Part 3: BYST

Chapter 1

Stairway to Haven

The years of training courses completed Shin finally was able to reach Haven he kept mentally checking himself and his objectives to make sure he hadn't forgotten that he needed to get strong enough to rescue the bro from those nightmares. He didn't have anyone contact him with information relating to Verin much to his frustration. But eventually he had gotten over it. I will find Betram no matter what, or who I have to tolerate to make it so. He went through his options, every so often he found himself waking with his teeth aching like he had been grinding them in his sleep. He sometimes wandered near the wall just outside the defenses, engaging a handful of grimm at a time, also using his power to escape when the situation was getting dangerous. He ran into Qester on the airship. "Hey there comrade!" Shin didn't think it was possible but the castle fighter actually got taller over the past few years. Qester was slightly shorter than Betram was before he was taken. At only seventeen the fighter was freakishly tall and had a posture like a refrigerator.

"Hello Shin, it's been a while. Break is done and we're moving up the ranks." Qester boomed cheerfully. The pair fist bumped with enough force to send aura sparks shooting up each other's arms, immediately flinching and casually working the feeling back into their hands. "You've gotten a bit stronger since we last met… or maybe you're holding back a little less." Shin shrugged.

"Of course I was holding back friend, I didn't want to break your hand." He replied letting a cheeky grin stalk onto his face. He sat back down on the bench in the airship as Qester sat down by him. "I wonder what the entry exam is going to be like."

"I dunno, but I hope we end up on the same team. I hope it's not a stupid written exam or something." Shin looked over at his companion doubtfully.

"Seriously? They need people with at least some form of skill to be a huntsman, even the Shining Knight Jaune Arc started off at Beacon below average. He was carried along by his team until he awakened his own power during team RNJR's journey here, even then his primary value was his tactical insight in the middle of a battle." Qester cracked his knuckles and stretched his shoulders.

"I wonder if there's going to be any hidden gems among us." The white haired boy and the dragon girl appeared in the mind of Shin.

"I can think of one or two…" Shin said before noticing his friend leaning back, the emotion draining from his face as his eyes looked like they could drill holes in steel. He was staring at the wall of the airship. "Qester?"

"I feel kinda weird, I feel happy, but I feel scared too, something isn't right. I can't tell what, and its driving me nuts." Shin bumped his friend to get him back to his senses.

"That's probably because your life is changing. I felt that when I got taken in off the streets. Change is kind of scary even though you want it to happen." Qester still didn't look convinced but he agreed nonetheless.

"Hmm… I guess that might be it, just a little bit of nerves, huh?" He internally felt worried for his friend. I'm the one who's going to have to rescue my bro, why is he the one freaking out? Oh, yeah I might have a problem, I would need to convince the rest of my team that I'm not crazy as well as get them to help me rescue Betram. He was shocked from his reverie as he heard a gruff voice snarl audibly.

"Enough of this Charles, keep this up and I might get pissed." It was an exceptionally pretty red haired girl with forest hued eyes. A big muscular-looking boy with brown hair was sitting next to her and was shamelessly attempting to flirt.

"You know a beautiful young woman such as yourself shouldn't be participating in such a dangerous academy alone. Maybe we'll end up on the same team Tia." She sighed and proceeded to not to give him attention.

"I should be saying the same to you Kingston, except maybe for you to have a team with a girl on it who those cheesy charms will work on." Her voice had a hint of gravel to it, like she was perpetually hoarse for some reason. But Shin had mistaken her tone for malice she was actually smiling slightly like the boy and girl had been through this before. "But… I wouldn't mind being on your team anyway." Shin walked over to Tia and greeted her.

"Excuse me, I feel like I recognize you… Tia?" She glanced at him suspiciously.

"Yeah, what about it?" He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Were you the girl who waged a war on bullies in the first year at Sanctum?" She groaned regretfully and kneaded her closed eyes with her fingertips.

"Urrrggh, yes that was me, running around beating people up. If you were one of those bullies I'll give you a free shot, unless you have something else to say."

"Ummm… no, you actually helped me out indirectly. I almost had to go all out against someone, but you distracted him so I could get away, thank you. It's been so long I almost didn't recognize the girl who saved my pathetic self. I hope we end up on the same team, I've got another friend who's interested. So we would already have three, unfortunately you would be the only girl at the moment." She smiled a little bit and stood up to stand slightly below eye level with Shin. His eyes noticed the scar traveling up the side of her neck without needing to move. She held out her hand she actually felt pretty good, she had a fan. I'm becoming more like Yang every day. She held out her hand and Shin took it and shook with a small amount of aura. Her eye twitched as she pushed back. It became a friendly duel for a few seconds, waves of aura clashing against each other. Shin and Tia both nodded and let go at the same time. The silent test of each other's strength was completed. "It would be a pleasure, what's your name by the way?"

"Shin Krosis, I would love having you on my squad Matthias." He walked back over to Qester who whistled and began speaking in conspiring whispers.

"Well look at you, not even at the school yet and you're already putting the moves on girls." Shin shrugged and nodded to Tia who had taken up the conversation with her friend.

"Well, the system kinda wants you to get to know your fellow students more, I'm just taking advantage of the opportunity to meet some strong people to help me make a strong team. How about you go and meet a few other people. I'll be here until we land. Go on my socially awkward comrade." At Shin's encouragement Qester wandered off. Looking out the window of the airship at the steadily passing landscape far below them he pondered. I hope the training at this place gives me enough strength to match these half-grimm. He adjusted the tan camouflage vest he was wearing over the brown shirt. He felt a chill, like someone was watching him. He looked around, he spotted a boy with white hair and a black jacket with a gold horseshoe on the back of it. He had his back to Shin and was fiddling with a black disc like a coin.

Bastille considered his question carefully. He could only use the coin every two minutes, just like the rest of his omniskill set. Alright, it's high time I ask for a straight answer about my mission, I've been flying by the seat of my pants long enough. Decision coin, is my mission to defeat Salem and the Half Grimm? Heads for yes, tails for no. The black coin flipped into the air and landed on the floor… standing on the edge. A torrent of confusion blasted its way through the mind of the dimensional traveler, he dug his fingers deep into his scalp and began pulling on his hair. WHAT THE HEEELLLL?! How could saving this Remnant be optional?! He growled, scooping up the coin and hurling it against the wall, it disappeared into black mist as he rested his head in his hands.

"Hey, are you okay?" What is my purpose in this place? Bastille turned and recognized Shin Krosis.

"Hey there Shin, I'm fine, just got some bad news." Instantly the look of concern on Shin's face creased into suspicion as Bastille turned.

"It's you… the one who addressed me out of nowhere and vanished. Who the hell are you, answer now!" I can't spin in circles just because I don't know what my mission is, I need to keep pressing forward and let instinct guide me where my power fails, hopefully it's in the right direction.

"My name is Bastille Unia and Shin, I need to talk to you alone for a bit, there might be unwelcome ears listening." They proceeded to a secluded seating area in the aerial transport. Bastille lowered his voice. "I know what happened in Verin, I was there."

"You do?" Shin hissed, leaning in close, his body tightened like the string of a bow. "Why the hell didn't you contact me?" Not intimidated by the far more inexperienced fighter Bastille started to feel a little more normal, a smirk crept into his face.

"Attempting to get information on your own is admirable, I'm surprised you didn't get caught and killed. I didn't contact you because it could be easily tracked I couldn't risk it."

"So then… why did you just appear, say hi to me and then vanish for the rest of my school career and just appear now?" I don't know anymore.

"I wanted to meet you and the rest of the people I'm going to have on my team." Shin leaned back and his voice relaxed slightly.

"You say that like it's a certainty." Appearing to remember why he was so concerned with this other boy he took a serious tone again. "So, what happened in Verin?" Bastille shrugged absently.

"I have my ways." Then he leaned in and quietly explained what he saw there, adding in little bits of data from the previous attempt at a mission, the monstrous half-grimm. The organized assault on the town, the obviously sabotaged defenses, and the creature's ability to turn into a fully humanoid form, and even a subtle hint that he had run into their kind before. "Now tell me… why are you so interested in these matters? What did they do to you?" This is some of the data I'm missing, not to mention extremely useful info.

Shin told him about the naga who had attacked and stole Betram, and Shin getting training and when he's strong enough he'll eventually hunt down and rescue his 'bro' "I would walk through fire for my friend, because I know he'd go through fire for me. He gave me a life that wasn't on the streets and he was the one who basically saved my life." He's going to murder you, ya know. Bastille reminded himself.

"Indeed." Bastille held up his hand to stop any questions from the other boy. "You might be able to find out who I am in a little bit during the entrance exam. Will that be okay?"

"Grrrr… fine! Just don't get yourself killed in the entrance exam." Shin growled impatiently as Bastille snorted.

"Don't underestimate me, I took on a whole group of those monsters and didn't die. Of course I didn't end up killing any of them in that encounter. It's like taking on four huntsmen at once, not even counting the army of grimm that was following them around." That got Shin's attention once again.

"You could take on four huntsmen at once?"

"Well, maybe in a decade, but if I were in a fight to the death against four huntsmen, I would be quite dead after about two-to-three minutes, but I could take them on one at a time with about… actually five minutes between each should be enough for me to recover my aura from any damage." Shin looked at the boy who appeared no older than him. He's confident enough to say that?

"You talk big, could you back it up?" Shin said extending his hand which was now crackling with aura. Not quite understanding the situation Bastille shook the hand. The two auras clashed silently. The pressure Shin put on his opponent seemed to go completely unnoticed until the handshake ended. How did he do that? I pushed as hard as I could. He stared at his hand nonplussed at the situation. Bastille appeared next to him and put an arm around his shoulder and made a grand sweeping gesture with his other hand.

"Remnant is a massive place, there are some things in this world that nature can't explain. I'm one of those lesser known things, I'll tell you more in a little bit. But for now, we're going to be landing soon, and I need to meditate on things for a minute. Go on, I'll see you later Shin." Bastille said sitting back down in the secluded area of the air transport. I'll question more relating to my hand of fate objective once Salem is dead, if I missed the trigger for the objective I'll at least live out the rest of this life with a clear conscience. And an existence where the world hasn't gone straight to hell, or even if it's something where saving the world is optional maybe something like that is timeless. A grin crept across his face with his eyes still being closed. If that's the case, I've got a limitless amount of wiggle room.

Tia checked her Tiamat combat suit, running her hands over the clusters of dust weaved into it. She could feel the flames call from under her quick-change shirt and pants, the kind that can be removed almost instantly in a single sweep. I had to design and modify some of my own clothes to make this work, I got tired of incinerating my clothes when I use Tiamat. The suit is my weapon, like a gun, and I need to be able to draw it quickly… Semblance. She called to the strange presence that dwells as her power. The reptilian reflection appeared sitting beside her.

Yessss?

You remember the deal?

Of course, you want to use my strength without me controlling your body. Because the power isn't actually mine, it's yours. I can probably restrain myself from taking control for about five minutes. That is only with the scale torso armor and strength of the dragon. Anything more and you'll reduce the amount of time you have. Then the fight stops when I say it stops.

Yes, I'm aware of that too. Can I trust you not to kill any of my allies?

Of course my love, I won't kill or permanently harm what's… ours.

She shuddered with mild disgust, because apparently over the course of her training with her semblance the manifestation of her power had developed some odd stalker/romantic infatuation with her, it was incredibly creepy. She checked her quick-change suit. She had picked pieces of clothing she liked to wear a lot to dice up to cover her combat suit. She liked the feel of the pants, they were made of a smooth and black material that swished when she walked. There were stylized stripes down the sides of mottled red and orange, also the release for the pants was hidden there. She had a loose-fitting green and red light jacket that she could also easily strip out of. She had a smoke-gray t-shirt with three black marks like claws down the front. Tia found it oddly comforting that the claw symbol matches the angle of the scar on her chest. I wish I could find a way to straight up transform my clothes at will. I heard someone had been able to do that a few years ago. She was like some thief in a stealth suit that transformed into a dress to blend in at a rich party. I'll have to figure out how to do that eventually.

She looked out the window at the ornately constructed Haven Academy as the transport steadily approached. She heard her friend slowly gasp in awe. It felt like something started to give inside her. A stone started to crack, and glowing lines of heat began to show through the surface her heart began to pound. All that stands between me, and being able to share my goal with someone. Is one single challenge, then I'll be with a group of people who have to believe my story if we're going to be working on a team. She closed her eyes and could picture Yang there with her. Her uncannily warm hand resting at the small of Tia's back, gently pushing her forward to her future. She looked over at her reflection that had appeared sitting next to her. The visage similar to Tia leaned in and put its head on her shoulder, warmth spread through her body as the mental support of her semblance also felt pleasant with this course of action as a soft and warm flame kindled in her heart. My plan is in place, so I can relax and enjoy myself for now. I get to be a huntress!

The ship landed and students started wandering out at a decent pace Qester, Shin and Bastille found their way to the entrance and left the ship. They started talking about what the trial could be again and Bastille spotted a shy-looking girl with a collapsible staff with a large knot like a cudgel on one end hanging from her belt. He quickly excused himself and effortlessly made his way towards her through the throngs. He snuck up beside her and tapped her gently on the shoulder with a single finger. "'Sup?"

"Oh, it's you… hey there Bastille. I didn't know you were going here, especially because you never went to Sanctum after I saw you." She said with a hint of nervousness with her hands behind her back. He nudged the girl with the golden-brown hair in a friendly manner.

"Don't worry about it Yeira, I'll tell you everything when I'm part of a team with you."

"I'm still not sure I can do this Bastille." He threw and arm over her shoulder roughly.

"Hey, don't worry about it, in order to prevent things like Verin happening again, it has to be us. I've got a few other guys who've run into similar things to us. They'll be willing to work with us if we have a pinch of luck on our side. We've got this." He said with confidence similar to saying that Remnant will keep spinning. Yeira took strength in the confidence exuded from the strange boy. "Concentrate, remember why you're here, but don't let it blind you to what's going on right now. Then you'll do just fine. Now, I've got a few other issues to take care of, I'll see you at the assembly." Yeira waved goodbye as Bastille hurried off.

Reaching a secluded area he pulled out the decision coin. Alright, I'll forgive you if you give me some good news. Question topic: Mission. Are Tia Matthias, Shin Krosis, Yiera Wenday, and myself important to this mission? The answer was yes. He sighed in relief. Phew, thank dust I'm not that far off track, so if I stick with them I'll likely be able to deduct what my actual mission is. The coin disappeared and he headed for the main building looking for the assembly.

He found his way there shortly before Deus appeared for her announcement. Unfortunately he had lost track of his future companions and couldn't find them before the headmistress of Haven appeared. "Hello students, I am Professor Deus, I will be heading your educational experience moving forward. Now, you have been chosen to participate in one of the four grand Academies of Remnant. The grimm war of over twenty years ago revealed this to us. When terror and shadows loom, there may not be enough time to learn and grow and wait for graduation. The best we can hope for is that when it comes, we will be ready to face this danger. To stand together as huntsmen and huntresses for all those who hold a soul, coming from all corners of Remnant to become its protectors, and its heroes. You're learning will not stop when you graduate this place, we are merely here to give you a good start. Attend Haven academy keep getting stronger, faster, and smarter. As long as you keep moving forward, you shall succeed in any endeavor." She turned away from the microphone and the assistant Professor Athenos stepped up.

"Dorms will be assigned once the trial has taken place. Women will rest in the cafeteria this evening. Men will be using the auditorium here to sleep. Sleeping bags will be provided for those who haven't brought any. Near the arena you'll receive numbers for your own starting lockers to store your belongings until tomorrow. Are there any questions?" One of the students raised his hand.

"When will we get the rocket-powered lockers?" A soft rumble of laughter echoed around the auditorium at the out-of-place question.

"Those of you who remain will be gaining access to your own rocket-propelled locker similar to the ones at Beacon during your second semester." More than a few huffs of irritation came from the crowd of people. "Will there be any other questions? Very good, enjoy your first day here and feel free to tour the facilities and information kiosks there'll be snacks and drinks provided when the tour starts. However, everyone will be expected to bed by ten 'o'clock this evening. The trial will begin at nine-thirty in the morning, any who are late by more than five minutes will not be allowed to participate and will be sent home. You are given one chance for this. Enjoy the campus." Everyone started funneling out of the auditorium there was excitement and worry in the air. There was a place providing maps of the Haven campus. There was a history building, arena and gymnasium, cafeteria, even a map to the dormitories. Basically the campus was a small town for students to live and go about their business.

Bastille was reviewing his data from the previous mission in an isolated corner of the library while skimming the book supposedly based off of him. Seriously? What's with this ridiculous backstory on me? Makes me sound like some kind of superhero, although it's not fully wrong, I just fill the role my mission puts me into, good or bad doesn't matter. I don't remember where I came from, or what started this pattern of missions. Maybe I could ask about it right now. He called on his power. Heads for god, tails for human. Neither? Hmmm… Question; was I once human? Heads for yes tails for no. In all his lifetimes he had never really considered what he truly was, he seemed human enough, but it always seemed inconsequential, the mission always came first, never time to slake basic curiosity, the answer was yes. I was a human once? How interesting! If that's the case how the hell did I end up like this? Maybe this little book isn't complete lies after all. That could be the reason there's no data relating to me being here before, maybe I had power before the first mission I was ever assigned. Shifting away from the past he also remembered the previous iteration of the assignment at hand, to sum it up he roamed around slaughtering groups of grimm that had gathered outside of towns and cities, of course it couldn't stop the events that were to come, he hoped that his different decisions would lead to a more preferable outcome. I wonder if I was actually making an impact, or if I was just wasting my time. He heard the sound of someone approach him. Such slow, light footfalls, are you nervous? Or merely curious about me and don't want to scare me off or convince yourself that something incredible is true, like a mirage?

"H-hello." Came a small and furtive voice from his left, he turned to look at the source, a girl with a fleece cap and an unzipped grey jacket was addressing him.

"What's up?" She had a kind of fairly racy sports-bra like top under the jacket. At least she seems confident about her own body, something about me must be making her awkward.

"That's a very interesting book you're looking at, I recommend it." Deciding to play dumb Bastille spoke like he had actually been paying attention to the book.

"Is that so? I've read the first couple of pages and the main character isn't all that interesting so far. He only cares about the mission, not getting emotionally involved. While I admire the devotion there has to be a limit. He's more like a machine than a person." She acted like he just insulted himself.

"Don't say that! Later in the book he becomes a very kind and caring individual." I'm getting the intense feeling she knows my identity and she's trying to play it off like she doesn't know… her nerves are giving her intention away though. He smiled with his eyes closed before speaking again.

"Do you know who I am?" As he spoke he suddenly felt a surge of deja-vu at the tone of voice he used.

"You're the boy of a thousand feats, aren't you?" Bastille smiled knowingly and spoke with a purposeful hint of irony.

"Drat, my cover is blown. By the way Miss, would you kindly not mention this to anyone else? I'm doing something quite important and you spreading rumors about me would be detrimental."

"Of course." The woman replied sharply before moving to sit down across from him. "I'm a huge fan by the way." He gestured to the closed book.

"It's kinda funny, I don't really know when I was here last, I have full records of everything I've seen and done since my very first mission. But there's nothing relating to me being here before, yet you guys have written this book supposedly about me. I've figured something out. This reality was where I was born as a human, this reality was the place I received my power. Give me a second I want to try something." He pulled out the decision coin and looked at the closed book on the small table. Yes, or no, is this book true? The answer is Yes. "Correction the book really is about me, there's a good chance I'll read it sometime later. Ah, where are my manners? My name is Bastille Unia, my weapon is Golden Horn: the sword shield, backed up by a wrist-mounted blaster." She seemed a bit more relaxed now as she introduced herself.

"I'm Edina Hiyero, my weapon is the Silver Bishop: A dust pistol-sniper combo." Bastille's eyes widened as he leaned in a bit closer resting his forearms on his knees.

"Oooo… how does that work? Commonly I've seen weapons have a melee and a range transformation I've rarely seen weapons that both forms are strictly ranged." Her face reddened slightly as she reached back behind her to a holster that was at the back of her waist, near the small of her back. A gun of bright silvery steel came up. It was tall for a gun, it appeared to have multiple barrels, it was about as tall as the width of the girl's hand. There was a small peg like a bolt for a rifle along the inner side, on the other side there was a button for the safety and a sliding switch of varying colors, likely for dust ammunition. The ammunition went into the handle in its pistol form in large clips. There was a group of notches along the top that indicated a gunsight. Bastille mentioned it and she said that she would carry a handful of extra parts to link to the Silver Bishop pistol, including a stock and a scope. She switched the safety off and pulled on the firing pin. The upper part of the pistol barrel extended up and the barrel folded out, slightly more than doubling the length of the barrel to four feet. The upper half of the gun collapsed back down.

The weapon wasn't as tall anymore but it was certainly longer. It just looked like a sidearm with a ridiculously sized barrel, and the second barrel that was still the pistol length. Bastille looked at the second barrel suspiciously. "What's this second barrel for? It doesn't look like it's connected to anything." She stuck her tounge out mischievously before collapsing the weapon again.

"That barrel is for my semblance. Aura Pontifex, I can change the consistency of my aura to a handful of effects, I can load a copy of the effect onto a projectile. Basically I load some kind of blunt dart up with my aura and shoot an ally with it. Then the power is transferred to their aura."

"Incredible! What effects can you do?"

"I can reinforce someone's damaged aura, boost the aura channeled to their weapons, and accelerate their movements by making their aura flow easier along with their bodies." He nodded his head approvingly.

"Very interesting, Miss Hiyero. I wouldn't mind watching you fight." She started to shift awkwardly and there was a moment of hesitation before she spoke again.

"I was seriously hoping we could end up on the same team, together." Bastille shrugged as he replied.

"The chance is non-zero but, more likely than not the teams will be picked at random. I have my own team in mind, but I wouldn't mind becoming friends with you during this semester anyway." A cunning thought wormed through his mind. I could use this girl to gain access to an alliance between teams when it hits the fan, a lance of eight people is a bit better than a single team of four. But more than two teams would be a disadvantage. Any extra fighters would be needed to form an initial guard against the first wave of grimm, and hold them off until the lance could pierce through and kill the heart. A confused expression crossed her face as Bastille silently drew his decision coin from thin air and flipped it, the result was tails. Damn, she's such a nice girl too I really wish she would be part of my mission. Well, at least I'll be able to hang out with such a kind girl during my career as a student of Haven. I only hope that when Salem strikes this girl doesn't get killed before my plan can happen.

A/N: Welcome to Haven everyone! There isn't much information about how the place is structured so I'll be forced to be general about what the academy looks like. But, it seems like all the members are making good friends right? Next chapter will be the trial that sets the group's fate into motion!