Chapter I: The First of Many
'It is up to you, to take the first step.'
A flash of light, bitter cold and an electric atmosphere. Ruins formed out of the white around me, trapping me in a circle of stone. I found myself sat up against a pile of rubble, my swords shattered and a battered helmet thrown aside. Blood ran from my chest like a river of deep red. Pain seared through my head like a flash fire.
Then the beast came.
It swooped down from the sky on wings of hell, its landing shaking the ground and cracking the floor beneath it.
"You were a fool to come here alone," it said prowling towards me. Every word from its tainted mind just caused more and more pain across my body, like I was going to explode. It then licked the rim of its mouth, flashing its monstrous teeth. "Now it is time to reclaim the prize that you stole from me."
It reached for me, holding me high in its claws. I felt my very life being sucked from me, my body getting gradually number by the second. Its mouth did not move but I heard a demonic laugh echo through the ruins. And then darkness…
I opened my eyes. It took a few seconds to realise that it was just a vision, to my relief. After quickly looking around, I remembered what I was doing here; I, like the many people around me, was on my way to Beacon Academy via airship for my first semester. For me, it was also my first proper attempt at school life, so I was more curious than some.
"How long have I been out for?" I thought. Glimpsing at the clock being projected on the other side of the lounge, it had been thirty six minutes since I first began to meditate. I sighed and stood from my seat for a quick stretch, before moving to the windows to check out the view. We were high above the city of Vale. It sure was an impressive sight to see.
I stayed a few minutes longer to take it all in, enjoying the calm while it lasted. Then my thoughts were interrupted:
"You don't look like the average kid," a voice said beside me. I turned to look at the speaker. He was tall and well built, with short brown hair. He wore a steel-coloured full armour breastplate with a gold trim, and shoulder guards of similar description.
"What makes you say that?" I asked, as if I didn't know.
"I don't know about you buddy, but I think the whole helmet thing is a little weird. I'm not the only one either, believe me."
Looking around I found he was right, people were staring at me then looking away as I exchanged gazes. That was normal when people first saw me, so I've grown used to it by now. "What's your point?" I pressed.
"Oh, I don't know," the boy said shrugging his broad shoulders, "You might just attract some attention that you may not like…"
I'd had enough. "You don't think I'm used to this?" I said keeping my calm, "Believe it or not, I have a way to get around things like that. You want to know what it is?"
"Sure," the boy said uneasily.
I leaned in closer. "I deal with it. You can't intimidate me that easily, mate."
After a few moments, he grunted in response. "Not bad," he said, an impressed look on his face, "You know what? I like you kid. My name's Cardin Winchester, what's yours?"
"Spectre," I replied.
"Just Spectre?"
"Yeah, just Spectre."
He nodded to himself, satisfied. He then turned to leave. "I guess I'll be seeing you around, Spectre," he said moving to approach someone else he could pick on. I had no respect for bullies like him, making people suffer for your own amusement is wrong. At least I had the satisfaction of standing up to him.
Shortly after that encounter, a news bulletin flared on the holo-screens projected around the room. It was focused around Roman Torchwick, reporting a recent dust robbery that he had co-ordinated. The reporter advised not to approach him and report his appearances to the authorities. The next report mentioned how an initially peaceful protest for Faunus rights turned ugly as the White Fang intervened.
"There seems to be nothing but crime on the news these days," I thought.
The report was soon cut off, and a woman appeared on the holo-screens. "Hello and welcome to Beacon," the woman said, "My name is Glenda Good-Witch. You are among a privileged few who have received the honour of being selected to attend this prestigious academy. 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 our world."
And like that, she disappeared. Once the broadcast had finished, it didn't take long for us to land at the docks. The main doors opened and people flooded out, eager to see their new home for the years to come. I followed behind the crowd and marvelled in the sight before me. Beacon Academy. It had some of the most amazing architecture I had ever seen, the central tower climbing high into the bright blue sky.
Along with many of the others here, I wasn't sure where to go or what I had to do next. Like a lost child, I wandered the grounds, trying to get my bearings, to spot a familiar face, anything. After some time, and no luck, I decided to head to something that interested me. The deeper I ventured into Beacon, the fewer people I saw; they were all probably meeting friends and things like that. I eventually made it to the central tower, where a large area with a stage dominated the area around its foot. There were one or two people here and there, but other than that it was more or less barren. My curiosity satiated, I turned to leave but was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Spectre," it said, warm and welcoming. I turned to find Professor Ozpin, with Miss Good-Witch at his side. He made his way towards me, his cane clinking against the flagstone.
"It's good to see that you have arrived safely," he continued.
"It's a pleasure to be here, Sir," I replied with utmost respect.
He looked around the atrium, searching for something. "Where is your sister?" he asked returning his attention to me.
I went cold. "You… don't know?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Don't know what?" he replied, a quizzical look on his face.
I took a deep breath before answering, making sure I didn't crack up. "Shadow… she's dead, Sir." It was hard to say the words aloud. Were it two months ago, she'd still be here, still alive, still with me…
The look on Miss Good-Witch's face said it all. "Oh you poor thing…" she said, placing her hands on my shoulders, "No one should ever have to go through something like that." It was rare for her to show such sympathy; from what I heard she could be a very strict woman, and was certainly less laid back than Professor Ozpin.
The headmaster tilted his head downwards. "A terrible audial indeed…" He seemed to be deep in thought. Then he said: "If you would see me after my speech, we can discuss this further, if you wish."
"Thank you, Sir," I replied. He nodded in response then made for the stage. Miss Good-Witch followed closely, giving me a sad smile as she passed.
New students started to fill the atrium like sharks to a feeding frenzy. There weren't sufficient numbers to be cramped, but with what I'd seen before as comparison, it was a huge difference. I had decided to stay at the back and out of the way for now – the talk with the professor didn't exactly lift my spirits. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice in the crowd.
"Ruby, over here! I saved you a spot!"
I peered into the crowd and saw the speaker. It was the blonde haired girl that I met in Junior's club, some weeks ago now. Yang. That was her name. And her sister Ruby too. They were the only friends I have ever made, not including the guys from the Blades of course. My thoughts were cut off however, as someone tapped the mic in the stage.
It seemed that Professor Ozpin was ready to make his speech. "I'll… keep this brief," he started, "You've travelled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you finish you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose, direction. You must assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will teach you that knowledge can only carry you so far." He looked out into the crowd. "It is up to you, to take the first step."
Silence. The very air stood still during and after the speech. I don't think anyone there would have thought that he'd present himself quite the way that he did.
He moved away from the stage, allowing Miss Good-Witch to take his spot. "You will gather at the ballroom tonight," she commanded, "Tomorrow your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed." There were mutterings amongst the crowd as she stepped down from the stage. Watching her, I noticed that she had walked through a door, previously hidden behind the crowd. Professor Ozpin stood in the door frame looking in my direction, seeking me out.
"That's my cue..." I thought. I pushed myself off of the pillar I was leaning against, and Void-Jumped to the door. A flash of impossible blue, a quiet pop, and I had reappeared into reality.
The professor looked to where I had emerged in mild astonishment. "Impressive," he said indicating for me to enter the door. A short walk and an elevator ride later, we were sat in a small room, very the same room that I had been interviewed in about two years ago. There were no windows, and besides a single lamp in the centre, the room was plunged in complete darkness, just as I remember it. The professor took a sip from his coffee.
"Now, let's start with Shadow," he said observing me, "How did she… come to pass?"
I hesitated before answering, not quite sure what to tell him. "We were on a job…" I said taking my time, "We had to find evidence that an 'Arch-Grimm' existed."
The professor sat forward, clearly interested. "Go on," he said.
"We had been given a helmet camera, and were pointed towards an old tower ruin in the wilds to the north. People called it Grimm's Respite. We endured the cold and killed the Grimm in our path, but... she fell to the beast at the tower's peak…"
"The 'Arch-Grimm'?"
"I assume so yes," I replied, "We'd never seen anything like it before… Then the visions started…"
"I see…" There was a long pause before any of us spoke. The silence paired with the darkness around us made me feel even more uncomfortable. It was like I was being watched, yet couldn't see my surroundings.
The professor took another sip from his coffee. "Spectre," he said, "What happened in the past is what was. Here at Beacon you have a fresh start ahead of you – a new life to live. If you cling to the past, things may never change in your favour." Sadly clinging to the past was something I have a habit of doing, for better or worse.
I didn't comment, just listened.
"There is one other thing I need you to consider though," the professor continued, "Now that your sister is… no longer attending this academy, there are an odd number of students for the initiation trails. This means that there is a chance for you to not be partnered with anyone, or even being assigned a team at all. I can put in a special request for you, if this is a problem."
I thought about that for a moment. It didn't take long for me to decide. "No," I said confidently, "I have been alone for a while now, so I'm accustomed to being reliant on myself. Plus if I do get teammates, what happens if they die? It'll only repeat the cycle again. If am to be partnered with someone, then let fate do it for me."
The professor chuckled to himself. "Well said, Spectre. Very well, I will hold off the proposal for now, but should you change your mind, don't hesitate to ask."
"Of course, Sir. Now if you'd agree, I have to join the others," I said standing to leave.
"Indeed," the professor said shaking my hand, "You are dismissed."
The ballroom was a large open room, with no furniture - or anything for that matter. For that night, it would serve a place to sleep for the dozens of students, eager to start their way on the path of the hunter. As of the day of Shadow's death, I dedicated myself to never sleep again, so changing into night clothes wasn't necessary. Nevertheless, I have gotten into the habit of changing into lighter fatigues for the longer periods of meditation, so one could say that I do indeed use pyjamas.
Upon entering the room, I saw lines of sleeping bags dotting the floor with almost military precision. The boys seemed to be on one side of the room and the girls were on the other. Naturally I joined the boys' side, found a quiet corner and sat cross-legged, my things in a duffle bag beside me. People were still up and about, so I remained conscious to listen to the various conversations going on around me. I heard a few remarks like 'dude, check out those girls' and 'what's that guy in the corner doing?', but it didn't bother me too much.
Just as I'd grown comfortable however, I was rudely disturbed by a group of girls. "Oh not you again!" they said simultaneously. I sighed, then stood to find the source of the commotion. To my surprise, I actually recognised the rowdy bunch. There was Yang and Ruby, who I'd seen at the speech, and Weiss Schnee, the girl who I'd watched sing weeks ago. There was one other though, one that I recognised but knew very little about. It was the girl from the train. I never caught her name, but I was certain that it was her. Despite the risk of her recognising me, I approached the group.
"She's a hazard to my health!" Weiss screamed at Yang and Ruby.
"And all this screaming and shouting is a hazard to mine", I interrupted.
Four heads turned to me, three of which smiled in recognition. "Spectre!" the three girls said in unison. The fourth just looked at me blankly. It looked like she didn't recognise me, which was good. Then Yang stepped forward making herself heard.
"It's good to see you! How've you been?"
"Wait, you know these two?" Weiss cut in, pushing Yang out of the way.
"Yeah, he does," Yang said pushing Weiss back, "And we totally kick ass together, don't we Spectre."
"Well he saved my life," Weiss said, pushing Yang again, "AND he helped out with family business. Beat that, Blondie."
Before Yang sent a punch her way, I stepped between the two in an attempt to calm things down. "So," I said, changing the subject, "Would anyone like to introduce me to the quiet girl sat against the wall? I'll bet she feels really uncomfortable right now."
She looked at me for a second and blinked, not sure what I was implying. "I'm Blake," she said eventually, "Nice to meet you." There was a long pause.
I was afraid that the argument would kick off again so I began plucking at straws. "That's a nice bow you've got there," I said, not quite sure where I was going with it, "It goes really well with your… pyjamas? Yes, your pyjamas!"
She blinked again, simply dumbstruck. "Uh, thanks…" she replied awkwardly.
"See? That's what I said!" Yang put in unhelpfully.
"Oh yeah? Well it was a stupid comment if you ask me…" Weiss mocked.
"Hey! Who said I asked you?" Yang snapped back at her. And the bickering began once more. With all my cards on the table, I looked to Ruby for any help whatsoever. She shrugged, shaking her head in response. I face-palmed, releasing a long winded sigh as I did so. Through the gaps between my fingers, I could see Blake holding a candlestick, which was probably the only light source left in the room.
"Would you like to do the honours?" I asked, completely defeated.
She nodded and blew the candles out, enveloping the room into complete darkness.