sell it, or you can eat it too.” The hen made a panicked noise at that. “But try not to stress her out, or she won't lay eggs.”

The woman took the hen from the detective's hands, her face grateful. “Thank you very much, Mr. Constantine.”

“Don't worry. And remember, if it doesn't work, I'll give you your money back, and recommend my services.” When the woman left the office, Constantine snorted, sitting back in his chair with his feet up on the table. He looked at Robyn, smiling. “So, love, what brings you here?”

“Were you already scamming some poor woman?”

“Oi, my rituals really work.”

"Sure, and now you're going to tell me that magic exists."

"Well, depending on your point of view... Dust seems pretty magical to me." Constantine pulled a small orange Dust crystal from his desk drawer.

Dust was the most valuable resource in that world. It provided energy, served as ammunition, performed household tasks, and even modified some Semblances.

Constantine managed to get his hands on Dust for the first time after the first month, and the results exceeded his expectations. It was pure, unadulterated magic.

"Sure, and now pigs can fly. And where did you get a chicken?"

"You'd be surprised what you can get at the airport. Did you come to question me or just to hang out?"

"Do you think I'm looking forward to spending time with you? You still owe Fiona a thousand lien."

"And I'll pay her. This is taking off. Now, ask out loud or get lost, I have things to do.” Constantine pulled out a book of children's fairy tales and began to read.

"Ugh, you're unbearable. And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I need help."

Constantine continued reading. "Uh-huh."

"Constantine, this is serious."

"Look at that silly girl, she's gone down the white rabbit hole. Did you know some scholars consider this tale an allegory for insanity?"

"Constantine, there's a family in danger!"

That caught the wizard's attention, and he put the book down on the table. "Give me details."

"Strange things are happening in a house. Furniture is opening and closing, pans are flying, knives are appearing where they shouldn't... It's all very weird."

Constantine thought for a second; it all sounded like some kind of particularly aggressive ghostly apparition.

"And the family?"

"Normal people. The father works in the mines, and the mother is a seamstress. They have a sick son."

A sick son... that increased the range of possible causes. Constantine stood up, put on his trench coat, and lit a cigarette.

"Let's go over there. Oh, and Robyn. That family probably doesn't have the money to pay my fees, so you pay them."

"You..." Robyn breathed, trying to calm herself. Then she held out her hand. "Are you going to do everything you can to help them?"

Annoyed, Constantine took her hand. Robyn's Semblance was something he hated; the huntress was, for all practical purposes, the most accurate polygraph in the world. "Yes, I'll do it."

Robyn's hand lit up green; she was telling the truth.

"Fine, I'll drive you."

They both left the office and headed toward the house in question. Mantle's people whispered as they watched the two walk past. They knew firsthand that their abilities clashed, so seeing Mantle's face in front of that carefree detective caught their attention.

Finally, they arrived at the house. It belonged to an urban block where all the apartments were the same, but at least this one was a ground floor.

"Anza, Jae, it's Robyn. I've got someone who might be able to help."

Constantine looked at Robyn in confusion. "You didn't get them out of the house?"

"I tried, but Pietro said it was best not to move the child, for his own good."

"It's a real shame…"

The door opened, revealing a faunus with a lizard tail and brown hair, shorter than Robyn and Constantine. Beside him, a human woman with purple hair, they appeared to be the married couple.

"Are you that detective who solves problems?"

"I'm afraid so. Let's see what we have." Constantine entered the house without waiting for Robyn, looking curiously at the furniture and utensils. "And they say these things happen on their own?"

"Yes," the woman replied. "It's been happening for the last four days."

"I understand… And you, couple? What did you do that day?"

"I was at home, like every other day off," the woman replied.

"I was coming back from the mine; we managed to get out early because there was a cave-in."

"Do you work every week?"

"Yes, sir. It's not like there's any work to be done, and Dust Schnee's company only hires faunus under those conditions."

"That greedy swine..." Robyn said angrily. "He's going to find out when the elections come around. I'm going to finish him off."

"Look at us, Robyn. For once, we're in agreement on something. I think I even blushed." Constantine scanned the entire house. There was a familiar feeling, but he couldn't quite place what it was. "Can I see the kid?"

"Constantine, it's best not to upset the child," Robyn replied.

"Well, if you think that's how you can solve this," the husband said. "This way."

The four of them went to a small room. There, under the covers, was a boy with an ashen face and dull eyes.

The mother approached him, stroking his head. "Hello, darling. This is Mr. Constantine. He needs to look at something in your room, okay?"

"Don't be mistaken, ma'am. What I want is to talk to him." Constantine bent down, lowering himself to the bed's level. "How are you, boy?"

"Bad..." he murmured softly. Robyn's chest burned with helplessness at not being able to help him. "Is he a hunter?"

"Oh no, I'm different. Tell me, kid. Are you cold?"

"Yes."

"Does everything seem dark to you?"

The boy nodded. Constantine looked him up and down, noticing him tightly hugging a stuffed rabbit.

‘Where did he get that stuffed animal?’

‘He's had it since he was little,’ replied his father. ‘He never leaves it alone. He adores it.’

‘I see...’ Constantine looked at the stuffed animal, then at Robyn.

Robyn watched him as one watches a cat about to pounce on something.

‘Constantine, no.’

The magician moved his hand closer to the soft toy, causing Robyn's anger to rise.

‘I have to do it.’

‘Constantine, you're not going to take his soft toy away.’

‘I am going to take his soft toy away.’

‘John, don't you dare!’ Robyn reached out to grab the wizard's arm, but he hurried to grab the doll.

Before he could touch it, the child screamed and kicked Constantine in the face. The scream caused a shockwave that sent the exorcist flying into the wall, knocking over the furniture.

‘John!’ Robyn rushed over to her ally, checking on him. ‘Are you okay?’

Constantine shook his head. Regaining his concentration. ‘Robyn, get the parents out of here.’

‘What?’

‘It's the doll, the doll is responsible.’

‘Constantine, that's nonsense, how could it be...’

Constantine stood up, pointing his hands at the child while reciting the appropriate chants. From his pocket, he took out a silver cross, blessed by a Protestant priest. He would have preferred the blessing of a Catholic priest, but he had been banned from all Catholic churches for years.

‘Ostende!’

The child began to scream, his parents frightened and afraid to approach him because of the sudden wind coming from him.

But Constantine saw the truth: the child was not to blame. The stuffed animal in his hand began to tremble, slowly floating away and escaping from the child's grasp.

With a horrible scream, a dark shadow emerged from him. The white mask and black body revealed its true nature.

‘Robyn, take them away!’ Constantine took out a crystal of ice dust. With it in his hand, he began to cast a spell to stop the monster.

The blue light of the crystal became a little more opaque, but chains of ice came out of magic circles, trapping the Grimm.

The woman fired her crossbow at the Grimm, but it managed to dodge the shot despite being trapped. It began to fly around the room, forcing the wizard to grab the frozen chains with his own hands.

‘Get them out! Now!’

Seeing that she couldn't help there, Robyn picked up the child and headed for the exit with his parents.

‘If you die, I'll make sure your soul never knows peace!’ said Robyn before leaving.

The Grimm flew around, carrying Constantine throughout the room and causing him to crash into everything. Finally, he found the door and headed for the kitchen.

‘That's it, you've pissed me off.’

Constantine snapped the chains, causing the Grimm to fall to the floor. The chains melted, but that didn't stop Constantine. The wizard grabbed one of the dining room chairs and smashed it over the Grimm's head.

‘Attacking a child... you disgust me,’ said the wizard. He began kicking the Grimm on the floor, but the Grimm got up and threw Constantine against the countertop. He slammed his face against the furniture, dragging it forcefully until the exorcist hit him with a frying pan.

Overwhelmed by this desperate and dirty fighting style, the Grimm tried to escape but was intercepted by crossbow bolts that pierced his head.

Robyn aimed the weapon on her forearm. ‘It's still not down?’

‘It'll go down!’ Constantine hit him again with the frying pan, knocking him onto his back.

Before he could recover, Constantine grabbed a kitchen knife in one hand and a fire Dust stone in the other.

He uttered a simple incantation, which caused the blade, previously the colour of metal, to turn bright red, as if it had been heated by a blowtorch.

Constantine placed the burning blade just below the Grimm's mask, which continued to scream.

‘Die already!’ Constantine pried off the mask and tucked it into his trench coat. Then he plunged the burning knife into the Grimm, which writhed before disintegrating once and for all.

Robyn went to Constantine, hoisting him onto her shoulder to carry him out of the house.

‘Make way.’ Robyn sat him down outside, looking inside the house. ‘That was a Geist. How did it get into Mantle?’

‘They must have come from somewhere nearby,’ replied the wizard, taking out a cigarette. He offered one to Robyn, but she declined.

‘A Grimm in our own home,’ said the woman, trembling with fear. ‘And so close to our little one.’

‘I think Pietro will be able to help now,’ said Robyn, comforting the parents. ‘Let's take him to him.’

‘Not so fast, darling.’ Constantine stood up, exhaling a puff of smoke. ‘That Grimm possessed the child's doll. We need to know when and where it happened.’

‘Constantine, the child is unwell. He needs to be treated as soon as possible,’ said Robyn.

‘And if we don't know where it came from, it could happen again. You know I'm right, Robyn.’

The woman sighed, annoyed at having to agree with the detective. ‘All right.’ We know it was four days ago when the strange things started; the Geists don't go that long without acting.

‘And it got into the child's doll...’ Constantine addressed the worried parents, who were holding their weakened son. ‘You said earlier that he never left the doll's side. But is that always the case? Or only at home?’

‘At home’ replied the mother. ‘We don't let him take his toys to the park or school, some child might take it away from him out of pure malice.’

‘Hmm... Understandable, some kids are especially nasty. That means it got him at home.’ Constantine entered the residence, accompanied by Robyn.

‘Do you think it was here? Really?’

‘It's a possibility.’

‘Fuck... this could cause unprecedented panic. Riots, burning streets, all because of fear of the Grimm. I can't let Mantle fall.’

‘Don't worry, darling. With you taking the powerful by the balls, I'm sure you'll get through it.’

The comment brought a smile to Robyn's face, and she followed the wizard to their son's room. Constantine grabbed the stuffed animal.

Taking a piece of string out of his pocket, he tied a knot in one of its legs. Finally, he stuck a pin into one end.

‘What the hell are you doing?’

‘It's a pendulum. I'm going to try to follow the trail.’

‘Using old wives' tales isn't going to help us.’

‘Show some respect for your elders. They understood the mysticism of the world better than we do.’ Constantine began to walk around the house holding the stuffed animal by the thread, which remained static.

Finally, after a thorough inspection, the stuffed animal began to spin when they approached the entrance.

Robyn looked at it in surprise. ‘But what...’

Constantine moved aside the coats and everything else in the way, revealing an object that made the stuffed animal spin so much that the string broke.

The wizard grabbed the object; it was a pickaxe.

‘What's this doing here?’ Constantine said, confused.

‘Anza said he works in the Dust mine, and they make them bring their own equipment.’

‘Damn, employers are bastards everywhere. So you have to take this to...’ Constantine opened his eyes wide, suddenly realising something. He looked at Robyn, who had the same expression on her face.

‘The collapse... there was a collapse in the mine,’ Robyn recalled.

‘But something had to cause that collapse, and supposedly those mines are stable.’

"So that would mean the collapse was caused by... No, it can't be. It would have been known, they couldn't open it without first making sure there was no more Grimm."

"That would only be if they ever reported it."

Robyn slammed her fist against the wall, filled with rage. "Schnee! I'm going to ruin that bastard. Endangering not only the workers, but the entire Mantle. And for what? To make even more money."

Constantine looked at the pickaxe, his blue eyes filled with cold rage. He wanted to go to Jacques Schnee and hurl the worst curses he knew at him, he wanted to unleash all the black magic spells he possessed on him.

And maybe he would.

The wizard grabbed the pickaxe and rushed out of the house. As he left, he saw the worried parents. ‘Take the boy to Pietro, everything is sorted now. And as payment, I'll keep the pickaxe, it'll be cheaper to buy another one than to pay me.’

Robyn had a bad feeling, walking alongside the wizard as they walked.

‘Constantine, stop.’

‘This has gone too far, Robyn. I won't allow it.’

The huntress grabbed him by the shoulder, turning him around. ‘Stop and think calmly.’

– Oh, don't worry. I've thought it through. First, I'll get to the gates of his house, take down any guards there, go inside, and stab him in the head. It's a simple plan.

– Constantine, no one wants to see Jacques fall more than I do, but it can't be done that way. We have to beat them at their own game.

‘The game is rigged, Robyn. You're smart, I know you know that.’

‘But even so, we can win.’ Robyn took out her scroll, sent a message, and put it away. ‘It's done.’

‘What have you done?’

‘Sent my hunters to occupy the mine.’

‘And that's better than going straight for that bastard Jacques?’

‘It is, because they'll send in the military for that commotion, and then they'll have to enter the mine. When the Grimms see it, they'll shut it down.’

Constantine looked into her eyes and could see her determination. The wizard smiled. ‘You're wonderful, you know that?’

‘If that's your attempt to flirt with me, you're going to have to try harder.’

‘Well, who knows. Life takes many twists and turns, Robyn, and it has a very peculiar sense of humour.’ Constantine headed for his office, waving goodbye. ‘See you in prison, sweetheart.’

Robyn shook her head. She still didn't trust Constantine's methods, but at least she had learned something from this little adventure. His heart was with the innocent, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. And she could respect that.

Back in his office, Constantine took out the mask he had ripped off the Grimm, adopting a serious expression. He took it to the bathroom, where he smashed it until part of the mask turned to dust.

Carefully, he sniffed a little, groaning in pain.

Crouching on the floor with the toilet bowl open, he drew a triangle with circles at its vertices.

‘Please let this work.’

He took a deep breath and stuck his head in the toilet, feeling his consciousness travel back in time.

Constantine appeared in a barren, dark land. The sky in that area was a deep red, bringing back bad memories of the first crisis.

‘I hope we don't end up in that situation again...’ Constantine muttered. He looked around, detecting a glowing silhouette coming from a swamp filled with a black, tar-like liquid.

From that lake emerged a figure with a glowing silhouette. It was the Grimm he had killed in that family's house. The Grimm flew around the area in a state of confusion, without a clear objective. It was then that Constantine realised.

There were tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of Grimms marching in different directions. A force that concentrated could destroy anything. And that pool was the source of it all.

‘No, this doesn't make sense. These creatures aren't intelligent, they act on instinct, they're almost like...’ Constantine found a connection, a similarity to his Earth. These monsters acted exactly like parademons. ‘Salem... Salem is their Darkseid. They act on the orders of their creator, that must be it.’

Constantine followed the Grimm. It didn't seem to be going anywhere in particular until he saw a ruined castle on top of a hill. Constantine rolled up his sleeve, looking at his forearm. There was a drawing of a pentagram that was fading. The further he got away from the Grimm, the sooner the spell would end.

‘But it's worth checking who it is.’

Constantine floated to the castle, taking advantage of his incorporeal form. He had to get all the information before returning. He entered through the doors and walls until he came to a room with a large table.

Five people were seated there. One was a dark-skinned man with a bushy moustache and a rather scrawny appearance, looking at his companions with a certain air of superiority. The other was a pale man with a sinister smile, a ponytail and a scorpion's tail. Constantine had a bad feeling about him; he had the eyes of a sadist. There was a woman with long black hair wearing a red dress, one of her eyes covered by her wavy fringe, she seemed quite confident among her companions. Then there was a large, muscular man who couldn't help but look down on the other three.

And the last one was something Constantine could only describe as magical. She was a woman with grey skin and black eyes with red irises, long white hair tied back with ornaments, and a black dress.

‘Cinder, I can trust that everything is going according to your plan, right?’

‘Of course, my mistress’ said the woman in the red dress. ‘Everything is in place. That little man, Torchwick, and his lackeys have done their part. All that remains is the last part of the plan.’

‘Good job, Cinder,’ said the woman in black, placing her hand on her cheek. ‘I knew you would make me proud. Arthur, give her the virus’ she said, turning to the man with the moustache. He threw her what looked like a pendrive, which Cinder caught in mid-air.

‘You better not screw this up, Cinder.’

‘You'll eat your words, Arthur,’ she replied angrily.

‘It's true, you must trust her. After all, I have chosen her as my maiden, she just needs to claim the rest of the power’ said the woman. At that moment, orange flames shot out of Cinder's eyes. Constantine recognised magic when he saw it, and that fire was supernatural.

The sinister man began to laugh. ‘I trust you, Cinder. I'm sure you'll unleash a beautiful massacre.’

‘I have objections’ said the large man. ‘I don't like you using kids for this, Salem.’ Constantine's blood ran cold, even though the identity of the woman in black was obvious.

Salem raised her hand, summoning tentacles that began to strangle the man. ‘Hazel, respect is everything in this alliance. I like your dedication to taking down Ozpin, but while you're here, you will show me respect.’

Hazel stirred. ‘Yes, my lady.’ The tentacles disappeared, allowing him to breathe.

‘As for those children, that is Cinder's problem and Cinder's alone. Their achievements are hers, as are their failures.’

‘There will be no failure, my lady. This Vytal Festival will be the beginning of our victory.’

‘Vytal Festival... Pietro spoke of it.’

At that moment, the world went dark, leaving only Salem. Constantine grew concerned, looking at his forearm. Time had passed, but he was still there.

Salem turned to him, looking him in the eyes. ‘I see you...’ The woman screamed, flying towards him at full speed.

Constantine covered himself with his arms, and then he woke up.

He sat up with a start, spitting out water and breathing heavily. He was on the floor of his office. ‘What the hell?’

He tried to move, but his chest hurt as if he had been beaten up. Then he looked to his side.

There, sitting exhausted, was Robyn. She had a worried look on her face, which quickly turned to anger. She punched Constantine, who didn't have time to use his aura to protect himself.

‘What the hell are you doing, John? When I got here, you were choking yourself in the toilet. I don't know what you're going through, but that's not the solution.’

‘What? Oh no, don't get confused, sweetheart, killing myself would be the easy way out of all the shit I still have to pay for.’ Constantine got up, looking around his office with some haste. Then he licked his lips, they were hot. ‘Did you kiss me?’ he said, laughing.

'No! I gave you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, you were dying.'

I owe you one, then. I'll pay you back with a proper kiss.'

Robyn kicked him in the back, but this time she mitigated the damage with her aura. 'I came to tell you that my mine plan worked. Schnee is going to lose a lot of money on this. The Huntresses and I are going to take advantage of this to get some of them to join a union.' We haven't won the war, but we've won the battle.

'Well, at least one of us has won.' Constantine began to pack all his Dust and books into a large bag, which caught the hunter's attention.

'Are you running away?'

'No, I'm just leaving for an indefinite period. I can't give you many details, Robyn. But I have to get to the Vytal festival as soon as possible.'

'Just like that?'

'Yes. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if there are any flights left to Vale. I'll figure out what to do with the office later, I'll sort it out by scroll.'

Robyn grabbed his arm, looking him in the eyes. This time there was no anger or desire to strangle him, there was sadness.

'Constantine, you can do a lot of good in Mantle. You may be the ally we needed.'

The wizard smiled; it always felt good to be flattered by someone much better than himself. 'Thanks for the compliments, Robyn. But what I'm dealing with doesn't just affect Mantle; it's possible that the whole of Remnant will suffer the consequences.' Constantine took an envelope out of his raincoat and handed it to the huntress. 'Fiona's thousand lien, in case we don't see each other again.'

Robyn smiled and gave him a hug. The wizard was surprised. 'Don't be silly. Over the last few months, you've proven yourself to be as resilient as a cockroach. Go on, I'll take care of this place. It'll make a good office for the Happy Huntresses.'

'With you in charge, I'm sure it will be even cleaner.'

Constantine broke free from Robyn's embrace, grabbed his bag, and headed for the port.

Luckily for him, there was a flight of tourists heading to Vale, who were also going to the festival. Constantine looked out the window of the ship, observing the vast sea and thinking. There were no coincidences; fortune always followed a certain order within its chaos. He had arrived in Remnant as any other hero might have.

But it had been him, John Constantine, a con artist whom heroes turned to as a last resort and who had earned both the rejection and respect of the magical community. He was going to have to play some kind of role in this whole mess, and for the sake of that Earth, he hoped it would be a small one.

‘All right, Fortuna. If you want me to play the hero, I'll do it, but I'll do it my way.’ Constantine took a cigarette out of his packet and put it in his mouth until he saw the flight crew heading towards him. They placed a rubbish bin in front of him. ‘Bollocks...’

Constantine threw away the cigarette. The trip was going to be extremely long...

Chapter Text

The kingdom of Vale, considered one of the most peaceful kingdoms in Remnant and home to the legendary Beacon Academy, where the kingdom's greatest heroes hailed from. In reality, it had only a few major cities, the most notable being Vale City, which served as its capital.

There, two young students strolled through the streets, though one was clearly more excited than her companion.

"Weeeeess! Did you have fun? I told you it would be a good idea to go shopping."

"Ruby, we didn't buy anything. You've been staring at weapons like an idiot."

"They're so pretty, but so expensive..." Ruby Rose, wearing her signature black dress with a red skirt and cape, sighed depressedly. "If only my super-duper best friend would give me a present..."

Weiss Schnee, heiress to her family's Dust empire in Atlas, made a face of disgust as she placed her hands on her hips. "First of all, never say "Duper" in my presence again. And second, I'm not going to buy you anything. You only know how to use your scythe."

Ruby started walking backward, looking at Weiss with her big silver eyes as if she was a puppy. “But they're beautiful, I want to have them in the room. Did you notice the swords? That WAS a katana! Wagh!”

Ruby, who wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, bumped into a passerby, causing them both to fall to the ground.

Weiss clicked her tongue. “I should have stayed behind studying Grimm anatomy, but no, Yang and Blake had to go, and so did she. It's always the same with you, Ruby.”

“Ow, ow, ow!” Ruby felt her head spinning, but she recovered instantly. Getting up with lightning speed, she saw the person she had knocked down. “Sorry, sorry, sorry! Are you okay?”

The man who had crashed appeared to be in his late thirties, blond, and wearing a trench coat and brown pants. He held his temple in pain.

"Goodness... that child has such a shrill voice...". The man, who was reading a book, quickly put it down when he confronted Ruby with a stern look on his face. "Hey, lass, watch where you're going..."

The man was speechless, looking at Ruby as if he'd just realized something important.

"Um... Did he get really bad? Should I take him to the hospital?" Ruby asked, genuinely concerned.

"I know what's wrong with him, my dear country girl. It's just that he didn't expect to find a real Schnee here" Weiss said, nodding triumphantly.

"Shhh… Be quiet for a moment, One-Eye Queen."

“What did you call me?!” Weiss’s anger grew, but the man continued to stare at Ruby’s face with interest.

“Beautiful eyes. Silver.”

“Yep, inherited from my mother. Or so Dad says,” Ruby commented. “I’m Ruby Rose, Huntress student and fearless leader of Team RWBY!”

The man showed a slight trace of sadness at that, but recovered. Standing up while dusting himself off, he looked with interest at the two girls, who were shorter than him. “John Constantine, Detective.”

“Constantine… Hey, Weiss, he has a strange name, like you. Are you from Atlas too?”

“You could say so. Is the team just you and the One-Eyed Queen?”

“Oh, look who was insulting, you… you…” Weiss looked Constantine up and down, looking for something to counter with. He was disheveled, with a few days' growth of beard and a threadbare trench coat. "Tacky."

"Well, at least I know she's not the sarcastic one in the group."

"No, that's my friend Blake," Ruby replied cheerfully. She loved bragging about her friends to strangers; to her, they were the most important thing in her life.

Constantine looked at Ruby curiously. He picked up the book he'd dropped; it was a book of tales and legends from Remnant. He quickly opened it, coming to a story that mentioned legendary silver-eyed warriors. That was a legend, true, but Constantine always trusted tales and fables; most of them usually had a grain of truth in them.

"Look, Ruby, I'd love to hear you babble about your little group of aspiring heroines, but I need to go somewhere. Do you know where there's a bookstore?"

Ruby's eyes lit up. "Do you like to read too? Then you have to meet my friend Blake." Ruby looked around, climbing onto Constantine's shoulder, causing him to grimace in disgust. "She has adult books, one of them, Love Ninjas, is lewd!"

Constantine shook his arm, shaking Ruby off. That brat had just burst his eardrum. "Is she always so restless?" he asked Weiss.

"I'm afraid so, she'll never change."

Ruby struck a heroic pose, her red cape billowing. She seemed genuinely proud of her friend's comment. "Oh, right, books. Reading books. There are several bookstores, but one is closed. Apparently the owner was murdered."

"You tell me such lovely things, kid."

"They still haven't found the culprits," Weiss commented. "But it seems it could be a settling of scores. If it's books what you want, there's one right here downtown, right next to the arcade."

"Hmmm... Thanks, kiddo, you've been helpful." Constantine began to walk away, leaving the girls behind.

"See you next time, Mr. Constantine," Ruby said, waving briskly.

Constantine lit a cigarette. "Listen to me, kiddo. For your sake, I hope there's no next time."

Leaving them behind, Constantine headed for the bookstore. They weren't bad girls, he could see that. But the very idea of ​​a school to train heroes, implanting that idea of ​​sacrifice in their young heads... He hated it; it made him gag. It wasn't the first time he'd argued with Batman or the wizard Shazam about using children in their crusades to fight evil.

He'd been young once, young and inexperienced. He'd been led to believe he was destined for great things; he'd believed it like the fool he was. And for that arrogance, a girl was condemned to hell. That's why he did what he did, so that no idiot eager to be a hero would repeat his mistakes.

He soon arrived at the shop, run by a short, older man. He had a strange hairstyle, bald on top but hair on the sides. In addition to his gray hair, he also stood out for having his eyes closed, although they seemed to see.

The man smiled at Constantine, but said nothing. The exorcist looked at him curiously. He seemed harmless, but why did he feel he was in danger?

“I’ve seen you before…” Constantine left the store, entering the arcade next door. The old man was there. He went to a dust shop across the street.

The old man smiled at him.

With fear, Constantine returned to the bookstore as he took a jar out of his trench coat. “Ictun sem-!”

Constantine froze, as did the time around him. The old man looked at him with a mischievous smile; he seemed to be having fun. The magician tried to move his mouth, pronouncing a name that no human could replicate correctly.

“Mr. Mxyzptlk!”

The old man let out a thunderous laugh. A cloud of purple smoke covered him, revealing a man very similar to the old man, but wearing an orange suit, boots, gloves, and a purple bowler hat.

The little man floated up to him, kicking him in the head.

“John Constantine!” What a strange but exciting surprise to see you on this Earth. Have you been good, bad, a little of both?

Constantine was terrified, how could he not be? The magical community couldn't agree on whether this fifth-dimensional being was magical or metahuman, but they did know that his powers exceeded any other being in the universe.

"You... what are you doing here? Why aren't you pissing off the Boy Scout like you always do?"

"Oh, playing with Superman is a lot of fun, but I also find pleasure in owning a little shop."

"You have all the shops!"

"Quantity and numbers are concepts I don't agree with" he said, crossing his arms. He took the jar from Constantine, making it disappear with a snap. "A futile attempt, but entertaining. How did you get here, you ragged human? I thought the first to reach this earth would be one of your roadrunners."

“Unfreeze me and we'll talk. This position is uncomfortable.”

The fifth-dimensional being snapped his fingers, allowing Constantine to move freely. He looked through the shop window; the people outside were still frozen. He had to think carefully about what he was going to say. If all the Trench Coat Brigade's investigations into this being were true, it was impulsive and a bit naive. He usually challenged Superman to test him, and then left.

“Let's start with you,” said the wizard. “I thought you were only interested in our Earth.”

“Well, that's because you're very interesting creatures, but this Earth has something special. Many secrets, many stories, many shops. I'm sure you'll rack your brains figuring it out.”

Constantine smiled; it was now or never. “You're wrong, imp. I already know.”

“What?” he said, confused, appearing before the wizard's eyes. “What do you mean " you know"?”

"About Salem, I already know that."

“But that, that… that’s impossible!” Mr. Mxyzptlk’s bowler hat caught fire with anger. “The connections to this Earth from your dull dimension were cut off, you can’t possibly know that.”

“Oh, but that’s how it was. It didn’t take me long, honestly. Salem, the Grimm, their council of villains… I know all about their plans.”

“Even about Salem and Ozpin?”

“Oh, mostly about that. A juicy story.” Constantine tried to keep him from calling the bluff. He’d read about Ozpin during the flight while researching Beacon Academy, where the Vytal Festival was being held. From what he’d heard, they’d already held the first round.

“True!” The imp leaned close to Constantine’s ear, making a chair the size of him appear in the air to sit next to him. “A spicy story, if you know what I mean.”

"If I'm honest, I felt a little uncomfortable finding out. These are things that should remain private."

"Oh, oh. And what do you plan to do about the maidens? I know you heroes can't sit still."

"Yes, the maidens..." Constantine looked away, completely lost. That gesture, unfortunately, caught the attention of the extradimensional being.

"You... You're lying!"

"What...? Come on, man, you just caught me off guard."

“Lalalalalala!” he shouted, covering his ears as he twirled in the air. “Liar liar pants on fire!”

Constantine felt an unpleasant warm coming off his pants. He turn around, looking how his pants were on fire.

"Bloody psycho!" He started screaming while rolling on the floor, trying to extinguish the fire, only to discover that the fire was impossible to put out. It was more than magical, it was a fire made for comedy purposes, obeying only his master, The fith dimension Imp. It was a hard situation

"That's why no one in my dimension likes you! You're no fun, John Constantine! Batman has Batmite, Nightwing has Nite-Mite, but you? You're no one's favorite!"

"Tell me something I don't know!" he screamed, desesperate for the fire in his pants. "It's your fault and only yours that I tricked you! Now put out the fire of my fucking arse!"

“Aaagh! You’re right…” The strange being slumped, bringing Constantine back to normal. “You tricked me, congratulations.” Numerous claps sounded in the room, coming from nowhere. “This isn’t fun anymore, I’ll go back to being the friendly shopkeeper, if you don’t mind.”

The moment the fire dissapear, Constantine felt instant relief. "Fucking finally, at least you didnt make a hole on my pants." Just when he was about to ask him for more information, time returned to its course. The old man was behind the desk, smiling.

“Okay… that was weird even for me. Okay mate, I want books on Remnant legends, the oldest ones. Oh, and also some about rituals and beliefs, you know, what old women in the village do.”

Soon, Constantine was walking down the street with yet another book of legends. Some were repeated, but this one mentioned a story I’d never heard of before. The Maidens of the Seasons.

Mr. Mxyzptlk mentioned some maidens when he let his tongue slip; perhaps that’s what he meant. According to that story, four sisters visited a sad and lonely man who never left his hut. These women gave him gifts, taught him the value of the world, nature, and the joy of living. As a gift, the sad man, who was a magician, gave them incredible powers so they could share their gifts with the world. They were the maidens of summer, winter, autumn, and spring.

It sounded like a typical legend about the origin of the seasons, but perhaps there was some truth to it. Or perhaps it was some code name, which he would discover sooner or later.

The magician continued walking, taking out his other book, the one on rituals and beliefs. He was disappointed to see that many of its passages were simply concoctions to cure stomachaches or toothaches. However, he saw some supposed potion recipes that caught his attention.

"This... This is wrong." Constantine picked up a pen he had in his hand, writing on the book. He recognized that potion; it allowed him to open his eyes underwater without feeling pain, as if he were wearing a screen. But precisely by getting to know it, he was able to detect a mistake in the ingredients. “So, they do have magic. Or at least, they did. There has to be something more.”

While he was pondering what could be true and what wasn't in that book, he bumped into a passerby, but he continued on his way.

“Hey, man! Watch where you're going!”

Constantine ignored him; judging by the person's voice, he couldn't have been more than eighteen. A kid, he had nothing to worry about.

The boy, with silver hair and gray clothes, turned to his companion. “Emerald, can you believe it?”

The girl, his same age with green hair, started laughing. “I've always said you weren't very relevant.”

“I don't find it funny, he didn't even apologize. He's a jerk, thinking that because we're younger we're idiots.” An idea formed in her mind. "Hey, we still have time before we meet with Cinder. Should we play a prank on her?"

"Be careful, Mercury. If we get into trouble before our second match, we'll be in trouble."

"Come on, a little prank. Use your Semblance."

Emerald looked Constantine up and down. He was standing on a bench while taking notes in his notebook.

"Hmmm... In the city, distracted... It wouldn't be strange if a cockroach crawled up his face."

"I like your thinking. Let's get a little closer."

The duo slowly approached Constantine, positioning themselves in a position where they would go unnoticed. Emerald concentrated, using her Semblance.

Emerald's Semblance was unusually powerful; it allowed her to create hallucinations indistinguishable from reality and only those affected could see them.

She thought about the cockroach crawling up his arm and into the man's mouth. She saw no reaction.

"Come on, Emerald, what are you waiting for?"

"i... I don't know. I'm trying, but it's like my head is foggy."

At that moment, Constantine looked up from the book, slowly turning toward Emerald.

The exorcist smiled, a smile that grew longer than usual. The world around Emerald began to darken, turning red. The detective's eyes became red lights that seemed to lead to hell itself, while tons of cockroaches emerged from his mouth.

"What's going on?!" Emerald began to breathe rapidly, trying to remain calm. "We have to get out of here!" the girl turned to her companion.

Where Mercury had been, there was now a cockroach of the same size, standing on two legs and waving its other legs toward Emerald as it squealed, a high-pitched noise that shattered the girl's ears.

"AAAAAAAH!" Emerald kicked the cockroach, fleeing at full speed. Everywhere she looked, she saw only red and darkness, while the grinning shadow of the man stared back at her, no matter where she was.

A large wave of cockroaches came toward her from the side, advancing in Emerald's direction as she watched in horror, unable to move.

She squeezed her eyes shut, no longer wanting to see that nightmare world.

Something hit her from the side, knocking her to the ground. When she opened her eyes, she was lying down, with Mercury on top of her.

"What the heck is wrong with you?!" the boy asked.

"I... what..." Emerald looked ahead, where a truck had screeched to a halt. The driver stopped, running toward her.

"Are you okay, girl? You have to be more careful, I almost run over you."

"A truck... it was a truck."

"Of course it was a truck" Mercury replied angrily. "Excuse me, sir, we'll leave now."

Mercury grabbed Emerald, letting her lean on his shoulder to get out of that street. The girl looked back, and amid the crowd of people who had gathered when they saw what was happening, she saw Constantine in the distance.

The exorcist gave her a cold look, his blue eyes stern, as if reprimanding her. No one had ever looked at her like that, no one except Cinder.

Emerald quickened her pace, fear filling her again. "Mercury, let's go back to Beacon now."

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"That guy, that guy is dangerous, he's not a normal hunter. When he looked at me, I saw that he could have killed us both if he wanted to."

"Should we tell Cinder?"

"No! If we delay the plan, she'll kill us. Let's just hope he doesn't get involved; if he were with Ozpin, he wouldn't be here."

"I hope you're right."

Constantine watched the two boys walk away. He ran his finger across his nose; it was bleeding. "Fucking kid... You have to be more careful if you don't want this world to eat you up."

Constantine lit a cigar, taking a drag to think. That girl had activated one of his mental defenses; those were spells designed to ward off demons. It was a miracle he hadn't driven the girl mad. He walked to one of the city's alleys, grabbing a broken bottle and positioning it.

With the book in his hand, he concentrated, trying to sense the magic in the air. "Smoke..."

"Nothing happened." The mage looked at the book in confusion, making a few adjustments. Magical circles of light appeared in his hands. "Smoke!"

The broken bottle began to fade, carried by the wind as if it were an illusion. Despite the success, Constantine looked distasteful.

"A spell too costly for its effects. I had to use myself as an arcane focus." He took a last drag on his cigar, lighting a new one. "Maybe the ancestors were born with natural magic, but if that's the case… what the hell happened to them?"

Leaving aside trying to learn new spells for now, he decided to head to Beacon; he had to get a word in edgewise with that man.

Ozpin, Constantine had been asking around on his way to the academy, and all the praise was there. They said he was an intelligent man, someone they could trust. But the detective was an old bloodhound, and he had a chill running down his neck that warned him. Ozpin must be hiding something.

On his way, he saw numerous food and souvenir stalls. He spotted a commemorative pin from the festival; after a moment, he bought two. One for himself; it was always nice to have something sharp on him; and one for Robyn; it was the least he could do after leaving so suddenly.

“Mister Constantine!” a squeaky, sweet voice sounded behind him; he recognized it. He turned around, seeing an orange-headed blur hurtling toward him. “Sa-lu-tations!”

Constantine put his hand in front of him, stopping the girl from reaching for him. “Hey, Penny. Pietro didn’t tell me you were here.”

Penny, with Constantine's hand still on her face, nodded. "Of course, Mr. Constantine. I've come to represent Atlas Academy."

"Constantine's fine, you know."

"Okay, Mr. Constantine."

The wizard sighed, removing his hand and putting it in his suit pocket. That girl was hopeless. "Have you been able to make any friends here?"

Penny's face lit up. "Yes! I've made a wonderful friend! In fact, she's coming that way."

"Pennyyy!" a shrill voice penetrated Constantine's ears. That voice... he'd heard it that very morning.

A cloud of rose petals sped toward them, from which emerged a girl in a black dress and red cape who hugged Penny tightly.

Ruby Rose... Constantine frowned. Meeting the same girl twice so quickly could be a coincidence. However, the mage knew that coincidences are just particularly twisted ways of fate to blow up events that haven't even happened yet.

Ruby gasped in surprise, pointing at Constantine. "The man in the trench coat, Constantain!"

"Constantine!" the mage replied, cigar in his mouth. "You said it well this morning!"

"Oops, I must have forgotten." Ruby gave a goofy grin. That got on Constantine's nerves, but he couldn't get mad. After all, she was a heroine at heart. "Uh-oh. Remember I told you about my team? Now I can introduce you."

Three more girls joined the group. One of them was the Schnee from that morning, but she didn't know the other two.

"Oh, great. It's him again," Weiss said, annoyed.

"At your service, One-Eyed Queen." Constantine bowed. One of the girls gave a deep, nasal laugh.

"Ha! That's a good one." She was a tall, powerful young woman with a mane of golden hair that would be the envy of anyone.

"I think it's a good nickname, don't you think, Weiss?" said the last girl, a thinner woman with black hair and sharp eyes, wearing a black bow.

"You're both hideous."

"Mr. Constantine," Ruby said, putting on a solemn voice, but it only managed to sound like a caricature. "This is... Yang, the muscle of the group."

The blonde girl flexed her biceps, giving them a kiss.

"Blake. She's a ninja, ninja..." she said, trying to sound mysterious.

"Pleased to meet you," she greeted politely.

"Weiss, the group brains. And the wallet."

Weiss put on a proud face, until she realized the last part.

"And finally, your fearless leader, Ruby," she said, pointing to herself. "Together we are... Team RWBY!"

Ruby, Blake, and Yang struck a team pose straight out of a cartoon, with Weiss looking embarrassed. Penny, for her part, began clapping enthusiastically.

"Yeah, Team RWBY... doesn't that seem a little self-centered to you?" Constantine asked, taking a drag.

"What? No!" Ruby complained, pouting. Yang put her arm around her shoulder.

"The raggedy guy is right, sis, it may sound self-centered."

Constantine was surprised, so those two were sisters. They certainly had radically different complexions.

"Constantine, Ruby told us about her encounter with you this morning," the black-haired girl said. "Are you also a bookworm?"

"Affirmative," Penny said. “In Atlas, Mr. Constantine was an avid reader.”

Blake’s eyes lit up. “Then I recommend my favorite book, it’s called The Man with Two Souls. It’s a story about a man who has two souls in his body, and they fight for control.”

“Heh, who would have thought it? You wouldn’t guess from the title” Constantine replied sarcastically.

“It has beautiful prose. Also, the author said it was based on an ancient poem by Vacuo that appeared after the Great War.”

That caught Constantine’s attention. If the origin dated back to ancient times, perhaps it might contain information about the legend. “Thanks, I’ll take a look. Girls, I’m sorry to go, but I have to talk to Ozpin.”

"Do you know the director?" Weiss asked, surprised.

"No, but I'm looking forward to it."

"Hey, dude, I don't think you can see him without an appointment," Yang said.

"Relax, lass. The director will want to see me. I can be quite persuasive." Constantine confidently left the group, heading inside the academy.

Two hours passed, and Constantine was sitting in a chair at the reception desk. He'd already smoked a pack and a half. The receptionist typed rapidly, ignoring him.

"For all that's holy, when am I going to get to see the fucking director?!" Constantine shouted desperately; he was losing his temper from waiting so long.

The woman stopped typing, giving him a dead, uninterested look. "He's in a meeting." The woman continued typing; she had more important things to do than attend to Constantine.

She stood up and started pacing around the reception desk. She couldn't take it anymore.

He walked to the reception door. When the receptionist tried to stop him, he was no longer there. Constantine walked, hopping between rooms.

It was a little trick he always used to bypass security or catch flights; it worked better the more unnoticed he was. Finally, after dodging several teachers, he reached the top of the tower, where a door separated him from the headmaster's office.

He heard voices inside, so he leaned behind the door.

"Ozpin, I don't think you understand the seriousness of this. We have to start organizing to attack."

"And we will, James. But there aren't enough of us yet."

"Atlas is capable of having an army of automatons in a month; we just have to find her hiding place."

"You know I appreciate your efforts, my friend. But those machines will never be able to compete with our hunters. We will train them, turn them into skilled warriors." And when necessary, if we're not enough... then they'll fight.

A silence stretched for several seconds. After that, Constantine heard them say goodbye. The door opened, concealing the wizard as he watched a burly man in a white uniform leave.

He had only been in Mantle for a few months, but he was still able to recognize General Ironwood solely by his back.

After he left, Constantine opened the door, freely entering Ozpin's living room.

The man stood with his back to the door, staring through the glass window while sipping a cup of coffee.

"Have you forgotten something, James?"

"It's not my name, but close enough."

Ozpin turned around, puzzled. It was the first time Constantine had seen him properly. He was a tall man, taller than John himself, so he must have been almost two meters tall.

His hair was silver and short, and he wore brown glasses perched on his nose, giving him an intellectual appearance.

He banged his cane on the floor. Constantine had taken enough beatings at the hands of experts to recognize a weapon when he saw one.

"I don't think we've met," Ozpin said calmly. "How did you get in?"

"Through the door, you can get to many places if you act like you belong there."

Ozpin gave him a smile, which only told Constantine that he had to be careful around the silver-haired man. It was the smile of someone accustomed to lying and manipulating; Constantine saw it every time he looked in the mirror.

"Please, have a seat."

"If you don't mind, I'd rather remain standing. I think better of it." Constantine handed him one of his cards.

"John Constantine, private detective. I hope that's not a way of referring to an unlicensed hunter, Mr. Constantine. The punishment for that can be very... severe."

"I only do what hunters don't. But that's just to pay the bills, you know? Let's just say my line of work is more… abstract."

"Hmmm… you've caught my curiosity, Mr. Constantine. What do you want ?"

Constantine took a cigarette out of his pack. "Do you mind?"

Ozpin gestured with his hand, inviting him to continue.

The exorcist lit the cigarette with his lighter, savoring the smoke that escaped his mouth.

"You see, Ozpin. Lately I've been obsessed with some books, storybooks, specifically. The Girl Who Fell Down the Rabbit Hole, The Girl with the Basket for Her Grandmother. The Maidens of the Seasons..."

Constantine didn't see anything that gave him away. If he really knew something, he was very good at hiding it.

"I'm also a big fan of stories, Mr. Constantine. They make very interesting teaching aids; they help motivate my students."

"I know, I've met several of them. Nice girls, some of them a bit nervous, but oh well, just the kind of stuff kids fill their heads with the idea of ​​being heroes."

“Constantine, if you've come to criticize our education system…”

“Oh no, don't be mistaken. I came here to talk about books. I've been looking for old editions, and there are unpublished stories I've never heard of before.”

“That's certainly interesting. I'm sure I can lend you one from my collection.”

Constantine paced around the room, taking another drag on his cigar. “There's one story in particular that seems incomplete, but it's really caught my attention. Tell me, Ozpin. Have you ever heard of Salem?”

Ozpin's pupils narrowed, prompting a satisfied smile from Constantine. He had him where he wanted him.

The office door closed after a gesture from Ozpin. A gesture Constantine recognized. Magic.

The man pushed back his chair, sitting with his elbows propped up. The chair behind Constantine moved forward on its own, forcing him to sit. Ozpin's expression changed; now he looked like an expert with years of battles behind him.

"All right, John Constantine. Let's talk."

Chapter Text

Beacon, the so-called best Hunter school in the world. It had very powerful teachers and students with great potential. Its headmaster, Ozpin, was world-renowned; considered one of the best and most intelligent Hunters, Ozpin had dedicated his life to teaching.

What ordinary people didn't know was that he was also the leader of a secret group that protected Remnant in the shadows, a group whose existence couldn't be seen by daylight, at the risk of spreading chaos among the population.

In front of him was a forty-year-old man with a poorly trimmed beard and a trench coat that could stand on its own. This man, who clearly looked like a con man, achieved what few had managed.

Surprise Ozpin.

"Who are you?" Ozpin asked seriously; he didn't rule out the possibility that he was an enemy.

"It says so on the card, friend."

""John Constantine, detective." That's not a common name, and certainly a mere detective shouldn't know what you think you know."

"Oh, are we going to do it by assumption? Very well, my friend, so be it." Constantine took a drag on his cigar, blowing out the smoke as he crossed his leg in his seat. "Let's assume I'm a little more than a private detective. Let's assume I've poked my nose in the right places and learned a few names."

"Very well, let's assume that's true. If you say you're more than a detective, what exactly is that?"

"It's all on the card. Look closely, Director."

Ozpin looked at the card again. The name remained the same, but now there were more things next to the detective title.

"Exorcist and demonologist..." Ozpin said thoughtfully.

"I also read cards, although I don't have a full deck. Do you know if there's an occult shop around here?"

"Constantine, these are ancient beliefs. We all know those demons are the Grimm."

"Oh, come on, Ozpin. I thought we were friends. There's no need to lie to me like that. About the chair, the door that closed by itself…"

"Mechanisms. We won't be like your home, Atlas, but we have our technology."

Constantine raised an eyebrow. It was then that he noticed the scroll Ozpin had been hiding. He had just looked up his identity.

That brought a smile to the mage's face. "You're good, Ozpin, you're good. I propose a game."

Ozpin leaned across the table. "I'm looking forward to your proposal."

Constantine placed a tarot card on the table. Justice.

"One question each. No tricks, no lies."

"And if I lie? You won't be able to tell."

"Not me." Constantine touched the card, which emitted a blinding glow. “But the Judge does, and the Judge doesn't like liars. Are you playing?” Constantine extended his hand toward Ozpin.

The headmaster thought for a second. That man had snuck into his office and upended years and years of work to hide Salem's presence. He needed answers, but he had to choose carefully which he preferred first. The truth about Constantine's origins, or how he had found out everything.

Ozpin shook his hand, causing a draft to escape from the card. Constantine smiled, staring at the headmaster of Beacon.

“You first.”

Ozpin considered his question carefully. That man had a clear knowledge of magic, and although the tarot card looked like a Semblance at first glance, it was easy for him to see the truth. His business card stated that he was an exorcist and demonologist, but demons had stopped inhabiting Remnant centuries ago.

With all that and his name, he came to a conclusion. Constantine shouldn't be in Remnant; someone like him was impossible.

"Where exactly are you from? Answer in great detail."

Constantine sighed; he'd put himself in that situation, but he had to take risks.

"I'm British, from England. Although people think I was born in Manchester, it was actually in London. And yes, my registration is a lie; I'm not from Atlas."

The answer left Ozpin frozen.

"You said no lies."

"I didn't lie; if I had, I'd be dying."

"But those places... They don't exist in Remnant." Ozpin raised his eyebrows; he was having an idea. "The dreams of Salem, the ones she was telling me about... Worlds where magic lives. Do you...?"

Constantine put a finger to his lips. "Spoilers, honey. Very well, Casanova, my turn." From what you just said, you've known Salem for years, and if I had to bet, I'm sure you guys…" Constantine made a penetrating gesture with his hands. "Which leaves me with just one question to begin to make sense of it all. What are the maidens?"

Ozpin closed his eyes, remembering other times. "I've seen you know your old stories."

"Yes. In my experience, many tales have a grain of truth in them."

“Once again you surprise me with your cunning, Mr. Constantine. You have a good eye for such things. Yes, the legend of the maidens is true. They are four women with extraordinary powers, true magic. These are powers passed from woman to woman, forever young, never able to pass their power to an older woman.”

“That sounds troubling, but I've seen worse.”

“They are forces to be reckoned with, who must remain hidden for their own good. Before dying, each maiden thinks of a successor, to whom her power is passed. And that's about it for their identity.”

Constantine began to think of possibilities with this new information. However, the Tarot card began to glow red.

“Oh shit…”

“What's going on?”

“You damn vermin, you lied!”

“I didn't lie!”

“I asked what the maidens were, and you damn tile-deceiving fool said 'that was it'! That's not all, you lied."

"What happens now?"

Chains emerged from the letter, strangling Ozpin.

"Now, the judge will pass sentence. You have paid for truth with deceit, and that penalty is very severe." Constantine lit a cigarette.

Ozpin tried to destroy the chains with his cane, but they were unusually strong.

"Do something!"

Constantine took a long drag. "Oh, I'm going to do it. As soon as I get out of here, I'm going to kill Ruby Rose."

Panic flashed in Ozpin's eyes. At that moment, the chains fell away, and the letter returned to normal. Constantine stubbed out his cigarette with the letter, turning it into smoke.

"You, how dare you say that in front of me. I won't allow it, I'll..." Ozpin stopped talking, now realizing what had happened. "You answered my lie with another lie. Balancing the scales."

"Point to the director. It's nice to talk to someone who understands the principles of magic."

Ozpin stood up, adjusting his jacket and resting his cane on the ground. “Mr. Constantine, regarding the maids…”

The wizard signaled with his hand to wait while he lit a new cigar, taking a drag. “Hiding the truth isn't lying. I would have accepted that answer if you'd chosen your words more carefully.”

“Words have power; I haven't remembered that in a long time.” Ozpin turned around, looking out the window. “You're a very important security breach for our entire society, Constantine.”

“You don't know how many times I've heard that phrase.”

“It's not just what you know anymore. You're the first wizard to appear on Remnant since…”

“Since you.” Constantine stood beside him, blowing smoke out his nose. “The mechanisms would work on someone else, but I've seen plenty of magic, my friend. Though yours disturbs me.”

“Why?”

“There are no words, only actions. Power in its purest form. You force reality to warp, obeying your will. For me, magic is telling a lie, a lie so beautiful and perfect that the universe swallows it whole, doing whatever you want." Constantine took a drag on his cigar, smiling. "Magic has ruined my life, Ozpin. But it's so beautiful that I can't give it up."

Ozpin smiled; it was the first time in many years he'd spoken to someone knowledgeable about magic; it reminded him of better times. "I understand. And I understand what you mean by my magic. I have less and less of it, and it will soon be gone."

Constantine shrugged. "That's what happens with sorcerers like yourselves. Once the source of magic dries up, it's gone. Now what do we do?"

"I could kill you right now and make sure you don't talk."

"Yoy could, yes. In fact, that's what I would advise. But you won't."

"How are you so sure?"

"Because you know my magic is useful, and you, my friend, strike me as a person who values ​​usefulness."

Ozpin let out a smile. "Not only are you knowledgeable about magic, you're also good at reading people. What's your goal?"

"At first, it was simply to last long enough, not to die on a frozen steppe. But now? I want to get to the bottom of this. That witch has really pissed me off before."

Ozpin stared straight ahead, taking in the entirety of his academy. "Work for me."

Constantine took the last drag of his cigar, vanishing it with magic. "If you're going to ask me to be a teacher, I'll cast an explosive spell right now and kill us both."

"Relax, not even I would think of entrusting a stranger with the education of my students. I want you to work as an... external advisor. You'll stay at Beacon and help us keep an eye on it, at least until the festival is over."

"Yeah, well, that's exactly what I was coming for. In fact, I hope I'm not late."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say a little bird told me Salem intends to do something at the festival. She's sent one of her agents with a pen."

Ozpin thought for a few seconds, then turned to the wizard.

"A few days ago, someone snuck into the communications tower. A student caught them, and they caused quite a ruckus."

"Shit... then I'm late."

"Mr. Constantine, I'd like you to see the scene in question."

"Fine, but first, I need a couple of things to investigate."

"Tell me."

"I need a bag of talcum powder, the bigger the better, a bottle of wine, and—most importantly—a good cigar."

Ozpin raised his eyebrow, but there was no harm in agreeing to his demands. "I'll take care of that. Let's get going." Ozpin pressed a button on his desk. Soon, a blonde woman with glasses and a purple jacket draped over her shoulders appeared. “Glynda, may I introduce you to Mr. Constantine, an ally of mine who has been away from the group.”

“Ally? So he…”

“Yes, Glynda. He knows. Sorry for keeping it a secret all this time, but it was best for Remnant.”

Constantine held back the urge to praise him; he had fabricated such a blatant lie in such a short time. And his ally was buying it.

“Hello, love. John Constantine, at your service.” Constantine said, bowing with a cigarette in his hand.

“This is Glynda Goodwitch, my right-hand woman and ally against Salem, but not the only one.”

“Ozpin, I hope your friend isn’t like the other two.” Glynda said, adjusting her round glasses.

“Relax, darling, believe me. You haven't seen anyone like me."

Glynda made a noise of displeasure, turning back to Ozpin. "Did you need anything?"

"Yes, I must be gone for a few hours. It would be a great help if you could take care of everything."

"With pleasure."

Ozpin and Constantine left the headmaster's office, heading outside. On the way, Constantine thought about something that had occurred to him during his time on Remnant. Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses, the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz. These people were totems, representations of figures that traversed the popular imagination.

Those kinds of people always had some role in the world, and that left the wizard with a question. What role did he play?

He would have to deal with that later; now he had more pressing matters to deal with. In the communications tower, they climbed to the top floor. The place looked spotless, but Constantine could recognize a clean when he saw one.

"The attack happened here?"

"Indeed. We didn't maintain it because we didn't count on someone with your... talents."

"Well, showing up when least expected is my gift." Constantine paced the room; there were still traces of damage to the building. He crouched on the floor, noticing burns. "Where's what I asked for?"

The elevator door to the top floor opened, revealing a man in immaculate military fatigues, carrying a bag. "I've got it."

"Come on, don't mess with me" Constantine said, angrily, piercing the man with his gaze. "Is he part of your little group too, Oz?"

"I think I should be asking the questions here," Ironwood said, examining him. "I think I've seen you before; that thuggish face looks familiar."

"Take my advice, friend, you haven't seen my worst side yet."

“Gentlemen” Ozpin said, stepping between them. “Let’s behave ourselves. This matter is relevant to our planet.”

Ironwood pulled out his scroll, doing a quick search. “Hmmm, John Constantine. Our reports link you to the activist Robyn Hill.”

“Well, it’s nothing serious. Let’s just say we have common interests.”

“Ozpin,” Ironwood said, ignoring the mage. “I trust you, but I’d like to know what this… civilian is doing involved in our affairs” he said, holding back the insult.

“I know it sounds strange, but Mr. Constantine is my special agent. I wouldn’t have called him if it weren’t necessary.”

“You heard me, soldier. Now, if you want to make a clarification, be a dear and give me that bag.”

Ironwood stepped forward, handing the bag to Constantine. He held it for a few seconds, looking the mage in the eye. “You know what we’re up against, don’t you?”

"A beautiful gray-skinned witch, that's not the weirdest thing I've slept with. I'd be willing to try it."

"I don't like jokes, Detective."

"I wasn't joking. Honestly, I've slept with worse. Your mother, for example."

"Enough!" Ozpin shouted, rapping with his cane. "Constantine, do your job already."

"Fine, fine. But let this jerk fix the problems in Mantle. He doesn't know what it's like to have Robyn talking your ear off with the ineffectiveness of the army and the abuses of the companies."

Constantine began rummaging through the bag, taking out the packet of talcum powder and the wine. He opened the powder, leaving it on the floor. Holding the bottle in his hand, he bit off the cork, taking a deep gulp.

After rinsing it for a minute, he spat it into the bag, pouring some more directly from the bottle.

"What's he doing?" Ironwood asked. "That's a peculiar semblance."

"Pay attention, my friend. You're about to see something magical." Ozpin had a gleam in his eyes the general had never seen before, which made him pay special attention.

Constantine picked up the talcum powder, judging the distance. "I'd step back a little." After the warning, the wizard tossed the bag of talcum powder into the air.

It exploded, releasing a huge cloud of purple smoke. Ironwood and Ozpin began to cough, but Constantine simply picked up the cigar he'd ordered. After it dissipated, the two headmasters surveyed the scene.

The room was filled with a purple glow, especially concentrated in the areas where there had been burns.

"Yep, there's been magic here. And in huge quantities," Constantine said. "Raw, unrefined magic. Disgusting, if my opinion is anything to go by."

"Magician, you're a magician..." Ironwood muttered in amazement. "But that's... impossible."

"That's not a word usually applied to magic." I think this confirms that the Salem maid was the one who attacked this place. And she's likely still here, in Beacon.

"Good work, Constantine" Ozpin said. "You've proven yourself very capable. But I have a question, what was the cigar for?"

"Oh, that." Constantine brought it to his mouth, lighting it and taking a huge drag, exhaling copious amounts of smoke. "I've always wanted to try one of those expensive ones."

Ironwood placed his hand to his temple, while Ozpin let out a smile.

"Ozpin, I don't think we can trust someone who uses wine for their tricks."

"Hey, buddy, I use more things. Magic is wide and strange, you never know what you might need."

"Our partner is right, James." Ozpin walked up to Constantine, offering his hand. "Welcome to Beacon, Professor Constantine."

"Oh no, we already said, no way." "Constantine complained, taking another drag.

"Relax, it's just a formality. I'd just like to have you at Beacon to gather our strength."

Constantine looked Ozpin in the eye. The man was clever, perhaps too clever. He knew he hadn't told him the whole truth, but the question was whether he could be trusted with the little he knew.

Finally, he shook Ozpin's hand. In any case, he just had to hold out until the League arrived to take him back.

"Very well, Constantine. Now, what do you advise we do?"

Constantine took a drag on his cigar. "For starters, this festival has to be canceled."

"We can't do that," Ironwood said. "That would be admitting it's not safe."

"It's not safe, soldier." Constantine pointed the cigar at him. "Look, I've done this many times. If we don't stop the festival, something's going to go horribly wrong."

“I'm afraid, Constantine, I agree with James. If we're keeping this a secret, it's precisely so the citizens don't panic.”

“Then you're going to damned them all.” Constantine finished his cigar, tossing the remains aside. “Do what you want, but at least keep me informed of any developments.”

“Where are you going?” Ironwood asked.

Constantine stepped into the elevator, looking at the two headmasters. “To speak with my students, of course. If there's any news, I'll be at Beacon.”

Constantine left, leaving Ironwood and Ozpin alone.

“How much does he really know?” Ironwood asked.

“He knows about Salem, and he's deduced that the maidens really exist. But he doesn't know about the relics or our heir.”

“And you're going to tell him?”

“After the festival. It's possible that his talents will be the key to winning once and for all.” That's why we must keep him a secret.

"Who knows about him?"

"You, Glynda, and I." Ozpin looked at the time. "We should get going, James. The battle of young Pyrrha Nikos and her team is about to begin. If she makes it through this two-on-two fight, we'll have confirmed that she's the one we were looking for."

"I hope so, Ozpin. I hope so."

— — —

At Beacon, Constantine sat in the school library, watching the tournament on a screen.

Pyrrha Nikos and Lie Ren of Team JNPR had emerged victorious. Constantine took out a notebook, taking notes.

It was clear that this girl, Ruby Rose, had something special. She didn't reach the raw power of other mages he'd seen, but she had magic within her. So, he'd investigated the people close to her.

In addition to her teammates, he had discovered she was good friends with Pyrrha Nikos's team, led by a young man named Jaune Arc. Constantine rubbed his eyes; the name thing was getting absurd.

Tired, he got up to go to Ruby's room. After a while, the young woman and her friends appeared in the hallway.

"You guys were amazing!" Ruby said, leading the group. "Yang, you were doing this with your fists and they were going, 'Pow!' And you, Weiss, were doing the gifs like, 'Whoo!'"

"Glyphs, Ruby. They're called glyphs," Weiss corrected her. "But yes, Yang and I were amazing."

"All that's left is single combat," Blake said. "And I think we know who's supposed to be there."

"Of course. It can't be anyone other than Yang" Ruby announced.

"Hmmm..." Weiss mused. “You’re right, Ruby. Yang is our best chance of victory.”

“Heh, then I guess I’ll have to go have fun on my own” Yang said, bumping fists. She fixed her gaze straight ahead, noticing someone at her bedroom door. “Hey, is that…”

Constantine was leaning against the door, reading a children’s storybook. “Hey, girls, I see you won.”

“Mr. Constantine!” Ruby said happily. “Yes, Team RWBY is going to win this tournament.”

“Don’t be so confident, kiddo. You can’t get so complacent.”

“Mr. Constantine is right” Weiss said. “You can’t get so complacent, Yang. You have to train, prepare, and take them down without mercy!” Weiss grabbed Yang by the shoulders, her eyes burning with excitement.

“That’s how I like it, eager to kick some butt,” Constantine said. “But I didn’t come here to cheer you on. I want to talk to Ruby."

"Huh?" said the student. "About what?"

Constantine lit a cigarette, looking at Ruby seriously.

"Ruby, I'm going to ask you something, and you have to answer honestly."

"Um... of course, yeah. I can do that."

"Very well." Constantine took a drag. "Tell me exactly what happened at the communications tower."

Ruby was surprised; she'd thought she'd figured that out.

Constantine stared into her silver eyes. He'd seen a lot, participated in many plans, and been part of many prophecies, so he had a good idea.

And if there was one thing he knew for sure, it was that this girl, Ruby Rose, had a big role to play in the events to come.

And Constantine was planning to help her.

Chapter Text

In the Beacon cafeteria, Ruby Rose sat at one of the tables, clearly nervous. The events at the communications tower were still vivid in her memory, and now she was going to have to relive them again at the insistence of a new teacher.

John Constantine, exorcist, magician, demonologist, and now a professor without a license, arrived at the table with two cups.

Constantine began stirring his coffee with a spoon, while Ruby went to gulp it down.

"Hey! This is water."

"I've seen you run from one end of the academy to the other in seconds. I'm mad, but not enough to give you caffeine."

Ruby looked down, clearly disappointed.

Constantine took a sip. It was crappy coffee, but with enough caffeine to raise the dead. Just his kind of coffee.

"Ruby Rose... That's a pretty name, it's catchy. Do you have parents?"

"Yep. Well, I have a father, his name is Tai. My mother… she died when I was little."

Constantine adopted a calm stance; it was always hard for a child to lose a mother.

"Anyone else?"

"Well, my sister, whom you already know. And my uncle Qrow."

"How does your uncle treat you?"

"Great!" Ruby said, her eyes shining. "He's the coolest person on Remnant, and he taught me how to fight! Thanks to him, I have Crescent Rose!" Ruby unfurled her enormous scythe, scaring the mage.

"Bloody Hell... a little big for someone so small, isn't it?"

"On the contrary, it's the perfect size. My uncle is the best scythe user; he taught me personally."

That caught the mage's attention; her uncle must have thought highly of her to train her personally.

"Good, now I want you to think about them. I'm sure you want to protect them, protect everyone."

"Of course. I want to be a hero, like my mother."

Constantine felt a small tinge of sadness. Those kids who followed the path of heroism out of tradition... they never ended well.

"Okay, so you know what happened at the communications tower was a big deal. Tell me what you saw, and most importantly, tell me what you felt."

"Well, I was at the academy dance. Since I didn't have a date, I was drinking punch while Jaune was doing a dance with his team. Then I saw her. A masked woman dressed in black jumping between buildings."

"At least she wasn't dressed as a cat. The last time I encountered someone like that was..." Constantine was about to say something, until he remembered he was in the presence of a little girl. "Go on."

"Well, she looked suspicious to me, so I sneaked up on her to catch her. I followed her to the top of the tower and fought her."

"Guess you didn't win."

"No" Ruby said sadly. “She was very, very strong. She used black crystal weapons, and she could also throw fire. It was a very strange Semblance.”

“Tell me what you felt.”

“I’m just not sure.”

“This is important, Ruby.” Constantine leaned on the table. His blue eyes showed concern for her. “Your eyes can deceive you, your ears can lie to you, your sense of smell can confuse you. But your instincts will always tell you the truth; trust them.”

Ruby breathed, closing her eyes. “I felt… afraid. That woman was very strong. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to beat her. And I also felt strange, as if I were seeing something impossible.”

“As if the world had turned upside down but you were still the same?”

“Yes! Exactly!” Ruby said, opening her eyes, looking energetic.

Constantine took a sip of his coffee. What Ruby had just described was a normal feeling when exposed to pure magic without preparation.

But the strange thing was that, under normal circumstances, anyone would have suffered a brief dizziness. That could only mean that this maiden wasn't as powerful as Ozpin made her out to be.

With luck on his side and enough Dust to fuel his spells, he might be able to defeat her.

For once in a long time, Constantine was optimistic.

"Thank you very much, Ruby. You've helped me a lot. And one last thing. Be very careful."

Constantine finished his coffee and left the room. Ruby lingered at the table for a second, not understanding why he was so worried.

"That was weird" a voice said in her ear.

"Wagh!" Ruby turned into a whirlwind of roses, appearing on the floor, dizzy. When she focused, she saw a redhead dressed in pink and white staring at her.

"Ha! You always fall for it."

"Noraaa... you know I get scared when you appear out of nowhere. The ninja is supposed to be Ren."

"I am" Ren said from behind her, with his characteristic calm gaze.

"Ambush!" Ruby instinctively reached for her weapon until she saw it was her friend. "I don't know why I'm scared, you two always go together."

"Of course we go together, Ruby. That's how it should be," Ren said impassively.

Nora was happily swaying toward Ren. Suddenly, she poked his nose with her finger.

"Boop."

"Jeez... You never boop me."

"Believe me, girl, it takes a lot to earn a boop from the Queen of the castle." Nora put her hands on her hips, blank for a moment. "Hey, what were we here for?"

"We wanted to ask if you'd seen Pyrrha; she's been missing all afternoon." "Ren said as he grabbed Nora by the collar of her jacket, preventing her from getting close to the dregs of Constantine's coffee.

"Pyrrha? No, I haven't seen her today.

"Too bad, we wanted to have dinner with her and Jaune. They must be training together."

"Yes! Training!" Nora lifted Ren into the air, which caught the student off guard. "We have to become killing machines!"

"Nora, put me down."

"No! We're going to find Pyrrha and Jaune like this!"

"Noraaa!" Ren held on as best he could to Nora, who ran off with her friend in her arms.

Considering how late it was, Ruby thought it was time to meet up with her friends.

The next day, Team RWBY was in their room, planning a strategy.

Weiss pulled out a large whiteboard, pointing at it with her rapier.

"Okay, Yang. Here's the plan. We already know you're facing Mercury Black; he had a brief duel with Pyrrha not long ago. He's fast, strong, and acrobatic." Weiss pointed to a drawing of a stick figure with Mercury's face plastered on it. "This is the enemy's face, memorize it!"

Ruby and Yang approached the board, staring.

"Got it" Yang said.

"Wait a minute, I haven't recorded it yet." Ruby leaned a little closer to the board, wrinkling her nose and frowning. At least until her little corgi, Zwei, jumped in her face. "Sneak attack!"

As the fearless leader tried to shake her pup off, Weiss continued her explanation.

"His most lethal weapons are his legs, with power that rivals your fists. Also, like you, he uses shotguns to propel himself."

"And his semblance?" Blake asked, slowly backing away from Ruby, who was rolling around trying to get rid of Zwei.

"That's perhaps what makes him more dangerous. We don't know what his semblance is; in his team's two fights, neither of them has shown their powers."

"So they've been holding back," Blake said.

Yang bumped fists. "It doesn't matter if he's hiding things, I'm still going to crush him."

Ruby managed to shake Zwei off, taking a deep breath. "I've seen my whole life flash before my eyes."

"What did you see?" Blake asked.

"Yang hiding things on high shelves."

"Heh, classic me," Yang said, smiling, reminiscing.

The team continued planning Yang's strategy for the confrontation, which would take place that night.

While this was happening, Constantine was talking to a student who had stopped him in the middle of his walk through the school.

"Why can't I photograph your weapon?" asked the student, a faun with rabbit ears.

"I've already told you, you can't photograph what doesn't exist," Constantine replied, taking a drag. "I'm a different kind of hunter. By the way, let me ask you a few questions. Have you seen anything strange lately?"

"Well, it's a hunting academy. The strange thing is the same old thing."

“Don't be a smartass.” Constantine pointed his cigarette at her. “I don't mean literally seeing. Sensations, whispers. Those kinds of things.”

“Hmmm…” the faun thought, lowering one of her ears. “Well, Coco tells me I imagine things, that I'm too stressed, but lately I've been noticing… something.”

Constantine gestured with his hand for her to continue.

“I don't know, it's just a tickling on the back of my neck. I feel like something bad is going to happen.”

Constantine took another drag, considering the girl's answer. She wasn't the first he'd asked that question; many students had confessed to feeling constantly cold. They were all bad signs, and the exorcist didn't know if he could stop what was going to happen before it happened.

“Thanks, girl, you've helped me.”

“Um, Professor Constantine.”

“Hmmm?”

"Can I take a picture of you?" the faunus took out her camera, smiling excitedly.

Constantine sighed; it was easy for him to make the girl happy. The man posed for the camera, cigarette in hand and a split smile.

The student happily snapped the photo. However, when she looked at it, a puzzled expression appeared on her face.

"Am I that ugly?"

"It's not that. I think the camera is broken."

The student began to inspect the camera when another girl approached her. She was dressed in a black vest and a brown sweater, her eyes hidden by sunglasses, and a beret.

Comparing this stylish student to Constantine was like comparing the sun and the moon.

"Hey, gorgeous, are you coming for a coffee?" the stylish girl said to her companion.

"Hmmm... Coco, can I take you a picture?"

“You can always take a picture of me, Velvet.”

With a natural, model-worthy pose, Coco posed for Velvet, who took the photo.

“That's weird, the camera seems to be fine.”

“Hey, girl, what the hell is going on?” Constantine asked.

“W-well, your photos came out weird. Take a look for yourself.”

A holographic image emerged from the camera. Constantine's face was visible, but his body was blurred, showing a multitude of different lights. Constantine raised an eyebrow. If that camera was working with Dust, it was possible that the magic within him was causing interference.

It was the most plausible explanation, but it raised another, much more uncomfortable question. What was that blurry figure right next to him?

Constantine gulped, looking around. He was unable to feel anything, so either he was imagining it… or an extremely powerful being was stalking him.

He would deal with that in due time; he had things to do. The wizard went to Beacon Tower; he needed to speak with Ozpin again. In the short time he'd been there, he'd tried unsuccessfully to convince him to cancel the festival numerous times.

When he arrived at his office, Ozpin seemed to be waiting for him with a cup. "Welcome, Constantine. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Am I so predictable that you made me a cup?"

"No, I just saw you through the window."

"Well, it would be rude of me to refuse." Constantine grabbed the teacup, taking a sip. "You know what I'm here to tell you."

"Same as yesterday, I guess. We're not canceling the festival."

"You're playing a very dangerous game, Ozpin. I've been talking to some of your students; they're good." Constantine placed the cup on the table. "I don't want their deaths on my conscience."

"And I've told you a thousand times that the festival is completely safe. Changing the subject, I've noticed you've taken an interest in some of the students. Team RWBY, right?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Oz. You know perfectly well that Little Red Riding Hood has magic inside her. It's dormant, she hasn't awakened it yet, but there's primal magic there."

"Have you also researched the silver eyes?"

Constantine banged his fist on the table. "I knew it was her eyes!" Constantine said with satisfaction.

“They say the silver-eyed warriors are the natural enemies of the Grimm; one could take out dozens. Is that why you've taken an interest in my student? To teach her how to use it?” Ozpin asked.

“No, that would be impossible. It's primal magic; that's the only thing I'm capable of sensing. If it's not spells, I can't teach her anything. She'll be completely dependent on herself.”

Ozpin drank from the cup he always carried with him. “Perhaps you're right. Her sister is fighting today. Do you plan to cheer her on?”

“No, I have better things to do. There's something about the air, something strange. I've ordered some supplies on your account, Professor. I thought about putting some defensive spells on the outside of the academy, just in case.”

“Fine. I'll leave you to your work then. If you'll excuse me, I have a student to attend to now. Go ahead, Pyrrha.”

A red-haired girl dressed in golden armor timidly entered through the door.

"Sorry. If I'm bothering you..."

"Don't worry, dear. Constantine's finished. "Isn't that right?"

Constantine lit a cigarette, annoyed. He was used to being kicked out of places, but it never sat well.

"Good luck, girl. Let's see what your dear professor has to say." The wizard tapped the young woman on the shoulder, saying goodbye.

Pyrrha watched the mysterious professor leave in a trench coat. He had recently arrived at Beacon. His behavior seemed strange to her, but above all, he seemed more dangerous than an ordinary hunter.

"What do you need from me, Professor?"

"Pyrrha Nikos, the best in your class at everything, and more importantly, with a good heart. Tell me, would you be willing to sacrifice yourself to save lives?"

"Of course, Professor. I'm a hunter, my mission is to risk my life so the rest are safe."

"Well, I really appreciate the honesty. Have you heard of the maidens' tale?"

Late that night, while Yang's fight was taking place and Ozpin and his group were discussing Pyrrha's future role in the events of Remnant, Constantine was on the outskirts of Beacon, pulling a wheelbarrow with several sacks.

The exorcist was scattering the salt from the sacks in a large circle; he had already covered almost three-quarters of the academy's radius. After emptying one sack, he sat down on the ground, exhausted.

"Fucking hell... this place is huge."

"Stop! What are you doing there?" Two armed Atlas guards approached him; apparently Ironwood had sent them to patrol the grounds. Constantine smiled.

"It's about time you showed up. John Constantine, professor and new head of security." Constantine took out one of his cards, putting it away without giving them time to examine it. “I was reinforcing the defenses, someone was supposed to have come to help me.”

The guards looked at each other, confused. “The general didn't tell us anything.”

“Didn't he tell you, or don't you remember? The truth is, I wouldn't want to rat you out, but…” Constantine shrugged, feigning discomfort. “One has to report.”

The guards looked at each other, clearly nervous. Finally, they bowed their heads. “We're sorry, Professor. We must have made a mistake,” one replied.

“Please don't report this to the general,” his companion finished.

“Come on, guys, don't worry. Look, we're all workers here, doing our jobs. Help me with this, and I won't say anything.” Constantine winked knowingly at the guards.

With their help, he finished surrounding the salt academy; it had been exhausting work. Constantine offered the guards a cigarette. One went to accept, but his partner swatted him away.

"Don't even think about it. Remember what the doctor told you about your lungs."

Constantine smiled, taking the cigarette away as he put one in his mouth to light it. "Well, guys, it's been a pleasure working with you, but I'm leaving now."

"I don't think you'll make it to the fight" said one of the guards.

"Combat? I'm going to sleep. I've been pushing this wheelbarrow all day. Don't work too hard. Oh, and one last thing. If any Grimms come, cross to the other side of the salt circle."

Wedding goodbye, Constantine went to the room he had at Beacon on Ozpin's payroll.

There, he collapsed exhausted into the armchair next to the bed; he never got used to sleeping in one when he felt in danger.

He had made a basic defense around the academy, which would prevent the Grimm from entering, as long as there weren't too many of them. He would have liked to do more, but that world didn't have enough magical resources or creatures with whom to make a pact.

The festival still had days left, but the wizard was clear about one thing. He was going to protect the students and the spectators, no matter how much Ozpin says that he worries to much.

With that last thought, he settled into the armchair, hoping the hours of rest would be enough.

Constantine felt cold, an impossible cold born of a danger the human mind was incapable of understanding. He found himself in a dead land with a red sky, death present everywhere.

"No... not again." Constantine backed away in fear. Dead worlds, heroes falling by the dozens, all those images assaulted his mind. He turned to flee, when he saw a terrible omen ahead.

Beacon, completely in ruins, rose before him. He walked slowly, passing between security forces and students. Amid the rubble, he could see an arm sticking out. At its side, a cane.

"What the hell?"

Constantine felt dizzy, falling into a pit of darkness.

The exorcist woke up in alarm, clutching his chest. He'd had a nightmare, and he hadn't dreamed in years. He checked the time on his phone, surprised. It was noon; he'd slept too long.

Rubbing his face, he went outside, needing to clear his head. People were running from one place to another, preparing for the big fight that night.

Constantine wanted to get away from all the commotion, heading to one of the school's rooftops. There, sitting on the edge, he found the student everyone was talking about.

"Nikos?"

Pyrrha turned around in fear; he'd caught her off guard. "Professor Constantine! What are you doing here?"

"That's what I should be asking you. Too nervous about the fight?" Constantine sat down next to her, lighting a cigarette.

"No, not really. I just have a lot on my mind."

"It's Oz, isn't it? He's told you something you'd rather not know."

"How do you know?" Pyrrha asked, surprised.

"I'm privy to his secrets. I try to help however I can." Constantine took a drag. He didn't like to extract information from a child, but he had no choice.

"So you know... It's a relief. It's just that I don't know if I'll be enough. I agreed to be his maiden because someone must; it's a power that must be used for good."

Constantine tried to suppress his surprise. Ozpin was going to turn that girl into a handmaiden.

"It's a heavy burden, of course."

"Do you believe in destiny?"

"It depends. I don't believe we're destined for greatness, but there are events we can't escape. So we can only hope we're sufficiently prepared."

"What if it's not enough?"

Constantine took a drag. He moved his hand, manipulating the smoke to his liking. "That's a question I ask myself every day. What if I'm not smart enough? What if I walk straight into a trap? What if I lose?" The cloud of smoke formed a straight line, which gradually split. "Each question creates a fragment, a possibility. You can't know which one is best, so you're left with only one option."

"Trust that I'm doing the right thing," Pyrrha said decisively.

Constantine was about to say that the only option was to come up with a killer escape plan, but he simply smiled. The smoke dissipated with a magical glow, and Constantine stood up.

"Good luck tonight, Pyrrha. You're going to do great."

"Thank you, Professor. I plan to make Beacon proud."

The exorcist said goodbye, thinking about going to the festival stalls to get something to eat, even if it was late.

The exorcist sat down at the noodle stand belonging to the old man who ran the shops, giving him a knowing look.

The old man, who acted as if he didn't know him, served him without Constantine having to ask.

“Hey, man, the drink too.”

Constantine and another voice said simultaneously. The exorcist looked to his side; there was a man in gray clothes and a red cape looking at him.

His dark red eyes met the wizard's blue ones. The old man poured them drinks, then continued working.

The two men took the glasses, raising them in greeting before drinking.

“Your face doesn't look familiar” said the man in the cape. “What's your name?”

“John Constantine, Professor.”

“Constantine… Yeah, I think Ozpin mentioned you. You're here to research the tales of Remnant.”

“That's me. And you, handsome? What's your name?”

The man took another sip. “Qrow.”

Constantine choked for a moment; he knew that name.

“Qrow? Ruby Rose's uncle?”

"Are you teaching my niece?"

“No, I don't teach. But I've been talking to her about the incident at the communications tower. She's a good kid.”

“Yeah…” Qrow looked at his glass, melancholy. “She takes after her mother.”

“She speaks of her with admiration, that's for sure.” Constantine began to eat, using his chopsticks with ease. “Hey Qrow, doesn't all this seem crazy to you?”

“What?”

“All… this. The festival, the academy. I understand teaching them to use their powers; they'd only hurt themselves otherwise. But teaching them to be heroes…” Constantine shook his head. “I can't agree.”

Qrow took the last sip of his drink. “The world needs hunters. The sooner they start training, the better they'll be. But to tell you the truth, I'd rather neither Ruby nor Yang be hunters.”

“And you taught Ruby because she would have signed up anyway.”

“Exactly.” Qrow looked at his glass; it was suddenly full again. When he looked at Constantine's, he saw the same thing had happened. "What the...?"

"I know people like you. In fact, your voice reminds me of someone I know. He dresses up as a bat, a real lunatic if you ask me, but he also did the same thing you did. Training kids to be heroes."

"The glass... How did you do it?"

"I'm sure you'd love to know, but if I reveal my tricks, it stops being funny." Constantine finished his food, drinking from the glass to top it off. "Qrow, something big is about to happen, I can feel it in my bones. Pay attention, I'd hate to be caught off guard."

"You're not the only one, John. Everyone seems tense. Hell, my niece attacked her opponent after the fight, punching him in the leg."

"Yang? That doesn't sound like her."

"Yeah... Hey man, it's been nice drinking with you, but now I have to go into town."

Constantine waved goodbye. "Nice to meet you, Qrow. I'd love to do it again." The mage watched him go, staring at his back. "The bastard's not bad at all."

Constantine spent the rest of the time reading at the stall, pulling out books from inside his trench coat. It seemed bottomless, which it was, since it had a storage spell.

Late into the night, with the fight between Pyrrha and Penny starting, two people he'd already seen approached him.

"Hey, Professor." Blake, accompanied by Weiss, sat next to him, with a tired expression on their faces. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, stadiums aren't my thing." Constantine lit one of his cigarettes, ignoring the grimace of the old man at the stall. "And the rest of the gang?"

“Rubby went to watch the fight,” Weiss said. “And Yang… Yang needs time. She’s not comfortable with the situation.”

“Oh, yeah. She broke a guy’s leg.”

“It was really weird, she swore he was attacking her from behind.”

“We think it was nerves” Blake said. “But she keeps denying it.”

Constantine had a bad feeling; he had to do some digging. “Is there video of that?”

“Watch it for yourself.” Weiss handed him her scroll, with the thread of the moment just ready to play.

It was indeed a dirty and brutal blow. He’d seen the small Robin use something like that before. That’s when he noticed the victim.

“I know you…”

“You know Mercury?” Blake asked, her headband twitching. “You’re supposed to be from Atlas.”

“Not before, I met him the same day I met you. Bastard, he and his little friend tried to play a trick on me, they wanted to make me see a cockroach…” Constantine’s pupils contracted, an idea forming in his mind.

If Mercury’s partner could conjure mental images, why would he fight instead of her? Or rather, why didn’t they cheat against Yang?

“Professor?” Weiss asked. “Are you okay?”

“Wait a minute, I’m thinking.” Constantine’s head was racing. If Yang swore she saw him attack, that could only be explained by the green-haired girl’s power. But why would she do it?

“Professor!” Weiss called. When he didn’t speak, she turned to Blake. “He’s ignoring me, can you believe it?”

“I don't like the look on his face. I think he just realized something bad.”

Constantine took the cigar out of his mouth, which was already practically burnt out. “Can you see the teams on this thing?”

“Of course, the teams have been posted since day one” Weiss replied.

“Give me Mercury’s team, right now.”

Without much difficulty, Weiss brought up the tab with the team members.

Sure enough, it was Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai, the girl of illusions. And the third image was one that made her blood run cold.

Cinder Fall. A name she knew, and more importantly, a face she’d seen before.

Constantine tossed the scroll to Weiss, who caught it in midair.

“Hey!”

Without worrying about her, he quickly grabbed his phone, dialing Ozpin’s contact.

"Come on… pick it up you damn bastard…"

"How can I help you, Mr. Constantine?"

"Ozpin! We've been played, cancel everything!"

"What do you mean?"

Constantine looked at the ramen shop's screen. There, Pyrrha and Penny were having an even battle, but Pyrrha was acting erratically.

"The boy from yesterday and his partner are in on it! On their team is a woman named Cinder Fall!"

"Constantine, I need you to calm down."

"Ozpin! That's her! Cinder Fall is her maiden! She's here in your fucking school!"

A bloodcurdling scream pulled him from his discussion. The scream had come from a passerby who was staring at the screen.

Blake covered her mouth in shock, and Weiss had taken on a sick tone.

Then he saw it. There, on the screen, was a more than unpleasant scene. Penny was on the floor, her eyes lifeless. Her body had been cut into several pieces.

Constantine was about to vomit, but realized there was no blood.

"A robot?"

"Constantine, I'm going to hang up!"

"Don't you dare, you jerk! You have to get everyone out of there!"

Ozpin hung up without letting him finish his sentence. The wizard kicked a stool.

"They never listen to me!" A girl, a cheerful and kind girl, had died that night. And Constantine knew he could have prevented it.

"Penny..." Blake was speechless, but then something caught his attention. His scroll began to flash red, just like the rest of them. The television turned red, with a black queen on it.

A melodious and confident voice came from the screen, a voice that heralded the end.

"This is not a tragedy. This was not an accident. This is what happens when you place your trust, your safety, your children, in men who claim to be your guardians. But, in reality, they are nothing more than men. Our academy heads wield more power than some navies, and one of them has been so audacious as to command both."

Constantine began to look around. People were gathering, horror filling their faces. Cinder was dividing them.

"They cling to this power in the name of peace, and yet, look what we have here. One nation's attempt to create a synthetic weapon, mercilessly shattered to pieces by another star pupil. What need would Atlas have to camouflage soldiers as little girls? I don't think the Grimm could tell the difference. And what I'm asking you is, what is Ozpin teaching his students? First dismemberment, now this. Huntsmen and Huntresses should carry with them honor and mercy, and yet we haven't seen any of it."

"You fucking daft cow..." Constantine murmured. Not even all his magic could erase the distrust in the air. He could see how ordinary people looked at the students with disgust.

"Perhaps Ozpin hoped that defeating Atlas in the tournament would help people forget his colossal failure to protect them when the Grimm invaded the streets, or perhaps this is a message to the tyrannical dictator who has occupied a trusting kingdom with his army. Honestly, I don't have the slightest idea who is right and who is wrong. What I do know is that the existence of peace is fragile, and that our leaders manage their affairs with an iron fist. As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you that the situation there is equally undesirable."

Constantine felt a tingling down his spine. Whatever was going to strike, it was going to strike soon, and it was going to be big.

"Our kingdoms are on the brink of war. And yet we, the citizens, are left in the dark. So I ask you, when the first shots ring out, who do you think you can trust?"

The transmission returned to normal, but the people were still paralyzed.

"What was that?" Weiss said, her voice weak; the whole thing was becoming too much.

"Penny... Penny's dead." Blake still couldn't shake the image of Penny lying shattered on the ground, with her friend Pyrrha beside her.

Constantine pulled himself together; that couldn't be all. And then what he feared most happened. Gigantic walls of yellow light rose up around the area, surprising and frightening the people inside in equal measure.

“No… No no no!” Constantine quickly began drawing a circle on the ground, while the two students watched intently.

“Professor, what should we do?” Blake asked.

“Let me think! I need to think!” When he finished the circle, Constantine sat cross-legged inside it. “Watch my body, I'll take a look.”

“What do you mean…? AAAAAAH!” Weiss let out a horrified cry.

Constantine had his eyes closed in the circle, but something sinister had appeared on his body. A third eye grew on his forehead, staring straight ahead without blinking.

Constantine began to see through his protective spell, and what he saw was worse than he imagined. Thousands of Grimm were approaching Beacon, assaulting the barrier mercilessly as more of them arrived.

That's when the mage realized he'd been careless; he should have anticipated a bigger attack.

The barrier wouldn't hold.

Constantine came to, the eye on his forehead closing and disappearing. The man struggled to his feet, helped by Blake.

"What was that?" asked the girl in black.

"I saw the other side of the barrier."

"So? What's going on?" Weiss was desperate; if they were going to be attacked, she needed to prepare.

"What's happening is… we're screwed"

Constantine heard an ancient roar. Before his eyes, a huge Grimm dragon slammed into the magical barrier with all its might.

The magic shattered, and that's when Constantine knew.

His fears had come true; the great attack he'd warned about had occurred. Now he only had one thing to do.

Survive.

Chapter Text

Constantine had been in many desperate situations before.

Several trips through Hell, owing his soul to three different demons, surviving three Crises, the invasion of the Dark Multiverse and sleeping a night on the streets of Chicago.

But overcoming all those apocalypses hadn't made him any less fearful of seemingly "minor" things. You could die from a spell gone wrong, a bullet aimed at you, a stab in the ribs, or, in this case, from a massive 600-pound dog trying to rip your head off.

Constantine lay on the ground, holding the jaws of a Beowulf trying to sink its teeth into him. Its sand-like aura protected him from harm, though he still felt pain. The mage felt the rush of adrenaline, forcing him to stay focused. It had all happened too fast.

First Penny died at Salem's hands, then the Grimm invaded the academy. And if that weren't enough, more guests had arrived at the party. Someone had taken control of Atlas's automatons, directing them against their allies. Meanwhile, a group of masked faunus had joined the massacre. In the chaos, he had become separated from Weiss and Blake, but he came to know who they were. The White Fang, a group fighting for faunus rights that had become dangerously radicalized because of one of its members, Adam Taurus.

The mage mentally reviewed his options. He could cast powerful spells, yes, but he needed to reserve resources to kill Cinder. On the other hand, he couldn't kill her if she died right there. He looked around, visualizing the situation.

Weiss and Blake had retreated with the civilians to the evacuation zone, protecting them. The slowest had been himself and some Atlas soldiers. Right next to him, there was a fallen soldier, his chest slashed open by an Ursa claw. Beside him was his rifle.

Constantine's eyes turned black, but not empty. It was a completely unnatural dark light.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

The rifle was covered in that same dark light, flying at high speed toward the Beowulf. The impact threw it away from Constantine, who pulled the rifle toward him. The mage began firing, but his accuracy with firearms had never been the best.

"Fuck!" Angrily, he shouldered the rifle and started running while searching his pockets. He had to have something that didn't consume much power so he could destroy those bastards.

He pricked himself on something inside his trench coat. It was a commemorative pin from the Vytal festival; he'd thought of giving it to Robyn as a souvenir.

An idea struck him. It was crazy, but it might work. That pin represented a promise, and promises held arcane magic, something that dated back to when God cast Morningstar out of the sky. He pulled the pin from his pocket, concentrating on it.

As he ran, an Ursa approached him head-on, growling angrily as it charged at Constantine. The mage focused on the pin, on the promise of seeing his friend again, trying to shape it.

When the Ursa was practically upon him, Constantine opened his eyes. The pin was covered in a yellow light, transforming into something new.

A European-style sword appeared, brandished by the mage. That seemingly simple blade sliced ​​through the Ursa with ease, killing it instantly. Constantine stopped to look at the weapon. It didn't seem to be any ordinary sword; he could detect magic from the Arthurian era.

"The Round Table... Yeah, I like this better." Constantine took a quick look, visualizing the guards who were still alive. "Get the hell out! Everyone to the evacuation zone!"

Together, they formed a platoon and began advancing, mowing down any Grimm that crossed their path. Taking advantage of the safety of his new group, Constantine began inspecting the rifle. He removed the magazine to inspect the ammunition, and then realized something he should have guessed.

"Dust... of course they use bloody Dust." He made a quick circle with his hands, which hovered in the air. Without hesitation, he dropped the ammunition magazine inside.

A Beowulf crossed the perimeter, heading toward him. Constantine raised his arm, forming a pistol shape with his hand.

"Bang!" A ball of light shot out from his finger, killing the Beowulf instantly. Constantine began to laugh like a madman; he hadn't used that spell since he and Mister E took down a techno-magical cult.

They were almost at the evacuation zone when Constantine heard a desperate scream. It came from one of the burning buildings. Constantine wanted to get to safety; he didn't want to die there.

He cursed himself as he ran to the rescue. When he arrived, he saw a scene that made his stomach turn. Blake Belladonna was lying on the ground, a wound in her abdomen, too close to her intestines.

He was trying to protect another unconscious person; his arm had been severed. That person was Yang Xiao Long.

Above them, poised to bring his sword down, stood a red-haired, horned faun, his mask looking more elaborate than the rest. It was possible that this was the Adam Taurus he'd heard about, but that didn't matter.

"Bang!" Without warning, Constantine went for Adam's head, seeking a quick kill.

However, to the mage's misfortune, the faun reacted quickly thanks to his keen fighting instincts. His aura mitigated the blow greatly, but Constantine's magic was still powerful.

The right side of his mask exploded, revealing a hateful eye. The faun glared at Blake resentfully. "How many of your friends are you going to make me kill, Blake?"

"Run, Professor! Please!" Blake begged, frightened.

The wizard kept his hand pointed at Adam, while gripping the sword tightly with the other. "Listen to me, lad, because I'm not going to repeat it. Run, or I'll kill you right here."

"Brave words for an old man."

"Oh, okay, now you've really messed up, asshole."

Constantine began firing bullets in his direction, which were reflected by Adam's sword. The faun seemed puzzled by something, constantly looking at his sword as if waiting for a reaction.

When they got within close range, Constantine swung at him, easily parried by his katana.

The faun's blade began to glow with a slight red hue, setting off Constantine's alarm bells.

He continued attacking, wielding the sword with both hands, but every blow was blocked.

"Constantine, stop! That's his semblance!" Blake yelled desperately.

With his sword flashing red, Adam lunged at Constantine.

The mage didn't know if it was luck, clumsiness on the part of his rival, or that after so many breaks into Ra's al-Ghul's chambers, he'd acquired some skill with the sword, but he managed to block the blow.

Adam smiled, activating his semblance. A wave of energy formed on the sword, about to slice Constantine in half. Or it would have, if Constantine's sword had been a normal sword.

As soon as the wave of power made contact with the blade, the magical runes began to glow, creating a shockwave that sent Adam several feet back, knocking him off balance.

Blake made a huge face of surprise, as did Adam. Constantine stared at his sword in astonishment; it was the first time an improvised spell had worked so damn well.

He couldn't kill Adam; he simply wasn't a match for him one-on-one. So he decided on another route.

He fired a few more magic bullets, forcing Adam to block. The sword transformed back into a pin, and with his free hand, he grabbed a large piece of burning wood. It was heavy, but he was able to wield it thanks to the adrenaline rush.

The blow descended on Adam, who sliced ​​the wood in half with ease. Constantine had him right where he wanted him.

The mage hissed, and his eyes briefly became reptilian. The burning pieces of wood changed in the blink of an eye, now becoming furious fire snakes. The snakes launched themselves at Adam at full speed, biting and scorching his skin.

"What is this? Who did it?!" The faunus tried to shake the snakes off with his sword, but they attacked mercilessly. His aura protected him from mortal wounds, but not from burns.

Constantine adjusted his trench coat, pointing his hand at him.

"Bang."

The last bullet hit him square in the chest, throwing him out of the building with enormous force. It should have shattered his aura, all he had to do was finish him off. At that moment, the building began to shake; it was about to collapse at any moment.

He had to finish that bastard off, but the first thing he had to do was get the students to a safe place.

"Blake, Blake, listen to me. Can you walk?"

"Yes..." she said, holding her abdomen, still staring at the gap Adam had left.

"Okay, grab Yang and let's get out of here now. I didn't fight that madman just to die buried in the ground."

Blake leaned Yang on his shoulder and started running. Constantine followed them when he saw something that caught his attention. It was Yang's arm. The mage had an idea, a terrible and quite possibly illegal idea. He quickly grabbed the arm, then helped Blake carry his friend.

The situation was still as disastrous as it had been a few moments ago, but at least now they had organized a resistance. Weiss led a huge group of students who were repelling the Grimm and Atlas's automatons, fighting tirelessly.

When she saw them approaching, her eyes filled with concern.

"Yang! Blake!" the girl in white ran toward them, accompanied by of a blond faunus with a monkey tail wearing an open T-shirt. "No… no no please."

“Blake! Blake, tell me something!” The blond faun took her hand, clearly worried.

“Sun… It was Adam. He's here.”

“Please rest. Medic over here!” Sun shouted. The faun looked at Yang's arm in pain. “Her arm…”

“This can't be happening.” Weiss was in shock; two of her friends were on the verge of death.

“I have her arm” Constantine said, picking it up.

Weiss screamed, jumping into Sun's arms.

“Dude, what's wrong with you?”

“Calm down, kids. I've got this.”

A huge explosion shook the area; it seemed to be coming from Beacon Tower. Constantine felt a tightness in his chest, his head began to spin. He didn't know what had happened, but the explosion had clearly been of magical origin. Cinder…

“Can I have a fucking break?!” Constantine felt the need to scream, to vent all his frustration. “Where are the teachers?”

“Defending the city,” Weiss answered.

“And Ozpin?”

“We don’t know, we haven’t seen him.”

Constantine thought quickly. He had to go after Cinder right now, stop her before she did any more damage. But he also had to protect the students. They alone could take on the White Fang and the Grimm, but the automatons were too many, and they would eventually win due to exhaustion.

He looked at Yang’s arm; the thought he’d had before seemed increasingly necessary. He looked at Yang, who was unconscious, with a sad expression.

“Sorry, kid.”

Using his severed arm, Constantine began to draw a circle of blood on the ground. He didn’t have to worry about the amount; there was still plenty left on the limb.

Weiss felt like throwing up. "What the heck is he doing?"

"Hunter stuff, now shut up and fight." Constantine extended his hands toward the circle, breathing to concentrate. "By the dark forces of the nine circles, yadayada... Come on, you fucking orange ass!"

Those might not have been the most accurate summoning words Constantine had ever uttered, but magic was often about intentions. Besides, the demon in question knew him too well by now.

The circle of blood burst into flames, and from it emerged a huge, beastly figure, wearing ancient armor and a threadbare cloak.

Etrigan, as usual, had a sour face.

"Constantine!" the demon yelled. "I warned you not to summon me again!"

"Grimm!" Weiss yelled, drawing his rapier.

"How ugly it is!" Sun readied his staff, ready to strike the demon.

"Who are you calling ugly, ape?!"

"Everyone stop yelling, blast it!" Constantine had a vein about to pop in his forehead. He approached Etrigan, putting his arm around him. "Listen to me, the situation is bad. I have to go to that tower to take out a very dangerous sorceress, and these kids are having an attack" he continued. "See the one-armed girl? I used her blood to summon you."

"Ha! Then there's justice to be served."

"Exactly, you got it. Now do me a favor, or these kids are going to go crazy. Have Jason come and say his Semblance is transforming into... well, you."

"What the fuck is a Semblance?"

"Just do it, the ape boy is about to shit himself."

Etrigan growled, moving away from Constantine. A spiral of fire engulfed him, giving way to the red-haired man known as Jason Blood.

"Okay, guys, first of all, stay calm. My name is Jason. My Semblance is that monster you saw. When I use it, I'm very powerful. I'm going to keep you safe."

Jason looked at Constantine, who gave a thumbs-up. The man transformed back into Etrigan, who drew his sword.

"Whoever wants to touch these children will have to kill me first!"

Without thinking, the demon launched into battle with any enemy he found.

"Okay, guys, stay here, I'm going to the tower" Constantine said, rummaging through his jacket.

"Professor... What are you?" Weiss asked. "Everything you do is as if you have multiple Semblances. How do you do it?"

"I'll give you two answers, Weiss. The first is that I'm a mage; everything I do is thanks to my knowledge of magic. The second is that my Semblance is extremely powerful, allowing me to steal people's Semblances and keep them for myself. Choose one, Ice Queen."

Weiss was shocked. "A Semblance like that... its user would be the most dangerous person on Remnant."

"Then it's lucky I'm on your side." Constantine winked at her, pulling out the book she was looking for. It was a fantasy story about a boy riding a powerful dragon to fight evil. Constantine had left his youth behind many years ago, but it would have to do.

He placed his index fingers together, one hand on top of the other. He moved them in opposite directions, creating a line of magical light. With a twist, it transformed into a magic circle with complicated patterns. He opened the book, whereupon the pages flew out toward the magical inscription.

On the other side of the circle, hundreds of thousands of pages began to emerge, more than had entered. The pages flew, joining together and forming something larger.

Once the circle disappeared, everyone present in the area looked on in shock; they had never seen such a picture. Weiss, for a second, thought the correct answer to the professor's choices wasn't the one she had given.

Before them, a majestic paper dragon roared to the sky, claiming its place in the world. Constantine climbed onto the beast's back, snatching up its wing. Once mounted, he transformed the pin back into a sword, pointing it at the tower.

"Come on, beast, we have to finish that... Holy shit!" The dragon took flight without wasting a second, scaring Constantine with its sudden speed as it headed straight for Beacon Tower.

Pyrrha was going to die. She knew it, she'd known it ever since she'd kissed Jaune goodbye. As she rode up in the elevator, she kept thinking about him. She was sorry, so sorry, but she had to try to finish Salem off. She thought about the blond boy who had caught her eye from the start for an absurd reason: he didn't recognize her. Thanks to that, she was able to feel like a normal girl. She also thought about her other two best friends, Ren and Nora. She loved spending time with them, laughing and enjoying each other's company. She hoped Ren would realize how Nora felt about him, or that she'd have the confidence to confess.

Love was complicated, and considering she'd only confessed knowing he wasn't coming back, she wasn't the best person to lecture.

She readied her spear and shield, ready to jump into combat. The elevator arrived at Ozpin's office, and she stepped out determined. She assumed a fighting stance, staring at her enemy.

Cinder Fall. She had killed the previous maiden, she had killed Ozpin, and now only she remained. She floated in the air like a deity, looking down at her with a mixture of amusement and contempt.

The maiden attacked first, launching a column of fire at her, which she gracefully dodged. She blocked the next one with her shield, recoiling slightly from the force. She took advantage of the moment of zero speed and propelled herself forward, spinning around in an aerial attack aimed at Cinder's neck.

The maiden caught her spear in midair. Pyrrha didn't have time to be surprised before she hurled her into the wall with a sharp slap to the stomach. Her weapons fell off when she landed, but Cinder wasn't about to let her rest. She charged at her, flying, which Pyrrha took advantage of. Using Cinder for support, she propelled herself off the wall, putting her in a headlock.

Cinder tried to gain distance with some flips, but Pyrrha had already closed the gap. She slashed quickly, barely scratching her aura. Cinder parried, though that didn't stop her from continuing to harass her. She threw her spear and shield, forcing Cinder to deflect them. With the maiden occupied, she lunged to tackle her. She managed to grab her back and retrieve her spear, bringing it close to Cinder's neck to end it all.

The maiden gripped the spear tightly, using her newfound powers to break it. Then Pyrrha saw it: the Grimm dragon was about to charge at the tower. That's when her spear gave way to Cinder's hellfire, shattering into pieces.

Pyrrha braced herself for the blow, but then something strange happened. The dragon turned in mid-flight, turning its back on them and roaring in defiance. Something roared back.

Cinder headbutted Pyrrha, followed by a kick that distanced them again.

"What are you doing, inept creature?" Cinder said. "Come here right now."

Although Cinder got what she wanted, it wasn't as she thought. Something hit the dragon, something large. The dragon crashed into the tower, knocking Cinder off her feet in the process, who had been too confused to call for help.

When the smoke from the disaster cleared, she saw a strange sight. Her dragon seemed to be fighting another beast of its own size, a rival dragon, but one made of paper. She hadn't heard of any such semblance.

Her instincts warned her, and she placed her hands in the air to defend herself from an aerial attack. The sword descended upon her, striking her with enough force to send her flying, her aura damaged.

Pyrrha struggled to her feet, trying to see her new ally. On the ground, struggling to get up after his fall, was a man wearing a brown trench coat and carrying a sword. He stood up with a grunt accompanied by the creaking of his bones. He recognized that defiant face and those sad eyes, though he never thought she'd see them in battle.

"Professor Constantine?"

The man looked sternly at Cinder; there was none of the arrogance he always displayed.

"Cinder Fall" he said in a deep voice. "This ends here."

Constantine's whole body ached. To be fair, tackling the dragon hadn't been his idea; that damn creature he was riding had decided on its own. All he knew afterward was that he had jumped, so he decided to try and hit the maiden as hhe fell. The plan had worked out partially, if not for the incredible impact he'd taken upon landing. He forced himself to look tough; he couldn't let his enemy know how bad things were. Or worse, his student think he was a loser.

"You've given me a headache, love" the wizard said, tapping his head. "All this... paraphernalia has worked well. Although it's a little sad that you rely on children to do the job, I know Hazel wasn't particularly pleased."

Cinder looked surprised; that man shouldn't know who her partners were.

"Who are you?"

"John Constantine, darling, pleased to meet the maiden." The wizard bowed exaggeratedly, glancing surreptitiously at Pyrrha.

"Run," the wizard seemed to be signaling. But Pyrrha forced herself to stand up, increasingly determined.

"Constantine... I don't know that name. We're supposed to know all of Ozpin's allies."

"Well, old Oz was a little embarrassed by me. When he get here, you can ask him."

Cinder smiled, letting out a soft laugh. "Oh, pathetic hunter, I'm afraid that won't be possible. But don't worry, I'll send you to him."

Constantine froze. Ozpin had died? That left him without a potential ally for the fight, that meant one thing. It all depended on him.

"Well, that's a shame then, but I won't say no to a date just you and me." Constantine smiled, appearing confident. "Pyrrha, darling, why don't you let us adults talk? Things could get heated."

Cinder's eyes lit up with flames. "You have no idea, hunter."

"Pyrrha, go." Constantine wasn't playing anymore; he couldn't afford to put her in danger.

"No, Professor. I can't do that. This is what I must do; it's the right thing for me to stay and help you."

"Pyrrha, this isn't a practice fight, she's not a Grimm. She's a crazy woman with powers she doesn't understand."

"I don't understand?" Cinder's hands began to burst into flames. "I understand this power perfectly; it's my right; I've earned it!"

A huge blast of fire shot toward Constantine, who remained still.

"Professor!"

The flames hit Constantine. Or so it seemed. Cinder noticed something was wrong, halting her attack, and then she saw it.

Constantine remained standing, his hand facing the fire. It began to spiral, being absorbed by something. As the fire was about to go out, he could see what it was.

The last flames entered Constantine's lighter, which he clicked shut.

"If you're going to offer me a light, at least let me take out the cigar first."

Surprise appeared in Pyrrha and Cinder's eyes. The latter revealed another emotion, a very subtle one that didn't go unnoticed by the detective.

Fear.

"What kind of Semblance is that? Are you the hunter Ozpin used to fight maidens?"

"Listen carefully, Cinder. That power you wield isn't made for you. Magic isn't wielded in fury, it's wielded with patience and knowledge. You're a disgrace."

Cinder's eyes lit up with anger. "It's my power! I'm the one who commands it! I'm its owner!"

Constantine looked at Pyrrha, still determined to stay. He couldn't change her mind, so at least they could coordinate.

Constantine scolded her with his finger. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Don’t try to fool me, darling. If you really mastered this, you’d know that what just happened was a simple absorption of elemental magic, a basic principle. Mark that down on the test” he said, pointing at Pyrrha. “When you throw water into the ocean, you can’t expect to break it, just as if you throw a match into a burning house, the house eats the match.”

“Ha.” Cinder gave a dry laugh. “Are you implying that that lighter is more powerful than I am?”

“What can I say.” Constantine poised his finger over the lighter. “It’s a very good lighter.”

Cinder lunged at Constantine, attempting a melee attack. The mage simply opened the lighter.

A pillar of flame more powerful than the one Cinder had thrown erupted, striking the maiden, who screamed in agony.

“Grab, Pyrrha!” The mage threw the sword at her, and the student wasted no time getting to work.

Using her magnetic powers, she attracted both her shield and Constantine’s sword. He didn’t let Cinder recover from the assault, attacking with her sword in a quick aerial combo using her shield as a platform.

The mage ran through the now-uncovered, gear-filled area. He made a quick analysis; his paper dragon was still fighting the original, but the spell probably didn’t have much left.

“Where the hell are these people?” The mage could only wait for reinforcements; the more to take down the maiden, the better.

Cinder struck Pyrrha, sending her tumbling to the ground. She tried to hit her with a fireball, but Constantine appeared quickly to absorb it.

The maiden grew frustrated, throwing more balls while screaming.

The exorcist looked at his lighter, worried; it was too much magic. Then he felt something on his finger; it was a small tentacle touching him.

"Shit!" Constantine closed the lighter, taking a ball of it in his chest and defending himself with his aura. He put it back in his trench coat, a sudden worry washing over him. He couldn't keep using that tactic, although fortunately he had others. "Pyrrha, I need you to immobilize her."

"Okay, Professor, buy me a little time."

As if that were easy, Constantine thought. He didn't want to admit it, but he had underestimated Cinder. The power he detected in the communications tower was half of what he was now feeling in his own flesh.

Either she had grown stronger in that short time, or something else had happened to increase her power.

"We're not so chatty now, are we, Raggedy?"

"I was just thinking, give me a second to find a good insult. I know, how about this one? Rash!"

Constantine launched a magic ball at Cinder, which she blocked effortlessly. Using his Dust reserves, he summoned magic circles in front of him.

"Satanus's Chains!" Bone chains appeared like snakes, attacking Cinder and forcing her to cut them with her crystal sword. The mage didn't stop, approaching her as fast as he could now that she was nearing the ground. Using some of his gravitational dust, he applied a spell to his fist. "Liverpool Fist!"
The wizard's hook emitted a shockwave as it sent Cinder flying. The exorcist waved his hand; the aura had reduced the recoil damage, but it still hurt.

"Leave a visible gap!" Constantine barked at Pyrrha, who was concentrating. She could see the gears floating around Cinder, who was still confused by the blow. "I need to hit her in a vital spot!"

"Heard, Professor!" Pyrrha brought her hands together. The giant gears swung together, trapping Cinder in an aerial iron prison. Her bare chest could be seen.

Constantine quickly drew a card, a card he'd long saved for just such an occasion.

"Death."

The deadliest card in Constantine's arsenal shot out, aiming for Cinder's chest, ready to end her life. But like everything in Constantine's life, it quickly went down the drain.

The paper dragon, which had proven no match for the Grimm, was flung towards Ozpin's office in a giant ball of paper. It struck Pyrrha square on, shattering her aura and knocking her against a pillar.

This caused the gears to fall apart, freeing Cinder. A split second was all it took for Salem's maiden to block the attack with her hand.

Cinder let out a sharp cry of pain, staring at her hand. Her skin was gray, devoid of any life. The rot was creeping rapidly up her arm; she could feel the life draining from her. Taking drastic measures, she created one of her cutting swords.

Constantine watched as the maiden severed her own left arm, using a burning hand to cauterize the wound. The Grimm dragon landed on the tower, roaring menacingly. The situation was desperate, and Constantine had few resources left. Pyrrha used the mage's sword to walk beside him, attempting to swing it.

"Okay, kiddo" Constantine smiled, sweating from the effort. "I think we're a bit at a disadvantage."

"Constantine!" Cinder shouted, frantically. "I'm going to burn your body to ash!"

"You're a natural with threats, love." Constantine stepped in front of Pyrrha, trying to cover her. "Pyrrha, please get out of here. It's best you don't see this."

Pyrrha stared at the back of the man who had arrived just a few days ago. He had spoken to her about destiny and had displayed extraordinary abilities. Abilities that could save Remnant from Cinder. She could see several metal fonts inside his trench coat.

"Professor... I'm sorry."

Constantine was slightly surprised, then felt a sharp tug. His trench coat moved on its own, throwing him forcefully over the edge of the office.

"No! Nooo! Pyrrha, you idiot! Stop!" Constantine yelled, trying to stay on the platform, unsuccessfully resisting Pyrrha's magnetic pull.

The girl smiled, looking at Cinder as she leaned on Constantine's sword. "Do you believe in destiny?"

The last thing Constantine saw before falling into the void was Cinder screaming as she placed her remaining hand on Pyrrha's face. The maiden's hand began to burn, drawing a cry of pain from the heroine. Her body was reduced to ash before she could do anything.

"PYRRHA!"

A high-pitched voice called the girl's name. A silver glow filled the sky, erasing the dragon from the map and causing Cinder to scream in pain.

That voice... it was familiar to Constantine. Yes, it must be Ruby's voice. As he fell, he remembered what Ozpin had told him about the silver eyes. She had unleashed her magic. All at Pyrrha's expense.

"Fuck! Shit!" Constantine cursed with tears in his eyes. He hadn't been able to prevent another death. He turned in the air, watching the ground approach.

Using what little gravitational Dust he had left, he summoned several black magic circles along the way. He passed through them one by one, gradually reducing his speed.

When he had no more magic left, he covered his face with his arms, activating his aura to the maximum.

That was going to hurt.

Constantine didn't remember the blow, he didn't even remember how he'd gotten there. Although "there" was perhaps a misnomer. He was in a completely dark space, with nothing but himself around him. He began to walk, intrigued by whatever awaited him there.

In front of him, a red-haired girl in bronze armor appeared, lying on the ground.

"Pyrrha?" The mage approached slowly. However, something unexpected happened.

A young blond man, only a little shorter than her, which was no small feat, approached the warrior's body. He was wearing chest armor and jeans, with the hood of a sweatshirt peeking out from around his neck. Constantine recognized him; it was the leader of Pyrrha's team and one of Ruby's friends, Jaune Arc.

"Pyrrha!" Jaune cried, on the verge of tears. "I'm here, please hold on." The girl turned to ash in his hands. The boy began to cry. "Please... Don't go..."

The scene blurred, disappearing with grains of sand.

"What the fuck?" Constantine was confused. These were very personal feelings, and he had never spoken enough about them with the Arc boy.

The scene changed again; now it was Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren, Pyrrha's companions. They were wandering around what appeared to be the ruins of Beacon.

"Nora!" Ren shouted. "I can't see you!"

"Ren! Where have you gone?!" Nora started running, passing Ren, but unable to see him.

They searched for each other for a while without success, gradually falling into despair.

The scene changed again, and now the protagonist was another. On a cliff overlooking a beautiful green field, Ruby was kneeling in front of three graves. On the left, Pyrrha Nikos's grave. On the right, Penny Polendina's grave.

And in the center, towering over Ruby like an existence that overshadowed her, the grave of a person Constantine had never heard of.

Summer Rose.

The scene blurred again in a swirl of sand, leaving Constantine with questions. None of it made sense; he was seeing the inner feelings and thoughts of those kids. It was almost like seeing their dreams. Their dreams...

"Oooh..." Constantine said. "Oooh! Of course, John! How could I have been such an idiot?"

His sand-like aura, the presence that seemed to be hovering around him, and the fact that he'd started having dreams again—there was only one person who could be responsible.

No, calling him a person would be a grave insult; he didn't deserve to be compared to something so base.

He was a being that existed before the first civilization in the universe, a concept as powerful as Death itself. He was the one where gods were born and died. He was the being responsible for giving sentient beings hope.

In front of Constantine, a figure began to materialize through the sand. It was a tall, incredibly pale figure. His clothes were black and night-black with full sleeves, giving him a gloomy yet beautiful appearance. His shaggy black hair gave off a sense of familiarity that should be impossible with such a powerful being.

And his eyes… anyone would be mesmerized looking into them. They were two pitch-black sockets, illuminated by a bright white point. If you If you got close enough, you could see the star exploding inside.

Anyone would surrender in the presence of such a being. But not Constantine. Constantine had a very different reaction. The wizard smiled warmly, looking at his old friend.

"Dream... I've missed you, good friend."

Dream of the Eternals bowed his head in respect; few primordial beings loved humanity as he did.

"𝔍𝔬𝔥𝔫 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔩𝔢𝔞𝔰𝔲𝔯𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔢, 𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡." The being extended his arm. "𝔚𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔬𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔞𝔤𝔞𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔪𝔶 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔪, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣 𝔞𝔱 𝔥𝔬𝔪𝔢. 𝔄𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔞𝔩𝔩, 𝔴𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔪𝔲𝔠𝔥 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔰𝔠𝔲𝔰𝔰."

Chapter Text

Reality was a complex field. Ordinary scientists believed it would never be fully understood. True geniuses, those who mastered fields such as the quantum world, interdimensional travel, and Boom Boxes, believed they understood it completely.

And the best magicians knew those scientists were conceited jerks. Reality, at least according to the musings of Constantine, Zatanna, Madame Xanadu, and Blue Devil in a meeting that ended with the Brit trying to smash the demon's head in with the psychic's magic ball, was a damn mess. Planes upon planes upon planes, dimensions upon dimensions, and some pocket universe forgotten in a subway locker.

It was impossible to understand this strange universe they inhabited, Constantine knew that. That was why he tried to enjoy every little wonder he found during his travels, knowing that none would be the same as the last.

But of all those new places, Dream Castle held a special place. It was a place that could only be described as magical, with dragons and fairies flitting about. The outer dimension wasn't very large; his human brain could only conceive of the bridge to the castle, but that was enough.

He followed the Eternal inside, examining every corner in detail. He still remembered the first time he saw it; it was a mess. The tower was destroyed, the hallways were in tatters, the bridge was in poor condition. That, of course, was due to Dream's small incident and his confinement in the mortal plane, weakening his own dimension.

Fortunately for all the dreamers in the world, that problem was resolved, and now the Eternal could return to his hobbies.

The being approached a solitary table in his living room, with a teapot waiting.

"𝔚𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔡𝔬 𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔥𝔬𝔫𝔬𝔯 𝔬𝔣 𝔧𝔬𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔪𝔢?" the Eternal asked cordially.

"Of course." The wizard sat at the table, watching as a god capable of wiping out all the pantheons on Earth with a breath poured him a cup of tea.

"ℑ 𝔥𝔬𝔭𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔢𝔫𝔧𝔬𝔶 𝔦𝔱. 𝔐𝔢𝔯𝔳𝔶𝔫 𝔥𝔦𝔪𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔴 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔢𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔰, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔥𝔬𝔴 𝔟𝔲𝔰𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔠𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔪𝔶 𝔭𝔞𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔢."

"Damn, if I'd known I was coming to visit, I would have brought him something. The poor guy works too hard."

"ℑ 𝔱𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔥𝔦𝔪 𝔢𝔵𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔩𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔞𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤, 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔞 𝔳𝔞𝔠𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫. 𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔥𝔢, 𝔞𝔰 𝔡𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔞𝔰 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯, 𝔯𝔢𝔣𝔲𝔰𝔢𝔡. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰 𝔴𝔥𝔬 𝔡𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔥𝔬𝔴 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔢𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔞𝔲𝔱𝔶 𝔦𝔫 𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔱."

"I'm afraid Mervyn and I are alike there. I can't stay still either." Once Dream sat down, Constantine took a sip of tea. Delicious, like all food in dreams. "May I ask you a question?"

"𝔒𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔄𝔰𝔨 𝔞𝔫𝔡 ℑ'𝔩𝔩 𝔞𝔫𝔰𝔴𝔢𝔯. 𝔄𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔞𝔰 ℑ'𝔪 𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔡, 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢."

"Good, good... am I dead?"

Dream took a sip from his cup, his eyes shining brightly, enjoying having someone to talk to.

"𝔑𝔬, 𝔫𝔬, 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔱. ℑ𝔣 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔡𝔢𝔞𝔡, 𝔦𝔱 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔟𝔢 𝔪𝔶 𝔰𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔴𝔥𝔬 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲. 𝔚𝔢𝔩𝔩, 𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔲𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔶, 𝔦𝔱 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔟𝔢 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔪 𝔬𝔯 𝔏𝔲𝔠𝔦𝔣𝔢𝔯, 𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 ℑ 𝔡𝔬𝔲𝔟𝔱 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔭𝔦𝔰𝔢𝔰 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔢𝔫𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔱𝔬 𝔩𝔢𝔱 𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯 𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲."

"Well, you know he hates it when I'm always avoiding him. So that means I'm asleep."

"𝔘𝔫𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔠𝔦𝔬𝔲𝔰, 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔶𝔢𝔰. 𝔄 𝔰𝔩𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔱𝔢𝔠𝔥𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔶 ℑ 𝔲𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔞𝔩𝔨 𝔱𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲. ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔬 𝔦𝔱 𝔰𝔬𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔯, 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔬𝔲𝔰 𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔱𝔬𝔬 𝔳𝔬𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔢. 𝔄𝔯𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔞𝔣𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔡 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔢𝔰, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢?"

"I'd be an idiot not to. The thought that everything could die in a matter of hours. It unsettles me, especially when I'm busting my ass trying to prevent it. Hell, we almost didn't survive the last event, all that Darkest Knight and Perpetua shit... You had to intervene yourself, you of all people!" Constantine banged the table, resting his head on his hand. “Excuse me, Dream. It's just that… I'm tired of continuing to fight and always having another danger.”

The Eternal took a sip of his tea, looking at him with his divine eyes. “ℑ 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢, ℑ 𝔱𝔯𝔲𝔩𝔶 𝔡𝔬. 𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔱'𝔰 𝔴𝔥𝔶 ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔞𝔩𝔨 𝔱𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲, 𝔟𝔢𝔠𝔞𝔲𝔰𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲'𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔴𝔥𝔬 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔭𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔰 𝔞𝔫 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔠𝔲𝔯𝔦𝔬𝔰𝔦𝔱𝔶 𝔦𝔫 𝔪𝔢. 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔣𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱, 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔣𝔞𝔩𝔩, 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔪𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔫, 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔦𝔱 𝔞𝔩𝔩. 𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔲𝔭. 𝔚𝔥𝔶?”

Constantine sighed; he knew the answer. “Because someone must. It may be a world of lunatics with powers, but I am the only one capable of doing what they cannot. I have crossed the line. I know the kind of monsters on the other side because I am no different from them.”

Dream looked at him; the wizard could see compassion in his pupils of pure light. “𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔞𝔱𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. ℑ𝔱 𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔯𝔲𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔩𝔨𝔢𝔡 𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔨 𝔭𝔞𝔱𝔥𝔰, 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔩𝔴𝔞𝔶𝔰 𝔴𝔞𝔱𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔡 𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔧𝔲𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔠𝔢.” The god stood, putting down his tea. “𝔚𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔧𝔬𝔦𝔫 𝔪𝔢? ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔥𝔬𝔴 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤.”

“Of course.” Constantine stood up, walking beside the Eternal. Without realizing it, he and Dream began walking through a garden filled with greenery.

“ℌ𝔬𝔴 𝔩𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔟𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔈𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔥, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢?”

“A few months. First, I landed in Mantle. A lovely place, reminds me so much of home.”

“ℑ 𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔈𝔫𝔤𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡.”

“And I do. Dream… there are things I don't quite understand. Clearly, this Earth is part of the multiverse, but it's so… different."

“𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔈𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔥 𝔦𝔰 𝔞 𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔠𝔦𝔞𝔩 𝔠𝔞𝔰𝔢, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. ℑ𝔱 𝔢𝔵𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔢𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔢, 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔦𝔱𝔰 𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔞𝔩𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔢 𝔈𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔥𝔰. 𝔉𝔬𝔯 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔰𝔬𝔫 ℑ 𝔡𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔡, 𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔢𝔯𝔭𝔢𝔱𝔲𝔞 𝔠𝔞𝔲𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔰𝔢 𝔈𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔥𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔧𝔬𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔲𝔩𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔢.”

“So we have a multiverse within our multiverse. Brilliant, bloody brilliant.” Constantine took a cigarette from his trench coat, lighting it. He knew they weren't real, of course; nothing in Dream's realm was. But just imagining them was real was enough to feel their effects. “And you? You can't have been around long.”

“𝔄𝔟𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔰𝔦𝔵 𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔰𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔰.”

“Holy shit!” Constantine tried to understand how that was possible, but then he remembered that, for Eternals like Dream, time meant nothing; only moments mattered. If they needed to be there at a time thousands of years before the opening of the multiverse, they were there. It was easy when they weren't worrying. "Then you've had to listen to things and secrets."

"ℑ'𝔳𝔢 𝔡𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔦𝔱" the Eternal affirmed. He continued walking calmly, looking at the flying dragons with a smile.

Constantine stared at him, clearly frustrated. "You're not going to tell me anything, are you?"

"𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 ℑ'𝔡 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔱𝔬, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔪𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔟𝔢 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔢𝔡, 𝔫𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔪𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔟𝔢 𝔰𝔭𝔬𝔨𝔢𝔫 𝔲𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱. 𝔇𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔶 𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔟𝔢 𝔞𝔩𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔶 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔠𝔢𝔰 𝔰𝔲𝔠𝔥 𝔞𝔰 𝔪𝔶𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣."

Constantine discarded his cigar, looking at the Eternal. "But there is something you want, otherwise you wouldn't have called me."

"ℑ'𝔳𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔴𝔞𝔱𝔠𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤, 𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔦𝔯 𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔣𝔞𝔰𝔠𝔦𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔭𝔢𝔬𝔭𝔩𝔢, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔟𝔬𝔯𝔫 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔭𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪 𝔬𝔣 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔦𝔯 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔰, 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔰, 𝔥𝔬𝔭𝔢𝔰. 𝔄𝔯𝔢𝔫'𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔲𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔰 𝔴𝔬𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔣𝔲𝔩?"

“We're a bit stubborn, that's true. But they have a small, tiny, minuscule problem on this Earth. Salem the crazy witch.”

“𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔦𝔱'𝔰 𝔟𝔢𝔠𝔞𝔲𝔰𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 ℑ 𝔫𝔢𝔢𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔭, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔬𝔢𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔈𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔥 𝔪𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔲𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔶 𝔡𝔢𝔣𝔢𝔞𝔱 𝔥𝔢𝔯, ℑ 𝔡𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴. 𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔦𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔪𝔲𝔩𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔰 𝔠𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔲𝔫𝔰𝔲𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔪𝔰.” The Eternal pointed at the wizard.

“In my defense, I'll say I was there because no hero could. I didn't know Salem's spell would end like this. Making the portal go the other way just to screw things up, that's pretty perfidious.”

“𝔖𝔥𝔢 𝔦𝔰, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔴𝔥𝔦𝔩𝔢 𝔰𝔥𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔰 𝔫𝔬 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔠𝔦𝔬𝔲𝔰 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴𝔩𝔢𝔡𝔤𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔲𝔩𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔢, 𝔰𝔥𝔢 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢'𝔰 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢. ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔲𝔢 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔥𝔬𝔭𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔦𝔫𝔥𝔞𝔟𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔰 𝔬𝔣 ℜ𝔢𝔪𝔫𝔞𝔫𝔱, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. ℑ 𝔞𝔩𝔰𝔬 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔭𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔞 𝔭𝔩𝔞𝔤𝔲𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔨 𝔪𝔞𝔤𝔦𝔠 𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔥𝔰. ℑ 𝔠𝔞𝔫'𝔱 𝔞𝔠𝔱 𝔡𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔩𝔶, 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱'𝔰 𝔴𝔥𝔶 ℑ'𝔪 𝔞𝔰𝔨𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔶𝔬𝔲, 𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔡 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡. 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔭𝔢𝔡 𝔪𝔢 𝔬𝔫𝔠𝔢, 𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔭 𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔤𝔞𝔦𝔫. 𝔖𝔞𝔳𝔢 ℜ𝔢𝔪𝔫𝔞𝔫𝔱.”

Constantine looked into the Eternal's eyes, his concern for the people of that world genuine. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even Zatanna, but there was one being he would never refuse a request from, because it would never be for a selfish purpose. That being was his Eternal friend.

Constantine brushed his hair back, thinking. “What you’re asking of me is… it’s difficult. It’s fucking difficult. Shit, Dream, I’m going to need a lot of things. Resources, information, reinforcements… Shit, I might need the Justice League Dark.”

The Eternal didn’t speak; he just looked at him silently.

“I don’t have any of that, do I?”

“𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔱’𝔰 𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱.”

“Well, that’s all bloody marvelous. I haven’t even started and I’m already in shit.”

“𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔱’𝔰 𝔱𝔯𝔲𝔢. 𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔭𝔬𝔦𝔫𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴. 𝔐𝔞𝔶𝔟𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱’𝔰 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔫𝔢𝔢𝔡, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔖𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔳𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫.”

Dream gently grasped Constantine’s face. The mage let himself be; he trusted the Eternal completely. Dream fixed his celestial eyes on him and looked at him.

He saw his dreams, his fears, his hopes. He saw through his intentions and his soul, reaching the most hidden part of his being. Constantine could feel a burning inside him; it was doing something to him.

"𝔑𝔬𝔴, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢, 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔬𝔬 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔟𝔢 𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔢𝔢."

The mage felt his eyes burning. At first, the pain was too much, screaming and clutching Dream's arms, trying to endure it. Little by little, it subsided, turning into a warm sensation. When Constantine realized it, he no longer saw Dream, at least not like before.

He saw an infinity of magical power, an infinite source that would overwhelm any practitioner of the mystic arts. Constantine closed his eyes, but he still saw.

"𝔅𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥𝔢, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢, 𝔠𝔞𝔱𝔠𝔥 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔟𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥. ℑ𝔱'𝔰 𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔫𝔬𝔴; 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔪𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔲𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔦𝔱."

Constantine raised his hand, signaling him to be silent. Soon, his vision returned to normal, and he could see Dream's appearance, which he was accustomed to. "What have you done to me?"

"ℑ 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔴𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔬𝔱𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔞𝔩 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔞𝔟𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔞𝔦𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔬𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔧𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔫𝔢𝔶. ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔤𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔲𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰, ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢. 𝔜𝔬𝔲'𝔳𝔢 𝔬𝔟𝔱𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔰𝔢𝔪𝔟𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢."

"God... this hurts like hell. This place is full of stimuli. I can see every bit of power in your realm." The mage looked at the Eternal, who was shifting between his human form and a mass of magic. If one looked closely, one could see a tiny white dot in Constantine's pupils. "You bastard, you've given me the power to see magic."

"𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔱'𝔰 𝔠𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔱, 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔡 𝔦𝔰 𝔞𝔰 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔭 𝔞𝔰 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯."

"And couldn't you have done it somewhere other than pure magic?"

"ℑ'𝔪 𝔞𝔣𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔫𝔬 𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢. 𝔜𝔬𝔲'𝔩𝔩 𝔰𝔬𝔬𝔫 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔞 𝔡𝔢𝔠𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔯𝔢𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔪𝔶 𝔯𝔢𝔮𝔲𝔢𝔰𝔱, 𝔪𝔶 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡. 𝔘𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔫, ℑ'𝔩𝔩 𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔟𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔥𝔶𝔰𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔩 𝔭𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔢; 𝔦𝔱'𝔰 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔴𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔲𝔭." A whirlwind of sand engulfed Constantine, signaling his departure. Before returning, Dream turned to him. "𝔏𝔢𝔱 𝔪𝔢 𝔤𝔦𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔞 𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔩𝔢 𝔞𝔡𝔳𝔦𝔠𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱. 𝔅𝔢𝔞𝔠𝔬𝔫, 𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔶𝔢𝔡, 𝔦𝔰 𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬 𝔳𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔱. 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔟𝔞𝔰𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔭𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔰𝔠𝔦𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤."

The wizard smiled. Although the Eternal didn't recognize it, Dream had always been a trickster, subtly skirting the rules to help humanity. The whirlwind finally consumed him, sending him back to the physical plane.

Constantine woke up in an unfamiliar room, in a bed he'd never been in before. He looked around, discovering the room filled with piles of books stacked high. "Where the hell am I?"

Constantine got up, realizing he was still dressed. Leaving the room, dodging books, he found himself in a similar hallway. He could smell cooking; someone was in the house.

Walking through the hallway, he eventually came to a living room with an open kitchen. There, cooking at full speed while drinking coffee, was a scrawny man with spiky green hair. His eyes were hidden by huge glasses. Constantine recognized him; they had met in the staff room when the wizard came to ask questions.

“Ooblek?”

The man turned to the detective, clearly surprised. Constantine noticed he was wearing a frilly pink apron.

“Constantine!” The man approached him, removing his trench coat for an inspection. “Arms fine, legs fine, pupils fine. Glad to see you all right, comrade!”

Constantine had grown up in London, lived for years in Manchester, spent years studying magic in Wales, and spent far too much time in the United States. His head was accustomed to the most indecipherable accents possible, and yet he struggled to understand Ooblek due to his nervousness.

“Ooblek, just to be sure. I fell off a tower, didn't I?”

“Affirmative, the entire distance from Ozpin’s office.” The professor adjusted his glasses, turning around to finish making some pancakes. “You woke up at the right time, Professor. I was making breakfast.”

Without giving him time to reply, Ooblek sat him down at the table with a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee. The history teacher sat down opposite him, taking a long sip from his coffee.

Constantine was saturated; he had just left the house of a weird god and entered that of a caffeine addict.

“Ooblek, Ooblek” he said, getting his attention.

“Yes, Constantine?”

“Tell me what happened that night, and how come I’m in your house.”

Ooblek put his cup aside, adjusting his glasses.

“Beacon fell, we couldn't do anything. The students were able to evacuate, though not all of them made it. We've lost students.”

Constantine held the bridge of his nose. “Fuck… And what happened to my friend? Jason Blood.”

“The one with the extraordinary Semblance, right? Yeah, we were able to talk to him after the evacuation. He was a great help, yes sir. Without him, we would have suffered more casualties. He was the one who brought you to us; after that, he left.”

“He may be a stiff, but you can always trust Jason.” Constantine took a sip of coffee. The caffeine blast finally woke him up. He put a hand to his chest, fearing a tachycardia. “Bloody hell! This shit is strong.”

“My own recipe, it keeps me going.” Ooblek seemed strangely proud.

“And why did you say I'm at your house?”

“Oh, that has a very simple explanation. You weren't hurt enough to need a hospital, and both Peter and Glynda didn't have any available rooms. So I offered to take you in."

"Man... that's very kind of you. How long have I been out of the game?"

"Let's see... a week and six days."

"What?! How the hell am I still alive?"

"Ah, that's a mystery indeed. Your body seemed to have entered a state of preservation. There was no change, yet you were still healing. Strange indeed, a side effect of your Semblance perhaps?"

"Funny... that must be it." Constantine thought of the Eternal. Sleep must have protected his body while he was unconscious. Once again, he was still bending the rules of what he could and couldn't do. "I'm going to have a lot of catching up to do."

"Indeed, Constantine. However, I urge you to rest and eat something; you must be starving."

"Not really, but thanks anyway."

The two men ate breakfast peacefully, chatting about trivial matters like the professor's books or the state of the city. When they finished, Constantine washed everything as payment for the breakfast.

Ooblek took another sip of coffee. "Constantine, I don't want to intrude with personal questions, but I'm too curious. Why did Ozpin hire you? Your record doesn't list any previous experience as a teacher, nor as a security guard. Still, in the short time we spent together, I could see that you had a knack for communicating with students, and your barrier saved lives. How did Ozpin find you?"

"That's the thing, Ooblek."

"Please call me Bartholomew."

"Okay, Bart. You can use the familiar form too. Look, Bart, I wasn't looking for a job."

"No?"

"Of course no. I was very comfortable in Atlas, working menial jobs in Mantle." Investigating infidelities, uncovering corporate abuses, casting some spells. Constantine gestured with his hands, as if about to cast magic bolts. "Those things are my thing. But it turns out I have a hobby."

"Go on, you've got me intrigued."

"I'm studying the history of Remnant, I..."

The mage didn't have time to finish. Before he knew it, Ooblek had grabbed him by the lapels of his trench coat from across the table, breathing heavily.

"Another fellow historian! I knew I'd taken you in for a reason, we're brothers in history!"

Constantine had forgotten that Ooblek was the kids' history teacher. Maybe he should have lied, but it was too late to change his mind.

"Yes, Bart, you could say that."

"And what field do you specialize in?" Ooblek asked, letting him go. "Archaeology? Texts? Cave paintings?"

"Legends. You see, I study modern tales and legends, tracing their origins. Some are recent, dating back a hundred or two hundred years, but there are others that are even older, impossible to trace their origins. By studying them, I'm able to discover the truths they hide, the type of culture they were, and what their beliefs were."

"Fascinating! Truly fascinating! I'm an archaeologist myself, you know? But the important thing is that we share a love of history."

"You know what they say, Bart, history is cyclical. Get to know her well, and you'll be able to predict the future."

"True! Very true!" Ooblek took a deep sip. "I knew we'd get along, John. I know you were sleeping at Beacon, so you can stay as long as you need."

"Relax, Bart. Hopefully it won't be long. I have friends in Mantle. When I finish my business here, I'll catch the first flight out."

"Maybe you have a problem with that."

"What do you mean?"

"Our friend Ironwood withdrew his troops and left, taking poor Miss Polendina's body with him to take to her father."

"You still treat her like a person."

"Of course. Yes, she was a robot, but she was also a sweet young woman, a true dreamer with her focus on a better tomorrow." Ooblek looked down at his coffee, clearly thinking of the poor girl he had watched die.

Constantine couldn't help but imagine Pietro watching the fight from his laboratory in Mantle, helpless while his daughter died. No, while his daughter was murdered. Cinder was the mastermind behind the entire plan; Salem herself had given her the credit. Any other hero would hunt her down and lock her up. But Constantine wasn't a hero. Cinder and Salem were magical threats, and he planned to deal with them as he always did.

"John?" Ooblek called. He had most likely noticed the look in his eyes, a cold, hateful stare.

"Sorry, I was thinking of someone... And thank you for thinking that way about Penny. I met her and her father in Mantle; they helped me a lot when I arrived. Hell... I don't know how I'll ever be able to look Pietro in the eye."

"It's hard, John, especially when they're in our care. But we're hunters and, above all, teachers. Our students have time to grieve, we don't. Glynda's overseeing the debris removal. I guess she's the headmaster now. We always thought it would be her after old Oz retired.

"She's more than capable, of course." Constantine stood up, putting a cigar to his mouth. He only had a few left; he'd have to buy more. "It was a nice chat, Bart, but I think I'll go over to Beacon and have a natter with Glynda."

"Of course, John, go ahead. I have to stay; there are a lot of paperwork to organize. Here." Ooblek handed Constantine some keys. "You're in your own home; you can come and go as you please."

"Thanks, mate, really. I'll say hi to Glynda for you."

Constantine said goodbye to the professor, heading out into the streets of a Vale still in shock from the attack.

Beacon was, to put it mildly, a mess. The streets of the gigantic campus were littered with rubble and destroyed. He could see the areas where the Goliaths had rampaged, the places where the kidnapped Paladins had caused the most chaos. He looked directly below him, a burned area with several slashes from what looked like a large, sharp sword. That must have been Etrigan's work; the demon was as subtle as ever.

He continued walking as his cigarette burned down, heading for the central building. That was where most of the cleanup crews were gathered, with Glynda coordinating them. He would have to talk to the woman about his next step now that Ozpin was out on a limb, but that would have to wait.

Although he didn't seem so from his appearance, Constantine could be very stealthy. People tended to think it was magic, but some, like Batman, knew the truth. It was an art as old as the concept of society itself, an art practiced by spies and thieves since the beginning. The art of walking as if you were meant to be there.

The mage walked calmly among the staff, avoiding Glynda's inquisitive gaze by hiding behind the machinery and debris. It was a trick that worked in crowds, of course, but Constantine knew the woman was too clever to fall for his cheap trick.

Finally, he reached what looked like a hole leading underground. There was a ladder in place, but no sign of any machinery. That meant they hadn't started the serious cleaning down there yet.

The man descend with the cigar in his mouth, taking another drag. When he reached the floor, he discarded it and lit another.

His cigarette lit up the dark room like an oil lamp, the result of a small spell he'd cast. He inspected the place calmly, taking his time. It was a long, enormous room, with several lamps on the ceiling that were now inoperable. Part of the ceiling had collapsed during the invasion, possibly Cinder's doing.

He could see a bloodstain on the floor, a large stain. The wizard bent down, inspecting it. He took a drag on the cigar, holding it with his fingers. "Hello Ozpin, it's a shame to see you like this. We could have worked well together, you deceitful bastard." Constantine knew just by looking at Ozpin that he was a born liar, someone with more knowledge than he'd ever let you see. They weren't so different, he and the headmaster.

Clearly someone had removed the body; that was probably the priority when going down there. He continued walking, finding what appeared to be a machine of some kind, although it was smashed. It was a jumble of tubes and metal, certainly not his specialty. He noticed a section with shattered glass; judging by the width of the cavity, it looked like some kind of capsule designed to contain a person. There, staining the metal, was a small stain of blood. It wasn't from an accidental cut; it was a small wound, though not necessarily fatal.

"Look at that... And who are you?"

That blood couldn't have been Ozpin's, and Cinder had seemed untouched when he fought her in the headmaster's office. That meant a third person had been present right there.

"Cinder's ally? Nah, that can't be right. If so, she would have left here with them. Perhaps a detained servant of Salem's?" Constantine pondered that line of thought. Cinder was likely taking advantage of the situation to silence a potential snitch, but there was something that bothered him. If they wanted to eliminate the snitch, they could have done it more easily; they just had to infiltrate as they had already done.

But they'd sent a message; they'd made a spectacle of it all. Cinder and her gang of lackeys could have simply walked in and killed him; with the maiden's powers and Emerald's illusions, it should have been easy. Powers… Constantine thought about that. The amount of magic he'd noticed in the communications tower was clearly less than what had been displayed the night of the assault.

The wizard remembered what Ozpin had told him the day they met. Maidens thought of a successor before they died to pass on their powers. Perhaps Cinder hadn't gotten stronger, she'd simply reached the power she should have.

"I'd also think of the bastard who killed me, of course." And indeed, that was the case. Constantine had died and walked among the living once before. On his Earth, death only seemed final to ordinary people; weirdos like him were made to wait a little longer for eternal rest.

If Ozpin had the previous maiden there, that would explain Cinder's increase in power. In fact, knowing that Salem was a powerful magic user, perhaps she found a way to steal the maidens' powers. If Cinder attacked the maiden but didn't finish the job, that would explain the difference in her power before and after.

He'd have to ask Glynda why the maiden was there; he deserved some answers if he was going to hunt Salem down. However, the wizard felt a tingle down his spine; something didn't add up. Dream was smart; he knew he'd eventually find out about the maidens sooner or later. If she wanted him in Beacon's basement, it must be for another reason.

The mage took a drag, calming himself and closing his eyes. When he opened them, a small white dot could be seen in his pupils. The mage inspected the room, seeing traces of magic everywhere, the result of Cinder using her powers of flight and movement. What caught his attention was one of the walls, covered in a huge layer of magic.

Constantine whistled, cigarette in hand. "Well, well, well... what do we have here?"

Constantine gestured with his hand, creating a gigantic magic circle on the wall. The illusion was broken by his spell, revealing a surface with several engravings on it. It was, in all appearances, a door, although he didn't know how to open it. Using his Semblance, he looked at it carefully, noticing two things.

The first was that it had a magical lock; he could see that energy imbued into the surface. The second was that he recognized that specific magic. All magic had a signature; an experienced mage would know how to distinguish the trace of Zatanna's or Fate's magic; they just had to pay attention.

And with his new power, that was even easier. The magic that opened the door filled the entire room. It was Cinder's magic, the maiden's magic.

"What the hell were you doing here, Ozpin?" The wizard approached the door, knocking on it with his knuckles. After all, he was a mere human, and he had basic needs to fulfill. If he saw a closed door, he felt the need to open it.

Under other circumstances, opening that door would have taken months of trial and error until he found a flaw in the lock and forced it with his own magic. And even assuming there was a flaw, he could very well be looking at one of those impregnable doors that had given him a headache on numerous occasions. Luckily for Constantine, he had the key scattered throughout the room.

The wizard made a series of symbols while chanting. With his hand raised, the residual magic in the air began to gather into a single point. When there was no more magic left to gather, he placed his hand on the door. The engravings on it began to slowly light up.

The process was slow; Constantine didn't know if it was because of the small amount of magic or because he was opening it in an unconventional way. After two hours of Constantine smoking half a pack while waiting, the door finally opened.

Inside, there was a seemingly infinite space containing a forest of brown and yellow leaves. The magician inspected the room; it seemed like a separate dimension, like his House of Mystery.

In the center, there was a pedestal with an object that radiated power. It was a golden tiara with blue lines, floating a few inches above the pedestal.

Constantine approached the object slowly, admiring it. It was ancient, very ancient. It had that perfection typical of magical relics from times past, times when magic was unleashed.

The exorcist couldn't help but smile; he was always moved by that kind of thing. "But look at you. You're beautiful, aren't you? I'm sure you're older than this city. Hell, you're probably older than this kingdom."

Constantine looked closely at the tiara; he had to investigate it thoroughly. But not there; he had to investigate that at his leisure. He tucked the tiara into his trench coat, stepping out the door as it lost its magic. As he stepped out, it closed again. Fearing he'd be caught, Constantine cast another illusion spell to hide the door, leaving it as if no one had been there.

He slipped out of the way, hiding from the workers. He'd managed to avoid Glynda, and he was going to continue doing so until he got far enough away.

After walking for a while to gain distance, Constantine felt a strange touch on his back. He turned quickly to identify what had touched him. There, floating low and slowly rotating, was a silver sphere with a blue light.

Constantine looked at it curiously; it sounded familiar. The ball shot out quickly in his direction.

"Holy crap!" Constantine dodged the flying sphere, which remained stationary four meters from him. The sphere opened, revealing a blue portal.

Inside, a tall man appeared with his hands behind his back. He wore a black jacket with red lines and a black T-shaped mask. Constantine knew him, of course. No one in the metahuman community was unaware of the identity of the man who made multiversal travel possible.

"Mr. Terrific," Constantine said, smiling. "I didn't expect to see you specifically. How are you, mate?"

"Constantine, no time for greetings," said the hero, sticking out his sleeve and doing calculations with a small computer on his wrist. "I managed to open a portal for you, but it won't last long. This Earth is unstable; I'm already putting a lot of strain on my machine by doing this."

Constantine looked at the portal. There it was, his ticket home. At that moment, he saw a raven beside the portal, with a wise and ancient look. It was Dream's faithful raven. The mage patted his pocket, noticing the tiara.

The mage let out an awkward smile. “Look, Terrific, I think we have a problem.”

“What? There’s no time now, we have to go.”

“I can’t, friend. It turns out I have matters to attend to on this Earth, and I must stay to resolve them.”

“But John, if you stay, I don’t know if I’ll be able to open a portal for you, at least not anytime soon.”

“Don’t worry, this job might take me a while. A year minimum, two maximum.”

Terrific looked at him seriously; the scientist never joked about such matters. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. The one who caused the magical portals is still on the loose; I intend to finish her off. If you can, send me reinforcements when portals can be safely created. And Terrific… Tell Zatanna I’m sorry, but in for a penny, in for a pound.”

The man nodded, taking a step back from the portal. “Good luck, John, you better stay alive.”

Just like that, the portal disappeared along with the sphere, leaving Constantine alone. The magician held a cigarette to his mouth, staring at the broken moon.

"Who would have thought it, I'd eventually grow fond of this place."

Chapter Text

Vale, besides being home to the prestigious Beacon Academy, also had a vast criminal underworld. This fact was well known among its inhabitants; they simply lived their lives trying to ignore it, although that had become more difficult over time due to the recent robberies perpetrated by Roman Torchwick. With the thief out of the picture after the Beacon assault, the criminal underworld was returning to its normal activities.

At a house in the wealthy area of ​​Vale, a private party was taking place. Limousines kept arriving at the entrance, and the people getting out were dressed to the nines with friendly smiles. The party was aimed at the city's richest criminal minds and those businesspeople who usually flirted with the underworld.

Chatting animatedly with some associates, there was a tall, burly man with a full beard that gave him a mature appearance. His attire, a white shirt with a black jacket and red tie, was already his trademark. Hei Xiong, commonly known as Junior, owned a club in the industrial zone. While it was profitable, his true fortune lay in being the main source of information in the underworld. If you were going to ask him something, he'd most likely know the answer. For a small fee, of course.

That day, however, was unlike any other, and Junior worked hard to appear calm. He knew that a big fight was about to break out. His companions, two twins dressed in red and white, approached him. "I haven't seen him yet. Hopefully, he'll have changed his mind."

"I highly doubt it, boss" said Melanie, the woman in white. "My sister and I have been watching, and we think we saw him."

"Yes," replied Miltia, the woman in red. "Blonde, cocky face, and a trench coat. He was wearing a black suit underneath, but although it was buttoned up, that was his trench coat."

"Shit... remember, girls, we don't know him."

His bodyguards nodded, mingling again with the guests to watch for any potential threats targeting their boss.

Junior took a long drink. Beacon had fallen three months ago. It was a human disaster; Junior himself had paid his respects to the victims. The instability of the moment had shaken all businesses, both legal and illegal, and they had only recently begun to recover. And in that period of instability, HE appeared.

That... man had turned his life upside down. He showed up at his place as if he owned the world, speaking with a calmness and arrogance unbecoming of someone messing with a heavyweight. Detective, he called himself, but he was nothing more than a blackmailer. He had no idea how, but he had managed to locate most of his spies, in addition to having deactivated his microphones and cameras. He should have killed him instantly, but when he looked into his eyes, he saw that He wasn't a normal person.

They were eyes filled with regret and a hint of madness, the eyes of someone who had seen too much and done even worse things. A newcomer who had used logic to take him down was someone he didn't want to provoke. He spent entire nights without a response, waiting for that man's order. And then, it happened.

"A ticket to the poker game... he's crazy." Junior finished his drink, thinking about the horrors that could be unleashed on the upper floor of the mansion.

"Miss! Another drink here!" Constantine laughed as he collected the tens of thousands of lien he had won in that hand. An attractive waitress in a Playboy bunny uniform approached him with a glass of whiskey. The detective took it, giving the waitress a two-thousand-lien tip and winking at her. "Here, beautiful, you're giving me tremendous luck."

The magician took a sip from the glass, looking at the people at his table with a playful smile. His tablemates, however, weren't so happy. They were powerful men and women, directors of important companies and renowned organized crime bosses. They were all there, like every six months, for the same thing: to participate in the organizer's game.

Sitting with a cigar in his mouth and a sour face, was a burly, gray-haired man wearing a crimson suit with gold trim. His numerous rings indicated how much he liked glitter. Constantine wasn't one to talk; many times a good ring had saved his life. Dhimas Aure, Constantine had heard about after thoroughly investigating the city, and it turned out this ostentatious man had something he wanted. But first, he had to prepare the ground.

"Come on, guys, I see little laughter. We're supposed to be having fun" said the magician, waving his glass. "I've won... what? About two hundred thousand lien in total? That's nothing for champions like you." He animatedly punched the person next to him on the arm.

Dhimas frowned at him. “Look, sir…”

“Wayne, Bruce Wayne,” Constantine said, taking a sip. “Mogul, philanthropist, playboy… I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

“No, Wayne. And that’s the problem. You show up at my house, at my table, claiming to be someone we don’t know.” He signaled with his hands, putting his thugs on guard. “I think you’re a liar.”

“Well, we’re playing poker.” Constantine gave him a mischievous smile. “You see, mate, you might not know me. I’m more famous in Vacuo. If you ask around in the desert, I’m sure they’ll tell you great things about me.”

“So what are you doing in our city?”

“I came to fund the new Beacon, you know, do a little philanthropy and make friends with the hunters. It never hurts when those monsters owe you a favor.”

"Hmmm... so you're a hunter too?"

"I don't have time for that nonsense, someone has to make money. Another hand, ladies and gentlemen?"

Dhimas snapped his fingers, ordering the dealer to deal the cards. Constantine hadn't remembered the name of the game, but it was clearly Texas Hold'em. The easiest way to cheat if you know what you're doing.

Constantine had his tactic, one that had always worked for him back when he wasn't yet banned from most casinos in Europe and the United States. After a big win, he had to lose. Not too much—he didn't want to lose everything he'd won—but he did want to accumulate small losses.

After three losing hands, he won again, taking home more money from the rich and powerful. The man next to him had a murderous look on his face, his arm aching from Constantine, who hit him every time he laughed outrageously.

The magician called to one of the servants with the most repulsive gesture he could think of. "Hey, flat-back, get me some briefcases. I won't be able to leave with this in my hands."

"Of course, sir." The man obeyed, immediately arriving with a large black briefcase. After finishing arranging the money, Constantine took out a wad and gave it to him.

"For your trouble."

"Thank you, sir, that's very generous."

"Don't worry, it's not my money." Constantine laughed again, causing everyone's faces to turn red. All except Dhimas's.

"Mr. Wayne, I have a question now that you mentioned the briefcases. I couldn't help but notice the one you're carrying next to you. What's in it?"

Constantine adopted a mysterious pose. He was actually quite nervous; he'd been waiting for them to notice the briefcase the whole time.

"That's a good question, Mr. Aure, a fantastic question, in fact. Let me tell you a story."

The entire table groaned, but they were silenced with a gesture from Dhimas.

"In Vacuo, I am equally respected and feared; both come hand in hand with money. But I am a man with a sensitive heart." Constantine clutched his chest. "I have my hobbies that manage to bring out the deepest emotions inside me. That hobby that accompanies me on the dark nights in my mansion with twenty-seven servants. The shoeshine boy is sick, I've had to let him go; it's the history of our planet."

Those words caught Dhimas's attention; everyone turned to him.

"I didn't expect to find another history buff in you."

"Yes, in fact, I have several things in my private collection. But there's something I'm dying to acquire, to hold in my hands. And I think you know what I mean."

Dhimas smiled, showing golden teeth. "I think I know, Wayne. But that book is very valuable, please understand that you're not going to throw it away just like that."

"That's obvious; it would be shameful if you did. That's why I brought this." Constantine placed the briefcase on the table, turning it toward Dhimas and carefully opening it. "I've scoured the deserts of Vacuo and found many hidden tombs, Dhimas. And I've never found anything like this."

The briefcase revealed a longsword protected by glass. Above it, a scabbard with several royal coats of arms. Dhimas's eyes glittered with greed.

"I suppose you're familiar with the Great War, a world war that claimed many victims and gave rise to great legends about the warrior king?"

"Of course I am."

"Well... Then you know that for years, people have searched for the remains of that warrior king; it almost seemed like a legend. But then I found some manuscripts. It turns out the Warrior King was a great friend of the King of Vacuo back then. Trusting his close friend when he was in his final moments, he asked him for a favor: to guard his sword, to hide it as a symbol that the world should never fight again. So he did, and so it was. At least until I found it."

Dhimas looked at the sword as if he were looking at the greatest treasure in history. However, he managed to calm himself; he was a pro at it.

"It's a fascinating story, Wayne. But it would be foolish of me to believe that story just like that."

"I know, that's why it comes with a certificate of authenticity, endorsed by Dr. Gray, a leading figure in the field, as you know." Constantine didn't know him, but Ooblek had told him about him. Only people well-versed in the field of archaeology would know his name. Despite being the greatest figure in the field, he was very secretive.

Dhimas smiled, looking at Constantine like a wolf stalking its prey. He snapped his fingers. “Bring the book.”

A short time later, a small briefcase arrived. Dhimas turned it toward Constantine. Inside was an ancient book preserved in perfect condition. It was a book that could only be read from a distance, to prevent deterioration.

“Dealer. Cards” Constantine and Dhimas said simultaneously.

The cards flew into the dealer’s hands, giving each player their pair. The rest of the table watched from a distance, knowing they were witnessing the biggest bet in decades. Constantine looked at his hand.

A two of hearts and a seven of clubs. A horrible hand; he had no doubt the dealer had cheated. That was to be expected; after all, he worked for Dhimas. Constantine and Dhimas bet until they reached the last card. Two kings, a ten of spades, a jack of spades, and an eight of diamonds were revealed. One of the kings was the king of spades.

"You still have time to back out, Wayne."

"And where would the fun be?"

Constantine placed the briefcase with the sword, Dhimas did the same with the briefcase with the book.

With the bet confirmed, Dhimas revealed his hand. It was the two remaining kings.

"Four of a kind. Better luck next time, Mr. Wayne."

"A great hand, Aure." Constantine tapped the cards in his hand twice. "A shame I won. Royal flush."

Constantine revealed his cards, now a queen and an ace of spades. A sound of surprise ran through the room; the crime lord had gone blank.

"This... this isn't possible."

"Why not? It was a game of chance” Constantine asked, closing the book case and picking it up. “Unless you cheated, right?”

Dhimas forced a smile; he had to pretend. He took off his right glove and offering his hand to Constantine. “Well played, sir.”

Constantine smiled, reaching out. Then he sprang into action. An ice pick popped out of the sleeve of his trench coat, plunging it into Dhimas’s hand and setting it on the table. Dhimas howled in pain as the ice pick turned to solid gold. Bless Junior for warning him about Dhimas’s Semblance.

Before the guards could recover from the shock, Constantine overturned the table with the sword on it. When it hit the floor, it exploded in a puff of smoke.

"Catch him! I want his statue decorating my hall!" Dhimas shouted.

By the time his guards moved, Constantine was already fleeing with the money and the book.

The magician ran at full speed, pushing past guests and dodging guards. He quickly ran down the stairs to the upper floor, causing several stumbles that resulted in some guests receiving serious injuries.

"Stop!" Two guards armed with pistols stood in front of him. Constantine simply kept running. With wind dust on his trench coat, he created a strong current that knocked the guards off their feet.

When he reached the great hall, everything was in chaos, with people crowding around and worrying about the commotion. Right in front of him was Junior.

The man looked at him pleadingly, shaking his head. Constantine smiled, nodding at him.

With a pained expression, Junior took a step to "try" to stop him.

"Stop it, buddy!"

Constantine hit him in the face with the briefcase of money, knocking him down and breaking his aura. The twins who had been with him ran toward Junior, showing concern. Those girls were good actresses.

He left the mansion with an army at his back, firing shots and following him closely. As he struggled down the grand stairs, he tucked a briefcase under his armpit, grabbing something from his pocket. A marble.

He threw the marble at the stairs. It began to double with each bounce, creating a chaos of marbles that caused many of his pursuers to fall.

Finally, at the bottom, he saw his car.

"Alfred! Start the car! Alfred!"

Ooblek was drinking from his thermos while reading one of Constantine's books. This time it wasn't a research project, just a fantasy book about a man with two souls in the same body. "What a dilemma... what will happen?"

"Alfred..."

Ooblek ignored the voice; it was far away and, besides, it probably wasn't referring to him. The Doctor was wearing a mask and sunglasses, as well as a beret to hide his distinctive green hair.

A noise caught his attention; it sounded like firecrackers. A series of bullets hit the side of the car, putting him on guard. Immediately afterward, the back seat window exploded.

"Start it, blast it! Start it!"

Ooblek looked in the direction of the gunfire. Constantine was running toward him with two briefcases in his hands, and several dozen people chasing him and firing weapons.

"Good Heavens!" Ooblek started the engine, waiting for Constantine.

His friend threw the smaller briefcase through the car window, landing inside. Then, hugging the other one, he rushed into the car.

"Start it! Go, go, go!"

Ooblek floored the car, leaving tire marks on the asphalt as they left the area.

"What happened in there?! You said it would be simple!"

"The bastard almost used his semblance on me! I stabbed his hand."

"You stabbed Dhimas Aure? Constantine, we said no injuries!"

The car's rear window exploded from the impact of a bullet. "We'll be the ones hurt if you don't step on the fucking gas!"

Ooblek drove recklessly down the road, taking turns violently while Constantine spun around in the backseat, complaining about the bumps.

They had three cars chasing them; they didn't seem to let up.

"Give me your thermos" the detective said. "I'm going to fry those bastards."

"No! You're not going to fire a rocket launcher in the middle of the city!"

"But they can fire their guns? Besides, you never let me use it!"

"Because you'd break something in the recoil!"

Ooblek watched as Constantine searched the pockets of his trench coat, looking for something. Finally, he pulled out a glass bottle. "Ooblek, coffee."

With one hand on the wheel, Ooblek poured coffee into the bottle with pinpoint precision, born of years of experience.

Bottle in hand, Constantine leaned halfway out the window, reciting a few words in a strange language. In the time they'd spent together, he'd asked him many times about his Semblance. In the end, out of trust, he revealed the truth.

His friend and roommate had the most dangerous Semblance in the history of Remnant, the ability to steal people's Semblances and use them as his own, with no time or storage limits. From the things he'd seen him do, he could have counted on a dozen different Semblances. For his peace of mind, Constantine assured him that he had only used it against dangerous criminals.

His friend threw the bottle at his pursuers. Oobleck's hunter's eyes captured what had happened. The liquid sprayed out in an impossible amount; it seemed like the bottle could hold thousands of liters. The cars began to slide in what looked like a huge pool of oil, colliding with each other and leaving the road. The one going faster flipped several times.

"Holy shit!" Constantine shouted, squeezing himself into the car seat.

"Are they chasing us anymore?"

"I don't think so. Oh shit, there's a motorcycle coming. And... it just fell off. Clear, floor it."

Oobleck kept driving, leaving the wealthy area and going down alleys, avoiding the authorities.

After Oobleck dropped off the work car at the pickup point, they walked to the Doctor's apartment. Constantine opened the door, dodging the books they had placed everywhere. Against all odds, the duo had continued living together; it turned out they got along quite well. Oobleck, although very emotional, was a cultured companion, whom Constantine appreciated when settling into Remnant.

The Doctor, for his part, acknowledged enjoying having company in the house, and Constantine's pragmatic point of view helped him in his investigations, knowing which routes to take. It was this friendship that convinced him to help Constantine with that small theft, in addition to the reward.

"So you have it?" Oobleck asked.

"You bet." Constantine placed the large briefcase on the table. Opening it, he revealed the hundreds of thousands of lien. "Seven hundred thousand lien, completely clean. We're rich, baby! We're finally going to be able to remodel the kitchen."

Oobleck held the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "This is dirty money, Constantine. We can't use it."

"Hey, you know the saying. Whoever steals from a thief is forgiven for a hundred years. Besides, we're going to use it better."

"Well... I guess it could go to some students affected by the fall of Beacon."

"It could be used for repairs."

"Maybe donate it to the hospital."

"First thing's to call a plumber. The pipes smell awful, and I think there's an unknown organism living there" Constantine said, deadly serious. He never joked about household matters.

"Good point. But let's not get distracted; this wasn't what we came here for. Do you have it?"

Constantine moved the money aside, making room for the small briefcase. He opened it carefully, showing the book to Oobleck. Constantine couldn't help but laugh when he saw his friend's excited expression.

"A book dating back twenty five years before the start of the Great War, Bart. We've hit the jackpot."

"Sorry, my friend! So sorry!" Oobleck forced himself to calm down. "This is a great discovery, if only we had a way to decipher the ancient language of Vale."

"Yeah, it's a pain in the arse. Open it anyway."

"I'll get my equipment! You sterilize the area!"

Following the good Doctor's instructions, Constantine cleared the table and laid a plastic sheet over it. When Oobleck arrived, he appeared with a small lectern, a long stick, and rubber gloves. He handed a pair to Constantine, who put them on immediately.

"Ready, Bart?"

"I'm always ready for history, John." Carefully, Oobleck opened the book to the first page. It was an illustrative drawing of the warrior king with his sword and crown, both golden. He flipped to the next page, but something made Oobleck frown. “How strange… this dedication is in the ancient language of Mistral.”

"What?"

"Yes." The Doctor continued forward, surprise creeping into his face.  "John, I think we were mistaken. This is indeed a pre-war book. But it's been translated, perhaps by a scholar."

"Wait, so you can read it?"

"Yes, I think so. Mistral scholars painstakingly compiled their entire history. These are unpublished stories, Constantine, we can learn so much from…" Oobleck paused on one of the pages; from the structure, Constantine suspected it was a poem. "It can't be…"

"What's wrong?"

"This… I've seen this before. John! My scroll!"

The wizard quickly handed it to him. When Oobleck got like this, it was best to obey. The Doctor began frantically searching for something. Eventually, his hands began to tremble, as did his lip.

"Bart, is something wrong?"

“This poem… has already been found. It's the Ballad of the King's Robe!”

“What?”

“It's the only thing known about that poem, since the title was referenced in the place where it was found. No one has been able to decipher it, but now it's here in another language. Do you know what that means?”

Constantine wasn't an idiot; he knew exactly what they'd done. “Holy shit… We've…”

“We've found the key to deciphering the ancient language of Vale!” Oobleck jumped up and down, hugging Constantine. “This is huge! Huge! And to think that greedy swine had it! He's deprived Remnant of a vital part of its history!”

“Look at you, Bart, cursing? This is something to celebrate.” Constantine went to the kitchen to get some glasses, pouring in the wine Oobleck had saved for special occasions. “Here's to a new stage in Remnant's history.”

Oobleck took the glass enthusiastically. "To the greatest discovery of the decade. What am I saying of the decade, of the century!"

The duo toasted, savoring the wine on their palates. After that, Oobleck left the glass in the kitchen and got back to work.

Constantine continued sipping his, knowing that in this situation Oobleck wasn't going to listen to him; he'd have to wait for him to calm down. The Doctor continued researching the book, taking notes in a notebook as he did a general review.

"Fascinating, this book can open the door to numerous texts we couldn't translate before. Thanks for retrieving it, John."

"That's what we're here for, Bart," said the wizard, sitting in an armchair.

"What you still haven't explained to me is how you knew he had it."

"Dhimas is a type of man I've seen many times. He's rich, he likes being rich, and he likes it even more when people know he's rich. He knows the story is valuable, and he'd probably enjoy showing this book to his guests. As for how I know that, I simply had to flirt with a servant or two. That's how I discovered Junior's spies; in fact, that servant was an informant. The rest just came by themselves."

"Hmmm... I always underestimate your investigative skills, John. You seem to be doing well as a detective."

"I can't complain. The truth is, there was no shortage of work in Mantle. I wish I could call my contacts there. Anyway, what are we going to do with the book?"

"The right thing to do would be to donate it to a university for further research. However, I think we could wait a bit to investigate it further. That way we avoid Dhimas noticing us."

"I like the idea." Constantine finished his drink, relaxing in the armchair. "Are you planning on spending all night studying it?"

"That's the idea. There's no time to waste."

"Well, as you can see, I'm going to bed. And remember what I told you."

"Of course. If I find anything related to a tiara or any extraordinary events, I'll call you right away."

"Good boy. Good night, Bart."

The doctor waved goodbye, clearly still focused on his book.

The next morning, Constantine woke up with sleep in his eyes, yawning. The wizard went to the kitchen in his underwear; he had already reached that level of trust with Oobleck. To his surprise, he found him asleep on the couch.

Constantine checked his thermos; it was empty. With a tired sound, he went to the kitchen and took out a piece of paper that Oobleck had hidden in one of the cupboards. Carefully, he took out several test tubes and materials that Oobleck had kept aside.

Following the recipe, Constantine created a brown concoction whose smell was enough to wake the dead. After heating it thoroughly, he poured it into Oobleck's thermos. He opened the doctor's mouth, pouring the liquid directly into his mouth.

Oobleck sprang back to life, springing up. He looked around to reacquaint himself with the space he inhabited. Finally, his gaze settled on the almost naked Constantine.

"Your coffee." The wizard handed him the thermos with a tired expression.

The doctor grabbed it with superhuman speed, taking another sip. "Thanks, John. You're getting better at my recipe wirth every try."

"You call it a recipe, I call it a chemical weapon. Seriously, I know people with super speed who are less restless than you. I wonder what would happen if I gave them this..."

"It's not advisable; they could have a heart attack." Oobleck went to the table, where he had the book open and the materials ready. "Come here. Last night I discovered something that might interest you."

Constantine pressed himself against his side, still in his underwear. "I hope it's interesting. I have to go give Junior his share of the work. It may have been through blackmail, but it's better to keep him happy."

"It's better for you to take care of that. Come, look at this. It's a poem about the Warrior King."

"This guy again. The power to shape history, and he didn't choose to rule over everyone. A curious fellow."

"Yes, he was. I'm missing a few words to complete the translation, but it says here that the King's strength seemed supernatural. He was also a brilliant inventor and a man with many answers. The poem basically praises him."

"It's possible the author simply wanted to curry favor."

"It's an option I've considered, but it turns out there are other texts that function as testimonies, all with the same opinions. But that's not interesting; what's interesting is that the story mentions certain objects."

"I'm interested in that."

"It says here that the King could unleash death with his sword. Walking with his scepter, he came up with ideas and inventions that could revolutionize the world. Illuminated by his lamp, the King reached a state of enlightenment; he seemed to know all the answers. And finally, the crown on his head, the symbol that he had the power to decide for his people."

"It's almost as if he's implying that those objects were important."

“Well, it could very well be mysticism, but those objects appear more than once in the book, which means they are objects the king owned. Also, I noticed rough illustrations of those objects in some of the margins.”

“Let me see them.” Oobleck showed him the illustrations. Constantine looked closely at the four objects. Then, he noticed the crown. It was exactly the same as the tiara he had found at Beacon. “Isn't that a tiara?”

“What? No! It's a crown.”

“It looks like a tiara.”

“Just because it's elegant doesn't make it a tiara, John. Not all crowns have to be ostentatious.”

“That's true. Thank you very much, Bart. This has helped me a lot with my research. I'm going to put something on and see Junior; I'm sure he'll be pleased.”

“Very good. Oh, and John.”

“Yes?”

“This afternoon, Peter and I were going to see Taiyang Xiao-Long. He's an old friend of ours, and Miss Xiao-Long's father. You know, the one of the arm."

"Yang's... Ugh, it'll probably be awkward."

"Don't worry about that, but I was wondering if you'd want to go. Tai's a good man, I'm sure you'll have a good time. Besides, you barely socialize with the rest of us, you haven't even spoken to Glynda yet like you said you would."

"It's just that I've been busy. Look, I'll go with you to his house, it won't hurt me" Constantine replied as he put on his signature outfit.

"Perfect, four o'clock in the afternoon at the port. They live on an island."

"Okay, see you later, Bart." Constantine patted him on the shoulder in a friendly manner, leaving the house to head for the industrial district.

Parking in front of the club, Constantine got out of the taxi with a small briefcase in his hand. He entered the club with a loud bang. He knew that at that time of the morning there were no customers, only Junior and his men.

"Here's Johnny!"

Dozens of guns were pointed at him, but Constantine looked at them with disdain. "Are you sure you want to do that? Who knows, maybe the gun will explode in your hand; it's not uncommon."

"Let him" Junior said from the back, his back to the bar.

Junior's thugs let Constantine through, and he walked happily across the dance floor. His eyes fell on the twins.

"Melanie, Militia, nice to see you." The twins gave him the finger. "How polite young people are these days. Junior! Come, let me shake your hand."

The man turned, revealing a black eye and a bandage on his nose. "You've got some really big balls, Constantine, I'll give you that."

"Wow, mate, what happened to your face?"

"What... This is your fault! Why didn't you punch me like we agreed?"

"I just had my hands full, the briefcase was better for me."

"Give me a reason not to kill you."

Constantine put the briefcase on the bar. He let Junior open it, lighting up his face. "I can give you two hundred thousand reasons. Not bad for someone who got hit with a briefcase."

"That's a lot of money, way too much."

"Well, besides the inconvenience, it's also an incentive for you to hurry up with that other job."

"Yeah, the woman who attacked Beacon. I still don't know anything, because I know you know she's from Mistral, according to the official papers. But her past? Nothing yet."

"And the kids?"

"The one with green hair is a new player; we've never heard of her. But the boy is a different story."

"Do you know him?"

"No, not him. But Black is a well-known name in our circles. He was a hitman, one of the deadliest."

"I suppose something killed him."

"He was found beaten to death and his house burned. There was no news of his son."

"I suppose it was a family argument. I can guess, Mistral."

"Mistral."

"Good. Thanks, Junior. I think it's clear where to go now."

"If you're going to Mistral, I don't recommend walking; it's advisable to take a vehicle."

"Oh... You're worried about me... I knew we'd get along."

"Out of my club. Now."

Constantine left with a kiss, walking away from Junior while all his thugs watched him intently, hoping to never run into the detective again.

After killing time in the city, Constantine met up with Port and Oobleck at the port. After a one-hour boat ride, they showed up at Tai's house. The blond and muscular man invited them in. After a bit of chatting and Port telling stories, Constantine noticed Tai staring at him.

"What's up, Tai? Did you have a crush on me?" he said with a smile. He wouldn't say no to a date with him.

"No way, man, it'd be like going out with myself. I mean, just look at us." Tai stood next to Constantine, their faces pressed against each other. "Blond, short beards, handsome. Even blue eyes!"

"Now that you mention it, I can see the resemblance" Oobleck said.

“No, no, they're missing something.” Port grabbed Constantine by the chin. “Look at that jaw. At first glance, it's square like Tai's, but if you look closely, John's is sharper.”

“Come on, Peter, no one would notice,” Tai said.

Constantine shook off the professor's hand. “That's true, I've used body doubles who looked less like me.”

"Have you used body doubles?" Port asked.

"Of course. I'm not as strong or brave as you guys; I have to use my little tricks for jobs."

Tai leaned against the counter again, glass in hand. "So what jobs did you do before Beacon?"

Oobleck drank uncomfortably. Constantine had only told him he did simple jobs, but after living and working with him, he could see that Constantine had a lot of experience dealing with threats.

Constantine looked at the three thoughtfully; they deserved some truth. "I'm a detective, but that's just a term that broadens many of my services," Constantine said. "Although infidelities and such things make money, people call me for more complex cases. Disappearances, murders, unexplained events. If they're perpetrated by Grimm, I handle them, and if they're human, too."

"You do all that alone?" Port asked. “That's very manly of you.”

“Nah, never completely alone. I make deals, agreements. The doubles? I usually send them wandering around the city to throw off my enemies and sneak into their hideouts. With luck, I can take them out without causing a stir. It's all thanks to my planning; I'm not strong.”

“That's a lie.” A new voice appeared in the living room. A blonde girl wearing a tank top and baggy pants was staring at him. Her golden hair was tied back with a purple ribbon, although the most distinctive feature was her lack of a right arm.

“Yang…” Constantine hadn't expected to have to talk to her, at least not so soon.

“Sweetheart” Tai replied with a smile; he was glad to see his daughter standing. “Come on, sit down if you want. We were listening to Professor Constantine's stories.”

“I was listening to everything. That's how I know he's lying.” Yang approached Constantine. The mage had always thought she was tall compared to her classmates, but next to her, she was still short. "I talked to Coco, she told me everything. Sun told her you saved Blake and me, that you defeated Adam."

"John..." Tai placed his hand on his shoulder with a genuine smile. "Thank you for saving my little girl."

"Don't give it to me. And I didn't defeat him. I think I broke his aura, but I didn't finish the job. The bastard is probably still alive."

"But that wasn't all you did" Yang countered. "You stood up to Cinder."

"That's true" Oobleck added. "You didn't hesitate for a moment."

"And what was the point? I stood up to her, cut off her arm, but I still lost. Pyrrha Nikos died because of me." Silence filled the kitchen. Everyone looked distressed, everyone except Constantine and Yang; they were furious.

"Screw you, old man." Yang stormed out of the house.

"Yang!" Tai yelled at him. "This girl... John, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Tai. I was much worse at her age. But much, much worse. I'm going to talk to her. I think it'll be interesting to hear her point of view."

Constantine left the house, following the blonde haired girl who was pacing furiously. He managed to catch up with her near the edge of the island, where she sat down to look out at the sea.

Constantine sat down next to her, took out a cigarette and lit it. He offered one to Yang.

"Can I?" the girl asked.

"Of course, I'm not your father. If you can drink, you can smoke." Constantine raised his eyebrow. "You can drink, right?"

"Sure, bring it here." Constantine handed her the cigarette. When she put it in her mouth, she let the wizard light it. After the first drag, Yang started coughing, tears welling up in her eyes. “This is horrible!”

“Yep.”

“Why do you smoke so much when it’s so disgusting?”

“When I was young, I started smoking because people in my circles smoked. Over time, I discovered that nicotine is the only thing that keeps me from having a constant anxiety attack.”

“Aaah…” Yang took another drag, coughing. “Well, it’s disgusting.”

“Yeah… How are you feeling?”

“What do you think? They cut off my arm,” she said, waving the stump. “All because I was stupid.”

“Well, you tried to save your friend. Yeah, I personally think it’s stupid, but I’m not exactly the standard-bearer of morality.”

“Yeah, my friend…” Yang took an anxious drag. “That’s why she left without saying anything, right?”

“Blake’s gone?”

“She left without even saying goodbye, can you believe it? That's not what a friend does.” Yang took another long drag, choking on the smoke.

“Calm down, calm down. Small drags, don't choke.” Constantine showed her how it was done, leaning back a little. “As for Blake, I don't think we can blame her.”

“I can.”

“Yang… everyone has their own demons to fight. Whatever it is, she's decided she has to do it alone. Maybe it's out of fear, or to keep you safe. But that's her business.”

“Well, she shouldn't. We're a team, Team RWBY. We support each other. Or at least that's how we should… I'm not sure anymore.”

“What about the one-eyed queen?”

“Weiss? Her father took her to Atlas.”

“Hmmm… I can understand. Jacques has always been a jerk. I'm sure he wants her around because it's good for his company. And your little sister?”

“Ruby?” Yang let out a smile, though Constantine could see her sadness. “She's gone. As soon as she could, she left with Jaune, Ren, and Nora. I know they'll be safe; they're strong. But it hurts, you know? I'm her older sister. I should be looking out for her, and look at me. Smoking with a forty-something.”

“Yeah, you've definitely sunk low.” Constantine finished his cigarette, putting it out on the floor. “You're here, feeling sorry for yourself and smoking with the biggest loser on Remnant. Do you know I knew someone just like you?”

“Pretty and blonde?”

“Don't play smart with me.” Constantine ruffled her hair. “His name is Victor. He was a very smart, athletic kid, the star of the college team. He had everything for a promising future. And then it all went to shit."

"What happened to him?"

"He had an accident, a horrible one. He lost his legs, half his face." Constantine placed his hand over his left eye. "One of his arms, the same one as yours, in fact. And part of... well, here." Constantine pointed to his abdomen. "A disgusting gore show."

"Damn... Wait, he's still alive?"

"Yeah, he's still alive. Turns out his father used experimental technology and gave him a new body. Now he's more machine than man. He had a hard time at first; he didn't feel human."

"And he got over it?"

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. I don't know for sure, but I do know he started to accept himself. All thanks to having one thing." Constantine jabbed her in the chest. "A team."

“Yeah, well, I'm happy for him. But Team RWBY is history.”

“It will only be if you let it. I know you'll make a decision sooner or later, Yang. You have people who love you, take advantage of it.” Constantine stood up, dusting off his pants. He threw a mint candy to Yang. “Take it before you go into the house. Don't say a word to your father about the cigarette.”

Leaving her to her thoughts, Constantine returned to the house, where the rest were waiting.

“How did it go?” Tai asked.

“Teenagers, more stubborn than a Grimm and twice as dangerous. She's a good girl, Tai. You've raised her well. I know she'll grow out of it. But I'm more interested in your other daughter.”

“True” Oobleck added. “Little Miss Rose came out several months ago, didn't she?”

“Yeah… She couldn't sit still. Last I heard, she was going to Mistral with her friends.”

Constantine frowned. Mistral again, that couldn't be a coincidence. "That's a long trip, doesn't that worry you?"

"Of course it worries me" Tai replied. "But at least she's not going alone. Besides, I know Qrow went after them to protect them. I owe him a lot."

"I met Qrow, he seems like a good guy." Constantine approached Tai, putting his arm on his shoulder. "Look, Tai, Yang will be leaving soon, the question is whether you're going with her or not."

"I... I don't know. I haven't been a hunter in a while. I don't think I can keep up."

"Don't be silly, Tai," Port said. "You're on Team STRQ, you're all stronger than most people your age."

"Yeah, and now it's just Qrow and me."

"Look, Tai, your little girl and her friends are on Mistral, right? I'm heading there too, and although I don't know Yang as well as you do, I'm sure she'll go there too when things get cleared up."

"Wait, you're going to Mistral John?" Oobleck asked. "When did you decide that?"

“This morning, I think it's time to move.” Constantine turned back to Tai. “Look, if you ever change your mind, just call this number.” The wizard handed him one of his cards with the contact number.

“Scrolls don't work, you remember that right?” Tai said with a weak smile.

“Just give it a try when the time comes, you won't regret it.” Constantine tapped him on the shoulder, turning toward the door. “I'm going to leave now, guys. A ship's leaving any time, and I have to plan my trip.”

“Goodbye, Constantine” Porter said.

“John, will I see you tonight?” Oobleck asked.

“Sure, man. I plan to leave tomorrow morning. Don't stay late.”

Saying goodbye, Constantine headed to the island's port.

On the ship, Constantine smoked while his thoughts turned over in his mind.

Four important objects belonging to the warrior king

Four maidens.

Four important academies, including Beacon, founded by that same king.

It didn't take a genius to begin to see a pattern. He didn't know who that king had been in the past, but he clearly hadn't been an ordinary person. According to Ozpin himself, the two of them and Salem were the only wizards on Remnant, and that magic hadn't inhabited the land for millennia. Perhaps that king was an ancestor of Ozpin's and magic ran in his veins; it wasn't the first time he'd seen that kind of inheritance.

He'd have time to investigate that king, but his next step was clear. If there were three other objects like the crown, he was going to need them to take down Salem. Constantine couldn't help but smile at the thought of a treasure hunt. He knew practically all the magical objects in his Earth and what they do; he'd lost that sense of adventure he'd had when he was a beginner. The wizard couldn't help but think of Dream; he'd given him just the right clues to figure out the king's artifacts.

"That old fox... he always knows what to do."

After arriving in the city, Constantine headed to a specific house. Glynda hadn't told him where she lived, but he'd found out by searching the city.

He knocked on the door, finding a surprised Glynda wearing loungewear. The wizard was surprised to see her in a sweatshirt and slippers.

"Constantine?"

"Glynda? I thought you only had that teacher outfit; this casual look suits you."

"How do you know where I live?"

"You'd be surprised at what people are saying. I was just going to tell you I'm leaving."

"Are you going back to Atlas?"

“No, to Mistral.” The professor raised her eyebrows. “It turns out I have some business to take care of there.”

“May I know what it is?”

“Business to finish off a certain crazy woman.”

“Well… Look, Mr. Constantine, Ozpin was telling me about you privately.”

“Really? I hope old Oz didn’t go too far with the praise.”

“He told me you were the very image of a fraud and a charlatan, and that he found it incredible that someone like that had discovered Salem’s existence.”

“That’s nice of the headmaster.”

“But he also told me he saw something in your eyes: resolve. I think he thought you were capable of hurting her. Go ahead, Constantine, go to Mistral. Right now we need the money for repairs, but I can arrange a ship and a vehicle to get you to Haven.”

“That’s more than I could wish for, sweetheart. A kiss goodbye?”

Glynda smiled, approaching Constantine. "Try not to die." The professor closed the door in his face, leaving the wizard with a crooked smile.

"I misjudged her. I like her."

The next day, Constantine was aboard a ship, waiting at the exit. Seeing him off were Oobleck, Port, and Glynda, the former waving his arm vigorously.

"I'll miss you, comrade historian! I promise to tell you about my discoveries when we meet again!"

"There goes a true man, traveling into the unknown to do what he must do." Port wiped a few tears from his cheek.

Glynda looked at her companions in bewilderment. "If we're depending on Constantine... we'd better pray."

Giving them a final nod, Constantine headed to the bow of the ship. He had a vehicle ready, a destination, and the beginnings of a plan.

Surely, he'd been in far worse situations. If he played his cards right, he could pull it off.

He could defeat Salem.

Chapter Text

In the kingdom of Mistral, centralization had made transportation within the region difficult. While all life centered around the capital, the small villages had it even harder due to the forest and the unpaved road. Anyone passing by could hear the sound of a roaring engine. Kicking up dust along the road, a jeep sped along while its driver smoked a cigarette, one arm out the window.

Constantine had had a somewhat bumpy trip to Mistral. During the boat ride, several sea grimm had attacked them, although they had been able to repel them thanks to the ship's defenses.

He had been on the road for three days now, using the vehicle provided by Glynda, and he was making great strides. His only complaint was that the steering wheel was on the left.

"I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world... Life in plastic, it's fantastic, you can brush my hair, undress me every time... Holy shit!"

Constantine swerved suddenly, dodging a Nevermore that had rushed at him. He regained control of the car, advancing among the various grimm that had appeared. Once again, they seemed to be following him; this couldn't be normal.

He managed to reach an open space, where he stopped, making a 90-degree turn. He got out of the car, watching the dozen or so grimm approaching him, completely distraught. With a wave of his hands, he cast a magic circle while using wind dust as fuel. An extremely violent wind arose, driving the Grimm back. Guiding it with his hand, the wind tore the leaves from the trees, numbering in the thousands. Constantine snapped his fingers, bombarding the grimm with the leaves, which cut their bodies like razor blades.

The mage stopped to contemplate his work: the dead Grimm on the ground, crumbling amid the carnage. A Nevermore that had lost its right leg seemed to have survived.

He impulsively ran up to Constantine, with no thought of an attack beyond tackling him. Constantine dodged him, grabbing him by the body.

Fortunately, this Nevermore was small, about the size of a donkey, so he could lock him in a headlock.

"What's wrong with you?"

The mage couldn't stop noticing its strange behavior. Then, the Nevermore turned, unleashing its stamina and aiming directly for Constantine's trench coat. The mage tossed it aside.

Seeing what had happened, he took off his trench coat, holding it at arm's length. The Grimm's eyes flicked to it. Using it as a cloak, he dodged the Nevermore, and another idea occurred to him. He pulled out his crown while tossing the trench coat aside. With renewed fury, the Nevermore lunged at the crown. The wizard simply used it as a weapon, smashing it into the Nevermore's head and knocking it to the ground. There, it began kicking it until it died.

The wizard picked up his trench coat and put it on, still paying attention to the crown.

"This explains quite a few things..." It wasn't the first time he'd seen an object that attracted monsters; he'd been careless all this time. Normally, it would be enough to hide the object's essence to camouflage it, but this was an artifact from ancient times.

The wizard thought about it, turning it over in his mind. If he thought about the poem Oobleck recited to him, each object had a special property. The lamp could be something like knowledge or wisdom, and for the scepter, he couldn't think of anything. But the sword was clearly death or destruction, and the crown was even clearer.

The power to "change" the course of a nation.

He focused on the concept of change, murmuring an ancient chant. The crown began to glow, yearning for the change promised. Constantine decided, and then the crown glowed. When the glow faded, the crown was gone. In its place was a worn leather watch, looking more than twenty years old. And that was an object the wizard could perfectly pass off as his own.

Adjusting the watch on his left wrist, he climbed into the car, ready to continue his journey.

Still not finding a village, Constantine stopped along the road, camping next to his car. It took him longer than he'd like to admit to set up camp, but at the port, he'd been warned about bandits in the Mistral wilderness. They were murderers and thieves, people who wouldn't think twice before fleecing a traveler.

Let them try. After finishing preparing the grounds, Constantine crawled into the tent, drifting off to sleep.

An explosion woke him. Constantine yawned, looking at his new watch.

"Six in the morning? They're the laziest bandits in history."

He left the tent, stretching calmly as chaos erupted outside. The surrounding area, hidden by the trees, glowed with yellow explosions and the screams of bandits. He could hear them falling from one place to another, unconscious at best. He lit a fire to make some coffee, waiting as the explosions continued, followed by an occasional insult.

Finally, he poured the coffee into a metal cup, staring up at the sky. He could see a dozen bandits flying through the air.

He looked directly above him, seeing a bandit flying in his direction. He took a sip of coffee as the bandit hit the barrier he'd put up next to his tent, falling slowly like an insect on a windshield.

"Are you finished?" he asked, disinterested.

One last explosion was heard, accompanied by a girl's scream as she approached.

A young woman, at least the same age as the Beacon students, fell from the sky covered in smoke. She stood up with difficulty, had short hair and blue eyes, and was wearing a brown jacket that matched the style of the other bandits.

"Hello" Constantine said. "Coffee?"

"Son of a... bitch. What kind of Semblance is that?"

"What kind of manners are those? Show some respect for your elders, girl." The girl was seething with fury, pulling out her weapons. They were two sharp discs with a grip in the middle; Constantine could see the hole for a pistol. "That's a complex contraption. What's wrong with you all with those kinds of weapons?"

"Shut up and fight, coward!"

"Yeah, no way, you'll have to come after me. Not that I would do it."

The girl looked at him defiantly. After all, she was a teenager; all you had to do was tell her not to do something and she'd do it. The bandit charged at Constantine, but it was intercepted by the magical barrier. The shockwave was so powerful that it sent the bandit flying several meters, landing next to her companions.

"I warned you." With everyone out of the way, Constantine gathered his tent and gear and loaded it into the vehicle. As he started the engine, he noticed a crow in the trees staring at him. He thought it was Dream's crow, but it wasn't exactly the same one; it didn't emanate that special aura of the Eternal's pet. "I must be imagining it."

With the crow still watching, Constantine continued along the road, leaving the unconscious bandits behind.

It wasn't long before he reached a village protected by high wooden walls. Slowing down, he positioned himself in front of the gates, leaning halfway out of the vehicle.

"Hey, friend! Can I come in?" the wizard shouted.

"What brings you here?" a lookout guard asked.

"I'm heading to the capital. I've been driving nonstop since the damn port, and I'm running out of fuel."

"Are you a hunter?"

"I'm a detective. I've been hired to investigate a case there. Can you let me in now?"

The lookout nodded. Instantly, the gates began to open, allowing Constantine and his vehicle to pass.

The lookout approached him with some papers. "Here, sign this so I can leave your car with the rest of the vehicles. You can refuel there. If you're spending the night, there are beds left at the inn."

"Thanks, friend. Good luck with your work."

Driving him to the parking area, Constantine used the funds Glynda had given him for his mission.

He'd long since run out of tobacco from his homeland, so he now smoked Remnant tobacco. He'd taken to a brand called White Lotus, a subsidiary of the SDC. Constantine swore under his breath; all his money eventually found its way to that bastard of Jacques Schnee. He'd deal with him in due time; men like him were often surrounded by ghosts and demons.

With his car secured, he strolled through the town, taking occasional puffs. Aside from the walls, he saw nothing of note. Most people were dressed in robes and Asian-style clothing, making Constantine and his trench coat stand out from the rest.

Finally, he saw what looked like a bar and stepped inside. He could smell the distinct smell of tobacco and alcohol; that was still the same on any Earth.

He sat down at the bar, where a young man of no less than twenty-two years old served him.

"Good morning, sir. I'm Bai Hao, and I'll be serving you today."

"Aren't you a little young to be at the bar?"

"Family business. My dad and mom are in the kitchen. From the looks of it, I get the feeling you wants something strong, but not strong enough to knock him out. Stout?"

"You're good, kid. You're good..." Constantine handed him the money while he prepared the pitcher. Before long, Constantine was drinking. "Hey, lad, have you seen any kids around here lately?"

“You'll have to be more specific,” the waiter replied while drying glasses.

“A group of four. One of them is wearing a red cape and carrying a really big scythe.”

“Hmmm… No, they don't sound familiar. If they're around here, maybe they haven't stopped by. Or worse, they've run into bandits. There are plenty in the area.”

“Yeah, I had a run-in with them.”

“Excuse me?”

A female voice seemed intrigued by the answer. Constantine turned, seeing a woman with round glasses and a black windbreaker. Bat-like ears stood out on her head.

“Just what you heard, love. There were at least ten of them. I took care of them before packing up my camp.”

“You alone? Impressive.” The waiter flattered him, though he didn't seem to believe it.

“You can say it right.” The woman extended her hand to me. "I'm Rouge Grenat, in charge of town security."

"That explains why you're dressed like that; you look quite out of place, honey."

"I'm from the capital. I moved here two years ago because of the bandit problems."

"And it's true that our defenses have improved" Bai Hao replied. "We haven't had any attacks since then."

"But that could mean they're watching our defenses. How close were they, Mr.…?"

"Constantine, John Constantine. You can call me John, no problem, Rouge. I hate formalities."

"Okay, straight to the point. I like you. How far away were you when you met them?"

"Let's see, it's only been about two hours of driving, so… about thirty kilometers."

"Shit… Those bandits are very fast. They'll probably be here tonight."

"I don't think they'll attack tonight. They'll be busy recovering from our encounter. Not to brag, but I've really messed up their situation."

"So you know how to fight... Hunter?"

"Not officially, no academic qualifications to back me up. But I'm smart, even if it's ugly for me to say so. Smart, and I have a good Semblance for setting traps. Besides, I'll take any job."

"I understand... How much would you charge to stay and help us with the bandit problem?"

Constantine finished his beer, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. "Give me a number."

"Fifteen thousand, my salary for two months. Plus, I'll pay for your room."

Constantine smiled, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. "Congratulations, sweetheart, you just won a detective all to yourself."

After chatting a bit more about the terms of the deal, Rouge took Constantine to meet the rest of the security detail. Apparently, she was the only one with an unlocked aura; the rest were just people with a gun. At least they seemed dedicated to the task at hand, Constantine gave them that.

After gathering them, Constantine sent them to get some materials while he headed alone to a rooftop, carrying only a piece of paper. He began folding the paper on the ground, over and over again. Twisting and turning it, it eventually took the shape of an origami bird.

"Venti"

The paper bird began to move, flapping its wings as if it had just woken up from a long nap. It flew high, looking at Constantine before departing. The magician waited on the rooftop, smoking, taking notes in a journal.

There he had written down possible ways to take down Salem, as well as everything he knew about her: her allies, her resources, and her objectives. If he went after the maidens, it was possible he was also going after the king's items; after all, it was like collecting the keys to a treasure chest. The only reason he had the crown was because they hadn't expected a magical illusion from Ozpin to hide the door.

He began to review his possible options. The simplest thing was to use his god-killing spells; those could destroy anything. The downside was that the price was simply too high; he couldn't keep selling his soul; they'd eventually catch him out.

The other option was to try different spells and hope one proved especially effective; some sorcerers and wizards had a weakness for a specific type of magic. That was fine as long as some idiot had tried their luck first, of course, and it could be any number of things, but Constantine didn't consider himself an idiot.

So, he only had one option left. It was usually his favorite, though the cruelest of all: Seal Salem. He had already imprisoned a multitude of demons and other beings; he himself had ensured that Trigon remained in his dimension when he tried to possess his daughter and enter the earthly plane. But just any sealing spell wouldn't do. He needed to study Salem, understand her powers, and devise a seal that would work.

While he was deep in thought, something touched his shoulder. It was Rouge, hands in his pockets and a cigar in his mouth. “What are you doing here alone, John?”

“Waiting, love. I knew sooner or later a beauty would come and brighten my evening.”

“You have a silver tongue, you know that?” Rouge sat down next to him, her knee bent.

“I’ve been told that quite a bit. Actually, I’m waiting.”

“For what?”

“I have a partner with a very useful semblance. I’m waiting for him to use it.” Constantine looked up at the sky, watching his origami bird fly back to him. “Look, just in time.”

The bird descended to land in his hand, unfolding into a map with several markings.

“According to this, there’s a concentration of bandits here, just to the west of the village, along with a few scouts.”

"The western area is where the gate is. They'll probably attempt a frontal assault."

"Do you think it'll be soon?"

"No. If it's who I think it is, then it's the Branwen tribe. They're a bunch of weirdos; they attack during the day because they prefer to fight. When all that chaos is over, it attracts the Grimm, and that's when the massacre begins."

"They don't seem very friendly. Then I'll start preparing. If they're idiots, and I hope they are, they'll fall for the same trick. Besides, I don't think they know I'm here."

"Hey, about your friend's Semblance... How did you get in touch with him?"

"Because we're a team of three. I'm the field operative, asking questions and investigating. The second, the one with the bird, does the reconnaissance. And then there's the third, the communications one. His Semblance creates a mental connection with people he cares about, so we form an infallible team." Constantine lied blatantly, but he was used to it by now. The multiple semblance lie was too dangerous to continue; it was better to pretend he was working with a team behind his back.

"You've got it all set up. Tell me what you need for the defenses."

"I'm going to need paint, salt or sand, and dust. Plenty of dust."

With all the materials. Constantine and Rouge's team got to work. It turned out they had plenty of sand from a previous project, so one team worked on forming a sand pentagram inside the village, right in the plaza. Meanwhile, Constantine painted the exterior of the wall with intricately patterned circles. What looked like blood was actually red paint. Finally, he set about casting trap spells on the ground, using wind, gravity, electric, and ice dust.

Once finished, he leaned against the wall next to Rouge, who offered him a cigarette. Constantine took it in his mouth, letting the woman light it.

"That's a really strange semblance, John."

"Yeah, I don't hide it. Do you know the Schnee family semblance? That they can create glyphs."

"I've heard something, yes. Are you a Schnee?"

"Nah, but my semblance is also glyphs. With different effects depending on the dust I use."

"Do you think that'll be enough?"

"We can't all play one trick, but I trust you'll know how to handle yourself."

"Well, those bandits are tough bastards. I just hope their leader isn't around."

"Do you know who he is? I have my suspicions."

"Raven Branwen, an absolute bitch. Few have survived an encounter with her; it's the deadliest and fastest blade in Mistral. If she shows up, I hope my finger is faster." Rouge opened her jacket, revealing a revolver with a dust cover.

"Armed and ready, well done. That's all done, any idea what to do now?"

"I have an idea. John, I know everyone in town, and there's no one who catches my eye. You're a man of the world, from what I see, and you have that... dangerous air." Rouge grabbed Constantine by the tie, pulling him towards her. When she smiled, she could see two fangs sticking out. "So, John. I have an idea of ​​what I want to do..."

The other members of the security team looked at Constantine as Rouge dragged him into the inn by his tie. They looked at each other, praying their boss wouldn't overdo it with the new guy.

The next morning, Constantine woke up with sunlight shining in his eyes. He didn't want to open them yet; instead, he turned to the window. It was then that he felt a pain in his neck.

"Aaagh..." he felt his neck with his hand, noticing two fang marks. "At least it didn't suck my blood like the last time I woke up with one of these..."

Opening his eyes slowly, he saw a bare back next to the bed. He was putting on a brown T-shirt, followed by his round glasses.

Rouge turned around, smiling at Constantine. "Get up, John. The bandits aren't going to wait for you to get off your ass."

"I'm coming... How do you have so much energy after last night?"

"So many nights on guard, you get used to it." Rouge put on her pants, ready to lead her team. "We'll wait for you outside, handsome."

Constantine rubbed his face, uncovering himself. After stretching her calves and arms, she grabbed her clothes.

"Okay, John, showtime."

— — — —

Outside the village, under the cover of trees, a group of bandits readied their weapons and smiled at each other. Vernal was in the first line of assault, ready to make her triumphant entrance and gain her master's favor.

Standing on a rock, attracting the attention of all the attackers, was a woman with long, black hair, a mask reminiscent of a Grimm hanging from her waist. Her red eyes displayed a desire for violence that would frighten any civilian.

"Weaklings!" she shouted. "The weak are the ones who form the backbone of our world! Do you know why?!"

Vernal and her companions shouted, encouraging their leader.

"Because we feed on them! The strong win all, the weak deserve nothing! Today we will show why the tribe is strong! Go and destroy everything you see! Show your strength!"

With a cry of unbridled passion, the bandits rushed the village gates. They advanced as they watched the wall guards ready their weapons.

Vernal quickly realized something was wrong; by now someone would have fired.

Then the first explosion rang out.

Behind her, two bandits flew after a beam of light shot out of the ground. To her right, three had been frozen into a massive flower of ice. Two of her companions had been blown away by the shock wave of a lightning bolt, which staggered Vernal.

"What's going on?!" one of them shouted, a blond bandit with dark circles under his eyes.

"It can't be... it can't be him." The ground beneath Vernal lit up, erupting in a gust of wind that sent her several feet into the air. From there, she looked at the part of the wall that wasn't visible from below.

Next to a bat faunus holding a revolver, stood a blond man in a trench coat, chewing on a raw carrot.

"What's up, girl?" the man said.

"YOU!" Vernal began to fall, crashing into a bandit and protecting herself with her aura, something her companion lacked.

Vernal stood up furious, seeing how some had already beaten her to the gates. As soon as they hit her, they were thrown back several meters, repelled by an energy barrier.

The man leaned out, throwing the carrot's ass into the chaos.

"Are you done yet? I can stay like this all day."

"We'll kill you!" Vernal drew her weapons, firing at him. The bullets ricocheted off the barrier, hitting one of her companions.

"Nice try, girl, but you still have a long way to go before you can threaten me."

Constantine finished mocking the bandit, turning to Rouge. "The barrier won't hold much longer, but their numbers are fewer."

"This is incredible, John. Now leave us to it."

Rouge gave a hand signal, and her soldiers stood at the edge of the wall.

Bullets began to rain down on the bandits mercilessly. Those wounded were left behind by their companions, and those with their auras unlocked began to run.

Constantine looked into the depths of the forest, catching sight of a shocked figure. His eyes were fixed on the girl Constantine had crossed paths with the day before. That had to be Raven Branwen, and she certainly didn't look like an ordinary woman.

Constantine activated his semblance, his pupils revealing a small white dot, an exploding star.

Raven's interior was a chaos of magic. On one hand, she contained enormous power, similar to Cinder's. So she was one of the four maidens.

"Fucking Oz... Did you know that?"

In addition to that, he saw something else, an invasive magic within her. It seemed like something granted by someone else; at first glance, it looked like a metamorphosis spell, though he didn't know what kind. It was a spell cast by force, using manipulation of the universe.

It would be very easy for someone who had seen her insides to break or manipulate. Quickly, Constantine took out a piece of paper and began drawing a series of doodles, superimposing them on Raven's. One of them began to glow.

Constantine had an idea.

"Rouge, focus your fire on that one, the girl with the discs. I want to interrogate her."

"Whatever you want, John, but I want to be present."

"Deal."

Constantine climbed down from the wall, flinging open the gates as the bandits fled. He walked calmly forward, lighting a cigar and taking a drag.

The bandit tried to run, but Rouge didn't miss a shot, aiming for her legs. Finally, her aura gave way, shattering as she fell to the ground. Constantine approached her, squatting down.

In a last-ditch effort, he went to stab Constantine. The mage exhaled smoke, which entered Vernal's nose. He began to cough, bringing his hands to his throat, feeling his consciousness slipping away.

With Vernal finally unconscious, Constantine grabbed her leg, looking at the woman he suspected was the tribe's leader.

He gave Raven a nod, dragging the young woman into the village.

Vernal woke up feeling cold water on her face. She began to cough, looking around. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she was sitting in a chair. Above it sat a single light bulb, illuminating what looked like a cellar.

In front of her were two figures. The bat faun who had led the defense stood to one side with her hand on her hip, ready to reach for her revolver.

Beside her, a blond man with his hands in his trench coat and smoking looked at her with interest.

"Good morning, lass. I don't think we've been introduced." The man bent down a little, getting down to her level. "My name is John Constantine, and I have a few questions."

Vernal spat in his face, at which Constantine closed his eyes.

"Fuck off, asshole! I'm going to kill you and leave you at the mercy of the Grimm!"

Constantine wiped his coat with his trench coat, taking a drag and blowing the smoke in her face.

"See, sweetheart? That's why we have to study; the Grimm don't go after corpses."

"Mind your manners, young lady," the faunus said. "Depending on how you behave, we'll give a different testimony to the judge."

"Do you think I'll last long in jail? It's full of shit. Besides, I'll be out of here before you know it."

"You seem pretty sure of that. I doubt your friends will be back after that beating, so you should talk about your semblance."

Vernal smiled, letting him believe that.

“But if you had a semblance like that, you would have used it before we caught you. So what is it, someone else's semblance?”

Vernal gritted her teeth; she didn't like that guy's eyes one bit. They were beautiful blue eyes, but they reflected something dark inside. They were the eyes of a predator, someone constantly thinking about how to win. The eyes of someone truly strong.

“What's your name, lass?”

“Vernal.”

“Okay, Vernal, a trivial question, for starters. Are you idiots?” Constantine asked, his face deadly serious.

“What?”

“I’m really asking. My friend here told me you like to fight, but I don’t believe that’s the reason you attack at decent hours. We were all awake.”

“Of course we wait for the defenses to be up. Only by beating you at your peak can we demonstrate our strength.”

“Fuck… you guys are really idiots.”

“I told you so.” Rouge touched his shoulder. “The Branwen tribe is dangerous, but it’s a bit… dense.”

“I should take you at your word more often, sweetheart.” Constantine stood up, taking another drag on his cigar. “Okay, another question. Did you choose this village for a specific reason?”

“It’s one of the few we haven’t attacked yet; we figured it would be full of stuff to loot.”

“Okay, then I just have one more question. What’s your relationship with Raven Branwen?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” "Vernal lied.

"Rouge, do you mind stepping outside?"

"I'm not keen on leaving the prisoner alone with you."

"It's not like I'm trying to hurt her. Please, I'll make it up to you." Constantine put on her best smile, looking at the faunus with puppy dog eyes.

Rouge rolled her eyes. "Okay, but I'll be at the door. I don't want any trouble before reinforcements from the capital arrive."

"Come on, Rouge. Do I look like the typical troublemaker to you?"

"Yes, because those are exactly my type." The faunus said goodbye with a smile, closing the cellar door behind her.

"Okay, Vernal, we're alone now. Now I'll ask you again. What is your relationship with her? Mentor? Her secret daughter?" Constantine looked at her and grimaced in disgust. "Her lover?"

"What?! Ugh! No! What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"I had to ask. I saw him looking at you from a distance, his eyes fixed on you even though everything was a complete mess." Constantine took another drag. "You're special, that's for sure."

Vernal was speechless. Was Raven's favoritism really that obvious? If that was the case, then her plan to be a decoy might work in the end.

She felt a draft behind her. Constantine smiled, cigar in hand.

"Nice trick, lovely."

A red portal appeared behind Vernal, revealing a woman with a red and white mask, like a Grimm. She had her sword in her hand, sizing Constantine up.

"Nice to see you finally, Raven. Sorry I got the girl there, but I had no choice. This way we can talk like adults."

Raven took off her mask, revealing her red eyes and unfriendly face.

“You’ve got some nerve taking one of my people with you. Those tricks you used before are good, the tribe could use someone like you.”

“Thanks for the compliments, darling, but I haven’t been part of a tribe since I was nineteen. I had a mohawk and everything, you should have seen me.” Constantine circled her, watching her. “Black hair, red eyes, and pretty. You do look like Qrow.”

Raven tensed, gripping her sword tightly. “Do you know the traitor?”

“I had a drink with him, I’d like to repeat that. Honestly, I understand what Tai saw in you. It must be hard for him to see Yang’s resemblance to you.”

Both Vernal and Raven were shocked, the latter’s pupils constricting.

“Who the hell are you?”

“John Constantine. Private detective and many other things. I was thinking about looking for you, even though I didn’t know it was you.”

"If Ozpin sent you, you can tell him I'm not coming back. You do it, or I'll send him a note with your head in a box.

"Old Oz? No, no, no, that bastard didn't send me. In case you haven't heard, he's pushing daisies now."

"So he's finally dead."

"Yes. I only knew him a short time, but he kept his secrets well. It took me a long time to get here on my own, but it turns out I got lucky." Constantine's eyes lit up with the white dot, activating his Semblance. "I know what you are. Answer me this question. Spring, Summer, or Winter?"

Raven gritted her teeth, brandishing her sword and pointing it at Constantine's neck, a clean decapitation.

"Mutatio!"

The sword hovered millimeters from Constantine's neck, causing his aura to spark.

Raven froze, her eyes filled with panic, unable to move.

“Chief!” Vernal tried to free herself, moving her chair.

Raven couldn’t move a single muscle; she could only stare at Constantine while he smiled with a satisfied expression. She tried to scream, to insult him, but after a superhuman effort, only a sound came out of her mouth.

“Kaaaakh!”

Raven screamed and struggled, but all she could manage was a crow’s croak. Now she looked at Constantine with a mixture of anger and fear.

“So a crow? That almost seems like a bad joke. And then there’s your portal.” Constantine circled the portal with interest. “And then they say semblances aren’t magic. This is a lifeblood portal. So Vernal is your daughter? Or does it work with other kinds of bonds?”

“What… what are you?” Vernal asked fearfully. Anyone who put Raven in that situation deserved to be labeled a monster.

“Give me a moment, kid. If it's a blood portal, then it closes in two ways. You can close it yourself, or it can close after it's served its purpose." Constantine kicked Vernal, throwing her and the chair into the portal, closing it instantly. "And now we're alone, Raven."

"You son of a b... tch... Kaaaakh!"

"Look, Raven. Ozpin thought he was so clever, but he actually strikes me as overconfident. Clearly he didn't know you were the maiden; if so, Glynda would have warned me. And then there's the matter of... well, that." Constantine pointed at Raven, some black feathers just beginning to appear on his face. "Did he force you, or did you volunteer?"

Raven felt a sharp pain in her stomach, dropping her sword as saliva escaped her mouth.

Constantine stood beside her, finishing his cigar and throwing away the butt. "That looks like it hurts. It was the digestive system, right? Look, Raven, normally these spells are performed instantly to avoid problems between the physiognomy of the animal in question and the human form. But Ozpin didn't put security seals, he just cast a spell on you. And if someone with knowledge sees what he's done, they can easily force it." The wizard grabbed the sword, stabbing it into the ground. "Someone like me."

The cellar door opened, revealing Rouge. The faunus froze, watching the scene, but immediately drew her weapon.

"Constantine, explain yourself."

"Sweetheart, this is Raven Branwen. I've lost Vernal, but it's worth it just to be able to speak face-to-face with their leader."

"Fuck. The people in the capital are going to love this."

"I don't think they can keep her locked up, but I'm interested in this conversation. Rouge, take my payment; I'll be more than satisfied with this."

The faunus continued to point her revolver at Raven, shifting her gaze from her to Constantine. Seeing that he had everything under control, she calmed down.

"Well, you can't say you didn't comply. Vernal isn't the only one we'd captured. Enjoy the interrogation, John. It's been a pleasure meeting you."

"Same here, darling. Now, if you'll give us some privacy..."

Rouge glared at Raven, leaving the two of them alone in the cellar. This time, her footsteps grew increasingly distant; she wasn't coming back.

Constantine looked Raven in the eyes. Now the anger had been replaced by panic.

"Okay, Raven, I'm going to rewire your vocal cords so we can talk like adults. But as for escaping, well."

The bandit screamed in pain as she fell to the ground. Her legs had turned into two enormous crow's feet.

"You son of a bitch! I know it's you!"

"You're going to have to be more specific."

"Cut the crap, Ozpin! Vernal's gone, if that's what you're worried about, you don't have to pretend."

Constantine looked at her strangely. "Raven, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Ozpin is dead."

"I know you're in there. Only he can do magic. You're choosing older bodies nowadays or what?"

“What do you mean…” Constantine’s eyes widened. “No… no no no. That son of a bitch is reincarnated?”

“Wait. Is that really not you?”

“Shut up for a second, I’m thinking.” Constantine ignored Raven, pacing in circles. “You said he’s choosing older bodies, meaning he’s not being reborn, he’s getting into the bodies of people who already exist. That’s a parasite in my books.”

“Look, we can all agree on that” Raven said, lying on the floor, still on crow’s feet.

“Who else knows? If you know, then her inner circle knows. So Glynda knew.” Constantine looked really offended. Raven was starting to believe they’d really screwed him. “And no one’s told me anything. Bloody fantastic.”

“Oh, that’s too bad, your little friend hasn’t told you the truth. If you’re done crying, fix this.” Raven pointed at her legs. "And how the hell did you do it?"

"With magic, of course. Congratulations, Raven, you just met the third mage of Remnant."

"Shit..." Raven ducked her head. "You're a fucking pest. Where the hell have you been hiding all this time?"

"That's none of your business, but I'm not like Oz or Salem. They were born that way, full of magic and powers. I crawled through the mud to learn every single thing I know. You think they're dangerous? You haven't seen anything."

Raven threw her head back, looking into his eyes. She could see his strength; it was a sign of respect.

"What do you want? I suppose the relics?"

"Is that what they're called? Good to know. Yes, I'm collecting them before Salem. Do you think he seeks out the maidens for their power? You're keys on legs; that's your only function."

"You sure know how to flatter a lady."

"I know how to do it, but I don't see any lady here."

"Now what? Kill me?"

"No, that wouldn't do any good. I'm going to Haven first. If my assumptions are correct, the relic in question will be there. I wanted to investigate the city first; I'm in no rush as long as the rest of the relics are safe."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because Mistral is the logical choice for the next attack. Those who took out Beacon came from here with official papers; Haven is compromised. As soon as I saw you, I knew I had to talk to you." Constantine gestured with his hand; Raven's body returned to normal. "I don't know why you left your girl; I couldn't care less, but I'm going to tell you one thing. I'm not Ozpin. I'm not trying to stall for time against Salem. I intend to finish her off, and I already have several ideas in mind. I'm only going to ask you one thing."

Raven touched her ankles, warming them up. "Are you asking me for something? After this humiliation?"

"Don't blame me for being smarter. If Salem or her pets ask for your help, let me know. I doubt it will take them long to find you and figure out you're the maiden. If she wins, we all lose, Raven. I'm not asking you to play hero, I'm asking you to do the logical thing."

"I didn't ditch Ozpin to join you, you cheap wizard."

"And I'm not asking you to be partners, just that you keep me up to date so I can piss them off." Constantine tossed one of his cards to her, and the bandit caught it in midair. "The Scrolls still work in Mistral, right? You know what to do."

Raven flipped the card. John Constantine was his name, the name of the person who had subdued her without even moving. Raven drew his sword, opening a blood-red portal.

"This isn't over, John."

"Until next time, darling, I look forward to working with you."

Raven stepped through the portal, leaving Constantine. The man left the warehouse, nodded to Bai Hao, and headed toward his car. After getting in, he took one last look back, waving Rouge goodbye.

The mage set off again, heading for Mistral City. His instincts told him he'd hear from Raven again in the future, and that whatever had struck Beacon was planning to go after Haven.

This time he was ahead of schedule; he knew who his enemies were, and most of all, he knew there had to be someone in Haven.

This time, he was going to get there in time. This time, he was going to save lives.

Chapter Text

Constantine felt boredom consuming him. He'd been driving for two weeks now, stopping in every village he encountered, but he didn't seem any closer to the capital. During his journey, he met several hunters who were willing to give them directions, so at least he was on the right path. He casually glanced at his watch, seeing that he'd already been driving for over three hours.

He pulled over to the side of the road, stretching his legs. Taking advantage of the break, he unzipped his fly to relieve himself against a tree.

"Fuck, I almost peed myself." As he emptied himself, he looked up at the treetop, where a raven was perched, staring at him intently. "Do you like what you see, love?"

The bird swooped down, hiding behind the tree and emerging like a woman. Raven looked up at him, her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"My ex-husband has a bigger one."

"I don't doubt it. Do you know if he'd be interested in me? I wouldn't mind taking him out for a bit of fun" Constantine finally finished, shaking off the drops. "Did you come here for something, or is this just some strange fetish you have?"

"I was wondering if it would be worth killing you in your sleep."

"How lovely. You wouldn't be the first to try it. Or the first to succeed."

"Now you're going to make me believe you've been dead?"

"If you don't want to believe it, that's up to you. But here's some advice: the whole Hell thing? It's a very messed up business. It's better to be good to go to the decent people's neighborhood." Constantine leaned against the car, lighting a cigarette. "If you're going to tell me something, you have until I finish this cigarette. I want to continue as soon as possible."

"Why let me live? Do you expect me to become your servant or something?"

"I told you, there was no point in killing you. My only concern is finding the relics before Salem, and while your powers would be faster, I can force open the chamber that contains them.” Constantine took a drag. “I don’t like unnecessary killing.”

Raven crossed her arms in front of him, sizing him up. “Your power, you say you learned it.”

“Yes.”

“Could I? Manipulate the world like you do?”

“Technically? Yes, you could. But that’s something that takes many, many years. I started when I was sixteen, now I’m forty, and I still haven’t learned everything I could.”

“Shit… so I’m late.”

“I’m afraid so. Anyway, magic demands sacrifices, Raven. It’s not just saying nice words and hoping things will happen. There’s a price to pay, and sometimes it’s too high.”

Raven shifted, leaning against him. “Okay, asshole, let's just say you've convinced me you're not coming for me. What are you thinking?”

Constantine took a drag, then pulled out one of his journals. He tossed it to Raven, allowing her to read it.

“I don't understand. Names?”

“That's everything I know about Salem. The names of her allies, their aspects, and known abilities. Although I don't have as much on that last one as I'd like. On the next page, I have ramblings about possible options for defeating her.”

Raven began to read, curling her eyebrow. “I don't understand shit.”

“Of course, it's in the ancient language of the Order of Merlin, a code only royal wizards know.”

“Oh, you're royal now.”

“Of course not. I stole one of their manuscripts and translated it. Although an ancestor of mine was once a king, a real asshole.”

Raven kept trying to read, catching words in their language. "Disintegration, portals, seals... Fucking, really?

"You'd be surprised how many times a good shake has saved my ass." Constantine took another drag. "You're running out of time."

"Do you really think you can do it? Kill Salem."

"If I can, I will. And if I can't, I'll be forced to lock her forever in a hole she can't get out of. But rest assured, Raven. She's going to pay for everything she's done." The wizard finished his cigarette, throwing the butt to the ground and stamping it out. "Have a nice day, Raven. I'll follow."

The bandit watched him get into his car and put the keys in the ignition, starting it. "Be careful on the way."

"Huh?" Constantine looked at her strangely.

“My scouts haven't stopped finding powerful grimms outside their territory; it's not normal for them to be out there. Occasionally, we've found the corpse of a hunter who'd been caught unaware.”

“Shit… I'll keep an eye out. You're not that bad, darling.”

“Let's just say I'm interested to see if you keep your promise. Salem may be a terrible evil, but so far she's only been messing with Ozpin and the academies.”

“At least until she comes after you. She's already managed to steal the power of one of the maidens with her lapdog; she'll probably try again. A double maiden sounds bad, right?”

“They have to find me first. And I'm not going around shouting who I am.”

Constantine shrugged. “Have a good time looting, Raven. I'll get back to work.”

Constantine set off, leaving Raven behind. The maiden watched him go, biting her lip.

She thought back to the day they met. She'd never seen someone with such cold, determined eyes; he had the situation completely under control. He was physically weak, that's what she'd been able to deduce after spying on him, but his mental strength was on another level.

She thought that maybe he was right, that the point wasn't to ally with him, but simply to screw Salem over.

"Shit... Where did this asshole come from?"

Constantine bit his nails as he drove, thinking about Raven. He'd already planted the seed of doubt in her, pushing her to betray Salem if he offered her a job. Anything short of a collaboration, of course. Talking to her for a short time indicated how unwilling she was to follow orders. So all he had to do was give her orders without her perceiving them as such.

It would be difficult, but not impossible. That woman had a strange concept when it came to "respecting" people. He respected someone based on their strength, and seemed to differentiate between different types of strength.

Constantine still didn't know if he considered him strong because of his magic or his ability to plan, but it didn't matter as long as they had that non-aggression pact. Lost in his thoughts, he continued driving until a loud bang alerted him.

It had been a gunshot; the mage stopped to check who had fired it; it seemed to be coming from far away.

Peering through the trees, Constantine turned off the engine to investigate the area, his hand in his pocket. He was ready to attack when he saw a humanoid figure running out of the woods. One arm was drooping, clearly unable to move it, while the other held a weapon. It was a long weapon shaped like a semi-automatic rifle, but Constantine knew that was only one of its forms. He could make out some kind of large blade, so its second mode must be a halberd.

The man saw Constantine, flailing. "Run! Get out of here!"

Constantine approached him slowly, watching what was following him. Trees were falling as something enormous surged forward. It was a large snake grimm that seemed determined to devour the hunter.

"Run! It's too strong!" the hunter continued to warn him, shooting backward as he ran, suffering from the recoil of his weapon.

Constantine continued walking calmly, taking his hand out of his pocket and playing with the Vytal Festival pin. When he saw the snake grimm open its mouth, the wizard threw the pin inside. The snake split in half as the sharp Arthurian sword swirled inside. From the disintegrating wreckage, Constantine retrieved the sword, turning it back into a pin.

The wounded hunter looked at him, stupefied, but with a slight grimace of relief.

"Are you a hunter?" he asked, exhausted. "I'm so glad, I thought I was going to die."

"You look bad, mate." The mage took a quick look at him. He was covered in wounds, and his arm didn't look good. "Did a snake really leave you like that?"

"No, it was very strange. It almost seemed like they were waiting for me."

Grimm acting intelligently? That worried Constantine; there must be something behind it.

"My name is John Constantine. Get in the car, buddy. I'll take you to the nearest town so they can fix you up."

"Constantine? A strange name." The hunter let the mage help him, lifting him into the passenger seat. "Atlas?"

"Yes, but I've been working in Vale. We're doing a bit bad there, too."

"That's what I've heard. My name is Diam."

“Okay, Diam, let's get you out of here.” Constantine started the vehicle, leaving trees behind at high speed to reach a village as quickly as possible. “How did you get into this mess?”

“It was a supposedly simple mission. A group of Beowulfs in the area, nothing I couldn't handle on my own.”

“And I guess it wasn't just that.”

“Oh no.” Diam grunted in pain. “The group of Beowulfs turned out to be Ursas. I took them out, but then I woke up that snake. I don't know what the hell it was doing there. If I'd known, I would have brought someone.”

“It sucks when information comes back wrong. How are you?”

“Fucking pitiful.” Diam removed his hand from his abdomen; he was bleeding alarmingly. “Shit…”

“Are you bleeding out in my car? Fuck. Hang in there a little longer, there's got to be something nearby.”

Accelerating, Constantine finally reached a village with open gates. Sprinting in, he slammed on the brakes when he saw a group of people. "The hospital? Or the healer, whatever the hell you have here."

Someone in the group pointed to a building a few meters ahead.

Without saying thanks, Constantine stood in the doorway, carrying the injured hunter over his shoulder. As soon as he entered the building, a man in a nurse's outfit ran to assist him.

"Grimm?"

"Grimm. His name is Diam, can you fix him?"

"We'll do everything we can. Someone call the doctor! Hunter injured with multiple wounds, laceration to the abdomen!"

A group of male and female nurses appeared with a stretcher, loading the hunter into the hospital. He glanced at Constantine before entering. No words were needed; that look said it all.

He had saved his life.

The magician left the compound, taking a cigarette out of his pack. He began to smoke while keeping an eye on the car. Some kids were hanging around it with bad intentions. They were just poor kids who probably wanted to sell whatever they could; Constantine had seen plenty of those on the streets of England.

He wasn't going to just leave before checking on Diam, so he decided to gather some information. The magician walked through the dirty streets of the village, which he discovered wasn't as small as he thought. What he did discover was that it was a dirty village, the kind of filth that only appears when someone engages in illegal activities.

As he walked, a young man walked past him, with wavy blond hair and a bob. As soon as he passed, Constantine grabbed him by the neck, slamming him against a wall.

"Son of a…!"

The man tried to grab his gun from inside his jacket, but Constantine signaled him with his finger to stay still.

He took a deep drag, holding the cigarette in one hand and blowing the smoke in his face.

"Nice try, buddy, but I've stolen more wallets than you have hairs on your head. Give me my lighter."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Constantine looked at him closely; that outfit looked familiar. Then he recognized him.

"Fucking hell, you're from the Branwen tribe."

"Yeah, and you know how we roll."

"Of course I know. I beat you up a few days ago in a village. What did you get? Ice? Electricity maybe?"

The blond man's eyes widened, and he began to recognize Constantine. "Oh shit..."

"Okay, okay, you're getting it. The lighter, now." The man clicked his tongue, reaching into his pocket and pulling out Constantine's lighter. The wizard quickly grabbed it and put it back. He took one last drag, throwing away the cigarette. “Well, if you had it any longer, you could have been dead. Hey, what place is there around here if you want to find out?”

“Information? What do you think, asshole?” A man was thrown from one of the two-story buildings, injured and staggering, clearly drunk. “The worst dive you could find.”

“Ah, good point.” Constantine released the bandit and pulled out a card. He thought it might bother Raven a little. After writing something down, he tucked it into the man’s jacket. “Give it to your boss. And don’t read it. If you do, I’ll know; if you don’t give it to her, I’ll know.”

“Sure, you can see things in the distance now.”

“Haven’t you figured out how my Semblance works? I can’t just place them on the floor; I can place them on any surface, any surface. These mines are activated by a specific condition I think of before placing them.” Constantine’s eyes lit up with the white dot, staring at the bandit. “And I just placed one on you.”

“What?!”

“Don’t bother taking off your clothes, I placed it in your eye. Read it, or don’t deliver it to her for less than four days, and boom. A nice stain on the wall. See you later.” Constantine patted him on the cheek, letting him walk away.

The advantage of no one knowing his Semblance was that he could lie blatantly about it. The magician entered the establishment, where everyone had unfriendly faces. He could spot several people wearing some kind of uniform, two of them guarding a woman smoking at a table. Of course, crime bosses were more discreet back home.

He approached the woman, noticing the guards' gazes on him. Most of them carried firearms, which could be a problem. Then he spotted a ladder, someone cleaning the ceiling light fixture. Yes, that could help.

He sat down across from the woman, who blew smoke in his face.

"It's rude to sit down without asking, handsome."

"Sorry, darling, I keep niceties for my personal life. I need information."

"Hmmm... Information comes at a price. First, tell me what you want to know."

Constantine displayed a series of images on his cell phone. They were photos of Salem's known allies and their names, courtesy of Junior during his time in Vale. The woman looked at them intently, blowing smoke in his face.

"A motley crew. And dangerous, especially that faunus."

“Tyrian Callus, a serial killer.” Constantine took out a fresh cigarette. When he reached for his lighter, one of the informant’s guards approached him with fire. “Thanks, darling, that’s a treat.” Constantine took a deep drag, looking at the informant. “I need to know if they’ve been seen by Mistral.”

“Mistral’s a big place, sweetie. But there are a few we know. The faun’s been seen on the back roads, and that handsome man has also been lurking around the villages. In fact, he was here three days ago.”

Tyrian and Hazel in the same place? He didn’t know Hazel’s capabilities, only that he tried to take legal action against Beacon, specifically Ozpin, years ago for the accidental death of his sister. And Tyrian was a completely different matter. Junior gave him access to the police records, and that man was a real maniac. He couldn't compare to the Joker, but he could certainly belong to the gang of psychopaths who terrorized Gotham every day.

"Thank you, darling."

"It's always a pleasure, but thanks don't pay my fee. It'll be fifty thousand lien; they're dangerous men, after all."

Constantine stared at her, stunned. He'd never witnessed such a robbery in his life. Flash's rogues could learn a thing or two from that woman.

"Don't think of it as a commission, think of it as... an exchange of favors. You're doing me a favor..." Constantine laid one of The Club's business cards on the table. "And Junior's doing you one. It's always nice when Vale's top informant owes you something."

"Oh oh oh... Junior, quite the sweetheart. I know him personally, him and the rest. What I didn't expect was to run into you, Mr. Wayne."

Constantine tensed, but kept his poker face. “That name doesn't ring a bell.”

“Don't be modest, Mr. Wayne. It takes a lot of nerve to rob old Dhimas. Unfortunately, he didn't find it as exciting as the rest of the community. There's a bounty on his head.” The guards began aiming at Constantine, surrounding him. “Don't hold a grudge, it's just business.”

“Relax, I understand perfectly. Shame on your boys.” Constantine knocked over the table, throwing it at the woman in front of him.

He spread his aura throughout his body as he quickly retreated, seething with pain from the bullets ricocheting off his body. Fortunately for him, he had an especially dense aura thanks to the influence of Dream, so he was able to withstand several shots. With a rather inelegant leap, Constantine passed under the ladder.

Passing under ladders did bring bad luck, although many people thought it was simply superstition. The truth is that the shape of the staircase invoked a sacred figure, and as you crossed it, the negative influence of the cosmos swirled around you. But magic was about deceiving reality, lying, and blaming others.

He cast a spell creating yellow magic circles in each of his hands, redirecting the negative influence toward his enemies. Magically, in the most literal sense possible, the firearms began to jam and explode in the hands of his attackers. Amid the chaos of screams, smoke, and blood, Constantine dusted himself off, approaching the informant who was trying to get up.

Still holding the cigar in his mouth, he glared at her with icy anger in his eyes. "As you said, no hard feelings. It's just business." The magician left the premises, while the guards who remained standing watched fearfully, not wanting to be crippled like their companions.

As soon as he left, the bandit who had tried to rob him stood with his mouth open. He had heard the string of gunshots, so he assumed he was dead. But then came the screams and silence, followed by that image of Constantine leaving ground zero of the incident.

The mage looked at him, activating his semblance. "Remember, if you don't do what I ask, you'll end up worse than them." Constantine nodded toward the establishment, leaving the bandit behind, who still hadn't processed the information.

He wouldn't be able to stay there for long; the informant just had to gather more thugs and go after him. He didn't have enough Dust to spend on humans, and he had even fewer tricks up his sleeve than when he started the trip. He hadn't felt this way for a long time, since he'd been fighting alongside the Justice League Dark to stop The Enchantress, or when they'd taken care of Pandora's Box.

Truth be told, he'd been in some shitty situations many times, but he always came out on top thanks to some cruel joke the universe had given him. Sometimes, being God's favorite clown had to have its perks.

Constantine entered the hospital, although it was better to call it a clinic for everything. There, the nurse guided him to the hunter. The dark-blue-haired man was lying on a bed with bandages on his torso. When he saw him, he smiled and raised his fist.

Constantine bumped him, giving him a good once-over. “How are you, Diam?”

“Fucking hell, John, fucking hell. But at least I’m alive. Thanks, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Don’t give them to me. Now…” Constantine pulled a notebook and pen from his trench coat. “Tell me exactly what happened to get us in this situation. You told me you were ambushed, but let’s go back a bit further. You said it was originally supposed to be Beowulfs.”

“Yeah, that’s probably right.”

“Is that why you didn’t call someone? You’re hunters, you’re supposed to work in small teams.”

“You know how it goes, there’s too much to do and not enough of us. We divide up the simpler tasks.”

"Fuck... you're all just asking to be killed. How could the information be wrong?"

"I don't know... It just doesn't make sense. Leonardo himself assigned me this mission. According to him, the Grimm were in a dangerous migration zone."

"Leonardo?"

"Yes, Leonardo Lionheart, the director of Haven. Don't you know him?"

"I haven't had the pleasure, and if I've heard about him, I've probably forgotten. Apparently you're not the first this has happened to."

"What do you mean?"

"Some little bird told me there are strange Grimms in the area, Grimms who shouldn't be so close to the villages. There are also corpses of hunters in those areas, all very shady."

"Fuck... I don't understand. How could we have fallen like this?"

"Diam, do you have family in Mistral?"

"No, I'm from Vacuo."

"Okay, then this will be easy. Take your time to rest, and if you return to Mistral, don't show yourself."

"Do you think they might come after me?"

"Your information was manipulated, and no one is interested in loose ends." Constantine put away the notebook, handing her one of his business cards. "I'm heading to Mistral for an investigation. Call me if you're coming back. It would be nice to have an ally."

The hunter picked up the card, looking at the number. "Private investigator?"

"Yes, I'm more into hunting intelligent beings, not grimms."

Diam put the card in his pocket. "You can count on me. When I'm recovered, I'll give you a call."

"Okay, I'll be going now." Constantine left the room, waving goodbye and crossing paths with the doctor. "Take care of him, okay? It would be a shame to save him only for him to die here."

The magician got back into the car, setting off once more.

In the middle of a clearing in the forest, a makeshift camp stood out. The walls were a simple barricade of logs, and the interior was a jumble of tents and miscellaneous objects. Among them, one stood out, the largest of the rest: the village chief's tent. Inside, Raven Branwen sat on the ground, her back hunched, a bottle of wine in her hand. One of her boys, one of the most idiotic, had returned with his tail between his legs from one of the nearby towns.

The bastard burst into her tent, demanding to be heard. Raven broke his nose, of course, after which she listened to what he had to say. Now she stood there, staring at a letter of introduction with a drawn heart and a poorly drawn crow. She didn't need to find out who was responsible; his name was on the card.

Who the hell was Constantine? He didn't know everything, since he didn't know about Ozpin's reincarnation ability, but at the same time, he knew more than anyone else. A child of Ozpin's when he was in another body? A particularly nosy occult-obsessed man?

Whoever he was, Raven could see he was a danger to anyone who crossed his path. She was perceptive of those kinds of people, liars. Constantine was a liar, yes, she could tell, but he knew when to lie and about what. That was why she didn't fully trust his offer; who was she going to be sure that he'd honor his end of the bargain to leave her alone? And to top it all off, he was taunting her with that message.

The warrior stood up, stepped out into her backyard, and looked up at the now-night sky. With a growl, she transformed into a raven and took flight. She was going to have a word with that wizard.

It didn't take long to find a campfire with a tent and a jeep next to it. Raven perched in a tree, watching from a distance. Constantine emerged from the tent with a metal cup. After adding a tiny amount of water and some tea leaves, she placed it on the fire. The man stretched with a tired grunt, scratching his groin as he finished. He lit a cigarette, puffing leisurely by the fire. How much could that man smoke? Raven had never seen anything like it; not even Beacon's loose cannons smoked like that between classes.

The man moved suddenly, taking a deep drag as he looked around. Had he seen her?

"Matthew? Is that you?"

Raven didn't know anyone named that; he must be an associate of the wizard.

"Does your owner want to talk to me? Sleepyhead, if you're listening, I'll be a while before I go to sleep." Constantine's gaze fell in her direction, noticing the strange presence. A luminous white dot appeared in his eyes. "Aah, it's you. Why don't you come to the fire, Raven? I'm sure it's more comfortable than being on that branch."

Raven squawked angrily; she couldn't catch him off guard even if she tried. She glided down, landing in front of Constantine and transforming back into a human.

"If you don't want to push me, you're really trying to irritate me." Raven placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"The card? Come on, that was just a little game, to mess with you." The mage laughed, choking on smoke and coughing violently.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Then I came for nothing."

"Cough! Cough! Actually..." Constantine stopped coughing, catching his breath. "Since you're here, let me ask you a question."

"You name it. But I'll decide if it's worth answering."

"Lionheart, the headmaster of Haven. What do you know about him?"

“Old man, bookworm, and Ozpin’s ally. He was supposedly a great hunter when he was younger, but he’s become weak.”

“Well, age never forgives.” Constantine took another drag, throwing away the butt as he blew out the smoke. “Are you sure he’s loyal to old Oz?”

“Yeah, all headmasters are. What’s up? Jealous that Ozpin counts on him?”

“No, more worried. Remember what you told me about dead hunters and out-of-place Grimm? I knew a hunter who almost died because of it, and it turns out he’d been given misinformation.”

“Things like that happen,” Raven replied, now crossing her arms. “One screw-up and you want to condemn such an influential man? You are an unforgiving one.”

“Once can happen, twice too. How many bodies have you found so far?”

Raven looked into his eyes; she could almost feel the gears in his head turning, waiting for confirmation of his theory. "Five."

Constantine pointed at her with his hand. "Five. Five isn't a coincidence anymore, it's a pattern. In fact, with those numbers, he could already be considered a serial killer."

"Are you implying that Lionheart has purposely given them false information?"

"Or he has, or whoever is feeding the reports to Lionheart. But these aren't accidents, Raven. Someone is picking off the Mistral hunters one by one."

"I don't know why I should care; fewer hunters mean less trouble during raids."

"Well, you should care. Because fewer hunters mean more grimms. More grimms mean a greater chance of your tribe being wiped out during one of their migrations."

Raven frowned. Even if he was right, she wasn't going to admit it. Suddenly, they noticed a burning smell.

"Shit!" Constantine ran to the campfire, pulling the cup from the fire as it burned. He dropped it on the ground, waving his hand and screaming in pain. "Fuck! Shit! Blast it!" The wizard reached into his pocket, pulling out a stone of cold Dust. "This is why I don't like this shit."

"I don't see much water for that tea."

"It's not for drinking, it's for predicting the future" the wizard replied, gripping the Dust tightly to soothe his burned hand. "Tea leaf reading is as old as time, though it's not the most reliable form of divination."

Raven's eyes widened in surprise. "Can you tell the future with that?"

"Only the near future, and besides, the interpretation can vary from person to person." Constantine put the dust away, grabbing the cup and looking inside. Raven leaned around the side, looking too. "Shit... this doesn't look good."

"I can't see shit."

"Look, do you see this stain here? It's some kind of lion with a scythe on its head, so death has marked it. Here, on this side, there's some kind of lamp."

"The relic of knowledge" Raven answered. "I think that bastard Oz said it was a lamp."

"Okay, at least I know I'll find it. Raven, there are some grimms around here, you're going to have to help me eliminate them."

"Shit, do it yourself."

"No, no, I think you're interested. Do you see this corner? It's a village on fire, and on top of it, a fleeing raven."

Raven drew her sword with lightning speed, grazing Constantine's throat with the tip. "Are you calling me a coward? Are you implying I'll run away?!"

Constantine looked at her bored, slowly lowering his sword with a finger. "I didn't call you a coward, I just saw a possible future. And if those Grimms have their way, they'll be right up to your tribe when you least expect it. In fact, they're literally heading straight for you."

"How do you know where the tribe is?"

"You haven't washed your hair, have you?"

Raven reached into her mane, pulling out what looked like a paper bird. The bird flew into Constantine's hand, who stroked it with his finger.

"When? How the hell did you do it?"

"The day we met, when you went to rescue Vernal. Although I can't feel it when you transform into a bird, Magical interference.

"Shit... I'm starting to get fed up with magic."

"Not having killed the maiden, you're now deep in that world. Come on, if we walk a bit we'll get there faster."

"And your camp?"

Constantine smiled, raising his eyebrow. "Please, Raven. You know what happened to Vernal for trying."

Constantine started walking, confident that Raven would follow him. The bandit did, tempted all the way to stab him in the back. But once again, she had experienced the mage's preparations firsthand; she didn't dare do something so obvious.

After an hour of walking, they reached a mountainous area with a large cave in its wall. In front of it, Beowulf and Ursas were wandering in circles.

"Is that all?" asked Raven, hiding behind a tree next to Constantine. "If you can't handle this, don't expect to finish off Salem."

"There's a really big scorpion in there. I don't know what it's called."

"A Death Stalker? Those creatures shouldn't be so close to the villages. What are you planning?"

"I'm going to try to kill them all in one fell swoop. What I need is for you to bring out the Death Stalker."

"It's not very chivalrous of you to use a lady as bait."

"You brought one and didn't tell me?"

Raven glared at him, spitting on the ground as she stood up to face the grimm. Meanwhile, Constantine drew a series of magic circles in the trees, consuming a Dust crystal to fuel the spell. He took the crystal out of his pocket, now completely devoid of light. The mage struggled up one of the trees; he wasn't in the best physical shape, though it pained him to admit it. From there, he saw Raven preparing to jump.

Raven breathed deeply, touching the scabbard of her sword and visualizing the attack in her mind. The bandit opened her eyes, pulling the trigger on her sheath. The sword shot forward, with Raven following half a second later. Using the momentum, she swiftly sliced through three ursa like paper, drawing a hiss from Constantine.

"She's good..." the mage murmured. He'd seen better martial artists—the Batgirl in the sinister suit, for example—but he'd rarely seen a blade as deadly as hers.

Raven advanced toward the cave, annihilating any Grimms who dared to cross her path. She was quickly inside, seeing the Death Stalker's glowing stinger.

"Oi! You shitty creature! Come at me!" The Death Stalker focused on her, looking at her curiously. "Come on! I know you like negative emotions, and I have plenty of them!"

Constantine heard the beast's shriek, then Raven running off with the aforementioned man in tow.

The bandit moved nimbly, eliminating the Grimms in a straight line, but more and more joined the chase, until she had them all behind her.

"Constantine! Do it now!" Raven took a blow from the Death Stalker's stinger, crashing into a tree, her aura flickering. "Constantine!"

"Calm down, love." Constantine created a circle of green magic with his hands, placing his middle and index fingers in his palms. The wizard was smiling. “Everything is under control.”

The trees in the area began to move as if they had a life of their own. Roots tore through the earth as they lunged at the Grimms, piercing through their bodies or wrapping around them until they broke. Raven froze, completely still. Never in her life had she seen such a display of power. She could control the weather using her maiden powers, but she had never heard of anyone capable of commanding nature itself.

The roots took care of all the Grimms except for one, the Death Stalker, who writhed as the roots held him down. A bridge of roots formed from the tree Constantine was in, allowing him to walk toward the Grimm. Transforming his pin into the Arthurian sword, he pierced the Grimm's head through the boneless part.

As the grimm disintegrated, he put the sword back and turned to Raven, flashing one of his crooked smiles. “Well, not bad for a working-class wizard, huh?”

“Uh… Ozpin doesn’t…”

“I told you before, Raven. Ozpin was born with magic, I dug myself into the mud to learn it. This little trick? I copied it from a green elemental. A little crazy, though not as crazy as his girlfriend. And she’s a psychiatrist. Come on, let’s go…” The wizard stopped dead in his tracks. “Do you hear that? Oof!”

Something hit Constantine, sending him flying, destroying several trees. Raven froze as she watched the giant Nevermore come out of nowhere and destroy the wizard. She didn’t know what to do; the decision had too many nuances. She could save Constantine and trust that he could take down Salem. He’d definitely shown he knew things even Ozpin didn’t.

“Raven!” "The wizard screamed for help."

On the other hand, she could let him die and be rid of him. If he was dangerous to Salem, he was also dangerous to her. He'd already proven he could kill her simply with a wave of his hand. The existence of someone like that was a threat to her entire way of life.

"Raven!" The wizard crawled on the ground, avoiding the stinging bites that threatened to pierce him.

But if she saved him... she could finally have her revenge.

"Fuck!" Constantine created a huge yellow magic circle, large enough to enclose the entire Nevermore. With the next lunge, the Grimm passed through the circle. The next thing Raven could see was the Grimm turning into blue butterflies as it passed through the circle.

Constantine got up from the ground, brushing off his pants and glaring at Raven.

"You... what you did... So much power..." Something hit her in the face, catching her off guard and not giving her time to unleash her aura. She touched her forehead, noticing a trickle of blood. Seeing what had hit her, she noticed it was a Dust crystal. It was empty.

"You!" Constantine threw another crystal, but this time Raven blocked it. "Are!" He threw a third. "A fucking!" A fourth. "Bitch!" A fifth crystal was thrown in her direction, which Raven caught in midair. "I could have died!"

Raven ignored him, staring at the empty Dust crystals. "How did you do this? It takes a lot to make a crystal dry."

“It’s my magic, arsehole!” Constantine flustered his hair. “I use dust as payment for the big spells because Remnant doesn’t have ambient magic. Because of you, I had to use five crystals. Do you know how fucking expensive dust is?”

“Well excuse me, princess!” Raven replied angrily, already over the shock. “You’re out of your stones, what a tragedy.”

“It’s not just that, Raven. If I die, who’s going to take care of Salem?”

“No one, no one can.”

“Yes, I can!” Constantine retorted. “I’ve killed gods, imprisoned demons, frightened covens with words alone. If I don’t do it, those kids at Beacon will die trying. You may be a cold-blooded bitch, but I don’t want any more kid deaths on my conscience.”

Constantine turned his back on Raven, heading back toward his camp.

"More?" The bandit was still staring at his back; that speech had made her think. Ozpin had only talked about stopping her, but he... he was fully confident in ending it all.

"I also have my own corpses in the closet, Raven. I'm going to sleep."

Just as the wizard was about to disappear from sight, Raven took a step forward.

"John!" The wizard turned, his gaze bored. "I'll do it."

Constantine raised an eyebrow.

"If her dog comes and offers to help them, you'll be the first to know. On one condition."

"Shoot."

"Don't even think about missing."

Constantine smiled, a smile that unsettled Raven. It was the smile of someone who had just won a bet. "Believe me, Raven, I may fail in my personal relationships. But in taking down evil witches? Leave it to the professionals."

Constantine left, leaving the area much poorer in materials, but gaining in many other ways. He had gained an ally in his war.

Chapter Text

John Constantine was famous for many things. His magical knowledge, his signature outfit, the fact that he lied more than he spoke, or his bedside manner. But if there was one thing he definitely wasn't known for, it was his driving skills. Standing in the middle of the road, Constantine was fighting the toughest battle of his life.

Getting the wheel off the car.

Using the wrench and all his weight, he tried to turn it, unsuccessfully. "Come on!" Constantine slipped, losing his balance and crashing into the car's bodywork. "You son of a bitch!" he shouted, holding his nose; it was bleeding. "Fuck the car! Fuck motor engineering! Fuck the first fucking idiot who invented the wheel! And fuckin' Henry Ford!"

Constantine kicked the wrench, still stuck in the wheel. It started to spin, suddenly releasing the wheel. The wizard spent two full minutes staring at the loose tire and rethinking every decision that had led him up to that point. In complete silence, not even wanting to hear his own voice for fear of retaliating against himself, he put the spare tire on and prepared to continue driving. Just before starting off, he saw two people approaching from the front, seemingly wanting to talk to him. Constantine put the ignition on, ready to bolt.

"Are you lost, friends?" the wizard asked, his foot poised on the clutch.

Up close, he saw that they were a woman with purple hair who was quite tall, taller than Constantine himself. Next to her was a shorter man with dark blue hair.

"Hey. Got a moment, buddy?" the man asked.

"Depends on how fast you are."

"I'm Maru, and this is Winn."

"Hey."

Constantine waved at her, still unsure.

“You see, we're looking for a friend of ours. He's a hunter like us.”

Constantine opened his eyes. More hunters were still going out into the wild despite having been attacked.

“Is this a mission?”

“No, it's personal.” The woman pulled out her scroll, showing a photo of a man Constantine knew. “His name is Diam. He went out on a mission a few days ago and hasn't come back. Have you seen him?”

Constantine looked at the photo. Sure enough, that was Diam, the hunter he had rescued from the Grimm. The mage frowned as he looked at the hunting duo.

“Don't they know you've been out? It's been dangerous out here lately. The Grimms are acting strange.”

“We know it's dangerous, that's why we're here. Diam went out on his own” the woman said, putting away the scroll.

“That idiot… he sent us a message saying it was going to be a simple mission, but we still haven't heard from him. We're very worried.”

Constantine looked them in the eye; they were being sincere. The mage sighed, relaxing and letting his tiredness show. “You have to go to a village about four days away on foot, less if you go quickly. When you get there, and find who you need to meet, tell them you met me.”

“And what is your name?” the man asked excitedly; they had finally found a lead.

The mage handed him one of his business cards; he would have to print more soon. “Before I leave, am I far from the capital?”

“With your car? Not at all, it’s about six hours away,” the woman replied.

“Thank God. I’ve been driving from the port to Vale. I’m leaving. Good luck, and be careful.”

“Thank you, Constantine, thank you very much.” The hunting duo set off at a brisk pace; they might be there in less than four days.

Without further ado about his encounter, the mage continued, relieved to think his journey was almost over.

After six hours of travel, interrupted only by a stop to empty his bladder, Constantine reached some large walls with guards on watch. At the gates, the mage handed one of the guards the permit Glynda had given him before leaving.

"Welcome to Mistral, Professor Constantine. We've heard what happened there; it's a real tragedy."

"Yes, it is. That's why I'm here, to see how things are going in Haven."

"If you want, we can warn Professor Lionheart."

"Don't worry, mate. We're old acquaintances, I want to surprise him." Constantine gave him a genuine smile, winning over the guard. "Do you know where I can leave my car?"

"You don't usually see many park lots around here, but since you're on official business, you can leave it in one of the security spaces." the guard gestured to his companion, who made a call through his scroll. After a brief minute, the guard gestured for him to come in. "Go straight ahead, and when you see a sign with the Mistral symbol, turn that way. They're waiting for you."

"Thank you, it was a pleasure, mate."

"The pleasure is mine, Professor. Enjoy your stay."

Passing by car, Constantine was overwhelmed by city life. After so much time on the road, he'd forgotten what it was like to be in such a bustling place.

After leaving the car at the guardhouse, Constantine lit a cigarette while watching the people. He still had time to walk around.

With his hands in his pockets and smoking, Constantine strolled through the city streets. There was none of the oppressive atmosphere of some villages; it was as if they were unaware of the threat of the Grimm.

He eventually arrived at the market, looking at the different types of objects for sale. He bought an apple that crunched with every bite, the liquid leaking from the corners of his mouth. He noticed a stall selling different types of stones, which caught his attention. There were amethysts, opals, and a ruby. The magician licked his lips; gems were very timely and useful sources of channeling magic.

"I'll take these" he pointed at the vendor.

This man was a broad man with a prominent belly and a bushy mustache, wearing an orange shirt with a green vest.

"Of course, my dear sir, my gems are among the finest. Rubies, amethysts, emeralds, opals—it's all yours, my friend, as long as you have enough lien."

Constantine took out just enough money to pay for the gems, but between that and the Dust, the lien he had stolen from Dhimas was starting to run low, and he had to control his expenses. The vendor gave him the gems in boxes designed for safekeeping, giving them to him in a bag.

"Thank you, my friend." Constantine started to leave, until he saw something on the stand that stopped him in his tracks.

In the jewelry section, there were numerous quality rings, earrings, and pendants. Among them, Constantine saw one that took his breath away.

It was a gold ring with a flat part designed to display a symbol. There, on the black background, stood out a golden L accompanied by what appeared to be a star. Constantine had seen that ring before; he had even worn it once.

That ring belonged to the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 31st century. It shouldn't be there; it was impossible.

"Nice ring." Constantine tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice.

"Yes, yes, it's a beautiful finish. Despite being gold, it weighs nothing."

'That's because it's not gold, my friend' Constantine thought, his gaze still fixed on the ring. According to what Booster Gold had told him one of their nights, that metal was Valorium, an alloy of the NTH metal. Despite not being as powerful as NTH, the ring possessed anti-gravity properties.

"How much for it?"

"Let's see... It's a good ring, indeed. An engraving like that is of great quality; it's not just any precious stone."

Constantine took out five thousand lien in cash, leaving it on the table. He had just cut his cash in half, but he had to get that ring out of circulation at all costs.

"And besides, you're going to tell me where you got it. Deal?"

The man grabbed the money with the speed of a speedster. He put the ring in a box, handing it to Constantine.

"Of course, of course. The least I could do is soak up its origins. You see, I got this ring about three months ago, maybe four. A brunette girl with black hair and really strange glasses came to me."

"Strange?"

"Yeah, they were spherical and orange, I'd never seen anything like them. The thing is, she was apparently short on funds, and she sold me the ring."

"Did she tell you where she was going?"

"No. But she did say she was going to be a heroine, the one that will save Remnant. These kids... They have big dreams."

Constantine thought for a second, finishing his cigarette and throwing it to the ground. That description didn't ring a bell. But if she had that ring, she was most likely from the Legion, or at worst, a thief like Booster.

Saying goodbye to the man, Constantine walked off with his new acquisitions in his trench coat, mulling it over in his head. Three months... that time window could coincide with his own, which would mean he hadn't been the only one to arrive on Remnant.

The mage wasn't particularly knowledgeable about time travel; he knew it was never a good idea to mess with the timeline if you were a mage, as you could attract beings best kept away. If he were on his Earth, he could ask Booster about it, or if he couldn't find him, Ted Kord; they both owed him favors.

"Damn it... Me being here is problematic enough, but if someone else is involved, it could get out of hand. You should have warned me, Dream."

Irritated, Constantine headed for Haven. Although the purpose of his trip was to obtain the Mistral relic, he knew that meeting Lionheart wouldn't leave him indifferent.

Normally, he'd skip meeting the principals after his experience with Ozpin, but the matter of the dead hunters was something worth investigating. If he were in charge of the main defense force against those creatures, three missing hunters on supposedly simple missions would have already set off alarm bells. But not in Mistral; everything seemed normal there.

It didn't take him long to reach Haven, which was sheltered by the forest. Students were coming and going; in the crowd, no one thought to stop Constantine. The students seemed nervous, arguing heatedly among themselves. Constantine grabbed one of the tall, red-haired boys.

"Hey, kid, what's all the commotion?"

"Who are you?"

"John Constantine, special agent for the Mistral Council." Constantine pulled out his wallet, briefly showing his British ID, without giving the student time to analyze it. "I came for a scheduled visit. What are you guys up to?"

"It's the headmaster. He says he's canceling classes until further notice."

"What? I haven't been informed."

"Yes, and we don't know what to do. Some teams are moving to Vacuo, but others are tired. The festival was a horrifying experience."

"An orange Grimm threw me into the extraction ship!" a friend of his complained.

Constantine made a note to give Etrigan a piece of his mind later. "You did well to fill me in. Now enjoy your vacation. Study, have fun, or spend time asking that special someone out, I don't care. But be careful if you leave Mistral; things are getting ugly."

The students nodded, allowing Constantine to advance. The mage climbed the stairs, eyeing the statue between them. It would be a good hiding place in plain sight, and if Beacon had a basement, Haven probably did too. He needed to do more research to get an idea of ​​where the chamber might be. But first things first, he had to talk to Lionheart and see how deeply involved he was in the murders.

Leonardo Lionheart walked to his office, reminiscing about his glory days. In his youth, he had been one of Remnant's strongest hunters, a man with a keen intellect and as brave as any. Now, as time had taken its toll, he had been demoted to headmaster of Haven. He liked his job, of course. He had a lot of influence and connections, plus filing paperwork was much better than risking his life against the Grimm.

However, the whole Haven thing about canceling classes was taking years off his life. He could deal with angry parents; that wasn't a problem. The real problem was dealing with the students. So young, strong, and impetuous, Lionheart admitted that sometimes he was scared when dealing with them. They might not have appreciated it, but it was for his own good.

Lionheart entered his office. He walked over to the desk to sit down. Then he heard a click. The headmaster jumped, feeling like his heart was going to jump out of his chest. He turned toward the sound, gripping the gun in his right hand. Standing there, leaning against the wall, was a blond man in a trench coat, flicking a lighter on and off.

"Leonardo Lionheart, I've been wanting to meet you for a while."

"Who are you? How did you get in?!"

"The door was open."

"It wasn't!"

"Okay, maybe I forced it, but it was too easy." The man approached him fearlessly, taking a card out of his pocket.

"John Constantine, private detective."

Lionheart looked at the card, trying to hide his nervousness. He knew him, of course he knew Constantine. Salem had warned him about him, and had given him very clear instructions if he crossed him. To warn her immediately.

"What do you need from me, Constantine? Let you know that I don't appreciate your kind. They tend to bend the law to accomplish their goal."

"It's possible, but this is a job I must complete, you see..." Constantine walked over to the desk, sitting in Lionheart's chair as he lit a cigarette. "For some reason, the Mistral hunters have started disappearing. I suppose you've noticed?"

Lionheart held his gaze; it was impossible for him to know his involvement. "While it's true that some haven't reestablished contact, it's possible their missions are taking longer than expected."

"Yes, that's a very good theory. But it's one the families aren't buying, which is why I'm here."

Lionheart approached his desk, placing his hands flat on the table. “I know the families must be hurting, but we’re doing our best to make sure…”

Constantine went to throw the ash over Lionheart’s hand, who quickly dodged. “Look, Leo, can I call you Leo?”

“No, sir. I’d like you to address me by my last name.”

“Okay, Leo. I happen to have access to the hunters’ mission log, and I’ve written down the places they had to go.” Constantine took a drag, taking out his notebook. “Look, I have the locations on a map here. I’ve visited them personally, Lionheart. And do you know what I found?”

“I…”

“Corpses, Leo. I’ve found corpses. And they all had one thing in common. They’d all gone out alone on simple extermination missions. I mean, they were Beowulfs, a veteran hunter should be able to handle themselves. Only they weren’t Beowulfs.”

Lionheart began to sweat. There was no way he could have known; he'd covered his tracks well. And yet, no one should suspect the Haven headmaster; no one would have a reason to.

"Mr. Constantine, I don't like what you're implying. I'm the headmaster of this academy; I've personally taught many of those hunters."

"And what do you think I'm implying? I'll tell you what I think. I think the information was wrong, all of it."

Lionheart felt his heart racing. That man only needed a small push in the right direction to find out what he had done; he hadn't figured that out already. Now he understood why Salem wanted him; someone with such a sharp mind was a potential danger to their plans.

"So, Constantine. What do you want?"

"Your cooperation." Lionheart breathed a small sigh of relief. "It's clear someone is feeding him wrong information. Who's writing the missions?"

“Well, um…” Constantine gestured for him to sit down; he had somehow taken control of the office. Lionheart simply slumped into a chair. “We have several scouts, hunters with semblance of mobility and tracking. You see, the extermination missions are written by the government delegation in charge, as are the rest of the missions less related to Grimm.”

“I understand… So here's what we're going to do, Leo.” Constantine stood up, standing behind Lionheart and massaging his shoulders. “You're going to give me a list of those who write the missions. All off the record, of course, and I'll be in charge of asking them the relevant questions.”

“I… yes, of course I can provide it.”

“Good, good. We're getting along.” Constantine tapped him on the shoulders, approaching the door. “I'm going to look for a place to stay. When I find one, I'll give you my contact information.”

Lionheart quickly stood up, seeing an opportunity. “Constantine, since you're providing a service to the families of Mistral, let me help you. I can arrange a comfortable apartment for you, so I can send you all the information.”

“That would be fantastic. I'm a little short on funds.”

“If you want, I can also provide you with allowances. Let it be a sort of… subcontractor for Mistral. I have a hand in the council, I can do that.” Lionheart took out a sheet of paper, writing some directions on it with his quill. “Here, come by. When you arrive, everything will be ready.”

Constantine smiled, gripping the paper with two fingers. He finished his cigar, throwing it out a window.

“A pleasure doing business with you.”

“Same here, Mr. Constantine.”

Constantine left the office, whereupon Lionheart continued smiling. He didn’t relax for several minutes, after which he collapsed onto his desk, hyperventilating and sweating profusely.

Quickly, he locked the door from the inside and lowered the blinds, leaving himself in darkness with the little sunlight filtering through. He opened a hidden compartment in the floor of his office, quickly moving away from it. From it, a floating Grimm emerged with knife-like tentacles and a large red head, similar to a jellyfish.

Lionheart smoothed his hair, offering a nervous bow.

“My lady.” The hunter's voice trembled with fear.

"Lionheart, my dear. I hope the reason for your call is important." Through the jellyfish, a mature, feminine voice sounded, the voice that filled Lionheart's dreams with nightmares.

Salem.

"Yes, my lady. I wouldn't dare upset you over a trifle."

"Lionheart... you know I like you better when you get to the point."

"Of course, my lady. That man you told me about, Constantine. He's in Mistral."

"Oh." Salem let out a noise of surprise. "How bold of him. Have you made contact with him?"

"Not exactly. He was the one who made contact with me. He appeared in my office as if nothing had happened."

"Like a common criminal, then. Not too different from what Cinder described. But he's not like that, am I mistaken?"

"Not even close, my lady. Talking to him is like talking to Ozpin, but much worse. Ozpin knew things, and he made it clear he knew them; you could read his face perfectly, along with his superior sneer. But Constantine, Constantine, is sharper. He spins until he gets where he wants, he has you eating out of the palm of his hand with his charisma and accent."

"You almost seem to consider him a threat."

"He is, my lady. He discovered the false information about the hunters; apparently, the families hired him to find the truth. And he came to me. For a second, I thought he was going to frame me, but he just wants the list of the city's mission council."

"Something else I should know?"

"I've offered him lodging, saying it's a gift since he's offering a service to those families. I'm going to place cameras and microphones in the room; any slip-up, and I'll listen."

"Good work, Lionheart. One last thing. Do you think he suspects you?"

Lionheart thought about that crooked smile and the mage's mannerisms; he seemed too absorbed in his monologue as he explained that the culprit must be someone from the council.

"Don't worry, my lady. He doesn't suspect a thing."

After another hour of walking, Constantine was in his new apartment, courtesy of the state. A comfortable bed, a sofa, a refrigerator, and a stove.

Constantine knew perfectly well that Lionheart was the culprit behind the hunters' deaths; he was no idiot. He had been his second suspect all along, surpassed only by some infiltrator in the mission statement, but his conversation with him and what he had observed had been more than enough proof for him. The nervousness, the sweating as he explained what he was doing there, and of course the sigh of relief when he told him he was looking for help.

Lionheart was smart enough to falsify information, but lying wasn't among his qualities. In complete silence, Constantine searched the apartment from top to bottom. Lionheart had been too quick to offer him lodging, though the excuse had been good enough, so the mage had to grant it.

Looking behind a painting, he saw a white, circular object with a protrusion sticking out. A microphone.

Constantine knew it couldn't be the only one; he would have at least put more than that one. After an exhaustive search, he found five more microphones. Once located, he began draining Dust from one of its crystals.

"likorepto"

With a simple spell, he moved the microphones around the room, but kept their hiding places. They were now connected to the apartment next to Constantine's.

However, that wasn't all. The mage had also found three spy cameras hidden in the apartment, covering most of it. Fortunately, it wasn't the first camera the mage had sabotaged.

Quickly, he left the room, returning minutes later. He took off his trench coat, leaving it on a hanger as he took out his notebook and sat down at the table, from an angle so the cameras wouldn't see what he had written. After that, he faced the nearest camera and began to undress.

With nothing covering him, the magician began stretching in front of the camera, revealing things only his exes had ever seen. After that, he dressed again, closing the door behind him.

With all of this recorded, Constantine entered with his hands in a spell position. Without much effort, he placed a magic circle in front of the camera. This circle recorded the events Constantine had just performed, and they would be broadcast at different intervals, allowing time for them to avoid suspicion.

After that job well done, Constantine lit a cigarette, holding it in his mouth while taking a drag and blowing out smoke. Without realizing it, a crow flew in through the window.

"How did it go?" asked Raven, who had sat down on the couch after transforming.

"Fuck!" Constantine jumped, inhaling and accidentally swallowing the cigarette. The wizard began to turn blue, walking over to one of the chairs and hitting the back of it. He finally expelled the cigarette.

"Disgusting." Raven looked at the drool-covered cigarette butt on the floor.

"Fucking warns me! I almost died!" Constantine turned red, a mixture of anger and near-choking. He picked up the cigarette with a napkin, throwing it into the trash. "Did they follow me?"

"No, and even if they had, you've taken some serious detours." Raven gestured to Constantine with her finger.

The wizard took another cigarette, then threw the pack at her. "I didn't know you smoked."

"It's either that or drinking. And the drunk is my brother." Raven let a flame escape from her finger, lighting the cigar.

Constantine lit his with the lighter, both of them taking a drag in unison.

"As for your question, things went well."

"Do you think it was him?"

"Of course it was him. Guilty was written all over his face. When you manage to con Lucifer himself, the rest of the liars have to work hard to convince me of their lies."

"I suppose he's suspicious too. Lionheart may be a weak coward, but he's no idiot."

"Yes, he knows I know something. At least I've made him think he's not the focus of the investigation. He's wired me with microphones and cameras, he's done well." Constantine took another drag. "But I've faced people a lot smarter than him, nothing I can't handle as long as I'm careful."

"You're always talking about all the shit you're capable of, are you sure you're not sucking your own dick?"

“Raven, in my entire life, there have only been four people who have deceived me. A bat-clad vigilante with the most paranoia I’ve ever seen. One time I discovered that he’d bugged my pen. I discovered it two months too late.”

“Fuck. He must be bored.”

“The second was my ex-wife, Zatanna.”

“Trouble in paradise? Did she cheat on you or you on her?”

“Nah, married life just wasn’t our thing, and we had… differences. She tricked me into saving the world at the cost of her life.” Constantine smiled at Raven. “Perfidious, right?”

“Shit…”

“Relax, she managed to come back to life. The third was a demon in my early years in the business. It cost someone their life, I never let it happen again.”

“Demons, resurrections… This shit is rarer than I thought, blondie.” Raven finished his cigarette, stubbing it out on the sofa and leaving a mark. “You magicians are freaking weird.”

“Yeah, I haven't met anyone normal yet.”

“And who was the fourth?”

“The fourth?” Constantine finished his cigarette, putting it out in an ashtray. “It was me. But I'll tell you about that another day. Now we have to get to work.”

Constantine went to the closet, removing the hangers and the rod, leaving only the back and the doors open. Taking advantage of that, he began hanging his notes and taking notes, connecting the clues with threads.

Raven silently watched the magician work, sorting through all the information at his disposal.

Once he'd finished, he stood beside him. “Would you give me a rundown, trench coats?”

“I've put this together in parts, so we can stay organized. According to an information broker I met along the way, Tyrian and Hazel have been spotted in Mistral. My theory is that at least one of them is here to secure the relic, possibly Hazel."

"And Tyrian?"

"That brings us to this point here." Constantine pointed to some photos of Ruby, Jaune, Nora, and Ren.

"Shit... that's the kid."

"At Beacon, Ruby did something strange, something magical. I saw her destroy a Grimm dragon in a second; that's a dangerous ability."

"Silver eyes, Summer..." Raven bit her lip. "Her mother had them too. She could disintegrate Grimms with a simple beam of light."

"That makes her a target. If I were Salem, I'd want her out of the way. And who better to do that than a psychotic killer in my employ?"

"I'm not going to save her, John."

"Don't worry. According to your hunky ex, Qrow is going with them. I trust your brother can defend himself."

"He may be a traitor, but the bastard is skilled. And this photo of Ozpin?"

"Well, everything got really complicated when you told me the bastard is reincarnated. That means he's somewhere in Remnant right now, and I want answers."

"Well, good luck. He'll only show up when he feels safe. That's what I'd do."

"That's what you'd do if you had time. Ozpin doesn't. With Beacon destroyed, he already knows Salem is after the relics; he won't sit still while that witch holds the advantage. I'm telling you, Raven, that bastard of Oz will show up here sooner or later, and then he's going to tell me what I want to know." Constantine's eyes flashed with a glimmer of magic. "For his own good."

Raven let out a bloodthirsty smile. “I like that better. You have ball, John.”

“When you're in my business, you have to get your hands dirty.” At that moment, Constantine's phone rang. “Just as we were getting our bearings” the mage answered the call. “Hello?”

“Constantine? It's me, Diam. Thanks for sending my friends after me.”

“That's what we're here for, mate. By the way, I've been investigating what happened to you, and I think I've found the culprit.”

“Who is it?” Diam asked in a serious tone. Constantine could see he was eager for revenge.

“Not so fast, cowboy. This is something we need to discuss in person. I'm in Mistral. I'll text you with my location when the time comes. In the meantime, I have a favor to ask.”

“Tell me which one. My team and I will take care of it.”

Constantine walked over to a desk with a monitor in the apartment. Lionheart had complied; there was all the information about the missions and their writers. What the director hadn't taken into account was that he had given him access to the log. And with it, to all the Grimm extermination missions.

“I hope you're ready for a busy trip, guys, because I'm going to send you out to recruit some people. See you Diam. I'll send you the information.”

“But—”

Constantine hung up the phone, texting him the locations of the missions and the objective: to find the hunters who had taken them.

“What do you want now?” Raven leaned on her sheath. “Gather an army to attack Lionheart?”

“I’m going to gather an army, but we’re not going to attack anyone.” Constantine walked over to the fridge, taking out two bottles of soda. He threw one to Raven; when she caught it, the liquid had turned into beer. “Lionheart is emptying the school of students. Do you know what that means?”

“That there won’t be any brats in the way when they take the relic.”

“And therefore there won’t be any innocent people involved, like at Beacon. To open the vault, they need the maiden; they need you. After the beating the Salem maiden took, I imagine it’ll take them a while to organize everything.” Constantine took a sip of his drink.

“But if she’s under Lionheart’s control, they could just walk in and take her once they have me in the bag.” Raven sat on the couch, legs spread, drinking.

“They could have taken Beacon with just the androids and the Grimm. But you know who else was there? The White Fang."

"The terrorists, yes. Those bastards have taken several assaults on Dust transports from us."

"To them, this is a political act, a war. They'll be there to destroy everything. And when they think they have everything under control..." Constantine snapped his free fingers. "We'll come at them with everything we've got."

"It's risky, and boring." Raven took another drink. Then he grimaced in agreement. "But it can work. As long as they make the first move."

"And I'm counting on it. While they wait to make their move and find you, I'll organize the surviving hunters. Besides doing a few things around here, it never hurts to check out the locals."

"Okay, but remember. As far as we're concerned, I'm not the maiden, it's Vernal."

Constantine frowned; he wasn't happy about leaving such a young girl as decoy. But that had been Raven's plan all along, to use her as a bait in case they asked about the maiden. Refusing that would mean resenting their relationship as allies.

"Of course, that's how you intended it, and so it shall be."

"Fine, keep at it, and maybe this relationship will work out."

"For the loveliest of all, you haven't invited me to dinner yet" Constantine said with a smile as he looked at his wardrobe.

"If all goes well, maybe I'll think about it. I'm going back to the tribe. I'll try to stop by every now and then to see if I can forge a bond with you; it's more convenient."

"Your blood magic, I suppose. Or Semblance, whatever you want to call it. Then I was wrong in my theory. You transport yourself to those with emotional ties, not blood relatives."

"You can't always be right, blondies. So now what do you plan to do?"

"What I always do. Walk, ask, investigate. In other words…" Constantine sat down at the desk in the apartment, leaving his card on the table. "Do whatever the client requests."

Chapter Text

Although it seemed much more peaceful, the reality was that Mistral wasn't so different from Vale. At the end of the day, it was a large capital with many people living their lives and suffering their own kind of trials and troubles. In a luxurious apartment in the city, there was a shabby sign pasted on the door, which read a rather peculiar advertisement.

John Constantine

Private Detective

Sitting at his desk, Constantine steepled his fingers, listening intently to the woman in front of him.

"I think my wife is cheating on me" the woman said. She was wearing sunglasses and a hat, clearly not wanting to be recognized.

The magician looked her up and down; it was obvious this was the first time she'd hired a service of this kind.

"Do you have any reason to suspect, ma'am…?"

"Senna, Senna Gul."

"Very well, Senna, I'll take the case, but I need some information. The first thing is your wife's name."

“Her name is Goldie Gul. I took her last name after the wedding. She works as a hotel manager at the Grand Mistral.”

Constantine whistled for a long time. “That’s the most expensive hotel in town, she must make a lot of money.”

“Yes, I’m very proud.” Senna smiled, but it faded quickly. “The thing is, she’s been acting strange for weeks. She comes home late and is always tired, doesn’t feel like… you know.”

Constantine nodded. “Okay. I might not be cheating on her, but I’m going to follow her and see what I can find. The rate is on the door; I’ll charge the standard rate.”

“Okay. I pay at the end of the job, right? This is the first time I’ve done this.”

“Others would charge an advance, but I only get paid when I finish the job.” The magician stood up, extending his hand. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you, Senna.”

“Thank you, Mr. Constantine.” The woman shook his hand, leaving the apartment embarrassed and trying not to be seen.

The mage waited until the door closed before yawning and stretching. He had plenty of work to do in Mistral, but between the assignments, his investigation into Lionheart, and coordinating the betrayed hunters, he barely had time to sleep. He'd been in Mistral for almost two months now, soaking up the local culture and gathering information. He hadn't lacked for work as a detective, though most of it was nonsense.

Infidelities, lost objects, finding an elusive cat—all tasks he didn't even usually do back home. At least it allowed him to continue investigating Lionheart in secret, but the results weren't what he'd hoped for. Everything he'd found about Lionheart recounted his exploits as a young man, his skill, and his bravery. In short, Lionheart was completely clean, or at least that was what it seemed at first glance. All that digging only showed how good Lionheart was at covering his tracks, and therefore could be dangerous. At least, he didn't seem aware of their true plans.

He lit a cigar, leaning against the window to smoke. While he was enjoying his break, the apartment door opened, ringing a bell he'd installed.

"Excuse me... Is the detective here?" a male voice said.

"Oh shit..." Constantine stubbed out his cigarette on the windowsill, turning to the newcomer. "Here he is. John Constantine, detective at your service."

That's when Constantine saw it wasn't just one man, there were two. One of them, the one who seemed to have spoken, was tall and blond with a bob of hair, dressed in a robe. Beside him, his hand affectionately placed on his shoulder, was a much shorter man with long black hair covering one of his purple eyes.

The wizard walked to his desk, signaling for them to sit. "How can I help you?"

"We... We have a delicate matter." The blond man took a photograph from his pocket. It was a blond girl who couldn't have been more than seven years old. "That's our daughter, Maggy. She's disappeared."

Constantine felt a chill; cases involving missing people, especially children, didn't end well.

"Let me tell you, maybe this falls under the police's jurisdiction."

"We've already tried, but they can't find anything," the short-haired man intervened this time. They looked like a young couple, at least more so than Constantine himself. "We're desperate. We've even tried asking the hunters for help, but they're all away on missions."

"Please take the case. We'll pay you whatever you want if you find our little girl." The blond man looked into his eyes, with the pain of a father who has lost what he swore to protect.

Constantine pinched the bridge of his nose; this request was truly complicated, nothing like the ones he'd been making up to this point. Finally, he raised his finger.

"It won't be cheap. And I don't promise I'll find anything, or that if I do, you'll like it." The couple looked at him, their breaths drawn. "But I'll take the case."

"Thank you! Thank you!" The two men reached for his hands, which Constantine reluctantly allowed; he didn't like being the target of false hope. The black-haired man took a step forward. "We haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Slater, my husband's name is Sugg. Tell us what you need, and we'll give it to you."

"First of all," Constantine said, standing up and smoothing down his trench coat. "Is to tell me how long she's been missing."

"It's been seven hours. It happened this morning."

"And the police have already given up?"

“They say they're almost out of staff, and that they also have to keep an eye out for grimms,” Sugg replied. “There's barely a detective in charge of the investigation.”

“Well, the second is that I need to know where it happened.”

“That's the thing, Mr. Constantine. We don't know.”

“How?”

“We live near the school,” Slater spoke up. “And since last year, we've been letting Maggy walk to meet her friends at school.”

“Then we were both at work, and they called to ask if Maggy was sick. Obviously, I told them no, and that's when they told us.”

“Our little girl didn't make it to school.” Slater began to cry. “My little girl…”

Sugg hugged him tightly, leaving Constantine thinking.

A kidnapping in broad daylight, right during work hours, and on the way to school too? That was really weird, Constantine was dumbfounded. “Show me the route your daughter takes to get to school.”

Soon, Constantine found himself on a busy street, lined with numerous houses and some alleys. He took the route from the couple's home to the school several times, analyzing it. There were too many detours, nothing a child Maggy's age couldn't memorize, but plenty of potential for an express kidnapping. But that wasn't the strange thing; the strange thing was that someone had to have seen something.

“Well? What do you think?” Sugg stood next to Constantine, eager to hear his answer.

“Something doesn't add up here.”

“What?”

“I don't know, it's just…” Constantine looked around. “It's all very strange. I'll keep investigating, but I remind you, I'm not making any promises.”

“Sure, sure. Thank you very much, Constantine, really.”

The man left the magician alone, who lit a cigarette to calm himself. After taking a drag, he picked up his cell phone to dial a number. It didn't take long for the other end to answer.

“Constantine, any news?” On the other end, Diam, the hunter Constantine rescued almost two months ago, spoke.

“Nothing we don't know. It's not time to act yet, but I wanted to ask something.”

“Shoot.”

“How many agents do we have in the city?”

“Right now? About five, the ones who know best how to remain undetected. Lionheart doesn't even know they're alive.”

“Ask them if they've heard anything recently about a kidnapping. A girl about seven years old, blond hair.”

“Just a sec.” Constantine waited with his cigarette in his hand, taking the occasional drag. “I got it.” They don't know anything, but they've seen some suspicious men lurking around your area.

"How do they know where I am?"

"There's someone watching your back, just in case."

"Ah. Well done, but tell them not to worry, I can take care of myself."

"Okay, but before I go, one last thing. There's someone following you."

Constantine became alert, resisting the urge to look around. "Description."

“Tall, black hair, tanned skin, and a strong build. He has a goatee. Do you know him?”

Constantine thought back, and a person appeared in his mind. He did know him; he had seen him when he had the vision of Salem's castle. The description fit Hazel perfectly, the one who was supposedly the most reasonable of them all.

“Tell your agent to leave, I'll take care of it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Please, mate, a little faith.”

Constantine hung up the call, taking another drag. He began strolling through the city, passing through crowded areas. At one point, he took a drag, exhaling smoke. The smoke filled the space in front of him, briefly showing what was happening behind him. Just as Diam had said, there was Hazel, watching from a distance. Despite his enormous stature, he was good at blending into the crowd.

The detective began to move, blending into the crowd, taking detours and trying to lose him.

Soon, Hazel lost him after he passed behind a cart transporting food.

The giant growled, clearly annoyed at losing his target. But he was a patient man; he could find her again. Then she noticed something close around her arm.

"Honey! There you are!"

Beside him, smiling, was Constantine, who had scurried up to his side. The magician stood with his right arm linked around him and the other touching his chest.

"You... I have several questions for you."

"There'll be plenty of time, honey, but you promised you'd treat me to lunch. Look, there's a free table over there." Hazel looked where the magician was pointing. She realized that not only was it a busy restaurant, but the table he was referring to was one next to a family with small children. The veins in her neck tensed, but Constantine wagged his finger, denying his anger. “Save that for when we’re in private. It would be awful to make a scene in public. Besides, you don’t want to risk crossfire, do you?”

Hazel grunted angrily, but nodded, playing along with Constantine. “My treat.”

“I knew we’d get along.” Constantine dragged Hazel into the restaurant, sitting at the free table. Soon, a waiter arrived to serve them.

“What would you like?”

“Water, please,” Hazel asked; she was more amiable when talking to civilians.

“Water? Come on, Hazel, you can’t drink water on a day like today.” Constantine grabbed his hand, looking at the waiter. “It’s our anniversary, three years together now.”

“Congratulations, gentlemen. Since it’s a special day, I can recommend several wines from our menu.”

“Look, mate, we trust your judgment. Bring us the best red wine from your cellar while we think about what to order."

Hazel looked Constantine in the eye; she could see he was enjoying it. "Yes, that's the best."

"Great. I'll be right back with the glasses."

The waiter left them alone, with Constantine still holding Hazel's hand.

"What are you playing at, Constantine?"

"What's wrong? Can't I enjoy my first romantic date in years? On top of that, you're just my type."

"You know who I am, so you know I don't like jokes."

"It wasn't a joke. You really are my type. Handsome, strong, good hair... The only bad thing is your job, but hey, who am I to judge?"

"Now I understand why you work for Ozpin. You both like putting children in danger."

"I'm warning you, love. Don't go there, you could lose." The waiter returned with two glasses of wine and the menu. "What would you like to eat, Hazel?"

Hazel looked at Constantine, then at the waiter, and finally at the menu. "The devil's pasta. Add spicy oil."

"I'll have... uh, er, the pear-stuffed pasta."

The waiter cleared the menu, leaving them with their glasses. Constantine gently swirled his wine, taking a small sip.

"How did you know I was behind you?"

"A coincidence, honestly. I was in the middle of some important work when I saw you. And then I thought you'd like to talk to me. Because I was definitely dying to talk to you."

“That's new. I thought you'd want me out of the game, just like you tried to kill Cinder.”

“Yeah, you see. There are two important differences to keep in mind. The first is that Cinder tried to kill a student and was responsible for a massacre, so of course I was going to kill her. In fact, I want her to know she has to sleep with one eye open, because I won't stop until she pays for her actions.”

“Your dishes, gentlemen.” The waiter handed them their food. After leaving them to be, Constantine popped a piece of pear pasta into his mouth. “Bloody delicious. The second reason is…” Constantine swallowed. “I think you're the most curious of all.”

“So?” Hazel began twirling the pasta with her fork, eating calmly.

“You see, I've been investigating you. Let me get my notes out.” Constantine took out a small notebook, opening it along one of its many marks. “Let's do something fun. I'll tell you what I think about your coworkers, and then you tell me what you think.”

“What I want to see is if you're still clowning around when she gets her hands on you.”

“Having lunch with me and throwing me into the arms of another woman is breaking my heart. Let's start with this little bastard here. Tyrian Callus, serial killer wanted throughout Remnant. He doesn't exactly do good press for movements seeking equality, do you think?”

“Tyrian is a maniac, I know that.” Hazel replied. “If it were up to me, He'd never see the light of day again.”

“I see we're on the same page. I can understand why Tyrian works for Salem; he's the clearest of them all. A madman who finds pleasure in killing, then a goddess of darkness and queen of the Grimm shows up and offers you service to continue causing chaos. If I were him, I would have peed myself right there.”

Constantine ate a little more, washing it down with a sip of wine.

"Now for the mustachioed one, Arthur Watts. I've had a hard time finding information on him, but luckily there are plenty of moles in Atlas's army. The kingdom's star scientist until he had an unknown falling out. One day he disappeared in an accident, presumed dead. I'm guessing Salem isn't proficient in necromancy, so I'm going to bet he faked his death."

Hazel continued eating silently.

"I'll take that as a yes. The thing is..." Constantine shoveled more food into his mouth, chewing as he spoke. "Why would a scientist work for a witch? My bet is that falling out..." Constantine swallowed. "It's what made him work for her. Maybe she promised him riches or experiments no one else would approve of."

"Watts is an egomaniac, you got that right."

"Then there's Cinder. I don't think there's any need to dig any deeper. I've seen power-hungry people before. The longer this goes on, the more irrational they'll become. My bet is that at some point she wll turn on one of you, or Salem herself."

"I guess that leaves me." Hazel took a sip of wine.

Constantine drank too. "Exactly, this is the most interesting part. I know what happened to Gretchen."

Hazel flexed her fork, tightening her grip. "No. If you want to stay alive, don't go on."

"You're right, Hazel. It was Ozpin's fault."

"Don't think you're going to win me over with lies."

"I'm not lying, at least not this time. Ozpin failed to guarantee the students' safety; he deserved to pay for that negligence. But not like this, not the way you're doing it."

"I didn't want her to go to Beacon. The life of a hunter is too dangerous. But Ozpin… he filled her head with fantasies. And now my little sister, my little one, is gone. It's not fair, Constantine."

"No, it isn't. That's why I don't understand what you're doing with Salem."

"If she reigns, there will be no more hunter schools, no more children sacrificed in an eternal war."

"No? For God's sake, Hazel. You say you're doing it for her, but how many kids died at Beacon?"

"That was Cinder's plan, not mine."

"But you knew. Dozens, Hazel, dozens. Many Gretchen's age. And you let it happen."

Hazel's eyes were bloodshot. She went to rush at Constantine right there, but he raised his hand, a magical seal on it. "Do it, and I'll cast the spell. Maybe you'll kill me, maybe you won't, but I'm going to hurt you a lot. I know your Semblance, and trust me when I say there are pains beyond the physical. Besides, I can't guarantee it'll happen to you."

Hazel looked around; people were starting to stare at them, murmuring about a couple arguing. There were too many children around. The giant calmed down, regaining his composure.

"Necessary sacrifices, I'm afraid. I wish we hadn't come to that."

"I've seen that you care about the children, at least to some extent. But I know what you've done to several of their parents. Is leaving them orphans also a necessary evil?"

Hazel's eyes widened in surprise. "You know..."

"At first, I thought they were simply Grimms, that somehow, with the wrong information, you hoped they would become complacent and die. But I've seen the bodies. Bones broken in a way only blunt force can, bodies mutilated by a blade that was too sharp. Add to that the fact that you and Tyrian had been seen in Mistral well before I arrived here... How many, Hazel?"

Hazel remained silent. He remembered every face of the hunters he and Tyrian had killed.

"Too many. But it had to be done."

"And now several children have lost their fathers and mothers. I hope it was worth it."

"No. At least not yet."

"Keep saying that, maybe one day you'll truly believe it." Constantine finished his glass of wine. "Do you know why I do what I do?"

"Be a hunter?"

"And stop with that bullshit. That's not my job, Hazel. What I do is wipe demons off the face of the earth, prevent some idiot from using powers he doesn't understand for personal gain and screwing everyone else over. Hunters kill Grimms, I hunt much worse beings."

"Because it's the right thing to do?"

"Yes, and no. I didn't care about doing the right thing before, but then I screwed up. I killed a little girl."

Hazel opened her mouth slightly. Constantine looked dejected, melancholy. Sincere.

"How old?"

"About twelve, younger than Gretchel. Her name was Astra, I'll never forget her name. She was the daughter of a complete bastard, Alex Logue. He was a magician who made his living selling drugs and sex, spending his days high on cocaine and having sex in orgies. He forced Astra to participate in them.

Hazel was speechless, a deep anger beginning to course through her.

"I knew Logue. He taught me some spells, but I never interfered in his affairs. I should have..." Constantine stared into Hazel's eyes; the giant could see the enormous sorrow she carried. "Astra wasn't like her father, who had learned magic by reading the right books. She was... brilliant. Real talent. And one day she couldn't take it anymore."

“That girl… if she really had to spend so much time in that environment, I can't even imagine it.”

“Yes. Her own father broke her, and she wanted to break him in revenge. During one of their orgies, Astra summoned a demon, Norfulthing. It was a massacre; there were body parts everywhere. I was there to free Astrid when I found out what Alex was doing, but it was too late. She was losing control of the demon, and I was young and stupid, arrogant. So I did the first stupid thing I could think of.”

“Constantine, stop,” Hazel said, unable to bear to hear any more.

“I summoned a higher-ranking demon, Nergal, to scare him away. What happened was, he was too stupid to think he could control that being. Nergal killed Norfulthing and wanted to take a reward.” He could have taken me, but why take the soul of a drunken, selfish wizard, when you can take that of an innocent little girl?

"No..."

"That day Astra was dragged to hell, subjected to torture worse than she had in life. I went mad, spent years in a mental asylum. But then I knew what I had to do. No more Alex Logues abusing magic, no more Nergals making me suffer. No more Astras. That's why I'm doing this, Hazel, so that when my sins catch up with me, at least I'll know I tried."

Constantine leaned back in his seat, unable to hold back his tears. Hazel couldn't stomach any more food; she realized she understood him, understood the wizard perfectly.

"I'm sorry for what you've had to go through," Hazel replied. "And that's why you have my respect. I don't think we're so different, you and I."

“No, that's why it pains me to see you like this. You could have been a force for change for the better, but you serve an evil queen. And because of that, a little girl is in danger right now.”

“That girl, Ruby Rose… I sincerely hope Tyrian fails. A mere child doesn't deserve to be hunted.”

“I’m not talking about Ruby. Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen without hunters? Criminals are more confident than ever. This morning, a girl was kidnapped on her way to school.”

Hazel was speechless; he hadn’t heard about that. He quickly composed himself, thinking about what he’d just told him. “Constantine, I swear we had nothing to do with it. I would never allow something like that.”

“I know, and I believe you. But that girl is still missing. I was looking for her when I saw you.” Constantine stood up from his chair, straightening his trench coat. “I must go now. I have to keep looking for those bastards. It’s been a pleasure, Hazel. I wish we had met under different circumstances.”

“Constantine, wait.”

The wizard ignored him, walking away while lighting a cigar. Hazel looked at the plates in front of him, thinking about the conversation. That man was tortured by his past, but he still gave his life to avoid repeating a mistake. I could understand him, I wished him the best in his endeavor. But facing Salem was impossible; he himself had tried to kill her a thousand times before working for her.

It was too late for him. But if he could save one life… perhaps it would be worth it.

“Um… sir.” The waiter appeared at his side, a little uncomfortable. “The check.”

Constantine leaned against the wall of an alley, far from the restaurant. There, Constantine was smoking while the tears continued to flow. A raven stood beside him, transforming into a wild-looking woman. Raven tried to look at him with disappointment, but a small trace of sympathy escaped her.

“Did all that really happen to you?”

“Yes. Not a day goes by that I don't remember Astra.”

“All because you were weak. Weak to stop that demon on your own, and weak to stop her bastard of a father.”

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious, love. Did you come here for a reason, or just to piss me off?"

"You wish. I decided to take a stroll around town to see if I could finally forge a connection with you. But then I saw Hazel, and I knew it would be worth listening to."

"I hope you enjoyed the show." Constantine took a drag on his cigar. After that, Raven snatched it out of his hands, taking a drag herself.

"I really did. Holding families hostage? You're good, very good."

"Well, you have to play with what you've got." Constantine went to retrieve his cigar, but Raven grabbed his hand. Instead, the bandit held the cigarette to his lips, allowing him to take a drag. "Thief."

"And much worse. Are you going to keep looking for the brat?"

“Yeah, I have an idea of ​​which alleys to look in, but I had to smoke for a moment. See you, Raven.”

The bandit took a drag, stubbing out her cigarette on the wall. Then she placed her face right next to Constantine's, slowly exhaling the smoke. The mage didn't flinch. “You better have something good to drink when I get back.”

The bandit transformed, disappearing from the alley.

The mage watched her fly into the sky. “John John John… why do you always have to be attracted to dangerous ones?”

Constantine began wandering around the city, asking around in the most disreputable places, interrogating vagrants and even common criminals. He almost had his wallet stolen four times.

And still, he found nothing. Desperate, Constantine ducked into an alley to talk on the phone, trying one last option. Unfortunately, that didn't work either.

“Why can't you do me this favor, Lionheart?”

"I've already told you, Constantine, my hands are tied. I can't step on the security forces."

"Don't give me that bullshit, this is more important than politics."

"I understand your pain, but I can promise you I'll make a great effort to convey your requests. Goodbye, Mr. Constantine."

"Don't you dare hang up. Lionheart? Lionheart!" They'd hung up on the other end. Constantine put his phone away. Suddenly, he kicked a trash can to vent his anger, but he immediately regretted it.

"What the hell is this shit made of?!" he said, jumping in pain.

"Constantine."

“What the hell do you want?” Constantine turned toward the voice. Standing there was Hazel. Alone in a dark alley, things weren't looking good. “It's you… I suppose you've talked to Salem about me?”

“No, not yet.”

Constantine was surprised; he honestly didn't expect to run into him again without it involving a fight. “So what do you want, Hazel?”

“I've been thinking about our conversation, and I have something for you.”

“A gift? You sure know how to save a bad date.”

“Stop playing games. Come with me, and be discreet.”

Constantine watched him walk away, waiting for him to follow. He glanced at a house a few yards away; a crow was perched there. He left the alley next to it, spotting some of the disguised surviving hunters. Some recognized Hazel, but Constantine's look was enough to dissuade them. The wizard knew that of the entire Salem circle, Hazel was the only one whose word could be trusted.

The man led him to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Mistral. He carefully opened the door for Constantine, making sure they weren't being followed.

"Hazel, I don't mean to insult you, but this smells like a trap all over the place."

"Shut up and look what I brought you." Hazel turned on a light, revealing three men gagged and chained to the wall. Their eyes were completely blank.

"Bloody hell! What the fuck is wrong with you, man?!"

"You said you were looking for a kidnapped girl. Working for her includes good connections in the underworld, which is how I found them. They said they'd have a huge reward for a very simple job."

Constantine approached the three men, followed by Hazel. "Do you think it was them?"

"I don't think so, I know. I've been interrogating them before coming for you. The two in the back started singing as soon as I hammered them a little. But that one over there." Hazel pointed at one who was swaying slowly. "He hasn't opened his mouth."

Constantine noticed his mouth was dry; something was seriously wrong. "Let me try." The wizard approached the deranged man, forcing him to look at him. "All right, friend. You don't know who I am and I don't know who you are, but that doesn't matter. I only care about one thing. Where's Maggy?"

The man looked at Constantine with a deranged smile. At that moment, he spoke.

"It's late, too late. He has her, and that's all that matters."

"Who has her?"

"He promised me power, power I've never seen before. Who wants a semblance when you can have all that at your fingertips?"

Constantine was confused. Who could promise such seductive power? Then he looked at Hazel, and his anger increased.

"You... It was her, right?"

"No... this can't be her, I'd never do it. It was part of my part of the bargain. Children aren't."

"She could have lied to you."

"Impossible. Besides, a child wouldn't be of any use to her; she doesn't even have her Semblance activated."

"So what...?" A thought crossed Constantine's mind, a terrifying thought. "No... it's impossible."

"What's wrong?" Hazel began to stir; seeing Constantine nervous wasn't a good sign.

The mage ignored him, staring into the man's eyes. A blank stare, a deranged smile, promises... Constantine began to look at his head, then slowly undressed him. "Let there be nothing, let there be nothing..." Finally, on his forearm, Constantine saw what he feared to find. A brand burned with infernal symbols.

Constantine pulled away in shock. These things weren't supposed to happen on Remnant.

"What's that scar?" Hazel asked.

"It's not a scar." The mage rummaged in his pockets. "It's a mark of ownership. This guy has sworn servitude."

"Who would give marks like that?"

Constantine looked Hazel in the eye, deadly serious. "A demon."

Hazel's breath caught in her throat. "Those are stories to scare your children, or part of religious myths."

"And you work for a witch. I think you can believe this." Constantine rummaged in his trench coat, pulling out a silver ring. "He's not going to tell us anything; he's too far gone. Sorry, friend, but you asked for it."

Constantine put the ring on, placing his hand on the man's forehead.

"Agrometto"

The man began to scream, his face burning with flames as Constantine stared at the ceiling, his eyes rolling back. When he finished, the man with the mark fell dead to the ground.

Constantine staggered a little, images of an abandoned house on the outskirts of Mistral beginning to appear in his mind.

"Constantine... I hope it was worth it." Hazel looked at the corpse impassively, not feeling bad about the death of a kidnapper.

"I know where they're holding her. Listen, Hazel, this is very important. I need you to get a bottle of wine as quickly as you can. I'll be waiting for you where they're holding Maggy. You have to go here." Constantine took out a pen, writing the street name and house number. "This doesn't make us allies, but that little girl isn't to blame."

Hazel nodded. Then he looked at the other two men. “They’ve seen too much.”

“Yes… do what you have to.”

Constantine left the storeroom, unfazed by the sound of broken bodies. He quickly went to the abandoned house, entering the dusty living room.

There, he took out some of the gems he had bought and arranged them in formation. He sprinkled some salt he had been carrying, and finally, lit some incense sticks he had carried for emergencies. He didn’t have to wait long until Hazel arrived.

“What’s all this? And the girl?”

Constantine took the bottle from his hands. “I’m going after her. Listen, Hazel, if anything other than me or the girl appears, strike it.”

“Appear from where?”

Constantine turned, facing the large pattern of gems and incense.

"Carrac nomunemo lassvel"

Within the formation created by the gems, stone stairs began to form, leading deeper into the ground. Constantine braced himself, gripping the wine bottle tightly.

Then he went down.

Hell was different for every person, and therefore for every demon. This time, it was a wasteland of broken, brown earth with scorching winds. The overwhelming heat would make it impossible for anyone to live in those conditions, but the demons didn't have that problem.

Lying on an altar was a seven-year-old blonde girl, unable to react to the horrors she was seeing. Hundreds of gray-skinned humanoid figures stood around her, muttering and making grotesque sounds from their rotten throats.

Leading them was a being with the lower half of a centipede and two long, muscleless arms. Its face was a terrifying cluster of empty eyes with a toothy grin. The demon raised his hand, silencing the rest of the lesser demons.

"Scum of Remnant! Since your weak gods abandoned you, you have been unable to fulfill your purpose! Centuries and centuries locked here due to a lack of outside magic! Feeding only on the sanity of the dust miners! But that ends today!"

The demons celebrated, Maggy watching the spectacle sobbing and not understanding what was happening.

The leading demon took a wine cup filled with blood, and his minions followed suit. "Let's toast to your future! My future! Once the ritual is complete and I have this child's soul, I will have enough power to come out! And you with me!"

The demons howled excitedly.

"Today ends the Age of Grimm! The Age of Demons begins! Led by me! The great…!"

"No one is going to touch that girl."

A calm voice interrupted his speech. The demons were confused, trying to figure out who had spoken. But one of them knew who it was; he recognized the voice perfectly.

The leader's cup fell to the floor with a loud clang, his hand trembling.

"No... it can't be. He shouldn't be here..."

The demons began to murmur among themselves.

"Human?"

"A human."

"It can't be human."

“There can’t be any humans here.”

Constantine held the wine bottle by the neck, staring defiantly at the large demon. “The girl. Now.”

The leader cleared his throat, trying to look strong in front of his minions.

“Human, this is your last chance to leave, or you’ll be devoured by the great…”

“Liddiknopar, the gatekeeper of the nightmare hounds of Asmiuclates, the lord of the intermediate plane.” Constantine smiled, sending shivers down the demon’s spine. “You’re the one who takes care of the mutts.”

The demons stared at Liddiknopar, clearly confused.

“Lies!” he said. “I’m extremely powerful!”

“Look, arsehole, I know who you are, you know who I am.” Constantine’s eyes turned cold; he wasn’t in the mood for games. “I’m taking the girl, and you’re not going to stop me.”

“Fed up with humans! Kill!” One of the lesser demons lost his patience, charging at Constantine.

The magician bit the cork out of the bottle, taking a gulp in his mouth. With the demon practically on top of him, Constantine spat in his face. When it came out, it was no longer wine, but water.

The demon threw himself to the ground, shrieking in pain while holding his face. Constantine glared at him in disgust, stomping on his weakened head until it burst.

“It is said that wine is the blood of Christ. When he died on the cross and was stabbed, water flowed from his body instead of blood—holy water. Anyone want to try more?”

The demons moved away in fear, leaving Constantine free to pass. He picked up the girl in his arms, who clung to him.

He walked away, turning his back on Liddiknopar. He wasn't worried about an attack from behind; he knew that if they dared to do so, it would force him into a battle in that hellhole. A place where Constantine could draw all the magic he wanted.

"I'll try again, Constantine! You know it!"

"I know, lapdog. That's why I'm going to give you a soul when the time comes. In exchange for leaving this universe."

"That's a scam. Why would I agree to something like that?"

Constantine, already at the exit, turned to him. "Because if not, I'm going to call your boss so he knows what you're doing behind his back."

— — — — —

Hazel continued to stand guard outside the hellhole, nervous about what he'd seen. This magic wasn't like Salem's; it was much more sinister and rudimentary, earthly, to put it mildly. Perhaps he should inform Salem about what he'd seen; she'd be interested to know there were demons who could foil her plan.

He heard footsteps coming from the hole. Cautiously, he prepared the Dust crystals; he didn't want to inject them until he was sure.

Constantine emerged from the hole, holding a little girl in his arms.

"Is that her?"

"I think so. She's in shock; her soul was almost taken."

"Poor girl... What do we do with that?" Hazel pointed to the hole in the floor. Constantine simply kicked one of the gems out of place, causing the portal to close.

Those gems had already been ruined, but it had been worth it. "I guess this is goodbye. I'm going to return her to her parents."

"Constantine." Hazel put her hand on his shoulder. "Today doesn't change anything."

"I think it changes everything. Now you've seen the other side, you know what's under the bed, waiting in the shadows."

"Yes. And that's why I'm asking you to stay away from us. I don't want to have to kill you."

"Me neither, Hazel. But we have to do what we have to do."

"I guess so... Good luck with everything, John. If I have to come back for you, I hope it's to take you back alive."

Constantine smiled. "Tell your boss that John Constantine is always free for a nice dinner with someone."

The wizard left with the girl in his arms, leaving the giant behind.

Hazel walked away from the area, looking in the direction of the wizard. If he had met him earlier, before taking the path he was on, perhaps things would have been different.

"Daddy!" Little Maggy threw herself into her parents' arms as soon as they walked through the door.

The two men began to cry with joy, hugging the girl and kissing her head.

"My little girl... I'm so sorry." Sugg held his daughter close, unable to leave her embrace.

Slater looked at Constantine with teary eyes. "Thank you... thank you so much."

"I only did my job. Besides, your payment is enough of a thank you."

"Yes, yes, of course. It said cash only, didn't it?" Slater handed him a bag of linen. Constantine gave it a quick once-over, making sure everything was there.

"It's been a pleasure, guys. I hope you never need to call me again."

"So are we. Maggy, Sugg, are we leaving?"

"Yes. Honey, say goodbye to Mr. Constantine."

The girl approached the mage, who squatted down to look at her.

"Next time, go to school with a friend. Deal?"

The girl nodded. "Is the monster coming back for me?"

The parents looked at her, frightened. Constantine put his finger to his lips. "You can trust me, it won't come back. Come on, shorty, now go home."

Maggy waved goodbye, leaving the office with her parents.

Constantine sat down in his chair, putting his feet up on the desk and closing his eyes.

A sword rested against his neck.

"Money or life."

"Oh no, a dangerous bandit is mugging me. I hope she doesn't want my body." Constantine craned his neck, looking down at Raven. "Hello, honey, I didn't hear you coming."

"I can be very quiet when I want to."

"A portal?"

"Not yet. But I must say, I'm having fun watching you take pictures of people fucking. Pervert." Raven removed the sword from around his neck, slipped it into its sheath, and sat down on the couch.

"If they want to be unfaithful, let's not be so obvious. Do you know how small this place really is? I run into the same person three times a day." Constantine went to the pantry, took out two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. After pouring them, he took a sip. "Any news from anyone?"

"No. Not Cinder, not Tyrian, not my brother and the kids."

"Lack of news can be good. But things are starting to get out of hand. Today I had to face something I didn't think I'd see."

"Is it about the kidnapping? I know you've been collaborating with Hazel, that was unexpected."

"He's a good man consumed by revenge, I can understand. But the thing is, that girl had been trapped by something supernatural. Demons."

"Wouldn't they be weird Grimms?"

"No, full-fledged demons. As real as you or me. I thought none of them would have the power to reach this universe."

"It won't be that bad." Raven blinked, confused for a moment. "Wait, this universe?"

"I'm not going to lie to you, that demon came from another universe. What? You thought you were alone on this piece of Earth? There are infinite worlds with their evils and their heroes. And if demons start coming here... it means the barrier between universes is starting to weaken."

"And that's bad."

"Imagine if a being a hundred times more powerful than Salem invades the planet, with an army a hundred times more powerful."

"Fuck..." Raven downed the glass in one gulp, pouring herself another.

"Exactly, fuck." My mission is to prevent that.

"You're an asshole, you said this was for Salem."

"And it is. She's been messing around with things she shouldn't have. If Salem's over, the problem's over. I'm not dealing with more demons than I should, and you can stop hiding from her." Constantine sipped his glass, then imitated Raven. "And don't tell me the thought of scum like us saving the world out of selfishness isn't funny."

"A little, yes." They both toasted, downing the glass in one gulp. "Fuck, this shit hits hard."

"It's expensive whiskey. I'd ask for a refund if it didn't hit hard."

"Did you steal it? I don't believe they pay you enough for this and your whims. You've got more gems on you than an aristocratic bitch."

"You have no idea how much money Lionheart pays me to 'focus' on the investigation." Constantine poured another glass. "That bastard's got deep pockets, and you know what's the best part?"

"Surprise me."

"It's state money."

Raven started laughing, slapping her thigh. "A government-funded binge! I feel like a fucking princess!"

Constantine allowed himself to laugh and relax; it had been a long time since he'd had a night like this. They both continued drinking until the bottle was empty. Raven, staggering, held the bottle in the air, trying to get the few remaining drops onto her tongue. When nothing came out, she tossed it aside, scattering the glass fragments.

"Hey!" Constantine shouted from the couch. He'd taken off his trench coat and had his tie untied. "So I'm the one sweeping!"

"Don't be a sissy. Look at this mess." Raven opened her arms, gesturing around. "You've never swept in your life."

Constantine staggered to his feet, standing in front of Raven. "Well, maybe I'll start."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Raven looked into his eyes; both of them were unable keep their gaze fixed because of the alcohol. "You know what? Drunk like that... you look like Tai."

"Tai... Tai... Heh. Heh, that guy is hot. Gagh!" Raven pushed Constantine back onto the couch. The mage held his head, feeling something impact his hip. Perched on top of him, Raven was starting to remove her dress. “I need to drink more often.”

Raven covered Constantine’s mouth with her hand, digging her nails into his cheek. “Say any name other than mine, try to get me on all fours, or have the balls to pull my hair, and I swear I’ll bite your cock off. Understand?”

Constantine nodded. If the mage claimed he’d never been so turned on and scared at the same time, he’d be lying through his teeth.

“Good. Pants off, Tai, before I stop seeing you and see the blond bum.”

“Huh? What did you call me?”

Raven’s eyes began to burn, the maiden smiling. Constantine swallowed.

That night, the local residents didn't know if a couple was reconciling or committing murder.

Chapter Text

In the city of Mistral, a hopeless atmosphere spread rapidly through the population. The hunters, once everywhere ready to help, were now conspicuous by their absence. In this dire situation, Principal Lionheart had secluded himself in the now-closed Haven Academy, as if waiting for things to resolve themselves.

But in that hollow of gloom, a figure emerged forcefully. People whispered his name, commented on the feats he had accomplished, and how he handled each case with the same intensity.

John Constantine, Mistral's most famous private detective—and possibly the only one, since he hadn't found any competition—was at his desk, smoking and investigating some handwritten letters. Two friends suspected her boyfriend was the same person, with a slightly changed complexion. Since he always treated every case with the same seriousness, he asked them for everything they could afford to try to track him down. Luckily for him, and unfortunately for their lover, the letters he'd sent them had been written by the same person.

He was about to contact the clients when he heard someone crashing against the door.

"Son of a bitch! Damn!" a woman's voice sounded from outside.

"It's open, darling," Constantine said, putting the letters away.

Raven came in cursing and rubbing her nose. "Why the hell did I appear outside? I swear I opened a portal behind you."

"Protective spell, love. Ever since I knew Hazel was around, I've wanted to protect myself from magical threats. And that includes your blood portals."

"Aw... The little wizard considers me a threat. Adorable."

"By the rules of magic, only I can cast spells here." Constantine stood up, grabbing a cane he kept near the armchair. It was a sturdy wooden cane with a gold head and a diamond pointed at the front. "Do you want something?"

Raven stared at him for a long moment. After that, he burst out laughing. “I was going to tell you about drinking expensive wine I looted, but I don’t want to be seen with an old man.”

“Ha ha ha. Very funny little bird, but I remind you that this.” Constantine pointed at the cane. “It’s your fault.”

“Mine? How can it be my fault you need a cane to move your ass?”

“Because you almost broke my hip!” Constantine flashed back to the night he had shared with Raven just a week ago. He had rarely suffered such damage. “You’re not going to die from being a little delicate!”

Raven shrugged, flashing a toothy grin. “It’s not my fault you can’t keep up with me. Besides, if you ask Tai, he’ll tell you no one compares to me.”

Constantine had to bite his tongue to avoid mentioning Summer, Ruby’s mother and Tai’s second wife. If he wanted Raven on his team, mentioning Summer was a big no-no.

"Anyway, my dear bandit, what brings you here? Because I'm sure you didn't want me just for the drink."

"Poor thing, I'm sure you're not used to people going out with you for company." Raven snatched the cigarette from his lips, quickly discarding it. "And you're right. I wanted to warn you about something, out of courtesy more than anything."

"You being polite? Is it the end of the world and I haven't been warned?"

Raven kicked the cane, causing it to slip out of Constantine's grasp and fall face first onto the floor.

"You're a bitch!" Constantine insulted from the floor, trying to get to his feet.

Raven squatted down, putting his mouth close to the mage's ear. "I know." Raven stood up, watching Constantine struggle to stand on his own two feet. “I came to tell you I saw my brother and his gang of kids on the way.”

Constantine managed to grab the cane, standing up and looking at Raven. “Really? That… what the fuck, that’s excellent. How far are they?”

“Far away, but my brother didn’t seem to be in good condition. They had to drag him.”

Constantine’s eyes widened in surprise. What could have left Qrow in that state? He went to his closet, looking at the notes he’d made on the relic case.

“If my theory about Tyrian going after Ruby is true, then they must have found him.”

“And you think he did that to him?”

“Well, Tyrian is a scorpion faunus with a stinger, I wouldn’t rule out poison. With luck, they’ll have killed him.” Constantine looked at Raven, but she read his mind.

"I'm not going to open a portal for him, he'll have to figure it out on his own."

“It’s so nice to have a family… Well, at least now I know they’ll be here soon. Although I wish they’d stayed home, a trip like this can be dangerous. The faunus and the Schnee? They were right to get away.”

“Well, I think the faunus girl is a coward.”

Constantine looked at Raven. He had detected something in her eyes, in her way of speaking. “Why only the cat girl?”

“Huh?”

“You said you think the faunus is a coward. Don’t you think the Schnee girl?”

“Well, sorry for not using the exact words, language police.”

“No no no, I know you well enough to know you’re straightforward. You specifically said the faunus.” Raven looked away. “Oh god, Raven, what did you do?”

“What?! Now I’m going to have to explain everything to you?!” she said angrily.

“Bloody hell… you really did something.”

“It’s not my fault she fell from the sky! Do you have any idea what her daddy can pay for her?”

Constantine gaped, dumbfounded. “Holy shit… You kidnapped her!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Technically, it wasn’t a kidnapping. We found her in a bullhead crash and rescued her. She can leave anytime… as long as her father pays our salvage fee.”

“That’s kidnapping and extortion!”

“That’s payment for our services!”

Constantine tried to temper his anger, taking a deep breath. He needed Raven, needed her to know they were in an association where she could speak her mind and do her own thing. Constantine imagined himself talking to someone other than Raven, trying to choose his words more carefully. Yes, Plastic Man, he would do.

“Raven… I'm not going to force you to free her. You have the right to do whatever you want as the leader of the tribe. But I ask you, I implore you, I beg you… Don't touch a hair on her head.”

“Calm down, John. She's worthless when she's hurt. Besides, what do you care?”

“I care, because she's a fucking kid. Yes, she's the daughter of a real capitalist swine, and I really want to kill him, but she's innocent.”

Raven made a gagging noise. “I hate it when you act all heroic. Don't worry, blondies, we're not going to do anything to her. As long as she behaves, of course. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go see my blank check.” Raven drew her sword, brandishing it to open a portal.

Nothing happened. Raven was confused as Constantine gave her a hateful grin, leaning with both hands on his cane.

“No magic, love”

"Don't fuck with me, this isn't magic, it's my power."

"If it barks like a dog, walks like a dog, and looks like a dog..."

"Then it looks like you." Raven sheathed her sword. "I'll leave through the window."

The bandit landed on the windowsill, leaping and transforming into a horn in mid-flight. Constantine returned to his desk, finishing organizing his papers and thinking about the Schnee girl. Weiss might have seemed a bit snobby, but she certainly wasn't a bad girl. Now she was surrounded by bandits and a bitchy Raven; she couldn't imagine a worse fate.

There was a knock on the office door. "Message for Mr. Constantine!" said a young voice.

"Come in."

A young man from the courier company came in, holding a letter.

"Are you Constantine?"

"Here, friend, bring it."

The courier handed him the letter, saying goodbye with a small gesture. The mage tore open the envelope, taking out the letter. It was handwritten, in a sober and elegant script, pleasing to the eye. He settled in to read it. His expression gradually turned to one of concern the further he read.

Dear John Constantine

I've heard a lot about you since that brief encounter with my faithful servant during the Beacon incident.

The truth is, it's been a long time since a person caught my attention. Of course, I thought you were just a nosy hunter, but we can all make mistakes. A mage isn't common on Remnant; in fact, they shouldn't exist.

From one practitioner of the magical arts to another, I formally invite you to my palace to discuss our future relationship. I don't have to be your enemy, Constantine. I hope this is the beginning of a fruitful relationship.

Should you accept my invitation, you will need to head to the location marked on the map inside the envelope. There, Hazel will be waiting for you with an airship.

I look forward to meeting you.

Yours sincerely,

Salem.

Constantine delicately placed the letter on his desk, staring at it while he pondered. The mere thought of meeting the most powerful being on Remnant in his own home was bordering on suicidal. No, in fact, it was more than suicidal, it was certain death. On the other hand, he would never have such an opportunity to meet his enemy. He sighed, thinking about the foolishness he was about to commit. If he was going to do it, he had to at least give notice.

He dialed a phone number, which answered immediately. “Diam, I have news. I'm going to be away for a few days, possibly incommunicate. No, you don't have to worry, just stay hidden and wait for my signal. And remember what I told you, keep an eye out for White Fang patrols. We have to assume they're going to try to do what they did at Beacon. Goodbye.”

Constantine walked to the bathroom, where he made another call.

“What do you want, asshole? You caught me mid-flight, I had to stop in a tree.”

“Raven, listen carefully. I'm going to meet with Salem.”

“What?!” Constantine held the phone away from his ear, annoyed by the shouting. “Are you crazy?!”

“This is a perfect opportunity to see what she's capable of.”

“Or to kill you!” Raven paused. “John, listen to me for once. Don't go with her, she'll kill you.”

“She may try, but she won't be able to.”

“I've heard that too many times. Wait… Fuck, now I get it. I'm your escape plan, aren't I?”

“No, not really. I was calling you specifically to warn you where I was going so you wouldn't open a portal.”

“Fuck… John, your plan could go to hell. If you die, don't expect me to continue your fight.”

“You sound so pretty when you're worried. Don't worry, love.” Constantine opened the toilet seat. “I've got this under control.”

Constantine walked through the woods with difficulty, using his cane to navigate obstacles that could be a problem for his hip. He'd been walking for two hours since leaving the station. The meeting point wasn't particularly far away, but the wizard was walking ridiculously slow with the cane. At least, fortunately for him, he was going to meet Hazel of all possible ways.

Constantine wondered if Cinder held a grudge against him about the arm, although Ruby's attack looked like it would do more damage. Hopefully, Tyrian wouldn't be around; he didn't feel like dealing with a madman.

In any case, Constantine had dealt with beings far worse than Salem, demons who could turn the Earth into a cheap gore movie. Salem was smart; she'd managed to assemble a team of people with very specific skills, and that wasn't something just anyone could do.

Eventually, he made it to the clearing, where he saw Hazel leaning against an airship. He didn't seem surprised to see him.

"You're crazy, you know that?" the giant said.

"Come on, Hazel. An invitation from your boss? I wouldn't miss it for anything."

Hazel's eyes fell on the cane. "What happened to you?"

"I fell down the stairs. It was an embarrassing sight; I tripped over my own trench coat." Constantine climbed into the airship, tapping it gently with his cane. "Come on, Hazel, let's see if we make it in time for dinner."

"It's four in the afternoon. What time are you having dinner?"

"If possible? Seven. I think you're the weird ones. Come on, get going, big guy, your boss is waiting."

Muttering about the wizard's madness, Hazel boarded the ship, started it up, and headed for the Grimm wastelands.

During the journey, Constantine stared at the ceiling of the vehicle, bored. He took a Mistral newspaper and a pen out of his trench coat.

"What are you doing back there?" Hazel asked.

"A crossword puzzle." Constantine got up to sit in the passenger seat, resting the newspaper on his good leg. "I used to do a lot of these, they keep your mind active."

"Don't you do them anymore?"

"I didn't have time. I traveled a lot for work." Constantine typed two words. "Can I ask you a question?"

"I'd rather not."

"If you could go back in time, would you change anything?"

Hazel looked at Constantine, confused. "What do you mean?"

"If you could go back in time, would you do the same thing? I don't mean before Gretchen, I mean right after."

"I don't know why I would want to relive that. They were the darkest days of my life, Constantine."

“What I'm saying is, if you could go back with what you know now, with the guilt of what you've done, would you do it?”

Hazel didn't answer, leaving the question hanging.

“I would.”

Hazel raised an eyebrow, curious. “Why? According to you, this has only brought you pain.”

“Yes. But if I had given up after Astra, many more people would have died. I could have gone anywhere, maybe even become a famous magician. But that's not my style, is it? I have to suffer because I deserve it, and along the way, help as many people as possible.”

“Our cases seem similar, but there's a difference, Constantine. If I had done nothing, more people would still be alive. But if I obey Salem, I can create a new, safer world for young people. To avenge Gretchen.”

“And is that what she would have wanted? So many deaths in her name?” Hazel remained silent. “Yes, that's what I thought.”

“We've arrived.” Hazel landed the ship in a huge ruined castle, seemingly centuries old. Possibly millennia.

Constantine looked up at the sky, red as blood. The memory of the Crises still haunted him; those had been the toughest battles in the entire hero community. Thousands of Earths wiped out, heroes dropping like flies. But he was still there; he even remembered when Barry changed the past.

He always remembered, for magic had disconnected him from those kinds of influences.

Constantine climbed down with difficulty, grunting when his bad leg touched the ground. He entered the palace escorted by the giant, who remained impassive.

They crossed an unadorned hallway until they reached a large door. Hazel glanced at the mage before opening it. “Good luck, you're going to need it.”

Hazel opened the gate, revealing a large dining room overlooking the dead lands. There was a long table in the center with two chairs placed at each end. Seated at the head of the table was a woman with gray skin and black eyes, with what appeared to be scars on her face. She wore a gem on her forehead that reminded him of the fashionable wizard from the dimension of Azarath, and a black dress with a window-like neckline.

Salem, the witch of Remnant and queen of the Grimm, was attractive, that was indisputable.

"John Constantine" she said in a mature, gentle voice. "I thought you wouldn't accept my invitation."

Constantine bowed slightly, as far as his leg would allow. "And miss a lovely lunch? It's a pleasure to meet you, Salem." Constantine looked around the room. Surrounding Salem was the Atlasian scientist, Arthur Watts. Right next to him, a faunus with what looked like a mechanical tail.

"Arthur, Tyrian. You're less impressive in person. Although I do like that futuristic tail, it suits you."

Tyrian let out a sinister smile. “Thank you, little magic man, but nothing can replace the original. I will soon have my revenge, oh… of course I will have my revenge.”

“Revenge on, wait for me to guess.” Constantine raised his hand, making an exaggerated meditative noise as he closed his eyes. He opened them with a cocky grin. “That handsome Qrow Branwen?”

“No!” he shouted angrily, twirling his tail. “It was that little red meddler! When I find her, oh when I find her…” Tyrian let out a sinister laugh. “I’m going to have so much fun when…”

“Tyrian, stop talking” Salem ordered.

“Yes, my Goddess.” The faunus, once completely uninhibited, was now a puppy when Salem commanded him.

“Ahem, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Constantine” Watts said, trying to sound polite and gallant.

“Likewise, it’s not every day you meet the second smartest person in Atlas.”

“The smartest! Pietro can’t even compare to me!”

“Well, he’s created something revolutionary with Penny, you haven’t. Speaking of Penny,” Constantine looked at Salem. “Where is my dear one-armed maiden?”

“I’ve sent Cinder and her lackeys away to ensure your safety. I’m willing to forgive you for the injury to her arm, but she’s not one who forgive easily.”

“Your generosity overwhelms me. I must say, you’re more charming in person than you are by mail. Beautiful handwriting, by the way.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve written. I’m glad to know I haven’t lost my touch with age.” Salem looked at his inner circle. “Leave us alone. I’d like to speak with Mr. Constantine privately.”

The three men withdrew, though Tyrian did so reluctantly. Constantine sat down with a grunt across from Salem, smiling.

The witch smiled back, feigning friendliness. Salem waved a hand, summoning a Beowulf into the dining room with plates on its back. The witch cast a small spell, arranging the plates and silverware. Hers was empty.

"Are you going to let me eat alone?" the wizard asked, touching his food with his fork. It was grilled pork.

"I'm sorry if this bothers you, Constantine. But I stopped eating centuries ago; I no longer find pleasure in it."

"That's a shame. Then, if you'll excuse me." Constantine began to eat, devouring his plate under Salem's watchful gaze.

"Is this to your liking?" the queen of evil asked.

"Yes, my congratulations to the chef."

"I'll let Hazel know."

"I'll let you know." “Handsome? Strong? And a good cook? That man’s quite a catch.” Constantine finished his plate, pushing it back slightly. He took a cigarette from his pack, looking at Salem. “Is it any trouble?”

“Not at all, Constantine. As your hostess, it’s my duty to make you feel at home.”

Constantine lit the cigarette with his trusty lighter, taking a long drag. Salem was being an exemplary hostess, and that meant two things. Either she wanted something from him, or she’d been planning to kill him from the start. He’d keep playing her game; at least that would keep him alive long enough.

“Well, after a magnificent meal, a lovely chat usually follows.” Constantine leaned forward, shifting his weight on the table. “May I start asking questions?”

“Of course, Mr. Constantine.”

“You can drop the ‘Mr.’ if you like. I think a certain degree of… familiarity among magicians can be pleasant.” The magician took another drag.

The witch smiled. “Nothing would please me more. Start asking questions, Constantine.”

“Let’s begin with something easy; after all, it’s a long day. How did you come up with the Grimms?”

“Hmmm… an unexpected question. Anyone else would have asked me why I do what I do. You’re not an ordinary person.”

“What I am is a curious person, my dear. The Grimms have caught my attention; they’re completely fascinating.” Constantine began to move his hands, as if trying to piece something together. “They have magic in them, but they’re tangible. They have a skeletal structure and flesh, but they vanish when they die. Are they golems? Something else? I’m dying of curiosity.”

Salem smiled, resting her chin on her hand. It was the first time in a long time that she had spoken with someone knowledgeable about magic. The last one was her ex-husband, so many years ago.

“I didn’t create the Grimms. They already existed in this world. But with my power, I can command them and make specific modifications."

"Fascinating, truly fascinating." Constantine took another drag. "Well, and then there's the matter of your magic. I've met Ozpin, you know?"

"And what did you think of him?" Salem asked curiously, maintaining her friendly demeanor.

"If you'll allow me to be a little rude… He was a jerk. An absolute bastard. I told him something was going to happen during the festival, but no, why listen to that sewer-dwelling wizard, right?"

"He was overconfident, he thought he was smarter than he was" Salem continued; the wizard could sense her animosity toward Ozpin.

"Your maiden triumphed solely because of that, because of the stupidity of a know-it-all."

“And are you any different, Constantine?” Salem asked curiously. “You’re in my castle, at my mercy. That doesn’t seem sensible.”

“As you said, I’m in your castle.” Constantine finished his cigarette, and an ashtray floated to him so he could place it there. “Words are very important to magicians, and no self-respecting magician would break the host code by attacking their guest.”

Salem let out a soft laugh, which Constantine found charming. And therefore, dangerous.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a conversation. Your presence is refreshing. But now it’s my turn to ask you a question.”

“Of course.”

“How did you learn magic?” Constantine began to laugh, a soft, genuine laugh. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just that Ozpin had the same question. At least I saw it in his eyes, but I answered him before I could ask.”

“He’s always been… curious. That’s something you have in common.”

“Okay, let’s get to it.” Constantine lit another cigarette. “First, let’s make it clear that this isn’t a semblance, that’s very important. Second, I learned by studying.”

Salem raised her eyebrows; he’d caught her attention. “There used to be books to teach magic, but they’ve either been lost or nobody understands them.”

“The difference is that both you and Ozpin have magic within you. I need to use objects and other things to perform my spells.”

“Fascinating… it’s a different kind of magic than the old kind. You’re a striking person, Constantine.”

“Really? And here I thought I went unnoticed.”

“I mean it as a compliment.” Salem stood up and walked to the window. Constantine followed her. “I want you to take a look at something.”

Constantine wasn’t surprised when he saw the immense mass of darkness that was the Grimm’s Well. After all, he had seen it months ago with his spell. Or was it a year ago? The magician lost track of time in this land without the festivities.

"It looks bigger in person."

"Have you been spying on me?" Salem smiled, a crooked, superior smile.She knew she had noticed someone months ago, and now she finally had him in front of her.

Constantine winked at him. "A good magician never reveals his tricks."

"I think I did well to invite you. I have a proposal for you."

"If it involves signing a peace treaty, I'm eager to hear it."

Salem let out a laugh; she seemed to find the idea amusing. She began walking through the castle, with Constantine following her, using his staff.

"I believe in peace, Constantine. An eternal peace within everyone's reach. But for peace, war is necessary."

"So, there's no way to avoid it?" Constantine asked. “Are you really going to war against the world? And then what? Rule?”

“I was queen once, as this castle will have shown you.” Salem turned in one of the corridors. As she did, Constantine felt a slight tingle in his right hand.

It was a strange sensation, the same feeling as when his hand fell asleep, but that wasn’t possible. The wizard thought it was due to the magic in Salem’s castle.

                                                                                                                   Salem is

Constantine shook his head. “Excuse me, Salem, I’ve been a bit distracted by the decor. What did you say?”

“I was saying…” Salem repeated calmly. “That I was already queen, and it’s not like I’m dying to repeat the experience. I have other plans.”

“I suppose those plans involve dead people.”

“At first. But they’re a necessary sacrifice.”

“That’s funny,” Constantine said. “Hazel said the same thing.”

“Hazel is… an interesting servant.” She doesn't want to serve me, or have power. She wants the world I'm going to create for everyone.

"A noble ideal, in the service of a genocidal maniac. No offense."

"No offense." They crossed another corridor. "Tell me, Constantine, do you dream?"

"Well, not much. At least not often."

                                                                                                                  Salem is

“I do dream. And my dreams are… strange. I dream of gigantic places, inhabited by people with abilities beyond semblances. I dream of other worlds.”

                                                                                                                  Salem is

A sense of alarm grew in Constantine. Shee knew, of course she knew about other Earths. She had gained access to a window to the multiverse through magic.

“I created instruction books, hoping that someone, anyone, would have the ability to open a door. At first, I thought it was a waste of time, a mere distraction.” Salem extended her hand, lifting Constantine’s chin, inspecting him. “But then you came along.”

Constantine gripped the cane tightly, the sense of crisis growing. “Other worlds? That’s fantasy.”

Salem clicked her tongue, annoyed. “I ask you politely, Constantine. Don’t insult my intelligence. That’s something I won’t tolerate, not even from my guest. I send instructions to open a portal, and I notice one of my books, made from my own skin, being used and then incinerated." Salem looked him in the eyes, savoring the mage's nervousness. "And months later, I sense a presence, an... intruder in my magic. It was strange, disconcerting... and new."

                                                                                                                  Salem is

Constantine took a deep breath, facing that witch, that goddess of evil. The mage smiled, then began to clap. "Congratulations, you've got me. Now are you going to kill me?"

"Kill you?" Salem looked dismayed. "Of course not, my dear. I want your help."

                                                                                                                  Salem is

                                                                                                                  Salem is

"If you think I'm going to help you take over this world, you haven't been paying attention."

"No, Constantine. You haven't understood. The relics are just a plan B."

"What?"

"Something fell here, into this world. I left my domains to find it personally and bring it back. It's magnificent, breathtaking." Salem and Constantine reached a door, which the witch opened. "And it will fulfill my will."

                                                                                                                   Salem is

Constantine approached the center of the room, where there was a pedestal with something shiny on it. It wasn't until he got closer that he knew what it was.

"No... No!" The wizard fell backward, crawling away from the pedestal. Fear, panic, disgust, nausea. All those sensations invaded his body as he tried to flee from that entity.

Salem grabbed him with Grimm tentacles, pulling him closer to the object. "You know it! You know what this is!"

The closer Constantine got to it, the more his mind suffered. He tried to scratch the tentacle, forgetting about magic due to pure panic.

"Salem, stop, please!" the wizard shouted.

                                                                                                                  Salem is

"You don't understand! You're going to damn us all!" The magician began to cry, raging. “Please! Kill me! Salem, kill me, but don’t take me near that thing!”

“Please, Constantine. I insist you take a look” the witch said calmly.

The tentacle slowly brought the object’s face closer to his head. Constantine screamed and kicked; he knew perfectly well what that could do to a person.

It was a cruel and merciless entity, all the evil that existed in the world.

“Salem! No one can use it, not even the New Gods!”

                                                                                                                   Salem is

“Hmmm… New goddess? I tried it once, it didn’t work.”

“Please!” Constantine continued to cry inconsolably. “It’s the end of days! The death of free will! It’s the Anti-Life!”

                                                                                                                   Salem is

Constantine’s face was centimeters from the Anti-Life Equation, an incredibly dangerous cosmic object that had put the galaxy in check more than once. Constantine had already seen it, suffered its effects, and it was one of the most terrifying experiences he had ever lived through.

That was just one piece of the puzzle, but it was enough. Enough to destroy the mind of any mortal. Memories flooded his mind, memories of another life, before the reboot in the fifty-two Earths timeline. He remembered Darkseid, the personification of evil, death, and hatred, invading his mind. He remembered his body tearing itself apart, how he wanted to die to end that suffering.

                                                                                                                   Salem is

But Darkseid wasn't kind, he never was. Memories flooded his mind as he screamed, the wizard's body beginning to crumble, turning into fragments that separated from his form.

                                                                                                                   Salem is

"Please… I was so close, so close…"

Constantine's face also began to show signs of distress, black veins appearing as his skin peeled away like scales.

Salem smiled, somewhat saddened by the outcome. But she was war, she was death, she was the end of Ozma's world.

                                                                                                                   Salem is

                                                                                                                   Salem is

Chapter Text

SALEM IS

SALEM IS

Constantine felt nothing. Happiness, fear, excitement… Nothing. Only an overwhelming indifference. His body was dead, or at least in the process of dying. It fragmented into pieces in the presence of the Anti-Life Equation, which wasn't even complete. But that didn't matter, because only one thought occupied his mind.

SALEM IS

He was incapable of feeling anything, and that, at the same time, filled him with peace. But it wasn't right, it wasn't good. Constantine knew what was happening, but it was useless to do anything. What for? His body, his mind, belonged to a single person.

SALEM IS

In that state, Constantine began to understand. Salem was the key to the world. Everyone could feel like him. Life meant nothing, hope was nothing. Only she remained, eternal and powerful.

"Salem… is" Constantine murmured. The witch turned, looking at him intently.

"Can he still speak? Fascinating." The witch didn't fully grasp the potential of this cosmic existence, but she knew it had a similar effect to the Grimms.

While the Grimms could sense negative emotions, this anti-life, as Constantine had called it, radiated negativity. It seemed something was favoring it, but it certainly wasn't the gods.

"What am I, Constantine?"

SALEM IS

"Salem… is… death."

"That's not entirely wrong. Anything else?"

"Salem… is… order."

The witch was fascinated. It seemed the magician was going to die soon, but until then, his mind belonged to her.

SALEM IS

"Constantine. Look at me." Constantine's disintegrating face turned to look at her. His blue eyes were dull, devoid of the spark of life. The witch extended her hand. "Kiss it."

The mage flexed his muscles, bringing Salem's hand to his lips. The witch withdrew her hand, pleased. With such power, she could control all of Remnant. There would be no need for war to obtain the relics, and more importantly, with all that potential, she could finally rest.

SALEM IS

"Salem… not…

The witch frowned. She thought she'd heard something. "What am I? I want to hear it again."

"Salem… is… sadness."

"Salem… is… everything."

SALEM NOT IS

"Salem… is… dreams."

"𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔪𝔢."

An ancient voice, older than time itself, sounded in Constantine's ears. The magician felt something touching him, for the first time since the equation had entered him, he felt something. Compassion.

"𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰 𝔰𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔲𝔰. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔬𝔴 𝔲𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔢𝔵𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔭𝔢𝔞𝔠𝔢. 𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰 𝔟𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔧𝔬𝔶, 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔟𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔥𝔬𝔭𝔢. 𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰 𝔞𝔯𝔢… 𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔢."

Constantine's eyes began to glow. Salem noticed the white point that emerged from them. At first, he was frightened, thinking they were silver eyes. But this was different. That light was like a sun bursting forth, an unstoppable primal force. It was a brilliance older than life itself. Remnant, possibly older than the gods.

The mage screamed. A primal scream of pure pain as the light intensified. His body began to reassemble itself as Salem slowly retreated. A beam of that white light shot toward her, tearing a scream of pain from her as it pierced through her body.

The witch cursed, watching her stomach slowly regenerate in agony. Constantine continued to scream, the beam of light shattering the room as his body reassembled and purged the equation from his mind. The mage's body twisted sharply, the beam striking the equation.

"Loneliness + Alienation + Fear..." Constantine began to formulate the written part of the equation aloud, unable to control his own body. "Love = Lies..."

The equation grew, adding the part Constantine had just recited. The mage, under the influence of the Eternal, purged the equation from his mind in exchange for deciphering an equivalent of it. Constantine was unaware of this, as he fell to the ground, motionless.

The witch cautiously approached the wizard, turning him over. His eyes were closed, and he was breathing; he had fallen unconscious. Magic began to swirl in Salem's hand; it would be easy to finish him off right then.

She slowly lowered her hand, dispelling the spell. As tempting as it might be to eliminate an enemy like him, she had too many answers. Not only did he come from another world, but he seemed to know that object. From the way he had spoken, it seemed to be some kind of mathematical formula, but applied to concepts.

"Hazel, come here" Salem ordered.

At his signal, the giant entered through the door, accompanied by Tyrian behind him, who couldn't resist the curiosity after hearing the wizard's shouts. His face filled with panic and terror when he saw the part of Salem's clothing covering his abdomen completely charred. His stomach hadn't fully regenerated yet.

“My Goddess! How dare this filthy, two-bit illusionist lay a hand on you?!” The faunus glared murderously at the unconscious magician, but a tentacle from Grimm appeared out of nowhere, strangling him.

“I didn’t call you, Tyrian. Besides, there’s no permanent damage this man can do to me. Now go, you’re not needed here.”

The faunus struggled to breathe, a mixture of pain and pleasure that brought a grimace of disgust to Hazel’s face. “Y-yes, my Goddess! I live to serve you!” The faunus was freed and left the room with a servile air.

Hazel looked at Constantine on the floor. “Is he dead?”

“Unconscious. But I’m eager to continue our conversation. Take him to one of the spare rooms. Leave all his belongings with him, so he can see we’re not monsters. After all, he was the one who agreed to talk.”

In the city of Mistral, Lionheart sat at his desk, a bundle of nerves, as usual. Four days had passed since the detective named Constantine had come to see Salem. With luck, she would have dealt with him herself; he was a thorn in her side, always trying to investigate.

But his peace of mind was short-lived. Just as he'd gotten rid of the detective, a diverse group of students arrived at his office. Now, he wasn't just facing four Beacon students, but a seasoned hunter who looked anything but friendly.

"Come on, Leo, you know what's at stake. You have to give me a squad of hunters to secure the relic." Lionheart looked at the students, alarmed. "Don't worry about them, they're trustworthy."

"It's still dangerous if they know about… you know."

"Salem" Ruby said confidently. "We know about him too."

"Oh, by all the… Qrow, I understand it's a serious problem, but right now my hands are tied. I can't give you hunters. Besides, it wouldn't do any good without the handmaiden."

"I know, I know… Summer for Destruction, Winter for Creation, Autumn for Choice, and Spring for Knowledge. And you've lost Spring, Leo."

"We had her located, but she ran away. Who knows where she is now?"

"Ugh… I have an idea," Qrow replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So you're not going to help us?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

"But Mistral needs us," Ruby grumbled.

"Mistral doesn't want anything to do with you. Do you think the festival incident only had consequences in Vale? The people of Mistral saw that girl being torn to pieces, they heard that vile message too. My academy has lost students because they don't feel safe, and the citizens aren't much better. So no, Miss Rose. I'm not going to help you."

Ruby went to protest again, but Qrow stopped her. Without a word, he turned his back on Lionheart and left the room. Nora, Ren, Jaune, and Ruby followed, the latter accompanied by her blond friend, who placed a hand on her shoulder sympathetically.

Left alone, Lionheart slumped in the armchair. He pressed a button on his personal scroll wheel, a W appearing as a hologram.

"My lady. Branwen and those boys have arrived at Mistral. I just attended to them."

"Excellent, Lionheart" said Salen on the other end, delighted. "I'll give you further instructions when the time comes. Until then, keep an eye on them."

"Of course, as you command." Lionheart waited for her to hang up. As she did, he wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking about the consequences of making a pact with the devil.

Vale's group stayed in a house using Qrow's money. It was a huge, spacious home in a good area, ideal for so many people who wanted to enjoy certain comforts. After settling in, Ren immediately went to the kitchen, taking stock of what they had.

Ruby claimed the sofa, throwing herself onto it, while Jaune sat down in one of the armchairs. Nora occupied the other, lying down in a way that would be uncomfortable for any other human being.

Qrow, for his part, took a swig from his flask, checking a list of names on his scroll.

"Alright, you idiot, if you don't want to give me hunters, I'll go find them myself. I still have some influence around here. Alright, guys, listen up" Qrow announced. "I'm going out to find some old friends. Don't cause too much trouble."

"See you later, Uncle Qrow."

"Good luck." said Jaune and Ren in unison.

“Grrr…” Nora grumbled wearily.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, kiddos.” Qrow ruffled Ruby’s hair before leaving, causing the little huntress to pout.

With nothing much to do without Qrow, Ruby started reading comics with Jaune, while Nora stalked the kitchen like a predator, watching Ren as he finished taking inventory.

Finally, the man of few words placed the utensils he was holding on the table, clearly overwhelmed. The noise caught everyone’s attention.

“I can’t work with this” Ren said. “There’s not enough food, some of the pans are broken, and above all" the boy opened one of the drawers "there’s cutlery for four, not five. We have to go shopping.”

“Do we really have to go shopping for cutlery?” Jaune asked. “We’ll probably only be here a few days.”

“If you want to eat on the floor, go ahead,” his companion suggested. “But I’m not going to live like a savage.” Ren crossed his arms, clearly indignant about the lack of food and supplies.

Nora looked at her companions, shrugging. “You know how Rennie gets when things are done wrong.”

Ruby and Jaune exchanged a glance. The red jacket communicated with the blond boy using the telepathy of close friends. Just from her look, Jaune knew she meant, “It’s up to you, it’s your team.”

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to take a walk around the market.”

Ren nodded, taking the lead, followed by Nora. Ruby and Jaune glanced at their two friends, knowing that the ninja was a lost cause at this point.

Together, the group of four headed to the enormous, crowded market. The shouts of the merchants and customers trying to haggle forced Nora to cover her ears, hiding behind Ren. Jaune walked beside Ruby, watching his orange-haired friend. Even in their first week together, he'd noticed that despite being so loud, Nora disliked harsh noises. While watching his two teammates negotiate for the goods Ren wanted, Ruby browsed the stalls.

"Jaune, look at this." Ruby tugged on his sleeve, showing him a stall. There, several combat knives were on display. "Look at the handles, they're beautiful."

"Ruby… I think you have a problem with weapons."

"What? No. I like them normal" Ruby complained. It was perfectly normal for her to like weapons so much. "I wish I could buy some..."

"And where were you going to keep them? I've never seen you carry more weapons."

"Where everyone else is, silly." Ruby reached into one of her boots, rummaging with a look of concentration until her eyes lit up. She pulled out a knife twelve centimeters long and five centimeters wide.

"Oh god..." Jaune immediately went pale. "How did you fit that in?"

"You know, girl stuff," Ruby replied as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Then her attention shifted to a stall of precious gems. "Ooh! Sparkles!"

Leaving several roses behind, the young huntress began to look at the different rings. Obviously, it wasn't for aesthetic reasons, but she was looking for those that could do the most damage on impact. A gift for her uncle.

"Well, look what we have here." The shopkeeper smiled. “Perhaps you’d like to buy your girlfriend a necklace?”

Jaune blushed immediately. “O-oh no, she’s not my…”

Ruby, meanwhile, burst into uproarious laughter. “Jaune, my boyfriend?! Hahahaha!” The huntress was practically crying with laughter, clutching Jaune’s sleeve. “Did you hear that? That’s too much, I can’t.” Ruby continued laughing, struggling not to fall to the ground.

Jaune glanced uncomfortably at the shopkeeper, who didn’t know what to do besides clear his throat.

Meanwhile, Ren carefully examined the kitchen utensils. Nora stood beside him, acting as a bodyguard. In such a large market, it was common for pickpockets to try and steal your belongings. The ninja wasn’t naive; his friend knew that perfectly well. But at that moment, the most important person in his life was isolated from the world, checking which kitchen knife was best for cutting vegetables. Any attempt to steal from him was deterred by Nora's sharp gaze and the enormous hammer behind her. In fact, that weapon was attracting more attention than it should have.

"Ren, I think something's off."

"Yeah, I've noticed it too." The boy picked up a kitchen knife with a huge blade, driving it into the wood with ease. "This knife is too good. I'm taking this one, those spoons over there, some forks... and the big bowl. No, not the pink one, the yellow one," Ren instructed the shopkeeper.

Pleased with his new utensils, Ren went to a food stall, with Nora following him.

"That's not what I mean. These people are giving me weird looks. I don't like being given weird looks."

"I don't mean that. These people are giving me weird looks. I don't like being given weird looks."

"I don't like it." Ren glanced around, noticing how passersby were giving them looks before continuing on their way.

"You're right. We'll tell Qrow later. Now, food."

"Are you making fried rice?" Nora asked, her eyes sparkling.

Her companion smiled gently. "Yes, why not?"

"Yes! Boop!" Nora pinched Ren's nose, accompanying him to buy the food and carrying the utensils.

Meanwhile, Ruby was still in a fit of laughter, having to hold onto Jaune to keep from falling over.

"Phew... okay, I think I'm fine now." The little red wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her friend was completely red.

"How embarrassing..."

"Come on, Jaune, you have to admit that was funny. I mean, boyfriends? Nah."

"Well, you're right about that. The truth is, I can't even imagine it. At most, you'd be Aunt Ruby, if I ever have kids."

"I plan to teach them how to use scythes as soon as they can walk."

"Don't even think about it!"

Ruby burst out laughing again, and that's when she realized people were staring at them. Or rather, at their weapons.

"Jaune... why is everyone staring at us?"

"Huh?" Her friend glanced around cheekily, noticing how everyone looked away whenever they made eye contact. Jaune swallowed hard. "That's creepy."

" Finally, the four friends reunited, glancing at the people watching them as they passed.

"Guys, you see this too, right?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah, they keep staring at us. Do you have a problem?!" Nora confronted two men walking by, who ran away in terror. "I thought so..."

"It's really strange," Ren said. "They haven't taken their eyes off us since we got to the market."

"I don't get it. Did we do something wrong? Do we smell?" Ruby asked. Jaune sniffed his armpit, shaking his head. "Should we look for a hunter and ask them?"

"I think that's a good idea" Jaune said. "But I haven't seen any since we got here."

"Huh?" Ruby put her hand to her chin, thinking. "Oh, you're right. Let's ask. Excuse me, mister!"

Before they could stop her, Ruby accosted two men with a little girl. Shrugging, Nora followed, and right after, a nervous Jaune. Ren was last, looking at his bags. "I have to put this in the fridge..."

"Heyyyy." Ruby greeted the couple energetically, who responded with a smile.

"Hey, sweetheart. Is something wrong? Are you lost?" asked the blond man, taller than his companion.

"Nah, it's just that we're looking for hunters. Do you know where to find one?"

The two men looked at each other, worried expressions on their faces. The shorter one spoke. "Look, kiddo... it's been months since we've seen a hunter. We don't know where they could be."

"Months?!" Jaune and Nora shouted in unison.

"Yes. And it's definitely noticeable in the city's security. Although, if you're looking for a hunter... I think there's someone who can help you."

"Who?" Ruby was curious to know who this person was who could locate the hunters.

"He arrived a few months ago. He's been helping the city by fulfilling requests. You can trust him. He saved our little girl when some very bad men kidnapped her." The dark-haired man placed his hand on his daughter's head.

"Where can we find him?" asked Ren, eager to put away the food.

The blond man patted his pockets, checking something. "Oh, I don't have his card on me. But if you go to any cafe, you'll find posters in the alleyways."

"Isn't it hard for someone to see them if they're put up in the alleyways?" asked Ruby.

"Well, the owners of the cafes there don't ask him to take them down." The man felt his daughter tug at his robes. "Kids, you're lovely, but our princess is tired. Good luck."

“Yes, thank you so much for your help.” Jaune waved them off with a smile, while the rest considered their next move.

“Should we try our luck with that person?” Ruby asked.

“Well, better than doing nothing,” Nora concluded.

“Okay, but first let’s head back to the house. I need to pack this up.” Ren began to sound slightly annoyed.

Nora let out a long, loud groan, glancing at the two leaders. “Let’s go, or he won’t be quiet.”

Ruby and Jaune sighed simultaneously, letting their friend, laden with bags, pass through.

In a bar in Mistral, a weary hunter was drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Qrow Branwen had just suffered a devastating blow. He had spent hours searching for every hunter he knew in Mistral, only to discover they had been missing for a long time. When it came to hunters, that could only mean they had fallen in battle.

There were over a hundred hunters across Mistral, and not one had been heard from. Qrow was so distraught that all he could do was drink. The hunter was so drunk he swore he saw one of those hunters watching him from afar, but that was impossible. In one of those instincts, he chased after a man he could have sworn was Diam, an old acquaintance, but he soon lost sight of him.

"This job... it sucks," the hunter said. "We fight, fight, we fight. And then look what happens, hic. Dead in some shitty place." The bartender nodded, as he did with all drunks.

Qrow looked at the bar he was leaning against. There, under a napkin holder, was what appeared to be a business card. Qrow picked it up curiously, trying to see what it was. In his condition, he couldn't read it well, but he thought he recognized a familiar name.

"Uh… this is… but that can't be."

"Um… sir?"

Qrow turned around to see who had spoken to him. Standing before him was a boy about the age of his niece. His skin was tan and freckled, and his hair was dark brown. His eyes were green with a hint of acrid tones, reminiscent of autumn leaves.

"Hmmm?" Qrow could only manage a sound.

"Um… I'm supposed to tell you… I'd like my cane back?"

In the house the Beacon group was occupying, Ren was happily cooking while the others watched him impatiently.

“Seriously, can’t we go find that mysterious man who finds people while he’s cooking?” Ruby asked, still reading a comic book.

Nora approached her, shifting her weight onto the red jacket’s shoulders. “Listen carefully, Ruby, I’m the expert on Ren. If you want to live, never, ever, EVER leave the house while he’s cooking.” The girl in pink fixed her eyes on Ruby, deathly serious.

“Once, I wanted to go for a walk while Ren was making his special stew. I still have nightmares about it.” Jaune stared blankly, recalling a terrible memory.

“What did he do to you?”

“He spent a week and a half sighing around the room, saying that I hated his cooking so much I didn’t want to be near him. I ended up crying and begging for forgiveness.”

Ruby’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with terror at her usually calm chef. “Okay, I get it. Watching Ren cook. I can do that.”

As he finished his meal, someone knocked on the door. Jaune got up to answer it, seeing a short boy. Although, compared to him, most people his age were short.

"Um... hello?" the blond boy said, confused.

"Hello. Is Ruby Rose here?" the boy asked.

The four of them immediately went on alert.

"Why do you ask?" Nora wanted to know.

"Eeeh!" Qrow staggered into the house, landing on the sofa and collapsing. "I found him..."

"I think your uncle needs help."

"Ugh..." Ruby put a hand to the bridge of his nose. "Have you been drinking again, Uncle Qrow?"

"Maybe..."

The newcomer stared at Ruby, captivated. "You have silver eyes..."

The four students looked at each other, unsure what to do.

"Who are you?" Ruby asked.

The boy entered the house, shyly placing his hands behind his back.

"My name is Oscar Pine. But I think you know me as… Professor Ozpin."

The news hit the four of them like a bucket of cold water, as they tried to process what they had just heard.

"I found him!" Qrow shouted, falling off the sofa in the process.

“And that’s the story.” Sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea, Oscar told the team about his reincarnation. Although, of course, the voice coming from the young farmer’s body wasn’t his, but Ozpin’s.

“Wow… That’s really weird,” Nora said, laughing.

“Are you there all the time?” Jaune asked.

“Does Oscar hear us when we talk to you?” Ruby finished.

Oscar’s eyes flashed for a moment, to which he reacted with a grimace of disgust, staring at his tea. “Yeah, I hear you when you talk to Ozpin, and vice versa. It’s pretty weird…”

“What do you feel?” Ren asked.

“Come on, guys, don’t overwhelm the poor kid.” Qrow, now sober, appeared before Oscar could speak. “He’s new to this.”

The four of them moved aside, giving Oscar some space. Qrow stood beside the boy, looking him in the eye. Or rather, through it. “Does he say he has any ideas about the relic?”

Oscar remained silent for a moment, nodding to himself. “He says the first thing is to talk to Lionheart, to see if he can locate the maiden. The second is to assemble a team of trustworthy people.”

“We’ve already spoken to Lionheart, he says he can’t help us with the maiden,” Ruby replied.

“And about the hunters… Look, Oz, I’ve tried. There’s no one left, everyone’s disappeared.”

“Oh… that’s not good,” Oscar said. “And he said the same thing.”

An idea flashed into Ruby’s mind, obvious to everyone present, who saw her face light up. “Today we met two gentlemen who told us about someone. You can ask him to find anyone, and he’ll do it.”

“I don’t recall anyone like that in Mistral, little one.” “And I know some pretty shady people,” Qrow told him.

“What if he’s new? That would explain why you don’t know him,” Jaune suggested.

“Ugh… I don’t like relying on new players,” Qrow replied. “But we should still give it a shot.” ​​“Do you know where he is?”

“Nope. We were going to check his agency’s sign, but someone was in a real hurry to finish their purchase.” Nora raised an eyebrow at Ren, who turned his back on her, clearly indignant.

Qrow scratched his head. An agency… “Wait, I think I saw something. Before I met up with Oscar, I picked up a card at the bar. It said something about an agency.”

“Thank goodness I didn’t show up earlier,” Oscar said, relieved. “Then we wouldn’t have that lead.”

Everyone watched Qrow expectantly as he rummaged through his pockets. Finally, she found the bar's card; it still smelled of alcohol. When she read it, her jaw dropped to the floor in surprise. "Damn..."

"What? What's going on?" Ruby asked. Her uncle handed her the card, and now it was her turn to have her eyes wide open. "Whaaaat?!"

Nora took the card from her. "Come on, it can't be that bad—Wagh!"

Ren took the card, his eyes widening and making a little noise of surprise. Then he passed it to Jaune.

"Why are you all reacting like this?" he read it carefully, his mouth slowly opening. "How did he get here before us?!"

Oscar timidly raised his hand to take the card. He didn't understand anything, but he could hear Ozpin expressing surprise in his mind. "I don't get it. Who is this John Constantine?"

Before he could complain, Ozpin took control of his body, claiming it was an emergency.

“That, young Pines, is a question to which we don’t have a clear answer. But it won’t be that way for long.” Ozpin extended his staff, using Oscar’s body. “Students, Qrow… We must leave for his office immediately. It’s no coincidence that Mr. Constantine is here as well, and since he knows about the Handmaidens, we must find out who or what he is. Once and for all.”

Like many, perhaps too many, other times in his life, Constantine woke up in someone else’s bed. He was wearing his clothes, and he was ravenous and thirsty. He looked to his side, seeing a pitcher of cold water with bread and jam beside it. Without giving it much thought, he drank the entire pitcher and devoured the toast. That meal would have to do for the time being. He looked at his wrist; the watch was still there, which meant they hadn’t seen through the spell.

Having the relic still on him reassured him, but he calmed down even more when he saw that he had all his belongings with him, including his staff. He grabbed it hurriedly and got out of bed, ready to escape. Salem had one piece of the puzzle, which was very bad. The good news was that she herself didn't know how it worked, so she wouldn't be able to find the rest of the puzzle anytime soon.

But even so, Salem had just moved several notches up the danger scale, and that only made his objective clearer. If he wanted to stand a chance, he had to gather the relics himself first.

Just as he headed for the door, it opened, revealing a smiling Salem. "Constantine, my dear. I'm glad to see you're still alive."

The mage straightened up, using his staff for support and deliberately adopting the same posture as Ozpin.

"Yes, my dear. I'm still alive despite the efforts of a certain charming witch."

"Can you blame me? I never thought I'd meet someone from another Remnant." The witch entered the room, running her hand over the furniture. “This used to be my room, but I haven’t slept in a long time. After the first decade, it wasn’t necessary anymore.”

“I bet I can guess. You fell into that well and got your powers” Constantine said. “Obviously, it happened many years ago, judging by how you talk. That, and you’re the only person capable of magic. Besides the late Ozpin, that presumptuous bastard…”

Salem let out a laugh. “You were close, but don’t think I’m going to reveal all my secrets so soon.” The witch stepped out onto the balcony, leaning on the railing. “You didn’t seem very impressed when you saw my domain.”

Constantine stood beside her, cane in hand. “I’ve seen worse. Much worse.”

“What makes me think you’re not lying?”

“Salem, look me in the eye. I've seen things you wouldn't believe. I've witnessed horrors that would drive the strongest person mad. I've done things… things that would make your inner circle look at me with disgust and revulsion."

"Oh, dear. You want me to believe there's a monster out there worse than me?"

"You're magnetic, engaging. You're evil, yes, at least from a conventional point of view. But what's out there…" Constantine slumped against the railing. "I've seen entire worlds burn. I've seen the concept of willpower shatter. And I've seen the damage that thing you have in your chamber can do."

"Anti-Life… an ominous name." Salem replied, amused. "I felt your will bend before me."

Constantine swallowed. "That equation… you can't go down that road. It's too much, even for you."

"And who's going to stop me? That silver huntress who can barely tie her own shoes?" Salem placed a finger on his chest. “You?”

“Me. Like I’ve done so many times before against far worse people.”

Salem let out a genuine laugh. “Oh, Constantine. You still have a lot to teach me about those other worlds, and about that… equation. Do you really think I’m going to let you go?”

“No.” In a swift movement, Constantine pulled something from his trench coat. Before Salem could react, he shackled her hand to the stone railing. “That’s why I’m going to escape.”

“Please, Constantine. You should know this doesn’t work on me.” Salem pointed his finger at the handcuffs, unleashing a blast of magic. The chains remained unbroken, eliciting a grimace of surprise from Salem. “What?!”

Constantine grinned, gripping the staff tightly. “Metal Nth, darling, a gift from some friends after I faced some demons for them. See you later, Salem.”

The wizard struck her hard in the face with the golden part of his staff, knocking her off the balcony and leaving her dangling by her wrist.

The witch screamed in pain as her arm stretched out due to gravity and her chains.

“Constantine! You’ll pay for this!” she shouted angrily, but the wizard had already fled the room. Salem’s voice echoed throughout the castle. “Capture Constantine! He mustn’t leave the castle!”

Constantine sped through the corridors of Salem’s fortress, running with the speed his staff allowed. His situation was anything but ideal, that was for sure, but he still had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Then he heard a deranged laugh, growing ever closer.

“Magic man… Come have some fun with me.” Tyrian appeared around a corner, his eyes instantly locking onto him. "There you are!"

"Um... could you tell me where the bathroom is?" the wizard asked nervously, clutching his staff.

Tyrian stared at him, confused. Then he started to laugh. "You're funny! I like you! The bathroom is two corridors down, courtesy of our brainiac. Oh, but it's a real tragedy that you can't empty your bladder right now."

“You certainly treat your guests well…” Constantine remarked, rubbing the diamond on his staff.

The faunus approached him with long strides, his hands behind his back. “First and foremost, we are polite. But my goddess wants you right now, and that’s that. Besides, I want to see where the man is who left our dear Cinder so badly wounded.” Tyrian stopped in front of him, bringing his robotic tail close to Constantine’s face. “Come on, show me your str-”

"Fulgor"

A beam of white light shot from the staff’s gemstone, striking Tyrian squarely. The faunus was sent flying, crashing through a stone wall before coming to a stop. When he landed, he was unconscious on the ground, breathing shallowly. The mage approached him, lighting a cigar and walking with ease.

“Damn, I thought that would be enough to kill you. Well, I guess I’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way.” The mage raised his staff, now with the cracked diamond, poised to shatter Tyrian's skull. At that instant, bare hands burst through the wall beside him, grabbing his trench coat. "Oh, Bollocks… Aaagh!"

Constantine crashed through the wall, tumbling across the floor until he slammed into another. His brown aura flickered, evidence of the impact. "Thank goodness you have this crap… How are you, Hazel?" The mage looked up, seeing the giant before him, dusting himself off the brick fragments. His veins gleamed with various colors, the result of the crystallized Dust embedded in his arms. "That doesn't look healthy."

"You should have accepted his request." Hazel stood before him. "Don't make me hurt you."

Constantine stood up; the staff didn't have enough magic left to knock Hazel down, though it had served its purpose by incapacitating one of them. At first, he thought no one would believe his act of being a cripple, but once again, his method acting skills had impressed even himself. "It's always a pleasure talking to you, but I'd better go."

Constantine started to flee down the corridor; the bathroom Tyrian had mentioned must be nearby. He couldn't run far before something with the force of a rhinoceros tackled him from behind, shattering his aura and knocking the wind out of him.

"Agh… son of a… bitch."

Hazel grabbed him by the neck, lifting him into the air. "Is over."

Constantine kicked and thrashed, hitting his arm to no avail. He reached into his trench coat pocket, finding his lighter. "Tell me, Hazel, do you want a light?" Constantine opened the lighter, unleashing a huge flame at the giant's face. His aura protected him from the damage, but to make matters worse, he didn't even react to the heat. "Damn… what the hell are you made of?"

"My semblance, Constantine. I know you know it."

"I didn't think it was... ugh... so literal." The magician was starting to run out of breath. If he couldn't physically harm him, he'd have to do it another way. Constantine began manipulating the fingers of one hand with the other, earning a strange look from Hazel.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to remember how it was done... Aha!" After making several symbols with his hands, Constantine punched the air in front of Hazel.

"Aaagh!" The giant immediately released him, dropping to one knee and clutching his heart. "How did you...?"

"I struck your soul directly, a little trick courtesy of Deadman." Without further explanation, Constantine continued running as if his life depended on it, because it did.

After advancing a short distance, he reached another hallway, only to find Watts standing in front of him, past the bathroom door, wielding a twenty-shot revolver. "End of the road, Constantine."

The man began firing, and Constantine did the craziest thing he could. He ran toward him, narrowly dodging the shots. Using the wall for support, he leaped toward the bathroom, opening a closet door and wedging it shut with his cane. After getting to his feet, Constantine stared at his hands in surprise.

"Damn... This aura is insane, I almost looked like the bloody bat."

Constantine heard Watts pounding on the door, so without wasting a second, he opened the toilet lid.

"Constantine!" Tyrian shouted, completely frantic.

"Leave it to me!" Hazel, from the other side, ripped the door off its hinges, shattering the cane in the process. As they did so, they saw Constantine standing inside the toilet bowl.

"Goodbye, arseholes!" the magician replied, laughing. Constantine flushed, being impossibly swallowed by the toilet and disappearing into the pipes.

The three men were completely speechless, not knowing what to do or say. Salem arrived beside them, looking at the bathroom in surprise.

"Well played, Constantine. Well played."

"I'm sorry, my goddess! We've failed you!" Tyrian knelt, on the verge of tears.

“Oh, my dear…” Salem gently lifted Hazel’s chin. “Don’t feel bad, he played his cards better than we did. We can grant him this small victory. You rest now, regain your strength.”

“And what about us?” Hazel asked.

“You’ll return to Mistral, to assist Cinder in whatever she needs. And you, Arthur… Help me get rid of this.”

Salem raised his arm, showing the shackles still attached to the shattered railing.

In an apartment in Mistral, the lights had been off for days. Someone knocked rapidly on the door, eager to be let in.

“Move aside, let me” said a hoarse voice. In a short time, the door opened, revealing Qrow holding some metal rods. “I haven’t lost my touch. Come on, kids, let’s find this guy.”

“Uncle Qrow, we shouldn’t just barge into his office like that.” Ruby entered, followed by her friends, clearly annoyed. “That’s wrong.”

“Kid, sometimes in life, you have to force a door or two.”

“But I don’t understand, is this man a friend of yours?” Oscar asked, looking at Constantine’s desk piled high with papers.

“Not exactly” Ren replied. “He came to Beacon as an assistant during the festival. We always thought he was a bit mysterious.”

“And he was the last one to see Pyrrha.” Jaune clenched his fist, thinking of his friend, whose feelings he realized too late.

“And he did some crazy things during the battle. He created a paper dragon!” Nora shouted in Oscar’s face.

“What a weird Semblance…”

“It wasn’t a Semblance, young Pines.” Ozpin spoke in his mind. “What that man did was magic, I’m sure of it.”

"Magic... Can you do that?"

"Ugh, it gives me the creeps when he does that" Nora said, arching her back.

"Two souls in one body, I don't think I'll ever get used to it" Jaune remarked.

"If you're done whispering, check the drawers. He must have something in here" Qrow suggested. "Aha! I found the expensive whiskey!"

Qrow was about to open it, but was met with an angry pout from his niece. He muttered and put the drink down on the table.

"Hey, does anyone know where the bathroom is?" Jaune asked.

"I saw it around here" Ruby pointed. "Didn't you go before we left?"

"It's just nerves, okay?" Jaune tried to explain, heading to the bathroom with as much dignity as possible.

Oscar, snooping around, went to the closet. Upon opening it, their eyes widened in surprise, and they could sense Ozpin experiencing the same reaction.

"Eeeh... Guys? You have to see this."

"What is it?" Ruby asked. The huntress and the others stood beside Oscar, staring in shock at the contents of the closet.

There were photos of them, of those they assumed were Salem's allies because of their proximity to Cinder. There were notes with phrases in unknown languages ​​and drawings of what appeared to be the Hallows, with threads pointing to the various academies.

"Fuck..." Qrow muttered.

"This... this is me. This is us." Said Ruby.

"This, Miss Rose. It's everything." Ozpin took Oscar's body, running his hand over the various papers.

He didn't know how, but Constantine knew everything. The maidens, the relics, even their hiding places. From his notes, he'd figured out that the maidens were the key to the vaults, and he was trying to put his thoughts down on that wardrobe.

In the few months they'd been out of contact, that man had unraveled the secret he'd spent so much time hiding.

"Oz… Did you tell him about this?" Qrow asked.

"No, I only confirmed the maidens' existence, and only because he cornered me. This is all thanks to Mr. Constantine's intellect."

"Incredible… Look! That thread right next to ours!" Ruby pointed to the thread that connected them to Tyrian. "He knew he was going to attack us."

"How is that possible?" Nora asked.

"It's quite possible that Mr. Constantine found out Tyrian was in Mistral and simply deduced what his mission would be. Students, it's vitally important that we meet with Mr. Constantine, and as quickly as possible."

"AAAAAAAAH!"

The group heard a sharp scream coming from the bathroom.

"Jaune!" his three friends shouted in concern. The group saw Jaune emerge, his pants still unbuttoned, falling to the floor and pointing toward the bathroom.

"There! In the toilet!"

The group looked in that direction, witnessing a strange scene. A hand holding an antique watch emerged from the toilet bowl, accompanied by a muffled scream. After that hand, another one appeared, gripping the bowl and pushing.

Emerging grotesquely, his head sticking out of the bowl, was a blond man who screamed in agony. The man kept pushing, emerging from the toilet as his body returned to its normal shape. Once half his body was out, he dropped to the floor, crawling to free his legs.

Once finished, he dropped to his knees, yelling and punching the floor. "Who the hell peed?! The office is closed for a reason, you ploncker home invader!"

Constantine stood up, his clothes wet and his hair dripping with disgusting substances. The group stared in horror; Ruby was fighting back the urge to vomit. Jaune couldn't hold it in.

When he saw who they were, Constantine let out a weary snort. He went to the refrigerator, took out a beer, and opened it on the table.

He took a long swig, looking at the group of hunters.

"So. How can I help you?"

Chapter Text

Constantine emerged from the bathroom, wearing sweatpants and a white tank top. He didn't know why, but that was the only clothing he had in his drawer. He'd never liked tank tops, not even during his anarchist phase.

Constantine lit a cigarette, sitting down in his armchair with his arms resting on the table. After exhaling, he saw the group of six staring intently at him. "Thanks for giving me time to shower. Now, let's get down to business. Any questions?"

"Where did you come from?"

"Who are you really?"

"Can you appear in any toilet in the world?"

Ruby, Jaune, and Nora swarmed him, demanding answers.

"Spoilers, spoilers, and no, Nora, I can't move between toilets."

"Where were you?" Qrow asked. "We left you in Vale with Oobleck. How did you manage to get ahead of us?"

“I convinced Glynda to use school funds to rent a car. I left about a month after you guys.”

“But why did you come in through the toilet?” Oscar asked.

Constantine looked at the boy, smiling. A new addition to the group, he seemed lost and young. But he was carrying old Oz’s cane. Constantine’s eyes lit up briefly as he used his Semblance. Just as he suspected, magic.

“That’s a pretty good story. I had to come out because I escaped a most awkward dinner.”

“Ooh… with whom?” Ruby asked, gossiping.

“Salem.”

The answer froze everyone present, who reacted with fear. Qrow reached for his weapon, ready to act.

“Relax, darling. It was just a dinner to get to know each other. I sized her up, she sized me up… it’s normal in these situations.” Constantine looked at Oscar with an irritating smile. "Jealous, Ozpin?"

That question only made those present more surprised. Ozpin took control, giving the magician a serious look.

"Careful, Mr. Constantine, I think you're starting to play with fire."

"Look at you, in that body, talking like a grown man. It's creepy."

"How did you know?"

"You're carrying the same staff, genius." Constantine tapped his head with his fingers. "Either it was you or it's your apprentice. Can I speak with the boy? I'm very curious to know what he thinks about having you in there."

Constantine could see the light in the boy's eyes change.

"My name is Oscar Pines," he said, trying to sound confident. "Ozpin says he doesn't trust you."

"He's right, kid. Oscar, you said?" Constantine let out a sigh, laughing. “Magic can be a real pain sometimes. Alright, guys, now that you’re here, let’s get up to speed.”

“The relics, how do you know about them?” Qrow asked.

“My own research. I found them while looking for information on the Handmaidens. Who, by the way, I’m ninety percent sure are your fault,” he said, pointing at Oscar. “But let’s leave that for later. The important thing is, we’re on the same side of the fight.”

“So you’re going to help us collect the relics?” Ruby asked excitedly.

“Yes, Ruby, that’s the idea. But the relics aren’t what you should be worried about.” Constantine lit a cigarette, adopting a serious expression.

The group exchanged worried glances. Qrow spoke up. “Ruby, I don’t think there’s anything more dangerous than the relics in Salem’s hands.”

“And that, my dear, is where you’re wrong.” Constantine took a twelve-sided crystal from his desk, illuminating it with his lighter. The crystal depicted a planet. “Let’s assume this is Remnant, okay? As you can see, it’s calm, no major disaster. But imagine this: a wave of darkness that consumes everything.” The image showed the planet being consumed, and everyone present felt a sense of sadness and apathy.

“What is that?” Jaune asked, filled with fear.

Constantine took a drag. “That’s a small representation of what will happen if we don’t stop Salem. The relics are his plan B; his true intention lies in another artifact: the Anti-Life Equation.”

"The what?" Ruby asked.

"I'm not good with numbers." Nora raised her hand as if she were in class.

Everyone, including Qrow, looked at Oscar.

"What? Ozpin doesn't know anything either. And I know even less."

"Are maths going to kill us?" Ruby asked, worried.

"That's not what… Ugh." Constantine took an anxious drag; that's why he didn't work with kids. "The Anti-Life Equation is a cosmic object of enormous power. Once it's completed, Salem will be able to use it to have all of Remnant—and I mean every living being—under his control. The Anti-Life Equation deprives you of your sense of existence and your will."

"That… that's impossible" Qrow said. "Something like that can't exist."

“And yet you have a man trapped in a child’s body by your side. I can cast spells worth twenty semblances.” Constantine made a gesture with his hands, similar to the one he made with Raven during their first encounter. Qrow growled, suddenly transforming into a small crow, much to everyone’s surprise. “And you can do that. A shoddy shapeshifting spell, by the way. Couldn’t you have come up with something better, Oz?”

The group stared at Qrow in panic. Ruby looked furious. “What have you done to my uncle?!”

“Forced his transformation.” Constantine snapped his fingers, returning Qrow to normal.

Qrow stared at his hands, stunned. “You’re something else…”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s save the compliments for later. I just want you to see that I mean business, that I’m dangerous. But my fight is against Salem.” Constantine faced Oscar again, though his gaze seemed to pierce his mind and settle on Ozpin. “I don’t like you, Oz. I told you the festival wasn’t safe, I told you you had to postpone it. But of course, why listen to the guy who walked through the door knowing the name of humanity’s greatest enemy? Pyrrha Nikos, Penny Polendina, and many other names you probably don’t even know. Those deaths are on your conscience.”

Oscar remained silent, staring at the floor. He could feel Ozpin’s anger and sorrow, and worst of all, the feeling that Ozpin knew the wizard was right.

“What are you planning now?” Qrow asked. “Take control? Make us follow you?”

“Not at all. I work better alone. What we’re going to do is this: You’re going to retrieve that relic, and when you do, I’ll help you move it to a safe place.”

“Atlas” Ruby replied. “They have all those incredible hunters and powerful weapons; they can defend it.”

Constantine smiled. He hadn't planned on leaving the relics with Ironwood, but he did need to go to Atlas. If his theory about the relics and the shields of each nation was correct, the relic of creation was there. With that, he could win.

“Yes, Atlas is a good option.”

“And what will you do while we retrieve the relic?” Jaune asked, crossing his arms to appear intimidating.

“Wander around, ask the right people, and above all, find a way to stop Salem from completing the equation. It's not easy to complete, and she has no experience with the cosmic aspect of the universe. Unfortunately, neither do I, but I can work with that.”

A notification popped up on his phone. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest when he saw who it was. “Something's come up. I know I'm a bastard, and I like it that way.” You're all heroes trying to save people, I'm the guy who kills the monster under the bed. I'll see you later. – Constantine walked to the door, indicating the way out.

The group left reluctantly, with Ruby bringing up the rear.

“Mr. Constantine” Ruby said, standing in the doorway. “You may say all those things and misbehave, but I remember what you were like in Beacon. My sister told me what you did. I think you're a hero, even if you don't want to be.”

Constantine froze at that response. Those damned child heroes, always expecting the best from him… He looked into Ruby's silver eyes, seeing the kindness within.

He smiled. “Be careful, little red. The world holds the worst challenges for someone as kind as you. Don't lose that smile.” The magician closed the door, taking a deep breath.

Constantine lit a cigarette, smoking to calm himself. It hadn't even been an hour since she'd escaped Salem Castle, and the problems kept piling up. After several more drags and making sure the group of hunters was gone, she unfolded her phone.

"Raven, you almost screwed up big time. I was with your brother."

"I know! I know, you pathetic little magician!"

Constantine was probably the fourth-best detective on his Earth. Surpassed only by Chimp, Batman, and Elongated Man. But even the worst detective could have figured out that Raven was tense and in a really bad mood.

"Is something wrong, honey? Do you miss me that much?"

"Fuck you! I'm going to kick you in the balls so many times you'll never be able to have kids!"

"Okay, brute, I get it. What's so urgent that you're texting me while I'm with your brother?"

"My daughter. My weak little daughter is here."

Constantine dropped his cigarette in shock. "Holy shit... Tell me she hasn't seen Weiss."

"She's seen that fucking Schnee. And not only that, now they want to negotiate."

"Okay, okay. It's fine."

"Nothing? I offered her a position in the tribe and the ungrateful wretch turned it down. How dare she even...?!"

"Lower your voice, damn it. The last thing we need is for them to know we're working together." Constantine put his hand to his nose, thinking. "Okay, give me a second."

“I don’t even know why I’m calling you.”

“Because you know I’m smarter than any idiot you have in the tribe.” Constantine pulled some bird bones from his desk, tossing them onto the table. The bones began to swirl, forming a pile. “Shit!”

“What the hell is going on now?”

“I don’t know. I just used a clairvoyance spell, but they’ve never been my strong suit. Something’s going to happen soon, maybe in less than a week.”

“So what do I do about Yang?”

“I don’t care if you insult her or make up, but let me be clear. If there’s a fight, I’m going to need all the muscle I can muster.”

“You have hunters stronger than my daughter and Schnee. Unless, of course, you want her for something else. Besides, I don’t see you launching a frontal assault. Oh…” Constantine trailed off, hearing Raven laugh. “The kids and my brother are your bait, aren’t they? Letting whoever goes there get too comfortable. You're treacherous, Blondie.

"I'm hanging up, Raven. You know what's at stake." Constantine hung up, staring wearily at the ceiling. Did he regret using those kids and Qrow as bait? Of course.

But the situation had escalated to an unprecedented level. Salem was now a threat not only to Remnant, but to every other Earth. He wasn't going to allow himself to make any mistakes.

The mage moved his desk, grunting with effort. After pushing it aside, he lifted the rug underneath. Before going to meet Salem, he had stored all the relevant information for the surviving hunters in a safe place, just in case. He didn't care if Lionheart found the closet; he counted on him knowing by now that he was after Salem. But Diam and the others were his trump card; he couldn't afford an information leak.

Everything he needed was there. His two dozen surviving hunters, the position of the White Fang they had witnessed entering the area, and even more importantly, the support of a group of fauns who opposed the White Fang. Diam had made initial contact with them, securing an alliance. Of course, their leader was no short-sighted man. Ghira Belladonna had been the mastermind behind the original White Fang, and now he had returned to end the escalating violence. A man like that had been able to see through Diam and had predicted that someone else was calling the shots.

He glanced at his watch; it was a good time to make contact. He dialed a number on his phone; it was one of the hunters who had stayed with Ghira's group to reorganize.

"Put him on the scroll." Constantine only needed to give one order. It wasn't as if they saw him as a supreme general or that they were expert soldiers. Those hunters had an enormous thirst for revenge, and they were willing to behave like mercenaries if it meant getting it.

"Greetings. I'm Ghira Belladonna," a powerful voice spoke from the other side of the scroll. "I assume you're the leader of these hunters."

"Leader is a bit of a stretch, my friend. Let's just say I'm the one who studies the board. We weren't expecting you, Ghira."

"We've let Taurus drag the name of the move out of the bag for too long. Never again."

"That's what I wanted to hear. Very well, Ghira, here's what's going to happen. In a week or less, Adam is going to attack Haven Academy. You and several of my hunters will ambush them before they can get inside the academy. That last detail is very important, Ghira, I want you to remember it. They must not get inside the academy."

"May I ask why?"

"Something very bad is going to happen in there, and the last thing I want is more enemies on the inside. I trust that you can handle it."

“Of course. But I want to know something. I was going to finish this with or without your help, but if we're going to work together, I need to know who you are.”

Constantine smiled, looking out the window. “Is your daughter Blake with you?”

Ghira hesitated before answering. “Yes.”

“Put on speakerphone, Ghira. I want her to hear me.”

Constantine waited for a response; he could picture Ghira thinking about what to do. Finally, a voice came through.

“I’m here.” Constantine smiled at the sound of the faun’s voice. She had made a good impression on him when he was at Beacon, and this girl was important to the sisters.

“Hello, Blake. I don’t know if you remember me, but I had to tell you something. That book you recommended? The Man with Two Souls? You were right, it’s much better than the classic fairy tales.”

Blake took a moment to react, trying to place the voice. He heard her catch her breath. “Mr. Constantine?”

“See you, Blake.” Constantine hung up, saving all the information again.

Everything was settled; only the hardest part remained: waiting.

With his clothes now clean after the toilet incident, Constantine changed into his usual attire. If he knew Raven well—and unfortunately for him, he believed he did—she would have already sent his daughter and Schnee through a portal.

Team RWBY was on its way to reunite, the clairvoyance spell foreshadowing an event… The assault on Haven was imminent; the entire damn universe pointed to it.

“These kids… They don’t know the role they play in all this. I hope they survive the experience.”

Closing the door behind him, he headed to the house where they were staying. Then it hit him.

“Shit… I don’t know where they’re staying.”

After breaking into five different houses, Constantine checked out the last one in the wealthy neighborhood. Even though Qrow dressed just as shabby as he did, he was still a prestigious hunter, so his pockets must be full. And with so many kids under one roof, the most sensible thing to do was take a large house.

After knocking on the door, a white-haired girl in a gray dress answered.

"Well, look who's here, royalty has arrived and I didn't even know."

"Mr. Constantine!" To the wizard's surprise, Weiss gave him a hug. "It's so nice to see another familiar face."

Constantine didn't know how to react. He patted Weiss on the back with an awkward smile.

"Come on, Princess, I reek of tobacco."

"Ugh, you're right." Weiss stepped back, sniffing herself in horror.

Constantine entered the house, observing the children. Sitting on the sofa, grinning from ear to ear, was Yang.

"I like your new arm, blondie. Did you paint it yourself?"

"Of course. I didn't like that gray color. But this?" Yang opened and closed her metal hand. "This screams Yang."

The girl stood up, bumping fists with the wizard. "I heard about my uncle and the birds. Can you do it again?"

"I can, but I'd like to keep your uncle happy." Constantine winked at Qrow, smiling.

"Blergh! Don't flirt with my uncle in front of me."

"Don't be a crybaby. Now let us alone, we adults need to talk." Constantine pushed Yang away, shoving her face as the blonde complained.

"John" Qrow replied, still angry about the forced transformation. Constantine approached, smiling, and massaged his shoulders.

"Come on, Qrow, it was just a little joke. I promise I won't do it again."

Qrow swatted the wizard away. "I didn't know you were also seeing my other niece."

"But she's a lovely young lady. She takes after her father. Where's that little parasite?"

"Huh?" Nora poked her head out from the kitchen, a pancake in her mouth.

“Not you, honey, you’re doing great. There you are!” Constantine pointed at Oscar. “Come on, Oscar, you and the old man who lives in your soul are part of the conversation. You said earlier that—wait a minute.” Constantine lit a cigarette, earning a groan from Ren, who was in the kitchen. “Now. You said the idea is to collect the relics.”

“Correct,” Ozpin replied in Oscar’s body. “Then you would help us move it.”

“Yes, but then I thought of something. We don’t have the Maiden. How long are we going to be here waiting?”

“As long as it takes,” Qrow replied. “Salem will come for the relic sooner or later. Worst case scenario, at least we’ll see her coming. In the meantime, we can get them in shape. Including him.” Qrow pointed at Oscar.

The wizard noticed the boy regaining control of his own body. "Me?"

"Of course, if you're going to be with us, you're going to have to learn how to fight."

"Besides, I'm sure old Oz will teach you a few tricks." Constantine took another drag. The kids were laughing and joking amongst themselves, clearly enjoying each other's company. "Hey Qrow, can we talk outside? Just the two of us."

"Uhhh…" All the teenagers made the same sound, even Weiss.

"You're a bunch of little devils, aren't you? Come on, go do whatever it is teenagers do."

"We'll be right back, guys, don't get out of hand." Qrow and Constantine left the house, walking to a coffee shop the wizard knew.

There, Constantine immediately sat down at a table with a free chess set. "It's been ages since I played a game."

"I used to play with Tai back in Beacon." Qrow raised the black queen, a hint of fury in his voice. “It really pisses me off that Salem likes it too.”

“We’re not going to let an evil queen ruin our game.” Constantine opened, sizing up Qrow’s moves.

“What’s this all about, John? I don’t think you just want to play chess.” Qrow moved a bishop, capturing a white pawn.

“No, although it’s a fantastic addition. There are things that have me worried.” Constantine moved his knight, setting a trap.

“It’s Lionheart, isn’t it? You had him flagged as a possible traitor in that closet of yours.”

“Do you think I’m wrong?”

“Ugh… no, unfortunately, I don’t think so. I’ve suspected he was acting strangely too, and to top it all off, Ozpin isn’t entirely convinced either.” Qrow captured one of Constantine’s bishops with a pawn.

“Look, at least we agree on something.” Constantine castled, trapping his king to bring out his rook. “But that’s not what worries me. It’s the boys.”

“They’re handling it surprisingly well.” Qrow removed another of Constantine’s pawns.

“And you were supposed to be a teacher? None of them in that house are right. I’d say the blondes are the worst.” Constantine set his trap in motion, taking out one of the knights with his rook. “Check.”

Qrow grunted; he’d realized he’d fallen into the trap. He wasn’t about to sacrifice his queen to take out that rook, so he moved his king.

“Yang and Jaune?"

“Yes. Your niece wants to pretend she’s okay, but she hasn’t gotten over the trauma of her arm. That’s understandable. Jaune, on the other hand, is another matter. I can see the anger in his eyes, that bloodlust. He’s here for revenge, and if he doesn’t get over it, it’ll end up consuming him.” Constantine moved his queen, finalizing his move.

“Can you blame him?” Apparently, he and Pyrrha were close. Very close. I can understand him. – Qrow captured another pawn.

"Just because we understand doesn't mean it's right. She's just asking you to keep an eye on them; they're going to need support." At that moment, a message arrived on his phone. It was from his favorite bandit.

Relic

Autumn

Two days

Constantine's face lit up. The day he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

"Is this good news?" Qrow asked.

"Very good. I just received payment for a job that took me a long time."

"Well, at least things are going well for you."

Constantine looked at the board. Every piece was exactly where he needed it; he just needed to deliver the final blow.

"Checkmate."

Chapter Text

Night reigned in the city of Mistral, silent and undisturbed. There, in a house in the wealthy neighborhood, seven teenagers rested, preparing to face the day with resolve. They were going to confront the headmaster of the prestigious Haven School about the council's aid and retrieve a device that, in other hands, would be far too dangerous. Far from that house, walking through the slums, was a man.

That man was also far from home, much farther than people could ever guess. He walked with a calm gait, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips, his trench coat billowing in the night breeze.

Some of the city's night owls looked at him with curiosity, the newcomers feeling the urge to rob him. But the veterans stopped them, for they knew better.

You should never go after the man in the trench coat. If you valued your life and sanity, you should leave the man in the trench coat alone. Because if you ever felt something watching you while you slept, or saw something out of the corner of your eye when you looked in the mirror, you called the man in the trench coat.

For he was the man the monsters feared.

Constantine slipped into an alley beyond the reach of any sane person. There, a raven began circling ominously above his head. The raven descended, taking the form of a beautiful woman with disheveled black hair and red eyes.

The woman simply approached him, opening her mouth. Constantine gave her the cigarette, allowing her to take a drag. Raven exhaled the smoke, holding the cigarette with two fingers.

"Well, my dear. What have you brought me?"

"Everything is as you suspected" Raven replied, handing him the cigarette back. "I'll be there from the start with Vernal and Lionheart, waiting for my brother and the others. Then, I'll open a portal to the tribe, where Cinder, the giant, and those two kids will be waiting. A few minutes later, the White Fang will enter through the main door to destroy the school."

"So their grand plan is to fight head-on?" Constantine massaged his temple. "Idiots, they're all idiots."

"Cinder's idea. She's got it in for the redhead."

"Ruby certainly stirs up passions. There are a lot of people who want her dead."

"I figured that out. Then we'd go to the chamber, and Vernal would open it. My plan was to pretend the door doesn't open for her so we could leave."

Constantine took a drag. "It's not going to work."

Raven took the cigarette from him, finishing it herself before crushing it against the floor. "And why is that, blondie?"

"Cinder is power-hungry. In that sense, she's even worse than you. Most likely, she'll attack Vernal from behind to steal her power and open the chamber herself."

"We have a deal."

Constantine began to laugh aloud. It wasn't even a sarcastic laugh; it was a genuine laugh born of something he found excessively funny.

"Honey, Cinder wants to appear sane, but she's not much better than Tyrian. Do you really think a simple promise is going to separate her from her ambition? She wants to possess the power of the four maidens, to become the most powerful being in creation."

Raven remained silent.

"I figured as much. Here." Constantine tossed her what appeared to be a small emerald.

"Curious way to give me a gift."

"Not everything that glitters has to be for you. Give it to Vernal; it will help her when the time comes. Believe me, I'm the expert at backstabbing."

"That line doesn't inspire confidence, blondie."

"I know, but we have no other choice. Besides, if there has to be a double maiden at some point, I’d prefer it to be you."

“To have me as your errand girl?”

“Because you don’t want to rip my head off. At least not for now.”

“"For now" is the key word. See you tomorrow, Constantine. It’s going to be fun.” Raven transformed into a raven and took flight.

The wizard lit another cigarette, watching her disappear into the clouds. “Fucking fun…”

The wizard, unfortunately for him, hadn’t finished his business there yet. He continued walking until he reached a seemingly abandoned warehouse. He opened the door, revealing eight hunters armed to the teeth.

These were the hunters they had saved, intercepting them on their way to the missions where Hazel and Tyrian were going to take their lives.

“Damn… There are fewer and fewer of you,” Constantine said cheerfully. “Are you really that necessary with Belladonna?”

“It’s more effective this way. We don’t know the full power of the White Fang, and we’re fine with those of us here,” a woman said. Constantine recognized her as one of the women rescued by Diam’s team, the true mastermind behind that miracle.

“Alright, then let’s move on to more interesting things. We have a plan, and I want you all on your guard. It’s going to be a long night.”

The next day, Ruby and her companions spent the day preparing for the events of the night ahead. As evening approached, Yang was the first to notice.

“Hey, where’s Constantine?”

“Maybe he’s still asleep?” Nora suggested. “He seemed tired yesterday.”

“That’s his natural state” Weiss replied. “He said himself that he liked to stay up late. Who knows where that man is?"

“Should we look for him?” Ruby suggested. “He knows as much as we do; he deserves to be there tonight.”

“While I don’t entirely like Mr. Constantine, it’s true that his knowledge of magic rivals my own. In fact, much to my chagrin, I think he’s more knowledgeable than I am. We must find Mr. Constantine” Ozpin commented in Oscar’s mind.

“Ozpin agrees to go look for him.”

Qrow opened his flask, taking a swig. “Alright, let’s go find the blondie.”

The group soon arrived at the magician’s office and knocked on the door.

“Just a moment…” a sickly voice said from inside. When the door opened, they found Constantine wrapped in a huge blanket. “Damn, if it isn’t you guys. And handsome Qrow.”

“Dude… you look terrible” Qrow said, surprised. “What happened to you?”

“Last night I was investigating a case in an abandoned warehouse and I must have had an allergic reaction. I think I’ll stay home tonight.”

“But Lionheart asked us to meet tonight!” Ruby exclaimed, clearly disappointed.

“Sorry, Ruby, but I’m feeling awful.” Constantine sniffed, revealing his bloodshot eyes. “Go ahead without me and let me know if anything changes.”

“Okay… get well soon, Mr. Constantine.”

“Thanks, Ruby, that’s nice. Good luck, guys.” Constantine closed the door in their faces and went to lie down on the sofa.

After a while, making sure they had left, he jumped up, throwing off the blanket. He was wearing his usual attire, though his eyes were still a little red. The magician went to splash some water on them, cursing under his breath. “Damn eye drops… this crap stings.”

Constantine grabbed the phone, dialing the number of the raid group leader. “I’m on my way, everything’s going according to plan.” Without another word, Constantine hung up.

That night, he was going to strike a major blow against Salem.

The hours passed in the blink of an eye, and Ruby and her group arrived in Haven, led by Qrow.

In that enormous hall adorned with double staircases and a statue, Lionheart stood, observing from above.

“We’re here, Leo. Is the Council going to help us or not?”

“Qrow. I see there are… more of you than before.”

Qrow looked at the group behind him. “You know what they say, the more the merrier.”

“And why… are you armed?”

Confusion was evident on Qrow’s face. “We’re hunters, Leo. Are you alright?”

Lionheart stammered, glancing nervously around. Yang, at that moment, noticed something out of place. A crow perched on a railing.

"Mom?"

Qrow fired instantly, striking the stone railing where the crow had been perched.

The crow flew to where it was behind Lionheart, where it transformed instantly. Raven appeared, wearing her white mask.

"They sure do use magic..." Nora murmured.

Raven removed her mask, smiling at her brother. “If you’re going to shoot me, do it. That was insulting.”

“What are you doing here?”

Raven slowly descended the stairs, her smile unwavering. “I could ask you the same thing. Come on, little brother, I know what you’ve been planning. Attacking your own sister.”

“Leo, what have you done?” Qrow asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.

“I…”

“Leo did what anyone in his position would do. He gathered all the information available to him, analyzed the situation, and made a decision. Just like we all did.”

Outside the academy, in the back, a group of individuals waited. A gunshot rang out from inside, putting everyone on alert. Everyone except one.

“That’s our cue. Catalina, you know what to do” Constantine ordered.

“Heard, boss.” Catalina Blue, a young hunter in her thirties with black hair, stopped in front of the wall. She placed one foot on it, positioning herself perpendicular to it. Then she began to walk upwards.

Her Semblance was simple; she could simply redirect her center of gravity to an adjacent surface. This seemingly useless power was a vital part of the plan at that moment.

Catalina climbed to the window, carefully opening it and entering. Once inside, she tied a rope and lowered it outside. Her fellow hunters climbed easily, stealthily entering the academy.

The last was Constantine, who climbed groaning and with exasperating slowness. When he reached the top, he rolled to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" one of his hunters asked.

"Yeah, yeah… I just need a second. Damn, I'm out of shape." Constantine stood up, looking at his team. "We've already talked about this. You enter only when I give the signal. Until then, remain hidden and out of sight of the people below. You know who they are and what they're capable of. We can't fail."

All the hunters nodded, making way for Constantine as he advanced through the academy, his steps completely silent.

"Let's see how our little friends are doing..."

In the hall, things had begun to escalate. Raven opened a portal, allowing Cinder and her two henchmen to enter, along with Vernal.

"Cinder..." Ruby muttered resentfully.

"Come on, guys, aren't you going to say hello to some old friends?" Mercury said provocatively.

Yang was about to leap, but Qrow stopped her. "Everyone, calm down."

At that moment, the enormous doors opened. Hazel, in all her power, closed them behind her.

“The White Fang is placing demolition charges and scouting the school's perimeter. No one goes in. No one goes out.”

Constantine advanced briskly, followed by his entourage.

“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on out there?”

A hunter put his hand to his earpiece; they were using radio frequency to prevent potential hacking. “They've taken down some scouts to clear the way for Belladonna's group. Also, it seems the White Fang is placing charges.”

“Those bastards… Never mind, if all goes well, this will be over before we turn into fucking fireworks.”

Constantine and his group began approaching the reception area, where they could hear sounds of fighting. The mage gestured for them to stay back as he advanced.

“Who knows what the hell I'm going to find…”

A full-blown battle had erupted at the entrance. Nora and Ren were facing the giant Hazel, without much success. Oscar, or at least that's what Constantine assumed, was tearing Lionheart apart.

"Not bad, kid... not bad," Constantine murmured from his hiding place.

The siblings seemed to be locked in a close fight. The wizard would have sat back and enjoyed the spectacle, if Ruby hadn't somehow been knocked unconscious, Weiss was losing, and Jaune was getting a beating at Cinder's hands.

The shock came when Jaune, against all odds, managed to graze Cinder's face with his sword.

That's when Constantine saw it. Half of Cinder's face was petrified, a disturbing sight.

"What the hell did those silver eyes do to you?" the wizard wondered.

Cinder touched her face, enraged. She knocked Jaune down, placing her foot on top of him.

"Did you really think you stood a chance against me?"

"No, but I know I'm not important," Jaune said. "So, if I can take you with me when I die, I'd gladly do it every time."

Cinder looked at him with a mixture of disgust and pity. "You're just a loser with suicidal tendencies." The maiden looked around, assessing how to inflict the most damage possible. And then she smiled.

She moved away from Jaune, forming a spear of fire and crystal. The maiden was heading straight for Weiss. Constantine had to suppress the urge to jump right then; he had to stick to the plan.

Cinder threw her spear, piercing Weiss's abdomen, who collapsed to the ground in shock.

"No!" Jaune yelled, rushing to her side.

All the fighting stopped as they watched Schnee on the ground, gasping for breath. Oscar let out a yell, punching Lionheart and sending him tumbling down the stairs, then leaping from the upper level to Weiss's side.

"Shit..." Constantine muttered. He kept watching, noticing that Lionheart seemed to be saying something to Hazel. Hazel glared at Oscar, his anger rising.

"Ozpin! You're going to pay for what you did!" The giant ripped off his sleeves and pulled out two enormous Dust crystals, embedding them in his arms.

"Oh shit shit shit..." Constantine nervously bit his nails. He couldn't jump, not yet. Their plan hinged on Raven eliminating Cinder from the equation. And if that meant sacrificing Weiss…

Constantine cursed the thought, hoping that fate, always so cruel, had a miracle in store for that poor girl.

Qrow, in a swift movement, covered Oscar, but was quickly dispatched.

Cinder glanced nervously at Oscar; they clearly hadn't counted on that.

"Is Ozpin here?"

"Does that pose a problem?" Raven asked.

"I… I don't know. But we have the advantage. Leonardo, the way to the chamber."

Lionheart nodded servilely, advancing toward the large statue at the entrance. The faunus took out his watch, placing it in a notch; it fit perfectly.

The statue receded, revealing a platform where Cinder, Raven, and Vernal climbed aboard.

The bandit glanced across the battlefield and, very subtly, shifted her gaze to one of the doors at the top. Constantine's hideout.

In the elevator, the two bandits were tense, the complete opposite of Cinder, who seemed to have the situation under control.

"It's exciting, isn't it? It's the first time since, well, maybe ever, that a maiden has opened a chamber. It's a great honor, Vernal."

"It's no honor," the young woman remarked. "I didn't earn this power. I owe it to my tribe, to my family. The power of the maiden isn't a gift, it's a burden."

"Wow..." Cinder clapped dramatically. "Your indoctrination is working so well, Raven. I'm going to have to ask you for advice."

"Whatever you say." Raven kept her poker face, her hand still close to her sword. Shee knew perfectly well what was about to happen in that great room, just as she knew that only one person was going to leave that chamber alive.

And it certainly wasn't going to be Cinder.

Constantine was about to jump in; the situation had spiraled out of control. Oscar, now controlled by Ozpin, was fighting a deranged Hazel. Ruby and Yang were facing Cinder's henchmen, and Qrow seemed to be having trouble with Lionheart. He wasn't handling ranged enemies well.

Fortunately for the mage, his patience was rewarded. When he was needed most, Jaune awakened his semblance. Constantine could sense what it was, and it was astonishing. The young man was injecting his own aura into Weiss's body, increasing its flow and thus accelerating his recovery.

Constantine didn't know how long he could keep this up before he'd run out of steam, but at least the Ice Queen was stable. Lionheart managed to shake Qrow off, attacking Ozpin from behind. This left him open to a powered-up punch from Hazel, which Qrow intercepted and was sent flying. That left Lionheart without an opponent.

"It's showtime."

Seeing that everything was under control, Lionheart began to back away, looking to escape the fight. He knew he was too old to be fighting anymore, and he had already fulfilled his part of the deal with Salem.

As he retreated, he heard footsteps behind him. They were calm and serene; it seemed like he was simply strolling through the park.

Turning around, he saw a man in a trench coat grinning from ear to ear, his teeth showing.

"Hey, Leo."

Constantine delivered a powerful punch to the man's jaw. The faunus was so shocked he hadn't even remembered to activate his aura. The sound of the punch was so loud it drew everyone's attention.

"Mr. Constantine!" Ruby shouted, thrilled to have another ally.

Hazel even allowed herself to calm down a little, still feeling the dust coursing through her veins, and looked at Constantine. "You... I knew your absence was strange. Watts is still trying to figure out how you escaped."

"Let him keep looking." Constantine rolled up the cuffs of his trench coat and shirt. "I've come to talk to our friend Leo."

His cold stare sent a wave of panic through both the headmaster and Emerald, who still remembered the incident at Beacon when she'd tried to induce a hallucination in him.

"You... How did you get in?"

"Irrelevant." Constantine kicked her in the arm where she was holding the weapon, causing fluctuations in her aura.

Lionheart felt nervous and cornered; he didn't understand what was happening. According to their information, Constantine had no combat skills, so how was he winning?

"You're wondering how I'm kicking your ass, aren't you?"

"Aaah!" Leo screamed in terror. "Witchcraft! What are you doing to me?!"

"Oh... you'd like to know, wouldn't you? Come on, Leo. Get up."

Leonardo stumbled to his feet, pointing his weapon at Constantine. "Help me! Do something!"

"This is your fight, Lionheart," Hazel replied, looking at Oscar and Qrow. "I have mine."

Hazel charged at them. They received sudden support from Ren, Nora, Jaune, and a recently recovered Weiss. Emerald and Mercury were still fighting Ruby and Yang, which meant one thing.

Lionheart was alone.

The faun aimed his weapon, firing three fireballs. Constantine simply kept walking, dodging the first two by leaning slightly to the sides. He caught the third with the back of his hand, deflecting it like a ball.

"No… What are you?"

"What am I? I'm a guy who fell in with some really bad company." Constantine punched Lionheart, grabbing his shirt with his other hand. "I'm a guy who's been in hundreds of street fights." Constantine pulled him toward him, headbutting him in the nose, knocking him to the ground.

"You were supposed to know a little bit of magic" Lionheart said, trying to aim his weapon.

Constantine kicked him in the jaw, bending down to grab his hair. "'A little bit of magic.' That's the thing, old man." The magician lifted Lionheart's head, kneeing him. "Salem and Ozpin's magic is crude, unrefined. I'm not like them, so listen to this carefully." – Constantine kicked him in the stomach, making the faunus double over in pain.

"Enough…"

"My name is John Constantine." Constantine waved his arm, which burst into flames. This wasn't ordinary fire, but the kind demons feared: the fire of hell. "And I'm the fucking Hellblazer."

Constantine placed his burning hand on Lionheart's face, who began to scream in agony. All the fights, even Hazel's, had stopped before this macabre spectacle. The magician stopped when he saw Lionheart's aura shatter.

He began to sob and whimper, lying on the ground in a defensive position. Constantine extinguished his arm; if you looked closely, you could see Dust's crystal disintegrate and escape from his trench coat.

“I could keep hurting you, and believe me, I wouldn’t get tired of it. But I propose a deal.” The cowardly lion continued whimpering, which Constantine didn’t care about. He pulled a scroll and a pen from his trench coat, tossing the pen to the lion.

“This is a declaration. With this, you plead before the law to be responsible for all the crimes you have committed. You will not escape your crimes, but at least I can assure you that you will rot in prison serving your sentence.”

Lionheart stared at the unfolded parchment. He didn't want to die; everything he had done stemmed from his abject fear of Salem. But now, someone had appeared whom he feared even more. With an immortal witch, you might expect cruelty and a disconnect from humanity, but this man… He had deceived him from the start.

Lionheart looked at the blue-eyed mage, two wells of infinite rage. He was cold, calculating, and immeasurably brutal. The worst part for Lionheart was that he was still human.

With a trembling hand, he gripped the pen, leaving a poorly written signature.

Something stirred within Emerald. She didn't know what, but a chill ran down her spine. “That parchment… I don't like it. Something very bad is going on here.”

Constantine stared at the signed parchment, his expression still stern. He stuffed the contract into his trench coat, turning his back on Lionheart.

"He's all yours."

A hole opened in the floor behind Lionheart, unleashing a column of fire. Hundreds of gray, clawed hands grabbed his leg, slowly dragging him down.

"What is this?! Constantine, help me!"

The mage turned. "That contract you just signed was an offer. You just gave me your soul, Leo. And I just sold it."

Demonic laughter filled the room, causing everyone present to stare in fear.

"Mr. Constantine… What is this?" Ruby asked, clutching Crescent Rose tightly.

"This is what happens when demons come to collect a debt."

"You can't do this to me! I didn't make any pact!"

“You didn't, but I did. About a month ago, a little girl was kidnapped by possessed people because you reduced the hunter population. When I went after her, I promised them a soul in exchange for the girl’s. I never said it had to be mine.”

Lionheart clawed at the ground to resist, tearing at his nails and leaving a trail of blood. When he looked back, he saw the massive mass of hands dragging him. From those arms emerged mouths that laughed at him.

“Hazel! Help me, please! I can still be useful! I can still be useful to our Queen!”

Hazel looked at him, then met Constantine’s pityless gaze. He remembered the day they rescued the girl, and above all, he remembered his look when he pulled her from that hell. It was the look of someone who would stop at nothing to save her.

Hazel gave Lionheart one last look. “You only serve yourself, headmaster. At least you’ll find peace knowing your sacrifice saved an innocent child.”

“No… Noooo!” Lionheart tried to shoot the hands, but they kept growing. Finally, they pulled half his body into the hole. “Ozpin! Don’t let me die like this! Ozpin!”

Oscar, with Ozpin inside, watched in horror as the hands covered his mouth, stifling his cries for help. Once he was swallowed, the hole in the floor closed, causing another small burst of fire. Constantine put a cigarette in his mouth, calmly lighting it with his lighter.

It took three clicks, but he finally managed to get the flame to appear. After taking a drag, he looked at the remaining enemies.

“So, where were we?”

Oblivious to what was happening outside, the maidens advanced through the underground chamber. Cinder gazed around in wonder, savoring the moment.

"It's more elegant than Beacon's. Let's see if it's worth it." The three of them looked at the enormous doors, relics of a bygone era. Raven gestured to Vernal, indicating that she should open them.

Vernal walked slowly toward them, extending her hand.

"You know, Raven?" Cinder began. "I've heard many things about you. That you're fierce, strong, intelligent… Now I see I was wrong."

Cinder made a gesture with her hand, summoning ice and freezing Raven's feet.

"Vernal!" the bandit cried before the ice engulfed her.

Vernal whirled around, just in time to receive Cinder's claw in her chest.

The sound of something hitting metal was followed by a cry of pain. Cinder had retracted her Grimm arm, which was badly damaged. When she looked at Vernal, it was unharmed, covered by a kind of green shell that shattered shortly after.

"What kind of semblance is that?!" Cinder shrieked in pain. Once the pain subsided, she summoned her sword. "Fine. I guess I'll kill another maiden head-on."

"You won't." Raven drew her sword behind Cinder, her eyes closed. Vernal used the distraction to attack, forcing Cinder to block. Instead of continuing the assault, Vernal lunged at Raven, who created a portal.

It closed instantly after Vernal stepped through.

"No!" Cinder screamed. "I'm going to kill you for this."

Raven laughed, her eyes still closed. "You know what pisses me off the most about this? He was right, you weren't going to keep your end of the deal."

"Him?" Raven tossed what looked like a card, which Cinder caught mid-air. Reading the name, her heart leapt. "Constantine!"

"You wanted a maiden?" Raven's eyes widened, red flames erupting. "Here you go, you bitch."

The maidens, brimming with power, charged at each other in a battle worthy of legend.

Upstairs, the battle had reached a stalemate. Heroes and villains alike stared at Constantine in terror.

"Constantine, what the hell is wrong with you?" Qrow said angrily.

"Get rid of a traitor. He's responsible for the massacre of hunters, don't expect me to feel any pity." Perhaps an eternity of suffering will make him reflect.

"Mr. Constantine, that... that's excessive" Weiss said. "And those things... were they Grimm?"

"No, Weiss, they're something much worse. And perhaps it's excessive for you, and you'd be right. You're heroes and heroines, you have higher moral standards. But I don't have that." Constantine took another drag. "Well, Hazel, what's it going to be?"

"You can't win, Constantine. No matter how much magic you know, I've already seen how you do it. You're not going to get away this time. Mercury, take care of him. Emerald, with me."

"It'll be a pleasure." Mercury smiled at Constantine, walking toward him.

Ruby and her friends got into a fighting stance, but Constantine signaled them to calm down.

"That's what you don't quite understand, Hazel. You think I came here just to kill Leo in an act of... what? Divine justice? Do you take me for some kind of hero from a novel? I'll tell you the truth, Hazel." Mercury charged at him, using the shotguns on his legs to leap high into the air and prepare a powerful kick. "The game was rigged from the start."

It all happened in a split second. A sniper's bullet knocked Mercury down, his aura flickering. A group of eight armed hunters emerged from the shadows, surrounding Hazel and attacking mercilessly.

"Don't let him rest, remember he doesn't feel pain!" Diam ordered. Seeing him, Qrow froze.

"Diam? And Catalina, and Bruno... you're alive."

"It's a long story, Qrow" the hunter with the halberd told him. "Let's take care of the big guy first."

Among the eight hunters, Hazel's aura diminished drastically. Every time someone was about to be hit, another appeared to provide support. A huntress dressed like a ninja threw her sword at Hazel's feet, plunging it into her shadow. That woman, Mae, had the power to paralyze people when she stabbed their shadows.

Hazel resisted, growling as his muscles bulged.

"He's really strong!" Mae shouted. "I don't know how long I can hold out!"

Mercury got up, going to Hazel's aid, but Yang intercepted him with a punch.

"Your fight is with me, buddy."

Emerald tried to use her power on one of the hunters, but a gunshot forced her to dodge, and she lost focus. Before she could recover, Ruby swooped down on them, spinning with her scythe, striking her and weakening her aura.

"Graaagh!" Hazel howled, breaking free from the semblance. She drew two extra crystals, increasing her power.

Jaune slashed at him several times, but they barely scratched him before Hazel sent him flying with a single blow. Weiss followed, accompanied by the eight hunters, who managed to reduce his aura to its limit, but the man slammed his fist into the ground, causing an electrical explosion that knocked them down. Finally, only Ren and Nora remained.

The ninja tried to use his agility to outmaneuver him, but the giant was faster than he looked, grabbing his leg and throwing him into Qrow and Oscar.

"Ren!" Nora lunged at Hazel, but he saw her coming. He grabbed her face, unleashing a torrent of electricity that made her howl in pain.

"Are you happy now, Ozpin? Are you going to force me to kill a little girl?"

Those fighting Hazel watched the scene, trying to figure out how to save Nora. Ren, for his part, smiled.

"I don't think you know the queen of the castle very well."

Nora, absorbing all of Hazel's electricity, took his hand. In a swift movement, she executed a judo throw, sending Hazel flying a meter. He got up without difficulty.

"This isn't going well… Why is the White Fang taking so long?"

“Regarding that…” Constantine interjected, with the most repulsive smile in the world. “It might have something to do with the rest of my hunters and the group of fauns from Menagerie who have come to take out the violent White Fang cell.”

“What?!”

“Surprise! I knew it would drive you crazy.” The mage took another drag. “But I wouldn’t worry about that. You have more pressing problems.”

Constantine pointed to his side. Before he knew it, Hazel had Nora on top of her, wielding her enormous hammer. The blow was so powerful that Hazel crashed through the school wall.

Outside, Salem’s entire plan had fallen apart. The White Fang was surrounded by faunus, while Constantine’s hunters had already deactivated the bombs. The noise of the blow distracted the main group, led by Blake.

“What’s going on there?”

Blake, who had arrived with his father and friends, had a large part of the White Fang and its leader, Adam Taurus, under control. The radical didn't waste the opportunity. In a flash, he took down several enemy faunus and made his way into the woods.

"You won't escape me, Blake! Never!"

"Oh no you don't!" Sun, his best friend, went after him, but Blake stopped him.

"Leave him alone. He's trying to lure us in so he can attack us by surprise. He's the one running from me; he's afraid of me. Next time, I'll finish him off."

Blake saw Hazel get up, adjusting her arm as she walked. Sun could see the urgency on her friend's face.

"Go on, we've got this under control."

Nodding, the girl ran inside the school. There, she saw several hunters surrounding Hazel, while a unique group of female hunters fought the two Beacon boys who had sabotaged the festival. Those hunters were her friends. Her team.

Yang was the first to realize it. “Blake…”

Ruby looked at her, letting out a squeal like a happy dog. Weiss simply smiled; she knew she wouldn’t abandon them just like that.

“Blake! Welcome to the party” Constantine said, still with the cigarette in his mouth. “Good work out there. But don’t worry, everything’s under control here.”

“Girls, I… I’m sorry,” Blake said.

“You can explain later. I have to go in there.” Yang pointed to the elevator, and Team RWBY nodded.

“Team RWBY! Gambit Attack Formation!” Ruby shouted.

The four moved in unison, just like they had months ago in Beacon. Ruby and Weiss blocked Emerald using their speed and glyphs. Meanwhile, Blake stopped Mercury, allowing Yang to run.

“No way!” Mercury stretched out his arm, grabbing Yang's metal one. She clicked her tongue, annoyed. But she knew what she had to do.

She disengaged her arm, surprising Mercury, who then received a hard blow from Blake. With one arm less, Yang reached the elevator, ready to get the relic. No matter the cost.

After a few minutes of fighting, Hazel was exhausted, as were his rivals. But they had the numerical advantage. Constantine moved toward him, looking at him with understanding eyes.

"It's over, Hazel. You've lost."

The man sighed. "You're right… Kids, put down your weapons."

"What?" Emerald asked incredulously.

“Emerald, listen to me carefully. Knowing when to accept defeat is even more important than winning. This time, they outsmarted us.”

“This time, and never again. You’re going to prison, Hazel. The boys might get off scot-free, but you… You’re screwed.”

“I know, Constantine. But it’s the path I chose, and I intend to pay for everything.”

Constantine smiled. “I like you, Hazel, I like you a lot. I wish things weren’t this way.”

“No!” Emerald shouted. “We haven’t lost yet! Cinder… Cinder will defeat you when she comes up here with the relic.”

At that moment, the elevator ascended. Yang emerged, holding a golden and blue lamp. Constantine recognized it instantly.

“Where… Where is Cinder?” Emerald asked, frightened.

Yang looked her in the eyes, impassive. “Dead.”

“No…”

“And with luck, suffering some punishment for all eternity” Constantine finished. “On your knees, all three of you. Let’s not make it difficult.”

“She can’t leave me… she can’t…” Emerald repeated to herself, detached from reality.

“Grimm!” one of Constantine’s hunters shouted the warning. Everyone turned, seeing a jellyfish-like Grimm floating in their direction.

“Well, well… And what are you?” Constantine wondered; he had never seen a Grimm like that before.

“She can’t leave me!” Emerald screamed at the top of her lungs.

The Grimm began to transform into a column of dense black smoke. It began to spin, taking on a huge, humanoid form.

Salem appeared, making everyone present’s hearts sink and filling them with panic.

“That… that’s Salem,” Ruby said to herself, speaking so softly that no one heard her.

Salem shrieked, flying toward them.

Constantine couldn't see the point. Salem wasn't that big, nor could it move among grimms; if it had, it would have done so already.

"Illusion... It's an illusion!" Constantine was the first to wake up, looking toward where his enemies should have been. They had escaped. "No!"

Constantine snatched a weapon from one of his hunters, a multi-shot revolver with a short knife mode. That hallucination shouldn't have affected him; it could only mean that the Semblances could evolve. And Emerald had just become more powerful.

The mage ran outside, peering over the throng of people. In the distance, he saw Hazel carrying an unconscious Emerald, with Mercury following close behind.

"Get out! Get out of my way!" Constantine gripped the revolver, firing and scattering the crowd. Unfortunately, his poor aim with firearms reared its ugly head again, and he missed his shots. “Damn it! Fuck!” the wizard hurled himself back into the academy, throwing the revolver at the hunter.

“What happened?” Oscar asked.

“They got away! All this time planning… for nothing!” Constantine kicked the ground, using his aura to avoid hurting himself.

“Not for nothing,” Ruby replied cheerfully, pointing at her sister. “We have the lamp!”

“But we could have had it all, Ruby. And they got away. I lost.”

“John” Qrow called to him. “Diam told me, you saved them. You saw the danger and warned them.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Thanks to you, not all of Mistral’s hunters are dead. The kingdom still has protectors. It’s not a complete victory, but you won.”

Constantine sighed, sitting down on the ground. Team RWBY reunited, Cinder out of commission, the relic in his hands. He'd been in far worse situations and emerged victorious.

He received a text message; it was Raven. "It's done" it read. A second message followed.

"You saved Vernal. Thank you."

Constantine smiled, lighting another cigarette and taking out the Legion of Super-Heroes ring. There was still work to be done; the Anti-Life was at risk of being completed. They only had half the relics secured, and he still had to find the person from his world who was on Remnant.

But for that moment, he was going to celebrate. After all, he had won. Hadn't he?

Chapter Text

Mistral's central station was completely packed, with people walking back and forth, carrying trolleys and suitcases. The scene was so normal that an outsider would have had a hard time guessing that the headmaster of the prestigious Haven Academy had been murdered just a few weeks prior.

The man who had taken his life, something he didn't regret in the slightest, was sitting on a bench reading the newspaper. Beside him, a white-haired girl seemed to be skimming the paper.

Constantine sighed, looking up from his newspaper. "Here, one-eyed queen."

Weiss took the newspaper with a victorious smile. "Thank you, Mr. Constantine."

The mage stood up from the bench, stretching and feeling the bones in his back crack. He looked around, taking in the scene. Ruby and Yang were busy harassing the hunters in charge of train security, Nora was watching Ren solve a crossword puzzle while Jaune maniacally checked everyone's luggage.

Oscar, meanwhile, was eyeing the high-speed trains like a farm boy, all while Blake chatted with her faunus friend before saying goodbye. Constantine sighed. "Since when is this my life?"

"Since you've been stuck here with us, blondie." Qrow stood beside him, resting his arm on his shoulder as he took a swig from his flask. "Have you sorted everything out on Mistral yet?"

"What do I have to sort out? The hunters are managing on their own, and the Council is 'deeply shaken'" he said, making air quotes. "They're going to want to get rid of this mess, so it's time to make concessions to the citizens. I can't do any more, Qrow. I'm not the one who fixes the mess, I'm the one who uncovers it."

“Yeah, yeah… You really like those little phrases.” Qrow put his flask away. He noticed a black leather briefcase on the bench. “What’s in there?”

“The briefcase? Just some essentials. Mostly books. Qrow, keep an eye on things, I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Hurry up or you’ll miss our train.”

“Relax, there’s plenty of time.”

Constantine punched him in the shoulder, heading for the bathroom. There, he locked himself in one of the stalls. He didn’t have to wait long before a portal opened in front of him.

A woman with black hair and red eyes looked him up and down, making a face of disgust.

“Seriously? A public restroom?” Raven asked.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been with a woman in a public restroom, let me have this one.” Constantine retorted. “How’s Vernal?”

“Alive, which is more than she’d be without your help. The kid's furious, Constantine. She's angry because you saved her."

"Have her file a formal complaint. What's your next move?"

"We might move the tribe. Because of a certain blond guy, we might attract attention now."

"Where are you going?"

"East of Mistral. We haven't raided those villages yet."

"And what about the west?" the mage asked, frowning.

"Ugh, I don't like that look. It's the same look you get when you're plotting something." Raven said with distaste.

"It's my usual face."

"That's why I say it. Go on, spit it out."

"Vacuo" Constantine replied, his expression unchanged.

"Vacuo?"

"If you're going to do this kind of thing, go to a motel" a voice called out from outside the cubicle.

“Join us or get lost!” Raven shouted, scaring the intruder away. “What the hell am I going to do in Vacuo?”

“Think about it, it’s full of nomadic tribes. You can blend in if you disguise yourselves as Bedouins.”

“Hmmm… Not a bad plan.” Raven looked Constantine in the eye. “But you never do anything selflessly. What do you want?”

Constantine pulled a gold ring from his pocket and held it out to Raven. The bandit whistled.

“Nice ring, though the L is a bit tacky. Constantine, you need to work on your proposals. A public restroom is the least romantic place imaginable.”

“You wish you were with a catch like me. I suppose you’ve already noticed, but I’m not exactly a ‘normal’ person.”

“That’s for sure.”

"Well, the owner of this ring isn't either. Whoever brought it here came from the same place as me."

"Holy shit... Another one like you, that would increase our chances."

"That would only be if she's an ally. I cast a familiarity spell on the ring; it should let you know if its previous owner is nearby. I need to know who she is."

"So you're sending me out like a bloodhound."

"Exactly."

Raven fiddled with the ring between her fingers, considering the proposal. Finally, she put it in her pocket. "Okay, if only to see what kind of weirdo the owner is."

"Believe me, whoever she is, she won't be an ordinary person. All I know is that she wears gold clothing, has tan skin, and brown hair. I don't know anything else."

"You're good at descriptions. Okay, Constantine, I'm sure my boys will love the sand in their asses."

"At least they won’t have their butts freezing.”

“When you go to Atlas, punch Ironwood for me. I always thought he was an arrogant jerk. Look, you two are alike in that way.”

“I love you too, sweetheart” Constantine replied. “I’m off now, darling. Your hot brother is waiting for me.”

“Hurry up, or you’ll have to follow the train. Goodbye, Constantine.” Raven opened a portal, disappearing into thin air.

Constantine rejoined the group, seeing that Qrow had joined his nieces in humiliating the hunters.

After deflating the egos of those in charge of ensuring the trip went smoothly, he took one last look at Oscar before boarding the train. The boy had a good heart and was improving by leaps and bounds. The problem was that parasite inside him.

Ozpin was the second most powerful mage in Remnant, excluding himself, and he apparently possessed some kind of spell that allowed him to enter the soul and mind of others upon death. This, of course, raised important questions, such as how many times he had been reincarnated or whether he erased the personality of the person he inhabited.

In any case, it was a highly invasive type of resurrection magic, one that Constantine didn't approve of, but he would deal with that in due time.

Along with the rest of the group, he boarded the train, sitting in an empty compartment. He would normally have shared a compartment with Qrow, but he needed space to work. He placed his briefcase on the bed, opening it carefully. Inside, there was nothing but a mirror.

Constantine bit his thumb, letting a drop of blood fall onto the mirror. It began to ripple, displaying images. They were blurry, indistinct visions of a city. It was London, and it seemed to be having some trouble with demons, nothing out of the ordinary.

In a short time, Wonder Woman appeared, taking down the demons that had invaded the earthly plane. The image blurred, leaving Constantine worried.

Demons in London were his daily reality; he could deal with them if he had enough advance notice and preparation. But being able to see London through the mirror? That was a weak spell; it shouldn't have been able to cross the dimensional barriers. The forces separating Remnant from the rest of the Multiverse were weakening, and it all seemed to be the fault of a single witch.

"Nice mirror you have there" said an elderly, lively voice.

Constantine looked at the door; there was a short woman with a cane and enormous blue glasses.

He put the mirror back in his briefcase, huffing. "Hello, ma'am."

"Likewise, son, likewise." The woman walked to the front of Constantine and sat down. She leaned her face slightly closer. "You look like death warmed over, young man. You need to get more sleep."

"That's just how it is, I don't get much sleep at my job" the magician replied.

"What do you do for a living?"

Constantine handed her one of his cards. "John Constantine. Detective, investigator, and professional busybody."

The woman took the card, holding it close to the viewfinder. "Ah, I see. This thing needs a check-up; without it, I can barely make anything out."

"Age is a bitch, ma'am."

"Yes, I wish it were just age," she said, chuckling. "A little advice. If you're not a hunter, don't be too visible using your semblance. Even if you don't have bad intentions, people get nervous if they don't see your license."

Constantine's eyes widened in surprise. This old woman wasn't just nosy; she also had good instincts. "You seem to know a lot. Are you a huntress?"

The old woman laughed; she found it amusing. “At my age? I wish! I’m Maria Calavera, a pleasure to meet you, young man.”

“Likewise. I’m sure someone like you has many stories.”

“Too many, Constantine, but the important thing isn’t the anecdotes themselves, but what you learn from them.”

Constantine nodded. This woman was wiser than she seemed, clearly a product of age and life experience. Constantine reached for the train car’s refrigerator, placing two glasses and a bottle inside. “Would you like some, Maria?”

“And don’t be stingy.”

Constantine poured the glasses and began to drink. It was a mild liqueur; it didn’t affect the magician much, though it did leave a lingering taste of alcohol. Maria, for her part, drank it as if it were water, and it didn’t seem to affect her in the slightest.

While the pair chatted, a tremor ran through the train; it sounded as if something had bumped into it.

“What the hell?” Constantine muttered through gritted teeth. Immediately afterward, the thunderous sound of a high-caliber weapon echoed. "Grimm."

“Hmmm… Looks like this is going to be a bumpy ride” Maria said, shaking her head.

“Stay here, ma’am, I’ll take a look.”

Constantine left his compartment, grabbing his cell phone.

“Hello, Mr. Constantine!” Ruby called from the other end, sounding agitated, as if she were fighting.

“What’s going on?”

“Grimm! On top of the train! I’ve to go bye!”

The young huntress hung up, leaving Constantine worried. “Fantastic, fucking fantastic.”

Constantine walked to the back of the train, wondering how an attack of that magnitude was even possible. Perhaps Salem knew where they were headed? Possible, but unlikely; she had no way of knowing if they were going to Atlas or Vacuo. The wizard continued onward, pausing for a moment at a tool wagon, grabbing a crowbar.

Constantine pressed on, crowbar in hand. As he approached the back of the train, it dawned on him. The lamp.

"That son of a… I thought Oz would have covered his tracks." As he reached the door, an enormous claw shattered the glass, its hand reaching through the opening and trying to claw at anything on the other side. "Damn it!"

The wizard, using all his skills and knowledge, did what was necessary to fight the threat. He began to strike it with the crowbar.

"Get the hell out you bloody mutt!"

The Grimm, seemingly a Beowulf, withdrew its claw, its eye peeping out the window. Constantine adjusted his grip, plunging the crowbar into the monster's eye and pulling, shattering its face.

As the monster disintegrated, Constantine emerged, climbing the ladder to the train's roof. Peeking out, he saw the young hunters and Qrow battling numerous Grimm. The wizard's eyes flickered to the lamp at Ruby's waist.

Constantine's eyes flashed, a star bursting in his pupils, using his semblance. The lamp was like a beacon on a dark night, possessing enough magic to ignite a brawl among the wizards of his Earth.

And the Grimm were drawn to it like moths to a flame.

While fighting a Grimm, he caught a glimpse of Oscar; he had improved considerably during his time training on Mistral. But he hadn't forgotten the person inside him, Ozpin the parasite.

He didn't know why, but the wizard sensed that Ozpin was still hiding secrets. He did too, of course, but the difference was that his secrets kept the multiverse safe. That, and the fact that he did it with style.

"Blondie!" Qrow approached him, destroying some Grimm as he went. "Can't you use magic to get rid of them?"

"Who the hell do you think I am? Some kind of fairytale wizard?" Constantine stood atop the train, striking a flying Grimm that was approaching Qrow with his crowbar. "We're too exposed..."

"This sucks." Qrow switched his weapon's mode, firing at the Grimm in the sky.

"Where are the security hunters?" Constantine reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of gravel. The wizard threw it, and it shattered into sharp fragments, slicing through the Grimm.

"One's dead, the other's run off to do something."

An explosive sound rose above the wind, catching their attention.

Constantine stared at the turrets, his face a mask of confusion. "What's that cockwomble doing?!"

"Attracting the attention of all the Grimm in the area!" Qrow charged off, mowing down the Grimm in his wake.

Constantine pulled a cigarette from his pack, lighting it with his trusty lighter. The mage took an anxious drag, feeling his nerves intensify. A Beowulf-like creature darted toward him, intent on tearing him in two with its teeth.

"Thanks, pal." The mage held his cigarette up, stubbing it out on the Grimm's bone mask. The instant the cigarette touched the Grimm, the monster let out a shriek and turned to dust.

Constantine glanced around; the Grimm seemed to be retreating. But if the lamp had the same effect as the crown, then they hadn't given up. It must be something more.

He looked ahead, watching his allies take cover. They were approaching a tunnel.

"Oh shit!" Constantine ran through the last passenger car, leaping and landing safely in the gap between two cars. "I can't even have a single peaceful ride!"

Struggling to his feet, Constantine made his way to the front of the train, reaching the passenger area. There, Jaune was healing the remaining hunter's arm while the group discussed what to do.

"John, come here" Qrow said.

The wizard went to join the group, running a hand through his hair. "Have you found a solution yet?"

"It's really weird" Yang commented. "There shouldn't be so many Grimm, and certainly not attacking with such fervor."

"It's the lamp," Ozpin spoke from Oscar's body. "The lamp attracts the Grimm."

"What?!" Yang shouted.

"What is that lamp?" the surviving hunter asked.

"None of your business." Qrow confronted Ozpin. “Did you know?”

“I…”

“Of course he knew, even I knew” Constantine remarked, visibly angry. “But I thought he would be prudent enough to have some countermeasures in place. I swear I don’t understand how someone so careless has been causing Salem so much trouble.”

“This isn’t the time for this.” Ruby stepped in front of Oscar. “The important thing right now is to save the people on the train.”

“Ruby’s right” Weiss agreed. “It’s our job.”

“Ren, do you think you could mask the passengers’ emotions?” Ruby asked.

“All of them? That’s impossible.”

“What if Jaune increases your range?” Nora suggested, standing beside her partner as always.

“Hmm… Yes, that should be enough.”

“But the Grimms can still track the lamp” Blake countered.

“That’s why we’re going to split up” the leader announced. “We’ll take all the passengers to the front of the train, while you flee to Argus. We’ll separate the train and deal with the Grimms.”

Jaune stepped forward. “Fine, but only if you promise to come back.”

Ruby smiled confidently. “Promise.” The girl in the red cloak looked at the wizard. “Which team will you be going with Mr. Constantine?”

Constantine took out a cigarette, bringing the lighter to his mouth.

“Hey, you can’t smoke here” the surviving hunter told him.

Constantine lit the cigarette and raised his hand toward the hunter. After taking a drag and exhaling the smoke in his face, he looked at Ruby. “Oz aside, I’m the foremost expert on mystical artifacts. I don’t go anywhere without the lamp.”

“It’s settled then, let’s go.”

The two teams began moving the passengers to the front. As the hunters exited, Constantine went to get comfortable in one of the empty cabins; he wasn't going to leave while it was still dangerous.

After sinking into a seat, he closed his eyes, hoping it would all be over quickly.

"That was quite a rough ride."

The voice startled Constantine, who became alert. Seated across from him was the old woman from before, Maria Calavera.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Constantine exclaimed. "Didn't you hear the hunters? You should have evacuated!"

"Oh, but this is much more interesting. At my age, what a woman wants is adventure, and you and that girl's group seem to be on a very big one."

Constantine grew serious, though the woman continued to smile. "Who are you?"

"I already told you, an old woman who doesn't care about anything anymore. What difference does it make if I die here? At least I'll have had one last adventure. It's a shame I can't see your face; I can only make out shapes."

"Blast it… As if things couldn't get any worse."

A huge explosion was heard outside; the magician was beginning to have a bad feeling.

“That sounded like the tracks exploding” Maria said, still peering through her squinting eyes.

“Hold on tight, lady!”

Constantine gripped the seat tightly, feeling the jolt and clatter of the train hurtling down the hill.

When it stopped, the wizard stood up, his body aching.

“Come on, grumpy old man,” Maria, who seemed unharmed, tapped him on the shin with the end of her cane. “Let’s go see the others outside.”

Constantine watched as the woman moved with a light step; the whole ordeal seemed to have been a minor annoyance to her.

“Who is this old hag?”

While asking himself this, Constantine went outside with Maria. There, the rest of the group seemed unharmed; Qrow was even indulging in a drink from his flask.

Yang was trying to free his beloved motorcycle, grumbling.

“Just what I needed! Not only do we have to walk from here, but we also have to keep an eye on a defenseless lady."

"Hey, I'm not defenseless, I'm just hard of hearing. And blind, at least until I get my eyes fixed. Hmmm… You know what? I'm starting to understand what you mean."

The old woman continued muttering, walking ahead.

"And you!" Yang pointed at Oscar. "Because of you, all the Grimms in the area are going to follow us."

"I…" Oscar's eyes flashed yellow, transforming into Ozpin. "Miss Xiao Long, I understand your unease. Yes, the lamp attracts the Grimms, that's undeniable, although I can't understand the reason behind it."

"I have my theories" Constantine said.

"Oh, and what are they, Mr. Constantine?"

"I prefer to share them when I have a solid foundation for them" the magician replied, smiling.

“The thing is, there was no point in telling you. It would only increase your anxiety and fear. It was the safest option.”

“You know” Weiss interjected. “I’m getting tired of people deciding what’s best.”

“Is that why you also lied to the people of Mistral about Lionheart?”

“Yes, because the people of Mistral deserve better than the truth.” Ozpin started walking, turning his back on the group. “It’s only right that they remember Lionheart as a leader, not for the minor mistakes he made at the end.”

“Minor mistakes?” Yang asked.

“Oz, a minor mistake is when I make a mistake catching a flight. What Lionheart did was an act of utter bastardism” Constantine retorted.

“And that’s why he deserved to go to hell?”

“No. He deserved much worse, but I didn’t have the time or the inclination to get my hands too dirty.”

“Watch your words, Mr. Constantine. It’s not wise to show your true colors.”

“Believe me, you haven’t seen them yet.” The magician smiled. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen yours either. You’re still hiding secrets.”

“That’s true, we’re supposed to be in this together” Yang said. “You have to trust us; we’re not going to betray you like Lionheart did.”

“You think Leo was the first?!” Ozpin’s outburst caused a deafening silence. Constantine smiled; a nervous prey was the easiest to catch. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, and once, Leo said those very words to me. Forgive me if I seem distrustful; I trust you. But what I do comes from experience.” Ozpin was about to continue walking when he realized something, his eyes widening with alarm. “Where’s the lamp?”

“I have it.” Ruby, who hadn’t spoken during the entire argument, held up the lamp with both hands. “It flew out in the crash.”

Ozpin held out his hand. “Please, give it to me.”

Ruby took a step back. “Before, when you said we had to have faith in humanity, did you mean everyone but us?”

“I… that’s not what I meant. Miss Rose, the relic is an artifact of great power; it’s my duty to bear that weight.”

“But you said it couldn’t do anything right now.”

Constantine’s eyes lit up, as if a huge fire reflected the joy he felt. “That’s right, Oz. In Mistral, you said that even though it had the power to answer any question, you used them all up.”

“That’s true, what difference does it make who has it?” Blake chimed in.

“You must listen to me.” Ozpin took a step forward, but stopped abruptly. He began to growl, struggling with himself.

"Oz?" Qrow asked.

"Hurry..." Oscar spoke. "He try... to stop you."

"What do you mean?" Yang asked.

"He means he lied to us, several times" Constantine said. "He didn't use all his questions."

The group looked at Oscar with concern.

"He's afraid... that you'll discover... what he's hiding. His name... is Jinn. Say his name, and she'll appear."

Constantine was surprised. A name—names had power.

"Jinn?" Ruby looked at the lamp, which had begun to glow slightly.

An invocation—it was an invocation. He was going to summon an unknown entity.

Ruby looked at the group and made a decision. "Jinn."

"Ruby, wait!"

The magician had arrived too late.

The lamp lit up, floating in the air until it was far from Ruby. A blue light emanated from it, followed by a cloud of the same color. The cloud began to take shape, giving rise to an enormous woman with pointed ears and black, ladder-like eyes. She was completely naked, except for golden chains around her waist and wrists.

It took Constantine a moment to realize, but the snowflakes had stopped in mid-air. They were in a temporal bubble; time had stopped, except for them.

When she finished materializing, the giant woman stretched, savoring her freedom. "Aaaah… it's been a long time." She turned her gaze to the group. "My name is Jinn. What knowledge do you seek?"

The group was speechless. What they were seeing defied everything they knew. Everyone, that is, except Constantine, who was thinking about the possible scenarios.

Seeing that she received no response, the creature continued introducing herself.

“I am an entity created by the God of Light to aid humanity in its quest for knowledge. I have been granted the ability to answer three questions every one hundred years. Fortunately, I can still answer two questions in this…”

“Stop!” Ozpin interrupted, to no avail.

“…Age.” The woman let out a wry laugh. “A pleasure to see you again, old man.”

The group turned back to Ozpin, still on the ground.

“Ruby… please” the former headmaster of Beacon pleaded.

“Hey…” Qrow spoke, but only received Team RWBY ready to fight. The veteran hunter sighed. “Do what you think is right, kids.”

Constantine licked his lips. So many possibilities were open to him at that moment, he couldn’t even imagine them all.

Ruby turned to Jinn, determined. “Jinn… Tell us what Ozpin is hiding.”

“No!”

The director, in the child's body, lunged toward Ruby, trying to stop her. Soon, all that existed was a white space, where the wizard stood alone.

"I see… Dreamlike images, you're going to tell us the story. Come on, Jinn. Surprise me."

Before Constantine, a series of scenes unfolded. He saw the human princess Salem, imprisoned in her castle, and he saw the legendary hero Ozma, who rescued her. He saw the couple fall in love, and he saw the hero fall ill and die.

What followed was something Constantine had witnessed countless times: most demons used the pain of their loved ones to carry out nefarious deeds.

What he had seen less frequently was a mere human, no matter how much magic she possessed, manipulating the gods in this way. Salem begged for mercy from the God of Light and Life, but he denied her plea to bring her beloved back.

Then, she tried with his brother, the God of Darkness, deceiving him into bringing Ozma back. But the God of Light realized what she had done and revealed the truth to his brother. The two gods, enraged, meted out their punishment.

Immortality. Salem, a powerful witch, could no longer die; each wound simply healed.

After years of scheming, Salem managed to unite the world to seize power from the gods, but they did not take it well. With a single stroke, they erased humanity from the face of Remnant. Everyone, that is, except Salem, who, in her despair, tried to die by throwing herself into the Pit of Darkness of the God of Death, only to have her body mutate, resembling the Grimm.

The gods, in their arrogance, attempted to recreate humanity, this time without magic. But to unite them, they decided to use a pawn. Thus, Ozma returned, with a new power to reincarnate and four relics that, once reunited, would bring the gods back for their judgment.

But the lovers could not remain apart for long, and once again, they managed to find each other. Together, with their magic, they ruled as gods, but Ozma watched day by day as Salem's darkness grew. In the end, it all ended as those stories usually did.

A deadly duel, a clash between lovers, and an eternal enmity. The last thing he saw was Ozma in a new body, standing before Jinn, asking a single question.

"Can I destroy Salem?"

The creature smiled, his hand resting on his chin.

"No."

Constantine snapped out of his reverie, rejoining the group. They looked at Oscar, at Ozpin.

At Ozma.

Constantine, for his part, began to laugh. It was a genuine laugh, a laugh unlike any he had ever uttered before.

"You clever bastard!" said the magician. "You tricked him!" The magician began pacing in circles, delighted. "All this time, you've been selling hope to your allies, your little circle. But oh, the Great Ozma didn't mention that tiny little detail. They couldn't win, could they? So many years, so many sacrifices, so many lives… And all you were doing was buying time."

Qrow shouted, lunging at Oscar and landing a powerful punch that shattered his aura. “I trusted you!”

“Qrow!” The voice, the tone, was Ozma’s. “You must understand why I did it! Would you have fought if I had told you there was no hope?”

“No… and that’s the worst part. You gave me hope, you told me I could be better, create a better world. Meeting you was the biggest mistake of my life.”

With those words, Ozma looked at his former friend. Oscar’s eyes flashed, bringing the boy back.

“He’s not here…”

“What do you mean?” Blake asked.

“Ozpin, he’s not here. I-I think he’s hidden. I can’t find him.”

“Typical of his kind, when there’s trouble, they hide their souls.” Constantine, who was calmer than the rest, looked at Jinn. “Hello, darling.”

The creature approached him, looking at him with interest. “Hmmm… I can’t see your past, or even your present or future. You… you’re special.”

“I’m many things, love.” Constantine flashed a crooked smile, accompanied by a look that couldn’t have been better. “I think it’s time to talk about business.”

Chapter Text

Genies.

They were incredibly curious creatures, present in the myths and legends of numerous civilizations. According to legend, genies possessed unlimited power, able to grant any wish. According to others, they were restricted to specific rules, which they could not disobey.

But if there was one thing all genies shared, it was a small but crucial detail. They were very literal beings.

Constantine, the most manipulative magician in England, and possibly the world, found himself in a precarious situation. Trapped on another Earth and surrounded by offspring who had taken it upon themselves to save the world, he had to defeat an immortal witch if he wanted to return home.

Fortunately for him, he had finally found something familiar.

Before him stood an enormous blue-skinned woman, floating in the air with an expression that denoted interest and curiosity. Jinn, the Relic of Knowledge, was clearly a genie according to the aforementioned rules. Any decent magician would advise staying away from these beings, who only caused trouble for anyone who came near them.

But Constantine wasn't just any magician, much less a decent person.

"A deal" Jinn said, with a hint of amusement. "I think that's the first time I've heard those words."

"It's simple, a simple deal. You give me what I want, and I'll give you something in return" the wizard replied, under the watchful gaze of the group.

"Hmmm…" Jinn leaned closer, causing the rest of the group to back away. Constantine didn't move, maintaining his usual irritating smile. "As interesting as it sounds, I don't know what you could offer me, much less what I could give you."

"It's very simple, love" Constantine said, trying to hide his nervousness. He had dealt with genies before, and he was following the first rule when facing them: Never ask a question. "I want three questions."

“But Mr. Constantine,” Ruby interrupted. “Remember what Ozpin said. We only have one left.”

“The girl is right, Constantine. Three wishes every hundred years. Those are the rules” Jinn said.

“Yes, you see, I understand that. But there’s one thing that’s been bothering me, and it’s been nagging me right here, in my brain,” he said, pointing to his temple. “That tiny little detail hasn’t gone unnoticed, and that is that you know who they are. But you don’t know who I am.”

Jinn gave him another smile, wanting to see where this human, who seemed to know so much about magic, was going with this. “Go ahead, tell me your proposal.”

“Fine, fine.” Constantine rubbed his hands together, warming them. This cold was going to kill them if they didn’t get moving. “You said it’s three questions every hundred years, but you didn’t specify what you mean by ‘one hundred years.’”

The group looked at each other, confused. Yang began counting on her fingers, causing Weiss to bring her hand to her face.

"It's one hundred years, yes, but I think I know why. One hundred years to recharge, to accumulate knowledge and answer the next generation."

Jinn couldn't help but be surprised. She had deduced how the lamp worked just from the initial explanation. This man with the irritating smile and blue eyes moved with ease in the presence of a strange being like her, and that raised a question she needed to know the answer to.

Who was Constantine?

"Continue" the genie said.

"One hundred years." The magician raised his index finger.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm going to give you one hundred years of knowledge, knowledge you can't obtain any other way, knowledge that would shatter anyone's worldview."

Jinn looked into his eyes. They were confident and cold, eyes that could shift from kindness to unprecedented fury at any moment. After meeting Ozma and witnessing his exploits, she came to a conclusion.

She should be grateful that the immortal was him and not the blond man trying to make a deal.

But she was knowledge itself. She didn't crave it, she didn't seek it; she simply was. What Constantine was offering was a chance to become even more whole.

"Very well, deal. But I must warn you, Constantine. Nothing like this has ever been done, never in the history of Remnant. It's going to hurt."

"Darling, I've been told many times that something is going to 'hurt like hell.' And you know what? They can never even come close to what it's like to be there."

Jinn extended his hands, allowing his chains to lengthen. They gripped Constantine's arms, eliciting a cry of pain.

“Mr. Constantine!” Ruby shouted, ready to act.

“Stay away!” the magician yelled at her. It was a burning sensation that reached his very bones; he felt the urge to scratch his skin until it was raw. “Prepare yourself, dear. Because I’ve seen… Ugh, some things.”

Jinn focused her gaze on Constantine, visualizing his early years. His childhood, his city—it all left Jinn speechless, surprised to understand why Constantine was different from everyone else.

“Another world, I should have suspected” the genie said.

Constantine let out a groan, maintaining his steely gaze. “I’ve lived through things other people only see in their nightmares. I’ve done things that haunt me wherever I go.”

Jinn looked inside him. She saw pain, violence, death, and resurrection.

“I’ve walked through planes where logic was dictated by a madman!” "I've seen Men of Steel die and Dark Knights fall!" Constantine shouted, screaming to clear the pain. "I know secrets that must not be told! Spells that must not be cast!"

Jinn continued to delve into Constantine's mind. Despite not even being half a century old, the magician possessed an impressive amount of knowledge. He was close to reaching a century.

The magician knew that he would soon run out of stories, out of lies. But he still had an ace up his sleeve, the key to how he had gotten there.

Jinn shuddered, seeing what Constantine remembered. The Multiverse, the number of Earths the magician knew and whose secrets he knew.

"I've killed demons! I've murdered gods! And I can make a genie like you tremble! So go ahead! Take it! Take it all!"

With her final plea, Jinn removed the chains, causing Constantine to collapse to the ground, exhausted.

“That’s… enough” the genie replied.

The wizard stood up, looking around.

“Another… world?” Yang said.

“But that… that’s…” Blake continued.

“Impossible!” Weiss exclaimed. “That shatters everything we know about our world!”

“Impossible?” the wizard asked. “More so than an ancient witch? More so than a genie in a lamp? You want to be a hero, then get used to the impossible.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Ruby asked.

“Yes, we had the right.” Qrow crossed his arms.

“Because it was irrelevant. Otherworld or not, my goal remains the same. To kill Salem. And now, if you'll excuse me…"

The magician turned to Jinn, who was enjoying the spectacle.

“You've surprised me, John Constantine, of the long Constantine line” the genie replied. “A real family of liars and thieves.”

“What can I say? It's in our blood.”

“You've fulfilled your part of the bargain, Constantine. You have three questions, but you must asked them this instant. The contract we made wasn't foreseen; I don't know how long the effect will last.”

“Very well, then let's not waste any time. First question: How close is Salen to being able to cross the multiversal barriers?”

“Closer than you think. While she's only been able to send books randomly, she hasn't yet figured out how to cross herself to a specific or random world. For now, she can't cross them.”

Constantine sighed in relief; it calmed him.

“Second question: Where is the source of the God of Light?” The magician had seen the Well of Darkness, Salem's seat of power, in person. If there was an adversary, he wanted to control it.

Jinn smiled, touching Constantine's mind. It was a white, vegetated place, seemingly untouched by humankind for centuries. The mental image of the place was seared into Constantine's brain; he could find his way there even with his eyes closed. The magician composed himself, ready to finish his questions.

"Third question. After everything I've done, after so many schemes and plans… Read my mind, my thoughts. Am I on the right track?"

Jinn didn't speak, simply smiling at the magician and nodding. Constantine stumbled; he was tired and sore. But at least now he had the certainty that his plan, however extreme or insane, had a chance.

He didn't want to ask how to stop Salem; any answer could lead to some temporal disruption that would jeopardize his success. But he had to trust himself and his plan.

As well as the pieces on the board.

Jinn said goodbye, returning to the lamp, which gently settled into Constantine's hands. He passed it to Ruby, serious.

"It's all yours, Ruby."

"But... I thought you were here for the lamp?"

"And now I have what I wanted. Now I entrust you with protecting it to prevent Salem from destroying Remnant." Constantine winked at her. "No pressure."

Ruby took the lamp, hanging it around her waist. With a determined stride, she led the group through the forest, searching for any sign of civilization.

Constantine smoked one cigarette after another, playing with his lighter. These long walks gave him time to think. He had several ideas for dealing with Salem, but many of them required objects he didn't have on hand. But magic was about lying, magic was about making people believe something is what it isn't.

And the Briton was a natural liar, a very good one, even if he didn't admit it himself. For now, one of his main plans was to seal Salem away, throw her into a godforsaken hole, and destroy the key.

The problem with that was that sealing spells only worked when you knew exactly what you were up against, and the wizard still didn't know the true extent of Salem's powers, nor her magical knowledge.

The other option, much more complicated, was to cure her. If he somehow managed to break her curse, Salem would still be a threat, but one that could be eliminated.

In any case, he couldn't act without a plan; he had to treat Salem like the rest of the demons. A unique being with unique weaknesses and unique objectives—only then could he win.

Only then could he go home.

After a long walk, the group finally arrived at what appeared to be a family farm. There was no light or smoke from the chimney; it must be abandoned. The group entered, led by Ruby.

"Hello?! We're hunters! We wanted to ask if we can spend the night here!"

They received no answer, to which Ruby responded with a shrug.

Constantine ran a finger along the stair railing. He collected a thick layer of dust; it hadn't been cleaned in a long time.

The detective headed into the living room, where he saw a large bookcase. He looked at the books, running his fingers along their spines.

"I don't like this..." the magician said.

"There's too much for an abandoned house" Maria replied. "Unless, of course, they fled quickly."

"That's a possibility." A sharp scream echoed through the house, coming from upstairs. "Or maybe not."

Constantine rushed upstairs, joining the others in a bedroom. Upon seeing the interior, Constantine felt a chill run down his spine at the scene. Two corpses on the bed, completely dried out.

"Oh, bollocks."

"Are they...?" Weiss asked.

"All of you out of here, damn it!" Constantine pushed the girls away.

"But..." Blake said.

"I said out!" Constantine sent them packing, leaving him alone with Maria and Qrow. "Kids shouldn't see this..."

"Holy shit." Qrow approached the bodies, touching them. The magician could feel him swaying.

Constantine glared at him, taking a look at his flask. "You son of a... are you drunk? Now?"

"Is there a problem?"

"For God's sake, Qrow, we have to keep our fucking composure, we're the adults here."

Maria looked at the bodies with sorrow. “I’d say between thirty and thirty-five. I can’t see well without my glasses repaired. What do you think, my dear?”

Constantine examined the face of one of the corpses, a man whose beard had begun to thin. “Yes… Once, I fought a parasitic demon. It would enter a host and cause ravenous hunger, but the more those poor wretches ate, the hungrier it became. In a few minutes, they were like this, with no nutrients left in their bodies. These people died of starvation, maybe even dehydration.”

Qrow growled, annoyed. “You’re saying we’re facing that demon?”

“No, I killed it years ago. I bound it to a host and then murdered it. But I’m absolutely certain the cause of death was starvation.”

Maria tapped her visor, turning her head toward the wizard.

“What do you think we should do?”

“First? Give them a proper burial. I don’t want spirits haunting the house. Otherwise… We should keep an eye on.”

“I don't have that anymore” Maria said, pointing at Qrow. “And he is drunk as a skunk.”

“Holy crap… I’m serious. I want everyone to pay attention. Dead from starvation in their own beds? Something very strange is going on here.”

“Uncle Qrow!” Ruby shouted from outside.

“Mr. Constantine!” Oscar called.

They both peered out the window, seeing the two boys. Ruby stepped forward.

"We've found more."

Hours passed, and they had finally finished burying the bodies. They had found more, all resting in their beds.

Constantine smoked in the doorway of the house; none of it made sense. If they didn't have food, they could risk going into the woods to look for it. But wait to starve to death? The instinct for survival was too strong.

He glanced at the stable, where Yang was working on his motorcycle with Blake. Constantine couldn't be considered an expert on relationships, at least not with how short all his own had been, but his marriage to Zatanna had taught him to recognize when there was chemistry.

Oscar, for his part, wasn't doing well at all. The old Ozma had disappeared; not even Constantine could find him. He must be very peacefully inside the boy's soul. Surprisingly, Ruby was handling the situation best, except for Maria, who seemed far too calm for someone who had helped bury bodies.

After finishing his cigarette, he went to the living room, where he found the entire group gathered around the fire, except for Yang and Blake. The wizard ruffled Ruby and Weiss's hair and sat down next to Qrow.

"Have you been drinking?"

"As if it matters… we're trapped here anyway" Qrow said, staring into the fire. "This has all been a mistake…"

"Perhaps, but it's still our best chance to stop Salem. I'd rather do it alone, but if our paths have crossed, it's because fate is a real bastard."

"Pfft… I used to think Oz had a plan, that we could win. Why do you think you can?"

"You've seen more or less the same thing as Jinn. Facing things that are beyond me is my thing. And I always come out alive only to die another day." Constantine snatched the flask and took a swig. The magician coughed, disgusted. "You bastard. With what you earn, you could drink something other than disinfectant alcohol."

After wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he glanced at the door, through which Yang and Blake entered.

"I think I can fix the motorcycle," the blonde announced. "We'll hitch it up to one of the barn carts when the storm lets up, and we're out of here."

"That is, if it lets up," Blake replied. "Nothing's going right for us lately."

"Yeah..." Weiss whispered. "It's not like we're exactly having a hero's journey."

"I never imagined this when I became a huntress..." Ruby murmured.

"Hey! Stop with the fatalistic bullshit. Complaining about a storm, if you'd seen what I've been through." Constantine stopped, thinking about what he'd just said and feeling disgusted. "Damn, I sound like an old man. It's been a long day, go get some rest."

Team RWBY and Oscar, aware of their accumulated fatigue, huddled together by the fire, seeking warmth. By the time Constantine realized it, Qrow had also collapsed, drooling on the sofa.

"He's handsome even with drool oozing out, the bastard." Constantine approached Maria, who was reading a book she had taken from the shelf. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, something I found. It seems to be a diary belonging to one of the inhabitants. They were a great family, indeed. It's a shame what happened to them" the old woman said sadly.

"A diary? Have you found any clues?"

"Not yet, but I wouldn't worry too much. We'll be gone by tomorrow morning." Maria replied with a smile.

"I hope you're right. I'm going to sleep. Wake me up if you notice anything strange."

Constantine settled into the sofa, curling up for more comfort and closing his eyes, ready to wake up the next day.

The next morning, Constantine met up with the rest of the team outside the cabin, where Yang was putting the finishing touches on her motorcycle.

"Do you have enough gas?" Constantine asked.

"Maybe. I had to use what they had in the barn. It might ruin the bike, but whatever." Yang replied sulkily.

The wizard glanced around. Everyone seemed grumpy, as if they'd lost their motivation. At one point, he saw Ruby walking toward the well, carefully holding the lamp.

"Ruby?"

The huntress stared at the well, her gaze unfocused. The lamp began to slip from her grasp.

"Ruby! No!" the wizard shouted. Ruby snapped out of her daze, startled, and dropped the lamp.

"No! I... I didn't mean to..." Ruby stammered, confused by what had just happened.

Constantine peered into the well, seeing the lamp at the bottom. He turned to the hunter, angry.

"What the hell are you doing?! What the hell are you thinking?!"

"I…"

"One task! You have only one task, and that's to protect that damn lamp!" Constantine shouted furiously. Everything was too difficult, too complicated, and to top it all off, now that kid… Constantine looked at her; she was crying. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…"

A kid, that's what she was. A kid carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. And he had snapped at her. He took a breath, calming himself and looking around. Everyone was staring at him in fear.

"It's okay, it's nothing, just an accident. Go after it. The sooner we get out of here, the better." Constantine addressed the rest of Team RWBY, clapping his hands. "You! Wake up, damn it, you're asleep."

"I… yes. Yes, you're right," Blake said.

“Ugh… I’m exhausted,” Weiss groaned as she stood beside Ruby.

“Come on, Ruby, the sooner we’re done, the better.” Yang touched her shoulder, showing she was with her.

Together, they jumped into the well, disappearing from Constantine’s sight. The wizard looked at Qrow, lying on the ground, dejected. Maria was sitting on the porch, still reading her book, so the wizard decided to sit next to Oscar.

“Any news about old Oz?”

“Nothing. Do you think he’s gone?” Oscar asked.

“Honestly? I don’t think so. I think he’s in hiding. For all intents and purposes, Ozma is like Salem, cursed indefinitely. The difference is that Ozma parasitizes other people’s souls, which is much worse.”

“When… when do you think I’ll stop being me?” the boy asked. Constantine could see in his eyes that he was terrified.

“I don’t know, Oscar. All I can tell you is to fight tooth and nail; you’ll eventually find a way to get rid of him.”

Oscar shrank back, staring straight ahead. Constantine could sense his fear, but even with the dread of knowing that one day his body wouldn’t be his own, something was amiss.

“Oh no…” Maria murmured.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Constantine approached her, reading the book over his shoulder. The wizard’s expression changed the further he read, becoming one of concern. “Oh shit…”

In the well, Team RWBY advanced cautiously, searching for the lamp.

“I don’t understand.” Ruby said, confused. “It’s impossible that it went very far.”

“Well, just look for the glow.” Yang commented.

“Ruby… maybe we should give up.” Weiss said. “It seems we’re destined never to reach Atlas.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to get tired.” Blake complained.

Ruby made a frustrated sound; her team was getting on her nerves with their negativity.

Finally, she caught sight of the lamp’s glow, running toward it and carefully picking it up. Then, she saw something out of place. The shadow in front of her began to move, slowly advancing toward the huntress. The shadow turned, revealing a skeletal face with red eyes.

Ruby screamed, overcome by panic.

Her team snapped out of their daze, their eyes focusing again.

“Ruby!” Yang called, terrified that her little sister might be in trouble.

The red huntress reached them, trembling. This Grimm was something she had never seen before; its mere presence sent waves of panic through her body.

She heard the Grimm’s groan of pain as it approached, like walking corpses. Ruby fired her weapon, but the bullets seemed ineffective against the creature.

The Grimm shrieked, causing the team to lose their strength.

"We... have to get out of here." Ruby said, struggling to stay on her feet.

"My weapon... it's too heavy." Blake tried to draw his sword, but couldn't get into a fighting stance.

A fireball erupted from nowhere, striking the Grimm.

Constantine stood behind Team RWBY, pointing his index finger at the monster, smoking.

Maria appeared beside him, moving with agility. "Run! Now!"

Ruby was the first to move, with her team behind her. Constantine kept casting weak spells, not having time to conjure anything powerful.

"Damn it!" the wizard followed the old woman, panicking when he saw that the Grimm wasn't stopping.

The group ran through the tunnels, discovering with horror that the multiple Grimm was everywhere. Each of the monster's screams affected the group, sapping their strength and slowing their progress.

They managed to reach some stairs, but they were growing increasingly tired. Only Constantine seemed to be holding on, watching with dread as he realized he was out of Dust.

Desperately, he pulled out his Vytal Festival pin, summoning his sword. He swung it clumsily, keeping the Grimm at bay.

Ruby tried to move Weiss, who was lying on the ground. "Come on... we have to get out of here."

The huntress looked back, seeing Blake on the ground, his eyes blank. He had given up. Her gaze shifted to her sister, who was in the same state. Soon, their entire team collapsed. Ruby felt exhausted, feeling that it wasn't worth trying anymore. She lay down, staring at the Grimm that Constantine was clumsily trying to keep at bay.

She felt something approach her side. It was Maria.

"What color are your eyes?" the old woman asked.

"What?"

"What color! Quickly!"

"Silver. These stupid silver eyes."

"Ruby, I need you to listen to me. I want you to think about the people you love, the people you care about, and how they make you feel."

Ruby closed her eyes, trying to follow Maria's instructions.

"Focus! Life is precious, Ruby, it's so precious..."

The Grimm struck Constantine, knocking him to the ground and forcing him to fight back.

"It must be protected at all costs."

Ruby inhaled, feeling the sorrow that weighed her down dissipate. She opened her eyes, revealing a silver glow. As she sat up, she glared defiantly at the Grimm, unleashing a powerful beam of silver light.

In an instant, the Grimm that was about to end Constantine's life stopped. He had turned to stone. The wizard stood up, gazing in awe at the feat.

Silver eyes—that was the magic he had sensed in Ruby. The rest of the team stood, recovered.

"Let's get out of here now!" Yang shouted. She raced up the stairs, bursting through the door to the storage room. One by one, they left, closing the doors behind them.

With horror, Weiss watched as the stone began to crack.

The wizard threw the shelves full of wine onto the door, blocking it. “Oi! One-Eyed Queen!” The wizard pulled out his lighter, creating a small flame. “Shall I give you a light?”

Weiss nodded, standing next to Constantine and creating a glyph above the flame. The fire struck the wine, spreading rapidly.

Constantine was the last to leave, watching as the fire consumed everything. He looked away in sorrow. At least he hoped the victims could rest in peace.

The journey was silent and gloomy, with Yang driving the motorcycle while the rest of the group rode in the cart. Maria Calavera, who had been telling everyone about her discovery, closed the book.

“Apathy.” Maria said. “That’s what they called it.”

“A Grimm that takes away the will to live. How is that even possible?” Blake asked.

“I don’t know, but at least now it can’t hurt anyone else.” Weiss said, trying to calm himself by leaning on the faunus shoulder.

“What I don’t understand.” Yang said from the motorcycle. “is why it didn’t affect you, Constantine.”

The group looked at the magician, who was smoking to try and calm himself.

“Well, it’s possible that by being in contact with the Anti-Life Equation, I developed a resistance to those kinds of attacks. Although I have another theory. That Grimm amplified negative and pessimistic thoughts, making them grow within the person.”

“Yeah, so what?” Weiss asked.

“I’m always a pessimist,” the magician replied with a smile. “Come on, don’t look at me like that. I constantly face terrible creatures, nightmarish beings. If I want to win, I must always prepare for the worst possible scenario.”

“That… that’s very sad.” Ruby said.

“Yes, it is. But I have another question.” Constantine looked at Maria. “How did you know how silver eyes worked?”

Maria smiled. “Well, young man, that’s simple too. I had silver eyes as well.”

The group was speechless, staring at the old woman. She let out a small, jovial laugh, settling in.

“We have time before we reach the city. So I’ll tell you my story. The story of the Grimm Reaper.”

And so, as Maria Calavera recounted her fascinating past as a legendary huntress, the group drew ever closer to the city, and with it, to their objective.

Atlas

Chapter Text

Remnant was a world of myths and legends, a place where powerful hunters made a name for themselves through their feats and displays of skill.

One of those legends was the Grimm Reaper, a legendary huntress who inspired countless scythe wielders around the world.

Maria Calavera was that legend, a huntress who had given her life fighting the Grimm. But her skill and power were such that no Grimm could take her life.

That is why the Grimm Queen sent people to do what they did best: kill each other.

But fate had other plans, and the brave huntress lost her silver eyes despite emerging victorious from the battle.

Now the old woman found herself with a most unusual group.

A young woman in a red cloak, the bearer of the silver eyes.

Her sister, the golden dragon, with unparalleled strength, who would fight against all odds to protect the little red one.

A girl who fought against the world for a long time, seeking to distance herself from that violent past.

A runaway heiress, seeking to forge her own destiny and become a heroine.

A crow without a shoulder to lean on, a warrior driven by lies fighting against the chaos unleashed by his presence.

A young man who carries ancient knowledge, the reason for an eternal war that he fears losing its way.

And a man who had seen too much, who had done too much. The man who walked the path of the magician.

Ruby and her group finally arrived at the port city, the location of the Kingdom of Atlas's naval base in Mistral, as well as its only gateway to the most advanced country in Remnant.

"Nice place" Constantine said, lighting a cigarette. "It has its charm."

As he observed the city, he spotted a tall, blond boy, about the same height as himself.

Jaune Arc greeted the group, approaching to hug his best friend. Ruby laughed as she hugged Jaune; she finally felt better since leaving the farm.

"Guys!" Nora appeared out of nowhere, launching herself at the group to hug them. Constantine, seeing that she was going to hit him, moved out of the way, allowing the girl to tackle Oscar.

Ren joined the reunion, hugging Yang.

"It's great that you all made it safely" said Jaune.

"Hey, I told you we'd make it" said Ruby.

"We almost didn't make it, blondie" Constantine retorted. "The world outside the cities is a death trap."

"But we got out, that's what matters" Yang said proudly.

"I knew you could do it. Come on, we need to catch the tram." said the boy.

The group boarded the tram, taking in the view of the city. Constantine could see how the architecture was a blend of Mistral's and Mantle's, likely a joint project.

"And who holds sovereignty over this place?" the mage asked.

"In principle, that would be Mistral" Ren replied. "Except for the Atlas base, it's here to protect the citizens."

"Or at least, that's what it was for..." Nora clutched her skirt, annoyed. The mage guessed they'd already been gathering information, and the news wouldn't be good.

After getting out of the vehicle, Constantine stretched his back; he wasn't up for such a long walk.

"Hey, Jaune" Blake asked, her ears twitching curiously. "Where have you been staying?"

Jaune laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Well, you see..."

"Wohooo!"

A voice caught their attention. Turning around, they saw a woman with a baby in her arms. The woman had long blonde hair and dark blue eyes.

The group stared at the woman, then at Jaune, and then back at the stranger.

They were like two peas in a pod.

The group was in the living room of a house, chatting with their new acquaintance.

Saphron Cotta-Arc.

"I can't believe I'm finally meeting your sister." Ruby said excitedly. "I have so many questions about Jaune."

"I'll fill you in later." Nora told her.

"Oh, it's okay, I love talking about my baby brother." Saphron pinched Jaune's cheek.

"Hey! I'm not a baby! That's a baby!" Jaune pointed at his nephew, who was receiving attention from Yang and Weiss.

Blake looked at a family photo. "Are you the only Arc living here?"

"Yes, I moved out as soon as I could. Jaune and I are the only ones who live away from home."

"Quite a family, I see." Constantine looked at the photo. Jaune and his sisters all had identical features. That, combined with Jaune's sword, gave him all the necessary clues. His lineage wasn't normal. "Is it just you and the kid?"

"Well, actually…" At that moment, the door opened.

A woman with dark skin, similar to the baby's, entered. She wore a black blouse and a blue jacket, as well as round glasses.

"Hello." she said, smiling. "There are quite a few of you."

"Hello, darling." Saphron smiled at the woman. "Guys, this is my wife, Terra."

"Honey, will you help me with this?"

Saphron stood up, ready to help his wife.

While they put away the groceries, Constantine was lost in thought. From what he knew of the kid, he had become a hunter to be a hero like his ancestors. If you added a family heirloom and absurdly dominant genes to that, then the result was something special.

Constantine couldn't sense magic in himself or his sister, but often, the sources of power weren't magical in origin.

Before he knew it, they had already prepared sandwiches for lunch. Constantine readily accepted one, eating while analyzing the situation.

"It's an honor to host hunters." Terra said, answering a question Constantine hadn't paid attention to. "Especially ones as skilled as the two of you."

Constantine was slow to realize what was being said; he'd been with the group so long he'd forgotten his initial cover.

"Thank you." the mage said. "We do what we can."

"Yeah..." Qrow replied curtly.

"But there's something that worries me." Terra began. "Is it safe to have students accompanying you? Is it even legal?"

Constantine and Qrow exchanged glances.

"To begin with, that depends on your definition of legal." Constantine said.

"Well... Legal as 'established by the laws'."

"Okay. Then no, it's not legal."

Qrow punched him in the arm. "He's just kidding. This is a kind of training exercise. Besides, I'm a teacher, I went to the same academy, and these kids are better than I was at their age. Well, not better than me specifically."

"But they are better than me." Constantine said.

"So what do you plan to do now?" Saphron asked.

"Go to the military base and ask if we can get into Atlas."

"Well..." Jaune said. "We already tried that."

The gates of the military base slammed shut in their faces, leaving the group stunned.

"Bollocks." Constantine said.

"Heyyy!" Ruby greeted. "We have to get to Atlas!"

Two enormous guards appeared on the other side of the barricaded gate, forming a line.

"The base is closed!"

"By order of the mighty Kingdom of Atlas!"

“Glory to Atlas!”

Constantine had to resist the urge to utter the same profanities that had gotten him beaten up by the police in an English jail cell.

“Ugh… Guys, this is Weiss Schnee. We want to take her home.” Qrow said, taking advantage of the situation.

“And I’m a citizen of Atlas.” Constantine said. “You can look me up in the database. I’m John Constantine.”

The soldiers looked at each other, then at Qrow.

“We’ll check with our commanding officer!”

“Let’s march!”

The two soldiers headed inside, marching in perfect military formation.

“They’re a little…” Yang began.

“Weird.” Ruby finished.

“I’ve never wanted to burn something to the ground so badly,” the magician muttered.

Maria Calavera muttered to herself. “I think I know the officer…”

“Are you friends?” Ruby asked.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Acquaintances?” Weiss asked.

“No, not that either.”

“Colleagues?” Blake pressed.

“Hot, hot…”

“Enemies?” Yang suggested.

“That’s the word!” Maria said with a grin.

“Oh fuck off.” Constantine cursed under her breath; nothing was ever easy. “Why?”

“I come every ten years to get my eyes checked at Atlas. But one day you sneak snacks on the flight and they blacklist you.” she remarked angrily.

“Oh no…” Ruby complained.

“Look on the bright side.” Maria encouraged her. “Maybe she’s dead.”

“And if not, we can always fix it ourselves.” Constantine added, earning a disapproving look from the group.

The pair of soldiers returned, this time accompanied by fanfare music.

"I hate this world..." Constantine pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Presenting!" one of the soldiers announced.

"Special Operations!" the other continued.

"Caroline Cordovin!" After their joint announcement, a pair of footsteps from heavy boots filled the air. Between them appeared an older woman with gray hair and a military jacket.

Constantine had to look down to meet her gaze.

The woman approached them, glancing sideways at Maria.

"Witch."

"Demon." the former huntress retorted.

"I see you've brought more contraband this time."

"Oh, Cordo." Maria said affectionately. "They say time changes people, but you still have a stick up your—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Okay, let’s not go there. Um… Hello, Miss Cordovin. My name is Ruby Rose, and I’d like you to hear about…”

“Whatever it is, I’ve already heard it from your friends over there.” Cordovin gestured to Jaune and his team, who were standing a safe distance away. “I told you to leave!”

“And I said I wouldn’t stop until you let us through!” Nora shouted, being restrained by her companions.

“It’s obvious that civilians have a hard time understanding the important work that goes on at this base, so let me explain it to you in simple terms.”

“Save your words with me.” Constantine said. “It’s clear what you are: a deterrent and a show of force.”

“We protect Argus!” Cordovin said angrily. – We have fulfilled the mission entrusted to us by the glorious Kingdom of Atlas!

“Atlas doesn’t care about you. Just like they don’t care about the rest of the world. If they did, they wouldn’t have closed the borders like cowards.”

“John!” Qrow scolded him.

“Sorry, sorry… I can’t stand the military.”

“General Ironwood is no coward,” Cordovin said with an angry grimace. Then he smiled at Weiss. “If Miss Schnee has come to her senses, we’d be happy to take her home. But we won’t be taking her friends of… dubious origins.”

Although the officer was referring to Blake, Constantine couldn’t help but feel targeted.

“What do you mean by that?”

“That we’re done here.”

“Hold on a minute, you little dictator,” Constantine complained. “I’m a citizen of Atlas, you have no right to deny me entry.”

Cordovin snapped her fingers. At her signal, one of his subordinates handed her a tablet displaying Constantine's face.

"Let's see… Disrespect at the authority, assault, slander, theft from Schnee Industries property…"

The group looked at Constantine; Maria couldn't stop smiling.

"I was short on cash, and Dust is expensive."

"Cattle rustling…"

"It was just a chicken!" the magician complained.

"Vandalism, non-payment… Oh, and my favorite for last. Threats to the director of the Schnee Dust Company, Jacques Schnee, by sending him a note written in blood."

"Mr. Constantine!" Weiss said astonished, making a gesture of digust.

"Cool." Yang murmured.

"Weiss, dear, I want you to know something." Constantine said. "I really hate your father. You have no idea."

"But why a note in blood?!"

“Because it was a curse. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious, you’ll just see that he's starting to go bald.”

“Somehow, you have avoided imprisonment by gaining the support of the people of Mantle, Mr. Constantine. But as long as it depends on me, you won’t set foot on Atlas soil again.”

The doors closed, leaving the group outside.

Constantine made a strangling gesture. “I’m going to kill that fascist bitch.”

“I’ll help you, Constantine.” Maria said. “But the killing blow is mine.”

Qrow sighed, walking away from the group.

“Uncle Qrow? Where are you going?” Ruby asked.

“We failed. I’m going to drink.”

“B-but we still have options…”

“Our only option has been slammed shut in our faces. It’s over, Ruby.”

Constantine glanced at Qrow; he didn’t need to speak to get his message across. He was disappointed.

“Wait a minute.” Nora said optimistically. “We still have Ozpin. He’ll know what to do.”

Team RWBY exchanged glances, clearly uncomfortable.

“Well…” Ruby began. “We have a little problem.”

Back at Saphron’s house, the sound of a bang drew everyone’s attention.

Jaune, filled with rage, had punched the wall, creating a huge crack.

Constantine tapped it with his knuckles. “Blast it, this is a proper house. This isn’t some American suburb.”

“Jaune, calm down.” Ruby pleaded.

“No! If we can’t kill Salem, what’s the point of all this?!” The boy glared at Oscar, grabbing him by the shoulders and slamming him against the wall. “I know he’s there. How long were you going to keep fooling us?”

Constantine placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing tightly. Unfortunately for the magician, Jaune's strength was immense; he didn't even feel his grip.

"Leave the kid alone. It's not his fault he has a parasite inside him."

"You!" Jaune released Oscar, redirecting his anger toward Constantine. "You're a magician too, I'm sure you knew that. And what's this about other worlds?"

"Look, kid, even if I knew Salem was immortal, my plans to stop her would still be in motion. I'm weaker than you, I don't have the same Semblances as you... But I'm smart, and sometimes that's enough."

"That doesn't explain the 'other worlds' thing." Yang said.

"Mr. Constantine, with the Apathy thing, I couldn't ask... What was that thing we saw when you made the deal with Jinn?" Ruby asked.

Constantine sighed. Explaining the Multiverse wasn't his forte.

"Okay, I need a whiteboard. This will do." Constantine picked up a whiteboard the baby used for drawing. On it, he drew a circle. “Let’s imagine this is Remnant.”

“Remnant isn’t shaped like that,” Nora said, laughing, earning herself a smack from Weiss.

“Thanks. As I was saying, let’s imagine this is Remnant. It has its Ruby, it has its Yang, you know, the usual.” Constantine drew another circle. “But this is also Remnant, and things are different here. Even though Ruby and Yang are still who they are, maybe in this world Jaune isn’t himself, or maybe Blake has a cat’s tail instead of cat’s ears.”

Constantine continued drawing circles, filling the whiteboard. “Each Remnant is different, with differences that are more or less significant.” Constantine tapped it with two fingers. The circles popped off the whiteboard, creating planets that floated in the room. “And this is the Multiverse.”

“Incredible…” Yang murmured.

“So, you come from another Remnant?” Ren asked.

“Not exactly. I come from another universe, but I don’t come from Remnant. My planet is Earth, and it’s quite a bit bigger than this one. Something very strange is happening with Remnant; it’s as if it suddenly… incorporated itself.”

Jaune held his head, trying to piece things together. “But then… how did you get here?”

“I arrived by accident. I was trying to stop a summoning ritual, a ritual that turned out to be Salem’s doing. I don’t know how, but she’s aware of the existence of other worlds, and she’s been sending books with instructions for summoning her creatures. I messed around with the spell and ended up on the outskirts of Atlas.”

“And why are you still here?” Blake asked.

“Because I can’t go back. Salem has done something; normal travel between Earths is unstable, and the only way is to go through Hell first, and I can’t set foot in that place without all its inhabitants wanting to kill me.”

“That’s why you want to kill Salem.” Weiss said. “So you can go back to your Earth.”

“Yes, and because he’s a danger to everyone else. That’s my job, Weiss. To prevent bad things from happening.”

Jaune sighed, a throbbing headache visible in his face. “This is too much for me. I’m going upstairs.”

Jaune went upstairs, followed by his team, who were also trying to make sense of it all.

Constantine watched Team RWBY and Oscar, his blue eyes cold.

“I’ve said it before, but I’m not a hero. And neither are you. You’re just kids with too much weight on your shoulders. You want to save the world? Face the consequences, but let me make this clear: this is a path of pain.”

Constantine left the house, leaving the team pondering the future.

The magician began to wander aimlessly, smoking one of his cigarettes. He could go find Qrow, but he wasn't in the mood to argue with him right now.

He could work on a spell to extricate Ozpin from the child he was parasitizing, but his instinct told him it wasn't the right time.

He could focus his efforts on discovering who that mysterious girl was who had arrived in Remnant and sold a Legion of Super-Heroes ring. The wizard prayed it was Supergirl, even though he knew she didn't fit the description the seller had given him.

He had too many things on his plate at once; he needed to think.

He began looking at the shop windows, feeling the snow between his fingers, reminding him of cold days in London. He glanced curiously at a bookstore, and that's when he sensed it.

In the reflection of the shop window, he saw a figure stalking him. It was hooded and shrouded in shadows, undetectable to most people. Luckily for Constantine, he was more than used to people trying to stab him in the back.

The figure appeared to have its eyes covered by a blindfold; he couldn't make out who it was. The magician continued walking, looking for a newsstand to buy the day's newspaper.

With the newspaper under his arm, he strolled casually toward a bench, making sure the figure was still watching him.

In a swift movement, Constantine unfolded the newspaper, turning to sit down. It was a brief moment, but in the time it took him to sit and open the paper, he got a better look at the figure.

Besides the mask, there was something else that stood out beneath that hood. A pair of horns.

Constantine smiled, hiding his face behind the newspaper.

"So the loser has come all the way here..." he muttered. "You couldn't accept that she dumped you, could you? On top of dating a minor, you're stalking her."

The magician had a fleeting idea. If it worked, his life would be easier.

Folding the newspaper, Constantine headed toward a shop he'd seen earlier; he only needed to buy one thing.

He didn't take long to get the item, but to Constantine's surprise, his phone rang.

"Could it be the kids?" the magician answered, hearing an alarmed Ruby on the other end. "Hey hey hey, slow down, Ruby. Uh-huh, yeah… What?! Okay, I'll get on with it."

Constantine put his phone away, lighting a cigarette as he trembled with nerves.

Oscar, Ozpin's vessel, had disappeared.

The magician had searched the city from top to bottom, his cigarettes dwindling at an alarming rate as he tried to keep his anxiety at bay. It was one thing if the kid had had enough and left, but knowing Adam was nearby changed everything.

As he walked on, he reached the park, where he caught sight of a familiar blond boy. He was about to catch Jaune's attention until he saw his companion, a red-haired woman with a face that seemed familiar.

He only needed to see the statue in front of them to understand.

"Pyrrha…" Constantine murmured.

She was one of his mistakes, a name added to the infamous list alongside Astrid's.

She was another poor girl he couldn't save.

The mage stared at the statue, which perfectly captured the power, pride, and kindness that the young heroine always displayed.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the person who stood beside him.

"It's just like her, isn't it?" The mage was startled; the woman who had been with Jaune was now standing next to him.

"No, not at all." Constantine said. “Pyrrha had an unparalleled aura, the aura of someone destined for great things. But destiny isn't always what we expect.”

“Yes, but I know that if she fought, she did it for what she loved.” the woman replied. “From what you say, you knew Pyrrha. Are you a teacher?”

“I don't even know if I could call myself that.” the magician laughed. “I was there, at the moment of her death. It should have been me.”

The woman smiled, looking at Constantine. “But she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I know she would have loved to stay with her friends, but I also know that she dedicated her life to saving others. Are you superstitious?”

“I must be, because of my work.” the magician replied. “Let's just say I'm not your average hunter.”

“Then I want to know what you think. Do you believe her soul rests in peace?”

Constantine took a deep breath, pondering his answer.

“No, I don't think so.”

The woman seemed surprised by his answer. “Why?”

“Spirits stay for various reasons, including unfinished business. I think Pyrrha is still here, watching over her friends.”

The red-haired woman smiled, closing her eyes. “Sounds like her.”

“Yes…”

Constantine looked at Jaune, who was walking with Ren and Nora. A gust of wind tore some red leaves from the trees, sending them flying.

When he reached Jaune, Constantine thought he saw a figure, a red-haired girl with a ponytail, stroking his cheek before disappearing again.

The magician smiled, turning to wave goodbye to the woman, but she was already gone.

"That gives me the creeps." the magician replied, heading back to the house.

Upon returning, Constantine rejoined the team, finding a drunk Qrow on the front steps.

"Damn it... Get up, drunkard." Constantine kicked him in the leg, making Qrow groan.

"Did you find anything?" Ruby asked.

"Nothing at all." Constantine said. He wasn't going to tell them about Adam, not yet.

"Ugh... What am I doing on the steps?"

"Maybe it's because nobody's home." Ruby replied. "Because we've all gone looking for Oscar."

"Oh..."

Saphron and his wife, Terra, soon appeared. Terra seemed embarrassed by the spectacle Qrow was making.

"Don't worry, we'll find him. We won’t go to Atlas without him.” Jaune said.

“It’s not like we can.” Constantine said. “As much as I dislike it, we need Oscar. And above all, we need Oz.”

At that moment, the front door opened. “I was wondering when you were coming back.”

In the doorway stood Oscar, wearing a new outfit. It was an olive-green jacket with a shirt underneath, and he had bandages around his neck to complete the look.

“Oscar!” Nora shouted, laughing and throwing herself at him along with the rest of the young hunters.

As he entered, Constantine glanced at him with his Semblance. There didn’t seem to be any magic involved; it was Oscar who was in control.

“Oscar, I’m so sorry for talking to you like that.” Jaune said.

“No, it’s okay. It’s just that I’m scared. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be myself. But for as long as I am, I’m going to do everything I can to help.”

“Well, I’m sure Constantine can do something about that.” said Ren.

The wizard scratched his neck, clicking his tongue. “I’m not promising anything, kid. I’ve never seen anything like what you’ve got. Going in blind is dangerous.”

“I understand…” A beep startled Oscar, who put his hands to his head. “The saucepan I had on the stove!”

“We’ll take care of it.” said Saphron, handing the baby to Maria as she and Terra went to the kitchen.

Qrow started upstairs, but Ruby stopped him. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t want to spoil your celebration.”

“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart.” said Constantine. “If I’m stuck with these kids, you are too.”

“You don’t understand… Everything we’ve done has been for nothing. You’re just putting yourselves in danger.”

“No.” said Ruby. “We saved Haven, we got the relic. We've come a long way without adult help, we can keep it up. But if you want to follow a bunch of teenagers... we'd be happy to have you."

Maria smiled, looking at Ruby. "Looks like you haven't given her all the credit she deserves."

Qrow smiled, looking at his niece. "Okay. What's the plan?"

"Actually, I think I have a plan," said Jaune.

"Go ahead, tell us." Ruby urged.

"Well, we can't get to Atlas without an airship, and Cordovin isn't going to take us in hers. So we just have to steal one."

Everyone fell silent, even the baby looked confused.

"Jaune, that's not just breaking the law, it's worse." said Weiss.

"We'd be breaking about five laws, four of them international. Besides, it's grounds for starting a war, and Weiss and I could be tried for treason," Constantine commented.

“Did you count assaulting an officer?” Maria asked. “We won’t be able to steal one without hitting Cordovin.”

“We’d be breaking six laws.” Constantine corrected.

“John, we’re talking about something serious.” Qrow said.

“Me too. I never joke around when it comes to breaking the law. You need to know your rights and what you’re up against.” Constantine sat down on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. “Okay, Jaune, it’s your plan. Tell us how it’s going to work.”

As the rest of the house took their seats, Jaune began to explain his plan. It was simple, quick, and effective; Constantine had to give him that credit.

Of course, Jaune’s plan ignored one unknown variable: Adam Taurus. As Jaune continued explaining, Constantine pondered what to do. He could warn them, or he could trust these kids to make his long-term plan work.

And Constantine knew perfectly well when he should trust someone.

The next day, everyone was in position, ready to carry out the plan. Everyone, that is, except Constantine.

That morning, Ruby and the others had found a note from the wizard saying he had to attend to an urgent matter, one that required his magical abilities, and telling them he would meet them in Atlas.

Despite the pain of not having their partner, the plan continued. Weiss and Maria had stolen the airship and left the tower's scaffolding, but that's when the unforeseen variable came into play.

Blake, tasked with disabling Cordovin's radar, had come face to face with her nightmare, the dark figure from her past that had been haunting her.

Because of this, Cordovin detected the group and took drastic measures. From the fortress of Argus, a massive mech rose, ready to crush the team of hunters and, more specifically, Maria Calavera.

In the distance, on the peak of the mountain range, a blond man in a trench coat watched both fronts while smoking. On one side, he saw the team facing Cordovin, having considerable success thanks to their speed.

On the other side, he saw Blake fighting Adam, slowly approaching a waterfall, all while he saw Yang in the distance, approaching on her beloved motorcycle, Bumblebee.

Constantine stubbed out his cigarette, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"You'd better win, girls. I've bet on you."

Constantine turned, disappearing back into the undergrowth.

"What does she see in you?!" Adam Taurus, filled with rage, fought Yang using all his power.

He unleashed an attack, creating a deadly spiral with his sword, knocking Yang down. She got to her feet; she couldn't attack blindly like she had in Beacon.

Analyze the situation, devise a strategy, wait for the right moment.

"A coward! Just like her!"

With his accumulated power, Adam unleashed a wave of energy toward Yang, creating a cloud of smoke upon impact. He leaped toward her, intent on slicing her in two with his sword.

His sword remained motionless.

As the smoke cleared, Yang's eyes were red and her hair was ablaze, her robotic arm gripping the sword.

"I've got you."

Then she struck.

A punch powerful enough to carve a furrow in the earth with Adam's body, shattering his aura in the process.

He rose, wounded, reaching for his sword again. To the assailant's horror, it was still in Yang's hands.

"I may not be faster than you, but I'm smarter." Yang flung the sword toward the waterfall.

"No!" Adam raced after her, only to be met with an upward punch from Blake, who had been concealed beneath the ledge.

As he stepped back, Adam tripped over something—one of the halves of Blake's weapon, which had broken in the fight. Blake and Adam rushed toward it, while Yang came up behind him with a fragment of Blake's sword.

They attacked simultaneously, plunging the blades into Adam's chest and back, piercing his body.

He slowly looked down, his eyes narrowing in shock.

"Oh…"

Adam, in shock, walked slowly toward the ledge, where he knelt. Finally, his strength gave out, and he plummeted toward the waterfall.

That was the end of Adam Taurus, defeated in combat by Yang and Blake.

Or at least, that's what they believed.

Pain, cold, fear—all these sensations enveloped Adam.

His chest had been pierced, he was bleeding profusely, and the fall had nearly finished him off. But he couldn't die, not there, not when the person who had abandoned him was still alive.

He managed to reach a large slab of stone, crawling and leaving a trail of blood. There, embedded in the rock, lay his sword.

It had to be a sign, an indication that he still had revenge to seek.

Then he heard a hiss.

It was a whistling sound that played a mournful melody, a song that chilled him to the bone. He tried to turn around to see its source, and what he saw froze his heart.

Through the mist caused by the waterfall's spray, he managed to glimpse a boat with a person standing, rowing.

As the figure approached, Adam's fear grew. Was it a Grimm who had sensed his weakness? Or a traveler who had seen him fall and was coming to his aid?

The answer, to Adam's misfortune, was much worse.

The figure became clearer, revealing a smiling Constantine.

"No… No!" Adam cried.

"Hello, Adam." Constantine left the boat, approaching the man. He noticed his face; it bore the Dust Schnee company seal, branded onto it, with the eye above unusable. "Damn, I'll make sure to get it back to Jacques."

"You… What?"

"I saw you following me. You can't expect to catch me off guard. You must be incredibly skilled to do that, like Batman, for example."

"What are you doing here?" Adam crawled, trying to reach for his sword. "Finishing the job?"

Constantine took a step, stepping on his hand and causing a wave of pain.

"No, no, no… Blake and Yang already took care of that. You won't last long with those injuries. I've come to tell you a story."

"What?"

"Yes, I think you'll like it." Constantine stood beside him, looking at him as he writhed in pain. "Once upon a time, long ago, there was a Warrior King."

"The Warrior King of Vale? We all… we all know that story."

"Another king. Listen, shut up and listen." Constantine complained. “This King was a warrior without equal, leading his armies in a thousand battles. His sword cut through steel as if it were paper, his bloodlust making his enemies tremble. Time seemed to have no effect on him, for the older he grew, the more he perfected his swordsmanship. However, his downfall came from betrayal, a blow from someone he least expected.”

Constantine stopped, gesturing with his hands to get Adam’s attention.

“His general, who had served him so well, had grown greedy and attacked the King from behind, along with his loyal followers. The King killed almost all of his attackers, but the General managed to deliver the final blow. Before dying, the King uttered a curse. As long as his spirit lived, he would protect the kingdom from people like him.”

“I don’t understand… if you’re going to kill me, do it.”

“Hush, now comes the interesting part. After killing him, the General disposed of his sword; he didn’t want a symbol of the former King. But that sword was found by the general's greatest enemy: the princess, the king's daughter. Wielding the sword, she embarked on a journey of slaughter and vengeance, feeling the blade fuel her bloodlust. Thus, she killed the general, perpetuating the cycle of violence. Since then, the sword has changed hands several times, but one thing has always remained constant: whoever possessed that sword, imbued with the spirit of the Warrior King, would have the power to unleash death and chaos upon enemy ranks."

Constantine approached Adam's sword, kicking him in the arm to prevent him from reaching it. "Now then, Adam. You are not like that king. You are not noble, you are not a great warrior who has conquered countries, and for all practical purposes, you are a pathetic little man who spends his time harassing his ex-girlfriend."

Constantine drew the sword from the stone, making a small cut on his hand and drawing on the blade with his own blood.

"Nevertheless, you will have to be enough."

The magician stabbed Adam, reciting ancient chants as the symbols glowed with a radiant light. When the light faded from Adam's eyes, so did the symbols; there was no trace of blood left on the sword.

"Your entire life has been defined by your status as a slave. First serving your master, then fighting against him. Now, you will fight for him."

Constantine stared at the blade. Instead of his reflection, he saw Adam, frightened and confused.

"Nooo! Get me out of here! GET ME OUT!"

Adam screamed, pounding from inside the sword, crying out in helplessness.

Constantine took out the item he had purchased, a sword scabbard. He slowly placed the tip of the sword into the scabbard.

"Congratulations, Adam. You have earned yourself a job for the rest of eternity."

Silencing his scream, Constantine sheathed the sword, concealing it in his trench coat. He opened his phone; communications with the group were open. He was interested in knowing how they were doing.

From what he could hear, they were all already on the airship heading to Atlas, and he also heard a mention of a giant Grimm.

"Thank goodness I missed that."

Constantine returned to his boat. For once, trusting others to do his dirty work had paid off.

On the airship, Maria piloted calmly while the others rested. Ruby looked at her hands, thinking about what had happened. While they were fighting Cordovin, a giant Grimm had appeared, and she had managed to use her eyes to petrify it, allowing Cordovin to deal with it.

Her power was beyond what she had initially believed.

Blake sat next to Yang, leaning on her shoulder, unable to stop thinking about what they had done.

Qrow was the most serious of them all; he was pained at having left Constantine behind.

“Do you think he’ll meet with us?” Oscar asked.

“Huh? Yeah, I have no doubt about it.” Qrow said. “That bastard always seems to be one step ahead. He’ll definitely show up there before we do.”

“I don’t know,” Weiss said, sounding worried. “Cordovin really had it in for him.”

“Guys, we’re talking about Constantine.” Nora encouraged them. “I mean, that guy knew more about Salem than we did. He even knew about the Ache-Life Equation.”

“Anti-Life.” Ren corrected her.

“That’s it. He’ll definitely be fine.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

The transport fell silent. From beneath Ruby’s cloak emerged a blond man wearing a trench coat, a white shirt, and a red tie.

Absolutely every crew member gasped in surprise, causing Maria to jerk.

“Stop making a scene or I’ll turn this thing around!” the old woman yelled.

“What?!” Ruby stood up, staring at her cloak and trying to see if she could pierce it.

“How did you do that?!” Jaune demanded, his hand on his heart, fearing a heart attack.

Constantine approached him, conjuring an energy bar from behind his ear and putting it to his mouth. “Magic.”

Settled into the airship, Constantine ignored his companions’ shouts, trying to understand how he had done that. The only one who didn’t speak was Qrow, who gave Constantine a look and nodded.

The mage placed his hand at his side, feeling his new weapon vibrate with rage.

Constantine smiled, his blue eyes radiating coldness.

With Lionheart and Adam gone, there were now two fewer enemies on the list.

He thought of Atlas, of all the resources he had built there, and what he could achieve if he had Robyn's support and managed to get his hands on the next relic.

Soon, the rest of his enemies would fall.

Chapter Text

Atlas.

That was the name of Remnant's most advanced kingdom, creators of hard light dust, as well as numerous inventions that had spread throughout the world.

The defining characteristic of Atlas was that its capital wasn't just any ordinary place like Vale or Mistral. The city of Atlas was in the air, floating above Mantle.

The group was stunned by the floating city; even Weiss stared at it, a smile on his face.

Constantine and the other adults didn't share the same look of surprise. Both Maria and Qrow had been there several times, and Constantine felt repulsed by the sight of the wealthy city floating above everyone else.

"It's incredible..." Blake commented.

"It's insulting." Constantine said. "They're right there, hovering over them like the sword of Damocles."

"Whose sword?" Ruby asked. "Is it another hunter?"

"Sometimes I forget that, for all practical purposes, this is another planet."

“Mr. Constantine may have said something that made sense.” Weiss said. “Something strange is going on here.”

Suddenly, the clouds cleared, revealing the landscape more clearly. The city of Atlas was now surrounded by ships, creating a high-powered security perimeter.

“What’s happening?” Yang asked.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it one bit.” Constantine said. “Maria, keep a low profile.”

“Attention ship D025, you have entered Atlas airspace. Proceed to the airport. Welcome home.” announced the communicator on his ship.

Maria looked at Constantine and nodded. “Don’t tell me twice.”

Carefully, Maria piloted toward Mantle, venturing into the city.

Like any good Briton, Constantine had read many of his country’s famous novels, whether for research or pure pleasure. And what he was witnessing seemed straight out of a dystopian novel.

There were drones monitoring the population, armed androids patrolling the streets, and to top it all off, enormous screens displaying the person responsible for it all.

On the screens appeared an Ironwood different from how Constantine remembered him. He had dark circles under his eyes and a sad look, as well as a thick beard.

"Citizens of Mantle. Even if it doesn't seem like it, even if the other nations say otherwise, you are safe. We are strong, Atlas is strong. Stay united."

"Holy crap." Constantine said. "I think he's completely lost it."

"Don't you think he's acting strange?" Yang asked.

"He was kind of... sad," Ruby mentioned.

"It must be because of the fall of Beacon." Qrow said, still in his seat. "I don't like this at all."

"I can still call Winter." Weiss said hopefully. "I'm sure she'll help us."

"Weiss..." Blake said from his window. “I think you should see this.”

On the screens, there was now a white-haired woman several years older than Weiss, but definitely younger than Qrow or Constantine himself.

“The safety of Atlas is in all of our hands. Any attempt at rebellion or non-cooperation with Atlas forces will be considered a crime. Atlas is counting on you.”

That was the message that came from the screen, perfectly dictated by Winter Schnee.

“No… this, this is wrong. Something’s gone wrong.” Weiss said, frightened.

“Yes, and I’ll tell you what,” Constantine replied. “It’s called a hyper-militarized society. The moment I set foot in this country, I knew it would end like this when everything went to hell.”

“No!” Weiss protested. “You don’t understand, Mr. Constantine. My sister isn’t like my father. She’s good, a hero. We just… we just need to talk to her.”

“Weiss, you saw what we saw. I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk to Winter.” Qrow snapped. “I don’t even know if it’s a good idea to talk to Ironwood.”

A sense of gloom settled over the ship; everything seemed to be going downhill.

Maria murmured thoughtfully. “Well, I know of a place we can go.”

“Ship D025! Return immediately to—!”

Maria cut off communications, irritated. “Learn to interpret a signal, miss!”

After hanging up with the operator, Maria left the ship in an alley, from which they quickly emerged to avoid being caught by the authorities.

Constantine took a breath, inhaling the city's scent.

“I can't believe it's been almost a year,” the magician remarked. “Can you smell it? Can you smell Mantle?”

“Dirt?” Ren asked.

“Sweat?” Nora ventured.

“Alcohol.” Blake replied, pinching his nose as they passed a drunk man asleep on some steps.

“All that with one more element in the mix. Desperation.” The magician continued walking, reveling in his stroll. “The people who live down here have to wake up every day looking up at the sky and seeing the city of Atlas. The academy, the army, the money—it's all up there. Only those born into the clouds or strong enough to climb to the academy have a chance of escaping this hole."

The group stared in dismay at Constantine, who was walking briskly as if he owned the place.

"I don't think you came away with a very good impression of this place, Mr. Constantine," Blake said.

"Not much, but in return I met some people, some good people." The magician glanced at a poster on a bulletin board. There was a picture of Robyn Hill, who was running for a position on the council. "People who can change things."

As Constantine spoke, the group heard a noise behind them. Yang had kicked one of the drones, breaking it instantly.

She smiled sheepishly, scratching her head. "Sorry."

Qrow sighed wearily. "We'd better keep going."

The group continued onward, confirming that what Constantine had said was true.

"This place is so sad" Blake remarked.

“Yeah? Well, you shouldn’t have come!” A bespectacled man emerged from an alley, clearly intoxicated. “You guys are always complaining about Atlas, but here you are.”

The group frowned at the man’s remarks.

“Atlas has always kept the kingdoms safe, but now suddenly we’re the bad guys.”

Constantine clicked his tongue in irritation. A man sitting on a step looked at him, narrowing his eyes. Suddenly, panic gripped him, and he turned to his bespectacled companion.

“Dude, shut up…”

“Pfft, why would I? These… people think they’re better than us, when they’ve never accomplished anything.”

Constantine approached him slowly, his icy eyes fixed on him.

“You’d better leave, buddy.”

“Why do you say that? Who do you think you are?”

Constantine placed his hand on the man's shoulder, squeezing as he smiled. "Last chance, lad."

"N-no!" said the man on the stairs, trembling. "I-I didn't mean it, he's drunk! L-let him go, Mr. Constantine."

At the sound of that name, the bespectacled man's face drained of all color. He began to tremble, fearfully staring at the hand squeezing his shoulder as something warm soaked his trousers.

"C-co-cons… Constantine," the bespectacled man murmured.

"Detective, professional busybody, and the guy you call when you've got a problem. Are you a problem?"

"No! I'm not!" Constantine let go, watching him start to walk away. "Sorry!"

Both men ran off, leaving the group behind. The magician dusted off his hands, lighting a cigarette as the others watched him.

"What's going on?" he asked, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"What was that?" Ruby asked.

"Oooh... Was that magic?" Nora asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

"I remind you that I was here for several months, and I built up a reputation. It's nice to see that people haven't forgotten you."

“What kind of reputation?” Yang asked.

“The kind you’d call on when the hunters wouldn’t help. I did everything. Find missing people, prove infidelity, kill any Grimm who’d snuck in, teach some street gang a lesson… I was Mantle’s go-to guy, though that didn’t exactly put me on the good side of those guys up there.”

Maria Calavera started laughing and shaking her head. She liked Constantine.

“Now I understand why Cordovin didn’t want to let you through,” Qrow murmured. “So, where are you taking us?”

“Calm down, kid, we’re almost there,” Maria replied.

Constantine, looking around, started to get his bearings. This street seemed familiar; he’d been there before. Then, seeing the door, he understood where they were headed.

“Oh shit…”

The wizard stopped in the doorway. He wasn’t ready to confront the person inside. He hadn't been able to save his daughter.

As she entered, Maria slammed her hand on the table, catching the attention of the man behind the desk.

"Pietro! Old friend… I missed you."

Pietro jumped, looking at the woman. "Oh, what a surprise… Do we know each other?"

The group watched the scene wearily. Blake looked at the door, trying to drag Constantine inside.

"Cybernetic eyes? Do you adjust them every ten years?" the old woman asked.

Pietro stared at her for a moment, just long enough for memories to surface in his eyes.

"Maria! Of course, of course, has it really been ten years?" he said, emerging from behind the table, perched on a chair with enormous robotic legs. "You haven't changed a bit."

"I'm like fine wine, darling, I only get better with age."

The old woman climbed onto the examination table, with Pietro at her side.

“How did you manage to get here?” the man asked.

“I would have arrived sooner, but it turns out I was carrying an unexpected package,” she said, gesturing to the group. “I thought they might need my advice.”

“Excuse me, who is he?” Qrow asked.

Maria clicked her tongue. “How impatient. Besides, I didn’t think I had to introduce you to the brightest mind at Atlas.”

“And he works here?” Weiss asked, just as a ceiling panel fell.

“He likes to keep a low profile,” Maria replied.

“Yeah, they have everything up there, but I prefer to be down here, with the people.”

“Get in there!” Blake said from the doorway, pulling something.

“Let me go! Damn, you’re strong!”

Finally, Blake fell into the building, dragging Constantine with her. Constantine got up, dusting himself off his trench coat. His eyes met Pietro's, and he felt an instant pang of guilt.

"Hello, Pietro."

"Constantine?" the man asked, confused.

"Ugh… I'm afraid so."

To everyone's surprise, Pietro laughed at the sight of him, approaching to take his hands.

"Constantine, I'm so glad to hear you're alive. After you told me you were going to the Vytal Festival and I didn't hear from you again, I feared the worst."

"You know what they were saying, I'm a tough nut to crack." Constantine coughed uncomfortably. "Pietro, I… I saw it happen, and I couldn't stop it. I'm sorry."

"Come on, Constantine, don't beat yourself up. No one could have seen it coming."

"I did. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen." The magician shook his head, focusing on what was important. "Do you know what happened to Ironwood?"

“The general hasn’t been the same since he came back from Beacon. I don’t know what he saw, but he’s not the man he used to be. Now he’s…”

“Scared,” Qrow said, clenching his fist.

“I think paranoid is a more accurate description,” Pietro commented. “I’d say almost as much as our friend Constantine.”

“I’m not paranoid.”

“Yes, you are.” everyone replied at once.

“You don’t realize how bad the vibes are when you do that,” the wizard complained.

“But wait, Pietro. What does the Council think about this situation? Or Winter Schnee?” Blake asked.

“The Council is scared. They’ll listen to Ironwood in everything he says. Although there are some people in Mantle who… Wait a minute.” Pietro took a closer look at Weiss. “You’re Weiss Schnee.”

“Wait, what was I saying about Mantle?” Yang asked.

Pietro stared at his arm, stunned. “You painted it.” The man looked at the four teammates, standing side by side. “You’re Team RWBY.”

“You know us?!” Ruby exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh, girl, of course I know you. My daughter was always going on about you.”

“Her daughter?” Ruby asked.

“Damn… Ruby, dear. This is Pietro Polendina.” Constantine said. “He’s Penny’s father.”

Ruby gasped, staring at Pietro.

“I… Penny…”

At that moment, an alarm sounded. It didn’t take them long to deduce that it was the Grimms.

Ruby glanced outside, then back at Pietro.

“We’ll be right back. Come on, guys!”

“Wait!” Pietro shouted, trying to stop her. It was no use, as she had already gone out to fight. Pietro, Maria, and Constantine remained at the clinic. “This girl… she’s more energetic than Penny told me.”

“You have no idea,” Constantine said, starting to look through Pietro’s drawers. “Those ‘Mantle people’ you were talking about. Robyn?”

“Robyn.” Pietro said with a laugh. “Since you left, she’s been fighting fiercer than ever.”

“She’s charming.” The wizard pulled out a long-handled screwdriver, gripping it tightly. "I'll take this for a moment."

The wizard stepped outside, his trench coat flapping with each step. He could see the battlefield, the group fighting against those Grimm that looked like wargs.

"Hey, Ice Queen!"

Weiss finished creating a fireball, looking at Constantine in confusion. "Huh?"

"This is a wand!"

Using the screwdriver as an extension, the wizard unleashed a light spell on several Grimm, shattering them.

Weiss made a high-pitched sound, using her glyphs to propel herself forward and take down more Grimm.

The wizard continued his attacks, each movement signifying a different attack. The number of Grimm kept growing, and one of them managed to get close to Constantine.

Trying not to panic, he raised his arm, plunging the screwdriver into the beast's eye and kicking it away.

At a safe distance, the screwdriver exploded, killing the Grimm instantly.

The wizard lit a cigarette, watching more Grimm arrive. "Metal has never been a particularly good conductor. Unless it's swords, of course."

The wizard felt the side of his trench coat, tempted to draw his new weapon. Then, something unexpected happened.

Rays of green energy rained down from the sky, eliminating the Grimm with extreme force.

The wizard dropped his cigarette in shock. He looked up at the sky, searching for the source of what had wiped out the Grimm.

"Blast it..."

Flying through the sky with the moon at its back was a figure with long orange hair and a green Tyrolean dress.

The figure descended slowly, slowing down with the rockets on its feet.

It was Penny Polendina, safe and sound, though in a different body. But Constantine activated his Semblance, peering inside.

Despite everything, it was her.

"Dear, why don't you come and say hello to your friends?" said Pietro, accompanied by Maria.

Penny turned around, noticing the group for the first time.

"Penny…" Ruby murmured. Her friend, the one she had lost that fateful day at the festival, was standing in front of her.

"Sa… Lu…" Penny got into a starting position, sending a wave of panic through Ruby. "Tatioooon!"

Penny started running, so fast that Constantine swore he could hear her break the sound barrier.

Ruby began to scream as she saw the enormous, metallic, red-haired mass heading straight for her with a radiant smile on its face.

Penny tackled Ruby hard, covering several meters before stopping. She jumped up, fists on her hips.

"It's so good to see you all again!"

"Penny... I thought you were..." Ruby began.

"Dead?" Pietro ventured. "Well, that's true, depending on how you look at it. Although Penny was destroyed, we were able to recover her core, and although it took some time, here it is."

"I'm as good as new, Ruby, better than new even. I'm more powerful now; I've become the official protector of the city." Penny grabbed Ruby by the shoulders. "I have so much to tell you, I can't wait."

The alarm blared again, drawing the group's attention.

"I'm afraid it'll have to wait." Penny released Ruby, igniting her rockets. "I can't wait to hear about your exciting adventures. It was great seeing you all. See you later!"

Penny Polendina flew off, ready to continue saving lives.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but that’s definitely Penny,” Yang said.

“I didn’t understand anything.” Maria started walking back to the clinic with Pietro.

“I wasn’t expecting something like that.” Ren commented.

Qrow smiled. “Honestly, guys, this has all been a lot easier than I expected.”

The moment Qrow said that, Constantine’s entire body went on high alert, and for several reasons.

As far as he knew, Qrow’s Semblance included some kind of negative probability manipulation, and that sentence was like inviting bad luck.

On the other hand, he’d been on the streets for decades, and he’d acquired the vital skill of knowing when he was being watched. Especially if the watcher was the police.

“Get down!”

Constantine dodged to the side, avoiding some rope balls designed to immobilize him. Unfortunately for the rest, they lacked Constantine's ability to sense security forces, falling prey to the surprise attack.

The magician stood up, alarmed. There was only one type of person who used those tactics. During the months he'd spent at Atlas, he'd studied the people who could pose a problem, and those who had arrived were certainly in very high positions.

Without thinking, he used Gravity Dust to launch himself into an alley, where he began to run.

Ace Ops, Atlas's elite team, arrived on the scene.

"Should I take him on, boss?" asked a woman with dark skin and brown hair, with two tufts that vaguely resembled ears.

"Wait, Harriet, remember the training. Our reports aren't clear about what Constantine is capable of," replied their leader, an attractive brown-haired man in a sleeveless uniform.

"Turtle would have caught me by now!" Constantine shouted from the alley. "Where is he? Lying around somewhere, or were you able to bury his body?"

Constantine began to laugh. After investigating the Ace Ops, he discovered they had lost one of their members, Turtle, who had been replaced by Marrow. And if his theory about the fairytale characters was correct, then that Turtle had to be somehow connected to Harriet.

"You're dead!" the huntress shouted.

Lightning bolts of speed flashed in her eyes as she assumed a running stance.

"Harriet don't!" her leader ordered, but it was too late.

Constantine grinned, running down the alley as he threw a bottle of liquid to the ground.

The moment she stepped on the liquid, the speedster lost all friction, hurtling forward uncontrollably.

"Aaaah!"

Harriet slid beneath Constantine, who had climbed a fire escape to avoid the huntress.

Once the speedster passed, Constantine continued fleeing through the city.

Behind him, he could hear someone following; it was Marrow.

"Last warning, sir. Don't make things any more complicated." Marrow told him.

"You wish, you little brat!" Constantine spat. "You're a tool and you don't even realize it."

"Last chance, or I'll be forced to use my Semblance!"

Constantine began to conjure a spell, drawing symbols with his hands.

"Try it, lapdog!"

As soon as he said those words, he completed the spell.

"Stop!" Marrow shouted, pointing his finger at Constantine. Unfortunately for the hunter, he realized too late that the magician had tricked him.

With the spell he had conjured, Constantine made a huge mirror appear behind him, causing Marrow to point it at himself.

The faun now stared in astonishment at his reflection, frozen in place, unable to break free from his own Semblance.

Constantine let out another chuckle, pleased to see his countermeasures were working.

A huge woman with a hammer on her back entered his field of vision. As far as Constantine knew, Elm's power was to stick to a surface with her feet, something very useful for someone with his type of ranged weapon.

"The trip's over, blondie!"

"Yours just began." Constantine pulled two Dust crystals from his trench coat, one of wind and one of gravity.

Using them in a way that would give a heart attack to anyone who knew the price of Dust, he shattered one crystal against the other, sending a powerful shockwave toward Elm.

The huntress grounded herself to the ground, withstanding the attack thanks to her enormous aura. Soon, she realized she had fallen into a trap.

The effect of the gravitational Dust caused the huntress to struggle to stay put. And she would have succeeded if not for the effect of the wind crystal, which created a powerful tornado that sent Elm flying.

Constantine didn't have time to gloat, as he soon spotted the strongwoman's companion. Vine Zeki was on top of a building, one hand behind his back.

"Don't make things more difficult, Mr. Constantine. Come with us peacefully, control your anger."

"Shove your Zen up your ass!" the mage retorted, flipping him the bird.

Vine sighed. “Very well, I’m sorry it has to come to this.”

The man raised his hands, extending energy beams that hurtled toward Constantine.

Once again, the magician had studied his powers and knew exactly how to counter them.

The magician drew his lighter, meeting Vine’s hands. Vine was alarmed to see the lighter absorbing his vines. He tried to pull them away, but it was too late.

Constantine unleashed a flame, which spread through the energy beams to Vine, who began rolling on the ground to extinguish it.

The magician continued running through the alleys, laughing. His plans had worked perfectly, even though he had made them a year ago.

“Looks like I’m lucky for once.”

Unfortunately for Constantine, he realized too late what he had just said. Words had power, and he had uttered one that, in his current situation, could only bring him trouble.

Out of nowhere, a flowerpot fell on his head, shattering into a thousand pieces and sending Constantine sprawling to the ground, clutching his head and groaning.

"Look at my luck," Clover said cheerfully, looking at him as he stood before him.

"I hate... your Semblance." Constantine muttered before being apprehended by the leader of the Ace Ops.

"Come on, come on, don't be like that, Constantine." Clover led him to the others, who were waiting in a transport. "I was really looking forward to meeting you."

"Oh yeah? Well, I wasn't. I didn't do anything to deserve being arrested."

"You boarded an illegal aircraft, made an illegal landing, and used hunting weapons illegally. Plus, you don't have a license."

"Yes, I do, right up my ass. Stick your hand in there and see."

"I do have one." Clover was joined by the rest of the Ace Ops team, who had already escaped his attacks. Everyone, even Vine, glared at him.

"You're going to be sore," Harriet threatened.

"You're the one who's going to be sore, you fascist piece of shit." Constantine tried to bite her, only to be thrown into the transport. With the door slammed shut, the magician began to scream. "I'm going to kill you all in your sleep! You'd better go to the bathroom in pairs!"

After venting his anger, he sat down next to Qrow.

"Well done, John," Qrow said sarcastically. "I'm sure that made a good impression on them."

The magician continued cursing in dead languages. He had countermeasures for every member of Ace Ops except their leader, Clover Ebi. It was very difficult to plan against someone whose power was good luck.

He looked around. Of everyone, the only one trying to remove her handcuffs was Nora, gnawing at the ropes like a rabid animal.

Constantine twitched slightly, poking his fingers in his shoe and pulling out a small object.

"I can't believe a guy with a fishing rod beat us so easily," Jaune said.

"What did you expect?" Weiss replied. "Those were Ironwood's Ace Ops, his elite team."

"You got caught by the Ace Ops?" For the first time, the group noticed another man detained next to them. "Then Ironwood really wanted to catch you."

"They're not so special." Weiss said, annoyed.

"Not so special? They're the elite of the elite in the army, a perfect team of hunters And Ironwood's hunting dogs."

“Did they catch you too?” Nora asked.

“Pfft, I’d never let them catch me. They arrested me for protesting, and Ironwood is trying to silence me.”

“You threw a brick at his ship,” one of the pilots replied.

“But it was worth it so people would hear about our cause.”

“What cause?” Blake asked.

“Don’t wind him up,” Constantine complained, trying to manipulate the handcuffs with the lockpick he’d pulled from his shoe.

“Our cause!” the man said proudly. “The fight for Mantle’s rights, led by the powerful, intelligent, brave, and beloved Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses.”

The pilots, seeing that he was about to begin his speech, started rolling up their windows.

“They were all huntresses who graduated with honors from the academy, but instead of joining the army, they chose to stay in Mantle. She’s running for a seat on the council, and when she gets it, she’ll end Ironwood’s tyranny.”

“Do you think tyranny is the right word?” Weiss asked.

“Of course!” The man took a closer look at Weiss; he’d finally recognized her. “Of course, what would a Schnee heiress know?”

“I’m not anymore…”

“Happy Huntresses… Is that a real name?” Yang mocked.

“As real as life itself,” Constantine replied. “And even though this guy is a bit intense, he’s right about Robyn. She’s a capable person, she wants to make Mantle a better place, and she’s not afraid to fight the powerful.”

“See? This guy gets it,” the man said. “I wish I could meet her in person.”

“I did it. I’m not exactly her favorite person, but we worked well together.”

“What?!” the man exclaimed, impressed. “You worked with Robyn?!” He looked at Constantine, taking in his attire as the machinery of his brain began to fire. His pupils narrowed as he realized who he was talking to. “You’re John Constantine!”

“That’s what it says on my ID,” the magician replied, continuing to manipulate the handcuffs.

“Oh shit… Oh shit!” he said excitedly. “I can’t believe I met you. The last time I saw you, you killed that Grimm who had possessed a fruit shop.”

“Oh yeah, the flying pear incident. That was a messed up business.” the magician said, laughing.

“You’re the third person to recognize him. Why do you know Constantine?” Nora asked.

“Why do I know Constantine?” “This guy is the best detective in Mantle!” the man said, as if it were a stupid question. “He helps the people, fights the powerful, takes care of what the army won’t bother with. He was Robyn’s most important ally in the fight against Schnee’s empire, but one day, he disappeared… Until today!”

“I’m just another worker, pal. I always got paid for my jobs, don’t think everything I do is altruistic.” the magician said uncomfortably.

“Yeah, that’s what you say now, but you’ve even helped people by matching them up.”

“Wait, the pairing ritual actually worked? And I thought I’d messed up half the steps…”

“John Constantine himself, unbelievable… And to think it took the Ace Ops to catch you.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea.” Constantine said irritably. “I managed to defeat the Ace Ops, but that jerk Clover and his semblance got me. Lucky bastard…"

Yang looked at him, impressed. “Wait, you defeated them? Is that why we had to wait so long?”

“Yang, the time I spent here gave me time to study my potential enemies. I have contingency plans for every Ace Ops, for everyone except Clover.”

“Why not him?” Blake asked, curious.

“His Semblance. It thwarts any strategy against him. The only way to defeat him would be in direct combat, and as you might have guessed, that’s not exactly my thing.”

“Hey…” their transport companion interrupted. “This isn’t prison. It’s Atlas Academy.”

The group positioned themselves by the windows, watching.

“It’s incredible,” Ruby said, impressed.

“Yeah, not as incredible as you think…” Weiss said quietly.

Upon landing, the soldiers formed up in front of them, signaling them to proceed.

Constantine continued trying to discreetly free himself, following the group.

"Looks like we're finally going to see the General," Ruby said, leading the way.

After reaching the elevator, Ruby looked at her group, whispering, "We have to be careful what we say."

Blake leaned close to her ear. "We'll follow you, Ruby."

"Yeah, you talk to him to buy some time," Constantine said. "When they get out of here, they're going to be in for a rude awakening..."

Exiting the elevator, they walked down the corridor to a large main hall where the various corridors converged. As they passed through, they heard a familiar voice.

"I swear, if I have to go through another Council meeting like that..."

Three figures walked past them. One of them, an android with orange hair, looked at the group in surprise.

"Yay! You've arrived!"

Ironwood turned, staring at the stunned group.

Weiss took a step forward, looking at the white-haired woman walking beside the general.

"Winter," she called affectionately.

Schnee looked at her sister, unable to believe they had reunited.

"Ahem, a little help with these?" Nora asked, displaying the handcuffs.

Winter stood at attention, her expression serious. "You have ten seconds to remove the handcuffs before I start hurting you."

Before her soldiers could process the order, there was a loud thud of something heavy hitting the ground. Everyone stepped aside, revealing Constantine freed and holding a lockpick.

The magician looked around, coughing and putting away his lockpick.

"Come on, you dimwits, take that off them," the magician ordered authoritatively.

The soldiers recovered from their shock, removing the handcuffs as Winter glared at the magician.

After removing the handcuffs, the group followed Ironwood, who led them to his office.

"Please, come in. I'm delighted to have you here." the general said, closing the doors behind him.

"Well, that welcome didn't exactly inspire confidence." Yang complained.

Ironwood sighed, sitting down at his desk with Penny and Winter beside him.

"Please excuse how my team treated you. Although, according to their report, they had some trouble with… some of you."

Constantine simply smiled, a smile that seemed to betray the demon incarnate he became when he harbored resentment toward someone.

Ironwood coughed to regain the group's attention. "You have to understand that detecting a rebel ship triggered several alarms. It could have been a stolen vessel."

"Whaaat… Stolen?" Pfff… "Ruby looked at the ground, embarrassed. "Okay, it was stolen."

“You stole an Atlas ship?!” Winter asked incredulously as she approached them. “What were you thinking?! They could have shot you down! How could you be so irrespon…”

Weiss threw herself at her sister, hugging her tightly. “I know, but we did what we thought we had to do.”

Winter was speechless, feeling the embrace of her beloved sister. She hugged her back, reassuring her. “I guess I can understand. But you, Qrow. How could you let them do that?”

“Try to stop these kids when they get an idea in their heads.”

“And to be fair to them, it was a pretty good plan.” Constantine emphasized.

“In any case, James,” Qrow continued. “We have information for you. Information we need to give you in private.”

"Is it about the relics?" Penny asked excitedly.

"Or about the Maiden of Winter?" Winter said with a smile.

"Ah, they know. Perfect then, that saves us from unnecessary explanations," Constantine declared.

“When Beacon fell, I knew I needed to surround myself with a circle of trust. The Ace Ops know that too.”

“And I like that less.” Constantine lit a cigarette, despite Winter’s sour expression. “James, I trust the relic of creation is safe in the vault.”

Penny made a sound of surprise. “Did Ozpin tell you about the relic we’re guarding?”

“A small detail, my dear. It wasn’t very smart to put the relics you’re guarding on your kingdoms’ crests.” the wizard said, exhaling a puff of smoke.

“The relic is completely safe, Constantine.” Ironwood reported. “Just like the maiden, she’s safe and stable.”

That word caught the wizard’s attention. “Stable… that means she doesn’t have much time left. Do you have an heir lined up?” Ironwood nodded. “Damn, you’ve got this all figured out.”

Ironwood pulled the lamp from under the table. “Now that you’re here, I’d like to entrust you with my plan. You’re among the few who can help us.” The General lowered the blinds as a holographic projector rose from the floor. “Ozpin was always good at keeping Salem at bay, preventing her from achieving victory. But right now, I think we need a different approach. We have to destroy Salem.”

The wizard smiled, his blue eyes gleaming with excitement. “Very well, that sounds better. What do you have in mind?”

What appeared to be a floating structure appeared on the projector.

“The Amity Coliseum?” Ren asked.

“Yes. The coliseum’s purpose was to unite the people, and now it will fulfill that purpose once again. With international communications destroyed, it was necessary to create an alternative that was far removed from Salem’s influence.”

“And you’re going to build a floating antenna.” Yang said. “Cool.”

“And that’s why you’ve closed the borders. You wanted to prevent the information leak, to make the plan before Salem found out.” Weiss replied.

“Exactly.”

“But the embargo is hurting Mantle!” Nora complained. “The city hates you.”

Ironwood sighed sadly. “It’s a price I’m happy to pay.”

“By putting the antenna into orbit, our scientists believe we can create a… satellite, far enough away from the Grimms.”

“That would be fantastic,” Ruby replied.

Qrow and Constantine exchanged a glance; they were both thinking the same thing.

The hunter confronted the general. “James, you don’t need the entire army for this.”

“No, but I do for what comes next. After I get the Amity satellite operational, I’m going to reveal Salem’s existence.”

Constantine nearly choked on his cigarette in shock. “Hey, hey, hey, hold on a minute. What the hell do you think you’re doing? These secrets are secrets for a reason, not on a whim. Secrets have power, Ironwood. If I revealed half of what I'm keeping, wars would break out. And this one is no different."

"I know that, which is why I need the army, Constantine."

"To control the panic that would erupt in Atlas." Qrow guessed.

"Panic is inevitable, and panic attracts Grimm."

"But millions would die," Weiss said, worried. "The Grimm would be everywhere."

"And Atlas would be ready to help," Winter replied. "That's why we'll inform the population of Atlas first, so we're prepared."

"Keeping the secret will end up killing us all. And because Ozpin won't be there to guide us, I'm doing what I think is safest." Ironwood raised the blinds again, removing the hologram and looking at Constantine. "What do you think?"

The magician took another drag, pondering. "Okay, it's a good plan, I have to admit that. But we're dealing with a witch above all else; unforeseen complications are bound to arise."

"It's a good thing we have a wizard with us, then." the general said with a smile. He glanced at Oscar, who was staring uncomfortably at the ground. "Is something wrong?"

Qrow placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Yes, you see. This is Oscar, the next Ozpin."

Surprise and a glimmer of hope flooded Ironwood's face. "Oz?" He went to him, crouching down. "What a joy! Having you with us is a relief."

"Um… I'm sorry to disappoint you, sir," Oscar said. "But Ozpin is unavailable."

"What?"

Before Oscar could say anything, Ruby interrupted. “Yes! We don’t know what happened. We were in a train accident, and suddenly he stopped talking to us.”

Constantine had to suppress his pride at seeing Ruby lie so blatantly. But who wouldn’t believe her with those silver puppy-dog eyes?

“I see… that’s terrible news. Did he tell you anything about the relics before he disappeared?”

“Only that the lamp could grant three wishes, but they’d all been used up.”

Another lie, Constantine thought.

“If it helps, Ironwood, I can investigate the lamp to see if we can use it for something else. It’s still an artifact of power, and those are my specialty.”

“That’s a good idea, Constantine, but for now…” Ironwood handed the lamp back to Ruby. “I want you to know that I’m not going to leave you out in the cold, and I believe the lamp will be safe with you.”

Ruby slung the lamp over her shoulder, looking at the General. “Tell me how we can help.”

“Thank you, there’s a lot of work to be done before we can get the Colosseum up and running. But first, you’d better upgrade your equipment.”

Winter smiled proudly. “This is Atlas; you’re going to receive the best equipment possible.”

“But first, I’ll give you a tour of the academy!” Penny said excitedly.

As she led the students away, Qrow and Constantine lagged behind.

“Wait.” Ironwood told them.

They both turned around, curious about what he was going to say.

“Qrow, when I said I was glad to see you, I meant it.”

“Oh… thanks.”

“And as for you, Constantine,” Ironwood let out a tear. “I’m sorry. You warned us about the danger the festival was in, and Ozpin and I ignored you. If I had listened to you, perhaps so many people wouldn’t have died. It’s my fault.”

“It is, but what’s done is done.” the wizard replied, discarding his cigarette. “We can’t change it. All we can do is move on and make sure we screw Salem over as much as we can.”

Ironwood nodded, approaching them both and giving them a hug. Surprised by this sudden display of affection, they hugged him back.

After they separated, Ironwood coughed to regain his composure.

“Well, I think it’s about time I showed you your rooms. You’ll be staying in the faculty quarters. But first, I’d like you to go to the workshop. Pietro is waiting with your new equipment so you can make modifications to it.”

“Already?” Qrow asked. “That was quick.”

“To be honest, I told him to get to work before you even entered Mantle. I was hoping our best hunter and our unexpected wizard had survived Beacon.” Ironwood replied with a smile.

The mage smiled, cheerful. “A little optimism never hurts. I’m going to see Pietro; I’d better tell him he’s wasting his time with my equipment.”

Ironwood started to laugh. “Trust me, Constantine, I think we can surprise you.”

With his hands in his pockets, the mage walked through the academy accompanied by Qrow. Qrow looked at the hunter with a smile. “It’s good to have you sober for once.”

“Trust me, you probably didn’t like it so much when I was disobeying orders.”

“Ooh, a bad boy.” Constantine tapped Qrow’s chin with a knuckle. “I like it.”

Qrow blushed slightly, following Constantine.

They finally arrived at the workshop, where Pietro was waiting for them.

“At last!” He stepped forward, shaking their hands. “It’s good to have you here. Now I understand why Ironwood asked me for this very specific weaponry. Qrow, that briefcase over there is for you, and Constantine, come with me so I can show you your equipment."

Qrow opened his briefcase, whistling as he did. “You’ve outdone yourself, Pietro. This is top-notch.”

“Thanks, thanks. And now, Constantine, yours.”

“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, Pietro. Besides, my equipment is…” Constantine opened the briefcase, speechless. “This… okay, this might work.” The magician pulled out a brown leather jacket, examining it with a puzzled expression. “Yeah, this isn’t going to cut it.” He tossed it aside.

Pietro laughed, shaking his head. “Yes, after seeing you walk into my clinic and realizing this equipment was for you, I figured we’d have to change the outfit.” The scientist pressed a button on his chair, leaning closer. “Bring it here, please.”

Suddenly, two scientists from Atlas entered the room carrying a huge clothes rack on wheels. Constantine whistled, eyeing its contents and running his hand gently over them.

It was good quality fabric, and even he could tell it wasn't going to break easily.

The magician smiled. "Yes, it might work."

Chapter Text

The frozen tundra of Atlas was a living hell for many. Due to the harsh weather, there were hardly any outdoor settlements like in other kingdoms, since surviving in those conditions was nearly impossible.

Now, Atlas airships were traversing the frigid air, heading for an old mine.

"The plan is simple," Clover said through the headset. "I'll repeat it one more time. In the process of securing the Amity Coliseum's launch site, Atlas hunters have been clearing the area of ​​Grimm. Two days ago, they encountered an extremely powerful Geist that killed several of them. When it realized it was outmatched, it hid in an abandoned mine owned by Schnee. This indicates that it's intelligent and ancient—in other words, dangerous. Our mission is simple: eliminate it."

Impatient hunters waited on the military airships, each with something to prove.

Clover's voice crackled again.

"Team RWBY, deploy."

The doors of their airship opened, revealing the brave team of four women who had fought against the strongest enemies threatening humanity.

Ruby, sporting a new outfit that replaced her combat skirt with trousers, and a new, more tousled haircut, looked at her team, jumping with excitement.

Weiss, with a long braid that reached her back and a blue dress fit for a queen, leaped gracefully.

Blake, now with shoulder-length hair and a light purple jacket with several zippers, followed her leader.

Yang, wearing an aviator jacket and overalls, put on her sunglasses, jumping and shouting with excitement.

"Team JNR, deploy!"

The second airship opened, revealing the incomplete team: the three friends who had embarked on a journey accompanied by the memory of their slain friend.

Jaune, wearing more complete armor and a spiky haircut, looked at his team.

Nora, wearing a pink jacket with a light blue collar and a jumpsuit with heart details, jumped from the airship without waiting for her friends.

Ren, now wearing a green jacket with a long black and pink shoulder pad on his right arm, shrugged and jumped.

Jaune took a deep breath to calm himself, following his team.

"Ace Ops, you know what to do."

From their airship, the four members of Ace Ops jumped in unison, in perfect sync.

Clover, from his airship, turned his back to the hatch. The hunter smiled. "Our turn, gentlemen."

Clover jumped from the airship, confident in his abilities.

Qrow, wearing an olive-colored jacket, let out a laugh. "Show-off." The hunter jumped too, spinning in the air.

Finally, a blond man peered out of the hatch. He wore a brown trench coat that had seen better days, tied just around his waist. Underneath the trench, he wore a suit with a blue jacket and trousers, a white shirt, and a black tie.

Constantine looked down as he held an umbrella.

"If I tell Zee this, she won't believe me..."

The wizard took a step, falling straight down through the sky. He raised his arm, unfurling the umbrella. His speed gradually decreased, avoiding any annoying jerks.

Thus, the wizard descended slowly, gliding with the umbrella, a small gift from the Kingdom of Atlas. Finally, he touched down, closing the umbrella again and joining Qrow and Clover.

Constantine lit a cigarette, rubbing it between his hands as he held it to his mouth.

"I'm sure Mary Poppins wasn't as cold as I am now." The wizard pressed a button on the umbrella, folding it into a pouch.

"Even when you jump, you barely move." Qrow teased him. “Haven’t you thought about training more?”

“I’m not a superhuman like you guys, Qrow.” Constantine took a drag. “I’m just a lot weirder.”

Clover finished giving instructions, forming a small group with the two men. “I’ve formed the groups and given them instructions, it’s time to do our part.”

“Okay, Boy Scout,” the wizard replied, eyeing that perfect Ace Ops smile. “Let’s finish this as soon as possible.”

The three men ventured into their section of the mine, walking cautiously. The wizard continued smoking, analyzing Clover's movements. They were allies now, but that didn't mean he could let his guard down. An ally could become an enemy, especially if he received orders from above.

"Well, Constantine," Clover said. "What you did to us... was that magic?"

Constantine cursed Ironwood. It was a good thing they had kept the secret of the Anti-Life Equation and the Multiverse, otherwise he would have told him too.

"Yes, simple magic."

"Wow, are we so weak that you defeated us with simple spells?"

"It's not a matter of being weak or strong. Everyone has their weaknesses; if you can exploit them, you can win. Ironwood is no different, for example. Or you." He pointed at Qrow. "There's no battle that can't be won if you plan it well."

"You know, sometimes you talk like Oz and James," Qrow said. “I can see your head’s spinning, thinking about a million things, plotting.”

“You look cute when you pay attention to me,” Constantine said. “But there’s a difference between them and me.”

“Really?” Clover asked. “I bet I can guess, the difference is that you’re blond?”

“Very funny, fisherman. But the difference is right in front of you. I get my hands dirty.”

“We’ve noticed.” Clover commented.

Constantine wrinkled his nose. “Have you got something to say?”

“Nothing, except that Qrow wrote us a detailed report on what happened in Haven. About how his sister defeated the Fall Maiden, and about how you sent a man to… what did you call him?”

“Hell.” Constantine replied. He was thankful she didn’t know about Adam, or worse, that Cinder Fall was alive and waiting to exact her revenge. But he couldn't afford to alarm them with that now; Cinder was his responsibility. "I suppose he also told you how I saved as many hunters as possible, reducing the violent branch of the White Fang."

"Yes, and I'm very impressed." Clover turned, smiling. "I'm looking forward to working with you."

Constantine clicked his tongue, unable to keep up with Clover. Qrow stayed by his side, watching his back.

"Thanks plonker" the mage complained. "No need to air our dirty laundry, Qrow."

"Come on, you can't expect me to just say she died." The hunter moved closer to Constantine, whispering. "You said you'd already studied the Ace Ops. What can you tell me about them?"

Constantine took one last drag. "A solid team, believe me. I've seen enough of them to know." Marrow stops anything she points at in its tracks, Elm can trap you in a powerful hold if she catches you, Vine is agile and versatile, and Harriet… she's the most dangerous.

"You think so? She's fast, but predictable."

"It's not just 'fast', is the speed. There's a force beyond our comprehension to which speedsters are connected. If Harriet ever senses that Speed ​​Force… it would be too dangerous for this world."

"Damn…" Qrow muttered. For him, Constantine was a constant source of surprises, always dropping hints he'd been unaware of. "Hey, about… well, about your origins. Do you think we should tell them?"

"No. Ironwood's already on the verge of a nervous breakdown just with Salem. If we tell him about my origins or the Anti-Life, he might explode. I just hope your niece and her friends feel the same way."

"Listen up!" Clover shouted.

Suddenly, the largest Geist Constantine had ever seen during his time in Remnant appeared before them, fleeing.

Qrow switched his weapon to firing mode, and Constantine pulled a gun from his trench coat. It was a six-shot revolver, a bargain-basement weapon any detective back home would use for its affordability.

Together they fired at the Grimm, but to no avail. The Geist darted to hide inside a large piece of metal, worrying Constantine and the group.

The piece of metal began to float, joining with more fragments and completing its appendages with ice from the mine.

Clover drew his weapon to confront it unaware that, beside him, a chunk of ice trying to merge with the Grimm threatened to pull the wall down on top of him.

Qrow was the first to notice. "Watch out!"

Thanks to his warning, the hunter moved out of the way. The wall collapsed on the Grimm, shattering the floor and sending him tumbling down.

Clover whistled, watching the fall.

"That was close. Thanks for the heads-up."

"I wouldn't thank myself. This is why I don't work as part of a team, Clover. My Semblance is bad luck, and sometimes I can't control it." he remarked with a hint of sadness.

"It's all in the mind, Qrow." Constantine said. "Those kinds of powers are often affected by one's mood. Besides, I wouldn't worry about it with Clover around."

"Why?"

"Her Semblance is probability manipulation on the positive side of the spectrum," the wizard explained calmly.

Clover used her fishing rod to pull on a beam. As she did so, it opened a perfect path for them to follow.

“Or in other words, my power is good fortune” the hunter said with a smile. “You’re in luck, aren’t you?”

Qrow stared thoughtfully at Clover, his eyes puzzled. After all this time, something he thought impossible had happened. He had found someone capable of nullifying his power.

“Hey!” Constantine snapped his fingers in front of him. “Remnant calling Qrow. Was it love at first sight?”

“What? No, no, I mean… it’s just that…” Qrow sighed. “He can make sure I don’t hurt people.”

Constantine shrugged. “Like I’ve said before, I think it’s related to your perspective. You think bad luck affects you and your loved ones, when you should look at it from a different angle.” Bad luck should befall your enemies. – The wizard began to follow Clover. – Think about it.

The trio continued walking, keeping an eye on the Grimm and watching their backs.

"Constantine, I have to ask." Clover began. "Why a handgun? Our reports said you never used them."

"Yeah, I was surprised too." Qrow chuckled. "Your aim is terrible."

– You guys are so arseholes." the wizard retorted. "But if you want to know, I'm carrying it just in case. It's very unlikely I'll miss every shot, even with my bad aim. Fewer bullets, the better my chances of hitting one."

"It doesn't work that way." Qrow said.

"It will if I want it to. And it's not the only thing they gave me. That umbrella is pretty good."

Constantine smiled, thinking about his new weaponry. With that umbrella, he could glide great distances, and he could also use it if someone got too close. But most importantly, it contained charges of Dust, allowing him to use it as an arcane focus for casting spells.

"And what about your sword?" Clover asked.

"Yeah, you weren't carrying it while we were on Argus, but you appeared with it on the flight." Qrow recalled.

"That, gentlemen, is a secret. You'll find out in due time." The trio began to hear the sounds of a large fight. They looked at each other. "They've found the Geist."

The team advanced through the tunnel, reaching what appeared to be an area where the various cart tracks converged, the mine's busiest point.

There, the teams were fighting the gigantic Grimm. Or rather, the Ace Ops were dealing with it while the rest watched. Clover raised her arm, grabbing a huge purple crystal that flew toward her.

“What would you do without me?” he asked his team. After passing the crystal to Qrow, he jumped to help.

The wizard snatched it from his hands, examining it.

“Hey, be careful!” Qrow told him. “It’s dangerous.”

“Hmm… Raw Dust, unstable.” The wizard smiled, the crystal losing its luster as he held it. “My favorite.”

Without thinking, he jumped to the lower floor, still carrying the crystal.

“Watch out, Mr. Constantine!” Ruby shouted.

“What are you doing?” Clover asked, using her fishing rod to hinder the Grimm.

“Sending a message.” Constantine raised one of his hands. “Maledictus catenis.”

A dark circle appeared at the Grimm’s feet, from which enormous dark chains emerged and imprisoned him. The chains forced him to his knees, his face to the wizard’s.

He discarded the now-empty crystal, placing a hand on the Grimm's mask. Constantine's eyes glowed a dangerous purple, while the crystals on the Grimm's body flickered.

"Carduhoch."

The Grimm didn't have time to scream before his body turned to dust. Dust's now-empty crystals fell to the ground with a satisfying thud.

The teams were speechless, watching the dust settle into the air. Constantine brushed some dust off his trench coat and headed outside.

"We're done just in time for tea. Come on, people, get moving."

The first to react was Harriet, stamping her foot.

"That Grimm was ours!"

"Don't be mad, Harriet." Marrow told her. "You have to admit that was cool."

"Don't be mad? We were doing great, and that… that guy…"

“That ‘guy’ neutralized not only the Grimm threat, but also the unstable Dust threat.” Clover replied. “In my books, that’s a mission executed flawlessly.”

Harriet watched Constantine’s back disappear into the distance as the rest of the hunters left the cave. “Damn cheat…”

Outside the mine, two people were watching the entrance from a distance. A woman with white hair and lamb ears was peering intently through binoculars.

Fiona sighed in boredom. “I can’t see anything, May. What’s Ironwood doing in that mine?”

Her companion, a woman with blue hair, shrugged.

“I have no idea, but he’s allocating resources to this area.” Suddenly, the area darkened, as if night had fallen. “Huh?”

Both huntresses looked up at the sky, surprised by what they were witnessing. The famous Amity Coliseum, site of the tragedy a year ago, loomed in the air.

“I think we should tell Robyn about this.” Fiona commented.

“Definitely. Hey, look at that aircraft. It’s Ironwood.”

“In person?”

They both put on their binoculars, trying to see. It seemed he was talking to a group of hunters.

“Those are his Ace Ops.” May commented. “I don’t recognize the others.”

“I’ve never seen the guy in the red cape before, and the rest look really young… Wait a minute! I think I see another adult. Is he wearing a suit?”

May tried to observe, but a gust of wind had risen, swirling the snow around them and obscuring their view.

"Damn it." May complained. "I can't see his face." The Happy Huntress stood up, brushing the snow away. "This angle is useless; we can't see anything anymore. Let's go back to Robyn and report."

"I agree." Fiona jumped up, her ears twitching sadly. "It's a shame we couldn't see the other hunter's face. Although the trench coat he was wearing over his suit looks familiar..."

— — — — — — —

In front of the general's airship, he stood with the three team leaders, as well as Qrow and Constantine. They had already reported the mission's success and the mage's display of power.

But the general had an urgent matter to attend to.

"You've done a fantastic job, but I'm afraid another problem has arisen." the general explained. “There’s a series of murders happening in Mantle.”

“I suppose you’re working on it, right?” Qrow asked.

“Yes, but that’s not exactly the problem. The dead are people who have been speaking out publicly against me.” Ironwood showed a picture of the most recent victim. To Constantine and the group’s surprise, they knew him.

“Damn, it’s the guy who threw a brick at your car. Did he piss you off that much?” the magician asked with a grin.

“We met him the other day. And now he’s dead…” Ruby said sadly.

“And besides, I’m afraid Constantine made a very interesting point.” the general said. “People will think I gave the order.”

“And if you hadn’t imposed the embargo on Mantle, people wouldn’t be so inclined to believe it.” Jaune commented. Realizing his outburst, he stood at attention. “Um… sir.”

“No, no.You’re right, Jaune.” Ironwood said. “The situation is tense, and this is only going to make it worse.”

“James, Mantle is my territory,” Constantine said. “If you let me go there, I’ll start investigating the murders.”

“That would be ideal, but there are some matters you need to attend to first.”

Constantine, like the rest of them, raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Me?”

“Mr. Constantine?” Jaune said.

“A super special mission for Mr. Constantine?” Ruby asked excitedly.

“I didn’t think you’d give John something so important.” Qrow commented, laughing.

“Imagine how serious this is. Believe me, Constantine, it’s extremely important for the safety of Atlas.”

“Okay, I get it.” Constantine lit a cigarette, taking a drag. “No pressure.”

Before they could board the airship, the group saw another ship approaching them. The model wasn't the standard military one, which surprised Qrow and Constantine.

"More trouble?" the wizard asked.

"I'm afraid so." the general replied.

"From Mantle?" Qrow wanted to know.

"I'm afraid this is an Atlas problem."

The ship landed, and a tall, thin man with a prominent mustache and white hair emerged. If, for some reason, his face didn't seem familiar, his white clothing quickly identified him as Jacques Schnee.

"Ironwood!" he began shouting as he stepped out of the ship. "First, the senseless embargo you imposed on Atlas, which is costing me money! And now you're trespassing on my private property! And not only that, but you're dedicating resources to a project I know nothing about. When the council finds out about this..."

"The council knows, Jacques. I informed them myself before the operation, and they agreed. This is now a classified military operations zone. I didn't even need a vote."

“You didn’t need a… You’re going too far!”

“Jacques, I let you land out of courtesy, but next time I won’t be so friendly.”

“Your days are numbered, James. When I get that seat, I’m going to…” Jacques’s gaze shifted to James’s rear, finally noticing the former heiress. “You… Now you’re dragging my daughter along?”

“Being here is my decision.” Weiss defended herself. “Just like leaving home was.”

“Ungrateful child. When I manage…”

“When you manage what, Jacques?” the general said from behind her.

“Yeah… are you planning something?” Constantine called to the magnate’s attention. “Let’s hope not, Jacques, because I just need an excuse.”

Jacques faced the magician, indignant. “I don’t know who you are, but I demand that you treat me with respect.”

“That you don’t…?” Constantine looked around, pointing his thumb at Jacques. “Can you believe this guy? You should be grateful, Jacques. I don’t send letters to just anyone.”

The businessman’s eyes widened in surprise. Now he knew exactly who he was talking to.

“You! You’re that John Constantain!”

“Constantine!” the magician corrected him. “And don’t forget it, you rich hick.”

“James, I demand you arrest this criminal immediately. We both know about his list of crimes and offenses.”

“Yes, and he’s going to serve his sentence. In fact, that’s what he’s doing. Mr. Constantine is a special agent in the Atlas Army.”

Constantine smiled, puffing out his chest in his new outfit and observing Jacques with his blue eyes.

Patriarch Schnee could have sworn he saw something terrible in those eyes.

“You… you can’t… You can’t give that position to a criminal!” “Jacques complained.

“Actually, I can. My army, my rules.”

Jacques looked at Ironwood and the magician, then at his daughter, who stood proudly beside her team.

“These are the friends you abandoned us for?”

“Not friends.” Weiss smiled, feeling the team’s support. “Family.”

Jacques let out a smile. “I see… Your mother had a pretty rough time when you left. And you know how she gets when she’s upset; she spent days locked in her room.”

Weiss couldn’t help but let out a choked sound; she was more than aware of her mother’s drinking problem.

“Who knows, maybe if you hadn’t abandoned her…”

“Don’t even think about going down that road, Jacques.” Constantine warned him. That man insulting him was one thing, but he wasn’t going to let him hurt that girl. “To hurt your daughter like that, you’re truly disgusting. Last warning, leave."

"Are you threatening me?" said Schnee with a grin.

"What Constantine meant to say is…" Ironwood began, before being interrupted by the magician.

"It's not a threat, Jacques, I'm informing you. If you don't leave now, I'm going to kill you."

"How dare you?!" Jacques shouted indignantly. "Have you forgotten who I am?"

"You're Jacques Schnee. An idiot who married for a name and an empire, with no real talent beyond being a horrible human being. I've already faced the consequences of your actions before, and I was eager to have you in front of me."

"Constantine, stop it," Ironwood warned him.

"I'm going to kill you, Jacques. I'm going to take the shiny gun they gave me, and I'm going to put it to your fucking skull. And it doesn't matter how much you cry or piss yourself, I'm going to pull the trigger." And when you're dead, I'm going to throw a fucking party in Mantle.

"Constantine!" Ironwood shouted.

"I won't let you talk to me like that!" Jacques said, pointing his finger at Constantine. "You've just made a very powerful enemy..."

Click

The sound of a gun being cocked reached him. The magician held the revolver in his hand, staring at Jacques. The man returned his gaze, trying to decipher what was hidden there. The truth was simple: they were the eyes of a killer.

Jacques took a step back, heading toward his ship.

"Th-this isn't over. You'll answer for this!"

"Try it, Jacques. But if you want some advice, try not to let me see you again." Constantine whistled, summoning a gust of wind. It went straight to Jacques' head, lifting his hair and revealing a shiny bald patch. The magician started laughing. "See, the letter worked."

Blake and Yang had to stifle their laughter, especially the faunus. Seeing the one responsible for their people's misery humiliated was wonderful.

Jacques adjusted his toupee, returning to the ship in a rage.

After he left, Ironwood took a deep breath. He faced Constantine, clearly angry.

"I told you to stop."

"And I thought I'd made it clear that I'm not good at following orders. And don't worry about Jacques, he'll fall sooner or later." The magician approached Weiss, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Everything alright, One-Eyed Queen?"

"No… he's right, I abandoned my mother and my brother," she said sadly.

"Hey, don't say that," Ruby encouraged her. "You left to be a hero, that's admirable. Your father is the bad guy here, one hundred percent."

"We support you." Blake said beside her. "Always."

"And so do we!" Nora shouted, grabbing Jaune and Ren by the collar.

Constantine smiled at her. "Look at you, you've found yourself a rather peculiar family."

"Thank you, Mr. Constantine. But one question. You weren't going to shoot him, were you?"

"Of course not." Constantine showed the chamber of his revolver. It was empty. "You can't shoot something without ammunition."

Ironwood pinched the bridge of his nose, irritated. “You’ve just made a very dangerous enemy, Constantine. Don’t expect me to be able to help you with him.”

“No need,” the magician replied with a smile. “He has money, yes, but his influence lies primarily with Atlas. My influence is with Mantle, and it’s more powerful than he thinks. If he tries to mess with me, he’ll have to face the consequences.”

Qrow punched Ironwood on the shoulder, smiling. “What can you do? Come on, kids, I want you all fired up.” he said, addressing his niece and her team.

At that moment, a military vehicle arrived, bringing Winter.

“Now you show up, Winter,” Weiss said. “You missed our father.”

“Nice escape, Snow Queen, I couldn’t have done better myself.” Constantine congratulated her.

“I didn’t… Ugh. It’s not worth arguing with you, Constantine.”

“I know. Well, we're going back to the ship or…"

“Surprise!” Penny fell from the sky, startling everyone present.

“Holy shit!” Constantine yelled. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Oops. Hasn't it happened yet?” the girl asked.

“Not yet,” Winter told her.

Ruby looked at them, confused. “What happened?”

Before they knew it, the Beacon students and Constantine were lined up in the center of the Amity Coliseum. In front of them stood Ironwood with his two trusted companions, Winter and Penny.

“I know this station means a lot to all of us. Since Beacon fell, you've been facing countless dangers and fears. That's not student behavior. That's how hunters behave. Penny, do the honors.”

“My pleasure.”

Holding a scroll, Penny tapped the screen in front of each member. The scroll that had been forced upon Constantine, despite his protests, vibrated, catching the mage’s attention.

“Hunter’s license…” the mage grinned. “Damn it, now I can’t deny that I am one.”

“Our license…” Yang said. “It’s been so long I’d forgotten this is what I wanted.”

Ruby stared at the license, speechless. “I… we… We’re honored, General.” The silver-eyed girl didn’t see Constantine flinch. “But…”

“No, Ruby,” the General insisted. “After everything that’s happened, and considering everything we’ll face when we deliver the message, I want to be able to count on warriors I can trust. Congratulations, you’ve earned it. Even you, Constantine.”

The wizard adjusted his tie and jacket, smiling. “If I’d known it was so easy to get one, I would have shown up at your door with a dying Grimm.”

Ironwood let out a short laugh. “That sounds like you. And that’s the end of my speech. Um… enjoy the moment, we’ve got cake.”

Ironwood left, leaving the group alone.

“Your speeches are improving, sir!” Penny encouraged him.

“That was very… quick,” Weiss said.

“Yeah, it almost feels like we don’t deserve it,” Blake replied.

“Come on, you little punks, don’t be like that.” Qrow told them, his hands in his pockets. “You’ve been through a lot, enjoy the moment.”

“Finally, someone said it!” Nora replied, exhausted. “Come on, let’s eat that cake. I’m going to eat two slices before Ren gets one.” Nora started laughing, running towards the cake.

The young people began to celebrate and eat, taking pictures and laughing. Constantine sat down in one of the stands, right next to Qrow, who was with his niece.

“A great day for you, don’t you think kid?” Qrow asked her with a smile.

“Hehe… yeah. It’s just hard to take it all in.”

“Getting to Atlas? Finally having your license? Not telling Ironwood the whole truth? Or maybe a little bit of everything?”

“A little bit of everything,” she said with a smile. “It’s just… I try to do what’s best, but I don’t know if what’s best is right. I don't want to be like Ozpin."

"Ruby, Oz only trusted himself for the truth. You're trusting others."

Constantine looked uneasy at Qrow's words. It wasn't the time to tell the whole truth, but he would let them believe he had been sincere.

Ruby pulled out her scroll, looking at her license. "It says here that I'm a Huntress, but I don't feel like I've learned any more than I did at Beacon."

Constantine and Qrow exchanged a glance, laughing simultaneously.

"That feeling doesn't go away," Qrow replied.

"It never will. You're always going to learn something new." the wizard added.

"Your mother, Summer. She would be proud of you." The wizard could detect nostalgia in Qrow's gaze. He had heard of Summer Rose, of course, but always as a kind of distant legend.

"Her last mission, was it an Ozpin secret?" the Huntress asked.

“There were plenty of those in our time, but this one was Summer’s secret. When she didn’t come back, Ozpin seemed as lost as we were. We never found out what she did.”

“People usually have reasons for doing what they do, Ruby.” Constantine remarked. He knew that better than anyone. “If your mother was half the hero I’ve heard about, I’m sure she left to try and save everyone.”

And from the little information he had, perhaps he wasn’t far off the mark. During his time working with Raven, he’d noticed that the bandit maiden seemed to hold a personal grudge against Salem. He didn’t dare try to deduce the intricacies of that relationship, but he had to question her later; perhaps she knew something about Summer Rose’s last mission.

“What would Mom have done? If she knew the truth about Salem, that he can’t die.”

“Hmm…” Qrow mused. “The same as you, keep going. She was the best of us.” Qrow hugged his niece, reassuring her. "And a brat, but I like brats."

"Hey!" Ruby complained, punching her uncle in the arm with a smile.

Constantine smiled at the scene. For a few seconds, he could see the power of a united family, even without blood ties.

"Ruby! Come see this!" Yang called.

"Coming!"

The huntress used her Semblance to go to her sister, arriving at a mission board.

Constantine sat next to Qrow, gazing at the starry sky.

"She's lucky, you know," Constantine said. "To have you in her life."

"Heh, I'm the lucky one. Funny considering… you know." Qrow pointed to himself.

“Qrow, you can’t let your Semblance define you. You’re a great person, and a great uncle. And even though it might not seem like it because of my natural charm, I don’t say that to everyone.” Constantine laughed, looking at the hunter.

“I… thanks, John. Listen, I know we didn’t exactly get off on the best foot when we found out you were a mage, but I want you to know you’re a decent guy.”

“Don’t get carried away with the compliments.”

“I’m serious.” Qrow looked at him intently; he didn’t seem to be joking. “You’ve protected these kids, and to me, that’s worth more than anything.” The hunter looked back at the sky, melancholic. “Do you think they’re watching us?”

“The stars?”

“The two brothers. They said they were going somewhere else, leaving this planet to its fate. Do you believe them?”

Constantine snorted. “Throughout my life, I’ve learned that gods come in many different forms. Liars, kind, cruel, or straightforward. The two brothers might be acting like brats, but I believe they were telling the truth. They’ll come when they’re summoned, no more, no less.”

“You keep talking about your experience and all that… What’s your world like?”

“It’s… different, that’s for sure. For every hunter here, there are five heroes there. But villains too. There are monsters, there are evil gods, primordial entities that threaten the universe. But we’re still here, because we fight tooth and nail. We use that fear, that will, that ingenuity born of desperation. And we win, Qrow. It’s a world of heroes, with all that entails.”

“Heroes… I like that word.” Qrow looked into Constantine’s cold, blue eyes. “I suppose you’re not one.”

“No, that ship sailed a long time ago.” The magician held up his hands, looking at them. “These hands are stained, Qrow. With innocent and guilty blood in equal measure.”

“Yes… but you carry on. Just like me. I think we’re not so different.”

“No, no, don’t say that. You’re a better man than I’ll ever be,” Constantine told him. For once, he spoke with complete sincerity. “Besides, you’re better looking than me.”

Qrow burst out laughing, blushing as Constantine smiled beside him.

“Mr. Constantine,” a female voice called. It was Winter.

“And now they’ve cut us short.” The wizard leaned over the railing of the stands. “What do you need, Snow Queen?”

“More like what does General Ironwood want. He requires you in the training room. It’s about that extremely important matter he mentioned.”

“Ugh, what a load of crap.” Constantine turned to Qrow, who shrugged.

"It's best not to keep the big man waiting."

"What choice do I have?" Constantine jumped into the hallway, his knee creaking as he stood up. "Lead the way, Winter."

After boarding a flight with Winter, who remained awkwardly silent throughout the journey, Constantine and she arrived at Atlas Academy. Continuing down some corridors, he climbed a staircase to an area with a huge glass wall. From there, he saw some kids who looked older than Ruby, maybe the same age as her sister and her friends.

Looking through the glass was Ironwood. The soldier turned, sensing Constantine.

"Constantine. Thanks for coming."

"It's not like I could refuse." The magician stood beside him, looking at the students. "Is that kid armed with a trumpet?"

"Yes. That's Flynt Coal, the leader of team FNKI."

"Team Fun... come on, don't mess with me," Constantine complained. "Who gives them those shitty names?"

"I did."

"Well, you really outdid yourself, buddy." The magician took a closer look at the arena. It was a transformable space, constantly changing to force the students to adapt. But in that chaos, something caught his eye.

There was a person of similar age to the students taking a real beating. They were trying to anticipate the attacks, but they were too slow, and they were pointing their fist as if trying something.

Because of the number of attacks, Constantine couldn't get a better look at the person. The only thing he could make out was a short olive-green jacket.

“Hey, teams are four people,” Constantine said, pointing at the person in question. “So who is he?”

“She” Ironwood corrected him. “And that’s why I called you here.” The general pressed a button on the wall, speaking into the microphone. “Training is over. Team FNKI, you may be dismissed. Special Agent, stay put.” After removing his finger from the button, he looked at Constantine. “Follow me.”

The magician started walking beside her, with Winter following at a safe distance.

“Well, then it has to do with that special agent. What’s the matter with her?”

“The matter is, she’s a citizen of Atlas. She’s lived here her whole life and she’s in the same year at the Academy as Team FNKI.”

“And the problem?”

“The problem, Constantine, is that’s what she says and what our systems say. But not what our minds say.”

The wizard raised his eyebrows; he hadn't expected the matter to go that way. Computer manipulation, but not mental, or at least not entirely.

"What do you remember about her?"

"Sometimes, I remember she's a student. But other times, I simply can't recall what she's doing here. And the strangest thing is, she has no equipment; she's just a student. Besides that, she lacks the skills of a hunter, and according to her, she can't properly use her Semblance, if she even has one."

"Okay, Ironwood, you've got my attention. When did this start?"

"We... we don't know. I thought it might be some trick of Salem's, something magical."

"And you haven't considered simply locking her up?"

"Yes, but that wouldn't be fair." the general said. "If it turns out we've simply forgotten about her because of some Semblance, then she'd be innocent. But I didn't want to take any chances, so I assigned her as a trainee with Ace Ops, to keep her close.If you could interrogate her or use some trick… we'd be grateful."

"I'll see what I can do." Finally, they entered the training room, now completely clear.

Standing there, the girl had her back to them, rubbing her arms in pain.

"Ouch… Why doesn't my Semblance work when I want it to?" she complained with a hint of sadness.

"Ahem." Ironwood cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Agent, I'd like to introduce you to someone."

"Oh! Yes, sir! Coming, sir!" The girl turned around, revealing her face.

Constantine's confident smile vanished, replaced by one of pure astonishment and disbelief. No, this couldn't be.

"I'd like to introduce you to John Constantine, a special operative with Atlas. I thought he could talk to you, to help you."

"Really?" she asked, excited. "W-wow, I don't know what to say..."

Constantine began walking slowly toward her, unable to believe what he was seeing. The girl was short, much shorter than Ruby, but his instincts told him she must be around the same age as Yang, Weiss, Jaune, and the others.

Her hair was short, messy, and reached her shoulders, with a strand falling between her eyes and another stray one that looked like an antenna.

Her green eyes were filled with nervousness and a deep sadness, much more than was immediately apparent, and she also had what appeared to be a light green tattoo around her right eyelid. But what took Constantine's breath away was what he saw next.

Besides the jacket, she wore black and green gloves with gray pants. Underneath the jacket, she wore a sweatshirt that was half white and half black, with the two halves separated by a green pattern.

That pattern was what made Constantine's heart leap and his brain start racing. He knew that symbol; he had seen it thousands of times, and he had even dreamed about what it would feel like to wield that kind of power.

It was the symbol of the Green Lanterns.

He approached the girl, looking down at her, causing her to swallow hard with fear.

"What's your name?" the wizard asked, though deep down he already knew the answer.

"I... my name..." the girl took a deep breath, trying to compose herself to answer. "My name is Jessica Cruz."

Chapter Text

In the Atlas Academy training room, something unprecedented was unfolding. General Ironwood, the most powerful man in Atlas, stood dumbfounded by the sight before him. His right-hand woman, Winter Schnee, was equally shocked.

For the first time since they'd known him, they'd seen Constantine speechless.

Jessica Cruz—that was the girl's name. The magician knew her, just as he knew all the members of the Justice League, in case they crossed his path.

In his world, Jessica Cruz was a Green Lantern, wielding immense power thanks to her ring, fueled by Willpower.

But that was on Earth, not in Remnant. And as far as the magician knew, there were no variations of the heroes. Therefore, a single question flooded his mind.

"Where did you come from?"

"Huh?" Jessica squealed, confused. "W-well, from here, from Atlas."

The magician looked her in the eyes; she seemed completely sure of what she was saying. At that moment, he remembered the object he had given Raven, the Legion ring. Perhaps she had brought it and was pretending to be Jessica Cruz? No, that was unlikely. But he had nothing to lose by asking.

"Hey, Jessica. Does a ring sound familiar to you? A gold one, with an L engraved on it."

"No. But…" Jessica looked at her right hand, making a fist while holding it with her other hand. "A ring… Why do I feel like something's missing?"

Constantine raised his eyebrows. Did this Jessica also have a ring? Or was he perhaps mixing up memories?

"Jessica, who are your parents?"

"I…"

"Which academy did you go to before Atlas?"

"I didn't…" Jessica began to hold her head, feeling a deep pain.

"Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, Simon Baz." As far as the magician had investigated, those were the identities of some of Earth's Green Lanterns, and that last one in particular was said to always be with Jessica. "Do those names sound familiar?"

"Stop..." Jessica began to sob.

Ironwood took a step forward. "Constantine, that's enough."

"I'm not finished yet." the magician replied. "Where's your ring? Tell me where your weapon is."

"I don't know!" Jessica cried, covering her ears and throwing herself to the ground. "It hurts... please stop. It hurts to think, I can't remember." She looked into the magician's eyes, weeping. "Why am I broken? Why can't I be normal?"

Constantine crouched down, sighing. "It's not your fault, sweetheart. It's not your fault. You did very well, Jess. We'll meet again."

The magician approached Ironwood, his eyes indicating the obvious. They needed to talk.

After a silent walk, the general and the magician, accompanied by Winter, arrived at the director's office. There, the magician sat down at the desk, with the two soldiers in front of him.

"What happened there?" Winter asked. "You've broken her."

"I told you to interrogate her, not break her mind." Ironwood sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "At least tell me what you got out of it."

Constantine clasped his hands, staring at a point on Ironwood's desk. "I'm not sure. I don't know what could have happened."

"And those names you mentioned?"

"They were configuration words. They're used to check if someone is under mind control." The magician looked at him seriously, hoping the lie would stick.

"I see… And I assume she's not under mind control, then." Ironwood said.

Constantine was grateful for his years perfecting the art of lying on the spot. "No, she isn't. I think it's something else. If you ask me, my theory is that his Semblance had some kind of side effect as a response to some trauma, erasing his past."

"There can't be a Semblance that powerful." Winter countered.

"Your family has a Semblance that summons enormous creatures, Marrow can freeze a person in time, and Qrow and Clover alter reality with their 'luck.'" the magician remarked with a smug smirk. "I think it's been proven that there are some very rare Semblances out there."

"I'm sorry, Specialist Schnee, but Constantine is right about that." Ironwood commented, his elbows resting on the table. "And what about the ring? You seemed to want to press the issue."

“You saw it too during the beating she got, James. She was making a fist like this.” Constantine mimicked Jessica’s movement. “Like she was about to attack. Muscle memory is powerful, and the only way someone would make that movement is if they had a ring.”

“It’s possible it’s her weapon; she might have forgotten it because of the incident,” Winter concluded.

“I agree,” Ironwood said. “Now the question is, what do we do with her?”

“I think she should stay with Ace Ops, sir,” Winter suggested. “That way she’ll be kept under surveillance.”

“Yes, but that way she’d be a burden on the team,” Ironwood considered.

“If you’ll allow me to offer my opinion—though I was going to speak anyway—I think I have an idea.” the magician remarked.

The two soldiers exchanged glances and nodded.

“Go ahead, Constantine.” Ironwood encouraged him.

“You see, from what I’ve been able to gather, and what you’ve all seen, that girl isn’t right in the head. She gets frustrated, she gets nervous, and it’s easy to trigger a meltdown.”

“What you’re saying is, she doesn’t have the makings of a hunter.” Ironwood raised an eyebrow. “Should we expel her?”

“Are you crazy?” Constantine said, laughing. “Her Semblance has altered reality; that’s something we must have. What she needs is someone she can trust, friends who will support her.”

Winter and Ironwood exchanged puzzled glances. The general spoke up. “Are you implying that must be you?”

“What?! Why the hell would it be me? Do I look like some kind of charity case to you?” Constantine shook his head. “What Jessica needs is a team.”

“We’ve already discussed this, Mr. Constantine,” Ironwood said. “We don’t know in what team was she; they’re all full. Maybe we could give the team FNKI a fifth member, but that’s not the norm.”

“No need.” Constantine said with a smile. “I have the perfect candidates for you.” Constantine pulled out his new scroll and pressed a button. When nothing happened, he kept pressing it, grumbling. “What the hell…? Didn’t this thing have a hologram function?”

“Press the button on the right,” Winter instructed.

“That’s what I’m doing.” the magician replied.

“That’s the volume.”

“There aren’t any more buttons! This thing is touch-sensitive!” the magician cursed under his breath; that was why he hated modern technology.

Ironwood pinched the bridge of his nose, signaling to Winter to help the magician.

After pressing a button the magician couldn’t see, a holographic image of three young people appeared from his scroll.

The two soldiers were surprised to see it.

“Arc’s team?” Ironwood said. “They’re already licensed hunters. Do you expect us to license Miss Cruz?”

“Quire right” the wizard replied.

“B-but that’s unheard of!” Winter said.

“You just licensed kids her age. And one two years younger.”

“It’s not the same, Constantine.” the general replied. “They’ve faced powerful Grimms, and part of Salem’s inner circle. They’ve earned that trust.”

“And I ask you to trust my plan. Jessica is too valuable an asset.” The wizard gritted his teeth. If the Jessica of this universe was half as powerful as the one in his, then his chances of winning would increase. It would be like having a five-foot-tall atomic bomb.

Ironwood took a deep breath, rubbing his temple. “Let’s pretend I’m analyzing your proposal. Why that team? Besides the obvious reason that they were one short of a full-fledged team."

Constantine smiled. His idea might be considered cruel, but it could certainly be effective.

“Pyrrha Nikos.”

Ironwood and Winter were surprised. They hadn't heard that name since the Beacon incident.

“Miss Nikos…” Ironwood murmured. “What does she have to do with this?”

“Absolutely everything.” Constantine pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with his trusty lighter. “I assume you know that Pyrrha belonged to that team, Team JNPR. Before she died in the attack you all couldn't prevent, of course.”

“Constantine, get to the point.” Ironwood pressed, growing increasingly angry.

“Im getting there. The thing is, what you don’t know is that Jaune was useless before he came to Beacon. This is information I got from Ruby; give her some cookies and she’ll tell you anything.” The mage took a drag. “Jaune and Pyrrha were close, Ironwood. Very close.”

“How close?” the general asked, having a feeling he knew where the mage was going with this.

“I think Pyrrha was in love with him. The thing is, Jaune has a video of Pyrrha teaching him basic sword moves. He watches it every night, without fail.” The mage took another long drag, stubbing out his cigarette on Ironwood’s table. “That boy blames himself for her death. He made progress on Argus, but that memory still haunts him.”

“This is a waste of time,” Winter said, tired of the mage’s rambling.

“Wait a minute, I think I know where he is going with this.” the General remarked. He looked deathly serious.

“Imagine what it would be like for that boy to receive a girl like her. Nervous, incapable, weak… Just like him at the beginning. Perhaps, if not certainly, he would feel a duty similar to Pyrrha’s. He would want to help her, to improve as a hunter and as a person.” A malicious smile spread across the magician’s face. “And imagine that poor girl, suddenly receiving the familial affection that this team shares, with a boy who gives his all to help her improve.”

Winter’s mouth fell open. “You’re… a monster,” she spat. “You want to create a relationship of dependency.”

“I want her to unlock her Semblance. And they can help her.”

“Creating an emotional dependency?”

“It’s the quickest way.” Constantine said. He looked back at Ironwood, pointing at him with his hands. “Think about it, James. That boy's power is to amplify the Semblance. If anyone can help her awaken it, it's him."

Ironwood remained silent, pondering.

"She would have to know about Salem's existence," he said calmly.

"Sir!" Winter complained.

"Yes, but I think she'll keep it a secret. She keeps insisting on being here despite her lack of skills; she has the soul of a hero. It might cause her some extra stress, but she'll have her team there to support her."

Ironwood clasped his hands together, resting his temple on his knuckles. Finally, he made his decision.

"Alright. I'll summon Mr. Arc and his team when their missions are over so they can meet Miss Cruz. We'll fill her in on what's happening."

"We must do this tactfully." Winter advised. "It could be too much for her."

"Hey, Oscar handled it well." Constantine stood up, stretching his back. “I think I’m done here.”

“Wait a minute.” Ironwood said. “You have a plan, right? I know you’re thinking of your own way to take down Salem.”

Constantine was surprised. The General had a rather helpful intuition.

He simply smiled. “Don’t worry about it, James. Everything’s under control.”

Constantine left the office, sighing heavily as he walked away. Everything’s under control, he told himself. There was only the problem of the Anti-Life, Salem, Cinder still being alive doing God knows what, the existence of a Jessica Cruz, and another person from his universe whose whereabouts were unknown.

Like he said, everything was under control.

The magician pulled out his cell phone; he was going to keep using it whenever possible. Quickly, he texted Qrow.

“My room. Fly over.”

With the message sent, Constantine hurried to his room at the Academy. There, he began gathering some materials, grinding a mixture of herbs in a mortar.

After a few minutes, a crow flew in through the window, transforming into Qrow.

"What happened?" the hunter asked. "Did James tell you off?"

"I wish. Something big happened."

Qrow's eyes widened in concern. "How big?"

"Very big, something that may or may not be related to the Multiverse, and may or may not be my fault."

"What?!" the hunter shouted, making Constantine hiss at him. Qrow lowered his voice. "Does he know about the Multiverse?"

“No, I had to lie like a bastard. But it led me to a student, Jessica Cruz.”

“That name… it’s not normal.”

“Exactly, it doesn’t follow your naming conventions.” Constantine finished preparing the mixture in the mortar, sitting cross-legged on the floor. “Just like I don’t follow them.”

“Damn… This is getting out of hand, John. We have to do something.”

“That’s what I’m doing. I’m going to find out where she came from, and I need you to stand guard. Nobody comes in or bothers me.”

“And you need me for that?” the hunter asked, his hands in his pockets.

“Yes, and you know why? Because I trust you.” The confession drew a look of disbelief from Qrow. “If we’re going to work together, you deserve to know what I’m involved in. And now, let the show begin.”

Constantine took out the lighter, igniting the mixture in the mortar, which began to emit emerald-green smoke.

Constantine closed his eyes, inhaling the smoke.

His consciousness began to soar, traversing the fabric of space and time, glimpsing the threads of the Multiverse. All those green lines represented one person.

Jessica Cruz.

The magician began to travel, his gaze fixed on the various Jessicas.

Living, dead, Green Lanterns, Yellow Lanterns, villains, heroines—there were countless.

But then, he saw something that caught his attention.

"What do we have here?" the magician wondered.

His consciousness traveled to an Earth. But it wasn't a normal Earth; it was a stranger one, one he had nevertheless grown accustomed to over the years.

It was Remnant.

There, he saw Team RWBY in their academy days, as well as the entire JNPR team, with a vibrant and radiant Pyrrha. But alongside them were others, people Constantine knew.

A tall, powerfully built boy with an "S" on his chest, a stoic boy with bat wings, a tall girl who exuded an unparalleled love for all living beings.

A boy who was the embodiment of speed, a boy who, despite not being entirely flesh, was more human than many; and a blond boy with dominion over the seas of Remnant.

It was them, there was no doubt. It was the Justice League.

"So they exist... there are Remnants in the Multiverse where variants exist."

Then, his eyes fell upon another person. It was a woman with long, brown hair, a radiant smile, and a sleeveless green suit with the Lantern symbol in the center. Her eye mark glowed brightly, and she floated like an emerald goddess.

It was Jessica Cruz, there was no doubt about it. However, she didn't look like the Jessica from the universe the wizard came from.

"Hmmmmmm… This means I wasn't the first to make contact. But I was the first to complicate my life."

The wizard looked at the Lantern, and then he understood what had happened. Jessica said goodbye to everyone, opening a portal and returning to her Earth.

"Oh shit…"

The wizard felt a sharp tug, falling into the void. When he opened his eyes, he was back in his room, with Qrow watching.

"You're back already? How was the trip?" the hunter asked with a smile.

The wizard got up, looking around nervously. "Paper, I need paper now," he said, patting his pockets.

"I think there's a whiteboard around here; they give one to all the teachers." Qrow started rummaging, finding a small whiteboard. "Here."

"Perfect!" Constantine removed the cap from the marker with his teeth, sketching and muttering, "Okay, if I apply this law of magic and add the Multiversal variable..."

Qrow stared at the magician, impressed. He was always fascinated to see him truly focused on a task.

"Bingo!" he exclaimed, showing Qrow the whiteboard. On it were several circles scattered about, connected by curved lines.

"What am I seeing?"

"First of all, remember this isn't my specialty. My thing is spells, not Multiversal stuff. But if my theory is right, I already know where Jessica comes from."

"You tell me." Qrow leaned against the wall, listening intently.

"Okay, imagine these circles are Remnants. It's easy, I already explained it to you like this once."

"Hey, I might have been drunk during that explanation, but I still remember." the hunter commented.

"Well, now I want you to look at these lines. They're a kind of hypothetical tunnel that connects the different Remnants."

"Can they be crossed?"

"Only with the right technology or magic." Constantine pointed at him with the marker. "And here's the interesting part. Imagine a Jessica Cruz."

"I don't know what she looks like."

"Well, just imagine a generic woman, I don't care. The thing is, imagine she lives here." Constantine pointed to one end of the whiteboard. "And she travels here, to the other end. She moves through the various tunnels and lands until she reaches her destination. Once there, she stays for a while and then makes the return trip. But here's the important part. On the return trip, her body undergoes an imperceptible translation; her very essence is folded. And if that happens just as she's above an Earth, then her copy ends up on that Earth."

Qrow's mouth fell open in disbelief. "Wait a minute, are you telling me that this Jessica doesn't exist?"

"Of course she exists. But she's only existed for a very short time. Her essence has adapted to this world, turning her into a young girl and a student hunter the same age as Yang. But at the same time, she's only existed for a few months."

"So… she's a baby."

"No, blast it." the magician corrected him. “She’s nineteen, both physically and mentally, but the thing is, she appeared at nineteen.”

“Damn… What are you going to do?”

“I've already done something. I managed to get Ironwood to put her on Jaune and those two lovebirds who haven’t said a word yet team, . So she’ll soon find out about Salem.”

“What?! Why would you do that?!” Qrow asked angrily.

“Because if she’s anything like the Jessica I know, we need her on our side.” Constantine replied calmly, cleaning the mortar.

“Shit… Does anyone else know about this?”

“No.”

“And I suppose they shouldn’t.”

“Right you are. If Ironwood finds out, then he’ll find out about the Multiverse. If the kids find out, they’ll freak out, and if Jessica herself finds out, she’ll probably be catatonic from the shock.” The magician made a gesture of zipping his mouth shut. "So keep quiet, because I'll do the same."

Qrow went to take a swig from his flask. However, he stared at it, judging his action. Finally, he clicked his tongue, put it away, and headed for the door.

"See you, John. I imagine you have things to do."

"You have no idea." Constantine adjusted his tie and tidied his hair. "Time to get back to business."

In the Academy's corridors, a trio of hunters walked. On the left was a lively girl with orange hair and a pink outfit, smiling as she thought about the missions they had done that day.

On the right was a stoic boy in a green outfit with a long ponytail that held back his black hair.

In the center, commanding them, was a tall, blond-haired boy with a sword hanging from his waist and a shield bearing his family crest, a crescent moon.

Jaune Arc was sweating nervously, so much so that his own companions, his family, were worried.

"Jaune." Nora said, pinching his cheek. "You're sweating a lot." The girl sniffed her finger, turning her face away with a gag reflex.

"Excessive sweating can be a sign of a life-threatening illness." Ren commented. "I promise to take care of your sword if anything happens to you."

"That's not it!" Jaune complained, reacting to his friends' teasing. "I-I've never been called to the headmaster's office before. I must have done something wrong."

"Uh, Jaune. You're not at the academy anymore." Nora reminded him.

“Right, you’re an Atlas hunter now.” Ren said. “So they didn’t call you to the director’s office. They called you to your boss’s office.”

“I’m going to get fired…” Jaune muttered.

“Relax, man.” Nora slapped his ass hard enough to break bones. “If he even thinks about firing you, I’ll talk to him. It’ll just be him, me, and my hammer.”

Jaune watched in horror as Nora pulled out her hammer, wearing the same look she had when she was about to smash Grimms.

“We’ll just… try look like we’re responsible.” Jaune said, heading for Ironwood’s door.

“I’m responsible.” Ren said from behind him.

Jaune opened the door, finding Ironwood at his desk with Winter beside him.

“Good afternoon, General. Sir. Chief,” Jaune said nervously.

His friends stayed by his side, offering him moral support.

“Sir Arc, please take a seat.” the General said, indicating one of the two chairs beside him.

Jaune approached and sat down as his friends flanked him, acting as bodyguards.

The young hunter went to ask what he needed, but then he noticed a figure sitting next to him. It was a short girl with the wide, staring eyes of a dead fish, staring straight ahead. They were an emerald green that stood out against her skin tone.

She glanced sideways at Jaune, only to look back at a fixed point in front of her.

Jaune looked at her, then at the General.

Nora peered over her shoulder, studying the stranger. “General, I think there’s a girl sitting in that chair.” the huntress remarked.

“And I’d say she’s having a nervous breakdown.” Ren commented.

“That’s why I called you here.” Ironwood stood up, gesturing toward the girl. “This is Jessica Cruz. As of today, she’ll be the fourth member of your team.”

“Oh, okay.” said Jaune. After a few seconds, he realized what had just happened. “Wait, what?”

Ren’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Another girl?!” Nora approached Jessica, pinching her cheeks as she looked at Ironwood. “And shorter than me?!”

“Help…” Jessica muttered, her face pressed tightly together.

Ren pulled Nora away from Jessica, giving her back her personal space.

“Um… General.” Jaune commented. “We’d be delighted to accept Jessica, but I think our… another mission is a problem.”

“It won’t be. We just revealed Salem’s existence to Miss Cruz.”

“We’re going to die…” the newly promoted huntress murmured.

Ironwood sighed, already regretting listening to Constantine. “We believe her Semblance can be of great help, and we’ve determined that your team is the best fit for its development.”

“W-well… I don’t mind, I don’t know about the others.” Jaune looked at his two friends, who nodded. “If they’re okay with it, we’d be delighted to have Jessica.”

“Perfect.” the General replied. “Then it’s official, you’ll be Team JRNJ, also known as Team…”

“Journey!” Nora exclaimed. “I love the name!”

“Ahem, sure. Journey.” Ironwood looked at Winter, who hastily changed the name they had in mind. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are some council matters that require my attention.”

After saying goodbye to the General, the newly formed team left the office. Once outside, Jessica nervously glanced at the group, rubbing her right arm.

Feeling their stares, she began to whimper.

“I’m sorry…”

“Huh? Why?” Jaune asked.

“You guys had your group, and I just snuck in. I promise I won’t bother you.”

“Well, it caught us by surprise. But now that you know about Salem, you’re one of us.”

Hearing that name sent a shiver down Jessica’s spine. “I don’t know how we’ll ever fight that. I don’t even know if I could take down a Grimm on my own.”

“Hey, it’s normal for Salem to be scary. I tremble when I think about her too.”

“I can vouch for that.” Nora added.

“But you know what helps?” Jaune asked her. “Knowing I have friends by my side. Let’s start again.” Jaune extended his hand. “My name is Jaune Arc.”

“Lie Ren.” the ninja said with a smile.

“Nora Valkyrie!” the girl shouted, striking a pose.

Jessica looked at the curious group. They were all different from each other, but they still radiated a tremendous sense of friendship. And they were extending that feeling to her, accepting her.

She timidly took Jaune’s hand, shaking it.

“Jessica Cruz.”

“Welcome to the team, Jessica.” Jaune stepped back, smiling as he scratched his cheek. “I’m not the best leader, but I’ll do my best to make you feel comfortable.”

“Team JRNJ!” exclaimed Nora, lifting Jessica into the air.

Jessica screamed in panic, watching as the girl, only slightly taller than her, lifted her with such ease.

“Nora, put Jessica down.” Ren pleaded.

“But we have to do team activities! And as an initiation challenge… we’re going to eat cake!” Nora ran off laughing, carrying a terrified Jessica.

“Heeeeeeeeelp!” Jessica’s scream echoed down the hallway as Nora fled with her prey.

“Where is she going?” Jaune asked in shock.

“I… I don’t know.” Ren replied.

They exchanged a worried glance. Then they started running, chasing their unhinged friend and their new, frightened companion.

In the city of Mantle, the air was oppressive. The people looked battered and worried, fearful of Grimm's escalating attacks.

Now they had Mantle's protector, it was true, but that didn't mean they weren't afraid.

Crime, negative emotions, and many other events made John Constantine feel right at home. After living so long in England, he knew how to navigate these kinds of cities.

People didn't look at him as he passed, too preoccupied with their own affairs, but every now and then a few would turn, wondering if they were imagining things.

After all, contrary to what they thought, the famous private detective had vanished from the city.

Constantine reached a building that evoked memories of when he first arrived in this world. There, his new life began, his journey to defeat Salem.

Entering the building, he arrived at the apartment he had rented to serve as both his home and office. When he went to insert his key, he was surprised to find it didn't fit.

"What the hell?" The magician stared at the sign above the entrance, puzzled.

Happy Huntresses Headquarters

Constantine let out a laugh. "You did put it to good use after all."

The magician reached for the doorknob, uttering a word.

"ʋu"

A glint appeared on the lock, after which the magician was able to open it easily.

As soon as he stepped inside, Constantine stubbed his toe on a sofa, jumping in pain.

"Holy crap!" The magician looked around, trying to focus in the darkness. They had redecorated. "How kind of them."

Feeling at home, Constantine took off his trench coat, leaving it on a coat rack. After that, he began moving furniture, trying to pry off a loose board where he had left some supplies before leaving.

He needed to reorganize his thoughts, and he needed to do it right then.

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't realize he wasn't alone until he heard a rope tighten.

"Hands where I can see them." said a woman's voice that was very familiar to the magician.

Constantine raised his hands, smiling inwardly.

"I don't know how you got in here, but you've got to be brave. I'm not going to turn you in, but I recommend you leave. We Happy Huntresses help Mantle, not criminals."

"You have no idea how much I've missed our chats."

At the sound of that voice, Robyn's eyes widened, and she lowered her weapon slightly.

She quickly switched on the light, seeing a figure in a blue suit with blond hair. He stood up, turned around, and gave her an irritating smile.

"Hello, Robyn." the magician said. "It's been a long time."

"Constantine."

"That's me. I really like what you've done with the place; it's very welcoming. Especially the…" Before he could continue, Constantine was hit with a powerful punch, leaving him no time to activate his aura.

He slumped into an armchair, surprised and adjusting his jaw.

"Damn!" he groaned. "I've missed you too. Bloody hell, you have a good hook."

"I thought you were dead!" Robyn shouted.

"Why does everyone think that? You know me, I'm harder to kill than cockroaches. By the way, I brought you a present."

With a touch of sadness, Constantine handed Robyn his Vytal Festival pin. He would have loved to keep that Arthurian sword, but due to the nature of the spell, it was better to give it up than risk keeping it after fulfilling the promise of their reunion.

Robyn looked at the pin, a smile escaping her lips.

"I've missed you." she admitted. "You would have been useful a year ago."

"I've noticed, this place is worse than when I left." The wizard went to his desk. "Is the embargo messing things up for you?"

“You have no idea. Besides, I have a feeling Schnee is up to something, and Ironwood refuses to meet with me. The situation is critical.”

“I heard you’ve been stealing supply trucks.” the magician said with a grin.

“Supplies that should be going to the town, not whatever Ironwood is up to.” Robyn looked the magician in the eye; she could see he was enjoying himself. “You know something, don’t you?”

“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. But I’m not here for that; I’m here to keep working on my project.”

“Oh yeah? Well, you’re going to have to find somewhere else. We’re very busy with the election campaign.”

“Technically, the rent is at my name.” the magician reminded her.

“And I’ve been paying it this whole time!”

Constantine threw up his hands, surrendering. “Fine, then. You work on your thing, I’ll work on mine, and maybe I can even help you out.”

“Are you sure you’ll help me?” Robyn touched his arm. “This suit is good, Atlas fabric. You have connections up there.”

“Let’s just say Ironwood and I worked on an operation together, nothing to do with Mantle.”

Robyn racked her brain; now she remembered. Before leaving, Constantine had told her he was working on something urgent, something that could affect all of Remnant.

The huntress touched the bridge of her nose, worried.

“Constantine… What are you up to?”

“Something important, something very important. And I think you can help me. I’m going to need Mantle on my side, and for that, I need you.”

“What do you want the city for?” the huntress asked.

The magician smiled. “To save the world.”

Robyn stared at him, then let out a laugh.

Seeing that she didn’t believe her, Constantine took her hand, looking at her intently.

“I want to save the world.”

Robyn’s arm glowed green. Her face changed; he was telling the truth.

“Oh shit…” she muttered. “You’re not kidding.”

“No, not this time. There are forces that want to create chaos, Robyn, and it’s my job to stop them. In fact, they’re already doing their work in Atlas. Have you heard about the murders?”

“Yes, they were Ironwood opponents, activists.” Robyn considered the information. “I knew it was too crude for Ironwood to orchestrate those murders. Do you think I’m a target?”

“No.” The wizard approached his old desk, touching the new chair. “Now that I’m back, and some hunters with me, the killer will think twice before acting. Besides, you’d become a martyr, and nobody wants to deal with that.”

“So… what do we do?”

“It’s very simple, Robyn. You continue doing your excellent work. I may or may not answer some of your questions.” The wizard sat down in the chair, settling in. “But even if you win the election and represent Mantle on the council, there will still be a part of the city where you have no influence.”

“The underworld.” Robyn replied. “Lately, criminal gangs have been active. With the rise in crime, they’ve seen a golden opportunity to make a profit.”

“Well then, the next step is clear. We’re going to conquer Mantle, Robyn. You handle the politics, I’ll handle the backstabbing.”

Robyn considered his plan, detecting flaws. “Crime will continue to exist no matter what we do; it’s simply born with societies.”

“I know, but if I have a choice, I prefer a criminal who fears me to one who acts without thinking.” The magician lit a cigarette, taking a drag. “And believe me, I can be very frightening if I want to be.”

“I think I know what you’re getting at… With me on the council, I can keep an eye on Atlas’s elite in case they’re thinking of betraying the kingdom. And if you stick your nose in without getting killed, you’ll be able to investigate that assassin.” Robyn smiled. “It’ll take time, but it might work.”

“And it will, love. Spread the word, let the city know. John Constantine, private investigator, is back.”

Chapter Text

The days in Atlas were always the same, much to the misfortune of its inhabitants. Cold, dark, and deadly.

Survival in Mantle depended solely on the heating system, a commodity that devoured the resources of the most needy, but no one in their right mind would fail to pay for it.

Unfortunately, John Constantine wasn't exactly known for his common sense.

"It's freezing! Damn it!" the magician hugged himself, trying to keep warm as he zipped up his trench coat. "Robyn! When are they going to turn the damn heating on?!"

Robyn Hill, leader of the Happy Huntresses and, at that moment, the person who hates Constantine the most, flipped him the bird as she spoke into her scroll.

"Yes, yes, it's arrived. Yes, it's been sent. Perfect, thank you very much."

As she hung up, a warm draft filled the office.

The magician pointed to the heater, smiling.

"It's about time, damn it. That's outrageous, Robyn. How could you not pay?"

"How could... We said you were in charge of the payments!"

"If we're going to share this, it doesn't seem fair that I should have to pay."

"Constantine, I've been paying for this little space in your memory for a year now. Pay up, or I'll tell May to take action. Imagine having an invisible person glued to your back." the huntress threatened.

"Okay, okay." the magician raised his hands. "Stop complaining and let's talk about more important matters. Like, for example, the person who wants you six feet under."

"Don't try to distract me with that." Robyn said. "You always drag things out until it helps you escape a situation."

"Congratulations, you've just figured out how I'm still alive. Now, the activist killer." Constantine reached into his desk, pulled out a couple of photographs, and tossed them onto the table. “Seven bodies, all from different wounds. How many do you recognize?”

Robyn pinched the bridge of her nose, trying not to hit Constantine. After grabbing the photos, she clicked her tongue.

“I’ve seen them all, but I think I’ve only spoken to about three of them here.”

“I figured as much. The guy who threw the rock at Ironwood was talking like a fan; he clearly hadn’t met you.”

“But these people aren’t as well-known activists as I am. Why would they go after them first? Is it because I’m surrounded by my team?”

“Yeah, I think so. Besides, it’s to send a message. Ironwood doesn’t like detractors.” The magician raised a cigarette, taking a deep drag. “He knows perfectly well how quickly this can get out of hand.”

“Believe me, I know. And even though it might not seem like it, I don’t want a civil war.” At least not when we're this weak.

Constantine raised an eyebrow.

"If you had more firepower, would you do it?"

"If it were necessary to end Atlas's dominance and Mantle's vassalage, yes." Robyn replied, deadly serious.

The mage took another drag, smiling.

"Now I remember why I like you. But we try to avoid it. Ironwood is still reasonable, and you have a chance to win the election."

"The problem is my direct rival." Robyn walked to the window, gesturing toward the SDC transports.

"I'm seriously considering whether we should send him somewhere for a vacation," the mage remarked. "Somewhere warm, far from this infernal cold. They say the Vacuo Desert is great this time of year," he added with a smile.

Robyn remained silent, pondering the idea. They looked at each other, bowing their heads. It wasn't a great loss, certainly, and the party afterward would surely be legendary. No one would look for a grave in the desert, and surely not even his family would miss him.

"Bah." Robyn finally said. "As much as I like the idea—and I do—it would only make the bigwigs more hostile."

"You're right about that." Constantine took out a cigar, lit it with his lighter, and inhaled the smoke. "Then let's each get back to our own work."

"Constantine, I understand my job, but yours activates a very specific part of my brain, the part that warns me there's going to be trouble. You said you'd take care of the lower parts of the city, but in all this time, it hasn't been specified how."

The magician leaned back in his chair, taking another drag.

“Tell me, Robyn. What could happen if Jacques gets elected?”

“My worst nightmares. Reduced funding for Mantle, unregulated price hikes, military intervention like a private militia… With a seat on the council and his money into the other congressmen pockets, he could do whatever he wanted.”

“And when the system fails the people, they turn to the illegal. Cheap booze, bootleg Dust, a little bit of shady fun, and a whole lot more crap. All provided by our beloved crime lords of Mantle.” the magician remarked with a cold stare. “Hard times create desperate people, and desperate people create huge profits for those willing to take advantage.”

“Okay, it’s in the gangs’ best interest for Jacques to get elected. What does that have to do with the election?”

“There’s more power at work on the streets than we realize. Those who stand to benefit from having Jacques in power are going to start pulling strings to ensure his victory. Blackmail, extortion, and even vote-buying. That's serious shit."

The magician knew it better than anyone; he'd grown up in a seedy neighborhood where those with vast criminal empires had profited from the island's political repression. He might have been in another world, but a shitty city was a shitty city, and the smell of Mantle was all too similar to London's. The magician flicked his cigarette into the ashtray, watching the gray substance gather.

"There must be some gang out there that stands to benefit from your victory, Robyn. I intend to find them and try to stop the propaganda for Jacques from taking hold."

"Perfect, now we're dealing with criminals." Robyn leaned back in her chair, massaging her temple. "Just perfect."

"Hey, in my defense, I've always been a criminal, so technically you've been dealing with one for a long time. And what the hell, you're stealing truckloads of construction materials." the magician remarked, laughing.

“Material that should be used to rebuild Mantle’s wall! Not for whatever Ironwood is up to!” Robyn slammed her fist on her desk, furious. “So, you still don’t know anything about that?”

“I know the same as last time: he’s building something big, but I haven’t a clue what it could be.”

Constantine knew the risks of lying to Robyn. She could use her power to simply tell if he was lying. Fortunately, the magician had figured out how to avoid such a situation, since the leader of the Happy Huntresses usually settled for the truth. But the magician never told the whole truth, and his power was incapable of detecting that. Constantine had considered telling Robyn about the coliseum, but that would mean revealing important secrets.

The first would be the coliseum’s purpose, which would continue to lead Robyn to question why it was so important to contact the rest of the world despite everything Mantle was going through. From there, they would have to reveal Salem's existence to her, and he wasn't sure Hill could handle that kind of information with all the worries she had on her plate. And of course, the revelation of Salem would lead to the revelation that what he had wasn't just a strange semblance, but real magic.

Yes, it was wasting too many resources; it was worth keeping her at arm's length, at least until he had enough power to do something.

"Shit." Robyn cursed, getting up from her chair and adjusting her jacket. "Well, then we have no choice but to continue with our operations. I'm going out to coordinate my hunters; we're going to make sure the food rations are distributed fairly. See you later."

Constantine looked at his watch, old and with a worn leather strap. No one would suspect that this simple, battered watch was the Relic of Decision, transformed into that and hidden by a spell cast by the wizard and the conceptual influence of the relic itself. He opened his eyes in surprise, cursing in a dead language.

"Blast it, I'm late." Constantine grabbed his keys and the various items on his desk, getting up to leave with Robyn.

"Late? Where are you going?" the huntress asked curiously.

"I'm meeting someone, and I want to get there before her."

"Does that person get impatient if you're late?"

The magician sighed, thinking about having to put up with the complaints.

"Believe me, I've met a lot of people in my life, and she has one of the most high-strung personalities I've ever seen." The magician started walking, his hands in the pockets of his trench coat. "Break a leg."

"Same. And don't make me have to pick you up at the police station."

"I'm not promising anything." the magician said, turning his back on her and heading towards the center of Mantle. It was time to put his multi-step plan into action; he just hoped he wouldn't get stuck on the first step.

Mantle was big, absurdly big. It wouldn't be crazy to think it was the size of London, or maybe even bigger. That's why the magician wasn't surprised that such a city boasted a huge square, where shops sprawled and people strolled on their way to work, to visit their lovers, or simply to pass the time. In Constantine's case, he sat on a bench with his legs spread, leaning forward as he smoked. With the cigarette in his mouth, he began breaking off crusts of stale bread, feeding the pigeons. Every now and then he glanced to his side, afraid that Death might appear before him. He was charming, of course, but he preferred to keep that Eternal as far away as possible.

The magician took a drag, exhaling smoke even with the cigarette in his mouth. He checked the time; his appointment should have arrived twenty minutes ago.

"Where the hell is she?"

Suddenly, he heard footsteps louder than most. It was the fruit of walking without a care in the world, feet firmly planted on the ground to show who was boss. Once you got used to people, it was incredibly easy to recognize them by the way they walked; everyone made a very specific sound. And Constantine had crossed a frozen forest with her.

"What's up, old man?" Dressed in her aviator jacket and brown jumpsuit, Yang appeared with a smile on her face and a mischievous look.

The magician couldn't help but smile; this girl had just the right balance of badass and seriousness to make him like her.

"Don't you ever call me old again, brat." the magician replied, gesturing to the seat next to him. "You might wake up with snakes for hair."

"Come on, don't be like that. I was raised to be an honest person." Yang sat down next to him, swinging her mechanical arm over the bench. "And if you're old, you're old, it's not a lie."

“And you’re one-armed and I don’t say anything.” the magician replied, taking a drag.

“Well, then you are not so smart if you asked a one-armed woman for a hand.” The huntress laughed at her own joke, eliciting a crooked smile from the magician.

“Your sense of humor is completely broken. I like that it stays that way.”

“No matter how much I change physically, despite everything, I’m still me.” Yang looked into his eyes; there was warmth in them. “You told me so. After you gave me my first cigarette.”

“Tell me you didn’t tell your father, he could tear me in half with one hand.”

“Nah, relax, I didn’t tell him anything and he didn’t smell anything.” The blonde swung her other arm behind the bench, leaning back and relaxing. “So, Constantine. What do you need from me?”

“Can’t I just want to spend some quality time with my favorite badass?” the magician remarked with a mock-offense tone.

Yang looked at him, tilting her head slightly.

“Dude, please. I’m beautiful and strong, but that doesn’t make me stupid. Come on, say what you want and let’s get down to business.” Yang smiled, standing up and bumping fists with Ember Celica fully extended.

The magician tossed away his cigarette, grinning.

“Well then, let’s get down to business. It’s simple. Follow me, blondie.”

The golden-haired duo started walking through the center, seemingly without a destination. However, when Yang figured out where they were headed, she made a face of confusion. They were in a shop with strong acrylic scents and several mirrors; it was a fairly modern design compared to what was usually seen in Mantle. What truly puzzled Yang was that it was a cosmetics store.

The magician grabbed a red lipstick, showing it to Yang.

"What do you think of this one?"

"You know taking a young girl to buy lipstick can look bad, right?"

"Another one of those and I'll smack you." Constantine warned, putting the lipstick back on the shelf. "I just wanted to spend some time with my favorite teenager."

Yang let out a nasal laugh.

"You don't have a favorite teenager, and I'm not one."

"Yeah, yeah... wait, how old are you?"

"Nineteen." she answered with a smile. "Blake too, and Weiss turned nineteen a while ago. We're all nineteen or almost, except for my little sister, of course."

"Wait a minute, but I met you guys when I was seventeen... Holy shit, have I been here two years?" The magician leaned against a shelf, huffing. "Time's a real son of a bitch."

"It's flown by for me. What are we even doing here? I'm dont even wear lipstick."

"It doesn't have to be for you. Maybe you could give it to someone you care about." The magician grabbed a black lipstick and tossed it to Yang. "Check this one."

The blonde snatched it mid-air, making the saleswoman watching them sigh in relief. She opened the lipstick, dabbing a little on the back of her hand to test the color.

"Black isn't your thing, but maybe someone you know..."

The image of her teammate flashed into Yang's mind, making her eyes widen.

"W-well, maybe it would suit Blake. It wouldn't hurt to do something nice for her."

"Nice girl," the mage said. He called the saleswoman's attention and rang Yang's bill.

The pair continued walking, Yang now more confused than ever. The mage had called her personally, telling her he needed to tell her about something important. The huntress was thrilled, of course; she liked the idea of ​​a powerful mage from another world needing her help. She had imagined herself battling demons, ghosts, and other things she had only ever seen in games and comics. However, Constantine was acting like an uncle who wanted to spend quality time with his niece.

The magician entered another shop, this time a clothing store. Yang could see ripped T-shirts, skirts, jeans, and even a leather jacket that caught her eye. Constantine began to hum, running his hand over the shirts. Seeing him dressed in his blue two-piece suit and trench coat, a salesman approached to help them. After all, the new outfit Pietro had made for him was going to come in handy.

"Good afternoon, how can I help you?" the salesman asked with a smile. He was a short, dark-haired boy with a mole under his left eye.

"Yes, look, my daughter and I are looking for something... how to put it... more fashionable. She says I embarrass her in front of her friends when I dress like this." the magician said, laughing.

Yang looked at him, puzzled. Niece, okay, that was understandable, but daughter?

“Perfect, then let me show you this.” The shop assistant showed her a black shirt with matching buttons. He also showed her a pair of formal trousers in the same color, completing the outfit. “I’m sure this outfit will look great on you.”

“Okay, I’ll try it on. Come on, little dragon, let’s see how this looks on your old man.”

Dazed, Yang followed Constantine to the fitting rooms and stepped inside. There they could have a conversation without anyone overhearing.

“Really? Daughter?” Yang asked.

“It’s better than saying, ‘Hey, we’re two hunters and we need to do something in your fitting rooms.’ The poor guy would have shit himself” the mage said sarcastically.

“Okay, but… Daughter? I mean, look at you and look at me.”

Constantine stared into her lilac eyes, not quite understanding what she meant.

“Okay, our eyes are different, but we’re both blond.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean… well.” Yang gestured to her own body, then pointed at the magician. “I’m much prettier.”

“Every day I haven’t smacked you in the head is a day you’ve won,” the magician replied. “Now give me the lipstick.”

“No way, it’s a gift for Blake.” the blonde said.

“That’s why I want it. Gifts carry a strong emotional charge, and emotions are a fantastic source for magic. Lipstick, blondie.”

Yang grunted, handing him the lipstick. The magician used the lipstick to draw a series of symbols on the mirror, made up of triangles and straight lines.

“What are you doing?”

“Should I give you the complex explanation or the simple one?”

“The complex one, I’m not stupid,” Yang said, crossing her shoulder.

“I’m tearing the fabric of Mirror World, a fourth dimension from which, using a linking spell, I’ll be able to create a connection that crosses the planet’s ley lines, traveling along them so I can establish a magical juxtaposition.”

Yang remained silent, shifting his weight back and forth as he glanced around.

“Okay, now for the simple explanation.”

“I’m making a video call.”

In the kingdom of Vale, the situation was complex. Two years had passed since the fall of Beacon, and the academy area was still plagued by Grimms, who occasionally invaded the city. Fortunately, several hunters remained, ready to defend the kingdom, patiently awaiting a solution. But it wasn't just the hunters who were busy; the emergency situation had forced everyone to cooperate.

In an industrial area, and more specifically in a club overflowing with customers, the citizens of Vale could relax from their stressful daily lives and release their negative emotions. Cleaning a glass at the bar, Junior hummed along to the DJ's music, smiling at how successful the club was. Due to the increase in Grimms, Junior had placed his men at the kingdom's disposal, creating a small militia tasked with patrolling and alerting others to the presence of Grimms, as well as raining down lead upon them.

Initially, he wouldn't have been able to afford an operation like that with his current funds, but after that damned detective's incident with Dhimas Aure, he'd gained a substantial sum of capital, allowing him to invest in security and weaponry. He'd even ordered upgrades for the twins' weapons—his loyal bodyguards. Undoubtedly, and despite the constant threat from the Grimms, life was smiling on him.

"Junior."

The man raised his head, searching for the employee who had called him.

"Junior, over here."

Junior raised an eyebrow, confused. He didn't see anyone referring to him.

"Down here." Junior glanced at the glass he was cleaning. There, reflected in the pristine glass, he saw a familiar face with blond hair and a scruffy beard. "Hello."

"Aaaah!" Junior dropped the glass, stumbling backward as he leaned against the bar behind him, making the bottles wobble. "What the...?"

"Boss, is something wrong?" “What happened?” one of the twins, Melanie, asked.

“I… that glass… I thought I saw…” Junior looked around, paranoid. “HIM.”

Melanie felt a chill, which her twin sister across the room also felt. They too had met Constantine, and they shared Junior’s fear.

“Calm down, your mind is probably playing tricks on you.”

“Yes… yes, that’s right. He went to Mistral, and knowing how nosy he is, he probably met with your mother to get information. It’s impossible that he survived after what he did to Aure. Just an illusion…” Junior took a deep breath, calming himself and slowing his heart rate. He looked at his watch; perhaps he needed to rest.

“I don’t want to know how much that glass cost.” Constantine smiled from the clock face.

“No! You’re an illusion!” Junior took off his watch and ran inside the club, leaving a confused Melanie staring at him with concern.

The man rushed into his private bathroom, perfectly lit and furnished with luxurious pieces. He looked at himself in the mirror, seeing his usual bearded face. A few gray hairs had appeared due to the stress of the last two years, but he hadn't let them show out of pride. He lowered his head, splashing water on his face to refresh himself. It was okay, that nightmare in a trench coat was far away from him; she couldn't hurt him anymore. He sighed heavily, smiling now that he had calmed down again.

"We can stay like this all day."

"AAAAH!" Junior fell to the bathroom floor, staring at the mirror. There stood that blond man in a trench coat, although now he seemed to be wearing a blue suit underneath. However, the mischievous smile and those eyes were unmistakable. "Constantine!"

"That's my name, yes. How's life treating you, Junior?"

“What?! How?!” Junior exclaimed, unable to process what he was seeing.

“If you stop talking like a fucking idiot and start speaking in coherent sentences, maybe we can make some progress,” the magician complained.

“How are you in the mirror?! How are you alive?! You were supposed to be in Mistral!”

“First of all, I’m not going to tell you about the mirror.” the magician remarked seriously. “Secondly, you won’t be able to get rid of me, not even in your wildest dreams, I can assure you of that.” The magician could hear Junior swallow hard. “And as for the third point, you’re completely wrong. I’m in Atlas.”

Junior’s panic attack subsided, replaced by confusion and a touch of admiration.

“Atlas? How did you manage to get past the block?”

“I’ll tell you,” he said sarcastically. “I’ve come to torment you for a business matter, Junior.” Do you know the Mantle gangs?

Junior stood up, still in a state of extreme confusion. Was he really calling him just for that?

"Of course I know them. I'm a professional, Constantine." Junior looked in the mirror, thinking beyond his obvious surprise. Yes, he'd appeared, but that was all. If it was just a few scares, he could live with it; he wasn't going to give that man any free information. "I don't know what you're up to, but don't count me in. I had enough of you when you were in Vale, I don't have to put up with you from a distance too."

The criminal turned around, ready to leave the bathroom. But then he heard it, an irritating sound that filled him with dread. It was the magician's tongue clicking, clearly annoyed.

"Junior, I want you to think carefully. I can appear in any mirror; no, I can appear on any reflective surface. I've been in your club, in your watch, in your own bathroom. And if you think this is because you've made me angry or something..." Constantine let out a small laugh. "I'm not angry, really. In fact, I'm in pretty good spirits. So I want you to think about what I'd be capable of if you really made me angry."

Junior felt his legs go weak, his fight-or-flight instinct kicking in, and he wasn't even suggesting he try to strike back. The man in the mirror was tireless and patient, two very dangerous qualities in Junior's line of work. And the worst part was, he was right. If he'd managed to sneak into the mirrors, there was no telling what else he was capable of. In his line of work, knowing when to back off was just as, if not more, valuable than knowing when to tighten the screws, and at that moment, he felt the wisest course of action was to accept the blond demon's demands.

"Fine, what do you want to know?" he said with a resigned sigh.

"I knew I could count on you," the magician replied sarcastically. "I want to know if there are any decent gangs in this city."

Silence reigned in the bathroom, as if the toilet itself were trying to understand Constantine's words. Junior stared at him, eyes wide, unsure of what to say.

"Constantine, decency isn't exactly common in this business. You'll have to be specific."

"I'm looking for a gang that, despite making money illegally, is against activities that harm the population." Human trafficking, hard drug trafficking… There has to be some gang that actively prevents that, that has some kind of moral compass.

Junior sighed, bringing his hand to his chin. Such gangs weren't exactly plentiful; in fact, Junior himself was an exception to the other criminal groups in Mantle because he only dealt in extortion and not drug trafficking.

"Let's see… I haven't been to Atlas in a while, but the last time I was there I met several groups. The Howlers? No, those guys are jerks. Red Knife? No, no, those are the worst…" Suddenly, Junior had a revelation. During his time in Atlas, he had come to know a very specific group. They weren't very strong in numbers, but they fit what Constantine had asked for. "The Knights, they should do the trick."

"Knights? I hope they're not some weirdos who dress like they're from the time of the Warrior King." Constantine complained.

“No, no, they’re something more special. They’re a group of young people, their members are extremely few, but they were all members of the combat school that preceded Atlas Academy. For one reason or another, they didn’t get into the Academy, but they formed a gang to, as they put it, “fight the shadows.” Honestly, I think they’re crazy,” Junior confessed.

The wizard pondered the idea. If they had really been in a combat school, they should at least have some sense of duty, or at least know how to fight. They weren’t very different from Robyn and her group, except that the Happy Huntresses were Atlas graduates and possibly more skilled. But if such a group really existed, he could win their favor and their help. He had nothing to lose by trying.

“Do you know where they’re hiding?”

“Yes, but you’ll need proof that you come in peace. I ended things on good terms with them, but I can’t give you anything.”

“Take one of your cards and write that you trust me.” the magician said.

“What?”

“Just do it. It won’t take any time at all.” Constantine’s cold voice made it clear to Junior that it wasn’t a request, it was an order. However, he preferred not to incur his wrath.

“Okay, okay…” Junior left the bathroom for a moment, grabbing a sheet of paper from his office. With his pen, he wrote the letter of recommendation, ending the message with his signature, proving that the message came from him. After putting the sheet in an envelope, he went back to the bathroom. “Now what? I can’t mail it to you.”

“Hold it up to the mirror.”

Junior felt that something was wrong, that holding his hand up to the mirror was going to cause him some kind of pain. He wanted to dismiss that feeling; it was just a mirror, it couldn’t hurt him. He swallowed, slowly bringing his hand closer. When he was close, Constantine’s hand lunged in his direction. The hand slid through the mirror as if it were some kind of liquid, gripping Junior's wrist.

The criminal could feel the air escaping his lungs, unable to scream due to overwhelming panic. Constantine smiled, still holding him.

"I hope for your sake you haven't tricked me, Junior. Because if you have, I'll come after you. I'll even have someone with me."

"Wh-what? I... come on, Constantine, don't be a jerk."

"Believe me, I'd be the least of your problems. That person's got their eye on you. What's more, you know them perfectly well."

At that moment, Junior's worst nightmare, the one he'd only imagined in his darkest nightmares, came true. Beside the magician appeared a blonde girl with long hair, wearing an aviator jacket and sporting a metallic arm painted yellow and black.

"Junior! I've missed you. How long has it been? Two years?"

"No… this is a nightmare… I'm dreaming."

Next to the magician, with the same irritating smile, stood Yang Xiao Long. That girl had been a pain in the neck from the start, demanding free information in exchange for not beating them up. In any other situation, he would have dealt with her, but it turned out the blonde had the strength to back up her behavior. However, the Yang he saw now frightened him even more. All that bravado was still there, but she seemed to have an outer layer of maturity and experience; she was undoubtedly stronger and more level-headed now. The other thing that caught his attention was the arm.

"What happened to you?" asked the criminal.

“Oh, this cutie?” Yang moved his metal arm; he could hear the metal of the joints. “A little gift from Atlas. I lost the other one during the attack on Beacon, an attack that, by the way, was a consequence of all that stolen Dust. I wonder who helped steal all that Dust?”

“Hey, if I had known what Roman’s employer was up to, I wouldn’t have…”

“Come on, come on, don’t worry, Junior.” Yang said with a smile. “Cinder would have come to the White Fang eventually; you were just the beginning.” Yang smiled more widely, his eyes having changed to a reddish hue. “The one who took my arm is now dead, but I want you to know one thing. I don’t forget.”

Constantine snatched the letter from his hands, shoving it back into the mirror. Junior froze, watching the blond duo grinning maliciously.

“It’s been a pleasure talking to you, Junior. See you later.” Constantine said, stuffing the contents into his trench coat.

Yang moved swiftly, feigning to pass through the mirror. Junior took off running, knocking the door down and putting as much distance as possible between himself and the mirror.

Yang watched the scene, smiling.

“Cool, I’ve traumatized him.” Yang glanced at the bathroom, curious. “He’s actually done a pretty good job. How do you turn this off? Is it with a magic word or something?”

The magician reached into his trench coat, pulling out a pack of wet wipes.

“Oh… That’s suck.” the huntress complained.

“I know. Now to clean up the lipstick; it’ll take us less time between the two of us.”

In the city of Mantle, the otherworldly mage wasn't the only one busy. People worked, rushed about, did their shopping, or simply enjoyed a peaceful day. The hunters, so skilled at destroying Grimms, didn't just do that; they played a vital role in protecting the citizens and maintaining order. One of the hunters who had gladly accepted this role was Jaune Arc. The young hunter, clad in his armor, smiled reassuringly at the citizens. Small children greeted him enthusiastically, the elderly nodded, and single mothers were a little too enthusiastic, making Jaune feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But while the blond hunter seemed to handle the protection of civilians with considerable composure, the same couldn't be said of his partner. Jessica Cruz was frantically looking around, alert for potential dangers to her life and the lives of those around her. She had been working with her new team, Team JRNJ, for a few days now. Despite everything, she was still processing the information that had been revealed to her.

Salem, the dangerous witch who commanded the Grimms and absolute evil in the world. Jessica's mind told her she had to put as much distance as possible between herself and the witch, give up being a huntress and dedicate herself to carpentry in a hidden mountain village. But her instinct compelled her to continue, knowing that if she could make even the slightest difference against Salem, she had to try. But that threat hadn't arrived yet, and Jessica had other worries. Like, for example, the children who were beginning to gather around her.

"Are you a huntress?"

"You're very pretty."

"Are you so short because you didn't drink milk?"

"Huh?!" Jessica threw up her arms, overwhelmed by the children surrounding her. "I-I'm not that short."

"Yes you are." a child replied.

Jessica felt that direct blow to her heart, her face turning grim. Now even the children were teasing her.

"Come on, come on, don't bother Jessica." Luckily for the young woman, Jaune had come to the rescue, looking at the children like an older brother. "Come on, your parents are waiting, and I'm sure you have homework to do."

"Aww..." all the children said at the same time, but they didn't want to argue with Jaune; they really liked the hunter. Defeated, they went off to their parents, leaving Jaune and Jessica in peace.

"They're good kids, but sometimes they're a bit intense," Jaune commented, scratching his cheek. He turned to his companion, smiling. "Are you okay?"

"Yes... or at least I think so." Jessica sighed, looking at the ground. "Jaune, I know you take these easy missions for me, you really don't have to. I'm just slowing you down."

"What? It's not that." Jaune said. “I’m not as strong as my… our, comrades. I mean, have you seen Nora? She can lift me easily, and I weigh twice as much as she does,” he said, laughing and scratching his arm where Nora had left a mark when she’d decided to give him a friendly punch.

“So we’re here because we’re weak?”

“You don’t have to put it that way…” Jaune said dejectedly. “But I see it differently. It’s a job that needs to be done, and many hunters would rather go and fight the Grimm. If I can help in this way, I’m happy to.”

Jessica looked at her leader, who was scratching his head, hoping her words would make some sense.

“So helping people in any way… not just killing Grimm.” Jessica said, looking at her right hand. For a second, she thought she saw a green flash in it. Was that her aura reacting?

“Yes. Besides, this way you can get used to dealing with civilians, and I don’t think there will be any problems.”

"Vomit boy!"

Jaune froze at the sound of that voice.

"Okay, maybe there is one proble-AAAAAH!"

A metallic arm wrapped around Jaune's neck, forcing him to duck. Yang grinned, tightening his grip on his friend.

"I haven't seen you in ages, what have you been up to?"

"Yang, I'm working..." he said, trying unsuccessfully to free himself.

"Still? Dude, you need to relax a bit, loosen up." Yang's gaze fell on Jessica, his purple eyes fixed on her. "Hey! You're the new girl Nora told me about!"

"Huh?!" Jessica watched in terror as the woman shifted her focus, heading straight for her. Powerless to react, Yang put her arm around Jessica, staring at her right eye as she whistled.

"Girl, that tattoo is amazing. Where did you get it?"

"I... I've had it forever."

"So it's a birthmark? It's the coolest one I've ever seen. What was your name again?"

"This is Jessica Cruz," Jaune replied, seeing that his teammate was on the verge of a panic attack. "So now we're Team JRNJ."

"Team Journey? I like it, it sounds good."

"Why did she call you 'vomit boy'?" Jessica asked her leader.

"L-let's drop that!" Jaune tried to dodge the question, though he felt that with Yang around, his cool-leader facade wouldn't last long. "What are you doing here, Yang?"

“Well, this girl has been working with Constantine.” she said, smiling.

“Constantine?” Jaune said incredulously. Lately, the magician had been busy with his own business, only appearing for meetings with Ironwood or to eliminate some dangerous Grimm alongside them.

“Constantine…” Jessica felt a chill, remembering when she first met the magician and the terrible headache that came over her when she asked him questions. She hated questions about her past, hated not remembering anything.

“What’s he doing now?” the armored hunter asked.

“I think he wants to start dealing with the criminal gangs. He hasn’t told me everything; I’ve only seen him gathering information.”

Jaune felt a slight shiver. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Constantine; at least he had shown a genuine desire to fight Salem. But his actions were always underhanded and dirty. He was an expert at devising plans and carrying them out without anyone noticing until it was too late.

“I’m scared of what he’s planning…”

“Come on, don’t be like that. Let’s do this.” Yang grabbed Jaune and Jessica, smiling at them both. “Come with me to the academy. I want Ruby and the girls to meet you, Jess.”

“S-so many people…” Jessica stammered, trembling slightly.

“Yang, I-I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

“Come on, we’ll just be among friends.” Yang turned to Jaune, looking at him seriously and whispering, “This girl’s a bunch of nerves. She’ll do well to relax.”

Jaune sighed, looking at his new teammate.

“Do you want to come?”

“W-well… I guess is okay…” she replied, unable to meet Yang’s gaze.

“That’s more like it!” Yang started walking, still holding the two hunters. “I can assure you we’ll have more fun than Constantine, whatever he’s up to.”

In the western part of Mantle, where several businesses coexisted, there was one that, despite its clientele, didn't attract much attention. It was an arcade, with various old and modern games where the young people of Mantle went to hang out after school. At that moment, the arcade had only one person playing while the bored receptionist read an army propaganda magazine. He was so distracted that he didn't see the man in a trench coat who started walking in his direction, his eyes fixed on the door to the staff room.

"Hey?" the man realized when he was already upon him. "Hey, you can't come in. Stop it—agh!"

The receptionist felt the man grab his face, pushing him until he fell to the ground. He calmly opened the door, entering a large room full of filing cabinets, computers, and a meeting table.

"Good sir, I think you're lost."

The one who spoke was a young man, no less than twenty years old. He wore a loose white shirt, revealing part of his neck and a bit of his chest. On the table beside him lay a wide-brimmed black hat, clearly his own. A sword hung from his waist, which at first glance looked like a rapier. No, that wasn't quite right; the thin blade and guard revealed that it was actually a floret.

The young man took a step forward, his black boots gleaming with polish. He crossed his arms, focusing his green eyes on the blond man in the trench coat. His pupils narrowed like a cat's.

"Give me one reason not to carve you like a turkey."

The man, who had an unlit cigarette in his mouth, held an envelope between his fingers. He tossed it to the cat-eyed faun. When he opened it, he was stunned to see the signature.

"Junior? How do you know the old man from Vale?"

The man in the trench coat pulled out a lighter, lit his cigarette, and exhaled a puff of smoke.

“I’m John Constantine, but I’m sure you already knew that. I heard you’re the person I need to talk to.”

“Antonio Azahar.” the faunus replied. “Junior doesn’t write a letter of recommendation for just anyone. What do you want to talk about?”

Constantine took another drag, smiling as he exhaled the smoke.

Atlas had his heroes, powerful hunters sponsored by the academy and the military, but even they had their limits. Fortunately for Mantle, they were about to receive theirs as well.

And Constantine was going to make sure of it.

Chapter Text

Every civilization worthy of the name had to possess several fundamental elements: a shared culture, a system of government, and above all, laws to govern itself. But where laws existed, there were also those who dedicated themselves to breaking them. Mantle, of course, was no exception. In its dark and cold streets, the various gangs maintained a state of non-aggression, with the exception of minor skirmishes that never ignited the spark of war.

One of these gangs was the Knights. While they had the fewest members, they had the advantage that their leaders and founders were rejected students from Atlas Academy. Of course, they weren't as strong as a true hunter, but they still knew how to fight, especially against people without auras. This small group, however, had encountered an unexpected visitor, one they sensed was about to turn their lives upside down. In a sparsely populated arcade, in a meeting room connected to the main arcade by the service entrance, a meeting was taking place that could change the course of Mantle. Three people of varying heights approached the door, entering as their senses sharpened.

The tallest, a man in his early twenties wearing a black armor plate and cargo pants with numerous pockets, spoke first. His hand rested on his waist, where he held what appeared to be a broad-guarded sword.

"Antonio, we're here. What was it you wanted to talk about?" After he finished speaking, the group took in what was happening in the room.

In a chair sat Antonio Azahar, their esteemed and charismatic leader, sipping from an elegant teacup. Facing him was a man they had never seen before, at least not in person. But while the other gangs dedicated most of their resources to maintaining and expanding their operations, the Knights saw power in information. Being a much less powerful group, they needed to know for certain the strengths and weaknesses of their enemies, as well as to be vigilant about everything that happened in Mantle.

If you paid attention, you could tell there was a man who was often found near strange occurrences. Whether for simple tasks or shady investigations, in the end, everyone was talking about the same thing. The man in the trench coat. And now, that man was standing before them, enjoying a delicious cup of tea.

"Oh, it's about time you arrived." Azahar stood up, his boots gleaming as he gestured to his guest. "I want to introduce you to John Constantine."

"That weirdo from the office in the apartments next to the butcher shop?" asked another member, a young man in his twenties with ashen hair and deep, dark blue eyes; he seemed to have permanent dark circles under them.

"That's me," the magician greeted them. “Azahar, will you introduce me to your inner circle?”

The group’s leader adjusted his belt, walking toward his companions as the feather on his wide-brimmed hat swung from side to side.

“This big guy in the armor is Duke Steel.” he remarked casually. Then he moved on to the boy with the dark circles under his eyes. “This is Percy Blues.”

The boy with the dark circles nodded, and the magician could see what was on his back. He carried a complicated iron bar, vaguely reminiscent of Pyrrha Nikos’s weapon, but longer. Constantine tilted his head, noticing a short girl with dark green hair and two pigtails that, defying gravity, formed a forty-five-degree angle upwards.

“And her?” the detective asked curiously.

“Betty Beans.” the woman replied. She was the same height as Nora.

“You’ve already met my associates.” Azahar responded with a smile. “Now tell them what you told me, detective.”

The group remained standing, their eyes fixed on Constantine. He raised his teacup to his lips, savoring it calmly, as if he weren't dealing with four superhumans capable of killing him.

“Tell me, do you know who I am?” he asked calmly.

The group exchanged puzzled glances. The newcomers looked at their leader, who simply smiled with his cat-like eyes. Duke stepped forward, speaking for his companions.

“You are John Constantine, although it's such a strange name that we believe it's fake.” he began. “You work in an apartment building that you use as an office, accepting any job in exchange for money. They say you use natural remedies, strange rituals, and that you even kill Grimm if the opportunity arises, so you possess a certain power.”

The magician began to clap, feigning admiration.

"That's just the beginning, my friend. I'm sure you know more."

“We know about your connection to the Happy Huntresses.” Percy said. “We may not know the exact details of your relationship, but we do know that Robyn Hill has been seen coming to you in the past. People are still talking about that Geist you killed inside Mantle.”

The wizard raised his eyebrows, slightly impressed. It had been quite some time since that had happened, before he went to Beacon to try and stop Salem’s plans.

He leaned back in his chair, gesturing with his hands and inviting the group to follow.

“We know you’re not who you say you are.” Betty said, pointing a finger at him. “You suddenly appear one day two years ago, start fixing people’s problems, and then disappear again. And finally, the most important thing, the thing that keeps pissing me off the more I think about it… is that you’re damn strong.”

“And why do you think that?” the wizard asked, curious.

“Because the day you returned to Mantle, I was there, and I saw you. Somehow you defeated all the Ace Ops except for that jerk with the fishing rod.”

“Powers based on good luck; some people just win the genetic lottery.” Constantine looked at Azahar, pointing his finger. “Don’t even think about laughing at that lame joke.”

“But the point is, you fought the Ace Ops and you’re free. Who exactly are you?” Betty asked; her companions wanted to know too.

The magician stood up, clearing his throat.

“Alright… Tell me, have I ever attacked civilians in Mantle?” The group looked at each other, then shook their heads. “Okay. Have I ever posed a threat to the stability of the city?”

The group pondered. At that moment, Duke made a complicated face.

“I have a question. Was that mosquito plague two years ago your doing?"

Constantine looked at him, puzzled.

"How the hell am I supposed to cause a mosquito plague? Think before you speak, kid." The wizard had obviously lied; a minor demon had escaped when he botched a spell while drunk. Fortunately, he'd managed to banish it before it could cause any harm. "The thing is, you and I have the same interests."

"And what are those interests?" Azahar asked, curious.

"It's obvious, my dear redhead. Protecting Mantle."

The group gasped in surprise. They looked at their leader, who smiled back. Then they started laughing.

"Now you see why I told you to come?" Azahar remarked between laughs. "It was too funny not to share."

"Okay, okay, I'll grant you this one." Percy said, laughing.

“But don’t let it go to your head.” Betty warned him with a smile.

Duke, however, remained serious. Anyone else would have been offended, or at least confused, after being laughed at to their face. But Constantine remained calm, extremely calm. He was smiling.

“Why are you smiling?” Duke asked, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Me? Nothing, kid. It’s just that I find your little… performance funny.” he said, slightly wiggling his fingers.

“Performance?” Betty said with a smile. “What are you talking about, old man?”

“Well, you’re pretending to be these really bad, super-tough guys… when in reality you’re just sentimental. If you’re so bad…”

“You are sentimental!” Betty interrupted. “You’ve got the nerve to come to our base and start spouting crap…”

“Shhh!” Constantine hissed, putting his index finger to his lips. It was so sudden it silenced everyone with surprise. "It's very rude to interrupt the others. As I was saying, if you're all so bad, why don't you do something that makes money?"

"We already do." Percy retorted. "We make a lot of money with the protection money they pay us, and with the Dust we steal from Schnee."

"Yes, it's possible." Constantine replied, his hands in his pockets. "But it's not as lucrative as drug trafficking, prostitution, or selling weapons stolen from dead hunters. You don't do anything that brutally harms the population. I think Junior called it 'Fighting in the Shadows' or something like that."

"We become part of the Shadows to fight against them." Azahar said, stepping forward with a serious expression. “I suppose this confirms that the note wasn’t forged. He does know Junior.”

“Yes, and that’s why I know you’re the right people for the job I have ahead of me.” Constantine began lighting another cigarette, inhaling the smoke.

“Protect Mantle, you say that as if it were normally a bed of roses,” Azahar replied.

“No, this city is a shithole. But it could get even worse.”

“And how do you think that could happen?”

The wizard took another drag, looking at the group as a whole.

“Do you guys vote?” the detective asked seriously.

“No.” Azahar answered. “We’re not interested in politics.”

“I am.” Percy said. Everyone turned to look at him. “What? I like to know who are in the council"

“And that’s the point I wanted to make.” Constantine took another drag, exhaling a puff of smoke. “There are two main candidates, Robyn Hill and Jacques Schnee. We have to stop Jacques from winning.”

“Why should we care?” the faunus leader asked.

“Because Jacques will squeeze Mantle dry. In a situation like this, rival gangs—your rivals—can take advantage and gain immense power.” the magician explained. “Desperate, disaffected people, turning to drugs to escape reality or selling their bodies for food. Things you’ve been actively preventing. If Robyn doesn’t win, everything you’ve fought for vanishes in an instant.” Constantine snapped his fingers, the four founders staring at him.

They turned to Azahar, seeking advice from their leader, the one who had brought them together when they failed to gain admission to Atlas Academy.

The faunus looked at Constantine with his cat-like eyes; he had clearly made up his mind.

“So what do you propose?”

Constantine smiled; he was practically in. He could do things on his own, but the more help, the better.

“Although in practice every citizen is free to vote for themselves, we all know here that if it’s in the interest of those gangs, they’ll do everything they can to make sure Jacques wins. Vote-buying, intimidation, all that crap. So the solution is obvious.” The magician finished his cigarette. “Before the elections, we have to take territory away from the other gangs.”

“Wait, you want us to declare war on them?” Duke asked.

“I like the idea.” Betty replied with a smile.

“It’s a shitty idea!” Percy complained, looking at Betty. Then he pointed at Constantine. “It’s a shitty idea.”

“But it’s also the only option.” Constantine said. “If you can make those people feel safe, protected, then they’ll vote for what you think is best. And if anyone decides to sell their vote to someone else, you will politely remind them that if they can continue walking, it is thanks to your generosity."

“Isn’t it a bit hypocritical to complain about how other gangs buy votes and force people to vote, and then propose that we do the same?” Azahar asked.

“You mistake me for someone who cares about hypocrisy.” the wizard said. “This is war, kids. And we have to win.”

The leaders of the Knights looked at each other, considering whether to accept the proposal. After exchanging glances, Azahar rested his arm on the hilt of his floret.

“Let’s just say it’s in our interest, Constantine.” the faunus said. “We gain more territory, and you get votes for Hill; everyone wins. But…”

Constantine couldn’t hide his weary sigh; there was always a “but” in these situations.

“Go ahead, just say it.”

“But we need to be sure of your commitment to us. That you won’t stab us in the back.”

The magician sighed, his eyes wearily scanning the group. He’d expected them to say something like this; it was obvious. After all, you don’t just trust the first person who walks in saying they’ll help you become more powerful.

“Okay, okay, let’s get this over with. What do you want?”

“It turns out the RK have been expanding. They’ve taken over a nightclub in our territory.” the faun explained with a grin. “We’d like you to… invite them to leave.”

“Kid, I’m twice your age. Just say you want me to take care of them,” Constantine replied. “And let me make one thing clear. If I can resolve this without bloodshed, I will. I don’t like it when it’s unnecessary.”

“Ooh, a fair soul, I see.” Azahar mocked. She pulled out her scroll, connecting to Constantine’s. “There’s my contact. Call us when you’re done, not before.”

“Yes, yes, I get it.” The magician stood up, heading for the door. “If you end up joining the plan, I’ll tell you more.”

That last sentence intrigued the group. Did he know something they didn’t? A hidden reason why Robyn had to win at any cost?

“What do you mean by ‘more’?” Betty asked.

“Spoilers.” the magician replied animatedly, leaving through the door and the motley crew behind.

Constantine started walking, thinking about the Knights. They were young, just as Junior had told him, but he hadn't expected them to be that young. They were a similar age to the RWBY and JNRJ teams, which meant they must have been rejected from Atlas around the same time the teenagers he'd arrived with at Atlas were accepted to Beacon, maybe a year earlier. So young and already involved in that kind of activity, they weren't very different from Constantine himself when he was young. He hoped they at least had that same rebellious spirit that made him rush to protect the innocent.

But for now, he had to take it one step at a time, earn the trust of these rebels.

"So, the RK gang… Junior mentioned them, according to him they were bad news." The magician put a cigarette to his lips, lighting it with his trusty lighter as he looked up at the setting sun. "This night is going to be intense."

As the infamous detective headed off for another night's work, a different kind of gathering was taking place on the floating city of Atlas. Together in a single room were Remnant's hopes as a planet, the most skilled Huntresses of their generation, who had set out to save the world. This group, comprised of Team RWBY and the remnants of Team JNPR, now had a very special event ahead of them.

"Welcome!"

An explosion of confetti filled the room, enveloping the new Huntress dressed in green.

Jessica Cruz looked around, a hint of panic in her eyes, quickly assessing the situation. In front of her was a large group of people. On one side were Ruby and Blake with confetti launchers, while Weiss smiled and clapped. To her right were Nora and Ren, with the petite Huntress doing a little excited dance. Beside them stood a boy in an olive-green jacket who looked the youngest of them all.

"Wh-what is this?" Jessica asked. She'd supposedly only come to meet Yang's team; she hadn't expected all this. And neither had their leader.

"Yang…" Jaune said, looking at his group. "This was supposed to be an impromptu visit. How did you have time?"

"We have an emergency alert for surprise parties." the blonde replied, bumping fists with her sister.

"Welcome to the group, Jessica! I'm Ruby!" Ruby approached her, clearly excited. "Can I see your weapon? Please, please, please."

"I don't have a weapon." the huntress said sadly. "I feel like I haven't found mine yet."

"Don't worry, you'll find it eventually." said the faunus of the group. "I'm Blake, nice to meet you."

“I’m Weiss. If you ever need a break from Nora’s excitement, you can always come to me.” the former heiress said with a solemn smile.

Jessica stared at the white-haired hunter, imagining her image alongside that of a certain specialist.

“You’re Winter’s sister…”

“That’s right, though I’m less serious.” The statement was met with murmurs from her teammates. “What? It’s true!”

Pushing her friend aside, Yang stood in front of Jessica, striking a pose.

“And you already know me, I’m Yang.”

“They’re Team RWBY.” said Jaune. “We’ve been friends since we started at Beacon.”

“And we stayed together when Beacon fell.” replied Ren with a grin.

“Get ready to see their faces a lot, Jessica, because Team RWBY and Team JRNJ are going to make their mark!” Nora grabbed Jessica, hugging her and lifting her into the air.

The newest member of the team let herself be handled like a rag doll. In the short time she’d been with them, she’d already learned that she was simply no match for Nora’s strength; she couldn’t resist. Her gaze lingered on the boy in the olive-green jacket; he still hadn't introduced himself.

"I'm Oscar, nice to meet you." the boy said. "I don't belong to any team, but I'm with you all."

"Wait a minute," Jessica said, placing her hands on Nora's cheeks to signal her to put her down. "That means all of you..."

"That's right." Weiss replied. "We know about Salem too."

"Everyone in this room knows. It's a huge responsibility." Blake told her.

Ruby approached the girl in the green jacket, taking her hands.

"Jessica, I know all this Salem thing is scary. She's a very old witch that does magic and is super evil. But we can defeat her, I'm sure of it. If we work together, anything is possible."

Jaune smiled, placing a hand on Jessica's shoulder affectionately.

"Ruby's right. I'm sure everything will be alright."

Jessica glanced at the silver-eyed huntress, then at her leader. The blond boy smiled somewhat sheepishly; pep talks were Ruby's thing, not his. But Jessica could see the differences between the two leaders. The former, the younger one, was a hopeless dreamer, firmly believing in heroes and that anything was possible. Jaune, on the other hand, was a bit more pragmatic, perfectly aware of his own limitations and those of his companions.

But they both had something in common, and perhaps that's what surprised Jessica the most. They both believed what they were saying. They both believed they could defeat Salem.

That thought struck Jessica like a dagger to the heart. There she was, surrounded by heroes, hunters capable of fighting, with real weapons and real powers. She felt like she was in the way. That they'd be better off without her.

Ren was the first to notice this slight shift in her feelings. The next was Jaune, who had spent long afternoons with her and had learned her body language.

"Are you okay?" Ren asked.

"No," Jessica said, clenching her fists. "All this kindness... I don't deserve it."

Her words froze everyone present; no one knew how to react. Ruby tried to speak, nervously.

"I-if I said something wrong..."

"No, it's not what you said," Jessica said. "But we all know why I'm here. I don't remember anything." Jessica began to sob, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I don’t know who my parents are, I don’t know what my childhood home was like, I don’t know when I joined Atlas or how I managed it. I only know my name and the general’s. I’m supposed to have been born here, but I don’t remember anything. And now you have to carry me like the burden I am.”

Jessica began to cry harder, turning to leave the room. Before she could, Jaune grabbed her shoulders.

“Listen to me. You’re not a burden. It’s okay that you can’t remember. You may not know how to fight right now, but I promise I’ll help you. We’ll all help you.”

“But I’m a waste of time!” Jessica retorted. “Y-you should be out on missions! Saving the world! Not with a coward like me.”

Jaune looked at her, confused.

“Coward? Jessica, you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met.” His words left Jessica speechless. She glanced at the other people in the room; none of them had reacted strangely to Jaune's words. "Your first instinct upon hearing about Salem wasn't to run, but to stay by our side. It takes a lot of courage to do that."

"I... I-I only did it because I thought it was the right thing to do." the huntress said.

"It takes even more courage to do the right thing despite fear." Blake replied. "Believe me, I know that better than anyone."

"We've all done something that scared us, but it was the right thing to do. I ran away from home and was rejected by my father. I'm no longer the heir." Weiss stated calmly.

"I have this." Yang displayed her metal arm. "I was terrified, thinking I'd never be able to fight again. But here I am, armed and ready."

"Ugh, another one of your jokes, Yang?" the former heiress said, annoyed. "You've said it twenty times already."

“But not to Jessica, so you can’t say anything to me.” The huntresses said with a mischevious grin.

“Hey, I’m just like you,” Oscar said nervously. “All this came to me suddenly, but… I don’t regret doing good.”

“Besides, you don’t have to be afraid, Jess. You have the best teammates in the world by your side!” Nora announced with a huge smile.

“We’re family on this team, Jessica.” Ren replied.

“And we always help each other in any way we can.” Jaune crouched down a little, getting down to her level. “We won’t leave you behind. I promise.”

Jessica looked at her leader, who was looking at her with a sincere smile and blue eyes that managed to calm her. She let out a silent tear, hugging Jaune and surprising the blond.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity.” Jessica murmured.

“N-no need to thank me!” Jaune replied nervously. She wasn't expecting a hug, least of all from Jessica.

"Yay! Group hug! Come with Momma!" Nora dragged Ren along, hugging her leader and her new companion tightly. Ren sighed, hugging them back loosely, ready to break the embrace at the slightest provocation.

After a few seconds, Jessica opened her eyes, realizing what she'd done and checking that she was clinging tightly to Jaune.

"O-okay! Too much hugging! Stop!" Jessica warned, making the group release her and let her breathe. "Phew, much better."

"Then let's eat!" Nora announced. "We ordered a cake shaped like the academy. I can't wait to eat Ironwood's office." Jessica moved a few inches away from Nora, seeing the madness in her eyes as she said that.

"Yay! Cake, cake! Give it to me, give it to me!" said Ruby impatiently, watching Blake cut the cake.

The group celebrated the official arrival of their new teammate, eating cake and sharing anecdotes, both surprising and worrying her. While the rest of the group filled Jessica in, Jaune stepped aside, sitting at a table with his plate of cake as he looked at their new teammate.

"She's a nice girl, don't you think?" Jaune was surprised to see the voice beside him. Against all odds, Weiss had sat down next to him. "She's a bit timid, but I like her."

"She just lacks experience. The first time I faced a Grimm, I was terrified. It was after you left me hanging from that tree."

"Hey, if I hadn't ignored you, you wouldn't have met your team. You're welcome." Weiss replied with a smile. "But one thing's for sure, she reminds me a bit of you. At least at first."

“Well, she has Aura, so she’s already better than I ever was.” Jaune’s smile faded as he remembered his beginnings. “And I… I had Pyrrha to teach me.”

Weiss sighed, watching Ruby pull out a weapons catalog to see if any of them interested Jessica.

“You miss her, don’t you?”

“I think about her every day. I know it’s not healthy, and that I made peace with her on Argus. But… I can’t help thinking that maybe it should have been me. Ouch!” Jaune rubbed his head; Weiss had given him an unexpected slap. “What was that about?”

“Don’t ever say that again, okay? Pyrrha was… she was absolutely wonderful. And she chose to do what she did. And believe me, she’d be so proud of the person you’ve become, especially seeing that you’re willing to train Jessica the same way she trained you.”

“You think so?” Jaune asked.

“Absolutely. I don’t even recognize you. And Ren keeps saying how much you’ve improved at our tea parties.”

“Wow… Wait, tea parties?”

“We’re the only two here who know how to appreciate a good cup of tea. Well, him and Constantine, he comes around every now and then.”

“Ah…” Jaune glanced at Jessica, who was looking at the weapons in the magazine only to reject them. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she’s prepared. I swear.”

“That’s more like it. I wish you’d been like this from the start.”

“Yeah… Hey, if I’d been like this back in Beacon, would you have gone out in a date with me?” the hunter asked.

“Jaune, you’d better leave the jokes to Yang.” Weiss raised his fork in a toast. “To Pyrrha.”

“To Pyrrha.”

The two clinked forks, calmly eating their cake. They were in a new stage of their lives, with more dangers but also more allies. And this time, they could make a difference.

In Mantle, far from the familial warmth shared by the two hunter teams, John Constantine was approaching the worst of society. The mere fact of dedicating oneself to crime and screwing over the rest of the population when living in a world under the constant threat of extinction already made the magician nauseous, but what he'd heard from RK was that they were the worst of the worst. He wasn't going to deal with the entire gang, of course; that was a workload and resources he couldn't afford, but he could certainly take care of scaring off those who had taken over territory that wasn't theirs.

After a long walk, he arrived at what looked like a nightclub. He could feel the music from inside struggling to escape, straining against his chest, pushing through the thick walls that enclosed a den of freedom and carefree abandon. The man, nearly six foot three, guarding the door let him in, glancing at his outfit and muttering something about who thought of combining blue pants with that trench coat.

Upon entering, the magician felt his senses assaulted. The smell of alcohol, the pounding of the music in his neck, and he could even sense that more than half the crowd was high.

"Damn, it's like being back in England." The magician made his way through the club, dodging the revelers who tried to pull him along. Although he noticed a few people who caught his eye, he wasn't up for that kind of adventure, nor could he afford any distractions. He was there with a purpose. After walking through the entire place, he finally reached a staircase leading to a basement. "Of course..."

The magician calmly descended the stairs, aware of his surroundings to avoid any unpleasant surprises. At the bottom, he saw a large metal door guarded by a man and a woman, both of considerable size. Constantine couldn't help but think that if either of them managed to hit him in the face with all their might, it would be the first case of cosmetic surgery by punching in history.

"What do you want?" The man asked in a deep voice.

"Go to the bathroom. What the hell do you think I want?"

The woman and the man exchanged confused glances.

"The bathroom is upstairs, next to the coats." the woman replied, pointing to the stairs.

Constantine's mouth opened slightly; he refused to believe she was serious. However, he had plenty of experience reading people, and he could say without a doubt that these two were complete idiots.

"God damn it, and that magic bitch for bringing me to Remnant..." the mage muttered. "Alright, sawdust brains, seeing as irony is as complicated for you as aerospace engineering, I'll get straight to the point. I need to see your boss, the one who runs this place. Now."

"The boss doesn't want to be disturbed." the man said.

"That's right, he doesn't want to be disturbed."

Constantine frowned; they were starting to test his patience. He activated his Semblance, revealing a white light in his eyes. Pupils, stars colliding with each other.

"Are we going to have a problem?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the duo.

He'd had time to experiment with his semblance, and although it only served to allow him to see magic in people and the environment, the magician had discovered it was more than that. When he looked in the mirror using it, he could see how his pupils transformed into those of the Eternal, a strange vision that seemed to activate something within living beings. And if, in addition, the one observing him was someone as simple as those two gorillas, then intimidation was guaranteed.

Just as the mage had predicted, they both stared fearfully into those eyes. Their survival instinct warned them that whatever they were, they were far removed from everything they knew.

"W-we don't want any trouble." the woman said, then turned to her companion. "Right?"

"Right, right." the other nodded. "I-I think we have to go... do something."

"That's it! Something! Those eyes give off such a bad vibe..." They both ran off, racing up the stairs.

The mage sighed, grateful that the guards were idiots. If they were a little more intelligent, he would have had to use force to get in, and he preferred to resolve this without making too much of a scene.

He opened the door confidently, greeted by the familiar scent of tobacco. He had grown so accustomed to the tobacco of Remnant that he sometimes wondered if he would notice the difference when he returned to his world. He scanned the room, observing its occupants. There were at least twelve people, all dressed in comfortable sportswear. Seated on a comfortable sofa with a coffee table in front of it was a blond, burly man in a red tracksuit. Constantine gave him a good look, noticing a scar on his cheek and cuts on his knuckles. This guy was no stranger to fighting.

“Who the hell are you?” the man asked with a small smile. “I told those two idiots not to let anyone in without my permission.”

“Well, the idiots have taken a little break.” the magician replied. “Let’s get this over with quickly, this… Shit, I don’t even know your name.”

“Bura.” the man said. “Bura Daiya.”

“Okay, Bura, before any of your thugs get any ideas, I’m going to say what I came here to say.”

“Okay, man in the trench coat. Go ahead.”

“You’re in territory that isn’t yours, and you know it, Bura.”

“We’re RK, man. All the territory is ours if we decide to claim it.” the mobster replied with a grin, making his henchmen laugh.

“It doesn’t work like that, pal. There are rules that must be respected, or else there will be consequences. Do you want to start a war with the Knights?”

“The Knights? The Knights?!” Bura started laughing hysterically, along with the rest of the gang. “Those guys are a bunch of losers! They think they’re so special because they have four people with auras, but they’re a tiny gang. It doesn’t matter how good a student hunter is, if you throw enough people at them, you can still slit their throats.” The mobster ran his thumb along his neck with a sadistic grin. “We’re not going anywhere, man. If they want this place, they can come and get it.”

“Come on, is your boss making up for something? You RKs are a big gang.” the magician replied. “You already have a huge piece of the pie. Leave this damn territory alone.”

“Hey, hey, old man. Watch that tone. Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?”

“Boss, I think I know him.” said a henchman with a prominent green mohawk. “Isn’t this the guy with the weird name who was around here a few years ago? John Constantain?”

“Constantine.” the detective corrected him. “Say it right, damn it. It’s not that hard.”

“Holy shit, you’re right,” Bura replied excitedly. “You’re that dude, the one in the shabby trench coat. Damn, man, I’ve really wanted to meet you. Look, let’s do this.” Bura put his arm around Constantine, earning a furious glare from the magician. "They say you'll do any job as long as they pay you enough, so those cowards from The Knights must have paid you to scare me. Great job, look how I'm trembling." Bura clicked her tongue, looking the magician in the eye. "I'll pay you double so you can go fuck yourself and tell those kids they can fuck off too. What do you say?"

Constantine looked him up and down, his blue eyes locking onto Bura's dark brown ones. He slapped the mobster's arm away, his disgust evident.

"Believe me, asshole. It's not about the money. At least I tried." The magician turned, ready to leave the room.

"Come on, man, don't be like that" Bura said, laughing as he sat back down on the sofa. "If you don't want money, what do you want? Jewelry? I've got tons to give away, look at these rings." Bura held up his hands, displaying several gold rings. "Alcohol? We've got some good stuff. Drugs? Man, that's real magic. A little of our stuff and you'll be flying through the air like that redhead girl who shoots lasers. No, no, wait, I know what an old geezer like you might like."

Constantine sighed as he walked on. He'd had the misfortune of running into one of those guys who never shut up. He'd encountered several like him, small-time thugs with a bit more power than the rest, but not more than those above them. These kinds of people constantly needed to brag about their luxuries.

"What you want is a good time, huh? To get laid. You should have said so sooner, man. We've got everything. Men, women, fauns if you're into something more exotic. Hell, we even have young girls for perverted bastards like you."

Constantine, now just two steps from the door, stopped dead in his tracks. He turned slowly toward Bura, his expression completely neutral.

"Young girls?"

"Ooh, the old man's got a kick out of it, guys." Bura laughed, along with his men. "If that's what gets you hard, we've got what you need. Damn, some of them haven't even started growing pubic hair yet. Look, Johnny, I liked you the moment you walked in here. I thought, 'Damn, this guy's got balls.' If I remember correctly, the people around here trusted you a few years ago. Your name is still synonymous with fear for the assholes who hang around the dark alleys. They said that if you messed with someone, that person could send the man in the trench coat after you."

"Not even the hair..." Constantine muttered, not paying attention to Bura.

"I'm not afraid of you, you two-bit detective, but it's clear some people are. We can use that to our advantage. So, here's a proposition: You tell the Knights to fuck off, you start working with us, giving us information on your clients, and I'll let you have your fun with one of the girls. What do you say?"

The magician remained motionless, his blue eyes conveying an unprecedented, cold rage. Familiar faces and places began swirling in his mind. Newcastle, that cursed place for the magician, where he lived through his darkest hour. Alex Logue, that two-bit magician, that wretched outcast, that filthy pimp and drug addict. And then she appeared, the image of his first great failure, his first great defeat. The image that haunted him everywhere he went, the image that drove him to keep fighting, using every trick in the book, the one that tormented him, telling him he could never make up for all the damage he caused. Astra Logue, little Astra. So young, so intelligent, so powerful. Dead because he hadn't managed to stop the monster in time, the one who made her life a living hell, that rat in human skin who gladly sold his daughter's body. Constantine made a promise, because promises had power.

No more Astras.

"No… never again." The magician pulled out the umbrella Pietro had designed, brimming with concentrated Dust, far more powerful and practical than the Dust crystals he carried. He tapped the ground twice with the umbrella's tip, his eyes fixed on Bura.

"Ooh, watch out, guys, the old man's got the umbrella," Bura said, laughing. "What's up? Are you going to use it to dance a dance? Or do you plan to kill us with that thing?"

"No, Bura. I'm not going to kill you. You don't even deserve my attention." Constantine whistled like a pet owner trying to get its attention. At his signal, the sword he had concealed in his trench coat unsheathed itself, flying at high speed toward Bura. He reacted quickly, dodging to the side, causing the sword to pierce the heart of one of the gang members behind him, ending his life with a final gasp. "He'll do it."

From the red sword began to billow smoke of the same color, forming shapes resembling a screaming face. The smoke swirled, giving rise to a blood-red apparition gripping the sword. The figure was tall, with spiky hair and horns on its head. Its eyes, covered by a black bandage, stared straight ahead, and its lips were twisted in a grimace of rage that reflected the deep hatred it felt.

“Bura and company, this is Adam Taurus, a known terrorist and, for some time now, a spirit in my service,” the magician explained calmly. “Adam, this is Bura, from the RK gang. Bura has been trafficking people, including young children. Have fun.”

The spirit glared at Constantine, baring his teeth as his hands gripped his sword. Adam wanted to scream, to fight back. Not even when he was with the SDC had he felt so enslaved. It wasn't just a chain around his neck; this demon in human form had managed to chain his soul. They had taken his life, they had taken his freedom.

All he had left was rage.

“Constantine!”

The former White Fang member's angry shout snapped the RK members out of their shock. Then their screams of terror began.

The gang members tried to attack Adam, but even though their weapons made contact with his body, they didn't seem capable of harming him. The faunus sword swung from side to side, slicing through the flesh as if it were butter. Constantine watched, his blue eyes fixed straight ahead, feeling the blood spatter on his skin. Baru tried to finish off Adam, but the faunus delivered a swift kick to his chest, knocking him back. His body flickered with a blue glow; he had an aura.

Then his gaze locked on Constantine.

"You… Screw this!"

Bura ran, reaching the door. To the mobster's horror, he realized a terrible truth. The doorknob was gone; the door was completely locked. No one could get in, and no one could get out.

"I-I don't understand… It's impossible!"

Constantine slowly turned his head, his blue eyes fixed on Bura. He gripped the umbrella tightly, slamming it against the ground again.

"Impossible, you say? You haven't seen anything yet."

"I'm going to kill you!" Baru drew his knife and ran toward the magician.

"Beings far more dangerous than you have tried." Constantine drew a straight line on the ground with his umbrella, striking it again. A shard of stone began to grow from the ground, piercing Baru's arm and shattering his aura in the process. "When we're done here, you can ask them how it went."

The man tried to free his arm, but it was no use. Even using all his power, he couldn't break free. He stared in horror at the monster, the man in the trench coat. John Constantine turned his gaze back to Adam, who was still effortlessly massacring the gang members.

After a few seconds, the screams of terror subsided. Even Baru had fallen silent, terrified, as his arm remained pierced by the stone. So much so, that he hadn't even noticed the flesh near the wound beginning to turn grayish.

Adam's spirit began to gasp; his bloodlust was still there. Then he turned to the magician, that damned human who had found him in his final moments and dared to enslave him. Without thinking, he moved swiftly toward Constantine, seeking to slice his throat. When the edge of his sword was mere centimeters from the magician, he stopped abruptly. Adam made a small noise of surprise, for no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to move his sword.

"What the..."

Still reeling from the shock, Adam didn't see Constantine's slap coming. He fell to the ground, clutching his cheek. It hurt, it hurt a lot.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" the magician demanded, his tone authoritative. "I'll tell you. You're nothing, you're nobody. You're the memory of a fragile man who couldn't bear a breakup. You're scum, and now you're MY scum. If I tell you to die, you die. If I tell you to bark, you bark. Is that clear?"

Adam growled with rage, his eyes blazing at Constantine through the bandage.

"I'll kill you... I don't know how, but my sword will taste your blood."

Constantine kicked him in the face, making him wince in pain. Each blow from the magician felt like thousands of cuts scattered across his body.

"You'll learn. Until then, go back to where you belong." The mage spat at the spirit, letting it feel his wrath. With a simple flick of his wrist, Adam transformed back into red smoke, entering the sword. The mage groaned as he bent down to pick it up, sheathing it once more.

He turned his head, looking at Bura again.

Bura swallowed hard; his pants were suddenly much wetter.

"Wh-what are you?" the gang member asked.

"I'm... an idiot. Someone who made a mistake years ago and is trying to make up for it. And today, Bura, today you've pissed me off in a way no one has in a long time." Constantine pulled out the scroll Ironwood had given him, revealing a map of Mantle. "Tell me where you have those people. Mark it on the scroll."

"C-come on, man. You know they'll kill me if..."

"I know you haven't realized it, Bura." Constantine interrupted. “But I want you to look at your arm.”

Bura turned his head in fear. He hadn’t felt any pain in his arm for a long time, and he knew that could only mean bad news. His face fell when he saw part of his arm turned a grayish color, but that wasn’t the worst of it. He couldn’t clench his hand, he couldn’t move a single muscle in his arm.

“What is this?! What have you done to me?!”

“That’s your arm turned to stone.” the magician replied. “The stone will keep turning, and soon, you’ll be a statue. I can fix this, of course.” The magician showed him the map again. “The location. Now.”

“Okay, okay!” Bura used his good arm to place a marker on the map, his gaze shifting to Constantine. “There, now take this off, please.” he said, sobbing.

Constantine sent the location to Robyn, informing her that people were in danger and that she should expect resistance. The huntress had asked for more information, of course, but the mage had simply told her to trust him. Hopefully, Robyn would trust their shared desire to protect Mantle and go to the location to save those people.

"Well, we're done here." the mage announced. Constantine started walking toward the exit, with Bura sobbing behind him.

"Wait! You said you'd take this from me!"

"I said I could, not that I would. Goodbye, Bura. Say hello to the others for me."

"No! You can't do this to me! Constantine!" Bura stretched out his arm, trying to reach the mage. With each scream, with each movement, the stone consumed him more and more.

Finally, in that basement filled with corpses, there was something that stood out from the rest. A stone statue depicting a screaming man, his face contorted in panic and anguish. If you approached, you could almost hear the statue screaming.

In Mantle, seedy bars weren't exactly in short supply. They were places where you could go to drink without anyone asking awkward questions.

Those kinds of places were usually Qrow's favorites, although since arriving in Atlas he'd vowed never to drink again. However, the situation required him to go to this particular place. The hunter opened the bar door, completely empty except for a single customer. John Constantine was sitting at the bar, his hands touching a glass of whiskey, his gaze lowered. The hunter approached him, unable to help but notice the bloodstains covering his trench coat and face.

"John… when they reported a guy in a trench coat covered in blood, I suspected it was you, though it didn't make much sense." Qrow sat down next to him, watching the bar's television. They were reporting on how the Happy Huntresses had just single-handedly freed several victims of prostitution. "That Robyn is a force to be reckoned with, don't you think?"

Constantine didn't answer, he simply took a swig from his glass.

"That blood isn't yours, is it?" Qrow asked, though he already knew the answer. "Damn... What the hell happened to you?"

"I lost control." Constantine replied. "I saw something that reminded me of my past and I snapped."

“Dude, I’m going to be honest with you. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been involved in every mess I’ve come across. Did you have a hand in that too?” Qrow said, nodding toward the television.

The man turned slowly, taking a sip from his glass.

“Who do you think tipped her off?”

Qrow snorted, rubbing his temple.

“Ironwood isn’t going to be happy that one of his hunters decided to act on his own.”

“I made it perfectly clear to him when he gave me the license. I do my job, and I’ll only follow orders if our objectives align. Did you want me to ignore those people?”

“No… you did the right thing, John. Although you could have left someone to pay for their crimes.”

“They’re RK’s bastards. There are hundreds of them in Mantle… Some will be left to pay for the rest.”

“John, I’m going to tell you something. You haven't told me what's supposedly affected you so much, or what happened to you in your other home." Qrow glanced at the bartender at the far end of the bar, clearly intimidated by Constantine's blood-soaked clothes. "I'm fine with that. I don't need to know all your secrets if you don't want me to. But if you're going to do something like that again, call me. I'll fight by your side, you and me together. What do you say?"

The detective looked at Qrow beside him, smiling as he stared at him with those enormous red eyes. He could see the resemblance to his sister, certainly, but there was a fundamental difference. Raven's smile was violent; she constantly looked like an animal about to attack. Qrow, on the other hand, had a sincere and reassuring smile.

Constantine snorted, leaning back in his chair.

"Okay, if I need help getting into trouble, I'll call you. But I'm warning you, you might see some really weird shit."

"More?" Qrow said, laughing. "We've only been seeing weird shit lately."

"No, no, I mean really weird. Trust me, I've seen so much stuff you'd think was drunken rambling." Constantine finished his drink, setting the glass on the bar. "I am drunk, but I didn't lie this time."

"How many did you have?" the hunter asked.

"A prime number, that's for sure."

"Five." the bartender said from the back of the bar.

"Holy shit. Come on, John, let's go to your room." the hunter said, helping him to his feet.

"If I weren't drunk, I would have loved to hear those words." he said, his eyes narrowed.

"Come on, mate, let's go."

Together, the two men left the bar, Constantine stumbling as Qrow grab him. That day was one Mantle would remember; it was the day Robyn Hill definitively rose as a champion of the people, saving victims of human trafficking. In the underworld, that day would be known as the night the RK bled, discovering with horror that twenty of its members, including a captain, had been exterminated. For the Knights, it was a day of rejoicing, realizing how lucky they had been to become allies of that blue-eyed monster.

And for Constantine, it was the day he let go of his trauma, the day he was able to save innocents and punish evildoers. It was the day he knew he could trust that attractive red-eyed hunter.

He was going to need him, after all. It was also the day something else entered Atlas. The once-normal city was about to suffer events that would shatter the psyches of the least prepared. And little did Constantine know that the Grimm would be the least of their problems in Mantle.

Chapter Text

Mantle offered more entertainment than one might imagine. Of course, the wealthy part of the kingdom was still the enormous floating island, but even Mantle had shops and places to hang out. Bars, arcades, parks… With a city this large, there was practically everything you could want if you looked hard enough.

One of the places frequently visited by both young and old was the bookstore. With its vast array of books and comics, it was the perfect place to warm up and buy something to read. In one of these spacious bookstores, filled with enjoyable reading material, something unusual was happening. Normally open and bustling with customers, it was currently closed, with only one person inside.

John Constantine, wearing his elegant new suit but still with his old trench coat over it, walked carefully among the shelves. He had been called in for a job that, according to the store owner, was quite unusual. Comics that vanished, objects that appeared where they shouldn't be, and once he even found a peppercorn in the sandwich he'd brought for lunch. All of this might have seemed like the owner's mere madness, a kind of persecution complex, but there was something about the whole story that made the magician uneasy.

And of course, the great detective, demonologist, and practitioner of the dark arts couldn't resist taking the case. Constantine walked hunched over and silent, slowly traversing the store shelves while his eyes darted rapidly from one point to another in the room.

"Come on, you little bastard. I know you're around here," the magician said. "What I've been told reeks of you. We can settle this one way or another."

Constantine caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. He approached a shelf, seeing one of the comics shift slightly. Suddenly, the comic book flew towards Constantine's face, hitting him and sending him stumbling back a few steps. The magician grunted, staring straight ahead, highlighting the scar on his left side that he'd earned years ago.

"The hard way then, you bloody bastard."

The magician began to move quickly, chasing the shadow that darted swiftly across the shelves, hurling comics and books at its pursuer. Constantine shielded himself with his arm, groaning at the barrage of projectiles he was intercepting. In one of his attempts to escape the creature, it threw a huge book of photographs at Constantine, which he narrowly dodged.

"When I catch you, you'll wish you'd never crawled out of your sulfur-smelling pit!" Finally, the magician managed to get close enough, seeing a kind of pointed tail swishing from side to side. "Gotcha!"

As soon as he grabbed the tail, Constantine heard a high-pitched squeal. He pulled the tail, revealing the culprit behind the flying book attacks. It was a kind of gray-skinned creature with pointed ears and sharp teeth. Its red eyes held a childlike malice, but were no less sadistic or dangerous for it. He raised his arm high, observing the creature with a crooked smile.

"A fucking imp. I know it was one of you the moment I heard it, you little… ¡Shit!" the wizard yelled as he felt the imp's fangs sink into his flesh. He immediately enveloped himself in his aura, watching the imp groan and cough to expel the blood. "It fucked up, isn't it? I have demonic blood, you fucking hick, from a bastard who could use you as a toothpick and you'd thank him. Ready to go back to your hole?"

The imp, still in midair, stuck its tongue out at Constantine and let out a fart.

"Ok bastard, I want you to know one thing. I'm going to enjoy this a lot."

Without wasting a second, Constantine began to wield the demon like a flail, slamming it against the walls and shelves. The imp shrieked, a victim of Constantine's pent-up malice and rage. After several minutes, the wizard stopped, seeing the imp hanging practically unconscious.

"Damn, that felt good. I needed to let off some steam." Constantine started walking, throwing the imp into a chalk-drawn enchantment circle he had previously sketched. "Come on, jump down."

The imp looked at him, growling to appear intimidating. Constantine raised his hand, showing the back of it.

"You want to try again?"

Frightened, the imp obeyed the wizard, opening a small one-way portal that would take him back to his plane of origin.

Constantine sighed, leaving the shop and lighting a cigarette. The owner, a man with a bushy mustache and three unkempt hairs, looked at him hopefully.

"Have you finished with the cause of the strange events?"

"Yes, my friend, it's all sorted out. Guaranteed."

“Thank you so much, Mr. Constantine! I can’t wait to be able to work in peace again.”

“It’s nothing, though I think you’ll have to do a bit of cleaning up in there.”

The wizard waved goodbye, hearing in the background the owner’s groan when he saw the mess the imp had made.

As he walked away, puffing smoke, Constantine couldn’t help but mutter something about it. Imps, small, pesky creatures born in Hell directly from the remnants of demonic energy. They appeared in countless cultures and legends, bothering the locals, sometimes known by different names like goblins or country demons, a term the wizard didn’t usually use since it was simpler to stick to a single ending for the creatures. A single imp wasn’t a problem at all; even a hunter could have killed it with his powerful weapons and his magnificent Dust. The problem, of course, was that this imp was in Mantle.

He had experienced strange events before, like that Legion ring, the demon that had tried to steal the soul of that little girl in Mistral, or his terrifying encounter with Mr. Mxyzptlk. But for a demon as minor as an imp, a creature so pathetic that even the most inept exorcist could defeat if there were only one, to have found a way across to Remnant… That meant many things, and none of them were good.

As he mentally reviewed what he had to do that day, the magician passed by the entrance to an alley. Without warning, a hand shot out, grabbing Constantine by the collar of his trench coat and dragging him into the alley. The magician's eyes widened in surprise, and he reached into his pockets for the revolver Pietro had given him. Before he knew it, the weapon was pressed against his captor's stomach, finding a hard, well-defined belly. Looking ahead, he saw a pair of red eyes staring at him in utter surprise.

"Are you pointing a fucking gun at me?"

Constantine's mouth fell open slightly, taken aback by the sight. Standing before him was a woman with black hair, wearing a black and red dress, looking at him with a mixture of anger and surprise. Raven Branwen was in Atlas, and she was pinning him against the wall.

"No, I'm just glad to see you," Constantine joked, holstering his weapon. "What the hell are you doing here? Is it too hot in Vacuo?"

"Look, don't even talk to me about the fucking heat, it's awful. But I have to admit, pretending to be Bedouins is working wonders. The number of suckers we've fleeced with that trick..." Raven smiled maliciously, crossing her arms.

"Raven, my lovely rascal, don't make the bird jokes so easy." the magician said with a crooked grin.

Raven observed that unshaven face, those blue eyes as cold as the Atlesian tundra, and that scar that adorned it. If it weren't for Salem and Ozpin, that would be the most manipulative face she had ever encountered. And for some reason, it was also the only one that seemed to understand her lifestyle without sharing it.

"You're an idiot." the Spring Maiden told him.

"And that's one of my many charms." Constantine leaned against the wall, taking out an extra cigarette for his new companion. Raven stood beside him, bringing the cigarette to her lips, lighting it with a small flame from her finger. "Ooh... charming. I used to do that trick a lot when I was younger. Until a little demon possessed my finger; it was a nasty business. Not pleasant having your own thumb trying to poke your eye out."

Raven took a drag, momentarily enjoying the cold of Atlas.

"How's the traitor?"

"Much more handsome since he stopped drinking. He's working hard to get clean."

Raven turned to Constantine, exhaling smoke in his face.

"My brother quitting drinking? And now you're going to tell me he's also started crocheting?" Raven mocked, smiling. Then she saw Constantine's face. "Oh shit, you're serious."

"Yeah, it's fascinating what regaining faith can do to a person," the magician replied, taking a drag. "How's Vernal?"

"You saved her life behind her back and without her consent." Raven answered. "She's furious. She thinks you consider her weak for doing that. Now she's training like crazy, and I don't know if it's to kill you or to prove she's not weak."

"Bloody hell, what's with this obsession with weakness? There's nothing wrong with being weak. Look at me.” the wizard remarked.

Raven looked at him, frowning. Perhaps the wizard called himself that because he truly believed it, or perhaps to create an illusion to sell to his enemies, but the truth was that he was one of the strongest people Raven had ever met. Strength wasn't just physical, and she was able to recognize that.

“Someday you'll stop lying about your strength, and that day I'll be there to celebrate,” Raven remarked, taking another drag. “I suppose you can guess why I'm here.”

“The ring,” the wizard replied, looking at the bandit's hand. There it was, the Legion of Super-Heroes ring. “Have you found the owner?”

“No luck,” Raven said, shaking her head. “Sometimes the spell you cast sends a signal, as if she's nearby, but then she disappears. If she's in Vacuo, she's very good at hiding.”

“Shit… It can never be easy.” Thanks for trying anyway.

"Don't thank me, it's part of our deal. Now it's my turn. How are things going here? Have you had any trouble with Ironwood?"

"Not much, really. I've gotten into his inner circle."

Raven opened her mouth, dropping her cigarette.

"What?"

"Besides, he apologized. He even gave me a hug."

"What?!" Raven stared at him, unable to believe what he was saying. "How the hell did you do that? Did you cast a spell on him?"

"No, it was much simpler than that." Constantine took a final drag, discarding the butt. "When I was in Vale, I warned Ironwood and Ozpin about the danger the festival was in. They ignored me, and they couldn't stop the attack in time. Plus, Ozpin isn't available..."

"What do you mean he's not available?"

“A little grudge against us, he’s been hiding it.” the magician commented, waving his hand. “The thing is, right now I’m the only magician he has available, and the only one who was able to see the danger Beacon was in before it happened. I’m a valuable asset.”

“Damn… So now you have a better chance of winning. More power.” He glanced at the magician. “You even dress better.”

“Yes. I’m spending time in Atlas thinking, creating a strategy, and arming myself. Salem can die, Raven. And the answer is almost within my grasp.”

Raven looked at the ground, head bowed. His mind traveled back to Patch Woods, to the fateful night when he lost one of the people he cared about most. The night Summers Rose walked toward her death.

“Good… that bitch will pay, she’ll pay for everything. I’m leaving, Constantine. Good luck.”

“Wait a minute.” Constantine interrupted the bandit, who already had her hand on her sword to open a portal. “I have to warn you, strange things are starting to happen in Remnant, very strange.”

“Strange? Strange like what?”

“The magical kind.” he replied, deadly serious. “Today I encountered an Imp, a small creature that any hunter could kill. But if such a weak creature has managed to cross the borders of this plane, it’s very possible that beings of greater power can too. If you see something strange, something that makes your hair stand on end, something your instinct tells you is otherworldly, open a portal and drag me through.”

Raven couldn’t help but feel a chill. What kind of creatures was Constantine referring to that he had to deal with personally?

“You’re saying I couldn’t defeat those things?”

“I’m saying I’ve been doing this for over twenty years. I know which ones I can defeat, I know which ones I can banish. And most importantly, I know I can trick them. Be careful out there, Raven.”

Raven nodded, opening a portal and turning to face the wizard before stepping through.

“Good luck, John. You’re going to need it.”

When Raven stepped through the portal, Constantine was alone in the alley once more. He sighed wearily, wandering through the city, his mind racing. Raven didn’t know he was from another world; she would have to tell him eventually so their relationship wouldn’t be damaged if she found out on her own. And then there was the owner of the ring. A dark-skinned woman with strange yellow glasses—Constantine had never seen anyone like her, and given Remnant’s fashion sense, he couldn’t be sure if it was a superhero costume or not.

Constantine touched the bridge of his nose, irritated by the sheer number of fronts he was facing. Demons, Grimms, Salem, the Anti-Life Equation, the ring's owner, Jessica Cruz, and those damned Brother Gods who could appear at any moment and wipe them all off the map. Back home, there were plenty of problems, of course, but at least there were a great many heroes capable of solving some of them. Here, he was completely alone.

He glanced at his watch, his beloved antique watch which, as far as Constantine knew, held one of the keys to destroying all of humanity. Blessed be the day he learned to transform objects; he still remembered the time he transformed holy water into wine, deceiving the First of the Fallen. Oh, he still smiled when he thought about the Devil's face contorting in pain, glaring at him with hatred and a hint of fear.

It was midday, the time when most people were at work. But that was only if they had jobs, if they needed to fulfill their workday to put food on the table. And luckily, the person he wanted to see didn't need to work, and from what his sources had told him, that time was just her favorite. Her time for drinking in the garden.

Willow Schnee was a simple woman.

Every day she rose from her enormous bed, where she slept alone beside the man she was forced to call her husband. She went to the bathroom, where she washed her face with her multitude of products, expensive enough to make one faint at the mere mention of the price.

She dressed in her white shirt and blue jacket, adorning her collar with a large brooch, and looked at herself in the mirror. Despite all her efforts, the dark circles under her eyes remained, the result of a long life of sleepless nights due to unhappiness.

She walked through her enormous mansion, gazing nostalgically at the portraits of her ancestors, men and women of great courage and valor. She ate the breakfast prepared by her service, but oh, how much she missed the ones that made the lovely and faithful Klein; watching as her son approached to greet her, out of courtesy. But she knew it was just that, courtesy, since her son hated her as much as everyone else did. Her eldest daughter, Winter, had joined the army to escape them; And her beloved Weiss, the middle child, had followed in her footsteps, becoming a huntress herself, and had abandoned her.

Everyone eventually abandons her, sooner or later, everyone except her sweet nectar, which helped her maintain a modicum of composure and prevent her from collapsing to the floor in tears. It was true that she had occasionally ended up on the floor, but Klein always carried her to her room to rest.

At that very moment, she was reclining in the armchair in her garden, sipping wine while enjoying the silence of nature. She took a sip from her glass, feeling the intoxicating liquid slide down her throat, easing the constant pain. She closed her eyes, focusing on nature, on everything outside her own body. Suddenly, she heard a branch snap, shattering her tranquility.

"Wh-who's there?!" she asked, startled. The sound seemed to be coming from the garden gate, which overlooked a wood she didn't dare enter without an escort. "I'm going to call security!"

"Sorry, love. I tripped." A man she'd never seen before emerged from the trees. He was tall and blond, with an unkempt beard and a crooked smile. Despite his disheveled appearance, she couldn't help but notice he was wearing an elegant blue suit under a brown trench coat. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You... Who are you? What are you doing on my property?"

"I'm sorry, darling, but as far as I know, the woods are public. As for who I am..." Constantine held out a card through the fence. "Here you go, if you want to know."

Wilow looked at him cautiously. She didn't know who he was or what his intentions were. On the other hand, this was the most interesting thing that had happened to her in years. She approached cautiously, her scroll ready to send a distress signal if necessary. Once she reached the man, she took his business card.

“John Constantine… Private Investigator?”

“Private investigator, scholar, and adventurer. I’m many things, darling, but I’m usually just what the client needs.” Constantine said with a smile.

“What brings you here?” Willow asked, though she thought she knew the answer. If he was a private investigator, he must be after Jacques; everything always seemed to involve her husband.

“People started seeing strange creatures in the woods, maybe some kind of more passive Grimm. I’m here to take a look and make sure it’s safe.”

“So you’re a hunter.” Willow concluded. To her surprise, the wizard laughed.

“Well, not exactly. I didn’t have a license at first, but as soon as I started taking Grimm-related cases, they were forced to give me one so it would seem like Ironwood’s little army wasn’t useless. And as long as they pay me, the client can call me whatever they want.”

Wilow’s mouth opened slightly, surprised by the man’s audacity. He had just insulted Ironwood and its forces without any fear, even admitting to taking hunter cases when he wasn’t licensed. And yet, he seemed free, master of his own destiny.

“By the way, I don’t think I caught your name.”

“My name?” Willow asked. Didn’t he know who she was? “Willow Schnee. This is my mansion."

"Schnee? I knew that aura wasn't accidental." Constantine remarked, smiling. "I know a Schnee, Winter. I can see where you inherited your beauty, though you're much more my type; we're closer in age."

Willow's eyes widened at the detective's audacity. Had that been a compliment? She returned to her neutral expression, but her scrolling hand had loosened.

"Tell me the truth, Detective. You've come for my husband, haven't you? There's no need to continue this act."

"Willow, my dear, I've told you nothing but the truth." Constantine said seriously. "Your husband, Jacques Schnee... To be honest, I detest him. I've always found him to be a cowardly and annoying creature. Luckily, I don't run into him in my line of work, and I'm grateful for that every day."

Willow let out a small laugh; she understood why people thought that about Jacques. He was a brutal and ruthless businessman, the kind who made as many enemies as friends. Although, of course, the friends he made were more or less as powerful as he was, exchanging favors while his enemies were powerless to act. The woman sighed; it was the first time she'd had a sincere conversation. Even with her children, she maintained a facade of calm so they wouldn't see their mother on the verge of tears. She took a sip from the glass still in her hand, looking at the detective.

"Would you like to come in?"

The detective clicked his tongue, glancing toward the woods.

"I've already searched part of the woods and haven't seen any Grimms. It would be a pleasure, love."

The woman opened the gate for him, allowing him to enter. As soon as they stepped through the door that separated the garden from nature, Constantine placed his arm akimbo, allowing Willow to take hold of it, and together they walked to the table. Once seated, Constantine grabbed the bottle of wine and one of the spare glasses Willow kept in case hers slipped. He poured the wine into the glasses, smiling as he looked at Willow. The detective swirled the glass gently, taking a small sip.

"Uh… A very good wine, perfectly macerated and handled, even I can tell."

"Thank you, it's from my private collection. Do you drink often?"

"Not right now, but I've been quitting alcohol several times over the last few years. I no longer feel the need to drink, although I do have other vices." Constantine took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "Do you mind?"

"Go ahead."

"Thank you." The detective placed a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it with his trusty lighter. He took a long drag, visibly relaxing in Willow's eyes. "I need them more than I'd like to admit, but they help with the stress."

“I understand, Mr. Constantine. More than you know.”

“Please, call me John.” Constantine replied. “I’ve been calling you Willow this whole time.”

“Okay, John.” Willow took another light sip, her eyes fixed on her wine glass. “I don’t usually do this, invite strangers to drink with me.”

“Then it’s quite an honor to be the exception.” Constantine took a sip of wine, bringing his cigarette back to his lips a moment later. “Willow, can I tell you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“In my work, I have to interrogate people. A lot of people. In Mistral, in Vale, here in Atlas… Every time I spoke with someone, I had to pay close attention.” the man began. “The wrinkles on their face, the bags under their eyes, the way they walk, or the hand gestures they make to calm themselves. Over time, I’ve learned to distinguish certain things, including people’s moods. And you, my dear, you seem unwell. What's wrong?"

Willow sighed, staring at her wine glass as if hoping to find answers about her condition.

“I guess nothing, John. It’s just my daily routine. I get up, I drink, I see that my kids detest me, I see that my husband is only interested in the company, I keep drinking, and I end up asleep,” Willow confessed. “I know how to behave during events, of course, but it’s so tiring… being there, surrounded by people who don’t care about me, and when my eldest daughter comes, I can feel their contempt.”

Constantine took a drag, observing the woman’s sad face.

“I think I understand.” the detective commented.

“You? I don’t see how, honestly.”

“I have two children, Willow,” Constantine revealed. “One of them, Tefé, is only my biological daughter, but she was raised by a friend. She doesn’t particularly like me,” he said with a smile. “And the other, Noah… he’s a good kid. There was an incident that left him mute, but he has a future ahead of him. The thing is… I’m not in his life.”

“That boy, Noah… Does he know you’re his father?” Willow asked.

“No. And I intend for it to stay that way. Being my son makes you enemies, drags you into a life no one cares about. I love him, Willow. And that’s why I keep my distance. I know what hate is, and believe me when I say your children don’t hate you. If Winter’s gaze conveys any emotion… it’s pain.”

“Are you suggesting that it hurts my daughter even to look at me?” Willow asked.

“I think it hurts her to see you like this.”

“It hurts her…” Willow murmured, looking the detective in the eye.

“Yes, or at least that’s what I think.”

“I don’t understand. I… I haven’t been a good mother. I’ve made mistakes.” Willow said, her gaze lowered. “Why would she feel sorry for me?”

“Because deep down, she loves you. You're still young, Willow, you have time to fix it."

Willow let out a laugh.

"Young? Me?"

"Love, we're the same age. If you're not young, neither am I, and my knees don't hurt every time I get up yet." Constantine remarked, laughing. His scroll clicked, catching the investigator's attention. When he went to look at it, his face changed drastically. "Bollocks..."

"Is something wrong?" Schnee asked.

"I'm afraid so." Constantine stood up, smoothing his trench coat. "I've really enjoyed this chat with you, Willow. I would have loved to continue talking about other things."

"Yes... Excuse me, John. But... will you ever come back here again?" Willow asked, clutching her wine glass.

"Maybe yes, maybe no, that's something I don't even know myself. But if you ever want to do this again... My number is on the card."

Willow clutched the business card, glancing at Constantine's scrolling information. She could have sworn it wasn't there before. Before she could thank him, the detective had vanished, leaving her alone in his sprawling garden.

"Constantine… What a peculiar name."

Floating majestically in the sky was Atlas Academy, home to hunters and soldiers alike, all united in one location for a more effective response. But it was also a place of research and knowledge, for it housed the largest library in the entire kingdom.

Walking through the academy's halls, John Constantine kept his hands in his pockets and his brow furrowed. He reached the library doors, where he saw Ironwood himself, accompanied by Winter and Team RWBY.

"Hello, Mr. Constantine!" Ruby greeted him energetically.

"Hello, brat." Constantine ruffled her hair, earning a grimace of annoyance from the little redhead. "Why did you call me, James? If it's so important, how can we be the only ones here?"

"The Ace Ops are on a mission, as are Team JRNJ, Qrow, and Penny. You were the ones available," the general said.

“Oh, great, second course. Look, James, I was having a really fun evening and I had to rush out. Is it that urgent?”

“Judge for yourself.”

Ironwood activated the door code, revealing the enormous library.

The first to react was Weiss, letting out a gasp of surprise.

“But what the—” Yang murmured, impressed and a little intimidated at the same time.

“Holy shit,” Constantine blurted out. Before them, the library was completely wrecked. Traces of fire, broken furniture, ice, and even bloodstains.

“Who could have done something like this?” Blake asked. “Do you think Cinder…”

“No, no, it’s impossible,” Yang said. “My mother… Raven killed her. I saw it.”

Except that wasn’t true, Constantine thought, because he knew very well that Cinder was still alive. But he couldn't reveal it; they needed to work in relative peace and deal with the threats already looming, like the activist assassin, the relic investigation, and Ruby's eye training. He'd worry about Cinder when the time came.

"Yang's right, it wasn't Cinder." Constantine commented. "Look at the marks on the floor, they look like claw marks."

"And the bloodstains." Weiss continued. "Those trajectories don't make sense if they were fighting just one person; there were more enemies here."

"I love how clever you are, One-Eyed Queen," Constantine said, smiling. "Were there any fatalities?"

"Thankfully not. Only injuries of varying severity," Ironwood replied.

"Good, good… Hey, this place is full of cameras. Who are the assholes who did this?"

"That's a more complicated matter," Ironwood replied. "Specialist Schnee."

" At their signal, Winter approached the group with a screen, pressing the security camera footage. As soon as she selected the time interval of the attack, the image went static, obscuring what was happening.

"That's not normal, man." Yang said.

"Did they tamper with the cameras too? Who would do something like that?" Ruby asked. "Everyone here is supposed to be super smart."

"We don't know, but we do know what they wanted." Ironwood replied. "This way."

The General and his right-hand woman led them through the wrecked library. The fight had been intense and, above all, practically one-sided.

"Whoever they were, they must have some very powerful Semblances." Weiss commented thoughtfully.

"Bah, it doesn't matter how strong the Semblance is, they certainly can't take us and Constantine." Yang smiled, bumping her fists together. "With strategy and how well we work as a team, anything is possible."

Blake nodded, laughing as he looked at Yang. Constantine exchanged glances with Weiss, sighing at the same time. They both knew perfectly well what was happening, but they weren't going to be the ones to say anything.

"Here it is."

Before the group stood a metal wall with several signs of scratches and dents; someone had tried to force their way in.

"Damn, James, what do you keep in there?" Constantine asked, curious.

"What I'm about to show you is top secret, a level of security surpassed only by that of the Relic of Creation and the Winter maiden" Ironwood warned, making Team RWBY swallow hard. "Behind this secret door lies what we call 'The Hidden Library.' Many years ago, Ozpin commissioned my predecessors to build this library. Inside, we would be responsible for storing and studying books with... strange content."

That word caught Constantine's attention, making him open his eyes and take his hands out of his pockets.

"Son of a… Are there books of arcane knowledge here?"

"We don't know for sure." Winter replied. "Many books are ancient, from the time before the Great War. Others are… obscure; we believe they were written by Salem herself or some of her followers. And others…"

"Others we believe were written by acquaintances of Ozpin, but as you can imagine, it's difficult for us to translate them if they're in the ancient language, so we simply guard them."

"But someone has tried to get in." Blake said. "Someone who might know what they're going to find."

"That's right, Belladonna." Ironwood replied. "I called you here to help us look for something out of the ordinary, something that might have escaped us or our ancestors." Ironwood looked at Constantine; he could almost swear that what he saw in his eyes was anticipation. “Of course, as an expert in the field, I thought Constantine would be happy to help us.”

“Oh, you can bet your mechanical arm I would,” the magician replied, rubbing his hands together.

“Then let’s not waste any time.” Ironwood reached for a hidden console, activating the biometric sensors. That door only opened to two people: the Academy Director and Ozpin’s current body. And since Oscar’s biometric data hadn’t yet been uploaded to the system, he was the only one who could open it.

The room before them was a library straight out of a fairy tale, with dim lighting and antique wooden shelves; they could almost smell the scent of old wood.

But Constantine smelled something different, something that filled him with immense vitality and energy. This place smelled of magic and mysticism, of secrets waiting to be uncovered. He knew that places of power existed in that world; he had seen the Well of Darkness in person and the Well of Light in Jinn's visions of Ozma. But this place, this library…

It was a place of artificial power, created from a bit of real magic and the superstition that something magical resided there. Perhaps there was a powerful spell, perhaps it was simply the superstition of a paranoid Ozma, but he wouldn't know until he started searching.

Quickly, Constantine began wandering the halls of that secret library, grabbing the books that caught his eye and following his instincts. Team RWBY looked at him in surprise; they had never seen the magician like this.

"Wow… Blake, he likes books more than you do." Ruby commented.

"I don't think we're interested in the same kind of reading," the faunus replied.

“Yeah, something tells me Constantine’s is more of a ‘Boo, ancient spell!’ kind of thing,” Yang joked.

“I think it’s a positive change,” Weiss commented as she looked at the bookshelves to select a book. “We’ve never seen Mr. Constantine working in his field; until now, we’ve only seen him perform Apparition spells or Dust-related tricks. This is the first time we’ll be able to see him act like the professional he is.”

Behind them, Ironwood closed the door, addressing the group.

“I didn’t take you for a fan of Constantine , Miss Schnee.” the General told her.

“More than a fan, I respect his intellect. He’s proven to me time and again that despite his appearance, he has a sharp mind,” the white-haired huntress said with a smile. “He may be foul-mouthed, impertinent, and have a dark demeanor, but I know he never lets his guard down. Those are very useful qualities for a hunter.”

“I have no choice but to agree with you, Miss Schnee,” said Ironwood, getting to work and searching through the books.

Weiss was about to start searching too, until she saw her team laughing.

“What?” asked the former heiress.

“Nothing…” Ruby commented with a smile. “It’s just like in Beacon, with you trying to get on the professor’s good side.”

“What? What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, offended.

“Come on, Weiss, don’t get so worked up.” Yang said, laughing. “It’s okay to want to be the favorite.”

“I’m not trying to be anyone’s favorite!”

“We know, we know.” Blake commented, affectionately putting her arm around her shoulder. “But there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the teacher’s favorite.”

“Grrr!” Weiss growled irritably, watching her three teammates laugh. It wasn’t that she wanted to be his favorite, but she genuinely appreciated Constantine’s quick thinking, and she hoped she could learn something about improvisation from him, maybe even find a new use for his glyphs.

“Come on, Weiss, there’s no time to waste. Let’s go on a treasure hunt!” Ruby announced.

“Yes, whoever finds it first wins a prize!” Yang announced, walking past her sister and Constantine.

Blake shrugged, looking at Weiss.

"You'd better win. Who knows what Yang and Ruby might demand as a reward." After warning Weiss, she started running down the hallway as well.

"Don't act like idiots in the hallway, girls." Constantine scolded them as they passed him. "Besides, I don't play favorites." When Weiss passed, Constantine leaned slightly toward her, whispering so the others wouldn't hear. "It's you, by far."

"I know." Weiss said with a victorious smile, tossing her ponytail and going to find the book the intruders might be looking for.

The seven of them began searching, hoping the right book would give them some kind of clue when they opened it. Constantine, however, was being more thorough. He read the passages in the books intently, trying to sense if it was channeling magic, even going so far as to use his semblance to confirm their magical properties. Unfortunately, the books weren't proving to be magical, but they did capture the mage's attention. Most of them seemed to describe the lifestyle of the time, with occasional mentions of the endless wars until the arrival of the Champion of Vale, whom Constantine suspected was Ozma.

And then there was the matter of the dark books. Thanks to reading a letter, and especially the book that had started this whole adventure, Constantine was able to identify the handwriting of the most dangerous witch in Remnant.

Salem.

It was written in an ancient language, the ancient language of Vale. He hadn't been able to learn it from Bart before leaving, but fortunately, Salem was a creature who exuded magic; all her writings had a purpose behind them. And if he managed to find her…

"Tobeyurmercus" With a word, Constantine closed the index fingers and thumbs of each hand, joining them at a point. As he slowly separated his hands, a wand of yellow light began to form. Once the spell ended, that wand had taken the shape of a pair of glasses.

He put on the magic glasses, paying attention once more to the text. Sensing the intention behind the words, the glasses caused the letters in the book to change to ones he could understand. The contents of the book were something Constantine certainly hadn't expected. It was a diary.

Constantine read it carefully, realizing that it was a very special period in Salem's life. According to the diary's contents, she had already tried to end her own life by throwing herself into the Well of Darkness, but from what he read, she hadn't yet met the reincarnated Ozma. This was Salem at the lowest point of her immortal life. Constantine read, intrigued. Although he didn't seem to have noted any weaknesses, he couldn't stop reading. This was the most honest Salem he would ever meet. The diary described how she lived, residing in cabins far from any town, like a creature of the forest. She grew her own food, for even though she couldn't eat, the pain of hunger would haunt her unless she satisfied it.

The diary also spoke of Ozma. A lot. Perhaps even too much for the magician's liking. That woman loved Ozma to the point of obsession. Now he understood why she had become so possessive of him when he returned. A person like that, betrayed by the person she loved most in the world… Now he understood Salem's crusade a little better. She wanted to find the relics to end the world, and hopefully, her own suffering. And if, by chance, the relics proved elusive, she always had a plan B. The Anti-Life Equation remained in her possession, and although incomplete, it was dangerous to ordinary people. Constantine didn't like that, since he fell into that category. With the equation's power, she could self-destruct through sheer cosmic force, taking all life on the planet with her—and that was in the best-case scenario.

“Come on… there must be something more.” Constantine continued searching through the journal, trying to find a little more, something that would give him new information. Every word, every confession, was a new weapon in his possession. Then, he came across a different section of the journal, surprising Constantine.

I dreamed again tonight. Since the Brothers cursed me, I haven't felt the need to sleep. I could stay awake for decades if I wanted. But sometimes I simply need to rest, to make the day pass more quickly by closing my eyes and trying to dream of Ozma.

But it's not my love I dream of, at least not anymore. Since I fell into the Well, I've been having strange dreams, dreams that make me question my sanity. I see Men of Steel flying through the air, I see giants of stone and crystal forming cities I've never seen before. I see a city filled with crime and madness guarded by a dark knight. I see green beings with a fear of fire that not even the most imaginative artist could ever invent.

I dream of infinite worlds beyond our own, worlds that defy all logic or magic known to me. Did the Well manage to corrupt my mind as well as alter my body? Or is there something more to my dreams?

I'll try not to dwell on it; they could always be delusions born of my loneliness. But I can't help wondering if, just as my dreams say, there are infinite Remnants beyond our own.

"Holy shit..." Constantine said aloud. He already knew that Salem had dreamed of other worlds; she had confirmed it, and Ozpin himself had known when he had a lapse while questioning him during their first encounter. But what he didn't know, what he hadn't known until that day, was the reason for the dreams—the Well of Darkness... The magic of one of the brothers granted him that gift, the gift of seeing beyond.

And if one of the brothers could, it was highly likely that the other could too. He had too much to do in Mantle now. He had to be there to help Robyn and make sure the Amity Coliseum transmitter was built, but one thing was certain.

At some point, he was going to need to pay a visit to the Well of Light.

"Gyaaa!" A shout snapped Constantine out of his trance. It was Ruby.

He quickly ran to Ruby's location, arriving at the same time as the rest of his team, as well as Ironwood and Winter.

"Ruby!" Blake called. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yes," she answered nervously. "I was looking at some books when something went 'Hiss!' and jumped at my face. Look! There it is!"

Ruby pointed ahead energetically.

Sitting on the ground, licking its paw, was a cat with orange fur and black stripes.

Yang chuckled, playfully poking Ruby on the cheek.

“My poor little sister, she’s terrified of cats.”

“It just appeared out of nowhere!”

“What’s a cat doing here?” Blake asked.

“It must have sneaked in when we came in.” Ironwood replied, slightly irritated. “Looks like I’ll have to give a lecture about pets on the premises.”

Constantine didn’t say a word; he was too busy watching the cat. It was just a cat, one like so many he’d seen, right? But the wizard had learned to trust his instincts and his memory; they had never failed him when it mattered most. He stared at the cat. It was a cat like any other, but then… why did he feel like he knew this cat?

Heeding that sixth sense that warned him when something was wrong, or extremely wrong, he activated his semblance, his eyes revealing stars exploding within his pupils. And then he saw it.

That cat was a brilliant point of light, containing an enormous amount of magical power. His mouth fell open in surprise, his eyes threatening to pop out of their sockets, his face contorted in panic.

Now he knew where he knew the cat from.

"Get down!"

Without giving them time to react, Constantine enveloped all his allies in a yellow barrier, grunting from the effort of casting such a spell without preparation and noticing his Dust supply dwindling.

It was a fraction of a second, but that was all that cat needed. She began to glow red, meowing before a massive shockwave of raw magic sent Constantine and the hunters flying. The mage crashed into a bookshelf, causing several books to fall on top of him. He coughed violently, grateful for his aura once again.

"Is everyone alright?!"

The only response he got was the group's pained groans, more than enough confirmation that they were still alive. He tried to get up, but before he could, he saw with horror a figure emerge from the ground, right from the epicenter of the explosion.

Wearing a black suit with a tie and a white shirt, a blue-skinned boy with black hair styled in the shape of horns hummed happily. His sharp, white eyes scanned the area, locating his feline friend.

“Good work, Teekl.” he said, picking up the cat and stroking it, placing it on his shoulders as it rested there like a scarf. “We’ve finally entered this chamber. But something’s not right…” The boy glanced to the side, seeing Constantine on one knee, trying to stand. The boy’s mouth fell open in surprise. “It can’t be… Constantine?! What are you doing here?”

“Klarion…” Constantine muttered. He knew that boy, of course. It was Klarion, a young man from a civilization in a dimension where dark magic was known and practiced by all its citizens. This boy had found a way to travel from his dimension to Constantine’s, but that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that he was an extremely powerful sorcerer. “What are you doing here, Witch Boy?”

“I asked first.” he said, crossing his arms.

“What I’m doing here is irrelevant to you since I arrived first. I’ll repeat it just one more time, Klarion. What are you doing in this world?” the agitated wizard asked.

“Oh, you see, it turns out I was looking for something, and I tracked it down to this pathetic world. A world without magic, who would think of such a thing?”

“Yes, I thought the same thing,” Constantine remarked, mentally reviewing which spell could knock him out in one fell swoop. “And what is it you’ve come looking for? Because I can tell you right now, your dignity isn’t here.”

“Oh, my dear old Constantine. What I seek is something all of our kind yearn for, but today, I, Klarion the Witch Boy, will possess it!” he announced with a smile. He extended his right hand, which glowed red. At his signal, a huge book that had been tucked away flew calmly to his side, showing Constantine its cover. “Tell me, do you recognize this?”

Constantine looked at the tome, noticing his mouth go dry.

“Magdalene Grimoire…” the magician murmured. “The most complete spellbook in history. What’s that doing here?!” the magician said angrily. “I spent years looking for it!”

“I know, isn’t it hilarious? John Constantine, searching for the most complete grimoire ever written, and failing time and time again… Because it was hidden right here!” The Witch Boy opened the grimoire, running his fingers over the pages as he smiled. “Hiding the Grimoire in a different multiverse, genius. But the magical boundaries have weakened, Constantine. I’ve been able to sense the grimoire’s power across worlds, but that door was a terrible thing. Thank you for opening it for me.”

“Klarion, you don’t understand. This world… is on the verge of collapse, you don’t know what’s happening here. Put down the Magdalene Grimoire and leave, or I'll have to give you the beating your parents never gave you."

"Oh, are we feeling brave, John Constantine? You may be a powerful magician, but you know perfectly well that my magic is far greater than yours. You won't be able to..."

A gunshot echoed through the room. Klarion's body flashed red, revealing a mystical barrier surrounding him. He turned slowly, seeing Ironwood holding his smoking pistol.

"Well, that wasn't very nice." said the Witch Boy as his cat growled at Ironwood. "Let's see what this marvel can do."

“James! Run!” Constantine warned.

“Pyrobenta” Klarion read from the grimoire.

Tongues of fire appeared before the Witch Boy, gripping Ironwood tightly. He screamed as he felt his flesh being burned, trying to break free from the bonds.

“Hey! Leave the General alone!” Yang, now recovered, fell from the sky, aiming to land a punch on Klarion’s face.

Teekl, without waiting for her master’s orders, leaped from his shoulders toward Yang. The cat began to transform, taking on a toned, humanoid form, similar to that of an athlete. Taking advantage of Yang’s confusion, she delivered a powerful kick to her face, causing the huntress’s aura to glow.

Weiss, with expert skill, created glyphs to cushion Yang’s fall.

“What is that?!” Blake asked. “It can’t be a faunus! It’s impossible!”

“It’s his familiar!” Constantine replied as he tried to assist Ironwood. “A magical creature connected to him! Phostoqua.”

With a chant, a mass of water that seemed to have a life of its own appeared before Constantine, fighting against the tongues of fire and extinguishing them.

“Blake, help Yang! Weiss, give me a boost!” Ruby ordered, directing her team.

Weiss obeyed, creating ice on the ground to destabilize Teekl while summoning glyphs in the air so Ruby could jump. However, when the huntress was about to swing her scythe, the cat dug her claws into the ground, planting herself firmly. With a kick, she lifted a piece of ice, altering Ruby’s movement to avoid the scythe’s impact and leaving her in an ideal position for a strike. Teekl's fist connected, eliciting a cry of pain from Ruby and sending her flying towards Weiss, colliding with her and knocking her down.

"Nice punch, Teekl!" Klarion congratulated her, to which she responded with a nod. "Well, the heroes of this world are a real disappointment. This will be easier than I thought. It's been a pleasure, Constantine, but now I'm going to retire to study my new book."

"Don't you dare move, you little shit!" Constantine warned him as he held a wounded Ironwood; the smell of burnt flesh was strong enough to make him want to vomit.

"Relax, human. We'll meet again soon. After all, this city is a perfect test subject for my new grimoire. Let's see… Or, this one is perfect. Magnus Portal."

A red portal opened at the Witch Boy's feet, and he floated slowly through it. Teekl leaped forward, positioning himself before the portal and bowing. She took a step back, plunging into the portal, which closed seconds later.

Silence filled the library, broken only by Winter's movement as she approached Ironwood to support him.

"Constantine…" Ironwood finally said. "I'm going to ask you a question, and for your sake, I hope you don't lie to me. What does all this mean?"

The magician's eyes were wide and his mouth dry, his blue irises glowing with panic, and the vein in his neck throbbed with tension. Klarion, the Witch Boy, had arrived in this world. And to make matters worse, he held the Magdalene Grimoire in his hands. A situation like this would require the intervention of the Justice League Dark, but in Remnant, there was no magical help available, especially with Ozma in hiding. They were alone.

"That means… we're completely screwed."

Chapter Text

In Mantle, the air felt strange. The city's characteristic scent had been replaced by something new, a feeling of imminent danger that put its inhabitants on edge. On one of the city streets, a hunter wearing an olive-green jacket and another layer of black and white clothing with green patterns stared at the sky, trembling.

Jessica Cruz clutched the Green Lantern symbol on her clothing, unable to understand why she felt as if death were stalking her.

"Well, it seems everyone's alright, another shift without problems." said her partner, Jaune, smiling. Then he noticed Jessica's expression. "Is something wrong? Are you okay?"

"No…" Jessica whimpered. "Something's wrong, something's very wrong."

Jaune frowned, taking hold of Crocea Mors and looking around. He didn't see any danger, of course, but he preferred to be prepared in case something really was wrong, and if not, simply to calm his partner.

“Okay, no problem, we know how to defend ourselves. Besides, you got to practice with your new weapon.” he said with a smile.

Jessica looked at her right hand, admiring an intricate black ring on her middle finger. After imagining herself using a ring as a weapon, Pietro had designed one for her. Using her vast aura, Jessica could channel it through the ring to activate Atlas’s patented solid light technology, firing beams of varying power, from lethal to non-lethal.

Jessica nodded, though somewhat uncertain. While the weapon wasn’t difficult to use, she hadn’t quite mastered regulating its power yet.

It was then that they both heard a howl. It was a high-pitched, screeching scream, a sound no human could imitate without shattering their own vocal cords.

“O-okay, maybe it was a dog?” Jaune commented nervously.

“Since when does a dog make that sound?!” Jessica asked hysterically.

“Maybe Atlas dogs make different noises.”

Then it appeared. Running through the streets, a quadrupedal creature approached them at full speed. It had white skin with green veins running along its body, two holes where its nose should be, and no visible eyes.

“That… that’s not a dog.” Jaune commented.

Terrified, Jessica watched in horror as her partner’s demeanor changed. Jaune, who was always optimistic and calmed her; Jaune, who despite everything showed the strength to stand up to adversity. That Jaune was trembling.

The monster’s frontal holes dilated, as if it were sniffing. Then, its face focused on Jessica. With a shriek, it accelerated toward the hunter, who fell to the ground in fear. The monster leaped, opening a mouth full of teeth accompanied by the sound of muscles snapping.

Before it could reach Jessica, an object stopped in front of her and the monster. Jaune held his shield, using his immense strength to keep it at bay.

"Jessica! Fire!" Jaune ordered.

The huntress raised her arm, which trembled uncontrollably with fear.

"Relax, breathe, and aim well." Jaune encouraged her, holding the monster in place as it tried to scratch him. Then he saw with horror that something began to move on the shield. Tentacles with mouths emerged from the monster's mouth, trying to reach Jaune. "But if you can hurry, that would be good!"

Jessica screamed, concentrating her aura and unleashing a green beam at the monster. It was sent flying, somersaulting several times.

"I did it! I did it!" Jessica exclaimed. Then she saw the monster get up, charging at her again. "I'm going to die..."

Luckily for the huntress, Jaune grabbed the monster by the tail, using his superhuman strength to lift it and slam it to the ground. Once stunned, he brandished Crocea Mors, stabbing the beast repeatedly. Finally, it stopped moving, leaving Jaune breathing heavily. The hunter looked at his companion, running to her and kneeling to be closer to her eye level.

"Are you alright?" he asked, worried. Jessica seemed unable to speak, staring at the creature. "Jess, tell me something."

"What... what was that thing?" she finally asked.

"I-I don't know. A Grimm, maybe?" Jaune said, trying not to panic. That monster had to be a Grimm, right? An incredibly strange one that, for some reason, didn't disintegrate.

"That... that's blood." Jessica pointed to Jaune's sword and armor, which had patches stained red.

"Relax, it's not mine. I'm fine, perfectly fine."

"Jaune... Grimm don't bleed." Jessica said, trembling. "What is that?"

Before she could say anything reassuring to her partner, several Atlas aircraft arrived at their position. From two of them emerged a group of soldiers dressed in Atlas special forces uniforms, securing the perimeter and removing the monster's carcass. From the third, a redhead and a dark-haired man emerged, both very familiar to the duo.

"Jaune! Jessica! This way!" Nora shouted, urging them to board the aircraft.

Jaune, accompanied by a terrified Jessica, boarded the aircraft along with the rest of their team. It immediately took off, heading for the academy.

"Do you know what's going on?" the leader asked.

"Noooh," Nora shook her head.

"We also ran into a monster. It was a horse with tusks and a horn," Ren reported. "We defeated it easily, but right after, they came to collect us. The general wants to see us all."

Jaune sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It's going to have something to do with him, right? Everything about his adventures gives me the creeps."

"Jaune, I know I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed," Nora said. "But first a horse with a horn, then a dog with the weirdest tongue in the world. I think you know what that means."

"The end of logic?" Ren ventured.

"The death of my sanity?" Jaune continued.

"The last breath of this world?" Jessica said, backing away from Nora, fearing one of her surprise hugs.

"Nope! It means Team JRNJ is going to be hunting demons now!" Nora raised Ren's arm, a little too excited.

"Let's see what the general has to say." Jaune commented with a hint of hope. "Maybe it's not as bad as it seems."

Things inside the academy were absolute chaos.

Students ran back and forth, directed by soldiers who, in turn, ran carrying orders and equipment. If a state of emergency hadn't been declared yet, they were incredibly close.

The team JRNJ advanced briskly, trying to reach the general's office. Unfortunately for the team, it was difficult to move in all the commotion.

"Ouch! Someone stepped on my foot!" Nora complained, her hand near her hammer.

"I've never felt so much… panic." Ren commented, impressed.

"Okay, maybe this is as bad as it seems." their leader admitted. "I hope at least there's a solution."

"I just got my huntress license and the world's going to end?" Jessica lamented.

"Hey, the world's not going to end."

"Yet." Nora clarified, putting her arm around Jessica's neck. “But don’t worry, if we end up in a post-apocalyptic society, you’ll have a place of honor in the Court of Nora, the Queen of the Wasteland.”

“What would I be?” asked Ren.

“My right-hand man, of course.” she said with a smile. Then she pointed to Jaune. “Jaune will be my personal jester.”

“Let’s try not to end up in Noraland.” said Jaune with a nervous laugh.

“Excuse me, is Nora City.” the redhead corrected him. “It was on the model I made.” Ren coughed. “That we made.”

“How can you joke around at a time like this?” Jessica asked, confused.

“It’s that or cry.” Jaune and his team reached the office. “Well, let’s see what’s going on.”

Jaune opened the door, finding a scene that highlighted just how bad the situation was. Team RWBY, the Ace Ops, Qrow, and Penny were all gathered.

"It's about time, guys." Yang said. "We've been waiting for you."

"Salutations, friends. Though the circumstances aren't exactly cheerful." Penny remarked.

"Not exactly cheerful?" Harriet exclaimed. "They're catastrophic! But what would you know…"

"Hey! Don't talk to her like that!" Weiss jumped in to defend her. "She's not to blame for any of this!"

"That's right! You don't have to speak badly to her." Ruby approached Penny, touching her shoulder protectively.

“Let’s all calm down, shall we?” Qrow suggested. He was covered in blood too, possibly the work of some monster. “As if we didn’t have enough already.”

“I agree with Qrow.” Clover agreed. “Harriet, you’d better calm down.”

The speedster nodded reluctantly, muttering inaudibly.

“Hey… but do you guys know what happened?” the blond hunter asked. “Ironwood called us, but they didn’t tell us anything.”

Ruby sighed, hugging herself slightly.

“It’s… complicated. A lot has happened in a very short time.”

“It’s not that complicated, Miss Rose.” General Ironwood entered through the door, accompanied by Winter Schnee. To everyone’s surprise, he was using a cane and his torso was completely bandaged. “I’ll give you a summary myself.”

“General!” Elm cried, shocked. “Are you alright?”

“I’ve been worse.” Even though the burns hurt.

“Sir, if I may.” Jaune approached Ironwood, placing his hands on the general’s torso. He emitted his aura, sharing his incredible reserve with Ironwood. Ironwood felt a kind of coolness and relief, lessening the pain of the burn.

“Thank you, Mr. Arc. That should be enough.” The general moved painfully toward his desk, looking at the large group of hunters gathered there. “What I’m about to say may be difficult to accept, but it’s best to be direct. We’re being invaded.”

The news took a few seconds to sink in. Suddenly, everyone present opened their eyes at the same time, uttering the same phrase with perfect synchronicity.

“What?!”

“You heard me. I haven’t declared martial law only because we aren’t fully committed. That, and because of pressure from one of the members of this crisis cabinet.” The sound of someone cursing furiously echoed from outside the office, making Ironwood sigh. "There's the person in question."

The door burst open, revealing a man in a trench coat carrying a stack of papers.

"Who the hell said the word 'crisis'? You know I don't like that word!" John Constantine slammed the papers onto Ironwood's desk, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it, puffing eagerly. "Is everyone here now? Good."

"John, are you going to tell us what's going on?" Qrow asked, brushing the monster remnants off his cape.

"If Ozpin were here, we could ask him." Oscar lamented, trying in vain to find Ozpin inside his body.

"No, Oscar, we don't need fucking Oz. As for what's happening, I'll try to be as clear as possible so you understand." Constantine pulled a handful of snow from his pocket; none of those present knew how it was possible that it hadn't melted.

The magician threw the snow, which began to swirl around itself, creating a small whirlwind. The snowflakes spread, revealing the image of a well-dressed boy with a horned hairstyle.

"This is the bastard responsible. Klarion, the Witch Boy."

Everyone present stared intently at the image. Oscar swallowed hard, pointing at it.

"You mean he's... like you?"

"No, he's worse." Constantine's response made Jessica dizzy; she almost fell if it weren't for Nora. "I'm a magician, that kid is a sorcerer. I learned magic the hard way, learning to channel the unspeakable truths of the universe to bend it to his will. He, on the other hand, was born with an affinity for magic. For that kid, casting a spell is as easy as breathing. If we're comparing them, he's more like Oz and Salem."

Silence filled the room. Worry and fear were visible on everyone's faces. They were having trouble with one witch, and now they were going to face another wizard.

"What does he want?" Clover asked. "Why is he doing this?"

"Why? He's just playing around." Constantine replied, discarding his cigarette.

"Playing around? He's causing chaos all over Atlas!" Nora complained.

"The Witch 'Boy' thing isn't there for nothing. That little monster has managed to get his hands on the Magdalene Grimoire, one of the most complete magic books in history. Give it to a seasoned wizard, and he can conquer the world; give it to a powerful brat... and this is what you get."

"But if he's testing the spells in the book, why is he only summoning monsters?" Weiss asked.

Constantine gave her a weary look, though the heiress understood it was directed at Klarion.

“Because that idiot is still in the portal spells section.”

“I suppose you have a plan.” Qrow asked.

“Of course I do, darling. I’m offended you even asked.” the mage said, rolling his eyes. He wasn’t even in the mood to smile. “As I’ve already said, Klarion is powerful, but he’s also young. That combination makes him predictable and arrogant. If we use all of that to our advantage, we can take the book from him, and once it’s in my hands, I can finish this.”

“And then?” Ironwood asked. Constantine frowned; he could detect a hint of hostility in his voice.

“Then? Then we go on a fucking picnic. What kind of question is that, James?”

“That kid was talking about other worlds. And he knew you, Constantine. Klarion said your name.” Silence filled the room, everyone’s eyes fixed on the mage.

Constantine didn't smile; his blue eyes remained fixed on the general. Team RWBY and his friends swallowed nervously. Had the general discovered Constantine's origins?

"First, we take care of Klarion. Then the explanations will come. Does that sound good?" the detective replied, without a trace of his usual ironic tone.

The air in the room grew cold and thick; you could cut the tension with a knife. Face to face, in a duel, stood the most powerful man in Atlas; and before him, without breaking a sweat or backing down, stood the most mysterious man in Remnant.

Ironwood sighed. This conversation wasn't over, but they had more important matters to discuss.

"Fine. Tell us, what's the plan?"

Constantine lit another cigarette, smoking as he looked at the large group of hunters gathered there.

“Well, the danger isn’t just Klarion. That prick is testing every portal spell in the grimoire, and that’s creating openings between the fabric of our dimension and the dimensions of other creatures.”

“The dog that attacked us…” Jaune mentioned.

“Yes, that was a skull-rearinger.” Constantine said. “They’re called that because they use the skulls of their victims as cradles for their young.”

A chill ran down Jaune and Jessica’s spines. Those tentacles in the mouth were going to give them nightmares for a long time.

“Therefore, we must split up,” the mage announced, taking a drag. “Ace Ops, Penny, and Qrow will move through Mantle and Atlas, closing any rifts caused by Klarion’s spells and killing any monsters that are loose. That’s why I made these talismans for you.” The wizard went to the stack of papers, showing one of them with a symbol of four circles on it. "You place the seal over the crack and that's it, it's foolproof, even Harriet could do it."

"What did you say?!" the speedster retorted angrily.

"I told the truth. The other team will be Team RWBY, Team JRNJ, Oscar, and me. We're going to attack Klarion directly, a quick assault. Teekl will be a problem, but that's what you guys are for," he said, pointing to Team JRNJ and Oscar. "She's fast, strong, and deadly. But I know you can handle it. We, on the other hand, will focus on the Witch Boy. Once we manage to take the book from him, it's over. Any questions?"

"I have one." Clover said. "Those monsters... Are you sure we can handle them? They're nothing like anything we've trained for."

“Most of the time, they’re beasts with an animalistic mindset. It shouldn’t be any different from facing an alpha Grimm.”

“Most of the time.” Clover emphasized. “That means there’s a chance we might encounter some intelligent monsters. Intelligent enough to communicate. What do we do then?”

“If it communicates with you, then it’s very simple. Tell it my name.” The wizard took a final drag, disintegrating the cigarette butt into magic dust that vanished in seconds. “Tell it that John Constantine is here, and that if they don’t leave, I’ll come after them. And if that doesn’t work, kill them. Better them than you.”

“How are you going to locate the rifts and the monsters?” Winter asked curiously.

“I’m glad you asked, Snow Queen,” the wizard said.

Winter blinked in surprise, accompanied by a laugh from Qrow.

“Snow Queen?”

“If your sister is the One-Eyed Queen—and you know I mean that affectionately.” he said, turning briefly to Weiss“you’re the Snow Queen.”

“Constantine, please refrain from giving nicknames to Specialist Schnee.”

“Yeah, I guess not. And as for your question, I took the liberty of borrowing these beauties from the Ace Ops survival gear.” Constantine walked over to the extermination squad, handing them white compasses with the Atlas symbol. “I’ve cast a tracking spell on them. Once you’re out there, they’ll lead you to the nearest source of magic.”

The squad held up the compasses, seeing that they all pointed toward Constantine.

“I think they work.” Marrow said, laughing.

“Of course they work. Now, let’s get going. There’s a little monster we need to stop.”

Constantine turned, tied his trench coat knot, and left Ironwood’s office, followed by the rest of the squad. Once they were alone, Ironwood turned to Winter.

“Specialist Schnee, what do you think?”

“Normally he’s just irritating, but this time it’s different. He’s angry, General, very angry. I'd never seen him like this before."

"I did, when we refused to listen to him and called off the festival."

"At least he wants to help Remnant, that's true." said Winter. "His methods are unorthodox, but at least he seems to be on our side."

"That's the problem, Specialist Schnee. He seems to be. I have experience after all these years, and I can say with certainty that he's hiding secrets. Several, in fact."

"That... that's true." commented Winter, bringing her hand to her chin. "He's been evasive about the other worlds, and in the library, I thought I heard him say that he'd been looking for that book for years."

"I heard it too." concluded Ironwood. "He may want to destroy Salem, but we don't know what will happen after that. We'll treat him as an ally, at least as long as he's acting in Atlas and Remnant's best interests. But we need to keep an eye on him and be prepared. We're masters of science, but he's masters of magic. Without Ozpin with us, we can only rely on Constantine until he wakes up."

"So, we'll let him do it?"

"Yes, Specialist Schnee. And let's hope he can handle this threat."

Boarding the Atlas Bullhead, the two teams headed toward a secluded area of ​​the city, an abandoned lot that had been started by order of the Schnee Company, but whose construction had been halted because a new study had revealed that the land had lost value.

Both teams were nervous, pondering the enemy they were about to face. They tried to look to Constantine for comfort or advice, but instead saw the magician playing with something in his hands.

"Mr. Constantine, what is that?" Ruby asked.

The magician looked up, showing his hand. It was a wooden object with several beads.

"It's a rosary, a religious symbol."

"So… are you praying?" Blake asked.

“That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.” Nora interjected.

“No, I don’t share that belief. But this object has power, and it’s comforting to have it and know that if everything else fails, I still have this ace up my sleeve.”

“How many aces up your sleeve do you have?” Oscar asked.

“As many as it takes, kid. In this business of dealing with paranormal and magical entities, there are a thousand rules you can be unaware of that could get you in trouble. You always have to have a thousand aces up your sleeve, and that goes for all of you.”

Ruby pondered the magician’s words, making noises as she strained to think of possible aces up her sleeve.

“Well, I guess my eyes count, don’t they?” she said thoughtfully. “I mean, nobody expects my eyes to go ‘Bzzz.’”

“Now we have new weapons and tools.” Ren commented calmly. “We’re more lethal than before; the key is knowing when to use them.”

“And we also have Jessica!” Nora exclaimed as she hugged her companion. “I’ve never seen anyone use their own aura as projectiles. He might even have more aura than you, Jauney.” The redhead smiled at her leader.

“I-it’s not that big of a deal…” Jessica stammered nervously.

“Yes, it is,” Yang remarked. “I mean, Vomit Boy has one of the largest aura reserves I’ve ever seen, but even he can’t use it as often as you. Girl, you’re made of different stuff.”

“That’s our Jess, an amazing girl.” Jaune added with a grin, causing Jessica to blush slightly, a blush that Nora certainly didn’t miss.

Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, Constantine stood up, his eyes wide.

“Stop the ship!”

Reacting to his command, the pilot brought the Bullhead to a screeching halt, flying vertically.

"We're getting off, now."

The two teams exchanged confused glances, unsure of what the wizard was thinking. Unable to argue, the group followed Constantine outside, where he instructed the pilot to leave the area immediately.

"What was that all about?" Weiss asked. "You said your spells located the Wizard Boy in that lot; we're still a ways off."

"He's a Witch Boy," Constantine corrected her. "And I ordered him to land because if we moved even a few more meters, we were going to crash."

"Into what?" Ruby asked.

Constantine grabbed a pebble from the ground and threw it forward. The stone struck an invisible wall, which revealed itself to be a massive red barrier blocking their path.

The two teams stared in awe at the magical wall, all the while Constantine frowned.

“But… but how…” Ruby stammered, confused by what had just happened.

“Klarion may be childish, but he’s still someone who knows about magic. If I were playing with a magic book, I would have put up a barrier too. But this one in particular…” Constantine activated his semblance, observing the complex magical patterns that made up the wall blocking their path, his hand on his jaw as he thought. Then he saw a small line that stood out from the rest. He traced it with his finger, smiling as a solution formed in his mind. “Dream, you’ve outdone yourself with this semblance.”

The magician raised his hand, summoning five magic circles that were cast upon the barrier. Once in place, the centers of the circles connected with a line, creating a pentagram, and in the center of the pentagram, what appeared to be a lock.

The magician conjured a yellow magic key in his hand, approached the lock, and inserted it. With a simple turn of the key, the lock began to glow brightly. The group could only watch in astonishment as the barrier began to disintegrate.

The wizard took a drag, pleased with the spell.

"Come on, kids, there's no time to lose."

Constantine led the group down the road on foot, his hands in the pockets of his trench coat and a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

The young people followed him, whispering amongst themselves, watching the wizard with an expression they hadn't seen in almost two years. For the first time in a long time, they were seeing him genuinely worried.

"Look at that frown." Blake said. "I haven't seen him like that since Beacon."

"And you were unconscious, Blake." Weiss added. "I saw him when he went to fight Cinder, and he has the same expression. Conviction and focus."

"He's going to hurt his jaw." Ren pointed out.

“I don’t like seeing him like this… if Mr. Constantine is nervous, how should we be?” Jessica asked, on the verge of tears.

“Don’t worry, everything will be alright.” Ruby smiled, encouraging both teams. “We’ll get through this. Won’t we, Mr. Constantine?”

The wizard stopped, looking around. The gesture confused the group, but when Ruby was about to speak, Constantine put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.

“Something’s wrong…” the wizard murmured. As if summoned, a red portal appeared before them. Constantine took a step back, alarmed, placing his hand on his umbrella.

“Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I hope that’s my mother.” Yang said, preparing his weapons.

“Team RWBY, get ready!” their red-cloaked leader called out.

“Alright, guys, you know the drill.” Jaune said nervously. “Oscar, I know you’ve never fought with Jessica, but you’re both great hunters. I know you can do it.”

A hand with sharp nails emerged from the portal. It was enormous and the color of blood. A face with razor-sharp teeth and two blue horns on its head followed. Its eyes were pure white, without pupils.

Both teams swallowed hard. This was a demon. It had to be.

“At last! A land to feed on, to quench my thirst. This world will not know pea-”

A slap interrupted the demon’s monologue. When the teams realized what had happened, they couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment. John Constantine had stepped into the portal and slapped the demon hard across the face.

"You… How dare a mere human strike me!" The demon turned his head to face his attacker, but when he saw that face filled with rage, his expression changed. "Y-you… no, this isn't…"

"Say my name." the magician ordered.

"No… you can't be here. It's not posi-"

Constantine slapped him again, this time in the opposite direction.

"Say. My. Name," the occultist repeated slowly.

"Constantine. John Constantine," the fearful demon said, still inside the portal, looking even more contrite in the hunters' eyes.

"Well done, Jryœm. I see you still have a good memory. Then I suppose you know what you have to do."

"It's not fair, you're not supposed to be here," the demon complained. Constantine clicked his tongue, making him look him in the eyes.

"Run."

Constantine's voice was heavy with intent, his blue eyes gleaming dangerously.

Without a word, the demon retreated back into the portal, shouting that the "Hellblazer" was there to torment them.

When the demon left, Constantine took out one of the papers he had prepared and placed it in front of the portal. It began to glow, creating a flash of light and immediately closing the portal. It was as if nothing had happened.

"Let's keep going." Constantine said, bored, continuing on his way.

Both teams were speechless, so much so that Nora dropped her hammer with a loud clatter.

"What was that?!" Ruby asked, pointing her hands.

"Dude... was that magic? You only slapped it two times!" Yang emphasized, wondering if she could banish demons with slaps.

"There are three types of enemies, guys," Constantine said as he continued walking. "Those who are stupid enough to think they can beat me, those who are stupid enough to fear me, and those who are smart enough to fight me. That demon was the second type."

"Wait a minute." Weiss asked. "So you couldn't have beaten him?"

"Who knows?" the mage replied. "I've done great things, and I've also taken some serious hits. My enemies don't know my limits, and that's my most powerful weapon."

"Making the enemy overestimate you... It's usually the other way around, but I can understand your strategy." Ren commented. "That way, you can win fights before they even begin."

"A prize for the kid with the ponytail." The mage continued walking, looking around suspiciously.

The rest of the way was uneventful. No barrier or demon had blocked their path, though that very calm managed to unnerve both teams. Constantine, for his part, began mentally reviewing his list of spells, calculating how many he could cast with the dust from his umbrella and the dust in his trench coat. His magical knowledge was greater than the Witch Boy's—he'd bet his arm on it—but Klarion still possessed something the wizard lacked: talent.

Constantine had magical aptitude, of course, along with other qualities that made him a formidable opponent. But he had also reached his position through the uninterrupted study of the arcane and the mystical. Klarion, on the other hand, had been born in a dimension where all its inhabitants were users of dark magic from birth, and then further trained in it. If he engaged him in a direct fight, he would likely be outmatched in raw power, even if he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

But fortunately, he wasn't going to face that little monster alone; he was accompanied by his own kids with strange powers. They could win this battle; he had to believe they could. And perhaps after this experience, they would get an idea of ​​what awaited them if they ended up facing Salem herself. After a long walk, they arrived at the vacant lot, where the half-built building stood with difficulty.

"It's there, I can feel it." the mage said, turning to the two teams. "You know what to do."

The hunters nodded, moving silently and ready for combat. Once inside the lot, they could see their target. Klarion, the young witch, was sitting in an armchair with the Magdalene Grimoire open.

"Let's see… swerevia." As he uttered the spell, he turned to a magic sphere beside him, watching as a portal opened in the Atlas Academy and let in a shower of brown leaves, as if they had come from an autumn forest. "Meh, I was expecting something more fun. What do you think, Teekl? Should we move on to the chapter on fire spells?"

Teekl yawned, leaning against Klarion's shoulders. However, her sense of smell detected something unusual. She jumped up, huffing as she stared at a section of wall. Klarion tilted his head; it took him only a few seconds to realize what Teekl was looking at. An angry grimace crossed his face.

“Aaagh! Why do you insist on following me, Constantine?! You know you’re no match for me!”

Constantine looked at the hunters, sighing and nodding. The mage revealed himself to Klarion, the cigarette still in his mouth.

“Klarion, I’ve taken down the First of the Fallen and Trigon. I think you think too highly of yourself.” Constantine replied with a smile.

“That was luck!” Klarion said irritably, the book open in his hands. “But I’m going to accomplish what others haven’t. I’m going to finish off the Hellblazer once and for all.”

Constantine took a drag, exhaling a huge cloud of smoke. The smoke began to envelop him, obscuring Klarion’s view.

“Good luck with that, kid.” he said from behind the smoke screen. “But let me ask you a question. Do you think he’d come alone?”

At that moment, a massive explosion could be heard. From behind the cloud of smoke emerged Team RWBY, propelling themselves toward Klarion using their weapons.

"A few mere natives won't be enough to stop me. Teekl, you take this?"

Klarion's cat leaped from his shoulders, shifting back into her humanoid form and charging at Team RWBY. However, halfway there, she heard a maniacal laugh. From another direction, the red-haired destroyer arrived, her trusty hammer at the ready. She struck Teekl squarely, forcing her out of Team RWBY's path. Teekl landed on her feet, ready for combat. Team JRNJ and Oscar stood before her, weapons at the ready.

"Okay, guys, she's one and we're five." said Jaune, his grip on his shield tightening. "If we lose, Yang's going to be mocking us for the rest of our lives. And I refuse to go through that!"

At his command, the group began to attack, forcing Teekl to focus on the five of them.

Klarion, meanwhile, began searching for a spell to rid himself of the huntresses.

"Um… um… Ah! Sisadamo!" he conjured with a smile.

A portal opened before them, unleashing a torrent of water. The jet struck the huntresses, knocking them down and pushing them away from Klarion. The water seemed endless; if it continued like this, it would drown them all. With a flick of his wrists and a chant, Constantine summoned a circle of fire, instantly evaporating the water pouring from the portal. The mage felt his eyes sting from the steam, his skin burning from the heat.

The portal closed, and with it, the ring of fire vanished.

"Not bad for a human, don't you think?" Constantine grinned, unnerving Klarion.

"Ugh! Let's see what you can do against this! Pirrmygalis!"

A portal opened again, but this time a swarm of enormous tentacles emerged.

"Not this crap again!" the wizard yelled, trying to escape the tentacles. Unfortunately for him, there were too many, and he was very clumsy. In no time, the tentacles ensnared him, leaving trails of a viscous substance on him. "I'm going to grill you to bits!"

Team RWBY, on the other hand, displayed their agility and skill. Ruby began to move with her semblance, slashing at the approaching tentacles with her scythe.

Blake, a ninja in her own right, used her shadow clones to evade the tentacles while Gamboud Schroud cut them down with astonishing ease.

Yang began performing acrobatics, striking several tentacles with her fists as she backed away. Once at a safe distance, she hammered Ember Celica. The darts she had lodged with each punch emitted a glow, exploding simultaneously and destroying parts of the tentacles.

Weiss danced through the air, using her glyphs to propel herself and avoid the monster's attack. When they were close together, she created a massive glyph using ice dust, freezing the tentacles. Then, with a single stroke of her rapier, she reduced them to a thousand pieces.

"Now I like this much better!" Yang exclaimed excitedly.

"Should we help him?" Weiss pointed to Constantine, who was struggling against the tentacles.

"Take that bastard down!" the mage shouted, biting off a piece of tentacle and tearing it off completely.

"Go, team, Monochromatic Attack!"

Under Ruby's leadership, the huntresses sprang into action. Their fearless leader charged at Klarion, forcing him to use a deflection spell. Following her, her sister charged with a powerful punch. Klarion attempted to attack with a spell from the book, creating a portal from which infernal flames erupted. However, he had fallen into the team's trap.

Yang used his shotguns to radically alter his trajectory, removing himself from the path of the attack. Behind Klarion, the real offensive was unfolding. Using the glyphs of the former heiress, Weiss and Blake advanced toward him at full speed with aerial leaps. Blake was the first to attack, her sword drawn. When the warlock tried to defend himself with a burst of magic, he was met head-on by one of Blake's clones, who had appeared behind him, delivering a kick to the head and sending him flying toward Weiss. By the time the witch boy realized what was happening, the Schnee had already completed her summoning. A massive blue armor swung its sword, striking Klarion and sending him flying with a cry of pain as his greatest weapon, the Magdalene Grimoire, went flying.

While Team RWBY attacked Klarion, Team JRNJ dealt with his familiar.

Jaune swung Crocea Mors, but her blows were too slow to hit Teekl. The cat tried to counterattack, only to be met squarely by Jaune's shield. They were evenly matched. From the flanks, Oscar and Ren arrived. With his staff, Ozma's host began to unleash rapid thrusts, striking the cat in one of her arms. Ren, on the other hand, moved with agility and precision, combining his slashes with point-blank shots that, while unable to pierce Teekl's fur, still managed to inflict some damage.

The cat hissed, connecting with a powerful kick with Oscar and scratching Ren with her claws. Both stumbled back with a groan of pain, their auras flickering. From mid-air and ready to cover them, Nora slammed into the ground, failing to crush Teekl.

"Grrr!" Nora groaned. "She's faster than Neon! I can't really beat her like this!"

"We have to attack her fast enough to make her lose her balance, then we can do a combo," Jaune suggested.

"Any ideas on how to do that?" Ren asked.

"Actually, yes, I have one." Jaune looked at Jessica, who was holding her right arm with her left hand in a closed fist, ready to use her weapon. "Jessica, I'm going to need you."

"What?" the timid hunter asked, alarmed. "Me?"

"Your weapon is the fastest and most powerful of the five. At my signal, hit her with all your might."

"What signal?" Jessica asked, but Jaune had already started running toward Teekl. "What signal?!"

The blond hunter had begun to wield his weapon against Teekl. The anthropomorphic cat nimbly dodged the slashes, watching Jaune's movements. Finally, she saw an opening, lunging for his neck. But the hunter had anticipated that, leaning slightly back. Teekl was blocked by the shield, surprised by the strength in Jaune's back, enough to allow him to lean like that with his equipment and her on top of him. Then she looked away from the hunter, staring straight ahead. Jessica was looking at her, her arm outstretched, trembling. Jaune was right next to Teekl; if she wasn't precise, she was going to hit him squarely. She couldn't hurt him. She didn't want to hurt him.

"Jessica!" Jaune shouted. "This is the signal!"

Jessica took a deep breath, focusing on Teekl. No, that wasn't right. She focused on the person attacking Jaune, her friend and leader who had supported her.

Jessica shouted, her steady arm pointed at Teekl. The fear of hitting Jaune was still there, but it was overcome by her desire to help him. Her tattoo glowed yellow for a second before returning to its original deep green. A massive beam of green light shot from the ring and struck Teekl. The force of the blow was so great that, for a moment, the other hunters thought the beam was shaped like a fist. Teekl was sent flying by the force, at which point the rest of the team sprang into action.

Oscar advanced with speed, striking with his staff and keeping Teekl airborne with a rapid succession of thrusts. He launched a side attack, sending the cat hurtling toward Ren. Ren deployed the grappling hooks on his pistols, latching onto the cat's armpits. With a swift motion, he lifted her into the air, and at that moment, he heard a powerful, furious roar.

Nora descended, spinning her hammer, using the new rocket function to achieve a dizzying spin.

The impact created a shockwave, sending Teekl crashing to the ground and cracking it as she fell.

With both fights happening simultaneously, Constantine saw his opportunity. Nora's shockwave caused the tentacles to relax, giving Constantine time to form a seal with his hands. With a small spell, his body emitted a massive amount of heat, forcing the tentacles to release him to avoid being burned as they retreated into the portal. The moment he hit the ground, he saw an object fly toward him. The mage leaped to grab it, clutching it to his chest. In his hands was the grimoire.

"Now that's what I call luck." the mage said. It seemed his greatest weapon had returned.

Two separate events converging to his advantage—there was only one thing that could explain it. He had navigated through the Synchronicity Wave, a power exclusive to his bloodline. But there was no time to dwell on that; he needed to deal with…

"Constantine!" Klarion unleashed a burst of magic, soaring into the air with red eyes and a red sphere in his hand. “My magic is more powerful than yours! Hand over the grimoire, or the aspiring heroines will pay.”

Constantine glanced at Team RWBY. They seemed fine, but they wouldn't be able to withstand an attack from an enraged Klarion. The wizard, for his part, didn't have time to open the book and cast a spell; Klarion's was already conjured and ready to be unleashed. But the Warlock Boy was young, powerful, and arrogant. And that was what would bring about his downfall.

“You're right, Klarion. Your magic is far more powerful than mine.” Constantine held out the grimoire, allowing him to take it.

Yang was about to rush forward to strike him, but Weiss placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. He had seen right through the wizard.

Klarion floated toward Constantine, dispelling the spell and grabbing the book with a triumphant grin.

“But my fist is stronger than yours!”

The wizard, taking advantage of his physical superiority over the boy, delivered a powerful right hook to his face. The Witch Boy, caught off guard because he hadn't expected Constantine to resort to physical violence, had no time to use any protective barriers. He dropped the book, falling to the ground while groaning in pain.

Constantine grabbed the book again, laughing as he opened it.

“Your excursion is over, Klarion. We're going to send you to a new and welcoming place. Chapursu.”

A red portal opened behind Klarion, ejecting a series of chains that gripped his legs, pulling him down.

“No! No! Constantine, stop this!”

The wizard simply waved goodbye with a smile.

“Look on the bright side, Klarion. I could have been much crueler. Good luck in the new dimension; I have no idea which one it is."

"Nooo! Teekl, help me!" cried the Witch Boy, his head already inside the portal, his hands outstretched.

Teekl, hearing his friend's cry for help, got up from the ground. The hunters let him run toward him, pulling Klarion hard. However, no matter how hard the cat tried, it was useless; she too was pulled into the portal.

Constantine sighed with relief, looking at the book and searching for a specific spell.

"Miteri."

With his words, not only did the portal that had banished the Witch Boy and his faithful familiar close, but all the portals that had opened in the city were completely sealed, preventing the passage of more monsters and other events.

The wizard looked at the young people who had helped him, exchanging glances.

"Did we do it?" asked Ruby.

"Yes, Red. For now." The mage grabbed his scroll, calling a certain overly annoying general. "Hello, James."

"Did you complete the mission?" he asked on the other end.

"No, I just felt like hearing your sweet voice. What the hell do you think?" Constantine could hear Ironwood's sigh of relief; he seemed to have had a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

"Good work. The Bullhead is on its way to pick you up."

"Okay." Constantine hung up, then began to look at the grimoire, taking a piece of paper and jotting down some useful spells. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ruby trying to touch it, to which he reacted by swatting her hand away.

"Ouch! Why?!"

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to let you or any of you lay a hand on this grimoire. It's an object that shouldn't be here, in a world without magic."

"So what are you going to do with it?" he asked. Weiss.

“Everything in its own time. For now, let’s return to Ironwood; our carriage is arriving.” said the wizard as he watched the Bullhead on the horizon.

Now came the most complicated part of dealing with magical and supernatural threats.

Explaining them to the people.

“First of all, I want to congratulate you all on your work.” Ironwood was at his desk, with Winter by his side as always. “I know this last mission was… strange.”

“James, I had to kill… What did you say its name was?” Qrow asked Constantine. “That kind of black dog.”

“A Cù Sith, the messenger dog of death. You were lucky to kill it before it howled three times, otherwise you would have died of fright.” the mage remarked gravely. “The last time I faced one, I destroyed my own eardrums to survive. Luckily, I was able to repair them with a little magic.”

“You can repair eardrums with magic?” Blake asked.

“Not exactly. I made a deal with a demon and then tricked him. All the benefit for none of the consequences.” he proclaimed, taking a puff of his cigarette. “Don’t try it; you lack decades of experience.”

“Getting back to what’s best for us, and setting aside Mr. Constantine’s unorthodox methods.” Ironwood continued. “We now face an equally, if not more, difficult situation. The citizens have seen those monsters; we need to think about how to act.”

“How bad would it be to tell them the truth?” Jessica asked.

“Quite.” the magician replied. “We’d be creating new fears and anxieties, perfect fodder for the Grimm to attack us. Moreover, these new beliefs would allow more creatures to gain access. Legends are powerful, Jessica; we must be careful with them.”

“I’m afraid Mr. Constantine is right.” Penny said sadly. “My data indicates that a large part of the population is already beginning to suffer from a certain hysteria due to these events. I… I don’t know what we can do.”

The group remained silent, pondering a possible solution. Ironwood sighed, a sound that betrayed his weariness and pain at what he was about to say. He looked the wizard in the eye, not seeing him as worried as the others.

"You have a plan, don't you?" he said with a somber expression. Contrary to what Ironwood was used to, Constantine didn't offer him a sly smile; he simply nodded solemnly.

"I have one. But you might not like it. There are certain moral implications." the wizard said, observing the reactions of the others.

"Specify, Constantine." the general demanded.

Constantine opened the grimoire, looking at his companions.

"I've already told you, but this is the Magdalene Grimoire, one of the most powerful magic books in the world. Among all its spells, there's one that's perfect for us. I can alter the memories of all the citizens of Mantle." Silence filled the room, sending a shiver down the spines of those present. "I can make them believe that Klarion's attack was something else, something that makes sense."

“But Mr. Constantine, that’s not right.” Penny said sadly.

“It’s complete madness.” Winter said. “I understand keeping secrets like Salem, but altering the minds of citizens… We’d be crossing a red line.”

“But you’ve heard it.” Clover interjected. “We’d be protecting them from future threats.”

“We’d also be erasing their memories.” Blake said. “I… I don’t know if it’s our decision.”

Ruby stepped forward, speaking with her hand on her heart.

“Erasing their memories isn’t right; we’re taking away a part of them. But…” Ruby considered what she was going to say. “You said it yourself, Mr. Constantine. They’re not from this world, from Remnant. Right?”

“That’s right. They’re beings from other planes that shouldn’t be here.” the magician replied.

“Then… Even though it’s wrong… Perhaps it’s the best thing we can do.” Ruby said. “I don’t want to erase people’s memories, but if we don’t, more people will suffer.” Ruby glanced at her teammates, her gaze fixed on her beloved sister.

She could see the conflict in her eyes, the feeling that she wouldn’t have taken this course of action. But she was their leader, and more importantly, she was their sister. She was going to support her decision.

“I think Mr. Constantine should do it.” Ruby said sadly.

Jaune looked at his companions, taking a step forward.

“I know many of the children I walk to school have seen those monsters and are going to have nightmares for a long time. They don’t deserve that.”

“Besides, we’d be preventing them from attracting more Grimm.” Qrow added. “And if there’s one thing Mantle doesn’t need, it’s more Grimm at his doorstep.”

“So, are we all in agreement?” Ironwood asked.

Those present raised their hands, indicating their agreement with the plan. They would all share the blame for what they were about to do. And only they would know exactly what had happened that day.

"All right… Go ahead, Mr. Constantine. Do it."

John Constantine stood in the center of the room, the book open. He cleared his throat, stretching his neck and cracking it slightly from the stiffness. He ran his fingertips over the arcane pages, feeling the ancient ink on the paper, sensing the tome's magic coursing through his body. God, he hadn't felt like this since he ended up in Remnant, and now he was going to show them what a true mage was capable of.

"Nolamenzza ni o topà, sulluxia pirr etô, kiraki mufio etabamamapo." A golden magic circle began to form at Constantine's feet, covering the entire room.

Those present stared in awe at this display of knowledge and skill. They knew that even if they used the grimoire themselves, they wouldn't achieve such a result. Weiss, for his part, began to recall the night Beacon fell, the night he saw the mage bring a paper dragon to life. She never thought that was the least impressive thing he was capable of.

“Fulcrum aseirca civeri, teomeni zarkecht jujubi.”

The light from the circle began to intensify, forcing those present to squint for protection. It was the first time they had witnessed such a display of power, the first time they were truly aware of what magic could do.

“Magic… this is magic.” Ruby murmured, her silver eyes briefly illuminating.

“Is this what Ozpin did?” Winter asked in amazement, struggling to keep her world intact.

“No… Ozpin didn’t even come close to this,” Ironwood said. That man, that magician… shattered the image he had of the simpleton he met at Beacon, destroyed everything Ozpin taught him about magic.

He had shown them a new world full of wonders and dangers.

“Wolgrigas tyrka quatrifikuz!”

With his eyes radiating a yellow light, Constantine uttered the final words of the spell. A powerful light erupted from the magic circle, slowly expanding across Atlas and Mantle. People stared in astonishment and fear, pointing at the enormous golden blast that was about to engulf them. Fear, panic, agony—all those emotions that filled the minds of the citizens when they thought of the creatures that had invaded them were heightened by the sight of that light, like that of a bomb of mass destruction. They stood still, trying to shield themselves from the extraordinary event. But when the light reached them, those emotions simply vanished, as if they had never been there in the first place.