The incandescent sun began to rise as they flew to Beacon academy in the dark sky and over the brightly lit city of Vale. Most, if not all, of the people on the bull head was tense and uncomfortable except for Jaune, who was staring out of the window over the streets of the bloodless city. He seemed unnatural as he watched through the thick glass leading to the outside world without any movements at all, except for his heavy eyes tracing the streets unblinking, almost as if he was recoding every last sight he could in his disturbed mind. Even the smile that lined his face seemed twisted and bloodthirsty, almost as if a show to prove that he was more than confident that he could slaughter the other members of the bullhead.
Cracking filled the air as he moved his stiffened fingers, before drumming them against the armrest in a fast, beating rhythm akin to that of a heart. Itching washed over his scarred and bloodied flesh at the idleness, the writhing feeling reminding him of invading tentacles and fleshy creatures from the Yharnam streets and the labyrinths beneath the accursed city and of the lesser Amygdala's grip.
Every moment that past, the want to claw his own skin and flesh from his cursed bones grew, the need for blood getting greater as he remembered his small outburst. The ever-growing irritation caused by the clean-smelling room was beginning to grow more and more, even with the Messenger that was gently holding onto his unoccupied hand like the child it was could not satiate or supress it. Letting the gentle hum of the aircrafts engines overrule his finger drumming as he stopped his fidgeting, which unintentionally grabbed the rests attention, he slouched back into his seat as he noticed that the others were sitting even more tensely as they prepared to defend themselves in case the hunter attacked them.
Blood scented breath permeated the air as it left his mouth, causing the one in black to slightly gag in disgust as he continued to wait to arrive at where they were going. With each second passing he felt the stifling walls and air around him making his boredom grow, almost making him wish that those around him would attack. Oh, he was aware of their fear, the jittering movement every time they breathed in, a layer of glistening sweat atop their skin as the watched him and the slightness of their hands near their own weapons. Each a sign showing that they were ready to spring on him if he stepped out of line, or their own paranoia, and he could smell it in the droves.
The near melodic groaning sound of his Messengers drew his attention away from the others fear, drawing a slight chuckle from the bloodied hunter as he looked at a Messenger claw at the glass with its lifeless fingers. While most of the Messengers stayed close to him in case, he had another episode, some had decided to watch the outside world to glance at the luminous city beneath them. It was a nice sight, if a little disturbing at seeing the little ones being occupied with a different matter.
That was until the voice of the one in white spoke up, the underlaying fear being hidden behind a mask of anger and distain towards the Hunter.
"What are laughing at? Nothing about this situation is funny! Not only have you been missing without a trace, you reappear out of nowhere at a White Fang attack and decide to join in!"
Another chuckle left his mouth as he looked the white themed princess in the eyes, the slightest hint of his madness appearing clearly in his bloodshot orbs. One of his gloved hands reached towards his face as he slightly scratched at one of his more apparent silver scars that trailed along his one of his cheekbones and quickly whittled away the thin membrane despite how it had completely healed. What could only be described as a torrent of pale blood washed down the side of his face and down his face as the smile continued to be in place even as the toneless liquid flowed into his mouth , making the members of the team turn a slight green or pale at the visage.
Despite the concerning nature of his action, he acted like it never happened as he spoke in a kind voice that was just a little bit strained.
"I used to tell the children what I remembered of this city, even if it was very little. Of course, it was more for my benefit and their entertainment, especially after I started to forget more, but it still granted me a small feeling of happiness and a closer grasp on my own dwindling sanity, even if there is very little left of it. I never truly thought that I would leave that damned city, let alone leave it alive. Yet, here I am."
Again, near silence ruled the carriage as they continued to their destination without another interruption except for the squelching sound of the Hunter's skin threading itself together again, until he started drumming again. They were very uncomfortable, and all but the pilot was watching him, including the grey-haired headmaster and his old eyes. He did find it entertaining that the one in black seemed to beg for release especially as she seemed to deflate whenever he looked at her. Every second he could see her fidgeting, as if she was prey to some great beast and while he still wore the false grin on his face, he was frowning internally at her actions . Again, he turned from them as the Bullhead soared above the city lights below.
Even with how long the trip was, he still had to admire the scenery below him especially compared with the seemingly required black and grey of Yharnam's buildings and the ashy tone of the Hunters Nightmare. There was a small ignorable bump as the aircraft finally landed on the ground, alongside the dying sound of the engine. With a small click, the latch on the Bullhead's door opened smoothly before gently lowering to the ground to form a ramp. Burning filled all of his retinas as the dawning light filled his sigh, be he couldn't close them. No pain would be great enough to distract him from the majesty of the morning sun or how the masterwork structures around him would reflect the incandescent beams.
Comparing Byrgenwerth and Cainhurst to the grandness and the size of the Academy would be pointless as the only way that it could be bested by either of them would be if Cainhurst was in its prime. It almost rivalled the cathedral in sheer height. He was brought from his thoughts by the Headmaster's old and gentle voice; however, he knew the truth behind it, the creature pretending to be human. It may have worn a human face, but it was anything else, he could see the many people that it was.
"Mister Arc, please stay in front of us where we can see you. Team RWBY, go get some rest, we will talk about what happened at the docks later."
Each of the colour specific girls left towards another part of the campus in a hurry, most likely to get away from him, meanwhile, the Hunter was being escorted through the academy while being watched by the Headmaster and the Headmistress. Despite being muffled by the carpet beneath their feet, the Hunter's hard boots made heavy sounds as he passed through the alabaster halls. Each second gnawed at him as the air got tenser with their travel, his weapons ready to be drawn, even when they reached the elevator, he still kept a throwing knife in his sleeve, just in case. Even as it travelled upwards, he kept drumming his fingers against his leg, as he did a lot back in Yharnam to calm his nerves, although this time it was an entirely different reason.
With a light ding of a bell, the elevator stopped at their destination. The resonating sound of the ticking clockwork brought him back to the Hunter's Nightmare, more specifically the clocktower, a place he would forever remember as merciless and unforgiving, even when compared with the hell of the labyrinth beneath Yharnam it could make the most vicious hunter look like a mere puppy. Deep in his chest was a searing hotness as his body recalled the bloody flames that plunged through his flesh. A large, scarred burn was stitched into his skin from his fight with the Hunter of The Astral Clocktower. He was forced out of his memories by the headmaster's voice, although he was only able to hear the end of what he said in the infuriating voice.
"-Are you listening Mr Arc?"
"I apologise sir, but can you please repeat what you said, I was… preoccupied."
Even over the sound of countless gears clicking and moving in unison above them, he could feel the exhaustion in its voice and on its face. It almost made him feel sorry for it, despite what it most likely was a twisted creature, it acted as if it was human but the constant feeling of it being kept him on edge.
"That's fine Mr Arc, it happens to many of us and with how you present yourself it seems that you're on edge. Please, have a seat we have… a lot to talk about."
The grin on Jaune's face muted slightly as he saw the Headmistress leave the room into a side room away from the two to give privacy. The hunter spoke in a deathly cold voice, managing to gain a visible shiver out of Ozpin, causing a crooked grin to reappear over the blonde's face, the red pupils seemingly creeping into the golden blue of the irises as if they were some form of disease.
"When I finally left that bloody city, I never expected to see something like you here. I should have expected that creatures such as yourself exist away from the nightmare and labyrinths, although I thought that Yharnam would be the exception. Though, I suppose I can forgive your existence for once, after all you took a foolish chance on the whims of cosmic beings. Ah, to think that such a foolish want to be with your lover caused multiple lifetimes of suffering as you leached off of the many. Tell me, do you feel sorry for them, the drunkard, the hermit, the settler? Will you feel sorry for those who come after the Headmaster, will you feel regret for the farm boy?"
Distress and anger covered the man's face as he grabbed his cane with the intent to threaten the hunter for information, only to find that the weapon was in the hunters hand already, while he failed to notice the small amount of mist at the chair legs. The same crooked grin was still plastered on the Hunters face as the cane extended to its full length.
"Such a wonderful weapon you have. Truly one of greatness, to think that a weapon that had existed through a few of your reincarnations could still look so fine. My, it's almost as if it never aged at all, almost as if it maintains itself in a permanent state of time.
"As far as I'm aware, only me, Salem and the Brothers are aware of any of that. How is it that you even know about my reincarnations? T-this was originally about whether or not you wanted to reattend Beacon and to make you aware of what had happened in your absence, but now… "
Chortling came from the hunter as his head reared back violently before it fell forwards again, his hands slamming into the wooden desk in front of the Headmaster violently. Flesh parted as eyelids wriggled open, the many eyes that dotted the hunters forehead and face all kept blinking each on their own as pale blood leaked out of the eyes. Writhing could be seen as the phantasm in the eyes swam freely in the cosmic orbs. Blood dripped from sharp, penetrating vertebrae from the blondes deathly twisted neck. It ended as fast as it happened, with Jaune once again sitting back in his chair while the Headmaster regained his breathing from the oppressive smell of blood and death.
A cork popped as the pungent smell of refined blood filled the air, before the bottle was thrown back with the haemoglobin ridden liquid pouring down the back of the Hunters throat.
"Hmm, what is the matter wizard? You look as if you had seen the worst things imaginable in a second. Anyhow, shall we get on with the original purpose of this meeting? Or perhaps you wish to speak about my wonderful experiences? Ask away to your hearts content."
Pure unease could be seen in the clammy, pale skin of the Headmaster. He spoke with a slight stutter in his usually strong voice, but eventually regained his composure
"W-well, you keep mentioning this "Yharnam". From the way you keep describing it, it seems to be some sort of city or town and yet I have never heard of it."
A gentle hum acme from the Hunters mouth as he leaned forwards again, appreciating the soft cushions on the chair. Hints of blood was still on his breath when he leaned back again, resting his chin on his bent wrist at what could have only been an awkward angle. With another sip from the potent blood, he began to speak more solemnly.
"It is, or was, a city. I never found out where it is exactly, and honestly, I'd much rather keep people away from there. One minute I here, next I was at Iosefka's clinic after a blood transfusion. I will say though, lovely folk, never hesitating to tell you to kill yourself, that you are not welcome there or just telling you to fuck off. Although there was one thing that the city was dependent on, and that was blood. "
The Headmaster seemed by confused by what he said so with a hoarse laugh and a swig of his cocktail, he spoke again hoping to clarify.
"Almost everything had to do with blood. They found old blood beneath the city and used it as a cure all, a panacea, what they refused to tell was that it was the very same blood that turned them into beasts. Seen it happen with a hunter before, his blood bursted from his body as if it was a fountain. Alcohol, medicine, enhancements, all was blood. Why have a strong glass of, say, vodka when blood can inebriate you far faster. Originally, it was merely used to try to reach enlightenment or to discover what was beyond and it did do that in a sense, depending if it was done properly. Even if it did help them in many ways it, how do I put this? Ah, unshackled their minds to reach a higher plain and twisted them in the progress."
Silence covered the room as the final drops of scarlet ran out of the bottle, the glass shattering to hundreds of shards as the hand tightened around its fragile frame. The Hunter didn't even bother to loom down at the dripping limb as he pulled the broken shards from his glove and flesh. Ozpin could only look at the haunted visage on his pupil's face as Jaune spoke solemnly.
"I- I have many regrets from there, all they did was grow with- with the repeats I tried over and over to save at least someone, it didn't even have to be one of the children, it just had to be someone. One of the group that picked me up stated that I had been gone for a month, while to you that might be true, to me, I was gone for far, far longer. I was also wondering whether or not you have a sample of my blood from before I disappeared?"
Ozpin shook his head as he leaned back into his oddly shaped chair.
"No. I'm assuming this has to do with you looking at Team RWBY as if they were strangers?"
A sigh escaped Jaune's mouth as he began to massage the large bags under his eyes, a feature that didn't go unnoticed by the silver-haired professor.
"Yes, unfortunately. My memories of both Beacon and, well, my life before Yharnam has degraded severely to the point that they nearly don't exist anymore. I was hoping that I could use the echoes in it to remember what I used to be like before turning into this. That is all I'm willing to give from my end, so then how about yours?"
For a brief second, Jaune could see a look of regret on the immortal man's face while his posture hunched. It almost made the Hunter feel sorry for the man, but even if it wasn't fully his fault, he was still a parasite.
"First of all, your transcripts falsity was revealed by Mr Winchester, who had been reprimanded to some degree. Surprisingly, many of the school's populous don't mind if you stay, on the condition that you prove yourself through an initiation test alone. However, some of the campus, notably Miss Schnee, team CRDL and the newly named team GNPR, all believe that you should be barred from here. Team GRNP was your former team, however, after your absence, it was decided that your sister Grise would take your place as team leader."
It was faded, but he could remember Grise slightly, at least the short, spikey blond hair and the near metallic grey eyes. Even thinking of her name made a part of him on the inside writhe in rage. His eyes darkened as he tried to force himself to remember, but still nothing came from it. He was dragged from the depths of his mind due to Ozpins soft voice.
"Mr Arc, are you sure you're okay?"
Chuckling, he stood up with a small pop in his knees and the crack of his hand.
"Saying that I'm fine is more than debatable, but I am doing better. I suppose I'll take to going through initiation once again and stay, now what to do?"
Ozpin also stood up from his seat before walking to the window with his cane in hand. The Goodwitch re-entered the room, a look of confusion covering her face, almost like she couldn't remember what was going on earlier.
"If you want, you can use one of the guest rooms as a place to stay in the meantime. Head to the cliffs at eight A.M sharp, I don't hope you mind being seen."
Another smile graced Jaune's face, the cracked and scarred lips creating a terrifying visage to the bloodthirsty grin.
"Not at all, if anything it can be used as a learning experience to show how a true hunter hunts."
Even if it unnerved the both of the teachers, they refused to show it. Ozpin turned back to look out of the window as he spoke to Glynda.
"If you wouldn't mind Miss Goodwitch, can you show Mr Arc to the guest room?"
With a now calmed face, the Goodwitch answered him.
"Of course, sir. Now, Mr Arc stay close to where I can see you."
The two took the elevator to the bottom floor as Ozpin looked over the dawning horizon motionlessly, the tired exasperation in his voice was more evident than it ever was before.
"As your teacher, I can't help but feel ashamed of what had happened to you Jaune, but I feel even more sorry for those that you fight."
All the while a single, unknown entity watched as the Reincarnating talked to himself, before it disappeared without even a whisper, leaving only a pale blue as a sign it even existed before even that faded.