Exploration.

"They were here… Ozpin, they were here!" - General Ironwood spoke as he slammed his hand onto the table.

It was now the morning after the Beacon Dance and the attack by the mysterious figure on the CCTS. In Ozpin's office, himself, Ironwood, Glynda and Edelgard were discussing the event.

"We're very much aware of that, thank you James" - Glynda answered as Ozpin kept thinking.

"Fantastic! You're aware! Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!" -

"They may be in front of us, but they're hiding in plain sight, Ironwood. We'll first need something that could lead us to them" -

"Edelgard's right. How do you want us to fight someone when we don't even know anything about them?" -

Before the 3 could continue their discussion, the alarm of the elevator sounded.

"Come in" - said Ozpin.

Out the elevator came Ruby Rose - "Sorry it took so long. Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here. It wasn't me" -

"Thanks for coming, Ruby, how are you feeling?" - Ozpin asked.

"Okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad-guy-catching record wasn't O-for-three" - everyone just stared at her silently - "Teacher, are you alright?" -

"I am fine Rose. I'm more concerned about you, you're the one who took the most damage during the fight, after all" - Edelgard said as the girl walked towards them.

"Ruby, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could" - Ironwood said, congratulating Ruby

"Thank you, sir. Although I think my Teacher deserves most of the credit, I didn't do much…" -

"Nonsense. Being able to stand up to an opponent like that is something not many can do. You did good Rose, never doubt it" -

"Now, the general here has already informed us of the events that... transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add" - Ozpìn asked as he got up from his chair.

"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to you at all?" - Glynda went next.

"I... I don't know. She was wearing a mask, and she never said anything to me. But I know she fought with glass. I don't think that was her Semblance, though. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked" -

"Save for the glass, that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby" -

"Embedding Dust into clothing is an age-old technique. It could have been anyone" -

"At least there's something else that we can use to identify her, isn't that right Rose?" - Edelgard spoke, remembering how she tore off their enemy's arm using her fire.

"Wait. Could this girl be connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?" - Ruby asked, surprised.

"It's possible. But we still lack the required evidence to link the two together" - Ozpin answered.

"Actually, I... I think I remember her saying something about a hideout, or something, in the southeast. Just outside the Kingdom"

"Interesting" -

"I thought you said the intruder never…"

"Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you" - Ozpin cut Glynda before she could finish speaking.

"Any time" - the girl said as she retreated back to the elevator.

"And Miss Rose, please try and be ... discreet about this matter" -

"Yes sir" - the doors then closed.

"Well there we have it. We send as many troops as we can to the southeast, find out exactly what's going on, and eradicate any forces that stand in our way" - Ironwood said as soon as Ruby left the room.

"Why must your answer to everything involve a triumphant display of military bravado!? You treat every situation like it's a contest of measuring di…!" -

"Glynda!" -

"Well, he does" -

"She's right. As much as I too would love to end this situation once and for all, we must remember that this may go beyond Vale. Beyond Beacon. And if this truly is part of some master plan for which we know not the final move, we mustn't be so bold. Nor can we risk the spread of panic" -

"I have served you faithfully for years... but if you mean to tell me that your plan is to really hold the defenses, and wait…!"

"It is not! You're a general, James. So tell me, when you prepare to go to war, which do you send in first? The flag bearers, or the scouts?" -

"Ozpin has a point. Sending an entire army to such a location would be a waste of military effort. The better choice would be to send a small task force of Hunters to track them down first, and to get general information on the area" -

"Are you offering to lead the team yourself Edelgard?" - Ironwood spoke right after.

"If it's what's necessary, then I will personally be at the front of whoever you send there. I'm no stranger to being in the first line of a battle after all" -

"Before we all make a rash and bold decision we'll most likely all regret in the future, let's think things through for just a moment" -

"Thanks for being the voice of reason Glynda, but I think Edelgard just gave me an idea…" -

"What do you have in mind, Ozpin?" -

"You see…" -

Edelgard and Glynda made their way to the auditorium together, as Ozpin was preparing himself to give a speech to first year students.

"I want to make this clear before anything happens, I do not agree one bit with his decision" -

"If it serves anything, neither do I. Taking the girls out there isn't what I wanted to do, but according to Ozpin…" -

"They'll go there anyway. Yes, those 4 have a special gift for getting themselves in trouble, I can attest to that" -

"If that's what needs to be done, I'll make sure to help them" -

They arrived at the auditorium, and after Glynda told everyone to be quiet, Ozpin spoke.

"Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best" -

As Ozpin started to make his way out of the auditorium, he passed by Edelgard and Glynda.

"I'll go tell the girls, good luck Edelgard" -

"No need for luck Ozpin, we can handle this" -