Shade academy the beginning for some of the best in Vacuo. That is not saying a lot when comparing to the other Kingdoms, but we are still here and surviving with them. The school itself was true to the Vacuo's morals of simple but effective. Five short buildings around a courtyard oasis build to easily move heat during the day and then keep it at night. They were built before the war an weathered some of the fiercest fighting. All in all it still looks good after years in the desert wind.
I hung out in the blazing afternoon sun under the partial shade of a palm tree. Waiting for the other first years to get here on airbuses. All of them seemingly used to the heat, as they walked slowly two were thrown out by the driver flying some thirty yards into the pond. Ah, an this is why I'm here students from the other said a few people don't dress properly. Picking up the Shade bag full of appropriate clothes.
A male voice came over the splashing, "Sweet relief, This place is blistering. Genna you OK?" one of the two was treading water in the middle. " Genna?" His red hair swept from side to side brown eyes fueled by fear not concern. He Started moving to the shore head on swivel.
The other one surfaced without most of her clothes dunking the guy. " You idiot, Should of known you would not get us the right clothes for this heat!" some bubbles came from the guy as he thrashes around. " Like hey sis, I got this, I'm going on a date at the mall, I'll get my date to get us some clothes." she mimicked the male's voice. More bubbles and he was starting to slow down.
She was good looking a five out of ten. The other five points still up in the air for personally. Maybe this is how she treats everyone or just her brother, it just that personally is as important as looks when your used to being around huntresses. The same red hair shoulder length slick to her neck. A black workout bra the only thing on her pale sleek body. Face scrunched from the effort of killing her brother still was very nice. Her weapons caught my eye when she started putting all her weight on him. They were holstered at the small of the back, twin sub machine guns by the look of them.
Time to stop enjoying the show and step in before the staff. " Hello there, maybe you should let him up for air." Her death glare at me spoke volumes to the idea of murdering him. " Or do you want to tell the staff why you killed him in your underwear." She was still holding him down maybe even harder now that she has a audience. " Please?" OK, done being nice. Pulling out a pistol I shot.
That got her to moving. The bullet dug into the sand one of thousands. " Hey, That is not cool! Noel would of been fine its not like he needs his brain." The now named Noel broke the surface huffing.
The sound of rapid fire snapped me back to her. I saw a little ice float were she was. Genna's fist was the next thing I got a good looking of knocking me into the hot sand. Great, I don't even have any of my actual weapons. A kick coming fast to my stomach got me rolling. Still moving I grasp my last weapon, a simple dagger, from my boot. Ready for the sting of gunfire as I see the brother holding down her.
" She can get a little feisty when she's cranky." he got out between gasping for air. Now that both of them got out of the water, it was easy to see they were twins. Atlesians if the pale skin was anything to go by. Wonder why they are here and not Atlas." Thank... You? An are you OK?"
"I'm Yew Wood. An yes, I'm good glad you got her before she started shooting. I don't think the staff wants us fight each other so fast." Scroll out I check the time. Damn ten percent from one is up with that. " It's about time for the headmasters opening speech. Do you need some clothes or are you good?" looking up, she was stripping Noel of his shirt. " I got some cloaks for you so stop tormenting him you. An no need to return them to me their from the school. So get them to Professor Wood if you want to return them."
Genna's eyes when wide at the mention of the professor."I'm Genna and this, my brother, Noel Gilroy." They gave a short bow. she tensed as the question passed her lips "Your dad's a staff member?" fidgeting with the long cloak.
She cooled down fast. Ahh, the feeling of power " It's my mom. An she is the combat instructor and head disciplinarian. You will see her at the speech we should be heading to." When I turned to walk to the auditorium an she did not follow I added" An don't worry so much I will not tell them about your little swim or starting a fight."
Standing in the crowd the heat was amazing. Like a nice blanket. Several students have become faint. Most likely people who came from the other kingdoms. They will soon get used to it. hopefully. Another girl swayed and crashed to the floor. Several teens carried her to the rest. They were using air and ice dust to cool off the fainted. A nice boon from being near a dust mine.
The twins figured it out fairly fast to sit at the door an allow the breeze to cool them. The others accustomed to the heat and press of bodies were talking. When a person fell they gave way for the others to get them to the others. A lazy anthill sprung to mind with everyone milling slowly about.
The Headmaster Biv and Professor Wood were noticed causing everyone to go quiet. Biv dresses like he can't see a rainbow of colors from head to toe. The clashing of colors was almost enough to damage my aura, but more then enough to turn away from the stage. He still is very strong if mom can't beat him.
Professor Wood, or Cherry Wood, or just mom to me, was more sensible with a blue shirt with two pink stripes and shorts. Light brown hair cut short. I think she called it a pixie cut at the salon. At least it was nice day, though could of done without the menagerie of scents in the store. Her dagger, Scorpion Weed, hung loosely off her belt. She surveyed the room quickly noticed the fainted kids an tapped the older man's shoulder.
The microphone sprang to life and he started. " I will keep this short for those not yet accustomed to the land of Vacuo. I Welcome you all to Shade, most of you will be spending the next four years training to become full fledged huntsmen and huntresses. You hopefully will spend this time bettering yourselves in more ways then fighting. Remember, you are more than your job and I expect you to find a reason to return home and not a reason to throw your life away. with that it's soon to be night find a place to sleep on campus and tomorrow initiation starts at noon. Good night." He quickly walked away an was soon out of sight.
Mom quickly replaced him at the microphone." As you are not in teams yet. Please make use of the auditorium for the night. If you don't have a sleeping bag we can provide for the night." She pulled out a huge crate full of them. " Now if you need one, please form a line if not, please get some rest."
I had to laugh as I noticed the twins moving from the line to outside with their sleeping bags. Should I stop them or let them get sick?
" You really should stay inside. It will start getting really cold out there." Someone already beat me to it. She was explaining it multiple times to others. Several of the natives were agreeing with her to stop the newcomers from freezing tonight.
Vacuo was truly the land of extremes. It can drop to about forty Fahrenheit (4.5 Celsius). Not the mind blowing zero or below the other kingdoms people think, but still cold. With the drop people can get hypothermia from the sweat on there body cooling on them as they sleep.
Now that no one is going to sick, time to prepare for tomorrow. I slip past the girl at the door an make my way to the workshop. It was a nice night wind was calm, stars were out in full, and the shattered moon was glowing beautiful. Almost made me want to sit out by the oasis. Still I made my way to the promise of extreme heat.
The workshop was a huge warehouse of a room. A few forges sat on the far wall one still ready for me. Tools hung on the many worktables every kind under the sun. Harden glass tubes held Dust of most color. The rest of the room was empty that could easily hold two bullheads.
The forge ran hotter than anything mother nature could make in the desert. Still, I was barely sweating as I finished my work. It helps to do this work every summer at dad's an the fruits of my labor are going to shine. Looking over the ten daggers and six swords. Simple forged goods each one able to cut the neck of a Grimm. The grenades where kinda pre-made shells, but the dust mix was all mine. Flash bangs, Frags, and my favorite implosions a hard mix mostly layering gravity Dust and fire Dust around a pure gravity crystal inside of of a large impure one.
Nothing my dad would be proud of, but the amount would be impressive in two hours. Dad was probably just cleaning up his shop. Wonder, if it slowed down, probably not hunters love his work and he was the only smith and mechanic shop in that town.
Now for my main weapon, Code Duello, a set of sheaths both four feet long able to hold three swords a piece. My masterpiece a Dust fueled weapon made four years ago. Checking the Dust canisters in the bottom the red and bright-yellow Dust mix. Full. Next cleaning the inside of the sheath of Dust and other particles. good. The two compartments that held my back up weapons. Check. The newly forged swords fit. Time constraints did not allow for me to test fire the blades, but hey, they are not going too last to many firings anyways.
Settling down after my work was nice. Pulling my fingertips across a knife. I nearly cut myself when the door opened. My semblance saved me some blood causing the blade to conform to my fingers. Removing my fingers from the now mangled blade was easy. Fixing the blade was harder as I move the cold metal like clay.
My semblance allows shaping of anything I cover my aura and touch. The longer I hold it the more aura I can put into it, the easier it is to manipulate, but other factors can change how much effort I need to change it. If I have the time I can do about anything, in the heat of battle maybe bend the blade or barrel of a gun. An I never have tried it on a person. Still a creep thought.
"Dear, your dad probably told you a hundred times not to sleep near the forge." She strolled between the tables to me. " An I know I told you to be careful when holding weapons. Remember the time you grabbed the hot steel? Had your hands in bandages for a week with your aura."
" Hi mom. An I'm sure that was when I was a kid." the look I got was very patronizing. " OK. I was twelve an just learned my semblance."
" Ah, your still my baby boy." She pinched my cheek. A smile when I did not move away. " See your still my baby."
"The last time I stopped you. You play cried till I went shopping with you." her smile widen gaining playful edge. I wonder how many weekend I gave to her like that. Too many." Why are you here? Don't you have school stuff to do?"
"That is all done and are you trying to get ride of me, your mom? Don't look that way your weekends are save for now. Plus I still have ten days you promised me." her gaze flicks around the workshop." Why are you here? Dad not letting you into his."
" No, just had to make some new food for my girl." I tap Code Duello. " She was real hungry at dad's. A hunting trip lasted a bit shorter and more action packed then planned."
She was the one who got me the job of guide in the desert around the northern part of Vacuo. A few Hunters asked her about her old stomping grounds an if there were any guides. Guides are a very old profession in the deserts still existing after the advent of the CCT. The smaller towers when down frequently so hunters can't always use their scrolls for GPS. Even if the group was used to the area they would get someone to help normally not with fighting, but night watch, cooking, and driving. That was a huge mistake firmly placed on a brash Atlesian military specialist that got me into the fray. Not that he acted like he was military.
A look of concern, that was quickly beaten down by her grin." OK. You should get some sleep the test is about ten hours off."
" night Mom. Wish me luck for tomorrow. "
"Night Yew. You will not need it." a quick kiss to my forehead. " Now get to the others and sleep. AN I will be talking to your dad about this action pack trip."
" Please don't. Plus he does not know." begging as I held her arm, " It's classified an it was signed by Winter Schnee. The pay was good and it was only a tunnel of small Death Stalkers." her grin when from playful to slasher in a second. " Did I say to much? Please, they pay so much compared to normal hunters."
" Yes. I don't think you will lose your summer job. But your Atlesian military contracts may stop." Another kiss on the forehead. " Now go to the others. An be glad I'm not taking a year." There is no arguing here.
The locker room was stuffed with teens handling more firepower then most police stations. Locker one hundred it's good getting here early. I pop it open an get my gear neatly set out. Changing into my combat outfit, yellowish brown shirt and pants both fire retardant with multiple latches. Grenades. Check. knives. Check. Code Duello. Check.
" Wow, dude most people are happy with one weapon. You look like you are ready to take on an army or two. How much does it all weight?" the voice was familiar, she was talking to everyone in the locker room.
" Always try to be prepared for anything. Family motto. All in all about fifty pounds." It was the same girl from the door last night. " I'm Yew Wood. An you are?"
"Eurwen Appleton. An I think you can say that again. The only thing I don't see on you is high explosives." She flicks her eyes over me.
Her dark near golden skin accented by white gold armor. A tight white undershirt visible where the armor didn't cover. Legs much the same. A backpack had a hilt lightly hanging out the top and a second blade on her hip. Not hard to see everything when your looking at someone who was barely five feet tall. Still her golden eyes were searching me appraising everything.
I broke eye contact first pulling out some extra dust." I would, but an overprotective mom stops me from making that stuff easily. I would have a rocket launcher, but she did not like me mixing that amount of Dust." A few holes in the floor an she nearly killed me, but six full weekends she did.
" Wow. I feel a little under armed here." she pulled on the hilt in her backpack. The blade was segmented held in place by a cord. It was not even all the way out of the pack an it had about ten feet of the blade on the floor. " This is Dancer's Dream. Fifty feet of aura active metal." She made the blade snap together and fall apart a few times.
" That seems a bit extravagant. Why that long?" The biggest sword I have seen a hunter with was twenty feet and that was a really thin blade. An Eurwen was half his size.
" For utility. I can split the blade at any part, swing from to and fro, and most importantly it can connect to my armor so the hilt can grab more of the length." She flicked the blade an it sailed with practiced easy winding its way around a pillar. Then she shifted the blade to her arm and did it four more times. A quick hop an held herself midair by tightening the cords. " A cool trick an I can control each blade like this with aura." She unwound the blades moving them around like short tentacles as she did a little dance. She settle them back into the backpack. A toothy smile slide onto her face. " Can you show me yours?"
" Maybe? How about when I can get a target." Her smile started to slip. I slip my hand onto "Code Duello is a quick draw style and it destroys the blades after a few uses." a curious stare. " It super heats the blades I use on purpose. Its something I came up with when I was twelve an it is very useful this way."
Her hands on one of the hilts. A quick pull back made her draw. Better that then the mechanics activating an her getting burnt. She looked up an down the blade very unimpressed with the simple steel. " How?"
Before I could reply the P.A system sprang alive. " Will all first years get to the airships. We will be departing in ten minutes." the message repeated itself cutting all conversations off. The locker room was emptying very fast now. Eurwen pulled her scroll out an typed my name into a short list of names. Well, someone is preparing for this. Maybe I could try to find her.
" You can see in the initiation. If you can find me." Knowing the test beforehand cost me a whole week to mom, but I could prepare for it both the test and the week. Hope She does not decide not a camping trip again.
Fingernails or were they claws seize my wrist cutting of my line of thought. " Will do." she chirped. My wrist now free rubbing it I noticed the blood pooling in the indents. I turn an she was gone even as I looked around the room nothing.
The airship held steady above an unnamed expanse. A swamp meeting the desert a show of Vacuo's normally inhospitable environments. It was also another normal day in Vacuo midday getting to be in the ninety Fahrenheit (thirty-two Celsius). The only building for miles was a pyramid sitting about a mile from the swamp.
The headmaster sipping on some bottle water was looking at the students. " alright, Kids time to tell you what your test is. We will be throwing you into the swamp from there you will make your way to the pyramid. Inside you will find artifacts. Partners will be the first person you make eye contact with. If you think this unfair talk to Beacon's headmaster. He was the one to come up with this one." then he started to mumble hearing something about a bet. " Please stand on the platform." He smiled as the last of us did. " Good. The test begins now."
At the last word the world blurred in my eyes as we rocketed in a flat line to the swamp. Ok. not what I was thinking when he said throw. An now I want to hit Ozpin.