1.1 - Falling In
Long ago, humanity prospered in the lands of Remnant. Food was plentiful, and the people lived in peace and harmony. Yet, balance is always overthrown; such is the way of the world. Grimm, creatures of darkness born from shadow, emerged and threatened to send humanity into the throes of undoing. The people struggled to survive, fighting time and again each day so that their hearts may beat just a little longer. Perhaps, someday, the shadows will triumph. Humanity will disappear back into the unknown from whence it came, leaving only nothingness to fill the world it once knew. But, where there is shadow, there is also light. It takes only a single spark of hope to ignite the fires and banish the dark. No matter what age in time or realm humanity thrives, this truth remains. A single spark is all it takes.
Wind twisted and coiled around Celina's tumbling body. From the corner of her eyes, she caught the faces of her new classmates with each passing floor. Horror. Shock. Dread. It wasn't exactly the best first impression. At least she'd make the first day memorable for everyone, ignoring her impending death and all.
The falling streams of water splashed across her face. Glancing around, she searched desperately for a railing, a wall, or even a vine; anything at all, but she found only air. None of the floor ledges were close enough to grab. All she needed was something, anything, within her reach. She grimaced, raging at her own carelessness. Why did she have to leave her weapon behind today of all days?
Looking down, she was met with only the white mist of vapor from the waterfalls above. If she was lucky, there'd be something below to catch her. If not, maybe some sharp rocks would end her impact sooner.
She closed her eyes and recollected memories of her arrival.
There was beautiful sunlight.
Waterfalls crashed over the airship's roof.
They approached floors. Eleven of them.
Hovering lower.
Lower.
Landing on the bottom floor.
Celina blinked open. Sure enough, she was racing towards the last level of the campus. The arrival platforms were the only part of the school that extended out far enough to catch her. One chance. She'd only have one chance. Even so, she was already at terminal velocity. If she did somehow manage to grab a ledge, she'd dislocate her arms... or worse.
...Three...
Wincing, she forced herself to remember that anything was better than the alternative.
...Two...
Swallowing her breath, she steadied her body.
...One!
Celina thrust her hands out grabbing for the platform. Her fingers scrambled through the air and found impact. They caught something. Something made of cloth.
Unfortunately, that something happened to wrapped around another person.
Celina heard a small gasp of surprise and the fluttering of papers as she dragged the figure off the edge.
Great, she thought. Clumsily suicidal and now a murderer.
"Sorry!" she yelled above the rushing wind.
Furious red eyes turned to meet her. Celina now saw her hands were tightly gripped onto a black trench coat. The red eyed girl twisted her body and produced two pistols in Celina's direction. She barely had time to register what was happening before she heard the shots. Flinching, Celina heard bullets whizz past her ears. With a jolt, the recoil sent them both flying towards the solid cliff. The red-eyed girl swiveled the guns on her fingers and blades emerged from the stocks. Savagely, she stabbed them deep into the surface of the stony walls.
Steel grinded against the mountainside carving two empty trails like open wounds. Celina clung onto her companion for dear life and shut her eyes. Shaking. Crumbling. Small bits of debris came showering on top of them, and the girl grunted as her arms strained against the weight of two people, but her fingers didn't surrender their grip.
Their movements slowed gradually until the grinding finally halted and the two came to an unsteady stop halfway down the cliff. Their struggled breathing mixed into the sound of crashing waters around them. Celina looked up at her savior, and she in turn glared down at her burden.
"Sorry," she whispered again, more to herself than the girl. Violet locked with red eyes in silence as the two hung while voices of rescue arrived from above.
The infirmary of Ardent Academy was located in the seventh floor of the main campus building. Rather, it was the seventh floor entirely. Filled with beds, medical equipment, various drugs, and surgical instruments, the entire level comprised of a miniature hospital specifically dedicated to the inevitable wounds and injuries the hunters-in-training would acquire. Over the years, countless students and teachers alike flowed in and out of the structure with various injuries and questions, but even so it was delicately maintained.
Nearly an hour had passed since various teachers hauled up Celina and the black coated girl from the cliffside. Most of the observers had already left as the professors pulled them up with a set of rope-bound platforms. All the while, the two didn't speak a word to one another. The moment they reached a safe landing, the red eyed girl sat up and briskly left ignoring all concern.
From inside the infirmary, Celina sat across from a blonde woman whom she assumed to be the school nurse. She was a young woman in a lab coat complete with a stethoscope around her neck and thin fingers that radiated precision.
In the background, a monitor tuned into the news continued filling the medical room with white noise of Lisa Lavender's steady voice.
"…and continuing reports of several small earthquakes occurring on the Sanus coast. Though experts aren't certain, we're told that it may be due to the shifting of tectonic plates below the south end of the continent that-… Ladies and gentlemen, we've just received more breaking news on the crime wave washing over Vale…"
Tearing her eyes off the screen, Celina turned her attention towards the nurse. Nervously, she watched her type away and eyed the computer conspicuously.
Celina's own face appeared on the monitor in what she could only guess was her last school's graduation picture. Frowning, Celina studied her rather terrible image of matted silver hair that ended up looking more like strands of cement and the bright violet of her eyes dulled on screen. She hoped that she might be able to submit a better picture of herself rather than be stuck with that up until graduation. More importantly, she also hoped that the nurse wasn't typing anything in her permanent record.
After several more clicks and a pronounced tap of the Enter key, she swiveled her chair towards Celina.
"You're good to go, Miss Cavell," she chimed. "Just... try to be a bit more careful."
Celina gingerly lifted herself off the bed. Her arms were a bit sore from the impact and hanging, but otherwise there was no any evidence of her mishap.
"Thank you," she bowed sheepishly. Unsure of how to ask, Celina nervously muttered, "What about her…"
The blonde lady tilted her ahead quizzically. As if a light bulb went off, her eyes lit up and she made a couple more clicks on the monitor.
"If you mean Miss Alice, she's fine. We wanted to give her a check up anyway, but she was rather stubborn. I have to ask though; how did you two manage such a slip?"
Scratching her head, Celina came to realize the red-eyed girl never told them how she got dragged into the fall. Silently thanking her, Celina reached into her pocket and pulled out a half-crushed gumball once stuck to her silver boot.
"A piece of candy, I guess? I wasn't looking and she got pulled in." Which wasn't entirely untrue.
Unsure of what to say, the nurse twirled a lock of blonde hair and gave her a concerned look. Awkwardly smiling, Celina stood up and left through the infirmary doors.
The sound of falling water met her ears and a gentle wind brushed across her face. Though the elevators would've been faster, Celina felt like a slow descent down the stairs might suit her a bit better currently. The main building had mostly emptied and the other witnesses of her accident had gone. Thinking of the black coated girl, Celina sighed. She hoped that she might get another chance to apologize.
A glare of sunlight hit her face as she reached the sixth floor. Celina fumbled with her pockets trying to pull out her scroll. Miraculously, the accident left it unscratched and she sighed in relief. It was only a month ago that her parents made it her graduation gift and she shuddered at the thought of having to replace it so soon. Squinting, she watched the glass light up and glanced down at the time.
[4:47]
…Crap.
She became painfully aware that commencement for the freshmen already started and she was missing her first assembly on her first day. With a leap, Celina started taking the stairs two at a time, then three, and then five. She jumped her way down to the third floor and began sprinting across campus to the auditorium.
As she arrived at Entrium Hall, a steeple-like marble building, Celina saw no one outside. She approached the windows and spotted everyone else already seated. Bracing herself for embarrassment, she gripped the towering wooden handles of the door and did her best to open them inconspicuously. The hinges creaked in a low grind, as she slipped in and closed the doors behind. Only a few faces turned towards her as a well-dressed man on stage continued his speech.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the solemnly lit chamber. Glancing around, Celina found herself the only one standing in the middle of the red carpeted walkway. Seats in the pews on all sides near her were already taken. Panic began to set in; the kind only a student would feel completely standing out.
"Psst!"
Celina snapped her head towards the voice. A blonde girl scooted inwards one seat over, slightly squishing the rest of the row, and patted the now empty spot. Ever thankful, Celina went for it and joined the audience. They shared a quick smile and turned their gaze towards the stage. An elegant caramel man continued speaking in the microphone.
"...and now I present to you all your headmaster, Desmond Chance."
Celina and her neighbor clapped alongside the rest of the room. She sighed in relief, happy to be there for the main event. The man stepped back to the side of the stage mixing in with an odd assortment of adults. Several stood out with their peculiarities. Among them was a gruff rugged man in a fur jacket and next to him was his antithesis, a shortened round balding individual. From behind them, a figure stepped forward to take his place on the stage's podium under the lights.
He was an elegant man much like his predecessor, but carried a solemn atmosphere. His black hair swayed to the side despite its short length and his dark suit glided as he walked forward in sharp contrast to the marble pillars surrounding the stage. Tapping on the mic, he took a breath and began to speak.
"I welcome you all to Ardent." At his words, the tense air seemed to soothe and the focus of his audience fell all on him.
"Making it here has been no easy feat, and I'm proud of all of you for being here. Our school is not large, but it carries prestige and honor. You are here now because you were deemed promising or handpicked to be an Ardent student. Be proud."
Whistles and cheering emerge from the crowd upon hearing the academy motto. Celina and her new acquaintance joined them as the chamber seemed to revel in excitement. Seemingly delighted by the spirit of the room, Headmaster Chance patiently waited for the noise to settle.
"You are all gathered here today to continue your training as huntsmen and huntresses. It is a tiresome and lonely profession, but it carries a sacred duty to all of Remnant. When you graduate four years from now, you will be the spark of light entering a world of danger and darkness. However, you will not have to do it alone. Look around you; these are your peers, your equals, your partners. They will be your teammates, friends, and also your rivals. Come to know one another. The world is large and unforgiving, and there is strength in familiarity."
He paused and a faraway look came to his eyes.
"The Great War took many things from all humans and faunus. Even with progress remade and things rebuilt, the losses should not be forgotten. I look among you here and I see potential. Seedlings waiting to be cultivated. Grown. Learn from the past and do not repeat your mistakes. It is up to each of you to make your journey forward and to carve your path. You begin here. This is your first step. Be proud."
For a third time since he'd taken the stage, applause rose up and cheers followed him as he exited behind heavy red curtains. The caramel skinned professor rose up from the side of the stage and took hold of the microphone, smiling.
"From here on out, you are free to roam the campus as you wish. The dining halls have opened up for dinner until 8:00 in the evening. Your bags have been moved to the Great Hall where you will sleep just for tonight. Eat well and rest up. Your initiation begins tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. where we will meet here in Entrium Hall once more. Reminders have been sent to your scrolls, but even so I recommend you set an alarm."
He smiled momentarily before adding on, "Or several alarms for some of you. You may take whatever equipment you'd like to the Initiation. Be warned, however, that you will be carrying it on your own the entire day. You are dismissed."
He stepped back and the stage lights dimmed. In response, the rest of the room was suddenly lit from various crystal chandeliers above. Across the hall, students began to stand and new conversations filled the once quiet air. Likewise, Celina stood up and turned to the blonde girl.
"Hey, thanks for giving me a seat." She stuck her hand out. "I'm Celina."
Smiling back, the girl took it. "It's no problem at all. I'm Aurelia. Glad to meet you."
Celina could hear a faint accent in her new companion's voice, but couldn't quite make out what it was. From behind her, the rest of the row bustled as they gathered their things.
"This probably isn't the best place for introductions." Aurelia said motioning to the pews of students pushing towards the door. "Shall we go?"
Rather than join the flood of other students heading towards the grand door, she began to shimmy down the aisle towards a side exit with Celina trailing not far behind. Together, they entered and joined the students flowing out of the hall. The afternoon sun continued to shine down from above with a gentle warmth as they all poured outside.
Though they walked side by side, an awkward silence fell over them. It was always hard striking up conversation with someone new regardless of who they were. Celina racked her brain. What could she say? Recent news? No, what if she thought she was just making small talk. The weather? Way worse. As she struggled on what to say, her companion seemed to save her the trouble.
"Headmaster Chance seems like a nice man," Aurelia chimed.
Nodding, Celina responded, "It must be hard leading a school. I haven't seen him in person before."
"No kidding. I don't think most of us have." Aurelia said. "You missed some pretty interesting speeches and introductions from the other professors though."
"Oh? Like who?"
Aurelia placed a finger to her chin, thinking. Her eyes did a quick roll around.
"Well, there was Professor Grayback. He was the wild one dressed like it was winter. He was pretty ferocious when he was speaking, and a bit scary. Then there was Professor Stilts, the one who really looked like he didn't want to be there. I thought we'd get more straight-laced professors here, but it's nice having colorful teachers."
"You don't say." Celina quickly began matching the names to the earlier faces. "What about the one talking before and after the headmaster?"
"That was Professor Gingerman. He seemed the most professional and well dressed. I've seen him around campus in the last couple days, so I guess he's one of those teachers that like to go around before the semester starts."
"I can't really blame him. This place is beautiful," Celina said eyeing the trees and mountains surrounding them.
"Isn't it? I've only read about River Rise before coming here. Besides the waterfalls and forests and all that, I've heard that there are all sorts of natural caves just under the school."
Celina raised an eyebrow. Dark confined spaces didn't really check all her boxes, but Aurelia seemed to have a liking for them.
"I really hope I get a chance to see them tomorrow," she lied through her teeth.
"So, you haven't had any exciting adventures here yet?" asked Aurelia.
"Not exactly." Celina averted her eyes trying not to think about events earlier that day.
"Come with me then!"
Before she could respond, Aurelia grasped Celina's hand and pulled her along. The afternoon sun had shifted ever so slightly into the oncoming evening, lengthening the dim shadows. As they headed for the cafeteria, Celina glanced among the sea of hungry students. She still had yet to apologize properly, but didn't catch sight of the black clad girl again.
By the time the two girls arrived, the cafeteria was already teeming with new arrivals pushing through lines and filling up. The moment the they passed through the hall doors, a collective aroma washed over their senses in a mouthwatering mix. Just the slightest whiff was enough to wet Celina's mouth.
"Oh wow," she muttered in amazement.
As Aurelia led her through the aisles, bodies, and tables, Celina's eyes jumped from plate to plate catching glimpses of barbecued ribs, fried rice, and pork buns. Biting her tongue, she restrained herself from jumping into line and beating down anyone in her way. Aurelia noticed the look in her eyes and shot her a sideways look. Luckily, she bought the forced grin etched on Celina's face and continued on none the wiser.
Celina, reluctantly, turned her eyes away from the mounds of food splayed on the dining counters to the rest of the chamber. The room stretched across what felt like several buildings but the heads of various students seemed to fill it completely. Not a single empty table was in sight. However, Aurelia's eyes continued to passionately scan across the hall. As if in response, an excited voice shot up from the crowd.
"Aury! Over here!"
Aury?
The call came from an overjoyed girl with green hair in pigtails across the room. She waved vigorously with her hand high above. Smiling, Aurelia waved back in response and led Celina far across the dining hall. The eccentric four of them circled around a table and made room for the two new arrivals. Celina couldn't help think that eccentric group stood out even in the sea of unique souls.
"Hello again, Rosie. I see you've made some new friends," Aurelia commented, gesturing to the apparent newcomers of the group. At her approach, a dusty haired boy stood up and tipped his hat.
"Howdy," he said. "Call me Dally, at your service."
Aurelia curtsied in response evoking a giggle from Rosie while Celina opted to smile instead. The athlete quickly followed up with his own.
"And I'm Price. Runner, parkour enthusiast, and all-around perfect guy." His flirtatious wink was met with silence while Dally shook his head disapprovingly. Cutting his losses, Price sat back down sheepishly.
"Ylisse Aberforth. A pleasure to meet you both," the elegant blonde laid out curtly, setting her parasol aside.
"And I'm Rosie! Rosie Green" the green haired girl chimed. Celina was almost blinded by the smile accompanying the introduction.
"Glad to meet you all. I'm Aurelia Riore, and this is Celina..." Aurelia furrowed her eyebrows towards her friend, realizing that she never asked for a last name.
"...Cavell," Celina filled in reluctantly.
The group nodded to one another as the two girls took their seats at the table. For a brief moment, their eyes darted upwards as if trying to recall a thought. Much to Celina's relief, they dismissed it and collectively broke out into conversation waiting for the meal lines to die down.
"So, Vacuo, huh? You didn't mention that before," Rosie said, evidently continuing previous conversation. She settled her chin on her hands, gleaming at Dally with glittering eyes.
"I reckon y'all would've figured it out eventually. I know this coast of Sanus got its own farms and countryside, but nothing so...dusty." He lifted his earthy hat and tousled it a couple times. The table watched in awe as the dust floated off onto the ground. "Believe it or not, this thing was black when I got it."
"Oh! Oh! Lemme see!"
Dally casually tossed it across the table. Rosie snatched it from the air and peeked into the brim alongside Price.
"What about you guys?" Dally asked.
"I grew up in Brookes City on the south coast," Ylisse said, and raised a finger towards Price. "Alongside that numbskull Pricenald over there."
"Hey, don't use my full name," he mumbled with his face inside the hat. "You know, numbskull's a compliment at this point."
"Make that three," Rosie piped in, tearing the hat away and flinging it back to Dally.
"Actually, four, if you count the suburban towns." Aurelia raised a hand.
The table's eyes turned towards Celina expectantly who suddenly felt like the odd one out.
"Sorry to break the pattern. I'm from Brunus."
"Across the sea?" Ylisse's eyes lit up. "I'm jealous. I've heard it's beautiful over there."
"Well, it is when you get used to the air. You get used to smelling like sea water all the time."
Rosie leaned across the table and sniffed at her, turning away with a jovial yuck.
"The freshwater falls here are certainly nice," Ylisse smiled. "I'm sure you'll get used to Sanus soon enough."
Celina was beginning to enjoy her new companions. They brought her some nostalgia of Hope Academy and she was glad to be among friends again. The six of them began to share stories about one another as Celina heard more about her new classmates. Despite having only run into them a few moments ago, she already felt like a part of something greater.
"So, Aury, huh?" she turned to Aurelia.
Nervously grinning, the blonde averted her eyes from the group. "Just wait. She'll come up with something for you, too," she whispered.
"What?"
As if on cue, Rosie directed all her attention onto Celina.
"Well, we all know each other now. Tell us about you, Celi!"
...Celi...?
Aurelia instantly turned away and barely managed to stifle her laughter. While Rosie didn't seem to notice, Celina shot her a mildly miffed frown.
"Oh, um, well," she stammered as the table's eyes fell on her. "I grew up in Brunus, but you already know that. I don't think I ever left Anima until now. I've got an older sister and an older brother. I read and dance, sort of."
Unable to think of much else to say, she concluded with a shift in her shoulders. Dally seemed to notice she didn't enjoy talking about herself and subtly nudged the conversation away.
As time passed, the long lines began to shorten, yet the plates of food remained stocked. Celina saw the kitchen chefs continued to scurry left and right to keep the trays full. Among them was a heavyset woman with a badge marking her as the head chef. She wiped her brow in exhaustion, she beamed at the sea of students ravenously devouring her cooking. Celina somewhat understood how she felt; her pride and joy were being well received. Noticing that her own stomach was now yowling at her, Celina brought up the notion of food and everyone unanimously nodded.
''Great. I'm literally starving," Price moaned, grabbing his stomach.
However, a sight caught Rosie's eyes and she thrust a finger across the hall. "Wow, look at her!"
Following her gaze, the five found a short purple-cloaked girl trudging through the aisles. While she didn't seem to stand out on her own, the four stacked-to-the-brim plates she struggled to balance in her hands drew attention from all around the hall. Despite the nonchalant look in her eyes, she created an almost palpable tension as the piles of food swayed back and forth. She approached an unattended table with her arms shaking from the weight. As she finally sat down with her edible mountains, the group let out a collective sigh of relief.
Price and Rosie leapt up and made for the seafood line without delay. With contrast, Dally and Ylisse picked themselves up slowly and elegantly made their way across the marble floors, leaving Aurelia and Celina behind.
"We've waited long enough. What are you getting first?" Aurelia asked.
In an instant, every dish she saw walking in flashed through her mind. Turning to her, Celina smirked while loosening her belt.
"Oh, don't get me started."
The rest of the evening passed by without much excitement. Once the six returned to the table, all mouths became devoted to chewing, slurping, and swallowing their respective plates. Price especially tore through his stack of mashed potatoes. Though Ylisse looked at the others with a hint of disgust at their lack of manners, she eventually relented cutting her steak piece by piece and began tearing into it. Somehow, she never lost her dignified expression even with her face covered in meat sauce, Celina noted.
After bloating their stomachs, the group dispersed as night fell onto the campus. Parting their own ways, Ylisse, Aurelia, and Rosie left to check out the hanging gardens around the school as Dally and Price left for their own misadventures.
Celina allowed herself to wander across the campus exploring at her leisure. She grew accustomed to the soft stillness of the evening air, the constant stream of water falling, and empty walkways, wondering what it would be like when the semester began. At long last, the sun began to set over the horizon. Finding an isolated stone bench, Celina rested and watched quietly as the dusky sky took over. A cool breeze blanketed the school in a serene calmness, and the unveiled stars shined brightly.
Breathing in the evening air, she spread her arms on the bench and stared up at the glow of the crumbling moon overhead. Her short time at Ardent already left her with new memories. Some more so than others, she thought recalling her ever so forgetful brush with death.
Feeling the tug of sleep, Celina decided to call it a night. The evening sky would come again tomorrow, and she couldn't be caught half-asleep during the Initiation.
She saw other groups of students across the campus on her walk back. Like her, they too found kindred souls to begin their journey with at the academy. Her eyes darted from each one hoping to find the red-eyed girl again, but to no avail. While most other freshmen were in their newfound pods, Celina eyed a black-haired boy sitting alone watching the sky just as she had been. She smiled to herself glad to have found someone with the same fascination.
Celina soon arrived at the mostly empty arrival's office to pick up her things. At her presence, the clerk quickly shoved his book aside from the desk and picked out Celina's luggage from their case. Unzipping the largest of them, she joyously pulled out what looked like a bladed shield. Her mind involuntarily flashed back to her fall from the morning. Sighing, she promised to herself that she'd never leave without it again and made her way upstairs to the Great Hall.
Stepping through the chamber's gates seemed to transport Celina into a different world. Despite the great hall's generous size and width, the room was packed full of the 200 or so freshmen sprawling from end to end. Panning over the sea of students, Celina managed to spot a small vacant cove across by the stairs. She began her journey through the maze of bodies and sleeping bags stretched across the marble floor. Several boys wrestled with one another, shirtless, perhaps in hopes that their antics might attract some female adoration. On the other end, several girls shrieked at one another without regard for the other students in the hall.
At long last, Celina arrived at her compact sanctuary. She found that her sleeping bag barely fit in the narrow crook, but snugly and without issue. Finally set, she propped up a pillow against the wooden frame of the stairwell. She rested her back against it before rummaging through her backpack, and finally produced a book. Gently, she ran her fingers across its purple cover.
A Gift of Moonlight
She never tired of the tales no matter how many times she read them. Cracking it open, she sat in silence and felt herself melt into the pages of an ancient tribe that worshiped the moon.
As time went on, the lights grew dimmer and most of the freshmen fell into slumber, preparing for the initiation in the morning. She laid down on her back, listening to the murmurs of her future allies and rivals travel around the hall.
Pulling out her scroll, Celina typed in a message to her old group chat from Hope Academy.
''I made it to Ardent. Miss you all lots.''
Her thumb hovered over the Send button. For several agonizing seconds, she brushed it against the cool glass in a trance. No one had posted in it since a month after graduation. Were they all okay at their new schools? Did they still think about each other even across mountains and oceans? Deciding against it, she furiously mashed the backspace panel and deleted the text. Maybe she would tell them... after tomorrow… after the initiation...
Feeling the gentle grasp of sleep pulling at her, Celina closed her eyes and allowed her mind to drift into the waiting waves of sleep. There was a lot to be done in the morning. She would need her rest.
Ω
Hello there,
This is the first chapter of Argence, a RWBY AU. It's been a story I've been planning for some time and wanted to get some practice in writing. After all, what better way to improve than fan fiction, right? I'm always looking to get better at writing and storytelling even if it's grammar, voice, pacing, or anything else so please feel free to leave your thoughts!
Sincerely,
Livh