The grand halls of the Schnee Manor echoed with the click-clacking sounds of Jacques Schnee's polished shoes against the marble floor. He strode with an air of arrogance, his silver hair neatly combed, and his tailored suit exuding an aura of wealth and authority. As he approached the expansive kitchen, a scent of decadent delicacies filled the air. His eyes scanned the culinary domain until he found the lead chef, a talented Panther Faunus named Sable, meticulously overseeing the preparations. Her cat-like ears twitched at the sound of his approaching footsteps, she immediately turned to offer a respectful bow.

Jacques, however, paid little attention to the expertly crafted dishes and the diligent kitchen staff. Straightening his tie, Jacques peered down at the woman, rolling his eyes before addressing her...

"I take it everything will be in order for tonight's gala, Ms....?" Jacques asked

The woman maintained her composure despite Jacques' dismissive demeanor. "Sable, sir." she replied, her voice unwavering as she stood to face her employer. Jacques raised an eyebrow, as if the information was hardly worth remembering. "Yes, yes, whatever. Do me a favor my dear, and ensure that the food meets the high quality standards expected of the Schnee name." He commanded.

"Of course, Mr. Schnee. The menu has been carefully crafted to exceed expectations." Sable explained. Jacques then took notice of the woman's cat ear as it twitched. Letting out a derisive snort, Jacques replied "Why that sounds promising. However, I do have one tiny complaint..." Sable's expression remained stoic, though a subtle tension gripped her. "And what might that be, sir?" she inquired with a controlled politeness...

"It's those unsightly ears of yours. I shouldn't have to tell you this, but this isn't a zoo. Cover them up. That goes for the rest of your team as well..." He stated in a condescending tone. She felt a pang of indignation, but continued to maintain her professionalism. With a composed nod, she replied, "Understood, Mr. Schnee. I'll make the necessary adjustments." Nodding, Jacques turned on his heel and striding out of the kitchen without a second glance, leaving the lingering scent of his cologne in his wake.

"Now, where is that troublesome son of mine?" Jacques thought as he peered through one of the windows of the long corridor.

Elsewhere

"Nope" an eight-year-old "Whis Schnee" uttered in boredom as he carelessly tossed yet another book onto the floor of his family's personal library...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Grimm... Aura... Faunus... Semblances... and a shattered moon? Yeah, we're definitely not in Kansas anymore."]

"Maybe this is it?" the boy muttered to himself as he grabbed another book from the shelf, skimming through it's pages in search of answers

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Apparently, this new world I've been reborn into is called Remnant. A world filled with dark creatures called Grimm, and get this, just like cursed spirits, these things feed off of negative emotions."]

"So that wasn't just some weird dream after all..." Whis stated as he examined the contents held within the book he was currently reading. Page after page detailed the various forms that these creatures called Grimm took. From Boarbatusk to Nevermores, each Grimm had its own unique characteristics and dangers. However...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "However... while there are multiple books detailing the different types of Grimm, and some that even theorize their origins, absolutely none of them..."]

"...Explain who that woman was." Whis muttered under his breath before once again carelessly tossing the book onto the growing pile behind him. Standing to his feet, the young boy looked up at higher shelves, examining each of them, along with their titles. "The man with two souls, Silver-eyed warriors, The Grimm Child... hmm?" His eyes then landed on another book, this particular one piquing the boy's interest the most...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Oh? Now this one seems promising."]

Whis looked around the large library until he spotted the sliding ladder in the distance. He began walking towards it, but after only two steps, he stopped in his tracks...

"The hell am I doing? It's not like I'd need a ladder. I can make my own way up, no problem." Whis said with an arrogant smirk.

Placing both hands in his pockets, Whis peered around the bookshelf at the entrance before turning and making his way back to where he'd spotted the book he wanted...

"Let's see if I've still got it."

Whis smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he approached the bookshelf. An insurmountable amount of Cursed energy enveloping him as he activated his cursed technique...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "The six eyes, and Limitless. A surprise to be sure. Being reborn into an entirely new world you'd think I'd lose access to it. However, there aren't any real threats to my safety, so I've never really felt the need to keep it up at all times."]

"Gotcha."

His book of choice floated towards him. Snatching it out of the air Whis smiled "The Infinite Man... you're the only book I haven't read so far." Whis stated as he cracked the book open...

"Y-Y-Young master Whis?!" The voice of a man called out in shock as he entered the library in search of the boy, only to see him seemingly standing on the air itself. Sighing, Whis closed the book before turning his attention to the man

"Yo, what's up Klein?" Whis asked nonchalantly as he made his way down towards the Schnee family butler, tucking the book under his arm. Clearing his throat, Klein spoke

"I was sent by your father to find you, young master. He is looking for you in preparation for tonight's gala," Klein explained with a slight bow

Whis raised a brow at the mention of the gala, but quickly dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get there when I get there. Tell the old man not to worry; I'm just catching up on a bit of light reading." He said. Klein then spotted the large pile of books laying on the ground only a few feet behind the boy "That I can see..." Klein replied

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "I'd almost forgotten to mention. My name is now Whis Schnee, though I prefer to be called Gojo."]

Offering Klein a small wave, Whis exited the library, stepping foot into the long corridor as he passed by a couple of the Schnee family maids. One of the women whispering to the other as Whis passed them by

"The young master is most certainly an odd one." whispered one of the maids, although Whis could still very well hear them

"I heard he's already manifested a semblance, and at such a young age, is that even possible?" Another one of the women whispered

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "A Semblance. That's another thing that sets me apart from the people of this world. Semblances, and Aura. The two go hand in hand. Semblances grant the user special abilities, supposedly tied to their personality, but to gain a Semblance, you need Aura..."]

Whis stopped to see a butterfly landing on one of the corridor windows next to him

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Aura. It's pretty interesting in its own right. It reminds me a bit of cursed energy in the sense that it's spiritual. However, to me it's practically meaningless. I've already got Limitless, so what good would a weaker version of it do me?"]

Suddenly, a bird swooped in, snatching up the butterfly and claiming it as its snack. Whis grimaced at the sight as he carried on

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "I mean yeah, sure, no Aura means I won't be unlocking a Semblance anytime soon, but it's not that big a deal... right?"]

As he made his way through the hall, he passed the many portraits of his newfound ancestors, taking a moment to look at each and every last one of them

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "The Schnee family. They're a special case. When it comes to Semblances, ours is hereditary..."]

"There you are! Big brother! Stop right there!" A small yet commanding voice shouted...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Speaking of family..."]

"I already told Klein that I'd show up to the gala when I felt like it, but I'm guessing that's a good enough answer for you, is it... Weiss?" Whis smirked as he turned to face his younger sister

Weiss Schnee huffed before marching towards her older brother and grabbing him by the wrist as she dragged him towards the main hall of the Schnee Manor. Despite her being only a year younger than him, Weiss had always exuded an air of authority and respect, like a true ice queen. Whis chuckled, seemingly unbothered by his sister's firm grip "Ah, Weiss, always the responsible one. You should learn to relax a bit. What's the worst that could happen? It's nothing but a glorified get-together for people with more lien than sense." Whis grinned, earning an exasperated look from Weiss

"Even if that's true, it's still our responsibility as the heirs to the Schnee family, to maintain appearances and uphold our name." Weiss retorted

Rolling his eyes, Whis began silently mocking the girl with exaggerated gestures behind her back. Weiss shot him a glare which only caused Whis to laugh, thoroughly enjoying his sister's irritation...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "This here is my baby sister, Weiss Schnee. Sure, on the surface, she can seem a bit uptight and proper, but she's not too bad. Although she is a bit spoiled, but that's mostly my fault..."]

As they approached the main hall, the grandeur of the Schnee Manor was on full display. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a shimmering glow over the polished marble floors. The two siblings entered the main hall, where preparations for the gala were in full swing. Servants and staff bustled about, putting the finishing touches on the decorations, and musicians tuned their instruments for the evening's entertainment.

"Ah, Weiss, Whis, my dear, dear children..." Jacques Schnee greeted them with a forced smile, though his eyes displayed a hint of annoyance as his eyes met with those of his son. Before Whis could make a snarky remark, Weiss would speak...

"Father..." She said with a bow

As both Weiss and Jacques were engaged in their conversation regarding the gala, Whis began scanning the many faces that littered the main hall of his home. Snobby businessmen and women from various different kingdoms chatted amongst themselves, discussing everything from politics to their most recent lavish vacations. Whis couldn't help but feel a sense of boredom wash over him as he observed the pretentious gathering

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Shit like this I could happily live without. Dealing with the higher ups of Jujutsu Society was a headache in and of itself. Speaking of, I sometimes wonder what happened after I..."]

"Huh?"

Whis was taken away from his thoughts as across the room, he spotted a man with tousled silver hair and a cane. Next to this man, stood a woman, with blonde hair and piercing green eyes behind a pair of glasses. Feeling someone's gaze looking in their direction, both the man and the woman would immediately make eye contact with the reincarnated wielder of the six-eyes.

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) Wait a minute, haven't I seen this guy somewhere before...?]

"Whis!" Jacques snapped

Weiss' eyes widened as she looked in between her older brother and father. She'd seen similar situations play out before. namely, the many verbal arguments between the oldest of the three Schnee children, Winter. However, unlike their older sister, Whis always had his own way of pressing their father's buttons...

"Don't mind me, old man. I'm just thinking about how I should greet our most valued investors this evening. You already drove Winter away from the family, so as the next in line for the Schnee legacy, It's up to me to charm our esteemed guests." Whis quipped with a snarky smirk

Jacques shot his son a disapproving glare, but refrained from escalating the situation any further. Weiss, however, shot a pleading look at Whis, silently urging him to behave. The boy simply shrugged off his sister's concern

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Don't look at me like that. It's him you should be worried about. He couldn't hit me even if he wanted to, and I know, he wants to..."]

"You've seemed to have grown too comfortable for your own good. Tonight's gala is to go off without a hitch. Your insolence won't be tolerated. If it weren't for that pesky semblance of yours, I'd–

Unfortunately, Jacques' threat would be cut short as the silver-haired man, and blonde haired woman whom Whis had spotted earlier, stepped forward...

"Why hello there Jacques, Weiss, and you must be Whis Schnee." The silver-haired man greeted as he extended his hand towards the former jujutsu sorcerer. Whis simply stared at the man's hand for a moment before smirking and shaking it with a firm grip. The man's eyes widened for a split second as he and the boy shook hands, but would continue to maintain his jovial demeanor. "Oh boy, you know my name? My, my, I must be famous or something." Whis

"More than you know, young man. My name is Ozpin, and I'm–

"The headmaster of Beacon Academy? Yeah, It took me a second, but I remember reading about you." Whis continued as he turned his attention towards the woman standing at the headmaster's side "Which makes you, Glynda Goodwitch, right?"

Glynda nodded, not knowing what to make of the child initially, "Correct. It... seems as though you've done your homework." She replied

Smelling a potential business arrangement, and refusing to be sidelined by his own lineage, Jacques then interjected himself into the conversation...

"Yes, Whis, just like all of my children, are very well educated. S-Speaking of education. Ozpin, Glynda, it's a pleasure to have you here. If it's all the same to you, I think there's a long overdue discussion to be had regarding a very lucrative business proposition between the Schnee dust company, and Beacon Academy."

Ozpin and Glynda exchange glances, slightly taken aback by the abrupt shift in conversation. Pushing up her glasses, it took a lot for Glynda not to audibly sighed in annoyance. "As Ozpin's assistant, I'd be thrilled to discuss these matters further." She replied. Eyeing her boss intensely, there was a silent agreement that the headmaster owed her for having to deal with someone as vain and repugnant as Jacques. Nevertheless, both Glynda and Jacques stepped away, leaving Ozpin and the two Schnee to converse in the midst of the grand hall

"The Infinite man. That's an interesting read." Ozpin commented, having spotted the book that was tucked under the boy's arm

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "That's right, I almost forgot I was carrying this thing."]

"It's one of the few books I haven't already read. There are a lot of things about this world I'm trying to wrap my head around." Whis replied

There was a pause as Whis peered down at the book in his hand. Weiss stepped forward, worried about her older brother, though any worries she had would be put to rest as Whis placed his hand atop her head with a smile...

"This world?" Ozpin wondered, finding the boy's phrasing intriguing

Multiple questions were beginning to stir in Ozpin's mind as he observed Whis who was currently in the midst of pestering his younger sibling.

"If you don't mind my asking... what is it that you hope to find in this life, young man?" Ozpin asked sincerely

Whis stopped his playful antics with Weiss and looked up at Ozpin

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "Now that's a really good question..."]

"I..." Whis paused

Truth be told, Gojo Satoru hadn't given something like this much thought. Though the words of Kento Nanami still echoed in his mind...

"If you'd like to return to who you were, go south. If you'd like to become someone new, go north."

Ozpin smiled before placing a hand on Whis' shoulder, causing the boy to meet his gaze...

"Nine years. If in nine years you're still searching for that answer, please, do consider enrolling at Beacon Academy. I believe there's much you could there, and perhaps you'll find the purpose you seek," Ozpin suggested

Whis raised an eyebrow at Ozpin's proposition. Beacon Academy? Enrolling in a school for huntsmen and Huntresses? It wasn't what he had in mind, but the idea did intrigue him. He knew that in this world, Huntsmen and Huntresses were warriors who were trained with the express purpose of combating the creatures of Grimm.

"Maybe I could find out more about that woman..." Whis thought

The invitation seemed more and more promising by the second, until finally...

"I just might have to take you up on that. Just make sure I get the best dorm room"

A smile graced Ozpin's face

"The very best..." he replied

The man then turned his attention to Weiss

"That offer extends to you as well, young lady. Beacon Academy is always open to those with potential and a desire to make a difference in the world. Consider it an open invitation. Now, If you two will excuse me..."

With a slight bow, Ozpin excused himself, leaving the two Schnee children to their thoughts. As multiple guests for the gala began to pour in, both Ozpin and Glynda would make their way towards the exit, the former sparing Whis one last glance before continuing on their way...

[Whis "Gojo" Schnee: (Narrating) "A chance encounter? No... that'd be too convenient."]

"Damn Schnees, makin' me park on the opposite side of the street! Bunch'a backwards asshol— The deer Faunus immediately shut his mouth as both Ozpin and Glynda stepped into the limousine

Once inside, Glynda was the first to speak

"I thought he'd never shut up. Somehow, every business proposition made ended with him giving a speech, patting himself on the back for his 'Kindness' in helping nurture the next generation of hunters. You can't seriously be considering a partnership with Jacques Schnee... professor?"

Glynda's words had fallen upon deaf ears. Looking through the window and towards the entrance to the Schnee family estate, Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Academy, found himself lost in his own thoughts...

THREE MONTHS EARLIER

"Resume playback..." Ozpin ordered

The headmaster watched as the footage before him replayed for the tenth time. In it, the citizens of Atlas could be seen fleeing in abject terror. Unfortunately, their screams of terror only further emboldened the cursed energy infused Manticore that was chasing after them. The halved body of a seasoned atlesian hunter flew across the screen, Ozpin grimaced at the sight...

"Sir..." Glynda asked in a worried tone. She could practically feel the anger boiling from the man.

The cursed abomination's rampage had finally led it to its destination. A white limousine belonging to the Schnee family sat stationary among the sea of vacated vehicles, its driver having abandoned it long ago. However, its back door opened, and out stepped an eight-year-old boy with eyes that reflected the clear blue sky. In response, the creature roared in defiance. Despite the circumstances, the child looked completely unfazed, stepping forward slowly with both arms outstretched as if to say "Come, show me your best..."

As the boy faced the Manticore, the air crackled with anticipation. The cursed energy emanating from the creature caused the rubble from the destroyed building to levitate in the air. A concentrated ball of air and fire swirled in front of the creature's open maw. Rearing its head back, the Manticore unleashed its devastating attack, aiming directly at the boy. It grew in size as it got closer, tearing the street asunder as the surrounding debris was sucked into the vortex of destruction...

Despite having watched the scene unfold over and over again, Ozpin leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he witnessed the boy place both hands in his pockets, and seemingly take the blast head on. The camera footage was obscured by the cloud of smoke and debris, making it impossible to see what was taking place. A tense silence filled the room as Ozpin and Glynda continued watching. In the few seconds in which the camera was obscured, a near blinding glow of red light flashed through the smoke, and when it cleared, the Manticore was nowhere in sight. Only the boy stood, unscathed as he turned towards the limousine, and the video ended.

As the holographic display faded away, Ozpin sighed his fingertips steepled in front of him as he contemplated his next move

"General. That boy... What was his name again?" Ozpin asked

Stepping forward, was a well dressed man sporting Atlesian military attire. His hair was black, with gray in some areas. His stern expression indicated a man who'd seen his fair share of battles. His name, James Ironwood, the headmaster of Atlas academy, as well as the general of the Atlesian military...

"Whis Schnee, he's eight-years-old, and is the second child of Jacques." Ironwood explained

Glynda and Ironwood watched as Ozpin grabbed his cane and stood, walking towards the window of his office, and peering down at the students that occupied the courtyard below

"To think that such a powerful being exists... aside from her... and from Jacques no less." Glynda commented

Ozpin remained silent

"The locals call it... 'Cursed Energy' well, everyone from shamans, to the occult. Ever since that night eight years ago, I've had some of my best men try to research it as best they could but... science just can't explain it. The only thing we're able to glean from this Cursed energy, is that it's loosely tied to Aura in some way." Ironwood added

Ozpin let out an exhausted sigh before finally speaking

"Eight years ago, Remnant experienced a surge of Grimm unlike anything we've seen before. The Grimm grew much more ravenous, and attacks became much more frequent. There was a large shift in power that none of us could have foretold. A simple beowolf now, may very well take the expertise of an entire team of experienced huntsmen and huntresses..." He explained before turning to face his two colleagues "The standard for hunters and huntresses have skyrocketed greatly. The aftermath of the incident in Vacuo is proof of that. It's no longer enough to be 'Brave' to be 'Willing' No, that just won't do. It's not enough to just be 'Strong'. You have to have a few screws loose." He finished

The man's words caught both Glynda and Ironwood off guard, but they remained silent, allowing Ozpin to continue

"And this boy, Whis Schnee, who possesses a power beyond our understanding, was able to do what us in this room could only dream of. In the countless lives I've lived, I've come to learn that there is no such thing as 'Chance' or 'Coincidence' Every action, every encounter, has a purpose. This is no ordinary child, and the events eight years ago? The surge of Grimm, and his emergence as a being with cursed energy, are all connected."

Glynda nodded in agreement, latching onto and absorbing every word that left Ozpin's mouth. Ironwood however, remained stoic, his eye focused on the man in front of him

"What do you propose, Ozpin?" Ironwood asked

Ozpin turned back to the window, gazing out at the students below. "I've had my suspicions, but I won't know until I've met the boy face to face. Hopefully, he proves to be a good asset to the people of Remnant." Ozpin replied

Ironwood's eyes narrowed

"And if he isn't...? If he turns out to be a threat to the kingdoms, then what?" He asked

There was an almost deafening silence as Ozpin turned to face Ironwood with a smile that sent chills down the man's spine, however, it was nothing compared to what would come from the headmaster's mouth...

"Then we all die, it's that simple really."

PRESENT

"But you're not that kind of person, are you? Whis..." Ozpin thought to himself as the limousine drove past the devastated areas of Atlas that were currently under reconstruction

NINE YEARS LATER...

Soaring through the clouds, a Valerian ship could be seen as it made its way towards Beacon Academy. Inside, multiple aspiring hunters and huntresses excitedly chatted amongst themselves. A rabbit Faunus girl's eyes widened in wonder as she took in the sight of the school in the distance.

"Wow..." she uttered breathlessly to herself

She wasn't the only one admiring the view. Standing around in a room collecting body heat with a bunch of strangers didn't very much appeal to a certain individual, so he took a different approach. Sitting atop the transport ship, totally undetected, was none other than Whis Schnee, enjoying the cool breeze as the ship cut through the sky. His white hair fluttered in the wind, and he wore a mischievous grin as he observed the academic institution

"Oh wow, this really is a nice view... hmm. I should take a picture. Maybe a selfie?" Whis stated as he reached into his pocket to retrieve his scroll

Inside the ship, the rabbit Faunus became a bit giddy. All of her hard work and training had finally paid off as she was now minutes away from stepping foot onto the prestigious grounds of Beacon Academy. To celebrate the moment, she decided to capture the moment with a photo as she pulled out her camera...

"Now let's see... hmm. Perfect." She whispered to herself before taking the shot

~ Snap ~

Outside the ship, Whis grimaced as he observed the selfie, not very pleased at the results

"Yeah, no. Let's try this again. This time, no filter..." Whis stated as he adjusted his position, getting ready for another attempt to capture the moment, he smiled "Oh yeah, that's it..."

~ Snap ~

"Hey now, I hope you got my good side"

The rabbit Faunus let out a small yelp as she turned her head to see a girl with shades standing next to her. She had short dark brown hair with a lock that turned a soft creme color before becoming a caramel shade at the tip. Reaching out, the girl greeted herself...

"The name's Coco Adel. Nice to meet you... umm?"

Caught off guard, the rabbit Faunus stammered for a moment before responding, "V-Velvet! I–It's Velvet. Velvet Scarlatina. Nice to meet you too, Coco." Velvet greeted nervously, eliciting a soft laugh from Coco...

"You're a jumpy one, aren't you? Anyhow, looks like we're about to land, guess I'll be seeing you around, Vel." Coco explained as the aircraft came to a soft landing. As the students disembarked from the ship, Velvet followed the crowd, her excitement mixed with a touch of nervousness. She caught glimpses of other students, each with their own unique appearances and weapons...

Meanwhile, Whis stood, gracefully hopping to the ground with both hands in his pockets as he took in his surroundings. As he traversed the courtyard, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He stopped for a moment, standing within the large crowd of aspiring students before seemingly disappearing out of thin air, an act which shocked those nearby.

"Hmm?" Velvet's attention was drawn away from the photos she's taken on the aircraft, by the whispering of multiple other first years around her. They spoke in hushed tones, exchanging glances and pointing fingers towards the spot where Whis had just vanished

"Did you see that? The dude just vanished outta nowhere" One student exclaimed

"It's probably just his semblance." another replied

"Did you see the crest on his shoulder? I think he might be a Schnee." one girl stated

"Forget a crest, did you see his eyes? Oh my dust, he's gorgeous" another girl commented

Velvet raised a brow

"A Schnee? Here? That can't be right..." She thought

Velvet scanned the courtyard, searching for the student who was already causing a fuss on his first day at Beacon. Her search wouldn't last very long however, as she just so happened to catch a bit of movement out of the corner of her eye...

"What's he doing up there...?" she uttered to herself as she'd found her subject

Standing atop one of the courtyard lamps, was Whis Schnee, the now seventeen-year-old peering up at the largest tower of Beacon Academy. Inside said tower, stood the headmaster of Beacon Academy, Ozpin himself, observing the arrival of his newest batch of students, his eyes momentarily meeting with Whis' a silent acknowledgement between the two...

Whis smirked

"I heard the initiation for this place was supposed to be super hard. So I hope you don't mind...

"...If I show off just a tiny bit."

[Art by - Reivsart07]