Several Atlesian airships descended gracefully from the clouds, their metallic hulls reflecting the afternoon light. They settled in a tight formation above Beacon Academy, casting long shadows across the courtyard below. Students looked up in awe, while some whispered anxiously at the sight of the military presence.
From the headmaster's office, Ozpin stood quietly with his mug of coffee, watching the ships hover like watchful sentinels. Glynda Goodwitch stood at his side, arms crossed, her expression tight with disapproval.
"They never change their methods, do they?" Glynda muttered, her gaze following the nearest airship. "For James Ironwood, diplomacy has always meant steel and soldiers."
Ozpin's lips curved faintly, though the humor in it was brittle. "He means well, Glynda. But... yes, his idea of peacekeeping tends to lean toward overwhelming force."
The doors opened, and the rhythmic clack of polished boots on the marble floor announced the arrival of General James Ironwood himself. Tall, broad-shouldered, and immaculate in his white uniform, Ironwood carried the weight of authority with every step.
"Ozpin," Ironwood greeted, his voice steady. His eyes flicked briefly to Glynda, offering a cordial nod. "Glynda. It's been too long."
Her response was curt, her irritation thinly veiled. "And you haven't changed at all, James. Still dragging an army into every problem."
Without another word, she turned and exited the room, her heels striking sharply against the floor.
Ironwood exhaled softly, watching her leave before shaking his head. "Some things truly never change."
Ozpin motioned him closer, setting his coffee down. "Welcome to Beacon, James. I take it you've settled your fleet comfortably above my school?"
Ironwood's brow furrowed, but his tone remained level. "You know why they're here, Ozpin. The warning Qrow delivered wasn't something I could ignore. If what he suspects is true—"
Ozpin raised a hand, interrupting him. "If what Qrow suspects is true, then it should be handled delicately. The world is at peace, James. A fleet of warships above Vale, especially on the eve of the Vytal Festival, does not inspire confidence in peace. It inspires fear."
Ironwood's jaw tightened. "Peace, Ozpin, is fragile. One spark can burn the whole tapestry to ash. I won't risk standing idle while the fire starts."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Ironwood leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping lower.
"There's something else. I received a report from Penny, after the incident with Roman Torchwick's arrest. She mentioned... a boy. A Beacon student, who led the charge to bring him down. Hyunwoo Kim."
Ozpin's gaze flickered briefly, but he said nothing.
Ironwood studied him carefully. "Penny doesn't embellish. She said his coordination, his precision, and his... resolve, were unlike any student she has met. He's dangerous, Ozpin. Not reckless, but dangerous. And you know as well as I do, he's connected to that letter."
Ozpin's hand hovered briefly over his mug, before finally lifting it. He took a slow sip, as though buying time.
"That letter," he said at last, his voice softer now, "was written by Hyun Kim. A man who gave his life in the name of protecting what he believed in. He warned us... warned me of shadows that might one day rise again. He entrusted his son to this world. And now it seems that burden has caught up to the boy."
Ironwood frowned. "Then why haven't you told me more? If this Hyunwoo is truly carrying his father's will, then he's not just another student. He's a weapon waiting to be aimed, one way or another. And if Salem subordinates know his name..."
Ozpin's eyes narrowed slightly, though his tone remained calm. "Because, James, Hyunwoo is not a weapon. He is a child. My child, in a sense, as every student here is. And I intend for him to remain so for as long as possible."
Ironwood turned toward the door, but paused before leaving. His voice carried a rare weight of doubt.
"Do you truly believe, Ozpin... that these children of yours can win a war?"
Ozpin watched the last Atlesian airship drift across the horizon, its shadow casting long over the courtyard below. He did not answer right away.
At last, he spoke, his voice low, almost to himself.
"I hope... they never have to."
____
The library was unusually lively that afternoon. Dice rattled against the board, cards slapped down, and Ruby's voice carried across the tables.
"Okay, okay! My warrior uses Dust to power up her Semblance and bam! I take your village!" Ruby cheered, nearly knocking over her piece in excitement.
Yang groaned. "Not happening, sis. You've never won this game."
Weiss straightened her cards with icy precision. "Luck favors the prepared. Unlike some people, I've already calculated my victory."
Blake, expression unreadable, moved her piece with quiet finality. "Or maybe we'll all lose to me."
Nearby, Team JNPR sat at their own table, books spread out like they were supposed to be studying. Ren was the only one truly focused. Pyrrha tried, but her gaze kept drifting toward Ruby's energetic antics. Nora wasn't even pretending; her eyes were glued to the board game.
"Jaune! Go on, ask if you can play," Nora whispered.
Jaune stood, shuffling over to Team RWBY. "Uh, hey... got room for one more?"
Ruby shook her head, cheeks apologetic. "Sorry, Jaune, only four players."
"Figures..." Jaune muttered. "I never get in on anything fun."
Weiss sniffed. "For once, Arc, consider yourself fortunate."
"Oh yeah?" Jaune shot back. "Maybe you should consider not telling people things that aren't yours to share."
Weiss froze. Ruby's smile faltered. Blake's amber eyes sharpened immediately.
"...You told them?" Blake asked quietly.
Weiss opened her mouth, but the words refused to come. Blake's chair screeched back, the tension rising—when the doors to the library swung open.
"Yo! Team RWBY!" Sun Wukong's cheerful voice cut through the silence. Neptune Vasilias followed behind him, looking polished as ever.
"Thought I'd introduce my buddy! Neptune, meet my new friends."
Neptune smirked, pushing his bangs aside as his gaze fell on Weiss. "Well, well. Didn't expect to find such beauty in a library."
Weiss blinked, her cheeks faintly pink. "Oh. My."
Yang leaned toward Ruby, whispering, "Did he just break her?"
Sun grinned at Blake. "Hey! Long time no see. How've you been?"
But Blake stood abruptly, slipping past him without a word. Her bow twitched as she disappeared between shelves, leaving Sun staring after her in confusion.
"...Huh. Thought she'd at least say hi."
At a quieter table, Team NOVA had been watching the chaos unfold.
Jaemin shut his book a little too hard. "Unbelievable. One afternoon. Just one afternoon of peace. Is that really too much to ask?"
Jisoo, perched neatly with her notebook, barely looked up. "Not for them. They thrive in noise." Her eyes flicked toward the board game where Ruby and Yang were still arguing. "Notice how Hyunwoo isn't here? This always happens when he's not around."
Jiwon leaned back in his chair, hands folded loosely. His calm voice cut through their complaints. "Hyunwoo's training again. You know that."
Jaemin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He doesn't know when to stop."
"Or maybe he knows exactly when," Jiwon said evenly. "He pushes because he doesn't want to fall behind."
Jisoo tilted her head, thoughtful. "Or because he's chasing something none of us can see."
The three of them fell quiet for a moment, letting the noise of the dining hall wash over them—Ruby shouting about "real rules," Jaune sulking under Nora's cheerful comfort, Weiss still flustered by Neptune, and Sun scratching his head at Blake's sudden departure.
From Team NOVA's side, the scene felt like a different world. The other teams burned bright in chaos. Their absent leader, meanwhile, walked a lonelier path—sweat, steel, and silence.
___
The training hall was still, the kind of silence that sharpened every breath. Hyunwoo stood in the center, spear planted against the floor, his green aura flickering faintly along his frame. Stable. Familiar. Ordinary.
But he wasn't here for that.
His eyes narrowed as he reached deeper. Slowly, crimson light bled from his skin, veins of red tracing up his arms and down his legs like molten energy. The air grew heavy, and for a moment the glow wavered—then steadied.
Hyunwoo extended a hand toward the row of dummies lined along the wall.
The red aura pulsed.
One of the dummies shuddered, wood creaking as it lifted clean off the ground. Hyunwoo's hand didn't tremble this time. His breathing stayed even. He shifted his fingers slightly, and the dummy rotated midair, tilting, flipping, then hovering perfectly still before lowering to the ground as gently as a feather.
A faint smirk broke across his face.
He wasn't done yet.
Gripping his spear, Hyunwoo let the crimson aura trail along the weapon and out around his body. It wrapped him like fire, burning without heat. He crouched, tightened his grip—
—and vanished.
A blur of red light tore across the room. In less than a heartbeat, Hyunwoo reappeared at the far end, his afterimages fading like shards of glass catching the light. His spear was already thrust forward, stabbing clean through the dummy's chest.
He pulled it free in one fluid motion.
Crimson sparks drifted off his frame before fading, leaving him standing calm and steady. The red aura had always been volatile, unpredictable — but not anymore. It bent to him now, precise and flexible. Telekinesis. Blinding movement. Full control.
Hyunwoo rested his spear against his shoulder, his eyes still faintly glowing red.
Finally, the power was his.
____
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