*Ozpin

I sit at my desk, sipping my coffee and watching the clock. It's 3:25 am and I'm waiting for Qrow to report on an urgent matter. He called me earlier, saying he had something important to show me. Something about a new semblance with exotic effects. I wonder if I should have woken up Glenda, but then I decide against it. She needs her rest, and I don't want to disturb her every time a new phenomenon occurs. While she makes a better coffee than I do I'm only slightly tempted just for a better cup. As I finish and contemplate getting another cup, a crow flies into my office and transforms into Qrow.

He holds up one finger and takes out his flask. He gulps down some alcohol and then speaks.

"Oz, Yang was attacked by a Nuckelavee."

I grimace at the news. A Nuckelavee is a fearsome Grimm, a horse-like creature with a human torso and arms attached to its back. It can rip apart a person with its claws or trample them with its hooves and is usually handled by a full team.

"How bad was it?" I ask.

"She's fine, just a bit shaken up. She saw two kids, no older than Ruby, being attacked by the beast and she jumped in to save them. Unarmed, mind you. Oh, and get this their semblance lets them turn into gauntlets. How about that?"

I raise an eyebrow. That is indeed a remarkable coincidence.

"So Yang, the only graduating student of Signal who uses gauntlets as her weapon of choice, happens to run into two kids who can turn into gauntlets? That's hard to believe."

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Qrow nods and puts a watch on my desk. He also shows me his scroll, displaying a picture of two student IDs that look unfamiliar to me. Then he takes out a jar with something black and red inside.

"I found this at the scene of the fight. It's what's left of the Nuckelavee after the kids used their semblance on it. Oz, there was a crater there from an explosion that could rival four pounds of military-grade fire dust."

I stare at the jar, feeling a chill run down my spine. I recognize what's inside it, even though I haven't seen one in centuries. Its colors are like nothing I've ever seen but it can only be one thing a Grimm's soul.

"A Grimm soul" I whisper

"Grimm have souls?" Qrow asks, sounding shocked.

I chuckle weakly. "It seems so. I would have never guessed. I've been around long enough to see many things yet this catches me by surprise"

Giving a look at the watch Qrow puts it on and presses a button.

0 souls collected

Open mouthed I stare at the watch

" Oz, these kids are staying near my nieces right now. What if they're spies? What if they're dangerous? What if they're agents of .."

He trails off, unable to finish his sentence.

"I understand your concern," I say softly. "But we need more information before we act rashly. We need to talk to them, find out who they are."

Qrow sighs and nods reluctantly.

"Alright, Oz. But be careful. These kids are not normal. I can count the people on one hand with that type of destructive ability."

He leaves my office, taking his scroll with him.

I look at the clock again. It's 4:15 am now. Putting the jar in a safe spot I look back at my desk. Looking back at the watch with trepidation I pick it up staring at it. I never asked for this curse. The burden of time has made my past lives blur and blend. Pulling back my sleeve I strap on the watch.

146 souls collected

I feel a surge of horror and rip off the watch as if it burned me. I throw it back on the desk and clutch my cane for support. How many lives have I forgotten? How many more will I be forced to take?

With a shaky hand, I squeeze my cane and start pulling out paperwork. I wasn't going to fall back to sleep anyway.