Chapter 19
After Micheal was sure the crowds of students departed from the building he then walks inside. He sees the wall of pictures on the right wall and walks over to them. He glances at every one of the faces in the picture as if to ingrain them in his mind and never to forget them. The wolf faunus closes his eyes and exhales slowly, his ears flattening to his head and his tail dropping. He knew it wasn't his fault that they died, but he did feel bad as he was the reason they are no longer amongst the living. Micheal got on his knees, his tail wrapping around his legs, and clasped his hands together, fingers intertwining, giving each one a prayer. The grey-haired boy felt it was the least he could do to pay his respect for them. He drowns out the world as he prays peacefully for the dead. He was so distracted by his prayers and believing he was alone that he didn't notice the footsteps approaching him.
The headmaster stood behind his young, mysterious student as he waited for him to finish his respects. His watchful gaze is soft as he watches the young faunus finish his prayer, a small smile tug at the edge of his lips. He relaxes with both of his hands on his cane. Ozpin also glances at the pictures for a bit. His let out a small, sad sigh himself as he felt accountable for not preventing most of these fatalities. Some of the deceased he has known for years and good friends of his or promising students with futures ahead of them, now they're gone. The sound of movement caught his attention as Micheal stood up. Then wolf faunus turns around to see Ozpin. The older man must admit the sight of the young man nearly jumping out of his skin was slightly amusing. Micheal clutches his chest as he took deep breathes to steady his heart as he recovers from the scare.
"Ah, shit," he exhales quietly. "You scared me half to death," he complains to the older man.
"My apologies, Mr. Law," Ozpin apologizes earnestly. He then takes a small breath. "Mr. Law, I need to speak with you," the headmaster says firmly. Micheal rubs the back of his neck as he gives a slightly displeased look. The grey-haired boy felt something was off about the headmaster. He didn't feel the usual friendliness of the older man for some reason.
"Again?" the wolf faunus says incredulously. "I think I've been in there at least once or twice a week now, forgive my disrespect but it is kind of annoying to be pulled away so much," Micheal complains honestly.
"I understand Mr. Law, but I need to talk to you about a particularly important matter," Ozpin said. The wolf faunus just sighs in response.
"Is it possible to wait until tomorrow at least?" he asks curiously. He wasn't really in the mood to talk now. The memorial had drained him of any desire to do anything.
"No," Ozpin answers quickly. The grey-haired boy sighs and quickly checks himself for his scroll. He then groans slightly to himself as his face contorts to slight annoyance at being forgetful.
"I seemed to have forgotten my scroll sir, I need to go tell my team I'm going to be in your office for a while," Micheal says as he began to walk off as he closes his eyes. The headmaster's eyes following him for a bit. The wolf faunus opens his eyes to see directly Ozpin in front of him. The faunus shouts in surprise as he stares back at Ozpin original spot just a couple of feet away and back towards the man himself. 'I didn't even hear or see him move,' he notes in his mind. He then notes that the air around the headmaster felt different than usual, instead of a friendly aura as before, he felt an intimidating aura and it is directed towards him. It made Micheal feel uncomfortable to have a usually friendly person to be hostile towards him. The wolf faunus instinctively takes a step back as his ears slightly flatten to his head.
"Mr. Law," Ozpin says firmly, his voice matching his aura. Micheal even picked up that the subtle way he said his surname is different, like as if he was skeptical of it. "This is not a request Mr. Law, we will speak immediately, I will inform your team once we are in my office, now follow," he orders as he began to walk out of the building. The wolf faunus takes a shaky, nervous breath and follows the professor, his ears completely flat now.
'What did I do wrong?' Micheal wonders frightened as he walks behind the man. As he exits the building, he looks around in desperate hope that one of his friends were around to save him. He found no one, not a single soul around the grounds. He was on his own to face whatever Ozpin had planned for him. He just took a deep breath as he follows the headmaster afraid of what is to come.
Ozpin's Office
Micheal sat apprehensively in front of Ozpin's desk as the older man simply stares at him, his elbow propped on his desk and his fingers interlocked. The window letting in the orange light of the slowly setting sun into the room. The atmosphere between the two inhabitants of the office is tense. Behind the calm feature of the headmaster's expression and eyes is an intimidating aura, now directed towards the wolf faunus. On the other hand, the wolf faunus expression and eyes reflecting his nervous mood.
"Mr. Law," Ozpin says, his student snapping to look at the older man. He waits for a tense second, to make sure he had the young faunus' attention, before speaking again. "Do you have any idea as to why I called you today?"
"No sir, I don't," Micheal answers honestly. A minute passed as Ozpin just gazes at him to gauge his answer, trying to see any lie. While he notes the young man's anxiety, he did contemplate if it was because he was being exposed for a lie, or if the headmaster himself was making him nervous, or both. He will just have to press on to see if the faunus is lying.
"Well Mr. Law, I have been speculating these past few days if you have been completely truthful with me," the older man questions as he activates his computer.
"I have sir," Micheal says quietly. Though he knows he hasn't been completely honest, not that he wanted but he had no choice. Being from another world didn't leave him with a multitude of options. Once the computer turned on, the glow of the screen illuminating Ozpin's face slightly, the headmaster proceeds to tap on the screen a few times and opens a file. The file in question has a hand-full of documents in it. The wolf faunus eyes drift towards the screen as he glances at the file. It didn't take him long to see each file is designated to him, each one is a different topic, be it his grades to his recent medical records. He then began to theorize what this meeting was about. 'He figured out I don't have any record in this world, he must think as a threat or something,' he concludes in his head. 'I figured this would pop up eventually, but I was hoping it would happen later and when I was more ready, would he believe me if I told him the truth?' he breaks his train of thought for a second to ponder the possibility. 'I doubt it,' he sighs as his eyes drop a bit. A motion not lost to the other occupant.
"So, Mr. Law, as you can imagine, I have been trying to these past few weeks to accumulate all of your records, mostly to make sure I had all your information for legal reasons and so on," he clarifies, his features calming. Micheal returns his vision to the older man. "But now…," they tighten again as his eyes narrow slightly. "I have discovered nothing on you, even after pulling as much of my influence as I could, and the minuscule amount of information I have acquired about is the fact that you are the last surviving wolf faunus and what physical reports the medical staff has collected as well, I have nothing on your past before Beacon," he enlightens the other occupant.
"Do…," Micheal stops for a second as he thinks his next words. "Do you see me as a threat, sir?" He asks deciding not to beat around the bush with the headmaster. The question earns a contemplative hum from Ozpin as he reflects on the question for the right response. His eyes never leaving the faunus as to read his body language and expression for signs of deceit. Though deep down he wanted to trust the young faunus.
"A threat? Maybe, but that is up to you," he answers truthfully. "You are unquestionably an issue without a doubt," he adds on as he intertwines his finger again as he rests his elbows on his desk again. "You are only a threat if you don't tell me the truth of who you are," he clarifies for the wolf faunus. Micheal took a deep breath as he began to think of what to say to the headmaster to help his position.
'What do I say?' he questions himself slightly panicking, his eyes darting from side to side trying to help his brain think of a solution.
"Mr. Law," Ozpin says firmly, getting the young man's attention. "If proceed to remain to be untruthful with me, I will remove you from this academy," he threatens wholeheartedly. That proceeds cause Micheal body to lock up in shock. "But I will keep you around, out of the public eye, until I figure out you are not a threat to the people of Vale, Vytal, or any kingdom," he continues to say. The wolf faunus swallows nervously as his body instinctively tightens as if to protect himself as he slowly begins to hyperventilate. "If you are not a threat, then I will release without any issue and I will even allow you to rejoin Beacon, but with a team of my choosing to watch you, if you are a threat to this city or any Kingdom, I guarantee you won't see anything other than a prison cell," Ozpin finishes as he waits for the faunus' response.
He shakily brought a hand up to his hand a roughly ran it through his hair in some vain attempt to calm himself. 'I highly doubt saying I'm from another world will do anything,' he considers in his head. His eyes meeting the headmaster for a second before looking down. 'But I don't want to be kicked out, this all I have' he whines fearfully in his mind. No matter how hard he tried to think of a response, nothing came to him. Whether this due to his fear or because of the lack of a truthful answer, or both, the faunus couldn't tell for himself now. The wolf faunus wanted to cry in frustration to be put in a situation. He didn't because it would do him no good and the headmaster would probably see it as a guilt trip for lying or something. Plus, there is the detail he was getting extremely weary of crying, something he had done too much of the previous year of his life. It wasn't his fault that he has no records, he wasn't from this world. Ozpin just simply watches Micheal, as he went through his inner turmoil, calmly and waits for the faunus to respond.
At the end of all the chaos in his head, he could only end up with one option, tell the truth. It was farfetched, so unbelievable that the wolf faunus visualizes in his head the headmaster immediately throwing him in a holding cell or interrogation room till he got his answer. But he had no choice and no other options. His arms drop reluctantly as he let a heavy sigh escape his mouth. Ozpin took that a sign he is finally going to get a straight response. He straightens slightly himself as he prepares for the reply. "So, are you going to tell me the truth now?" Ozpin asks. Micheal nods slowly and numbly as he turns to return his gaze to the headmaster.
"Yeah," he says unenthusiastically as he took a much-needed breath to calm his nerves. "But…," the wolf faunus stops unsure what to say next.
"But?" The headmaster says questioningly.
"I'm not sure how to say it," Micheal says honestly. He shifts his feature and body posture to show more confidence than he felt. He needs as much as he could get to have even a minuscule chance to persuade the Ozpin. The wolf faunus sought to evade the inside of a cell or interrogation room for some unknown amount of time. But he knew it was a true possibility and the most likely. The answer made the older man's eyes narrow slightly but didn't say anything. His silence is the only gesture the wolf faunus had to go on to continue.
"You see, you are right, I haven't been completely honest with you sir," Micheal says confirming what the headmaster already knew.
"I had already speculated, but I want to know the truth of who you truly are," Ozpin reaffirms what he knows already.
"Well first, my name is really Micheal Canus Law, I'm not lying about that," the wolf faunus answers truthfully.
"And yet, I couldn't find a single trace of evidence of a canine faunus in Ashen sharing that name," Ozpin counters the faunus.
"I promise you, sir, it is," Micheal says sincerely.
"Mr. Law, the lack of records and your previous lies to me have made me reluctant to trust you," the headmaster reiterates his lack of trust.
"I know sir," the wolf faunus says calmly. He slowly runs his hand through his hair as he takes a deep breath. "Unfortunately, you'll never find any on me," he says with a shameful assurance. He knew that would look bad, but he needs to be confident and honest to hopefully convince the headmaster. If Ozpin could narrow his eyes more he would as his irritation grew as did the intimidating feeling he gave off. Micheal let loose a quiet, slow and nervous breath as the daunting presence overpowers him a bit.
"Why?" the older man says, the unnerving feeling seeping into his voice.
'Now or never,' Micheal concludes in his head as he closes his eyes and takes another deep breath to calm his nerves. "Sir, you won't find any records of me because I didn't exist till a month ago," the wolf faunus says without a sliver of deceit, opening his eyes. The air around Ozpin relaxes marginally as his eyebrow quirks.
"Explain," the headmaster orders.
"Well sir, as I said I didn't exist till a month ago," the wolf faunus repeats. "Professor Ozpin sir, I'm not from this world, I uh…," he stops for a second to contemplate his next words, his eyes never leaving the professor. He was very lost in his thoughts to miss the older man reading him thoroughly. Ozpin was going to initially stop him, calling it preposterous and demanding the actual truth. But, the visible expression on the faunus' face belies any falsehood, or a distraction from the truth, the headmaster was initially going to believe. Then he began to deliberate upon the prospect of the wolf faunus suddenly coming into existence.
Ozpin knows far more about this world than the average person, a secret that only he and select few know. One of those secrets could be the reason for the faunus in front of him. It would explain how he wasn't able to find any information on the boy despite his connections and the fact he is a wolf faunus despite the species going extinct a decade ago. It was implausible that if a member did survive, they would go unnoticed for ten years. A thought that did sadden him to comprehend, an entire species of people are gone, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. At least they have a second chance now, whether Ozpin put him in a cell or not. Now whether the older man believes Micheal came from another world is another matter altogether. Though that would explain the apparent lack of experience the wolf faunus lacks in combat and aura, plus some of his more curious answers. If he had been created and put in a position to fight Grimm and attend Beacon, why would he be created without knowledge in the subject? The older man couldn't comprehend that detail. Ozpin does remember some of his answers, and the fact he was supposed to have a scar, that implied he does have past experiences that go back considerably farther than just a month ago. If anything, the headmaster couldn't find himself believing those were lies, the overall disposition the wolf faunus exhibited about the subject told him they were true. At the end of the day, after reviewing all the video he has on him and his general temperament this conversation and during his stay at Beacon, Ozpin could at least say the wolf faunus wasn't a danger, for now, at least. Now Ozpin would like to think of himself a good judge of character and plenty of experience in evaluating people to back that up. He had made his mistakes in the past, but he could say with most utmost confidence say he could at least trust Micheal enough to go back to his life in his academy. He still wasn't pleased about the lying; he would at least punish him for that. He brought himself out his deliberation to see Micheal still trying to find a correct response.
"Mr. Law, it's okay, you can relax," Ozpin says softly trying to ease the other's nervousness.
"Okay?" Micheal says slightly confused as he relaxes a bit as the older man said. He could feel the tense air around the older ease as well. "Do you believe me then?" He asks hopefully.
"I believe you are not a threat," the headmaster clarifies honestly. "As for whether you are from another world or you just appeared out thin air is another matter, but as far as this matter is concerned you can stay at Beacon with your current team," Ozpin adds on. Micheal feels relieved at to the ability to stay at Beacon at least.
'At least I'm not getting to get kicked out,' he muses in his head.
"I have three questions for you before I dismiss you, and I want honest answers," Ozpin says. The wolf faunus straightens his posture, showing he is ready to answer. "Let us say I do believe you; I want you to clarify somethings for me."
"I'll do my best sir," Micheal eagerly responds, his eyes reflecting how he feels.
"Good," Ozpin says with a small smile. "First, I want you to clarify the exact moment and place you supposedly appeared in this world, I know you said a month ago, when exactly and where?" Micheal tills his head up as his eyes shift side to side trying to remember the exact spot he appeared.
"I appeared pretty much the same night that you met me and Ruby, I woke up in alleyway down the street from the store Ruby fought those thugs at, probably no more than ten minutes at most," Micheal replies.
"You don't know the name of the street the alleyway is connected to?" the headmaster inquiring. The young faunus just shakes his head.
"No sir, I heard gunshots from where Ruby was fighting and ran immediately towards it, I really wasn't looking at any signs as I ran towards the commotion, even the few of times I entered Vale after coming to Beacon; I still couldn't find the spot or street I was at, if I thought I did I would second guess myself," Micheal answers. The headmaster nods in response content with the answers. While it wasn't much information to go off. He could pull some strings and retrieve any footage from that night in the area and see if he could find the wolf faunus that night. He had a general idea of the area where he could be.
"Second, how did you know who I was?" Ozpin asks. Before Micheal could ask what, he means by that, Ozpin clarifies for him. "What I mean is, how did you know I am the headmaster of Beacon? As for my name, Mrs. Rose had said it before you said your piece during our first talk, so if you are from another world, how would you know my occupation?"
"Well…," the wolf faunus says meekly as he gathers his wits for a bit. "Where I'm from, you, Ruby, the entire world of Remnant is a show, a work of fiction sir."
"And yet, here you sit talking to me," the older man comments.
"I know, even though it's been a month now, I still sometimes am amazed at this aspect, it still feels like some kind of dream," Micheal says.
"The scar on your face and the injuries you received should state you it is not," Ozpin counters. The wolf faunus slowly brings his hand up to the scar and gently strokes it.
"Yeah…, it does…, every night…," Micheal says lowly and somberly. A solemn smile forms on his face as he caresses the scar. "Yet, despite the scars I've collected and some the terrifying experiences I've had so far, I still find this to be an awesome experience, I get to be with people I find so cool, like team RWBY, and get learn cool things, like aura and attending Beacon," he says with enthusiasm that overwhelms his previous mood. 'I would add on beautiful to team RWBY as well, but I'll keep that to myself,' he comments to himself. Ozpin smiles widen a bit at the young faunus' upbeat mood, his previous melancholy temperament gone.
"It is wonderful to hear you say that Mr. Law," the headmaster says warmly as he gets up from his chair and walks over to the window. He then stops with his cane in front of him, both hands on the head, looking out the window. His gaze wasn't focusing on anything as he begins to dip into thought. The sun slowly setting in the sky, illuminating the world in a soft orange glow. "But unfortunately, what you have experienced so far is only the beginning, there will be many more perils waiting for you, some worse than others, and some will forever scar you," the older man reminds, his smile dropping. Micheal's smile also drops in response as his eyes descend to the floor.
"Like this whole thing with Magaru," Micheal says off-handily.
"It very potentially could, we have been fortunate he's been quiet this past month," Ozpin says as he fixes his gaze on the city of Vale. His smile returns as he views the city in the sunset. The sight did always ease his mood if only a bit. It is something that he wants to last if he can let it. Micheal remembers the rumors that his partner had told their group of friends and wonders if he should tell Ozpin.
'He has a right to know,' the wolf faunus decides in his head after a second of thinking. "Hey Ozpin…," he started to say.
"You are about to refer to the recent rumors of a supposed Elder Scourge in the south part of the kingdom," the headmaster interrupts sharply as he turns his head slightly to the other occupant in the room, just enough to barely see his pupils. A small firm glance could be seen in his eyes
The response earns a quiet "Yes sir," from the faunus.
"I'm am already well aware of those rumors and your team's sudden interest on the creature," Ozpin informs the other occupant in a softer tone. He returns his view to the city. "I have an old friend that keeps me updated on these and other occurrences, and for how I know your team's intensive study on the subject, ever since I saw your lack of documents, I have kept a very keen eye on you and would watch you as much as I could," he explains, his voice softening. "But that is a conversation for another time, plus I want to inquire more about what you know about this world if this world is a show in your world how much do you know?" the headmaster says.
"Unfortunately, not much sir," Micheal answers honestly.
"Well alright, first let me ask, how many people, besides me, did you know before coming?" Ozpin asks.
"Excluding my partner and some of my classmates, the teachers, and staff; I knew my team, team JNPR, team CRDL, Professor Goodwitch, Professor Port, Professor Oobleck," Micheal answers.
"And the Grimm?" the headmaster inquires.
"I only met three of the ones I know, though I didn't fight them, the Boarbatusks,, the Deathstalker, and the Nevermore, but I know of Ursa, Beowolves, King Taijitu, though on my first free day, I did start looking up the species I didn't know about like the Rippers and the Gigas," Micheal says.
"Good, the more you know the better prepared you are for future confrontations," Ozpin comments.
"Though to be honest, I wasn't prepared for the raptors, I was expecting Beowolves or Ursa," Micheal remarks himself.
"Never appeared when we were just a show to you, did they?" Ozpin says inquiring. The wolf faunus replies with a shake of his head.
"No, I just assumed they didn't exist, if they didn't appear on the show then they must not have existed in this world," Micheal answers.
"Just because they did not appear on screen does not mean they do not exist, as you recently realized," Ozpin notes for the faunus. The wolf faunus just nods his head in understanding. "Now, the one detail I was hoping you could enlighten me with," Ozpin says seriously, face reflecting his mood. His student stood up straight and remains quiet, listening intently to the older man. "You may know something about my enemies, or at least a few of them, anything you could tell me could save lives, Mr. Law," the headmaster says.
"Well, to be honest, I've only seen one volume of the show, so I don't how much I could tell you," Micheal says slightly disappointed, his head leaning to the side.
"Anything you can tell me Mr. Law could be helpful," Ozpin says.
"Well the woman in red that was with Mr. Torchwick on the night I appeared and met you and Ruby is one, I can't remember her name off the top of my head at the moment, she has long black hair, golden eyes, and a beautiful face," Micheal answers.
"Too vague, can you give me more precise details, with that description your teammate Mrs. Belladonna could fit that description," Ozpins says. He sees the young faunus' eyes immediately train on him, slightly narrowing. "I was just making an example Mr. Law, we both know it is not her," he clarifies his previous comment. Micheal relaxes at that comment. "Though it does please me to see you defending your teammate, or are you two something more," the headmaster says slightly teasing, a small smirk forming at the end of his comment.
"No," Micheal meekly says with a small blush. Ozpin let out a small, slightly disappointed breath but let it go, having had his fun.
"Now please tell me any detail of this woman," Ozpin repeats his previous request, his face becoming serious again. His student proceeds to do his best to give more details to the woman in question. The headmaster hums as he absorbs the information. "Still not enough, but maybe I can put something together with some research, anything else?" Ozpin says, still inquiring more information.
"They are also working with the White Fang," Micheal says.
"I see, anything else?" Ozpin asks. His face drops a bit as he sees the young faunus shakes his head. "Well, thank you for the information you could provide me," Ozpin says appreciatively. He did note his student's sudden apprehensive look. "Something on your mind?"
Micheal eyes squint a bit as his eyes look around, not focus on anything, before focusing on Ozpin "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Ozpins says, urging his student.
"Did I do the right thing?" Micheal asks.
"You are going to have to explain yourself, Mr. Law," Ozpin says with a small quizzical tilt of his head and small quirk of his eyebrow.
"I'm afraid that by telling you what I know, it may lead to a worse future," Micheal says. Ozpin silently gestures for him to explain. "Well I'm afraid that I could be denying events that could leave people capable, or give them the motivation to become capable," the wolf faunus tries to explain.
"Could you provide an example," the headmaster requests.
"Well….," Micheal stops for a moment thinking. "What if some events need to happen so other could be ready for the future."
"So, you are telling me that you are telling me that you would be willing to let people experience hardship or die so they, or others, could potentially become capable, or motivated, to be capable of handling future trials," Ozpin says, anger seeping into his voice.
"Yeah," Micheal says dejectedly, looking away. 'You know, now that I think about it, it sounds like shit no matter how you slice it,' he admits in his head.
"To be honest with you Mr. Law, that thought is asinine and is not an act of kindness," Ozpin says sternly to the young faunus. Micheal didn't retort or even feel the need to retort, knowing the headmaster was right.
"That's why I wanted to ask you, to ease my uneasiness," Micheal admits as his eyes return to the headmaster. Ozpin takes a deep breath as his previous anger subsides. He then looks at the young faunus softly.
"Mr. Law, how many volumes are there? Which I want to imagine is their version of seasons," Ozpin asks.
"That's what I always imagine they were, and a handful of them," Micheal answers.
"You said you have only seen a single volume, correct?" the headmaster inquires. His student nods in confirmation. He uses his hand to gesture to the spot next to him, requesting the other to stand next to him. The wolf faunus did as he was told as he returns his attention forward. "When and where did it start?"
"The night Ruby fought against Mr. Torchwick's goons," Micheal answers.
"So, the night you popped up," Ozpin comments. "Now, when does it stop?"
"About…," Micheal dragging out the word trying to remember the exact time frame. "I say about three months from now at the pier, a small battle between Blake, Ruby and couple other people, against Roman and the White Fang," Micheal finishes his reply.
"Who are the other? Are they not the other members of your team?" Ozpin asks curiously wanting to know as much as he could.
"No, the others are a girl, Penny Polendina, and another faunus, Sun Wukong," Micheal says. Ozpin hums as he digests the information, deciding that he should print those names after this. He would research who they were later.
"Mr. Law, how much of your journey so far has followed the show?" Ozpin asks.
"Up until the end of initiation, when Magaru attacked us and Beacon, pretty much the same, though I don't know if there were any minor deviations, but all the main part are the same, who partnered with who, the teams, their particular species of Grimm they fought in the exam, even for the most part the first day," Micheal explains.
"Mr. Law, you know so little of what is to happen, why do you feel the need to worry about the future?" Ozpin asks.
"Because I had friends who were morons and couldn't keep a secret," Micheal snarks a bit bitter. His snark was not aimed at Ozpin, just people of his past. The headmaster raised an eyebrow waiting for an explanation. "Unfortunately, my old friends were terrible about keeping spoilers to themselves."
"What events did they reveal to you?" Ozpin asks.
"From what I can remember, mind you I was trying to zone them out, plus it was a while ago, something happens to Vale, Pyrrha, and Yang," Micheal says. A hum emanates from Ozpin as he absorbs the information.
"Mr. Law, you know so little, you don't know how these events will play out," Ozpin says. He saw the young faunus made a small motion with his eyebrow, signaling he admits to that. "In all honesty, I believe you shouldn't worry about that happening," Ozpin comments. That remark earns a quirked eyebrow from Micheal, needing an explanation. "Mr. Law, the fact that you exist and Magaru is here is enough to say the supposed events you fear may perhaps not happen," the headmaster says.
"May?" Micheal questions.
"Unfortunately, even though events are going on a different course than what you may know, there is no possibility they still will not happen," Ozpin clarifies honestly. He then takes a deep breath. "Plus, I believe you won't let them happen if you can help it," he says. That earns another questioning look comes from the young faunus. "So, let us say, one of these events you were supposedly going to let happen resulted in the death of Mrs. Xiao Long, or Mrs. Rose, or Mrs. Schnee, or Mrs. Belladonna, or Mrs. Hunters," as he finishes the scenario, he sees Micheal visibly stiffen. "Would you let it happen?"
"No," Micheal admits after a second. Then thought fills him with fear and despair at the thought of losing them. He hugs himself in a form of comfort and shame.
"I may have only known you for a month Mr. Law, but I can tell what kind of person you are, you are too caring a person to let horrible things happen and you crave the presence of another," Ozpin says with confidence. "You also may have only known them personally for a month, but you have become extremely attached to them already, they alleviate the loneliness, pain, and uneasy you feel," Ozpin says knowing, he could tell how attached the young faunus is from the footage. Micheal just nods his head slowly in acceptance.
"I'm sorry for thinking that way sir, but I…," Micheal tries to say his apology.
"It is okay, I do understand your unease and I thank you for entrusting me with your reservations, but please don't think such thoughts again," Ozpin interrupts with a warm smile. "Third…," Ozpin stops for a moment. Micheal looks at the older man expectantly, wondering what the last question is. A shift in his shoulder shows him taking a deep, mournful breath. "Has it been hard?"
"Being in this world?" Micheal says questioningly.
"Yes, more specifically, being in this world away from your everything you knew, family, friends, and knowing you may never see them again," Ozpin explains solemnly. Micheal took a long breath as he looks away from the older man sadly scratching his head looking out the window. He muses on what to say exactly.
"It hasn't been easy but honestly…," the wolf faunus starts as he returns his attention to Ozpin. "I try not to dwell on it, sir," he answers.
"Are you saying you do not ever think about it?" Ozpin inquires.
"No, I'm not saying that but…," Micheal starts as he stops next to the professor. He took in the view himself, admiring it himself. "If I do, it will just make me depressed, but unfortunately I do reminisce about home, even if just to myself," he says. Even just mentioning home brings a damper to his mood. His somewhat happy mood tarnished as some images of home seep into his mind. The images of the humble house he knew almost all his life made him desire to somehow go home, an impossible task, and smell the mint candle his mom would burn every few days. A scent that always made him calm down, even after Julie's passing. Micheal let out a deep sigh as his head unconsciously rests against the glass window. Ozpin lets out a deep sigh as he realizes what was going on with his student.
"I am sorry Mr. Law," the headmaster apologizes.
"It's okay sir," the wolf faunus replies. He runs his hand through his hair as he backs off the glass. "In a way to be able to talk to it with someone does make me feel better," he reassures the older man. It did work as he looks up to see Ozpin giving him a small, warm smile.
"You do have teammates to relay these feeling to as well," Ozpin says.
"I know, but you have to imagine how hard that would be," Micheal says as he looks back out the window. He could see the streetlights of Vale turning out light the city as the sun got lower. "I mean if I did, they probably try to convince me to visit a home that I can't, making me only desire to see my home more."
"I can only imagine," Ozpin responses. His eyes look down solemnly for a second, then he turns toward his student. "Mr. Law," he says getting his full attention. Micheal turns away from the window towards the headmaster. "When you told me, you didn't have a home, I thought you were a runaway, now I see that is not the case," he stops for a moment to think. "You see, when I cut you off from my support, I was expecting you to call home so I would either receive a call or a visitor so I could I at least know a bit more about your past, now that I know more about you, I feel that I should give you my support again," the headmaster says solemnly.
"I have Weiss to support me now, so don't worry about me," Micheal says reassuring with a smile.
"Yes, something I discovered a couple of days ago, something I must admit caught me by surprise, but it does make me pleased to hear that," the headmaster says with a smile of his own. An exasperated breath came from his students.
"Do I not have any privacy?" Micheal asks his head dropping a bit. Ozpin eyebrow quirked as his smile turns into a small smirk.
"Well understand, from my point of view, I have a suspicious student, so I decided to review all footage of you I could find, so I think an invasion of privacy was warranted," the headmaster informs. Micheal just sighs in response, unable to form a response. Ozpin gently places a hand on the young faunus' shoulder. "But I must say…," he starts as his face becomes serious. "I feel I should redouble my support to you." Micheal simply looks into the Ozpin's eyes quizzically. "I promise that I will do everything in my power to help you," the headmaster sincerely. "When you said had no home, I had assumed you were a runaway for your reasons."
"Admittedly, I was mostly saying things at the top of my head without much thought, though that is a true statement," Micheal interrupts.
"What else have you said inconsequentially?" Ozpin asks curiously.
"Mostly stuff about my past in this world, which you figured out isn't true, but I did say some truth here and there," Micheal answers.
"Something you will inform me of another time, we will need to do something about your lack of records in due time, but we deviated from the subject long enough and our time for today is up," Ozpin says. He took a small breath and continued his previous statement. "As I said, I thought you were a runaway, but now listening to you, you truly do not have a home outside this academy."
"If I hadn't run toward Ruby's scuffle and met her and you, I don't what I would do," Micheal notes.
"But you are here now and that is all that matters, now I will do everything in power to help you to stay here at Beacon, you will be under my protection and give you my support when needed, at least in secret for the time being," Ozpin says earnestly with full conviction. Micheal just stood there stunned taking it all in. He never expected to be under the protection of Ozpin. It made his future seem much brighter than it looked before. A friend and ally he could go to for advice and help, other than his team of course.
"Sir, I don't know if I can ever pay you back," Micheal says.
"As long as you heed everything I say from now on, you won't need to," Ozpin says. His student nods in response. "Now Mr. Law, while I trust that you are not a threat, I am quite disappointed that you have been lying to me."
"So, how you going to punish me?" Micheal asks getting straight to the point.
"From now on, you are not to walk around campus unattended, you must be accompanied by either a member of staff, the most preferable option, or a member of your team, the staff and your team will be informed tomorrow, also you are never to leave campus grounds, without my consent, until I say so, I believe you are not a threat, but you will have to regain my trust, until then I want you where I can keep a close eye on you," Ozpin declares.
"Yes sir," Micheal says downtrodden. 'Well, could be worse,' he comments to himself. The headmaster looks outside the window for a second to glance at the slowly darkening skyline.
"It's time to go, Mr. Law, it's getting late, I'll walk you back to your dorm," Ozpin says as he walks over to his desk to turn off his computer.
"Sir, I've been wondering this conversation if you truly believe me or not, that I'm from another world, I can't tell," Micheal inquires.
"That is something I will have to decide for myself and it is quite a story to believe, but I have a feeling you are not lying to me," Ozpin says.
"Okay sir," is Micheal's reply.
"While mentioning lying, from now on, no more lies Mr. Law, you and I are going to have a peculiar friendship from now on, I would like to be able to trust you again, so I want nothing but honesty from you, understood," the older man says.
"Yes sir, I understand, I promise to be completely honest with you from now on," the wolf faunus says earnestly.
"Good," Ozpin simply replies himself. He then walks his student out of the office and building. The duo walks together in silence, with only their footstep breaking the silence, as they walk out onto the campus grounds. The headmaster glancing down at the young faunus to see him thinking. He imagines it must about their previous conversation. A rustling sound catches Ozpin's attention as his eyes and head turn towards the origin. He barely catches multiple blurs of movement disappearing behind a bush, followed by another rustle. He smiles warmly and stops as he catches the very distinct voices arguing behind it. "Mr. Law, listen," the headmaster says quietly. That snaps the wolf faunus out of his musing as he stops and his wolf ears turn to listen for sounds, before settling on the bush. His eyes roll as he gave the headmaster an exasperated but warm smile.
"….b Weiss, I bet he saw you, couldn't you wear a hood to cover your hair, it sticks out like a sore thumb," Yang whispers angrily.
"Pots and kettles Yang, your hair is no better and you are not wearing a hood either," Weiss frustratingly rebukes her teammate's comments.
"Shut up you two, they will hear us if you keep arguing," Hitomi angrily whispers herself trying to control her friends.
"I think they already know," Blake calmly says. Micheal could hear her sigh. He could imagine Ruby is trying to calm the white, yellow, violet members of the team. The trio continued to argue semi-quietly as Ozpin and his student listen in for a bit.
"I imagine they came curious at what was taking so long or something along those lines," Micheal guesses to his friends' reason for being there.
"Probably, there is also the reason that they are curious as to why I keep calling you to my office," Ozpin comments. Micheal nods seeing that as a plausible reason as well. The duo hears the argument stop as they turn towards the bush. Micheal intently listens as he could hear muffled voices as he could guess the trio's mouths were being covered. "Mr. Law, you have wonderful teammates, appreciate that."
"I know, I do, even though I frustrate them right now, they still gave me a chance and help me become a capable hunter, even come to make sure I'm okay, even though they have no reason to hide," Micheal says steadily raising his voice to make sure they heard him. The student and professor duo sees the other members of team RWBY slowly rise from behind the bush with goofy smiles and blushes on their faces, Yang scratching the back of her head, Ruby and Hitomi scratching their cheeks, Weiss rubbing her arm nervously looking down at the ground, Blake just looks away sheepishly. "I couldn't ask for better friends in all honesty," the wolf faunus admits.
"Ah, that's so sweet," Yang says sweetly as she walks up and hugs Micheal from behind, arms around his neck. The wolf faunus notes that the hug is needlessly tighter than it should be. He tries to gently pull her arm to loosen the crushing grip, only for it to tighten instead. He turns his head to complain to Yang, his eyes meeting hers. As he looks at the blonde's smiling face, he notes a dangerous vibe behind it. An eerie gleam in her eye told him he is in trouble.
'Uh oh,' he says to himself, wondering what he did wrong. He gives the headmaster a pleading look.
Ozpin understood the situation immediately. He just closed his eyes as he heard the wolf faunus sigh in defeat. 'I said I would help you with everything in my power, but you are on your own with that situation.'
"Professor Ozpin," Ruby says getting the headmaster attention. His eyes open to look at the young leader. "Why did you call Micheal to your office this time?"
"I had a little discussion with M. Law about missing the memorial earlier," Ozpin replies.
"Professor, is the training building still open?" Yang asks quickly.
"Yes, it will still be open for another two hours," Ozpin answers.
"Okay," the blonde says gleefully. She unwraps her arms from Micheal's neck to tightly and firmly grip his hand as she quickly drags him off. "Come on Micheal, I think a late sparring session is in order." Micheal struggled to keep his balance as he is drug along. He looks back with a pleading look at his team and mouths "Help." His team just gives him a slightly sympathetic smile as they watch him get dragged off to his eventual 'Sparring session.'
"So is Micheal in trouble?" Ruby asks, returning her eyes to the headmaster. There was nothing she could do for Micheal now. She knew once Yang made up her mind to punish her friend, she couldn't stop, none of them could.
"For missing the memorial or his eventual, and let's be frank, brutal punishment at the hand of your sister Mrs. Rose because both are true," Ozpin answers, returning his gaze as well.
"Well, how did you punish Micheal?" Hitomi asks. The headmaster proceeds to repeat the wolf faunus' punishment to his team. As he finishes, he notices to the unanimous look of distaste on their faces for the punishment.
"That seems a little extreme for missing a school event sir," Blake comments.
"It is the punishment I deemed the most necessary for the misconduct," the headmaster says, keeping the main reason for the punishment secret till a more appropriate time. He made a note to himself to ask Micheal when he was going to tell his team the truth about himself.
"Are you going to punish the rest of us? We are just as guilty for not making him appear at the event," Weiss asks curiously.
"No, just Mr. Law, it was his choice, not yours, not to appear, so the rest of your team is exempt," Ozpin assures the heiress. Weiss just nods in response.
"But that can't be the entire reason he was in your office so long," Blake inquires.
"A few days ago, I had finally managed to acquire documents on Mr. Law," Ozpin says.
"Like where he lives and his family?" Ruby asks.
"Correct, I just wanted to confirm with him if everything is correct," Ozpin lies, but shows confidence to convince the group of young women it's true.
"You know now that we're talking about it, where is Micheal's family?" Ruby asks sadly. Ozpin frowns in response knowing the actual truth. Part of him wanted to make up a convincing lie but decided to let Micheal handle this. The headmaster couldn't say anything without the wolf faunus present, it could cause more trouble for him.
"I have been wondering that myself," Hitomi comments as she turns her head towards her lead, crossing her arms. "You would think the moment the world found out he lives; his family would rush over here as soon as they could or call the school to talk to him."
"I had been wondering that myself as well," Ozpin admits to a thought that had crossed his mind before.
"Do you think he has an unhealthy relationship with his family?" Weiss asks. Everyone turns their heads toward her questioning and slightly skeptical. "Or a relationship that recently became poor, so they aren't particularly…," stopping for a second for the right word. "Desperate to see him."
"Possibly…," Blake admits slightly as she crosses her arms. "Though I doubt it, he speaks fondly of them when he talks about them."
"As Weiss said, it could have become unhealthy, but he doesn't strike me as the type to come from that kind of home," Hitomi says.
"Regardless," Ozpin cuts into the conversation, everyone turning towards the headmaster. "Whether his family does, or does not, appear in time is an occasion we can't predict," he starts as took a breath and his previous warm smile reappears. "If or till then, you five are all he has right now for support, emotionally, physically, or finically, if you feel inclined to," his gaze shifting to Weiss for a bit. "And you must help him no matter what." While Ozpin said he would let the wolf faunus deal with the issue of his exact origins on his own, he could at least support him in other ways, even if through others.
"Of course, he's a friend and teammate, there's no way we could abandon him," Ruby says excitedly.
"Well, we already got a month of work invested into him already, so best not to let it go to waste, plus it's nice to have a hard worker around," Weiss comments.
"He keeps us busy and entertained, plus he is nice to have around in general," Blake says.
"In ways, I wish he was better, in other ways, I can't have asked for a better partner," Hitomi says.
"Good," Ozpin says plainly with a smile, satisfied with the answers. His face becomes hard as he moves to his next objective. "Also, before you return to your dorms, I recommend you stop your research of the Elder Scourge," he orders them firmly. "I am aware of the rumors of one in the south as you girls more than likely are."
"But professor…," Ruby tries to complain.
"Hush Mrs. Rose," Ozpin silences her sharply. The reaper flinches a bit at the tone. "I rather you focus your time on your studies and getting Mr. Law up to par for his time here than studying on a possibility."
"We just wanted to be prepared," Weiss says.
"I understand, but unless these rumors are true, you are wasting your time," Ozpin informs them. "Who else have you informed?"
"Team JNPR sir," Blake answers.
"The same goes for them, make sure to inform them," the headmaster orders.
"Yes sir," the group unanimously agrees.
"But if they turn out to be true?" Hitomi asks.
"Then I will allow you to return to studying the Scourge again and provide you with as much material as I can provide, but I would prefer if you did not fight it at all," Ozpin says, worry evident on his face.
"We can't just let Micheal fight it on his own, especially if Magaru sent it professor," Ruby says defiantly, trying to convince him to let them fight.
"That is not what I'm saying," Ozpin says trying to calm the young girl. "If these rumors are true, whether evidence shows up to prove it or Magaru does send it to attack, the military will get involved and I will ask a friend of mine in Atlas to send support as well, during that time I just want your team to stay low and safe, especially Mr. Law, he must avoid the Elder Scourge at all cost if, it is just too dangerous of a creature to confront," Ozpin informs. He then sighs as he relaxes as he glances at the night sky. "But it is getting late, we will talk about this another time, return to your dorms and please heed my words for the time being," he says softly. The group of girls just nod in response. The remaining members of team RWBY were beginning to head back to their dorms. "Also, if you still have some medicinal cream that Mrs. Sack gave you for bruises left, I would suggest getting it ready, I do believe Mrs. Xiao Long may go a bit overboard with her "session,"," Ozpin says. The girls grimace at what their sole male member was experiencing now. "Have a good night, girls," Ozpin says as he walks off.
"You too Professor," Ruby replies as they begin their journey back to their dorms. The group returns to their dorm sometime later to find Yang emerging from the bathroom with a satisfied sigh as she rubs her hair with the towel she possesses. Their eyes move over to see their male member sprawled out on the ground, face down, not moving. His shirt looks a little singed at the corners and bits of bruises forming visible on his arms. It took to the effort of both Blake and Hitomi to move him into the bathroom, he was in too much pain to move, to allow Blake to apply medicine to his new bruises. Anyone who tried to scold Yang received a glare from the blonde, silencing them. Other than moving and feeding a physically broken teammate around, the night was relatively uneventful.
Later that night, Blake stood in the bathroom brushing her hair in her nightwear getting ready for bed when the door opened. The cat faunus quickly turn to see Yang in the doorway. "Oops, sorry Blake, the door was unlocked," Yang says embarrassed, cheeks slightly flush.
"It is okay, must have forgotten to lock the door," Blake says comfortingly. Yang was about to close the door "Yang, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot," Yang says as she enters the restroom and stood beside her partner.
"When you were 'sparring' against Micheal…," the cat faunus starts. Yang quirks an amused eyebrow on her peculiar emphasis of sparring. "Did at any point you feel like your attack missed when it should have hit?"
"Well he did manage to block and dodge a few punches," Yang comments not quite getting what she is asking.
"No, that's not what I mean," Blake says as she begins to explain what happened during Micheal and Noire's sparring match. Yang then folds her arms as she looks as she closes her eyes to think.
"You know, now that I'm thinking about it there was one punch that felt like that, and he also toppled over in pain that time, scared me half to death," Yang says as she opens her eyes. "His semblance?"
"More than likely, but what exactly is the trigger or if it's just random I don't know exactly, I asked Weiss and Ruby about it and they didn't experience it," Blake says.
"So how do you want to approach it?" Yang asks.
"For now, we to just continue what we were doing, but now keep track when and how it pops up, I will make sure Weiss and Ruby know as well," Blake explains.
"Got it," Yang says as she leaves the bathroom and her partner in peace.
'A strange form of intangibility, incapable of being hit and yet still feel pain, what a strange semblance you have Micheal,' Blake muses as she finishes her hair. A small smiles forms as she feels satisfied with her results. She puts her brush away as she leaves the restroom for bed. She glances over at the wolf faunus on his futon studying with Weiss. She decides to speak to him about it tomorrow and heads to bed.
Magaru's Lair
Magaru breathes heavily as he finally lays down on the ground. His body covered in wounds and scars, the results of a battle he had just recently finished. Heavy breathing could be heard at another side of the field of roses, the dragon Grimm calls home. Magaru looks in direction of the noise and see a swarm of Grimm of various kinds, from Beowolves and Creeps to even a King Taijitu and a Deathstalker, all lying atop of something as if they are holding it down. The dragon Grimm sighs knowing the creatures that served him, despite their fear of it, could at least hold it down till he releases it tomorrow. Then he could give the wolf faunus his second test. This one will prove to take considerably more effort and time to pass. Magaru, content with his recent task finished, just closes his eyes and let's sleep overtake his beaten and weary body.
A/N: As always, criticism is good
So, I've recently been reading, well really listening, to a lot of audiobooks recently. Well, it's sort of my way around struggling to pick up a book and read, something I need to do more often. Plus, my job allows me to listen to these while work, so that's what I've been doing. The books I've been listening to have been mostly Fantasy books and Sci-Fi. The books I've listened to, Ciaphas Cain: For the Emperor, Jurassic Park, all three Lord of the Rings books, Prospero Burns: The Horus Heresy, Eisenhorn: Xenos, Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker, and three Warhammer books that contain various short stories. Right now, I'm listening to A Song of Ice and Fire. While I am listening to these to keep myself entertained, I am also trying to analyze how the writers write their novels from the dialogue, lore, battles, or how they describe people and objects and see how they explain or write them. That said, I'm not going to suddenly shove aspect of those into my story, just trying to learn how to write them. I do enjoy all the books for the most part, but certain things do irk me. Like how as much as I adore Lord of the Rings books, I think there were too many songs, there were quite a few good ones but still too many, especially in the first book. If you got an audiobook you recommend just PM me.