After the announcements had finished, all the new students were sent to their Dorm Rooms so they could get situated before classes started on Monday. Since it was Saturday, the students had today and tomorrow to prepare themselves and get situated in their new environment. But for Kaizen, it was different. He was currently alone in his dorm room while processing what happened during initiation. that sudden increase in power, those flames, how it felt, everything. When it happened, he could still see through his eyes, but he wasn't in control. It was like something took over his body. Another thing that bugged him was that he barely remembers what happened. According to Pyrrha, he obliterated a Deathstalker and a Nevermore on his own. She also told him that he had a fiery aura surrounding his body and he moved at high speeds. Something that he's never done before. At first, he thought it was his Semblance, but semblances don't take over your body. He wanted to know what happened, but he couldn't figure it out. He lets out a sigh and stands up from the bed he was sitting on and looks out the window. After gazing at the outside world for a few moments, someone talks to him.
"A beautiful sight, isn't it?" A voice said.
Startled by the voice, Kaizen turned around but saw no one there. Confusion set in as he looked around his dorm room and still saw no one there.
"Oh, my bad I forgot we haven't formally met yet." The voice said within his mind.
This made him both confused and worried.
"Okay, I'm apparently going insane." Kaizen mumbled.
"Trust me you aren't." The voice said.
"Alright, if I'm not. Then who or what are you?" Kaizen asked.
"I guess introductions are necessary." The voice mumbled before introducing himself. "You can call me Phoenix."
"Like the bird?" Kaizen asked as he sat down on his bed.
"I believe the bird was named after me, not the other way around." Phoenix said.
"What?" Kaizen asked totally confused.
"Well I don't recall hearing about a bird named Phoenix when I was alive and considering my nature, I just assumed." Phoenix said.
"What do you mean by your nature?" Kaizen asked.
A few ideas ran through his mind. It sounded insane. Were those flames he used during Initiation caused by Phoenix? Was it Phoenix who took control of his body?
"It's complicated and I don't understand it fully myself." Phoenix admits. "To put it simply, we are the same person. Well, kind of."
"Huh?"
"You are essentially a reincarnation of myself. But I exist alongside you, so we share the same body." Phoenix explained. "Trust me it's confusing to me too. Light didn't exactly make a lot clear."
"Light? Is that a person?" Kaizen asked.
More questions and little answers that make sense. Phoenix sighed or made the noise of sighing within Kaizen's head. He must not have expected a lot of questions.
"Are you familiar with Gods and goddesses?" Phoenix asked.
"Not really, never really cared for mythology." Kaizen answers truthfully.
"Alright well two of them are real." Phoenix said. "They're called Light and Darkness, and I can almost guarantee you can figure out what kind of gods they are on your own."
"Light and Darkness?"
"Bingo." Phoenix said. "Anyway, they brought me back to be a failsafe against someone named Salem."
The name Salem sounded foreign to Kaizen. He'd never heard of that name once and yet it sounded familiar. But what did he mean by failsafe?
"Failsafe?" Kaizen asked.
"Light wasn't exactly clear on that front, something about certain information will distract me or cause complications." Phoenix said. "One thing he also told me was that my dad had been reincarnating for a while now."
"Your dad? What's his name?" Kaizen asked.
"Not sure what it would be now, but I knew him as Ozma." Phoenix said. "We can worry about my father later, right now we need to talk about what happened during your initiation."
"Were the flames you?" Kaizen asked.
"Well kind of." Phoenix answered before beginning to explain. "You got them by being my reincarnation."
"So I got your semblance." Kaizen concluded.
"Actually, you got my magic." Phoenix said.
"Magic?" Kaizen asked with wide eyes hearing this.
Magic is nothing but fantasy, there's no logical way that magic actually exists. Then again, Phoenix is talking to him right now.
"Yes, as my reincarnation you now possess my magical talent and abilities." Phoenix said. "Though they manifested a bit later than I would've expected."
"Wait, did you take control of my body during initiation?" Kaizen asked.
"Yeah, I did, sorry about that." Phoenix said. "I just couldn't let anyone get hurt. But don't worry, I won't do that again without your permission."
"Why?"
"We're in this together, so I'd say we are a team now." Phoenix said.
"Can others hear you?" Kaizen asked with concern.
"No, only you." Phoenix said. "Though I might be able to make a physical manifestation to appear and speak to others."
"Might?" Kaizen asked.
"Hold on a sec."
Suddenly, orange flames emitted off Kaizen's body and from his body they flowed out of him and swirled in front of him before a figure made of fire appeared. Two shapes that represent eyes appear. The figure looked at its hand.
"Hm, not what I expected." Phoenix said.
This time it wasn't inside of Kaizen's mind, but from in front of him. This whole experience was mind breaking and Kaizen was trying to comprehend everything as best he could. What in the world was happening? One day he was going through a normal world and now he's being told he's the reincarnation of someone who can wield magic and has given that magic to him. Two Gods do exist or at least he thinks so. There's someone named Salem who Phoenix was brought back to be a failsafe for, and they most likely have to find someone named Ozma or the reincarnation of Ozma. Phoenix noticed his distress.
"I take it you need time to process all of this." Phoenix said sounding apologetic.
"Yeah, yeah I do." Kaizen answered.
"Well, head outside and get some air, or train. I know you like to do that." Phoenix said before his form vanished from sight and the flames returned to Kaizen's body, disappearing from sight.
Kaizen stands up and stands there for a moment before heading out the door. School doesn't start for about two days, so he has time to process all of this before school starts. He walks out of the dormitories and around Beacon to get some air and to get a sense for his new surroundings. As he walked around Beacon, he found a training center. Curiosity got the best of him, and he walked inside the training center was standard gym gear but also what looked like a mini arena that had a control console connected to it. As he looked around the training center he walked in slowly before he heard a voice behind him.
"Woah! This place looks cool!" A voice behind him said.
Kaizen turns around and saw Yang Xiao Long. He remembers her as one of the first people he ran into during initiation. She seems to notice him standing there.
"Oh! Seems I wasn't the only one who discovered this place." Yang said as she walked towards him.
"This place seems pretty high tech, especially with that mini arena." Kaizen says as he turned to the rest of the training center.
Yang, now standing beside him, basks it all in with a grin on her face. She looked at the mini arena as Kaizen had called it out and got interested by it.
"Hm, I wonder what it is." Yang said.
"Maybe a simulation arena?" Kaizen suggests.
"Could be." Yang said with a shrug as they both looked at the arena.
She then looks at him as she remembers something.
"Hey, you're that guy that saved my sister from that Deathstalker." Yang points out.
"Red hood is your sister?" Kaizen asked sounding surprised.
"She is." Yang confirms. "Thanks for that by the way."
"No problem, someone had to step in and I… had the strength to do it." Kaizen said, trying to find the right words. "Yang Xiao Long, was it?"
"That's me!" Yang confirmed with a big smile while pointing at herself with her thumb. "Kaizen, right?"
"Yep, Kaizen Ryuuzaki." Kaizen said introducing himself before he realized something. "Hold on, your sister's name is Ruby Rose correct?"
He remembers hearing it during the team formation ceremony after the initiation.
"Heard it during the ceremony?" Yang asked.
"I did." Kaizen confirms. "So, her name is Ruby Rose, and your name is Yang Xiao Long. How?"
"Different moms." Yang reveals.
"Yep, that would do it." Kaizen said with a nod.
Yang found what he said funny as she giggled a little, amused by his reaction. Kaizen had to admit; he liked to hear that. He doesn't know why though. He then looks at the large collection of training equipment and decides that he should do some training.
"Well, I suppose this training center would be good for some training." Kaizen said, sounding almost eager to get started.
"I agree." Yang said.
Kaizen then gets a challenging grin as he gets an idea before he looked at Yang who noticed his sudden gaze and returned it.
"Bet I can lift more than you." Kaizen challenged.
Yang's widened for a split second before she gained her own grin.
"Doubtful." Yang said, accepting the challenge.
[Ozpin's Office]
Ozpin sat in his office watching the recording from the initiation. Specifically, when Kaizen killed the Deathstalker during the initiation. He's been watching it over and over again trying to convince himself that what he saw wasn't true. But even he had to admit what he saw was real. He recognized the attack that Kaizen used against the Deathstalker. Fire swirling around his fist that unleashed a powerful shockwave and blast upon contact. He knew it all too well. But what he saw shouldn't be possible. He was so occupied that he didn't even notice Glynda entering his office. She saw what he was doing and was concerned. She remembers his stunned expression at what Kaizen did and his reaction to it. She stands in front of his desk, and he notices her as she stops. He turns off the hologram screen and focuses on her.
"Glynda." Ozpin greets.
"Sir, I don't mean to pry, but is something wrong?" Glynda asked.
"What do you mean?" Ozpin asked.
"You've been watching that recording for some time now, and your reaction to what Mr. Ryuuzaki did during initiation has me concerned." Glynda explains and admits. "Is something wrong?"
Ozpin hesitates but he hides it well. He isn't too sure if he can share this but decides to anyway. If there is anyone he knew he could trust with this knowledge, it was Glynda.
"You recall my predicament regarding my many lives?" Ozpin asked.
"Of course."
"Well…. This boy, Mr. Ryuuzaki, he used a technique I haven't seen in some time." Ozpin explains.
"What do you mean?" Glynda asked.
"In my previous life, one before all of this started, I… had a son." Ozpin said which surprised Glynda. "And that attack, the execution of it, the outcome. It is strikingly similar to the same signature attack my son had used all those years ago."
Glynda processed this information before her eyes widened as she begins to consider what Ozpin is alluding to.
"You don't think…." Glynda's voice trails off.
"I think… Kaizen Ryuuzaki is my son reincarnated." Ozpin reveals. "But I cannot believe this, not yet. I need more information. I need to see Mr. Ryuuzaki use that power more and more, I need to see how he acts."
Glynda can hear the near desperation in his tone. She guesses he must've lost his son to a great tragedy. If that is what happened, she must not allow Ozpin to lose himself.
"Ozpin, if Mr. Ryuuzaki is your son reincarnated, you must be cautious." Glynda said. "You must also not let your potential connection to him to cloud your judgement."
"I know, and I'll do what I can to the best of my ability." Ozpin said, a little shaken. "But if he is really my son reincarnated… I cannot lose him again."