May 7th
Government Offices Of The Atlesian Council
Department Of Foreign Affairs And Military Action
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
Security Level: Maximum
Necessary Security Clearance: Maximum
6:34 PM
"President Ciel," Elizabeth said, motioning for him to sit down. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us on such short notice."
"Madame Morell," He said, sounding almost amused. "When yourself, Mar, Davis, Adel, and my own daughter all file an official request to discuss classified information, I'm not going to take that lightly."
"Just to be clear," Karissa Mar said. "This has nothing to do with the Mistral situation. Rather, it has to do with Ozpin."
Edward Ciel raised an eyebrow. "Ozpin?"
Emmeline sighed. "They know."
He stared at her. "Emmeline Cecilia Ciel, I -"
"They had a right to know," She said shortly. "Elizabeth most of all because of what Cinder did to her. It does relate, and -"
"I haven't been involved in Ozpin's group for the last six years," Ciel said, looking at all of them sharply. "Primarily because such, in my view, would have been a conflict of interest for the kingdom. But, yes, I do know quite a bit about him."
"Such as his history with Salem?" Kiara Davis asked him, and he nodded shortly. "Emmeline said that the two of them were involved millennia ago. Is that true?"
"Yes," He said, turning towards his daughter. "How much did you -"
"All of it," She said, her arms crossed. "And I stand my ground that it was -"
"Emmeline," He said, putting up a hand to silence her. "I was not questioning your judgement, I was merely looking for an answer. So, what is it?"
"How much do you know about Ozpin?" Morell asked, her curiosity taking over her better judgement. "I only ask because all of us -"
"Are damn confused," Blake said, shaking his head. "I mean, so damn confused."
President Ciel sighed. "I know Ozpin better than I care to admit. The short answer is that he trusted me much more than he generally trusts people and he made me aware of a few things that perhaps were not so pleasant regarding our world. That, naturally, included his history but also the powers of the Relics."
"The powers of the Relics?" Karissa Mar raised an eyebrow. "Creation, destruction, choice, and knowledge?"
"Yes, although they are more dangerous than what their simple, individual powers suggest," Ciel hesitated for a moment before going on. "I am going to ask each and every single one of you to keep this knowledge quiet in the same way you keep security council meetings quiet."
"Of course," Kiara Davis said, motioning him to go on. "In what way are they so dangerous?"
Ciel stood up and began to pace. "For starters, unifying the Relics would essentially declaring damnation for the world."
"What?" Emmeline said, staring at her father. "Why?"
"Because," Ciel said, sending a cursory glance out the window and to the city below. "Unifying the Relics would bring back the brother gods for the judgement day. All of Remnant's religions have a final judgement as a crucial part - mono or polytheistic alike - and such is rooted in the truth of the brother gods. When they come back, should they deem humanity worthy -"
"Meaning not at each other's throats…" Blake said softly.
Ciel sent him a sharp look before going on. "Then they would restore humanity to its former glory. But if not, they would...snuff it out."
"So to unify the Relics, especially within the foreseeable future…" Elizabeth felt her hands shaking as she went on. "That would cause the world to die?"
The president was silent for a moment but then nodded. "I'm afraid so."
As the politicians and the General continued their behind closed doors discussion that was never to see the light of day in the media, the subject of their talk was slowly walking down to the vault of Atlas Academy. By the time he made his way through the many doors, security systems, and lifts, he was in a long hall at the end of which a scepter which was emitting a pale blue glow could be seen. Taking control of his body from the young man whose soul had been merged with his, he slowly stepped forward with his hands wrapped tightly around his cane. A feeling almost akin to sinking filled him. Though he knew that he was capable of doing what he was about to do, it felt a bit strange and almost wrong to be doing such. By using the Relic Of Creation alongside his own magic to restore himself, he was perhaps abusing the power the gods had left humanity with.
Nevertheless, he needed to do this in order to even attempt what he had planned secondarily. Although he had suggested to Ciel that defeating Salem herself was what was necessary to restore her husband and his fiance, it had occurred to him in that moment that he had neglected all along another option. The Relic Of Creation, in and of itself and within its power, had not only the power to create life but to restore it. Doing what he planned would disrupt natural balance, he knew, but he was done hiding from his own humanity. He had this power, he had decided, and he was not using it for evil. Two innocent lives that should never have been lost would be restored. Sighing heavily as he reached the Relic, he channeled his magic into his hands and grasped the scepter.
"Servatis a periculum," He whispered, activating the Relic's innate power. "Servatis a maleficum."
Save us from danger, save us from evil: The meaning of his words.
Focusing his intent, he closed his eyes and made one last apology to the young man known as Oscar Pine. Slowly, his own magic and that of the Relic merged together as one. The feeling of it coursed through his veins and all even to everything that lay between his skin and bones. He could feel himself changing back into the man he had been in just the previous September at the Fall of Beacon Academy; his height, his appearance, everything returned. As the feeling began to wane, he waited a long moment until the only voice in his head was his own and he carefully removed his hand from around the Relic. Glancing into the reflective surface of his cane, it took him a moment to fully acknowledge that he was Ozpin, the forty nine year old headmaster of Beacon Academy, once more.
Turning back to the Relic, he sighed heavily as he opened it fully and focused simply his intent into restoration. Several minutes passed but then there was an eerie silence just before two appeared on the floor in front of him. Although it was clear that they were a tad older than they had been when they died - an intentional usage of the Relic for the sake of what the world would hear - they were still incredibly recognisable. Setting the Relic down, he stepped over towards the small, bespectacled woman with thick white curls and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up, her grey eyes went wide, and then she forced herself to speak - her voice a bit hoarse.
"What…" She said, glancing around. "The fuck happened?"
"Chrissy," Ozpin said gently. "It's me."
She stared at him for a moment but then wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Oz…"
"Huh?" The white haired man said, pushing up his glasses and shaking out his shoulder length waves. "The -"
"Emmett?" Cristal shifted slightly in Ozpin's arms to face her twin brother. "Do you -"
"Where's Emmy?" He asked, probing his forehead. "Is she okay?"
"Emmeline's fine," Ozpin said, helping his fiance up and then her brother. "But there are a few things we need to discuss."
"Later," He said, all but running towards the exit of the vault. "I've got to head...why the hell am I in the Atlas Academy Vault?"
Cristal looked back to Ozpin. "What -"
"Chrissy," Ozpin said gently, cupping her cheek. "What's the last thing you remember?"
She bit her lip, then her eyes started to fill with tears. "There was...smoke...and...and something...the building was collapsing…"
"I…" Ozpin said slowly. "Chrissy, that was eighteen years ago."
She was silent but then pulled him in close to her. "No…"