When he awoke, he was somewhere...calming.

He didn't remember much, other than he felt at peace, with only some regret here and there. Nothing much did he know of the location, other than it was the realm beyond Remnant, where everyone goes to.

Then, he found himself in lands unknown to him. Where he saw the God of Darkness.

He died.

Then he lived.

Then died again.

Eventually, Ozma found himself brought forward to the God of Light. Confused. Uncertain. Where he was then told something devastating had happened to his home, and while saddened, he wished to only stay in this peaceful realm, and see her again.

Then he was told that his love was not there, but still alive.

After accepting the deal with the God of Light, the God told him of these Relics, and what they could bring about if they were all gathered. Telling him that he will never be alone and said this before he returned to his home.

"Very well. Our creation rests within your hands."

And like that, his true journey began.

"!" Eyes shot open, and the chirping of birds could be heard. Blinking, Ozpin looked around, finding himself in some unknown place. Sitting on a couch. What was he doing here?

"Oh." He then heard a voice and turned his head, seeing none other than a red hair teen who had a tray with some food in it. "You're awake."

Ozpin then remembered everything.

Shirou had to admit, it was a bit weird to eat with someone that wasn't Sakura or Taiga. Still, serving food to someone who helped him was the least he could do, as he and Ozpin began eating the meal he prepped up breakfast. The two eating in the wonderful morning feeling much better compared to before.

"I have to say young man," Ozpin then speaks, after having eaten a bit of the food. "You certainly know how to make a fine dish."

"I wouldn't say it's that impressive." Shirou says as he then eats a bit of his own meal before swallowing. Grabbing a cup of milk and drinking it to clear his throat. "I just did what I normally do."

"No need to be modest." Ozpin tells him. "I think this is just fine." He then grabs the mug full of hot chocolate. "And I say, you certainly know how to make a fine mug."

"Er, thanks."

It was a rather fine morning. Granted, Shirou bet it'll be weird when Sakura comes later, but he was up a bit earlier than usual along with Ozpin, so she won't be hear soon. Besides, he was more worried when Taiga came and saw the hole in the house. That was going to be very tough to explain. Not just because it'd be difficult convincing her some creep with a spear was attacking him, but that Ozpin did some of the damage unintentionally when sending him back.

'Speaking of damage.' Shirou's eyes went toward Ozpin. He looked so normal, not to different from any old person aside from being a bit more active. Yet even then, what he saw last night, no normal human should be capable of what he did.

Gulping, Shirou decided to just ask it.

"Ozpin."

"Hm?"

Here goes. "You're a magus, right?"

"A magus, huh." Ozpin looks at a nearby wall where the calendar is pinned. Particularly, how he didn't understand the language despite the fact Remnant should have a unified one. "I assume you mean my...actions of last night?" He sipped more of his drink.

"Y-yes." Shirou nods. "I mean, you know magecraft, right?"

Magecraft? While it sounded different, Ozpin knew that he must mean magic. A synonym for it? With magus sounding a lot like mage, as people called him back before he created the Maidens. Or Wizard at other times.

"I suppose I can be considered one." Ozpin says, accepting the term being used on him before narrowing his eyes slightly. "Though I'm surprised you know of...magecraft."

"My father was a magus." Shirou says. "He knew all sorts of tricks."

Unless Ozpin suddenly forgot once more of the children he sired, then this confirmed it. Wherever he was, wasn't Remnant. Not even a place he just hasn't heard of. Another that can use magic, and a man at that. Ozpin had...hoped that it wasn't true, but deep down, knew the moment he saw the moon, he wasn't anywhere on Remnant. Hehe. Funny. Here he thought he'd be more shocked and desperate.

'Then again,' Ozpin thought with a sorrowful look. 'Maybe I'm beyond feeling such things, after everything that has happened.'

As Ozpin thought this, Shirou blinked. Not sure why Ozpin was suddenly quiet, and looked troubled. Maybe he was just wondering what to do next, so Shirou slowly got up, and grabbed the empty plates while finishing the rest of his food and drink and went to the kitchen. While doing that Ozpin just looked out the window, and quietly asked, "Is this your doing, God of Light?"

Obviously, he received no answer.

Ozpin then saw Shirou putting away the dirty dishes, and while the young boy did that, Ozpin took out his scroll and futilely tried to call anybody. Naturally a phone in another world didn't even function right. It seemed that he really was stuck here, with nobody at all. No allies, no friends, nothing.

Even then, Ozpin still felt suspicious by what was going on. 'I know I died to Cinder. And yet, here I am with a body that should have perished.'

Not to mention he felt something was different in him. He didn't notice it at first, seeing as last night was quite a rush against the man the girl called Lancer, but it was his magic. The magic that had dwindled over all these years after separating, felt both the same and changed at the same time. The battle with Lancer proved it, as the energy beam he sent at Lancer did far more harm than it should, meaning something was up.

'Not to mention the boy.' Ozpin looked at Shirou once more. 'It was quick, but I felt another energy in him when I activated his aura. It felt like magic.' Felt, but wasn't magic. Ozpin wasn't sure what he did, but he activated something else other than aura.

'I definitely feel a lot better. Great even.' A fact Shirou also noticed while cleaning up his kitchen. Last night having been rather awful after getting killed, beaten, then whatever Ozpin did, felt as if his entire nervous system was going haywire. Now though, he felt strong. Really strong. Noticing how when he accidently cut himself, the wound healed quickly.

'Not to mention it feels like my Magecraft got better.' Shirou thinks as he recalls waking up and taking a shower. Then, just a bit before he decided to see how Ozpin was doing, grabbed a discarded pipe and Reinforced it perfectly compared to before. Not to mention he swore the pipe also glowed orangey red. 'Did Ozpin do something to me?'

Maybe he should ask him, but he seemed rather deep in thought.

Ding-dong!

Then both Shirou and Ozpin turned where the door was. Ozpin saying, "Are you expecting guests?"

"No. I do-" Shirou then stopped and looked at the clock. Oh boy. It seems he lost track of time. "...actually...I do. Um. Sorry Ozpin, but this might get awkward." Shirou then moved to the front door of the house, and braced himself as he opened it.

"Shirou!" He then saw a bright smile with an orange haired woman coming in. "Morning!"

"Fuji-nee." Shirou gives his own smile. "I see you came right on time."

"Yeah I did!" The grown childish woman hops in despite Shirou's protests. "And I came to have that good meal and...and...and…?"

It was then she saw none other than Ozpin, who gave a small wave. Then she saw none other than the broken wall a bit away. Not to mention the broken glass as well. Shirou realizing he was screwed over, as his teacher then looked at him with teary eyes. "Shirou! Were you attacked!?"

Then pounced on him.

Ten minutes later, and some lies, it ultimately came down to Shirou telling his teacher that a burglar had come and tried robbing him late at night. Thankfully, Ozpin was nearby and managed to help him out and push the criminal away where the crook fled with his tail between his legs. Shirou giving a good smack to the thief's face.

'Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration,' More like an outright lie. 'But no way I can say I died and then got my butt whooped.' Both to not worry Taiga and not make himself look like a chump compared to what Ozpin did.

"Well, that's good." The teacher sniffs, glad her little boy is okay. She then turns o Ozpin and shakes his hand rapidly. "And thank you for protecting Shirou." She tells him and gives her gratitude. "You didn't have to, but it pleases me someone helped this little troublemaker."

"I wouldn't say I'm that much of a troublemaker." Shirou exasperates. Taiga ignored him, and just continued to thank Ozpin.

"It was no trouble at all." Ozpin tells a woman who felt like the opposite of Glynda. At least the current her, as her youth was much more troublesome. "I just did what any man should do when seeing a youngster like him fall prey to such men."

"Yeah." Taiga wiped her eyes a bit. "I bet Shirou would have gotten robbed of all his belongings and get beaten up had you not been there." Shirou muttered a bit at that comment. "I've trained the boy a bit, but street fighting and a controlled environment are two different things"

"On that I can agree with." Ozpin smiles.

'Oh great. They're multiplying.' Shirou rolls his eyes as he then moves to get some food ready for Taiga. Good as she was at fighting and her job, she was hopeless with making food and if it wasn't a store bought meal, she usually came here to eat with him. Well, not just him, but also her. "Hey Fuji-nee." Shirou calls her out. "Where's Sakura?"

She should have been here by now.

"Oh, right. Her." Taiga finishes talking to Ozpin and faces Shirou. "I got a call from her brother. She's apparently feeling a bit under the weather, so won't be coming to school or here."

"Got it." That was a shame. Guess he'll have to make one less plate, having been used to Sakura arriving here at his home. Maybe he should visit her later when he has time after school. Just to check on her and all. 'Although…' It would mean talking to Shinji.

Shirou didn't really know how to feel about that. Thankfully, he didn't have to feel it for long as Taiga then spoke up. "Her Shirou, what's with the tattoos?"

Just something he didn't get.

Raising a brow, Shirou looked at himself to understand what Taiga meant. He had on some shorts and a long sleeve shirt, nothing fancy really. Just what he changed to when he got up in the morning after feeling better. Though as he looked down, it was then Shirou saw a tattoo as Fuji-nee pointed out. One on his own hand, with three strange marks on them.

Shirou looked up, and next to Taiga waiting for an answer, he saw Ozpin giving him a knowing look. He must have known what was up, so Shirou had to come up with something and fast. "Oh, this." He raises the tattooed hand toward Taiga. "it's not a tattoo. Not a real one. Just some, er, of that special ink where it's plastered on paper, where you then place it on your hand."

He was a bad liar.

"Okay. Sounds neat." Thankfully, Taiga was worse and telling what was a lie, and bought the story fully. "So long as it isn't big like the ones I see in the gang and look silly, then it sounds alright."

"Gang?' Ozpin drinks another sip of hot chocolate.

"Nothing to worry about!" Shirou told Ozpin, not wanting the man to get nervous. "Fuji-nee's home is….eccentric."

"True that!" Taiga threw the peace sign, with Ozpin chuckling. The morning going rather smoothly after, with Taiga leaving after Shirou made her some breakfast where she left afterwards, but not before telling Shirou to not be late and change some clothes. Once she was gone though, Shirou moved to his room both to change into his school uniform, and to ask questions.

"So what happened last night?" Questions of what occured, having been knocked out up until morning. His memories going up to Ozpin doing something to him before everything went dark. Ozpin, more than willing to explain what Shirou missed.

"I awoke your Aura." Is what Ozpin told him.

"Au...ra?" Yep. And like last night, it made no sense whatsoever. Ozpin didn't seem discouraged thought, and continued on.

"Aura, at least the way others understand it, is the manifestation of one's soul."

"Oh!" For a second, Shirou appeared to understand it.

"You don't get it, do you."

"...no." It was just him pretending.

"It's alright." Ozpin reassured him. "Where I'm...from, not everybody knew what it was. And considering the location," More like another world. "It makes sense for you to not know."

"Then can you, like, give me the basics?" Shirou asks.

"Of course." Ozpin nodded and went to explain further of what this Aura is. "From where I'm from, Aura is described as the power of one's soul. It inhabits all things. You. I. The birds. Anything that is living and has a soul, is aura."

"Like...Chi?" Shirou recalls reading a manga on that, but never got past the first volume because he got bored of it.

"Er, uncertain." Ozpin admits. "I never heard of this...chi." Ozpin then shrugs. "Regardless, the point is we all have aura. But it usually lays dormant within us unless either extreme circumstances let us awaken it, or," Ozpin then poked Shirou's chest. Where the teen saw Ozpin's finger glow just a bit. "Someone unlocks it for you."

"Uh-hu." Shirou was starting to get it a little now. "So this aura, we all have it. And, I guess it's what allowed you to fight that jerk."

"Indeed." Ozpin confirms. "A well trained body is fine. But aura can bring out our potential further. Tell me, do you feel different?"

"I-I guess so." Shirou tells him. "I feel better than before. Not to mention a bit stronger. Though, maybe it's my imagination."

"I can gladly say it isn't." Ozpin corrects him from self-doubt. "Aura is capable of many things. By unlocking yours, I have also awakened gifts within you." Ozpin then began glowing a bit, a green shimmering outline. "Aura can do many things. Protection from blunt force such as fists or even bullets." Suddenly Ozpin was gone, and Shirou felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around in surprise, gasping. "Enhanced speed." He was then gone again but Shirou heard a noise and felt his jaw drop as Ozpin lifted the small table in the living room without breaking a sweat. "Not to mention some augmented strength to."

"Like...like a superhero.' Shirou says before suddenly blushing a bit, as he just revealed a bit of his dream. While Ozpin chuckled, he didn't call out Shirou's words and instead just smiled.

"Well, many do see it that way." Ozpin tells Shirou. "Aura can do quite a bit, defense, offense, healing, and so much more. Of course training is needed to unlock your full potential."

"Full potential.' Shirou repeats before looking at his hands. As if wondering if he could do the same feats as Ozpin just did. Including the fight with that spearman. Though he then looked at the strange tattoo, and nearly forgot about it. "Um, does aura give one a tattoo?"

Ozpin then frowned slightly, shaking his head. "No, it does not." He then walked forward and looked at Shirou's hand with the strange markings on them. Eyes narrowing as he grabbed them, and felt...something within them. Knowing full well these weren't normal tattoos.

"I'll be honest, I don't know what these are. But I do know this." The girl from last night, and the man with her. "Last night, after the spearman left, two people came. And while I can't verify if what they said was true, they mentioned how you are a Master, along with other words that I couldn't really comprehend properly."

"Master?" Now that was a new one. "But, I'm just an ordinary guy. I don't even have servants around here."

"My belief is, the term Master is more than the usual definition we know." Ozpin guesses. "They mentioned you were the last Master, and unfortunately, I have no context on what such meanings mean."

"It's alright Ozpin." Shirou tells him. "Looks like both of are lost in whatever this is."

"Perhaps. But what worries me is that the girl from last night told me to leave."

"Leave?" That didn't sound good.

"She mentioned how Fuyuki was about to become more dangerous." With the additional comment being no better.

Thinking on it, Shirou has heard from Taiga and a few classmates like Issei that there has been some trouble occurring in Fuyuki, but didn't pay much mind to it. Now though, Shirou was beginning to wonder if this girl knew something he and many others didn't know.

"Do you know where the girl went?" Perhaps they could find her and ask questions.

"I apologize, but I don't." Is the answer. "You were hurt, and while it pains me to admit it, I felt too tired to search." Though Ozpin got the distinct feeling that he couldn't have followed them properly anyway.

"Mm. I guess I can't blame you." Ozpin probably should have left him, he'd have been alright. Though he supposed he couldn't fault the magus for not going if he felt tired. Even though he moved so well, he was an old man technically. Probably had a limit. "Maybe we can find her though." Shirou then suggested. "Do you remember what they look like?"

"I do." Ozpin then went describing the two he saw. While Shirou didn't feel any familiarization with this grey-eyed white man-though he did feel annoyed by him already-when it came to the girl, well...She certainly made him think of one person.

'But it can't be her, right?'

"It seems this will be troubling." Ozpin then says. "Without any leads, we are blind to whatever danger is occurring here."

"Maybe. But I'm sure we can figure it out later. For now, I need to get to class." Shirou then grabbed his stuff for a full day of school "We can try figuring this out later."

"Then does this mean you will allow me to stay here, for the time being at least?" Ozpin referred to Shirou's house.

"Do you not have a place to stay?"

"Er, ahem." Ozpin coughed. "I do...But, not anymore."

"Then stay here for the time being." Shirou says as he opens the door. "Consider it thanks for helping me last night."

"Then I shall wait for you to return back safely." Shirou nodded, and he then left, leaving Ozpin alone. The old man blinking, before then looking at his hand. One that emitted a green orb. A magical one. "And maybe...I can see what is different here now."

Ozpin was far from the only one who wanted to sense something different.

While he felt normal, Shirou could sense this 'aura' thing Ozpin told him about. Poking his skin where every now and then, if he poked hard enough, he could temporarily see a small glimmer of an orangey-red barrier.

"I wonder if this will help me be a hero?" Granted, he'd need training to really understand this aura thing. But Ozpin should be able to help with that. Though would it be rude to ask? Wasn't too sure, though it couldn't hurt to ask. Shirou testing his new barrier, but got distracted by it when he hit a street lamp.

"Woah." Only he felt no pain, and for a moment felt some kind of barrier surround him. That was, actually kinda cool. "No, wait!" In his haste however, Shirou forgot about witnesses. He turned around to see if anybody saw him. Yet to his surprise, there was...nobody. Nobody at all.

"But, it's not even that early." No cars, no joggers, nothing. Not even a bird. This...this is wrong. As Shirou began wondering what was happening, a chill went down his spine followed by a shadow enveloping his own body. He looked up, and there in broad daylight with their front obscured by the morning light, Shirou saw a man so massive, that he looked like he was on steroids while carrying a nasty axe on him. Next to him, a small little girl with white hair and blood-red eyes.

Both didn't give a good feeling to him, with the girl then creepingly saying, "Good morning Oni-Chan."

Since Illya didn't see Shirou in the night like the usual routes, she decided that as a big sister, she'll meet him during the early morning. Isn't that sweet.