The King of Steel (RWBY/ Ozpin SI): Chapter 14

I watched over the construction of the newer facilities of Beacon as Initiation Day for the newcomers and the end of summer vacation for the older students grew closer.

Peter, Glynda, and the rest of my staff were busy working on the newer curriculum I had decided to introduce this year, hoping to slowly change the fate of this world by changing the young people who walk through my academy.

What I told Sienna during that meeting all those weeks ago was not all lies. I do hope to change the problem between the Humans and the Faunus by removing the influence and inherited hatred put upon the younger generation by the old folk.

But, to do that, I need to teach the children about the objective facts of history and society as a whole, making sure not to use any kind of study material that is written by any biased writer, which is like finding a needle in a hey stack thanks to how recent the Faunus War was to today’s date.

Most of the books are either Human-centric or Faunus-centric with no in-betweens to find anywhere with a good reputation.

Fortunately, the existence of the CCT meant that I could use this world’s version of the Internet and social media to find such neutral authors who genuinely wanted to write about objective facts.

Of course, not everything was smooth sailing, especially in the field of combat theory and tactics where most of the material was written and taught by old veteran Huntsmen or Soldiers who fought in the war.

This meant that I had to push the responsibility onto the professor responsible for those particular subjects to make a suitable curriculum, hence the hate-filled glares that Glynda and Ann Greene sent my way every time they saw me.

‘They are a capable staff. I hope you don’t mistreat them when I am gone.’

‘Relax, Ozma. Don’t you remember what I promised you? If the day ever comes when they betray me, I will give them a quick and painless death.’

Ozma’s tired voice faded from my mind as I started walking out towards the landing pads, intending to head for my meeting with a certain someone.

Given the way I handle things like betrayal, Ozma’s concerns for his, my, friends are very much justified, especially since the day when he disappears completely is not long away.

A sad fact that I must accept. I did not want to lose him, the only voice of reason I have left in my mind, but the bastard God that put us in this situation is anything but merciful.

Originally, I had believed that Ozma and I would be together for as long as we were alive, long enough to end Salem’s threat and retire in the Afterlife.

But recently, as I was going through our memories for inspiration to make new plans, I stumbled upon a truth that Ozma had kept from me for a long time.

What I remember from the show’s wiki, where he spoke about how he was never alone and that he and his host were always there, like two souls in one body, was a lie.

The truth is just like Jaune Arc of that world had imagined. Over time, Ozma’s vast experience and power would dwarf the original soul of his host body, slowly absorbing it into itself, becoming an amalgamation that was neither Ozma nor his host, but something new entirely.

But, because of how powerful Ozma’s soul was, before he scattered his magic across the world in the form of the Maidens, he would always be the dominant personality in this new entity.

But now, Ozma is the one who is in the process of being devoured completely instead of merging with me.

The reason for this is extremely simple. I am the original. The first owner and personality of the soul from which the Emerald Wizard Ozma was born. This meant that my conceptual power and existence were much weightier and more durable than Ozma’s, which led to this situation.

Sooner or later, the soul of David Thornton will devour the experience and memories of Ozma the wizard as he is a younger version of myself, leading to a singular existence within this body, me.

I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts and silently boarded the bullhead, watching out of the window to distract myself from those emotions.

Now is not the time to let my sadness take hold. I will have plenty of time in the afterlife to mourn the loss of my younger personality along with the various other variations of myself that had existed after me. But for now, I have a goal to accomplish and I cannot let my emotions jeopardize my plans.

Soon, the bullhead landed in the city, close to the commercial district where various establishments were located.

In a deathworld like Remnant, it made sense that Airways were considered superior to roadways, railways, and sea travel due to the inherent danger of Grimm outside the main cities. This is why, the commercial district which houses various industries and establishments is located within walking distance of this world’s equivalent of an airport.

Dozens of aircraft zoomed in and out of the district, carrying goods, raw materials, food produce, and various other imports from the frontier towns and villages of Vale along with foreign imports from the other kingdoms while other aircraft moved out of the landing pads with products produced in Vale and exported to other kingdoms.

But these industries are not my destination.

No, my destination is a small café that has existed for more than a hundred years in this extremely busy area without changing its layout even once.

Soon, I arrived at the café that was founded by an old knight of mine during my days as Ozmandius and spotted my query waiting for me, sipping tea in a dignified etiquette that has been lost along with the first humanity.

Just like the first time I ever saw her, my heart started to thump in my chest as I found myself lost in her beauty and grace.

Her long flowing blond hair from my memory was long gone, in its place was platinum white hair tied into an elegant bun.

Her beautiful blue eyes that dragged me into their depths were now replaced by baleful red eyes that spoke of nothing but destruction.

Her pale skin that once shone with a healthy luster was not replaced by a different, more sinister, kind of paleness.

Her beautiful dresses and clothing that I prepared for her personally with countless enchantments and defenses were long gone as now, she wore a simple black robe similar to what wizards and witches from the Cult of Darkness in the first age used to wear.

But, despite so many changes, despite the obviously malevolent nature of my former love that she wore with pride, I could not suppress the love and heartbreak that rose to the surface as I saw her smile gleefully at me.

“You’ve been very busy these days, Ozma.”

“…It is good to see you again, Salem.”

My target, the final obstacle for all my plans.

The one that I need to destroy for the sake of gaining eternal rest in the afterlife.

The one I need to kill for the sake of this world’s people.

My greatest love, and my greatest regret.

The one for whom I would have gladly burned the world to cinder had she not doomed herself and me in her recklessness and immaturity.

For a single second, I closed my magical senses, allowing me to fall victim to the same kind of illusion that she is projecting right now to all the people nearby so that she would not stand out.

Watching her image distort into becoming what it once was before she threw herself into the pools of Grimm, my heart once again felt like it was being torn apart by Beowolves.

Then, I took a deep breath and reactivated my senses, allowing me to see through the illusions clearly and at her real visage.

Yes, I cannot allow my love for this woman to cloud my judgment.

I will not allow it.

I cannot allow it.

And yet, I felt all my defenses and resolve shatter once more as I looked at her face.

Damnit!

This is going to be a very draining talk for me!