Author's note: Over 100 favs and 150 follows in a day? I guess this is what it feels like to be famous… Jokes apart, thanks so much for all the support. From the reviews, I can see I got some of my Hokuto folks here. What up, fam? Oh, man. I got so much stuff in mind for this. After all, we've just had a prologue. Time to really get into the flow of things.
Chapter 1: The 65th Successor's Arrival
The docks were a busy place. They always were: even if no Bullheads were immediately taking off or landing, there was so much work to be done: air traffic control, keeping light signals in working order, keeping emergency landing strips open, moving cargo. As such, if you were to go there at any time on any given day, you would find several people hard at work. But today was exceptional, even by the bustling standards of Vale's main airport.
All around the vast open area, people teemed. Walking, talking, laughing loudly. People dressed in all kinds of attire, most of them geared towards combat. Most of these outfits appeared to follow a specific theme or colour, and those clad in them carried some or the other weapon, quite a few of them more than one. The expressions on those faces varied. Some were smiling, grinning. Clearly excited. They spoke animatedly to their families, who had come to see them off, wish them luck. Or their friends. If one was lucky, their friend was a Huntsman-in-training as well, and they would get to spend the next few years together… if they survived. After all, this was the business of death and killing. For that same reason, many others were sombre, nervous. Looking around, skittish. Waiting to get off the ground. Some parents cried. This was the last they might ever see of their children.
In this crowd of armed warriors, one individual stood apart. At six feet, he was taller than most. Unlike everyone else, his clothes were damaged, though still whole. Leather trousers, boots and a crimson vest with a sleeveless jacket over it. His attire was dusty, the edges frayed. His white cloth armbands were stained darkened red. He stood perfectly at ease, watching the people around him with sharp blue eyes. His blonde hair was cut short, and a single faint scar ran from his left brow to his cheek.
Jaune Arc looked on at the families bidding their children farewell. For a moment, his thoughts flashed back to six girls he used to know, in particular to a short-haired sarcastic little one who took particular pleasure in teasing him. Surprisingly, he looked back on them fondly. Time gives perspective, and also brings forgiveness. He hadn't seen his family for four years. He wondered if he ever would.
Keh. I'm sure they're at an Academy somewhere too.
His thoughts wandered then… not to his father, but to the man who had trained him for these past four years.
Master… I won't let you down.
He closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall behind him. This was a routine he engaged in at least once a day if he got the chance. He allowed himself to enter his inner self. Allowing the chatter of thoughts to cease, as he focused on his centre. On the power and warmth there. As he connected to it, he sensed it all around him. He allowed this sensation to fill his mind. He didn't try to follow any one particular source. Instead, he simply felt them all. This was a meditative exercise that allowed him to both learn to find his own Ki, as well as that of people around him. It was both an exercise in focus and calming one's thoughts, and being aware of his surroundings without being distracted.
He stayed in this state for a while, breathing slowly and deeply, before finally opening his eyes. Bullheads were already docked, and soon, their hatches would open to admit the students they were to carry… to Beacon Academy.
Beacon. After his first year of training with Kenshiro, Jaune had forgotten entirely about his dreams of being a Huntsman. He had other, bigger goals. No, it was only recently that he decided to go to the famed Academy for Huntsmen and Huntresses. Since he had not trained in any school recognized by the Academies, he had to obtain falsified transcripts in order to be allowed to participate in the Initiation. He was sure there would be more though. Some kind of test, to ensure that only the skilled made it in.
Guess I'll find out.
"Awwww… my baby sister's going to school with me!"
Jaune's attention was drawn by a loud, clearly gleeful voice, and he turned around to find the source of it.
The girl who had spoken appeared to be a decent height, and was clothed in a brown jacket and yellow top, along with a pair of dark shorts. She wore a utility belt, and on her wrists were weaponized gauntlets. Her hair was blonde, and trailed all the way down past her hips. There was a broad grin on her face, and Jaune couldn't help but notice that her outfit did a good job of showing off her cleavage.
Jaune looked away for a second. His thoughts were wandering towards the impure.
The long-haired, boisterous girl appeared to be squeezing another, smaller, dark-haired girl against her chest. This second girl was clothed in a black dress with red accents, wearing brown stockings underneath, along with leather boots. There was also a folded up crimson weapon attached to her belt at the back. She looked altogether too young to be going to Beacon. But if the words of the loud one were to be believed, that was indeed what she was here for.
"Sis… geddoff, you're crushing me…"
The elder sister released her grip, although she was still smiling.
"I can't help it. I'm just so excited! You're growing up and going places! You're going to make so many friends!"
"Eh?" the younger girl sounded slightly confused. "Why would I need to make any friends when I've got you?"
Jaune mentally facepalmed. Having dealt with his own sisters, he knew little Red Riding Hood here had just walked into a trap.
"Yeeeaaaah, about that… my friends are here, so I gotta go. Kthanksbye!"
And with that, she dashed away with a group of people who must have appeared to have teleported out of nowhere, though Jaune, from where he was, could see that they were in position beforehand, and the blonde had given them a signal when she wanted them to make their entrance.
Hmm. Planning and execution. Leaving younger siblings in the dirt is serious business, I guess.
A loud bell sound alerted him to the fact that Bullhead hatches were now open, so he moved to board the one he was supposed to. Checking the digital ticket on his newly-bought scroll, he found his scheduled aircraft was numbered ID7. Spotting the massive transport airship marked with that code, he slung over his shoulder the small bag that contained his possessions, and began to walk towards it.
As Jaune Arc made his way towards his scheduled ship, he wasn't the only young warrior about to embark on a new journey. A few feet away, a certain red-haired Spartan was bidding her family farewell.
"Pyrrha, I know you'll do great. Be strong, my daughter, and always live by your own principles, not anyone else'."
"Thanks, Dad. I will."
She smiled slightly at her father.
"Hey."
The older red haired woman looked at her, holding her face gently.
"I know you're going there to protect people. To be on the frontlines. But… that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to have fun. It's okay to want to be happy."
That was what Pyrrha wanted to hear. She was responsible enough for two people. A skilled warrior, and a level-headed person, already a woman, not a girl. From a young age, she'd always been looked up to, had expectations placed on her because of her abilities and achievements. And sometimes… it became too much.
It was perhaps iconic: the most promising Huntress of the generation, the four-time tournament champion, had no interest in fame or glory, or even in power. As long as she had enough to protect the people she cared about, she was satisfied. She just wanted to be able to find a place with people who could accept her for who she was, not what she was.
Hefting her shield on her back to make sure the straps were secure, she nodded to her parents one last time, then picked up her bag and began to walk towards airship ID7. She looked around at the other prospective Huntsmen and Huntresses around her. Many of them were in pairs, trios or even larger groups. As ever though, she was alone. She sighed slightly. This was one of the reasons she had decided to come to Vale to study instead of staying at Mistral. Here, there was less chance of people recognizing her. She wanted to be just a student, not some kind of celebrity. On the plus side, so far, no one had gawked at her or pointed, meaning, at the least, her fame hadn't been discovered yet. On other hand, she hadn't been able to speak to anyone.
How come no one ever mentions how hard it is to start a conversation?
Surely not everyone here had come here already in a group? People must have come here and met like-minded others, right? If so, how did they do it?
This was Pyrrha's weakness. While the countless hours she had spent training in the weight room and sparring halls had prepared her for an array of combat situations… it also meant she had missed out on just… hanging out with people. Learning basic social cues. Things like how to introduce herself. While her natural grace and manners more than made sure she always came across as kind and polite, she feared she didn't really fit in with others of her age. Indeed, when thinking of her mannerisms self-critically, she reminded herself more of an instructor at Combat School or a professional athlete talking to fans than a teenager interacting with peers. It was no surprise that she fit in better and found it easier to talk to teachers and adults than she did with other students.
She sighed again.
Maybe someday.
However, it was at that moment that her eyes caught sight of one other person who also appeared to be by himself, without any companions. While that itself would already have been enough to make him noticeable, there was also the fact that he looked nothing like any Huntsman Pyrrha had ever seen.
For one thing, he wasn't carrying any weapons. Pyrrha was familiar with a wide range of equipment apart from her own swordspear-gun and shield combo. Because of her status, she had also been admitted to several labs and seen prototype versions of newer models and even been offered the chance to test them out. As a result, she knew what most smaller, concealed-type weapons looked like, and how to spot a person who was carrying them. The boy she was looking at now clearly didn't have a utility belt on, nor did he have any holsters or leather pouches anywhere. His attire wasn't baggy either, nor were there any suspicious lumps. In addition, he simply didn't have the gait of someone who relied on quickdraws. A fighter specialising in hidden weaponry did so because they preferred the advantages of stealth and surprise. This boy in front of her didn't have the unconscious, constant soft steps of a stealth-specialist, nor the relaxed tension of someone whose style relied on whipping out a weapon at a moment's notice and taking out the opponent before they had the chance to draw their own.
If anything, he seemed relaxed. But this was deceptive. Pyrrha could see that his centre of gravity was low, and his legs weren't stiff. Meaning, he could evade or go into a low stance immediately to avoid being knocked off balance. In addition, there was a fluidity to his movements that implied he was an experienced combatant. Putting these facts together with his curious lack of weapons, and Pyrrha could only come to one conclusion…
He's an unarmed fighter?
That was insane!
What sort of madman would risk going out into the field to fight Grimm without ranged or bladed tools? Did this boy really think he was capable of getting close enough to monsters that had tentacles, claws, wings, tails and fangs, to strike them? Did he really think he had the power to land killing blows on beasts that had natural armour capable of repelling gunfire? To even think about that was absurd. Even if he was using Aura to amplify his physical abilities.
Yet, even as she thought this, her instincts said that this was a formidable fighter. Muscled arms hung at his sides, and though relaxed, it was clear that they had real power. His shoulders were wide, and his upper body and legs were well built, without being excessively bulky. This wasn't the unnecessarily swollen physique of a bodybuilder. It was a warrior's body.
Interesting and unusual.
She found herself smiling. Not even at Beacon, and she was already seeing all kinds of people she had no idea existed.
If she had looked up into the sky at that moment, she would have seen seven stars shining even in the bright light of day. Seven stars, above the mysterious boy.
Meanwhile, at Beacon:
"Well, everything is ready. We have a promising batch of students coming in this year."
"Indeed. In particular, it is curious to see one who bears silver eyes after so long."
"Ozpin…" Glynda Goodwitch trailed off. She didn't finish her sentence, but it was clear what she wanted to say. What she was reminding Ozpin of. The risks they had taken. And… the losses they had suffered.
"I know…" the headmaster of Beacon replied, leaning slightly on his cane as he looked out the window to the fields beyond. "She's young. But it is her destiny. If not now, then one day. At least this way, we can keep an eye on her. Prepare her for what is to come."
The stern woman who was both assistant, irreplaceable partner and pillar of support to him sighed slightly.
"As long as you don't push her into something she isn't ready for."
"No. Hopefully there will be no need to do anything of that sort for a few years at least. For now, she will learn. Grow. And perhaps even make some friends, like all youths should."
The two of them said nothing for a while, until Glynda swiped on her scroll, from a page showing Ruby Rose' details back to the list that showed potential notables.
"Miss Rose isn't the only one to watch out for," she said.
"Ah yes. There is also her sister, is there not? The Gold Dragon of the Xiao Long line."
The stern witch nodded.
"She is brash and reckless, as evident from her transcript notes. But… there is no doubt that the sheer power of her Semblance makes up for it… to an extent. Even so, there is much she will have to learn if she is to be of use in the battles to come."
"I agree. Speaking of, there is a champion amongst us, is there not?"
Glynda tapped a name on her scroll, and a picture of Pyrrha enlarged, and her details came up.
"Out of all the applicants, she shows the most promise. It's not just her combat skill: she is both intelligent and focused, and has showed good decision-making ability during challenging situations. I would go so far as to say that the only thing she is lacking is more field experience."
"No." Ozpin shook her head. "There is much more she is lacking."
"Such as?"
The silver-haired man took a sip of coffee.
"The sword one wields becomes twice as heavy when one is defending another," he paraphrased from a legend he had once read.
To that, the telekinetic witch had no answer.
"Did you know that a descendant of the Arcs is coming?" the headmaster asked, breaking her out of her reverie.
"What?!" she said, startled.
A descendant of the famous Arc bloodline, that had turned out more legendary Hunters than any other. But… to the best of her knowledge, all the Arc children of the current generation that had chosen to take up the burden were going elsewhere, not Beacon.
"But none of the six sisters is listed anywhere-"
"Because they aren't coming. No, it's the boy who decided to apply to Beacon."
Glynda's eyes widened momentarily, before she frowned.
"They had a son?"
"Indeed. And, when last I spoke to the Arc parents, they didn't speak highly of his potential."
"But then why would they send him-"
"They didn't. He didn't even apply using the Arc name. He is officially listed as Jaune Souther in his transcripts. I was only able to recognize him because I saw him once before, when he was still a child. But… he turned out differently from what I would expect."
The woman closed the transcript viewer app and began to pull up the Arcs' contact number.
"We should inform his family immediately-"
"No," came Ozpin's voice sharply.
"Why?" she questioned, eyes narrowed.
Ozpin coughed into his hand. He had spoken out quickly, but in truth, there was no logical reason behind the decision he had made a few months ago when he had seen Jaune's application. If it were anyone else, he would be able to come up with a story on the fly to convince them that there was a plan. But Glynda knew him well. Thus, he decided to opt for the truth.
"Because I'm curious," he answered.
Glynda felt as if she might pick up the desk in front of her and toss it out the window.
"So you think it's a good idea to take a child without any certified experience or training, and put him into a life-threatening situation… because you're curious?"
Ozpin didn't flinch under her glare.
"We've made sacrifices before, Glynda. There's no point pretending our hands are clean."
She looked down, unable to reply to that.
"And… he does come from the Arc line. There is a chance he will prove to be an invaluable asset to us. If that is true, then I'm willing to risk his life… for the thousands he might save."
Landing strips, Beacon.
The Bullheads came down, each in its designated area. The hatches opened, and mechanized ramps lowered to the ground, allowing the crew and students inside to disembark.
Jaune Arc had spent most of the journey calmly sitting with his back to the wall. Around midway through, he had been joined by a green-clad youth with shoulder length black hair. There was a single pink lock among it though. The two had nodded to each other, before each of them meditated by himself. A few minutes in, a rather loud girl who had approximately the combined energy of fifteen hundred pounds of sugar entered the scene, and proceeded to barrage the black-haired boy with a host of questions, many of them revolving around sloths and pancakes.
I mean, I've seen more bizarre…
Jaune's thoughts wandered back to a boy he had met during his travels with his master.
Jotaro's a cool guy. Hope I run into him again someday.
Somehow, he had a feeling he would.
But for the moment, he got off the aircraft, relishing the feeling of solid earth under his feet again.
Man, motion sickness must suck. Imagine the poor people who have to spend the ride throwing up.
Jaune shook his head and walked on, taking in the sight of Beacon Academy all around him.
There was no denying that the place was both massive and well maintained. The grounds were clean, and up ahead, the pathways led to several buildings. It looked exactly how Jaune would have expected a school for Huntsmen to look. In the centre of courtyard, he could see a large monument consisting of three statues. There was a man and a woman, both of them armed, standing atop a rock. Below, a Beowulf hid in fear from them.
He couldn't help but notice that the sword the man carried resembled perfectly the weapon wielded by his father, Crocea Mors. Looking at his own hand, he clenched his fist. He hadn't come here seeking honour and glory in a misguided, misinformed cause.
Death and tragedy will follow in the trail of the Godfist.
The words of his master echoed in his mind.
If he closed his eyes, he could see it still.
Nuclear holocaust, completely devastating the world. Brother killing brother, humans consuming each other, and in turn, bringing the darkness of the Grimm. These were the memories passed down to him by his master.
Death and tragedy will follow in the wake of the Godfist.
But… he who stands by in the presence of evil nurtures it.
And so, Jaune had come to Beacon. Not to be a hero. But because there were lives he could save.
BANG.
He was interrupted in his thoughts by a loud explosion some distance away.
And this is why Dust has to be handled carefully, he thought, shaking his head.
Still, it was worth checking out what had happened. Someone might be in need of assistance. With this is mind, he made his way over to the source of the smoke rising up.
"Are… are you a complete idiot?" shouted a shrill voice.
"I'm sorry! It was an accident!" came the reply.
Coming to the scene, Jaune found a familiar figure in Little Red Riding Hood, the small dark haired girl he had seen earlier. She appeared to be trying to placate the person in front of her. Said person immediately reminded Jaune of ice for some reason. She was clad entirely in silver and white, with some red accents, and even her hair was the colour of snow.
Jaune would be lying if he said he didn't think she was beautiful.
"Imbecile! You're an imbecile!"
Unfortunately, whatever positive impression she might have otherwise had on him was kind of ruined by the way she spoke to the girl who was clearly sorry for whatever she had done. There was a case lying open on the ground, and a broken vial next to it. Evidently, the two girls had collided, and the Dust containing vial had fallen to the ground, and did what Dust tended to on impact: explode.
Well, no one seemed to be hurt at least. He was about to walk away when he saw that Snow White was still lashing out at Little Red.
Hmm. Master did always say to leave well enough alone.
Since he had begun to travel by himself, he had found that to be sound advice. It just wasn't healthy to intervene in every conflict, especially those that could be resolved peacefully without a third party. More than once, Jaune had only ended up being blamed for getting himself involved with a situation, and he had realized why Kenshiro had been an isolationist.
Yet, as he watched the poor girl receive a verbal thrashing, he felt bad. It would feel wrong not to intervene in this case, at least to just calm the furious one down.
Stepping forward, he spoke out.
"Hey. She said she was sorry. It won't happen again, will it?"
Both girls whirled around to look at him, and instantly, Jaune regretted getting involved.
Damn it! I didn't train for this!
Which was true! Due to the amount of time he had spent in the wilderness, Jaune hadn't had much interaction with other humans, especially girls of his age.
As a result, to be suddenly confronted by two exceptionally attractive women, one of whom possessed the overwhelming power of cuteness, and the other the physical beauty of an actual fairy… left him awestruck for a moment.
Way back in the day, most of Jaune's experience of talking to girls revolved around his sisters. None of whom took him very seriously.
So it was a surprise to see both the cute red one and beautiful white one staring at him wide-eyed, instead of with dismissal.
I guess being tall helps?
Regardless, he was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable, and was actually extremely relieved when the formerly furious one spoke.
"I should hope not! This is an Academy for Huntresses! Not dolts who can't follow proper safety procedures with authorized Dust equipment…"
The way she spoke vaguely reminded Jaune of advertisement jargon, but it was easy to see that this girl was a bit of the self-superior type, though she didn't seem to malicious. Conclusions: she was just a bit stuck up. The easiest way of dealing with her would be to give her what she wanted.
"Exactly so!" Jaune said. "And now that you've reminded her, I'm sure she'll take the lesson to heart. Right?"
He turned around to face the other girl, whose earlier look of awe had turned into one of disappointment and mild disgust when he had taken Snow White's side.
Judging by the scene Jaune had witnessed earlier with this one's elder sister, and her expression right now, this one was maybe a bit more of a free spirit. At any rate, no one liked sweating the details or being roasted over a simple mistake. And she had made it to Beacon despite her young age, so it was unlikely she was dangerously careless. Conclusion: appeal to that free-spiritedness.
With his back to the silver-haired fairy, so that she couldn't see, Jaune winked at her, making it clear he wasn't ganging up on her.
Immediately, the disgust disappeared, replaced momentarily by sheer joy, before giving way to the worst poker face Jaune had ever seen.
"Right. Exactly right!" the girl said. "I've learnt my lesson!"
The other glared at her for a moment more before sighing.
"Fine. I'll let it go this once. See that you don't repeat it"
Jaune subtly released a breath he didn't know he was holding.
Well, that turned out well. Situation handled. Well done, me.
And so thinking, he began to proceed further into campus, when he realized, with growing horror, that the two girls were still with him, walking on either side of him.
Shit, shit, shit! This wasn't part of the plan!
He had managed to play a short encounter cool. That did not mean he was ready for prolonged contact! He needed to find a way to get away from them.
"Er…" he began awkwardly, not looking at either of them.
"Ah yes. Where are my manners. I have yet to introduce-"
"Oh, hey, I totally forgot. My name's-"
The two girls stopped. Both of them had attempted to speak at the same time, resulting in a garbled mess. They glared at each other, and Snow White was the one to aim for the high road.
"No, please. After you, by all means."
"Sheesh, what's your problem," Little Red muttered under her breath before turning to Jaune.
"My name's Ruby Rose!", she said brightly. "Do you have a weapon? Can I see it?"
"Er…"
"Really! Right on the first meeting! Give him some time!" Snow White interrupted. Turning to Jaune, she continued. "And I am Weiss Schnee. I don't think I caught your name."
"Jaune Souther," the blonde youth replied. Over the past few months, it had gotten easier to avoid the natural habit of giving his birth family's name. Souther, incidentally, was the name of one of the many rivals his master had defeated. Jaune had picked it as his cover because it was a general word for the strong southern wind, and not exotic enough to be detected as a lie.
"Jaune Souther…" repeated the girl called Ruby, saying the name experimentally, as if it felt strange, unfamiliar. "That's an unusual name."
"Indeed," said Weiss, for once in agreement with her. "Can't quite seem to put my finger on it, but it seems different for some reason."
Because one part is taken from someone else? Jaune thought wryly.
But neither of them pushed the point, much to his relief.
"Oh yeah! I got distracted for a second. Jaune, where's your weapon? What is it? Can I see it?"
Ruby's attention seemed to revolve around weapons, evidently.
Weiss face-palmed, but before she could say anything, Jaune chose to answer.
"You're looking at it," he said, speaking a fraction of the truth.
"Huh? I don't see it anywhere…"
"Is that so? Maybe you need to change your way of looking," Jaune said cryptically, allowing a slight smile on to his face.
The pout on her face felt immensely satisfying to see. Of course, soon enough, Jaune would have to show his abilities. He wasn't afraid of having them copied or stolen: it took years to master Hokuto Shinken, and that was only with the guidance of a master. At the same time, however, there was no reason to go proclaiming his secrets to the world. So, for now, he decided to keep it veiled in mystery.
"... Weiss, why did you step on my foot?"
"Hmm? Oh, it was an accident. Sorry."
The girl's cold voice told Jaune that it was not an accident.
What have I gotten myself into?
Before he could answer his own question, he saw in the distance the long-haired blonde from earlier, Ruby's elder sister. She was waving, and Ruby responded enthusiastically. Seeing this as his chance, Jaune decided to take a detour while the girls' attention was on the new arrival. The move worked, and he was able to lose his two companions.
A loud announcement from up ahead alerted him that new students were supposed to gather in the courtyard. Jaune could already a crowd starting to form in front of the platform, and while he wasn't a fan of jostling and close physical proximity if he could help it, he supposed he should hear out whatever they had to say. Some important information might be given out. He decided to hang back, where the crowd was thin, instead of trying to get closer. He could see fine from where he was.
As he watched, a silver-haired man in a black suit stepped onto the platform. He wore round-rimmed glasses, and carried a cane. Despite appearing young, he moved with authority, and his body language was smooth and confident. Jaune noted that he was a skilled combatant.
Standing atop the platform, he spoke out, voice amplified by a small mic he was wearing.
"I'll be brief. I look at you all… and I see dissipation. Wasted energy. You have come here in search of knowledge and skills. Having acquired these, you seek to dedicate your lives in the service of others. But knowledge can only take you so far. You need purpose. And that, you must choose, yourselves. It is up to you to take the first step."
Memories hit Jaune. The villages and settlements he had seen with his master. Destroyed by Grimm. And the others… destroyed by humans.
Well, we'll see soon enough, what ideals are instilled in Huntsmen.
A woman stepped onto the platform.
"Initiation will take place early tomorrow morning. I suggest you all proceed to the dining hall and eat, after which, you should gather in the main hall, where you will spend the night. It is recommended that you rest and recover your energy in preparation for the trials that await."
Unusual headmaster.
He decided to head towards the dining hall. It was a good idea to eat and fuel up for whatever trials Beacon had in mind. He was also aware that he was being watched, but he decided not to confront the watcher yet. It was unlikely he would be taken by surprise, since he was aware of her. So he decided not to create a scene by facing her here.
Meanwhile, several feet away, the watcher (Pyrrha) saw him leave, still unable to get a proper read on him. He was able to get along easily enough with people, yet, he had seemed eager to get rid of them, and had done so at the first opportunity. This was a stark contrast to most typical teenagers, who would do almost anything for the attention of two attractive young women. He was hiding something. Pyrrha didn't know what, and she was curious.
It wasn't over. Sooner or later, she'd have her chance, and she'd find out exactly what his secret was.
Dinner ended up being pleasant. Beacon certainly did not compromise on the quality of their food, and each dish was both nutritious and prepared to perfection. Most students, Jaune included, were smart, however, so they didn't overeat.
The blonde Shinken practitioner finished his meal and washed his face and hands, feeling satisfied. It was dark outside, and most people had already retired to the main hall, where beds had been arranged. An adventurous few still roamed around outside, choosing to explore the campus. Jaune had to admit, he was curious about what the place might have to offer. But he decided to retire for the night. It was better to be well-rested before action whenever possible.
"Heyyy, sis. Whatchu writing, there?"
As before, his attention was drawn by a loud voice.
The elder sister again, it seems.
Turning, he looked at the blonde girl, who was now standing over Ruby's shoulder as she attempted to write. Jaune's eyesight was well-honed, and he could see that as a matter of fact, she was penning out a letter. He decided not to read further. Judging by the tone, this was personal, and not really any of his business.
"Oh, just writing home to my friends," she answered, finishing off and folding up the piece of paper.
"Aww… that's adorable," said her sister, once again pulling her into a hug.
"Stoppit, yercrushing me, Yang! I'm not a kid!"
"I know! You're here now. Definitely not a kid. So you shouldn't worry. You'll make lots of friends here, too." Her tone was warm and supporting.
"You say that, but all I've made so far is a negative friend-"
I think they're called enemies, thought Jaune.
"I think they're called enemies," said Yang.
"Not helping, sis!"
"Hey! Would you keep it quiet over there? Some people are trying to sleep, you know!"
And here comes Weiss. Of course.
Ruby's reaction was predictable, as she cringed, inching closer to her sister, whispering loud enough for pretty much anyone to hear her.
"She's the one! You know, the one with the Dust and the explosion, from earlier!"
"Oh, the enemy!" Yang said, nodding understandingly.
Not helping, thought Jaune.
"Not helping!" said Ruby.
"Don't worry, sis. Just leave it to me! I'll show you how it's done."
Walking forward, she raised a hand, waving exaggeratedly to Weiss.
"Hi! I'm Yang! Seems you and Ruby here have sort of gotten off on the wrong foot. So how about we put all this behind us and start again?"
"How about we put all this behind us and you two stop shouting so everyone else can go to sleep?!"
Several groans were heard at the irony of Weiss shouting as she said this.
"Hey, hey! Girl's got a mean one-liner game. I think we got her, Rubes!" Yang turned around and gave a thumbs-up to her sister.
"Idiots," muttered the silver-haired girl.
"Oho. You think my patented Yang ways can't make friends?"
"I don't know and I don't care," said Weiss.
At this point, even Jaune was sick of watching them squabble. A part of him suspected that these three would get along great, since he didn't sense any real animosity between them. If two people argue, but still keep talking to each other, it's likely they find each other interesting on some level.
Friends, huh?
Jaune hadn't really had time for that during his training. After his tutelage had ended, he'd travelled. Been to many places, but never stayed anywhere for long. A part of him wondered if Beacon would finally be the place where he stopped, at least for a few years.
He shook his head.
It was unlikely. Conflict had been drawn to Kenshiro. The master hadn't gone out of his way to make a spectacle of himself, but rumours still spread in the outlands, of the Saviour of the Century's End, the Man with Seven Scars. Although he acted to protect those who couldn't defend themselves, evil was drawn to him because of his power. Some to harness it, others to destroy it.
And, once Jaune had inherited the Shinken, he realised what it was like, too. To be hunted by shadows. Assassins trailed him wherever he went. And even those he defended turned against him. He was feared; an outsider even in the wilds.
It was unlikely he could stay for long at Beacon. Most likely, many here would become his enemies. Even more likely, his presence here would bring others who wished to either capture him, or steal his secrets.
Even so, he had come because he needed information. As long as he could stay here long enough to learn what he needed, he could leave with no regrets. The lives of many hung in the balance. If he found what he came for, he might be able to put an end to it all: to Huntsmen being sent to die. To humans hunting other humans. And above all, to the darkness of the Grimm.
He took a deep breath.
It would be best to get some sleep.
As he was about to turn in, he noticed a young girl with long black hair. She wore a rather conspicuous hair band. Unlike most others, she hadn't changed into night clothes: still dressed in her travel gear. And despite how she leaned back in bed against the wall, reading a book, seemingly at ease, he noticed there was an underlying readiness to her, as if she was ready to dodge an attack whenever it came, and fight or run.
Maybe I'm not the only one hunted by shadows.
Normally, he would not have been at ease around a girl, but maybe because of that shared struggle, he was able to talk to her without awkwardness.
"The Legend of the Dark Knight," he said to her as he walked over. "It's a good story."
She looked up at him, slightly curious, but eyebrows crooked, as if ready to call him in case he was bullshitting her.
"You enjoy epics?"
"This is the only one I've read," he admitted. "But if they're all like this, I wouldn't mind reading more."
She relaxed slightly. There wasn't any hint of falsehood in his words. There was also a genuine love for the book in his voice, that convinced her that they at least had that in common. So she decided to give a genuine reply as well.
"They're not. Most aren't nearly as accessible. In my opinion, the reason this one resonates so well is that some level, most of us can relate to the characters."
Jaune found himself smiling wider than he had in a long time.
"A powerful Demon who notices the cruelty of his brethren towards humankind, and turns against his own to stand up for justice. Ultimately, he defeats the Prince of Darkness, but in doing so, also seals away most of his own power. He settles down in the human world, and ultimately marries a human, with whom he has twin children. Most wouldn't consider a figure that powerful relatable… but Sparda, being a demon, still had more humanity than many 'people' I've met."
The black-haired girl nodded.
"Sparda was a hero. And one who was able to find peace and happiness before moving on. But… most people in his place cannot say the same. Those who are different… are shunned… as if they were demons."
Jaune shot a glance at her hair band. He could see what she was trying to conceal, of course. The fabric was almost indistinguishable from the real fur underneath, but his eyes could make out the difference. But if she was hiding it… she must have her reasons, and would probably not like being called out all of a sudden. So he chose his words carefully.
"A realistic opinion drawn from an epic. One could argue that the very improbability of the events are meant to showcase that such an ending is beyond the reach of most people."
The faunus' ears drooped slightly. Just enough that only someone carefully observing them would notice.
Jaune continued.
"But I don't think that's what the story is trying to say. At least, it's not how I interpret it."
She looked at him, eyes narrowed.
"Then what is it that you take away from it?" she asked.
"Hope," answered Jaune simply. "Hope that somewhere out there, even a demon can cry if he sees suffering. Hope that one can change oneself… and write their own fate."
Even as he said those words, they rang hollow in his own ears. He was saying them to cheer her up. But deep inside, he had little hope of overcoming the destiny written for every successor to Hokuto Shinken.
Blood and death follow in the wake of the Godfist.
As he wrestled with his own turmoil, the girl, oblivious to it, brightened considerably.
"That's… an inspiring interpretation. A little naive…"
Of course.
"... But maybe the world could do with a bit more of that kind of naivete."
Her words broke Jaune out of his state of brooding.
She had the tiniest smile on her face.
"I'm Blake. You're a weird guy… but I hope you'll make it in."
"Jaune. And thanks. You too."
He walked away, deciding firmly that he would go to sleep now, though he was aware he was still being watched.
The Next Morning. Initiation Day.
Pyrrha woke up feeling refreshed. She had slept well, as always. It was underrated, but one of the most important skills of a warrior was being able to sleep restfully whenever the opportunity was available. The ability to fall asleep quickly, but also be a light enough sleeper to awake quickly in case of emergencies, was invaluable. As such, it was one of the things she had been trained to do as a Spartan.
Shower facilities were available, and she decided to freshen up before getting dressed. Initiation was scheduled for the morning, so she strapped her armour on, breastplate, greaves, gauntlet and headpiece, before heading to the dining hall for a light breakfast. As she made her way there, she came across the strange unarmed youth she had noted the previous day. He was one of the few who had slept with his travelling clothes on, and even now, he was fully geared for action, though the slight wetness to his hair gave away the fact that he must have bathed.
The Spartan's eyes met those of the Shinken's. It was the first time Pyrrha was making contact with his eyes, and she noted there was not even a hint of a flinch in them. They were sharp and quick, but unhurried, calm, watching her carefully, studying her movements while also meeting her head-on.
These were not the eyes of a young warrior-in-training.
They were the eyes of one who has been in life-and-death battles, until they have become second instinct to him.
"You were watching me yesterday," Jaune said. There was no nervousness. While he was plenty awkward around girls, the situation changed completely if the person in question was a potential opponent. His brain and body's combat instincts took over, replacing hesitation with cold decisiveness.
But Pyrrha didn't back down either. As formidable as the boy was (and she knew he had the overwhelming advantage when they were both unarmed), she wasn't afraid of him.
"I was," she replied simply. "You're unusual."
"Maybe so."
"You come to an Academy meant for Hunters. But you do not carry the weapons or equipment of one. It makes me wonder who you truly are, and what your intentions may be. And it makes me wonder if you are truly prepared for what lies ahead."
Jaune looked at her seriously for a while before his face relaxed and he smiled slightly. It was incredible how much the tension lessened between the two of them when he did that.
"You're not the first person here to say something like that."
Pyrrha frowned slightly. He hadn't been offended by her words, and he looked confident in himself.
Was he actually going through with this? Taking on Grimm bare-handed?
"We should get breakfast," he said, interrupting her thoughts. "I wouldn't want to go out on the field on an empty stomach."
The meal passed by quickly, and Pyrrha found herself choosing foods and eating on autopilot, her mind a storm of thoughts. This boy… may very well be about to go to his death. Her instincts told her he was more than capable of handling himself. But logic said he was woefully unequipped for what was to come.
She debated if she should report him to the first teacher she would see.
It was in this state of mind as she went to the Locker room, where each student's assigned locker was, containing their weapons. Quickly locating hers, she typed the passcode, causing it to slide open. Finding her familiar swordspear and shield, she strapped the latter to her back, while shifting the former between its gun, sword and spear forms, finally settling for the gun form, as she loaded up the magazine and inserted it, checking the sights to make sure they were in order.
"Excuse me."
She turned around. Standing behind her was a girl dressed in silver and white, with hair the same colour. Her eyes were a startling blue. All in all, she immediately made Pyrrha think of snow.
"Pyrrha Nikos, I presume?"
Oh, this is it. I guess anonymity doesn't last forever.
Composing herself, she smiled slightly.
"Yes, that's me."
"Weiss Schnee," said the girl, holding out a hand, which Pyrrha cautiously shook.
"So, Pyrrha. Have you given any thoughts to who you would like on your team?"
As a matter of fact, she was hoping she would be able to make at least one friend, or even a friendly acquaintance. Having such a person on her team would be the best possible outcome. However, she'd had no such luck, being far too awkward to really approach anyone.
"Not really," she answered. "I was thinking of letting the chips fall where they may."
"I see. Well, certainly, anyone who finds themselves on your team will have at least one dependable ally to count on. But ideally, you would want someone capable by your side as well. And that is why, I think the best scenario would be if the two of us were to work together."
Well. She's certainly forward, Pyrrha noted.
The situation was slightly uncomfortable for the Spartan. She really hadn't considered any specific individual as a prospective partner, and the girl in front of her very obviously only wanted to team up with her because of her reputation. While Pyrrha could see the logic behind that choice, she definitely didn't want to team up with someone who only wanted her for her power.
Yet, she hadn't been able to approach anyone else either. If she turned her down, would she be able to find another person willing to team up with her?
She couldn't answer that.
Just as she was preparing herself to turn her down even if it meant going solo, she noticed a familiar blonde walking past them.
Perfect!
Pyrrha recalled that Weiss knew him, and had seemed quite eager to spend time with him earlier. As a matter of fact, the boy had been forced to slip away. Having him here now would serve as the perfect distraction.
"Hello again!" she said loudly as he walked by, and he turned to look at her.
As he did so, Weiss' eyes landed on him as well, and widened in recognition. Pyrrha observed them light up with joy for a split second, and wondered how anyone with that genuine a reaction could have been as fake as she was being just a moment ago. The snow-themed Huntress was able to conceal her reaction quickly though, the expression on her face becoming one of anger.
"Jaune! You disappeared yesterday," she said. "And it seems you've been getting acquainted with others in the meantime."
She added in the second part in a cold voice, and Pyrrha could physically feel the temperature around them drop by a few degrees. She looked at leather-clad boy sympathetically. His earlier stoicism was replaced by a look of betrayal.
"Why would you do this?" his eyes all but seemed to scream.
Pyrrha could barely stop herself from laughing. Seeing the one who appeared to be a hardened warrior show a typically boyish response was very amusing. She shook her head slightly, trying to indicate she was sorry, although her barely suppressed smile more likely made it look like she was gloating at his misery.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, trying to come up with an excuse. "Yeah, about that. Sorry. I got an urgent call that I simply had to take."
It was an obvious lie, but it appeared to placate Weiss to an extent.
"Hmph. Fine. You could have told me before leaving though."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind next time," he said, neck muscles straining as he tried to keep a smiling face.
Before anything more could be said, a loud announcement was heard, summoning all new students.
Within moments, they had gathered on the outskirts of Forever Fall, on a cliff overlooking the forest. It was now that all hopes Pyrrha had that the teachers might bar Jaune from taking the test were dashed. Even as he stood there, clearly unarmed, neither Ozpin nor Goodwitch made any move to interrogate him.
This is really happening?
"Your objective is simple. Once in the forest, you will proceed to make your way north to the ruins located within. There, you must each retrieve a 'relic', and then proceed towards extraction. Do not hesitate to destroy anything in your way, or you won't survive."
Ozpin paused for a moment to make sure everyone understood the weight of that statement. When he was satisfied, he continued.
"At Beacon, it is customary for Hunters to operate in pairs. As such, your partner will be decided during this test itself."
Pyrrha felt her heartbeat speed up.
"You partner for the duration of your stay at Beacon," said Ozpin, "Will be the first person you make eye contact with in the forest."
Pyrrha all but groaned internally.
This… this system was pathetic! She could end up being paired with anyone! She looked further down the line at Cardin and his cohorts. Exactly the sort of people she didn't want to team up with. Bullies and cowards. Or people like Weiss, who simply wanted to use her for her abilities. No. No matter how polite she was, she had no respect for people like that.
But she couldn't protest. This was Beacon. If she was here, she would have to play by their rules.
"In any case. Prepare yourself. You will each be using your own landing strategy." We will be launching right away."
Wait. Hold on. Landing. How is Jaune supposed to slow down his fall?
Before she could ask that question aloud, the pads they were standing on had already started to launch each of them one by one, going down the line towards her. Jaune, who standing right next to her, seemed perfectly calm. The mechanical jump pad below him was pushed upwards forcefully by the hydraulics underneath it, and he was sent flying through the air. There was no time for Pyrrha to dwell on him either. A sudden force alerted her to the fact that she too had just been sent sailing skywards.
Her mind kicked into focus, her senses sharpening, as she felt her body respond to each signal her brain sent. Using her Polarity, she unstrapped her shield from her back and drew it to her left arm, gripping it. Holding it firmly in front of her, she stayed horizontal in the air, to make sure it covered as much of her as possible, locking her shoulder and bracing the shield with her other arm to reinforce it as well. As a final layer of protection, she used her Polarity to hold her arms in place. Soon enough, she felt the impact as she crashed into the canopy of the forest, breaking through branch after branch as her momentum continued to send her forward. Yet, slowly but surely, she felt herself falling downwards as well. Spotting a large branch ahead, she took her chance and lowered her shield while dropping her legs, feeling her feet touch down on it. Rolling through, she came up having adjusted to the momentum, ending in a balanced crouching position.
That takes care of landing. Now Jaune!
From her vantage point, she scanned the horizon, but was unable to see Jaune anywhere. He had probably already made a landing. Either that… or he was dead. She shook her head. She coudn't give up now. If he was alive at all, she would make sure he survived this ordeal. She decided to head north while keeping her eyes open. It made sense he would proceed towards the objective if he managed to land safely.
Jaune was not dead.
A few seconds ago.
The blonde haired Shinken sailed through the air, making sure to keep his body horizontal to reduce air resistance and maximize forward travel. When he was above the tree cover, he prepared himself. It would have been easy for him to brace himself as he crashed through the foliage. The height of the fall was nothing great for him. But it was a method that would do unnecessary damage to the forest. So, he stayed loose. As he penetrated the canopy, he twisted in mid air to avoid branches, and lowered his legs when he saw the chance. Up ahead, a particularly thick branch caught his attention. Kicking off a trunk that he was passing by, he changed direction diagonally towards it. When it was close enough, he grabbed on it with his hands and flipped over it like a gymnast, sending himself soaring upwards. Flipping over once more in the air, he landed lightly on his toes atop the branch.
No trees were harmed. Excellent.
Closing his eyes, he concentrated his senses of hearing and smell to the maximum, while reaching out with his Ki. As it spread out over the forest, he was able to locate several familiar life energies close by.
Weiss, Pyrrha, Blake, Ruby and Yang are all less than 2 kilometres from me.
In addition to these women, whom he knew by name, he felt two more presences that were familiar: the hyper-energetic girl who had kept talking about sloths, and green-clad boy he had recognized as a fellow practitioner of the traditional ways.
Ki, or life energy, also called Aura by Hunters, was something all living beings possessed. Jaune could locate people using his ability to sense this energy. What few knew was that Grimm too possessed it. It was hard to sense, and completely different from the bright warmth typical of life. But it was there nonetheless. Twisted and corrupted though they were, the Grimm were alive too.
And that is why, he could sense them all, every single Grimm within a 2 kilometre radius, there positions accurate down to the millimetre.
North is where the ruins are. If I run, I can cover the length of the forest in ten minutes at most. But I can't leave the others here. I sense they're capable… but their methods aren't properly developed. Maybe I should go slower, give them a chance to get to the ruins first. If any of them are in trouble, I'll lend an assist. No one has to die here.
With his mind made up, Jaune jumped from the branch he was on to one further ahead, and then to another, travelling from tree to tree silently, heading north, while tracking the movements of the Grimm, and the other students. He made sure not to go too fast, so that none of the others he was tracking would slip out of range of his senses. For the first several minutes, the going was calm.
All of that changed once a wind blew through the forest.
… That's not good.
Apart from being drawn to negative emotions, Grimm also possessed other keen senses. Sharp eyesight, smell and hearing. In case of calm prey, they used smell to hunt, since they couldn't count on fear to give away their position. Several groups of Grimm were relatively close to many of the individual Hunters. And with the wind, the scent of those Hunters would give away their location.
Sure enough, he sensed an abrupt spike in several Ki signatures to go with the alarm of sudden confrontation. Gunshots followed.
Jaune's tracking strategy was sound, but he had not considered what to do if all of them were attacked at the same time, in different parts of the forest. The only way around such a situation would have been to pre-emptively strike and kill every Grimm he could sense.
But that sort of cruelty… was simply beyond him. Bloodthirsty and violent the Grimm were, and they did indeed feed on humans. But it wasn't out of malice. That was simply their nature. He could no more expect them to change than he could expect a wolf or tiger to forgo flesh. And if they had Ki… then they were, in some way or another, alive.
Never treat life cheaply.
Those had been Kenshiro's words.
Hokuto Shinken had countless ways to take a life.
It had not a single way to give back a life taken.
There are many who die who should live. If you cannot give them life, then do not be eager to take it.
This was part of the core of Jaune's beliefs.
Yet, if they attacked, he would defend himself, and others. So he didn't waste a second hesitating. Instead, he leapt explosively down to the forest floor and dashed forward towards the nearest human to give backup. Entering the clearing, he saw that that person… was Pyrrha Nikos.
Moving quickly, she blocked a strike from a Beowulf using her shield, while thrusting out with her sword from behind it, stabbing it in the throat and killing it instantly. Even as she did this, another Beowulf leapt at her from behind… but never reached her.
Dashing forward, Jaune cleared the distance of five metres between himself and Pyrrha while the beast was still in mid-air, and placed himself between her and it. Turning, he thrust out a fist with the same lightning speed, catching it right on its armoured skull. A shockwave exploded outwards from the hit, ruffling Pyrrha's hair as the Beowulf's over two hundred pound body was halted completely in its movement. She whipped her head around, eyes widening at what she saw. Even before the Grimm's body could fall to the ground, violent contortions ran through its frame, and it exploded, showering the forest floor with chunks of its body that disappeared in wisps of smoke.
The Spartan felt a chill run down her spine.
What the hell kind of move was that…
Jaune took up a fighting stance, legs slightly wide, hips low, hands open and raised to just below his chin.
"Stay focused," he said, keeping his eyes on the other Beowulves, who were less eager to charge in after the fate that had met the first two to do so.
Pyrrha raised her shield and sword. He was right. This was a fight. No time to be getting distracted. Jaune was indeed capable of taking down Grimm with his bare hands. He was ready. That was all she needed to know.
"Affirmative. Engaging to destroy," she said.
Launching herself forward, she kept her shield high to prevent being hit from an angle while smoothly shifting her weapon to its spear form, extending its reach and skewering a Beowulf right through its open mouth. Immediately, she retracted her arm to avoid being caught in an extended position. She focused on the side where she had her shield up, and as expected, felt a weight crash into it. Another one had tried attacking from that direction. Shoving it back, she thrust her spear through its body before pulling it out and moving on to the next target. Meanwhile, Jaune had her unshielded side covered. As she had blocked the Grimm that had tried to flank her, another one had come from the opposite direction, only to run into Jaune's boot as he pivoted, turning 360 while delivering a roundhouse kick that cut the Grimm in half as if it had been a blade strike. In truth, the technique depended on speed to generate air pressure that was powerful enough to surpass most swords in its cutting power. The Beowulf hadn't been hit by the kick. It had been bisected as the foot had passed by it.
Not pausing, Jaune pressed the attack, moving on the remaining two Grimm on his side, neither of whom were prepared to meet his advance. As such, Jaune didn't need to intercept their bodies in mid-air, leaving him free to use the basic principle of Hokuto Shinken.
Hokuto Shinken. The Divine Fist of the North Star.
Its enormous power came from its understanding of life. Its understanding of living bodies, and the life force that flowed through them. By striking certain points located on the anatomy of a living being and stimulating them with one's own energy, the flow of life force in the target could be manipulated. This could have disastrous effects on it. Cutting off or reversing blood flow. Preventing the function of certain organs. Killing nerves.
A Hokuto Shinkin practitioner combined surgical knowledge of the body with superhuman physical prowess to kill any foe with the minimum amount of effort.
Grimm anatomy was different from that of humans, but Jaune had fought plenty of Beowulves before, and as such, was familiar with their bodies. Before the beasts could react, he struck both of them simultaneously in the chest with a single knuckle each. The hits immediately caused both hearts to stop beating. They were dead before they even hit the ground.
Jaune turned around just as Pyrrha beheaded the last Grimm of the pack before flicking the blood off her weapon and sheathing it. She faced him, and the two locked eyes.
"I suppose this makes us partners," she said evenly.
"I suppose it does," he agreed.
The two of them relaxed and approached each other, and Pyrrha was the first to bow her head.
"I apologize for earlier. I underestimated your abilities. You are more than ready and equipped to be on this battlefield."
Caught off guard by her sincere and open statement, Jaune was humbled, and bowed in turn.
"I underestimated you as well, though I did not say so. Your skills are formidable."
The last Spartan and Shinken in the world looked at each other with newfound respect, and Jaune found himself remembering something Kenshiro had told him.
Different peoples and cultures create and refine their own martial arts. Those arts are methods and ways devised precisely because human beings are weak. The human body is fragile. So, we devise methods to fight to compensate for that weakness. Martial arts do not seek strength to destroy. They seek strength to protect that which is precious. This is the power of the human spirit. The power of the soul. It is the reason you are able to fight. Use it well, my disciple. Protect those who cannot defend themselves, and treat everyone you meet with respect. You will learn much from them.
Perhaps, the Hunters' ways had a value he had not seen earlier. Perhaps, at long last, he would find here, those who could, for a while, walk alongside him.
He couldn't wait to find out.