At the moment, I'm currently trying to sort out what kind of story I want to make and how I'm going to build arcs to go with the story. For now, this is on hiatus.
I'd also like to thank Redler Red 7 for his beta-read of this chapter. He's done a fantastic job in opening my eyes to the flaws in this story and I don't believe I've could have been even more happier with this story without his help.
17 Days before RWBY's Initiation
High above in Beacon Academy, there was a confusingly young looking yet wise and gray-haired person, like an old and astute man who would usually have wrinkles all over his face, stirring his cup of hot coffee in a most eccentric office of his positioned at the height of the academy - it revolved heavily around the theme of clockwork. Numerous gears were above the headmaster rotating and conjoined like individuals working together to make great progress, and even a translucent full-size clock behind the headmaster's seat supports the theme aesthetics of his office. Hell, even the elevators in front of the headmaster on the opposite end of the office had a half-shaped gear at the top of each door frame and even floor itself was etched in the background of a clock with chiseled marks even-spaced out near the circumference of the circle to ping the location of each supposed hour.
Seems the man has always kept his eye on time.
The man continues to stir his coffee while sitting in front of his semi-circle desk that strangely remains without litter and clear of any objects. Instead, there was his scroll, or an advanced collapsible smart phone that can emit hologram images, which happens to be displaying a face-time – equivalent group discussion between himself and three other participants:
A blond lady wearing oval yet sleek glasses and a stern look.
An old man who holds resemblance to the great Theodore Roosevelt in mien and character aside from no spectacles and a enormous gray mustache.
And a green-spiked electrified man with circular glasses that would seem opaque from an outside view.
In this environment, they discussed the curriculum of the next coming year for the including first year students such as preparation for the initiation trial, arrangement of courses for each student, and much more of the essential mechanics that this current writer lacks the knowledge of what the college board considers significant to execute and take care of as quickly and swiftly.
"Now for the trials of our initiates, are we agreement to continue with our traditional chess piece hunt as the selected trial as we've always done in the past years?" Professor Ozpin announces in his semi-circle office after he takes his sip of coffee.
A responding message storms straight back to the headmaster of the school in cumulations of buzz words. "Ozpin, I feel a bit candid about the chess piece hunt because recently the attacks unleashed by the Grimm have become more erratic and rancorous in the last few months, especially if we consider that our trial would be held in the Emerald Forest." Doctor Oobleck raises with great concern.
He adjusts his round glasses to ensure they provide him optimal vision. "Yes, I admit that the Grimm has remained little in change and much with continuity, but I please ask you to observe the slight details, here." Up on the interface in the headmaster's view, a graph pops up and suddenly the view of the hologram zooms too closely to the tiny trend beginning to rise over the past 7 months. "We also need to consider that this yet occurs despite Atlesian Military increases in Grimm patrol. There- "
The doctor was quickly interrupted by his colleague Ms. Goodwitch, which would be the one with the sleek glasses and blond hair. "It's only perfect for the occasion then. The Grimm's increase in irrationality will give us a better generation of hunters and huntresses that can evolve to this 'growing threat' that you say. Honestly, for a specification as miniscule as this, I think you're reaching far out Dr. Oobleck."
The gray-mustached man adds on in reinforcement to the argument presented by the headmaster's right hand – Ms. Goodwitch – with a euphemism to help nerve his friend. "I must say that I, too, agree with Ms. Goodwitch on your concern with the Grimm. If anything, we'll have better protectors raised at Beacon Academy and you yourself can perhaps look forward to more dedicated students to historical study since you claim this to be significant. Come on and relax a little bit, old friend. Ha ha!"
The historian sighs publicly and with an ambivalent tone, he reassures that he will assuage his concern in his own matter and concede to the continuation of the chess piece hunt as the continuing initiation trial.
"Perhaps another time, Oobleck. Meanwhile, we must continue assessing what we deem critical to the preparation of the next world defenders since that is priority. Now, how about our expected numbers of initiates?" Dr. Ozpin inquires.
"We could expect an intake of 35 students incoming by the next semester," Ms. Goodwitch reports firmly but she adjusts suddenly. "Well… taking in account that none of them misses the transport to Beacon Academy. Overall, it's nothing irregular to our last 1st year students in terms of quantity."
For the next hour, the discussion continues to be upheld until it was amendable upon all of them that Beacon Academy is ready for a new year of aspiring rookies. By then, it was two hours past the crack of dawn and Dr. Oobleck and Dr. Port politely excused themselves from the meeting upon its closure in light of a rookie party where the new staffs at Beacon Academy are to be warmly welcomed. The windows that displayed Dr. Oobleck and Dr. Port's facial profile blinked into nothing.
"Glynda," Professor Ozpin addresses to the only member of the meeting still present with questionable tone. "I recall prior to the meeting that you wish to inform me of a peculiar case happening at the registrar office, yes? Is there something the matter?"
"No Ozpin, it's nothing of detrimental matters. It's … about a message the register received of an application for admission. It lacks any resume and transcript, but it has a voice recorded message, a video footage, and a peculiar object – to which I already have taken the liberty of examining. Admittedly, I thought the audio and video recordings were a fluke, but the object was, without a doubt, out of this world, headmaster, and I hope that you could assure my candid thoughts on this matter." Immediately, three windows are displayed in front of the headmaster's eyes that lay projected on the hologram, overlapping in a neat arrangement.
Professor Ozpin takes a quick glance at the windows presented before him. "Thank you Glynda. I'll be sure to inspect these immediately. Enjoy the day." With a nod, Ms. Goodwitch's facial profile disappeared thus ends the group discussion. At the moment, the professor is befuddled this matter. The acceptance into Beacon Academy was extremely strict, so why would Glynda Goodwitch, his right-hand lady, excuse formal procedures for an exception? Perhaps it would satiate his curiosity if he inspects these files.
The first one is the video recording with a thumbnail that already seems enticing. On display, there is a robotic humanoid being with a white robe and sea-blue accents, and a long, slender horn of similar color protruding through its forehead in stance against what appears to be a enormous four-legged walker – perhaps larger than a Nevermore Grimm - all housed in a gray room that reflects the idea of technology and industry as a priority with a few teal lightings here and there in the octangular room. To add, there are four poles symmetrically positioned in the room, or rather an arena as it seems like it.
The inquisitive professor clicks on the video which began to play who he had later deemed as surpassing hunter-level skill. The white knight in the video performed a large twirling jump past the walker, but immediately changed in a gliding position mid-air - its entire body flattened straight out as specks of energy swirl underneath it, seeming to reduce its descent - as it materialized a four-barrel weapon from its hands and fired at one of the legs. The beast was immediately incapacitated and this knight took full advantage of it swiftly as it returned to the face of the walker through a series of back-flips. Upon its arrival, the knight fired two more rounds into the face of the beast before it collapsed onto the floor into scrap metal. Sparks of electricity leaked from its body as it decayed into scraps of metal. The knight then faced the where the camera is apparently placed and performed a respectful bow, signaling the end of the video.
At least something, but I ponder if it can withstand a normal Grimm, the professor thought.
The professor minimized the video and played the audio recording. A green line wavered and spiked at each shift in frequency from the source of the sound waves while a female voice was heard.
-"I assume that this transmission will be received by Professor Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy. If this is true, rest assure that though I mean no harm, but only to seek knowledge. In addition, I highly ask of you to keep any of the information you've gained through me as confidential and any proof of our existence hidden as I would greatly prefer my connections to remain anonymous for my children and I's safety.
Allow me to introduce myself as the Lotus, the mother of a vigilante group called the Tenno. We come from a foreign system where we have planets different from yours.
I am reaching out to you because I would like to strike a deal. My Tenno are running into problems with a race called the Infested and I would wish to send one of them to your planet and examine your people's knowledge of the Grimm in your world as, at least in theory, the Grimm may be similar to the Infested my Tenno face in our place. In return, we'll exchange with you a portion of our technological advancement that originate from our late - Orokin Empire, once ruler of our solar system, that could expand your civilization by a noticeable degree. However, if you still are unsure in my legitimacy, I will be willing to send additional proof. In 2 days, stand outside the academy at the front and, assured that you are alone at the academy at the time, I'll be happy to discuss further of my terms."—
Ozpin minimized the voice recording window. This is incredulously suspicious. I'm not sure if the Lotus is real as well as what she claims. Hmmph. I guess I'll take a glimpse at the fi-
The final window was a picture Glynda took from her scroll and it was unlike anything the universe has ever seen. Perhaps an artifact, it has two arms that seems to sway forward and backwards of its celestial body. Its composition is white and gold with three teal-lit pieces – there are two on the head and one at the base – and golden rings levitate and sway with the arms, yet most significantly they not were physically conjoined to the piece and yet acting as if they were.
But even if the artifact was not present in form and only through a photograph, just staring at it was giving the headmaster a sense that he was hallucinating. He could have sworn that the artifact was singing to him in his mind as he gazed upon it – a soft whisper that could contrast to a gentle motherly touch or like a lady seducing to a young man without devilish motives.
How... soothing... almost as if it reminded me of someone...
This was enough to bedazzle the headmaster and he's seen enough for now. He collapses his scroll and inserts it into his pocket in preparation for his leave.