"You've been attending this Academy for a little over a month, now." Beacon's Headmaster, Ozpin, stated to the white-haired student that sat across from him, the boys arms crossed in silent defiance. "Tell me Ragna, why is it that in such a short time, you've managed to make your way into my office a third time already?"

Ragna brushed aside the Headmasters' frustrated expression. "If the punks at this school wanna take a shot at me, I'll give them the fight they're asking for. I don't back down when challenged, Professor. Not for anyone, not even you."

Glynda Goodwitch shot Ragna an infuriated expression. "I'd strongly suggest you watch your tongue, young man! That is Beacon's Headmaster, you'd best show him the respect he deserves, or so help me I'll-"

"That'll be enough, Glynda." Ozpin stopped her before she could finish. "Please, feel free to return to your lectures. I'll take care of Ragna, so there's no need for you to strain yourself today."

"...As you wish, Professor. Please inform me if you need further assistance."

As Goodwitch took her leave, Ozpin returned to addressing the rebellious student. "I spoke over scroll with your previous guardian. It must be quite an honor to have trained under the One-Eyed Lotus, himself. Clearly you've learned much in the ways of battle and various survival skills. However, there's one important lesson that didn't seem to stick."

Knowing exactly what was coming, Ragna rolled his eyes. "'The Art of Discipline', right? Master Jubei always gets on my case about that one, but it's just…" He trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"What is it, Ragna?"

"...When I see people who pick on others just for being weaker, or for being different, I just get so pissed off. There're a bunch of pricks here like that. Worst of them are those that bully faunus' just for being born a certain way. It seriously rubs me the wrong way."

Ozpin nodded in understanding. "It is all too tempting to give in to one's emotions, especially against those who get on our nerves. Anger gives us a sensation of power, not just in the rush of adrenaline, but as rage build, it can awaken our most primal, base instincts." The Professor then decided to change the subject. "May I ask you a bit of an odd question?"

"Shoot," Ragna said, with a touch of curiosity in his voice.

"Have you heard the story of the Four Maidens?"

"That goofy fairy tale about the power of the seasons being gifted to four girls by some old geezer?" Ragna snickered in response. "I mean, I do know it, ya. Master always insisted that the story's true, though I figured he was just filling me with hot air."

The Headmaster chuckled in response. "Well, you'll come to find that many fairy tales have some form of truth hidden within them. But as for the Maidens, not only is there believed to be truth to their story, but once upon a time, the story was much longer before being shortened in our modern era."

"So what does this have to do with me?" Ragna raised his eyebrow, unsure of what the Headmaster was getting at.

"Well Ragna, it was once written that one of the Maidens was burdened with a child. A child who was unlike any other. Stronger, smarter, and overall much more talented than his peers. Beyond all this, however, he possessed within him an overabundance of rage. This boy sought out any and all opportunities to vent his anger, and as he grew to become a young man, tantrums and schoolyard tussles became acts of unspeakable cruelty and violence. Arson and torture grew into homicide and acts of terrorism. As the man's mind twisted and mutated, so too did his body, writhing and coiling until it became something unrecognisable to human and faunus alike."

"No wonder that part got removed," Ragna mentioned. "There's no way this was supposed to be a kids story! But wait… do you mean to say that all this really happened?"

Ozpin stood up to brew a fresh pot of coffee. "Well, regardless of if the story up until this point is true or not, the ending coincides with a real, documented event in Remnants' history. Whether or not this creature really was once human, or the descendant of a Maiden… it became known as the first Grimm to ever exist: The Black Beast."

Knowing this part of history well, Ragna recited an old verse his Master had taught him;

"Eyes of red, darker than the night sky

Upon the throne of the king, undone

Feral as a beast, the Dark One did feast

The days without the sun."

"I see you know the verses of the The Dark Days." Ozpin returned to his seat. "Then, I suppose you know well enough of how the Black Beast was vanquished by the Six Heroes of Remnant 100 years ago. You're well acquainted with one of them, after all."

Smiling, Ragna couldn't help but laugh. "Haha, my Master really is pretty amazing!"

"You give him such high regard," Ozpin said, sipping from his mug. "Why not take his lessons to heart? There's wisdom in discipline, and in controlling our primal emotions. The story I told of the Black Beast may seem like a great exaggeration, but I've seen anger make monsters of men like you and I, and I'd hate to see you become a man overwhelmed by your own emotions."

Ragna sighed, but nodded his head in agreement. "You've made your point, Professor. I'll try and improve my discipline… and my attitude."

"Don't just try, do it. You are much more capable than you believe. If I thought you didn't have it in you to improve, you wouldn't still be at this school." Ozpin motioned to the elevator. "Now then, be on your way, Ragna. You've still got your afternoon classes, and I've got matters of my own to attend to."

"Yes, Professor." The student got up and left, as Ozpin finally had the opportunity to catch up on unfinished paperwork.

Or so he thought.

"My, you certainly have a way with unruly children, Headmaster."

A figure appeared before him, seemingly out of thin air. Dressed in a long, flowing black and red dress, the small woman appeared to be adolescent, with her long blonde hair tied up into lengthy pigtails, and a red bow tied on to her collar.

"Miss Alucard," Ozpin recognised the visage of his vampiric ally, and friend of countless years. "I wasn't expecting a visit this afternoon. Shall I brew us a pot of tea?"

"As much as I'd love to accept your generous offer, I'm afraid I must make my time here short, as I've an appointment to keep." Rachel Alucard moved on to the topic at hand. "I've come bearing news from the good General Ironwood. It appears that work on the Anti-Grimm Defense Platforms has yielded a new line of prototype androids, meant to resemble young girls. I'd suppose this was done to give them an empathetic, 'human' feel. What's more, it seems that the Imperator herself approved the design."

Taking another drink from his mug, the Professor considered certain implications of Atlas' most recent military project. "This sounds dangerously close in design to the Murakumo Project. I'd hate to think that they've forgotten how much of that technology had fallen into enemy hands. Even now, the whereabouts of Number Thirteen remains unknown."

"An appropriate amount of skepticism, given the carelessness of Atlesian innovation." Rachel admitted, "One can only hope that history not repeat itself."

"Agreed." Ozpin finished his coffee much faster than usual. It seemed that the stress of his position was finally getting to him. "Will there be anything else, old friend?"

"I regret that this is all I have to provide today. With that said, I bid you adieu, Headmaster Ozpin, 'till next we meet"

"Adieu, Miss Alucard," Ozpin responded, "'Till next we meet."

Watching as the vampire disappeared, the Headmaster returned to his seat. "Androids as defensive platforms… I hope your leadership knows what they're doing, General."

….

After getting finished with his classes (and being forced to stay late to listen to Professors Ports overly extended monologue), Ragna made his way to the school's training room to meet up with his teammates. Since instructors were going to present that evening, Yu had decided that It'd be the perfect time to have a couple one-on-one sparring matches.

"Ragna, you're late!" Ruby Rose called out to her team member. "You missed it! I totally whooped Hyde's butt that round!"

Hyde tried to play it cool. "She got lucky, I'll win the next one for sure."

Ragna smirked. "Damn Hyde, keep getting beaten by chicks, and people might start to think you're into that kinda stuff."

Hyde tensed up, crossing his arms. "...Shut up..."

Meeting Ragna in the middle of the arena, Yu Narukami drew his katana. Tossing the sheath aside, he greeted his opponent for the match. "You certainly kept me waiting… Ragna the Bloodedge. I was afraid you might not show at all."

Ragna smiled at the sound of the title Ruby came up for him. "About time people started calling me that!" Resting the tip of Blood Scythe on the floor, Ragna met Yu's greeting with his own. "Alright then, let's see what our 'Fearless Leader' is made of! Don't hold back on me, Narukami!"

Yu pressed his glasses up as he smirked. "Don't worry, I'm going all out! Come on… IZANAGI!"

Yu's Persona appeared, it's steel body clad in loose black garments, and wielding a large, spear-like weapon. Various hoot and hollers could be heard as the rooms' lights dimmed, and students from all over the school came to watch the match-up they'd been waiting for all day.

"You go, Ragna the Bloodedge! You've got this in the bag!" Ruby bounced up and down as she cheered on her teammate.

"Show him why they call you the 'Kingpin of Steel', Narukami!" Hyde stood up, rooting for his team leader.

The instructor present spoke into a microphone to hype up the students even further as the arena platform rose up into the air. "The match between Team HRRN's leader, Yu Narukami, and his tough-as-nails, powerhouse teammate, Ragna the Bloodedge commences… Now!"