Earlier...

Torvi left Ryuuto bloodied and pained, but otherwise alive with her friends to search for food. The bite stung, causing the aramusha to hiss in pain. 'Aura really is a convenient thing, huh? This wound would've healed completely by now.'

He clamored out of the fountain and was about to search for his lost weapons... until he found himself suspended in the air by an unseen force. "Woah!" He looked around until he saw the disgruntled face of a middle-aged blonde woman beside a middle-aged man with glasses. "Oh. Hi Ozpin!" he greeted as if nothing was wrong.

"Greeting young man. I would usually say it's a pleasure to meet you, but that would be a tad bit disingenuous."

"Why are you here?" Glynda interrogated.

"And why did you target Torvi?" Ruby chimed in. Blake nodded in agreement with her young leader.

"Well, you know, a guy needs to make money, so when a couple snobby rich people offer you a tons of lien just to put some crazy shaman down, you can't really refuse."

Blake's nose crinkled in disgust at the fact he planned to kill Torvi for his own greed. 'This world is filled to the brim with cruelty, isn't it' the faunus cynically thought.

"And who were these 'snobby rich people'?" Ozpin asked.

"The Winchester family. Apparently Torvi fucked up their own son so bad, he doesn't want to return to school."

"I see. So Cardin's Winchester's family is to blame" Glynda said. It didn't surprise her when she and Ozpin were suddenly notified about Cardin's removal from Beacon. It made sense considering who he lasted fought against in class.

The mess that transpired afterward still gave her headaches to this day. With their leader bailing on them, team CRDL was missing a vital team member. Not just that, because they were now a three-man team, they couldn't participate in the Vytal festival. The team and their parents were so enraged, they threatened to sue the school for the injustice done to them, but it was only through Ozpin's silver tongue did he dissuade them. He promised to make it up to them and find a way to either encourage Cardin back to school or find a replacement member for team CRDL.

'This girl is beginning to become more trouble than she's worth' the professor thought.

"That, and I just wanted to see another person from Heathmoor. I was getting kinda home sick, you feel me?"

Both Ozpin and Glynda snap their heads at him when he said those words. It didn't take them much time to realize he was from the alternate world too.

"What's Heathmoor?" Ruby questioned in confusion. Blake nodded in agreement.

"Torvi didn't tell you? It's-" But before he could spill the beans however, he was dragged back with Ozpin and Glynda in direction of Ozpin's office. "Oh, here we go! Peace red! See ya kitty cat! Maybe our paths will cross again, who knows!"

"That was odd" Blake said bluntly. He was about to say something that involved Torvi too, but he was taken away precisely at that moment? 'What are you hiding, Torvi?'

"Blake, have you heard of a 'Heathmoor' before?" Ruby quizzed.

The faunus shook her head nay. They walked away at a brisk pace.

Meanwhile, Ozpin turned to Glynda. "Call Ms. Junta, Glynda. We will need her audience" he ordered. She nodded and dialed her on her scroll

Later...

"I cannot believe this..." With every step, her newly pampered hair bounced, Olivia constantly noticed. It was vibrant and stylish, traits rarely used to describe the black prior. She struggled with this new look more than she should have. She thought she was done with the days of senseless extravagances like looks, but apparently life had other plans.

She steeled herself when she stepped into the elevator leading to Ozpin's office. She was debriefed about the situation by Goodwitch and was surprised that someone else from their world surfaced. And a day after she and Torvi talked about the same topic no less.

'Was this her doing?' her mind immediately went to. Was it the same person who brought her here that brought this aramusha?

She shook her head however as she thought about the situation more. "No. She's not that obvious. Besides, what would be the point? From what Goodwitch described, this aramusha is a loose cannon. Someone like him wouldn't fit in her band of vagabonds."

The door opened and Olivia stepped inside. She spotted Glynda, Ozpin, and Ryuuto, but Torvi was nowhere in sight. Strange considering she was a major player in tonight's events. "Where's Torvi?"

"Good evening to you as well, Ms. Junta. Ms. Birgerdottir is apparently ignoring my calls and texts which is why she isn't present." Glynda answered. "Your hairs looks beautiful by the way"

"Seconded" Ozpin added.

A faint blush appeared on her checks but she held her stoic expression. "I thank you both for your praise, but let us get on with business." She turned to Ryuuto. "Like what this trespasser's punishment should be or how he's even here in the first place."

"A black prior huh? Interesting... slaughtered any villages while you were here or are you just gaining your barrings?" Her eyes narrow at the aramusha. If looks could kill, he'd be six feet under. "Oh please. Your overall vibe is doom and gloom. Anyone who wasn't living under a rock could say with complete confidence you're a black prior"

"A black prior?" Ozpin voiced.

"She didn't tell you?" Ryuuto laughed in disbelief. "They're only the most brutal knights in our world. 'Victory at whatever the cost' was the motto they lived by. And lets just say they would do anything for victory. Didn't matter how much they had to spill to get it." Olivia continued to stare daggers at him as sharp, pointy tendrils creeped up from the floor around her. Ryuuto held his hands up lazily in defense. "Hey, no disrespect here. I get it. You do what you gotta do to make sure your side thrive, but I just gotta ask: are you proud of the things you did? Did the ends really justify the means?"

A fire burned within the teenage girl, but from the outside she was cool as Valkenheim during the coldest winter. Perhaps it was due to her youthful body's out-of-control hormones or the thoughts Ryuuto instigated in her mind.

She fought for the knights to repel the menace that were the vikings and samurai without pause or mercy. What did she have to be sorry for? They were the enemy and would have done the same to her and her people without a second thought. Every soldier knew this no matter what side they fought for. People were going to die, people were going to be taken for slaves, and people were going to be traumatized. It wasn't pretty or fair, but that was the reality of war.

Even with this mentality though, she couldn't unsee the faces that looked in horror at her acts of duty, the families she destroyed in order to protect her home, the countless warriors she brutalized just to make an example to the opposition or her men. Torvi was one such example actually. She was beyond hesitant when she started her career as a black prior, but over time she hardened herself.

War wasn't for the faint of hearts, and she refused to let it consume her.

'She's neither denying nor confirming his words. Perhaps there is some validity to Ryuuto's statement' Ozpin pondered. "While all of this talk is intriguing, we're getting sidetracked. Let us get back to business shall we" he said in order to bring everyone back to topic.

"Alright. What do you wanna know?" Ryuuto shrugged in agreement.

"How did you arrive to this universe?" Glynda questioned.

The teen boy let out an amused chuckle. "Weeelllll..."

*Flashback*

Ryuuto walked along a dirt path in the middle of one of the many swamps of the Myre. At the time, Ryuuto's life as an aramusha was only a year old, but the young warrior found much success as a traveling mercenary. He was sell sword with an unquenchable thirst for battle, so not only did he fight for money but for the thrills that came.

He was commonly known as an aramusha or a ronin, a samurai who had lost or betrayed their master. And in Ryuuto's case, it was the latter.

Ryuuto yawned in boredom and reached for his canteen. Just when he did, a blue portal the size of a door opened right next to him. He stared in bewilderment at it for a half a minute until he looked down at his filled canteen. "What did that bar tender but in this sake?"

He moved to touch it, startled when sparks of blue electricity dancing across his finger and palms. He gained enough reassurance to put his whole hand in and when he felt nothing but tickling electricity, he pocked his whole head through and was greeting by a beautiful vortex of blue and white energy.

He removed his head and grinned, going over his options carefully... for a second until he laughed and jumped inside the portal. "NO GUYS NO GLORY!"

"Wait"

*Flashback end*

In the present...

"You just walked through a mysterious portal. Just like that?" Torvi asked in confusion.

"Yep"

"That's stupid" she stated bluntly. "Not even I would-... actually I revoke that statement, I would've gone in too. Possibly good fun"

"That's exactly what I thought!" laughed Ryuuto. "You should've seen Olivia and Goodwitch's faces. They were just done from that point, like, so done!" he continued to cackle like a hyena as Olivia stayed silent through the entire retelling. "Anyway.."

Back to earlier...

"That's... quite the backstory, Mr. Yamamoto" Ozpin said after Ryuuto finished his story of how he came to Remnant. Glynda and Olivia just stared blankly at the aramusha, stupefied that such a course of action was taken when some air of caution was appropriate.

"Do you know who or what opened the portal?" Glynda asked when she finally mustered the power to speak.

"Oh, you guys know him, at least that's what he said anyway"

"And who is 'he' exactly?"

"Some uptight general by the name of Ironwood" Ryuuto answered to the surprise of everyone present. "That guy needs to chill out, like seriously. When I offered that me and him go out for drinks and women, he was all, 'That is no way a general like myself can do that' and some other crap I don't remember" Ryuuto then added in a mocking imitation of the general's voice.

"That... certainly changes things." Ozpin and Glynda were acutely aware of some of the major projects being done in the labs of Atlas curtesy of James Ironwood himself. Last they heard, he was supervising a project that used the power of teleportation to transports cargo and hopefully, even people. All was well until a few days after Torvi's arrival, and from James' last report, the teleporter faced a "interesting development." Though the full story eluded them, they could tell that interesting development was none other than Ryuuto Yamamoto.

"If that is the case, why are you roaming about without supervision?" Glynda probed.

"For a time after I arrived, I was tested multiple times and questioned extensively about my old world. I was under constant supervision which I wasn't really a fan of, but hey, they were the ones who brought me here so I might as well comply with their wishes" stated Ryuuto honestly. "After they were done probing me for all my worth, James wanted to enroll me in Atlas Academy, but by that time, I just wanted to get out and explore this new world so I bailed."

"And he didn't try to stop you?" Ozpin questioned in disbelief. He and Glynda knew how much the man liked being prepared and setting precautions, but to let a valuable and powerful asset like Ryuuto go without a fight was something out of the ordinary.

"Oh, he did. He tried his damnedest to enroll me in that school of his but I already made up my mind. When he saw I wasn't gonna budge, he relented and finally let me go." Ryuuto chuckled gingerly when he said, "You know, when he isn't being a stick in the mud, he can be a pretty decent guy. He even recommended Beacon should I desire to immerse myself in school life."

The headmaster and professor blanked out when the boy basically said he had James Ironwood's recommendation to their school. Should that be the case, the fact left them completely flabbergasted. Both knew how formal and by-the-books the Atlas general was and for this boy to break through his hard exterior and impress him was a feat by itself.

Ozpin recovered first from his shock, shaking his head clear. "That makes matters easy then."

Ryuuto didn't like how he said that and how he smiled at the end. "...What do you mean?"

"With James recommending you to us, that must mean you're Beacon Academy material. Your powers are remarkable from the light show you and my students displayed. Not only that, you came close to almost defeating Torvi Birgerdottir if it hadn't been for her friends. That is why I must ask if you wish to join my academy or not."

"Headmaster!" Glynda gasped, shocked that Ozpin was willing to a ruffian like him into the school. It couldn't be to watch over Torvi; she already had a black prior doing just that. She was a timebomb that needed to be watched, but not that much.

To her relief, Ryuuto laughed in amusement at the proposal and waved him off. "Sorry, but I got other plans than stay cooped up in-"

Ozpin's smile never left his face, but the welcoming aura around turned serious and eerie. "Perhaps you hit your head too hard, but let me recount the offenses you've committed just tonight: trespassing on private property, assault on three students of said private property, attempted homicide of one of those students, and judging by that faint scent on your person, illegal possession of alcohol."

The room became quiet as Ryuuto had no reply; pretty much all he just stated was spot on. Ozpin continued on by saying, "And Vale has some of the best prisons on the continent. No doubt they would have a multitude of ways of suppressing your volatile semblance."

"That is if you catch me first!" Ryuuto shot up and ran towards the staircase, but before he took his second step, black energy locks latched him to the ground and he tripped. He turned and saw Olivia's hand emitting a black glow. "God damn- oh, I'm sorry. Oum dammit!" he pouted.

Ozpin chuckled at the scene as he moved out of his chair and in front Ryuuto crouching. "Ms. Junta here is fully capable of seeing you locked up nice and tight in one of Vale's most secure correctional facilities. However, I do not want to incarcerate such a promising youth." His features soften and his grin turned fatherly in nature. "Perhaps here in Beacon, you may find out something about yourself you didn't know before."

Ryuuto weighted his options carefully. He wanted to go and explore this new world and see what it had to offer in terms of enemies and amusement. He wanted to live his own man and the last thing he wanted to do was stay in one place for an extended amount of time. That just wasn't his style. Prison though was a even worse place to be at. At least here at Beacon, he could stay at least a few weeks before he bailed should school life prove to be of little of interest to him.

Ryuuto sighed as he really had no way out of the situation. "I can assure you, Mr. Yamamoto, that you will be treated fairly like any other student that attends these halls. Your freedom will not be stripped and you will not be confined within Beacon. All I ask for... is a chance" Ozpin reassured as he offered a helping hand to Ryuuto. Olivia let of her semblance and Ryuuto stared at the hand before him.

'I mean... I guess school could be fun. And if I so desired, I could escape anytime' he conceded. He reluctantly took the old man's hand and stood up.

Ozpin smiled happily. "Welcome to Beacon Academy."

Present...

"Afterwards, Ozpin made me sign some papers, gave me a key and uniform, and told me where our new room was"

Torvi was tempted to run off the headmaster of the school and beat the ever-loving snot out of him for putting her through this torture. As if she wasn't distraught enough, now she had to literally live with the reason for why she's distraught? Surely Ozpin knew this when he enrolled Ryuuto in the school. 'To hel with that old geezer...' she growled deep down.

A large belching sound shook her and the table. "Man, that was some dinner. Shame I can't eat anymore. I'd hate to waste all this good food." He picked his teeth clean with shish kabob pick.

"We won't have to if we simply put them back in the fridge" Olivia stated matter-of-factly.

"Awwww!" the ronin whined. "But I'm tired! How about you girls clean it up- Hey!" He stopped his lazing when a black tendril picked him up and placed him on his feet.

"You eat, you clean." The black prior's tone couldn't be argued against and so the aramusha forced himself to work to clean the table as he belly bloated from all large dinner he and his new roommates consumed.

Meanwhile...

As the former residents of Healthmoor polished a cafeteria table, Glynda restlessly paced the clockwork office as Ozpin sipped his tea without a worry in the world. "You'll make an indent if you walk any more."

"You know I am never one to question your decisions, Ozpin, but enrolling that boy? Did this school not have enough dangerous students?" she argued.

"I understand your train of thought Glynda, but-"

"If you understand, why did you bring Mr. Yamamoto as a student?"

His closed eyes calmly opened and Glynda saw the seriousness within them. "Glynda, I truly do understand where you are coming from; the boy caused such a ruckus and nearly killed three students, a jail cell would've been a more than appropriate place for someone like him. But he's only 17, Glynda. It would be an injustice to let someone so young waste their life away like that."

The professor sighed in understanding. She too saw the potential the aramusha has and to think someone like that wander aimlessly gave her pause. At her heart, she was still a teacher. A teacher that simply wanted to bring the best out of the youth under her guidance.

Ozpin leaned back in his chair and stared blankly at his lap. "Besides, we need all the power we could muster. She is gaining more power each and everyday. I wouldn't be surprised if she came charging at us with an army at her disposal."

To that, Goodwitch wholeheartedly agree. "All these warriors from Healthmoor are truly gifted, aren't they?" she thought aloud.

Ozpin chuckled. "They are from a land of constant war."

"Constant war..." Glynda parroted. "Majority of our students don't even know what war is like. To think these kids know such intense bloodshed is... saddening, to say the least."

"It really is" Ozpin sighed in agreement. He then smiled encouragingly when two teams of students came to mind. "It's a good thing they have friends and each other to rely on."

Later, elsewhere...

"Why can't I stay in the room?"

"We, two females and one male, WILL NOT change at the same time." Once the trio were done fixing the cafeteria to its former glory, the three went back to the dorms to rest and spend their first night with their new teammate/roommate. But before Torvi could change into her pjs, Olivia abruptly stopped her and ordered Ryuuto out of the room.

"What's the big deal?" he said with a grin as he noticed the faint blush the black prior had on her pale cheeks.

"The 'big deal' is that such action is immoral and highly indecent. Something I fairly assume you care little of?"

Ryuuto merely shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not"

"Leave this room"

"I seriously don't see the problem" the swordsman laughed. "I don't care if both of you get naked. What? You scared I'll comment about your love handles or thunder thighs?"

Olivia scowled at the remark. "I have no idea what those are and I have no desire to learn. You may not care about upholding the sanctity of decency inhabitants of this room have already settled upon, but we-"

"I don't care"

Shock made Olivia stumble her words. "Torvi! Surely you jest-"

"No. I really don't give a flying fuck"

'Of course. Why am I not surprised that a shaman doesn't care about these sorts of things.' She really thought with everything the went down tonight, the last thing Torvi wanted was the aramusha peeking at her while she changed, but apparently she was wrong.

Torvi twitched. "For once, I agree with the mongrel." Hella stated before she eyed Ryuuto hungrily. He might've nearly killed the body she wanted to take over one day, but god damn, was the boy hot. "Actually, I'd like to see this above-average penis of his."

"Why did god curse me with this fate...?" Olivia muttered in annoyance. Of all the roommates she could've had, she had to get these three.

"...Ummm. What's this?" Ryuuto then blurted as he eyed the girl that was once was Torvi now have grey eyes instead of blue and spoke in a smoother, unaccented voice.

The other side of the shaman glared very lightly at the aramusha, hiding her frustration at the fact she couldn't look into his past to gain the upper hand over him. Olivia sighed. "Ryuuto, meet the witch that plagues the shaman, Hella."

"So an alternate personality? I see..."

"Watch it bud. I'm a person, not the the result of some insane girl's psyche" Hella threatened.

"She processes a semblance that allows her near infinite knowledge on all things. People as well" Olivia then added.

"Really?" Ryuuto grinned like a kid in a candy store. "Alright Hella. This question has been burning in my mind since the war started: what's Apollyon's real name?"

Without thinking, she began using her semblance. "That's easy. It's-" The familiar pain returned and she paused, her head shaking from the tremendous strain. The pain persisted longer than before and Hella was a hair away from screaming out her agony. Fortunately for her, it ended before a sound of anguish was made. "What does it matter anyway? She's dead"

"You still didn't answer my question though" Ryuuto pouted, disappointed.

Hella twitched. Torvi growled at the fact Hella invaded her body again, but other than that, she changed into her sleepwear without a care about the boy occupying the same space to Olivia's disbelief. She waved her off too as the only thing she wanted to do right now was sleep and stop looking at the man that represented her troubled mind.

The next day...

Torvi awoke earlier than the two. She changed into her combat pants, white tank top, and boots. She set out with one singular goal: to jog. The campus was humungous so there was plenty of paths to take a jog on. Torvi's jog, however, took the form of a full on run than a casual jog.

If there was one thing she missed from her old world, it had to be the cold, brisk air of her homeland, Valkenheim. No matter how fast or hard she ran, the air of the harsh cold was always enough to cool her sweat ridden skin. Here though, the air was leagues warmer, and even though this posed an obstacle, it was a small one at most.

She wished that was the only problem she was having at the moment. She still couldn't wrap her head around her sudden act of mercy to Ryuuto. It was completely against the principles she set for herself. To think she compromised them was like she betrayed herself. By the gods, she was a shaman! Shamans were merciless, cruel, and blood-thirsty. She was suppose to be all that and more, to live up to the title she was destined to carry for the rest of her life, gifted by the gods themselves.

'Damn you Ruby Rose. Your crying disrupted me, and now look were I am!' As much as she wanted place the blame on the young leader or cat faunus, her heart couldn't fully commit to the decision.

"On your left!" A red blur blitzed passed Torvi by her left. The fiery red mane was all Torvi needed to deduce who this red blur was. Pyrrha Nikos ran in front of her dressed in a white tank top, red skin-tight yoga pants, and black running shoes.

Not one to let someone one-up her, she picked up the pace, her legs turning into a near blur as she met up with Pyrrha Nikos. The spartan woman looked beside her in surprise until a friendly smile filled with mirth crossed her lovely features.

The two raced for Oum knows how long, but they did know ran the entire perimeter of the school. There was no clear winner as there was no finish line. The two were neck and neck in terms of speed, neither one of them faltering. They finally came to a stop near the dorms on the grassy lawn underneath the shade of a tall oak tree.

Torvi sneered in annoyance as she her lungs burned from the intense run. She could smell the scent of faint alcohol scent of sake in the air.

"You really kept me on my toes there, Torvi!" laughed Pyrrha. "I can't remember a time when someone challenged me in speed. I bet not even Ruby could keep up with you. If she didn't use her semblance that is" she then added on the off hand. She gifted the shaman a bottle of water and sat beside her as she drank hers. "You know, I think this is the first time since we've met where it's just only just the two of us. We're always surrounded by our friends that we barely get any time to talk to one another."

"Mhmm..."

The deep frown told Pyrrha the shaman wasn't in the most best of moods, which she found odd as earlier she looked elated when they were racing. "Is something the matter?"

"No," Torvi shook her head. "Nothing is wrong. Just... thinking of something."

Unlike most people, Prryha never looked down on Torvi because of her perceived instability and insanity. Just like with Jaune, she knew there was more to her than meets the eye, and so, wasn't surprised she had deeper thoughts herself. She offered a friendly smile and said, "Do you wish to talk about?"

The redhead was slightly taken back when Torvi growled and clenched her hand so tight around the water bottle, it burst and spilled half of the precious liquid to the grass. "No."

Both quieted as they simply enjoyed the serenity of the quiet campus. As much as Pyrrha wanted to peer into what caused the shaman to become so upset, she didn't want to risk testing the shaman's patience. Not so much out of fear of what Torvi might do to her, but rather she didn't want to upset her even more than she was.

The rest of team JNPR walked out the dorm just then and walked over to the two girls when they spotted them. "Were you guys running together?" Jaune asked.

"By coincidence, yes. Are you all going for breakfast?" Pyrrha said.

"Yeah! Sunday is waffle day, and you know I do love me my waffles!" Nora grinned.

"I thought you loved pancakes" Torvi remarked remembering all the times Nora begged her to make her the hot cakes.

"Same-difference. Waffles are basically hard pancakes" the ginger countered back. Ren looked like he wanted to say something but he forwent the decision.

"You guys wanna come along?" Jaune asked.

"Perhaps later. I haven't finished my Sunday routine yet. I'm just taking a brief break" Pyrrha said. Torvi nodded in agreement.

They all nodded and bid her later as they began their way to the cafeteria. The shaman looked over at the spartan, and paused in confusion. Her clouded eyes concentrated solely on the back of the tall blonde boy, half-lidded like a feeling had taken over her being. Her smile grew bigger and more affectionate as her stare continued. Along with that, the air became heavier with a familiar scent, but not the scent of alcohol; the scent of affection with a hint of arousal.

So that explained it all. She had a crush on her team leader. Torvi looked back at Jaune and went over him in her mind. Sure the boy had cute features and a nice tall height, but in terms of strength, he was growing, but it was still small. 'Not really the type of man I would want to make strong children with, but for sure cute ones.'

"Why don't you just confess?" To her, if she wanted a man, then she would get him. That was the same mindset every Viking women shared actually. Rather than sit and wait for a man to come into their life like the knights and samurai tend to do, norse women were more direct and active in their approach for a significant other.

"Heh?!" Pyrrha jumped in surprise. "Y-You know?"

"With the scent you're giving off, it hard not to"

The redhead chuckled to herself. "That nose of yours is quite powerful. I'm envious." Pyrrha digressed.

"Don't change the subject" Torvi promptly admonished. "If you like him, why don't you just tell him straight out?"

Seeing as she had no way out of this topic, Pyrrha sighed. "It's not as simple as that"

"Yes it is. Here, I'll show you. JAUNE!" Jaune, Ren, and Nora were some distance away, but the sheer volume of the viking's voice was enough to break glass and reach them. They turned in surprise. "PYRRHA HAS SOMETHING TO SAY-HMPH?!" The red spartan, with all her strength, then grabbed the shaman in a chokehold and waved off her teammates saying it was nothing as a prominent blush the same shade as her hair covered her cheeks.

"Weird. Wonder what they were talking about" Jaune muttered before turning and continuing his way to the cafeteria. Ren and Nora meanwhile chuckled at their friend's obliviousness, already aware of Pyrrha's affections for him.

"Off with your hands!" growled Torvi as she pulled Pyrrha off her.

"Torvi, it's obvious we have different methodologies when it comes to the subject of courting another, and I respect that, but please, let me do this at my own time" Pyrrha said, soft yet firm.

"Why though?" questioned the confused shaman. "He is ripe for the taking! And from my knowledge, he has no other woman interested in him. I don't understand why you torture yourself like this."

"True, he has no other admirers, but he does admire one Weiss Schnee. He's actually pining for her right this moment. He's endeavored to win her heart multiple times and failed, but if there's one thing about Jaune, it's that he is as stubborn as an old mule."

A loud bellow of laughter escaped the shaman's mouth with resistance. To think the boy was trying to court the ice cold princess was humorous and pitiful. The girl just had higher standards than Jaune could meet, or at least at the moment. 'Now that I think about it, it's actually pretty sad. All that effort just to end up fruitless.'

"You still did not answer my question. If your heart is telling you to love this boy, why not pursue it? Why run away from it? Why not embrace it?" The tone of her voice was pressing in Pyrrha's ears, like she was in search for any kind of answer. Torvi was... confused, which was a first to see as she always was so sure of herself and stood with unwavering conviction. To see the usually confident shaman in a vulnerable spot made Pyrrha offer comfort, even if it meant exposing her heart in the process.

"I... I don't want to potentially ruin our friendship. As you said before, there's nothing stopping me from pursuing a romantic relationship with Jaune, but he still has eyes for Weiss and I value our friendship too much do anything that could upset it." There were also the fact that Jaune... didn't really see her as a girl. A trusted friend and teammate, yes, but just like everyone else, he placed her on such a tall pedestal that one couldn't imagine standing beside her. "Furthermore, I'm fine with being just his friend and trainer. As long as I can be in his life showing my support, I am content"

"But you don't have to be just 'content'!" Torvi retorted, her figure standing up in anger and frustration. "You can have so much more. You can follow that desire in your heart and achieve that desire. Why suppress it when you KNOW that is part of your being, when you KNOW nothing will stop you, and you KNOW it will bring you great happiness?!"

It was clear to Pyrrha her answer didn't completely reach the shaman so she elaborated. "Not a day goes by do I berate myself for not telling Jaune how I feel. You're right in every regard, Torvi. But sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the ones you love."

"So... your own heart is second only to your loved ones? Is that the answer?"

Pyrrha shook her head and pulled Torvi down to sit next to her. "No. That is simply what I believe in. My beliefs aren't universal, so if you do not agree with them, you don't have to follow them" she said. She gently cradled Torvi's hands. "Torvi, it's clear to me that... you're facing some difficult questions at the moment, and you don't know what is right and wrong for you. However..." A playful smile crossed her feature and she stood up. She took Torvi's hand and began leading her somewhere. "I know the perfect stress reliever."

After a few minutes, the two entered the large gym and immediately Pyrrha lead her to the boxing ring. "Let's have a duel, Torvi. Full contact until one of us concedes defeat" she said smiling. Although jarred, Torvi grinned at her hungrily and sheathed her hands in the gloves provided. The two entered and faced each other expectantly with similar smiles on each others faces.

Pyrrha was the first to act as she leaped at Torvi, delivering a quick yet staggering spinning kick. Torvi blocked and looked at her surprised. "What? I never said we were boxing" the redhead simply surprised. The shaman grinned as she assaulted the Mistral champion with a flurry of quick jabs. Pyrrha was getting pushed back as she neared the rope fencing, so she turned the tides on Torvi by catching one of her thrown fists. She then grabbed her arm and forced to the ground with her captured limb bent behind her. "Give up?" Pyrrha chuckled.

She was thrown off though by the blonde's surprising strength. Torvi flew at her with vigor as she cannon-kicked Pyrrha. Though the blow was blocked, its impact was felt and she was pushed against the ropes. Within milliseconds of her arms dropping, Torvi slugged her across the face with such force she swore she would have lost a tooth if it wasn't for her semblance. She went in for another head-shot, but she was deflected before Torvi herself was punched in the jowl.

Thanks to the miracle that were auras, the two could go ham on each other without fear of seriously injuring the other. After that punch, the red spartan became a kicking tornado as she spun around so much Torvi wondered how she wasn't dizzy. Just when she was about to grab her foot, Pyrrha delivered one final kick to her side, winding her and knocking her into the ropes. Torvi suffered two more side punches before she brought her guard back up. She shoved Pyrrha off her and the two engaged in a brawl, a test of strength to see which had the stronger punch.

It was Torvi as she left Pyrrha staggering with every strike. Even when she blocked half her hits, the punches still felt like a raging ursa was swatting at her. Pyrrha jabbed right, but Torvi dodged right and grabbed her arm. With one arm locked, Torvi struck Pyrrha with an elbow-strike in the chin twice, stunning her. With her right arm with in Torvi's grasp, she spun the taller girl around before she threw her to the ground on her belly. Torvi laughed as she pounced on the downed girl's back and sat down, holding her down with her weight. "Give up?" Torvi chuckled. Her jovial disposition turned to shock when Pyrrha overcame the obstacle that was Torvi's surprisingly heavy weight and sat on her belly in retaliation.

"Not really. How about you?" she coyly retorted as she crossed her legs. She saw Torvi gather her strength and quickly got up before she was tossed again. The shaman clamored back up and the two combatants stared down. Both tried to fake-out the latter to force them to engage. "Neither one of us is willing to renounce." she stated the obvious.

"Uh huh..."

"This could go on all day. You do realize that, right?"

Torvi grinned. "Uh huh."

Pyrha returned with her own adrenaline-filled smile. "Your determination is inspiring!"

The two rushed each other in reckless abandonment.

Later...

About an hour had passed by, but the two were so engrossed, neither knew how much time passed nor did they care. All that mattered was venting out frustrations, exhibiting their passions, and letting out their stress.

Their auras were low and it was Pyrrha who stopped their little bout, albeit reluctantly. She was impressed with the shaman though; she really demonstrated her ferocity in battle and Pyrrha Nikos was always willing to face any challenge.

It was nearly 10:30 in the morning, just between breakfast and lunch. The two warriors laid on the matted ring, exhausted and bruised. Their auras were healing the damages, but it was slow work. Despite this, the two couldn't keep their pleased smiles away. "Pyrrha, you... ugh..." Torvi cradled her side. "By the gods, this hurts...you are a tremendous warrior."

"I could say the same-Ow... about you too." Pyrrha sat at one of the corners grasping her stomach. Torvi landed one hell of gut punch and it was only now was she taking in how damaging it was. She smiled through the pain. "How are... you feeling now? Any better?"

"Other than feeling like my whole body is about to crumble, I'm... I'm..." She couldn't find the words. Trading blows against a great warrior calmed her mind, but by a surprisingly smaller margin than usual. 'I love fighting... How can I not feel more elated from this?' She shook her head and looked at the redhead with a small smile. "I'm doing better."

"Really? I'm glad."

Torvi then forced herself on her feet and shambled in front of Pyrrha until her aching body could do no more and she laid back down. "Pyrrha... I am confused" Torvi confessed, the battle calming her enough to open up a bit more. "I don't know what I value more: my shaman soul or the friends I've made here at Beacon." She then opened up about prior night's events and about Ryuuto.

Pyrrha listened intently and did not interrupt not even once. After all was said on Torvi's part, she now understood why the blonde was looking agitated. And she empathized with her to a degree. Seems like both of them were putting others before themselves, but at least she wasn't feeling as distraught about it than Torvi.

"What do I do?" Torvi asked, groaning. She rolled on her back and stared blankly at the ceiling. "Should I put my beliefs over my friends... or my friends over my beliefs?"

It didn't matter which she picked because either way she lost one if she picked the other. Since the reveal of the voices and the reveal of her destiny, she accepted the shaman title as her own and developed her beliefs and gained her training because of it. Her soul was that of a shaman, and the last thing she wanted to do was throw that away.

But then came her friends. Ruby, Blake, Weiss, Yang, Pyrrha, Jaune, Nora, Ren, and even Olivia. They all supported her in a way she was never shown before. Their company was strange, yet Torvi found she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. They revealed something Torvi was never able to have as a child: friendship.

It was a double-edged sword. She was gonna get cut either way.

The tallest of the two girls evened out her breathing. "I now see the anguish you're drowning in. Seems like we're both struggling with an inner conflict of our own making. Destiny must have paired us this day, it seems" she then chuckled. "Torvi, it's clear to me you cherish both your morals and your friends. The last thing you want to do is sacrifice one over the other."

Like the others, she does not condone the actions Torvi had taken, but she did not want the shaman to change entirely. She did not want Torvi to become something unless it was through her own volition. It was not her place to force her will on another like that. If anything, Torvi just needed a positive support group to make her into the best she can be, into a warrior of both strength and virtue.

Pyrrha continued on and said, "Life does not always have a clear-cut path. Sometimes it shines to us like the sun, but most of the time, it's clouded and obscured. Because of this, we can choose whatever path that is laid before us, or we can make our own path, reveal our destiny by our own hand. Find a middle ground, and compromise. Once you do, you'll know what to do next." Such as her, as she found a middle ground with Jaune by being his trainer and close friend. True, she wanted to be more involved with him, but with the risk of their connection breaking should she pursue it continuing to dangle over her, she was content to be the friend who taught him how to fight.

'A... middle ground? Compromise?' These words she heard before, but never did she actually listen to them.

All her life... was a series of one choice or the other. Go left or right. Spare or kill. Fight or talk. She never considered thinking of an alternative.

Perhaps if she did, her life would've ended up much more differently.

*Flashback - 12 years ago*

The voices came like tides on a beach, in waves crashing against the sands of her mind. She didn't understand them, and it scared her. They chattered and chattered until all she could hear was just them. They drove her up the bend, and for a moment contemplated taking a knife to her brain just to gain a smidget of peace.

Her father, Birger, was a tall and broad man, befitting that of a viking raider. He had a shaved blonde head, but a thick beard with grey eyes. Her mother, Frida, was tall as well and more muscular than most women. A suitable body for a valkyrie. Her long ginger hair was braid and reached her lower back. Her eyes were blue.

Her parents knew what afflicted their daughter, and already knew they were going to lose her one way or another. They called Alva, the shaman at the time, for guidance, and it was in their modest wooden house on their farm did Torvi's life truly begin.

"Her mind has been blessed by the gods" Alva stated. Her black dreads were beginning to gray and her tired eyes looked at the child she was tending to with contemplation. She knew the moment she walked in that this child would be her successor, and she will train her to the best of her abilities before the valkyries called for her.

"She... is to be a shaman? Like yourself?" Frida choked. Shamans were near the top of the viking hierarchy and to hear that their child was to become a prominent figure should have filled both she and her husband with glee and unspeakable joy, yet as she looked down at her child, the last thing she wanted to do was let her out of her sight.

Torvi's father felt the same way, but was more vocal about his feeling than his spouse. "You don't intend to take her away, do you?" His voice quivered, and he berated himself for showing such fear.

The senior shaman spoke gently to the apprehensive parents. "That is the way of shamans. She must part with her worldly connections to become that which she is destined to be." Usually women meant to become shamans were in their teens, but for a girl so young to develop the voices must be a sign, Alva mused. It meant she was directed for great things in her future, and to let it waste away was unacceptable. "She will be under my protection and tutelage from this point onwards, so rest your heads knowing she will be safe."

Shamans were known to be capable fighters, so there was no doubt in the couples' mind that Alva would protect Torvi to the very end; but the thought of leaving their child in the hands of a woman more beast than human gave them shivers. "We can move, you know. We can afford building a new home near your hut so that-"

"No. Like I said, she will need to isolate herself from her previous connections. Do you want her to fail at her destiny before it even started?"

The tone she used brought out the worse out of Birger and he practically snarled at her. "You can't just expect us to leave our child, do you?!"

"It is a sacrifice for the greater good!" Alva stated, her voice rising in anger at being questioned. She stood up and though she was shorter than the tall and burly blonde man, she floored him with a simple look. "If that doesn't convince you, then think of your daughter right now. Look at her suffering! Without my teaching, without my knowledge, she will continue living with the pain in her soul until she rots from the inside out, and become nothing more than a empty shell."

"A shell...?"

The adults in the room snapped their heads to the sound of Torvi awakening. Alva kneeled once more to apply a cold compress to her burning noggin. "Little one, do you know what the endless chatter in your mind signifies?" the elder shaman gently quizzed.

"That... I'm dying...?"

Alva couldn't help but chuckle at her ignorance. "No, no child. Quite the opposite. Your life will begin anew, enflamed by your new and grander role in life. To become a woman closer to the gods than any mortal could ever hope to be. To become a warrior without equal with the power to make the wisest kings tremble and the most hardened generals curse. To become a figure of guidance to our people and a symbol of fear to our enemies. And it all starts... by taking my hand."

Such a promise was so delectable, how could could anyone refuse? Especially a child, so bright-eyed and impressionable, whose life had barely ran it course, lacking in any glory.

What the young girl concentrated on the most wasn't Alva's grand words, but the statement about becoming a shell of a person. Shells were empty inside and she didn't want to be empty. She almost grasped her hand when a quiet gasp sounded off to her left, and she saw her mother with her hand covering her mouth.

Frida locked eyes with her daughter and forced herself to composure. "It's... It's alright, my little drengr. Mommy and daddy with support whatever you choose." she comforted, though the words felt heavy on her tongue.

Birger joined in and choked, "Yes. Yes, we will."

"Can't they come? Or-Or visit us?" Torvi asked Alva.

To her dread and disappointment, Alva swayed her head no. "Perhaps once in a while, but the life of a shaman is a solitary one. Better you learn that now than later."

"But I don't want to leave them!" cried Torvi, refusing to believe this was the end of her relationship with her parents. Said parents smiled at the love their daughter had for them, but they were laced with sorrow as they already knew where this conversation will lead.

"I know, but the nornir have written our fates, our destinies. All we can do is follow them."

She didn't even know how to form her words. She didn't want to leave the only home she has ever known for that of a woman she barely knew. She didn't want to leave her mommy and daddy. She would miss their cuddling and hugs, their kisses and love. All she felt from Alva was fear and apprehension.

Join her..

Torvi's breath quickened,

Don't join her...

"What do you want!?" she screamed. She clutched her head in anguish. Her parent stared in fear before quickly rushing to her side.

"The choice is yours, child. Follow your destiny or continue to suffer. Decide" Alva coldly said.

It was true, the choice was hers. It was in her hands, she had full freedom to do what she wanted.

At least, that's what she told herself.

Torvi gulped. She shakily raised her head to look at Alva. Her eyes were indifferent, and it shook her. "... This... This is what I'm meant to be, yes? This is my destiny?"

"Yes"

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes"

The young girl nodded. "Okay. Just let me pack." It didn't take too long for her to gather her things. Everyone walked out into the cold Valkenheim air. Alva stood away as Torvi gave her parents a farewell. It crushed her little heart to see her mother tearing up and her father suffering in his silent frustration and fury.

"Mommy, daddy, i-it's fine. I'm following my destiny. Isn't this good?" she tried to consol.

Her mother looked at her, eyes blood-shot from all the crying. She wiped away her tears. "Of course, my little drengr. Mommy and daddy are proud your path is clear as day... but..."

"Don't let it change you." Her father cut in so abruptly, Torvi flinched. "You are to be a shaman. We can't fight that. But by the gods, that doesn't mean you aren't Torvi Birgerdottir anymore. You're still our daughter, and we love you more Thor loves his hammer. Remember that."

"I will" choked the young girl. "I love you both. I will make you both proud."

And with that, Torvi walked by Alva's side as they left for her new home. She looked back and her tiny heart was crushed some more. Her mother broke down in tears and was crying a storm as her father was by her side, consoling her broken heart. They spoke, but with the distance between them it was hard to make most of them out. But she did her mother sob...

"...another one... we lost another one..."

Who did they lose?

*Flashback end*

From that point onwards, its been a series of decisions after decisions, always choosing the one that would uphold her identity as a shaman. Because that was what she was meant to be. It was her destiny to hear the voices, channel them, and become the woman she was meant to be. And she achieved just that. She was the picture-perfect example of what a good shaman should be. Cruel, ruthless, bloody, and free.

... But she wasn't free. She had no physical chains, but she had chains all around her life. She was only now seeing them. She did EVERYTHING a good shaman would do, but did she do everything Torvi wanted to do? Who was Torvi Birgerdottir anyway? Was that just a label for another shaman, or was it an actual person with desires and wants?

Shamans were meant to be the embodiment of chaos and anarchy in the most bloodiest package. Yet, in the most ironic twist, women meant to be shamans had little in the way of freedom.

Torvi nodded as she acknowledged Pyrrha's advice. The spartan girl though saw a bigger storm brewing beneath the blonde's eyes, but she did not prod any further.

A guttural growl erupts in the square ring. "I think brunch is in order, yes?" Pyrrha smiled. Torvi willed a smile. "Come then. I'm quite famished myself."

When the two saw they were well enough to walk, they went on their way to regroup with their friends. They entered the cafeteria to see team RWBY had joined team JNPR. The latter were already done with their food (with the exception of Nora as she helped herself to another heaping of waffles) while team RWBY joined some time later as they were still in the middle of their meal.

Ruby pops her head up, mouth and cheeks messy with syrup, and beckoned Pyrrha and Torvi to join them. The others followed suit, and warm sensation filled Torvi at that moment. It was strange in her mind. She would get excited at the hint of battle and blood, but this was a different type of joy. Their presence did not excite her, but it calmed her usually passionate heart.

She like it, and she liked them. She did not know what to do to achieve this "middle ground", but Torvi vowed she will find it, and through her own volition and choices.

But for now, it was time to eat.