"Already ten student's forfeited and it has only been three day's."Glynda informed Ozpin.
After the exam had commensed the two had boarded the ship again and were now in a space that acted as Ozpin's pseudo office.
"Is that so..."Ozpin hummed as he drank from his cup,seated behind a desk.
The gentle rockings of the waves were barley felt from were the two were located.
But looking towards the woman who was busy with her scroll Ozpin quickly took note of her deep frown.
"Is something bothering you Glynda?"He asked as her attention quickly snapped to him.
"It's just that,was such a test truly necessary?"Glynda questioned."It's not that I don't trust your judgment sir but as I stated before it's barley been three whole day's and student's are already dropping to mention this particular island was never properly explored,added with the fact we only have partial survilance here."She finished as Ozpin merely nodded.
"You're concern is I like to ask you Glynda,do you know why I chose this specific test?"
"To properly evaluate the student' examine their adaptability and decision-making skills as well as their strengths."She swiftly answerd as Ozpin once again gave a slight nod of his head.
"You have the right of it,mostly that true with this test we get to see exactly what out student's are capable how they will react when thrown in such situations,some decide to work alone while other's pick the smarter option of forming team's."Laying his scroll on the table it displayed a number of student's with footage being taken from the camera's installed within the island's forest."You see Glynda by working together these student's increase their chances of succeeding because they know of their own hence most decide to put away their pride in order to succeed."Ozpin finished.
"While I understand that this test is to see who has it in them to succeed in such odd's I still can't help but note the their are a number of wild animal's and fruit's on the island that can provide the necessary nutrients,my real concern lies with the Grimm located on the island."Glynda began."As far as we know,Beowolf's,Ursai and Boarbatusk's are confirmed Grimm on the it is obvious that this island is home to more then said number of might even posses a subspecies,if that is the case then our student's might suffer due to our negligence."
"While that may be true,I don't think it's cause for concern."Ozpin merely said.
Glynda wanted to speak up again,the life's of their student's might be in danger yet all he says is that it's not cause for concern?
But she noticed how his eye's seemed glued to his scroll specifically a group of three.
"You seem interested in those three."Glynda noted while staring at his scroll.
"I suppose you could say that."He agreed with a hum before he gestured to one individual."Say,how were young Keir's results when he first took the test to be allowed to partake in the exams for the academy?"Ozpin suddenly raised an eyebrow at the man's sudden interest in the knight but nonetheless she answered.
"Keir Reinhardt."She started but couldn't help but note how strange the name sounded on her seemed made up more than anything but she kept that to herself as she studied her scroll."While his written mark's were below average,his physical test was the best out of all the first year's."Glynda informed with a somewhat impressed tone.
"And what of the interview?"
"Well,it was quite dull."Glynda began as Ozpin rose an eyebrow waiting for her to continue."He answered all the questions decently enough but when it came to why he wanted to become a Huntsmen his reply did not sound genuine."
"How so?"
"He stated that he was going to become a Huntsmen because he wanted to protect other' the way he spoke held little passion for his 'goal' it was if he were uttering the word's out of necessity and not much else."She finished.
"I see,intriguing."Ozpin mutterd as Glynda spoke up once more,gaining his attention.
"You seem especially interested in Mister there any particular reason?"She asked as the older man nodded.
"I suppose there my suspicions about young Keir are for the time baseless."Glynda couldn't help but be slightly confused at his word's.
He had some kind of suspicions about Keir?
If so could it mean that he was perhaps dangerous?
"There is no cause for concern Glynda,young Keir is no danger to us or the Academy."Ozpin spoke up as though he were reading her mind and noting her thought's.
"I see...then I will leave it to your judgment sir."She spoke as she stared at the scroll displaying Keir and his companions.
POV-CHANGE
"Bah!I'm so boooared!"A boared Nora exclaimed as she strolled along the forest dragging along her large Maul dubbed Magnhild."And it's so hoooot."She whined.
"Whining will only make it hotter."Ren informed as the girl merely let out a deep sigh."But Nora is right,it is quite hot you fine in all of that armor?"Ren asked Keir who stood to his right.
"Yeah,I'm fine.I've been in hotter places before so the weather doesn't bother me."He was true he had been in the likes of Vacuo before and the heat there was far hotter than it was he'd be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit uncomfortable in this heat while wearing such heavy armor.
The two's attention however were quickly grabbed by their energic friend.
"Grimm where are youuuuuuu!"
"Nora I don't think it's the wisest idea to draw in Grimm by screaming."Ren informed the shorter girl.
"But I'm so freaking boared!We've just been walking for hour's."She complained."And I wanna fight some Grimm."
"It's only been 15 minutes."He corrected.
"But it feel's so much longer then tha-"Nora was quickly cut of as a scream was heard throughout the forest.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarhg!"
"Wooo!Finally something's going on!"Without a second thought the girl ran to the direction of the despite her large weapon her movements held no strain.
Ren merely sighed as he ran of after the girl.
Keir merely watched on as the two ran of.
But his head turned to another direction.
With Nora and Ren,the two did not have to run for long as they soon came to a stop when they noticed the scene a bit of way's before them.
A blonde boy was currently running away from a Ursa,while screaming his head off.
"Whoa!Look at him go!"
"I think we better help."Ren spoke as Nora gave a nod.
Quickly rushing to the scene Nora quickly found herself in between the boy and the Ursa.
It tried to bite down at her upon noticing her but soon found a Maul colliding with it's face,a slight crack was heard before it got knocked over.
"Hey Ren! Lemme handle this!"Nora stated as Ren merely gave her a nod of confirmation.
A grin settled onto her face as the Ursa soon stood back up still in a slight daze.
Gripping her weapon more tightly she rushed the Grimm as it soon took notice of her once again it let out growl.
She merely raised her weapon high as the Ursa approached.
Electricity seemed to cackle on the weapon as she soon brought it down vertically as the Ursa finnaly came close enough.
A sickening crack reverberated as her weapon broke through the Ursai's skull armor protecting it's face.
Her maul sack into it's face before it's eye's were snuffed wasn't long before it merely fell over,dead.
She hummed with satisfaction upon noting her work,she wanted to have more fun but she knew that there was a time for playing and a time to take thing's somewhat seriously.
"W-Whoa...Thank's guy's."Jaune said with a huge relieved sigh.
"It's no biggie."Nora said with a smile as she approached the boy,the Grimm corpse behind starting to dissipate.
"Name's Jaune Arc by the way."He introduced with a shaky smile.
"Lie Ren and this here is Nora."Ren intorduced."But Jaune,don't you have any partner?Or were you traversing the forest on your own?"
"Huh?Oh no,I was with this other girl called Ruby."He answered.
"The two of you get separated?"
"Yeah guess you could say Grimm attacked us and I wanted to lure the big one away so she could deal with the other few more easily."He informed as Ren gave a nod.
" 's Keir?"Nora asked as Ren soon took noticed of the absent knight.
"Perhap's we shouldn't have rushed off so quickly."
"Wait you guy's know Keir?"Jaune questioned slightly relieved that his friend might be near by.
"Yes we are aquinted with him."Ren confirmed.
"Yeah,we're practically best pals."Nora stated.
POV-CHANCE
A Beowolf's body hit the ground as Ruby ducked low as another's claw flew over backing away she stared down the opponents before her.
It was around ten Beowolf's,formally fifteen but the girl had swiftly lessen their numbers.
An Ursa was with the pack as well but Jaune helpfully led the beast away,but she hoped the boy could last long enough for her to make it to him once she finished up here.
But she kept her attention on the large pack as the Alpha stepped forward,it was evident that it was one due to it having more bone like armor sticking grotesquely out of it's body.
Ruby couldn't help but slightly frown,it wasn't that she was she was confident enough in her skill to be abel to take down this much Beowolf's.
The real problem was that she was limiting herself.
She wasn't using her semblance as much because that would burn through her aura reserves much too quickly,and without aura she lacked proper defense.
Not to mention she did not use her gun mode as often,she didn't want to use all her dust this early on or her dust rounds.
But she was snapped out of her musings when the Alpha Beowolf chraged at her with a defening roar.
She prepared herself but it seemed she didn't even need to attack as someone else did.
A large blade soared through the sky with tremendous speed as it skewerd the Alpha Beowolf through it's torso,it still kept soaring through the sky with the Alpha in tow until it imbbedded itself into a tree nailing the Alpha into it.
Ruby watched the scene play out before her with no small amount of confusion.
She quickly looked the remaining nine Beowolf's only to notice that they now lied in literal pieces.
And among the many pieces of what was once Beowolf's stood a familiar armored individual.
Looking at the scene Ruby was surprised,consufed and impressed.
He had killed them so quickly,before even she could see what was going on,did he have some type of speed semblance?But wouldn't that armor just slow him down?And what about his weapon's?Did he throw that sword?
Many questions went through the girl's head but ultimately they went unanswered as she didn't voice them.
Keir for one merely walked to his blade that was imbbedded into the tree the Alpha still nailed to the tree.
He easily pulled it out as the corpse fell to the ground.
Turning around he was met with the sight of the red hooded girl who was now suddenly infront of him.
"Wow!I barley saw what was going on!You were so fast!And I don't think I ever seen someone throw their weapon to kill a Grimm,that was so cool!Speaking of which mind if I see you're weapons?"She spoke in quick succession,it seemed Keir met another hyperactive girl what were the odds.
"Their nothing speacial,just plain 'ol sword's"Keir answered as he turned around gestruing to the two large sword's attached to his back.
Ruby would have probably sighed in disappointment had she not noted the apparent beauty of the two blade's.
One decorated with red and the other blue,two opposite color's yet they seemed so beautiful together.
"What are their name's?"She asked.
"Ah?"
"Wait...they don't have name's?"The girl questioned,seemingly not believing that his two blade's lacked name's.
"No,why would I name them?"He made zero sense to give a tool a name,
Besides these sword's weren't exactly speacial to him.
One was merely made by magic while he merely got the other as a they broke he could easily replace them,hell he didn't exactly need weapon's to begin with.
Ruby seemed to be on the verge of giving him rant about why he should be giving his weapon a name but thankfully she was stopped but the appearance of Jaune,Ren and Nora who all appeared to emerge from within the forest.
"Keir!Man is it good to see you again."Jaune said as he approached the two.
"Jaune your okay!"Ruby greeted the boy with a smile,one which he returned.
"Yeah I had alot of help."He said gesturing to Ren and Nora,who gave a nod and wave in response.
"Greetings Jaune,you look...not well."Keir greeted while noting the boy's had dirt smudged around his attitire as well as a few scratches on his face.
"Yeah,I've been better."Jaune mutterd with a slight laugh."Just a bit soar all over."
"Is your aura depleted already?"Ren asked as a confused expression graced Jaune.
"Aura?What's that?"
Silence filled the air as Jaune recived a few dumbfounded looks.
"Aura ya know,the shield thingy protecting you."Nora spoke up first though her words only served to confuse the boy further.
"Shield thingy?My shields right here."He said gesturing to his arm where his collapsed shield was on.
"Jaune,aura is the manifestation of one's soul."Ren began as he got Jaunes attention."For simpler terms aura acts as a layer of protection around one's body,though primarily used for defense those well versed in the control of their aura can also use it for offense."Ren finished as Jaune rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I think I get all you have these aura thingy's?"
"Yep we sure do!But sorry I should've noticed sooner that you didn't have an aura,my bad."Ruby spoke with a sheepish laugh.
"Eh,it's fine how do I get an aura?"Jaune asked.
"Although activating one's aura take's immense practice it can also be activated by someone else well versed in aura."Ren explained."I could perhaps be of assistance but I have never tried before so the results by not be satisfactory."Ren finished.
"Thanks man I really appreciate it!"Jaune said with a smile as Ren gave him a nod before turning to the rest of the group.
"If I am to attempt to activate his aura I will need immense concentration so could the three of you be on the look out for any Grimm that might attack?"Ren asked.
"Of course!"Ruby immediately answered,she still felt slightly bad about not noticing Jaune's dilemma so she atleast wanted to make up for it by doing this."Let's get going."
The trio which now consisted of Nora,Ruby and Keir decided they would scout out the area,with Ruby taking the lead.
As the three scoured the the forest as one could imagine silence had not greeted them long as Nora was a part of their group.
"Soooo,what's your name?"Nora asked referring to Ruby.
"Oh me?It's uhh...Ruby."She introduced though she was caught of guard because Nora deceided to speak up randomly.
"Well Ruby,my name's Nora nice to meet ya!"She introduced with a smile."I like the red hood Ruby,make's you look like little red riding you the little red riding hood?If so is it true a Beowolf disguised itself as your Grandmother?Did you kill it and rescue everyone?I need to know!"
For better word's Ruby was straight up baffled at the older girl's word' didn't even know how to attempt to respond.
"Uhm...I don't know?"Was all the silver eye'd girl could blurt out.
"Think your asking too much random stuff Nora."Keir responded and the red hooded girl sent him a glance of gratitude for intervening.
"I am?"
"Yes."
"Oh...sooo what's your favourite food?"Nora asked again and thankfully it was a more simple question.
"Not sure if it counts but I really like strawberries."Ruby responded as Nora beamed at her.
"Oh!I like strawberries too,especially when it's with my pancakes!"Nora exclaimed as Ruby sent the hyperactive girl a sheepish wasn't exactly an extrovert but hopefully she would find it easier to talk to other's soon.
But she still had some 'trauma' with the Weiss incident back at the Academy.
"What about you Keir?"Nora's voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she turned to the knight who she now knowed as Keir."What's your favourite food?"
"Chocolate,I suppose."Keir answered.
"Uhm...is chocolate a food?"Ruby asked slightly confused,she thought it was a candy.
"Eh,you eat it so it's food."Keir gave his reasoning.
"Bravo!Brilliant deduction Watson!"Nora spoke up her tone of voice shifted to sound more elderly."Chocolate is the best type of food,after pancakes that is but I digress."
"You seem to like pancakes alot."Ruby noted.
"Of course I when Ren makes 'em then it's all the better."The girl informed with a smile."You two should definitely try it once we make it through this."
"I'll be glad to."Ruby was quick to respond with a smile.
"Same."
The three quickly stopped their conversation as they noticed Jaune and Ren emerge from within the forest,with Ren looking slightly exhausted.
"I was successful in activating Jaune's aura,though he had quite alot of it so it proved a tad difficult."Ren explained upon noticing the trio.
Jaune for one looked better,he no longer had cuts and scratches covering his face instead it seemed as though they completely disappeared.
"Man,this aura stuff sure is something."Jaune mutterd as his hands ran through his face trying to see if any wounds were present.
"One of the benefits of having one's aura aura should be able to heal any minor wounds inflicted upon you,passively."Ren explained as Jaune gained a thoughtful look.
He clenched and unclenched his hand.
With aura he might just be able to make it.
"If all is figured out I suggest we figure out a plan of action to survive the next eleven day's."Keir's voice caught everyone's attention."There's five of us,so we should find a decent enough place to camp out and gather food and water."
"Hmm,gathering a supply of water might prove more is a rather large island and it could take some time to locate one,and even when we do find a river we would still need to purify the water."Ren spoke up first.
"Should we maybe try splitting up to find a river or something?"Jaune suggested.
Keir mulled over it,they could cover more ground that way but it could prove difficult to find eachother again.
"That might be our best bet,but we need to establish a place for us to meet up at on an appointment hour."Keir spoke as the other's wore thoughtful expression.
"What if we made a kind of signal?"Ruby started as the other's turn to her."Like you know maybe we can start a fire for finding eachother."
Her plan did have merits,and could prove easier then finding a place for all of them to meet up smoke from a small fire could alert them to eachother's location.
And starting a fire shouldn't prove too difficult,one could always just use fire dust.
"That could work."Ren agreed.
"True,then I suggest we get to if we are to split up I suggest the four of you split up into two,to start the search."
"But that would mean you would be on your you okay with that Keir?"Jaune questioned slightly worried about his friend.
"It's fine,I can handle if all is figured out then let's get going."
They all nodded in affirmation as the group split up,Ruby and Jaune once again and Ren and Nora.
With Keir traversing on his own once again.
With Ruby and Jaune,they strolled through the forest whilst keeping an eye out for any kind of sign that might point them to a source of water.
It was proving quite difficult due to them being in such an enclosed and dense forest with just tree's as far as the eye's could see.
But there was a calm silence in the forest,only their footsteps to be heard.
It would've been a nice momment were this island not infested with the creature's of Grimm.
"So,any idea how we're suppose to find a river?"Jaune deceided to ask.
"No clue."Was Ruby's quick reply.
"Figure's"
"But anyway how are you feeling Jaune?"She suddenly asked.
"I'm feeling fine actually,better then fine really.I think my confidence got boosted with this aura."He spoke with a smile."I feel like I can do anything."
"Yeah,we'll be kicking Grimm butt in no time."The girl spoke triumphantly.
"Hopefully..."He mutterd as stared forwards.
Silence greeted the two once again as the two found nothing to talk about.
It was more of an awkward silence now and Jaune was looking for any subject that might invoke a conversation.
He would rather be talking then just awkwardly staying silent.
"So Keir's a pretty cool guy,right?"He spoke up on the first thing that came to mind which was one of the first friend's he'd made since coming to Beacon Academy.
An odd subject to discuss but a spark on interest did arouse from Ruby upon hearing the name.
When she first saw the knight it was when her sister confronted him,she remembered how cool his armor looked.
It looked uncomfortable but awesome.
"He seems kinda off."Ruby started as Jaune rose an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?He's a good guy."
"Oh,I didn't mean anything bad it's just that the way he sounds kinda tired you know,but he doesn't seem tired.I mean you should've see how quickly he took care of the Beowolf's earlier."Ruby explained as Jaune rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Keir did sound kinda dull now that he thought about it.
Despite the words he spoke they held little enthusiasm of any kind.
But he was looking too much into it,maybe he was just sleepy.
"He's probably just tired I mean I doubt he get's much sleep in all that armor."
"Wait he sleeps in his armor?"The girl questioned slightly baffled at the notion.
"Yeah,he said something about it being useful in the future."Jaune said as Ruby just looked more confused.
"How though?"
"Honestly I haven't got a clue."He merely said with a shrug.
The knight was a strange one after all.
With said knight,he was running through the forest.
Or a more accurate term would be that he was speeding through the forest at an impressive speed,he masterfully avoided the tree at the high speeds while his head constantly darted in every direction.
"Nothing."He mutterd as his eye's darted around,he was of course looking for any apparent source of his search proved difficult.
Keir slightly sighed but his constant running quickly came to a halt as he noticed a rather large open patch hidden between the many tree's.
It was a large space,atleast large enough to contain several small makeshift houses.
Although such a large patch would not be cause to stop,no the cause for him stopping was the many things litterd with on the soil of the area.
"Animal corpses?"He mutterd somewhat confused.
Many corpses of what he assumed were animals litterd all over the soil,blood long since sucken within the ground.
The bodies of the animal's varied,some were boars or deer even small hares.
They all however were brutally dismembered ,missing their heads or chunks of their bodies.
Stepping onto the patch,his sabatons sunk into the soil slightly.
"Mutated or Subspecies?"Keir asked himself as he looked over the many animal corpses.
It was obvious that what occurred here was not done by any students partaking in this student with half a brain would know that it was wise to preserve your kills to eat later.
Yet these corpse lied here,seemingly scatterd about as if to draw one in.
But upon examining the area his sharp eye's landed on something else,something he should've noticed earlier.
Large footprints embedded into the dirt ground.
For a better description the thing responsible for the footprints seemed to walk on all four leg's and the general appearance of the print resembled that of a lion or something similiar.
But Keir's had a strange sense of foreboding.
Those prints seemed familiar.
And he also couldn't help but notice how extra this seemed for a Grimm.
"It's bait..."He mutterd softly.
These corpses were litterd here to draw in someone.
The only kind of Grimm smart enough to do that are the older kind of Grimm,...or subspecies.
"Oh shi-"
He was cut of when something seemingly sprang outwards from the cover of the many trees the forest provided.
It was an imppresive leap for something so absurdly large.
Staring at the terrifying beast before him he was quick to note just exactly what it was.
Were one to look at this creature one would quickly note it's large towerd over the like's of a Nevermore or Deathstalker.
Then it's terrifying shape,what seemed like a large lion,it's skin inked with dark but conjoined with the body was what seemed like a demonic goat,with swirling horn' let our an ear splitting noise as a loud slither sound was heard.
What was suppose to be a tail was a large serpent,white in colour with harden scales protecting it.
"Chimera."Keir spoke upon noticing the monstrosity before him.