Chapter One:
The Stirring Breeze
A thunderous crash echoed throughout the dense forest, preluded by the shattering snaps of thick wood as a massive tree fell past the shafts of its siblings. The sharp echo quickly traveled deep past massive trees and bushes, followed shortly by a cloud of wood and dirt kicked up by the tree's impact. The barking echo subsided into a low rumble, then to a quiet murmur, slowly giving way to the quiet creeks and natural sounds of the thick woodlands once again. The quiet chirps and barks of its inhabitants, the small groans and cracks of trees swaying in the wind, and the gentlest brush of wind tickling the grass and leaves across the canopy soon continued anew after the sharp interruption to their melody.
The forest itself was populated by massive trees, with trunks thick as an Ursa and tall as the highest buildings in Atlas. Their deep, brown bark permeated the foreseeable distance of the forest, cutting off a decent portion of daylight from all sides, save for the light that passed through the tall canopy above. The sun's light sent rays passed the tall foliage, lighting up scattered portions of the otherwise shaded woodlands. There was one tree nearby, however, that had been the cause of the sharp, echoing interruption to its serenity.
It lay across an open space, its massive frame and length having sunk into the earth where its collision took place; pieces of shattered bark and dirt spread out from its body, clouds of dust still dissipating from the impact. At the base of its sturdy trunk, where it was separated from the rooted stump, their surfaces mimicking the other in an unnaturally strange fashion; the cut surface was unnaturally flat, without the barest hint of splintered or separated wood. Even if one were to run their hands across its surface, no matter the speed or pressure, no splinter would result.
"As always…"
Across the top side of the downed tree, a tall figure walked down the trunk's length, surveying the damage on either side. The rhythmic sound of boots on wood sounded without a hitch in its pattern, though the surrounding echoes denied it from sounding past the clearing. On the shoulders of a worn, light grey jacket, a straight, single-edged-blade rested comfortable between neck and collarbone. Slowly, fluidly, and without warning or effort, it was lifted from the shoulder, the whine of a small turbine steadily increasing as it came to life. Fingers gently squeezed a lever on the blade's handle, causing the whine to quickly jump in volume and pitch. Air swirled and condensed around the white box between the blade and handle, flowing into side vents before it began circulating. With the blade raised high, it was brought swiftly down and across the surface just as another boot finished its step, the tip of the blade barely even touching the woods surface before it finished its arc.
There was a burst of air, the whine quickly died down, and the figure continued his steps in the same stead rhythm as before, walking past the point he swung. Continuing for a few more steps, he yet again squeezed the blade's lever, causing the whine to increase before he swung downward for a second time, resulting in another burst of compressed air. He continued across the surface like this for a while, methodically swinging after every several steps until he reached the first of the massive tree's branches, which quickly disappeared in the thick foliage of the redwood. He stopped there, looking past all the branches and leaves that would eventually need to be shaved from the surface. Behind the figure, at each section where the blade was swung, there was the barest hint of separation between each section, resulting in multiple severed pieces of thick, circular trunk.
With a deep sigh, a free hand ran through cerulean locks of hair, and with closed eyes he faced up past the forest canopy and into the warmth of the falling sunlight. The rays illuminated a sharp face, his jawline covered in a thin five o'clock shadow, giving the appearance of a man in his mid-20's. His expression was of amusement, eyebrows baring the tiniest hint of annoyance.
"…the job always gets messy toward the end."
With a deep breath, Regis Keller hefted his blade, squeezing the handle lever harder than ever. The low whine skyrocketed in volume, causing a torrent of violent wind to pull and twist around the engine box, circulating in and through the device as the turbine condensed and directed the inrushing hurricane of air. Brow furrowing in concentration, the woodsman took hold of his tool with both hands, setting his stance as he prepared to cut through the thick brush. Of wood and foliage. His eyes cracked open, revealing their deep, velvet hue.
"Let's try to get this in one stroke for once…"
Shifting his feet to cement his stance, Regis braced himself as he lowered the blade to his side and swung forward…
V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V
The village gates opened inward before him. The sound and smell of wood and metal creaking open brought a smile to his lips; it was a sound of welcoming, and a smell that reminded him of home. From behind he could hear the grunts and footfalls of the men who came to pick up the massive sections of the tree he fell recently. Keeping each circular piece upright, they were able to roll each section back to the village rather quickly. With several men and women on each side in case it tipped over on them, the workers were able to wheel the majority of the tree's pieces back home without incident.
Smiling to himself, Regis turned back toward the group and the opening in the tree line behind them. Deep into the woods there was an open expanse where the trees had once been, though now there were only the remains the upturned earth where the stumps used to be, which were quickly being smoothed out to flatten the land into a makeshift trail; it would make travel and shipment of supplies much easier. A similar opening lay on the opposite side of the village and clearing, where the tree line opened up to a previously made trail.
The smile on Regis' lips grew as they entered the town, the main gate now open wide enough for the group to roll in their recently acquired supplies. With the sheer amount of wood gathered from the massive trees, an excess of supplies was building up that was getting harder for the village to store. It wouldn't be long before the extra wood would be delivered back to the previous expansion villages for use as firewood, defenses, furniture, and many other accessories to either help in the expansion effort or to sell back in the major cities.
The cerulean haired man waited in front of the gate as the other townsfolk passed him by, their massive sections of wood wheeling by carefully, so as not to drop its weight onto one side. Even with the sweat and grim of the task coating their faces, Regis could see the tenacious smiles on each of their eager expressions. The work was steady and they were clearing about 2 massive trees per day from the trail they were forging; it was a sign of progress without any hitch.
"That is to say, without any hitch outside of the average Grim attacks on the movers or villagers," Regis thought to himself, focusing back toward the forest edge. He knew that deep in the forest, or any region that humanity struck out toward, the Grim would always be there, ready to prey on the defenseless or ill prepared. Without restraint or fatigue, the monsters would descend upon them without as much as a warning if they weren't careful.
Even if there was a good distance between the forest edge and the village, he still made sure to stand ready in case of an attack. It was only due to that sheer diligence, and the diligence of the hunters and huntresses accompanying these trailblazers, that very little losses had occurred so far. It also did a good job of keeping everyone's spirits high, which helped just as much when avoiding encounters with the creatures of Grim.
As the last group of wood rollers passed through entrance, Regis turned and swiftly strolled inside as the large gate began to close. With the large doors closing behind him now, a cry shot out from the top of the massive walls around the gate. Atop one of the watch towers, a guard waved down and shouted jubilantly.
"Welcome back, Mr. Keller! What's the word on today's second drop?"
"Hey Jason! Just a little bigger than the usual, if my guess is right!" Regis called upward, having sheathed his blade in the scabbard around his lower back. "We can probably get seven or eight more tables than usual carved out, if my guess is right! We might even have enough to start building the second wall!"
"Good to hear!" Jason's expression held toothy grin as he continued. "Also, it looks like you've got a visitor from Vale or Atlas! A bullhead just flew in a few hours ago, and it sounds like someone's been waiting to talk to you!"
Regis paused at that. It was true that he heard the faintest echoes of a bullheads engines in the distance not too long ago, though he had assumed it was another supply shipment. Even with the huntsmen guarding supply shipments across the trails between the expansion towns, they still needed supplies like metal, concrete, and Dust to be flown in on occasion. It would be a while before the villages could set out and begin searching for resource deposits safely, with the exception of the 1st and 2nd village; they were relatively ready to become self-reliant in half a year's time, if all went well.
But there was apparently a visitor from one of the haven cities that wanted a word with him. Which was weird, because he had just spoken with General Ironwood not too long ago with a status update.
"Huh," came his reply, scratching his chin curiously. "Hey thanks for the heads up! Did they say what they wanted?"
"Nope! Just got word from some of the other guards, sir! Just someone who wants to speak with you; couldn't tell you who, though!"
"Alrighty, thanks!" Regis turned and waved back at the guard. "Keep up a good vigil! The other scouting parties should be back soon!"
"You got it, sir!"
With that, Regis made his way around the village; whoever was waiting for him, they could wait until he was finished checking up on the rest of the establishment. Passing by the wood rollers, he gave them a quick thumbs up as they made their way toward the storage area. From there, he took a quick stroll through the rest of the town, making sure to stop by and check up on the essentials; the new refrigeration unit at the butchers, metal and dust stores at the forges, the guards and any suspicious activity they may have seen, etc. Each time the gray-clad man made a check in, he made sure to spend time and catch up with some of the people he knew around town. He had to make sure everything was in shape several times a week, that way he could take note and plan to fix it.
Soft grass and flattened dirt soon gave way to concrete the closer his journey took him toward the center of town. Regis took note of the sound freshly cooked meat was making as it sizzled and the fog of sawdust as it floated out from the two storied sawmill. The 'clang' of a hammer against metal and the 'crack' of dust cartridges going off on the target range swirled together with the busy sounds of every villager going about their daily routine. The buildings themselves ranged from sturdy wooden houses to impenetrable bunkers of steel and iron, along with everything else in-between. It was a town in the throes of change, from an established colony to a modernized town, and he took every ounce of pride in it.
He wasn't the town leader by any means, but this village was the most recent in the settlements created under the Expansion. It was his responsibility to make sure that all aspects, even the previously established and maintained villages, were running smoothly. This is why Regis thanked whatever god existed out there that digital communication technology existed; it meant he could check up on all the settlements and their ongoing shipments without having to physically visit them.
They were so close now, and he didn't want any hiccups. Just nine more months at this pace…
V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V
An hour or so later, Regis finished his rounds on the village, ending his quick journey at the Trade Center HQ; a large, 3 story building settled fairly close to the center of the town. The unique center served as the processing building for trade goods and supplies, the guard barracks and training grounds, and the central communication center. As such, steel and concrete were necessities in its construction, along with more modern dust-powered weaponry in case of an incursion. They couldn't afford for this building to fall so easily to the Grim if all else failed. Strolling closer, he took notice of the bullhead the guard mentioned before in the landing field. It was on the furthest end of the field, separate from the other bullheads that were currently unloading supplies from Mistral, no doubt spices and other gestures of good will.
Moving closer, the cerulean haired woodsman analyzed the craft for any details of affiliation. As soon as he recognized the symbol on the side of its hull, he stopped dead in his tracks. They held the famous crossing axes surrounded by a wreath; whoever wanted to meet with him, they were obviously from Vale's Beacon Academy, and there was only one person who would travel the distance to surprise him with an unannounced visit. For that very reason, a chill ran up his spine, a product of instinct telling him that his life was going to become incredibly complicated, or incredibly dangerous.
Possibly both. The two weren't mutually exclusive when that man…
Taking in a deep breath, Regis steeled himself for whatever headache was waiting him inside. He trudged forward, passing by one of the guards who was leaving the building, catching the open door as he passed inside. It was always nice to feel the steel surface against his hands; its solid build and unbendable frame the evidence of the strength and dedication of the smiths who forged it. Stepping past the door frame and into the Headquarters, cool conditioned air swept across his skin, quickly dissipating the sweat and heat of the day's work.
The smell of metal, electricity, and coffee assaulted his senses as he glanced around the facility's main lobby. The smell of coffee, in particular, was a familiar one; rich and with a hint of Vacuo nutmeg that was rarely ever ordered or delivered out of the stronghold cities, especially here. He knew that smell, all but confirming his suspicions about his visitor as he strolled in and paused in front of the main desk. Down the hallway past the main desk, the faint sound of excited conversation could be heard. The secretary, a brown haired guardsman of average build, looked up from the computer he was currently working on at the woodsman's presence.
"Oh hey, Mr. Keller!" The secretary immediately recognized Regis upon his entrance, nodding with a smile. "You have great timing. There's someone from Vale to see you."
"I figured as much," Regis returned the smile, "I heard from Jason on the south wall that they flew in a few hours ago. I hope they weren't waiting long?"
"Not really. The Captain has been filling them in on what's been going on in the village recently." The secretary shrugged. "And you know how he gets all excited when discussing the town's success, so I'm pretty sure that there isn't an excess of boredom."
"Well that's good to know. Still, I might as well save the Captain before he runs out of things to brag about. Where can I find them?"
The guardsman pointed him down the hall and toward the breakroom. Saying his thanks, Regis made his way across the short distance, the sounds of excited bragging became more audible as he neared the door. He could almost imagine the guard captain waving out his arms excitedly as he described a recently enforced section of the town's wall. With a knock and a twist of the knob as he opened the door, the almost bombastic sounds came to an abrupt halt as the room's two occupants turned toward their new guest. The Captain looked surprised, his bushy greying moustache betraying his age on an otherwise young face. His calloused hands were half raised in previous excitement, having been lowered to the surprise entrance. With a realization and a nod, the Captain motioned a hand toward Regis respectfully, his face lighting up on sight.
"Ah, good! You made it, Regis! I was getting ready to send someone out for you." His voice was jovial and somewhat gritted, though not heavy with the age or wear like certain other bombastic, mustached leaders he knew.
"Captain, always a pleasure," Regis nodded in reply, a friendly grin on his lips. He then set his sights on the room's second occupant; the one currently sitting down comfortably in a chair, leaning back with his hands folded gently on the table. Immediately next to his hands was a warm mug of coffee, and resting against the side of his chair was a well-crafted walking cane. Silver hued bangs fell just above the tinted glasses that concealed gentle, yet fiercely intelligent brown eyes.
"Mr. Keller." He spoke with a patient, soothing voice.
"Ozpin." Regis' grin fell to a respectful smile.
"I must admit, I'm impressed with the state of the Expansion so far." Ozpin continued on with a calm smile. "The Captain has been filling me in on the progress of this post, as well as the strides the previous few villages were making toward industrialization."
"Same here, it's always great to see a vision take root." Regis allowed himself a small grin of pride. "You came at a pretty good time; just finished my last excursion for the day, so I'm free to chat."
"Ah, that's good then. I hoped you were available to meet; this is a little short notice after all."
"Short notice is right." Regis thought to himself as he replied, "Well, it must have been important if you needed to speak with me right away, so I can hardly blame you, can I?" With a nod, he turned to the Captain.
"Thanks for keeping Ozpin company until I got back, sir. There's some private issues we'll need to discuss, so if it isn't too much trouble…"
"Not at all! I've nearly talked myself to death about current affairs, as it were, so I'll take my leave for now. Just let me know if either of you need anything."
With one more parting salute, the Captain turned and left the room, gracefully closing the door behind him on the way out. The cerulean haired man couldn't help but chuckle at his exit; the current defense leader was always a wellspring of energy and flourishing stories. It was almost as if he were working with Port…if Port was a little less self-indulgent or bragging in his stories.
Pulling out a chair, the blue haired man sat down, shifting the tool hanging across his lower back so it wouldn't be in the way. He leaned back, crossed his arms, put one leg across the other, and gave the silver haired man a raised eyebrow in amusement. Though still curious and partly worried about what Ozpin was here for, there was no doubt it was still good to see Beacon's headmaster after so long. For a moment, they just sat there; Ozpin looking at him with a pleasant expression, and him looking at Ozpin with a sly gleam in his eyes. The clock on the wall ticked diligently in the background, counting each second of shared silence as the two men gauged each other on where to start…
"'I hoped you were available'? Really Ozpin? We all know you have an unnatural sense of good timing. I'm still betting that your Semblance is precognition or something." Regis broke the silence with a mirthful tone.
"It's amazing how everyone keeps telling me that, truly. Whether it's supernatural or years of experience, I couldn't tell you; even I'm surprised with how often my decisions result in a pleasant convenience."
"Hmm, it could be something in the coffee you're always drinking. Speaking of, I've never gotten the chance to ask you what kind of blend you drink. I don't think I've had it before, judging by its smell…maybe something Oobleck made?"
"Ah," there was a twinkle in Ozpin's eye. "Now that IS a secret, I'm afraid. One that I shall take to my grave, if I can manage. Besides, I always thought you never cared for coffee?"
"Meh, I'll drink it if it's free, but it's nothing I need to spend money on. The aroma just baffles me, though. I can't pinpoint some of its ingredients, and you know how I pride myself on my smell." Shaking his head, Regis let out a small chuckle, which his silver haired compatriot mimicked mirthfully.
"Oh, believe me I know. I remember when I first met you, saying you could smell a Beowolfe from a mile away. I honestly took you for one of those woodsmen who over-blew their own skills. Imagine my surprise when you tracked them down even further away." He shook his head almost disbelievingly, the mirthful smile never leaving his lips. "It truly is good to see you doing so well, old friend"
"Like wise, Ozpin. Though I wonder, what prompted the sudden drop in on my lovely village? The Council isn't trying to stick their hands into the operation again, is it? We've got around a year to go before we hit the main milestone…" Worry seeped in his tone toward the end as he spoke. He knew that the council could be pains in the ass at times, but if there was something that they could use to damper the Expansion now of all times, it could very well disrupt his life's work…
"You'll be happy to know that's not the case, I assure you. In fact, the Council has nothing to do with why I'm here." Ozpin held up a hand, placating such worries with an amused smile.
At his reassurance, Regis let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Last time the Council tried to mess with the project, it nearly ended in a political disaster, even with the Expansion's support and initial success. It was only due to his own tenacity and Ozpin's political maneuvering that they were able to keep the situation from shutting the whole thing down. He didn't want to go through something like that again. With warm relief filling his chest, all thoughts of worry scattered while a giddy smile spread across his face.
"Holy shit, thank you! I was worried that the momentum we gained out here was getting beuro-blocked again. So with that out of the way, what's really up? Oh, and now that I think about it…" Regis tilts his back to look at the door to the breakroom door. "Where's Glynda? She usually sticks to you like glue, so I was sure I'd see her today."
"That's part of the reason why I'm here, actually." His smile lessened as he became serious, sighing tiredly. "The truth is I wanted to hold off until a more important matter came up, but as you say, my impeccable timing is forcing my hand on this issue. Several issues, to be precise."
"I see," Regis spoke with a guarded tone, unsure what Ozpin was getting at.
Brown and blue eyes locked gazes for a single moment. The stare he received wasn't filled with the understanding warmth it usually held, but it wasn't exactly malevolent either.
"I'm calling in that old favor you owe me; I want you to come work for me as an instructor at Beacon."
There was a pregnant pause after his declaration. Neither he nor Regis seemed to react in the slightest, but kept their eyes locked on the other. Moments ticked by with the arms of the clock, the only sound to break the dead silence that spread out across the room like a silent fog. Eventually, after being immersed in the mute void for nearly a minute, Regis slowly allowed himself to blink, his eyes narrowing slightly as they opened again.
"You…want me…to become an instructor at Beacon?" His voice was quiet and even, betraying nothing of how he felt.
"Yes." Ozpin's voice was even as well, retaining its perpetually calm tone that betrayed even less.
The deep hush returned to the room for a moment or two, filling every nook and crevice with utter, earth shattering silence.
Until Regis snorted.
Then he chuckled.
Then he laughed.
Then he began to roar hysterically, pushing back against his seat and tipping it onto its back legs, just barely keeping the woodsman from bowling over backwards in uncontrolled laughter. With a hand over his face and an arm around his stomach, laughter filled the room where silence once reigned. The laughing slowed down to mere chuckles after a while, once Regis regained a semblance of his composure. Leaning the chair back down onto four legs, he leaned forward gasping for air and trying to steady himself. Wiping away tears, he began to reply.
"That…ah…that has to be…the best damn joke I've ever heard from you, Ozpin! Seriously, me, a teacher?! HAH! Even if you were serious, the fact that you're calling in 'THAT' favor just to get me to be one…" His body shook with a few more chuckles before continuing. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just not used to this from you. You're usually not so…blatantly….funny…"
The words died on his lips as he looked back into Ozpin's eyes, who stared at him as impassively as he had been before. Ozpin's expression held no mirth, but a soft yet deadly serious gaze that spoke volumes of his intentions and truth. Stunned back into silence as he was, Regis began to contemplate exactly what was going on. First came his confusion, then disbelief, then a multitude of thoughts and ideas as to why his friend would call on him in such a way.
"Ok," he continued in a more sober manner. "No joke. Got it. You actually want me to be an instructor?"
"That is correct." Ozpin nodded to confirm.
"And because you're calling in that favor," Regis continued, eyes narrowing further as an uncomfortable thought settled in his mind, "I'm going to take a wild guess that I won't be able to wait until we hit the first major milestone here, will I? You want me to start as soon as the next school year?"
"Which was", he noted, "around the damn corner? Just under TWO MONTHS from now?"
There was a short pause as they again stared each other down in silence. Regis felt the tension build in the atmosphere as the feeling of indignation build in his chest, only amplified by Ozpin's lack of an immediate response. He knew the headmaster could feel it as well, especially once the subtle, unnatural breeze began to pick up in the room.
Finally breaking the silent stare-off after a few moments, Ozpin took a sip of his coffee, staring down at the contents of the mug with the barest hint of guilt in his expression.
"The issues I am facing at the moment require all the help I can get, especially from you, Regis. I'm sorry about how sudden this is…"
Regis felt his stomach tightened up as his body stiffened, fingers clamping down on his folded arms with a strength that surprised himself. For a moment, rational thought left him, replaced with razor sharp, indignant anger at such a proposal. Ozpin was asking him to drop everything he was doing with the Expansion to become a teacher at the academy. His friend, his alley, the man who helped him get the Expansion off of the ground, was asking him to drop it all during the most crucial, most important, most….personal stage of the plan.
The subtle wind from before began to pick up more, turning into a disruptive, circulating breeze around the entire room. Napkins from the counter flipped up, some of them even flying off of the stack and across the room. It took considerable effort for Regis to keep his expression from turning into a scowl; his emotions wanted to show his displeasure, his indignation, his absolute anger at Ozpin even SUGGESTING the idea. His heart stirred with a torrent of emotions, but was kept in check by one cold fact.
Ozpin knew Regis. Regis new Ozpin.
Ozpin understood, more than anyone, why the Expansion was so important; it was essentially his life's work and goal, a means to an end, the Magnum Opus of his life. Regis understood that Ozpin was a man in a difficult position, but one who never threw others under the bus; the man would never have called on his favor at such a crucial time if it wasn't absolutely and immediately concerning. Admittedly, Regis didn't know EVERYTHING about Ozpin, since he was too damn good at keeping secrets; but he was most assuredly NOT a tool for Ozpin to use and throw away; even without his skills and usefulness, they were allies, and Regis trusted him more than anyone else.
The wind died down, disappearing all together before Regis lifted a hand and rubbed his eyes tiredly, his cheery nature having dissolved into a worn and withered expression.
"Sorry about that…you can understand why this has me exasperated, right?"
"I do," Ozpin nodded sympathetically. "Like I said, I wouldn't call in this favor unless I had little other option."
"No, no…I get it. Things must have gotten bad if you're asking me to drop my life's work."
"Well…not exactly," he replied with a sheepish expression. "I should have been clearer, I suppose; I don't intend to force you to drop everything here."
Regis perked up at that statement, his eyes widening in response.
"I'll need your help for this upcoming year, of course, and you'll have to leave the 'frontlines' as it were, but only until you absolutely need to return. I'll even provide transportation so you can come back and forth between here and the school when you need to personally update yourself on how progress is being made, not to mention 24/7 open communications for updates and alerts."
Blinking rapidly in response, the cerulean haired man continued to stare with surprise evident in his expression. The headmaster allowed an amused smirk to grace his lips, lifting his mug to take another sip of the rich brew that lay nestled within.
"I put a lot of stock into this operation, in case you forgot, including you as the chief overseer. You may only be able to visit every other week or so, but I'm just as invested in the Expansion as you are. I refuse to let it become vulnerable so easily."
"Well," Regis said as he raised an eyebrow, his expression turning comically skeptical. "It's not ideal, but that's MUCH better than what I had assumed from your attitude. Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"Your reaction would have been the same, I suppose, if I wasn't straight forward from the start."
"Alright, good point…" Rubbing his eyes again, Regis continued. "Alright, I can't really refuse if you're calling in that debt, but what's going on? What the hell's gotten you this on edge?"
"Well…"
Ozpin placed his mug on the table, leaning forward to prop both his elbows on its metallic surface and lace his hands together. His steely gaze was back, and from what Regis knew of Ozpin's infamously ever-present mug, putting it down meant that business was about to get very serious. He leaned in as well, knowing that anything said would be confidential and needed to remain as discreet as possible.
"On the surface, I'm short on experienced hunters for professors. With a lot of the active hunters putting their effort into this operation, it's hard to come by ones who would be qualified enough to teach at Beacon. Even though you have no formal training as a professor, you have years of life-or-death experiences to more than make up for that. You'll be able to provide a solid foundation for survival to these students."
"Geez, Ozpin," Regis scratched his head sheepishly. "You give me WAY too much credit. Hell, I doubt I'd know what my first lesson would even be, let alone a whole subject."
"You'll figure it out, I'm sure. You adapt well, and you'll have other teachers to help you on the right track. However, a more important matter is the heightened activity of the White Fang recently." Age began to show in Ozpin's expression as his eyes closed.
"I fear they may have set their sights on Vale."
"Shit," Regis spat, his gaze turning into a hateful glare. "That's not good at all. Those masked bastards tried to take some supplies from our weakest outpost a few months back; we ran them off, but…some good people lost their lives in the raid."
"Agreed." Ozpin felt sympathy leak into his voice as he watched Regis. His feelings toward the present day White Fang were as strong as ever. "We believe they might be trying to carry out a similar operation in Vale, based on some recent Dust raids, but we don't have enough info to be sure. It's more of a hunch, but…"
"Your gut is rarely wrong." His eyes continuing to burn with an intense anger as he finished for Ozpin, nodding stiffly in acknowledgement.
"Indeed. We also have a contact who believes that a special interest figure might be involved with backing their operations. More than likely, they would have their own agenda they're using the White Fang to achieve…but that's all we can gather so far. I'll need your help in keeping an eye out for any activity that may take place in Vale. Beyond that, you can help by keeping your eyes and ears open, as well as moving confidential information around when needed."
"So an errand boy?" Regis' expression had softened, though it switched from anger to annoyance. "Seems a little much to be piling up on me. I'll have to do some juggling…but I think I can manage it."
"Glynda will help you where she can, as well as Doctor Oobleck when he's available. He's been meaning to get back in touch with you."
"Heh, still can't believe you roped him into your faculty." His expression and tone softening, the woodsman let an amused bark escape his lips. "Well, it suits a man who chases knowledge. It's just a shame that he couldn't join us out here; we could use an expert excavator."
"No doubt, though as he said himself, his 'sense of duty' to the young minds at the academy wouldn't allow it. Which leads me to my last issue…"
"Oh yeah, you mentioned something that had to do with Glynda, right?" Regis quirked a curious eyebrow, obviously wondering what kind of help Glynda might need from him.
"Somewhat…"
"Somewhat?"
"To be fair," Ozpin picked up his mug again, enjoying its cooling aroma before taking another sip. "It concerns General Ironwood as well…"
V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V
[Marker Academy, Arena]
Smoke rose from the middle of the small stadium.
The heat permeated from the area, spreading into the bleachers before rising past the open roof. Smashed obstacles and burning earth lay spread out across its surface, where steam and flame rose from white hot patches of concrete. The dissipating bodies of several grim were strewn about as well, several of which were ignited in an incandescent bonfire. The air shimmered from the heat wafting from the area, creating wavy distortions of the wrecked area. Other than the crackle of fire and smoke, the only sound that pierced the silent arena was the slow, heavy gasps for breath that escaped from its sole combatant.
Watching from the bleachers, Glynda flared her aura to ignore the incessant heat that billowed past her. She was one of the few individuals who were in the stadium itself, watching the young man in the arena below slowly catch his breath again. She was thankful for the open roof and natural ventilation, otherwise the smoke would have become a major issue for both of them. Her expression as she stared past the dissipating smoke was rather hard to read; eyes neither glaring nor soft, lips straight lined without smile or frown. One would chalk it up to her strict nature and demanding presence, though the barest hint of a shimmer in her eyes betrayed otherwise.
"So," came the now calm, though still ragged gasp of the young man. He stood up to his full height, his back facing Glynda as he looked forward to the judge's box at the top of the small stadium. His red hair fell down to the base of his neck, messy and unkempt. He seemed unburdened by the heat in his red long sleeve shirt, even in the burning and thrashed landscape that surrounded him. From behind the massive window pane that served as the entire viewing wall of the judge's box, several figures could be seen looking down at the young man in the arena, turning to each other as if in discussion.
"What's the verdict? Do I pass?"
Glynda wanted to respond. On one hand she felt an immense sense of pride, on the other hand she had many criticisms on what she just witnessed. She was a strict individual by nature, merciless to point out flaws where they stood out, but also to coldly reinforce what was done well. However, it was not her place at the moment to give her criticisms, nor her praises. She was not the teacher or judge at the moment.
She was the witness to his final exam at Marker Academy.
After a few moments of silence, the figures behind the glass pane looked back at the examinee.
"Though there are concerns with your methods of fighting…"
"As well as your lack of restriction on destruction…"
"Not to mention you're your tendency to take blows you should be able to avoid…"
With each different proctor's criticism, the redhead's shoulders began to tense up, fists clenching as they trembled slightly. Even from behind, Glynda could tell that a look of worry was spreading across his expression; the trembling in his body was neither annoyance nor anger, but fear at being rejected. She could hardly blame him, what with this being his ticket to graduation.
"We must admit that you show excellent tenacity…"
"Your potential at wiping away Grim is one of the most affective we've seen in a few years…"
"You recover quickly enough to not be overcome by a constant advance…"
There was another pause, this time to let the information sink in. Then, one final authoritative voice spoke.
"It is this board's decision that you hold the skills and talents required of a successful Huntsman. Therefore, you are now officially a graduate of Marker Academy."
His shoulders rose and his chest puffed out with obvious pride upon those words.
"Congratulations, Lex Pyrus."
Without hesitation, the redhead whirled around, staring straight at Glynda where she sat. The smoke and hot air had dissipated enough to where they could clearly see each other. She stared ahead with a slightly softened expression and the barest hint of a smile on her lips. What greeted her were brilliant emerald eyes and the brightest grin she had ever seen on his face. Lifting his arm and holding out his hand, Lex balled his fist and cried out ecstatically.
"DAMN STRAIGHT I PASSED!"
"It seems so, Mr. Pyrus." She could barely contain her smile, but schooled her expression to remain professional. "Though there are still plenty of issues you need to work on; I'll be adding my own criticism to those of the board once we return."
To those who didn't know Glynda personally, and even to some of those who did, such a remark after meeting such an accomplishment would have been cold and brutal, like she almost wanted to crush the excitement and pride that radiated from the young man. Lex, for his own part, nodded acceptingly, his smiling expression not even slightly dampened as he made his way toward the bleachers.
"I know, I know. But hey, I'll have plenty of time to fix them once I enroll in Beacon."
V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V_V
[Atlas Military Compound, Ironwoods Office]
Lit by the cold morning sun, a man of strong build and dark hair with silver streaks gazed down from the windows of his office, overlooking the military grounds below. It was the beginning of Summer; even in Atlas' cold climate, the snow that regularly coated the continent had finally dissipated, leaving behind dark green growth and the rich soil that lay beneath. The plant and wildlife, much like the people of Atlas, were strong and hardy throughout the best and worst times of the year. With a satisfied smile, he turned from the windows to face the other two occupants of the room.
Ironwood's aquatic gaze was steely and harsh, but held a simmer of warmth behind them. The room they stood in permeated with the smell of steel, oil, and old varnished wood. The furniture, from the main desk to the shelves of books to cabinets that surrounded them, were of simple yet elegant design, their dark wood reflecting the light from the windows; the carpet, seat cushions, and walls were of a pine green that, with the dark brown of the furniture, gave it a natural feel. In contrast, the walls were decorated with a several polished, iron-grey pieces weaponry; from rifles to bayonets, to even a pair of well decorated revolvers displayed above his liquor cabinet.
The office exemplified the General's dearest treasures.
"Earlier this morning I received word from Ozpin regarding both of your enrollments at Beacon." His calm but firm voice commanded attention with strength and hidden zeal. "After consideration for your previous experiences and my recommendation, he has agreed to allow you both to begin classes in the coming fall."
Of the two occupants, the first to react spoke with energetic glee.
"Sensational! Thank you for this opportunity, General. Neither of us will let you down!" With a salute that brushed the bangs of her bright orange hair, Penny delivered a radiant smile to Ironwood with no shame.
Smiling in return for a split second, Ironwood turned his harsh gaze upon the young man beside her, who stood at attention as they locked eyes. Steel toed boots and green cargo pants clicked together upon meeting Ironwoods gaze as if on instinct. Though he was not bulky per se, there was hidden strength visible even under the camo of his baggy jacket. Small, green bangs poked out from under the front of his beret, barely reaching halfway to eyes that returned the General's steely gaze.
"Though Penny is exceptional with her technology and combat prowess, it falls to you to keep an eye on her while you're both at Beacon. Are you ready to take this path? This will be your choice alone, in the end." Ironwoods gaze never wavered as he spoke. "I'm not going to dissuade you from this choice, but I do wish to make sure you understand the weight of this decision."
With a stiff node and the barest hint of a smile, the young man's gaze turned confident as he nodded to the General.
"Yes sir. I'm going to become a Huntsman; that's my final decision and I accept the responsibility that comes with it." He glanced at Penny, his eyes warming. "Penny will be in good hands."
"I don't doubt it." Ironwood nodded in agreement. "Then it's settled. Roland Hamris, Penny, in two month's you will both travel to Vale and spend the next four years training as a Huntsman and Huntress. I wish you both the best of luck."
Penny stood at attention along with Roland, balling their fists and striking their chests, speaking in perfect unison.
"Yes sir!"
X X X X
A/N: Alright, so that's the first chapter….nearly 7.5K words. I went overboard, I think. But hopefully you all enjoyed a taste of some of the things to come. If you took the time to read this first chapter/prologue of sorts, I thank you for giving it a shot. As a first author's note, there isn't much I can say about this story yet, or should say, even. I'll have more to say on the matter next time, but until then, R&R, criticism, and ideas are all welcome. Hit me with your best shot guys!