Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-34633327-20171123054740/@comment-4010415-20171128214314

KingFubuki92 wrote: Any sort of Magic seen in RWBY they initially try to rationalize as Dust, Like Ruby did in Volume 2 with Cinder, 1. Ironwood, not Ruby. All Ruby said was that her clothes glowed when she used certain attacks, and Ironwood was the one who talked about Dust being sewn into clothes.

2. It really was Dust back then because Monty hadn't even thought of the Maidens yet. And just because the Maidens are a thing now, that does not automatically retcon her using Dust in Volumes 1 and 2. I don't understand why some people think it does automatically mean that was retconned. There's no reason to. It can easily be written off as Cinder using Dust so that Ozpin's group would not catch on that she was the one who attacked Amber.

Cinder fought Glynda, who knows about the Maidens, in the very first episode. It would be smarter for Cinder to have used Dust for real during her fight against Glynda, so Glynda wouldn't realize who she is. Cinder fought, but didn't kill, soldiers who report to Ironwood, who also knows about the Maidens. If the soldiers happened to report that she appeared to be using Dust but there was no glow from Dust or weapon containing Dust, Ironwood would've been suspicious. Instead, she wore clothes with Dust sewn into them and actually used that Dust.