As Ruby, Yang, and Arthur had gone, Ozpin turned to Glynda, his usual calm demeanor tinged with a profound curiosity.
"Glynda,"
Ozpin began, his voice lower now, almost a whisper.
"Did you sense it?"
Glynda, ever perceptive, nodded slowly, her gaze lingering on Arthur's departing figure.
"Indeed, Headmaster. The boy… his aura is unlike anything I have ever encountered. The sheer density… it felt almost… ancient."
Ozpin steepled his fingers, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Ancient is one word for it. I felt… echoes. Power that resonated with the very fabric of our world, Glynda. A confluence… almost as if the Light and the Darkness themselves intertwined within him."
Glynda's eyes widened slightly.
"You felt that too, Headmaster? I hesitated to voice such a notion, but there were moments… fleeting impressions of immense, opposing forces."
"More than fleeting, Glynda,"
Ozpin countered softly.
"In his brief display of combat, the control he exhibited over such raw power was astonishing. Even in my prime, even when Salem and I stood against the world, I doubt we wielded such untamed potential with such effortless precision."
He paused, his gaze distant.
"There is a… resonance within him, Glynda. A hum of magic that dwarfs even my own. It is a power that could shift the very balance of things, for better or for worse."
Glynda's expression was a mixture of concern and intrigue.
"And that is why you offered him a professorship?"
Ozpin nodded slowly.
"Partly. To understand him, to observe him, to guide him if possible. But also… think of the knowledge he might possess, the perspectives he could offer. If his origins lie beyond our world, the very nature of his power could hold insights we have never even conceived of."
"It is a risk, Headmaster,"
Glynda cautioned, her voice laced with concern.
"To bring such an unknown element so close to our students… to Beacon itself…"
"A calculated risk, Glynda,"
Ozpin corrected gently.
"His actions today, his willingness to help a stranger… they speak of a certain moral compass. And his reaction to my offer… there was a genuine curiosity, a desire to learn. He is an enigma, yes, but one I believe we must attempt to understand."
He sighed softly.
"The shadows are growing longer, Glynda. Salem's influence spreads like a creeping vine. We need every advantage, every unique perspective we can find. If Arthur's power truly holds a connection to the ancient forces of this world, then perhaps… just perhaps… he could be an unexpected ally in the battles to come."
Meanwhile, at the Xiao Long/Rose household, the atmosphere was… complicated.
Ruby, bubbling with excitement, recounted the events of the day to her father, Taiyang, with Yang adding her own enthusiastic embellishments.
When Arthur was introduced, Taiyang's initial reaction was one of polite curiosity.
However, as Arthur offered a friendly smile, a flicker of something akin to suspicion crossed Taiyang's features.
"So, you're the traveler who helped Ruby,"
Taiyang said, his gaze a little too intense as he shook Arthur's hand.
He was a man who had raised two daughters and was fiercely protective of them.
Arthur's undeniably handsome features and calm confidence seemed to trigger an immediate, albeit unspoken, alarm.
"Yes, sir,"
Arthur replied respectfully, sensing the undercurrent of scrutiny.
"It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time."
As the evening progressed, Taiyang's initial reservations didn't entirely dissipate.
He found himself observing Arthur closely during dinner, noting the easy camaraderie he developed with Ruby and Yang, the way they both seemed drawn to his quiet confidence and intriguing stories of his travels (carefully curated to omit interdimensional elements, of course).
Later, as Ruby and Yang excitedly showed Arthur to the spare room, Taiyang pulled them aside.
"Girls," he said, his voice low and serious.
"He seems like a nice young man, and I appreciate him helping Ruby, but… be careful. He's a bit… much, isn't he?"
Yang raised an eyebrow.
"Much what, Dad?"
"You know,"
Taiyang gestured vaguely.
"Handsome. Charming. A traveler. It's just… keep your wits about you, alright?"
Ruby giggled.
"Oh, Dad! Arthur's going to be a professor at Beacon! He's way older than us!"
"That doesn't mean anything,"
Taiyang grumbled.
"Charm has no age limit. Just… I don't want either of you getting any… ideas."
Yang rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"Dad, seriously? Arthur just helped Ruby. He's our guest. We're just being friendly."
"Friendly is one thing,"
Taiyang said sternly, his gaze shifting between his daughters.
"Seducing my children is another. Arthur stays here as a guest, a thank you for his help. Nothing more. Do you understand?"
Ruby and Yang exchanged amused glances before nodding in unison.
"Yes, Dad," they chorused, trying to suppress their smiles.
With a final, pointed look towards the spare room door, Taiyang relented.
"Alright. But I'm serious. I will keep my eye on him."
As Ruby and Yang rejoined Arthur, who was patiently waiting in the spare room, they couldn't help but chuckle at their father's overprotective nature.
"Sorry about him,"
Yang said, a playful grin on her face.
"He can be a bit… intense sometimes."
"It's alright,"
Arthur replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I understand. He cares about you both."
Ruby nodded enthusiastically.
"He does! But don't worry, Arthur. We think it's really cool you're staying with us!"
As Arthur settled into the surprisingly cozy spare room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and unexpected belonging.
Despite the initial awkwardness with Taiyang, the genuine kindness of Ruby and Yang was undeniable.
It seemed that his impromptu dive into this new world was leading him down a path filled with both intriguing mysteries and unexpected connections.
The third floor truly was full of surprises.
...
[email protected]/phelio 50 more chapters (4-6 chapter daily)