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Diamond

I stood in front of Director Ozpin's office, my nerves on edge. Who wouldn't be, given the situation? Taking a deep breath, I knocked.

"Welcome," came the familiar voice, as cold and composed as ever.

The office was both elegant and understated. A massive wooden desk dominated the center of the room, and behind it sat the Headmaster himself. I walked in confidently, determined not to show my nerves.

I stopped in front of the desk, ready to speak, but Ozpin beat me to it.

"Hello, Mr. Arc. Glad you arrived. Please, have a seat. I'll be with you in a moment." His gaze didn’t lift from the document in his hands.

I sat down, trying to reassess my situation. This was undoubtedly about my appointment as team captain—a decision I still believed to be a mistake. Maybe I could convince Ozpin to reconsider and appoint Pyrrha instead. It was so obvious she was the better choice. Why hadn’t she been made captain in the first place?

Ozpin sighed, signing the document he’d been engrossed in before setting it aside. Finally, he looked at me.

"So, you're probably curious about the reason for our meeting today, aren't you?"

His gaze was sharp, piercing, and unyielding. I swallowed hard before responding.

"It's probably about the decision to appoint me as captain. I must say I'm honored by the trust, but I'd like to ask you to reconsider"

Ozpin interrupted by taking a slow sip of his coffee, his eyes fixed on the cup. After a moment, he set it down and asked in his usual calm tone:

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"Do you consider the decision a mistake?"

I had expected this question and had prepared my answer.

"Well, sir, I'm part of a team with three amazing people, at least one of whom is far better suited for the role Pyrrha Nikos." I paused, waiting for his reaction, but he simply took another sip of his coffee.

Encouraged by his silence, I continued. "Pyrrha has an incredible record of achievements, which I'm sure you're aware of. Even in the short time I've known her, she's earned my full trust and respect. I truly believe she's the obvious choice for team captain."

Ozpin’s expression didn’t waver. He seemed detached, as though his thoughts were miles away. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled—a rare and startling sight.

"It's interesting," he said, his tone still cold. "A student who hasn't even started his training already accuses his Headmaster of making mistakes. I haven't encountered that in quite some time."

My mind went blank. Did I just make things worse? Should I defend myself?

Fortunately, Ozpin didn’t wait for a response. "Don't worry so much, Mr. Arc. It's just a little joke."

A little joke? I nearly had a heart attack!

"Tell me, Mr. Arc, do you know how diamonds are made?"

The question seemed entirely out of place, but I answered anyway. "They're formed from coal under intense pressure and heat."

"Don't forget time," he added. "It takes millions of years for a diamond to form."

I nodded in agreement.

"Now, I have a riddle for you. Are you ready?"

Riddles weren’t exactly my strong suit, but I nodded again, sensing I had little choice.

"Consider this: if a diamond is exposed to much higher pressure and temperature, will the process accelerate, or will the diamond crumble into dust?"

I hesitated. I didn’t know the answer, and my uncertainty must have been written all over my face.

Ozpin gave a faint smile. "If you don't know, that's perfectly fine. You see, I believe every diamond is unique. Each requires different conditions to reach its final form. And even then, an experienced craftsman is needed to cut it and reveal its true brilliance."

His words hung in the air, and I nodded slowly. There was wisdom in what he said, though I suspected this wasn’t really about diamonds at all.