AN: It has been months since I even touched this story…. right, best get to it and do it well.
Also, apologies to the one who I told I'd update by the end of January. My whimsy was far from kind to me…
Lastly, I am going to predict this is a short chapter. I don't really know how to write it and it's really hurting me that I cannot figure out how I wish to craft this chapter… If the quality is subpar, I will feel even more dismal than normal…..
Regardless, welcome to the newest chapter. I do hope you enjoy.
-Lambda38
Chapter 7: The Start of Autumn
I take a deep breath and I finally enter the halls of Beacon. I'd explained everything to Raven, and while I have little hope she'll agree to help me, she didn't refuse before leaving. The best outcome, in my opinion.
"You seem troubled," a familiar voice states from behind me, making me flinch as I turn, surprised to find the Headmaster looking at me, a glint in his eye as he sips from his mug. "Did something happen on your morning walk?"
I clear my throat as I turn to face the man.
"I encountered a particularly strong Grimm on the way here, and it chipped my sword," I lie, tapping on the hilt of my blade, making the man hum.
"Our forges are open to you, if you wish to make or commission a new set of weapons," he remarks jovially, prompting me to hum. "I'm sure any of our aspiring Huntsmen smiths would enjoy making a weapon for you."
"I am certain they would," I reply, tilting my head in acknowledgement. "I'll see about putting in an order, if only to fix my current weapon." The Headmaster casually walks forward, his movements reminding me of a panther as he nearly glides past. I match his pace as we move further into the Academy. "Of course, not every foe can be beat with the weapons we can make."
"True, but many more exist which they can defeat," the man replies conversationally. "Even if they cannot, we can make larger ones, perhaps which require ships to carry, or are set into the ground to defeat those we cannot with only our hands." I look at him from the corner of my eye, wondering where he's going with this. "Perhaps, if even that fails, we can band together to form teams which are greater than the sum of their parts, in order to vanquish the night which looms on the horizon."
"Better yet, let us create fortresses designed to weather that which the night would cover," I reply, glancing around the halls as students begin to mill about, heading to breakfast or their first classes. "If we have defenses which are nearly impregnable, and traps designed to catch what they cannot withstand, we could be better off than if we attacked in a thousand places." The Headmaster chuckles at my words, making my eyes narrow.
"Even the strongest fortress is bound to fall," he answers assuredly. "Nothing built can stand forever, but a sword aimed at the heart of our enemy may just pierce far enough."
"Unless that heart cannot be made to stop beating," I reply snidely, before stifling a gasp as I receive a sideways glance from the man, realizing I had said a little too much. I turn my gaze away and clear my throat. "Regardless, I need to get to my class. I'm almost late as it is. It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Headmaster."
"Have a pleasant day, Professor Chrome," he says. If he notices the way I walk just a little more swiftly away from him, he doesn't mention it.
Once I make it around the corner, I barely stave off the sigh of relief which hits me like a truck.
Stupid and careless, I think as I rub my head, glancing down at the sword on my hip. Still, a single strike from another Hunter and it's close to breaking. I think I will have to take Ozpin's advice. Perhaps one of the students will be able to get me something a little more apt for me. I wonder… I shake my head as I consider what weapon I should request, heading towards my class, slipping by as a giant of a man is hit in the face with a bowling ball, the man crashing where I had stood moments prior. In any event, time to teach them how to form an Aura Blast. The infirmary will be full tonight, so hopefully I'll have off on Wednesday.
With the morbidly cheerful thought to distract myself from my blunder, I slip into my classroom.
I approach the forge, noting a number of them appear to be in use if the smoke billowing from the building is any indication, sighing as I prepare for the increase in heat. I enter the wide building, looking around the foyer to find a number of students milling about, several filling out forms and talking with clerks at the main desk, while others simply move through to the back, tying their hair back or cracking their knuckles.
All in all, this is quite a bit bigger than I had thought it would be, I think, raising an eyebrow as I stride through the room, the majority of the chatter between students falling as they notice me, several paling at the sight and more whispering to the people around them. I ignore them as I enter the end of the rather short line of people waiting to speak with the people at the desk.
A few short moments later, one of the attendants calls out to me.
"Professor Chrome, over here, please," she calls. I glance at the group of students before me in line, shrugging as I walk past them towards a short brunette woman. "How can we help you today, Professor?" I reach into my pocket, retrieving a small letter and handing it to her.
"I am placing a request for a set of weapons. I'd prefer them to be finished as soon as possible," I say as she takes the letter, opening and reading over, pursing her lips slightly. "I will need them to be built to those exact specifications. Anything less will be a detriment to me." The attendant hums as a number of the students clearly using the forge poke their heads out of the back to look at me, several sidling up to the other attendants and exchanging hushed whispers as though I don't have hearing good enough to make out their every word.
"It can be done, but it may be a few weeks before all of them are finished, and each of the smiths which are skilled enough to complete your commission are currently occupied with other jobs," she informs me, eyes still scanning my letter. "The repairs of your current weapon should be finished by the end of the day, however."
"I understand, however I am willing to wait until they are available," I reply, hiding the annoyance that sparks at the information. "I would like to be informed when my request has been assigned to one of your smiths."
"Of course, Professor," she says with a smile, extending a hand to me. "My name is Rouge, I will ensure that you are kept up to date on all the details of your request." I accept the hand and give it a tentative shake. "Price will be determined after the labor has been completed, however we will need a small deposit in order to place your order." I nod as I release her hand, silently waiting for the shoe to drop. "It will be a hundred Lien to place your order, Professor."
Less than I'd predicted, more than I would like. I pass her the money without a word, and she types on a computer to her side for a few minutes, before giving me another smile.
"Alright, I'll just need your weapon in order to repair it," she says, and I pass the chipped blade over. "As for the rest of your order, I will inform you as soon as any updates are available."
I nod, before turning and walking away.
"Have a good day, Professor," the woman calls, prompting me to give a wave in response. I exit the forge building and shake, the much cooler air of the outside coming as a slight shock to my system.
I narrow my eyes and press onwards, making my way to my first class, evading a small scuffle which may have arised from one student nailing his team leader in the head with a cast iron pot.
It certainly has nothing to do with me, so I ignore it, calmly walking inside the main campus building.
AN: So…. Here we are…. This is far shorter than I had thought it would be, but even so, I am starved for whimsy, and time. Work is taking the energy from my brain, unfortunately.
Still, I am not just here to complain.
I am also announcing that by the time this is uploaded I should have also uploaded a new story called Alicia Chrome: Huntress of Vacuo. For those of you who want to see her past and understand how she came to be the person she is now, you will be able to do so in said story. I really should've just done that from the get go, but I let people get to my head and didn't do that.
Oh well, here we are.
Read it, if you'd like, don't, if you don't, hope you enjoyed this small chapter nonetheless.
Also, there is a Discord server for fanfiction readers and writers that myself and a friend made, which I invite you to come to and yell at me for my lack of activity about.
discord. gg /tkvHKNeG
Naturally, remove the spaces.
-Lambda38