Team JSTR
Based on the world created by Monty Oum
From the day we're born, we're told we'll make history; yet few of us really do. The only way to make a difference is to take a risk, so I took the biggest risk that any person in Remnant could take. My name is Jasper Steel and this is how I became a huntsman.
The story, like most, starts with a group of friends. My group of friends. There was Azure, wielding "Dischord": a guitar-assault/sniper rifle combo (I know it sounds weird, but I helped him build it, and dude, it's freaking bad...butt); Kayne, bringing his battle axe/laser rifle (dubbed the title "Star-Splitter" because no one took the last name seriously) to the fray; and Limerick, with his curved dagger infused with a dust that allowed him to move swiftly in battle, given the name "Boris", because Limerick was weird like that. Of course I came to play as well, with my "Hell-Claws": the perfect blend of dual swords, grappling hooks, flamethrowers, maces, and flare guns; able to attach to chains that run through my gauntlets (It's complicated, but I make it work).
We met and graduated from Blaze: a combat school in East Vacuo, near Vale; I was at the top of the class with the others not too far behind. We were all accepted into Inferno Academy that summer, and we were flown, by airship, to campus with our heads held high.
Every time teams were mentioned, we all proclaimed, "Team JAKL for the win!", but eventually, we were told to sit down and shut up, to which Kayne and Lim responded by spinning in perfect circles with their hands in the air.
Finally, we touched down and all students were escorted into a courtyard, being told that there would be an assembly at 2:30. It was noon, so I did what any teenage boy in a large crowd of his future classmates would do: look around to see if any of them were hot girls. There were several girls that looked at their weapons as if they were foreign artifacts (It was safe to say that they weren't here because of good grades!), others stood around in packs (I made sure not to go near any of them). I also saw a shorter girl with some nice blue hair. She was curled up in a ball and sitting against a wall; obviously, she wasn't comfortable in social situations. She looked like she could use a friend, so, I, using my incredible charm that no one else seems to notice, decided to try and befriend her. I walked to the wall and slid into a spot next to her.
"Do you always avoid people, or do you just not like looking around awesome courtyards?" Classic Jasper.
"What?" She looked up, confused. I sighed, forgetting that only I found myself funny.
"If you don't want to deal with people, you could at least look around the awesome courtyard."
She moved her head around for about two seconds before turning to me, "There. Done." The remark made me laugh. She smiled, likely her first smile all day.
I held my hand out for her to shake.
"Jasper Steel."
Her hand took mine.
"Rain Harvester."
I made some quick mental notes on her appearance. She had freckles on her cheeks and wore gothic eyeliner; it was applied lightly so that she wouldn't look menacing. Her eyes appeared bright green at first, but actually shifted between green and brown, like two equal forces that struggled for control. She wore a black shirt bearing a skull. The shirt's color stood out from the canvas that was her apricot skin. She also wore light blue jeans, almost like mine, except they were tattered and were in a woman's size. So they weren't like mine.
"Is that what you're going to wear into battle?" I asked, realizing that it was a stupid question.
"No! My gear's in my bag!"
"Right, sorry," I said trying to shift the conversation, "Hey, if you're sitting here alone, why aren't you listening to music?"
"My Alto died."
"That's tough."
She started to look at me in an inquisitive way, but before either of us could say any more, Azure caught my attention and gestured for me to come to him.
Before I went to catch up with him, I stood up and said to my newfound acquaintance, "Well, Rain, it's been fun, buuut... my friend needs me, so I gotta scoot."
"Nice meeting you."
I walked with Azure. He gave me a weird look.
"So who was she?" he inquired, giving me his trickster grin. Azure had a habit of looking smug like that.
"Just some girl. Hey, what time is it?"
Azure shrugged and checked his watch.
"2:00," he declared, "which means you have plenty of time to tell me about 'some girl'." He flashed his grin again.
"I hate you."
At 2:30 we were escorted into the main hall, which had a castle feel to it, with banners and armor lining the stone brick walls. The crowd of students still talked amongst themselves until a robotic voice overcame their own.
"Greetings, and welcome to Inferno," it spoke with a female dialect, "You are here to uphold the duties of your fellow huntsmen and huntresses: defending humanity from the creatures of Grimm, and any who would aid their cause." Many of the First-Years shifted, looking toward the ground.
"Now, it is time to present our headmaster. Please provide your undivided attention to Professor Arcane." There was an applause as a figure appeared on a stage at the end of the hall; it was a man, short and round, but not fat. I couldn't make out his face, for it was covered in bandages. When he began to speak, his voice didn't sound right; I mean, the sound did come from his mouth, but it didn't fit with his appearance or stature, almost as if it was scrambled.
"Your time here will teach you to handle threats both inside and out of the kingdoms," he stated with his oddly low, smooth voice, "Every one of you will be pushed to some limit, but you are still required to keep up with the pace set by your peers, regardless. Otherwise, you will leave this academy; one way or another." And then, without another word, he left and the robotic voice resumed.
"You will gather here tonight to rest, but for now, store your equipment in your assigned lockers and explore the open campus. Please remember that dinner will be at 6 and that initiation is tomorrow morning. Have a pleasant evening."
I gathered with Azure, Kayne, and Lim.
In the instant we made eye contact, Kayne said what we were all thinking: "Did that guy seem a little off to you?"
"He was almost as weird as Limerick," I replied, to which Limerick responded with a "Hey!".
That afternoon, we walked and talked around campus. In those hours before dinner, everyone was attempting to show off their weaponry before stashing them away for the night. There was this one kid who had built a cannon arm (Like that robot in those old video games), but it only launched foam balls and not lethal projectiles, so it wasn't that special. There was another kid who brought a knife to a gunfight by literally just bringing a knife, not enchanted or upgraded at all, it was just a knife. There was also a kid with purple hair who absolutely refused to show his weapon to anyone before initiation, claiming that "The enemy should have the first demonstration," or whatever that means.
There was one weapon that caught my eye though; not just because of its unique design, but also because of the girl who wielded it. She had fiery red hair, a slim and athletic build, brilliant blue eyes, and (from a distance) smelled kind of like cookies and other baked goods. Her weapon was a golden sai, except the center tip was replaced with a symmetrical blade (slightly shorter than that of a cutlass). The prongs contained batteries that produced electricity; said electricity was conducted through the gold blade and into the unlucky opponent on the receiving end. The handle could extend to transform the weapon into a trident. Obviously, it was pretty awesome.
However, when I stared at h- IT! for too long, the girl began to wave her hand in front of my face as if I wasn't completely there.
When I backed away, she smiled a cold smile and said, "Oh, so there is a brain in there!"
Now, I'm normally a pretty calm guy, but she just about reached the limit with those eight words and a comma.
"Yes, there is," I replied, "and it's currently evaluating every flaw in your monstrosity's design. As you can imagine, it's a very long list."
"Excuse me? You're certainly one to talk with those... What are those?" she inquired, gazing at the Hell-Claws at my belt.
"Perfect in every way," I snapped back, "Not that I expected you to know."
I watched her face turn as red as her hair. She charged to where her face met mine. She may have been a few inches shorter than me, but she looked me dead in the eye, regardless. It wasn't long before she started screaming at me.
"LISTEN UP, BRAINIAC! JUST BECAUSE YOUR WEAPONS ARE 'PERFECT' DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO GO *gasp* AROUND CRITICIZING EVERYONE ELSE'S!"
Before she could say anything more, Azure once again appeared to drag me off.
"You're making all kinds of friends today!" he said, once again giving me his smug grin.
On my way to dinner, I bumped into Rain - No! I seriously bumped into her! - who was making the trip to store her gear. She looked surprised to see me.
"WASSUP, RAIN!?"
She flinched. I felt bad when she didn't answer and I apologized.
"Can you please be quiet?" she asked, almost out of desperation, "I don't want anyone staring at me!"
"Sorry," I whispered. She knelt down to pick up what appeared to be gauntlets.
"Are those your weapons?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what they do?"
She steeled herself before explaining.
"'Tonitrui and Fulgur'. Two gauntlets, each with dual barrels that flip out on activation. Every barrel has a blade attached and can fire rapidly. Tonitrui launches high powered rounds that produce a loud sound, while Fulgur blasts an electric Dust that creates a flash and can potentially paralyze a foe."
When she finished, she looked up to find that my jaw had dropped.
"So where's your weapon at?" she asked.
"I already put them away."
"Awww. Can you at least tell me what they do?"
"It's complicated. Let's just say, tomorrow, you'll know 'em when you see 'em!"
She smiled, "I like the sound of them already!"
And with that she went to put her gauntlets away, and I went to dinner.
Upon my arrival at the mess hall, I was alerted and then pissed off when I saw who else was in my class. Lyle. Freaking Lyle.
Lyle is my nemesis, my rival, my foe, my other words for enemy. We met back in Blaze and just didn't click. I was smart and caring, he was a bad boy. Anything he said or did upset me and he would never leave me alone. He was the biggest... male reproductive organ... EVER!
"Jasper Steel!"
Of course he had to see me!
"How are you, old buddy, old pal?", he asked as he approached me. He tried to put his arm around me, but I didn't want him touching me, so I dodged the arm.
"Funny seeing you here, Lyle, I thought they only allowed Humans and Faunus into these schools."
"I thought the same thing, Dog,"
"Snake-Rat-Weevil,"
"You and your hyphenated words, Jas,"
I glared at him. I only let a select few call me Jas or Jasp, and he knew it. I hope this guy gets eaten by a Beowolf tomorrow.
