Chapter 2: The Emerald Tower

The sun was already up when he arrived.

Qrow took a deep breath as the boat pulled into the dock, wobbling slightly as if to give him one final scare as it finally came to a stop. Groaning as his stomach turned inside out, he pulled himself out the vehicle. He was already questioning how he'd even survived the trip.

He looked around, taking in his surroundings. Alberia Island. A small chunk of land on the outskirts of Vale, and a popular tourist attraction for good reason. Above him was a pure blue sky, stretching as far as he could see. Light shone down upon the land as if it were a blessing from the gods themselves. Tall buildings of sleek steel and comfortable shacks of wood coexisted on the ground in front of him, like a perfect merging of two civilizations normally separated by time.

The town square was littered with eager shoppers, chatting with such intensity that their happiness was almost infectious. Children were gathered at the fountain in the middle, laughing as they threw coins into the water or fed bread to the pigeons. Some people even stood on rooftops, admiring the scenic mountain vistas that lay in the distance, with a beautiful eternal rainbow perched above to complete the image.

The joy in the air was practically tangible, and one would only have to breathe it to appreciate the wonder of being alive.

"What a fucking pain in my ass," Qrow grumbled.

To think what should have been a perfectly normal day had to be ruined by a single call - asking him to head out ASAP - at midnight, no less - and now he had to deal with...well, he still wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to be dealing with. Being kept in the dark was bad enough, but the journey itself hadn't been any better.

The boat had been one of those "bottom-shelf liquor at the local bar" kinds of junk. The kind that could capsize at any moment, or were operated by raving drunks - at least, that was what their sense of direction seemed to imply. The driver was apparently 'someone Ozpin trusted', but he was starting to think he'd be more willing to trust a ragged bandit with an eyepatch and a knife to his throat.

And to add insult to injury, a thunderstorm had broken out while they were at sea. As the boat had rocked back and forth violently, each lightning strike causing more and more turbulence, Qrow had started to wonder if this was what hell felt like. For his stomach, it certainly was.

But now he'd made it in one piece - somehow. Sighing, Qrow took out the map and glanced the marked location. Okay, let's get this over with. He quickly received directions from a local merchant, who flashed him an odd glance as he told him where he was going. Quickly searching for an alleyway where he wouldn't be seen, he transformed into his bird form and flew off in the direction of his destination.

Despite himself, he played back the memory of when he'd left Patch Island.

"You sure you'll be alright?" Summer had asked, staring at him with anxiety in every inch of her silver eyes. "I can pack you some snacks if you get hungry…"

"Nah, I'm good," he'd grumbled. "Honestly, I don't know what the hell was going through Oz' mind. It's been, what, six months without any news, and suddenly he calls in the middle of the night? No details, just 'Please be at Alberia Island by noon today. You might not be home for a while.' Why does he have to be so damn vague?"

Summer had just laughed awkwardly. "Haha...come on, have you even met Headmaster Ozpin before?"

"...Good point."

"Well...I guess it's just 'Ozpin' now. I still need to get used to that." She'd smiled at him. "So...I don't know how long you'll be away for, but he wouldn't call us if it wasn't something urgent. And with Rae and Tai out of the Kingdom, I guess I'll have to get by on my own, huh?"

"Eh, you'll do fine - don't worry about it." He'd flashed her what he'd hoped was a reassuring grin.

Without warning, she'd wrapped her arms around him. "I guess I'll see you later.." she murmured softly. "You sure you'll be alright, though?"

"You already said that," Qrow had grumbled, but accepted her hug, trying to stop his heart from racing. After that, they had bid farewell, and he'd headed down to the docks to where the boat had been provided.

Even though it was so recent, the memory made him smile (on the inside, anyway. He still wasn't sure if crows could smile). Despite everything, the last few months had been some of the happiest of his life - being with Summer, being able to see his sister truly happy for the first time in what felt like eons, and travelling all around the Kingdom as true Huntsmen...it was a good life.

And it was just as good for Summer, too. All that 'silver-eyed warrior' and 'Order of the Emerald Tower' crap that the old headmaster had dumped on her...he didn't understand much of it himself, but he knew it was nothing that Summer needed to worry herself with - not now, anyway. She didn't need more burdens on her life. Right now, all she needed was to smile, and if he was able to give her that, Qrow was happy as well.

"...Hmmm?" He'd been reminiscing for so long he hadn't realized he was getting close to his destination. A peculiar sight lay in front of him - though it looked like nothing but a collection of large, misshapen rocks at first, as he got closer he could recognize the shape they had once formed - a tower of some sort, and a tall one at that. However, time had worn the structure down to its bare parts, and their surfaces were covered with browning moss.

He turned back into a human as he descended, grunting in slight pain as his feet hit the ground. No wonder that merchant thought it was weird, he thought as he glanced at the ruins ahead of him. This place gives off some bad vibes.

As he raised his head, he caught eye of a figure in a black hood who stood in front of him. Qrow felt a tinge of fear - he was quite sure they hadn't been there a moment ago. Hesitantly, he approached them, one hand already on his weapon.

"I'm glad you came on time, Qrow," they murmured in a familiar voice. As they pulled their hood back, the visage of a bespectacled, middle-aged man with graying hair smiled at him. "I had faith that you would heed my call," said Professor Ozpin.

"Glad you had confidence in me," Qrow replied, feeling slightly relieved (but also annoyed) at the sight of his former headmaster. "But to be honest, I still don't know what this 'call' was about. Now that I'm here, would it be too much for you to fill me in?"

Ozpin merely smiled, twirling his cane in his hand. "I suppose I could...but perhaps instead of merely telling you, I could show you?" He raised the weapon, and Qrow could see a small ripple of green energy materialize in front of them, near the entrance to the ruins.

The professor smiled at Qrow's look of confusion. "Now then - follow me, if you would." He turned and began walking forward. He had barely taken a step when his body suddenly vanished, disappearing into the green energy. Qrow blinked, his mouth dropping in shock. "H-huh?" he muttered. He took a step forward...and then he had to blink again.

He could hardly believe the sight before him. The ruins were gone. In their place stood a tall structure of pure emerald, stretching upward into the sky. The light that shone off of their surface reflected into Qrow's eyes, and he growled as he shielded himself with his arm. "The hell…?"

It was only as he looked around that he realized that it had become sunset, while just a minute ago it had been early morning. And while the scenery outside had been a ruined wasteland, here there was nothing but green meadows stretching out in all directions. In the distance, he saw what appeared to be giant red comets, frozen in the sky like clouds.

"What...is this place?" he muttered, awestruck.

"This," Ozpin replied, as he reached the tower's front door. "Is the Emerald Tower, home of the Order of the Emerald Knights. Hundreds of years ago, Salem's forces attacked it in an attempt to raze it to the ground. To protect the tower, we - that is to say, my predecessors - hid it away in a pocket dimension, and left a fake in its place - whose ruins you just saw. In this world, not a moment has passed in all the years since."

He pointed to what Qrow had believed to be comets. "Had we been a few moments late, those meteors would have annihilated our main base, and all hope would have been lost." On that uplifting note, Ozpin pushed the doors open, making an ominous creaking noise as they gave way.

"Well that's...dark." Swallowing his fear, Qrow turned and followed his former headmaster into the tower. A sprawling hallway lay in front of them, with beautiful glass walls and an ornate green carpet laid out at their feet. Strange white crystals floated in the air, illuminating the room with a light that resembled Dust energy. It's beautiful, he thought. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before.

A grand staircase stood at the centre of the room, and the two of them made their way up, step by step. Qrow looked up, uneasily, and saw the stairs going up floor after floor after floor, in a perfect, unblemished pattern. "Does this ever end?" he asked out loud. Almost five minutes had passed, and he could feel the pain rising in his legs.

"Patience, Qrow," said Ozpin serenely. "That has always been one of my most important lessons. In the meantime, perhaps the walls might suffice to entertain you?" He gestured to the side, and Qrow followed his gaze.

"Whoa…" He hadn't paid much attention to them before, but the tower's walls were decorated with murals of all kinds. They seemed to depict grand battles, lush and strange landscapes the likes of which he'd never seen, and bizarre creatures that were neither human nor Faunus. As they continued to ascend, Qrow noticed that the art style of the drawings changed as well. "These are, what? Depictions of your little order fighting Salem across the years?"

The professor smiled. "You might say that. They are something of an intricate historical record, preserving the millenias of history that our enemy seeks to snuff out. To fully appreciate the history of life, it is important to document both the good times and the bad." A slight frown formed on his face as he pushed up his glasses. "...Though even I do not know the full extent of such history. This great structure predates even myself...and the legacy of those who came before me."

After what felt like a century, they reached the top floor. Panting, Qrow followed Ozpin down the hall, passing by an enormous library, before finally reaching a single emerald-plated door. As they entered the room, Qrow felt a powerful presence - several of them, in fact - overwhelm him all at once. He stumbled, but managed to retain his balance.

He immediately felt the pressure of several pairs of eyes upon him. A grand table was laid out in the middle of the room, where several unfamiliar figures sat, staring at the two new arrivals in anticipation. Feeling slightly nervous, Qrow quickly glanced over them.

A stout man with a short beard and graying blonde hair sat next to the front seat, a book in his hands. A younger man hiding his face beneath a black hat sat in the middle, his feet propped lazily on the table's surface. Finally, at the back of the table was a muscular, dark-skinned woman who was sitting with her arms and legs positioned in a meditative stance. Qrow took notice of the large, pointy ears atop her long, silver hair - she was a wolf Faunus. So, he thought. Are these guys all part of Ozpin's 'order'?

"I'm glad to see all of you are present," Ozpin began.

"Most of us," the woman interrupted. "However, it appears that Sherwood has taken a leave of absence. Yet again."

"Don't forget the dead guy," the younger man chuckled, raising his hat to peer at Qrow. He had piercing golden eyes. "So what, are you Sam's replacement?" Who? Qrow wondered, though the prospect of a dead person didn't exactly bring him happy thoughts.

The older man rubbed his hands together, glancing downward. "Other than the Perceiver and the Crimson Behemoth, all those who were asked to meet today are present," he muttered softly.

"Thank you, Leo," Ozpin replied, and calmly sat down in the large seat at the front. Qrow felt as though the old headmaster looked a bit too small for such a regal-looking affair. The chair had clearly been built for someone else.

"Thank you all for meeting here today," the professor began. He gestured to Qrow, who hastily moved to stand beside him. "First and foremost, I'd like to introduce you to - I devoutly hope -the newest member of our order, Qrow Branwen of Vale. I believe his talents will be vital for the difficult times ahead."

The others began to whisper among themselves. Shifting uncomfortably where he stood, Qrow waited silently as Ozpin raised his hand to calm them down. "And while it pains me to hear of Samson's death, under the current circumstances there is little time to mourn. It is my hope that Qrow will fulfill his role as our 'eyes' from here on out."

"...He's awfully young, Ozpin," the man named Leo replied, glancing at Qrow with a look of uncertainty. "Looking at him, I doubt he's a year past graduation. Are you sure it's wise to throw such a heavy burden on him?"

"Qrow...Branwen? Did I hear that right?" Narrowing her eyes, the dark-skinned woman spoke. She had a strange accent that Qrow couldn't quite place.

"Uhh, what?" Qrow asked. "You know me or something?" A thought crossed his mind. Does she know something about the tribe? Or Uncle Luka, maybe?

The woman provided no answers, simply closing her eyes and returning to her meditation.

"C'mon Phoebe. You really gonna leave him hanging like that?" The younger man turned to him, removing his hat. Qrow noticed he was even younger than he'd initially thought - the man was probably only several years older than him. "Sorry that the boss called you here on short notice. The name's Crowley Cloake - and not to blow my horn, but I'd like to think I'm the best archer in all of Remnant. Welcome to the team, partner!"

"...Thanks," Qrow muttered. So he uses a bow and arrow too, huh? He glanced over Crowley Cloake, noting his lean yet well-toned structure. He didn't look overly threatening, but Qrow had a feeling this one wasn't a person you wanted to mess with. Vaguely, he thought that it would be nice if Summer could practice archery with him.

But right now, there were more pressing issues. "...So wait," he growled, glaring at Professor Ozpin. "When were you planning on telling me that? What's all this about me joining your order? I didn't exactly agree to anything like that, you know."

Crowley chuckled. "What, are you surprised? Have you even met Ozpin before?"

"Hah...I hope you'll forgive my secrecy," Ozpin smiled. "For the record, I didn't deceive you or anything - I simply didn't tell you the whole truth. But now you're here, and within the confines of this tower, I am free to divulge information without fear."

"Okay…" Then why didn't you tell me anything while we were climbing up a thousand fucking stairs?!

The professor gestured sadly to an empty chair -the one right next to Crowley's. "The truth is, approximately one month ago, Samson Heracle - one of my finest Huntsmen, known as the 'Crimson Behemoth' - went missing while searching for a possible lead on Salem's movements. Though we can't say for certain, we have little choice but to assume the worst. And so I sought you out to fill his old seat - for now, more than ever, I need all the allies I can find."

"...You keep talking about that," Qrow said gruffly, still not quite understanding. "'Now'. 'The current circumstances'. Stuff like that. Just what the hell is going on that's so urgent?"

Leo frowned. "Ozpin...did you really not tell him anything?" Still meditating, Phoebe inhaled deeply, seeming to enter an almost trance-like state. Crowley's gaze moved across the room, displaying a vague, mocking interest.

"...I'm telling him now." Ozpin's smile was suddenly gone. Gripping his cane with both hands, the professor glanced around the table, from person to person, before they came to rest upon Qrow. "To make a long story very short...I believe a war is coming. And it may be one we cannot afford to lose."

Qrow blinked. "...War?" he repeated. "But didn't we just stop a war from breaking out between Atlas and Vacuo? Or is that can of worms still open after all these months?"

"I wish it were as simple as that," Ozpin replied, shaking his head sadly. "No, this...this is far larger than that. This concerns Salem - the Dark Queen herself, and the root of all our grievances. Whether she has become tired of her pawns failing her, or she has seen some weakness in our system - it is my belief that she intends to strike us directly, for the first time in over a hundred years."

Qrow's eyes were drawn to the large, ornate window in front of him. Outside, he could still see the bright red meteors frozen forever in time, still glowing brightly, as if their desire to annihilate all still remained after all these years. "So…" he pointed in their direction. "Lemme guess, that's what happens when Salem decides to 'strike us directly'?"

Ozpin said nothing, but nodded with a gravity that conveyed more than any words.

"Basically, it's a bad scene," Crowley muttered, scowling as he twirled an arrow around his fingers. "No second chances if we lose - no 'get back on our feet and recover' phase before we come back stronger than ever. It'll be game over - for us and the rest of the world."

Leo nodded, wringing his hands nervously. "We only have one chance. What's worse, we don't even know when to expect the attack, where it will be, or who will lead the charge...everything is stacked against us."

"Now, I wouldn't quite say that," the professor replied. He turned back to Qrow. "You may have noticed that ever since the incident at Oasis City last year, crime rates have fallen rapidly all across the world - not just in the vicinity of Vacuo. Even Grimm attacks have been at their lowest in many years...it was all too perfect. And to further suspicion, all major incidents since then, whether it be robberies, murders, terrorist attacks, have all been concentrated at one location."

He raised his cane, and a holographic projection formed over the table, depicting the map of Remnant. On a single point in the Eastern continent, a bright light was glowing intensely.

"...Mistral?" Qrow muttered.

"Specifically, the unsettled areas around Lake Matsu," Ozpin confirmed, as the projection zoomed in on that location. "We've had our eyes on there for many years now, courtesy of our own Phoebe Wanejaw." He gave the Faunus a courteous nod. "And recently, the sudden surge in suspicious activity there has become too much for us to ignore. And what's more, I believe we have a name for our enemy - one of them, at least."

Phoebe slowly opened her eyes. "...I can 'see' them," she murmured, her gaze distant, looking at nothing in particular. "Men and women clad in red and black, masks of bone covering their faces. Wandering the valleys, slaughtering and conquering anything in sight. And at their head, one man. The person they call the 'chief'."

Suddenly, an image popped into Qrow's mind. A tall colossus of a man, with dark hair and a long, thick beard, and eyes as red as his own. An endless downpour of snow that seemed to follow the man everywhere, and yet never fazed him for a moment. Every cell in the man's body radiated power, as if were not human but a god of war given form.

It was a face he knew well, but had not seen for a very long time. The face of someone he had thought to be dead until half a year ago.

"Thoron Branwen," he blurted. "My old man."

Crowley chuckled. "Oh, so you do know him after all? I can see why Oz picked you now."

"...That does seem to be the case." Ozpin nodded gravely. "The current head of the Branwen tribe, and a warrior feared by many as one of the most dangerous men in Remnant. Though presumed dead for years, recently he seems to have resurfaced - and evidence suggests he has pledged allegiance to the Dark Queen, Salem."

"...Mercifully, they are still short on actual numbers - they have little more than a few dozen to their name. But they will grow, and quickly." Phoebe's eyes were closed once more, breathing heavily as if concentrating. "Currently, they've made camp at a nearby clearing, but I'm afraid I can't see much more from here."

Can't see...from here? Qrow wondered what she meant.

"The point, Qrow, is that right now we need your help," Ozpin explained. "First and foremost, we need someone to fill Samson's seat - but more importantly, as the chief's son you would make the perfect infiltrator. You can meet with him directly, and extract valuable intel from him, giving us an advantage in the battle ahead."

The professor frowned, and laid his cane down on the table before continuing. "Or, if you choose, this might not have to end in bloodshed at all - you may even be able to negotiate peacefully with the tribesmen. The choice would be years...but regardless, it should be clear why you are the perfect candidate."

...Would it really be that simple? "Not just me. There's Raven, too," Qrow pointed out. "We might be twins, but she was closer to Dad than I ever was. If anyone can talk him down, it's her - not me."

"Your sister is...an interesting case. A peculiar one, you might even say. Her loyalties..." Ozpin sighed mid-sentence, and for a moment it seemed like he was at a loss for words. However, he simply shook his head and continued. "...As she is currently 'on break', as it were, I found it would be inappropriate to put her in such a dangerous position. But make no mistake, Qrow - I believe the two of you would be equally capable."

Qrow didn't believe the professor for a second. 'On break', my ass. I could smell that bullshit from a mile away. His intent was all too clear to him - Professor Ozpin did not trust Raven Branwen.

"We're...sorry if all this is a little abrupt for you, Qrow," Leo muttered as if trying to console him. "But like Ozpin said, something big is coming, and we don't have much time left. We need your help - all of us."

Crowley let out a short, humorless laugh. "So what's it gonna be, pal? Of course, you already know this isn't a choice, right?"

"...I guess not," Qrow sighed. Somehow, he wasn't surprised. "Alright. I'll help out however I can."

"Excellent." The professor smiled. "Firstly, I'd like to ask you this: from your experience, how would you recommend we confront Thoron Branwen and his tribe? Please, any information would help - no matter how small."

"You can't beat him," he blurted out immediately. Even with the little memory he had of his father, this was something he knew for certain - as though it were an instinct. "I don't know who or how many people you've got in this 'order' of yours, but even if you had an entire branch of Huntsmen under your wing you wouldn't even stand a chance."

Leo scowled, stroking his beard nervously. "Come now, you must be exaggerating. At the end of the day, he's only one man. I understand that he's your father, but-"

"I'm serious," Qrow insisted. "Dad isn't just dangerous because he's an insanely powerful fighter - which he is, by the way. As far as Semblances go, he might as well have won the lottery. He's got a kind of short-term future sight...the kind that lets him predict what anyone will do within the next few seconds. It makes it almost impossible to catch him off guard in a fight. He'll literally be one step ahead, all the time.

"And on top of that, he uses a giant hammer with blackstorm Dust embedded in it," he continued, feeling fear rising in his body even as he recounted his memory. "He wouldn't even touch you - he'd just need to slam the thing down really hard and 100,000 volts would fly through your body. As far as I know, he's never lost a fight in his life."

As he stopped to take a deep breath, the whole room fell silent. Everyone snuck brief glances at one another, as if they all wanted to say something but couldn't bring themselves to break the silence. Finally, Ozpin shattered the tension by simply saying, "Thank you for your input, Qrow."

"Well then, now that everyone here has been properly updated on the situation," the professor continued, seemingly unfazed by his former student's exposition, "we must take action. I must remind you all once more, if we fail now, our enemies will unleash a war so terrible it will make the Great War seem like a mere skirmish in comparison."

"Hmph. No pressure," Crowley Cloake grumbled.

"Qrow and I will head to Mistral at once in order to scout the current situation. While we're there, I will continue his training as a Huntsman of our order. I do hope you're ready," Ozpin remarked as an aside to Qrow. "This will be far beyond anything you previously learned at Beacon."

"...Go as hard as you want," Qrow muttered. Yet another thing he didn't bother telling me beforehand. "I can take it."

"Phoebe, I want you to return to the White Fang and continue acting as our spy. There's no proof that the rumours surrounding their increasing radicalization are true, but we must stay vigilant nonetheless. As for you, Crowley, gather up every capable Huntsman you know and tell them...well, .as much as is necessary for them to aid us. When - not if - our enemy makes their move, I will be sure to inform you both as soon as possible - and I expect you will come to me just as swiftly."

Phoebe nodded. "Understood." "Just leave it all to me, boss," Crowley replied with a resigned smile, as he twirled his hat around his finger.

"And you, Leonardo, will remain here." Ozpin's tone shifted to a more serious tone as he turned to his last apprentice. "Now that Salem's agents have made an attempt on your life, your safety outside the tower is no longer guaranteed. Carnelia will find someone to take over your duties as a professor until further notice."

"...Yes. Yes, that's quite all right." Leo hung his head, averting his eyes from everyone.

"Then we can consider this meeting adjourned. I was intending to assign Sherwood to investigate the factories in Atlas, but it seems that will have to wait for another time. I will be praying for your success - all of you."

"Save your prayers," replied Phoebe Wanejaw, standing up from her chair. "The elder taught me that prayer without effort is worthless." She looked over everyone in the room, her expression unchanging. "So...may our efforts not be in vain." Without saying another word, she left the room.

Crowley placed his hat back on his head, and got to his feet. "See you around, partner," he said to Qrow with a nod. "Don't worry - as long as I'm on the case, you can just leave everything to me."

"Oh, and another thing." As he passed by Qrow, he turned to him with a sly smile visible under his hat. "I heard one of your friends is a capable archer herself. If fate ever gives us a chance to meet, I wouldn't mind a little duel with her...or even, you know, sitting down for a nice cup of tea, eh? Don't worry - I'll go easy on her." With that, Crowley walked past him, waving his hand in farewell.

...Well, they're interesting, Qrow thought as he watched the two Huntsmen exit the meeting chamber. Phoebe seemed aloof, in an almost supernatural way, but also contemplative and wise. There was an aura of mystery around her that he found vaguely interesting. Huh...now that I think about it, she and Sis might get along if they ever met.

As for Crowley...somehow, Qrow got a negative vibe from him. His cocksure attitude reminded him, in a bad way, of...Tai? No, that's not it. Something else, something he couldn't quite place at the moment. Yet just the thought of the archer's confident grin was enough to make Qrow's stomach churn.

"Let's be off, Qrow." Ozpin's ever-calm voice snapped him out of his ponderings. "Leonardo...take care of yourself, won't you?" He nodded at Leo, who remained motionless at his seat, before he and Qrow made their way out of the chamber.

As they walked down the hall, there was a minute of total silence, broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the marble floor. Finally, Ozpin spoke. "I'm...terribly sorry for placing so much stress on you on such short notice," he said. "Though I won't ask that you forgive me, I do hope I can justify myself. And of course, I hope you will give it your all."

"Yeah," Qrow muttered, feeling a tinge of annoyance nonetheless. "But let's address the elephant in the room. What about Summer?"

"..." Though for only a moment, he saw a pained expression form on the professor's face. "Your partner is different," he replied slowly. "I assume, of course, that she has told you about her unusual power." Seeing Qrow's nod, he continued. "As the last Chevalier - bearer of the silver demise - her role is not the same as yours. But when her time comes, I hope that you, and the rest of your team, can be there to guide the girl to her destiny."

"...Alright. If it helps Summer, I'll do what I can...wait." Qrow scowled. "What do you mean by 'her destiny'?"

"Ah! There you are, Ozpin. It's quite good to see you." An unfamiliar voice interrupted them as they reached the staircase. A thin, well-shaven man with dark hair was standing near the door, as if waiting for them. He was holding a metal cane, and looking at him, Qrow would put his age at around forty or fifty. "Oh, and you must be Qrow Branwen."

"Yeah, that's me," Qrow frowned. "But how'd you know-"

"The meeting's already over, isn't it? Well, I'm sorry young Crowley gave you a hard time, boy. And Leo, bless his heart, he must not be taking things very well - considering what happened. I wish you luck in your negotiations. Thoron Branwen seems like a foe not to be taken lightly." The man was speaking so fast Qrow could hardly make out his words.

Ozpin sighed. "You are as perceptive as ever, Sherwood... but you were still absent - yet again. I presume you know-"

"That you want me to return to Atlas and watch out for suspicious activity, yes, I am aware," the man named Sherwood replied, before Ozpin could finish his sentence. "In light of recent events, we must ensure the factories are not compromised. Very well, I am up for the task."

"...Well then, if you're already caught up, I see no reason for you to still be here, Sherwood," Ozpin said wearily.

"Books, my dear Ozpin. Books," Sherwood chuckled. "Even after these years, the library here still manages to hold surprises for me. I doubt he would forgive me if I were to pass up an opportunity to gain such precious knowledge." He tapped his forehead with a smile. "Have no fear - I will set out for Atlas as soon as my curiosity has been satisfied. Well then, I hope to see you again." With a curt nod, he turned and began walking down the hallway.

"Another acquaintance of mine," Ozpin said before Qrow could ask the question. "Sherwood Bell - a long-standing member of the Emerald Order. Not a traditional Huntsman by any means, but always reliable. Now then, Qrow…"

With that, the two began their journey back down the seemingly-endless staircase. Just as Qrow began to feel like his legs would melt into jelly, they reached the bottom and exited the Emerald Tower. Standing in the bright green meadows, Qrow found his eyes drawn to the bright red meteors in the skies above.

This place sure is beautiful, he thought. And yet, it had come so close to utter annihilation. Could Remnant really be heading towards the same fate?

Ozpin raised his cane, and the two of them walked forward, finding themselves back in their world. Qrow winced as his body adjusted to the sudden rush of desert heat. "Ugh…" he muttered, frowning at his old professor. "Wait a sec. How did all the others get here?"

"All members of the order have their own 'key', of sorts," he replied. "You will have yours, in time. But for now...this is where we part ways." He raised his cane once more, and a pale green aura surrounded his body.

"I will go on ahead, to Haven Academy. You can, of course, make contact with your teammates and inform them that you will be away. Hopefully I will see you again tomorrow, at the school - I promise you will find Carnelia quite hospitable. Until then, Qrow."

"H-hey! Wait a minute!" he protested, reaching out to Ozpin, but the professor disappeared in a bright flash of energy, and Qrow was left alone in the desert.

Yes, I'm still alive, and with Volume 5 underway, I've returned with another chapter of Stark.

Just a heads-up, don't expect a new chapter every 1-2 weeks, as school is getting extremely busy. For now, I hope you enjoy this little preview of things to come!