RWBY: Paths of Light and Dark
Chapter I: The Valethornian Way
A/N: Character submissions are still open, and the template can be found on the first page. Check out my other SYOC stories if you haven't yet.
Valethornia Academy – Atrium
It was the start of a new year at Valethornia Academy and its atrium was packed with eager young men and women hoping to gain entrance into the prestigious academy. Valethornia, which had once been the most powerful of all kingdoms, had faded into legend over the years and its place on Remnants world maps erased from history. The Valethornians however used this to their advantage knowing that the deadliest threat was the one you didn't know existed. Its government was a structured monarchy with clearly outlined lines of succession. The military forces it had in reserve widely outclassed the other nations and its advance technology would put Atlas to shame.
It was here at Valethornia academy the hunters and huntress of new generations were trained. Qualification for enrollment started at sixteen with students graduated within three years at the earliest or staying on for specialized training. Within the current group of potential hunters and huntresses a young woman stood near the front waiting for the headmistress to appear. The girl was medium height standing around four feet seven inches or so with golden-tan colored skin. Her hair was dark brown, almost black as well as long, coming down to her waist. She kept it styled loose with a headband holding back some of her bangs.
She was currently wearing a fairly casual attire. Her top was a silver V-neck shirt underneath a black vest that was only partially buttoned up exposing ample amounts of cleavage from her breasts. She wore black fingerless gloves on each hand with metal studs in the knuckles. Across her chest from right shoulder to left hip was a single strap bandolier that also attached to her belt. On the back of the bandolier a large scabbard was attached housing double-bladed broadsword that was only about a half -foot shorter than its bearer.
She wore a black A-line denim miniskirt that came down to just above her knees. The skirt was slightly loose fitting so as not to restrict the girl's movements. Her footwear consisted of black combat sneakers with a silver-colored metal trim going around the base. The young woman held herself with a confidant stance as her hazel-colored eyes scanned the crowd of other students. I wonder how many of them will even make it through to graduation. She thought to herself.
Suddenly the crowd got quieter as multiple figures appeared on the stage near the center of the atrium. Standing in the middle of the group of five adults was a middle-aged woman. She had piercing ice-blue colored eyes and snow-white colored hair. "Initiates!" the woman suddenly barked causing complete silence to blanket the crowd as the few who had still been talking turned their attention completely to the woman.
"You are all here for one thing and one thing only, to become the ultimate Grimm slaying hunter or huntress you can be." The woman began to speaking scanning the crowd's reaction."Many of you come here from prestigious families or with years of combat school training but let me tell you one thing, at this very moment all of that means shit." She continued. "I won't sugarcoat this because you all choose to be here. At this academy in the heart of the Valethornian Kingdom we will do our absolute best to break you."
The young woman in the crowd smiled as people around her began to shift uncomfortably. "Hunters and huntress are strong and this path is not for the faint of heart. There is a very real chance many of you won't live to see thirty choosing this path. You must be ever vigilant and alert because one mistake could very well be your last." The woman on stage continued. Sounds of whimpering could be heard throughout the crowd as some of the people began to realize exactly what they had gotten themselves into.
"The training regimen we drill into you is brutal, but should you choose to stay and try to complete the entrance exam know that once you're enrolled that you only have two choices for leaving, graduation or death." The woman said with full seriousness. At this many of the potential students began retreating from the crowd.
"There is a reason why the might of our military is strong, and it is because only the best of the best can be in it. If you value your lives, then I strongly recommend you to leave and seek out training at a different institute." The woman stated coldly causing more people to leave.
"If however, you believe you have what it takes to be a hunter or huntress I welcome you to stay but if you believe you have what it takes to be more than what you can and to reach beyond your potential, then I challenge you to step forward. Let me see the strength of your will." the woman finished.
At this the young girl from the crowd, which had thinned out by almost two-thirds stepped forwards along with about a dozen or so others. The woman onstage looked at those who had stepped forward and laughed jovially with a proud grin. "That's the spirit, that's the Valethornian way!" she exclaimed.
Her eyes which had been hardened during her speech were now ablaze with enthusiasm. "The first trial for your initiation begins now. All of you follow these instructors to the testing area." The woman instructed before leaving the stage.
The young girl watched the woman walk off as the remaining student-hopefuls began to follow the instructors. One instructor in particular caught the girl's attention. A blindfolded man with buzz cut hair who wore a scarf that covered a majority of his face and upper torso. He was wearing a black vest opened in the front along with black pants that she could tell were meant for unrestrictive movement. The bracers and greaves he wore however were what interested her the most. Hurrying after the group she made her way to the man ignoring the hushed whispers of the people around her.
"Aren't you Tenebrous Tauron, the Faunus huntsman responsible for completing the legendary thousand-Grimm survival?" she asked loudly causing most of the crowd to turn their attention towards the man. The man turned towards the girl and although she couldn't see his expression she somehow knew that he was grinning. "Who knows, they say Tenebrous died years ago." He answered simply before continuing onwards.
Feeling slightly dejected the young girl followed along with the crowd. The group eventually reached a massive tram station and were split into four different groups and assigned a different tram car. There were no seats only harnesses and after everyone had strapped in did something finally happen.
"Adaptation is a key skill of survival. For your first trial you must survive the next seventy-two hours in Iselia forest. Do anything and everything you can in order to achieve this goal, even if it means you must fight one another." The woman's voice from before spoke over a loud speaker.
When she finished speaking all four trams suddenly blasted off down their rails. The immediate effect of the g-forces being applied to everyone was apparent. Many passed out in seconds while others faded in and out of consciousness. The young woman grits her teeth and did her best to remain alert but could feel her mind shutting down. Suddenly a few of the students were encased in capsules before being jettisoned upwards into the sky. The young girl realized exactly what was happening only moments later when she herself was encased and launched. As she rocketed upwards one final thought played in her mind: This is the Valethornian way.
A/N: Drop a review, submit a character. I'll start writing longer chapters after establishing the characters who will make up the bulk of the story. Shout out and thanks to the creator of this OC, she was really interesting to write.
