Chapter 23, The Times of Change

Pyrrha had waken up to the first light of the next morning. Much like how she usually did back home in Arthamore. As faint groaned escaped her lips, before opening her green eyes to the day which lied ahead. She leaning up over the bed, stretching out her arms as she yawned. She then lowered her arms, as she then proceeded to rub her left eye.

"Good morning, kid."

Pyrrha glanced up to the open doorway, where she saw Qrow standing out in the hallway.

"You sleep, okay?" He asked.

Pyrrha nodded her head.

"I did." she insisted.

Qrow nodded his head back to the Prodigy.

"Alright, good," he said.

"Now come on, we got a long day ahead."

Pyrrha glanced up at Qrow, curiously.

"We?" she asked, curiously.

It was right at that moment that Pyrrha gasped in realization.

"Wait, you mean...?" she asked with anticipation.

Qrow paused. He then turned back to the open doorway, seeing the look of excitement and anticipation over her face. Seeming so eager for him to be the one who teaches her the basics of combat. Lucky for her, it seemed that Akara herself shared that same feelings as her chosen prodigy. After what happened the night with the wisp, it seemed the kid was right after all. Akara had chosen him to be the one to teach her.

And while he still had much doubt in himself, he would follow the will of the fallen Knight of Ataria.

He then smirked, nodding his head to her.

"That's right, Kid," he said.

"Guess I'm sticking around for a while."

Hearing what Qrow had said, Pyrrha gasped in excitement.

"Now c'mon," Qrow said, as he turned to walk down the narrow hallway.

"We're burning daylight."

Pyrrha quickly wiped off the covers from over her. She then leaped out of bed and ran out into the hallway.

Pyrrha and Qrow continued to clash swords within the Academy coliseum. Rushing at Qrow with her sword in hand, Pyrrha leaped up as she swatted the blade replica over his own. Qrow blocked the shot back, raising his swords to meet hers as they collided against each others.

"Good, now push forward!" Qrow instructed her.

Pressing their blades together, Pyrrha continued to lean in as she tried to push forward. Qrow leaned back from her. He continued to step back.

"Now break Off!" Qrow then said.

"Then attack me!"

Following Qrow's instructions, Pyrrha broke off their their swords. Qrow leaped back her. Using the opportunity he presented to her, Pyrrha then came forward. Taking hold of her sword with both hands, she swiped at Qrow. Though he was quick to reach, blocking her sword with his own. Pyrrha continued to swipe her blade at him. Their blades continued to clash against one another. She then swiped her sword from the side. Only for Qrow to counter it with his own.

He then pushed her back causing her to leap back. She then held up her sword to Qrow smirked, nodding his head.

"Good," Qrow said, as he stood up.

"You got your technique down pat. I got to hand it to your parents, they did teach you well."

Pyrrha narrowed her sword, smiling.

"Thanks you." she said.

"But you need to be more faster next time," he said.

"Don't give you opponent time to counter you."

Pyrrha smiled as she nodded her head.

"Right, I'll be quick next time." She insisted to her.

Qrow smirked. He then turned, glancing across the stadium. It was there at the stadium's entrance, he saw Headmaster Rueben standing at the entrance. The headmasters stood firmly, gripping the top of his cane. He had been watching them train for time now, grinning, impressed to say the least. Not just with how well the prodigy's training was proceeding. But also that Qrow had come to reason and had took it upon himself to train her.

Qrow glanced down to Pyrrha.

"I'll be right back," he told her.

"Keep practicing some of those moves I showed you."

"Okay." she said, nodding her head.

Qrow padded her over the head, causing the girl to chuckle. As he then turned and walked over to Rueben, Pyrrha turned forward as she proceed to practice some of the new sword moves Qrow had showed her. Qrow came up to the headmaster, glancing back at Pyrrha as she practiced.

"It would seem that you've come to your senses at last." Rueben said, glancing to Qrow.

Qrow turned forward as he glanced to the headmaster. He reached back, scratching the back of his head as he glanced to the side.

"Uh, yeah," he said.

"I figured that she could use some of my expertise after all."

Rueben simply smirked to the Atarian Knight, suspecting that there was more at play then he was letting on. Though whatever it was, he was all but grateful for it. While he would admit Qrow was not at all what he would presume to a knight worthy of training Akara's prodigy. But he would have to agree despite his semblance, Qrow's expertise in combat would come to prove most useful to the young prodigy.

He then turned back to Pyrrha, who swung his sword from both side, slinging it upward into the air.

"Indeed," he said, with a stroke of his bushy white beard.

"We can only hope that it will be enough for when she is to trained by Akara."

"She's still just a kid, Rueben," Qrow reminded the headmaster.

"It will be a while before she will be able to train with Akara."

Rueben bowed his head, nodding in agreement.

"I suppose," he said.

"But time has a way of passing by quickly. She shall have to face many trials. That girl is the last hope for the realms."

He then turned back to Qrow.

"Well, I shall leave you to it then." He said, nodding his head to him.

Rueban then turned and staggered back toward the Academy. Qrow glanced back at the elder headmaster, pondering what he said. It was true that Pyrrha would have to face many trials in the future. Though whether what he teaches her now would determine if she would be ready to face what all those had before her. But Pyrrha was still within her years of childhood. While she may be Akara's chosen prodigy and they needed to focus on her training, she was still far too young. She didn't deserve to have her childhood be taken away from her.

Qrow turned back to Pyrrha, who continued swiping her sword back and forth. He then glanced to the side, rubbing the back of his head as he uttered a sigh. Qrow then walked over to her. After one swipe of her sword, Pyrrha then paused as she glanced up to him. It was there she noticed a look of contempt and confusion. Pyrrha turned to Qrow, lowering her sword.

"Are you Okay?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Qrow glanced down to her.

"Huh," He said.

"Oh, uh, yeah, I'm fine, kid."

"What were you two talking about?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Qrow shook his head to her.

"It doesn't matter." He insisted to her.

Qrow then glanced toward the entrance of the stadium. They had already been training since first light and already Pyrrha was making some significant progress. More so then those her age usually would make at the time of their training. Though she still had a ways to go before her skills would be on par with that of a proper trained knight. That he would be sure to see through.

But while her training was a top priority, so too was her right to just be a kid.

Qrow then turned back to Pyrrha, smirking.

"Hey, Kid," he said.

"What do ya say we get out here?"

After getting some ice cream, Pyrrha and Qrow were walking along through Lothadare's central park. The two walked next to each other along the narrow path. Pyrrha took a bit from her Juba berry flavored Ice cream, moaning at how sweet it tasted. It was her favorite Ice cream. Back home, she would always get it whenever she and her mother would get ice cream.

Qrow glanced down to her. Pyrrha of which looked back at him, her mouth covered with a bright pink ice cream. She then smiled back up at him. Qrow smirked down to her.

"You got a little something." He said, pointing to her mouth.

Pyrrha glanced down to her mouth. She then turned forward, wiping away the ice cream from her mouth. She then glanced off to the side, where she saw Akara's statue at the centre of the park. She then paused, gazing toward the statue. Qrow turned back to her.

"What is it?" he asked, curiously.

Pyrrha then turned and walked out into the clearing. Qrow followed after her. She came up before Akara's statue. She gazed up at the stone recreation of the late Knight of Opara and campion of Lothadare. Once more she glanced up, looking up into the statue's stone eyes. As if she was looking into the eyes of Akara herself.

Qrow came up behind the girl. He then glanced up at the statue.

"Seems you were right all along, Kid," Qrow insisted to the girl.

"Akara really did have a great purpose for both of us."

Pyrrha glanced back at Qrow, smiling. She then turned back at the statue, curiously.

"Why did Akara chose me?" she asked, curiously.

Qrow shook his head, unsure himself as to why she was chosen. No one would have ever expected that Akara would chose a chid to be her prodigy. In the past, whenever a Knight of Opara would chose a prodigy, they had always be someone much older and already a knight of their Kingdom. Never has it ever been a child.

"I don't know, kid," He said.

"That's a question you should save for Akara. I'll admit, I was surprised when Queen Maria told me a child was Akara's chosen prodigy."

Pyrrha narrowed her head.

"But I'm sure she had a good reason as to why she chose you." Qrow insisted to her

"Just like she must have a reason for choosing me."

Qrow reached down his hand and patted Pyrrha over the head. Pyrrha chuckled, glanced up at Qrow, smiling.

"Thanks Qrow." She said.

Pyrrha faced Akara's statue once more. She stared up at her late predecessor with a look of determination, eager to know the reason why she chose her. Eager to live up to Akara and become the next Knight Of Opara.

"I'll find out what that reason is," she insisted to him.

"I'll find out why you chose me. Whatever it is, I'm sure it was for a good reason."

Qrow smirked.

"It's not gonna be easy, kid," Qrow insisted.

"You sure your up for it?"

Pyrrha glanced back at the Atarian Knight. She then nodded her head, all but proving her determination.

"I am," She insisted to him.

"I'll do whatever it takes."

Pyrrha turned back to Akara.

"I will be your prodigy," she said.

"I will become a Knight of Opara."

In the days that followed, Pyrrha and Qrow continued with her training. From the first light of each morning, the two would be in the stadium practicing the basic skills of combat. Continuing with the lessons that Qrow had used to train students back at the Academy of Ataria.

Pyrrha blocked Qrow's sword with her own. Qrow stepped forward, swiping from side to side. The false blades of their training swords continued to clack against one another's.

"Keep your eyes on me," Qrow advised her.

"Think fast. Counter all my attacks!"

Pyrrha moved as quickly as she could, blocking each attempt Qrow made with his sword. Only to then be met with a much harder strike, causing her to fall to the ground.

"Ow." she said, leaning up off the ground.

Qrow came up to her

"Sorry 'bout that, kid." he said, lending her his hand.

Pyrrha smiled. She reached up and took his hand as he pulled her back onto her feet.

"It's okay." she said.

"Try not to get knocked over," Qrow insisted to her.

"And if you do, make sure you get back up quickly. The enemy will use that to their advantage."

Pyrrha nodded her head.

"Right." she said.

Qrow the came back from Pyrrha, holding his sword at the ready.

"Now, Again!" He proclaimed.

Pyrrha held her sword at the ready.

Holding the Javelin in her hand, Pyrrha stared forward one of the three targets. Qrow was standing next to her, looking to where she was aiming. Once the javelin was lined up with the target, Qrow then stood up and backed away.

"Alright," he said, nodding his head.

"Give it a toss."

Pyrrha turned forward, grinning. She then rushed forward before tossing it at the Javelin at the target. The javelin flew through the air as it then struck the centre of the target. Pyrrha gasped in awe, seeing that she had hit her target. She turned back to Qrow.

"I got it!" she exclaimed.

Qrow nodded his head to her.

"Nice one kid." he said, patting her on the head.

Pyrrha thrusted her staff forward as demonstrated by Qrow. He glanced down to her, nodding his head.

"Good." He said.

"Now thrust upwards."

Qrow then turned forward as he pulled his staff back before thrusting the bottom upwards. Pyrrha turned forward as she swung up her staff, following the example of her teacher.

"Now," he said, swing up his staff over his left shoulder.

"Left strike!"

Qrow leaped forward as he swept his staff downward.

"Then right!"

He then swung his staff upward.

"And forward!"

Qrow the thrusted his staff forward. Pyrrha nodded her ahead before she turned forward, taking her staff in her hand. She the thrusted it from the left, then right before finally thrusting it forward.

Training remained most prominent in the days that followed. Though there were times Pyrrha and Qrow could enjoy the simplest times. One such as the one that had followed what had been a long day of training. The sun had longed set and the night was within it's prime. Gazing out over the city of Lothadare, the two were sitting over the rooftops of the dorms. Pyrrha stared out over the city of lights, hearing the many sounds of the Kingdom that remained awake.

"Wow." Pyrrha said.

"It's so pretty. Is this what the city looks like at night?"

Qrow nodded his head to her.

"The Kingdoms never sleep, Kid," He said.

"There are some that prefer the a night out in the two. I should know, I'm one of them."

Pyrrha turned to Qrow.

"A night out in the Town?" she asked, curiously.

"You know, when you stay out for as long as you want," Qrow insisted.

"Go out to a club, dance the night away."

Pyrrha shook her head. She had never been out late then she should. Nor did she know what it was like to dance the night away at a Night club. She was far too young for such things.

"Do you think I could have a Night out in the Town?" she asked.

Qrow smirked, patting her over the head.

"Think that's something for when your older, kid," He insisted to her

"You know..."

Pyrrha glanced to the side, knowing that was true.

"Oh, right." She said, turning forward.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Kid," Qrow said.

"You'll be at that age before you know it."

Pyrrha continued gazing out over the city, Pyrrha was then remined of the home she had left behind. When she and Jaune used to sit in their tower outside of Arthamore, gazing out over the sanctuary. They were always able see all of the city from the Tower. They would also always able to hear the sounds from within the Sanctuary's walls. Though they were never able to stay out there after dark, so they never saw what Arthmore looked like during the night.

"Jaune would have loved to see this..." Pyrrha thought to herself.

Pyrrha frown, narrowing her head.

"Jaune..."

She glanced down to her side. It had been several months since the attack on Arthamore, she hadn't seen him since. She often wondered if he and his family escaped. As well as Mother and father.

"I wonder where he is. I hope that he's okay."

Pyrrha glanced up over the city. She had made a promise him that day, while they were both in the tower. That when they were both Knights, that they would go off on an adventure together.

"I haven't gone back on our promise, Jaune. And when I'm a knight, I'll come and find you. Where ever you are."

Pyrrha smiled.

"We'll go one a quest together. You'll see."

Pyrrha stepped back from Qrow as they practiced sword play once more. He swept his sword from side to side. Only for Pyrrha to block his each attempted in a quicker fashion then before. Her reaction time much improved. So too did her movements. She had gotten much quicker. Leaping back from him, blocking his sword as he swung it down over.

Qrow slowly began to pushed down his sword over her. Pyrrha tried desperately to push back against him. Slowly but surely, Qrow found that his blade was being pushed back by Pyrrha, despite his strength far outweighing hers. She then came up before breaking off from his sword. She jumped up, turning mid air as she swung her sword down over Qrow who was struck by it, causing him to step back from her.

Pyrrha glanced up in awe, realizing what she did.

"I'm sorry." she said.

Qrow looked up to her. But he was not mad. Rather, he glanced up to her, smirking, quite impressed with her to say the least.

"Nice one, Kid." he said, nodding his head.

Pyrrha gazed up at him both confused but also relieved that he was okay. Qrow stood up as he turned to face her.

"Lets try that again." he said, holding his sword at the ready.

Pyrrha grinned as she held up her sword, charging forward at her mentor.

The days of training that followed gradually turned to months. And then months had gradually become years. Pyrrha had grown much within that time. And thus her training had advanced to a much high level suited for ones age. It was at this time that they began using more of the stadium's training seminars.

Several blue target holograms within the shape of a Grimm Trooper appeared at the centre of the stadium. Qrow turned to Pyrrha, who had changed much through the passing years. She was now fourteen years. The age one would normally be in their second year basic training. She had long red hair that was tied into a pony tail. Her body now of a young woman's and was quite fit and lean from all the days of constant training

"Alright, Kid," Qrow said, handing her a training blaster.

"Give it your best shot."

Pyrrha nodded her head, taking the blaster in her hands. She then held up the blaster aiming for the Grimm in the middle.

"Remember what I showed you," Qrow advised her.

"Keep your eyes on your target."

Pyrrha nodded her head, keeping he sights over the Grimm she was aiming for. She then pulled the trigger, firing a false plasma bolt at the centre Grimm. The Grimm shattered upon impact. Pyrrha then proceeded to blast at the other Grimm, hitting them as they shattered upon impact.

Pyrrha ran through the stadium with a training sword in one hand and blaster in the other. She took cover behind several barriers that appeared from the floor. She then stood up from behind the barrier, firing her training blaster at one of the Grimm holograms. The other ones raised their blasters and fired at the young prodigy. She then leaped up over the Barrier, charging forward at the other Grimm holograms. Blocking each of their shots with her blade, she then swiped her sword at them, causing them to dispersed.

It was then light blue plasma bolts came raining down from above. As if she was being shot at. Pyrrha glanced up and saw three Grimm standing over several of the high plate forms above. Pyrrha turned to one of the lower platforms, where she then rushed over to the plate form, dodging the blaster firing that rained down from above. She then came up and leaped up onto the platform, blocking a plasma bolt with a holographic shield she had on her wrist.

Pyrrha leaped up onto from one high platform to another . where she then turned and blasted a Grimm Target which stood over another. She then leaped to another, swiping her sword at another as she landed over the platform. She then heard the announcer come over the stadium speakers.

Simulation completed. Time: Five minutes and twenty six seconds.

Pyrrha stood up over the Platform, grinning in satisfaction. She then turned and glanced down at Qrow and Rueben who were standing off to the sidelines, watching her. Qrow smiled and nodded his head to her.

"Great job, Kid," He said.

"That was much faster then before."

The elderly Headmaster nodded his head as he stroked his white beard. Impressed to say the least at how well she has been coming in her training. And also with how Qrow has been teacher her. He glanced up at the prodigy, nodding his head to him.

"Well done, Pyrrha." He said.

Pyrrha smiled down at them, nodding back at them.

Pyrrha was sitting at her desk that night, sketching. Over the surface of the flat sheet of paper, the young prodigy drew how she imagined the armor she would wear upon becoming a knight. The outfit she designed resembled that of her father's. It had a brown overbust corset with a vertical strap at the centre. An elastic black mini skirt with a red sash over it. Alone with a pair of cuisses over each legs,, beginning from her thighs all the way down to her knees.

Off to the side were drawings of what her weapons would be. One was a sword which she wrote over top a MILO, a weapon that could take form into a sword, javelin and also a riffle. The other Akouo, a circular gold shield that resembled that of her fathers.

She suddenly heard voices from the opened window off to her left. Pyrrha glanced up from her drawing. She then stood up and walked over to the window. It was there she gazed down into the courtyard, where she saw the first year students sitting below, talking to each other. They had just finished their final exam over at the coliseum.

Through the years that passed, Pyrrha had seen many new students come to the academy. All of them much older then her and already with their armor and their weapons. But they never stayed for long. Only for about six months before graduating and being called into service by the military or the Royal Guard. She had never interacted with any of them, focusing mainly on her training.

She wondered if she would attend the academy's classes once she was of age. She had asked Qrow but he was quite unsure of the idea himself. Though not for the same reasons as her. Rather it was more for the fear of her being drafted into the military or the Royal Guard. Rueben himself shared the same fears. She had seen them both whenever the students graduated. Though Qrow never attended them, often saying that they were a death sentence for those kid.

Rueben would be the only one to see them off. Though it was not out of joy to see them graduate, rather it was out of worry and contempt that they would enter into a war they would not be ready for.

Pyrrha narrowed her eyes. She had often had that worry. Whether or not she would be ready for what was to come. Though Qrow had often reassured her that she would be ready. She was not like those student and that she would be fully trained and prepared for when she would have to endure the trials of the Knight's of Opara.

As more time had come to pass, Pyrrha would come to the end of the first faze of her training. It was the day before her birthday, Pyrrha was sitting atop the roof of the dorms, gazing out over the Academy grounds. She gazed in excitement. For today, she about to receive her armor. She had already sent it off the designs off to the local black smith about two weeks ago. They said they should have her armor and weapons by the time she finished with her basic training.

"Todays the day!" she thought to herself.

"Today I'm finally getting my armor. I'm one step closer to attending the Academy."

She looked out over the Academy, which was now as deserted as the first day they came. The students had all been drafted about a month ago into active service following their final exam. She narrowed her eyes as the realization of what that may entail return to her.

"But would that mean I would have to enlist as well. Everyone's gone again. Does that mean the same will happen to me if I do academy?"

She had heard Qrow and Rueben talking about it a couple days ago. Rueben said that if she was to attend the Academy, there would be little they could do to prevent her from not being noticed by Ataria's military and Royal guard. Members of the Royal Guard and officers of the military usually observes the final exam to determine which students are qualified. If they were to see Pyrrha, who would have received more training then the others, she would no doubt be forced by the council to join the military or even the Royal Guard.

"Hey, kid!"

Pyrrha glanced back and saw Qrow standing behind her.

"It's here!" He proclaimed.

Pyrrha gasped in anticipation. She stood up over the ledge. Pyrrha leaped down off the ledge as she came up to Qrow.

"Where is it?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

"It's over at the coliseum," Qrow said.

"I had them put them in the locker room for you."

Pyrrha couldn't wait a moment longer. She ran passed Qrow as she made her way toward the doorway. Qrow glanced back at her, chuckling.

"Hey, wait up!" he called

"There's no way I'm missing this."

In the locker room of the coliseum, Pyrrha found the crates staked over one of the benches between the row of lockers. She came up to the crates, where she picked up the one at the top. She then opened the top and inside, she the brown steel corset along with the cuisses. They looked just like how she sketched them. She imagined that they followed the designs for the rest of the outfit and the accessories to a tee.

Pyrrha gasped with anticipation, wasting little time in donning it.

Qrow waited outside in the coliseum at the entrance to the locker room. Pacing back and forth, he waited for Pyrrha to emerge so that he could see her within the armor they had designed for her. He then paused for a moment, glanced to Rueben who staggered up to him.

"I heard Pyrrha's armor has arrived." he said.

Qrow nodded his head to him.

"That's right," He said.

"She inside, trying it on."

Rueben came up next to Qrow. Holding his cane before him, he then smiled and nodding his head.

"Well I hope it all that she hoped it would be." He said.

"To that end, there's something which we need to discuss."

Qrow narrowed his head, knowing what he meant. It would be in the coming months that they Academy would begin in looking to take in new students. With Pyrrha finishing the first faze of her training and about to come of age, she would soon be able to attend the Academy. What was to be the next faze of her training. Though there was much concern in regards of allowing Pyrrha to attend.

"It's the next stage of her Training, Qrow," Rueben reminded him.

"Besides, it would be good for her to be with those her age."

Qrow narrowed his head, knowing he was right. But even still, there was the risk of Pyrrha being forced to enlist like all the other students. Not to mention, much of the training and lessons were rushed in hopes of preparing the students as quickly as possible. It would hardly be enough for Pyrrha. She would need a full three years of Academy lessons and training.

Not to mention, the notion that she would be discovered by the Royal Guard or the Atarian Military was another concerning factor.

"We've already been over this," Qrow insisted to him.

"It's too risky for Pyrrha to attend the Academy. She can't afford to be drafted into active service."

"I understand that," He insisted to him.

"But we have little choice. No other Academy in any of the other Kingdoms will train her like in the old ways. Not which there is a war."

Qrow sighed, knowing Rueben was right. The old ways of teaching had been long lost since the war had begun. This would be the only way for Pyrrha to endure the second faze of her training. Which meant that he would have to teach her on the side, much like he had already been doing.

Rueben reached up his hand and placed it over Qrow's shoulder. He nodded his head to him, all but reassuring him. Even if Qrow didn't quite feel it himself.

It was right at that moment that Ruebens gaze shifted entrance to locker rooms. Qrow turned, where he then saw Pyrrha emerging from the shadows within the entrance. Stepping out into the light, Pyrrha stood now wearing the armor that have been give by the local blacksmith As well as holding Milo that was currently in it's word form in her right hand and Akouo in her left.

Qrow turned forward to face his young prodigy, gazing over the armor and all the accessories that came with it. She was wearing a brown overbust corset with a vertical strip that was a lighter brown in the centre. Along with a black elastic mini skirt that was covered over by a red sash that reached all the way down to her ankle. Over the sash was a small circular bronze plate, bearing her family's emblem over her right hip with several pouches over her left. Both of them connected by a black belt.

She wore brown Opera-length gloves on both her arms with a bronze bracelet over the upper half of her left arm. Two bronze greaves over both her legs all the way down to her boots, with two cuisses that went from her mid-thighs to her knees. Around her neck was a large bronze Gorget. Over her heard, cover over by her red hair, she had a brown circlet adorned with two small green tear-shaped emeralds handing from small chains at each side.

Qrow stared in awe for a moment. It was almost as if he was looking at Lukas himself. She truly did take after her father.

"What do you think?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Qrow smirked, nodding his head to her.

"Not bad, kid," Qrow said.

"Not bad."