It was day ten.
I suppose things were looking up for me. I haven't had any meat for awhile, but I found a nice temporary rest area that blossomed with fruits like the Garden of Eden. There was plenty of harvest to satisfy my hunger for a couple of more days. But I couldn't stay cooped up here too long, I have to keep moving on. The trees were thinning out which meant I must be coming close to a town. That, or perhaps at least, leaving this wretched forest. Though I have to admit, there was definitely a lot less grimm around the area. Perhaps Lady Luck was finally being sentimental and couldn't bear to watch a little girl suffer anymore.
I laughed at myself for having such foolish thought.
The day Lady Luck will stop pitying me would be the day I get to sleep on a nice warm bed in my actual home.
I sighed and sank my teeth into some type of fruit that I salvaged from a tree. It was sweet but somewhat grainy and dry. I didn't complain. It was editable and filled my stomach. Eating this was definitely better than licking a grimm. My body quivered at the horrifying memory and the agony I had to endure.
Yes, I tried to eat a damn breathing grimm.
I was fucking desperate.
Fortunately, I didn't even had the chance to take a bite of it. With just a tip of my tongue, the taste was already awful. And from that, my digestive organ churned as it couldn't stomach the aftertaste of the putrid black creature. I went through a series of killer stomach pains and vomits for period of time.
Honestly, it was probably the dumbest fucking idea I ever had.
I tossed the non editable portions of the fruit and sank my teeth into a different one. This fruit was definitely juicier than the last. I closed my eyes and chewed slowly, letting my mouth savor the welcoming taste. Who knows when will be the next time I will have something this good.
"Miss Rose, please pay attention in class." The green haired zipped in front of me, jittering from the absurd amount of coffee.
"Huh? Oh sorry, Professor —"
"That's doctor, Miss Rose!"
"Right, sorry Dr. Oobleck."
"The next time you zone out, I will not hesitate to give you detention! Moving on, homework is on the board. I expect you to complete it when you come in tomorrow for class. You are dismissed," Dr. Oobleck announced, and zoomed out of the classroom.
I stood from my chair and sighed. My metallic orbs were downcast as I properly tucked in the chair back. So far, two weeks have passed since initiation. And so far, history was definitely the subject I knew absolutely nothing in. I barely knew Remnants past or anything about it. If they asked me about my world's history, then I probably could needlessly blabber for many hours. But this technically wasn't the world that I knew well of. This was Remnant. Fifteen years of living here, and I still have no clue of its history other than the basics.
Man, having no school experience really did put me out of place from the rest of the student body.
"Hey Rubes, what's the long look?" Yang walked up to me.
"I suck at history," I admittedly muttered.
"Aww cheer up sis. I'm sure snowflake will help you," she pointed over her shoulder to Weiss. The heiress scoffed back as a response.
"I think Weiss has enough on her plate. You can't teach me?"
Yang laughed at my question. "I would love to, but I think you're better off asking Blake. Though you have to wait your turn because she needs to help me too. Isn't that right Blakey?"
Blake confusingly blinked at the blonde as she just joined the conversation. "Um... Sure?"
Ah poor Blake. She just unconsciously sold herself to tutor Yang for long hours.
"Okay, off to combat class!" Yang enthusiastically hurried us over.
Combat class was something I looked forward to during the week. Grimm studies I can somewhat handle, and history, not so much. But combat? Definitely something I can proudly hold my head high. We left the lecture hall, and made a beeline to the locker rooms. Then we changed into our combat gears and equipped our weapons. My team and I walked out to the arena, and sat at the top of the bleachers right next to Team JNPR. Once class have started, Professor Goodwitch chose students to spar with one another through a randomizer in her tablet. Jaune lucked out and had to spar with Cardin, a domineering person who torments people for his own enjoyment. Everyone in the class watched as the school bully easily trashed the blond swordsman. It was sad to watch, but those were the rules of the world. The weak falls and the strong survives. Jaune needed figure out how to grow stronger. Even if the path was difficult and harsh, he needed to learn.
I averted my eyes from the arena because I couldn't bear to watch the one-sided beating.
"Enough!" Professor Goodwitch's voice boomed. She stopped the fight and began tapping on her tablet. Then she started lecturing about Jaune's errors and how his skills and abilities needed severe improvements. Before the professor criticized him more, I raised my hand. "Yes Miss Rose?" she called out to me.
"Can I volunteer to spar?"
"I suppose we have time for one more. Since you were courageous to volunteer, I'll let you choose your opponent."
"How about Cardin?"
"Sorry Miss Rose, but Cardin already fought today already."
I clicked my tongue. Combat class was probably the only chance I could get away with bashing Cardin. I wanted to give him a thorough ass beating, but I lucked out. If the school permitted me, I would've send him early to his grave.
"Can I spar my sister then?" My thumb pointed to the blonde next to me. Her head perked up from hearing her name and the word spar.
"Sorry, Miss Rose. Intra-team spars goes against school's policy for first years. However, the rule will be uplifted starting your second year."
"Awww come on," Yang and I said in unison.
"I haven't seen her in... Awhile. Can't you make this one exception?" I pleaded with a face of a puppy. I couldn't wait for next year to have an official fight with Yang. I was too impatient for that. Professor Goodwitch stroked her temples because she knew my situation. So far the only people that had somewhat of an idea about me were the professors and my sister.
"Very well," she sighed. "I'll allow this once."
Yang and I enthusiastically high-fived and we climbed down the bleachers onto the arena floor. She grinned widely as it had been years since we last sparred.
"So what's the score again? 116 to 0?" I snorted, bringing back vague memories.
"In your dreams. 116 to 124. I'm still ahead of the game," she smirked back. I smiled as she still remembered the score after all these years. The brawler stretched her arms looking all fired up.
"Girls, the match will be decided when one of you reach the red zone," the combat instructor reminded. We both understandingly gave a thumbs up, but still held onto each other's gaze.
"How about the same rules, except with a little change? No weapons. Only hand to hand combat,and we can use semblance."
"Isn't that a bit unfair?" Yang arched an eyebrow to me.
"Nope, I'm making it fair for you," I said smugly.
"Oohh you're so on! I'm going to kick you off your high horse."
"Let's see you try."
Yang walked off to the side and handed over her Ember Celica to Blake. After she handed over her gauntlets, I turned over Crescent Rose and the dagger I had hidden under my corset. Before the raven haired girl could ask about my concealed short-edged knife, I walked back to the center of the arena with Yang.
"You ready?" I stretched my arms over my head and flexed my hands.
"I'm always ready! You can have the honors to take the first shot," she playfully bowed.
"You're too kind," I courteously waved a hand down and giggled at her antics.
My face fell back into a serious demeanor as I raised both my fist close to my face. We slowly circled around each other like wild predators, neither of us making a sudden move. Both of us were at a severe disadvantage. We had no intelligence of each other's battle style, or what had changed over the years. But I do know one thing.
Yang overpowered me when it came to raw strength. Her hugs provided significant proof, but I wasn't worried one bit.
Skills beat strength.
Breaking off the impasse, small specs of dust and rose petals trailed behind me as a blurry image of myself flashed before Yang in a split second. My incredible speed startled her in surprise and she immediately fell back into defensive stance. However, she fell short and was forced to take minuscule steps back as a few of my jabs landed successfully on her body. Yang's aura gauge consequently dwindled, but she still kept a stoic face. She absorbed the nipping pain, and turned it into her own destructive weapon. Like a fast-striking black mamba, Yang swiped her fist directly to my face but marginally missed by an inch as it went over my head. Her move was predictable... Except not following one. She burrowed her knee into my abdomen and sent me flying back at a considerable distance. I flipped to catch my fall, and harshly scraped the ground with a loud ssskkkkktt sound from the friction of my feet.
"How do you like that pay back?" she said haughtily.
"Well you did learned it from the best after all," I smugly remarked while wiping the spit slithering down from the corner of my mouth.
Damn her knee packed a punch.
Not a single wince of pain displayed on my face. Instead, I brought my fist back up and narrowed my eyes like a hawk. With my left hand, I flicked my fingers in a taunting manner, and at last, she took it. As if I was whipping a matador's red cape, Yang charged forward like an angry bull. She instantly closed the distance between us, and threw a quick punch, followed by another, and another. With my hands and my forearms, I easily blocked her fists but my aura still took a hit as her brutal strikes stung my skin like prickling needles.
Her attacks were powerful, but they were too sloppy.
As soon as a window of opportunity opened up, I swung a strong high-kick directly to the side of her head. Yang fumbled back and my attacks relentlessly pressed on without letting her catch a single break. I flashed in every direction with my semblance, ensuing a rapid onslaught as I disappeared and reappeared. A sea of rose petals gracefully danced around us and stripped Yang's sight away with its crimson splendor. Almost perfectly blending in with the majestic petals, I sent several punishing kicks to my sister's unguarded blind spots from various directions. Her aura reduced substantially, but that never extinguished the flames in her eyes.
Instead, it burned brighter and she mischievously smiled.
Then in an instant, Yang let her semblance rampage.
Ah shit, I was too naive.
Hot spiraling fire spewed from her body, setting the drifting flowers in a fiery blaze. It scorched the hypnotic beauty, causing the arena to rain soot from the air. My eyes widen in terror and I ceased my agile assault. Having a bunch of flaming petals shamelessly smacked around my face wasn't the greatest feeling.
"Looks like you really did grow up sis."
"I can't get left behind you know," I grinned from her compliment.
"Then I guess it's time for me to get serious," she chuckled.
She cracked her knuckles and stretched the rest of her body. Yang positioned her fist in a boxing stance, tucking her elbows in and squaring her hands up. She spaced out her feet and lightly bounced on the floor, keeping her chin down. Her eyes watched me sharply as her carefree demeanor dissolved from her face. My smile stretched wider as Yang seemed to be a whole new person. Not just her fighting stance, but the atmosphere around her was entirely different. I could feel the intimidating aura emancipating from her body. Her blazing aura shot the fine hair on my body straight up. A tingling rush of adrenaline coursed through my small body and sent shivers down my spine. My heart accelerated and my mind raced.
This was so much fucking fun.
I struck out impatiently, and threw a series of quick and precise strikes. Punches and blocks were equally exchanged as neither of us took substantial damage. Yang managed to redirect a few of my attacks, but I unexpectedly played into her trap when she threw a feint. A haymaker rammed into my stomach, followed by a hook to my upper body. Her explosive blows knocked me from my feet and sent me crashing to the floor like a rag doll. I determinedly hauled myself off the floor and rolled my shoulders back, feeling the cracks and the flashing pains. My tongue glossed over the entry of my mouth, and I could taste iron from my split lips. I took a quick glance at the audience and saw the astonishment in their eyes. However, I was looking for someone in particular.
"Hey, stop gawking. Eyes on the prize," Yang gestured her whole body.
"Don't flatter yourself," I snorted.
I glanced to the board and noticed it was almost a close match. My aura was not much ahead by Yang's, only by a fraction of 10%. The gap couldn't be a considerable amount because the blonde was a dangerous woman when she was hanging by a thread. One careless move could send me back to the infirmary.
I re-positioned myself and adjusted my footwork. We circled around each other for the last time, scrutinizing every movement. The brawler's breath was short and ragged, but I knew she was willing to push herself to the limits.
In that moment, Yang's heels sunk into the ground and violently pushed off. She tried to deliver a storm of devastating attacks, however, every assault proved to be pointless as none of it managed to connect my body. In a low spinning kick, I swept her off her feet as she fell down with a grunting thump. I quickly brought my foot down to crush her, but my heel kissed the floor, missing Yang in the process. She nimbly kipped-up and weakly round kicked my left shoulder, leaving me briefly staggered. The brawler followed through her movement and tried to connect her next blow, but I evaded in anticipation. I immediately weaved dangerously close to her personal bubble, and successfully swung an elbow across her face. Much to my surprise and dismay, she took it like a champ and countered back with an uppercut that hit like a truck.
"Geez Yang," I rubbed my jaw. "The more I hit you, the more it hurts."
"After I scrape you off the floor, I'll wrap you nicely like a mummy," she quipped. I laughed at the inside joke we both shared. It felt like we were both stuck in our world, completely forgetting about the audience intently watching. We were both smiling and enjoying the mutual physical pains we were inflicting.
I knew we were both tired. My legs could barely support my body, and I could feel the black and blue blemishes swelling on my skin.
Alright, time to give this with everything I got.
I took a few steps back and crouched low to the floor. Yang also prepared herself as she grounded herself.
My right knee and the tip of my fingers softly touched the ground as I channeled my remaining aura through my body. Not a moment to lose, my semblance ripped a tempestuous vortex, sending shock waves across the arena. Likewise, Yang followed suit and we both crashed midway on the stage. My fist delivered its final blow to my sister's face, but her clenched hand had done the same. Both knuckles dug deeply into our cheeks and we sent each other flying back at opposite directions.