Here we are in book five! I have to say that Forged Destiny is probably my favourite story because of how easy it is to write. Stepping away from the RWBY canon, or re-inventing it into something else, has really helped me streamline it. No nonsense dance, CCT, or Mountain Glenn to fit in, etc. Ah, it feels good.


Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Dishwasher 1910

Book 5: Chapter 1


The early signs of spring had begun to show, and yet the Emerald Forest remained caught in the icy grips of winter. Snow crunched underfoot, and icicles dipped perilously from low-hanging branches. The worst of the winter storms had passed, taking the chill with it but it was still a foolish soul who stepped out into the wild without a thick scarf and thicker clothing. Trudging through the snow in the thick wolf skin pelts we'd received from Atlas, Pyrrha and I made our way back toward Beacon and the Lodge.

"That was the quietest farming trip I've ever seen," Pyrrha said, idly checking through the lien we'd collected.

"It's still cold out. I guess most people don't want to spend time fighting in the snow." It wasn't what I'd envisioned for the day either but Pyrrha's offer of farming lien for the Guild was so selfless that I couldn't send her out alone. No one else had volunteered, however, taking one look out the window and retreating into the couches while refusing to meet anyone's eyes. In the end I'd been nominated by virtue of guilt and guilt alone.

Pyrrha seemed unaffected by the cold. Maybe she was, and it was just another benefit of being a Champion, a Prestige-Class. As a Blacksmith masquerading as a Knight I had no such defence against the biting chill and made that clear from how I huddled into the thick cloak.

"I can't believe lessons start again tomorrow," Pyrrha said. "It feels like only yesterday we were breaking up for the holidays."

"Hm. Yang and Ruby should be back today."

"I hope they had enough time in Patch."

"It's been a month, Pyrrha. I'm sure they're eager to be back."

The trees around us dimmed rapidly as Beacon came into sight, the lower wall that attached to the forest with its open gate guarded by four members of the Soldier Caste. The taller walls around Vale could be seen above Beacon's, but the Academy itself didn't need such grand fortifications, being in itself a bastion of defence against the Grimm. We entered through the gate and into the Guild Village, a collection of houses and miniature forts nestled in a valley at the base of the school, with four sets of winding staircases leading up to the school grounds itself, at least a hundred metres higher up.

The streets of the Guild Village were deserted, some students yet to return, others out farming, but most nestled within the warm buildings around a cosy fire. The smoke pooling from chimneys across the entire village was evidence of that.

"I'll be glad to see the snow gone," I grunted, pulling off my thick woollen gloves. My fingers were red and chapped and I blew on them in a futile effort to bring some heat back. "I hate winter."

"I like it. I think it's beautiful."

I glowered at Pyrrha for that. Beautiful it might have been, but I was a simple man who liked simple comforts, not freezing to death being one of them. Winter was best watched through a window frosted over while friends and family sat around a warm fire eating warmer food. It was pointedly not a time to be out killing monsters for money, especially when it was money we didn't need. We were far above the red; Pyrrha just liked to be organised.

It didn't take long to reach the Lodge. The windows were frozen and cracked, the shutters pulled over them to trap what heat they could, and the pile of logs Nora and Pyrrha had worked so hard to acquire had dwindled over the month. Still, the healthy glow from inside promised it would be enough to last, and I breathed a sigh of relief as we pushed open the tall wooden doors and stepped inside. Warmth rushed over us instantly.

The two of us made for quite the sight, stood in the hallway and dripping snow and water onto the flagstones. We wore so many layers we were at least twice as large as we actually were and peeling them off caused us to shrink dramatically. The wet cloaks, coats, and boots, were left by the door – on instructions from Velvet lest we suffer a terrible fate for traipsing mud and snow onto her pristine floors. Clad in our clothes beneath, and with thick socks on our feet, we padded toward the living room, homing in on the crackling of a fire with unnatural speed.

Ren noticed us as we entered; closing a book he'd been reading and putting down a mug of warm soup. "Back so soon? How was it?"

"Go to hell."

The Monk chuckled. "That bad, huh?" He made space for me and I sat down beside him, the couch cushions flexing beneath me as I leaned my hands towards the fire.

"Worse," I said. "My sword near as froze to my hand while I was using it and the Grimm barely felt the temperature. It was like Atlas all over again, except no promise of a decent reward at the end of it." I shivered and rubbed my hands together. "I can't wait for winter to be over."

"You're not the only one, my friend. Ruby and Yang are upstairs, by the way."

"They're back?"

"Hm. We did our welcomes while you were out but I'm sure they'd be happy to see you. Yang has something for you, anyway. She said to send you up when you arrived."

"Well, might as well go now. I can get into some warmer clothing." I glanced to Pyrrha to see if she was coming but the Champion had already started to talk with Weiss and the two were huddled over some scroll the Mage had found.

I bumped into Velvet on the way to the staircase in the main hall, and the Tailor smiled and whispered a greeting as she brushed by with a bowl of bread. The faunus had been in high spirits since she'd returned from visiting her family, and I'd learned she was the main provider for her single mother and two little brothers. Someone from the Labour Caste didn't earn all that much, but Beacon paid well and as the Seneschal of a Guild like ours, she earned even more, enough to look after them all. I finally understood why she'd been willing to take a chance on us all those months ago. She'd needed us as much as we did her.

A familiar figure caught sight of me at the top of the stairs. "Jaune!" Ruby cried, and covered the distance between us in a second to wrap her arms around me. "It's so good to see you! Where were you? We came back but you weren't here."

"S-Sorry." I laughed and hugged her back, noticing Yang stepping out of her room to investigate the noise. She grinned and waved, and I nodded back over Ruby's head, before I answered the Reaper's question. "Pyrrha and I were out farming some Grimm in the forest."

"In this weather? Why even bother?"

"My thoughts exactly," I sighed, leaving Ruby with a confused expression. "Anyway, coming back on the day before Beacon starts. That's cutting it a little close, isn't it?"

"Not exactly by choice," Yang said. "We had to wait for the worst of the ice to thaw so the ferry could come back. The ferry master said this was the worst winter he's ever seen. Oh, here. This came for you." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a faded envelope which I took with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you deliver my mail now?"

"The Merchant's Quarter was on the way back."

"I really feel like they shouldn't be giving my mail to someone who just claims they know me."

"Heh, who's going to say no to these?" Yang asked, flexing one arm. The muscle there showed easily but I had a feeling it was the round orbs a little to the side that had ensnared the teller's attention. Well, it worked to my advantage since it saved me a trip into Vale.

"Thanks. You two ready for the new year?"

"Yep." Ruby hopped back and reached for a scythe that wasn't there. She frowned for a second, but it was soon washed away by her good mood. "I heard we get different lessons in the second year, as well as electives we can choose. I can't wait to see what kinds of things there are."

"Electives?" I hadn't heard anything like that, but then again, I hadn't thought to ask and Ruby's father had probably been a student of Beacon in the past. "What kinds of things do they do?"

"Strategy, crowd control, battlefield surgery-"

"Politics, advanced mathematics, public speaking," Yang added, earning a groan from Ruby. "You'd be better suited for the latter, Rubes. When are you going to need to know crowd control, anyway? You realise that it's literal crowd control, as in, commanding a crowd of panicked people on how to evacuate a village."

"I-It is?"

Yang grinned, knowing Ruby wouldn't dare attend such a lecture with how awkward she was around people. "Yep."

"M-Maybe I'll just stick to normal lessons…"

"Don't be mean," I chided Yang. "Ruby, I'm sure there'll be a lot of cool things to check out. We'll have a look at the list together tomorrow, or whenever they tell us about it."

Ruby nodded, and then blinked. "Oh, that reminds me. Someone from Beacon came by to say all graduating first years need to attend a meeting tonight at seven."

"Tonight?"

"That's what the message from Miss Goodwitch said."

"Right. I'll be ready when we all go," I said, not sure what it was about but knowing we didn't really have much of a choice. Come to think of it, it might just have been to let us know what our lessons were going to be, so they didn't have to waste time doing it tomorrow. The first years for the next year would be coming, and that meant Miss Goodwitch would be busy opening a mass portal for their First Quest, just like she had with ours.

It was so weird to think that was a whole year ago. It didn't feel like enough time, but since I'd been Level Twelve at the time and was Twenty-nine now, I'd certainly grown. It's a good job Yang got me this letter today actually. If I'm remembering properly the entirety of Vale turns up to watch the Heroes arrive. I'd never make it through the streets.

"Has there been any news from Mistral?" Yang suddenly asked. "We didn't catch much on Patch but the winter kept people from travelling."

"No news here," I reported. There'd been no official word from Mistral, but that could have been delayed by the winter as well. No Soldiers had landed, however, and that had to be a good sign. "Ozpin actually left Beacon a week back. I heard he went to visit the King and work with the diplomats for a few days. He's doing his best to keep the war from getting worse. Or even starting in the first place."

"Hm. That's good. Dad thinks it won't happen. He says they're holding out to make a meal out if and that they'll make some demands, Vale will give in to a few, and then both sides will break off and say it's a victory. Mistral gets to boast that they earned some concessions from us and Vale gets to claim its diplomats averted a war."

"Sounds like the only solution where both sides come out on top," I said. That had to be what they were working towards. Anything else would just mean loss of life on both sides, and there was always the chance one side would lose and be conquered - which had to be something of a deterrent to starting anything in the first place. I didn't know whether the Greycloaks had done anything else since, and news from Mistral was cut off for obvious reasons. All in all, we were still in the dark, and the silence that stretched between the three of us was a heavy one.

Yang and Ruby went off to continue getting ready and unpack once it was clear there was nothing else to say, while I slipped by to go to my own room and let myself in. Everything was where I'd left it but there was a small box on the windowsill that caught my eye. I smiled and moved over, setting the letter down beside it as I slipped out of my soaked clothes and into a warmer set. That done, I picked up the letter once more and sat on the bed, tearing the paper open with one finger. It was from my family again, and it looked like Mom had written it.

Dear Jaune,

Thank you for the lovely painting of you and your girlfriend. Words cannot express how happy it made me to see it, but I'm sure our neighbours will be quick to tell you when next you visit. They thought your father had murdered me, and the following noises from your sisters only reinforced it. Luckily Nicky was able to diffuse the mob that showed up with pitchforks, though I had to come out and explain why I'd started screaming like a Nevermore.

So, where do I begin?

She's so cute! Oh, my little baby is all grown up. She's such a beautiful girl, and I love the ears, and the eyes, and the hair – and the way you look together! Your sisters were all busy making gagging sounds at the look on your faces, but I see that same smile on your father's whenever he thinks I haven't noticed him watching me. And to see the way she looks back at you; ah, it makes me want to meet her even more.

I won't push, however. The two of you look lovely together and I hope one day I'll have a chance to meet her, even if it's only for a brief moment. In the meantime, I hope you're both very happy with one another, but I think I can see from the painting that you are. Your sisters all wish you the best as well; it's just that they're still a little shocked to see that their little brother has a girlfriend, especially one who is so beautiful she puts your sisters to shame.

I also want you to know that we're all fine and safe over here. Rumours of the war have reached us but there has been no sign of it, even if a few extra members of the Soldier Caste have been moved to the garrison here. We're completely safe; I hope you are, too.

Say hello to Blake for me. Since her panting already graces the place above the fireplace it already feels like she's a part of the family.

Much love,

Mom, Dad, and all of your sisters.

The message ended and this time there was no list of comments from his sisters, but that was to be expected. It was weird to think the painting of us was now over the fireplace, very weird, but at least Blake had been willing to fulfil their request. I paused and held the letter at my side, still staring out the window.

"I know you're there."

The bed creaked. "How? Did I make a noise?"

"No." I turned and smiled at my girlfriend, who was sat on the edge of my bed with her long legs over the edge. "I've just taken to repeating that every time I finish doing something in the hopes I'll catch you out."

"Doesn't that mean you look like a paranoid fool ninety-nine times out of a hundred?"

"Yeah, but if no one is there then no one knows. Plus, I look awesome on the one time it works."

Blake rolled her eyes. "You're such an idiot."

"Your-"

"My idiot," she said, "I know. Sometimes I think I can predict your sappy remarks better than I can the weather." Her eyes flicked down to the letter in my hand. "More news from home?"

"Do you want to read it?" I held out the letter. Blake had never made it a secret that she had trust issues and she stared at the offered paper for a long moment. Eventually, she shook her head and leaned back.

"Summarise it for me."

Surprise blossomed inside me, though I smiled a second later, pleased to see she trusted me. "Basically, you're perfect, you're beautiful, my family loves you and they can't stop talking about you. Also, all my sisters are jealous of your looks."

"That's what I get for trusting you," Blake sighed.

"No, I'm being honest. Look." I handed it over, and on the second try she took it and skimmed through. I watched with amusement as her eyes widened, and then her cheeks slowly turned pink. She put it beside her on the bed and pressed one hand to her face. "See?" I prodded.

"All I can see is that there is someone you got your terrible habit for flattery from. Your mother acts like I'm some kind of Goddess descended to Remnant, and don't even say anything about me being yours," she quickly said, eyes locked onto mine.

"I wasn't even thinking about it," I said, the lie coming easily.

"I know what you're like, Jaune. It was about to come." She sighed and stood up. "You're a goof, but I'm glad your mother approved." There was an odd inflection to her voice and I knew what it was. I looked up to the words above her head, Assassin, and then back down.

"She'd accept you even with that, you know. No one in my family would judge you."

Blake smiled. "I do believe you. It's just… I'd prefer for now if it wasn't mentioned. You can tell them one day, I promise." She opened her mouth to say more but thought better of it. "Have you heard about tonight?" she asked, instead. "We're to meet in the central hall like we did when we first arrived."

"Yeah, Ruby and Yang told me. Any idea what it's about?"

"None. I could have searched in the library, but I couldn't bring myself to try the staircases. The weather is terrible. It reminds me of Atlas." She paused, and again her cheeks flushed as she rounded on me. "And don't say anything!"

This time I genuinely was confused. "About what, the temperature?"

"Nothing… it doesn't matter." Blake scowled at how flustered she'd become and quickly shook her head. Her normal expression came back, a mixture between bored, amused, and a tiny smile I sometimes thought only I could see. "I guess we'll figure out what it's all about when we go up there."

"I guess so." I turned to the box on the table behind me and picked it up. "Here. I got something for you."

Blake regarded the thing like I'd handed her a King Taijitu. "What is it?" she asked.

"It's a box. It's good for keeping things in."

She rolled her eyes. "I meant what's in the box?"

"Something for you," I said. "You'll have to open it to find out."

Blake took the box once it was clear I wasn't going to ruin the surprise. She still glared at me, however, and did so for a full minute before she opened it. No doubt she was afraid I'd gone off the deep end and proposed or something. It was a little soon for that, however, even if I couldn't say it hadn't crossed my mind. She swallowed audibly and clicked open the small, wooden, box.

Inside lay two golden ovals, each connected to a thin gold chain. Blake's eyes widened. She glanced up to me, then down, and finally back up again.

"Open it," I said.

She took one of them out and held it before her. It was plain and undecorated, but I'd forged it myself and I felt that offered something more, especially with how fiddly the chain was. Blake picked the side of it open with her finger, and revealed a tiny image inside, a hand-painted one of our two faces close to one another. It was all the artist was able to fit into the tiny space, but he'd done an amazing job nonetheless.

"I had the artist from the end-of-year festival paint the tiny pictures for me," I said. "I know we gave the real one to my mom, but I figured we should have something to remember it by. There's one in the other too." I'd wear that one, obviously, and I accepted it as Blake handed it over, her attention still focused on her own. I'd been afraid the gift would be seen as too romantic, too much, and that she might turn it down.

It looked like I needn't have worried. She brought it up and over her head, resting it down so that the pendant dipped under her dark-grey top. Her hand pressed down over it and she smiled. A second later she recalled I was there, flushed, and glowered at me.

I grinned back.

"Don't say anything," she growled, more adorably embarrassed than genuinely upset. "Not a word."

"I love you," I said.

She scowled. "I told you not to say anything."

"Sorry." I wasn't. Blake mumbled something. "What was that?" I asked.

"You heard me…"

"I really didn't."

Blake glared at me again, testing me to see whether I'd told the truth or not, but she relented once she realised I genuinely hadn't heard her. She took a deep breath and stood. Her feet padded silently across the floor as she came to stand before me.

Her lips touched mine.

She might have also mumbled something against them which contained the words `love`, `you`, and `too`, but I had a feeling questioning her on that would only earn me a swift knee to the crotch. We'd been closer than we ever had before but there was no changing who we were inside. Blake wasn't good with emotion, or with opening up. Not with words, anyway.

I didn't need them, however. I could feel her love every time we were together, and apparently my mother could see it in a mere painting. What were words compared to that? Actions spoke louder, and Blake's were as clear as day.

"You're smirking again," she warned. "You're not thinking something embarrassing about me again are you?"

"Of course I'm not." I slipped my own pendant on and felt it come to rest beside the amulet that protected my identity. "There, a matching set. Do you like it?"

Blake smiled. "Gold doesn't suit an Assassin, nor does jewellery."

"You love it, then," I said, catching her meaning. She was anything but a normal Assassin, after all.

"I do. It's beautiful." She kissed me again, a chaste one, and when I tried to deepen it she danced out of my hands. "Not now. We have that meeting in under an hour and Ruby and Yang are next door."

"I just wanted a kiss."

"A kiss is how it starts but experience tells me it doesn't end there," she said knowingly. "I won't fall for that again, Jaune." She stepped back toward the door, though she maintained her smile, equal parts teasing and distracted. I saw her fingers playing with the pendant I'd made for her fondly. "I'll see you later. If you're good, you might get your kiss."

/-/

Night at Beacon at the tail end of winter was much worse than the day, though to be fair the halls were well-lit and some of the torches gave their own heat as we made our way to the main hall. There were a few others around us, more tagging along than with our party, and many chatted among themselves about why it was they'd been summoned. I walked beside Ren and Pyrrha, Blake taking up the rear with Yang, and it was Nora and Ruby who led the charge, eagerly trying to find out what was going on. Weiss was beside them, dragged along by an excited Ruby and looking vaguely offended by it all.

I tugged my cloak tighter around me. The notice hadn't told us to come in uniform, so I'd come dressed for Atlas, which proved a good idea since it had already started to gently drizzle snow on us all. I caught sight of a few in skirts and jackets, the students having assumed it was a function affair. They looked miserable in the extreme.

Further down the corridor I noticed Miss Goodwitch, the Warlock, stood by an open door. She was gesturing for people to enter. "I guess this is the right place," I said. "She doesn't look worried."

"I'm sure this is something that happens every year," Pyrrha said. "If it were anything worse we'd have been called immediately." We followed in after Ruby, Nora and Weiss, and found our way to a bit of empty space we claimed as our own. The last time I'd been here had been all the way back before the First Quest and I'd been squashed between almost four hundred figures. Now, there were less than fifty others milling in a hall which seemed too big for them and not many more looked to be arriving.

Was this everyone? There was so few…

The Headmaster appeared on the stage before I could question it, and a quiet fell on the assembled Heroes as the Sage made his way to the centre of the platform and the great doors were closed behind us. This really was it, I realised. This small number was all that remained of our classmates.

"Welcome and thank you all for coming," Ozpin began, his voice reaching out easily to the furthest reaches of the hall. "All of you that stand here before me today have earned the right to truly call yourselves Heroes. You who have passed your First Quest, your Annual Quest, and now have also completed a full year at Beacon. Where once I looked upon you all and saw waste and indolence, I now see a select group of Heroes staring back at me."

He paused there to let us consider it, and I found myself surprised as I looked around. It was hard to remember the specifics but I could recall a sense of nervousness and excitement in the four hundred or so who had filled the hall. Everyone had looked their best, in their finest equipment with armour and weapons gleaming in the sun. We'd been fresh-faced and full of hope.

Few retained that lustre. I saw Cardin off by one side, stood alone – and alone he would stay after his Guild fell. A leather patch covered one eye and his arms were crossed over a breastplate pitted and scarred, patched over in places with leather strips or discoloured metal. He had his large mace still, but there was now also a bandolier of knives across his chest. His lip had been scarred also, and his eyes were hard.

All of our eyes were. We'd become different to the hopeful youths of a year past, even Ruby, who looked the smallest and most excited stood calm among the throng, one hand prepared to draw a weapon she'd left back in the Lodge. We'd grown taller, stronger, but we'd also grown wiser and learned the truth behind being a Hero, or the truth that seemed apparent.

It wasn't an easy job. It wasn't a birth right. It wasn't a walk in the park. It was blood, sweat and tears, not to mention the agonising grind that never stopped.

"You have no doubt noticed how diminished your numbers are. Each year Beacon entertains between four and five hundred eager applicants. Each year, anything up to three hundred of those will complete their First Quest and go on to become Heroes at Beacon Academy. A tenth of that number will reach where you stand now."

"Some will decide this life isn't for them," Ozpin continued. "Some will falter and fail when faced with ever-increasing challenges. Some will die, and our hearts go out to those whose only failure was courage in the face of adversity." He paused, and we all lowered our heads. "But of those who remain, yet more will find themselves unable to advance, held back because they could not complete their Annual Quest or because they could not earn enough lien to retain their positions here. It is a difficult life. Many do not make it."

"You may wonder why it is we imposed such rules upon you all; why it is that we demanded payment for every little aspect of life here or made your conditions so difficult. I can assure you now that we do not do this to be cruel. We do not do this because we need your money." The Sage cast his gaze out over us all. I didn't think a single one of us honestly believed those were the reasons. We might have, once, but we'd all seen too much since then. "We do this to drive you to conflict. The life of a Hero is cruel, and often short. The costs of Beacon were used to force you to balance your life against what you can earn slaying the Grimm. Those who could not cover their expenses would later have died after Beacon, cast into a world where a Hero must face the worst of monsters in order to earn his meals. We will not send out anyone who will be unable to support themselves, for there are no second chances in the real world."

"All of you see now the truth that stands before you. Remnant may stand divided by a Caste system, but they are not created equally. A quarter of the population are not Heroes. In truth it is closer to five per cent, a twentieth of the human race, who stand alone against the Grimm and defend all others against them." He spread his arms wide. "That is why those of you who stand here tonight can count yourself among the few, why you must count yourself among that number. You are invaluable, and while it may seem cruel to place value on a human life it still cannot be denied. Remnant cannot afford for you to spend your lives cheaply, or for you to die foolish deaths. The people of this land need you, be they Labour, Soldier, or Noble Caste. This is the true reason why the Grand Treaty was imposed; not to limit casualties but to ensure Heroes did not fall to other Heroes, to the detriment of every living creature on Remnant."

"Yours is a heavy duty," he said. "Ours is a heavy duty. I stand before you now, and while I stand here as your headmaster I consider you my equals. What trials you have faced thus far have been harsh, but I warn you now that they will only become worse. That said, I expect each of you to rise to the challenges ahead. Four hundred may have become fifty, but I expect to see fifty of you here next year, and the year after that, and that I shall stand proud as each and every one of you graduates as true Heroes."

Someone began to clap – others echoed it. I found myself nodding along, applauding the speech and understanding it deep in my bones at the same time. It felt like we'd been through a lot to graduate but everyone else had as well. Some had watched friends die; others had been forced to stand by as the people they trusted broke down and gave up, accepting an easier life in the Soldier Caste. In terms of the challenges we may have faced some of the worst, but I'd have rather faced a thousand times that number than experience what someone like Cardin had.

"That is all I have to say to you this night, but it is not the purpose for this meeting," Ozpin said. "Miss Goodwitch will now take over and explain why you are here."

The Sage walked off the stage, chased by the applause from the Heroes in the hall. He did not acknowledge it, nor did he pause as he left the hall, and yet again I wondered what kinds of things he had on his mind. The war, certainly, but also Salem, I imagined. There'd been no move from Mistral or Vale to deepen the war, but a peace had not yet been called. Meanwhile Salem and the Greycloaks remained active, even if their attacks recently had halted.

Glynda Goodwitch held up a hand to silence the noise from the crowd. Her eyes were as stern as ever, her posture firm. "Tomorrow is the first day of a near year at Beacon," she began. "It is a time where many of you will be looking forward to lessons, training, and meeting up with old friends. I encourage you to continue in this, but your time tomorrow shall not be spent in a classroom. Beacon has need of your services first."

The Warlock swept a hand to the side and whispered some words beneath her breath. Eldritch lights sprung from her wand to hover in the air, and before our eyes they formed the image of a map of Beacon's grounds, more specifically the grounds of Beacon itself, not including the Guild Village.

"Tomorrow is a day of celebration for Vale and Beacon as the new flock of entrants to the academy arrive. Our gates will remain open for many hours and hundreds are expected to come from far and wide to attend their First Quest."

Murmurs sprung up from the crowd, and from our own group as Nora whispered something to Ren. I could well imagine what for I'd almost forgotten about this too. A new year meant new people – all coming down the street and to Beacon, before they'd be taken into the grand hall, given the same speech we had been, and then sent on their First Quest – a life, death, or surrender struggle to determine who would remain a Hero and who would not.

"I guess Beacon's going to be busy," I whispered to Pyrrha.

"There's no way there'll be lessons, then. The teachers will be too busy."

"Then why call us in today? We could have had an extra day's holiday."

Ruby nudged me with an elbow from the other side, drawing my attention back to the stage in time to stand silent as Glynda's eyes bore down on us. I whispered a quick `thank you` to the Reaper, who sent back a `no problem` just as quietly.

"We will need your assistance in the organisation and monitoring of these new students," Miss Goodwitch went on. "This will entail not only ensuring no applicants lose their way or get lost, but also that none are left behind after we transport them to and from the Quest Location. For the most part this will be guarding key locations and making sure no one passes. If any new student asks for your advice or for directions, do what you can to help them."

"What about on the First Quest?" someone called. "We're not allowed to help them, right?"

"You cannot assist on the First Quest unless specifically requested, which will be an automatic failure for the individual involved. This is preferably to letting someone die, however, so stand ready to fight if required. Similarly, should a threat too large for the entrants to handle reveal itself, you should feel free to step in and subdue it."

Like no one had when the Beowolf attacked me, I felt like saying. I wasn't sure if that was a sign someone had thought me capable of facing it – which I obviously hadn't been – or if they knew Pyrrha and the others were nearby to help.

Either way it was probably for the best. I'd have failed if someone intervened.

"Your job is also to monitor and collate those who have failed the First Quest by merit of surrender or rescue," Glynda said. "This is a painful task, I realise, but you must not falter in it and you must not allow sympathy to guide your hand in making a terrible mistake. While it may hurt you to force a fellow Hero to the Soldier Caste I can assure you that cheating to let them advance will only lead to a far worse fate. Those who are not strong enough to thrive here will die. The First Quest is nothing compared to the danger of an Annual Quest. Do not put someone who is not ready through that, not when it might cost the lives of their friends as well. You must do what is right, not what is easy."

"Further details will be handed out to you as you leave, and any with magical training will be requested to stay behind to speak with myself. You shall be exempt from guarding positions to aid me in creating a portal array." There was an excited hum at that and Weiss' eyes lit up. I had the feeling that was a very big thing. "Everyone else, I thank you for coming and would like to welcome you back to Beacon. As Ozpin has already said, it is both a pleasure and an honour to see you return."

The moment she left the stage the hall erupted in conversation, even as Weiss pushed her way out of the group to chase after the teacher along with one or two other magic-users. Ruby, Nora, and Yang chattered so fast I couldn't make out their words and judging from the shrug Ren gave me neither could he. I moved over to the entrance instead, where the Alchemist, Oobleck, was handing out sheets of paper and little badges.

"You will be number twenty-six," he said to me, handing me said number. "The map contains information on where you're to guard both before and during the First Quest. If you have any questions refer to the information inside, but if anything comes up you are free to use your own intuition."

"R-Right," I said, taking it.

"Ah, Miss Belladonna. Number twenty-seven."

I jumped, not having noticed Blake behind me. She nodded and took the badge, and the paper, and then stepped out of the way of the others to stand beside me. She didn't say anything but opened the pages and began to read, and after a brief moment I did the same. There was a map on the cover and rows and rows of text painstakingly scribed on the inside. Much of it was about the time, place, and details of the First Quest, but there was also a long list of do's and don'ts, probably provided to make sure we didn't break any laws or customs.

"It starts early," Blake said. "We'll need to be in position at nine in the morning."

"Nine? But the First Quest didn't start until eleven for us."

"It might be the same here," she said, and sighed heavily. "They likely want us in position before even the first entrants arrive, and some people might show up early." She flicked through some more pages. "This looks like a full day job."

It really did. I couldn't say I was looking forward to it, but that was probably unfair of me. This was the biggest moment in these people's lives and I couldn't ruin it by being lazy. "I don't remember seeing any second-years around when we did our quest…"

"Really?" Blake looked at me. "There were quite a few. You didn't see them, did you?" She held my gaze until I glanced away, embarrassed. "It's actually kind of impressive that you missed them all. Still, I suppose the first day of the year was a hectic one. It makes sense that you'd be distracted."

"I saw you," I pointed out.

"I was hardly trying to hide, Jaune. I recall I had to save your life."

"Not during the Quest," I said, recalling that moment where I'd stupidly failed to heed Blake's warning and nearly gotten myself killed. "Before, when we were in the break between Ozpin's speech and the quest. I saw you sat by the low wall with a bunch of other Rogues."

"Hm, I remember. You looked up to my Class and then looked away. I thought you were just like all the others, and almost didn't come to your aid when you were in trouble."

I winced. "I'm glad you did."

"As am I. Why did you look away?"

"A girl caught me staring at her," I admitted. "You just looked so intense that I chickened out. It wasn't anything to do with your Class at all."

Blake's laughter was rich, and I could have drowned in it at any other time, but preferably when it wasn't at my expense. This day was bringing back all kinds of memories, and while some of them were good I still felt like my younger self was an idiot. I couldn't even take out a Beowolf one on one. I mean, come on. Not to mention I'd struggled with some Canis… and then hidden at the back of the pack like an absolute coward while people like Ruby – two years younger than me and wielding a farm tool rushed off ahead. Gods above, I'd been pathetic.

But it had all worked out in the end.

"Let's get the others and wait for Weiss," Blake suggested, tugging my arm in the direction of Ruby and Yang. "It looks like she's going to be a while. We might as well go over the rules and requirements together."

I nodded and watched Blake go, my thoughts still on the paper in my hand and the task ahead. I'd be going back to where it all started, and would this time see it from the other side. I wondered if that was something Ozpin did on purpose. He'd already told us of the differences between what we were now and what we'd once been, and now he wanted us to see it directly.

For what purpose, I doubted anyone knew.

/-/

I woke up in the middle of the night as a brush of cold air washed over me. The window clattered and clanked, the wooden shutters batting against the inside. They'd frozen shut in the middle of the winter, something I'd been pleased about, but it looked like ice had thawed and the wind had battered it open once more. I made to sit up and close it.

A hand pushed me back down.

"You didn't sense me this time," Blake teased, "nor did you call me out."

"B-Blake?" My eyes struggled to see her in the darkness. Meanwhile her faunus ones could see me easily. "What are you doing here? And through the window, seriously?"

"Saves using the door, especially when Yang might notice. I'd rather not put up with her teasing."

She leaned down into me before I could ask what she was here for. She still wore the necklace I'd made for her, for I felt it as it dangled down to touch my own, the two resting on my chest as she laid atop me and pressed her lips to mine.

All thoughts of Ozpin, Heroes, and the oncoming start of a new year soon fled.


Introduction is introduction. A look back on the past, some lore moving forwards, and come concrete numbers re the concept of how limited Heroes really are. There may be four Castes, but they are greatly unbalanced. While this isn't a strict number per se, you might imagine it as being 55% Labour, 10% Noble, 5% Hero and 30% Soldier. That's a lot of Soldiers per unit of pop, but keep in mind that every settlement needs a small detachment in order to protect from Grimm until Heroes arrive, and that the Soldier Caste is buoyed by all the failed Heroes.

Next chapter brings the return of the First Quest, and a host of new starters, and, of course, a team of four OC's with deep and dark pasts who will soon hold the key to Remnant. They'll have twin swords that are pistols, and whips that are actually lasers, and each will be three different kinds of faunus at once, but also half-Grimm or half-dragon, and they'll ensnare the hearts of every woman to draw breath in their vicinity.


Next Chapter: 12th February

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