"Do you know why I asked to see you today Mr. Kovac?" Ozpin was far less intimidating in person. He seemed so powerful in the tales Edward had heard of and he was in truth he was a tall somewhat gangly man who seemed more like a bizarre hipster than a reincarnated wizard from tales of old.
"I am going to assume it is because I know that the story of the maidens is true and that you are the wizard reborn trying to stop an evil the likes of which the may never fully know of. And the fact that I know that the birds sitting on your shoulders are the Branwen twins who are both wanted in my native land of Mistral, as well as Atlas."
Ozpin's eyes betrayed him in that moment. He knew that the boy knew of the maidens but Ozpin thought that was the extent of his knowledge. It was sad to say but this changed the matter greatly.
" It seems that you are far more perceptive and intelligent than I had given you credit for. know this I rarely underestimate people. Now the matter at hand is that what you now know means that certain doors have been opened to you that to all others would be closed."
"NO!" Edward's voice carried authority and certainty " I want nothing to do with you or your little cult of followers. My team is not ready to act on that level and they never will be. So no before you ask I will not work for or with you. And that is final." in one sudden movement Edward stood and made his way to the door. As he looked around the office he noticed that Glynda was nowhere to be found. This put him on edge as the only reason that he could think of for this was that Ozpin didn't want to have any witnesses who had he didn't completely control. Understanding that if the headmaster or either the crow or raven on his shoulders wanted to kill him that they could, he needed to leave on a positive note.
"One more thing professor, your secret is safe with me."
" less than a month later me and my partner Walter Burke was summoned by Ghira Belladonna to a meeting in Mistral. It didn't seem too odd, Ghira was an old friend of mine. I was there when he started his protests against the SDC. and I had a great amount of respect for him. The only problem is it was a trap. Ghira never summoned us. Trust me if he had then the White Fang would have a different leader now."
Hazel watched as Edward seemed to remember the battle and his eyes filled up with pain. "I called for reinforcements, Burke was already hit. Ozpin tried to jam the signal but your sister didn't trust most communication methods so she made sure that we all had a distress signal. When I popped mine I was expecting to have the cavalry show up. It took her half an hour but your sister came in guns blazing. By then Burke had bled out. My best friend had died in my arms and I wasn't sure I wanted to be alive anymore. I tried telling Gretchen to run for it and get herself out but she said that I was the target here and that I needed to escape no matter the cost. She told me that the only way I could bring justice to Walter was by living long enough to bring down the son of a bitch who did this to him."
By now Edward had tears streaming down his face. In that moment Hazel knew why Edward was drowning himself in liquor, he wasn't guilty about Gretchen's death he hated himself forever living. If he never existed then Gretchen and Walter may still be alive.
"Before you take the shot, let me tell you something of the utmost importance. Gretchen was in her fourth year at Beacon. In her third year, she became pregnant. She didn't tell you because she was afraid of how her "baby brother" would react. The father is her partner Johnny Mcmurray. Before you think about killing him for not answering the distress beacon he never got it Gretchen didn't tell him so that he would stay. She wanted to ensure that one of the baby's parents lived. Your niece, she is named Penelope Hazlen Mcmurray.
Hazel was in shock. He had a niece. And she was named in part after him. Hazel looked at Edward and began to question whether or not he wanted to kill the man before him.
"One more point, before you pull the trigger. There is, in fact, an evil that exists that rivals the power of Ozpin. And her name is Salem. She can be found by those who have the courage to look for her on an unexplored continent to the north-west of vale. The trip would be long and perilous and you may not even survive but if you do then you may be able to get your justice after all."
Hazel had leveled the iron sights of the large pistol on the back of Edward's head. He didn't need to ask Edward why he would want to die. If Hazel had found him then Ozpin's assassins wouldn't be far behind. Squeezing the trigger he saw the hammer begin to rise and when he saw it fall he knew that he had taken his first step on a whole new journey. Now he needed to find his niece. Penelope Hazlen Mcmurray.