User blog comment:Zathronas/Speculative Author - What's the deal with Salem?/@comment-27803627-20160217204410

This is my theory (This may be kind of crazy as it is may be inspired by me playing too much xenoblade chronicles; Spoilers if you haven't played that game)

Salem and Ozpin are essentially gods, in a world before remnant ( why they don't follow the CNR). Salem for some reason or another  grew angry at ozpin and thought he wasn't worthy of his posistion and decided that his power should belong to her ( The reason why cinder tells Salem in V3 CH7 "I will reclaim what is ours" and also explains why Ozpin states he has made more mistakes that anyone). In a long battle the 2 fought to a stand-still and destroyed the world they orginally inhabited and Remnant was formed from the LITERAL remains of that world (why salem stated in episode 1 that they "were all remnants").

Still angry at Ozpin and Ozpin likewise angry at her but as both had wasted a lot of their original power in their battle, they started trying a less destructive approach. Salem creating the mindless Grimm and Ozpin creating humanity to protect themselves and destroy the other (The reason why cinder can seamingly control Grimm as Salem is her master).The silver eyed warriors were created in direct response to the Grimm by Ozpin, but as they were so powerful they cost Ozpin some of his own power to create (Explains why silver eyes are so rare and why Ozpin knows about them as well as why they were "destined to lead the life of a warrior as they were solely created to kill Grimm AKA "strike a Grimm down with a glance"). However Ozpin sympathised with his creations and gave them sentience to do as they can control thier own paths and enjoyed thier lives rather than just his tools. Humanity and Grimm stalemated as humanity used dust which is a left-over power created from Ozpin and Salem's world breaking fight (This expains its properties and why cinder was having Roman gather dust, so she could give it to Salem since she viewed it as "her" power by right). Over time however this stalemate caused the great war as humanity grew too comfortable,jealous of each other and greedy. This caused Ozpin to go into exile out of shame of what his creations had done and lost faith in living.

This is where the theory of Ozpin being the wizard comes in play, the involentary kindness the 4 maidens showed him restored his faith in humanity and he gifted 4/5 of his remaining powers (Why he can seemingly match a fully empowered Fall Maiden as they both have 1/5 of his power) to the 4 maidens for them to hopefully do a better job helping humanity than he did but simply viewed it as another mistake in hindsight as man craved and fought for that power (Again Ozpins made mistakes)

Salem views Ozpin's interactions with man to be "cruel" as they are sentient and have a say in his continued attempts to help destroy her and yet he still convinces they to fight her and at the same time hates man for having a say in the matter but still opposing her yet seamingly respects them for their ability to halt her advances. (Expains her monologue at the end of V3 and her extensive knowledge of the World of Remnant). On the other hand, given that Grimm are mindless she need not feel guilt as they really are just tools to kill humanity (why "killing is all that matters".

Cinder suffered due to the world Ozpin made and Salem saw her as an opportunity to claw away the Maidens powers from the control of the council Ozpin made (my guess why she hadn't attempted this before is because all previously had refused), and thus the events up to the series are laid.

Finally, her arguments with Ozpin are after V3, since her side now has so much more power, that is why she said "there will be no victory in strength" and why Ozpin told her victory is in something she had long forgotted as she has been craving his power and revenge on him for so long.

A simple soul.

Wow that was longed than i thought but please do respond and question this, it might be crazy but the more i think about it the more it makes sense. Also this is my 1st theory so please don't get angry if i'm missing something