The morning dawned bright and chilly, a thin layer of frost having coated the ground along with everything else during the night. While the occupants in their tents had been spared the annoyance of waking up with a layer of snow covering them, Calcipher had no such luck. During the night he'd been smart enough to cover himself completely in his blanket, ensuring his face had been untouched, but that had done little to help him maintain warmth. Even wrapped up in his winter gear, he still shivered a little as he feed his small fire pieces of kindling, slowly building it up into a useable fire that would at least make him comfortable. Having eaten all of their rabbit the previous night and not wanting to waste the energy needed to hunt down and skin another one, he forced himself to eat one of the rations he'd been given as sustenance. As always the military had an uncanny way of managing to pack in as many calories as possible while somehow ensuring the thing tasted like cardboard and had the texture of plywood as well.
Ignoring this fact he forced himself to eat, taking occasional sips from his canteen in an effort to help wash the atrocity down his throat. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement from the camp as someone began making their way towards him. He didn't even have to guess as to whom it was, his mood already shifting from annoyed at the weather to annoyed at the person who was about to force her presence upon him. Sure enough Katerina Schnee made her way up the slope, her feet crunching on the frost covered ground as she approached. She was dressed in the same winter gear she'd worn yesterday but somehow managed to look more comfortable today than she had before. Perhaps she'd managed to acclimate herself to the cold temperatures? The most logical answer would be that she warmed herself inside her father's tent before making her way out. Given an hour she'd be shivering and complaining just as loudly today as she had yesterday.
"Good morning Calcipher," Katerina greeted in a cheery tone.
"Morning," he grumbled past his field ration.
"Sleep well?"
"As well as one could," he answered. "And you?"
"I'll admit; it was difficult getting to sleep last night but I managed."
"Not all of us have the chance to sleep in a designer cot," he joked.
"I'll have you know I slept on the ground in a sleeping bag like my father. Thankfully the bedrolls he'd brought with him made the ground more bearable."
"You slept on the ground?" Calcipher asked with obvious surprise.
"Impressed?" she asked with a cheeky smile.
"More so surprised that you could manage without being wrapped up in silk sheets," he chortled.
She sneered, the expression disappearing a moment later before a smirk rose to replace it. "Perhaps tomorrow I shall have to increase my experience by sleeping in a hole in the ground."
"The only time you should ever attempt that is if you expected not to wake the next morning and be buried shortly after."
"I'm not so squeamish or inexperienced that I can't handle a night in a hole," she snapped.
"I wasn't saying that," he quickly defended himself.
"Then what were you saying?"
"I'm saying you should only ever resort to such tactics when the situation is dire. If you're spending all your nights on an expedition digging a hole in the ground to sleep in, then you've either greatly underestimated the conditions you were walking into or you've been forced to the brink."
"Ohh, I see," she said, her ire quickly dying down at that realization. "So, are we going to go check the traps?" she asked, attempting to change the subject.
"Yes, we should also collect some more firewood as well," he said, gazing down at the meager flames as they attempted to maintain some semblance of life. "Let's get going."
As was to be expected, many of the traps were either empty or showed signs of having caught their prey only for the animal in question to have managed to chew their way out of the material or made so much noise that a larger predator became aware of their plight and the easy access they had in turn to a quick meal. While disappointing, Calcipher didn't let it hamper his spirits. Considering the time of year he was lucky to be catching anything at all, not to mention he couldn't expect his traps to hold onto everything all throughout the night without something going wrong. It was a simple fact of life and the sooner he came to terms with it the easier it would be for him in the future.
Rather than complain about it, he instead took the opportunity to teach Katerina a thing or two while they were out. She wanted to learn, anyways, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity. While she initially showed some disappointment at the empty traps and some obvious discomfort at the thought of some small rabbit becoming an easy snack for a fox or wolf, she didn't allow it to bother her much, a fact Calcipher found pleasing and welcome. She listened intently to his instructions, watching carefully as he set the traps before repeating the processes a few times after. She studied the different tracks left by prey and predators alike, recalling them with ease when asked her to identify them later after some of their traps showed signs of having sprung and caught something only to be left bare upon their arrival. While he didn't outwardly show it, he felt a small sense of pride at seeing her gain such a quick grasp of things, knowing she respected him enough to learn from him.
"This seems odd," she mussed to herself while Calcipher set up another trap.
"What do you mean?" he asked, only half paying attention to her while he focused on the task at hand.
"The tracks here. They look like a wolf's but there bigger, much bigger."
"Let me see," he said, moving over to have a better as he gazed down at them with a perplexed expression.
The moment he saw the imprint he froze. The paw print wasn't just bigger than a wolf's, it was at least three times larger. Compared to a regular wolf, it was immense in its size. Thankfully the tracks showed that there was only one but where there was one there was sure to a pack within the vicinity. His hand immediately flew to his knife, holding it firmly but otherwise keeping it sheathed. He looked out into the woods, the dark browns of the trees and subtle white of the night's frost offering a perfect contrast to the pitch black fur and piercing red eyes he hoped he wouldn't see gazing at him from the tree line. Thankfully he saw nothing within the immediate area but he wasn't one to leave anything to chance. Looking over at Katerina, he saw the worried expression she wore on her face. No doubt she'd watched his actions and had been smart enough to realize what they meant.
"Katerina, do you know the way back to the camp from here?" he asked in a calm, measured tone.
"I think I do. Yes, defiantly," she replied, nodding her head.
"Good. I need you to stay calm. Walk beside me, match my pace. We're going to head back. Stay focused on the camp, nothing else."
She nodded in silent affirmation, taking a stance next to him as he drew the knife and readied himself. They walked fast, not enough to run but quick enough to put some distance between themselves and the creature in question. Calcipher's heart beat fast in his chest, more so out of anticipation than fear. Katerina seemed to be feeling the same, her eyes focused forward and a strangely calm expression on her face, one that was almost certainly forced. Regardless, the moment they broke the tree line and entered the larger camp once more, they released a sigh of relief. Their pace slowed but only so much as Calcipher looked to find an instructor while Katerina tried to find her father. Ironically, they found both speaking to one another, Nicholas spying his daughter approaching from the corner of his eye and turning to offer her a smile. It quickly turned down into a frown when he realized something was wrong and tore himself from his conversation to embrace her.
"Father," she said, the relief evident in her words.
"Kat, what's wrong?" he asked with obvious concern.
"Something the matter, sir?" the instructor asked, his gaze shifting from Nicholas to Calcipher where it narrowed as his mouth drew a thin line. "Cadet, put that knife away."
Calcipher flinched, only just now realizing he was still holding his combat knife and that his grip on it was ironclad. He wrenched his fingers apart before replacing his knife back in its sheath and looked back up at the man. His expression had not changed but seemed to almost have grown worse. Instinct alone told him nothing good was waiting for him behind that glare but he had news that needed to be delivered.
"Sir, we need to speak," he began.
"What did you do?" the man growled.
"Sir?" Calcipher asked, unsure of what he meant.
"Don't talk back to me, cadet," the man barked. "What did you do to the young Lady Schnee?"
"I did nothing," Calcipher attempted to argue.
"Then why did you have your knife drawn? Such an action seems very suspicious, especially given the distraught state in which the young lady was brought back in."
"I had my knife drawn, that much is true, but it was for her protection, nothing more."
"A likely story," the instructor scoffed. "A few nights on watch should be enough to loosen your tongue and get the truth from you."
"It is the truth!"
In the midst of their argument, both the instructor and Calcipher were caught off guard by the sudden outburst from Katerina Schnee. The young girl, having pried herself from her father's grasp, gazed up at the man with an intense look that gave the man reason to pause. Even her father Nicholas had found her sudden outburst surprising but rather than stop her he instead chose to let her continue. No doubt he sensed something more behind her daughter's reasons for crying out.
"He was acting under my protection," she informed him.
"Miss Schnee, with all due respect, I find that highly unlikely. A boy such as this is not at all incapable of taking advantage of a young woman your age. Whatever threats he may have told you in order to earn your loyalty, rest assured he will be punished for them and you will have our protection."
"He made no threats to my life of any kind. He was acting under the desire to protect my life from a greater threat."
"And what might that be?" the man asked, is condescending tone doing little to hide the humor he found in the situation.
"A Grimm," Calcipher interjected, wiping the smile from the man's face in an instant.
Silence permeated the area at the mere mention of one of the creatures of Darkness. The smug look on the instructor's face disappeared completely as he gazed down at Calcipher with renewed distain. Nicholas, on the other hand, showed a determination of one who'd not only faced but bested his fair share of the creatures in the past. His expression showed just how serious he'd taken the situation as well as the determination to investigate himself. After all, only fools ever ignored the signs of a possible Grimm sighting. To assume you were safe and not take the time to fully investigate the possibility was an act that bordered on the suicidal.
"Impossible," the instructor scoffed, "our patrols have been hard at work eliminating any possible Grimm to be found within the area. No doubt you mistook a large animal such as a bear or wolf for one of the Grimm and used it to scare the young heiress."
"I did no such thing," Calcipher snapped.
"Insolent boy," the instructor growled, taking hold of his collar before hauling him off his feet to glare at him in the eye. "I think now would be a perfect time to show you some proper discipline."
"If I may," Nicholas interrupted, surprising both the instructor as well as Calcipher, "I'd like to make certain that what you're claiming is true."
"Sir?"
"If what the boy has claimed is indeed false then I will not stand in the way of seeing that he his properly discipline," Nicholas conceded with a tone that implied he would be overseeing such actions, "but if it is indeed true then it will help to ensure none of the other cadets are placed in any danger from a lone Grimm that may have slipped through your patrols."
The myriad of expressions that raced across the instructor's face showed he was visibly conflicted with what Nicholas had suggested. On the one hand he wanted to argue that their patrols were no doubt capable of eliminating any Grimm nearby and thus give himself an excuse to bully Calcipher. However, on the other hand, if he argued with Nicholas, a Council member and a veteran huntsman whose exploits had lifted Atlas out of a dark time, then his career was all but guaranteed to be brought to an abrupt end. After considering his options he conceded and slowly lowered Calcipher back down to the ground.
"Very well," he said, "take us to where you saw the supposed Grimm, boy. We'll see for ourselves if what you say is true."
/-/
It wasn't difficult for Calcipher to rediscover the area where he had laid his traps. While it had been placed some ways away from the main campsite to better catch wild animals, it wasn't so far away that he would get lost or be unable to retreat back to safety should the situation call for it. As such when they came upon the ruined snare trap and noticed the overly large tracks around it, Calcipher felt completely resolute in the fact that he would indeed be proven right.
"You see, Beowulf tracks," he pointed out.
"They're wolf prints, boy," the instructor snarled. "Had you been paying attention in your lessons you might have noticed the difference."
"They're too big to be wolf tracks," Calcipher argued.
"Were we in Vale or Mistral, yes, but this is Mantle. Our harsh environment and landscapes have given rise to bigger, more aggressive wildlife. Such is required if they are to survive at all out here." He then turned to Nicholas, confident in his claims. "As you can see sir, the boy was mistaken. These are nothing more than the paw prints of a common wolf."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Nicholas said, causing the man's smirk to disappear completely. "I'd know tracks like these anywhere. They are indeed a Beowulf's and thankfully its just one. Possible a survivor of the purge your patrols have been conducting in the area. I'd suggest having them scout out this area just to be sure."
"Of course, Sir. I'll ensure that this entire are is scouted immediately," the man said, his tone shifting at the drop of a hat.
Calcipher rolled his eyes in disgust. Really, did the man have no pride? If nothing else, he was a brown noser who took his aggression out on the cadets but played a fine tune whenever someone with power or the ability to reshape his career was within sight.
"Speaking of, what were you doing in this area cadet?" the man asked, his shift in tone only helping to solidify Calcipher's less than charitable assumptions about the man.
"I was setting traps. I've managed to catch a few animals within the last couple days."
"Its true," Katerina agreed, backing up her friend before the instructor could make another snarky comment. "He's been showing me how to lay snares and track small animals. We managed to catch a rabbit the other day and cooked it."
"Humph, so the boy got lucky," the man scoffed.
"I'd disagree," Nicholas said, kneeling down to examine Calcipher's snares. "These traps are well made and by the looks of the animal tracks he's chosen an area that have a high degree of traffic. It's not at all surprising that he'd manage to catch one or two small animals with to these. Did you skin the animal yourself?"
"Yes sir," Calcipher replied, feeling elated that he was able to speak one on one with Nicholas. "I still have the pelt. I was planning on making it into something useful like gloves or a hat should I manage to catch a few other rabbits."
"That would prove quite useful," Nicholas agreed.
Calcipher almost preened at the praise. He kept his composure, maintaining a neutral expression but all the while feeling quite giddy. It was a rare moment but as was to be expected it was one that would soon be ruined by Mordan's nearby lackey.
"These traps no doubt attracted the Grimm to the area. What were you doing laying them so close to the camp? Did never consider the the safety of your fellow cadets when laying them?"
Before Calcipher had a chance to defend himself, Nicholas came to the rescue. "These traps wouldn't have given the Grimm reason to venture so close to our campsite. The Grimm may feed off the wildlife but they show no necessity in doing so. No doubt it was attracted to the negativity caused by so many young men and women being kept in our small area. The fact that it found these traps was simply a coincidence."
"As you say, councilor," the instructor conceded.
"Have a patrol comb this area. I'd like to be certain that any and all possibility of the Grimm encroaching on our campsite is eliminated." He then turned his attention back to Calcipher before saying, "thank you, young man, for keeping watch over my daughter. The fact that you placed her safety above all other responsibilities, including your own life, speaks volumes of your character. I'll be sure to put in a good word with General Mordan once we return."
Calcipher gave the man a curt nod, all the while hiding the ghost of a smile that had begun to form on his lips. Even with the instructor nearby, the fact that Nicholas himself had said he would give his commendations to Mordan ensured the man couldn't say or do anything that would conflict with the Councilman's word. At worst he could make his time out here more difficult but even so it would be worth it knowing he had impressed a man he regarded as his hero. Perhaps things were beginning to look up?
/-/
While the instructor may have been unable to enact any sort of punishments or disciplinary actions on Calcipher while Nicholas was around, once the councilman had departed he became fair game. Of course, the man couldn't do anything physical. While Calcipher had his aura unlocked it wouldn't prevent bruises from forming on his body. His mastery over his aura only went so far and he could defend himself against only so much before he would become overwhelmed. There was his trump card in the form of his semblance, however. While living on the streets it had proved invaluable when evading or escaping from situations that might have otherwise taken his life or even a couple limbs for that matter. That said, it was a trump card for a reason and something that he planned to keep in the wings until it was necessary to reveal. It was better to keep some things close to the belt and not telegraph them whenever possible.
Instead he was given watch duty in the middle of the night. It was considered one of the worst responsibilities as your sleep was interrupted halfway through ensuring you'd spent most of your watch attempting to stay awake. Even after it had been concluded you were guaranteed only a few hours sleep before daybreak and it was back to training. Along with this his responsibilities were increased as well. The drills the cadets had been running were intensified for him with many of the other instructors calling him our or flat out requiring him to perform more than the others. This treatment did not go unnoticed, however, but given the fact that none of it was physically abusive and could be easily excused as extra training there was little room for argument.
By the time they were done he was exhausted, hungry, and ready for sleep. There was little doubt in his mind that the instructors had done this on purpose, making sure his night and those that followed would be nothing short of miserable. He pressed on, however, forcing down a field ration before climbing into his hole to get an early start on his rest. It would be a few hours before his shift started and he wanted to take advantage of as much sleep as he possibly could. He wasn't sure when he'd fallen asleep but it went just as quickly as it had come. The next thing he knew he was being shaken, albeit more gently than he would have expected. He cracked open an eye to see a pair of icy blue orbs starring into his. As he groaned he saw them sparkle as the rest of Katerina's face came into view.
"Good evening, Calcipher," she said in a cheery tone.
"Yea, sure," he replied in a groggy voice that was completely contradictory to Katerina's. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"I talked to my father after we left. He agreed to let me stand watch with you tonight as a way of saying thanks. He's also spoken to the other instructors to make sure you don't get punished for me being around."
"Yet somehow I doubt that'll make much of a difference," he mumbled.
His comment did not go unheard by Katerina. Her cheery smile fell, causing Calcipher to feel a little guilty about what he'd said. In the short time the young girl had spent with him he'd found she was growing on him. Despite his first impressions, the girl had quickly adapted to the situation, learning everything he'd passed onto her. She would no doubt make her father proud in the coming years. Oddly enough, he felt a little disappointed that he wouldn't be there to see it. These feelings were strange and certainly foreign to him. Shaking his head, he quickly rubbed the sleep from his eyes before readying himself for his watch. Before he left, however, Katerina handed him what appeared to be a large energy bar.
"Here, a peace offering," she said.
Taking the bar in hand, he quickly removed it from the package before breaking it in half and handing a piece to Katerina. The girl's tentative smile soon blossomed at the kind action and she soon bit into her portion. Calcipher did the same, scarfing down his own half before turning his focus to the forest.
"We should get going. We've got a long night ahead of us."
Katerina nodded her affirmation, quickly falling in next to Calcipher as he walked to relieve the other cadet. While his own movements were sluggish and he would occasionally trip over his own feet, Katerina seemed more energetic and almost appeared to have a bounce in her step. It was a detail that should have annoyed Calcipher. Granted it did but only for a moment. After a few seconds he couldn't find the energy within himself to care. He wondered if that was due to his overall lack of sleep or something relating to their budding friendship. Whatever it was, it didn't matter at the moment.
Once they reached their destination the cadet who had been standing watch quickly relaxed. He was a tall boy and older than Calcipher, possibly one of the older cadets under Mordan's tutelage. The moment they came into view his eyes trailed over Calcipher and then Katerina before he cocked an eyebrow in surprise. If he expected an answer from him the cadet didn't say nor did he complain when he didn't receive one. Content with the fact that his watch was over and that he would soon be able to sleep, he left them to their own devices before disappearing into the camp. With the boy gone Calcipher offered the small log he'd been using as a chair to Katerina before taking a stance facing out towards the woods.
"Aren't you going to sit? There's plenty of room for both of us," she offered.
"I'd better not. If I get too comfortable I'll be liable to fall asleep."
"If you did I'd wake you," she said.
"That's only if you don't fall asleep too," he countered.
Katerina puffed her cheeks out in annoyance but otherwise remained silent. He wasn't quite sure why she was so annoyed. His thinking was logical and in all fairness he had to consider his duties first before comfort. Should something happen to go wrong or some one got hurt, one of the first things that would be checked was who was on watch. It was better that he end the night with stiff legs but wide awake and with a clear alibi rather than sitting down only to fall asleep a moment later. The less excuses they had to blame him for their own mishaps the better.
Slowly, time passed. Try as she might Katerina couldn't keep herself awake and before long found herself dozing on the log. Calcipher managed to keep himself awake better than she. While not as observant as he would have been during the day he was still able to pick out and notice a few nocturnal creatures venturing out to hunt or forage for food. He took note of several pairs of glowing eyes, some of which took notice of him in turn, but none of them stood out to him like the Grimm's. Though he hoped that the instructor's patrol had indeed done their job in eliminating the lone Beowulf, Calcipher wasn't so foolish as to assume it was dead and gone. If the creature had managed to evade one patrol before there was little doubt it could pull off the same trick twice. Ultimately, when it drew near for his shift to be over, he conceded that the creature had perhaps been vanquished or at least had decided to go hunt somewhere else.
"Kat. Katerina," he said as he gently nudged her awake.
"Hmm?" he mumbled, her eyes barely open as she regarded him.
"Shifts just about over. You should probably head back to your tent. I'll be leaving soon anyway."
"Hmm." He could only accept that was her way of acknowledging what he'd said because a moment later saw the young girl walking like a zombie back towards her father's tent. How she managed to walk half-asleep without bumping into any of the other tents, Calcipher would never know. Perhaps it was her semblance, some sort of heightened awareness? Regardless, so long as she made it back to her tent he'd call it good.
It was only a moment later when he heard something odd a few feet away from him. It was a soft snuffling sound, like an animal sniffing the ground only louder. Instinctively, Calcipher took hold of the knife he kept on his person and scanned the area. With how dark it was it was difficult to make out anything. Amongst the trees and tents, he could barely see the shift of a large shadow but it was enough to put him on edge. He followed after it, keeping it within sight as he closed the distance between them. At one point the creature turned its head enough to show a glowing red eye beneath a white bone mask before it tore off into the camp with Calcipher right on it's tail. From where it was going he knew exactly who it was headed for. It didn't take him long to cry out a warning and leap into the air as the beast reared back on it's hind legs.
"Katerina, run!"
While the girl may have been half-asleep before, the sudden warning coupled with the Beowulf towering over her was enough to shock her awake. She stumbled backwards, tripping herself on her feet before tumbling onto the ground. Gazing up at the creature she let out a shrill scream only to have it drowned by the Beowulf's own howl. While most would have assumed this was a call for help, it was in fact a cry of pain from the beast as Calcipher's serrated combat knife bit into its thigh. Black blood splashed over his face and torso as he withdrew the knife to go at it a second time. He didn't get the chance as the creature swatted him away, throwing into a nearby tent and collapsing it in on its occupant. The cadet clambered out to yell at his assailant only to spy the Beowulf nearby and think better of it. Instead he clumsily pulled himself to his feet, drawing his gun to fire at the creature but missed the first shoot due to how badly his hands were shaking.
The Beowulf regarded the young man, his fear more than enough to garner its attention with his failed attempted to shoot it only acting as incentive to maul him first. His attention was quickly drawn back to Calcipher, however, as a small knife found itself imbedded into its right eye. It howled in pain, attempting to remove the foreign object but only managing to scratch up its mask in the process as it clawed furiously at the knife. It soon gave up on the endeavor, however, and instead locked its remaining eye on the one responsible. Struggling to stay on his feet and breathing heavily, Calcipher starred down the Beowulf as he clutched his combat knife tightly in his hand.
The creature's initial counterattack, while not unexpected, had struck him hard. His aura had absorbed most of the impact but that didn't prevent it from the knocking the wind out of him nor from bruising some of his ribs if the pain in his chest was anything to go by. Regardless, he was still able to stand and, rather than assume he could fight the creature off on his own, decided it would be better to draw its attention and distract it until one of the instructors arrived to finish off the beast. However long that would take, he wasn't certain, but it was a risk he was had to take. What he hadn't expected was for someone else to doing something infinitely more foolish like start throwing rocks at it to gain its attention.
"Hey, over here!" Katerina yelled, throwing a large rock that thudded loudly against the creature's forehead.
While the impact did little to damage the creature, it worked exceptionally well in garnering its attention. Having seemingly forgotten Calcipher for the moment, it turned on its initial prey and lunged for her. Katerina stumbled backwards and managed to put some distance between her and the Beowulf at first but the creature was too fast for her. Realizing just what she was doing and knowing just how incredibly stupid it was, Calcipher rushed to his friend's aid. He cursed the instructor for ignoring the creature. He cursed the patrol for not eliminating it before. He cursed Katerina for doing something so stupid when she had no aura nor training to aid her. He cursed the Grimm for thinking she was a better target than himself. Most of all he cursed himself for not having seen it sooner and he would hate himself even more should he fail to protect her.
Running as quickly as he could manage, Calcipher closed the distance between himself and Katerina. Forgoing its claws, the Beowulf reared back as it lunged down with its maw wide open, ready to tear her apart with its teeth. Calcipher slide in-between the two, holding his arms out instinctively in a defensive posture as he waited for the creature's jaws to clamp down. Calcipher cringed. Katerina cried out. The Beowulf bit down hard.
For a moment the world stood still. Everyone watching as well as those involved in the scuffle expected to see a torrent of blood as the Beowulf's powerful jaws tore through Calcipher's aura and into his arms. They expected Katerina to scream once more in shock and horror and for the beast to rear back in vicious victory. What they hadn't expected was the horrifying sound of what could only be described as metal grinding against metal. It wasn't that exactly, merely the brains attempt to ascertain exactly what it was they were listening to. Regardless, while the sound was terrible to hear the results of what had happened spoke for themselves.
Katerina starred up at Calcipher, the young boy's form having filled her vision when he took the attack from the Beowulf. She'd expected the worst. She'd expected to die. She'd expected him to die. She'd thought the creature's teeth would have torn through his flesh, ripping his arms from their sockets, before tearing into his flesh. What she hadn't expected was for Calcipher to stand his ground, taking the attack head on, and somehow managing to come out unscathed.
To say that he was holding his ground was putting the situation rather loosely. In truth Calcipher was showing clear signs that he was struggling to maintain his grapple with the Beowulf. Its teeth tried to tear into his arms but found no purchase, instead sliding off like they were being repelled by something. Looking at his arms Katerina could see what was preventing it from causing him harm and how it had managed to not only save her life but his as well. At first glance they looked almost like scales. Not like those of a fish but something more akin to a reptile. They were large, overlapping in a fashion that made his arms appear to be bulkier than they truly were. They also seemed to be protruding from his skin and not something that overlaid them like armor. Again and again the Beowulf chomped down on his arms, struggling to break through but failing each time. It was a near impenetrable defense, one that would last so long as Calcipher managed to keep his semblance active. Unfortunately, at his age and with his training his concentration was beginning to wan. He could only hold for so long before exhaustion would over take him followed by the Grimm. Luckily he wouldn't have to wait too much longer.
CRACK!
The sound was loud, enough to pierce the quiet of the night along with the projectile that pierced through the Grimm's remaining eye. It reared back, blind and howling in pain before a second dust bullet sailed through its jugular, rendering it silent. It stood tall for only a moment before gravity took hold and the creature collapsed to the ground, dead. Calcipher dropped to his knees soon after, his energy drained from the struggle to maintain his semblance against a vicious opponent. He gazed down at the dissolving corpse of the Beowulf before gazing back to see who had come to his rescue. Somehow it didn't surprise him that he would see Nicholas Schnee holding a dust rifle, his expression firm and serious as he scanned the area for more Grimm but saw none. Slinging his rifle behind his back he quickly crossed the field to his daughter and her protector, adopting an expression of worry and concern as he neared his child.
"Katerina, are you alright?" he asked, checking her over for any injuries he couldn't see at a glance.
"I'm alright. Calcipher stopped it before it could hurt me."
"I noticed," he said, giving the young man a warm smile and an appreciative nod before returning to his daughter, his expression turning more serious as he asked, "what were you thinking? Do you realize how dangerous that was?"
"I- "she attempted to argue.
"Had Calcipher not intervened you could have died; do you realize that?"
"I know I just," she struggled to find the words, the seriousness of the situation coupled with her father's distress only helping to make things more complicated. "I couldn't sit back and watch him get hurt. I had to do something."
"I know, my child, I know," he said, softly stroking her hair as he spoke. "You are my daughter, after all, and I didn't raise you to be someone who stood by while others suffered. Regardless, you should have gotten help instead. Without aura or training you were more of a liability than helpful."
"I know," she said softly.
"Sir, what's happened? Are you alright?" An instructor asked, running up with three of his men in tow.
"We're fine, gentlemen, thanks to cadet Calcipher's quick actions. It seems that Beowulf he'd warned us of earlier managed to slip by your patrols. Again."
Nicholas emphasized the last word as the men gazed upon the dissolving corpse of the Beowulf. The lead instructor's face paled as he gazed down at the creature and he showed a great deal of effort in repressing a snarl as he glanced over at Calcipher, exhausted but otherwise unharmed. The boy merely smirked before shuffling over to the Grimm's remains and removed his knife from its eye socket. He whipped the grim on his pants legs before stowing it away and moving over to stand next to Nicholas and Katerina.
"Considering recent events I'd feel safer if we concluded this field training early. The negativity this lone Grimm caused is sure to attract others and that may very well impede our ability to teach the cadets, let alone protect them. Of course, the final decision is yours to make."
The offer was obviously meant to give the instructor an excuse to press forward or call things off. While the man looked distraught at what he'd been told he nonetheless found his bearings once more before turning to the rest of the camp.
"Cadets!" he yelled, "make ready to break camp and head back to base. Our field training is canceled. Put out any fires and pack up everything. If anything is forgotten or left behind, rest assured you will be severely disciplined for your ineptitude."
None of the cadets showed any desire to prolong their stay here as every one of them jumped to their feet and began tearing town tents or stomping out the smoldering remains of a fire. The instructor watched them for a few seconds before turning back to Nicholas.
"We'll be leaving soon, Councilor. Rest assured that General Mordan will be informed of what transpired here."
"I don't doubt that," Nicholas replied, "because I'll be sure to inform himself once we've returned. I want him to know exactly what happened and whom it is that deserves my commendations for placing their life on the line for my daughter."
The look on the instructor's said everything they needed to know. No amount of discipline heaped upon Calcipher's shoulders would be enough to assuage his bruised ego. He was a man whose career had officially been brought to an end all thanks to his unwillingness to take one Cadet's word, a former street rat, seriously. Silently, Calcipher returned to his own campsite, pleased to not only be returning to the base but at having claimed a small victory over Mordan, even if it wasn't intentional.
/-/
Two weeks, that's how long it took for Nicholas to back Mordan into a wall. Given the events that had transpired during their field training, it would not have been difficult to sweep the whole incident under the rug. After all, it was a closed military training operation, certainly not something that a Council member would have much say in. However, given that said councilman was Nicholas Schnee and that his only daughter Katerina had been in attendance, as well as a victim of the Grimm attack, Mordan had lost a great deal of the advantage he usually had when managing such affairs. While Katerina's life had been sparred thanks to the efforts on one cadet Calcipher, what Mordan had found surprising was the insistence of Nicholas for the boy under his care as a ward of his house and potential body guard to his daughter. Typically, Mordan would have found such a situation very advantageous for him. To have one of his cadets within spitting distance of one of the most powerful men on Mantle, let alone Remnant, would have been too great an opportunity to pass up. However, given that it was Calcipher, a cadet who continued to blatantly show defiance towards him and whom he had only recently discovered possessed an invaluable semblance at his disposal, his willingness to release the boy into the councilman's was much more hesitant.
"Nicholas, be reasonable. The boy is still far too young and under trained. To take him on now would put him as well as yourself at a great disadvantage."
"I'm well aware of his lack of experience, Mordan. However, from what I saw the boy has good instincts and he learns quickly. Having him under my tutelage would no doubt see his skills rise considerably. The fact that he's young can only work in his favor. He'll be able to learn and master a great deal before he's an adult by which time he'll be more than adequate as a body guard for my daughter."
Mordan had to repress the scowl that threatened to form on his face. As much as he hated to admit it, Nicholas presented a fairly decent argument. It was one of the reasons he targeted the younger generation when seeking out new recruits from the orphanages and back allies. The only problem was the fact that Nicholas was now using that against him. He could already tell that Calcipher would be a promising student if he could just rid him of that defiant attitude of his. The only problem would be the amount of time and training he would have to pour into such an endeavor, time and training that could be stolen by Nicholas if he had his way with things.
"I don't think that would be an appropriate idea," Mordan said. "I understand your reasoning behind this, Nicholas, however to have become the ward of a family who is indebted to them could cause problems in the future. These children are being raised to be soldiers of Atlas, after all. To have him strictly under your guidance could lead to his loyalties being monopolized by the Schnee family and those attached to them rather than have a loyalty strictly towards Atlas and her people. They need to maintain indifference in this area. To show favoritism towards any one family, especially one as powerful as yours, could lead to corruption within the military ranks should other families attempt the same."
"I see your point Mordan," Nicholas agreed. "Then perhaps a compromise?"
Mordan's frown deepened. He always knew Nicholas to be a shrewd man when it came to business and politics. He'd not managed to create an empire such as his through sheer dumb luck. He'd worked hard, trained harder, and when his efforts struck gold, or in his case dust, he'd ensured to give back to all who'd help to make it possible generously, ensuring he'd have powerful allies later down the line. Knowing that, he knew Nicholas was planning to work his compromise in his favor but how he wasn't quite sure. The problem was he knew the man wouldn't relent. With everything that ha happened he had the upper hand. Any refusal on his part could come with disastrous consequences.
"What do you propose?" Mordan asked.
"I'd like him to stay here as my ward as well as to ensure he gains a good grasp of the estate and the duties he'll be performing. That said, Katerina won't always need him present and he will need to have someone instruct him on how to be a proper body guard. As such, I'm willing to allow him to spent a day or two during the week to return to your facility and ensure he receives all the training he needs as well as make sure he maintains his abilities."
"What of his education. I took the boy off the streets, Nicholas. His knowledge of past and current events will be quite limited."
"That's a simple matter to remedy. I already have Katerina being instructed by private tutors. A second student along with her wouldn't be much of a problem. It would also help him to familiarize himself with her daily schedule. So, do we have an accord?"
Mordan mulled it around in his head for a moment, all the while repressing the desire to scowl. One or two days a week wasn't exactly a lot of time to mold the cadet into the ideal soldier. Not only that, it would leave him with a great deal of time to grow closer to Nicholas and his family, ensuring his loyalty was to them and not him. Mordan didn't like it but unfortunately the odds were not in his favor. He would have to concede this battle, at least until another point when he might gain the upper hand.
"Very well. When shall I have the brought over?"
"As soon as possible. I've already had a room prepared for him. It will simply be a matter of moving in his things."
"That won't be much of a problem. My cadets don't possess much in the way of personal belongings. I will need some time to process the paperwork, though."
"I understand but don't take too long. I expect the boy here within the week."
"Of course."
/-/
Calcipher's gaze took in every aspect of the Schnee manor and the surrounding grounds as the car pulled into the gravel driveway. The road itself was decorated with tall hedges all meticulously trimmed into the shapes of animals or Grimm, a detail he found superfluous. While all around he could see the extent of his new Guardian's boundless funds, he saw very little need for any of it and instead saw a great waste. Here people feasted on food the names of which he couldn't hope to pronounce, slept in beds dressed in sheets crafted by the greatest craftsmen on Remnant, and were surrounded by more wealth than they knew what to do with to the point that they wasted a great deal of it without batting an eye whereas the life he'd led taught him to savor every crumb, count every blessing, and never to complain about anything. Here people lived a life of luxury. Out there, however, people lived simply to survive.
As the car pulled up to the front of the house, Calcipher was surprised to find not only Nicholas standing there waiting for him but a young man, possibly ten years older than himself, accompanying him as well. Once the car came to a stop the young man opened the door for him and quickly went to retrieve him lone bag. Immediately Calcipher felt a wave of doubt hit him the moment he set foot on the grounds. All his life he'd dreamed of what it must be like to live in a place like this, let alone see it with his own two eyes. Now that he was here, however, he felt greatly out of place. He didn't belong here, that much he was certain of. Still, he'd been invited by Nicholas himself to stay, train, and live alongside him as well as the rest of his family. Far be it for him to question his place here. After all, he was an honored guest so he would do his best to show his appreciation towards his host.
"Welcome to my home, Calcipher. I trust your journey here was satisfactory?" Nicholas asked.
"Yes sir," he replied, giving a neutral answer. He couldn't really say anything in regards to his journey here. Had the man asked about the events leading up to it, however, as well as his tense conversation with Mordan, that would have elicited a completely different response.
"Good. If you'll follow me, Klein and I will show you to your room. We've set a small guest room close to Katerina's that will ensure you are within range of her at all times."
Calcipher stood a bit taller at this response, obediently following the man as he led the way into the manor. Nicholas' proposition that he become Katerina's bodyguard had been a strange, albeit intriguing offer. He could only guess that his actions at the recent field exercise had caused the man to consider such actions necessary and, given the fact that he had been the one to come to her aid when the Grimm attacked as well as held it at bay, it made sense Nicholas would want him to act as her bodyguard. Still, that was the one thing he found odd. He and Katerina were very similar in age with both of them still being children, at least in looks. In maturity he knew he was a few leagues above her, though a life lived on the streets had a tendency to do that to people. It would have made more sense for him to hire a bodyguard who was far more experienced and thus more capable at performing his task than he. So why did Nicholas want him despite obviously knowing all of this? What was the man's overall plan?
The mansion itself was immense. While it had looked quite big on the exterior, once inside it was a labyrinth of hallways and rooms, most of which probably went unused unless required for some formal event. It was certainly a detail Calcipher felt eager to work out and memorize. If he was to be Katerina's bodyguard, he'd need to know the layout of the mansion as well as the best possible routes for escape should the situation call for it. It didn't take long for Klein to lead him to his accommodations. Calcipher doubted he would have been able to find the room on his own. The halls were so long and the doors seemed so similar it wouldn't have surprised him that he might have ended up in every room in the house at least twice before finding his own.
"Here we are. I hope it'll be roomy enough for you," Klein said pleasantly.
He at first assumed the man was joking. The room itself was immense, certainly larger than the small dorm room he'd been assigned while under Mordan's watchful eye. It was large enough to accommodate the twin sized bed, large wardrobe, desk, and a separate room which he could see led into a private bathroom. Even with all of this there was still room left unused. It all made Calcipher feel small by comparison. For a moment he truly expected the older boy to turn around and admit that this was simply a joke before taking him to his real room but, as he watched Klein unpack his belongings, it slowly dawned on him that this was indeed the reality.
"How do you like it?" Klein asked, turning to address him.
"It's… big," he managed to say, unsure of just how he should describe his reaction.
"I'll have to take your word for it. In truth, this is really one of the smaller rooms in the mansion. Even some of our storage closets are roomier than this but, as long as it will fit your needs, there should be no problem."
"It'll do," Calcipher acknowledged, running his hand over the overly soft fabric of the bed.
The awkwardness that followed was quickly dispelled by a soft knock on his bedroom door. Klein didn't waste a moment opening it and it soon became apparent whom his guest was. It shouldn't have surprised Calcipher that it would be Katerina standing on the other side of the door. While he'd been informed that the staff knew of his presence here, only two people truly knew him well enough to pay him a visit and one of them he couldn't see being required to knock before entering any room in his own home. It also made sense that she would be here due to the proximity of their rooms. Thinking it over he now realized he'd be seeing a lot more of Katerina in the coming years. He'd have to be used to her presence in his life.
"Miss Schnee, good afternoon," Klein greeted her.
"Good afternoon, Klein. I heard that my new bodyguard is here," she said, leaning around Klein to shoot him a cheery smile. "Might I come in?"
"Of course, we were just settling him in."
Katerina glanced over at the duffle bag Calcipher had brought with him. The entirety of its contents had fit into the first drawer of his dresser, leaving him with a rather empty room. Katerina visibly frowned at this, glancing at Calcipher with an expression that seemed almost to expect an explanation for why he had so little clothing. He honestly didn't see a problem. He had more than enough cloths to meet his needs but he could tell Katerina was already concocting something as her eyes roved over his form.
"Klein, do we have any plans tomorrow afternoon?"
"Assuming you finish all of your lessons, we should have plenty of free time. I take it a shopping trip is in order?"
"Of course."
"Then I shall inform your father," he said before quickly exiting the room, leaving Calcipher alone with his charge.
Before he could even say hello Katerina had glided across the room and enveloped him in a warm hug. Her embrace caught him off guard and for a long moment he didn't know what to do. As the moment ticked on and her embrace didn't relent, he reluctantly gave her a reassuring pat, hoping she would release him soon. She did eventually, her face beaming as she gazed at her new friend despite the fact that he would be staying with them for purely professional reasons.
"Its so good to see you again. How have you been?"
"Fine," he answered.
"What about the Beowulf attack? Were you injured in anyway?"
"I was fine. My semblance was more than adequate to protect me from its fangs and claws."
Katerina pouted, obviously unsatisfied with his answer. Calcipher could only stare at her in confusion. He wasn't quite sure what she'd wanted to hear but that was obviously the wrong answer.
"We're going to need to work on your people skills," she said before taking a seat on the bed. "I was really worried about you, you know. You put yourself in harms way for me and almost got hurt because of it."
"It's what was expected of me," he answered.
"I don't think it was," she replied.
"I don't know. I simply moved without thinking. It was instinct."
She hummed, considering his answer for a moment before leaping off the bed and taking hold of his hand.
"Well, seeing as how you'll be our guest for quite some time, why don't I show you around?" she asked and, without waiting for an answer, dragged him down the halls of the mansion.
/-/
It was late at night when the boy was finally put down for bed. Outside the lights of various business and billboards advertising their products streamed in, creating a kaleidoscope of color across the room. Gazing out his window he wondered what his father was doing right now. No doubt he was working overtime in an effort to support his family. Despite his efforts, though, they were still poor. The effects of the Great War had hit their country hard and harder still its people. With how cold it was his mother let him share their bed in an effort to conserve heat. Even now she slept soundly, her arm draped across her child's chest in a protective, nurturing gesture. The boy, on the other hand, was still wide awake, gazing out into the world beyond his window.
Out there he knew there was something more waiting for him. The travesties of yesterday would not define his life forever. Some day he would rise from this simple life. He was meant for greater things. The day would come when he would never again shiver in the cold or hunger for a piece of bread. He would rise above this. He would rise to the top, high above the people down below. He was meant to be something more, to be some one important. He swore to himself, as he gazed upon the Schnee Dust Company logo that seemed to pierce both the night and the surrounding lights, that he would one day own that same power, that same influence and wealth.
"I'll have it all, I swear," he said silently to himself and then slowly little Jacques Gelé drifted off to sleep.
Been a while since I last updated this story. Sorry for the long wait, I've had a lot going on and it's made working on my stories a little difficult.
We'll be wrapping up some of Calcipher's early life soon enough. There'll be a time skip following this one and we'll start to see both Calcipher and Katerina in their teenage years as well as their budding relationship. I'm really excited to be inching closer and closer to having Jaune and Team RWBY make an appearance in the story. By then I'll have created more of a backstory for Jaune as well as his relationship with Calcipher. Just a word of warning, Jaune will have a drastically different personality and semblance as compared to his Web show counterpart. It might seem strange at first but that's why I'm going to spend a few chapters working on his backstory to help explain the drastic shift in tone from the loveable, clumsy dork to what I have envisioned. Hope you all enjoy it and I look forward to creating more content for you.