Ceci

It was bright at the academy. Roman was out playing rugby with the other kids who had too much brain damage, Tariq was tuning his lute for the 8000th time that morning, and Sasha was still probably hungover in the bathtub. Cecil still had a headache from the night before. He back talked Professor Blanchard, one of their instructors, and had received swift retribution

SLAM

"This is what it feels like to get hit by a boulder from a tetsucabra!"

SLAM

"This is what it feels like to have a zamtrios land on you in inflated form!"

SLAM

"This is what it feels like to get tail slammed by a glavenus!"

SLAM
SLAM

SLAM

After the gods know how long, Cecil was finally let go. He stumbled into the med bay, mumbling about falling out of bed. Falling out of bed wouldn't explain the multiple concussions and sink marks on his head, nor would it explain his fractured skull, as he slept on the bottom bunk. But he kept his mouth shut, so all they could do it patch him up and send him on his way.

Cecil looked around through bleary eyes. He still hadn't come up with a name for his team. Technically it was Sasha's team as she was the oldest, but she deferred to him as she was shitfaced 90% of the day. They needed both an abbreviation consisting of their letters, an abbreviation, a symbol, and a motto. As Tariq frowned at his lute, Sasha puked in the other room, and Roman walked into the door frame, he had it. Who would have expected them to be friends? Who would have expected them to win the Blackwagon in the teamwork competition? No one really wanted them around except each other. Roman was liked because he could hit people, Tariq could sing and play but didn't talk to anyone, and Sasha was… Sasha.

Team Stark. STRC. What a stark contrast they were. The singer, the brute, the warrior, and the drunk. White, red, black, and blue.

The Dissidents. The kids who were always in trouble for one reason or another.

"Those who do not belong, belong." The wise words of one of the eight gods that Cecil worshiped, who brought freedom and light to the world.

As he smiled at his friends and relayed his ideas, he was suddenly and violently ripped from their caring presence. He was torn from them checking his head, promising to kick the shit out of Professor Blanchard, and from the only people who could understand him. He was swallowed up by an unspeakable, terrifying blackness. Jaws of bone white and blood red consumed him as every part of him was ripped apart. He tried to cry but no words could come out. He heard the laughter of Blanchard, he felt the evil around him threatening to utterly destroy him. He saw his father bleeding in his arms, surrounded by darkness. He screamed, and cried, and…

"Cecil! You're going to be late for your first day!" came the singsong voice of Ruby.

He sat up with a jolt, shining with a thin layer of cold sweat. A dream. A bad dream, that was all. He was safe at Beacon, and his friends were probably fine. They were probably pissed that he took the Blackwagon, but they'd be fine.

BANG BANG BANG BANG

He doubled down in horror.

"No… no no nononononononononono… NO!"

He screamed to no one in particular.

A new, quiet voice spoke to him. It was that of Pyrrha, the voice of reason in the sea of terror. His vision swam as he fought to stay awake. He saw an apparition standing in front of him, but it was soon replaced by a closed door.

"Stay alive, son. Please."

"Ok dad."

"Are you alright? May I come in? You don't sound too good." Pyrrha's worried voice carried through the door.

After checking to make sure he was wearing pants and a shirt, he found his voice and could answer.

"Come in."

Pyrrha

Pyrrha walked into the room not really sure what to expect. The first thing she noticed was the menacing set of armor that sat in the corner next to some very dangerous weapons. Sitting on the bed was a terrified kid. This wasn't the kid who had told Cardin to piss off, this wasn't the kid who had fought off four, trained students. His eyes were wide and unfocused, and his breathing was erratic. He was covered in sweat, and tears streamed down his face. His handsome hair was disheveled and his glasses had been thrown off the nightstand. His dog, wait, he had a dog? His dog curled up protectively around him as he stroked it and fought to regain his bearings.

"I'm sorry to worry you like that, Pyrrha. I am quite fine now, just worried about the first day. I've never been to an academic school before."

Pyrrha was completely unsure. He looked like he had just woken from some terrifying flashback, not pre-school worries. But pressing him would only stress him out more, so she decided not to try at the moment.

"You have your first class with me. It's actually combat training, so bring your weapon, or weapons I guess. You have your first class in an hour and a half, but it's pretty far from the dorms and you should get some breakfast too. If you need any over-the-counter medicine, don't be afraid to ask. Everyone needs an Advil from time to time."

But he didn't look like he needed an Advil, he looked like he needed therapy.

"Thank you, I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Now, I'm going to shower, and I'll see you at class."

He closed the door and she turned around to a Ruby who looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know I would upset him! I just wanted him to be early so he could see Beacon and maybe get some food and I don't know -"

Weiss came out from behind to corner and said in her own caring way,

"Oh hush you dolt, I'm sure he's fine. If little things like that set him off all the time, Ozpin wouldn't have him here."

All of the girls agreed to split up and get ready for the day. Pyrrha quickly showered and donned her uniform before pulling her hair into a neat ponytail. Everyone else was ready and waiting at the dining hall. As she walked in and sat down with some breakfast, she was slightly disappointed to see that the new kid wasn't there. They all ate quietly until Yang broke the silence.

"Anyone know where the badass new kid is?"

"No idea. I saw him this morning and he didn't look so good, so he might not be here."

As the words left Pyrrha's mouth, someone dropped a tray of food at the table.

"My name is Cecil. Cecil Corax."

The white front of his hair was now combed and fluffed up, and the back was styled in its wild manner. He had his glasses back on, and they appeared to be undamaged from the morning's episode. He wore the standard school blazer with a necklace of some carnivore's fangs and a single, ivory feather. In the light, all of the students could see the many scars that adorned his face, running down his jaw, across his nose, and one that neatly split his eyebrow and eye in two. His jagged face was handsome and calm, with no trace of his previous meltdown. His eyes were clear as he calmly sipped his coffee and reached for his muffin. Ruby looked like she was about to explode if she didn't get to ask something.

"Do you have a dog?"

"Yes, his name is Apollo, and he is a good boy. He's currently asleep in my dorm."

Blake stiffened at the mention of a dog.

"He doesn't bite, I promise."

"Can you tell us about your initiation? Ozpin sent us out after that roar."

"That was a zinogre. I found it, fought it, and killed it. Nothing much more."

The ever-studious Blake finally spoke to him.

"What's a zinogre?"

"A breakdancing, super saiyan, comboing, son of a bitch."

"What's a 'saiyan'?"

"Nevermind. It's a big, powerful grimm."

He went back to sipping his coffee.

"How are your ribs?"

"Fine. Sore, but fine."

He was avoiding any mention of a fight. Pyrrha had seen the weapons in his room. They were sharp and heavy, and they weren't something anyone could use. But since he didn't want to talk about fighting, she wouldn't mention it.

"I don't have an official schedule yet as I'm not in a team, but I've been assigned to join team JNPR for the day. What's your first class?"

He was not going to be happy.

A grin lit up Nora's face as she stared at her schedule. She had already been here for a few weeks, but she had to make sure.

"Sparring class!"

"Of course it is."

They all finished their breakfast while talking about nothing in particular before the bell rang, sending all students to their classes. All of the first year teams were together along with a few of the older teams. As they all walked into class and sat down, their sparring instructor walked in. Upon scanning her class and seeing Cecil, her neutral expression transformed into a frown. His left eye was still blackened after getting punched by someone in yesterday's brawl.

After quickly correcting her expression, Professor Glynda Goodwitch righted her posture and addressed the class.

"Welcome to sparring class. Today we will be seeing 3 different matches. You will spar until one of your auras drops into a red zone, when you will immediately desist to avoid further harm. You may use your full capabilities to fight, but you must be careful not to destroy the sparring room, as it is expensive to replace. The first match of the day will be Jaune and Cardin. Please get your armor and weapons and prepare to fight. These fights will determine what level of difficulty your missions will be in the next few weeks, so do your best. Mr. Arc, Mr. Winchester, please step onto the arena. The next fight will be Blake Belladonna and Nora Valkyrie, so get ready for your match."

The match between Jaune and Cardin was going to be incredibly mismatched, but it would have been more fair than any other fight. Nevertheless, as the fight started, it was clear that Jaune couldn't even touch Cardin, and Cardin wasn't particularly fast. Cardin blocked all of his attacks with ease, and Pyrrha almost had to close her eyes as Cardin effortlessly threw Jaune around the arena. At last, Jaune lay on the ground as Cardin stood over him with his mace raised high.

"Enough!"

Glynda stepped in and pointed the boys in opposite directions off the stage. Cardin walked off with a smirk on his face and radiating swagger, high-fiving his friends who waited on the size. By contrast, Jaune stumbled off, his face low and shrouded in defeat.

"Next up: Blake Belladonna and Nora Valkyrie. Students, please take your places and remember the rules."

The next match was bound to be a more aggressive match. Blake was fast and Nora was strong, and it would be much more even than Cardin and Jaune. As each combatant stepped onto the arena. Blake held the katana to her side while Nora shifted her stance low and hefted her hammer. At the clang of the bell, they both launched forward. Nora's hammer slammed into Blake, until Blake suddenly reappeared behind her. Cecil, who had previously been sitting uninterested, suddenly perked up and leaned over to Pyrrha.

"What was that?"

Pyrrha, not wanting to get in trouble whispered back without taker her eyes off the fighters.

"What do you mean?"

"She just hit Blake. How did she not?"

"Blake's semblance can make shadow clones of herself."

"..."

"What the hell's a semblance?"

"A manifestation of one's inner power and spirit. A more tangible projection of aura."

"Alright."

They both turned their full attention to the fight. Blake darted in and out, while Nora struggled to find her mark. Blake had to be perfect in order to avoid the hammer blows. Unfortunately, no one is perfect. She darted in, but Nora was ready. A crashing hammer blow sent Blake into the floor. As Nora lept into the air to finish it, Blake rolled out of the way and stabbed forward with gambol shroud. As they both leapt back, Blake's aura was slightly higher than Nora's but Nora hit much harder. Blake reloaded her sword and Nora adjusted her stance. They launched at each other, Blake stabbed at Nora and finished off her aura reserves, but Nora managed to swing in and utterly demolish Blake's aura. As they fell to the ground, Professor Goodwitch spoke up.

"It will be a draw. Well done students, in both fighting and not completely demolishing the classroom. The final combatants of today will be Pyrrha Nikos and Cecil Corax. Students, please get your weapons and step into the arena."

Pyrrha looked at Cecil. They were both equally surprised, but quietly stepped out of the classroom to fetch their weapons. Pyrrha went into the bathroom and switched into her armor before picking up her sword and shield. She generally knew her opponent and their patterns beforehand, but Cecil was a wildcard. The only time she had ever seen him fight was i 4, where he fought like a wild, cornered, animal.

She saw no sign of him as she stepped into the arena. No matter if you were a seasoned veteran or a brand new warrior, it was bound to be an interesting fight. Cecil did not fight like most people.