This was really funny. Scratch that, this was hilarious. All of their condescending and high and mighty attitudes and team RWBY just dined and dashed. I tried to stifle a giggle as we walked through the halls.
Yang turned to give me a quizzical look.
"Something funny?" Yang asked. I pointed back at the restaurant, to them, and then rubbed my fingers together.
"That was the cafeteria Neo, not a restaurant. Students can use it for free." Ruby explained.
I scoffed at the explanation. There was nothing in this world that was given away for free.
"Actually it is included in the cost of tuition." Weiss added. There it is.
"Not if you got a scholarship." Blake chimed in.
"For the last time, just because the three of you got scholarships and I payed my way does not mean you are better fighters." Weiss whined. Wait a second, these girls got to become huntresses for free? That's ... that's ... discrimination. I should sue someone ... or at very least rob them for this injustice. Everyone should have to pay their way. If they don't, then what is the point of having money?
"Why don't we test that princess. First round in Glynda's class, you and me." Yang challenged.
"Absolutely." Weiss affirmed as she opened the door to a large room that housed a fighting arena.
All the students filed in and took their seats in the stands. The instructor asked for volunteers for the first fight and Yang's and Weiss' hands shot up. They both took their positions and began to fight. It was kind of relaxing. The fight was intense, with some of Yangs projectiles missing and hitting walls near the stands, but it was familiar. Even inside a room I had never been in before I felt slightly at home. If the next two classes were about pickpocketing and extortion I might just begin to like it here.
Suddenly I felt a presence next to me. The Faunus was now sitting closer to me, reading her book as the match progressed.
"So can you read at all?" She asked out of the blue. I shrugged. I thought this illiteracy thing had already been well established.
"Do you know letters or the sounds they make?" she persisted. Again I shrugged, hoping she would leave me to watch the match. Some words you just came to know naturally, like that word on the red hexagon sign. It was either 'stop' or 'halt', either way it didn't really matter. It wasn't long enough for 'If you speed thorough here you will probably crash into another car'.
Suddenly I had her book shoved in front of my face as she started reading aloud with her finger tracing over the black strings of letters.
"Once there was a king who lived outside the kingdoms in a tall castle by the sea." Blake recited.
Excuse you? Who do you think you are, thinking you can impose this master-student crap on me? If you were someone worth learning from I would have taken note of you earlier.
"And thats the match. Well done Ms Schnee. Ms Xiao Long, try to remain calm after you have taken your first hit. Anger may enhance your semblance but grimacing and sneering during a fight are easy tells to read." the instructor stated. "Now who would like to be next to spar?".
A plethora of hands shot up but I wasn't waiting my turn. I grabbed Blake's wrist and teleported us both into the ring.
"I don't believe I called on either of you but ... ahhh your new here so I will let it slide. That is, if Ms. Belladonna is willing to spar." the instructor scolded.
"Why not." Blake replied, obvious scorn in her voice from being forced into the ring.
"Very well then ... and for future attendance of my class, the proper procedure for entering a sparing match is to raise ones hand and wait to be called upon." the instructor stated in a scolding voice.
Sometimes being mute has it's advantages and this was one of those times. If I had been able I would have let loose a string of curses that would make some of these hardened warriors feint in horror. Instead, I had to settle for giving her the most unpleasant glare I could make without looking downright silly.
"Whenever your ready ladies." the instructor stated and I turned to face Blake. We stared each other down for several seconds before she made the first move. She charged at me and slid on her knees to cut low with her sword.
I jumped over her blade and placed one hand on her head to flip over her. Once the flip was complete I utilized the hand on her head to grab hold of some hair and pull her backwards.
She flailed back with her sword to hit nothing. I had teleported to the other side of the ring. She took out her gun and fired at me only to have me appear on her right and hook the gun with the curve of my parasol.
The gun flew out of her hands but she quickly brought it back towards her with a ribbon attached to the gun. Before she could rearm herself I unsheathed my blade and cut the ribbon, the blade thankfully still sharp enough to cut a ribbon. The gun flew up into the stands and far out of her reach.
I started mopping things up with a kick to the knee, a knee to the head, and a punch that, thanks to my Semblance, hit her in both the front then the back of the head. She was on all fours now, panting heavily, and unable to fight. I kicked her in the ribs to get her on her back. I made a quick teleport to retrieve the book and then I threw it in her face.
"That was quite the fight Ms ... um." the instructor stated looking up to the stands for anyone with my name.
Ruby answered "Neopolitan" and the instructor continued "Ms Neopolitan however ... if you have an advantage such as your semblance you should use it to hit first and hit hard. Waiting for an enemy to attack requires all of your focus and leaves you open to being blindsided by reinforcements or unwelcome changes in the scenario.".
Excuse you?
"Now who would like to take our final match for the day?" the instructor questioned. I remained in the ring while Blake left the class.
"Do you want to go again? Very well then, you may choose from any one of the willing participants." the instructor stated. Several hands now lowered, knowing I was to be their opponent. However, I kept my eyes locked on the instructor.
I raised my parasol to point at the instructor and all the hands fell back down to the students laps.
"It would not be appropriate for a professor to spar with a student." the instructor defended. Whatever, I never enrolled. I shrugged and lifted up my parasol to point at her again.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" the professor asked. I nodded and pointed at her again.
I paced around the edge of the ring, watching her carefully as she entered. Before I thought the match had even begun an invisible force flung my parasol out of my hand and pushed me up in the air.
I gave a small chuckle at the sensation of being suspended in air by this woman's telekinesis. Neat trick but I have a better one. I tried teleporting behind her but something was wrong.
I couldn't move, I couldn't teleport, and I was suspended in the air and rising higher. This ... was ... bad. For the first time in a long time I felt something I hadn't felt since before I discovered my semblance at the orphanage.
Helplessness.
After I had reached the ceiling I stopped rising and started accelerating downwards. It took less than a second for me to hit the floor and my vision to go black.
I awoke to the all to familiar sound of a heartbeat monitor and the stiff scratchy sheets of a hospital bed. When I opened my eyes I saw team RWBY next to my bed and Blake with a big smirk on her face. I bet she would have loved to watch that fight.
"I trust you girls can take care of her from here?" the instructor stated from behind the girls, making me jump a little.
"Yes. Thank you professor." Weiss stated and the professor left.
I managed to point in her direction and make a quizzical look.
"That was Prof. Goodwitch. Glynda Goodwitch." Ruby stated.
Dam. I guess that's why you hit first.