"And so, counting the missions the first year will be taking today, the number of students we will be sending to Vacuo is—" she stops delivering her report. "Headmaster?"

Hearing no answer, she tries again. "Headmaster, are you listening?"

The bespectacled man she is addressing keeps quiet, idly tapping the table while being seemingly absorbed by something he's perusing on his Scroll. The impeccably dressed woman furrows her brows, trying to rein in her irritation as she realizes she, once again, is being subjected to one of her superior's bad habits.

It might have been unintentional on his part, but she is not known to be a very forgiving person.

In an almost practiced fashion, she brings out her signature weapon, and slams it on his free hand as hard as she can.

To the man's credit, he doesn't show much reaction other than a blink, as if the rapidly reddening welt on the back of his hand feels only as painful as a mosquito's bite. "Ah, Glynda." He looks up, and the surprise in his voice sounds genuine. "How long have you been here?"

'Ever since I decided to follow your footsteps and become a teacher, you infuriating man,' is the sarcastic answer she almost bites out, but decides against. After all the works she's done for the day, even being angry is too exhausting.

Instead, she closes her eyes, inhales a deep breath, and lets it out in a controlled, long stream of sigh. "…What is so interesting on your Scroll that you ignore everything around you?"

"Well, I've been browsing the rumor mill—"

"Again?" she cuts him off, almost impatiently. "Ozpin, I know how… eccentric you are, most of the time, but you need to remember you are the Headmaster of Beacon, first and foremost. Such activity is below you when you have better things to occupy your time." Her glasses take a dangerous glint. "Like actually doing your duty, for example."

"I'm aware, but I assure you, as of an hour ago, one of them is no longer a mere rumor," he said. "At least, not after the latest reports I received."

The most important person in Beacon takes one last look at the device in his left hand, before putting it on standby and folding his arms on the table. "Glynda, do you still remember Team KNIV's mission, dated almost exactly a month ago?"

"Are you referring to their mission to Mistral?" At Ozpin's nod, she continues, "If I remember correctly, their mission was to go and eradicate a particularly large congregation of Ursai, located particularly close to a civilian settlement outside the kingdom's wall. But when they arrived, the villagers stated that the nest had been cleared out by someone else, an unknown hunter, just the day before." She pauses. "What about it?"

"Call me nosy, but after reading their report, I immediately began gathering information about this unknown hunter," he once again turns on his Scrolls and puts it on the table, calling up a plethora of holograms to appear on the center of the room. "And the result has been… intriguing, to say the least."

Glynda turns around for a better look, and her eyes widens slightly as she reads the files. "Well, if this information is to be believed, then I can see why you are interested in him."

"Some of them, the latest ones, actually come from Qrow, so yes, I'm inclined to believe them." He sighs. "However, as you can see, even with his help we are still unable to paint a clear picture."

"With the circumstances as they are, we can't really blame him for the lack of findings," she says. "That said, though, what are you going to do about it? Barring meeting and questioning him in person, I really can't see any way for us to gather more comprehensive dossier on whoever this Hunter is."

There is a silence following her comment. Which, when used in regard to Beacon's Headmaster, usually spells headache and trouble to everyone around him. "Ozpin?"

"Say, Glynda," the grey haired man steeples his fingers, with that familiar glint in his eyes and infuriating small smile on his lips. "About the missions the students will be taking today…"

•••

"Heh, piece of cake."

"Do not celebrate yet. For I am certain this is the first round of many." The man lightly chides the short girl in front of him. "Ah, yes, I almost forgot. Girls, before we move on, I need to tell you about a side objective you will need to try and fulfill through the duration of our mission."

"A side objective?" the blonde member of the team asks.

"Why, I'm disappointed in you, Yang. If you must ask, a 'side objective' is—"

"I know what it means, Weiss!" Yang remarked immediately, before patting partner's shoulder. "Besides, if I need to know something, I have Blake. She's our resident bookworm, after all."

The aforementioned Blake merely rolls her eyes as she removes Yang's hand. "What she means to ask, Prof—Doctor, is what do you mean? We've all read the mission's detail, and there was no mention of any side objective."

"Well that is to be expected, since our headmaster added it as a last minute thing. Literally, I was only told about it moments before I met up with you girls. Do you know how difficult it is to alter the finer points of my plan and entire schedule in just a minu—?!"

"Professor!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, Miss Rose. I do tend to ramble sometimes, don't I?"

'More like all the time.' is essentially what the rest of the group exasperatedly thinks, but desperately try to keep inside lest they offend the teacher, as they watch him reach inside his coat pocket and retrieve a device universally known as Scroll.

"Ah, here it is," he says after fiddling with it for a few seconds, turning to face the girls as he does so. "Ahem, 'For those who will undergo mission outside the wall, try and keep a look out for the 'Moon-scented Hunter'. And if you find him, make contact, and extend an invitation for him to come to Beacon and have an audience with the Headmaster'."

Their reactions to the objective vary. Blake's and Weiss' show no outward change but for the slight widening of their eyes. Yang's face adopts a confused expression, as well as a furrow on her brows.

"Wait…" Ruby, meanwhile, is beginning to shake in excitement. "You mean he is real?! Like really, really real?!"

"I thought he's just a story, made by someone with a penchant for tall tales." Weiss muses.

"I thought so too," Blake nods her agreement as she turns towards the teacher. "But since Headmaster is giving this side objective, then I assume we are wrong?"

"The answer to that question would be a resounding yes." Doctor Oobleck answers. "I've been in correspondence with the Headmaster on our way here, and he said he has found evidence that the 'Moon-scented Hunter' is a real entity and not just some urban legend."

"Wait, wait, wait, who is this guy again?" Yang asks, and immediately receives raised eyebrows from her teammates, as well as a splendidly disappointed expression from her own sister.

"You don't know?!" she yells. "You're a Huntress! How could you not know?!"

"Hey, don't judge me! It's not like everyone has enough time to know everything that happens out there!"

"But you're a Huntress!" It's important, so Ruby says it twice.

"You can't fault her too much, Ruby. Especially since the guy we're talking about has only been mentioned on the net, but not the news." Weiss tries to assuage her partner, before looking at blonde. "Allow me to explain, this 'Moon-scented Hunter' is a topic that's been gathering a lot of popularity on the net lately for the last couple of months. There are many claims, from seeing him in action to actually meeting and talking to him in person, but when asked about it, those people said that they have trouble recalling any details about him. I believe there is a post on Hunter's Forum that describes it best, 'Trying to remember him is like trying to remember a dream. The harder you try, the more it slips your mind'."

"…I'm sorry, what?"

"Actually, now that I think about it, this raises a good question. With all the rumors and speculations surrounding him, why hasn't any news station covered him yet?" Blake asks.

"That's probably because there is nothing but rumors and speculations about him," Weiss shrugs. "Literally, there are no hard evidences to serve as a proof of his existence, only stories."

"Hey, that's not true…! There are pictures and everything!" Ruby remarks, only to deflate a little. "Sure he doesn't appear on any of them, but still…!"

"…Excuse me?" Yang's brows furrow even harder.

"Oh, I've seen those as well," Weiss says. "And to make matter worse, he actually doesn't appear on any recording device, if the so called 'testimony' on the net is to be believed, so you can't really blame if people are suspicious that those pictures are faked, Ruby."

"…I don't even—what—how—?" Yang is beginning to feel a light headache from all the confusion. "Are we talking about an invisible man or something?"

"Well, not exactly. They said they can see him just fine with their eyes, but when they tried to take a picture of him…" Ruby pauses. "Look, it's better if you just see it for yourself."

RWBY team's leader takes out her Scroll, and after a few taps, holds it up to her sister. On the screen is a picture of a small grassfield, filled with several corpses of Ursai, as well as at least two dozen more converging on a particular spot. However, while it looks clear enough that a battle is taking place, what with the blood splattering and the heads flying and dead bodies dissolving, Yang can only see the group of Grimm, but not who or what exactly they are fighting.

When she tries to grab the Scroll to observe it further, however, the device is snatched from Ruby's hand, by none other than Oobleck. "Now, now, girls," he turns the device off and retracted it, before offering it back to its owner. "I can somewhat understand your excitement, as I am rather interested in meeting this Moon-scented Hunter myself, but if you recall, this is nothing more than a side objective. We still have the main mission on our hands, a job with an outmost priority, so let's focus our attention on that first, hm?"

"Yes, Professor~" Ruby answers, only to flinch and rear back when the man gets uncomfortably close to her face.

"It's Doctor."

"Y-yes, Doctor Oobleck…"

"Good, good!" the green haired man turns around and walks forward. "Now, shall we continue?"

"Pst, Ruby," Yang whispers. "I still wanna know. We have almost nothing on what this guy looks like, right? Then even if we find him, how do we know it's really him?"

"Ahh, about that… maybe we can find out from his smell?"

"…What?"

Ruby probably would have said more, if not for the Doctor's call for her to join him, after which she races off to hear what he has to say.

Feeling more confused than ever, Yang turns towards her partner and asks, "I repeat, what?"

"There's a reason people have taken to calling him Moon-scented Hunter." Blake says. "Because, supposedly…"

"He smells like the moon."

•••

"Hey, Doll?" You look up from your position, lying down with your head on her lap. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hm?" The Plain Doll stops her ministration of your hair. "What is it, good hunter?"

"You see, I've never really cared about this before, but why exactly do people I meet say that I smell like the moon? Rather often, at that?" You bring your arm close and sniff it. "I mean, while it's not the best in the world, I'd like to think my nose is working as it should be. But, if you ask me, I only smell like a combination of sweat, dirt, and blood. Especially after a Hunt, which is to say most of the time, these days."

"…I am not sure," she answers after pondering the question for a bit. "However, I am of the opinion that they must have been able to feel the lingering Hunter's Dream upon you. Their senses, limited by the lack of Insight as they are, translate it into a fragrance that reminds them of the moon. An exquisite feeling of beauty, gentleness, tranquility…" she smiles. "And most important of all, a feeling of safety, if I were to guess."

"…Huh," you muse quietly, once again looking up to rest your gaze upon her face. "…Can't say I'm unfamiliar with that feeling…"

"I apologize, good hunter, but I did not quite catch that."

"N-nothing!" you look away quickly, cursing your mouth a hundred times over for letting loose that kind of remark without filtering it through your brain first. Oh dear, this is embarrassing! What are you, a hormonal teenager?!

…Well, technically you are. But still, it's the principle of the thing!

Wait, after killing that disgustingly oversized Carrion Crow-like—the locals call it Nevermore, if you're not mistaken?—beast today, you did hit your head on the landing. And while returning to Hunter's Dream always heals you from all injuries, there are still cases of phantom pain, especially if the wounds are grievous enough to be immediately life-threatening.

So, after falling from that rather impressive height, it stands to reason that you won't be thinking straight for a while. Yes, that must be it!

…

Ugh, that excuse is about as ridiculous as that time Gehrman woke up and caught you with a piece of grass in your hand, just an inch away from his nose, as sort of revenge for the ludicrously intense training regimen you had suffered in his hands, after which you said your body moved on its own.

"…od hunter?" a voice rouses you from your musing. "Good hunter?"

"…H-huh?"

"Good hunter, are you well?" Plain Doll's gentle face now sports a worried expression. "You have been making some increasingly strange faces for quite a while now. Is something the matter?"

"I-I ah…" you stutter… and realize that you're working yourself up over something silly. Again!

Seriously, you are he who found himself facing an avalanche of cosmic horror without so much as 'how do you do', got swallowed and torn apart by it for God knows how often, only to stand back up each and every single time until you managed to stop it cold on its track with your own two hands.

So how do you still get flustered when talking to a girl?

…Well, not a real girl, per se, but for all intends and purposes, the term still applies!

No, this simply won't do. Suck in that gut, Hunter, and speak—Coherently, this time!—or forever lose your man-card!

"Look, it's just… it's been really hectic lately, and this is the first time I've gotten a chance to have a break in a few weeks. My mind is just a little bit scattered. Don't mind it."

"If you are certain, then I will defer to your judgment," she acquiesces. "Nevertheless, if you have any trouble, please, remember that I will always be here for you."

"…I know," you say. "You're always good to me, Doll. Thank you."

She only giggles softly as a response. She's been doing that in an increasing frequency as of late, you note. You don't dislike it, though. The sweet sound always manages to put a smile on your face.

"Rest now, good hunter. I will be here when you awaken."

You make yourself comfortable and snuggle deeper into her lap before closing your eyes. The Doll once again begins running her fingers through your hair, humming the delightful tune that never fails to lull you to sleep.

A gentle wind blows through the Dream, sending you off to a peaceful slumber and preparing you for your next Hunt.

•••

"Good hunter, may I ask you a question?"

"Hm?" you stop and glance back. "Oh, of course. What is it?"

"Why do you choose to bring that weapon?" she asks, staring at the ancient-looking great sword now strapped on your back. "You've never brought it before."

"Ah... you see, I never used it on a Hunt before out of respect to its previous wielder. Ludwig was a master swordsman, and his skill as a Hunter was second only to Gehrman. As for me? Heh, even calling me mediocre is somewhat a high praise."

And there's also the fact that when you tried to train in using it, Ludwig's Echoes kept messing with your control because he was a lefty, and you're not. Truly, translating all that skill into a right-handed style was a nightmare to accomplish.

You reach back and touch the sword's hilt. "However, while I was trying to choose what weapon I should have with me—alongside the usual Saw Cleaver—today, it kind of… well, the best way I can describe it is that it gave off the feeling like it was sulking."

The Doll tilts her head. "…Sulking?"

"Don't ask me how, I don't really know it myself." You shrug. "What I do know, though, is that it's a weapon. I imagine if a weapon has a mind of its own, it'd only sulk if it isn't used in battle." You tap the arcane sword for the last time and begin walking again. "Call me a softy, but I just don't have the heart to leave it after that."

"As long you are sure, good hunter."

It doesn't take long to reach your destination. "Aaaand we're here."

The Doll bows. "Have a good Hunt."

You nod and wave back with a grin. "I'm off!"

Once again, the sense of weightlessness. The rushing wind. The biting cold.

And finally, the impact.

"Ugh…" you grunt as you stand up in the middle of the crater. "If only it weren't so useful…"

As it turns out, while it is certainly an uncomfortable way to travel, the Ledge—and yes, it needs to be capitalized—does serve another purpose other than just a way out of Dream when the Lantern isn't available. It actually brings you close to a place where people is in need of a Hunter's service you can provide, or simply a nest of beasts to be exterminated.

You shake your head, trying to clear the cobwebs it always develops as a result of falling from beyond the cloud. The dust you kicked off begins to settle, and when visibility is clear enough, you notice the mysterious glow enveloping you once more.

…Well, the not so mysterious glow now, anyhow. After a bit of information gathering, by reading the books you asked for when one particularly grateful village chief insisted on paying you back after you rescued his son who had been lost in a beast-infested forest, you found out that the glow is actually a 'manifestation of the soul'. An ability that also goes by the name 'Aura'.

Apparently, entering this world has made you subject to its rules, one of which states that every living being with a soul possesses Aura, granting you this wonderful defensive skill. Furthermore, the book also mentions another skill, a projection of Aura into a more tangible form, a special ability that is completely unique to one's self called 'Semblance'.

Unfortunately, you have yet to discover what your Semblance is. Either from the lack of training, or maybe because you are just not skillful enough to utilize it. Still though, even just having Aura's defensive mechanism is already useful enough. It makes using the Ledge no longer life threatening, and it has actually saved your skin multiple times during the numerous Hunts you've had in this 'Remnant' world.

Besides, Gehrman had taught you not to bite off more than you can chew.

But that's neither here nor there. You need to be on your way, and as you climb out of the crater, you finally see where the Dream has sent you off this time.

"Oh dear."

Well, isn't this just charming?

You look towards the sky. "My first time in a big city after Yharnam, and you sent me to a ruined one? Seriously?"

You inhale deeply to calm yourself. "Oh well," A job is a job, and it's not as if you'd ever prioritized pleasure over duty before. "Time for another Hunt."

With the Saw Cleaver and Blunderbuss gripped tight in your hands, you school your features and step forward, ready to receive any beast that might come your way with a bloody welcome.

…only to be faced with an entirely deserted street. A gust of wind blows by, sending tumbleweeds to roll and bounce on the ground.

"…Wait, where are the beasts?"