Chapter 3: Career Planning
Amphitheater, Beacon Academy
*'Wave building up height, gotta paddle gotta paddle gotta paddle get in the tube get in the tube YES this is-'*dark shadow suddenly appears, inches away*'WHAT IS THAT-'* Water flows around me, sinking now, cold water filling lungs, no air left, bubbles rush out* 'WHY DOES MY SIDE'- * Lots of teeth, all sharp, clamped around my right side, getting blurrier and blurrier, sight darkening*'can't feel my-'*
Leif Circinus scrunched his eyes shut, shaking his head to try and clear away the eight-year-old memory. Upon opening them, he was back in the amphitheater, slumped against a pillar on the back wall. The masses that had gathered already were mostly gone, with a tall dark skinned teen exiting with the last of them. Most seemed too excited to notice his odd position. Except for one, a lupine Faunus standing in front of him.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice quiet and soft.
"A bit of a headache yeah, but I'm alright. Just my annoying semblance is all."
Of the two main reasons for coming to Beacon, reason number two was gaining better control of his semblance. It had always been a double edged sword, allowing him to relive his memories, complete with the exact emotions, senses, and thoughts as they occured. It was always a perfect recollection, with first person view point through his own eyes, like it was actually happening all over again, for better or worse.
The problem was that he couldn't seem to control it very well. All it took was an emotional trigger for memories to come rushing back. In this case, recalling when he was attacked by a Grimm eight years ago while enjoying the surf before a hurricane rolled in. Only a miracle saved him, a passing huntsman. Teams of the Grimm slayers had taken up patrolling the outskirts of the city for the exact purpose of making sure that the Grimm wouldn't get too close during the storm, though it was his own foolhardiness that made their jobs harder. That also had something to do with his choice to come here.
"Y-you can't control your semblance?" The wolf girl enquired, her silver ears twitching.
"Sometimes, not exactly proud of it. I know it's probably a real rookie error, and seeing as I never attended a combat school. I'm probably far behind you and everyone else." He laughed sheepishly, feeling his tanned cheeks twinge with embarrassment. His conversational partner's ears drooped slightly, realizing he was a true to core rookie.
"I-I see. Well I'm sure you'll catch on quick!" She stuttered, backing away and heading for the exit.
"Wait, what's your name?" Leif called out without realizing it. Force of habit, always trying to meet new people. Despite the awkward conversation that just took place, the Faunus girl actually stopped half way through the exit. Her pale face looked back at him.
"Luna, Luna Okirikiri."
"Name's Leif Circinus, it's nice to meet you…" His voice trailed off as girl just nodded and quickly headed out. As he got up and followed the distant voices, the nervousness he felt earlier returned. It was a feeling that he just didn't quite belong here at Beacon. While reason number two for choosing to attend here was his semblance, reason number one was far less…noble. Mainly because it had less to do with wanting to be a huntsman and more to do with getting his parents off his back about career plans.
Even after his injury, being a huntsman was never something that Leif saw as a serious life goal. Sure, he learned how to fight, training himself with his late grandfather's old sword, but that was because he wanted to be able to defend himself from any future Grimm attacks. However, as time passed by, his parents wanted him to figure out a career path, nagging him more and more until he picked huntsman out of frustration, not to mention his semblance issues. Since he never went to a combat school, he had to do an application for general admission. This led to series of written tests as well as a physical work out. While he wasn't sure just how impressive his work out was, Leif was positive he had aced the written exams given his top grades in school previously. Following all that was an interview with an elderly professor, which while awkward at times, seemed to go well as it culminated in his acceptance to the school.
'Well it certainly seemed like a brilliant choice at the time' Leif mused, entering the crowded ballroom turned sleeping quarters. Murmurs echoed throughout the huge room as other first years got settled in. Not a single face was familiar to him. Not that this was unwelcome though, as Leif always loved to meet new people. Growing up on the outskirts of Vale's upper class district on the coast, his time was often spent out on the beach, surfing and enjoying the ocean with others. When he wasn't there, it was at the docks helping his fisherman father, listening to stories from sailors who came from far and wide. For a time, even at home there were stories to be heard, right from the mouth of his grandfather, a retired cartographer for the Kingdom of Vale. Stories were what kept Leif up at night, often gazing at the lights above trying to picture life elsewhere.
He ducked out into a nearby hallway with a change of clothes after placing his pack down. While the lightweight hoodie and sweatpants were great for traveling, he was already working up a sweat indoors. Board shorts and a t-shirt were the way to go now. This also gave him time to make a quick call in private, although new concerns arose as he pulled out his scroll.
'Please don't freak out, please don't freak out, please don't-'
"Leif! How are you, son?" A booming voice leapt from his scroll's speakers, causing him to wince. Somehow his dad managed to find a way to project his voice even through the phone.
"I'm fine Dad, would you mind not shouting?"
"Sorry son, just happy that you called is all, hang on let me get your mother."
'I only left this morning' Leif shook his head humorously. Being an only child tended to cause his parents to dote on him quite a bit. Whereas his cousins all had a sibling or two, he was all his parents had. The speaker crackled back to life, this time with an all too familiar female voice.
"Sweetie, it's so good to hear from you! Have you settled in yet? Make any new friends? When are you going to be home next?"
"Mom, I just got here today, we don't even get properly settled in until tomorrow."
"Oh sorry dear, just want to make sure my baby is doing all right on his own."
"Honey, you're smothering again!" His dad warned jokingly in the background. Leif didn't blame them for not knowing how all this worked, no one in his family had ever been a huntsman or huntress before. While his grandfather knew how to fight, he only ever learned in a self-defense capacity, as his government job exploring the waters around Sanus could get quite dangerous. Both sides of his family spent generations working on the waters, either as fishermen on his dad's side, or shipping merchants on his mother's.
"I'm fine mom, I promise. Just wanted to let you both know I got here safe and sound."
"Well that's good, and don't forget sweetie, we're both very very proud of you. You'll do great at anything you set your mind to. We love you!" His cheeks flushed red at his mother's praise.
"Thanks, I love you too. I'll call you after class tomorrow, promise. I mean provided I don't die from the classwork."
"Leif! Don't you dare-"
"Sounds good son, good luck!" His dad laughed loudly over his wife's worried outcry, hanging up. A sigh of relief came out with Leif thanking his dad for the foresight to end the call before another motherly lecture could start. He couldn't help but love them for all their support though; they were his parents after all.
Glancing at the clock on his scroll, he knew it was time to get back. No matter what challenges awaited him, this was the path he chosen for himself. Attending Beacon may not have been a long time childhood dream like others, but it was his current goal, one that would make his parents proud.
He reached for the door handle leading into the ballroom, knowing he had to stay quiet now, lest he wake any of his fellow initiates. At least, he would have tried to open the door quietly had it not sprung open from someone on the inside. Leif jumped backwards in surprise as the wolf girl on the other side did the same. Recognition, even in this low light, kicked in seconds later; same vest, leggings, scarf, and ears. It was the Faunus from earlier, Luna.
Her yellow eyes blinked in shock before looking away and moving his past him without a word. Leif opened his mouth to call out to her, but was reminded by a loud snore that people were sleeping now. While tempted to follow her, he decided against it, not wanting another awkward conversation like earlier. Would make for bad second impression.
As he pulled the door shut, he stopped just short of sealing as he noticed the handle was locked. Not entirely sure when Luna was getting back, he decided to crash by the door, in case it shut while she was out doing whatever it was a Faunus did at this hour. A knock should wake him up if it came down to it. Leif laid down, resting his head on his pack and let his eyes flutter shut.
Tomorrow would be a whole new day. A whole new chapter in his life.
