Chapter 2: A New Purpose
9 Years Ago
He was scared. His mother was in the hands of a demon lord. He had to choose between his life and his mother's. But his mother begged the demon lord to free him and leave her instead.
"Well little one? Choose your decision," the demon lord said. The demon lord added a little pressure onto his hand, slowly crushing his mother.
"I-I!"
"Shaun! Run! It's ok!" she then felt it's tightened around her body.
"Shut it whore! Now… are you willing to sacrifice the life of your mother? Or… escape and leave your mother to die."
"Alright! I choose my life! To trade against my mother!" little Shaun said.
The gigantic demon lord, whose height was bigger than a regular demon lord, offered its other hand to little Shaun. Shaun cautiously walked to its other hand. Once he was in its grasp, the demon lord lowered the other hand where his mother was in its grasps.
"SHAUN! Please no!"
"It's ok mother! As long as you're safe. I'll be alright." He said as he felt the demon lord tighten its hands so Shaun couldn't escape.
"Ahahahaha! I've finally got you in my hands. Son of Death!"
"Yes… now let my mother go." He said looking at the demon lord's eyes with seriousness.
"Heh… about that…" it said. It then raised its other hand. Shaun widened his eyes. He then shouted at his mother to run. His mother was too late when the demon lord's fist came down at his mother. The mother cried out as the fist came down to her.
"MOTHER!" He said. The little Shaun Hopkin cried while the demon lord laughed at the scene. But then the demon lord's laughed stop as its head was sliced into pieces by his father, Death. His father then flew to Shaun in his true form and carry him. He hugged his father while crying.
After they escaped the demon lord's lair, they went to a secluded place where no demons and angels couldn't find them. Little Shaun was still crying and his father was beside him giving him comfort.
"It-it killed her…" he said.
"I know… I'm sorry I didn't come there sooner…" Death said. He was… heartbroken. How didn't he come sooner? He blamed himself for his wife's death.
"It's fine father…" he said. He wiped his last tear from his eyes. He stood up and looked at the moon. His fists tightened. Death looked at his son. He could feel an overwhelming power that slowly wants to get out from inside of him.
"Son?"
"Father can you teach me how to fight?" he said looking behind him. Death for a moment could feel the power that emanated from his son.
"Is this because of your mother's passing?" he said hands crossed over. Shaun turned his body to him.
"Yes! I want them to pay for what they did… I want to become stronger so I could protect people!" Shaun said tears flowing out from his eyes.
"Shaun. Your mother and I made an agreement to let you not fight the demons."
"Why…"
"It's dangerous Shaun. Look I know that you feel responsible for Mary's passing, but she will not let you, her son, die in the future." Death said. Shaun looked at the ground in disappointment. He then felt a large hand land on his right shoulder.
"But… maybe I could train you now since I wouldn't be here all the time and maybe I asked Strife to train you with his guns."
"You really do?"
"Yes, my son. Besides as my son you need to be stronger than others." Death said letting out a chuckle. Shaun also let out a chuckle of his own.
"I will not let you down. Father." Shaun said. The two then headed to their safehouse.
Present, Remnant, miles from the Emerald Forest.
Shaun opened his eyes and sat up from the ground. Beds of sweats were accumulating inside his bony mask. He took off his mask to wipe all the sweat from his face. After that, he put on the mask again.
'Mother… I am so sorry…' he thought. Shaun often dreamt about his mother's death. How useless and powerless he was facing the demon lord. After that dark experienced, he asked his father to train him, for if there would be another soul that was in trouble, he swore to protect and save that soul. Never in a million years will anyone will have to suffer as he did.
After recovering from his nightmare, he looked at his own campsite that he already established for himself. Two wood logs circle around the bond fire. A rucksack that he got from a village that he saved a week ago offered him the bag as an act of kindness towards the half Nephilim. Not wanting to be rude he accepted the gift and rode off from the said village.
There's nothing much inside his rucksack. A map, a water bottle, and some Lien that he got from the huge assistance towards the villages he came a crossed upon his travels towards the kingdom of Vale. He noticed that people recognized him whenever he was in a village. He must have made a name for himself.
'Oh, what will father say to me? "Shaun what have I told you to keep a low profile?" he would have said that to me, I think.' He thought chuckling. He then stood up and opened his rucksack. He pulled out a brown water bottle and then he drank from it. After that, he put the water bottle back inside and then pulled out a map.
He lay the map at his knees as he sat on the wooden log. His location was two weeks journey towards the kingdom of Vale. The road he took would cross over with forever fall, forest with red leaves. Then after that, the emerald forest was close to the kingdom of Vale.
Satisfied, he folded the map and put it inside his rucksack. Now, he only needed to hunt for animals to gain food for his journey. His father told him that the Nephilim kind also needed to sustain themselves as humans do. But later he told him that the Horseman, such as him, who was granted an immeasurable power from the Charred Council, don't need the sustaining like common life needed for themselves. Then again, his father once told him that he once never ate a single food for almost a month for a mission. Shaun questioned again if he could ever do what his father did to himself.
Shaking his head from his thoughts, he prepared himself to hunt some bears or rabbits. But he felt something was wrong. He felt that someone was stalking him. At first, he thought it was just a feeling and he let it slide, but the feeling of being followed lingered for a month of his journey.
Immediately he shot a bullet with his magnum pistol at his back at the dense forest in the night.
"Show yourself!" he said gun still drawn in his right arm. Then the person that followed him this long came out of the forest hands drawn up. His red eyes widened a bit beneath his bony mask at the person.
"Qrow Branwen…"
"Ah… you remembered me then, kid." He said casually. Shaun approached the Huntsmen, still with his gun pointed at the drunkard Huntsmen.
"Give me a reason that I shouldn't shoot you right now on the head. Because… I don't do well with people following in my footsteps." Shaun said. The man chuckled a bit at being threatened by the Half Nephilim (Although even if didn't know who's he facing).
"Kid, you don't have the guts to even kill me. You are too kindhearted to even do that." He said still smirking. Shaun cocked his gun to tell the Huntsmen that he was serious.
"You don't know me, Mr. Branwen."
"Ahaha, I know. But the fact that you've been saving settlements from grim attacks alone is impressive and noble. That told me you will not kill innocent people." He said.
"But that doesn't answer my question for why you followed me."
"I followed you here because my friend has an interest in you," he said. Shaun then lowered his gun but kept his guard up.
"Speak."
"Alright-alright. After you left that village that you first saved. My friend contacted me to find you and follow you. He has an interesting offer that may interest you."
"And what if I say no."
"Then don't come. He isn't forcing you to meet him, but he hoped that you meet him because he saw the good deeds that you've committed for the people." He said, serious this time. Shaun contemplated the man's words.
'Huh… someone is intrigued on me? And offering something? Maybe…' he thought. He then was cut off from his mind from a cough.
"Here," he said giving Shaun a piece of paper.
"This is where you will be meeting him." He said. Shaun took the paper from the man's hand. The piece of paper was a location that was neared the Emerald Forest, where he would be heading to so he could across Vale.
"Well, mission accomplished, bye kid. Safe travels." Qrow said as he spun his body and walked to the dense forest leaving Shaun alone. He looked back at the drunkard Huntsmen, contemplating the offer that he was given.
The first thing that his father ever taught him was never to trust a person that seeks his power. When he asked why Death's only answer was experience taught him. Back at the matter at hand, this person who wants to meet him seemed suspicious. Yet, Qrow told him that it might interest him. What it was he didn't know, but he knew that he should probably consider the offer.
Shaun let out a sigh. His days in this new world are beginning to make his head hurt. He hoped that his travel to his destination would be filled with peace and quiet.
A Week Later, Forever Fall Forest
Forever Fall was a forest with red leaves and mountainous terrains that surrounds the forest. Inside the forest, a clearing where we could see a raven-haired girl who was sitting on a rock looking at the sky. The girl wore a black, buttoned vest with coattails and a single buttoned on the front. She also wore stockings with a color gradation of black to purple at her ankles. On her head was a black bow that was covering her Faunus heritage. She has ember eyes and purple eye shadows styled in a feline way. And at her back was a katana that she named Gambol Shroud. The girl's name was…
"Blake. It's time." Said another person. He was a Faunus also with a pair of little horns. He has red hair and a mask that covered only his eyes. He wore a black high-collared blazer and long black dress pants, black shoes with red soles, and black gloves with red sigils. His weapon, Wilt and Bush, was a red sword and a rifle as its sheath.
Blake Belladonna looked at her partner Adam Taurus. She was conflicted about doing this mission and what she was going to do afterward.
"Ok." She said. The two of them run and stopped on the edge of a cliff, where there was a train came by. As the train was coming closer, they leaped from the cliff and slides off from the cliffsides. After that, they jumped when they have gotten closer to the train. They landed on the roof of the cargo with Adam and Blake plunged their weapon on the hood to stop themselves.
Then they rushed to another cargo of the train. Adam stopped his tracks to let Blake know that they found the right cargo. He used his sword to open the hatch of the hood's train to gain access to one of the train's cargo. The two then got inside of the cargo.
But… they were not alone. Androids began to activate on their own in responding to intruders.
"Looks like we will be going to this the hard way," he said to his partner. The robots began to look at the duo Faunus.
"Don't so be overdramatic," Blake said to her partner. The Androids or Atlesian Knight-130s circled the duo and turned their arms into mini Gatling guns.
"Intruders. Identified yourselves." One of the androids said to them. Adam then used his sheath or riffle to shoot out his sword at the android. Adam quickly grabbed his sword again and beheaded the android and then simultaneously sliced the android in half.
The other androids quickly attack the duo. They transformed their arms into blades. Blake who was closer at the androids used her semblance. Semblance is a power that allowed certain beings who possess an aura and every person's semblance are unique. For Blake, she left a shadow of her where the android tried to stab her. The androids were destroyed when Blake used her semblance to avoid the android attacks.
The duo then continued to slice and destroy the remaining androids inside the cargo train. While Adam was preoccupied, Blake would slice an android that was going to attack her partner. And Adam would do the same. An android with a Gatling gun fired at Adam. Adam deflected the bullets, but Blake rushed in deflecting the bullets and then finally destroying them. Blake then continued to destroy the androids along her path, using her semblance to avoid the android's attacks.
Then Adam kicked an android that was still in the air. It resulted in the cargo's door being opened by the android's body impact on the door. But then other androids were already outside of the cargo where the duo was.
Adam and Blake rushed at the abundant androids. Adam was the first to strike the first blow to an android and then Blake. Blake using Gambol Shroud's kusarigama form, threw the transformed weapon with her pistol's recoiled. She used her ribbon to navigate the weapon's trajectory, slicing the androids nearing her weapon's range attack. With Adam, he used his weapon to destroy the remaining robots with little difficulty. The two destroyed all the androids until none were alive.
After that, the duo got inside another cargo train. Adam looked at the contents inside the train and open one of its crates. He seemed pleased with what was inside.
"Perfect. Now, let's move into the next car. I'll set up the charges." He said as he closed the crate.
"Wait, what about the crew members?" She said with concern.
"What about them?" He said without giving a damn.
Then suddenly they heard a noise. From the ceiling, a droid that resembled a spider came down from its perch. Then the Spider droid aimed its weapon at their direction.
"Adam," Blake said as Adam rushed at the droid. The droid charged up its cannons its hands and fired at the male Faunus. Adam swiftly dodged the beams of projectiles. Blake joining her partner was swiftly dodged the droid's projectiles with ease. She then leaped and delivered a slash at the droid. But it proved futile as the droid swatted the cat Faunus from its vision. Adam tried to attack the droid also, but again it proved futile as the droid kicked him. The kicked crashed him onto some boxes. He got up and saw that his partner was inches away from getting stomped by the droid.
Adam saved his partner and retreated to the far end of the cargo neared a door.
"We needed to get out of here!" Blake said to her partner. Then the Spider droid transformed its four mechanical pulsar cannons into one. It charged up its cannon again and fired at the duo. The results were the cargo's door was destroyed and the two were blasted away onto another car. The Spider droid came out of the hole that it made from its attack.
"Buy me some time!" he said to Blake. As he stood up but in pain.
"Are you sure?!"
"Just do it!" he said. Blake then rushed at the droid. She delivered attacks and dodges as the droid shot out its beams at her. Blake then backs away from the droid as it going to do the attack again like last time. When the droid shot its combined energy beam, Adam used his weapon to absorb its attack. Then he laughed menacingly as his clothes and hair were glowing. He then swung his blade to the droid destroying it.
Adam sheathing his blade didn't notice that Blake have moved onto another train car. Blake using her weapon cut the line that's connecting the two train cars. Suspecting her partner to leave her alone, Adam shot his sword at Blake staggering her.
"What..." she said as Adam was in front of her in the car.
"Are you leaving me?! Why?" He said to her.
"I-I'm done, Adam. I'm done being in the White Fang!" she said. But Adam still points his sword at her.
"Are you leaving because afraid of killing these humans?!" he said angrily.
"Adam! We're not killers. The guilty should be punished, yes, but not like this! This isn't the way to achieve peace with the humans!" she said while fearing of what her partner would do next.
"Peace?! That wouldn't happen, Blake! What they only understand is that they think they are superior to us! The one thing that we could only do is violence. With it, they understand,"
"Then why are you here stopping me if you could do that yourself and with the rest?!" she said.
"I can't let you run away again from me Blake. You know I can't."
"You know… My father once gave me a piece of advice about dealing with women. He said, 'Don't force a woman into your demands if she doesn't want to'." A voice said. They turned at the newcomer, the duo widened their eyes at the new person.
"You're…" Blake said, her voice wavering as she recognized who the person was.
"The Grim Reaper…" Adam finished her. Shaun nodded at the two Faunus. His red eyes stared at the duo.
"Yes. Although you can call me… Argus." He said at the duo.
"Why are you here," Adam said at the Grim Reaper, who was still grabbing Blake's arm to prevent her from escaping him.
"While I was going to my destination, I saw an explosion from where I rode. Curious, I decided to check the cause of the explosion. Then when I finally arrive, I saw you hurting your partner." He said pointing at Adam.
"Now… I suggest you release the girl." The half Nephilim demanded to the male Faunus. Adam growled at the 'Grim Reaper'. Adam knew the reputation of the bone-masked Huntsmen. And he got to admit when he heard that he saved a Faunus village, despite being a Huntsmen, he was about to recruit the half Nephilim. But now, he decided not to since he clearly sides with his partner.
With Blake, she was flabbergasted at the rumored Huntsmen. She never believed her eyes at what the Huntsmen said. Normally a Huntsmen would probably immediately apprehend the two of them, but the masked Huntsmen were letting her go? She was cut out from her mind when Adam suddenly yelled at Grim Reaper.
"What made you think that I would hear you, Human?"
"Because I don't want to waste my time by fighting an annoying guy like you," Shaun said, his hands crossed over. Adam in a feat of rage leaped at the rumored Huntsmen leaving Blake. Shaun backflipped and simultaneously, his shadowy true form appeared slashing upwards at the approaching Faunus. Adam blocked the attack with his blade. Shaun took a second to look at the girl. He mentioned her to escape. She widened her eyes and curtly nodded at the tattered cloak Huntsmen. She went to another train car and cut the line connecting the train cars.
Adam quickly tried to slash at Shaun. But Shaun parried his attacks with ease and then he delivered a counterattack by attaching his two scythes at the end. Then he simultaneously spun the weapon and then threw it at the male Faunus. Adam backed away from the spinning scythe.
Shaun grabbed his scythe again and then he transformed his attached scythe into spear mode. He thrust the weapon at the male Faunus which the Faunus used his sword to absorb the second attack from Shaun. Adam grinned at the sheer power of attacks that he just absorbed. He then activated his semblance to return the attacks back at the Grim Reaper.
"Die!" he said. His clothing and hair began to glow. Adam let out the attack with a horizontal slash at the half Nephilim. But then Shaun transformed into his true form and delivered a downward slash with his big scythe. The downward slashed split Adam's attack into two, proving how powerful is the Grim Reaper. Adam widened his eyes at the form he sees. He was backing away at the… thing, as fear built up inside of him.
"S-Stop! Don't come any closer!" he said. He could now feel the aura of death emanating from the large winged figure. The figure slowly approached the Faunus to scare him, its red eyes staring piercingly from its dark hood. Knowing that he can't defeat the thing, Adam pulled out a white crystal from his blazer. He then threw the crystal at the floor in front of the large figure, smashing it. The crystal exploded and the blinding light forced the creature to cover its eyes. Adam used the distraction to escape the large figure, he hopped off from the train car and retreated to the forest.
Shaun turned back into his normal form, looked at the retreating male Faunus. He has a feeling that he will meet the male Faunus again in the future, but this time… he wouldn't let him get away. As for the female one, he also has a feeling that he would meet again. Shaun with nothing else to do hopped off from the train car and summoned Despair. The rider and his stead set to their final travel. The Emerald Forest.
A Week Later, Emerald Forest
Finally, after two weeks of travel, Shaun reached the Emerald Forest. Shaun admired the sight of the forest, the rustling from the green leaves against the wind, and the sound of chirping birds. The floras that Remnant offered at the young half were rather beautiful than Earth. He was currently in a small clearing, surrounded by tall trees in a circular shape. Currently, Shaun was aligning the map that was given by Qrow with his own map.
Then suddenly Shaun heard a growl from his left. Pair of red eyes were looking at the half Nephilim. Shaun got off from Despair as the said horse disappeared to the ground. The red eyes have shown themselves to be six Beowolfs, two Ursas, and six Boarbatusks from inside the green forest. The half Nephilim smirked behind his bony mask at the predators before him.
"What a warm welcome…" He said sarcastically. The grim charged at the teen, but Shaun summoned shadow ravens at the grim. The ravens first attack the two Ursas, giving Shaun an opportunity to use shadow grip at the Ursa. Shaun was pulled to the Ursa, then with grace, he canceled out his shadow grip to flip on the air and landed at its back. Then with his two scythes, he sliced off its head like two big scissors.
The other bear-like grim began to run all fours to the half Nephilim. Shaun shot a bullet with him at the running Ursa. The bullet damaged its left eye. The Ursa shrieked in pain, as it holds onto its damaged eye. Then Shaun teleported at the Ursa slashing its abdomen with the attached two scythes. Then as a finishing blow, Shaun speared its head from its chin.
After that, Shaun looked at the other grim. The Beowolfs and Boarbatusks were silent when he first attacked the Ursas, but then they began to charge at the half Nephilim. Shaun flexed his arms, his red eyes narrowed at the approaching grim.
"Huh… Bring it," Shaun said. As he sprinted to them, a black-red shadowy mist began to envelop him.
Beacon Cliff, miles from Shaun's location
Beacon Cliff was a cliff that was used by the fellow headmaster to launch his applicants into the Emerald Forest. For years, Ozpin has used this cliff to accept Huntsmen in training into his school. Some say he was insane, but for the headmaster himself it was… Entertaining.
Right now, he was currently seeing a potential ally and student from his scroll. The Grim Reaper or Argus was killing the Beowolfs, Boarbatusks, and Ursas (which were now dead). Again, Professor Ozpin was quite astonished by the skills that Argus displayed. Quick reflexes and excellent sword (scythes) ship. And his powers were fascinating for him to see as it doesn't rely upon aura.
"Professor Ozpin. What are you doing here?" Glynda said as she approached the headmaster.
"Hmm?" he replied. His eyes were still glued onto the screen of his scroll. Glynda's eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"Oz, what are you looking at?"
"He's here." Glynda's eyes were wide opened.
"Are you sure?" Ozpin handed over his scroll for the female Huntsmen to see. The screen showed Shaun fighting six Beowolfs. The half Nephilim was shooting half of the Beowolfs with his magnum pistol. The three Beowolfs were killed with three shots straight to the heart. Then the other three, Shaun teleported to them and then he slashed at the three, his true form appeared in front of him delivering an added damage. Glynda was impressed by what she was seeing.
"His skills are impressive." She said. Ozpin drank his coffee from his mug in his hand.
"Indeed. Now… Glynda, I suggest you prepare bullhead for our guests. We don't want to let him kill all the grim that was residing inside the forest," The Headmaster of Beacon said. Glynda nodded and went inside the academy to prepare bullhead. Ozpin continued to watch the mysterious guest from his scroll.
Miles from Beacon Cliff
Shaun evade a charging Boarbatusk that was heading his way. With a downward slash, he impaled the wild boar grim through his armor's hide. He then turned into his true form to kill three Boarbatusks that was heading his way. Now it left two Boarbatusks in the clearing. Shaun transformed back into his normal form. The two Boarbatusks began to flee from the area, but Shaun won't let them. He sprinted towards them, then with shadow grip, he sliced the Boarbatusk from its bony armored hide. The other Boarbatusk was getting away from him so he attached his two scythes and transformed them into spear mode. He threw the spear into the fleeing grim. the spear got impaled on its back and went throughout its mouth. He walked to the dead Boarbatusk and took out his spear.
Once he was done, he looked around for any signs of grim. The surrounding area was filled with dead grim. Their bodies vanish into black smoke. Shaun let out a sigh and then he detached the transformed weapon. He placed them back beside his hips.
"Now, I just need to summon Despair and head into this location-", he stopped when he heard a sound coming from the sky. He looked at the distance to see a flying vehicle that was heading to him.
When he first saw the flying vehicle, he was astonished. For most of his life, he only heard those flying vehicles from his mother's stories when he was little. Planes what his mother told him, but it seems people of Remnant called the flying machine in a different name… was it bullhead?
Shaking his head, he looked at the descended bullhead. The aircraft landed at the clearing a small wind was created upon its touched down. Then the aircraft's backdoor/hatch opened. As the hatch came down to the dirt the inside revealed a blond woman. Her emerald eyes narrowed at him. Shaun was prepared for another battle when the woman suddenly spoke.
"You must be Argus. Come, the headmaster of Beacon wants to see you at his office," She said. Shaun raised a brow from behind his mask.
"Hold on. This headmaster, is he the one who Qrow mentioned about?"
"Yes. Now come in," she said with authority. Shaun went inside the bullhead and the two of them headed to Beacon Academy.
Beacon Tower, Ozpin's office
Ozpin sipped his tenth coffee this day. He was waiting for Glynda and the mysterious Huntsmen. He got to admit, he can't wait to meet Argus and he hoped he can accept his proposal. When the bell from his elevator office chimed, the elevator door opened. From inside came out Glynda and the rumored "Grim Reaper Huntsmen" or Argus.
He observed Argus up close since the media didn't often get a good picture of Argus. Argus wore a simple black zipped jacket, a tattered cloak, black trousers, and black boots. His hood was drawn, he wore a white mask that looked like a skull with two thin horns on the forehead. He also wore a red scarf that was wrapped around his neck covering his chin.
"Welcome back, Glynda, and thank you for bringing me… Argus," He said. Shaun stopped when his aliases were called. He got to admit the room he was in was interesting. He has never seen something like this before giant gears and cogs inside of a room and acted as a clocktower at the same time. Uncle Strife would want to see this (then again Uncle Strife has seen much weird stuff in his life, he probably passed this one as a meh).
"Astonished with my office, Mr. Argus?"
"Not really." He said, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes.
"Really? The way you looked over this room spoke… Astonishment," The headmaster said sipping his coffee.
"Straight to the point. What do you want?"
"Yes, sorry. Argus, a month ago you just saved a village from the destruction of humongous grim; Titan grim if the guards said and for the most of my life, I have never seen any Huntsmen killed this very ancient grim, Alone. Then you exterminate its army by yourself. I must say… I'm very impressed." He said. Shaun behind his mask tilted his right eyebrow.
"And to add it up, along the way you saved countless settlements that were high with grim infestation. Other Huntsmen would avoid being in the area, but you. You saved them all even if it was dangerous for a lone Huntsmen." he said.
"And your point, Mr…?" Glynda's eyes widened as he didn't know about the man he was currently talking to.
"Ozpin. Professor Ozpin. I am the headmaster of Beacon Academy. The very school that now you are in." he said.
"Right…" The half Nephilim only said.
"You probably wondering why you are here and why Qrow approached you, right?" He said which Shaun nodded.
"I supposed you knew that you are famous in this continent."
"Yeah. Every time I across upon a village or settlement the people there would soon recognize me." He said.
"Well, Argus. It is because you have saved many lives with your skills. I must say, young man, your skills are very impressive, but what intrigued me was your semblance," He said. Shaun was struck with another confusion this time.
'Semblance? What's that?' he thought. Ozpin caught the half Nephilim's confusion with ease. Even with his mask on, the headmaster easily saw through his behavior.
"Argus your semblance is unique… and by unique, you could use different abilities which is uncommon with other Huntsmen."
"Really? Then I supposed I'm a special then," Shaun said, jokingly. Ozpin chuckled upon the comment.
"I guess you are… if it is a semblance in the first place." He said which stunned Shaun.
"Pardon?"
"Your powers, Argus, aren't a semblance. Meaning you didn't use Aura while fighting the grim."
"And your point is?"
"Argus, for most of my life. I have never seen someone using another power except Aura. And that is why… I am intrigued by this." The headmaster said. Shaun was warry around the man before him. If he knew that he didn't use 'Aura' that he said to him then he didn't know what to do.
"Let's say I didn't use any Aura you just mention about. What will you do?" Shaun said. The headmaster smirked was very annoying to him, its like his father all over again.
"Well… that would be an interesting case."
"… Alright. Well, I doubt you contacted me just for praising me for my good deeds."
"Yes, you're right. To be blunt… I want you to join my school." He said to the half Nephilim. Shaun's eyes were wide. Join a school? Really?
"Why should I join in this… school of yours?"
"In my school, you would be taught by many experience Huntsmen on how to fight the grim and learned a variety of materials; including our history of the world and more. What do you say?" he said the latter was with a tone of hopefulness.
Shaun thought about this for a moment. Being in this school then he could be monitored by this headmaster. But the bright side he could learn about this new world. For most of his life, he was taught to read and speak by his mother. Even if Earth was destroyed, his mother taught him what he needed to know. She once told him that if the world didn't wound up in ruins because of the demons then he would go to school to learn and make friends.
Fighting? His father was the leader of the infamous Horsemen and the most powerful among the four. Fighting he didn't need to be taught again, since his father already trained him. When his father trained him, he didn't mess around. Almost every single day, he would fight against demons and spar against his father. After that, he would rest for only four hours of sleep. It was hellish, to say the least, but worth it.
"Well then? Mr. Argus. Do you accept my proposal?" Ozpin said to him cutting out from his thoughts. Shaun looked again at the headmaster.
"Before I accept, there are circumstances that you must hear from me. One, I don't trust you… yet. Because you clearly hiding me something, I could see it in your eyes. Then again, I am too keeping something from you two. Second, I want to go to the library, because it was my sole goal on why I was heading to Vale." He finally said.
"Sure thing. At Beacon Academy, we have the largest library in all of Remnant. And, I understand you still don't trust me, but please I mean no harm to you. Also, yes I have my own set of secrets myself." He said. The half Nephilim felt that there was honesty in the headmaster's voice. Shaun sighs.
"Alright… I accept." Ozpin smiled at Shaun's response.
"Great. But… if it isn't a bother, what's your real name, Argus?" Ozpin said. Shaun began to lower his hood, revealing his raven messy hair. Then after that, he pulled his mask off from his face, revealing an 18 years old teen who has been fighting for almost of his life since he had been trained by his father.
"Shaun Hopkin," he said. Ozpin and Glynda were surprised with how young the rumored "Grim Reaper" was. Glynda would have admitted that Shaun was very handsome, but she shook her head to prevent being caught staring.
"Well, Mr. Hopkin. Welcome to Beacon Academy, I hope in time you could trust me enough to reveal who you are." He said. Shaun approached the headmaster and took the offered hand. He shook the offered hand.
"Likewise, Professor Ozpin." He said. He let out a small smile at the headmaster which he returned. For now, Shaun should be cautious around the headmaster. His father always told him that to keep guard around people because if they knew what he's capable of, he would get used as a tool for others. Until then if the Ozpin proved to be an ally… maybe he could tell him what he is.
Somewhere on Earth
Strife was the gunslinger amongst the four. He was considered to be the more tolerable from the group of Horsemen. Now, he was in a settlement of humans blending inside the group. You see he has a trick. He could change his appearance to what of human. In his human form, he was known as Jones.
The gunslinger heard that the settlement was going to head into a maker's place which was a tall tree that was far from here. He was impressed that a maker was willing to save these humans which were resurrected by none other than Death. Remembering Death, his thoughts then led into his son or nephew.
He was worried. He heard the order from the now corrupted Charred Council that Shaun was considered a nuisance in their damned balance. What balance? Because he was the son of the most powerful from the four? He didn't know, but hell with them. He wouldn't let them find his nephew and thank the Creator of life that Shaun disappeared from the Charred Council's vicinity
He and Death knew that there was something wrong with the Charred Council. When War was accused of being the one to break the seals, they knew that he didn't do it so… there must be someone who did it. Death was… dead (strange to think that Death was dead since he is… Death). He chuckled to himself.
Then suddenly he heard a growl from behind the settlement. Demons and Draughts were approaching them. The humans began to panic as they fasten their pace to escape from their settlement. Strife got up from his seat and began to sprint to the marching demons and draughts.
Some shouted to him to come back and some left him. He felt like a hero right now. After the ones who shouted to him began to stop and left him, he transformed himself into his usual self as the marching demons and draughts began to close to him.
'Shaun wherever you are… your uncle is going to find you no matter what,' he thought as he drew his guns and began to shoot out bullets to the demons and draughts.
AN
Hey guys, sorry for the very late upload. I was writing my other story and some other stuff.
Anyway, in the future, I will focus on this story, but don't worry the other one is not dead.
By the way, enjoy and I'll see you in the next chapter.