Chapter 1: What's Old is New Again

After waking up, all he sensed was black.

In and of itself, this wasn't so concerning. He was rather fond of the color, actually. What was worrying, however, was the fact that he not only saw black, but also felt nothing. While some would consider this as contrary to the statement above, he disagreed. Black was nothingness, the evil pits of despair. As such, it made sense to term this as feeling black. The sharp pain in his skull begged to differ, but he could disagree with his skull. However, his eyes decided to support his head, showing faint cracks of blinding white. It hurt to look, for he hadn't ever seen such a white before. It shined with all the passion of life, cutting through the veil of ebony he had been covered by until now.

"Now, that is a pretty color," he thought. The white burned like nothing else he had seen before, showing a possibility he had never thought of. White and dark could exist together! The nothingness of black, the pits that devour all, could survive the inferno of white, the passion of life that consumed all else! They would form a beautiful harmony of all-

The cracks grew wider, revealing a shining void through which he realized he would tumble. He tried to resist, for the black was all he knew. His efforts were for naught, and he fell.

He blinked, and immediately squinted through the bright sunlight filtering through the trees. He got up off the sun-dappled ground, taking stock of himself. He was dressed in rags. Dirty yellow sackcloth hung loosely from his torso, leaving his arms bare to the sky. His legs were covered in a similar fabric, with a belt of frayed rope keeping his trousers (if they were even deserving of the word) from falling down. His arms were scarred, as if he had been cut by sharp stones. Callused feet touched the ground with no shoes to protect them. After looking at himself, he turned his attention to the woods around him.

The forest around him was beautiful, with sunlight streaming through emerald green leaves. The ground around him was covered in equal parts foliage and rubble. The oak trees stood tall, likely for hundreds of years if he had to guess.

"Well, there won't be anyone who could test that, I guess. Hundreds of years. I wonder what it would be like to live that long. Would I be happy to see humanity progress over the eons? Or would I be saddened by the loss of my friends time and again? Or even worse… would I simply not care? Eh, not like it matters. I'm only-"

At this, he paused, puzzled. How old was he? As he stopped to take in that, another thought hit him like a boulder. He was dimly aware of his knees hitting the ground as his mind froze on a single thought.

"WHO AM I?"


"Ah, another stupendous initiation!"

"Wouldyoubequiet? Iamtryingto-"

"Now, now Barty. Is this not simply grand? The young defenders of humanity, attempting to claim a treasured item to gain entrance to the most prestigious academy on this fair planet!"

Professor Port enjoyed the initiation a fair amount. Beacon was his life, and he fondly remembered his days as a student. Ah, the times he had. Those were the days in which he truly grew into his abilities as a huntsman, and came into his own, earning a reputation as a true huntsman.

He stood in a small glade in the Emerald Forest, monitoring the students along with his dear friend, Barty.

"Apologies, but given that I have had approximately 47 minutes of deep sleep, forgive me for being abitonEDGE!" Doctor Bartholemew Oobleck was considered to be an eccentric individual, even among the rest of the staff at Beacon. While he may not have Peter's tall tales or Ozpin's tendency to toss teenagers off cliffs, he made up for it with speech faster than most could comprehend. Peter believed that the reason he could speak so fast could only be his semblance, Caffeine High. "Inanycase, ourjobistoensurethesafetyofourstudents. Forgivemefornotindulginginanotherpointlesstale." Barty, as his colleagues called him, was having none of it. He had gotten no sleep last night, ensuring that the Emerald Forest was well stocked with Grimm. He also had the thankless task of pruning the forest of any of the more lethal types of Grimm. And to top it all off, he had run out of coffee.

"Why, Bart, that's nonsense! My students gain a well rounded understanding of the monsters lurking in the night thanks to my tales. Why, just last semester, Miss Adel…" As Peter continued with his story, Barty tuned him out and focused on the cameras.

"Well, it seems that all of our initiates have found partners. I hope we don't have any incidents this year- Oum knows we don't need any more lacerations. I wonder if Glynda remembered to restock our supply of Aura supplements."

Barty saw that the Invincible Girl, oddly enough, had chosen an… unconventional partner. A boy, by the name of Jaune Arc.

"Peter, why do you think Miss Nikos chose Mister Arc?" Barty asked.

"...And that's when I- hm? What do you mean?" Peter turned his attention to the screen, where Phyrra was explaining to Jaune the basics of Aura.

"Mister Arc failed to employ a landing strategy. Miss Nikos saved him by impaling him to a tree with her spear, then came to save him. She didn't need to do so. Why? If she has to explain Aura tomisterarcthenitseemsunlikelythat- wait a minute."

"Why, for love, of course! Young Miss Nikos seems to have fond feelings for Mister Arc. That reminds me-" Peter was cut off by a yell that startled the birds in the surrounding trees.

"WEJUSTLAUNCHEDABOYWITHNOAURAINTOAFORESTFULLOFGRIMM!?" Barty screamed. "Who let this boy into Beacon? He doesn't belong here! This is an academy for the best, not preschool!"

"Barty."

"When I see Professor Ozpin, I am going to give him a piece of my mind!"

"Barty."

"How could we- WHAT!" At this point, Barty was starting to lose it.

"We seem to have a situation. Look at drone cam 32."

Barty looked at the screen. On the display was another young man surrounded by rubble, kneeling with his head in his hands. Perfect prey for the lone Beowolf stalking toward him.

"...Oh. WE'VEGOTAPROBLEM!"

Peter remained calm. "Can you do a Grande Dash for him?"

Barty frowned. "First of all, no. I'm out at the moment. Second, did you just attempt a moniker for my Semblance?"

"...Maybe."

"Well, I happen to like it. Do you have any caffeine on you?" Barty got out his thermos, holding it out with a silent plea.

Peter, while not the most popular professor, always came prepared to the battlefield. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a flask. "Always forgetting something, Barty."

Before he could blink, Barty had grabbed the container, downing its contents. After shoving it back at Peter, he grinned and dashed off towards the boy.

"ATLEASTIDONTFORGETMYLOVERSDAygift…." His voice drifted away as he sped off.

"Hmph. That man is going to be the death of me," Peter mused. Shaking his head, he started walking in the same direction.


"WHO AM I!?"

He knelt in despair.

"How? How can I forget my own name! How can I forget who I am? WHO AM I!" He covered his eyes, praying that this was all some dream. The scarred teenager frantically searched his mind, trying to recall any memory he could. His memory felt like it was obscured by darkness. He couldn't pierce it, no matter how hard he tried.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just dreaming." Trying to convince himself, he pinched his arm, hoping to wake out of his nightmare. Unfortunately, he wasn't in a dream. Reality set in when he heard a snarl behind him. Coming out of his daze, he glanced backward and saw a Beowolf slowly creeping up on him about thirty feet away. Its nose twitched in anticipation as it smelled the panic coming off the young boy ahead of him. Realizing that its prey had seen it, the Beowolf roared, dashing forward to end the teenager's life.

"AAUUGGHH!" The boy panicked. He was alone, with no weapon, being assaulted by a monster. Scrambling to his feet, he quickly jumped out of the way of the charging beast.

"Shite, where's a bloody sword when you need one!" He thought furiously to himself. Looking around, all he could think of was the rubble where he was previously… which was currently host to one hungry personification of destruction.

"Okay, second plan. RUN!"

As he started moving, the Beowolf snarled. It swung out a paw, attempting to prevent its prey from escaping. Luckily for the boy, the beast missed its intended target, his head.

Unfortunately, the claws tore at his left knee.

"HUAGH!" He immediately stopped running, his leg screaming in protest at its treatment. The teenager turned to the beast, squaring off with it. The Beowolf was tired of the foreplay. Letting out a howl, it charged.

The teen immediately charged forward. He dove through the wild slash of the Beowolf, its claws missing by a hair's breadth. The beast's strike missed, but it quickly recovered, turning and attempting to bite the boy. Rolling, he came to the pile of rubble. In a snap decision, the scarred teen picked up a shard of stone that resembled a sharp tooth. Grasping it by the base, he flipped the sharp end so it was face down. He immediately leaned back to avoid the rabid bite of the beast, then swiped with his improvised weapon.

The Beowolf roared in anger, more pissed off than actually hurt. It swung both paws to crush the annoying bug before it. The shaggy teen calmly leaped back, then leapt onto the back of the beast. It tried to buck him off, only to find an iron grip around its throat and a sharp pain in the base of its skull. He sighed as the monster collapsed, wiping a bead of sweat off his brow.

As the beast turned into smoke, he heard a branch snap. Whirling around, he saw a man holding what could only be described as a green metal torch.

The man had spiky green hair, with round spectacles that shone in the sunlight. He wore a white button down shirt sloppily, half tucked into brown trousers. A rucksack sat on his shoulders. As the boy crouched into a defensive position…


Barty had seen many things in his forty-odd years of life. He had seen the ruins of mankind sinking into the oblivion of anonymity. He had been drinking coffee in the aftermath of Mountain Glenn. He had even seen Peter Port scared (though he had been sworn to secrecy on that last one.) What he had just witnessed, while not outstanding, was a phenomena that was rare, to say the least. So rare, in fact, that this was a unique case. That is to say… he had never seen such an occurrence.

The boy in front of him had taken out a Beowolf nearing Alpha status… using nothing but a piece of rock.

"Truly FASCINATING! How was he able to do this? Aura enhancement? No, I don't recall any Dust usage in the conflict. Yet, the entire encounter took place in less than ten seconds. Highly unusual. A trained Huntsman might be able to do so, but judging by his garb, he appears to be a medieval peasant. Highly intriguing. Requires further investigation."

The boy in front of him was crouched in a defensive position, turned with his left side facing forward. He held his improvised dagger blade down in his left hand, brown eyes slitted as if staring down a dangerous beast. He had shaggy black hair coming down to his shoulders, curling around a square face with a broad jaw. Barty observed a lack of… well, anything. The boy was dressed in sackcloth, without any shoes.

"Hmmm… an urchin? It would explain his reflexes. Still, the mystery remains. Who is he, how did he get here, and how did he pull off a feat only trained Huntsmen could do?" Barty put away Antiquity's Roast, stowing the thermos in his pack to try and defuse the atmosphere.

"Why, hello there young man! My name is Dr. Oobleck, what is yours?" Barty smiled, trying to convey a feeling of safety. The boy cocked his head at the words, seemingly intrigued. He stood out of his crouched position, revealing a height approximately the same as the doctor. He spoke in a quiet voice, with an accent Barty had never heard before. Atlesian, perhaps?

"You are a doctor?" The boy indicated his leg.

"Why yes, young man, but not in the sense of medicine. I have some first aid items right here, however I would prefer it if you answered my question. What is your name?" Barty responded.

"... I don't know." The boy looked at the doctor with a look of sadness. "I woke up here-" He was interrupted by the vomit train that erupted from Barty.

"Why, amnesia? An acute case. How is it that we didn't notice- ah, perhaps in the process of preparing- no, we scour the woods for days before initiation- that doesn't answer why you are here. Perhaps teleportation- no, I'm not seeing any scorch marks on the ground. Utterly fascinating! Young man, you will be coming back with me! We need to get to the bottom of this! A query that has an elusive answer, no doubt, but-" Barty was cut off by the boy.

"Go where, sire?"

"Why, to Beacon, of course!" Barty started to stroll towards the cliff to the north, where the academy was located. A few Bullheads had been hidden in the testing area, to allow for quick transport of proctors.

"...What Beacon, sire? There are no smoke signals that I can see." The young boy pointed to the sky as if to prove his point. Barty grew somewhat suspicious. This wouldn't be the first "amnesiac" attempting to scam his way into Beacon, and he certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Not a beacon, but Beacon Academy! The most accredited combat institution on the face of Remnant, where Huntsmen and Huntresses are trained!"

"So, you're a Hunstman?" The boy asked. Barty nodded, quickly realizing the veracity of the boy's predicament with what came next.


"...So you hunt food for a living?" The boy started to walk with the doctor, putting his makeshift dagger into his rope belt while trying to understand the world he had just been thrown into. "At this point, I am starting to doubt him being a doctor. How can he be if he doesn't practice medicine?"

"Why, of course not, silly boy! Huntsmen protect the world from the creatures of darkness known as Grimm. You faced off against one just a minute ago." Dr. Oobleck retorted.

"Ah… You mean like knights?" The boy wondered at this. "So, he's a knight? Where is his weapon?"

"While your analogy is slightly outdated, you are correct. We keep the peace throughout the four kingdoms, Vale, Atlas, Vacuo and Mistral."

"Kingdoms? Like Altus?" At this, Dr. Oobleck turned to the boy with a grin.

"Indeed young man, though Altus has ceased to exist over the past four hundred years! Most people refer to it by Ancient Atlas nowadays, however. Why do you refer to it as such?"

"Uh… I guess I read it somewhere?" The boy was growing worried. While the conversation was extremely informational, he still had no idea where he was.

"Sire, if I might ask you a question?" He spoke nervously, unsure of the man.

"First of all, DR., thank you very much! Second, yes. What is it?"

"Where are we?"

Dr. Oobleck was quick to respond. "We are currently in the Emerald Forest on the grounds of Beacon Academy, in the middle of the first year initiation. Does that help?"

"Erm… yes. If I may, sire-"

"-DR.-"

"-Where are we going?"

"We are going to the Bullhead parked approximately 30 yards away so we can fly to the academy, where we can assist you with your amnesia."

"...Fly? How?"

"On the Bullhead, of course!"

"I believe I can firmly say that you are crazy, sire." The boy thought to himself. Out loud, he said "Are you saying that we will fly with the skull of a cow?"

Dr. Oobleck started to laugh. "Why, you silly boy! Of course not. A Bullhead is an aircraft with dual Spencer thrust VTOL systems. Come! It is easier to just show you." With that, Dr. Oobleck pushed aside some branches to reveal a mass of metal. The main body was roughly cylindrical in nature, with one side tapering to a bulbous nose and the other growing narrower until it resembled a cone. The bulbous end had a pane of glass, revealing the mass to be hollow. The cone had three triangular pieces of metal attached to it, on the top and sides. There were two thin spokes of metal coming off the sides, with two more vertical cylinders attached to them. At this, the boy stopped dead.

"Dr., is this the "Bullhead" you spoke of?"

"Yes. I will go inside and.. What is it?" Dr. Oobleck started forward, only to stop when he heard a small chuckle. He turned to see the boy holding a hand over his mouth, attempting to hold back his laughter.

"Young man, what is so amusing about an airship?" At this, the boy gave up, laughing as he had never laughed before in his extremely short life.

"HAAHAAA! Oh, do you truly believe THAT will fly! If that thing can even get off the ground, I'll plow your whole field next fall!" The teenager fell over, holding his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably. "I must be dreaming. WHOOOHAAHA! This is too funny! A doctor who can't practice medicine, who thinks hunting animals is the same as protecting the world, is now telling me that a piece of steel the size of a HOUSE will fly me to a military academy?!"

Dr. Oobleck was not so amused. "Young man, I do not appreciate being made fun of. Now, on the plane! We have a meeting to arrange!"

The boy didn't respond, still attempting to catch his breath. Dr. Oobleck stepped to the Bullhead, pressing a button on the side. A hatch opened up, revealing an interior. He stepped on, darting into the cockpit and engaging the engines.

As the plane warmed up, the teenager was finally starting to stand up, chuckling as he did so. He wiped a tear off his cheek, only to stare as the mass of metal lifted a few feet off the leafy ground. Jaw hanging open, he could only stare as the whine of the engine started to grow. He flinched as the Dr. spoke in an absurdly loud voice.

"ALL ABOARD!"


As he steered the Bullhead toward Beacon, Barty sighed in content. He had let the staff at Beacon know of the situation. Professor Port was not too pleased at being left to proctor the whole exam, but he understood the necessity. After the exam, Professor Ozpin would meet with the boy, who was currently split between wonder at the sight of the sky and terror at the sight of the ground far below. Peter would be taking in the boy for the night, with further arrangements dependent on the outcome of Ozpin's interview.

"Truly an unusual scenario. The boy displayed a lack of knowledge of the modern day kingdoms, yet knew of Altus, something only scholars know nowadays. He clearly doesn't know about Huntsmen, but he displayed skills that could only be acquired by training as one. Most unusual indeed."

Barty was pulled out of his thoughts by a question from the boy.

"Are wonders like this metal bird common?"

Oobleck smiled. He had been expecting a torrent of questions after inviting him onboard via the speakerphone. The teenager had been silent, however, merely staring out of the cockpit at the scenery. It seemed like the questions had finally surfaced.

"While not an everyday occurrence, most everyone has flown on a Bullhead at some point. Why do you ask?" Barty responded.

"It seems like a dream… yet it isn't. When I woke up, I thought this was a dream. One that I would wake up from. When you made the Bullhead levitate, I realized that this was no dream. Now, however..." The boy turned to the doctor with a smile on his face. "This sight is a fantasy straight from an imagination. Funny, isn't it?"

Barty thought before responding. "I suppose it is. Yet, I cannot help but wonder… you see this and are awed. When I see this, I treat it as commonplace. Young man, your amnesia is a terrible thing, no doubt. A rare gift, however, has been given to you. Can you guess what it is?"

The young man thought for a moment before answering. "The gift of a fresh perspective?"

"Correct. While we may be used to the wonders of the world, you now have the chance to experience them with new eyes. I would recommend you take this chance."

The shaggy-haired teen was silent for a minute, staring out of the cockpit. Barty took the chance to message traffic control at Beacon, informing them of his imminent arrival. After he hit send, the boy said, "You are a wise man, sire- er, Dr."

"The same could be said to you. Now, if you don't mind me asking, would you like to choose a name? I would prefer to have something to call you other than 'young man'."

"I honestly don- Uhhhhhh… Whaaaah?" Barty and his accomplice came into view, causing the young man to trail off as he saw the magnificent sight before him.

The castle in front of him was beautiful, with elegant spires decorating the scenery. His eyes were immediately drawn to the tallest one. Barty chuckled as he saw his companion's jaw drop.

"Young man… welcome to Beacon."


As the metal bird came to a stop, the young man stood up, only to immediately feel an intense spike of nausea. He held it down, though he did stop and lean on one of the walls of the metal bird. Unfortunately, said wall opened outward, causing the boy to fall onto the concrete ground. He rolled onto his back, eliciting a chuckle from the doctor.

"Ah, your first experience with motion sickness. Not to worry, it passes quite quickly. Come along! We have a meeting to attend to!" The doctor stepped out of the bird. The teenager attempted to follow, but quickly fell down again. It seemed as if his leg wound was acting up, preventing him from walking.

"Erm, Dr.? I could use a hand here." The boy grimaced, gesturing to his knee.

"Oh, how could I have forgotten! Come, let me get something on that!" Dr. Oobleck knelt beside him, digging into his pack until he found his gauze. He quickly wrapped it around the knee, helping to support it. "I believe moving your leg may exacerbate the injury. Not to worry- I will provide assistance! Come now, on your foot… up now, let's go…."

As the boy hobbled towards the tower with an arm around Dr. Oobleck's shoulder, he gazed at the castle with curiosity.

"What is this place? Dr. Oobleck said it was a military academy, but I see no stables or barracks… maybe they are elsewhere? Perhaps, but I'm not seeing any cadets either… Where is everything?"

Opening his mouth, he asked, "Doctor, where is everyone? I haven't seen a single cadet since we entered."

Dr. Oobleck shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Were I to hazard a guess, the first years are still finishing their initiation, and the others are settling into their dorms."

The boy accepted this, turning his focus to what they had been discussing before arriving. "A name. What could I do? I could just pick one at random. No, that wouldn't work. I don't know any names. Maybe…"

As they limped their way into the tower, the boy asked, "Would you like to pick me a name?"

Dr. Oobleck stumbled, caught out of the blue. "Young man, I believe that should be a decision you make on your own. A name is something precious, and I would rather you not take something like this lightly."

A wry smile formed on the teen's face. "I happen to agree with you. A name is something unique, and precious. Ever since you have met me, you have treated me with nothing but kindness. I would like for you to give me one last gift, a name. In any case…" At this, he slightly pinked, pausing. "I can't remember any names."

"Ah." Dr. Oobleck was silent for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "May I have a few hours to think of one?"

"Of course, doctor. Thank you for your kindness."

Dr. Oobleck smiled warmly. "It is my pleasure. Now, let's get you to the nurse. We should get that leg looked at."

The pair staggered towards a pair of doors. Pressing a button, they slid open, revealing… a box.

"This, young man, is an elevator. It moves up and down, carrying the occupants with it."

The boy stared in puzzlement. "How does it work?"

"By using a complex series of pulleys and levers, it…" The teen was treated to a complex lecture detailing the inner workings of the elevator as they rode it to the infirmary. By the end, his mind reeled with the sheer amount of information he was presented with. When they stepped out of the elevator, he was greeted with the sight of Beacon at twilight.

"Light and dark, intertwined… now THIS is a sight."

The campus was shrouded in darkness, with only the tips of the buildings around him catching any sunlight. As he watched, the sky started to twinkle as stars started to gleam.

"This… this is wonderful. How..." Words started to fail him as tears started to trickle down his face. He did not know such beauty could exist, let alone be seen every night.

"It's truly something, is it not?" At the unexpected voice, the teenager flinched, hand going to his improvised dagger.

The speaker sipped a mug of coffee, his other hand on an elegant hardwood cane with a silver handle. He wore a dark green three piece suit, with small spectacles framing his brown eyes as he looked toward the sunset. He had brilliant silver hair, and a small smile.

"This is one of the few places where one can view the entire campus as day turns into night. A beautiful sight. A shame we do not appreciate it. For most, the night is when the day comes to a close. We retire to our homes, preparing ourselves for the next day, all the while never seeing one of the most beautiful sights the Brothers ever graced Remnant with." The man turned to him. "But enough of this. My name is Professor Ozpin. I am the headmaster of this institution. A pleasure to meet you."

Wiping the tears from his face, the boy took his hand off his weapon. "Likewise, Sire."

"Apologies Professor, but we need to head to the nurse. He sustained an injury during an encounter in the forest." Dr. Oobleck spoke speedily, highlighting his urgency. Professor Ozpin chuckled.

"Of course, Professor. Would you mind if I accompanied you?" Dr. Oobleck wore a grimace on his face, staring hungrily at the mug of coffee held by his superior. "I have more coffee with me, if you so desire."

"Professor, I believe you are forgetting one critical fact." The smile on Ozpin's face faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "And what could that be?"

"It's DOCTOR!"


Ozpin sat down, smiling at the boy. They were in the nurse's office, the knee wrapped in a brace. While he could walk, he would not be running any time soon. Not without Aura, at least…

"So. You claim to have appeared in a heavily guarded forest full of dangerous creatures, without any memories to your name."

"Yes sire." The boy looked ashamed to admit it.

"If I might ask… what will you do, if we let you out into the world?"

"To be honest, I haven't the foggiest idea. I don't even know my own name, let alone what I would do." The boy sighed. "The only man I know is Dr. Oobleck. I would love to stay near him, but…"

"What?"

"I don't want to live on alms. And I have no way to repay his kindness. I don't- Id-d-don't-" The boy appeared close to tears on the last part. Ozpin could see that he was close to being overwhelmed by the events of the day, and the gravity of the situation he was in had finally started to sink in. Ozpin thought about his predicament.

"Hmmm. He has no home. Nor does he have any idea of where he is from. Yet he has ample combat experience, as Dr. Oobleck testified earlier. Who are you? You have nothing but the sackcloth on your back, yet you fight like a true huntsman, without any knowledge of- oh."

Ozpin had heard more lies during his lifetime than he could shake a cane at. He had spent the last twenty years dealing with politicians on an almost daily basis in his capacity on the council. As such, he saw that the boy in front of him told the truth.

"Would you like to come to Beacon?"

The words seemed to shock the boy. He looked at the aging professor with disbelief. "Sire?"

"Young man, you have no home. To be frank, you have nowhere to go. If we release you, alone and without guidance, you will likely not survive. Nor will you have a chance to find your home. At Beacon, you may have a chance to find a home for yourself. In addition, your combat skills will earn you a place here, and assist you in earning your place." Ozpin looked at the boy with compassion. "Would you like to come?"

"Sire, I couldn't! I have no means of paying-"

"Believe me, I don't intend to give charity. Make no mistake, you will be earning your keep. This is no charity."

"In that case… I accept."

Ozpin smiled. "I am glad to hear. Now, then, I believe Bartholemew has something for you."


"PardonmemaamIneedto-"

While Ozpin and the amnesiac had been chatting, Barty had been getting a multitude of preparations underway. With coffee in his system once more, he dashed around, procuring clothes and bedding for his new student. While he did so, a question popped up in his head.

"Excusemehaveyouseen-" "The wound didn't heal on its own. The boy didn't have Aura, yet he still fought?" Any warrior worth his salt would unlock his Aura. To not only lack Aura with his skill level, but in addition kill a Beowolf? As he exited the lift to the infirmary, he could only think, "Absolutely astonishing!" "WhyhelloProfessorOzpin!"

"Hello, Doctor. Have you procured the supplies?" Barty nodded.

"Affirmative. Now, then may I show the young man to his room?"

Ozpin opened the door to the amnesiac as an answer. "I'll take my leave. Have a good night, both of you."

"To you as well. Ah, young man! Please come with me." Barty was pleased to hear that the boy had chosen to come to Beacon. Given his skill, it wouldn't be long until he climbed to the top of the sparring class. "Starting tomorrow, you will have your own room, but tonight you will be staying with Professor Port. I will meet you at seven o'clock to start your initiation."

The boy got up from his chair, walking with Barty to the lift. He smiled tiredly, saying, "Thank you, doctor. Have you given any thought to my request?"

"Indeed. Child, what do you know of tales and legends?" Barty wasn't expecting him to know, but it would be a nice surprise if he did.

"Apologies, but I honestly don't know any."

"True, true. Let me rephrase. What do you think of them?" Asking from alternate positions tended to get better answers, and this case was no different. The boy leaned against the wall of the lift, thinking for a moment before answering.

"Tales. They are what lights our hopes in the night, no? Tales of heroes protecting those who can't protect themselves? They capture the fires of imagination, using them to illuminate the soul. They forge us, igniting our desire for glory." The boy appeared to be slightly surprised at what came from him. His surprise grew when Barty turned to him with a gleam in his eyes.

"You appear to have a mind for philosophy, young man. Reshan said something very similar in 'Seeker of Glory'"

"Who?"

"Reshan was a warrior and philosopher who lived about five centuries ago."

The young man mused on this. "Truly?"

"Most certainly. I would recommend you take on his name. It suits you… in more ways than one."

"What do you mean?" The boy wondered.

"He had another moniker. He was known as 'He Who Remembers'." As the door of the elevator opened to the staff quarters, the boy chuckled softly. Barty smiled.

"While ironic, you yourself said that tales ignite our desire. You desire to remember, correct? It is my gift to you, that you might never forget this desire to remember your past."

The teenager almost teared up. Before Barty could react, he was enveloped in an embrace that nearly sent him right back to the infirmary as a patient.

"Thank you," he whispered. "I will bear it with honor."

Barty returned the embrace. "I have no doubt you will." Letting go, they walked in silence before coming to a door. "This is Professor Port's apartment." Barty knocked on the door. Peter answered the door, smiling. "Ah, the young hero arrives. Tell me, young man, how are you? Please, come in, come in." Smiling, Reshan turned to say farewell to the good Doctor. Yawning, he mumbled a good night.

"A good night to you as well, Reshan. I will see you tomorrow. OH! Don't forget your new clothes!" Barty thrust the bag of clothes he had been carrying into Reshan, pushing him into the apartment. Peter chuckled, closing the door behind himself.

The apartment was cozy, with royal blue carpeting complementing the tan wall. They were currently in the living room, with a brown sofa facing an unused fireplace. Portraits of Grimm lined the walls. A case containing trophies lay against the wall opposite the entrance. A hallway was on the right, with the sofa on the left.

"Right this way, young man. Your room is right here." Peter led him down the hall to the second door on the right. Upon seeing a bed fluffier than a sheep before shearing season, he ignored all else. Letting out a sound halfway between exhaustion and pleasure, he collapsed on the surface, closing his eyes. Before he lost consciousness, he heard Professor Port softly closing the door behind him.


Ozpin was up late as usual, doing paperwork. Being the Headmaster of Beacon, as well as holding a seat on the council of Vale, had benefits. He could influence the world in ways men could only dream of. Many wished they could be in his position, seeing only the prestige of the office. If they knew the prices he paid, Ozpin knew the glory seekers would run for the hills. The late nights, the worrying, the tending to indignant politicians…

Well, there was a reason he was seen with a coffee mug at all times.

He sighed, logging off his computer and swiveling to gaze over Beacon. Dr. Oobleck had come in after showing Reshan to his temporary abode, ranting about Jaune. Ozpin had, of course, seen through the forgery the moment his application came to his desk. He decided to let him in anyways, hoping that the legacy of the Arc family might continue. Brothers knew that heroes were in short supply these days. He had reassured Barty about the situation, but the points that had been raised were concerning. Nicholas hadn't unlocked his son's Aura before sending him to Beacon? The grizzled Huntsman and his family hovered over their youngest child. How had he not done this? A mystery indeed.

A mystery much like Beacon's newest student. Ozpin frowned. Reshan seemed earnest. His namesake would have been proud of him. He fought skillfully, and had already captured Barty's interest with his philosophical method of thinking. While Ozpin had heard of Reshan in his past lives, he had never gotten to meet him. Salem had gotten to him first, immolating him along with his wife and infant son in their own home.

There was a reason that heroes were in short supply. Ozpin hoped that their new student could assist him in that regard. Ever since team STRQ, he hadn't had the best of luck recruiting new agents to assist him in the war with Salem. Glynda had helped immensely, but he needed agents in the field, especially after Amber had been wounded. Ozpin sighed, rising out of his chair to seek his bed. Sleep was something in short supply, and he needed it desperately.

Especially since Barty had swiped his entire supply of coffee as he left.


A/N: Hello, everyone! This is my first ever fanfiction, Soul of The Song. It's something that has been on my mind for quite some time, and I hope you enjoy it. I appreciate any constructive reviews, so please do so if you are willing to take the time.

I will attempt to publish once a week, but given that I am not an author, and it is difficult for me to gauge how long it will take for me to write a particular chapter, that is subject to change.

One final thing: Reshan's accent is Welsh.

See you all next week!