Oscar stared at the open window, his thoughts drifting beyond the quiet neighborhood of Saphron's home.
He still remembered his time back in the farms like yesterday—he had been flipping through a well-worn mechanical magazine, taking a break after another long day of planting vegetables.
Now, he was here—miles away from the farm he once called home, caught in a whirlwind of events that had turned his simple life upside down.
It still felt surreal. Growing up on a farm, his future had seemed set in stone: tending the fields, caring for the livestock, and keeping the land running just as generations before him had done. But while he was born into a farmer's life, his heart had always gravitated toward something else—machines.
The day the old tractor broke down, it had been left untouched for nearly a week, waiting for a mechanic who never showed. Oscar had taken it upon himself to fix it, spending five grueling days tinkering between his farm chores, determined to bring it back to life.
And when he did, he realized something—he loved it.
The gears, the wiring, the problem-solving—it all fascinated him in a way nothing else had.
But a farm was a poor place to learn mechanics. With only a handful of books and his own trial-and-error, his knowledge was limited.
He dreamed of expanding his skills, of understanding machines on a deeper level.
He never imagined, however, that the path to leaving the farm wouldn't be by his own choosing, but because of a voice—an ancient soul—that had chosen him.
It was still hard to believe he had become the next vessel for Ozpin.
One moment, he was just Oscar Pine, an ordinary farm boy with dirt-stained hands and calloused fingers.
The next, he was carrying the weight of lifetimes past, burdened with knowledge, power, and a responsibility he never asked for.
At first, he resisted, recoiled at the idea of sharing his mind with someone else. The whispers in his head felt invasive, unnatural.
He hated it.
Hated the way his own thoughts were no longer his alone. But time had a way of eroding his defenses, and Ozpin—patient, persistent—eventually won him over.
And now, here he was.
No longer just a farmhand, but a player in a conflict much bigger than himself.
Life and death, magic and war—these were the realities he now faced.
It was terrifying.
It was overwhelming.
But... was it regret?
No.
Not yet, at least.
His gaze drifted to the small wooden desk in the corner of the room, where last night's reading still sat—a mechanic's handbook, pages creased from use.
He had finished it just before sleep had claimed him.
Even with everything happening, even with the weight of the world pressing down on him, he still found time for this. Still found comfort in the thing he had loved before everything changed.
Maybe, in the chaos of this new life, he could still hold onto a piece of himself.
Maybe, despite everything, Oscar Pine wasn't completely lost.
Oscar descended the stairs quietly, his feet light against the wooden steps. The warm scent of lavender lingered in the air—Selene had cleaned the house with Saphron's permission—mixing with the faint chill of the midday breeze slipping in through an open window.
As he reached the first floor, he saw them—Selene and Saphron, standing near the couch, while Terra was by the entrance, slipping on her shoes. Saphron had a bright, grateful smile on her face as she carefully handed baby Adrian into Selene's arms.
"Thank you so much, Selene!" Saphron beamed, her eyes gleaming with appreciation. "Terra and I haven't had a night to ourselves in ages. Seriously, we owe you for this!"
Selene received the child with a practiced ease, holding him as if it were second nature. Her cool, composed demeanor remained unshaken as she dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment. "Do not worry, Miss Saphron. I will do my best to ensure Adrian's needs are met."
"You're so reliable, Selene," Terra chimed in as she adjusted her coat, her voice carrying genuine admiration. "Weiss and Rinko are so lucky to have you."
For a fleeting moment, Selene tensed—so subtly that most wouldn't have noticed. But Oscar, watching from the stairs, caught the faintest hesitation in her normally poised expression. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the same measured smile she always wore.
"Wish we had a maid too," Terra added with a lighthearted chuckle. "But hey, we're lucky to have you helping us out as well!"
Selene gave a polite nod, offering Terra a reassuring smile. "It is my pleasure."
Saphron stepped closer to the entrance, adjusting her scarf before turning back to Adrian, who was now comfortably nestled in Selene's arms. Her expression softened, and she reached out, lightly brushing her fingers against the baby's cheek.
"Be good for Selene, okay, sweetie?" she murmured. Adrian babbled in response, his tiny hands curling into fists.
Saphron let out a small laugh before straightening up. "Alright, we'll be back later tonight! Have fun, little guy!"
She turned toward Terra, then suddenly paused, as if remembering something. Her expression shifted just slightly before she turned back to Selene, her tone taking on an unusual edge.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention..." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just a bit. "Keep. Adrian. Held."
For a brief moment, the air in the room seemed to change. It was subtle—so subtle that even Oscar, standing nearby, could only sense it in the way Saphron's usually warm and playful demeanor sharpened for just a second.
Selene, however, remained utterly unfazed, her face unreadable as always.
"Or else something bad will happen—ANYWAYS! Byeee~!" Saphron suddenly chirped, waving off the moment as if it had never happened. With that, she turned on her heel and stepped out into the crisp Argus air, joining Terra as they disappeared down the street. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the house in momentary silence—save for Adrian's tiny coos and the distant hum of the city outside.
Oscar remained where he was, his brows slightly furrowed as he watched Selene gently adjust Adrian in her arms. Something about her reaction—or lack thereof—lingered in his mind.
Shaking the thought away, he made his way toward the ground floor. "Hey, Selene!"
Selene turned her gaze to him, nodding in acknowledgment. "Oscar."
He hesitated for a moment before tilting his head slightly, studying her. "You okay?"
Selene's expression remained unreadable, but there was the slightest flicker of something in her eyes. It was gone before he could place it. "I'm alright. Why do you ask?"
"Ah... nothing," Oscar said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyways, where's Rinko? I haven't seen him this morning. Did he go somewhere?"
"Yes," Selene answered simply, adjusting Adrian in her arms. "He said he wanted to explore Argus for a while. Since we are still sitting ducks here thanks to Cordovin's conscription, he figured he might as well make use of the time. Also, Team JNPR will not be coming home tonight—they're visiting Miss Pyrrha's parents."
"Ah, okay. So he's taking a stroll outside, huh? Figures..."
"Hm, I suppose." She let out a quiet sigh before turning to him, extending her arms slightly—offering Adrian to him. "Well, since we're the only ones here, could you hold Adrian for me while I prepare lunch?"
Oscar blinked. "Sure, but I don't really know how to—"
Before he could finish, Selene had already handed him the baby.
"Thank you," she said smoothly, already turning toward the kitchen. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Uh..." Oscar muttered, staring down at the tiny bundle now resting in his arms. Adrian looked up at him with wide, curious eyes before giggling.
Oscar let out a breath, shifting his grip slightly as he adjusted. "Huh... Holding a baby isn't as bad as I thought."
He glanced toward the nearby couch, where a small toy—a Manta ship—was resting on a low table. Picking it up, he handed it to Adrian, who immediately grabbed it with both hands, eyes lighting up with fascination.
For a moment, Adrian seemed perfectly content, babbling softly as he toyed with the miniature aircraft. But then, just as suddenly as his interest had come, it vanished.
Adrian's eyes snapped toward the window, catching sight of something outside. A real Manta ship soared across the Argus sky, its engines humming faintly in the distance.
His expression shifted.
Then—without hesitation—he threw the toy.
Oscar raised an eyebrow as it tumbled to the floor. "You sure do give mixed signals," he muttered with an amused chuckle before crouching down to retrieve it.
"Alright, buddy, here's your—"
He paused.
The couch was empty.
Adrian was gone.
Oscar's breath hitched as a jolt of alarm surged through his body. His eyes darted around the room, scanning every corner, every shadow, every possible hiding spot.
He checked behind the couch.
He checked the corners.
He checked everywhere.
But Adrian was nowhere to be found.
His pulse began to race, cold sweat forming at the back of his neck.
"Uh... UHH...!" Oscar stammered, panic quickly setting in.
At that moment, Selene reentered the living room, balancing a tray of mashed potatoes and baby food in her hands. She barely made it two steps before noticing Oscar's wide, frantic eyes.
"Oscar," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "Where's Adrian?"
"I—I don't—"
A loud crash from outside shattered the air.
Both Oscar and Selene froze for a split second before their gazes locked.
Then, without another word, they bolted for the entrance.
The front door flew open, and what they saw made their blood run cold.
Adrian was outside—crawling on the cold pavement, his tiny hands patting against the stone. His gaze was locked on the sky, watching where the Manta ship had passed.
But that wasn't the worst part.
A car skidded to a stop mere inches away from him. Behind the said car was another car that slammed on to the rear end—a car accident.
And it was all because of Adrian crawling across the road.
Selene and Oscar's eyes widened in horror.
"A-Adrian?! How did he—"
"No time!" Selene snapped, dashing forward with blinding speed. She reached out, her fingers mere moments from grasping the baby—
And then—
He vanished.
Selene's eyes widened as she stumbled forward, expertly rolling to absorb the momentum of her failed dive. She flipped onto her feet, her gaze snapping around in search of Adrian.
A soft chuckle echoed through the air.
Both Oscar and Selene whipped their heads upward—
And there, perched atop a streetlamp, clapping his tiny hands together in sheer delight, was Adrian.
Oscar's breath hitched, his jaw nearly hitting the ground. His mind raced to make sense of what he was seeing, but nothing could explain it—nothing except...
Selene, for the first time in what felt like forever, looked visibly surprised. Her sharp blue eyes flickered with something that could almost be called disbelief.
"A-Adrian?! Did I—Was that—"
Inside Oscar's head, Ozpin's voice finished the thought for him, his tone calm but undeniably intrigued. 'Teleportation. His Semblance.'
Oscar felt his breath catch. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as he forced himself to speak. "W-what?! His Semblance..? But—he's barely a year old!"
'I know, which is impressive. Trust me, I've seen Semblances manifest at young ages before, but this...' Ozpin trailed off, and for once, his silence felt heavy.
Oscar snapped his head toward Selene, who was already crouched low, calculating her next move. "Selene!" he called out. "It's Adrian's Semblance! He can teleport!"
Selene's expression darkened slightly. "Figures," she muttered, her sharp gaze flicking back to Adrian. She had suspected something was odd about the child, especially after Saphron's cryptic warning earlier, but she hadn't expected this.
Just then, the deep, rumbling hum of another passing Manta ship filled the air, soaring across the Argus skyline.
Adrian's reaction was instant. His sparkling eyes widened, and a bright giggle bubbled from his lips.
Selene barely had a second to react.
"Seriously..." she muttered under her breath before launching herself forward. Her movements were precise, calculated—her fingers stretched out, nearly grazing Adrian's soft skin—
And then—
Poof!
He disappeared again.
Selene's eyes narrowed, but her reflexes were second to none. Before gravity could pull her down, she seized the iron pole of the streetlamp with one hand. With a practiced motion, she swung her body around, effortlessly pulling herself to the very top of the lamp post.
Selene perched atop the streetlamp like a bird of prey, her sharp eyes scanning the streets below.
"There!" Oscar's voice rang out from below. "On top of that building!"
Selene's gaze snapped toward the direction he pointed. Sure enough, Adrian was there—crawling clumsily across the slanted, tiled roof of a two-story building.
"Dammit."
With no time to waste, both she and Oscar sprang into action.
Selene leaped toward the nearest building, her feet touching the wall for barely a second before she pushed off, gripping a metal pipe jutting from the structure's side. With practiced grace, she swung herself upward, using the momentum to propel herself onto the rooftop.
Meanwhile, Oscar sprinted along the street, his portable cane bouncing against his waist with each hurried step. He wasn't nearly as fast as Selene, but he refused to be left behind.
Adrian, completely unaware of the panic he was causing, giggled as he continued his slow crawl forward.
Then—his tiny hand slipped.
The baby's weight tipped forward, and suddenly, he was sliding down the icy, rain-slicked tiles.
Selene's breath caught in her throat.
'No—!'
She launched herself forward, her powerful legs pushing off the rooftop with everything she had. The force of her jump cracked the tiles beneath her heels as she cut through the air, arms outstretched, reaching—
Only for Adrian to vanish again.
Selene's heart barely had time to lurch before her instincts screamed at her.
'Incoming—!'
She snapped her focus forward just in time to see the thick metal pole of another streetlamp rushing toward her face. She had milliseconds to react. Twisting her body midair, she grabbed the pole with both hands, the impact bent the metal slightly. Using its momentum, she swung herself up, flipping onto the rooftop with fluid precision.
"AT THE TRUCK!"
Oscar's shout yanked her attention downward.
Her sharp gaze locked onto Adrian once more—this time, atop the metal roof of a moving truck.
The baby was sitting there, completely unbothered, gnawing on his tiny fingers as if this was just another ordinary afternoon.
"This kid...!" Selene hissed under her breath as she took off again, sprinting across the rooftop.
Below, the truck continued rolling down the street.
Then, up ahead, a crosswalk light flashed green. Pedestrians flooded into the street. The truck braked to a halt, the driver drumming his fingers impatiently against the wheel.
And Adrian, seemingly enjoying his new ride, giggled as the motion ceased.
Selene's boots barely skidded to a stop at the edge of the roof. She crouched low, ready to pounce the moment the truck started moving again.
Then—
The crosswalk cleared. The truck lurched forward.
And Adrian—
Disappeared.
—Only to reappear directly in the middle of the road.
Right in front of the moving truck.
Selene's pupils shrank.
Time felt slow as her body reacted on pure instinct. She lunged, putting everything she had into the jump.
If she couldn't grab him in time, then—
She would shield him with her body.
The truck driver saw them too late. His eyes widened in horror as he slammed his foot on the brakes.
The tires screeched. Rubber burned against asphalt.
Selene curled her body around Adrian, wrapping herself tightly around the baby as she braced for the inevitable impact—
Then— "Aegis." Oscar whispered under his breath.
A burst of emerald light.
A shield—a dome of translucent green energy—manifested between her and the truck.
The moment the vehicle collided with the barrier, a shockwave pulsed through the air. The front of the truck crumpled inward upon impact, metal twisting, glass cracking—
But Selene felt nothing.
She didn't even register the absence of pain until a few seconds passed. Cautiously, she cracked open an eye.
And there—standing between her and the truck, his cane raised firmly—was Oscar.
But something was different.
His eyes glowed a brilliant gold.
His aura surged wildly around him, tendrils of green energy crackling like fireflies in the wind.
He was breathing hard, his stance grounded and firm, as if he had instinctively called upon something deep within himself.
Selene stared.
Adrian cooed softly in her arms, blissfully unaware of how close he had come to disaster.
Oscar swallowed thickly, lowering his cane. The barrier flickered—then faded into shimmering dust.
"...Whoa," he breathed.
Selene exhaled sharply through her nose, her grip around Adrian tightening as the last remnants of Oscar's glowing shield faded into the air. The adrenaline still surged through her veins, but the weight of the tiny, fragile body in her arms reminded her of what truly mattered.
Slowly, she turned her gaze toward Oscar. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto him, unblinking, filled with an intensity that made the young farm boy straighten on instinct.
"...Oscar."
Oscar swallowed. "Uh, y-yeah?"
Before she could say another word, a soft, almost comically timed noise interrupted the moment.
A tiny snore.
Selene blinked and looked down.
Adrian—completely oblivious to the chaos he had just caused—was already asleep. His chubby cheek was smushed against her arm, his tiny hands curled into little fists, and a faint trace of drool glistened at the corner of his lips.
Selene stared at him in disbelief.
After all that running, jumping, near-death experiences, and teleporting—this child had the audacity to sleep as if nothing had happened.
Oscar, noticing the dumbfounded look on her face, let out an awkward chuckle. "I mean... that was a lot of excitement for a baby..."
Selene shot him a look that shut him up immediately.
She shifted her hold on Adrian, adjusting him into a more secure position against her chest, then fixed Oscar with a stare so cold it could have frozen the very air between them.
"Never." Her voice was like steel. "Let go of Adrian again."
Oscar winced. "Y-Yeah. Got it. No letting go of Adrian. Ever."
Just then, the truck driver stepped down from the truck, "Are you guys okay?!"
Oscar turned toward the driver, still slightly shaken from everything that had just happened. He cleared his throat, straightening up as he quickly dusted himself off.
"Uh—yeah! We're fine!" he called back, though the lingering tension in his voice suggested otherwise.
Selene, still holding Adrian securely against her, gave the driver a glance before nodding in confirmation. "No injuries," she stated firmly.
The driver, an older man with graying hair and a deeply concerned expression, let out a sigh of relief. "Damn near gave me a heart attack!" he muttered, stepping out of the truck to inspect the front. His eyes widened at the sight of the dented hood, where Oscar's aura-infused shield had absorbed the impact. He let out a low whistle.
"What the hell...? Kid, did you do this?" He turned to Oscar, eyes flicking between the damage and the young Huntsman-in-training.
Oscar scratched his cheek, feeling a bit awkward under the man's scrutiny. "Uh... kinda?"
"Kinda?!" The driver looked back at the front of his truck, shaking his head in disbelief. "Damn, you kids are something else..."
Selene, shifting Adrian slightly, glanced toward Oscar. "We should go."
Oscar nodded quickly, more than ready to move past this mess. "Right, yeah, good idea."
The truck driver let out another long sigh, rubbing his temple before waving them off. "Just... be careful, alright? And keep an eye on that kid of yours. We don't want tomato paste spreads across the darn street."
"W-we'll keep that in mind!" Oscar replied.
With that, he climbed back into his truck, muttering something about "kids these days" before finally driving off.
Oscar turned back to Selene, who was already making her way down the road, her steps calm and composed despite everything that had just happened.
"...So, uh," he started as he caught up to her, "should we tell Saphron and Terra about, y'know... this?" He gestured vaguely to Adrian, still fast asleep in her arms.
Selene didn't slow down, nor did she look at him as she replied in the most deadpan voice imaginable:
"No."
Oscar blinked. "No?"
"No."
A long pause.
"...You do know Adrian's gonna teleport again, right?"
Selene exhaled through her nose, gaze locked straight ahead.
"We will handle it when it happens."
Oscar sighed. "Yeah. That totally won't come back to bite us later..."
As they entered the house, Oscar's mind was completely fixed on what he had done.
When he raised his cane earlier, his aura flared.
He felt it.
He felt Magic running through his veins.
Oscar leaned back into the couch, his grip tightening slightly around his knees. His mind swirled with thoughts he could barely put into words. The rush of power from before—the way his aura had flared, the effortless way the magic had answered his call—it had felt right but also terrifyingly unfamiliar.
Like something that had always been a part of him, yet not entirely his own.
His fingers absentmindedly traced the curve of his cane, as if grounding himself in something tangible.
Then, in the quiet space of his thoughts, Ozpin chuckled softly. 'First time using magic?'
Oscar inhaled sharply. He wasn't sure why, but hearing those words sent a shiver down his spine. He had trained his aura, learned how to fight—but this? Magic? That was something else entirely.
'Y-yeah... That... was weird.'
'It always is, at first,' Ozpin responded, his voice calm, knowing. 'You are taking your first steps into a power that very few still wield. It will take time, but you will grow accustomed to it.'
Oscar swallowed, his thoughts turning over themselves. He had felt it—something ancient, something vast, something that wasn't his but now was.
The thought made his stomach twist.
'Oz... I have a question.'
Ozpin's presence hummed with interest. 'Go on.'
Oscar hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
'Would I still be me in the future?'
Silence stretched between them.
Then, 'What do you mean?'
Oscar let out a slow breath, staring down at his hands. He clenched and unclenched them, remembering the way his aura had flickered, how his body had responded almost instinctively to the magic. But it hadn't just been his instincts, had it?
It was yours too, wasn't it, Ozpin?
'You've lived so many lives... and now you're in mine. But that moment, when I raised my cane, it didn't feel like something I did—it felt like something you did. Like you were guiding me.'
Ozpin didn't respond immediately, and that worried Oscar.
'And if that keeps happening...' Oscar's voice wavered, though only in his thoughts. 'if I keep fighting like you, casting spells like you... thinking like you...'
He took a shaky breath, forcing himself to meet the question head-on.
'Will I stop being me?'
Another pause. This time, it felt heavier.
Then, finally, Ozpin spoke.
'Oscar... That is not an easy question to answer.'
Oscar let out a hollow chuckle. 'Yeah, I figured.'
'What I can say,' Ozpin continued, 'is that I do not seek to replace you. I never have. You are your own person, Oscar. You have thoughts, emotions, dreams that are entirely yours. Nothing can take that away from you.'
'But you still are inside me,' Oscar countered. 'And I can feel it. Every day, you're... bleeding into me. It's not just knowledge. It's you.'
Ozpin sighed, as if burdened by something immeasurable. 'Yes. That is... an unfortunate truth. With time, my memories, my experiences—they will settle into yours. And if we are not careful, my presence may become so intertwined with your own that it is difficult to distinguish where one ends and the other begins.'
Oscar gritted his teeth. That was what he feared the most.
'So there will come a time when I won't know if it's me or you anymore.'
Ozpin was quiet.
And that silence spoke louder than words.
Oscar closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the couch. He felt exhausted—not just from the chase with Adrian, but from everything. The weight of what he was becoming.
He felt his heart hammer in his chest as a darker thought crept into his mind.
'Did the others ask this question too?'
Ozpin's voice was softer this time. 'Yes.'
'And what happened to them?'
A long pause.
'They... adapted.'
Oscar's throat felt dry. 'That's not an answer.'
Ozpin sighed again, the weight in his tone unmistakable. 'No. It isn't.'
Oscar opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He wasn't sure what he had expected. Reassurance? A promise that he wouldn't lose himself? Some kind of guarantee?
Instead, all he got was the simple, awful truth:
There were no guarantees.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Across the room, Selene sat in the armchair, holding Adrian close, her expression unreadable as she slowly ran a hand over the baby's hair. She hadn't said a word since they returned.
After a moment, Oscar finally muttered under his breath.
"I just... don't want to disappear."
This time, Ozpin's voice was quiet. Almost... regretful.
'I know.'
[End]