A ticking clock was the only noise that filled the room, as Ozpin processed the story he had been told.

Pyrrha couldn't blame him for taking his time. After all, who would possibly believe what was going on? Jaune being possessed by the spirit of a noble hero from another world sounded like something out of a bad novel. The only reason that Pyrrha herself believed it was because the knowledge the Grail had given her included confirmation that Ruler's story was true.

Eventually, however, Ozpin did speak. Putting down an empty cup of coffee, the Headmaster looked at them.

"I'll admit." Ozpin said. "This is a new one for me."

"I can imagine so." Replied Jaune. Wait, no, that was Ruler. They sounded the same, but Ruler's tone of voice was more confident, more authoritative. Someone who considered Ozpin as an equal, not a superior.

"I hope you can understand what position you've put me in, Ruler." Ozpin continued. "Pyrrha is one thing. I'm not happy that she's been forced into the Grail War, but she's the most skilled student that Beacon has had in years. And, more importantly, she won't be personally engaging Servants."

Ozpin gestured at the seat behind Pyrrha, where Rider was sitting. The hero smirked, and gave a small wave.

"You, on the other hand, are currently possessing a student." Ozpin continued. "If you were to fall..."

"I understand your concern." Ruler replied. "And I assure you, I'm not any more pleased with this development than you are. But there's nothing that can be done. If circumstances arise that I am required to step in, then there's much more than the boy's life at stake."

Ozpin picked up his coffee cup again, and took another sip. "I understand that, Ruler. But Jaune Arc is one of my students. I cannot simply allow him to be endangered because he was unlucky enough to be the host the Grail chose for you."

Pyrrha took the opportunity to interrupt. "Excuse me?" She asked. When both Ozpin and Ruler turned to her, Pyrrha continued. "Ruler, the circumstances you'd step in for are ones that Hunters and Huntresses usually step in for anyway, aren't they?"

Ruler nodded. "Correct. If a Servant was to go on a killing spree to empower itself, or try to mind control a crowd to fight its battles for it, those are circumstances in which I'd step in. Of course, I'd also be needed if a Servant was to try to try and destroy the Grail, or tamper with it to gain an advantage."

"I see." Pyrrha replied. "Well, excluding cases involving the Grail, couldn't Rider assist you in your task?"

A moment passed, before Pyrrha realized that she had forgotten to ask somebody else about their opinion on this. Turning back, the Huntress turned to her Servant. "I mean, unless you have any objections, Rider."

"Are you kidding me?" The Servant asked. "I'm always up for a chance to get close to a woman I don't know."

The green-haired warrior winked at Ruler, who wrinkled their nose in disgust. When they replied, it was in Jaune's matter of speech.

"Can you not?" He asked. "Not to be rude, but somebody flirting with a girl who is in my body is a bit disturbing."

"Really?" Rider asked, before shrugging. "Huh. Back at home, this sort of stuff barely counts as odd."

Ozpin put his coffee cup down on the desk, hard enough to draw all eyes on him once more.

"While this is all very enlightening." The Headmaster stated. "I do believe that this conversation can wait for a little longer."

Jaune hung his head. "Sorry." He said quickly, before allowing Ruler to take back control of her body. The woman shot a quick glare at Rider, who smirked in response, before turning her attention back to Pyrrha.

"In regards to your suggestion." Ruler began. "I... See merit in it. As skilled as I am, there are many Heroes out there who would be stronger than me, and I only possess so many Command Seals. Having another Hero by my side- Especially him- Should ensure that both Jaune and I are at less risk if we enter combat."

Ozpin smiled. "I am glad that is resolved." He said. "Jaune being endangered by this is still something I am not pleased with, but with the ability of a Servant and with another seeking to protect you, I don't doubt your ability to keep him safe."

Ruler smiled in response. "I promise, Headmaster Ozpin, that I shall keep your student safe."

A moment passed, as Ozpin took another sip of coffee, before he continued speaking.

"With that out of the way." Ozpin continued. "We have another issue to deal with. Originally, I was going to ask that Pyrrha keep the Grail War a secret from her teammates. But that was before the leader of team JNPR was pulled into this, and with such an important role in the War."

Ozpin looked at Rider, then Pyrrha, and then finally Ruler. "Jaune, as the leader of your team, this decision is yours to make." He began. "But with circumstances how they are, I believe that you should consider telling your remaining teammates of the Holy Grail War."

A moment passed, as Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other, before Ozpin spoke once more. "I won't make you decide now." He said. "In fact, I encourage you and Pyrrha to discuss this before you make a decision. But I ask that, once you make a decision, you inform me of it immediately."

As Ozpin finished, Jaune looked away from Pyrrha, to look at the Headmaster. "I'll make sure to do that, sir." He replied.

"That is all I ask." The white-haired man finished, before turning away. "If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to. With the Grail War starting, I expect to be spending most of my time preparing to minimize collateral damage."

Jaune, Pyrrha nodded, before standing to leave. Rider remained in his seat, but his body dissolved into green particles. Ozpin sensed the Servant's presence vanish, before he took out his scroll.

Far away, hidden beyond the walls to the Kingdom, the White Fang gathered.

Their base was hidden underground, patrolled by dozens of guards to keep the Grimm at bay. Meanwhile, within the base proper, three Faunus stood around the table, while another half dozen stood at the entrance to the room.

"How did the operation go?" Asked the first member, a tall woman who was drumming her fingers against the table.

"Not as well as expected." Said the second, a small man with dog ears. "While we were able to infiltrate the prison to free the prisoners, the only Faunus who came back with us were those who were already members."

"So we gained nothing." Replied the third man, who stood with his arms crossed.

"We gained back our brethren." The small man corrected. "Just because we gained no new members doesn't mean we gained nothing."

"If the old ones got caught in the first place, they have nothing to offer us." The big man replied, before turning his head to look behind the small man. "Right, boss?"

The other two Faunus at the table turned suddenly in the direction the third was looking at, and came face to face with Adam Taurus.

"Sir!" Called the dog Faunus. "My apologies, I didn't hear you come in."

Adam looked at him for a minute, and slowly walked over to the table. "Tell me, Hari." The bull Faunus stated. "In the last month, how many operations have you lead that have met expectations?"

"N-None, sir!" Replied Hari, shaking somewhat.

"Exactly." Said Adam, stopping right in front of the dog Faunus. "In the last month, you haven't met expectations once."

Hari's trembling continued for a second, before the dog Faunus took a breath. "Our men are doing their best out there, sir."

"And it's not enough." Adam interrupted. "Cinder Fall is coming here today, Hari, and if she isn't satisfied with our results, she could withdraw her support for the cause. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, sir." Hari whimpered.

There was silence for a minute, before Adam spoke again. "There's a Schnee dust shipment coming in today." He said. "You will lead the operation. Personally."

"B-But-"

"But nothing, lieutenant. You should consider this to be mercy. Cinder Fall is a woman of a short temper, and her backing is far more valuable to the White Fang than you have been recently."

The dog Faunus gulped, before nodding. "I understand, sir."

With the issue resolved, Adam turned away from the table, and began to walk to the door out. He paused, however, when loud banging began to echo through the base.

Every Faunus in the room froze, as the banging got louder and louder. No, not just banging. Footsteps.

"What is that?" Asked the tall woman at the table. "Are we under attack?"

At the front door, a guard responded. "There hasn't been any reports from the border guards, ma-"

And he got no further, before the wall behind him exploded. Debris from it and the door shot forward, as the charging behemoth knocked aside all six guardsman in an instant.

In the same instant, Adam had drawn his sword, and stood with his guard up. Just in time, too, for the giant of a man had already acted again.

"OPRESSOR!" The muscle-bound Berserker screamed, even as he charged at Adam with blinding speed.