Before I had realised, a few weeks had passed, since I returned from my mission in Menagerie. Since then, I had stayed in the Infirmary for a couple of days, so the doctors could get a diagnosis for when I can start to move around freely. Unfortunately, they had told me that my wounds were too severe, which caused me to be bedridden for a week. Thankfully, Ruby and the others had visited me on and off, every couple of days. During the times they couldn't make it, Team JNPR and even Team CFVY checked up on me. I'm just happy my time in the Infirmary didn't suck. Once my week was up, the doctors had allowed me to go back to my dorm room, with the promise of staying clear of anything that would open up my wounds. Being friends with Yang and Nora, really pushed the doctor's advice, since they both wanted to spar with me. Thankfully, Pyrrha had managed to convince Nora, while Weiss did the same with Yang. A couple weeks later, the doctors gave me the okay to start training again, and soon I was on another mission with Team CFVY which led to clearing out some advancing Grimm near Vale.
Presently, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Apart from going to classes with Ruby, Blake and everyone else, everything returned to normal. That was until one day after a class with Miss Goodwitch, she asked me to stay behind.
"Excuse me, Miss Scarlet. Could you stay behind? There is something I would like to know."
"Uh oh, someone's in trouble." Yang said as she punched my arm.
"Yang, I'm sure it's nothing serious." Ruby said as she patted my arm.
"She's nothing like you, brute." Weiss said as I sensed her jab Yang's arm.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yang flinched at what her teammates said.
"Well it's just that you can be a bit too... overzealous." Ruby mumbled.
"And a bit too headstrong." Blake also mumbled.
"What!?" Yang exclaimed.
I giggled "Guys it's fine. I probably know what it's about. I see you back at the dorm." I said.
"Okay, but if it's something super important, we're all here for you, got it?" Blake said as I nodded my head.
"Okay team, I say we all should go into the city and get some food. I'm hungry." Ruby said as I sensed the four left the classroom.
"I see that you have become friends with Miss Rose and her teammates and her friends."
"Yeah, it's kind of hard not to. I've known Blake my entire life. Ruby and Yang are both fun to be around. Weiss has been helping me study... It was fun. I didn't think that I would be friends with her, after all that's happened. Jaune and his team have also been friendly to me. Because I can't see, they've been helping me study… Well, Ren and Pyrrha who have been helping me the most. Coco, Velvet, Fox and Yatsuhashi stopped by when I was in the infirmary."
"You've been here for a few years now, it's good that you're opening yourself up to others."
"Thank you, Miss Goodwitch."
"Come on, Fran. Ozpin wants a word... It's important." Miss Goodwitch said as I nodded my head. We both left the classroom, heading to the Professor's Office.
***
As Miss Goodwitch opened the door to the Professor's room, I sensed he was not in the room, but there were others waiting beyond the door.
"Mr Qrow and General Ironwood? Are you both here to see the Professor too?" I asked.
"Actually, we're here for you." The general said.
Well that doesn't sound good.
"Oz has something to tell you, so listen up."
"I still think it's too soon. She's too young to know and she doesn't have the experience. Who knows what it'll do to her?" The general insisted.
I crooked my head to the side, curiously. "Is there something wrong, general?" I asked.
"It's nothing to worry about, kid. Just Ironwood being a pain in the ass." Qrow said as he stomped over towards me and Miss Goodwitch.
"Her life could be endangered, Qrow. How can you not see that? I can't allow Ozpin to endanger one of the Maidens we are keeping safe." The general barked back.
"If I may?" Miss Goodwitch spoke, which silenced the two. "While I don't agree with Ozpin's motives on this, Miss Scarlet is already under a lot of stress being the Winter Maiden."
"That's not the problem. Miss Scarlet is a Faunus. What if during her 'transformation' she loses herself to her Faunus heritage. She could not only pose a threat to others, but to herself."
This thing they're talking about, is the reason Professor Ozpin wanted me? I might hurt someone!? No, I can't let that happen.
"This thing that you all are talking about. I won't do it. If I might hurt someone... I can't do it." I said.
"Look what you've done. You've got the kid all paranoid. Look kid, I won't lie at first, it's a bit... weird. But soon you'll get used to it."
"But what about my instincts? If being a Faunus somehow messes everything up and I end up hurting someone... I wouldn't forgive myself."
"Well, allow me to put your fears to rest." A new familiar voice said. "I apologise, I had a run in with a certain team that Miss Scarlet is friends with."
"Of course, they've done something." I let out a sigh.
What did Ruby and the others get up to this time?
"Now, since that is out of the way, allow me to answer why I asked you here, Miss Scarlet." The Professor said as he walked to his chair and sat down. "Now if you please take a seat."
I did as so, as Glynda stood behind me, her hands on my shoulders. "I'll be right here, okay." I nodded my head.
Wait!? The Truth!? Is there something the Professor isn't telling us? Does this have anything to do with Salem and the Maidens?
"I guess I'll start at the beginning. This isn't my body."
"What!?"
"I mean what I said. This isn't my real body, or should I say my original body. You see, my very existence is a mistake. Or if you would like, cursed. For thousands of years, I've walked the surface of Remnant. Living, dying and reincarnating in the body of a like-minded soul. The Professor Ozpin you know is not my first form, and it won't be my last. This body has lasted over 50 years."
"So, what are you?" I asked.
He's not who the Professor Ozpin that I know because he's reincarnated multiple times over a span of a thousand years, maybe more. Seriously, this is making my head hurt.
"I am the combination of countless men who've spent their lives trying to protect the people of Remnant. With every rebirth, my soul is eventually merged with another and I am changed, but my memories stay with me." The Professor spoke, but I heard another voice coming from him.
That must have been one of his past body's
"This curse was bestowed upon me by the gods, because I had failed to stop Salem in the past. But we must stop her."
"How do we do that?"
"We ensure the safety of the other Maidens and keep in contact with the other Headmasters around Remnant, who each keep one of the Relics."
"Relics?"
"The Relics are key to defeating Salem. Each of the four Headmasters keep one of the Relics hidden. Ozpin has one, I have one, and the headmasters of Shade and Haven Academy have the others." The General answered.
"I'll continue with what I was saying. My ability to reincarnate, though a curse, isn't without a few key benefits. Much like yourself, I too possess a certain... magical power. Using this power, I was able to give Qrow and his sister the ability to see more, to move freely and be unburdened by their natural bodies."
"Move around more freely? What do you mean?" I asked.
"Qrow, why don't you give a little... demonstration." The Professor said as I sensed Qrow step away from Miss Goodwitch and myself.
I noticed there was a sudden gust of wind and then Qrow disappeared. I tried to sense where he was but there was nothing. A 'caw' echoed around the Professor's office until I felt tiny three-pronged hands or feet on my lap.
"Q-Qrow... Is that you." I heard a caw from my lap.
"I didn't know it's you." I giggled as I held out my hand and I felt Qrow nuzzle my fingers.
"As you can see, I gave them the ability to turn into birds." The Professor chuckled. "Rather ridiculous sounding out loud, isn't it?"
"Well, it's not every day, your teacher turns into a crow." I giggled. "But why did you do this? I mean, turn Qrow and his sister into birds?"
"Granting this power to them was no trivial task, and I can assure you it was not done frivolously. I required assistance in gathering information on Salem's plans, as well as searching for the other Maidens, when their hosts became unclear."
I felt Qrow jump from my lap and sensed him transform back into his usual self. "Um, I have a question."
"Ask away."
"Have you done this with Miss Goodwitch or the General?"
"We weren't given the choice." The General answered.
"We would have refused anyway." Miss Goodwitch said.
"As helpful as that might be, unfortunately it is not that simple. My power is finite, and if I'm being honest, dwindling. The amount that I gifted to Qrow and his sister was, all things considered, rather miniscule. Now are you ready, Miss Scarlet?"
"Yes, why?"
"You see, I sacrificed a great deal of magic to four young women. Who I hoped would use my gift for good. Summer, Spring, Fall and..."
"Winter... The first Maidens." I jumped in. "You gave the Maidens their powers... My powers?"
He answered with a simple "Yes."
We lingered in silence for what felt like an eternity, until the General broke the silence.
"Since you know the truth, is there something you want to ask?"
"So, the reason why you have been keeping me safe is what? To make up for past mistakes?" I shouted out.
"Miss Scarlet!"
"Calm down Kid!"
"Fran! Watch what you say!"
"No, it's okay. I deserved this."
"All the lives you wasted, and for what? Nothing!?
"That is why I have spent generations making up for my past mistakes. No one should have their lives thrown away. All I ask is for you to trust me." The Professor Pleaded.
I let out a heavy sigh.
"I guess you didn't have to tell me about this. You could have kept it a secret."
"You would have figured it out sooner or later, your Mother and Father were the same. They figured out something was wrong and called me out. In private of course. That was why they sent you to me."
"So, Mama and Papa knew about this, too?"
"Yes. I asked them not to speak a word about it until you were… more experienced. We... We're all supposed to do this together."
Adam got in the way of that.
"I can tell you're troubled. If it's about your parent's murderer, I can tell you, I have my very best agents looking for the White Fang hideout."
"Thank you, Professor. And I apologise for my earlier... outburst."
"It's quite alright, Miss Scarlet. It was warranted after the thousands of years I have lived for."
"If that is all, I think you need to get some rest Fran, you are recovering after all." Miss Goodwitch said as she patted my shoulders.
"There is one more thing, if you wish to hear me out?" The Professor asked.
"Of course." I nodded my head.
"Now, this is a power you can choose to receive. I offer you the choice to receive the power that Qrow and his sister have."
The General and Miss Goodwitch immediately started to bicker with each other with the Professor, while I sensed Qrow's footsteps move towards a far chair.
The Professor wants me to have the ability to turn into a bird. So, this is what the General brought up earlier. I'm still not sure if I would have any effect on the power. Both Qrow and his sister, I presume, are human, so the transformation would be seamless for them. How would it affect me though, that is what's worrying me?
"I see you are still wary about it."
"That's one way to put it."
"I can give you time to think carefully about this. This is a life changing opportunity. I don't want you to regret it."
I nodded my head "Then if that is all, you are dismissed Miss Scarlet." The Professor said as Miss Goodwitch helped me to stand up.
"I'll see you later, kid. Don't get yourself hurt." Qrow said as he patted my shoulder.
"You know, I'm always careful." I said grinning. That got Qrow to laugh.
"Yeah, good one kid. Next time try and win your own battles."
"Hey, what can I say? They took me by surprise." Qrow laughed as I felt a gust of wind.
"I've got to get back, Oz."
"Of course. Keep me updated on the Queen." The Professor said as I sensed Qrow turn into a Crow and fly away.
"I had better get back to Atlas." The General said.
"Yes, your students will need you. The Vital Festival is coming up. You'll need them at their best." The Professor said.
"With your secret weapon here, we're going to need to pull out all the stops to win." The General mumbled.
"I'm sure Atlas Academy will do extremely well. You're their headmaster, James, they'll do fine." Miss Goodwitch said as we headed to the Professor's Door.
"Thank you, Glynda." The General said as we bid farewell to the Professor.
"Regardless of your choice, Miss Scarlet; We will accept your decision, and support you, when you need it." The Professor said as I nodded my head.