AN: Since it's fairly relevant this chapter and gets it's introduction, I thought I'd quickly explain that for all terms and purposes Azrael and his family are Egyptians effectively and follow those old gods of Egypt and whatnot. Aside from that though a lot of this series is going to involve a lot of me trying to add bits and pieces to Remnants history and culture that either felt like they were missing and whatnot. Think that's all I have to say for the moment.
Chapter Title: The Kemet
Arc 1: Regular People Chapters
"Your wings are rather impressive, it's very rare to see Faunus with wings at all let alone so large." The headmaster commented as he walked by to where there was a clipboard with all of my medical information on it.
Goodwitch seemed to be keeping herself from saying anything and slightly on edge about something, maybe my eyes and likely Semblance were concerning her? I mean I did bullshit Ozpin with that story about killing that kid- cause if it wasn't obvious that was a lie, I've killed another person before but it wasn't like that. The story was twisted, the first time I used my Semblance I was trying to climb a chair to get on top of a table so that I could steal food and ended up breaking the table instead.
As for that time I killed a few people, well that's a tale for another time.
"I'm aware, seeing as my younger brother's trait is his eyes and apparently my father had no human ears." Mum said he had long hair so she didn't notice that he didn't have normal ears when they first started dating.
"Hm." Ozpin hummed and nodded while he looked over the clipboard.
Serqet moved past the leaders of the school and picked up the pill bottles off the bedside table handing me two of each vitamin as well a glass of water-
"You'll need to take two of each twice a day, once with breakfast and the other being around dinner." She made sure to glare at me for extra emphasis.
Once she had walked away and left me alone in the room with the Old man and the blonde Headmistress, said Blonde brought out her Scroll and made the screen large enough to be a computer monitor and a video of me during the initiation- from the point where we got jumped the Deathstalker until after I blacked out.
As she showed it she asked me-
"Professor Ozpin told me about your Semblance and you made a great display of its capabilities or at least it proved your words weren't just fluff, but that isn't what we're here about." The older woman adjusted her glasses. "You mentioned that your mask was a gift from your mother and it helped, we wish to know how? And why it was necessary for you to remove it to use your Semblance during the initiation."
I was going to explain to them how as well as about Mum's semblance, but ended up after a minute of wasting their time while thinking to just grab it from sitting next to those clean clothes of mine and handing it to the Headmistress.
"Put it on and try to use your Semblance." Watching as the woman stood there awkwardly taking the mask from me and handing her Scroll off to the Headmaster she did as I said after removing her glasses briefly while she did.
Handing it back her expression was a little more grave and serious realising what mask did, I put it back with my things.
"You're mother's Semblance allows her to stop other people and somehow this mask of yours has that same effect?" She deducted that really fast didn't she?
My gobsmacked expression got a bit of a laugh out of the woman.
"I've seen many a Semblance Mr. Solatium and with the information you provided along with the unique experience you provided, it was rather easy to deduce."
"So?" I wasn't really sure what else they wanted from me.
Ozpin cut in.
"As it is with all Students at our academy who have killed, you are required to attend counseling. Though you may not wish to because of how long it has been since your incident, there aren't any exceptions to this." Both adults waited for my response.
"Sure, when do I have those or will it be on my timetable of classes? Also that means I got in then? And lastly if so who's my team?" Miss Goodwitch made her way out of the room as I asked the questions, it seemed like her part in the conversation was over.
"You'll have a timetable sent to you by the end of today and the school provides any of your books so you needn't worry about it, as for the other things, yes you made it into the school and aside from Ms Nikos your other teammates are Yang Xiao-Long and Blake Belladonna- you all form team BYSN/Boysenberry."
"Okay… when does the school year start for us then?"
"Classes will begin on Monday, so you'll have four days to move into your dorm with the rest of your team and prepare." with that he finished and left the room.
Once he was gone I quickly changed into my clothes in time for Serqet to walk in while I was putting my shirt on, ignoring me completely she began making the bed and straightening the sheets out while she did so Serqet said-
"Don't think you're special for having them show up, they come down here to talk to all the people who ended up in the medical ward whether they passed or not to talk with them." The dark haired woman smirked.
"Thanks for the confidence boost, oh by the way-" and so I informed her about the talk and what had been said as well as the small tidbit about how I lied to them, she laughed at that and said that while I was in counseling I should make friends with the councilor because of who they were.
When all was said and done she made sure I was fit to leave with the medications and sent me on my way, once I left that room though it became apparent to me that the area outside the room was a massive I guess waiting area that had multiple hallways that led to more rooms and a dedicated section for surgeries and whatnot. I didn't stick around to explore though and followed the directions I had been sent for our dorm and was in the middle of walking there now, I had still wrapped my wings around my chest under my shirt and was still wearing my mask because I did want to keep it to myself for as long as possible.
[Meeting Adjourned]
It took about half an hour before I found my way to the Dorm that had a number plate and initials plaque for our team, the plaque said 'BYSN'.
Opening the door I took my mask off and was met with the sight of what appeared to be living space.
It held two crimson couches with cushions facing one another with a coffee table between, past that was a cabinet that held a large t.v on top of it- though all that stuff was off to the left of the room and on the right was a kitchenette. Walking further in allowed for me to see a doorway that upon stepping into found me looking at four beds two on near the window and across from that was two more all with white pillows and sheets but had red duvets, there were also crimson curtains and a bookshelf that was already chock full of books, though I assumed they must've moved it from the common area.
The rooms were both fairly spacious and looked like they offered a fair amount for us to do just in the rooms if we didn't feel like heading out of the for stuff, though I did go snooping about and found a bathroom fit with a three shower stalls, a bathtub in a cut off low walled section that had a wood gate separating it from the rest of the room. Second to last there was a set of cabinets and a mirror that opened into more cabinet space as well as a couple sinks across a two or three meter long counter. Lastly though through another door there was another cut off section that held toilet stalls.
All in all it was really nice, I did see a few bags and such on the beds except for one, which had my duffle/sports bag on it that made it self very obvious compared to the other three's beds seeing their suitcases had like family emblems on them. The Bed my stuff was on was the bed on the right against the wall, with the window separating mine from presumably Pyrrha's bed.
I picked up a note that was sitting on the windowsill next to my bed that read.
Welcome to Team Boysenberry's room Azrael!
Not sure when you'll see this or if we'll have already been in the room when you get here, but if we're not then Pyrrha is likely training in one of the combat rooms that we found out about, as for Blake and I, I've been dragging her around the school grounds!
Yang.
"What the..."
Why did she even write this? I mean I guess I can understand, but surely it would have been easier to just tell me in person.
Man, why was her handwriting so clean and good? Mine looked like a ten year old vomited onto a sidewalk and a three year old was drawing into it. It was so bad comparably.
Anyway I left the bedroom and went into the main room that had the Kitchenette area and laid down on one of the couches and dialed my mother.
"Gaea speaking?" Her voice came through clearly and it subconsciously made me relax a tension in my body I hadn't realised was there.
"How's it going Mum?" I asked back.
There was a soft 'oh!' "Azzy! Your sister said you didn't make it into Beacon!" her tone surprised me some in how worried it was.
"It's fine don't worry, I got in." there was a loud cheer on her end that made me move it away for a second. "I'm in my team's dorm at the moment, I ended up in the infirmary after using my semblance during initiation. Oh and I haven't actually spoken to Priscilla so I have no idea why she told you that."
There was a knowing sigh that came through. "Well at least you're okay, what about your classes though?"
"Headmaster said that classes don't start until Monday so I'm free to wander around until then, I probably have to get measured for my uniform tomorrow or something." there was a brief silence. "Oh and tell Priscilla that I met her old friend/teammate and we're dating."
My mother burst into laughter on the other end of the line. She must have put her Scroll down and gone to tell my sister because there was a very audible distant 'WHAT?!'
"She's thrilled," Mum laughed to herself, calming down she said. "Well stay safe and you know I'm proud of you..." her voice trailed off for a minute or so before she seemed to find what else she wanted to say, even though I was the one who called. "Don't forget though, that I'll be bringing Priscilla along with me when we come visit you at the end of the semester alright?"
"What about Castus?" I wondered why she hadn't mentioned him.
"He's with his friend attending Shade- don't you remember? Oh! Right you wouldn't know he left a couple days after you headed to Beacon."
"Shade? That's in Vacuo isn't it?" she made a noise of affirmation. "Is it alright to send him all the way there?"
"Priscilla took them there and had the help of his friend's father so they got there fine." I guess it made sense, Castus had said he wanted to go to Vacuo to hang out with a friend of his that moved there for a while now.
Plus now that I think about it, Shade had a younger starting age, you could join them at twelve which meant he could get in seeing as he was only fifteen.
"Do you know when you'll be going to see him next?"
"Yes, sometime after we visit you we'll be heading to Vacuo to see how he's doing… we might even stay there for a few weeks."
I heard a bell ring and it was followed by the sound of footsteps getting closer to the door. "Alright, well I have to go, so I'll see you later Mum."
"Love you Azrael."
"Love you to."
The door burst open as I ended the call and despite knowing someone was about to open it, I still jumped out of my skin for a moment.
[Family Matters]
"Hey you're alive!" a loud voice said as I calmed my heart rate from when she threw the door open.
"I am yeah." I sat up on the couch looking towards the team as they came in together, Yang first, Blake second and Pyrrha last.
Blake nodded in acknowledgement then went into the other room, I presumed to get a book guessing that she and I were the ones on our team would do it actively for fun rather than because it was an assignment. Yang sat across from me on the other couch whereas my partner sat down next to me.
"Go on then tell us already!" the blonde leader said a level of obvious excitement in her voice as she and the redhead looked at me expectantly like I knew what was going on.
"Tell you about what?" My response didn't seem to be the right one and it's not like it could ever be, but it wasn't like I could read minds. "It's not like I can read minds, you'll need to actually ask me the question first instead of assuming I know the question at play."
Pyrrha took over and asked in a rather gentle tone like someone who was worried they'd lose the people around them if they said the wrong thing-
"We'd all like to hear about your Semblance if you could explain exactly what you did to the Deathstalker, but also I believe Yang wants to talk to you about being a Faunus that has wings." Nodding I understood what they actually wanted of me now, though I was weary to just tell them straight up seeing as neither of them had offered anything in the way of compensation or better yet the fact that I knew nothing about either of them.
"Also if you're willing could you show us your wings?" the blonde asked with more tact that I thought possible for her at this point.
She asked that though because I hadn't unfurled them from being wrapped around my chest under my shirt.
"If we don't mind can I actually meet our team first before I divulge my deep dark secrets or reveal my wings- while you asked in a nice way doesn't change the fact that I could be from a society of bird Faunus where such a thing is considered an equivalent to a marriage proposal." I noticed the raven haired girl come back into the room with a book in hand like I suspected.
Yang didn't seem to care and wanted to know more.
"Well I guess I did say I'd tell you, but can you guys at least tell me about your semblances and stuff then? Cause like it's a bit much for me to just talk about mine."
My partner jumped right in "Well my Semblance is Polarity" she said it like it was obvious what that meant.
"What do you mean Polarity, Pyrrha? That doesn't tell us what it does at all." she flushed slightly.
"Oh uhm well it allows me to control metal."
Blake spoke up "Like magnetic manipulation or telekinesis that only affects metal?"
The redhead nodded.
"Well mine allows me to create clones that can be infused with dust." the raven haired girl answered not looking up from her book that she was reading from the island next to the kitchenette.
"My Semblance is like a power up, whenever I get hit I can dish it back out twice as hard and it makes me explode into flames or well it's like a side effect."
Uh well I probably should've expected their Semblances to be tame by comparison to mine.
"Guess I'll start with the fact that I don't see like you guys do- and I don't mean I'm blind or use echolocation or something stupid." The reactions across the room seemed to be bewilderment at how I've started my explanation.
Pyrrha asked "What do you mean exactly?"
"Well Pyrrha..." I said trailing off for dramatic pause
"So you're Semblance?" Blake brought me back on topic.
"So what I was referring to was that I see the threads or lines that are connected to everyone's lives and I can cut them, though originally for a long time I was only able to see black squiggles hovering around over things that whenever I broke them caused things to fall apart- like when I was young I used to play in a forest a lot and that mean I killed a lot of vegetation while trying to understand it."
A contemplative silence hung over the room while they deliberated the information, I just shrugged.
"If anyone has something that they don't mind losing then I can show you all properly instead of the Deathstalker being your only example."
Pyrrha got up and walked over the refrigerator and pulled out an apple from it holding it up. "How does this look to you then? And is it enough for what you want to show?"
"Well the apple has a single line of death, usually for things like foods its connected directly to it rotting and if I were to-" I held out my hand and Pyrrha walked forward, I smirked a little as I clenched my hand into a fist and the apple burst dispersing into mist. "Anyway, yeah it was good for explaining it, thank you Pyrrha."
There was a small aspect of my Semblance that I only developed in the last two months and I wasn't too used to it yet so for now I wouldn't mention how I managed exactly what I just did seeing as it still relied on the lines of death.
The girls all looked at me then the apple mist with wide eyes.
Blake seemingly was the most observant and picked up on what I had said "Wait you said that the apple had one 'line of death' as you called it, does that mean things can have more?"
I nodded. "Yeah, most people have three or four- Huntsman tend to have six to eight, but that depends on Aura, though I only have to figure out which one of the lines is directly tied to the person or objects expiry date. As an addendum to that specific parts of the body like organs and whatnot have their own lines if that's what I'm looking for and I feel particularly messed up I could literally cause someone varying degrees of organ failure."
They all looked genuinely horrified at what I had just said so casually, so I think I nailed this whole 'first impressions' thing.
[Curiosity]
Ever since I had mentioned it Yang for whatever reason would appear with random items and ask me how many lines they had.
Anyway tomorrow classes finally start, but at the moment we were going to get sized up for our school uniforms I was walking next to Blake who was buried in a book while the other two were walking just ahead of us.
I heard the tail end of what our blonde leader was saying about her sister, her being Ruby, guess that cleared things up though about whether they were friends or sisters. I assume they take after either of their parents the same way my sister, brother and I did- My sister especially was almost identical to our mother in everything except height really, she was easily a foot taller than I was.
Though obviously Priscilla was younger looking than Mum, as for Castus and I, Priscilla said we both looked like him in complexion seeing as I said before we were on the perpetually tanned side of things. Whereas my sister and mother had much darker skin that was probably indicative of the fact Mum was from one of the tribes deep in the deserts of Vacuo that still worshipped old gods and stuff most people would consider pagan in a manner of speaking.
It was called 'Kemetism' She brought us up on a lot of its tenants and whatnot, but it's because of this I was worried about whether when all was said and done, when I was meeting the god that weighed your soul and life that they would send me to wander the Duat forever or if I might make it to the Field of Reeds.
Whenever I thought about it all though I was always brought back to Mum anyway, I've mentioned she was a priestess before I'm pretty sure? Because that temple she runs back home is one to Kemetism, the stories she told us growing up about the gods and the history of old Vacuo were always interesting to me and my plan was to spend a year there after I was finished getting my Huntsman license because it acted as a passport that didn't need to be renewed and was just super useful.
It's why I had gushed about Aswane when Serqet talked about it, hell I mean she's literally named after one of the old deities.
Mum also loves to speak in old Vacuan when she can, a reminder of home as much as it is about teaching us and the people back home that have become practitioners.
"What're you thinking about Azrael?" The dark haired girl next to me asked looking into the eyes of my mask.
"Oh uhm… religion I guess? I'm not really sure if you guys are all that religious but it was just something that was floating in my head- maybe I'm homesick already and thinking about it."
"Religion?" she asked, sounding mildly interested.
"Yeah, Kemetism, its-"
"I know of it, that's quite old isn't it? Out of ancient Vacuo?"
I nodded. "Mm, my mother is a priestess of it so my family follows it and occasionally it comes to mind amidst everything else."
"Do you carry around something for it?" I noticed in the corner of my vision that our leader and my partner were listening in, I suppose that was fair though, they still didn't know too much about me and this sort of thing was interesting- or to me it was.
"I do yeah-" digging into my shirt I pulled out the necklace that had a 𓂀 that was embolized onto a golden medallion with smaller bits of writing on it, it was a present from Mums parents for my sixteenth birthday.
"It looks interesting." Which was all that she said on the matter while I put it away.
Finally we all made it to the room where we had been directed to so that we could get sized up for uniforms like I said earlier before my tirade about all that random stuff.
We were in and out within half an hour while the seamstress? Tailor? Whatever you feel like calling them helped each of us get all the variants to our uniforms, mine took the longest of course not only the wings but the height. It appeared yes it wasn't common to be as tall as I was, which obviously I knew, but on top of that getting clothing that was flexible enough or was outright made for people with wings.
Once we were back in the dorm with the uniforms we got to putting them away in the personal dresser next to each of the beds, I had made sure all my school stuff was in the top drawers while my other clothes were in the bottom.
While I was finishing up there was a knock on the door that entered the main room, but since the girls were either distracted or still putting things away I went to answer it.
As I opened the door I was met with the face of my girlfriend, I mean she was right? Anyway she didn't really look all that happy past the initial smile she offered before I invited her in and was immediately kicked in the shins-
"Ow damnit! What was that for?!" I rubbed my shin.
"For not going out on that date you promised me you moron!" she slapped my shoulder, my eyes went wide and I began apologizing seeing as today was Sunday again and I did say I would.
I didn't really react when Serqet suddenly latched her hand around my wrist and she opened the door dragging me along out with her, I probably should have, but I had no problems with it. It wasn't like I had plans for the rest of the day, it was only midday so there was still a lot of time left to hang out with her. Though as I shut the door behind me I did notice someone spying on us through the crack in the door between the main room and the bedroom area- I assumed it was probably Yang, she seemed like the type to enjoy watching that sort of thing or just being too nosey for her own good.
Pretty much the moment I closed the door behind us the woman I was supposed to take out let go of my wrist and I fell in line walking just behind her on her left side, I wasn't bothered about my Mask though seeing as I was already wearing it- as it wouldn't have made much for consistency if it was another student and I answered the door without it.
"Now since you forgot-" She began saying before cutting herself off when she realised I was still behind her and slowed down to my pace continuing from where she left off. "I was thinking about shooting down to Vale in the next Air-Bus and visiting that same Café as last time."
"Sounds good to me."
AN: