Hyunwoo's thumb brushed over the watch's worn surface.
It was more than a timepiece — he remembered building it with his mother, the small hidden compartment under the backplate. A place for messages. Little encouragements that he and his mom wrote .
His chest tightened.
He slid a fingernail into the thin groove and pried it open.
The hinge creaked.
Inside was a small, folded slip of paper, edges frayed, smeared with a dark, dried stain.
Blood.
Hyunwoo's breath slowed, heavy.
This wasn't his handwriting.
He unfolded it with care. The first words burned in his mind:
To Ozpin.
His grip trembled. He knew this writing — neat, deliberate, and all too familiar.
His father's.
He read on:
If you see this, Ozpin, we don't have much time. Salem's got a powerful subordinate. I fought her.
And I realized something... she used the power of a Maiden. Not complete yet, but enough. That's when I knew — she's the one who attacked Amber before.
I tried to end it right there... but another came for me.
A scorpion Faunus. Dangerous. His sting carries poison. Deadly.
Ozpin, we need to end this war now. I don't want my son getting pulled into this mess.
The words bled together in his vision.
The letter wasn't just a warning.
It was a last stand.
His hands tightened around the paper until it crumpled.
His father... had been here.
Had fought these monsters.
And now...
A chill crawled up his spine.
The Grimm's distorted voice, earlier, whispered again —
"Found you."
Hyunwoo's breathing quickened.
The paper in his hands felt heavier than steel.
His father's words weren't just a warning — they were pointing straight at two names he already knew too well.
Cinder Fall.
The false Maiden.
The one who would bring chaos to Beacon.
And—
Tyrian Callows.
The scorpion Faunus.
Fanatical. Sadistic. Deadly.
It's not usual team up, but hearing the two name at the same time didn't make a good impression.
His heart pounded like a drum in his ears.
He had watched them in the show. He knew what they could do. But knowing didn't make the reality any easier to swallow. This wasn't fiction anymore.
His fingers trembled as he folded the bloodstained letter back, eyes locked on the lifeless arm.
That mask.
That watch.
The faint memory of his father's smile when he'd said—
"Thanks, kiddo... I'll always keep it with me."
A sharp, uneven breath escaped him.
"No... way..."
It felt like the ground under him had shifted, like he was standing on the edge of something far bigger than himself.
And for the first time in a long while... he wasn't sure if the timeline he knew could save him.
His grip on the watch tightened until his knuckles turned white.
His breath came in sharp, uneven bursts, the anger inside him burning hotter, hungering for retribution.
Ruby took a step forward, eyes wide with worry.
But Jaemin blocked her with his tonfa-turned-glaive.
"Don't, Ruby. He's already on the edge. If you push now... you'll just make him explode."
The wind around them felt heavier, the air tight with tension.
And Hyunwoo... was silent.
But his silence felt louder than any scream.
The sound of boots striking the ground cut through the thick silence.
A swirl of wind and dust preceded the sharp click of heels.
"Where is the Ursa?!!"
Glynda Goodwitch strode into view, riding crop in hand, eyes sweeping across the group. Her gaze quickly darted to the torn-up earth, the deep gouges where Hyunwoo had fought.
Ruby turned toward her. "It... wasn't an Ursa, ma'am."
Glynda's brow furrowed. "Explain."
Before Ruby could speak, her eyes caught Hyunwoo — still kneeling, one hand gripping something tightly.
His shoulders were rigid, his head bowed low, and the air around him felt... wrong.
"Hyunwoo?" she called, her voice firm but not unkind.
No response.
He didn't even look at her.
Jaemin stepped in, his tone level but his stance protective. "It wasn't a normal Grimm. Looked... human. Fast. Strong. And it's gone now."
Glynda's eyes narrowed. "Human? That is not possible—"
Hyunwoo's voice finally broke the tension, low and rough. "Possible or not... it was here."
He slowly stood, revealing what he had in his hand — a severed arm.
But Glynda's sharp eyes caught something unusual immediately: the flesh.
Her eyes widened. "That... is not Grimm."
He stepped forward, showing her the watch still clasped around the wrist.
Her gaze flicked from the watch to his expression, reading the storm in his eyes.
"What happened here?" she asked again, quieter this time.
Hyunwoo's grip tightened. "Something that's not supposed to exist."
Glynda's eyes landed on the watch, her expression tightening.
"That... I've seen that before."
Hyunwoo looked up sharply. "Then you know whose it is."
She hesitated, just for a second, before answering. "...Yes. I do."
His jaw clenched. "I want to talk with Ozpin. Now."
Ruby stepped forward, worry plain on her face. "But you're injured, Hyunwoo! You should go to the hospital first—"
"I'm fine, Ruby." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of steel. "There's something more important than a few cuts."
Ruby flinched slightly at the intensity in his tone.
Glynda studied him for a long moment, then gave a short nod. "Very well. Follow me."
As she turned away, Jaemin, Jisoo, and Jiwon exchanged glances — the unspoken understanding clear in their eyes.
Something had just changed.
They walked in a small group behind Glynda and Hyunwoo, the quiet between them heavy.
Ruby was the first to speak, her voice small.
"What... what was that thing? I've never seen a Grimm like it."
Weiss glanced at her, then looked ahead at Hyunwoo's back. "Whatever it was, it was dangerous. And he went straight at it without hesitation. That's—" she caught herself, her tone sharpening, "—that's reckless."
Jaune shook his head. "No... I think he did that because he knew we couldn't take it. That speed... that strength... I don't think I could've even blocked it."
Ruby gripped Crescent Rose tighter. "But still... he's hurt. And he didn't let us help him. It's like he didn't even want us near it."
They all turned to Pyrrha, who had been silent until now.
Her eyes stayed on Hyunwoo. "It wasn't just the fight... it was the arm."
Ruby blinked. "The arm?"
Pyrrha nodded slowly. "The way he saw it... the way he froze. His expression completely changed. That wasn't fear. It was shock—deep, personal shock. Like the world stopped for him in that moment."
Weiss frowned. "So that Grimm... it left behind a human arm?"
Pyrrha's voice dropped. "Yes. And whatever he saw in it... it shook him more than the battle did."
Ruby's gaze lowered. "...I just don't want to see him like that again."
___
The Beacon towers loomed above as Hyunwoo, leaning slightly on his spear for support, followed Glynda through the quiet corridors. Her brow was furrowed, concern etched into every line of her face.
"Are you sure this is the right time?" Glynda asked softly, glancing at the bloodstains marring his uniform and the bruises forming along his arm. "You're hurt worse than you realize. Ozpin isn't going anywhere—he can wait until you're properly treated."
Hyunwoo shook his head, his jaw set with determination. "No. I need to see him now." His eyes glinted with a mixture of urgency and something deeper, unspoken. "There are questions I need answers to... and I won't wait any longer."
Glynda's expression softened but remained wary. "Very well. But if anything happens—"
"I'm fine." His voice was calm, almost unnervingly so. "This isn't about me. It's about my father. You and Ozpin... you've been hiding something." He took a breath, gripping his spear tightly. "I need the truth. Now."
Glynda gave a slow nod, her face a mixture of resignation and concern. She led him to Ozpin's office, the weight of the unspoken past pressing down on them as the heavy doors swung open. While she waiting outside.
Hyunwoo's gaze locked on Ozpin, unwavering. "Tell me everything about my father. I deserve to know the truth."
The silence that followed was thick, charged with years of secrets, and for a moment, even Beacon itself seemed to hold its breath.
Ozpin looked up from his desk, adjusting his cane with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Ah... Mr Kim. I must say, you look rather worse for wear. Surely you shouldn't have come in this state. Injuries like that—"
Hyunwoo cut him off with a sharp glance, ignoring the ache in his side. "I told you, it's fine. I need answers, not sympathy."
Ozpin tilted his head, feigning casual concern. "Sympathy is hardly necessary, but precaution is always wise. You could have ended up in the infirmary—"
Hyunwoo slammed the paper on Ozpin's desk, silencing him immediately. The letter from his father lay flat, edges stained slightly with blood, the handwriting unmistakable.
"This isn't about me being cautious," Hyunwoo said, voice low but unwavering. "This is about the truth. You've been hiding things about my father—about what he faced, and what's coming. I deserve to know everything."
Ozpin leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the young man before him. The playful, "foolish" pretense dropped, replaced with the weight of gravity that only came from years of secrets and responsibility.
Hyunwoo's fists clenched around the edge of the desk, his voice tense but controlled. "The threats my father faced... the ones in that letter. You said he died during a clearance mission. Enough games, Ozpin. Tell me everything."
Ozpin's gaze softened, but the weight in his eyes made it clear how heavy the secrets were. "Hyunwoo... what I'm about to tell you is not easy to hear. Your father—he was not just any Huntsman. He was part of operations far beyond what most could imagine. That mission you speak of... it was meant to intercept agents of a powerful and dangerous enemy, to prevent them from gaining an advantage in a war that has been brewing for decades."
Hyunwoo's breath hitched slightly as he leaned forward, his tone sharp. "Decades? Then why did you let him go in alone? Why didn't anyone tell me the full truth?"
Ozpin's hands steepled, his voice steady but somber. "Because, Hyunwoo, the moment you knew the full scope, you would have been in danger too. Your father faced foes we didn't fully understand at the time. He underestimated the scope of the threat, and—"
Hyunwoo slammed his fists on the desk, cutting him off. "And that's why he's dead! Because of a 'mission' you sent him on, leaving him alone?!"
Ozpin nodded slowly, the weight of duty and regret clear in his eyes. "Yes... but he did what he believed was right. He tried to stop these enemies before they reached full strength. You've seen glimpses of them already. Your father knew the risks—and he acted."
Hyunwoo's jaw tightened, the rage inside mixing with pain from his injuries. His eyes flashed with grief and determination. "Then I'll finish what he started. I'll stop them, and I'll make sure no one else pays for your secrets."