The speech was...not the warm welcome to Beacon Academy as one would hope. The mature man who spoke on the podium looked disinterested yet always made the time to sweep his eyes in her general direction. She's just an upcoming huntress, there isn't anything that separates her from the rest of the crowd, so she thought nothing of it, or the intent behind it. She did everything to deflect as much attention on her until it was over.

The unaware woman glanced around for a prompt exit, feeling uncomfortable being by herself. Her mental musings would halt when the tappings of metal clicked louder and louder. The source of the incessant tapping was the owner, the headmaster of Beacon showing even more interest than his speech a few moments ago. The meek, bashful personality is a far cry from the murderous self presented not long ago. Ozpin stopped in front of her, sizing her up swiftly and making note of the changes.

"Your eyes have a certain glow. Use them to your advantage."

She couldn't understand if it was a compliment or a hint at something more. The interaction was short, but something stirred inside her, like an ember, a gentle warmth at her heart made its presence known. Yet as fast as it came, it left her and never made Cinder question it. Glynda announced shortly after where the remaining students should head for the time being until tomorrow when the exam begins, leaving the two administrators to themselves.

"She seems normal. Scared, but normal." The man spun around after his quick observation, heading en-route to his office.

"For now" Glynda quipped, following him. "We can not watch her every step you know?" The headmaster sipped from his mug as he basked in the thought and warmth of black coffee. He remained silent, but his expression showed he was thinking of solutions. "Not to mention teams."

"Don't worry, that is already taken care of." Glynda pushed her glasses in at his nonchalant response.

"Oh? Mind filling me in on this?" Ozpin takes another stoic sip until he sighs as the two entered the elevator.

"Why of course." The metal doors closed shut, leaving them alone to handle their business.


Now, students separated equally in the large room, to rest for the upcoming exam. The new class of students were either sleeping already or checking their phones due to boredom. Anxiety sat at Cinder's stomach, eating away at her self-control. She got by on qualifications alone, but doubt lingers in her mind. Did she had what it takes? Will she die out there? Will help even be given? She was so lost in thought, she didn't hear the greetings of a familiar boy.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Huh?" She snapped out of it, after such depressing thoughts, she turns to the source. "Oh...Jaune, sorry, I was thinking."

"Thinking about what? You look worried."

"Um..." She looked shy, as she always been when meeting new people. She doesn't know where she got such a bothersome habit, it's a friendly guy, just talk."It was nothing...really. Why, was it that obvious?"

"Very obvious." He sat down next to her, finding a companion to speak with. Ruby had her hands full with a certain white-haired girl and her sister. In fact, their shenanigans were the source of the loud two continued to talk over the banter though.

"Yeah, I guess I'm nervous, I don't know if I'll pass the test tomorrow."

"You're telling me, I'm trying to forget about tomorrow."

"But, we got into Beacon, so, I think we have a safe shot at getting in...no?"

"Yeah..." He paused briefly as a little fear kicked in. "You think there'll be Grimm involved in this exam?"

"Most likely."

"Figures. I'll just have to give it my all. How else can I be a hunter? And save others?

"Are you trying to imply I need to be saved by you?"

"Uh..." Cinder did smile at what he was implying. She's nervous, but something innate told her all will be fine.

"By the way, duck."

"Huh?" He didn't catch her warning, a fluffy, white pillow flying like a bullet to the back of his head and knocked him forward. While still soft, he can sense that impact.

"Ow!"

"I warned you didn't I?" A playful remark as Jaune turned his head to see who caused it.

"Who threw that?" Cinder pointed him towards the three girls who all looked in different directions, putting up their best innocent look.

"I think it was blondie."

"Snitch" she muttered before smiling and trying to apologize. "It's my bad, just some sibling rivalry you know? Can you pass the pillow back?" Jaune grumbled at the request, wondering why they'd throw it in the first place, but he obliged.

"Now, what were we talking about?"

"Something about me needing to be saved." She drank from a personal water bottle as he slowly recalled the remarks leading up to the discussion. It took a moment as the three girls were back at a scuffle. Jaune gently smiled at the tease on her part.

"Ah, sorry."

"It's fine, seems like you have a big heart, maybe you try a bit too much, but the heart inside you is pure."

"I just want to succeed, and live up to my parent's name, you know? With that kind of pressure, how don't you feel a bit anxious?"

"Pressure huh?" This brought her to think about her beliefs. "I didn't think too much about trying to become a huntress. Just seem right, like the next step in life."

"So, it's like a dream to you then?"

"Yeah, pretty much." She glanced from the side and looked back at him. "Duck."

"What?" His reflex and senses worked this time as he did as instructed and Cinder caught the pillow in his stead. "Really?"

"It wasn't me!" Yang was quick to avoid guilt and fingers. And she had a point. It was Weiss' fault. Cinder tossed the pillow back to them, but a look on her face showed consequences if they continued.

"I think that's our cue to go to sleep Jaune."

"Yeah, I agree with you. Someone's head is going to come off at this rate." Following with a yawn, the boy vented a little to his new friend, and she agreed sinking back into the makeshift bed in her pajamas.

"Ah, good night." She tucked in, turning off the nearby bed light for blissful sleep. Until her perfect, well maintained hair becomes frazzled from a pillow thrown by a certain group. It was at that moment, the mood shifted. Rising from her place, she can catch the gloomy expression on their face.

"So, you didn't heed my warning?" A glance over to them brought the young girls to shock. It was an accident, this time for sure by the girls attempting to compete for a better spot to sleep on the ground and look nonchalant. Cinder walked up, clutching a pillow between her hands. "I'll give you my last warning" she began, cocking the dangerous weapon in her hand with a frown. "Duck."

Darkness overcame the trio, right as Blake, who was reading a fabulous book before being interrupted, smiled at finally receiving a quiet interlude. A gentle blow from her lips, to put out the candle lit flame in her grasp.


Light snuck through the blinds of the window, illuminating the foyer. Some woke up naturally, others with alarm clocks. For a certain fifteen year old girl, she woke up to the after effects of a hangover. "Ugh" Ruby muttered, realizing her head was spinning when her eyes opened. Who'd knew a feather filled pillow can inflict a concussion? Well, it wasn't that serious, but she savored the time she can close her eyes and ignore the nagging sensation of a rattled brain.

"Wake up sis, come on." Ruby opened her eyelids, catching sight of Yang, slapping her hand against the side of her head, a feather exiting in its place. "Damn, she got me good."

"Same, I didn't think she had enough strength to inflict that much wrath. But it is still a pillow, this upcoming test will offer a better insight. She's already on my list of worthy partners, if she can do the same with her regular weapon." Weiss was sitting near a mirror, a comb in hand to ensure her hair is prim and proper. Plus removing any excess feathers along the way.

"Am I on your list?" All Ruby received was a cold glare through the mirror. "It was worth asking..." she muttered, before getting up. A quick glance at the room showed the aspiring hunters and huntresses preparing for the exam and cleaning up where they slept. Cinder remained asleep in peace, an exact opposite from last night. The boy she had spoken with since her arrival had exited the shower, donned in a white T-shirt and a black shorts giving way to his long legs. After drying his face, he sees Ruby overlooking Cinder.

"Hey, you feeling better?"

"Not really. My ear's a little numb, I'm hoping it'll go away soon."

"Yeah. You'll be ready for today's exam right?"

"Of course, I always wanted to be a huntress, so, I can't mess this up!" Her eyes burned with determination. Weiss simply shook her head at this.

"If only wanting something got you it." She kept her uptight demeanor as she exited for breakfast and prep for the long day ahead. Ruby frowned, just a bit but turned to her sister who would surely give her some good morning motivation. "Yang? Are you re-" she began, until seeing she was gone, only the sound of laughter and a crowd from afar. "And she's gone."

"Should we wake her up?"

"Yeah, we only have so much time."

"Right...I think you should wake her up Jaune?"

"Why?" Ruby pointed to a nearby pillow. "Oh yeah." On the off-chance she still held some bitterness on not taking her warning serious, best use someone who didn't receive her wrath. He shook Cinder gently, before she violently sat up, as if she was ready to land after falling for so long.

"Cinder?"

Cold sweat stuck to her skin, her hair a slight mess and her eyes wide open. "Oh...Ruby, Jaune..." She sighed and finally her mind could be set at ease knowing a threat to her well-being is nearby. She was about to ask something, but didn't want to make them fret, so she changed gears. "What time is it? Am I late?" Her voice a little shaky at the start, but recovered in the end.

"N-no, your right on time. But any more and you might have had to wait another year." Ruby tried to brush off this unsettling tension brought by her. "But it's just one exam right? No pressure!"

"Jeez, and I thought you were the optimistic one..." Jaune also sensed this but tried to crack a joke about it, in hopes things would brighten. The sleepy woman would rise out of bed, smoothing out her night-dress and shaking her head.

"You two go get breakfast without me, I need to go get ready." Ruby and Jaune preferred to stay, expressing concern but both decided maybe some time alone would be best to fix whatever tangibles are running through her. Ruby turned around, heading for the cafeteria.

"I wonder if they have pancakes?"

"Hopefully someone didn't eat them all by the time we get there." The two students conversed until they were no longer audible, and now left cinder fall all to herself to recall the past minute or so of unconsciousness. That's where true fretting showed on her face, the one she believed she couldn't show them.

Thoughts, an unsettling chain of running from something, something she couldn't brand. Not a human, something worse, something more and something so intimate that it amplified the sensation. Glowing eyes and an innate hatred towards her core. Her mental legs ran to find a prompt exit but was always in that grasp, under someone's finger who will unleash fury. All of it is so real, and she felt trapped while under her slumber. And for a moment, even in reality, she still sensed this lingering paranoia crossing over into this plane. The world around her felt numb, she heard nothing as this scenario looped through her irises. Memories? Or body trying to psyche her out on this big event?

"Shower" she muttered, believing a hot rinse of water will remove these stains off her.

Unfortunately, these stains were scars.