"That makes nine!" Amber said, the Grimm disappearing in the usual black smoke. "Nine Beowolves, six Boarbatusks, two Ursa, and a Creep."

There was nothing like Grimm hunting to put one in a good mood. Especially since they were so close to the city, so it was either them or some other traveler that would have to fight. They were doing good.

Still, it was a lot of Grimm in such a short time. "What are the odds we'd encounter so many?" she chirruped.

Qrow rubbed at his forward, sheathing his scythe-sword on his back. "Stop saying things like that, Amber. I'm begging you here."

"Huh?"

"Anyway," Qrow ignored her, turning to Link. "What were we talking about, Link?"

Link shrugged. Qrow sighed.

It had been like this the whole time. Qrow would pepper him with questions. Link would answer with a shrug, a wave, a grunt, or something clipped. Amber had to tell the Huntsman Link's name.

Not that it wasn't fun seeing Qrow so frustrated, but Amber admitted to being a little curious herself. Link's fighting skill hadn't diminished with his sword broken. If anything, it forced him to be more creative in how he used what was left.

Sometime around the seventh or eight Grimm encounter they'd settled on a strategy of Qrow and Amber trapping the Grimm between them, then Link stabbing the broken shard still attached to the hilt into a vital spot. Qrow took it as a personal challenge to kill anything before Link got a chance to. Link either ignored him or did not notice.

"What were you doing out in the wild?" Qrow asked, foregoing his usual indirection.

"Maybe he was born there," Amber interjected, smiling. They resumed their journey.

"Nah," Qrow refused. He fixed Link with a narrowed gaze. "You're too trained for that. I've seen you practicing your forms too. It's very formal, very disciplined."

Link shrugged.

Qrow ground hit teeth. "What is with this guy?" he grumbled under his breath. Qrow grabbed his hip flask and stole a nip. After the last couple miles, he needed it.

"There, there," Amber patted his shoulder with faux sympathy. Truth be told, when Qrow had raised the point that Link might be trying to gain her trust for nefarious, she had thought he maybe, only maybe, had a bit of a point. Luckily, Link had assuaged her of that doubt.

By being an absolutely terrible spy. Quiet, too distinctive, and too skilled in battle, any half-decent infiltrator would've been horrified at the way Link's been acting. Even Amber, as new as she was to world of conspiracies could tell that Link was simply acting himself, whoever that was.

Obviously, he was still hiding something, but it was nothing to do with her or Qrow. He hadn't asked about her blatant display of magic, nor had he expressed any surprise.

She frowned. Come to think of it, why hadn't he been surprised. Maybe he thought it was her semblance? That had to be it. Heh, he must think she had some über semblance, the way she threw out that elemental fury. Nice.

"We should get a move on," she said. "Who knows how many Grimm Qrow's drawing to us with all his whining."

Link nodded sagely, to Qrow's spluttering protests. Amber elbowed him. "See Qrow, don't be such a downer. We're almost there."

"Shut up before you jinx it."

"Jinxes aren't real, Qrow," Amber rolled her eyes.

Qrow threw his hands in the air, begging whatever deities out there to save him.

Cinder cursed, hands shaking. It took all her willpower to keep herself from lashing out. She wanted to hurt something; she was so pissed. Or more specifically, someone. That elf-eared brat had ruined everything.

This was to be her moment. She'd claim the Fall Maiden's power and have what she craved. It was months of work, scouting out the ambush site, ensuring the Fall Maiden would be alone. Only for her to pick up a stray with a rusty blade. Who had, somehow, held off a trained assassin and deflected an arrow mid-flight.

Mercury and Emerald coughed nervously behind her. The forest sheltered them for the moment, but they weren't excited about the potential horde of Grimm Cinder could be drawing to them.

"Ma'am?" Emerald addressed her. "Wh—what do we do now?"

Cinder forced her breathing steady. She wanted nothing more than to lash out at the green-haired waif, if for no other reason than it would make her feel better. But that was irrational, Emerald had done her part well, unlike Mercury. They would be having words about his competence.

"For now," she spat, "we stick to the plan. We'll be forced to improvise. Adjust our timetable."

"And how are we going to get the White Fang on our side?" Mercury questioned her. His lack of respect was even more grating than usual. He did not realize how thin the ice was beneath him.

"We'll have to sweeten the deal," Cinder clenched her fist. Adam Taurus had refused her before. The Maiden power would've allowed her to coerce him into cooperation, but that was out of the question. At least for now. The Maiden's escape delayed her, painfully so, but she'd manage. "Everyone has a price, a lever that'll move them. Even fanatics." A cruel grin arced her visage. "Especially fanatics."

Beacon would fall. Not a question of if or when, only how.

After a truly unlucky number of Grimm, the trio eventually reached the city of Vale. Grimy, covered in dust, dirt, and foul things, Amber wanted only to get back to her apartment and take a long bath.

Unfortunately, Qrow had other plans for her. They'd barely made it into the city when he'd stopped them.

"Good traveling with you Link," he scowled. "Amber and I have to go meet with someone, so this is where we part ways."

"I'm not going anywhere but home," she spat. "I've been on the road for weeks, Ozpin can wait.

"Amber!" Qrow raised his voice, glancing at Link.

She glared at him. He glared back, then surrendered. "Fine. Fine! He'll want to talk to you tonight though."

"That's better." Amber nodded, pleased.

Link glanced between the two of them, an amused quirk to his lips.

Qrow grimaced. "See you later. Amber, Link." He shook his head and departed around a corner.

Amber sighed. She'd pay for this later in some way, she just knew it. She regarded Link who was busy examining the city with something approaching awe. Maybe. It was hard to tell with him.

A thought struck her. "You… you have somewhere to go, right Link?"

Link's eyes broke off from the city and looked at her, blue eyes calm. He shook his head.

"Come on, you couldn't have just been coming to Vale for no reason, right?"

He shrugged.

"Link…" she whimpered. No. No, no, no, don't do it Amber. Just part ways amicably, you don't really owe him anything. "Do you want to come with me?"

Damn it!

Link thought, head tilting. After a moment, he nodded his assent.

"Great!" Amber said, forcing a smile to quell her inner turmoil. "That's great!" She sniffed. "And I'm sure you'll want to get clean after all that time out in countryside."

For the first time in their short-lived relationship, Amber witnessed Link embarrassed.

Amber's apartment wasn't far by cab, and she certainly wasn't walking there. Link had stared at the taxi for a hot minute before following her into the vehicle. She made pleasant small talk with the cabbie the whole way, while Link silently stared out as the city passed by. He craned his neck to look at the tall office buildings and sky scrapers, but otherwise kept a "mildly impressed" face on.

She rented her residence from the diner below, some hotshot kid who'd tried to make it into Beacon but failed. He'd opened a diner as a fallback. He'd long since bought the building and retired, only keeping the diner open as a source of passive income. For Amber, that meant she always had a place to keep breakfast before heading out to Beacon.

The cab departed wealthier for its part in their journey, Amber having tipped the driver for having to deal with their, ahem, road musk. He hadn't commented on it, but Amber almost died when he scrunched his face up after they'd seated themselves. She shook her head, putting the embarrassment behind her.

"Come on," she directed Link. "The sooner we're out of public, the better."

Her apartment was fairly modest, a small living room with kitchenette connected to a bedroom. She had a fridge filled with a few foodstuff, mostly comfort food like beer and ice cream. A dusty tv sat in front of a neatly made couch. One bathroom, accessible through the bedroom.

"Make yourself at home," Amber announced, pushing into the room with Link on her trail. "Shower's through the bedroom." She gestured at the closed door leading to where she slept.
"I think my ex left a few spare clothes around, so I'll lay that out for you. There's soap and towels in the bathroom already, feel free to use 'em."

Link nodded and followed her instructions. As soon as he departed, Amber's anxiety returned.

Gah, what was she doing? First of all, she didn't have a washing machine, so his clothes would stay dirty. She didn't have anything of substance to feed him, she hardly stayed here herself except to sleep between missions. Finally, she hadn't had any guests since her last boyfriend, and he'd slept in her bed. Hopefully, Link didn't get any ideas about this… She was just trying to do him a favor!

"Ok, Amber," Amber shook it off, smacking herself lightly. "Just get clean, give him a beer, have one yourself, then send him off. That's more than reasonable." Then go to Beacon to face the music.

But if he had nowhere to go… and he saved her life…

Argh, why couldn't she just dump him on his ass? Why couldn't she be callous enough to exile the helpful wild man to sleep on the streets?

In the cold. Without lien or any knowledge of the city.

Fuck her life.

Link entered the strange washroom, as strange as the rest of this city. Never in his lives, this one, the previous one, and the one dimly recalled, had he seen a metropolis so great. Towers that competed with Hyrule castle, mechanical horses that had once existed only as Sheikah marvels were commonplace and ruled the roads. He found it wonderful and grinned at the thought of exploring the cityscape.

Before that however, he had to wash himself. He stripped, taking the soiled Champion's tunic and placing it atop the basin before the mirror. As fine the material Zelda's gift was made of, it washed easily. The princess was wise to do so, considering he spent more time in the wild than in civilization. Perhaps he could wear it in the bath? That would kill two Keese with one slingshot.

He discarded the idea. Amber was kind enough to allow him use of these facilities, and he'd hate to impose more than he had to. To that end, soaking her floors with dirty bathwater was a poor thanks for her compassion.

He peeled the rest of his clothes off. It was always a surprise how filthy he became, living in the wild. Since awakening in the Shrine of Resurrection, the wild had been more of a home than any place. He had, or had had now, a house in Hateno village, but that was more for storage than anything like residence.

The bath in Amber's apartment was similar to those used by the royals in Hyrule castle, so he stopped up the drain and turned a knob to the side. Cool water poured from the faucet, and tub slowly filled. There was nub directly on the faucet that Link had never seen before. He thumbed it.

The water stopped coming out of the bath faucet, and exploded out of a faucet higher up, raining down like storm water. Interesting. It wasn't hard to figure out the function of the different faucet, he could see it simulated rainfall. With that, he could clean up without having to rest in bath water, like the waterfalls he preferred to use in Hyrule.

He unstopped the drain and let what water filled the tub disappear down it. He stepped in, taking the floral-scented soap bar from an alcove nearby. The water was freezing, but Link didn't mind. It helped him think faster, sharper.

He had no goal in this strange city, and only one friend. Qrow had been amiable enough, but the man's suspicion was grating even if he could understand it. From what he understood, Amber was special in some way, and Qrow meant to guard her, to her own dissatisfaction.

He chuckled. What a parallel to see in this land! He forgave Qrow, but took some small amusement in his frustrations at Link's reluctance to speak. It'd be interesting to interact with the man on more friendly terms.

A soft knock interrupted Link's thought. "Link?" A feminine voice called, muffled by the door between them. "I laid out some clothes on the bed. I'll be waiting in the other room when you're done."

He grunted his acknowledgement. He really should try to be more forthcoming. Habit kept him usually uncommunicative since he spent most of time alone in the wilds. As patient as Amber was, his manner clearly annoyed her.

A gift for her when they parted ways would be an acceptable goal for now. That, and he needed to procure another weapon. He felt naked without one nearby. Well, more naked than just naked. His unarmed skills were proficient, but not nearly up to par with the rest of combat repertoire.

He washed off the suds and shut off the water. Grabbing the cream towel, he dried off and exited the bathroom. As Amber said, clothes were neatly laid out on the bathroom. The small-clothes were a bit large, but the elastic kept it snug. The pants were similar, oversized, but he could tighten the laces and roll up the legs. The real issue, was the shirt.

It was huge, reaching down to his knees and the collar exposed a generous amount of his shoulders and chest. A stylized woman with exaggerated eyes and what looked like cat ears winked from his torso. Link had never cared for fashion, but he felt like he might start now.

He'd rather borrow Amber's clothes, but he sensed that'd somehow be more awkward. Even though they were roughly the same size, and her clothes likely didn't have such "interesting" art. He shrugged, the shirt slipping off and pooling at his feet.

Exiting the bedroom, he found amber leaning against the kitchenette counter. She glanced at him, then did double take, face reddening. Her hand darted up to cover her mouth and she forced her eyes away.

"I knew it would be an awkward fit," Amber choked out finally. "It looks great on you!"

"I disagree," Link responded lightly. He joined her, doing his best to keep his shoulders even and avoid another mishap.

"Sorry about it," Amber lied. "My ex has certain tastes in media. He's a big dork. Literally!" She laughed.

"I'll survive," Link pointed out. That set off another set of giggles.

"I'm going to grab a shower of my own," Amber said, pushing off the counter. She spared a mirthful look at Link. "You can go ahead and keep the clothes, by the way. It's not like he's coming back to claim it." She opened the bedroom door, pausing. "There's ice cream in the fridge if you want something while I'm gone." She disappeared behind the door.

Link's eyebrows rose. Ice cream? As in, sweetened cream churned and frozen. It was an expensive treat back in Hyrule, even before the Calamity had devastated the land. The closest thing he ate to ice cream was a honey and wine sorbet made by the Gerudo, and that had cost him. It was worth it though.

His debt to Amber kept increasing…

"Amber," Ozpin greeted. "Welcome back to Vale."

"Headmaster," Amber returned.

The headmaster's office at Beacon Academy was almost exactly how she remembered it. From the windows to Ozpin's cluttered desk, little had changed.

She'd done exactly had planned. Almost. She showered. Had a beer with Link, and then sent him away. To the couch. He'd just looked so pathetic, standing there in an oversized shirt with an anime faunus girl on his chest. She didn't have the cold heart to send him out in the wild, wild world of Vale to be humiliated.

"Tell me," Ozpin started. "How was your journey? Do you feel like you have a better handle on the Maiden powers?"

"I suppose," Amber demurred. "Headmaster Lionheart sends his regards, by the way."

"I'm pleased Leonardo is well," Ozpin smiled softly. "I heard from Qrow that you met a new friend. And some unexpected resistance." The smile dropped.

"Link," Amber clarified for him. "The ambush."

"Indeed," Ozpin, he shifted in his seat. "Despite Qrow's suspicions of the former, I'm far more concerned about the latter. What do you make of it, Amber?"

"What's there to make of it?" Amber raised an eyebrow. "Bandits on the road are hardly unheard of, sir."

"No, they're not, and if I thought they were mere bandits, I would not be worried."

"Sir?"

Ozpin stood up and walked over to the window. "Do you remember what I told you about our enemy?"

"Salem?"

"The very same." Ozpin sighed and turned back to her. "She's overdue for a new offensive. I believe the attack on you to be connected to her."

"But sir, even if-" Amber swallowed. "Even if I was killed, the maiden power would just go to someone else. She wouldn't gain anything."

"We would lose, and that could be enough. And I'm not sure your death was the intended goal, only a byproduct of their true objective."

He tapped his cane, humming in thought. "There were two young women in the party that attacked you. It's believable they intended to force you to surrender the Maiden power to one of them."

"As if I'd give it to them," she scoffed. "I know not to think of my killers in my last moments."

"There are ways to make themselves more… distinct in your thoughts," Ozpin shook his head. "Especially if they captured you first."

Amber swallowed.

"What does this mean, sir?" she asked, betraying her nervous tension. She hadn't considered his points before, and now that the thought was in her head… she didn't like it.

"Amber, I know you won't like this," he began. "However, I feel it is best for you to remain at Beacon for the time being."

Amber's eyes widened. "What?!" she yelled. Her face reddened, she hadn't meant to lose her composure like that. Reducing her volume, she tried again. "Sir, th-that's unnecessary, the attack failed—"

"This time it failed, Amber, and you're still new to Maidenhood. Here you can be safe and train under my eye."

"My missions—"

"Can be paused for the time being."

"I can't stay here forever—"

"It won't be forever. After the Vytal festival, we can revisit the issue."

"Revisit?! You can't do this!"

Amber was shouting now. This, this was not how she saw the meeting going. This was the last thing she wanted when she became the Fall Maiden, for Ozpin to suddenly revoke her freedom of movement.

"Amber, please," he said gently. "This isn't about just you. You have a responsibility now, and if Salem's forces are after the Maiden powers, then we must do everything to keep them out of her hands. Not only for your safety, but for the safety of all Remnant."

Amber broke off her glare, her stomach roiling. It wasn't fair. "I never asked to be the Maiden," She whispered. I only wanted to be special.

Ozpin heard her. "I know," He said, sympathy writ across his face. That only made it worse. "We play the hand we're dealt with and hope for the best."

She stood there, not saying anything. He knew her answer, she knew her answer, but saying it made it real. "Fine," she said finally. "Fine! I'll stay at Beacon, at least until the festival is over."

Ozpin nodded, unsurprised. "Thank you, Amber. I know how hard this is for you."

You don't, she wanted to say, but she knew that wasn't true. Ozpin had told her everything about the Maidens, about Salem, and about himself.

"I'll grab some things from my apartment, and be back here tomorrow," she stated.

"I'll have Qrow retrieve your things. No sense in risking yourself one moment more than absolutely necessary."

"If Qrow went in my apartment, he's liable to burn it down—" Amber's eyes widened.

"Qrow is not nearly so bad," Ozpin chuckled. "Your residence will be fine."

"It's not that, Link is at my place right now!" Amber explained in a rush. She blushed at Ozpin's quirked brow. "I-it's not like that, he didn't have a place to stay, so I offered to let him clean up at my place."

"Ah," Ozpin nodded. "I suppose this solves two problems at once."

"Headmaster?"

"I sent Qrow to observe your new friend, just to be certain he doesn't spread any dangerous secrets," he told her. "If he's at your apartment, then it should be no trouble to grab your things at the same time."

The bird glared at the man in Amber's apartment. Sure, he hadn't done anything untoward to the young maiden, and he hadn't been exactly broadcasting Amber's secret. Yet, the bird was certain Link would show his true colors.

Any minute now.

Qrow shifted, flapping his crow wings to a new position, one that had sight of both the door and the single window to Amber's bedroom. He saw Link heading to the bathroom, and hadn't seen him come out.

What was the elf-eared potential enemy hiding? Did he realize that Qrow was watching? No, that was impossible. Nobody would think someone could turn into a bird. Not to mention, he was a damn good spy when his semblance wasn't acting up.

Which it did when his scroll went off next to him, nearly startling him off the building he was perched on.

When Qrow changed into his bird form, he made sure to remove his scroll from his pockets. Otherwise, his possessions, like clothes and weapons, would change with him and he'd be cut off from communication. He didn't understand it, either. Oz had only shrugged and said "magic" with that enigmatic smile like it explained everything.

Cursing internally, he withdrew from his vantage, and shifted back to human. He grabbed the ringing scroll and hit the answer button.

Ozpin's face appeared on the screen. "Qrow," he greeted. "I have an update for you."

"Hey Oz," Qrow replied. "Wish I could say the same, but Mr. Pointy Ears is on his best behavior."

"That's alright. Amber has agreed to remain at Beacon and train here."

Qrow nodded. "That's a good thing right? Keep her out of harms way."

"Indeed. I want you train her when you have time. I was also thinking of having her assist Glynda in combat training the new students."

"Between Signal and my usual missions for you, I'm not going to have much time to whip her into shape," Qrow protested. "The other idea's not bad though. Let the kids see what a newly-graduated Huntress can do."

"It'll also keep her busy, and feeling important," Ozpin lamented. "Amber was not happy with the arrangement."

"Well tough. Sacrifices for the good of Remnant and all that," Qrow said. "If Jimmy had his way, she'd be in a padded cell trapped in bubble wrap."

"James has ever been extreme," Ozpin chuckled. "But not that extreme. May I ask you to retrieve her things?"

"Sure, but Link's in her apartment at the moment."

"I know. Ask him to accompany you as well. It is better to deal with him now and directly, than let him out of our sight."

"Then why'd you ask me to spy on him?"

"I wanted you out of the room when I asked Amber to stay here."

"I—" Qrow started. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's fair. Fine, I'll just knock on the door and drag him here."

"Thank you, Qrow."

"Don't mention it." He ended the call and turned back to Amber's apartment. Blue eyes met his. Link was staring at him from the now open window, his arms resting on a wet shirt, the tunic he'd been wearing when he met Qrow. Link grinned cheekily at him.

"Did you hear all that?" Qrow asked scowling, albeit in his normal voice. He was on a building across the street from the apartment, there was no way the man had eavesdropped on his conversation with Ozpin.

Link nodded, stupid grin widening. He beckoned Qrow over and shut the window.

"Damn semblance," Qrow complained.

Ozpin had expected from Qrow's reports that Link would be an unassuming man. Slender, without obvious muscles, and soft, almost effeminate features. The pointed ears were new, perhaps he was a rare type of faunus. Or more likely, simply a mutation in the human line, like heterochromia. Whatever it was, Ozpin was ready to make his acquaintance with the same air of mysterious authority he usually reserved for these affairs.

Of course, the way-too-large anime shirt undermined the whole atmosphere.

Ozpin had felt it best to include Amber in any discussion with Link. As soon as Link had entered his office accompanied by Qrow, her face had paled to bloodless visage. Ozpin raised a questioning eyebrow at her, but she refused to make eye contact. No matter, he could deal with it.

"Mister Link," he greeted the man. "Please, have a seat. There's no need to be worried, I simply wanted to thank you for escorting Amber, and discuss what you may have seen."

Link nodded, taking the offered seat. Qrow walked over to join Amber near the window, his flask in hand.

"Amber's things are being offloaded by Goodwitch. Link's as well." Qrow said after a generous swig. "He wouldn't leave without them."

"Without what?" Ozpin asked.

"His own filthy clothes." Qrow groaned to Link's vigorous nod.

"Well, we can launder those here," he offered. "To start, I am Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy," Ozpin introduced, bringing his hands together.

If the name meant anything to him, Link didn't react. He regarded Ozpin coolly, with only mild interest.

"Qrow has told me much about you, and Amber had nothing but praise for you." Ozpin continued, hoping to elicit a response.

"I wouldn't say 'nothing but'" Amber muttered, face reddening when Link glanced over at her.

"You were of great assistance in bringing her home safely," Ozpin pushed forward. "I offer my sincere gratitude for your help."

Link nodded, accepting Ozpin's thanks.

"That being said, I'm told that you saw something," the headmaster said, preparing for the worst. "Something impossible."

Link tilted his head, frowning.

"It may seem unlikely, but I assure you, what you witnessed was merely Amber's semblance."

Link's face scrunched. "Her… semblance?" he spoke, his voice soft and questioning. "Do you mean her magic."

"Ha, ha, ha, Link." Amber chortled forcefully. "That's impossible, magic doesn't exist!"

"Sheesh Amber," Qrow grimaced. "Laying it on a bit thick."

"Shut up, Qrow. Go back to drinking."

Qrow rolled his eyes but did as she commanded.

"Quite." As amusing as the banter was, Ozpin brought everyone back to the conversation at hand. "As Amber put it, magic does not exist. It was only a semblance."

"What is a semblance?" Link asked. Amber and Qrow gaped at him.

Ozpin saw their expressions and intervened. "It's common for a non-Huntsman or Huntress to have little knowledge of semblances or aura." He regarded Link. "A semblance is an ability unique to a person, a special ability that allows them to commit acts beyond normal human means."

Link nodded, understanding. He gestured at Amber and Qrow. "She can manipulate the elements, and he can turn into a bird."

"How did you—" Qrow started, eyes wide.

"Yes, you got it exactly right," Ozpin interrupted, a disarming smile plastered on. He traded a look with Qrow. They'd need to discuss this further.

"And semblances are different from magic?" Link asked.

"Yep!" Amber interjected. "So no need to tell anyone about it! It's boring and uninteresting and, and, and nobody will be impressed."

Ozpin coughed. He'd need to discuss that with Amber as well. "The point is, I'd like you to keep the information on their semblances to yourself. It's a private matter, I'm sure you understand.

Link nodded his assent.

"Excellent. If you speak with Miss Goodwitch, I'm sure we can arrange payment for services rendered." Hush money may be distasteful to some, but it's more reliable than faith in human honor. "Qrow, if you would?"

"Sure thing, Oz," the man agreed, moving into action. "Come on, wild man, we'll get your money, wash your clothes, and stop wasting your time."

Link remained seated, stopping the Huntsman with a raised fine. "I have questions."

Ozpin frowned. "Yes? If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to ask."

"Where are we?"

Amber, Qrow, and Ozpin each looked at one another. "We are at Beacon Academy," Ozpin answered slowly.

"And that is?"

"A training academy for Huntsmen and Huntresses."

"Which are?"

"I—" Ozpin stopped himself. He hadn't expected to deal with someone with so great a dearth of basic knowledge. Perhaps he did grow in the wild, as Qrow had suggested.

"Huntsmen fight off the Grimm" Amber answered this time. "How do you not know this?"

Link ignored the question. "Knights then, fighting off monsters."

"I suppose," Amber said hesitantly. She was as confused as Qrow next to her. Knights had not existed in centuries, not since the Kingdoms were actual Kingdoms. Even then, they were separate from Huntsmen.

"Link," Ozpin probed. "Where do you come from?"

"I hail from the Kingdom of Hyrule," Link answered easily.

Oh dear.

"There's no such place," Qrow scoffed, putting voice to what they were all thinking.

Link shrugged. "Perhaps it is far from here, in lands you've yet to explore."

"There are no lands unexplored," Ozpin said gently. "Only the Grimmlands have been broadly uncharted, and that land has always been uninhabitable."

Link was unfazed. "I do not know how I came to be in this land, yet I speak the truth. I am a knight of Hyrule."

The room became quiet. Truth be told, Ozpin did not know how to proceed with the conversation.

"You sure know how to pick 'em" Qrow elbowed Amber. He smirked at Amber's red response.

"Perhaps if you had evidence of your story," Ozpin offered. "It would go a long way in assuaging our doubts."

Link regarded the headmaster with narrowed eyes. "You wish to test me?"

Not what he had in mind. He had no intention of provoking violence with an unstable factor. "Nothing so dramatic," Ozpin demurred. "On second thought, perhaps you'd like a tour while you wait for your things? I assure you, we still intend to offer compensation. Amber, if you would be so kind? Qrow and I need to discuss this… new development."

"I—alright," Amber agreed, faced with little option. "Link, let's go."

Link took a last look at Ozpin and Qrow, before following Amber out of the office.

After they were gone, Ozpin cleared his throat. "That was… unexpected."

"You're telling me," Qrow shook his head. "Didn't peg the guy for a loon."

"Now, now, Qrow no need to insult the man."

"Come on Oz," Qrow rolled his eyes. "An undiscovered kingdom?"

"Is it so hard to believe? After all, consider our own stories."

"Point taken," Qrow conceded. "But still, you're not entertaining this, are you?"

"Sir Link was very skilled in combat, correct?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't prove it. My guess is, he's a huntsman who had a psychotic break of some kind. Wouldn't be the first time the job got to be a little much." Qrow took a drink from his flask.

"Indeed," Ozpin said. "Amber is embarrassed."

"Can you blame her?"

"I suppose not," Ozpin chuckled. "How is it that he witnessed your bird form?"

"Beats me," Qrow shrugged. "I certainly didn't show him on purpose."

"Hmm, perhaps we can use him."

"You're joking."

"Come now, Qrow. We already know he can be trusted with Amber's safety."

"He's a nutcase!"

"And we can treat him here. Who better to look after an ill Huntsman than other Huntsmen?"

"A doctor, I think."

"Do you really want to let him loose in a city unfamiliar to him, with skills rivaling yourself?"

"Okay, he's not that good," Qrow protested. "And what about the students? You're going to have your hands full with the new term, not to mention the Vytal festival."

"Point. But that would another reason to recruit him. Amber's attackers are still out there. It will be possible for them to slip under our notice. A dedicated bodyguard would be helpful."

"I thought the reason you were keeping her here was to train her up, so that she doesn't need a bodyguard," Qrow countered. "And I don't think he's in a condition to do it."

"It would be a temporary measure. He's proven willing and able to defend Amber if need be."

"Fine, fine!" Qrow threw his hands up. "You've already made your decision. Just keep him away from my niece when they get here. Don't want her getting his crazy." He paused. "She has enough on her own."

Hello There!

I probably should've done this the first chapter, but whatever. Though this isn't the first fic I've written, it is the first I'm publishing. Please be patient while I figure things out. I am pleasantly surprised and grateful that anyone took the time to read, let alone review, follow, and/or favorite. Thank you! Any constructive criticism is appreciated.

Ahem

Anyway, though I've been binge reading Coeur Al'Aran's body of fics, this fic in particular is inspired by The_Wizard_of_Words's Unknown Legends, another LoZ/RWBY piece. I read it on AO3, highly recommend.

Primarily, I'm trying to improve my writing so I can approach the quality of their fics. I'm aiming for weekly updates.

Thanks for reading!

LeonTetra