Author's Note: Whew it's been a while since I uploaded. Been super busy so I haven't been motivated or had the time to write, but I wanted to get something out. It's not much, but I will try my best to get the rest out soon.
"Thirty one other students. Out of all that, he had to be the first one I meet. Oh, what inimical deed have I done to deserve such fate."
These were the inner grumblings of one indignant Diamon as he strolled languishly through the forest.
Walking in front of him in a steady, purposeful pace, was a casually dressed boy with black disheveled hair. It was the last person he wished to come in contact with: Yu Evergreen.
How did he find himself in this predicament?
During his descent from the cliffs, he had spotted a clearing where a shrine was located and signalled to Amy rough coordinates where they should land. However, as they were approaching the tree line, she suddenly veered off course. Already too close to the ground, he was unable to react quick enough and they ended up seperated. Once landed, he mulled over what his next plan of action will be and decided to head to the shrine he saw earlier. But that proved to be his fatal mistake. Not two minutes into his journey did he stumble across Yu who was standing by himself observing his surroundings.
Thus they ended up together.
"Hmm, the location of the shrine appears farther than expected. Perhaps if we have a vantage point we can make out where we are going. What do you think?"
Even though Diamon directed his words at Yu, he wasn't interested in his opinion. He just wanted his silent companion to say something. Anything.
When the two first met up, Diamon had made many attempts to start a conversation. From trying to get to know him better to remarking about their surrounding, Diamon just wanted the mute boy to open up a little during their otherwise silent and dull journey. But Yu never reciprocated.
And this time, like every other attempt, Yu ignored Diamon.
Well, that wasn't 100% true. While he didn't verbally acknowledge his idea, Diamon did noticed he subtly changed directions so that they are now heading up an incline.
So he's listening, just not responding.
Diamon wasn't sure whether to be glad or insulted by his behaviors.
The two continued their silent trek up the incline. Their pace wasn't any different from before, but Diamon can definitely feel the burn on his calves from the climb.
Soon, the forest started thinning as they climb higher and a clearing can be seen a short distance away. Diamon's pace increased as he eagerly marched towards the crest of the hill, but as he was about to pass Yu, Yu reached out and blocked his path.
"Wha-"
Diamon's indignation was interrupted by a piercing howl. At first, he thought the howl belong to a wolf, but after listening more closely, he knew that wasn't the case. It felt too sinister. Lacking any of the impartiality of normal wildlife.
The two Huntsmen were now alert and creeped up the last few meters of the hill before ducking behind a bush.
They were on the edge of a small cliff, the hillside eroded from flowing water. Below was a small open field with a indented lane of dirt and rocks, a riverbed created during the rainy season. However, what stood along the banks of the riverbed was what caught their attention.
There were 10 or so Beowolves, black wolf-like Grimm, staring at a crumpled form of a deer in the middle of the riverbed. The deer looked severely hurt with several bite marks, clearly from the Beowolves, along its torso. It seemed that as the deer fled from its assailant, it stumbled across the uneven rocky ground and fell on its side.
"A rather regrettable event we are witnessing," Diamon whispered solemnly as they watched the pack of Beowolves inch closer to the fallen deer. "But this does play to our advantage."
Diamon pointed left, down the dried riverbed where it curved behind a thicket of trees.
"I believe our destination is over there. If we hug along the cliffside while those beast are distracted, we should get there without any costly confrontations."
Without waiting for Yu's response, he started inching towards that direction.
"Are we just leaving the Grimm alone?"
This startled Diamon as it was the first time he heard Yu said anything to him. He turned around to witness Yu give him an intense glare.
Annoyed by everything that had happened since they landed and that Yu took until now to say something, Diamon angrily shuffled back.
"Yes, because that is not our current assignment. If you recall, we are taking an exam. And that exam is to acquire a relic. If our task was to eliminate Grimm or they are obstructing our goal, gladly. But right now they are not in our way. Taking on extraneous obstacles will just hamper our evaluation."
The two were locked in a staring contest, but Yu suddenly dropped his gaze, then look back at the scene below.
Feeling as if he won, he proudly puffed out his chest.
"Good, now follow me and we will be out of here in no time."
Without another look, Diamon returned to his original plan, failing to realize that Yu wasn't paying any attention. Instead, he was staring intently at the Beowolves.
The Beowolves have finally reach the fallen deer, forming a semi-circle around it. One amongst the Grimm stepped forward and took a sniff. In response, the injured deer's leg twitched in fright and its eyes bulged as it realized it imminent doom. It's chest heaved rapidly and a faint whimpering sound came from its mouth. Sensing the fear from its prey, the Beowolf arced its head high and issued a mighty howl, before lunging at it with its sharp fangs.
But before his fangs reached its target, its head suddenly shattered, spraying black ooze across the mud.
"What the-"
Diamon spun around at the sound of impact. Before him, stood Yu, upright, with a large compact bow drawn and his right hand pulled back as if just letting go of the bowstring. But what caught his attention the most were his maddened eyes, faintly glowing green, and a look that exudes primal fury.
"Yu, what-"
But it was too late to reason with him. With a bellowing scream, Yu leapt over the cliffside and pulled his bowstring once more. A silvery line formed between where he drew the bow and a what appears to be a revolver cylinder above where his left hand held the bow. He released the bowstring and the silvery line shot forth straight into a companion of the beheaded Beowolf.
At this point, the Grimm were quite aware of Yu and prepare to strike back.
However, Yu didn't give them the initiative. He landed on the soft earth of the hill and went into a roll to break his fall. As he transition from his roll into a sprint, his bow collapsed, the two side folding inward while two blades extend forth, transforming into a two-pronged katar. Using the momentum, he drove his blade into the nearest Beowolf, the blade going completely through the beast's belly and out the beast's back. Without missing a beat, he did a quick spin, causing his blade to tear through the now dead Beowolf's side before finding its mark again on a nearby living one. Before he knew it, there were four dissolving Grimm corpses at his side.
Now it was the Grimm's turn to react. Seeing a lone prey amongst them, they all let out a nasty snarl and pounced at the seemingly vulnerable Yu.
But how wrong they were. As they approach, Yu's eyes darted rapidly, analyzing the movement of each leaping figure. Then, crouching down, he ran towards the nearest target. Everything after that went by in a flash.
Like chain lightning, Yu rapidly dashed between targets, striking each once before moving on to next. The Beowolves attempted to swipe at the nimble figure, but as if predicting their attacks, he dodged every swipe by a narrow margin.
There was no wasted movement in Yu's action. Everything planned, every strike clean. Nothing short of perfection.
When he finally stopped, all that remained was a lone Beowolf, tattered after enduring Yu's assault. It was backing away cautiously after witnessing his destructive force.
Yu transformed his Huntsman weapon back into a bow, not planning on letting the beast escape, but it turned out it wasn't necessary as Diamon came slamming down on the Beowolf's head.
On his right arm was a round shield made of white crackling energy. The energy seemed to originate from the gauntlet on his arm that has a circular bulge with a large cross-shaped diamond at the center.
The shield made a sparking sound as the edge impacted against the Beowolf's neck, snapping it, before it fell to the ground, dead.
Diamon got off the deceased Grimm, his expression livid.
"What in god's name was all that about!?"
Yu did not heed his outburst. Instead, he approached the fallen deer.
Upon closer inspection, it was more ragged than what he initially thought. Claw marks ran through its entire body and blood flowed from its wounds in short pulses, matching the rhythm of its heaving breath. It's eyes were murky and moved slowly as it tries to focus on the person before it. Its once kicking legs now only twitch from time to time.
Yu took all this in without a single change in expression. Then, with one swift motion, he plunged his weapon in the dying beast's chest and with one final twitch, the last ember of the deer's life faded away.
As he extricate his blade, a hand suddenly grasp the back of his hoodie and threw him backwards. His back struck the mudied ground, but using his training, he used the force of his fall to roll into a crouched position.
And then he made eye contact with Diamon, now glaring at him with such intense rage.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? Why did you kill the deer? It was still alive! There was still a chance to save it."
Yu maintain his aloof demeanor, unflinched by Diamon's intensity. He took a brief glance at the carcass.
"It was already at death's door. What I did relieved it of its suffering."
"And you think that was the right thing to do?"
Diamon's current flustered face and tense breathing were uncharacteristic for his usual uptight and calm self. All the pent up frustration since landing had spilled forth when he witness Yu's action. And recognizing that he was being a little too animated, he took some deep breath to collect himself.
"Says the man who ignored the Grimm," Yu retorted under his breath. But Diamon heard it.
Diamon's chest rose as he was about to explode again, but kept himself in check. After taking another deep breath, he responded.
"A choice I made reluctantly. I believe my decision to be neither right nor wrong, but the result of our circumstances. I simply prioritized our evaluation, which we were given a clear safe route, over a risky venture to play hero that may or may not prove fruitless. Furthermore, costly engagements now will lessen our combat strength for the second portion of the test."
He shot Yu a glare that showed his disgust.
"While I applaud your decision to take the more righteous route, I cannot condone your approach. If your goal was to rescue the deer, as thoughtless it may be, I would have lauded you. But to save the deer from imminent death, only to end its life with your own hand...without remorse...without trying anything as if it was a far gone conclusion…"
He tightened his fist until the white of his knuckles are showing.
"Your actions are no different than if we left it to the Grimm!"
His last few words seemed to gotten a reaction from Yu. At the mention of Grimm, his eyebrows furrowed and his usual deadpan expression shifted into a nasty snarl.
"Don't you dare patronize me. You who sit upon a silver throne will never understand the brutality of Grimm. What I did was a mercy."
"Perhaps that may be so, but I don't need my upbringing to understand are unfit of a Huntsman. You are reckless and unsympathizing. Your purpose may be virtuous, but I can tell the path you walk are far from the pure ideals of a Huntsman."
He then pointed emphatically at Yu.
"You are the type of person I despise the most. You have no right to be in a school like Beacon."
"Tsk. Whatever. Like I care about what you think."
Fed up with the conversation, Yu turned to leave.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?"
Yu pause and gave Diamon a brief glance.
"Where I should have gone. To eliminate any Grimm in my path."
As he took his first step away, Diamon reached forward to grab his shoulder. However, sensing his approaching hand, Yu nimbly ducked from his grasp and spun around, his bow drawn...pointing at Diamon.
Instinctively, Diamon raised his gauntlet arm and the white shield made of energy crackled to life.
The two stood facing each other, stock still and tensed, waiting for the first move. Yu held his bow taunt, a glowing arrow made of light directed at Diamon's head, while Diamon ready his shield to block whatever projectile might fly his way. They stood like this in silence, the only sound being the rustling trees and the incessant cawing of a distant crow.
"Hmmph, ever since we've met, I had a feeling something like this might happen," Diamon huffed angrily.
"That makes two of us."
A minute passed with the two locked in their deadlock. But then, as the background noise fade, Yu released his fingers, sending his arrow loose.