John's PoV
"Mmmm, Gonna KEEL you and l'll keep killing you and I'm never - cause your gonna be dead and I'm gonna kill you..." I mumbled as I woke, feeling like I had a hangover after a drinking contest with Alex, even though I knew I was going to lose.
Sitting up, I found myself without my armor, and weapons when Ghost appeared next to me. "Guardian, you're awake." I looked at him, as he floated near me. "Where am I?" The ghost didn't answer, but a voice to the side answered. "You Sir, are in the Medical Ward of Beacon Academy." I turned my head, and noticed a man that I completely missed earlier. He had silver hair, brown eyes, glasses, and a brown vest, while holding a cane at his side.
"Who are you?" The man smiled. "I am Osmosis Jones but everyone call's me Professor Ozpin. I'm the Headmaster of Beacon Academy. I found you at your crash site, and brought you here to be healed." I nodded, and slid off the bed, stretching my back.
"Thank's for that. Well, anyways my name is John Destiny Frostwire, but everyone calls me Doc. Haven't the reason why they due, I just know a friend of mine, a close one at that, called me that and it stuck. Doesn't help that I never stopped it." Ozpin nodded, apparently finding it amusing.
I took a moment to survey the room properly, my Guardian instincts kicking in despite the splitting headache. The medical ward was immaculate – almost too clean, reminding me of the Tower's medical bay, but with subtle differences that made my spine tingle. The architecture was both familiar and alien, like looking at Earth architecture through a warped lens.
"Your... companion has been quite interesting company while you recovered," Ozpin said, gesturing toward Ghost with his cane. I noticed he chose his words carefully, studying both of us with eyes that seemed to hold centuries of wisdom. It reminded me uncomfortably of Commander Zavala.
"How long was I out?" I asked, running a hand through my hair – and freezing when I realized I could actually do that. "Where's my armor?"
"Three days," Ghost answered, his shell twisting with concern. "Your armor was... damaged in the crash. I've been trying to repair it, but some of the components are proving difficult to reconstruct in this environment." He paused, then added quietly, "The Light feels different here, Guardian."
That got my attention. I'd been so focused on the immediate situation that I hadn't noticed it, but Ghost was right. The Light coursing through me felt... altered somehow. Not weaker, but changed, as if it was adapting to something in the local environment.
"Fascinating," Ozpin commented, taking a sip from a mug I hadn't noticed before. "Your... Ghost, as you call it, has shared some rather remarkable stories about your world. About Guardians, the Traveler, and this power you call the Light." He adjusted his glasses. "Though I notice it's been rather selective about certain details."
I shot Ghost a look. "How much did you tell him?"
"Only what was necessary to ensure your proper treatment," Ghost replied, somewhat defensively. "This world... it's different, Guardian. They have their own power here – they call it Aura. It's why Professor Ozpin was able to help move you from the crash site. And there's something else..." Ghost trailed off, seemingly uncertain how to continue.
"We have our own battles here," Ozpin interjected smoothly. "Our own monsters to fight. We call them Grimm – creatures of darkness that threaten humanity's existence." He set his mug down and leaned forward slightly. "Which brings me to a proposal, Mr. Frostwire."
"Just Doc," I corrected automatically, while trying to process everything. A different world, different powers, different threats – but some things never change. There's always something trying to wipe out humanity. "What kind of proposal?"
