Hello my name is Darkneostar1, and this is my first try to write a story. So, try to go a little easy on me, but I would love to hear some criticism on how I can improve. I am also looking for a beta-reader, so if you can help, PM me. Thanks for sparing your time to check out my story. I hope you enjoy.
It was a day of excitement and joy for the Schnee household. Weiss Schnee, daughter to the famous Schnees and heiress to the world renowned Schnee Dust Company, was accepted into Beacon, a prestigious academy created to train future Huntsman and Huntresses, and today was the day that she would be leaving home. For Siegfried Schnee, Weiss' father, it was also a day uncertainty. He had sent out his personal guard, and friend of the family, Mark to look into an issue for him. Today was the day he would return.
As Mark knocked on the front door to be permitted entrance, he tried to hide the blood that was on his cloak and body. The Schnee's house was less of a house. but more of a mansion. It was made of white marble and had a beautiful lawn and garden that Mrs. Schnee herself tried to tend to when she could. Geoffrey, the Schnee's butler, opened the door and welcomed him. Noticing the blood Mark had on his clothing, he asked him to wait in Mr. Schnee's study as he went to fetch him. As Mark walked through the house, he greeted a couple of the Schnee's other servants before arriving in at Mr. Schnee's study. A set of snow white doors with the symbol of an icicle, Siegfried's symbol, displayed proudly upon the pair of doors with a snowflake also on a corner on the doors. So, it would seem little Ice Queen was accepted into Beacon after all. He thought as he walked through the doors to pick up a book to read. Well, I should've known that she would get in. She has been training a lot with Siegfried and myself after all. The sound of doors closing behind him brought his attention back to reality.
Arriving to the living room of the house, Geoffrey walked into the room, scanning it for his employer and old friend. He found him sitting in a large brown recliner watching his family. He then saw Mrs. Schnee talking and comforting her daughter. Sieglinde Schnee was in her mid-thirties. Her looks though betrayed that. She had snow white hair with pale skin to match. She was wearing a simple white dress with her hair down, making it look like fresh snowfall. She was fussing over her daughter, making sure she was ready before leaving. He then turned his gaze to Mr. Schnee. He was a man in his early forties, but he looked much older due to all of the stress he was going through. He had shaggy snow white hair, matching his wife and daughter, and wore a white business suit.
Geoffrey walked up to Mr. Schnee and announced,"Sir, He's arrived. He's waiting in your study."
Siegfried acknowledged Geoffrey. "Thank you, I will see him now."
Just as he was about to leave, Weiss asked her father, "Is Mark back yet?"
Siegfried replied,"Yes, but I must talk with him privately first, and then I'll tell him to say hi."
Nodding, Weiss began to sit back on the couch to converse with her mother as her father left the room. Weiss was still a little uneasy about how nervous her father had been that evening, whether it was over her leaving or the news Mark brought back.
Siegfried arrived in his study to find Mark waiting, patiently reading a book. He closed the door behind him to get Mark's attention.
"Welcome back, Mark. How are you?" Mr. Schnee said, trying to make small talk.
"You know as much as I do how much we both hate small talk Siegfried..." Mark replied boredly before closing the book and setting it back upon a bookshelf.
Internally sighing, Mr. Schnee retorted,"Fine. How did things go with the White Fang?"
"They've gotten more violent recently. After their old leader stepped down, the new one has been getting more violent." Mark explained.
"I was afraid of that." Sitting into his desk chair and pulling out a cigar, he mumbled," Is there any good news?"
Mark, picking up what his tired friend mumbled, said, "In fact, there is. Not all of the Faunus who were once with the peaceful White Fang stayed with them and became violent. Some decided to leave the White Fang, so at least you don't have to deal with as many Faunus now."
Mr. Schnee chuckling said," At least some Faunus have some sense to see that violence is not the way. After taking over this mess of a company my father had left it in. I have been trying to repair the relations between the Faunus and us. Some have just been blinded by what my father had done and refuse to see what I am trying to do. They choose to remain blind to my actions, and stay in ignorance."
Sighing, he took a long drag from his cigar. "Was there anything else to add?", motioning to Mark's bloody clothes.
"Not really, just a couple of run-ins with some Grimm." he replied nonchalantly.
"Ok, go get cleaned up so you can see Weiss off."
"She's leaving so soon?" Mark questioned.
"Yes, we live almost a day's time from Vale, and she wants to be punctual." Mr. Schnee replied.
A shrug was his only response as he walked out of the study leaving Mr. Schnee to his thoughts.
Walking into his room, he set down his gear and duffel bag on the bed before going inside the bathroom to make himself presentable. After cleaning himself, he dried his black hair and looked into his dark red eyes, only seeing sadness and anger in his eyes. His eyes trailed down to his body. He was muscular, well built and slightly tanned. Sieglinde always joked about how if he hadn't become a bounty hunter, he could've become a model. Turning around to see his backside, he saw the only thing wrong with his body. Three large scars running across his back, from his right shoulder to his left side. He looked at it smiling. He didn't care how they looked on him, he loved the memory of how he had gotten it. Leaving the bathroom, he grabbed a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt to put on. Then he donned his black cloak. It was his most prized possession, reminding him of better times.
After collecting himself, he left his room to see Weiss off. He strolled towards the living room. Before he was even able to reach for the door's handle the door swung open to reveal a young heiress staring at him, ready to tackle him.
"Hey there, Ice Que-" was all he got out before being tackled to the ground by Weiss.
"Mark!" the young heiress yelled gleefully as she hugged him tightly."How was your trip?"
"Fine, just fine. It would be better if I had time to rest before being tackled." Mark joked.
Pouting, Weiss mumbled,"Well why didn't you?"
"Because" Mark started sarcastically, " a certain Ice Queen wanted to see me before she had to leave."
All he got was an puff of annoyance from Weiss before seeing her looking down, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Mark questioned, suddenly feeling concerned and protective of the little heiress.
"This the last time I'll see you once I leave for Beacon, isn't it?" Weiss mumbled sadly.
"I dunno, depends on your father."
Eyes widening, Weiss ran to her father's study so she could ask him if he could accompany her during her time at Beacon.
Chuckling to himself, he soon followed after Weiss, briefly greeting her mother.
"Father!" she asked loudly, jolting her father back to reality as she barged into her father's study."Can Mark accompany me to Beacon?" she asked hopefully.
"What?" he said confused.
"Can Mark accompany me to Beacon?"
"Weiss, honey, he can't. He's too old and he has no reason to go there." Mr. Schnee replied sadly as he saw his daughter sadden with every word. "Besides, He has no way to get in."
"Actually," Mark interjected walking into the study,"I know the headmaster there. I know him through an old partner of mine, before-" stopping himself mid-sentence, holding to hold back the emotions.
Calmly collecting himself, "Anyway, I know him. I'm sure I can call in a few favors to have him set me up with a job there. I just need a ride to get to Beacon..."
Once again, Weiss looked at her father hopefully.
Relenting to his daughter, he finally gave in, "Fine" He grumbled.
Weiss, ecstatic over the recent events, jumped up and hugged her father."Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"
"No problem" he said, slightly surprised by his daughter's sudden embrace, before turning to Mark. "You'll make sure she does well and stays safe I hope."
"I promise." He stated, remembering the promises he made what seemed like a lifetime ago.
Mark turned away from the touching image of Weiss and her father embracing each other.
I always try to keep my promises. No matter how long ago they were. He thought to himself before departing to pack and make some calls.