Music Choices: Spectral Friends by Maraton

Eclipse

Chapter 5

Back to School Part III

The upperclassmen had finally piled into the auditorium. There was the expected hooting and hollering as they applauded and jeered the new freshmen who had survived the entrance exams; Raven noted however, that they were far more somber a crowd this year than the one when they had been introduced. There were certainly no fireworks, illicit or no.

Part of this melancholy was simply because there were less of them, now; but it was mostly because the survivors of Mountain Glenn were also, that much older mentally. They knew what waited for all prospective Hunters outside of Beacon's walls, what they might all be called upon to do and sacrifice at any moment; and now, those shining, nervous faces up on the stage were going to be a part of that.

Still, they cheered for the new freshmen. Summer was the loudest of STRQ, next to Taiyang, who was clapping heavily and whistling. Raven applauded calmly, studying the new teams and noting that there were definitely more of them this year. Whether that was due to Murt's passing the torch on to Peter Port as the next combat instructor, or whether it was due to Beacon needing to make up numbers, she couldn't say. However, instead of there being only seven or eight fresh teams lined up on the stadium, there were now fourteen.

The auditorium quieted, encouraged by the menacing little form of Professor Arc, as well as the presence of Ozpin. Raven stilled automatically, tensing as she spotted the headmaster of Beacon. She hadn't seen him in person since the funeral several months previously.

The young headmaster waited for silence, his hands clasped calmly behind his back. His eyes roved over the students, and Raven tensed further when his eyes ghosted over STRQ, before continuing. She wondered if he even noticed the gaps in the crowd, and if he did, was he simply counting the numbers? Or did he really feel the weight of the students missing?

Ozpin took a deep breath, before looking down at the list in his hands.

"Welcome home, all of you. I can't convey how glad I am, to see you once again. I know that it was a...tremendously difficult choice to return, for some of you. With the events of last year, especially, and the friends and family that we all have lost to those forces that seek always to tear us down," he said gently.

The auditorium was more silent than a mausoleum. Qrow and Raven exchanged glances.

"Being a hunter is something more than just a job. It isn't only a duty, or a privilege, or any of the pretty words that the recruiting adds come up with. It is more than being a shield, or a sword, or a scythe. It is more than just fighting monsters," he continued, clutching the list in his hands. "Each and every one of you is more than I or anyone else could ever convey in a single speech, or in a lifetime. The things you do, the things you face, make you more. Each year we celebrate the forming of teams, and honor the name given to that bond; and this year I would like to explain why this is such a precious event."

The freshmen on stage were staring at the headmaster, eyes wide; as if he was the only thing in the whole world that mattered.

"In the old traditions, it is said that the true names of a person or force have power. When you name something, you aren't giving it power necessarily, you are simply stating the truth of that thing; you are giving it a groove through which it can interact with the world , so that that truth can become manifest. To see a team of people who wish to be more, together, and give their bond a name is to help them and all that they are become manifest in the world, so they can enact change and become empowered."

Summer's ears flicked as she watched the headmaster, her face pensive. Raven felt her eyes narrow; she knew about the magical concept of names and power, and she also knew that Ozpin was leaving out a very important detail. Knowing the true name of something could give a magic user power over that force, entity or person. She could practically hear her mother scoffing in her head.

Does he really think that naming us will give him control over us?

"So today, when we present your classmates with their new monikers, I want you each to understand that this is not just a stuffy old excuse for pomp and circumstance," Ozpin carried on, heedless of her skepticism. "This is the moment where their power and fates become manifest. Where they join you, and all those who have come before, and all those who have left but their fingerprints on our hearts, as more."

Taiyang actually sniffled besides her, and Raven gave him a dry stare. He wiped his nose briskly, ignoring her and Qrow as they observed his waterworks. She realized he wasn't the only person in the hall that had grown a bit teary. Raven glanced away, playing with feathers at her hip.

Perhaps I'm just a cynic...

She looked at the blonde again, realizing that maybe he was simply mourning his loss. Evan and Tai had been quite close, and she knew that the loss of his friend and mentor had to have shaken him; but the blonde could be just as bad as she was at expressing certain things. Besides the funeral, she hadn't seen him really cry, or heard him talk much about it.

After an awkward pause, she reached out and took his fingers in her own. His eyes flicked to her, surprise written all over his face; she didn't say anything, feeling distinctly self conscious over the gesture. A part of her honestly expected him to let go. He sniffed again, and smiled at her, a sad smile that made her heart twinge. As Ozpin continued with the ceremony, Raven looked ahead, Tai's hand still gently grasping her own.

"So, without further ado, I present to you the newest freshmen class of Beacon," Ozpin said, smiling softly. Behind him, the overhead screen flashed.

"Fiyero Casanova. Lilith Valentina. Naomi White. Terris Bernstein."

The acronym FLNT flashed over the screen in tasteful monochrome.

"You collected the white rook pieces in record time," Ozpin nodded to them. The boy, Fiyero, grinned brightly at the comment, folding his arms proudly. "From this day forward, you are team 'flint'. Lead by Fiyero Casanova."

The boy brushed his curly brown locks from his eyes, beaming victoriously; Raven duly judged him as arrogant and likely in over his head. His book-wormish looking partner, Lilith, seemed to deflate at this news. The rest of the auditorium clapped politely, as Ozpin moved on.

"Genevieve Rasputin. Leonardo Lionheart. Matias Saurez. Richard Xavier."

Another flash on the projected screen, the acronym GLMR portrayed with slightly sparkly ink splashes.

"You collected the black knight. Your name is 'glamour'. And your team leader is Leonardo Lionheart."

A nervous looking faunus boy blinked owlishly at the headmaster's words, clearly taken aback, his lion's tail swishing behind him. Summer lit up at this news, applauding vigorously; Raven spotted Matias, his own tail looping by his feet. He met her eyes in the crowd, and she smiled at him. He grinned back, waving a little.

"Rihanna Gladsbrook. Alejandro Saurez. Zabrina Williams. Raakel Johnson."

Another transition, as the letters RAZR slashed over the screen viciously.

"You set another record by collecting the white rook. Your new name is 'razor', and you will be led by Rihanna Gladsbrook."

A very pretty girl with a chocolate complexion, died blue hair and a calm smile lit up at this, as Alejandro beamed at her, looking just a tad bit smitten. The other girl on the team, Zabrina, sent her new leader a calculating glance that lasted a mere fraction of a second before she too, smiled. Raven noted the interaction automatically, before Ozpin carried on.

The ceremony lasted a good fifteen minutes overall as Oz went through the long list of recruits, before finally giving the last team their names. With a few parting words, he finally dismissed them all, bidding them to get well rested before the start of classes. Raven realized she was still holding Taiyang's hand as the bodies scurried about them, friends pressing close to one another they talked excitedly.

Raven let go as she stalked through the crowds, noticing how other teams and classmates seemed to part before her and the rest of STRQ; they were drawing more looks than normal, a few whispers here and there reaching her ears.

"I heard they evacuated half the city on their own-"

"Can you even imagine fighting a Grimm like that? How the fuck could they even survive-"

"BBLK, too, did you fucking see Becca's arms? That must have been sooo scary."

"-no way they won't go on to the Vytal tournament, it's a shoo in."

Raven didn't know whether to smirk at this newfound notoriety or to be annoyed; people fearing her could certainly be useful, but people admiring her was definitely not something she was used to. Qrow was clearly enjoying the attention, and kept shooting attractive people flirty smiles whenever he made eye contact. Summer, as was natural, did not seem to even notice the uptick in attention, focused as she was on talking to them. Taiyang seemed mostly confused, but stayed close to them as a few people gave Summer blatantly appraising stares.

"Welp! You guys hungry?" Summer declared as they exited the auditorium. "Because lemme tell you, I am friggin starving."

"Aww man, Sum, what's the matter? You kids not, ah, eat enough last night-"

"Qrow, shut up," Raven hissed at her twin, ears heating immediately. Her brother laughed at her face, and she swatted at him, missing.

"Whaaat, Rae rae? You gotta keep your stamina up," Qrow drawled, his eyes twinkling. "What with all the training you've got goin on this year, you know? Trust me, it can really wear you out if you're not careful."

He loved that he could now make fun of her for her own exploits, which was surely years of karmic debt that she had incurred on her part. Not that she would ever, ever admit that.

"Don't be a pest," she sneered.

"Yea, shut up, fuckbird," Tai laughed, earning a salty glance.

"Hey, I'm just saying, maybe I'm a little tired too? From being locked out of my room half the night-"

"You big hypocrite!" Summer spun, her face full of laughter. "Who kept putting his friggin socks on the door last year? No texts, no warning, just dirty ole socks!"

"Bullshit, I always gave you guys a heads up," Qrow waved, still chuckling as Raven glared daggers at her twin. "And that was like two times, I usually kept it out of the dorms anyways, because I am a gentleman-"

"Bologna! You did not!" Summer exclaimed.

"Definitely happened more than twice," Tai counted on his fingers. "I distinctly remembering walking into the bathroom with no prior warning, while you and James were-"

Qrow rounded on his partner, glaring.

"Excuse me, but who the fuck doesn't knock when they're coming into a bathroom?!"

"What?! I had to go, Qrow!" Tai held his hands up. "And I was the fucking victim in that scenario, ok!? I did not want to see any of that! And I did not get to pee! I had to go to ARSN's room!"

"Tch, you're just jealous," Qrow groused.

Tai made a face, before launching into another outraged diatribe. The conversation devolved from there, but at least Qrow wasn't focused on making fun of Summer and herself anymore. Raven could feel her ears burning, and promised herself due vengeance, as they made their way towards the mess hall once again.

"He is such a butt," Summer chuckled, falling in beside her. "I even made him fudge cookies as a bribe and everything! He never made me cookies, like, once."

Raven's lip pulled into a smirk.

"Don't worry," she hummed. "We'll get him back."

Summer's ears flicked as her silver eyes lit up impishly.

"Oooh? I do I detect a prank in the works?" Summer whispered.

Raven winked at her, the gears turning in her mind. She felt that, despite everything else, this semester was going to be about having fun.