Chapter 3: Initiation

It was early on Monday when I got up, I was getting ready to begin my studies at Beacon Academy. Exiting the shower I see laid out on one of the beds was everything I needed for today laid out precisely last night. Grabbing my black t-shirt off the top I reveal my arsenal resting underneath the t-shirt. Over my black t-shirt I swung my holster, sitting on my chest, that held three throwing stars in three different slots. I placed my back sheath above my belt storing my foot long bowie knife into it. Strapping two wrist gauntlets on I slide in two blades into their holders. I clip my belt with two black straps dangle from the side. On one side I place three kunai into their respective places. On the other side sits my two new karambits I bought the other day with Triela at the mall.

I put on my blue hoodie covering most of my assortment of blades. Stepping into my boots I tighten them and tie them leaving room for two more boot knifes to fill the holsters on the inside of my boots. Grabbing my butterfly knife that the Boss gave me I place it in my hoodie pouch with my pen that also acts as a hidden blade. Walking toward the door I grab my sawed-off shotgun that is leaned against the wall next to the door. I open the door looking back into the room I can't believe next time I come here it will be with a team. With that last thought I leave the room throwing my hood on over my head. Now I begin to head to the auditorium where the speech for new students will be conducted.

The auditorium is fool of many colorful hunters from many different races all carrying a wide assortment of weaponry standing around waiting for professor Ozpin's intro. The chit chat going on between the new students attempting to make friends fills the auditorium. The gathering of new students quiets down as a familiar man in green struts across stage towards a mike standing in the open. He clears his throat and begins his speech, "May I, the headmaster here at Beacon be the first to welcome all of you hunters in training to this fine academy. Now this is a great honor being allowed to train at this rigorous school that only a few can call themselves graduates from. This school will test everything you have physically, academically, and spiritually. It will most likely exceed most of your limits, but know this. It was built this way so that you could overcome that level and rise to new heights. Only from exceeding those old limits you once had, can you complete your training here. I am excited to see what great talent comes from this training over the next four years, but first I will see your skills for myself at initiation to see if your in the field skills are as good as they look on paper." With that he left the stage and the students went back to their mumbling, now though it was louder and about the upcoming trail we would have to undergo. I and some other students left the auditorium heading towards the locker room to place our gear up for tomorrow's test.

I head to my locker and run into a surprise. The man playing the guitar at the mall a few days ago was putting something into a locker right next to my assigned locker. Wonder if he remembers me? I open my locker looking inside at my special dust ammo I placed in there yesterday. Grimm need a little more of a kick to drop then a human. Already my homemade ammo dispenser was fully loaded with explosive shotgun shells. Stowing my shotgun on top of my stockpile I close the locker. I turn around and begin walking out but shortly hear someone speak to me. "Hey, did you give me some money a couple of days ago at the mall?" I guess he did remember.

I look over my shoulder seeing the man with his guitar swung over his back looking at me. "Yeah, I was shopping while listening to you play. So I decided to pay you something since originally I thought you were a street performer and also you are pretty good at that guitar you have there. Seemingly you are good at it in multiple ways to. Or are the sides made of sharp metal just for style?"

The man puts his hand out, "Thanks for the money and compliment man I try pretty hard to balance my two passions; being a musician and hunter. My name is Val, Val Claude and yes my guitar is also my weapon of choice as a hunter. It would be wicked if we ended up on the same team, you know almost fated to happen at this point since fate made us meet like this."

I shake his hand, "Rodrick Ariditti, though I fly solo. People slow me down or get in the way, so I won't be joining any team if I can't help it. Though it seems it is necessary to begin classes here; so if I do get stuck with a team I will take anyone who can keep up." With that I left the locker room passing more incoming students. Even bumping into one that I did not even notice.

My pocket begins to vibrate and emit a rapid ringing of a bell. Quickly I reach into my pocket pulling out my scroll reading Ozpin calling displayed onto the screen. Clicking the green accept button I place the scroll to the side of my face. "Rodrick I am sorry to say this, but may I speak with you in my office? There were somethings I had to do for you that took more then the time of a flight across Remnant. I hope you also understand I am a busy man, so make it here in the shortest time frame possible."

"Will do Professor." I hung up pulling up a map of Beacon academy I had saved to my scroll. With my eyes glued to the map I attempt to follow it to the elevator that leads to Ozpin's office. I don't know how anyone can get around this labyrinth of a school without a map. Arriving at the top floor of Beacon Academy in a few minutes I walk into the office were Ozpin has a stack of papers on his desk and someone I have yet to see standing next to him reading something off a scroll. She must have been only a few years older then me, possibly another trouble student Ozpin has at this school.

She had blonde hair with a single curl running down the right side of her face. Glasses sitting in front of her green eyes quickly moving left and right reading whatever was so important in front of her. She wore a long sleeved white button up with frills down the center of her chest and arms. The golden buttons shined bright, okay maybe not a troubled student. She had a black pencil skirt with black leggings underneath and a wand or something hanging from her waist. Upon my entrance into the room the two of them look up from what they were doing at me. Especially the blonde girl, her eyes almost shot through me with how sharp they were.

She was the first to speak, "Ah, Mr. Ariditti you are here. I was just going over your record quickly as you headed up here. May I say if all of this is true you have had quite the colorful lifestyle before becoming a student here. Though I have not yet finished reading it all, it is a very long read, especially for someone of your age."

I give a short bow, "They asked for everything I could remember when I was arrested, not my fault business is a little busy, especially when the company starts falling apart at the seams. By the way, who may you be? You know almost everything about me, but I don't even have your name. Not really fair if you ask me."

Ozpin cuts in, "She is my new assistant, Goodwitch. A recent graduate that excelled in just about everything and was very willing to help me in my endeavors. But right now is not about her, its you and somethings we have yet to established, like this." He pulls a small black box with straps out of one of his drawers tossing it at me. "You know what that is? I exactly don't just have ankle bracelets laying around to use on my students, so I had to make a special request to the local police. Just wrap around your leg underneath your pants and nobody will know the better if they haven't been informed of your situation. Of course its got some adjustments for the unique person it will now be attached to. Like how we have a 24/7 reading of your aura, built to be a little more durable, and a little shock for if you ever act up and we deem it appropriate."

I take a knee rolling up my right pant leg right above my boot making sure the ankle bracelet sits nice and tight around my leg. Covering it with my pants I stand up, "I don't like the way you said 'little shock' as if its a shock collar for a bad dog."

Ozpin interlocks his fingers making a bridge on his desk, "Don't worry, it won't kill you just incapacitate or stun you. You are still a human being that has some basic rights. Now if you act like a hunter in training then we shouldn't have to resort to using such a cruel tool on you. Now if you could go interact with other students because I sadly don't have the time for a proper interview at the moment. Every year I swear this stack of paper gets bigger and more menacing."

It was getting late into the night so the new students were sent to a ballroom for the night as a temporary sleeping arrangement before we move into our rooms with our teammates. I was told this would be a good 'bonding' experience with future teammates so I have to spend the night her even with my own room. I don't understand the reasoning for something so dumb, but I guess its tradition. It was going about as well as you could think having a bunch of teenage warriors shoved in a room together. In the middle of the room seemed to be some sort of makeshift arena for seeing everybody's skill in the ring. Right now there was some blond taking on three people pretty impressive fighter right there, could use someone like that on my team.

I was not prepared for this like seemingly everybody else, I was the only person in combat gear and I had nothing I could use as a makeshift bed. Whatever, not like I haven't done this before in less desirable places. I leaned up against a wall overlooking the match and slid down with my head propped up and my legs outstretched. I closed my eyes trying to relax for the night being disturbed shortly after by a shrill scream and two thuds right after each other land next to me. Looking over I see the guitarist slash hunter rubbing the back of his neck. "There go my chances of impressing any girls."

I smile, "yeah, because teaming up to beat one guy will get you all the ladies. You should stick to your music, at least you're good at that."

A girl runs over, "Val are you okay? I knew you shouldn't have fought him. He seems like he is unstoppable." She helps Val up and looks my way, "Sorry for my friend disturbing you while you're trying to sleep." She and Val headed back over to the ring to see how the other two are fairing. I lean back closing my eyes again dosing off to the sound of fighting and bystanders making bets on how long people can last against the master.

I head over to a cliff side that was set up for our first assignment at Beacon Academy early in the morning. There was a long row of metal plates with two crossed battle axes in front of a wreath, Beacon's emblem. When looking off the cliff I saw a vast forest, the Emerald Forest, Beacon's training grounds. From what Triela said about initiation is that its the same every single year. Catapulted into the Grimm infested forest to find relics that change every year, but always determined who was on your team for the rest of your time at Beacon academy.

I waited another hour or so for everyone to arrive as we took our places on top of the metal plates. Ozpin began stating the details of the task in front of the new group of students. "In the forest will be a temple with relics inside for you to retrieve. Obtain one of these relics and bring it back here ending your first task as a hunter at Beacon. An easy task or as it would seem. The Emerald Forest however houses a much darker threat, Grimm. Second is that you will form pairs in this task; it will be with the first person you encounter upon entering the forest. With that I wish you the best of luck future hunters and huntresses." He raised his hand then brought it down in a swift downward movement. Soon after that students from my left began being thrown deep into the forest with the sound catapults being launched. If Grimm are all I have to worry about then I will be fine. A few Grimm never could stop me when I was rarely working outside the safety of the walls.

My board launches me forward as I fall with grace towards the forest. Landing in the forest after breaking through many branches hitting the ground with a roll I immediately begin running to the center of the woods were the temple awaits me. On my way to the temple I run into a few stray Beowolves, but nothing that does much more then slow me down long enough so that I can take aim at them and blast them away. The forest around me is also full of the sound of fighting from the other students as the sound of gunfire, explosions, growling, yelling, and slashing come from every different direction. Better to avoid all that noise, don't want to accidently get teamed up with someone. In front of me is a stone circular temple sitting in the middle of an open field. Quickly looking around to make sure nobody is near I run at full speed toward the temple. I enter through the closest entrance of the two entrances placed on either side of the crumbling stone dome.

In the center square room there is a open roof that allows light to shine of many columns with different colored tools. There seem to be four different colors red, silver, black, and gold; as well as four different tools the shovel, pickaxe, axe, and sword. I stand there looking at my choices as I feel a presence watching over me. I turn around bringing up my shotgun and shouting at the entrance of the temple. "Who is there? I can feel you watching me, so just show yourself!" After a few seconds waiting for some response a drone comes into view with a camera attached to the bottom of it. Of course Ozpin is watching me, I am a huge risk that needs to be kept on a very short leash. With that I turn around picking up the black shovel leaving only one more shovel left.

Just seconds later the front side of the temple is toppled by a two headed black and white snake. Quickly I release two shotgun shells into the two heads. The explosion caused by the dust reaction causes them to hiss and struggle in pain breaking more of the temple down around me. Dodging its tail and falling stone blocks I run out the back door as the snake becomes angry and dead set on killing me now. The snake quickly catches up and surrounds me. One of its head blocks my forward path as the other slithers in from behind for an attack. Jumping out of the way of the black head I slash its right eye with my wrist blade. The white mouth opens up and strike from above trying to devour me, "Eat this!" I hold down the trigger shooting two rounds in its mouth blowing the fangs straight out their sockets.

One head is now drooling venom as the other has been blinded in one eye. Though I may have made things worse as the ground below the snake is now bubbling and is dissolving from the acidic venom from the gigantic snake. I rush it this time now with my bowie knife in my left hand, sliding underneath the two incoming heads I propel myself up swiftly with all my force cutting through the neck of the white half of the snake leaving the other black head alone in this one sided fight. Angrily it slams its tail into the ground trying to smash me as I weave left and right dodging the enraged tail. Taking one kunai I launch it into its only good eye blinding my foe. Jumping up I am face to face with it; ripping out the blade I shove my shotgun in its eye socket firing the last two rounds needed to end this fight. The body hits the ground with a thug as I land next to it quickly shoving two more rounds in my shotgun.

After looking at my prey begin to dissolve I turn back around and begin the run to the cliff that I was ejected from a little while ago. Upon reaching it there is a large fall into a dark chasm, seemingly only able to get across by a large stone ruin that leads to the top of the cliffs. Up near the top I see a man climbing the wall of rock, the same one that was wanting to be apart of my team earlier. I can't believe he is ahead of me. That man is a lot stronger then I give him credit. Quickly I make the ascend up through the maze of crumbling walkways to the top where I to have to begin a small climb up the steep rock wall. Pulling my self up top I see three people standing looking at me as I stand up.

Ozpin drinking from some coffee while looking at some screen that probably is linked to those drones. The man with his black muscle shirt with a skull imprinted on it and black spiky hair. His right arm is covered in tattoos of skulls and roses. While his left arm has a steel spiked gauntlet rise up his forearm. He is holding his guitar on his shoulder and has a yellow shovel shoved into the ground in front of him. I might just start believing in fate at this point.

Next to him is this girl with him last night during the brawl. She has long orange pig tails her eyes are blue like the sky matching her battle dress with white flower designs and streaks of gold as if it was a painting of the great blue sky on a sunny day. Her weapon was hanging across her chest, some type of submachine gun, as she held a silver shovel in both her hands.

Ozpin takes a break from watching his screen. "Congratulations on being the first team to finish this year. You four will now be a team for the next four years of your life."

I question, "what do you mean four? I only count three excluding you and there was a shovel still in the ruins when I left."

A voice speaks up from behing, "it's me he is talking about." I turn around seeing a man in an army green trench coat. His sniper rifle is camouflaged and is covered in leaves except one part, his bayonet a foot long red blade stands out. His shoulder length auburn hair is covering up his left eye. On his back sits a red shovel revealing him as the fourth and final member of my team.

I question him, "how, what, when, who; seriously how did you get there without me noticing?"

He begins walking past us back to school, "a good sniper never reveals where he is hiding nor his most prized hiding spot." With that he left us there; probably heading back to change out of his gear. What the hell just happened I swear I will get the answer out of him somehow.

Val steps up while smiling, "guess we ended up on teams after all Rodrick. No more of that lone wolf stuff you love so very much. Now we are a team me, you, Dizi here and that mysterious sniper apparently."

The girl next to him bows, "nice to finally be introduced to you Rodrick. I am Seicho Dizi I am glad to be on a team with all of you. I hope we have a fun time at Beacon Academy as a team." She smiles making me feel like its a warm summer day.

I bow back to her, "nice to meet you Dizi. I think we should head back and I can show you guys to the room. Maybe we should go to the lockers first though to go look for our fourth member." As a team we head back to the locker room looking for our fourth teammate. With that we leave Ozpin alone to continue his work observing the rest of the students that have yet to finish.

There we were all this year's students standing around back stage waiting for the exciting moment of being introduced to the public as the newest hunters in training. Everyone waiting around with their teammates silently listening to Ozpin greeting everybody's family and friends. After a short pause for dramatics Ozpin speaks again while pointing his hand to the entrance onstage. "Now with great pride I introduce the newest students of Beacon Academy. The first team to finish initiation Rodrick Ariditti, Charles Loi, Dizi Seicho, and Val Claude." We walk onto the bright stage standing side by side against the now full theater of lively fans. Behind us on a large screen appears our pictures with names. "For choosing the shovel these four will now be apart of Team ACDC. With Rodrick Ariditti as the leader of this brand new team."

Applause breaks out of the crowd as ACDC appears above our pictures and my name lights up a golden color. Near the front I see Team CHAT with four empty seats next to them Triela standing as she gives me two thumbs up and a wide smile across her face. After the congratulatory hand shake from Ozpin I lead my team to sit in the crowd next to the senior team. Ozpin continues to introduce the other teams behind us. The team behind us had chosen the sword Team JNGO lead by a Tanya Degurechaff, a very small girl to be a huntress. Those that chose the pickaxe became known as Team KAZE with a ninja as a leader named Kawa Ryoushi. Last team was Team STRQ led by a cloaked female, Summer Rose.

Yes I said to STRQ, the mysterious team that hopefully somethings about will be revealed in future episodes. Consisting of Summer Rose, Tai Xiao Long, Raven Branwen, and Qrow Branwen. Barely anything about these four or their past is known so most of their actions will be my imagination, though I am basing them off another fanfiction about Team STRQ that's pretty good. Its by SomeSortOfCat and its called STRQ.