Chapter Four: The Reunion
Where….where in the name of Sigmar am I?
Ruben emerged from his unconsciousness to only find himself in a comfortable bed that was surrounded by dense white curtains. He tried to move his body, but the sharp pain that erupted when he tried to sit up forced him to lie down still in the bed. He could move his arms just fine, but his legs, back, and chest were heavily injured as he tested his pain threshold by slightly moving each body part. It was then that he realized why he was in pain in the first place, and sighed when he just thought about why it had happened.
Damn that elf witch! She somehow always manages to get me into trouble no matter what.
He was beginning to recall as to how he was put into his miserable state of agony. After blurting out some regretful revelations towards Estoria and her sisters, he ran like a flagellant charging at the enemy with no care or self-inhibitions. He never got far as he tripped over by something and sprawled across the stone floor, and was then pounced on by Estoria emanating the aura and visage of Khaine himself. He tried to pry her off of him, but the more he resisted, the more savage she became in her attacks on him with her fists raining down retributive justice onto his skull. When she wasn't satisfied with the bloody work, she then started smashing her sword down repeatedly onto his body relentlessly.
He lost consciousness at around the thirteenth or twentieth sword strike, but he wasn't keeping count as he was doing everything he could to not die to the elf's wrath. He now found himself in some strange room eerily similar to the office of Ozpin himself when he had first arrived at the extravagant academy of warriors. He was all alone, he couldn't feel anything but pain and silence was all that was left to accompany him in the room. He hated being alone, but fortunate enough for him, a quick swipe of the curtains revealed a merry go lucky red hooded girl, Ruby. She was also accompanied by Yang who looked happy as usual, but the two of their attitudes simmered down a bit when the caught notice of his scars that were on his visible body.
Noticing their demeanor's being a little more sad than usual, he spoke up. "So, what's the matter with you two young ones?"
"Those scars on your chest." Yang pointed at, Ruben looking down and simply shrugging back at the girl much to her astonishment. "How can youlook at those without cringing, I mean, doesn't it bring bad memories to look at it?"
"In my line of duty Yang, being alive is a blessing in itself. You get by with whatever you can get whether it may be your life or your limbs." He nonchalantly explained. "In the world where I come from Yang, not everything has a peaceful resolution, sometimes, everything is a bloody ending and the best you can do is just march on forward and never forget what you're living and fighting for."
Ruben was firm in his voice, Yang could tell that it was difficult for the man to talk about such things so she passed up on the matter. Ruby perked up a little at Ruben's words. "I remember you saying something about your world? So, are you really not from around here or something?"
Ruben nodded. "Indeed, I had come from a world where it would be a godsend to have all these amenities in one's life. No real strife, no worry about constant destruction, and so much more that it would make the Empire seem pale in comparison."
"Wow, that's so sad." Ruby tried to hug the man and comfort him, but she quickly let go when the man was whimpered from the pain. "Um, sorry about that."
"No need, I can understand your actions Ruby. I know that what I have said so far sounds like life is just a chore, which it kind of is for many, but that doesn't mean it has its own good perks either."
It was here that Yang was called into action, and she pounced on the chance, "Like spying on those elf women like you stated earlier before you got mangled by a pretty blonde woman?" Yang spoke in a sing song voice.
Ruben cringed at the mental image of his assault while Ruby and Yang laughed at the man's troubles. "Ugh, I assure, you I will not let that happen to me again. I will not be outwitted by some witch whose only good for being a-"
He was cut short when Yang and Ruby were staring at something that wasn't him. He slowly looked over, not moving an inch of his face, and saw that Soria was standing next to him, her eyes telling him of a quick demise if he chose to continue with his words. He wisely chose to live and quickly shut his mouth, earning a snigger from the elf witch herself.
"Well, it seems that you are alive." Soria remarked, Ruben sneered at the obviousness of the statement. "I was a little worried when Estoria had decided to use you as a sword dummy, one could only take so much to hearing bones break before they tire of it all."
Ruben scowled at the witch. "That wouldn't have happened if you didn't bring it up Soria! I almost died again because of you now!"
"It wouldn't have happened if you had kept your hormones in check Ruben, don't point your fingers at me when you were the one who decided to be the little peeping rat all those years ago." She retorted and Ruben deflated from the remark.
"Now that I think about it, how come you never said anything about it back then if you knew I was…keeping watch to make sure nothing bad happened?"
She smirked, and Ruben knew she was taking great satisfaction that he was sort of admitting his sin. "Well, to be honest, I was greatly entertained by the idea at how a mortal man such as yourself would hide away and glue your eyes to my sisters and my bodies. You have no idea how hilarious it was seeing your reactions, especially when I gave you a little show as well." She winked, and Ruben was now visibly blushing.
"I knew that it was too good to be true though I admit that I am surprised that you of all people find out before even Estoria herself." He spoke while trying to recover from her playful flirting.
"Estoria doesn't have the senses to be that aware of her surroundings, especially with her rigid attitude whenever we try to do something fun for a change. Aria is just the complete opposite of her, completely swept away in the moment and fun while being ignorant of what's around her." She then puffed out her chest triumphantly. "I on the other hand am more capable than my eldest and youngest sibling."
Ruben rolled his eyes at the woman. "If I remember correctly, you would have been mincemeat for the Gors if we haven't come to rescue you due to your inability of knowing where you're going." He smirked in victory as he saw her staring daggers into him. "I was laughing profoundly when we found you gagged up and spinning on some crude rotisserie, a true sight to behold for any mortal, wouldn't you say so?"
Soria went into a heated argument with Ruben about the uselessness of travelling and the need to walk everywhere, and Yang and Ruby were watching the whole spectacle in front of them. The two were quiet ever since Soria entered the room unannounced, and the woman and man seemed to know each other very well if their conversations were to go by anything.
She looks fun to hang out with.
She sounds fun to make friends with.
Ever since their arrival, the elves had been the talk of the academy as of late. The boys whispering about their beauty while the girls spread rumors about anything they could get away with. Ruby was certainly looking forward to her stay at Beacon Academy more than ever now since she had met Ruben on her first day. The man was a gentle giant, but he was pretty scary whenever he was annoyed to an extent, but that gave him a fatherly feel of sorts to her. Yang was also feeling the same way about Beacon Academy, already pumped up to get started and have the school life of her young life. Soria was a cool person by her standards, playing tricks onto people and having a great sense of humor even if it can go into the dark sometimes, but it was fine with her for the time being.
"And this is coming from the elf who refused to eat 'commoner food' just because it didn't have a pinch of salt onto it!" Ruben spat. "You know, it amazes me how vain you can be sometimes."
"I don't want to hear this from the very human being who wanted to show off their strength by going into the Running of the Minotaur and then proceeded to be kicked over the city walls!" She retorted.
"Ah yes, those were very fun times indeed. Although, I did not like having to wait for you to clean yourself off when you landed in the pig farms." Aria spoke out.
"I swore I could still smell him even after we forced him to bath in the sea for an entire night." Estoria noted.
Soria and Ruben looked back to see that Estoria and Aria were in the room and were accompanied by Ozpin and Glynda standing right next to them. The four of them approached Ruben, the professors and Aria greeting the man with waves and Estoria with giving him the cold shoulder.
"I see that you had managed to recover from your…reunion with your friends over an hour or so ago. Now that we are all here, I would like to discuss all three of you on your stay here at Beacon Academy." Ozpin spoke.
Ruben was quite surprised at the information. "Wait, they're staying here?"
"But of course Ruben, you honestly didn't expect us to throw them out, did you? Compared to you, they didn't go on a monstrous rampage on everything around them and we didn't have to pay for people's hospital bills this time."
Ruben groaned while the three elves laughed at the man's plight. Glynda remained indifferent but Ozpin had a small smile plastered on his face. "Luckily for you three, we have spare bedrooms available. Before we can take you to your rooms, I would like to know what each of you are capable of so as to determine what your career would be at your stay here at beacon Academy."
"I can train students in the art of war, with my decades of experience in martial pursuit I am sure I am more than qualified to be in such a position." Estoria piped up.
"I am sorry Estoria but Glynda here already has the position of combat instructor." The high elf frowned. "You can be her assistant however, I am certain Glynda would appreciate a helping hand in giving combat advice and instructions."
The blonde woman nodded in agreement. Estoria and Glynda shook hands and the two walked off towards the training grounds to discuss about subjects based around combat teaching. It was then that Ozpin turned to the remaining two sisters who glanced at one another before settling their eyes on the man with the coffee mug in one of his hands.
Soria stepped forward, throwing up a royal flair as she did so. "If you would permit, I would like to know more about Dust and its properties. I am an alchemist of sorts and I would not mind teaching a bit of my craft to your students here." She spoke with a high and mighty tone at which Ozpin chuckled at.
"I can only assume when you mean by alchemy that you met chemicals, but I am sure that Professor Peach would be glad to have an assistant with her in the field and in the classroom as well." Ozpin replied. He then turned to Aria who was a bit shy at the moment.
"I-I am not sure that I can teach all that well, but I can teach them about nature and the world around them in a physical and spiritual sense. Although I would like some time to know about the surrounding nature and the world itself before I would do such a thing."
Ozpin nodded. "That will be fine, Professor Port teaches Grimm Studies here at Beacon Academy and having a person such as yourself providing field experience and knowledge about various environments. I am certain he will enjoy your assistance in his class."
He then took a sip with his mug and looked at Ruben who furrowed his brow. "Ruben, I know that it is a bit much for me to ask, but I would like it if you could help watch over the students who are sleeping in the amphitheater tonight."
"That is fine with me Ozpin, but I would like to ask why me specifically?"
"Well, for one thing students would be less likely to…commit actions that they shouldn't do as Huntsmen-in-training as a majority of them know of you through the media as of late. Secondly, it would help provide a better sense of how to connect with the students and how they socialize since it will be critical to know in your job as a counselor."
Ruben nodded in acknowledgement. "I understand, and I will be glad to accept such a task. My body is still aching and having these sharp pains is less then comfortable for my tastes, but I can handle it."
It was then Soria was pinching one of his cheeks like a grandmother. "Oh I am so proud of you at being a big boy now." Soria laughed as Ruben swatted her hand away from his face.
Ozpin smiled. "Well since you already know where the amphitheater is, I won't keep your time. Just call out for the nurse when you're ready to leave and she will fetch you your armor and equipment."
He then turned his attention towards the three elves. "Now, come along with me and we can discuss your stay here while getting you adjusted to life here at Beacon Academy."
And so Ruben was then left by himself as the two professors and three elves left the infirmary. After resting for a few minutes and getting his bearings, Ruben decided it was time to leave the lonely room.
"Nurse, I wish to leave now!" He shouted.
Now, what he did not expect to see was a person wearing some strange pink outfit with a pink hat with a cross emblem in the middle. The person themselves was a faunus at first glance, the sharp ears, long tail, and sharp teeth being a dead giveaway. The nurse held all of his armor and gear as if it was nothing which was surprising since most men would have a hard time carrying such heavy things in their arms.
"Here's your crap." She deadpanned as she dropped his belongings on the floor.
"Um, is there something that I-"
"Besides, you know, sending me flying through the fucking window there really isn't much else besides the fact that I know who you are because of today's early meeting."
He was looked at her suspiciously, but then remembered sending one particular faunus flying through the window with the very same physical description as the woman standing before him.
"Oh, now I remember, you're the one that smacked me right across the head with your cleaver! You could have killed me!"
"Tch!" She snapped. "That's light compared to what you did to me, I was flying out the window and landed on the concrete floor from the fourth floor of the damn building!"
"Well…at least you're still alive right?"
He cowered as she was giving him the fifth worst death stare in his life that he had seen. The three elves took the second, third, and fourth spot but the scariest death glare he had ever received in his life was from one particular Sister who wouldn't hesitate to discipline him if he had ever done anything she perceived as stupid. Thankfully the nurse relented and turned her back to him.
"I can assume you are able to put on all that heavy crap yourself. If you have any other medical emergencies, just jump out of a window and wait for help."
She then duly left him as he ignored her statement and started putting on his armor. Of course he winced at the pain every time he moved his body but it was tolerable to an extent. Compared to what he did back in the Auld and New World, the pain was easy and not threatening to end his life in only a moment's notice. Donning his full set of armor and gear, he grabbed his war hammer and made his way towards the amphitheater, eager for the night ahead of him.
