Empress
Training Part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY
The moment Ruby Rose opened her eyes; there are several things that she instantly notice.
One, she was in a bed that was softer than her bed in Patch, not to mention bigger.
Second, she was in a room that was roughly five times bigger than her bedroom back at home and it was bare of any personalization from her.
Third, there was a gigantic black wolf on the edge of her bed, looking at her patiently.
Ruby instantly knew that she wasn't in Patch anymore.
But she knew, she acknowledge that this was her choice.
"This is my life now." Ruby whispered to herself as she sat up.
(Empress)
Rayeth was currently waiting on his dining room for his new apprentice to make an appearance.
In front of him was a simple breakfast that he had prepared for them.
Say what you will about Rayeth Rose, but he was a very good cook, he had to be. He could still remember that his sister was a horrendous cook when they were children. If he did not learn how to cook, both he and his sister would have not survive before they were admitted into Beacon.
'Good times.' Rayeth thought to himself bitterly.
Rayeth composed himself when he heard footsteps outside of his dining room.
He did not need to guess whom those footsteps belong to.
When the door of his dining room opened, Ruby Rose, his niece and apprenticed walked in. She was led into the room by one of his pet wolves, Monster.
"Good work, Monster." Grabbing one of his bacon, Rayeth threw it towards his pet. Monster caught the piece of bacon in his mouth before letting out a howl of approval.
Rayeth looked passed his pet and looked at Ruby.
Rayeth raised a brow at what Ruby was wearing.
It was a dress.
Specifically it was a dress that used to belong to her sister.
It was frilling and girly, with many ribbons.
The dress was white with black highlights.
Ruby wore it well, just like his sister, her mother.
But it was clear as day that she was very uncomfortable with her attire.
Which was a relief for Rayeth.
Ruby looked like his beloved sister more than he does, her twin, and although Rayeth had already made peace with two crucial yet painful truths in his life, looking at someone who was more of a mirror image of his most precious person that he was, is a tall order, even for him.
"Good morning, Ruby." Rayeth greeted calmly and passively before gesturing to a seat in front of him.
"Good morning, Uncle." Ruby greeted back and Rayeth instantly shook his head.
'That is no good for several reasons.' Rayeth thought, resisting the urge to glare at the girl. He does not feel any connection or affection for Ruby, but she is still the daughter of his beloved sister. For that alone, he can be somewhat gentle with her.
"Ruby," It does not mean he would change his piercing voice or would stop scowling for her. "We had already discuss this before I allowed you to come with me. I would not be able to treat you as family and I sure had not done anything for you to treat or call me uncle."
Ruby flinched at those words. Rayeth did not care.
"In this household, you will call me Rayeth. No more, no less." Rayeth instructed Ruby strictly. "Now, let's begin again. Good morning, Ruby."
I took Ruby several seconds to reply but she was able to manage. "Good morning, Rayeth." Ruby's voice was noticeably more reserved compare to her earlier reply.
Still, Rayeth nodded in approval.
"Sit and eat, your training will begin after breakfast." Rayeth informed his young apprenticed while he started eating himself.
"Really?" Ruby inquired, suddenly being excited at the new development.
Rayeth, not caring whether Ruby is excited or not, nodded. "I have no new hits for today. I can start your training now. We can start early; develop your foundation now and then you can expand it in the future." Rayeth elaborated before pointing at the meal across him. "Eat, you'll be needing the energy." Rayeth instructed calmly.
Ruby nodded, heeding the advice of her uncle. Sitting down, Ruby surveyed the meal in front of her. It was a rice meal with a sunny-side up egg on top, filled with vegetables with beef, bacon, and a large cut of chicken. Taking in the scent of the meal, Ruby would admit that it was heavenly.
Taking the spoon on the side of her plate, Ruby broke the yolk, allowing the yolk to cascade down the rice. Taking a spoon full of rice, Ruby started eating. The first spoon full that Ruby ate, her eyes widen as a myriad of flavors exploded in her mouth.
"It's delicious." Ruby muttered in a dazed as she looked at the meal in front of her. Taking another spoonful, Ruby trembled at the taste of her meal. It was remarkably tasteful; better than any her mother had cook for her.
"It's to be expected." Rayeth mumbled under his breath. "I was always been the better cook between my sister and I."
'I'm also the better fighter, but that's about it.' Rayeth added in his thoughts.
Rayeth would not admit the delight that he felt as he watched the enjoyment on Ruby's face at the meal that he had prepared. It made him remember some pleasant memories.
Memories when life was simple and not so tragic.
(Empress)
"Wow!" Ruby muttered as Rayeth and she walked into a garage filled to the brim with vintage cars.
"There are four things that a Hunter should spend their lien to: Their weapons, their transportation, their home based, and their dust." Rayeth lectured while walking towards one of his convertibles. "Suffice to say, I spend a lot for my transportation." Rayeth hopped into the convertible before opening the door for Ruby.
"Get in. I'll show you something nice." Rayeth told Ruby while pointing at the back seat of his car.
Enthusiastically, Ruby hopped into the car.
"Seatbelts." Rayeth told Ruby while pointing at the safety device.
When Ruby was safely strapped in, Rayeth drove out of the garage.
As they drive out of Rayeth's estate, Ruby can't help but stare at the large castle that was Rayeth's home, or based of operation as he called it.
Rose Castle.
It was a Gothic castle with a touch of Roman architecture. It was a beautiful piece of architecture though it gave a haunting feel. It was large, roughly half the size of the village that she used to live in.
It was somewhat sad that Rayeth was living in his large castle for years all alone, with only his pets as his companions.
"When she was young, Summer always dreamt of living in a castle." Rayeth mentioned, catching Ruby's attention. "I don't know whether it was just a young girl's fantasy or a goal she had set up for herself, but she really wanted a castle. She mentioned that in her castle, all of her friends and their families would live together and all of them would be happy." Rayeth rolled his eyes at the childish dream of his elder sister.
"That was a foolish thought coming from my sister, but I always liked the look in her eyes whenever she tells me of the castle that she would one day build when she becomes a hunter. Unfortunately, the salary of Harvest Hunters is not that big." Rayeth shook his head before concentrating his entire attention to the path ahead.
Ruby looked at her uncle wishfully, hoping that he would talk more about her mother. But after several seconds of silence, Ruby knew that she would not get any more stories from her uncle.
Ruby looked backed at the castle that her uncle calls his house.
She did not know whether the castle that he was living in was the castle in her mother's dreams, but in a way, it made Ruby feel that she was getting to know her mother in a way that her father or Uncle Qrow cannot offer her.
(Empress)
Rayeth drove the convertible until they reached a wide clearing.
Parking the convertible in the edge of the clearing, Rayeth jumped out of the car.
Ruby was about to followed but Rayeth looked at her with eyes clearly telling her to stay in the car.
"Don't move. Just watch." Rayeth instructed her with a strict voice.
Noting the voice of her uncle, Ruby nodded and made herself extra comfortable inside the car.
When Rayeth was sure that Ruby would not disobey him, he took a small Scroll from his pocket and handed it to Ruby.
"You're training starts now. You will listen to my instructions, all of them, to the letter." Rayeth told Ruby while putting an earpiece on his right ear. "You understand?"
"Yes," Ruby answered enthusiastically.
Shaking his head at his apprentice's misplaced excitement, Rayeth walked in the middle of the clearing, far away from Ruby and his vehicle.
When he deemed that he was far enough, he put the hood of his black cloak over his head before allowing his aura to be unleashed to the world.
Ruby did not know what hit her. One second, she felt find, the next, she felt a gigantic wave of malice and bloodlust suddenly crashed down upon her. Ruby suddenly felt a weight so dense on her shoulders and air suddenly came in short supply as if her throat was being constricted. She also found difficulty in moving, as if she was underwater, deep underwater.
Still, regardless if her body was in the verge of a collapsed, was in the verge of shutting down, Ruby remained awake.
The reason is due to the sight of her uncle. His entire body was glowing with power and like her mother; rose petals were being exuded from his body.
But instead of white, the rose petals that his body was emitting were black, pitch black, blacker than the night itself.
They gave off a menacing feel, and Ruby could touch the bloodlust in those black petals. They were the complete opposites of her mother's, who radiates warmth and comfort by the waves.
And in a way, her uncle's rose petals was as beautiful as those rose petals that her deceased mother used to emit when she was alive.
The exquisite scenery that her uncle was producing was the only thing keeping Ruby conscious. She wanted to drink in the sight of those black rose petals that her uncle's power was producing.
So regardless of his uncle's power suffocating her, bearing down upon her like a ton of weight, Ruby fought to remain awake in order to witness the might and beauty of her uncle's power.
Three minutes later, it could have been an hour for Ruby, Rayeth reigned in his aura.
Ruby found the weight on his body lifted and her ability to breathe normally returned.
Ruby felt somewhat disappointed that the show ended abruptly.
"[Are you still conscious?]" Rayeth's voice echoed in the scroll.
"Yes." Ruby answered, her voice weak, something that surprised her.
Several seconds passed before Rayeth spoke again. "[Surprising, most people who experience the full brunt of my Aura usually faints or they pissed themselves, whichever comes first.]" Rayeth knew how potent his aura is, how he could easily make those weaker than him tremble or collapsed by merely exposing them of his aura. The fact that Ruby, untrained and young, could stay conscious while he was purposely projecting his Aura was a surprised.
Some fully trained Huntsmen and Huntresses faints by merely sensing his aura while Ruby survived full exposure.
'He does have Summer's blood, and to an extent, mine.'
Sighing a little, Rayeth spoke one more time. "[Lesson 1, Aura.]"
Ruby perked up at those words.
"[Contrary to popular belief, Aura is the best weapons that Hunters have at their disposal. Forgets weapons, forget Dust, Aura is what makes a Hunter.]"
Rayeth always despised Hunters for forgoing Aura training in favor of advancing their weaponry or leaning how to used Dust in an advance level.
Sure, weapons are an extension of one's body and Dust is a trump card that could turn any battle to one's favor.
But those are nothing more than cosmetics.
Aura is the lifeblood of a Hunter.
Aura is what makes a Hunter.
"[I can give you ten hours' worth of lecture on what Aura is and its usage, but I'll do that when you get the vocabulary to understand half the things I am saying.]" Rayeth was known throughout the kingdom as the foremost expert in Aura combat, his knowledge about Aura is second only to Professor Ozpin.
Unfortunately, his reputation as a Hunter Killer outweighs his reputation as an Aura Master.
"[For now, I'll give you a demonstration.]"
The ground tremble, repeatedly, and Ruby's eyes widen fearfully when a Grimm, a large Elephant like Grimm slowly walked into the clearing, its eyes death set on Rayeth.
"Rayeth." Ruby whispered frightfully.
Rayeth shook his head at her niece.
"[That Ruby is a Goliath. One of the largest recorded Grimm in Remnant. Also one of the smartest, although some young Goliath's can be as dumb as shit. Most fully matured Goliath's can go as big as 20 to 50 stories. This one is young, only being 10 stories in height.]" Turning around, and showing his back to the Grimm, Rayeth locked his eyes on Ruby.
"[I am not going to use Romeo or Juliet. That will be overkill for a Grimm this young and for a simple demonstration.]" Grabbing a blindfold, he covered his eyes. "[Ruby, watch me, do not remove your eyes from me, not for a single second.]" Rayeth instructed.
From her seat, Ruby could only nod as she watched her uncle face-off against the colossal Grimm.
With a roar that normal Elephants should not be capable of, the Goliath charged at Rayeth, who did not even bother turning his back to face the Grimm.
When the Goliath was within striking range, it tried to clobber Rayeth with the use of its trunk.
Rayeth did not even bother moving and merely continue to lecture Ruby.
"[There are several uses for Aura. In combat, you only need four, six at most.]" Rayeth ducked to avoid being hit by the trunk of the Goliath. "[For starters, we have Perception. Perception is the art of increasing one's senses with the used of Aura. As you can see…]"
Rayeth ducked, jumped, leaned, side stepped, all the attempts of the Grimm to clobber him with its trunks, all the while not moving from his original position.
The Goliath getting irritated by Rayeth, took several steps back before charging at him at full speed, with the intention of goring him with the use of his tusk.
Rayeth avoided being gore by sliding under the behemoth, grabbing its trunks in one fluid motion. With a tugged as he slid to the ground, he was able to flip the Goliath on its back, causing the clearing to shook.
"[Next his Enhancement.]" Rayeth continued as he lazily walked around the Goliath until he was facing the monster.
The Goliath glared at him and Rayeth glared back behind his blindfold.
Rayeth grabbed the tusk of the monster and with some effort, he lifted the monster off its feet and held it perfectly horizontal off the ground. "[With Enhancement, you can increase the physical parameters of your body by a hundred to a thousand times its normal capacity. Whether it be running, leaping, gripping, or lifting strength, all your physical parameters can be increased with Aura.]" To show his point, Rayeth threw the Goliath back into the forest, roughly a hundred yards from him.
"[Next used in Aura in battle is Defensive.]" Cracking his neck, Rayeth waited for the Goliath to rise and attacked. Young Grimm tends to be nothing more than wild animals, with no preservations instinct.
Goliaths can be smart and a fully matured Goliath will run against a superior opponent for preservation, Rayeth knows this from experience.
But, a young one would continue to attack until its dead.
Rayeth is counting on that.
And his prediction came true as the ground trembled once again. The Goliath emerged from the forest and charged at him recklessly.
Rayeth extended his right arm, fingers outstretch, palm facing the Goliath. With a deep breath, black rose petals started spiraling out of his right palm.
When the tusk of the Grimm was about to strike him, he closed his hand, allowing the rose petals to merged and form a single, glowing, black rectangular shield that stopped the Goliath on its track. The shield was larger than Rayeth and was amazingly durable enough to prevent the Goliath to move a single inch.
"[Anyone with an active Aura would allow them to both unconsciously and consciously protect themselves from attack, whether it be physical, dust-based, or aura based attacks. Anyone with active Auras would always have a layer of protections against attacks. Once you learn to use Aura though, you can create force fields than can shield large areas.]"
"[Last, and the most common usage of Aura, is Offensive.]" Lifting his left hand, he struck the surface of the shield, causing it to explode violently. This made the Goliath flew across the clearing, its tusks broken due to the violent aura explosion.
"[Aura can be used for attacks. Whether it is to enhance a simple punch to give it a force a one-ton truck moving at the speed of 75 miles an hour…]" Rayeth closed the distance between him and the Goliath in a blink of an eye. "[…or something as complex as this.]" Rayeth clenched his right hand and formed a fist before smashing it on the head of the downed Goliath.
A massive and blinding black flash erupted from the surface where Rayeth's fist made contact with the head of the Goliath.
A narrow beam went straight through the other end of the humongous Grimm.
When Rayeth turned around, his black cloak billowing, he did not even bother giving the Goliath that he had easily slayed a glance.
If he did, he would see that the entire head of the Goliath was completely obliterated to none existence and there was a very noticeable hole from the neck all the way to the other end of the Grimm.
Rayeth paid no mind to his handy work.
Ruby, on the other hand, looked at awe at how amazing her uncle is.
When Rayeth hopped back into the car, Ruby yelled excitedly at his ear. "THAT WAS THE MOST COOLEST THING IN THE WORLD!" Ruby shouted enthusiastically, much to Rayeth's chargin. "YOU WERE LIKE *SWISH*, THEN YOU WERE *TUSH*, THEN YOU WERE LIKE *SHUSH*, THEN YOU WERE LIKE *SWISH* AGAIN, AND THEN YOU WERE *POW* AND THEN YOU…" Rayeth made a move to cover Ruby's mouth with one his hand to prevent the girl from talking his ear out.
"As expected for a child, you were impress with something so basic." Rayeth mumbled disapprovingly. "But I guess I can let this one go." Rayeth conceded as he removed his hand from Ruby's mouth before starting the car.
"We are going to start with your Aura training immediately. We are going to start on working with your Perception for the first couple of months, before I start of Enhancement and Defensive." Rayeth informed her and there was a sense of energy that Ruby was exuding that did not bode well for the Blacklist hunter.
"That was basic?" Ruby asked innocently as she remembered the earlier words of her uncle.
"For me, yes, what I showed you is basic." Rayeth drove off towards his house while looking at Ruby with the used of the rear view mirror. "There are two crucial things you must remember when you become a Hunter, Ruby. First, Young Grimms are easy prey, Older Grimms are a challenge, Ancient Grimms are a Bitch, and Primordial Grimms are a death sentence. Second, don't show all your cards if you can win with just the basics or with just plain essentials alone." Rayeth told her casually while flexing his shoulders for a bit.
"Remembers those two things and you will go far."
Ruby clings to the words that left her uncle's lips.
(Empress)
Returning to the Rose Castle, Rayeth led Ruby underground, into a chamber that held too many rooms to count.
"You're young but your Aura is active. That can be a double-edge sword for someone as young as you so we will work on you actually learning how to use your Aura before we do anything else. We will start with Perception because it is the easiest to learn and the most important." Rayeth told Ruby as he opened a door that led to a pitch white room. Rayeth looked at Ruby and motioned her into the room. "Get in."
Ruby looked uncertain for a moment before entering the white room.
The moment that she was five steps inside the room, the door closed shut behind her.
Ruby spun when she heard the door closed before quickly realizing that she was alone in the white room.
In a very disturbing white room.
Everything was white. From the floor, to the ceiling, to the walls, everything was white.
The surfaces of the room were smooth as it can be no visible bumps or any unequal surfaces.
The light that illuminated the room was a bit eerie as well. It emphasizes the emptiness of the room to the point that it was haunting.
Ruby looked around at the emptiness around her and immediately wanted to leave.
"[This is one of my Interrogation rooms.]" Rayeth's voice echoed throughout the room in such a way that it made Ruby cringe.
A voice so cold should not echo or amplify to that degree.
"[Completely sound proof. No footsteps in the halls, no electricity humming through the wires, and even the lights are design to be completely silent. In that room, the only thing you will hear in that room is your blood flowing through your veins, the breathing of your heart in your chest, the sound of your own breath as you exhale and inhale, and the sound of your own voice, amplified to a degree of five.]" Rayeth elaborated as if he was speaking about the weather and not a room designed to slowly drive a person insane. "[Here's what I want you to do Ruby, and don't expect me to repeat myself. Dim your sense until you can't hear anything, dimmed your senses until the only way that you can hear is through your soul. I want you to abandon your human flesh in favor of you spiritual body.]"
With that instruction given, the room became completely silent, except for the sound of Ruby's heart pounding in her chest.
For the first time in her life, Ruby could hear, as clear as day, the sound of her beating heart, the flow of her blood in her veins, and the sound of air entering and leaving her body.
It was a disturbing experience.
(Empress)
When he took Ruby as an apprentice, Rayeth already decided on how he would train her.
Rayeth was known to be a ruthless Blacklist Hunter.
He had to be considering that he is the best Blacklist Hunter in Remnant.
And he would use that ruthlessness in shaping Ruby to be a Huntress.
Rayeth had seen them all.
Every type of Hunter under the sun, every type of weapon conceived, every type of fighting style imaginable, Rayeth had seen it and in some cases, he had experienced them.
He had seen the best and he had fought the best.
He had also put down the worst of the best.
Rayeth knew how dark the world could be. He faced and fought that darkness in a daily basis.
He was part of that darkness.
And he would make sure that Ruby would be equip to survive the darkness of the life that she would be entering.
Whether it be Grimm or another Hunter or a natural disaster, he would train Ruby to be ready to survive against any foe.
He owed his sister so much that he would make sure her daughter would become one of the strongest Hunter in the history.
If he had to break her to mold her into a respectable and powerful Huntress, so be it.
If he had to train her with the intention of raising a person capable of killing him, the Best Blacklist Hunter in Remnant who is very much capable of killing every Hunter in existence, so be it.
Ruby Rose had chosen this life after all, and Rayeth Rose would make it his mission for her to be ready.
Whatever it takes, whatever means necessary, he would turn his niece into a Huntress that would take the world by storm.
Sorry this took a while. February was hell. I had to work an 11 hour shift for the entirety month of February
