Let's Begin

…- The Call of a Broken Moon -…

It is as I fear it is.

Not one foot within the school campus and I was already being hailed by stares and whispers from the student body. Even worse, it was on a Monday. A Monday. Hence, I was left with the uncomfortable stance of standing a few feet from the front doors of Winslow High while the sound of my dad's car went away, leaving me to my own.

"You are not alone, Ms. Hebert."

I gave a shaky nod at Ozpin's assurance and tried my best to ignore the unwanted attention as I entered the front door. I would have been a deer caught in a headlight again if it weren't for Ozpin snapping me out from my frozen state and directed me to go straight for my home room class. The stares and whispers seemed to have increased by a solid volume but I heeded the advice from Ozpin and ignored it all as much as I can. Finally, I made it unmolested.

"T-Taylor? Morning! Um… your early." I recognized that voice - Ms. Knott, my homeroom teacher. I saw her standing behind the teacher's desk and I assumed that she was preparing her papers for the day. There was a small awkward moment when I noticed that she was about to open her mouth but chose not to. She gave me a nod instead and I quickly shuffled to my desk with the usual early comers giving me the same look as akin to the students in the halls. After a short while, they turned their attentions away, probably preparing themselves for Monday classes and I was then left to my own devices.

I thought about what would happen later in the afternoon and the meeting that happened last week. I have a math class in the first period but, more importantly, Mr. Quinlan would be present as my teacher for the morning. Again, Ozpin gave me another assurance of his assistance in regards to dealing with the teacher that tried to defend the school's lack of action. I trusted him to be able to handle it as he did during the meeting. I just hope that I don't bring any more attention if Mr. Quinlan decided to try another round with the ancient immortal inside of my head…

"Taylor?" I snapped out of my thoughts and blinked as Ms. Knott stood before me. I saw her about to speak again." I… " I didn't miss her hesitation." I'm- " The back door of the classroom erupted and, glancing back, I noted the presence of the rest of my classmates entering with their own groups filing for their own seats. The class was almost full now and I caught my homeroom teacher letting out a quiet sigh before taking charge and wrestling the student's loud voices with a teacher's directive.

"Good morning, class." She begun and the students returned it with a," Good morning, Ms. Knotts." I saw her nodding at the list of attendants, gave me an unsure glance, before starting the homeroom class as I tried to process what just happened. I remembered Ms. Knott being present at the meeting. But only that. She didn't defend the school nor my predicament so I filed her as an outsider. However, from what just happened now… I don't know.

I felt her gaze again but the implications didn't hit me as I was too focused on stifling an involuntary yawn escaping my lips. Right, I was doing another research with Ozpin last night. It appears that the return of dealing with schoolwork, as a normal teenager should be, failed to dissuade Ozpin from pushing me to my limits. It's for the greater good, he said. I'm sure that the old man has plans and all. But the sheer fact that my bloodstream is currently conducting a ballroom dance with the numerous amounts of caffeine would surely say a thing or two about my personal, mental, and physical well-being…

"You'll be fine, Ms. Hebert. Believe me when I say that my previous hosts had more rigorous schedule in place. Furthermore, I had already made prior adjustments to your overall well-being on the first week since I arrived here- so I am quite sure that you would be able to handle the ensuing tasks at hand."

"So, you're saying that you're going easy on me?" I mumbled quietly as I stifled another yawn. I didn't quite catch what he meant with the latter but I was on the process of reviewing the announcements that Ms. Knott was saying at the same time.

"For the time being."

I groaned in response at that.

I feel cold.

It felt like every step is a last cry of warmth against the rough breeze that hailed my shaking form. But I kept walking. I don't why. I can't remember. But I need to walk and continue the fight… wait, what fight?- I tried to remember. However, I still can't figure out why- Only the fact that I must keep going, keep fighting, to hunt down… someone.

There!

A light in the distance. So far away but the promise of warmth breaks away my frail body and emboldened something inside of me to reach forward. My steps were still knee deep in snow and my eyesight is still burdened with cold debris. I ignored it and focused on the fact that I may live another day, to another fight… wait… what fight?

Doesn't matter.

I'm nearly there.

"A-at last…" I sighed. I'm here. A campfire inside a cave. Unoccupied it would seem and so I ventured close to the beating heart of the blessed flame and sat with utmost relief. However, minutes passed as I warm myself, I heard something echoing deep inside the cave. I raised the staff that I carried with me and held it in a familiar stance. I readied myself with alarming calmness and prepared for a battle- another fight amongst untold many.

"Show yourself!" I shouted.

The enemy didn't reveal itself. Unfortunate. But strangely, I did not feel an ounce of fear within me. Just the fact that I need to get this fight over with so I could warm myself- to warm this body and to live another day for another battle. An endless, timeless, cursed life of mine. I let out a growl but swiftly reminded myself that giving in to temper now would be an unwise decision. Hence, I lifted my right foot and slammed it down on the unlighted end of the flaming stick from the campfire and used the end of my staff to slam it forward and unto to the deeper side of the dark cave.

I saw movement. Only a single one. Strange. Even more unusual was the fact that the enemy was moving away from me. Perhaps to gain strategic position? Well, in that front, I must stop them from doing so. There was no resistance as I hastened myself towards them. Not a moment sooner, I was already ahead of the figure with my weapon raised, poised, and ready. I didn't miss the sound of steel escaping its leathery bounds but I was faster, taller, and more experienced. I had no trouble in disarming the short thrust as I then sweeped below with my staff- catching my enemy off-guard and falling to the floor. I heard a bodily impact and the sound of my own sword being removed from its hilt in a preparation for a downward thrust.

I stopped midway.

Inches to the throat.

One step away from nearly murdering a child.

"Y-you have silver eyes..." I managed to utter out loud. Something was caught in my throat. I pushed it away and lowered my blade to see the frantic despair of a young child shielding himself away from a supposed death.

"I'm sorry." I spoke, throat still clump up from the snow, and strength wavered and unsteady from what I've almost committed. I lowered my stance and tried to convey an absence of hostility. "Are you hungry? I'm afraid I don't have much within me. I've already depleted my rations weeks ago but-"

"You're a knight!?"

I couldn't help but blink.

"Yes, yes, I am."

I blinked twice when the child displayed a sense of enthusiasm that caught me off-guard. For a moment, I did not know what to do, so I opted to humor him and settled down. Traces of what happened earlier was swiftly removed to oblivion by childish innocence as I soon find myself sitting back near the warm campfire and face to face with a child bearing the strangest set of eye color that beamed with sheer excitement.

"Did you come from the battle?"

I nodded.

"Did we win the war? Against the monsters?"

I hesitated.

"… oh... well..."

Right.

The battle.

The war.

The fight.

I remember now.

I was leading an army- No, not this time. I was leading a small legion as the head captain. Best of the best. Elite forces of the Kingdom of Vale. I was disobeying orders from the King – someone that isn't capable of heeding advices – and went straight into Salem's castle to end her once and for all with my most trusted and loyal companions. I managed to wound her and eliminated most of her lieutenants in my last iteration before I was killed so I was sure that a small capable force would complete the job in this new body before she manages to regain her usual forces and strength…

Unfortunately, I didn't take account that the King himself would participate in an act of high treason against their very own Kingdom. I shouldn't have dismissed the King as the usual arrogant, proud, and selfish kind. That was a mistake. One my many, many, mistakes. Then again, who would have thought that the arrogant, proud, and selfish King would betray their very own Kingdom for the sake of saving his dying and sick daughter with a deal from the devil?

I managed to gleam that information when my companions and I were ambushed halfway to Salem's territory and was summarily executed one by one by the Royal Guards and the King himself…

Why do they always say their goals and reasons for their actions when they are about to murder someone who is capable of undoing their work?

Nonetheless, I was able to distract the King long enough that I was able to cut my bindings and fought my way through his forces and escape as the only one left alive. I wasn't able to assassinate the King. But that comes later when I return to Vale and lead a revolt against the ruling monarchs. I wonder what route would I try this time?-

"Sir Knight?"

I snapped away from my thoughts and turned my head to the child in question. I examined the cave that we were on. There were the tell-tale signs of another inhabitant living in the small cavern. Perhaps the child's parent?

"I didn't get your name… sir?"

Right my name.

I'm Taylor Hebert.

"I'm just an old man."

"Indigenous people."

What?

I wasn't the only one confused. The whole class were. Especially my math teacher, Mr. Quinton. Which would mean that it was second period. Wait. Why am I in the second period? I thought I was in the middle of my homeroom class… Did I fall asleep or something?

"In regards to my next output in Ms. Knott's class, I was researching Indigenous people to supply my homework."

I was speaking with my own lips but it wasn't me that was making the conscious effort. Furthermore, my back was straighter, I wasn't slouching and I held a confident aura that I'm sure would be quite different to who I really am… which would mean that Ozpin is in control at the moment.

"Apologies, Mr. Quinton for my earlier display. I was up late all night. Hence, my rather dreary state. I hope that my reasonings would justify my actions and, I assure you, I shall make sure that I would be more attentive from now on."

It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling.

"I… I see… y-you can sit now, Taylor."

Like an invisible puppeteer was controlling your strings. You're conscious the whole time but you couldn't do anything about it all. This isn't the first time that I've experienced it. I've been in this state before when I couldn't handle the sheer amount of research that was coming in my way and I had to tap out for the night and let Ozpin take control. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling… but that doesn't mean that I'm comfortable with it.

"Ms. Hebert, you fell asleep earlier. Mid-class." I heard Ozpin remarked just as the control of my body return back to me and I was the person behind the wheels this time. I tried not to shake the weird transition and did my best in making sure that I look like I pay attention to Mr. Quinton's class.

I gave Ozpin my thanks for switching and helping me out in the meanwhile but my mind couldn't help but wander to what I had just dreamed recently.

It felt real.

Was I relieving Ozpin's memories?

"What… what is happening to me?" I whispered quietly.

I was abruptly snapped out of my thoughts as the end of the second period signaled its news to the rest of the class in the form of the school speaker.

"Finally." I sighed in relief as I quickly sat up after cleaning my desk and plowing my school supplies into the depths of my backpack. I then paused as if I was bracing for something. Then quickly reminded myself that Emma Barnes and her lot were in school suspension. They weren't here and I was safe. However, the rumor mill still persisted and I had to carefully maneuver my way to the end of the school halls.

I almost made it outside.

Almost.

Someone was blocking my way.

"Ms. Knotts?" I meekly asked as my homeroom teacher stared at me with the same expression that she wore earlier in the morning. This time, however, I noticed that she was more convicted and resolved as I saw her taking a quick breath before greeting me for the second time of the day.

"Taylor? Afternoon. How was your day at school?" I blinked at the question. I thought it over if it was just part of the greeting formalities but the sincere expression on her face caught me off-guard. It took me quite a few seconds to formulate a respond.

"It's… it's fine." I responded. I didn't miss the curious glances of passing students. However, Ms. Knotts remained patient and unperturbed by the attention as I then caught her giving me a solid nod at my answer.

"I see." I saw her turning her head to the glass windows of the school's front door before returning back to me. "I understand that a place to call home would be desirable at the moment after what you've been through… but," She paused, sighed, and continued," Taylor, If… If you need someone to talk to. Please know that my door is always open. I'm your homeroom teacher. I'm sorry that I wasn't always there before… I hope that you can give me another chance."

"I'll… I'll try." I answered. Eyes down as I suppressed the bubbling emotions inside of me.

"Thank you, Taylor… I'll get out of your hair now." I saw her walking away before pausing," I look forward in seeing you at school tomorrow." She gave another nod as she left. After a moment, I went after the exit and found myself outside the school campus.

I searched for the familiar form of my Dad's car. Seconds later, I found it and made my way towards the vehicle. I then paused as I saw Dad having what looks to be the end of a heated argument with someone that I vaguely recognized as Sophia's representative from the meeting last week. Dad noticed me and gave me a tired and restrained smile. The women next to him- someone blonde with blue eyes scanned the surroundings and swiftly identified me from the student masses as I soon felt her sharp gaze zeroed in on me. I stared at Dad again but I saw him with a defeated look as Sophia's representative slowly walk up to me. I feel uncomfortable and judged with every step she took. Not a minute sooner, she was there standing in front of me with a cold expression.

"We need to talk."

To be continued…

Next Update: First week of July

AN:

You may have notice that I chose not to write Ozpin in the first person's perspective in the previous chapter. In this chapter, in regards to Taylor's dream. While it was akin to relieving the memory as Ozpin, it was Taylor herself that was narrating it. Hence, the first person's perspective. It is what I believe to be what happens when you are subsumed by Ozpin. There is no sudden fear, anticipation, or being surprised at the inevitable just the fact that one day you are you, then you are not you.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this chapter, please leave a review (If you so desire, but no pressure if otherwise), criticisms are welcomed, and I hope you have a pleasant evening and a wonderful tomorrow.

Stay safe, you lots.