"All students feel obliged to board the craft within the next ten minutes: take off will occur at exactly midday,"
Upon the announcement, students of all colour schemes, all talents and all sizes began to congregate around the doors leading to the inside of a commercial dust-plane, marked with the iconic clashing axes of the Beacon logo. Below the docking terminal stood the figures of proud parents and relatives who had shown up to bid their children and mentees a farewell before they embarked on their firsts step to becoming hunters and huntresses: those who shouldered the burden of protecting humanity from the ever-present threat of Grimm.
Lingering behind the hoard of students making a bee-line towards the doors stood two figures, both dressed well in black and crimson respectively with silvery armour protecting most of the boy's and portions of the girl's body. The male walked with the gait and fluidity of a well-trained fighter, light on his feet and exuding an akin to a master of a skill or to that of hidden nobility. His companion respectively moved with a certain grace, each step accentuated with the slight sway of her hips, aloof and dangerous.
Jaune made a personal note to thank Cinder for the help later; the last thing he needed was some idiot trying to buddy up with him and drive him up the wall in the process. Oum forbid they find out about his semblance early on.
People could charge their scrolls the traditional way…that is, if they earned one in the first place.
Or he didn't render them a twitching mess on the floor. Either was fine.
"Jaune, you're beginning to scare that scrawny looking guy in the corner," Cinder warned with a silky chuckle as the said boy surfaced from his thoughts with a jolt. Cinder had noticed how Jaune slowly spent more time thinking over the last few days. She had assumed it was nervousness, but Jaune was the type to just take things in his stride rather than fret about them…he had nothing to worry about in terms of being inadequate, so that was a dead end.
He replied in a gentle tone in order to prevent eavesdroppers. "Oh, I was just figuring things out…were going to be staying in the same place for four years with the same people. I don't know how close this bond between the new people we meet will have to be but four years is just a long time to spent with people you may or may not like,"
"You have me," Cinder reassured with a sense of finality, easing Jaune's mind. Besides, it was in her interests too…she wasn't Jaune slip through her fingers that easily…and it didn't hurt that he was a good fighter…amongst other things.
With that the pair continued aboard. The ship itself wasn't amazingly luxurious, but it was definitely spacious and featured current technology. The walls on the interior were a dull grey, although aircraft weren't renowned for their interior decorations; no, the main focus was what was going on outside of the ship. Below them lay the city, the elevation of the dock already making the people below appear miniature and the cars navigating the network of roads looking like toys in one big intricate board game.
As they gained elevation Jaune felt a craving to feel the wind and to experience the skyline for himself as he had done so many times in past…though in his humble opinion the city was that much more beautiful at night.
No. He would enjoy this journey. He would not think about what he would prefer and focus on what is actually there. There was a certain beauty to the day time he supposed, as the early morning shadows warped the angular few skyscrapers at the centre of the city into abstract shapes and patterns on the ground below.
"Hmmmmm, I suppose I could get used to this," he conceded, letting out a sigh in relaxation and slipping backwards into a nearby seat.
A yellow and tan clad figure had been watching the boy with interest since he boarded the ship with his friend. Using her experience of looking out for boys who might be interested in her beloved sister, she quickly realised that the two weren't 'together' together…yet.
Her eyes narrowed, a lilac gaze directed just across her sister's shoulder focusing on him. She liked to think she was a good judge of character and preferred what a person was like inside, but how much harm could it do if he looked good? A bit of mentally undressing someone never did any harm…right?
A pair of molten orange eyes met her own, the face sending a sceptical glance in her direction, clearly aware of what was going on in her mind.
"Awesome, caught staring already, good way to make an impression on a hot guy's 'friend'," Yang's conscience scolded. She swore that her own mind's favourite past-time was to point out what she was doing wrong.
Always nice to have moral support from yourself.
Just like it's nice to get attacked by a swarm of Rapier Wasps.
Focusing back on the task at hand the blond began continued to console her sister, Ruby, who was currently suffering from a mild panic attack. It amused Yang how she was so calm in fights against the creatures of Grimm and in duals against other people but at the moment she had to make social interactions she was reduced to a stumbling, awkward mess.
It wasn't that Ruby was rude or dislikeable; no quite the opposite. Yang was fairly sure that her sister was the sweetest person she'd ever met, with all the little quirks like having an addiction for chocolate-chip cookies. It was just not all people knew how to deal with her, especially if she was nervous and rambled on about Crescent Rose: that wasn't the greatest of conversation starters given the thing was about a subtle and intimidating as a Death Stalker…in the snow.
Before her Ruby's small form was kicking the ground in nervousness. "I got moved ahead two whole years! I just don't want people to think I'm special or anything…" with those words, Yang's heart broke a little for her, seeing her sister in such pain over something she should be proud of…besides, it wasn't like her to think about what people thought of her all the time.
"But you are special," Yang consoled the fifteen year old, gently embracing her in an attempt to make her feel better. It worked to an extent as she felt her body ease up her form slowly relaxed, first the shoulders all the way down to how she was standing.
The tender moment was shattered as an announcement ran through the hull of the ship, the recent news broadcast to holographic screens all over the ship.
Shown in a prison mugshot stood an orange haired man with a suspicious grin on his face. Without even needing the reporter to explain they figured the guy was trouble. Yang herself knew of the guy through some information brokers she'd come across in Vale's nightlife, who all seemed to make reference to the guy in one way or another. What she found particularly interesting though was the absence of the two figures Ruby had described being at the robbery at the same time as the criminal…perhaps they were newer to the crime network or were important to the point that their identity was completely concealed from the public eye.
How very curious.
Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind she focused on the announcement from the deputy head of Beacon. Of course she had to be the one to voice her mind, still unaware of the magically themed teacher.
"Who's she..?" Yang quizzed, her eyebrows raising in interest.
"I am Glynda Goodwitch,"
Awesome, so much for disproving the dumb blonde stereotype that had plagued her throughout her childhood, people simply judging her rather than actually getting to know her and learning that it wasn't the case. Yang definitely didn't consider herself an intellectual but she knew she was far from dumb…just a little lazy during class.
Still, she had her friends here right..? She mulled the thought over remembering how people were drawn to her as her popularity grew. She couldn't put her finger on who was there for her before that time; there were a few friends here and there but her initially shyness that she had worked so hard to overcome had been her Achilles heel.
"You are among a privileged few who have received the honour of being selected to attend this prestigious academy! Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world," the teacher recited, earning cheers from many of the students.
Yep. That sounded way too rehearsed.
"I suppose full time hunting Grimm with teaching on the side doesn't really leave room for acting lessons," the golden-haired girl thought with a gentle chuckle. Oh, Goodwitch would be great fun to wind up this year.
Casting those thoughts to the back of her mind, she took a window seat and with a final sneaky glance towards the blond boy at the other end of the room, zoned out, focusing on the scenery below as they passed over it like a giant metal cloud.
Cinder was less than impressed after the flight.
"I'm telling you, I don't like that girl, she was giving you that look,"
"Calm down, I thought this is what your dreams were made out from…" Jaune reasoned trying to diffuse his crimson-dressed accomplice. While he hadn't noticed 'the looks' themselves Cinder was clearly aggravated for one reason or another.
There was a series of huge gasps from back near the docking platform as a young-looking girl admired the students who'd arrived…or rather their weapons.
"AND SHE HAS A FIRE SWORD!"
Cinder cringed recognising the girl in question as the one who nearly jeopardizing their chances at even getting to Beacon. Great, the last thing they needed was some talkative teen recognising them and getting them caught.
Noticing the said girl getting berated by a princess-like girl clad in alabaster white, who was waving around a poorly sealed tube of burn dust. In a mean streak Cinder subtly cast some embers into the cloud of dust residue, the misty substance ignite just as the poor girl sneezed, sending the two flying apart from each other and leaving the previously white clad figure coated in a think black layer of soot.
"Was that really necessary?" Jaune asked rhetorically with a raised eyebrow and muted laughter, the forms of the two girls squaring up into an argument. Out of the corner of their eyes another person slinked over to the source of the commotion, signalling it as time for the two to leave.
With Cinder's anger vented on the girl, she along with Jaune began to take in the beauty of the campus. Even the very edges of the grounds were maintained to perfection, the fauna distinguishing the place from what would be just as bleaks as the forest that lay beyond the cliffs, brooding with dark shades of green concealing anything that lurked within. The hairs on the back of Jaune's neck stood on end as an inhuman wailing came from within the forest. It was such a distant sound, but still reminded him how close they were to the very brutal reality that anything outside of the city or town walls would try and kill you.
Without any hesitation.
And here the towers of Beacon stood in the middle of Grimm infested woods, cloaked in a warm green light as each spire house giant emerald jewels of dust. It was as if their presence alone was to warn the nearby Grimm. To remind them that they were the ones being hunted and not vice versa.
Drawing nearer and nearer to their destination the pair finally realised the scale of the citadel, the walls in front of them towering to hundreds of feet peppered with the pure glass of each window. The slight scars on the building became apparent too, lines where to the Grimm had scraped at armaments to try and get inside, back when Beacon was still developing into the prestigious academy it is today.
They gave the building character if anything else: a history that went beyond what books could tell you.
A rainbow of people filled the courtyard itself, all crowding around a platform where a microphone rested at the centre of the circular stage. The idle chatter that filled the entire area died down as footsteps resonated against the hard stone walls, a shadow emerging from backstage to reveal a tall silver-haired man with a pair of glasses perched low on his nose.
"…So that's Ozpin," Cinder breathed, her voice laced with undertones admiration as the legendary hunter began to speak into the microphone.
"I'll...keep this brief," the student's hung at the man's every word. "You have travelled here today in search of knowledge: to hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose: direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step,"
Jaune had to give it to the guy, he was a natural public speaker, each word that rolled off the tip of his tongue holding the weight of a thousand for another person.
"Cinder, you can close your mouth now," Jaune sniggered, playfully elbowing her in the side, unleashing a flurry of denial.
"I wasn't that impressed!" she retorted, trying to play it off, embarrassed at having her front of being self-important and generally unimpressed with other people torn to pieces. She suppose there were exceptions, Ozpin and Jaune apparently being two of them. "Besides…he looked kind of…off,"
Jaune agreed, partially so he could sleep safely at night and because she was right. The man spoke as if he was deep in thought about something far bigger than they could comprehend, or at least in his eyes.
"You will gather in the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins. Be ready," Goodwitch informed the student body, shortly and simply.
Yeah. A little charisma wouldn't hurt every once in a while but what did he expect? She wasn't known for being a forgiving teacher and everybody who had studied at Beacon would only reinforce that point.
"Wait…Jaune, I'm fairly sure that uh…well, the ball room isn't going to have a division or anything…" Cinder highlighted the potential awkwardness of the evening to come.
"Well, you've never had a problem with the opposite genders in the same room…or say…bed," the blonde teased the raven haired girl who's cheeks very quickly tinged red.
This was going to be a…different…evening.
"Look, I told you she isn't interested bird-brain or Thrush or whatever you're called,"
This was the fourth guy Jaune was dissuading from making an advance on Cinder. The guy could have had the decency to keep a shirt on…or to at least have a trace of muscle to justify the decision. Around the room littered with sleeping bags stood other teens wearing the bare minimum of what they could get away with.
Sleepwear was for sleeping not modelling.
Of course that was his opinion, which seemed to make far too much sense for people to actually listen to. Because that would be far too logical and easy, but instead the room was thick with the testosterone of a legion a teenage boys around mainly scantily dressed teenage girls. What a mix to have within a confined environment.
Jaune swore if he heard…
Nope. He wasn't even going to think about it.
Across the room, a certain Yang Xiao Long was watching the boy avidly as he flexed to intimidate yet another scrawny teen, the current one with a coloured plume like a parrot. Seriously, he had a long, long way to go if he was going to impress any person on this room through attractiveness.
Attractiveness…
She looked on enviously at the girl currently positioned near the wall at the back, just behind where the blonde had laid out his things. Yang was impressed with the view she got of him changing shirts although she had a feeling that the orange eyed girl got a much better view, even if the boy hadn't meant it.
No! She was Yang Xiao Long, voted hottest female student at Signal three years in a row, and there was no way whatsoever that she was missing an opportunity like this one. She began hatching a plan as Ruby complained to her about her lack of friends at the academy.
Perfect! "Well, surely you know someone from around here..?" Yang questioned in mock inquisitiveness. She was proud of her ploy as the plan went straight over her sister's head, who motioned towards the pair at the other side of the room.
"I know them…kinda, they were there when I exploded…plus they seem kind of familiar!" Ruby chirped trying to put a positive light on her experience with the two.
That was all the opportunity Yang needed as she dragged her protesting sister forwards, knocking several people out of the way in the process, followed by multiple groans as the people picked themselves off of the floor.
"Hey! I am Yang and this is my sister Ruby! You guys have met right?" Jaune jumped at the sudden appearance of the blonde, eyes widening at the sudden closeness.
Cinder was up in an instant and immediately cut in. "I suppose you could say that…she's the one who exploded right?"
Ruby's face dropped and she scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, and pouted in frustration at her sister. Jaune while not overly keen on the girl to begin with after the robbery, couldn't stand the look akin to a kicked puppy she had on her face. Besides, all that criminal stuff was behind them…right?
"I'm Jaune, nice to meet you Ruby," he began, extending his hand politely in a friendly gesture. What harm could come of having a few allies? "And this is Cinder…come on, play nice for once," he sent a look to the said girl who rolled her eyes.
That was all the distraction Yang needed before she pushed into Jaune side, slinging her arm around his shoulder and dragging Ruby underneath her other arm. Cinder's features darkened and her eyes glowed more intensely…Yang almost swore she felt Jaune shiver.
"See Ruby, that's plus two friends!" Yang exclaimed excitedly, enjoying the close contact with Jaune who looked completely confused as to what was happening. She took in his scent, smelling on fresh pine and chocolate before beginning to drag him and her sister back to where they were resting to get to know her new acquaintance.
The lights went out and the three stumbled sending them into a heap on the floor, Cinder's eyes shining like hot coals in the dark after discovering the master switch to the lights and hauling Jaune out of the blonde girl's clutches and back to where they were sleeping.
"Thank me later," Cinder whispered to Jaune who was wriggling into his sleeping bag.
"She wasn't doing any…"
His reply was cut short by Cinder's slender arms reaching forwards and clamping his mouth shut.
"Jaune, shut up and just enjoy sleeping next to a beautiful women, okay?"
He obliged.
Another chapter done and dusted. Hopefully there aren't TOO many mistakes...
Well, Yang has had a brief introduction into the plot now...don't bite my head off just yet, she will get plenty of time in some of the following scenes, things just take a while to get going...besides, where's the fun in having no build up?
And come on! Let's push 100 followers of the story within the next week, I tend to repeat myself over this but it really does mean a lot to me to know that you are prepared to take just five minutes out of your day to read this, it really does :)
Shoutout to my English teacher for dumping three hours of exam questions on me as homework this week, really helps to free up the little spare time I have to write this -_- She's worked her way to the prestigious number one slot on my shit-list.
Have a great week everybody!