Way of the Warrior

"It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand"

-Apache

Author's Note: I do not own the rights to RWBY. I hope you enjoy this prelude!

There was great anticipation throughout the large training arena as the crowd awaited the fight to commence. As a way to develop more weapon systems, Atlas Academy made this location for public entertainment to drum up support for funding. The immense coliseum was designed with a grid pattern arena floor embedded with the Atlesian sigil: a flaming torch. Numerous rows of Altesian students and citizens filled the parallel three tier bleachers as the combatants emerged separately onto the floor. A unanimous cheer erupted as the Atlas Academy's fighter stepped onto the sparring ground. His name was Hawke Batair, a charismatic student who had rumors of becoming a specialist. He stood at 5'8" tall and was easily identifiable from his raven black hair and piercing orange hues. Hawke then waited in the center of the arena with his longsword plunged into the ground. The sun beat down on his chainmail armor as sweat dripped from his brow. Finally, Hawke's challenger emerged from the darkened corridor and there was a commotion among the students sitting in the adjacent stands. Who was this mysterious challenger?

The challenger was slightly shorter than Hawke and her lean hourglass body was covered by suit of scale armor with teal color shading. Her long heather-red hair was worn in a boho style and draped down her right shoulder. But the most striking detail about this huntress –in –training was the appearance of violet hues staring behind a black runic mask. The students received their answer as the stranger spoke in a commanding tone, "I am Erica Arnborg, daughter of Bjorn, an instructor of this Academy, killed in battle. I have heard rumors that someone has dared to belittle and tarnish his memory with slanderous remarks. I stand before you now to quell such scorn."

While her words rang throughout the arena, several hecklers cried out, "You dropout! How dare you come back here and try to lecture us. You don't belong here!" One harsh glare through her mask silenced the hecklers and even Hawke grew tired of their remarks, yelling over them, "SILENCE! Sit down and shut your mouths before I deal with you myself." Erica glared from behind her mask as she said, "Of course it had to be you. The Academy would send no less than their best for such a match." Hawke smirked and replied, "I can at least agree with you on that regard. As for the matter about your father… you have my deepest sympathies. However, I think his absence from the Academy is a significant improvement."

Sharp steel rang out as she drew her father's blade and held it out to let its runes shine in the light. Erica's scabbard transformed into a large kite shield with a mirror-like surface and golden trim. "You viper! I should carve out your tongue." she spat out at him in anger. "Hmm. The eagle does have talons. But you should have never left. I'm better than you now. In what world could you beat the likes of me?" Hawke taunted and enjoyed the moment considerably. A loud gong was struck as a signal for the fight to commence and Hawke pulled his long sword out of the ground in preparation.

The two combatants slowly circled one another as they mentally prepared for the fierce fight that was about to happen. Hawke lunged forward with a diagonal downward strike that Erica easily parried. As soon as their blades made contact, she took advantage by delivering a shield bash into Hawke's side. The unexpected impact made her opponent stumble backwards and let out a groan of pain. Now Erica knew the length of his longsword's reach and had given him a taste of her defensive capabilities.

Hawke regained his composure and showed his swordsmanship as each slash used its momentum to accelerate the next. Facing such an onslaught of blows, it was all Erica could do to parry the teen's attacks since he was focused on her sword arm. Their blades finally locked in a bind as both edges clashed and their hues glared at one another. However, a subtle movement of the wrist caused Hawke's blade to go over Erica's and it almost stabbed her in the shoulder. She realized, in that moment, Hawke was dangerous in traditional sword combat. The fierce huntress smashed her hilt into his face which caused her opponent to reel back in surprise. She quickly moved back several feet to put distance between them but did not notice that her mask had fallen off from Hawke's longsword hitting it after performing that counter.

"Now you've made me angry you red haired devil!" Hawke shouted as he rushed towards Erica after activating his semblance, which generated two astral projections of himself. His longsword crashed down as Erica guarded her body with her large kite shield and there was a bright glimmer of light in the arena. The radiance only lasted for a few seconds before Hawke was sent flying into one of the walls. He groaned out in pain as the student audience gasped in alarm at such a sight. His orange eyes barely had time to open when Erica had her blade pointed at his throat. "Admit defeat and renounce your lies about my father… or next time I meet you, it will be the last time you ever speak." the huntress said to him in a tone of fury. Both combatants were next to the wall away from the spectators, so only he could see her face as Erica made her threat. Hawke swallowed hard and dropped his longsword on the ground, surrendering the fight and securing a personal victory for Erica.

A few days later

Senna's neighs were the only sound on the wind as Erica gripped the mare's mane while she dismounted. Her brilliant flaming curls stained the white landscape with their crimson hue while she walked through the snow. She had journeyed far from the arena to a small cemetery filled with family names long forgotten. Her footfalls softly crushed the snow covered ground as the young huntress trainee found what she had been searching for. A stone eagle overlooked the graveyard as it perched atop a large hill with its wings outstretched. Its epitaph read:

Bjorn Arnborg

Hero, Husband, Father

He soars with the eagles

Cold steel rang out to cut through the roar of the wind as Erica drew her sword and plunged it into the earth. A single tear ran underneath her mask and down her face as she cried out in anguish. She would have had more to shed if the grief was not enough to last a lifetime. With fury in her violet eyes, Erica shouted, "I pledge to the gods a sacred vow… My father's spirit will only be avenged when that Grimm falls by my hand. I may not have the strength now, but I will train. Push myself until my fingers bleed and bones crack, anything to rise above my deadly foe. As for any whom stand against me… will know only woe."

Meanwhile, Hawke was still recovering from his injury during the fight. His fingers were barely able to grasp his longsword and his nights were filled with terror. Nurses in the infirmary spoke about how Hawke cried out in his sleep, drenched in sweat, "Those eyes… They are the eyes of a demon… G-Get Away! Heeelp!"

_End_