A/N:In this chapter I'll be switching the point of view a fair amount of times to show more of how the other charecter handle the new regarding Keir as the main character you will learn more about him as the story progresses,I don't wanna just spoon feed his backstory I think most would like if it properly it is gonna take awhile.
Mistral and Vacuo.
Those were the only two kingdom's where the strange anomaly had been picked up at.
An foreign energy,one he had no knowledge of,it was not the result of dust,or a new something more was going on here.
Examining the holographic energy charts displayed before him General Ironwood frowned.
The energy field was so faint and dense,it was honestly a miracle his troops manage to gather the data in their respective Kingdoms.
Both the energy readings were hard to track,one was near a villiage in Mistral one which was recently destroyed and raided by seemed to be unconnected to the energy readings so the General ignored it,but the one discovered in Vacuo was proving difficult to pinpoint.
He had a slight idea of what it might've been although an foreign energy he had once examined something eerily similar to it.
He wouldn't get to the bottom of this mystery on his own,luckily he knew someone who could be of help.
"It seems that I will have travel to Vale ahead of schedule."
STAGE 1
"He can't be serious right?"
"This is insane..."
"It's outrages!"
"This is gonna be fun!"
Those were the various opinions of the student's upon learning what the first part of the exam was going to be.
After the lot had boarder the ship,it wasn't long before they had set sail to an extremely large Island,practically the size of a very small state.
There was no docking area on this island so they had to dock near the various trees litterd behind it.
It was alot more difficult to get to land that way but they still somehow managed.
Once the students were all standing around the sand Ozpin and Glynda took to the centre infront of the various students.
Clearing his throat Ozpin began speaking first.
"For years all here present have trained them themselves,honed their skills for this specific day."Ozpin began as all the students paid attention wanting to know what exactly this exam was going to be."Today your skills will be put to the test future Huntsmen and Huntresses,you need to be prepared for anything,you need to able to adapt to most situations and above all else you must do what is nessecary to succeed."
"Here today you will take part in the first stage of your initiation."Ozpin began as he gestured behind him."This island is home to various dangerous Grimm and wild animals also hold various kinds of exotic fruits and so on."
Confusion grazed the students features as they wondered where the headmaster was getting at.
"The first part of this exam is to survive on this island for two weeks."
(A/N:Note when I say island I mean something like patch and not some tropical island.)
Ozpin stated and not even a second later murmmering began settling in,countless students questioning the headmaster if he was serious.
The test seemed absurd,hell they knew it was gonna be difficult but to survive on an island infested with Grimm for two weeks was absurd.
"He's not serious is he?We barley brought along anything besides our gear."Jaune questioned looking extremely nervous."And he said this island had Grimm too yeah?How we suppose to make it through a single night?And what about food?"
Keir galnced at the exasperated boy before turning back to Ozpin,who had not changed his expression despite noticing the tension with the students.
This test did seem strange,it seemed to focus on how well some people could adapt when thrown into situation such as is.
But that was the strange part,what was Ozpin truly hoping to learn from doing this?
Most Huntresses and Huntsmen only focused on certain job's.A Huntsmen specialized in taking down human opponents had no need to study how to kill Huntsmen specialized in killing Grimm had no need to learn how to survive on uninhabited island's.
The same applied here,most people here probably had training before hand.
But their training probably only revolved around killing Grimm and weapon training but not much else.
So asking these students to surivive such a dense island filled with Grimm was simply asking for too much.
"Excuse me sir!"A hand shot up from the crowd,it was Weiss."Sir forgive me but I fail to see the purpose of this aspiring Huntresses and Huntsmen we aim to fight the Grimm,and that remained our main I don't see how us surviving on this island will help us with that."She spoke without missing a beat,and the various student's couldn't help but agree with were here to kill Grimm not to play survivalist.
"You make a valid point,Miss Schnee."Ozpin spoke."But before I contuine speaking I'd first like to ask you is a Huntsmen?"
The question momentarily confused the girl as well as the majority of learners.
But nonthenless Weiss answered.
"The Huntsmen and Huntresses are elite warriors who aphold the peace by slaying the creatures of Grimm."She answered swiftly,confident with her answer.
"You have the right of it Miss unfortunately times are not as simple as that anymore."Ozpin started."Grimm are not the only problem there is to deal with in this are various task you as Huntsmen and Huntresses will have to deal with,and I assure you that not all of it will be related to Grimm."
The students remained quiet as they took in his words.
"This is why this specific test was is to see who among you have what it take's to succeed even when the odds are against you."Ozpin finished as Weiss looked down in contemplation.
"Trying to wead out the weak from the strong,eh?"Keir mutterd lowly to himself as he watched Glynda step forward while holding a small container of some kind.
Reaching into the container she pulled out a white circular object with a number ingraved onto it.
"Before the exam begins each one of will be given these badges."She began as the students paid close attention."These badges serve to number you all and holds a small tracker."Turning the badge and displaying the back side,it showed a small red button."By pressing this button a number of two times,you will be sending out a distress doing this we will retrieve you,but note this will result in your termination in this exam."She explained swiftly.
Seems like they were prepared,it was obvious that not many students were gonna last long so they set up the badges for this certain occasion.
"If all is understood then please line up and take your number."Despite the large amount of students present,dealing out the badges had not taken that long.
Looking down at the number badge clutched into his hand he noted his number.
"99...there sure are alot of people here."
"You got that right."Jaune's nervous voice reached his ears.
"Jaune,you seem rather nervous."
"Who me?Nah I got this whole thing in the bag,honest."He said not at all sounding convincing.
"... I suggest you exercise caution,there's no telling what kind of Grimm are lurking deeper in the island."Keir advised.
"Y-Yeah,got it."
Turning back to Glynda she chose to speak again.
"Now once I call out your number you will proceed deeper into the island forest,individually."She stated .
The idea of having to go into such an dense place alone was not comforting at Glynda quickly spoke up again.
"However while traversing the island,should you meet your fellow student's you shall be allowed to work arrangement however will only last for the duration of this test."She said as some student's sighed with relief.
"Now then,number 1 please step forward..."
TIME SKIP
"Number 98 step forward."
A student quickly walked to the forest as his figure soon diseapeared from within.
They would have to wait for awhile before the next number would be called out.
This was a way to scatter the student's throughout the Island,most who enterd were already off exploring and preparing themselves for the difficult day's to come.
This would make it difficult to form teams with one another.
"Number 99,step forward."Snapping his attention to Glynda he quickly prepared himself to set had already been called,so it could prove difficult to find the boy.
Although Jaune did not seem an experience combatant he did seem to have some potential atleast from what he could gauge.
Quinn and Luna were options for teammates too but their number's were called out pretty earlier so finding them would be next to impossible.
Steeling himself he stared out onto the dark dense forest as he enterd it.
Lushes and green,tree's towering over him and grass covering the ground.
It certainly seemed like a lively place.
"I'll probably be finding Grimm deeper in."Keir concluded,although he was still oblivious to what kind of Grimm he would come across.
No doubt this island was populated by Beowolf atleast,they were the kind's of Grimm that migrated all over Renmant.
But there were obviously alot more than mere Beowolf's.
Making his way through the forest he heard the occasional chirping of bird's but he hadn't spotted other animal's yet.
"Maybe I should look for a river,an island this big ought to have way I might be able to fish for food."Keir quickly concluded.
Two weeks was a long time,he needed a stable source of food and clean water.
He was use to staying out in the wilderness and besides he could just abuse his magic seeing as he was alone.
The squealing of what sounded like some pig reached his ears as he soon snapped his attention to the source he noted a Boar charging at him.
"Dinner aquierd."Keir mutterd as he watched the boar charging at him."Sorry little piggy,but I need food."
Now with the dead wild boar slung onto his shoulder he continued traversing the forest.
Dawn had already settled in so he needed a place to spend the night at,he wasn't really going to sleep but he needed to make a fire so he could cook the boar.
"That ought to work."
Keir said while noting a small open patch within the forest,the tree's surrounding it.
Setting the boar aside Keir took a look around the spot.
It would be hard for any Grimm or animal to ambush him while he rested so the place was decent enough.
So quickly gathering some stick's that laid around he quickly pilled them up .
Snapping his finger's a bright flame quickly engulfed it and he was blessed with the farmth of fire.
Using magic like this probably wasn't the best idea but he was in no mood to start a fire the old fashioned way.
So taking a seat on the ground he started preparing the boar.
Skinning it an removing every no edible parts he held it over the fire by using sturdier sticks.
Rotating it around the fire every now and then,the scent of the the cooking boar quickly spread out.
"Perhaps the smell could lead other's to me."Keir said while staring at the sky.
Night had already fallen,it made sense sending out all the student's into the forest did take considerable time.
But Keir's mind quickly went on to another subject namely Ozpin.
While at the Academy he did not think much about the magical object in Ozpin's possession.
One might think that it was mere coincidence that the man came into contact with the cane but a much larger magic source was somewhere in the Academy.
All of this pinpointed to Ozpin knowing of the existence of magic.
If that was the case,then how much did he know?
And should he approached the man?
"No I should hold off for now.I need to gather more info first."He mutterd to himself.
With those thoughts he started the wonder about something else.
Three,excluding him there was atleast three other people who he knew of that could use magic.
And the person who taught him how to use it was his mother.
She never mentioned any other's who could use it,however she did did mention that someone helped her control her magical prowess.
Could this individual be Ozpin,he didn't seem as old but look's could be deceiving.
He merely sighed as he stared at the fire before him.
"So many questions but no answers..."
POV-SWITCH
"Urgh!Annoying little pest!"Weiss exclaimed annoyed,while swatting away at the bugs annoying her."Why must this place be infested with them?"
"Quit your complaining princess."The voice of her short companion reached her ears.
Quinn shot the heiress an annoyed glare,a glare which she returned.
The two had encountered not long ago,and they deduced that it would've been better to stick together as their chances of survival were more guaranteed this way.
But as one could imagine this was a decision the two soon regretted.
"Please,you can't expect me to not get annoyed with these practically everywhere,and they keep getting in my hair!"
"Then maybe her highness should swat them away with her toothpick of a sword."Quinn replied
"Toothpick!?I'll have you know that Myrtenaster was forged with the finest of steel and is equipped with even finer dust."She quickly retorded.
"Yeah sure whatever."She replied boredly but her attention sooned shift to something else."Oi!Look at that."
Following the girl's line of sight Weiss quickly noticed what got her attention.
A lone Beowolf prowling about in the forest.
Weiss immediately went to draw Myrtenaster but was quickly stopped by Quinn,who reached towards the comically large gun on her back.
The gun looked like a heavily modified shotgun but it was anything but.
It would've also looked intimidating were it not cutely decorated in pink and yellow.
Aiming it at the unsuspecting Beowolf she wore a small grin as she pulled the trigger.
What left the gun however was not a dust round.
Instead a bolt of light exited the gun and soared through the air at unreadable speeds.
In no time it collided with the Grimm who only now noticed the duo of girl's,it was too late however as the bolt collided with it.
The Beowolf did not even have any time to react as it's body merely evaporated into ash.
Giving a satisfied grin at her work Quinn blowed of the steam from the muzzle as Weiss spoke.
"Plasma round's?Just how did you come into possession of those?"She questioned.
Unlike dust round's plasma round's lacked the versatility of dust but made up for it with the raw power output.
As seen one shot was enough to completely evaporate a Beowolf.
They were rarely used in other kingdom's besides Atlas,so how someone like Quinn came into to possession of it was a bit strange.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"Quinn merely replied with a grin.
"Obviously that's why I asked."
"Well it ain't any of your business,princess."
Weiss merely narrowed her eye's further toward the girl before merely huffing in annoyance.
She hoped that this past two week's would be going on quick.
POV-CHANGE
"And that's another!"Yang exclaimed with a grin as her fist connected to a Beowolf's face,sending it flying and soaring through the sky as it collided with a nearby tree was no need to check if it was still alive.
As she smiled in satisfaction she turned to the girl she encountered.
Perked up onto a tree she swiftly took down the remaining Beowolfs with her sniper.
Each shot was precise and aimed for vital part's of the Grimm,instantly killing them.
Humming with satisfaction Luna quickly made her way downwards as the Beowolf's bodies began evaporating.
"Damn!We make one hell of a team."Yang said as she approached the ashen haired girl.
"Guess so..."Came the simple reply of Luna.
"Sooo...I didn't quite catch your name."Yang started,the two just happend to run into eachother and were attacked by the Beowolf's who they dispatched easily.
"It's Luna,just Luna."She introduced while Yang kept her smile.
"Nice to meet ya name's Yang Xiao Long."She introduced while holding out her hand which Luna briefly shook."But I gotta say that's one hell of a sniper,my little sister would go nuts if she ever saw it."Yang said with a short laugh.
"I see"Luna replied with her dull tone again.
Yang merely gave a nervous laugh as she looked at the girl.
It look's like she encounterd another anti-social girl.
"So,wanna stick together?I mean I think it would be better that way."Yang suggested while Luna merely shook her head.
"Great!But I gonna have to be looking for my sister if you don't 's not exactly a survivalist expert so I'm kinda worried."Yang said as Luna merely nodded her head again."On we go then."She spoke as she started walking in a random direction with Luna following in a bit behind.
"This is a pretty crazy test,right?"Yang started wanting to start a conversation with the girl.
"I suppose this is a pretty logical course of action for the Academy."Luna began.
"Oh?"Yang waited for the girl to continue,mostly because she was finnaly talking more but she was also slightly intrested in what the girl had to say.
"Like the headmaster said,time's are this test they plan on weading out the weak from the strong."Luna spoke as she merely paused examining Yang's slightly confused expression.
"But why would they wanna do that?Wouldn't they want more student's,if their doing what your saying then won't they lose alot of future students?"She questioned.
"That's their goal."
"Huh?Whaddaya mean?"
"They only want the strong and smart at their Academy,as they are the only one's who could survive the life of Huntsmen and Huntresses."Luna explained as Yang furrowed her eyebrow's.
"But that sound's so unfair..."She mutterd.
"True,but that's simply the reality of the must merely deal with the hand we're dealt."Luna mutterd as she stared into the sky.
POV CHANGE
"Shit!Shit! Shiiiiit!"
"Language!"
"Your not helping Ruby!"A sacred Jaune screamed as he pratically ran around wildly while two Beowolf's were chasing,him hot on his tale."Ruby do something!"
"I'm kinda busy here,but I'll be there in a minute!"Ruby yelled back as she stared down the three large Beowolf's snarling at her.
The first one rushed her baring it's teeth,while the two others circled behind her.
All attacking at once they blocked off the girl's escape,or so they tought.
They attacked nothing but air as the girl seemingly disappears.
Her position was quickly noted when one of them was suddenly cleaved in two,with one single strike.
The two Beowolf's quickly turned to the girl,one rushed at her while it's sharp claws came down upon her.
Ruby merely dodged my leaping aside,and then she attacked the exposed stomach of the Beowolf by activating the mechanics of her shythe.
It's frame converted into what looked like a High Caliber Rifle.
She quickly fired a shot which tore through the Beowolf as though it was made out of paper.
Quickly changing her target to the last Beowolf who also sufferd the same fate as the second as she shot it with great precession.
"Woohoo!Go me!"She said satisfied by her work only for the Jaune to snap her out of her little victory.
"Ruuuuuubyyyyyy!"
"Oh right I almost forgot!"She looked towards the boy who was still in the process of running the hell away from the two Beowolf's.
Using her semblance it didn't even take a second before she was suddenly now between the boy and the two Grimm.
The two had not even have the chance to react as they were both cleaved apart with a siwft strike from Ruby.
Twirling her scythe it quickly collapsed into it's storage mode allowing her to put it away.
"You okay there Jaune."The girl asked as she stared at the exhausted boy slumped onto the ground.
"Y-Yeah,I'm A-okay."He said shakily as he stood up from the ground.
"Uhm...I don't wanna sound rude or anything,but can you fight?"Ruby asked while looking at the slightly exhausted boy.
"Me?...Of course I can...not."Jaune confest."I mean I can,I'm just kinda self taught,ya know?"
"Uh-huh..."
"What?"
"It's fine 's no need to worry."
"Huh?Worry about what?"He questioned.
"It doesn't matter if you can't fight,I'll make sure to protect you."Ruby declared.
And there went all his self-confidence.
Someone younger than him and a girl no less was declaring that she would protect him,this was not at all how he thought thing's would be going.
"T-Thank's Ruby but you don't need to-"
"Then it's settled!I'll make sure you make it through safely!Oooh,we can be like a cool duo,I can be the brawn while you can be the...uhm...the brain,how's that sound!"
"It...sound's great..."Jaune replied while smiling wearily at the younger girl.
"C'mon then let's get going!"She said while she started advancing in a random direction.
Jaune merely sighed as he followed her.
POV-CHANGE
Traversing such a dense forest did not prove so difficult for the fauness girl.
Although she was no survivalist expert she did have her fair share of experience in forest such as this.
And with her sense of hearing she knew exactly which areas to avoid as to not get into conflict with the Grimm.
Her eye's scanned around the dark forest,although most probably wouldn't be able to see anything in such darkness,this proved an easy feat for the girl.
But her eye's stopped at something in the distance.
"Smoke..."Blake noted as she looked at the rising smoke."Someone must have started a fire."She concluded.
She wondered if she should approach the source,she might be able to meet someone there.
But she quickly shook her head of the thought.
It would be better if she stayed alone,besides having someone else with her could slow her down.
She deceided to advance further but beneath her bow her ears twitched as she noticed something approaching behind her.
Swiftly drawing Gamboul Shroud her blade stopped inches away from someone's face as a blade of a spear also stopped near her face.
"Oh!Sorry!"The spear wielded immediately blurted out as she pulled away her weapon as Blake withdrew her weapon as well."I thought you were Grimm."The girl said with a slight chuckle.
"As did I."Blake said as she noted the taller girl's bright red hair and bronze armor.
"Where are my Nikos,a pleasure to meet sorry about that."She greeted with a smile as she reached out her hand to Blake.
"Blake,and it's no problem."Blake intorduced as she shook her hand.
"So I'm guessing you're on your own too,yeah?"Pyrrha asked.
"That's right."Blake nodded.
"I see,then would you like to team up for the time being?It's fine you preferd not to."She offerd.
Blake mulled over it.
She didn't exactly want a partner for the remainer of this exam but she knew the extent of her own capabilities.
It was going to be difficult to survive in a Grimm invested forest for two weeks on her own.
And she was aware that the girl before her was quite skilled so she would be much help.
"Sure,I think the wiset course of action would be to stick together."Blake answered as a smile graced Pyrrha.
"That's great!Then I first suggest we hunt for food or search for clean water."She suggested while looking around."But that might have to wait,it's quite dark now so perhaps we should set up camp somewhere."
Although the night was no problem for Blake,she found herself agreeing with the girl.
It would be in their best interest to find a place to rest at and start a wandering around would just exhaust them all the more quickly.
"I we should take turns on keeping watch for the Grimm or any animals."Blake suggested as Pyhrra nodded in agreement."But I think on my way here I spotted a decent enough place to settle in at."Blake informed.
"Oh?Then I suppose out best course of action would be to camp out there so we can better scout out the area tommorow."
With that the two soon set off traversing the dark forest.
POV-CHANGE
"C'mon Ren! It's this way I'm sure of it!"
"Nora,you still haven't exactly told me what 'is this way.'"Ren said slightly exasperated while looking at Nora.
"I smell food coming this way!"The girl declared as Ren merely sighed again.
"Of course you do..."He mutterd.
He had no doubt that the girl had actually picked up the scent of food.
It was Nora after all,her sense of smell could even rival that of a faunes,when it came to food that was.
"Ah-Ha!"Nora looked around the small open patch within the forest.
In the middle of it was a fire in the process of roasting a boar.
Now that she was closer she could properly smell the phenomenal aroma of the roasted boar.
Her mouth nearly waterd at the sight.
"Look's like it worked."A voice caught the duo's attention as Keir stepped out of the woods while carrying several piles of sticks.
"Oh look it's Keir!"Nora exclaimed as she quickly approached the knight.
"Greetings,Nora and Ren."He greeted as Ren gave him a small nod.
"Ha ha!This must be fate,that we ran into you!Now we can finnaly complete our team."The girl proclaimed.
"Nora the team's formed here are only temporary."Ren quickly informed the ginger girl.
"...Oh ,it's fine I'm sure we can meet again,then we can finish our amazing soon to be team!"She stated confidentiality."But anyway Keir old buddy,old pal ya mind sharing some with us?"The girl asked while gestruing to the boar that was in the process of roasting.
"Sure,I wasn't exactly planning on eating alone."
"Oh I were looking to draw in other student's by making that fire and roasting the boar."Ren quickly concluded as Keir nodded his head.
"You have the right of it."Although having people around him did have advantages but it also held instance he would not be able to use magic infront of other's seeing as he'd just be exposing himself as someone having people with him could offer certain advantages that might outweigh all the disadvantages.
"Great!Then let's get eating!"The girl exclaimed while rushing to the boar,Ren merely sighed again at the girl's behaviour but he was so use to it that,that was the extent of his reaction.
"Thank you Keir."The boy thanked."It would have probably taken alot more time to gather our own supplies and I'm sure Nora wouldn't been able to handle not having food for so long."
"It's no helping out."Keir spoke as the two approached Nora who was eyeing the boar threw some the sticks into the fire as the three sat around it.
"Oooh!This is like a camping trip we should tell some stories."Nora suggested
"I suppose that could help pass the time."Ren agreed."Then would you like to start Keir?"
"I guess I know a few stories."Keir mulled over which one to tell before he settled on one specific story."I have just the right story begins with two brother's...
ELSEWHERE.
Elsewhere on the island hidden deep beneath a cave shrouded in darkness a low growl was heard.
Two large yellow eye's opened within the cave,it was brightly illuminated within the dark area.
Another pair of eye's lit up within the cave as a loud noise was heard which resembled that of a goat's 'baa'.
Then a finnal pair opened as a low hiss reverberated through the large cave.
The creature sensed new prey.