The Question:
The question hung there for a moment as the two girls stared at each other, both were silent, Celica nervous knowing one slip up, a wrong word, a quick action would set off something very bad, she had nothing against Faunus but she always tried to hide her social anxiety. Still this was one thing Celica couldn't avoid as she stared into the glaring eyes of Sylvia the wolf Faunus showing her fangs.
Sylvia glared at Celica, not breaking eye contact and not even aware of herself showing her fangs as she awaited the answer, 99% of the time Sylvia never second-guessed her words or actions however doubts came to mind in her head as it seemed to take forever for Celica to answer. In Sylvia's mind she thought Celica may be thinking about exactly what to say to make her happy or possibly considering on telling the truth or a lie.
Celica didn't seem to have hatred in her eyes, more confusion than anything as Sylvia was about to drop the question and back off from the direct approach Celica finally spoke stopping Sylvia from dropping it. 'I don't hate Faunus' Celica held her left arm with her right hand clearly struggling with something, she made eye contact but there was a worried expression in her eyes and all over her face.
Celica looked down and to the left, her fringe obscuring her right eye a little, she elaborated that she wasn't too keen on the White Fang and tried to explain why. In Celica's head there was a mess of thoughts about what to say and what she actually said trying to make sense. Sylvia looked at her in shock and worry as Celica stuttered and stammered.
Trying to explain how she agreed that Faunus should be equal but not condone some of the acts the White Fang had done, how she hated one Faunus whilst growing up but because that Faunus bullied her, she overexplained everything adding information that she didn't need to add and when she lost her train of thought she started over getting mixed up and not making sense.
Sylvia could see Celica's struggle as Celica took a step back, hiding her face more, feeling like she was on trial and what could she say or do to possibly get her out of this situation. Throughout her rambling she dared to glimpse at Sylvia's reaction, the reaction of Sylvia just showed confusion on her face. Seeing this multiple times Celica tried to start all over again but was more worried that she was confusing Sylvia more inflicting more harm instead of putting her mind at ease.
At this point Celica was panicking, tears were forming in her eyes and she could sense a panic attack rising up so she did the only thing she could think of. With a flick of her wrist using her semblance she opened up a portal, quickly hopped inside with the portal closing behind her. Another identical portal appeared 20 metres away as the portal opened up and out she stepped, Sylvia could still see her so Celica ducked behind a tree and curled herself into a ball trying to calm herself down.
Sylvia watched in awe, one instant Celica was trying to explain herself and the next she opened a portal to get away from her. She never had someone desperately trying to get away from her before as she stood there contemplating if she should wait for Celica to come back or approach her. The latter won as she slowly approached and made her presence known as she approached Celica.
Sylvia was worried about Celica, at this point she was 99% sure she didn't hate Faunus but there was something else on her mind, worried that Celica could be drawing Grimm she needed to help, as she felt guilty for accusing her of not liking Faunus and her mind clicked, no matter what was wrong Sylvia had to help like it was an itch that she had to scratch.
Sylvia stopped leaning against the tree that Celica was leaning against as she had no idea what to say, Celica knew she was there, without looking up Celica just said 'I don't hate Faunus', Sylvia smiled and sat next to Celica apologizing and asked if she could do anything, Celica just shook her head. Celica stood up still not facing Sylvia as she stated that they better keep moving and they were getting graded after all.
Sylvia nodded as the pair started to head in the direction they had been going, both remained quiet as Sylvia was trying to think of what Celica was thinking and how she reacted to her accusing question, she felt guilty, a type of guilt that made her sick in her stomach, Celica had calmed down a bit but keeping a neutral face and not really looking at Sylvia as they walked through the Emerald Forest, Celica thought Sylvia hated her and perhaps it wasn't going to be so easy to make friends.
She was racking her brain thinking if she ever met Sylvia before today or perhaps said something to anger her, they both arrived at the temple ruins finding one relic left, Celica sighed as she picked up the Black Rook piece and stared at it knowing they had been the last to the temple and blamed her little meltdown. She turned to Sylvia who had withdrawn her weapon 'Paragon's Slash' as she looked down the barrel and killed a Creep that was approaching them.
As the black mist evaporated into the air Sylvia turned to Celica with a smile trying to cheer up Celica and help her relax. Sylvia tried another approach to talk to Celica stating that they were going to be together for the next four years and would love to be friends and perhaps should try to get to know each other on the way back. Celica smiled nervously liking the idea but knowing herself she knew she'd mess it up somehow.
The pair started walking back, Sylvia dominated the conversation trying to get Celica to open up, backing off when she sensed it was putting pressure on Celica, they walked along a path and kept an eye out for Grimm but none appeared as Celica began to relax a little, with Sylvia's new approach to communicating really helped Celica. That is until Sylvia brought up the question again apologizing for it this time, it got Celica to stop in her tracks grabbing her left arm and looking down and away once again.
Sylvia stopped a few steps ahead realizing Celica had stopped, she turned around and said it was ok but she just wanted to apologize, Celica shook her head stating she should be the one to apologize as it made them the last team to reach a relic holding up the Black Rook piece. Sylvia put her hand on Celica's shoulder making Celica look up and into her eyes telling her it was ok, as it wasn't a race and told her not to compare to other teams as they might have had some luck and didn't get stopped by any Grimm.
Celica felt comfortable with Sylvia's confidence and kind nature, the accusations were gone and she saw a warm smile trying to cheer her up, having no plans to tell Sylvia changed when Celica just blurted out that she has social anxiety. The two fell silent, there was a little shock on Sylvia's face before the smile returned as she thanked Celica for telling her.
Celica smiled back at her having been glad to have told someone and gotten a positive reaction. She was about to continue telling Sylvia about her anxiety when they were cut off by the sound of battle as nearby there were gunshots, the two looked at each other grabbing their weapons and running to the sound of gunshots. They arrived finding a clearing filled with a pack of Beowolves. Celica saw two male Faunus working together in sync fighting the horde, she turned to Sylvia but she had already run ahead calling out to the two other students shouting 'Paragon'.
Within an instant of Sylvia's commanding shout the two other Faunus jumped and climbed into separate trees including Sylvia, from branches they fired their weapons at the Beowolves confusing them as shots came from multiple directions that they didn't know who to target. Celica opened up a portal with her hand, stepped in and another portal opened on the tree branch above her, hopping on the branch she grabbed her pistols from her holsters and fired at the Grimm horde.
Sylvia looked over to her new teammate and smiled seeing Celica join in the action and had picked up the order of Paragon she had given her two friends Luca and Arthur. The four had managed to kill a few Beowolves with this plan but they had learned and now they had broken into small groups charging at a target of their choice. Celica switched to her Gauntlet blades and jumped to the ground slashing the Beowolves approaching her, ducking and weaving between their strikes.
Luca had done the same as Celica, he was much taller so his ducking and weaving skills weren't like Celica's but he had improvised his own style and with the bolts attached on top of his gauntlets, he shot the Beowolves right in the face at point black range while he slashed and punched his way through his share of Grimm. While Celica and Luca were fighting Sylvia yelled out 'Thunder Fall'.
Sylvia had put Paragon's Slash on her back and stared at the Grimm between her and Arthur, using her semblance to manipulate gravity the Grimm suddenly stopped and rose a metre into the air floating, the Grimm were confused and trying to launch their attacks but remained floating there as Arthur used his Chainsaw blade running through the floating Grimm horde, using them as platforms to jump to the next after slashing or shooting them.
Going through the eight Grimm easily and landing in front of Sylvia as she fell to her knee panting as the black mist evaporated, Arthur knelt down checking on his friend as Luca ran over to do the same. Celica hurried over not as fast as the other two students but not dawdling. Halfway to the trio she had seen an Alpha Beowolve slowly stalking toward the trio.
The Alpha Beowolve burst out of the treeline straight for the trio, they held their weapons at the ready as Sylvia tiredly got to her feet and before the Alpha Beowolve got to them a portal opened up once again sending the attacking Grimm into it, the portal disappeared and the trio looked around to try figure out what happened to the charging Beowolve. Celica ran over to the trio telling them it was ok as she pointed to where she was standing 'Just watch' she said.
The trio looked at her confused wondering what she had meant, they followed where her eyes were looking as Celica looked up, the Alpha Grimm was falling faster and faster uncontrollably to the ground. Celica got ready as did the others for when the Alpha Beowolve hit the ground it sent a ripple of dust blown towards them, the force of the crash pushed them back a step as the Alpha Beowolve dissipated and evaporated into the air.
Celica turned around with a smile introducing herself, the trio looked at her impressed but shocked at the method she killed an Alpha Beowolve with. Sylvia smiled and chuckled turning to her friends and proudly stating that Celica was her partner while Arthur and Luca introduced themselves. Celica nervously smiled and gave a little wave, an awkward silence fell upon the group of four as Arthur wasn't giving Celica the friendliest reception and Luca seemed to be polite but not too genuine.
Sylvia piped up telling the group that they should get moving and return to the cliff, the group left still vigilant of course, Celica found herself walking behind the trio as clearly the three friends were catching up and talking about what they had done ever since they were launched into the air earlier that day. Celica didn't mind, it was good to see how friends behaved together and she didn't want to ruin their conversation as she stayed quiet and watched their backs.
Returning to the cliffs they handed Professor Goodwitch their relics and headed back to Beacon Academy where Professor Ozpin announced the teams. Sylvia stood next to Celica, they looked at each other when the first team was announced which had four members and realized the two chess pieces that matched obviously got the pairs joined together.
Professor Ozpin then announced another four names 'Sylvia Wilkot, Arthur Moran, Luca Hunt and Celica Carman'. The four walked up on stage as Professor Ozpin announced what chess piece they had chosen and that from here on they would be referred to as 'Team CSAL led by Sylvia Wilkot'. Luca and Arthur hugged Sylvia as Celica awkwardly stood by wanting to congratulate her but waited instead as they headed off the stage and after the rest of the teams were announced they were shown to their dorms.