The vital festival.
Vale.
The first round of the vital festival raged as team RWBY of beacon faced off against team ABRN. The crowd cheered as the four girls beat and blasted their way to victory displaying a perfect combination of teamwork and skill to win against their opponents. Almost all the spectators cheered as vale to victory, Ruby Rose jumped into the air yelling in triumph. The crowds began to disperse from their seats. One man had been watching from the gateway to the stands. He could have taken a seat if he had wished but had given it up for a mother and her small child. Hawx Kestrel had his hood pulled up over his head hiding his face under the shadow it provided. He smiled and clapped slowly as the young huntresses took a bow for the stands. Hawx himself was young, just into his twenties. He was tall and dressed in almost entirely black clothing. He wore black slim fitting jeans that covered the tops of his large boots. His chest was covered by a crimson red vest that showed through his thick black jacket over the top with a fur collar around the neck. His hands were gloved with the fingers removed and small metal studs loomed over his knuckles. Hawx was back in beacon for a bit of rest and relaxation. He carried no weapons unlick many of the trainee huntsmen around him. A sudden force pulled the hood down revealing his face for only a moment before the young man spun around and pinned a young huntsmen to the wall he had just been resting on. The young man squirmed and shook with fright. Hawx's hood fell away being taken by a gust of wind after the young huntsmen who had thought he was being funny accidently ripped it off.
"Wow!" one of the trainees friends remarked. Hawx's hair danced elegantly in the wind, long strands of black faded into dull crimson at the ends his eyes burned a thick yellow as he starred into the trainee he held. Hawx released him and watched as he scrambled away back to his friends.
"Jeez you're a professional right?" one of his friends remarked.
Hawx recognised the large brute of a leader from the rosters. Cardin Winchester. Cardin was one of beacons lesser huntsmen to be but was still making a name for himself thanks to his ruthless fighting power. Hawx didn't answer his question, he just leant up against his wall and looked away from them. Had there not been so many people around he would have probably taught the young man a stronger lesson. The crowd were giving the group a wide birth as they moved through the exit. Cardin introduced himself and extended a hand towards Hawx, who just looked at it for a moment then back up past Cardin into the crowd. He caught a glimpse of the triumphant team RWBY moving up the stairs towards one of the airship docking bays and silently slipped back vanishing into the crowd.
"Hey edge lord where you going?" Cardin called out but was unable to keep track of Hawx, as soon as the young huntsmen broke the line of sight he had vanished.
Hawx didn't venture far from the stands, he slid through the crowds trying not to make himself seen, he moved in the direction of the booth. Until something caught his eye. A small shimmer of glass from the wall above him had reflected the light from outside to reveal the presence of a security camera. Hawx could feel someone on the other side watching him, while he did have a few tricks up his sleeve for hiding among crowds. He somehow knew he wasn't going to get away from this turn of events.
"Well Well, I hardly expected to see you here Mr Kestrel." The voice was low and powerful, it resonated through Hawx shattering his cover.
Hawx turned around slowly to address the Atlesian commander. The great man was accompanied by several of the new Atlesian Knights, there silver metallic bodies gleaming from the light of the sun outside.
"Hello General." Hawx spoke in a low rasping voice, without even the slightest hint of amusement. He stood facing General James Ironwood.
Ironwood looked up and down the young huntsmen a few times, it had been a while since they had last seen each other.
"you look well, all things considered." Ironwood awkwardly started.
Hawx's vision moved from Ironwood to his escorts, then to the open arches of the stadium leading to the airship boarding bays. Beyond the small civilian airship a pair of Atlas warships patrolled the city, Hawx had noticed they were increasing in number over the past few weeks as more and more Atlas personnel entered the city leading to the beginning of the festival.
"You like them? Latest in Atlas tech, we're providing security for the festival this year." Ironwoods words grew softer, he approached Hawx, laying a hand on his shoulder. Ironwood stood a good five inches taller than Hawx but the young huntsmen wasn't intimidated by the difference in size.
"now that you're back we have some things we should discuss."
Hawx shrugged ironwoods hand of his shoulder.
"I only came back for the festival. I have no interest in taking any further work from you." Hawx's words came out as more of a growl. Ironwood seemed surprised at this which made Hawx all the more discussed.
"All of that firepower, for what? There's no more crime in this city, you locked up Rowman Torchwick aboard your flag ship and all criminal activity in the city suddenly stopped. With the help of beacon academy's students, you've accomplished something most thought unthinkable…"
Hawx shoved his hands into his jacket pockets as he began to turn away.
"So, James why do you still need that army."
Ironwood sighed, Hawx's mannerisms were far to reminiscent of another huntsman he didn't need reminding off. Ironwood had met Hawx Kestrel many years ago while he was still a student at Beacon. The young fighter had grown immensely since then, but Ironwood could see the damage behind the smug smile. As well as Hawx's ulterior motive.
Hawx nodded to him once then strolled over to the edge of the platform and stepped off. A few civilians stood in horror for a few seconds before Ironwood stepped in to calm their nerves. A single black feather glided in from outside dancing elegantly in the wind. Ironwood shook his head.
Elsewhere in Vale an older man walked into a bar, he was dressed in a long dusty trench coat that covered most of his body, his grey eyes were mostly covered by the ten-gallon hat he wore pulled low over his face. He carried a very large sword across his back in a leather scabbard, the blade was wide with a steel handle. The man moved to the bar. He sat himself down and waited patiently to be served. A girl in a red dress sat a few seats down from him. She watched him with her one golden eye that wasn't hidden by thick locks of black hair. She spoke slowly in a low seductive voice.
"you're late."
The man looked over to her slowly. His voice was low and raspy, ravaged by years of smoking.
"lot of huntsmen in the area. We may need to renegotiate payment."
The girl didn't seem amused. Cinder fall moved further down the bar, her visible eye lighting up with flame. The man didn't flinch. Cinder seemed slightly agitated by this.
"That power gives you strength but don't forget your place here girl. I have dealt with your kind before." The man looked around the bar only now realising there were no staff present.
"you knew That vale would be home to a large number of huntsmen during the festival, and yet you took the job. Don't tell me you're scared?"
Cinder smirked, she slid an envelope across the bar towards the man.
"Half now and half when the target is dealt with." Cinder offered.
The man opened the envelope as a picture of a girl fell out in front of him. The girl looked to be about the same age as cinder, presumably somewhere in her early twenties her hair was cut short and dark. Her eyes glowed purple, she was smiling ever so slightly.
"She's a cat, you'll spot her from the tail. There's a bonus in it if you can take out any of the huntsmen in the area of course but leave the students alone until after the festival. No matter how much of a nuisance they can be."
The man looked back to the picture of the girl. She didn't look that threatening but in this line of work he knew to be cautious.