Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Monty Oum from Rooster Teeth.

Miracles of Ancient Wonder

Chapter One

For the third time, Carissa brushed a hand over a window panel of one of Beacon's airships, feeling the coolness of the touch, and looked around her. Standing in an ample crowd of her would-be classmates, she could feel the energy around her, the anticipation of their arrival into one of the world's finest academies.

"This is it." She whispered, watching Signal become a speck from her line of vision. She leaned away from the glass and glanced back to the opposite window, the bird's view of Vale taking her breath away. Never had she seen the town from above, and every small neighborhood she could pick out, every small landmark she could view, they appeared like thick veins of land. She saw familiar and unknown sights that made up her home, and seeing it getting further away gave her a sense of sentiment. She hadn't seen a colleague for the recent hours. Already she wanted to go back, but at the same time, she stayed put.

It was what she wanted, after all—away from common ground and in return, joining the ranks of defenders, to become a Huntress.

Carissa's thoughts were interrupted when everyone in the room fell silent. She turned to the general direction to find everyone staring at a hologram of a blonde woman.

"Hello, and welcome to Beacon." The woman began, and Carissa paced a few steps, taking in the square frames. The tone of authority had everyone hold their breaths, waiting for what they thought would become a speech. "My name is Glynda Goodwitch. You are among the privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy." Silently, she dipped her head to stare at the toes of her grey boots. After all, the best candidates came here not through luck or raw talent, but through polished skill. "Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect the world." As quickly as the hologram switched out, whatever excitement everyone was holding inside burst into chatter, and resumed as the airship climbed altitude.

The speech left Carissa nervous, and she went to busy herself with her messenger bag. It was layered with pockets of varying sizes, with the contents clinking as she shifted her hand through, pulling out a small cartridge of grinded Dust. It was coated in a protective layer in case someone made a mess of her things, with one side covered with a film that would be broken if she slid it into one of her twin blades. The cartridge was marked with a thin strip of green, and filled with the Dust element of wind. She was on a low supply, so she would have to avoid using vast amounts in Beacon for the semester.

"I heard that this year's batch is going to be very diverse." Carissa glanced at a pair of boys who looked older than the fresh ranks of cadets, laying back and ignoring the progress of the airship.

"I wonder what the headmaster is going to throw at them. He changes it every time…" The other replied. The taller of the two had a broadsword strapped to his back.

Curious, she set her bag on the front of the window and closer to the two, counting every cartridge she could find and fitting them into one of the three layers. Then she went through her baker's dozen of crystal Dust. "Well, I'd hate it if every year was the same, or everyone would think that's the standard." he said.

So the test was unpredictable. The review finished, Carissa shut her bag and turned to face the window, watching the suburban view subside into the river. The academy, she knew, was set over the mountain tops, both for security and geographical reasons, to prevent any cadets from causing accidents near civilian population, if training spiraled out of control. With this old information, she tried to visualize how Beacon would change her. Meeting new faces and challenges was what would develop her into a Huntress.

In the long run, she knew nothing could be expected.

"Cadets, please exit the transports and continue down the landing platforms. Please do not wander near the cliff." A mechanical voice rang out from the halls, startling everyone into obedience. Like a swarm, the student body trickled down the hallways and through the entrance of the airship, a few stopping to admire the view, while others went on, absorbing what they saw with a stride.

Carissa was the latter, her eyes sweeping over the scenery as she shed her grey coat and hung it over her shoulder, revealing a white collared, long-sleeved shirt under a green vest with silver accents. She rolled up her gray pants up to her thighs. It surprised her that the climate seemed warmer up the mountains, with the sun shining in the clear sky. There was a pond drawn out along the academy's front, complete with bridging structures and stone towers. "I hope there's a tour." She sighed. There was a slim chance if she could learn the layout of Beacon.

Strolling across the avenue, she noted that the path was lined with poles with blue banners, probably the emblem of the school. Her first day was going very uneventful; she caught the eyes of a few passersby. None of them seemed friendly enough to strike up a conversation. Glumly, she adjusted the strap of her bag and continued on, taking in the pleasant scenery before she would reach the doorway. The silent walk to Beacon Academy drew on for minutes, and she was a halfway near the lake before someone called her out.

"Excuse me?" Carissa spun to see a girl about her height, a black-haired girl with amber eyes, with a bow on her head. Her weapon was a large sword around her back with a formidable sheath case. "Is this the right way?"

"Yes." Carissa replied. The girl with the bow said a brisk "thank you" and continued on. Bemused, she followed. Beacon did draw all kinds of applicants. Keeping a respectful pace between her, she went down the path until they reached the doorway. They entered what seemed to be a large assembly area, and it was already occupied. The area was out in the open, with the sun still shining as voices bounced off, people talking louder than they should.

Maybe I should speak to her. She turned just in time to see black-haired girl slinking away, head buried under a book. Nevermind.

An empty amphitheatre stage with a lone microphone took up the space in the clearing, with tall sturdy walls surrounding the congregation of students of different shapes and sizes waited for the headmaster to appear. A few turned to see a new wave of cadets enter, commenting under their breath, the majority of whether who seemed most compatible in a team of four, or whose weapon looked the best, worst, or strangest. There was free space remaining to see the front easier, and she took that chance, passing through rows of people until she could view the stage without standing on her toes.

A few more students went through the doors before minutes dragged on with no one else arriving. As if on cue, the headmaster appeared; Ozpin was a middle-aged man with grey hair and square glasses, supporting himself on a cane. He was followed by Glynda Goodwitch, mostly likely his assistant. Ozpin situated himself behind the microphone and cleared his throat, silencing the crowd. They waited as the man pressed the glasses to the bridge of his nose.

"I'll…keep this brief." Carissa clasped her hands behind her back and looked on. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge—to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people."

Carissa had seen the shadow of responsibility in the eyes of her parents, and being the fifth generation, she felt as if a weight had settled on her back. "But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose, direction." Ozpin continued. The last sentence had the people within Carissa's radius bristling at his words. Whispers surfaced, filled with confusion and anger.

"Wasted energy?" Someone hissed behind her.

"You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that only knowledge only can carry you so far. It is up for you to take the first step." A long silence followed, giving space for Carissa to think. He was talking matter-of-factly, neither was he encouraging or putting them down. Already this man was full riddles.

Slowly, the headmaster limped away from the microphone, leaving through a door she couldn't see as Miss Goodwitch stepped forward to take his place. "You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins." She announced her instructions; they were as brisk as Ozpin's speech. "Be ready. You are dismissed."

Uncertain, everyone stood in stunned silence as the woman exited the stage as well. Another face went up the stage, an unfamiliar staff member poking at the microphone. "You will be escorted to the lockers, where you will deposit your gear and any other equipment, then attend dinner in the mess hall, all seats unassigned. All sleeping bags must be used—if you do not have one, we'll provide." The staff said, sweeping his eyes across the crowd. "Does anyone have a question?"

One hand shot up, and Carissa watched it wave frantically until the man at the stage pointed at it. "Yes?"

"Uh…what kind of sleepwear is required?" A blonde boy in padded armor asked; it was followed by a few snide remarks and laughs. They died off when the staff member gave them a hard look.

"Whatever you've packed."

The ballroom was as wide as its high ceiling, and its design left Carissa looking around in silent awe; the chandeliers illuminated the floor, giving it a mystical feel as all the students were led inside by Miss Goodwitch. "Find a spot for your sleeping bag before the lights go out." she instructed.

Everyone fanned out, and thuds of sleeping bags and bedrolls were heard as friends, new and old, congregated, while others chose to have the best view of the night by settling near the windows. As warm as the day was, the evening was mildly cool. It assured Carissa wouldn't wake up in sweat the next morning. The lights of the chandeliers were put low to the point she could only see the figures of the rowdier students parading the ballroom, starting up small-talk while others slumbered.

In a purple shirt and loose black pants, she shuffled quietly over several people who were sprawled on the sleeping bags, out cold. At last she reached the center. She arranged her own bag so that her head was facing the entrance, rolling onto her back to look at the lit ceiling, thoughtful. She wasn't going to be alone in Beacon. She knew she wouldn't. There were going to be teams, she'd heard from the others, but there was no telling when they would be formed.

With the initiation coming in less than twenty-four hours, she wanted to learn a few names of the others, and the common rules floating around the academy. She wasn't really a stickler for rules, but she didn't want to cause trouble, accident or not. Pushing away a strand of brown hair, she shifted, staring as more forms moved in and out of her sight, until everyone but a few were lying on the floor.

No doubt the initiation was going to be rigorous. She heard the news of injuries and almost-deaths in Beacon. Before the blood and sweat began, she wanted to sleep. Shutting her eyes, she pulled over a blanket over her so that she was covered up to the chin. Drowsiness overtaking her, she turned to her side before she drifted off.

A pitter-patter of noises nearby jarred Carissa awake. Snapping open an eyelid, she raked it across the room, straining them for a sign of movement. She caught sight of a girl kneeling on the floor,l picking at the ground and dropping things inside a small bag, the clicks muffled through the leather. Fortunately, no one else had awakened, and there was no sign of teachers entering for the noise, so she could investigate freely.

The girl had dark hair done up into a messy ponytail, wearing a baggy sweatshirt and shorts.

Flipping off the covers, Carissa sat up while rubbing her eyes, stuffed her feet into her slippers, and stepped over bodies to reach the girl. "Hi?" she called in an undertone. The girl spun swiftly. She had a widow's peak, and sea blue eyes lidded with sleepiness. Rectangular glasses were pushed to her forehead. "What are you doing?"She asked cautiously.

The girl grimaced. "I'm picking up my, uh, marble collection." To prove her point, she picked up a small orb, a ghostly white tinged with blue with a black core. She dropped it into her bag, a small pouch stamped with a small sphere over three rings of circles. "Did anyone else wake up?"

Carissa scanned the ballroom. The evening was pitch black outside, with the moon hanging overhead, giving her a dim outline of the chandeliers. Not a sign there was anyone creeping around at the peak of midnight.

"I doubt it."

The dark-haired girl nodded. "That's good to know." Both of them fell silent for a minute, before her attention turned back to the remaining scattered marbles. Carissa kneeled beside her, collecting them carefully into the pouch. "So, how do you think the initiation will start?" she blurted.

Carissa paused at the sudden question, watching the girl tighten the pouch with the knots, dropping it into a duffel bag of her own. "Beacon makes Hunters to maintain peace in the world, to pass on the knowledge." She started, beginning to guess along. "Fighting is one of the assets. The initiation's a test to prove more than that."

"With these arrangements, I think we're getting a puzzle. Everything will be answered tomorrow." The girl replied, removing the glasses and putting it over her bag, and releasing her hair to fall over her back. "Thank you for helping me."

"You're welcome." Carissa said. Maybe, before the big day, she could ask for a name. But her plan dropped when both of them heard clicking heels. "I'm going back."

"Yeah. Good luck." Carissa turned and quietly paced herself between gaps of sleeping bags. She was already draping the blanket over her when the doors swung open.

By the time Miss Goodwitch set foot into the ballroom, silence had fallen.

This is officially the first fanfic I've posted after a yearlong writer's block. I'm certain I'll have the motivation to go through with this this time, because previous entries have ended up into a hiatus. I tend to rush to post these, but I'm going to discipline myself before I post these.

Carissa, my OC, is quietly pumped in Beacon academy. I've already shown she's a sword-wielder, and applies Dust to her fighting. If you need to visualize her, she's a brunette with green eyes, and between the height of Weiss and Blake, and has light skin. Not as pale, though.

There will be several more original characters in addition, with no doubt my main character put into a team. Also, every chapter will be covering at least a full day in RWBY. I've already seen the latest episode (5), so I'll be waiting to see the end of the day in the later weeks. With Episode 4 and 5, I'm starting to put together information to create another chapter. But in that time, I'm starting high school, so my posts are going to be erratic. I'll apologize in advance when that happens.

Criticism is appreciated!

Update- 9/3/13 -I have revised and edited some parts of the work, and I think it has improved greatly. Thank you for the reviewers who pointed them out. You know who you are.