Chapter 4

The SDC bullhead that served as Winter's private means of transportation landed on one of the landing pads of the Atlas academy. Situated just outside the Main Hall, the Docking Bay featured four landing pads. A flight of stairs led from the pad level to the main entrance of the Hall. From the window of the bullhead Winter glanced at the outside. The Academy was built as five enormous towers: one large central tower and four side towers of varying heights surrounding the main building. The large central tower was the original CCTS tower that was created. Each of the side towers had a pair of Hard-Light Dust rings surrounding them, and a glass viewing platform at the top of the tower. Due to its extensive use of Hard-Light Dust, Atlas had a blue tint to a seemingly dark building at night and was shown to be silver during the day. The doors of the bullhead slid open and revealed the scenery of Atlas academy.

"So this is the famed academy of the kingdom of Atlas?" Vergil's voice echoed inside Winter's mind. "Not bad but I have seen better," he said judgmentally.

"This academy is one of the most impressive constructions in the world. There are few than could match it let alone surpass it," Winter said.

"As impressive as it is, in my world people had built as grand if not grander structures which survived the test of time again and again. St Basil's Cathedral, Petra, Taj Mahal, they were all truly a sight to behold but few truly grasped just how impressive they were, especially considering the times they were built in."

"They sound interesting, would love to hear more about them," Winter said. She was truly interested in hearing more about the world Vergil had originated from. Apart from the whole demons, and a mention of some places and people, she knew little about it.

"All in due time," Vergil said in his typical icily calm tone. Winter proceeded to walk towards the academy entrance with two SDC Atlesian knights carrying her belongings behind her. Winter was not dressed in the expensive attire her father always demanded she wears but wore the uniform of the academy. The dress code at Atlas consisted of white long-sleeved shirts with gray pocket-vest jackets on top. These were accompanied by a pair of white dress gloves and a dark-gray tie. Female students wore gray stockings and knee-high black boots while male students wore long white trousers. Someone would say that the clothes were wore were utilitarian, and made her look like a soldier, that it was not something she should wear but for her, these clothes were the preferable alternative compared to the outfits she was forced to wear whenever she was at home or at one of her father's parties. Vergil made a comment about the uniform being efficient even if it was a bit boring to look at.

Winter walked along the hallways of the academy towards where hers and her team's dorm room would be found. All of the hallways in the academy were usually long and had cold white and gray walls and floors and dark gray pillars, and blue lights resembling torches. All of this made them repetitive and if one didn't pay attention they could easily lose their way. Luckily for Winter she had spent the last four years of her life here and knew the rooms and hallways of the academy like the back of her hand. She passed the cafeteria and through the large open doors, she could see the students having their morning meals. Atlas' cafeteria had large glass windows pointed towards the city surrounding the Academy. Inside, two long tables were set to the sides of the room, with various Atlas banners hanging overhead. Both tables were filled with students talking about the time they spent at home and how their break went. After a quick look Winter continued to walk toward her dorm room. All the dorms, referred to as barracks by the academy, appeared to be co-ed dorms, with males and females having slept in the same room. This allowed all members of a team to share the same living area, regardless of differing genders. After some more walking Winter finally made it to her room. She opened the door by sliding her scroll on the lock. Walking inside she was met by a familiar and honestly pleasant slight of her team's room. The beds were four bunk beds built into the wall with a ladder in the middle allowing access to the upper two beds. Along the other side of the wall were four small desks and chairs for each member of the team to study or do other paperwork. There were a few knickknacks that belonged to her teammates scattered around like books, pictures, a poster of some famous huntsman from Vacuo that Valentina adored, and a banner with the Marquis family crest, Louis's family.

"Look what the cat dragged in," a voice came from one of the top bunk beds. There on the bed with a comic book in hand was Asher. The twenty-one-year-old blond gave Winter a wolfish grin. When her father found out that she had a faunus on her team he exploded and demanded that the academy swap the beast with some proper, Ironwood as the headmaster of the academy refused, saying that the teams were chosen how they had always been and he was not about to break the rulers just for the sake of Jacques misguided pride. "Or should I say snowstorm."

Winter tried to steel herself somewhat but could not help to crack a small smile. "Very funny," she was sarcastic. "It's been years, when are you going to stop with the snow puns."

"Never gonna happen, Ice queen, besides it's too much fun to see you keep getting annoyed every single time."

"I don't get annoyed, your childish efforts are barely registered," Winter said.

"Yeah, Yeah and that's why you encased me in ice the last time I managed to play your strings."

"That was one lapse in judgment, it shall never happen again," Winter said in her formal tone before smiling again. "It's good to see you, Asher."

The blond man jumped down from his bed and hugged Winter. Asher wore what could be described as a more casual variant of the academies uniform and by casual, she meant that the vest was opened, his sleeves were rolled up and the jacket was nowhere to be seen, luckily he still wore his shirt. "You too Ice queen."

"So, where are the others?" Winter asked.

"Louis is not here yet, off on some important event, thank god for that. And our favorite rage monster is beating the life out of some first years who thought that they could take her on. She was all too happy to oblige their challenge."

"And why are you not there, I thought you liked a good show," Winter said.

"I was intending to join her and watch her beat those idiots into a pulp but then I remembered that you were coming in today so I decided to stay here and wait for you. I heard something happened, are you alright?" Asher asked concerned.

"I'm fine, was just sick for a while. I'm better now," Winter said. Saying that she was sick was a better option than explaining that she had a literal devil inside her mind teaching her how to use his power. That story sounds both insane and impossible to believe. And the last thing she needs right now is for the few actual friends she has to think her crazy.

"You sure?" he asked concerned.

"Yes I'm sure, I'm fine see," Winter pointed at herself. The wolf faunus eyed her for a moment before nodding and smiling again.

"Good. Wouldn't want something to happen to our Ice queen," Asher said and kicked the beds with his right foot making a plate droop from the edge of it. He caught it quickly and offered it to Winter with a mock bow. On the plate were several slices of pizza. "They are still warm, picked them up from the cafeteria right before you arrived."

Winter took a slice without a second thought and Asher took the other. Pizza is one of the foods her father does not allow in his household due to it being poor people's food as he calls it. Winter on the other hand loved it. Asher just sported the same grin as before as she ate.

"He is starting to remind me of someone," Vergil's voice came.

"Dante?" Winter thought.

"Possibly," the devil said. This boy, as he was a boy in Vergil's eyes, had some traits that he shared with his reckless brother, the relaxed and smug demeanor and the annoying smile being chief among them.

"So how are things at home?" Asher asked and this made Winter's mood drop. She sighed and lowered her gaze away from Asher. "That bad a?"

"Same as always," Winter said after a moment of silence.

"Your brother and sister?"

"They are fine, as fine as they can be actually."

Ashers' eyes were locked on her. "I don't get it why you put up with mister I have a superiority complex and his bullshit. You can just tell him to shove it up his ass and leave you alone."

"You know it's not as simple as that," Winter said, clutching her sides while looking at the floor.

Asher sighed. "I'm sorry, I know it's hard for you but If I were you I would have never put up with all the manipulating and blackmail. Doing that to your own child is disgusting," Asher said, his anger beginning to rise. "You have to do something! You cant go on like this!"

Asher was right, she could not go on like this forever. She has had this same conversation with him several times before and once or twice with Valentina but that helped little. But now she has a chance, she will deal with her father in due time.

"I will confront him on my own terms, not his nor anyone else but the time for that is not now," Winter said.

"And when will it be?" Asher asked raising an eyebrow questioningly.

That was the right question to ask, when? She still had a lot to learn from her new demonic mentor and to graduate from the Atlas academy at the end of the semester. Not to mention that her team will most definitely compete in this year's Vital festival tournament. The last festival was four years ago when she has just enrolled in the academy and due to her team's lack of teamwork in the first semester it was decided that more experienced teams and those with better coordination would be representing the kingdom of Atlas, something her father wasn't happy about. But now her team had a shot. With a bit of luck and a lot of commitment they might just do good this year and they might even win. When all of that is good and done she will finally confront her father and break away from his control one way or the other.

"When I deem it the right time and it isn't right now," Winter said in a serious tone that was somewhat similar to the tone Vergil usually spoke. Asher knew not to push the issue further and let the topic drop.

"As you say Ice queen," Asher said. A change of subject was preferable so Asher spoke the first thing that came to mind. "Wanna go and watch the Queen of pain trash those first years?" Asher asked. Winter gave it a brief thought before nodding.

"I would but I have to finish this exquisite meal you brought me," Winter said jokingly, a small smile appearing on her lips.

"You can eat it on the way. If we start walking now we just might make it before the end," Asher said.

"A Shnee to be seen eating a slice of pizza in the middle of a hallway, what would people say," Winter said in mock offense.

"No one is going to say anything about the pizza. I think that the bigger issue would be the sight of you walking next to me while eating that pizza, a faunus, and poor people's food, a combo of things a Shnee should never be around," Asher said jokingly. Winter's only response was to give him a mock glare before agreeing.

"Fine but you first," she said as she walked over to the door and opened it.

"Oh no no no, ladies first that is the rule," the faunus said.

"And since when did you become a gentleman?" Winter asked.

"I always been a gentleman you just never noticed," he responded, his characteristic smirk gracing his lips.

"Suit yourself then," Winter said and exited the dorm room with Asher following right behind her. The two teammates walked along the halls of Atlas academy while munching on slices of pizza. It was ironic that she had more freedom in an academy meant to train the future generation of huntsmen than at home.

"How truly ironic," Vergil's icy voice was heard saying.

She had tried to keep the strict facade of the Shnee her father wanted her to be when she first enrolled in the academy but over time and due to the people she now called friends the facade cracked. She did not drop the facade entirely that is, she still had a reputation, and if her father received news of something which he might disapprove of, well saying that her father would cause a fuss would be an understatement. So far she had no issues apart from a few matches she lost to which her father chastised her and commanded her to do better. Like he could do better, a man who never lifted anything heavier than a spun in his life let alone a weapon. She was sure that a simple Atleasian army recruit could beat her father without any issue.

The two of them kept walking and making small talk as they made their way through the halls and auditoriums of the academy until they reached the training room. The training room is where students of Atlas Academy, as well as Atlesian Huntsman, came to train and hone their skills in combat. The Training Room was a giant empty square room with a light blue grid of Hard-Light Dust on the floor. The grid could generate and stack numerous Hard-Light blocks to create walls, platforms, and cover. The room was able to create several different layouts using these blocks allowing versatility in training for different scenarios. The blocks could be destroyed from heavy impact by a weapon or Semblance, however, the room appeared to not have a limit on how many blocks it can generate or replace, as far as Winter knew. Up high at the end of the room was an observation deck allowing staff, other students, or Huntsmen to watch ongoing training sessions. Most often it was used by general Ironwood to oversee the training session personally. Right now the training room was used as a battleground between one of the most skilled students of the academy when it comes to combat that is, other subjects less so, and a group of newbies that by the looks of it barely passed the entrance exam. Two of the first years were already laying knocked out on the opposite sides of the room while the two remaining freshmen were trying their hardest to beat Bellona and failing. Winter and Asher watched from the observation deck as the fight went on with a few other students that happened to be there as well.

Valentina Bellona had short jet black hair, red eyes, pale skin, was dressed in armor that someone could say was from ancient times, and wielded a shield and sword in battle, the two instruments of destruction she was currently using to annihilate her opponents. A burst of loud laughter was heard from the arena.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH," laughed the senior girl. "Is that the best you got? From your bragging I expected more!" she said, gleefully expecting the next move from her opponents, a large grin plastered on her lips.

"You were just lucky," one of them said and proceeded to attack, his teammate right behind him.

"I thought that It would be close to over by now," Asher said, crossing his arms as he watched the fight go on.

"She is toying with them," Winter said after a brief pause. "She is dragging this out on purpose."

"Well, we all been on vacation up until a few weeks ago, that means almost a month without a proper fight for her. I think she is just making up for the lost time."

"Dragging the fight out longer than it needs to be is a mistake," Winter said sharply, she felt Vergil agreeing with that statement.

"For you may be, for her on the other hand it's another story," Asher said as his attention returned to the fight at hand. "She loves fighting, she enjoys it more than you or I do. Some would call her brutish but to our team, she is the stone wall who defends from the harshest of blows."

"True," Winter said nodding. "But relying on ones semblance too often is a crutch,"

"Ironwoods famous words," Asher said with a hint of mockery. "Let her use it if she wants to."

"Using it too much will hinder her in the long run," Winter said.

"Says the girl who relays on her glyphs to win every fight," Asher retorted.

"That is not the same," Winter countered, annoyance clear in her voice.

"Is it not?" he asked and Winter gave him a silent glare.

"He is right," Vergil said. "Relying on just one or two abilities in a fight can make an individual predictable, no matter how many creatures your glyphs can summon or what they can do."

This comment made Winter frown. "My glyphs allow me to use a wide range of abilities from summoning avatars of the grimm I slew, creating a slippery platform to skate on at high speed, I can generate midair platforms to manipulate my trajectory in the air, and performing limited time dilation that can speed up my actions. I believe my semblance has a wide range of uses and not a crutch as you believe," Winter said out loud to Vergil and Asher, answering both of them at the same time. The last thing she needs right now is for one of her friends to think her crazy.

"Perhaps it is better than most semblances I have seen in your memories but what I said stands, a warrior needs to be flexible, needs to be ready to adapt to the given situation. Remember what I have thought you so far or have all my lessons been for not."

Winter chose not to comment further, she had learned during their time together that trying to win in an argument against Vergil was impossible, the devil always seemed to have some kind of answer or an anecdote to prove his point, so after a while Winter just stopped trying to argue with him and listen. She didn't have to agree with his opinions but she was not going to cause a meaningless fuss about it. She decided to continue to watch the fight in silence, well as silent as it can be with Asher around.

Bellona blocked a spear strike from one of her opponents with her large shield while using her sword to parry the mace of the other attacker. The spear wielder jumped back, changed his weapon into rifle form, and started shooting at the armor-clad warrior. Bellona's semblance absorbed the bullet damage with ease causing the freshmen to start backing off. A large predatory grin was plastered on the senior girl's face.

"My turn," Bellona said and attacked. Her shield quickly met the mace wielder's face sending him flying into a wall. As she was about to turn her attention to the one remaining opponent he jumped on a nearby platform and started shooting at her once more.

"Damn it all," she grumbled. "Why won't you just lose already?"

"I don't lose that easy kid," she said and jumped on the platform next to him. He shifted his weapon into spear form and tried to stab her but she blocked it and then used her shield to send him flying as well, that last strike making his aura go into the red.

"Winner, miss Valentina Bellona," an artificial voice echoed through the room, and on the screens, it was shown that the freshmen were removed from the board and only Valentina remained, her aura still at safe levels. There was some grumbling from the other freshmen who were in the observation room with them but Winter paid them little heed.

"I think that it would be proper to congratulate the winner personally," Asher said, smiling.

"I agree with you," Winter said nodding. The two of them left the observation room and started walking toward the locker rooms. By the time they arrived Valentina had already removed her armor and was dressed in the school uniform.

"Nice fight Val," Asher said. Bellona's back was turned to them as she was tying her shoos.

"Thanks, Asher," Bellona said.

"He is right, but what interests me is why did you pick a fight with a bunch of freshmen," Winter said and Bellona immediately jumped from her seat and rushed towards Winter, bringing her into a bear hug.

"WINTER!" Bellona shouted as she embraced the white-haired girl. The two of them were polar opposites, like day and night. Bellona was brutish, loud, and had a fiery temper while Winter was quieter and refined but they were still great friends. After a long hug and Winter begging Bellona to let her breathe, the warrior girl let go of Winter.

"Honestly, I was bored and wanted to punch something," Bellona said smashing her first into her palm.

"And you picked them why?" WInter asked.

"They were acting like jerks to some other first years, so I approached them and told them to knock it off but they just continued to act like dicks so I told them to try it with me and they agreed to fight. It was a nice little exercise if nothing else. But with you now here this will be a lot more interesting, I can't wait for a rematch."

"According to the last counting it's six to five for Ice queen," Asher said.

"Not for long," Bellona said, determination clear in her red eyes.

"Confidante are we?" Winter asked with a small smirk.

"I got every reason to be. In our next fight, I will tie it with you and in the one after that I will score one over you, propelling myself into the lead," she said gleefully.

"Dream on," Winter said, their eyes locking.

Asher whistled, "Ice queen vs Rage legionary part twelve, the fight for supremely continues."

"At least I will be tied with her, you barely won three fights against her, your Snarkiness,"

"Well in my defense I only fought her nine times in total, I rather keep what's left of my pride, thank you very much. I don't need Ice queen frizzing my butt off again, once was enough."

"Wimp," Bellona said.

"I prefer to be called tactical, no need to get my butt trashed around pointlessly. Besides I'm not as near as competitive as you two. You two are the worse cases of competitive drive in our year if not the whole academy."

"I do have a reputation to hold after all," Winter said, offering her teammates a mocking smile.

"I have to be the one to shatter that reputation and humble you miss High and mighty," Bellona said.

"We will see then, we will see," Winter said.

"So what are we going to do now, head somewhere else or stay here to watch other matches?" Asher asked.

"I do have things to unpack, so you guys can come with me back to our room If you want," Winter said.

"Suits me," Asher said as he put his hands behind his head.

"Same here, I'm done with the training room for the day so let's spend some time together, you been late for weeks Ice queen, you had us worried," Bellona said and the three of them started walking back to their dorm room. Along the way, Asher and Bellona informed Winter what she had missed during her prolonged stay at the Shnee manner and the latest gossip courtesy of Asher. Soon the trio reached the dorm room only to find someone else in there already. Next to the lower left bed stood the fourth member of their team, Louis Marquis. He was not dressed in the typical uniform of the Atlas academy but wore an orange and yellow clothes that matched his hair. When it came to Louis the guy had a sun motive going on, mostly due to his semblance being the ability to project beams of sunlight that can either blind or cause some level of damage to the one on the receiving end. On his hip was his weapon of choice, a one hundred and four centimeters long double-edged rapier.

"Well it seems we are all finally here," Asher said, eyeing the final arrival.

"Ah Winter, it is good to see you again. I hope all is alright, we have heard that you have fallen ill that took several weeks to recover. I hope it is nothing serious," Louis said in a polite tone, offering the heiress a smile and a bow.

"I'm fine Louis, I was fine before but the doctors wanted to make sure no further complications would arise. But enough about that, it's good to see you too Louis. I hope things weren't too hard for the three of you without me around."

"Your obeisance was felt greatly my lady, it was like a day without a sun, like a night sky without the stars, a rose without its bright petals," Louis said like he was reciting poetry. Honesty it would not surprise Winter if he had rehearsed this prior. As annoying as his advances toward her are, Louis actually knows how to write good poetry and songs. One of his works actually made Bellona shed a tear, something which she is adamant never happened but Winter, Asher, and Louis knew, and the only reason Louis dropped the matter was because he decided that his life was more important to him than having a jape at Belloans expense.

"She just arrived Sunboy, would you give her five minutes before continuing to bombard her with your pointless attempts at what you call flirting, "Аsher said in a mocking tone. "Oh sorry my bad, courting."

"You wouldn't know proper eutectic if it hit you in the head Fur ball," Louis retorted, annoyed by Asher's disrespect.

"Enough!" Winter said in a raised voice. "I just got here, the last thing I need right now is you two going at it."

"He started it," Asher said, sounding like a small child.

"No I did not and please accept my apologies, Winter," Louis said offering another bow.

"This is going to be an interesting experience," Vergil's voice was heard and she could detect a hint of amusement in it. Winter restrained herself from sighing, this sure was going to be an interesting semester with a devil in her head and her three teammates.

AN: And that's a wrap folks, hope you guys like this chapter. As for how the characters look, Asher is bassed on Asher Forrester from GoT but with a wolf tale, Bellona for those who know Roman mythology is the goddess of war, so her armor is roman in appearance, and Louis is inspired by Louis the XIV, the king of France, also known as the Sun King, so picture him dressed as a musketeer as he is a huntsman but orange in color. In the following chapters, we will see how the changes and Vergil's training have influenced Winter and I have an entire plot concerning her demon trigger and her team.

SolSparda369: Thanks mate, glad you liked it.