Amidst the ticking of turning gears and the quiet murmur of students' voices rising from the courtyard, Ozpin leaned back in his seat, adding the tapping of a single finger on his desk to the background music of his day.

Across from him, a figure which was less of a figure and more the shadow of something that pressed down on existence like a lead weight on terminally strained rubber was standing, regarding him as he regarded it, giving him time to process.

"So to be clear," the Headmaster spoke up, "you represent the...driving force behind existence."

THAT IS AS ACCURATE A DESCRIPTION OF MY ROLE AS CAN BE COMMUNICATED IN THIS FASHION.

"And you are here," he continued, "because that very same driving force has..." Adjusting his glasses, Ozpin shook his head. "Lost the script to the future?"

If it was at all possible for the suggestion of a hole in reality to look sheepish, Ozpin was the first human being to ever witness it.

IT IS PERHAPS MORE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT...THERE WAS AN INTERVENTION OF SORTS. INFORMATION CAME TO LIGHT WHICH BROUGHT ON QUESTIONING OF THE PLAN, ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER AND...WELL, SUFFICE TO SAY THAT THINGS DEVOLVED UNTIL WE REACHED THIS POINT.

Ozpin kept drumming his fingers. "...I see."

Taking a deep breath, the Headmaster steepled his fingers, leaning forward with his elbows on his desk. "And you have come to me for...?"

IT IS A COMMON PRACTICE IN THIS SITUATION FOR THE COURSE OF ACTION GOING FORWARD TO BE DECIDED BY A QUORUM. GIVEN YOUR...NATURE, YOU HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS BODY.

Ozpin's eyes narrowed for a moment, but he nodded slowly. "I see...might I ask who else will be involved in this?"

THERE ARE...

The Messenger's suggestion of a hand flicked its wrist, producing what paper might look like if it had six dimensions and was presumably written upon by beings beyond the ken of all humanity.

NOT INCLUDING YOURSELF AND SEVERAL OTHERS FROM REMNANT ITSELF, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1,420 INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM THIS NOTIFICATION WILL BE DELIVERED - AN AVERAGE OF TWO GROUPINGS.

"Less than two thousand individuals deciding the fate of all existence..." Ozpin muttered to himself, looking sharply over his glasses. "And you say that residents of Remnant itself are a minority in this call?"

The Messenger nodded.

YOUR REACTION TO THIS NEWS IS UNDERSTANDABLE. HOWEVER, IT IS SUFFICIENT TO SAY THAT WITHOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS BEING NOTIFIED, THIS REALITY AS YOU KNOW IT WOULD NEVER HAVE GROWN SO FAR OR, PERHAPS, EVEN COME TO EXIST.

Holding the not-gaze of the Messenger for several moments more, Ozpin sighed and dropped his head a degree. "Very well then."

Pushing himself out of his chair, the old man retrieved his cane from where it had leaned against his seat, rising to his full height and walking around the desk. "Shall we go, then?"

THERE IS NO TIME QUITE LIKE THE PRESENT.

As they walked toward the doors to Beacon Tower's elevator, which Ozpin noticed were taking on several characteristics that were not included in the original design as they got closer, the white-haired Huntsman idly spoke again. "So, who willl I recognise?"

The Messenger took on an...abruptly shifty look.

WELL...

"Hello...Headmaster!"

"Hey, Headmaster-Professor-Ozpin-Sir!"

Ozpin and the Messenger paused in mid-step to look sideways, to where the bright-eyed figures of Jaune Arc and Nora Valkyrie were clambering out of a trapdoor in the office floor, each smiling brightly and apparently not at all questioning the mysteriously eldritch suggestion of an eight-foot tall humanoid standing beside their Headmaster.

Amber eyes turned a completely deadpan look on the Messenger, who gave a helpless shrug.

IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN THE FOURTH WALL TO HOLD PEOPLE LIKE THEM.

GLORIA WILL RETURN IN A NEW STORY SOON - SO LOOK OUT FOR THE SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR,

'DEI GLORIA EST IN CORDE'