Chapter Two: Change.
Graue Wolke- Beacon: The Headmaster's Office- 10:31 PM
As we walked from the Professor's office to my temporary accommodation, I reminisced on my journey here: the hard times I had whilst on the move from place to place, the loneliness of my solitary lifestyle and the place which I left, my freedom felt bitter- the sacrifices I made weigh heavy on my mind and the things I did, many would call me a monster.
"Mister Wolke, perhaps now would be a good time to tell you that your time at Beacon will not be easy, you will be under rigorous assessment by teachers and students alike and if your results, or your cooperation fail to please then you may be evicted from the school on a short notice." This came from Glynda Goodwitch in a businesslike tone, much akin to someone reporting on shareholder's stocks.
"You have my word Miss Goodwitch that it is not in my intention to slack off from my studies or training, both are very dear to me." The truth though a bit clichéd, was just that and I would work hard to remain in this academy, though there was one nitpick I had.
"I've heard that this school has a team-based system of tutelage, I have arrived months after teams first came together... what will my position be in that respect?"
"In operations you will be assigned to various teams if they need extra assistance, but with such a position I'm afraid in competitions such as the upcoming Vytal Festival you cannot participate, it would be against the rules, all participants must be teams from an academy." Miss Goodwitch responded to my question in a level tone of voice; that is just fine with me, I don't want to step foot in an arena ever again, I don't want to fight for another's entertainment ever again.
"I'll live with it, just being able to train here and to have a real chance at finding answers is enough." I responded by bowing my head, the Vytal Festival is supposed to be a great honour after all, thus it wouldn't make much sense to show obvious disdain.
"You don't seem too disappointed at not having the chance to fight in the tournament." Ozpin commented, he saw right through me- the man can read me like text on a Scroll.
"I have never been too big on competition for the masses." A white lie here and there can smooth over unwanted attention, but Ozpin merely smirks at my remark as he takes a leisurely sip of his hot beverage. We finally arrived at the room which was to be my temporary accommodation, a small but habitable room with: a single bed, a toilet, a shower and a small kitchen- I have not seen much better in my time.
"You will get food in the Dining Hall along with the other students at Lunchtime and Dinner and though not recommended pupils may return to their rooms for meals after collecting them, Breakfast is a optional meal that you may cook yourself or go to the Dining Hall." Miss Goodwitch stated before opening the door to the room and gesturing me inside with a few parting words.
"Welcome to Beacon Mr. Wolke, I do hope for your sake that you perform to the best of your ability." With those words she gently closed the door without a sound, leaving me alone for the night.
Glynda Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin- Beacon: School Corridors 10:45 PM
"That boy's arm was an impressive prosthetic, it seems to rival the technology available here at Beacon" Professor Ozpin spoke to Glynda as he made a small profile of the boy he had just met, before he could continue she cut him off.
"Professor, tell me the truth, why did you not get the boy to write a report, at least get him answer some questions to shed some light on his situation?" Glynda was rightly frustrated by the Professor's lack of restriction with the boy, why should he be let off so lightly when so many others are put through rigorous examination, he had taken too many chances this year: Miss Rose, the Arc Boy and now this shady one with little-to-no past! Sometimes she sees Ozpin as either a child or as a cold calculating chess player, with everyone being a piece on the board; he was the man she most respected, a pleasant man and the scariest man she had ever met.
"Glynda, if we made the boy do a report we would have likely scared him off... we need to fulfil his expectations and let him play into our hands, I see much potential in him." His response was less than satisfactory, but then Glynda realised something.
"You know more than you let on don't you?"
The Professor's quiet chuckle was the only response she required.
Graue Wolke- Beacon: Beacon Temporary Dorm 1- 10:50 PM
Beacon, I was here... it was easier than expected.
I'm now a student of one the four great combat schools of Remnant, albeit temporarily for now. This was the next step to finding my answers and I had great faith in finding them.
Removing my arm from its socket, I winced when the connectors (allowing my nerves control the arm) disconnected and the metal prosthetic, now with no host, lay limp and lifeless. I studied it for the thousandth time, every scratch telling a story, every dint a tale.
Against my better judgement, I thought about my journey to here now, how all the pain culminated in this. I thought back to where it all began, waking up in a dirty truck with only a metal arm and a 'bear' for company, I thought back to how it ended, the tragedies of that place will never leave; the ghosts I made now haunt me every day.
I collapsed onto a bed before I knew it, my clothes dirty from the climb and for the first time in two years... clutching my amulet and curling up into a ball, I allowed myself to cry.
Vale: Is this what you wanted?
He stood. The White Fang accommodated him once he arrived in the city, but there was work to be done. Fastening his mask to his face once more, he stepped out into the hostility of the city. White Fang grunts flanking him as he made his way down the street, once again to the waterfront; there was a man he was ordered to meet with.
The ex-hunter, Cygnus, stood at the end of the pier, his wheat-yellow hair came down to his shoulders, the sky was full of stars as he stared into it; he appeared unarmed. The man had no reason to risk himself. This was the man they wanted dead, he would die... in time. The two White Fang grunts held no such caution and threw it to the wind as the charged, swords bared. They fell quickly; one gun-shot, one slash in the midnight air was all it took. The man wielded what seemed to be a crimson ribbon, but the crimson was a bloody coating for his metallic magnum-string: this hunter took no prisoners. Good.
"You. So you're the man hunting us all down, I remember you. You were a White Fang lapdog all along? How disappointing, I thought we and your masters had a deal? We hide their waste and get paid for it." Cygnus had bravado about him; a trained hunter from Shade academy who turns on his team at the first sign of trouble doesn't deserve such a gift.
"When Scarlet Tear has finished with you, I'll move on to your pathetic street-gang of an organisation, you'll pay for messing with us!"
The man was passive, merely staring at his combatant. The blue glow from his mask adding to the light of the stars.
He drew his weapon.
Beacon: Classroom 2B (Grimm Studies) – 08:45 AM
I arrived at class fifteen minutes early, I wished to introduce myself to the teachers systematically and it seems a good thing to start early. Knocking on the classroom door with my real arm, my other lay at my side, the blazer and long shirt covering the arm, gloves over both my hands hid any kind of presence of a prosthetic. Ten seconds after knocking, a hearty voice responded on the other side of the door.
"Do come in, I wasn't expecting anyone else so early!"
Opening the door, I was met by two figures, one a white haired girl, sat on the front row with a teacher, an older round man, sat at the front desk, behind him were sketching of various types of common Grimm. It was clear I had just interrupted a conversation.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to impose-" I began at once, but was interrupted swiftly by the man, dressed in a red button-up jacket.
"Nonsense, I and Miss Schnee are about finished here," He remarked, so this must be Weiss Schnee then? She is one of the three Schnee children and the sole heir to the company after what happened to her brother. She looked familiar.
"-remember Miss Schnee, do not let the past define your future, you are a brilliant young huntress and know that I'm always happy to help." The man finished whatever he was saying to the young heiress, he seemed genuinely affectionate to her, a father figure for a person that never really had one. The past defining the future... sounds a lot like what Professor Ozpin said to me.
"Thank you Professor, now may I go to my team? Our brilliant leader lost her shoes... again." After a nod the heiress walked out of the classroom and the teacher turned to me.
"Sorry about that, so you are Ozpin's newest gamble? I must say, for the headmaster to risk so much in one year is unheard of... your name?"
"Graue Wolke sir, it is a pleasure to meet you, you are Professor Port, am I correct?" With this the aptly portly man nodded and got to his feet and walked over to where I was stood (a few rows up from the front) and put his hand on my shoulder; I instinctively struggled to get him off. Professor Port quickly noticed this and relinquished his grip, with furrowed eyebrows. He held my gaze for a few seconds until turning to the front and turned suddenly jubilant.
"My apologies, welcome to Grimm Studies, where I endeavour to share my knowledge and my experiences with the younger generation, so that they can themselves progress to become the best huntsmen they can be, ahah!" This false, larger-than-life persona was in complete contrast to the man I saw earlier in his talk with Miss Schnee, that man was caring, fatherly and subtle; this is not who I'm being presented with now, why put on such a show?
"...Thank you for that." I awkwardly replied and merely carried on.
"I must say the school is very expansive, to the point of excess."
"Ah yes, well the room is needed, around two hundred hunters a year join the school and they not only need different facilities, like sparring coliseums, but also team housing, to facilitate the team bonding needed." But my mind only half processed the information, as he mentioned one thing that sent a chill down my spine.
"You mentioned... sparring coliseums?"
"Ah yes, students participate in sparring sessions three times a week, a student's favourite and with the Vytal tournament just around the corner, extra sessions are available for those who need them."
I feel like a child again, I want to whine, I want to cry and I want to scream that this just isn't fair. My head felt numb and I just sit down on the nearest seat. The professor, apparently unobservant of my plight spoke up again.
"I'm afraid that seat is taken, you'll be sitting at the front, between Miss Schnee and Miss Rose, to prevent any more trouble from those two."
Beacon: Classroom 2B (Grimm Studies) – 09:05 AM
The class began in earnest; all students had answered the roll-call apart from four. These four arrived four minutes late in a manner befitting a team that is... well, five minutes late.
Bang!
"Sorry we're late!" A high-pitched voice chirped into the classroom, a small black and red haired girl almost crashed into the classroom after slamming the door open, she was panting and seemed to be glowing slightly. There was little chance of her being the correct age to study at this school, could this be one of the risks the Professor Port mentioned earlier?
Not a minute later came three more girls, taller and definitely the senior of the girl who barged into the room. They were indeed a sight, all three of them objectively beautiful, but all three in a different state of duress.
A tall blonde girl was first in, her mane of hair a mess down her back and her normally attractive face being contorted into one of misery, not much to that one.
An ebony haired girl made her way through the doorway, looking sheepish and thoroughly embarrassed, red in the face with what seemed to be a pencil stuck in her hair. Don't trust her.
Miss Schnee came in last and looked utterly resigned; after a small time with her face in her palm, she promptly made her way down to the front row where she met with the young girl.
"This is why you are not allowed to sleep late nights" The heiress hissed under her breath (but not that quietly) to the junior. The diminutive girl seemed preoccupied however with other matters, namely me.
"Er, Weiss... there is a boy sat in my spot?"
"Who is it?" The heiress was growing impatient.
"A boy!" This girl was getting on my nerves, but I'll save her.
"I believe we met Miss Schnee?" This turned the indignant snow-haired girl (and the entire class for that matter) my way. People began muttering, who could this mystery boy be? If only they knew the truth.
"Look... I've already had a bad day, if you could just-" The young Schnee started on a stress-induced rant, but was cut off by the Professor.
"Ah yes! Now seems like a good enough time to introduce him: this is Graue Wolke, a temporary student in our school, but don't let that prevent you from treating him with the respect that you would show any other student. That is all I can say on the matter!" The professor seemed to be anxious, as an introduction of a new student could obviously interrupt the flow of the lesson.
Nevertheless, the other students seemed to accept me as their new temporary companion and settled down quickly. The professor drew in a noticeable breath of relief.
"Now Miss Rose, Miss Schnee. This boy has been placed in between you two to prevent further... disruptions." Miss Schnee nodded, but Miss Rose took issue.
"What! But Weiss is my buddy, my pal, we are inseparable, you can't do this to me- I mean us!" The words came out like bullets, quick with no pause for breath and she wasn't finished.
"What if she gets lonely? I mean we are her team and she is separated from us, from me! Her leader! A leader has to have her eye on her subordinated at all times!" Leader? A role I did not expect from this word-rattling hamster. Miss Rose is definitely a risk, Ozpin has risked his credibility twice now, but that man is shrewd and this girl will have some qualities that I can just not see.
"Miss Rose. This is final." The professor put his foot down, in a seemingly uncommon display of authority, as the class went silent.
"Drat, Weiss what do we do?" The young leader turned to her partner, who happened to have the best poker-face I had ever seen, her reply was dry.
"Oh my... whatever will I do without my glorious leader sat next to me? Talking. Doodling. Drooling." She drew out her words in an effort to emphasise the sarcasm, with only now a hint of a smile playing on her face.
The young Rose looked mortified.
With the decision now being final, the only thing to do now was to introduce myself to my neighbours so-to-speak; I turned to the newly downtrodden leader to my left.
"You okay there? The name's Graue Wolke." A short and sweet introduction.
"Do ladies love it?" She replied, her lips pursed as she mumbled it out.
"Love what?"
"Your name, do they love your name?" What a strange girl, whatever is she on about? I nevertheless thought back on my past experiences with the opposite sex.
"No, actually there is a pretty unanimous dislike of my name, huh." This realisation wasn't the sort of thing I wanted right now, quite the opposite.
"M-ame's-y..." The girl was mumbling at a volume I think only the best hounds could hear.
"Louder"
"My name's Ruby..." She seemed to sink further down into the desk, I was about to comment when I heard a sigh. Turning I saw the face of the heiress looking down to her leader.
"Hopeless, isn't she?" She spoke softly.
"I mean not to be rude, but how is she your leader? She looks younger than everyone else here!" I whispered to her, she seemed reasonable enough and I honestly thought she would agree with me, what I got surprised me.
"She is younger than us. Two years in fact, that's a lot when you're in such a dangerous profession." But she shook her head adamantly.
"However, she is our leader because she possesses qualities that none of our team do, if you asked me a couple of months ago I would have agreed with you. But now... I've learnt more about my own flaws and the lack of leadership I posses, ones that she does indeed posses." Whilst saying this she looks down at the little leader, who was apparently oblivious, and smiles, a smile of familial affection. I felt ashamed to have asked the question, it was a team that had spent months in each other's company and I just come in and only see things for their surface value.
My lack of a team suddenly made me feel empty and cold, I was the outsider again.