Disclaimer: RWBY is property of Roosterteeth, not me.
From Cinders Comes Fire - Flaws and Forms
"Hey, that's her, isn't it? The one who…?"
"Definitely her. That was insane what she did..."
Cy's eyes darted around the bustling marketplace. As the stalls were all placed directly in front of and around the gates to the academy, it was impossible to avoid it. Usually, the vendors had their hands full with students purchasing goods. Upgrades and parts for the weapons, various school materials, casual clothing, medicine, food, tea, you name it, they sold it. It was quite popular among the student body to peruse, as well as a good place for first years and seniors alike to gather.
That was no exception on this day.
"I've never seen anyone fight like that before."
"Think she used some kind of semblance?"
"Maybe? I don't know…"
"Are you stupid? How could she use her semblance in a fight where she couldn't see?"
"Hey, shut up."
The area was full. At least a quarter of the student body had to be packed into such a small location. As Team Crimson walked by, he could hear the various students whisper amongst themselves, far louder than they realized. He heard every word.
He was certain Cinder was hearing every word too.
Despite his at times goofy antics and willingness to step up and help others when called upon without hesitation, Cy did not enjoy being the centre of attention; better to keep your head down and mouth shut in serious moments, less you do something that get you in hot water.
Cinder's boasts should have been an excellent case in point. Words spoken in the heat of the moment coming back to haunt her. Instead she had basically managed the impossible, defeating a highly trained warrior from one of the more established academy training grounds.
The Black Haired, Blazing Eyed Hunter had previously been a name known only in smaller villages outside of public knowledge. Now it quickly becoming the hottest topic of discussion and debate throughout Haven Academy.
No one seemed to consider just how close it had been to her losing that fight. How she had been left beaten and bloody after just barely winning a fight she had spent mostly struggling through. No, all anyone seemed to recall was her victory. Hence all the murmurings currently filling the air.
"I heard they were one of the teams that fought that giant grimm that attacked during the initiation."
"Wait, are you serious? They fought that monster off too?"
"Blinded it in one eye, I heard…"
He couldn't explain how, or why, but it almost felt as though everyone's eyes were following them as he walked… His back was feeling uncomfortably warm. It all made him squirmy and on edge.
Cinder though…
She had been surprised, certainly, but to say she had adapted quickest to the whispered praises and scrutiny would have been an understatement. She was striding forward with a newfound confidence in every step, all but basking in the adulation, soaking it all in. There was a smirk on her face, and he could have sworn she was glowing at being the centre of everyone's attention.
Considering how she previously tried to keep to herself, it was a really different change to her character.
"Ignore them, Cinder," Ivory remarked, shooting a chilling glare to a group that had been a tad too loud for her liking.
"Let them talk." Cinder's smirk deepened into a smile. "They have a right to be curious. I know I would-hm?"
The leader of Team Crimson came to a stop as she spotted Otho standing out among the crowd. The man made his way through the students towards her, his expression under firm control, betraying no inner thoughts as he approached. There was a noticeably red groove along the edges of his neck, marking the final blow in their sparring match between them that had yet to fully heal. A reminder of his defeat, and a reminder Cinder had been the one who beat him despite him deliberately handicapping the match in his favour.
The students all around seemed to still, watching intently as the two team leaders stared each other down. No doubt they were wondering what was about to happen between the two rivals.
Cinder paid them no mind. She just cocked an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly, waiting to see what exactly it was that Otho wanted from her.
His face was still impassive, looking her directly in the eye but saying nothing for several long moments.
Then, to her surprise, he offered his hand. Not as an attack, but as a handshake. A bit stilted, as if forcing himself to do the gesture properly, but otherwise completely genuine.
"I underestimated you by thinking an Outlander was beneath me. It will never happen again."
Openly admitting she had beaten him. A promise to do better, to try and surpass someone he saw as a rival. It was as close to openly acknowledging her as an equal as his pride would allow.
She had to resist the urge to smile. She took his hand with a firm grip, feeling Otho's hand tightening in response a moment later. Neither of them broke eye contact for even a moment.
"Next time we fight, Cinder Fall, I won't let you beat me."
"I'm looking forward to it then. But don't think I'll just let you get stronger."
"It wouldn't be worth the challenge or reward if you did."
They broke their grip as one, nods shared between them one last time, before the leader of Team Force departed away from the leader of Team Crimson.
"That was… curious," Ivory mumbled, her brows raising as she watched the man walking away, disappearing into the crowd. "It seems your little stunt did some good for him after all."
"Maybe so." Cinder shrugged. "But I'm not ever going to let him beat me."
With the unexpected encounter with her rival settled, Cinder and the rest of Crimson made their way through the marketplace and towards the stairs that led to the academy's main hall. Some quick purchases for a snack if needed, then straight through the doors. There were still students watching them as they made their way by, though the incessant whispering never really quieted down. If anything, it had grown even louder after her encounter with Otho. Only once they were in the main hall, the large walls blocking them from sight, did the whispers being to fade away.
"Hopefully you won't have to fight him while blindfolded next time." Cy said as the voices faded, then added. "That was awesome, but also very crazy, by the way. I still can't believe you could do that."
"It was beyond reckless." The disapproval over the stunt was plain. "Clearly whatever gods exist took pity on your addled brain and let you win by luck alone."
"Luck had nothing to do with it." Cinder smirked. "I couldn't see Otho, but I could hear him just fine. He kept roaring and raving every time he tried to attack me. He kept giving himself away with every swing!"
"Ah, I see. So swinging blindly and winning by the skin of your teeth was all part of your plan, then. You must be proud of yourself."
Cy stiffened a bit. Ivory's posture remained as professional as ever, but something had shifted; there was a challenging edge to her tone now. Almost scolding, in fact.
And judging by Stone's pale expression, he had noticed it too.
Cinder glanced up, eyes narrowing, "... I'm sorry?"
Ivory's expression remained impassive, "Need I remind you that the difference between your Aura percentage and Otho's at the end of that bout could be counted on one hand and still have fingers left over? You are acting as if you had achieved a landslide victory when you were moments away from losing yourself."
"I still won," Cinder insisted irritably, her posture growing more aggressive as her brows furrowed, "I proved that I was the better fighter. I fought him blind and came out on top."
"Only barely," Ivory coldly maintained, "By being entirely cavalier about your physical safety."
"It was a risk that paid off."
"An uncalculated risk that could have very easily backfired. But you don't seem to recognize that; one victory only barely achieved, and suddenly you believe yourself to be invincible. You can't see your own weaknesses."
The intensity of Cinder's glare only grew, "And what would those be?"
"First and foremost?" Ivory concluded coldly, "Your ego."
The silence that followed sent chills down Cyrus' spine as the two girls continued to glare at one another, Ivory's expression entirely inscrutable, Cinder's one of mixed incredulousness and anger.
"Pride is a thing easily bruised," the white haired woman emphasized, picking out an orange she had acquired in the market moments prior, inspecting it, giving it an experimental squeeze as if to prove her point, "It causes people to do exceptionally stupid things to prove things that, in the end, are meaningless. It causes them to ignore the bigger picture in favour of their own petty wants. It turns them into petulant children."
Slowly, the raven-haired girl forced it down, eyes flashing even as her lips drew into a thin line, "... are you calling me a child?"
Ivory glanced back at those golden eyes, her own half lidded annoyance, "I'm telling you to stop acting like one."
Cinder's jaw tightened, and her hands clenched as if reaching for weapons that weren't there, the joints in her fingers audibly cracking under the strength of her anger...
"You aren't invincible. You aren't the best," Ivory continued, finally beginning to peel the orange, "And I would advise you understand that sooner rather than later, before someone forces you to confront that."
"... that sounds like a challenge."
Ivory glanced up; Cinder's eyes were aflame, her lips curled in a grim, unpleasant smile, teeth bared if only very slightly.
But before she could respond, before either of their teammates could step in to defuse the powder keg situation in front of them, the bell went off.
"... I believe our next class is combat practice with Professor Bles," Cinder stated cooly, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. That smile did not leave her face, "Perhaps you'd like to be next to fight me, Ivory?"
"..." a slow breath, followed by an exhale through the nose, "... don't bother with the blindfold this time. If I have to teach you, I want you to be able to see exactly what I mean... provided your pride doesn't blind you."
With that, she strode away, her boots clacking loudly against the tile.
A few moments later, Cinder walked away as well, growling under her breath.
So focused on her thoughts, she didn't even acknowledge the two men who had seen everything.
"That...could have gone a bit better," Cy murmured uncertainly as he watched Cinder storm off away from them.
"This isn't going to end well, is it?" Stone winced.
Cyrus swallowed, shaking his head, not looking forward to what came next. "Either Cinder's gonna pull off another miracle…"
"…Or she's about to come plummeting down after reaching for the sun." the giant finished.
Much like the argument before, there wasn't anything they could do now but wait and see what happened next…
As all new arrivals at Haven learned quickly during the first few weeks, the Academy was well known for its traditions and rituals. In this case, the newest tradition was for the first years to be observed by the older students during their first few combat and sparring sessions. As they all moved to take position out on the training area, lining up all in a single file line with weapons in hand or on their belts, several senior students were all watching them from the other side of the field. Some in silence, others offering harmless heckling or encouraging remarks, all good natured.
It still did quite a bit to put them on edge. Even more so than the tournament's cheering crowd ever had.
The training field in front of them was a large patch of sand, smooth enough to shine in the sunlight, but also gritty enough to ensure no one slipped while fighting, as well as provide a good test for endurance. Its size alone was more than enough to cater to an entire class of huntsmen teams training all at once. Training dummies, obstacle course elements, targets and barriers were usually all over the place, but they were all moved to the side for now, in favour of more direct combat preparations today.
Before Cinder or any of the other new students had time to wonder just what they were supposed to do, Professor Hyacinth arrived, striding into the training field in between both groups. Just like before, Cinder again was reminded of a lion on the prowl, command and authority unmistakable as she strode forward, the senior students falling silent in her presence, a nod to her dignified bearing. She ran a quick eye over the students in front of her, as if evaluating how capable they were, then adjusted her posture, hand resting on a rapier at her belt. A rapier with an elaborate silver hilt designed to resemble a rose in full bloom.
"What is beneath your feet?"
No one responded right away. A few glances were exchanged. The question appeared simple enough, but Cinder knew there was a catch, a specific answer that none of them knew.
"Answer!" The professor's voice cracked like a whip through the air, causing some to flinch. "What is beneath your feet?"
Again, no one immediately responded, until at last a student from one of the other groups finally broke, going for the obvious answer. "…Sand?" the tone of his voice was equal parts an answer and a question in one.
A ring of chuckles from the crowd of seniors. Some wincing in sympathy, others shaking their heads. All clear indications that this was not the right answer.
Without turning her head, the professor addressed one on the seniors. "Smyth, what is beneath your feet?"
The student in question, Smyth, wore a suit of black, silver and gold, his weapon apparently based off of a high class walking cane. Was he the top student in his class? His posture and the way the others turned to him seemed to imply as much…
"Sacred ground, professor." he declared proudly. "Blessed with our blood, sweat and tears."
"Your blood," the Professor repeated, focused on the students in front of her, pacing before them like a drill sergeant. "Your sweat. Your tears. But I have no use for tears. What I want is to forge you students into true fighters. Huntsmen and Huntresses of the future, people worthy of the title." A flash of intense, crimson eyes that could pierce through any aura. "Prove yourselves in the years to come, and be welcomed among our number!"
As if on cue, several of the senior students roared a series of war cries, some brandishing weapons, an impressive display of force. And then with a single loud snap of the fingers from Professor Bles, the seniors fell silent, standing straight backed with an almost military level of precision.
There is no way that wasn't rehearsed or planned out in advance. Cinder barely bit down a chuckle of her own, hearing several others around her being less successful in that regard.
Anything to encourage the new up and comers, she guessed.
She refocused as the professor began pacing back and forth again, continuing her speech.
"A Huntsman does not fear death. He embraces it, challenges it. Defeats it."
For some reason, this was enough to cause Cy to snicker a bit. His amusement quickly died down as the professor locked eyes with him, staring him down till he dipped his head in a silent apology. The professor adjusted the angle of her rapier, and continued moving forward.
"Each time a Huntsman faces off against the grimm hordes, they are not just protecting themselves, but the lives of all others around them. All it takes is one wrong move, one single mistake… before the grimm's jaws slam SHUT—
Almost immediately, Cyrus had to bite down on a cry of pain, the sheath of Hyacinth's rapier having been driven down hard on the top of his foot. It took all his self control to remain standing at attention, not jumping up and down on his good foot while holding the other.
—on their throat in an instant."
A few more chuckles all around. The rookies wincing at Cyrus' blunder, the seniors in a way that showed just how familiar they were with the professor's no nonsense approach and immediate reprisals.
"None of you are truly ready yet for that level of danger. You've faced grimm in small numbers, in controlled conditions. None of the huntsmen teams standing before me would be ready to stand up against the worst, untamed monsters that the grimm have in store for you."
Only now did Professor Bles stops pacing, turning to face Team Crimson's leader, another look of firm appraisal visible in her eyes. "Except maybe one."
Cinder was already standing straight, but tried to stand even straighter, her pride surging up to the surface. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but could feel the edges of her lips curving upward into a smile.
"This team, Team Crimson, alongside Team Force, had a sample of what the Grimm are truly capable of producing. Alone, cut off from help, they faced a monster from the nightmares of old. The Komodusk came after them again… and again… and again…
Images of the Komodusk attack came to mind, the chaos as they tried to survive. It's roar, deep and powerful, it's azure flames melting all in their path.
"Despite all the odds, they managed to hold their ground. They managed to survive. They defied the grimm, death, the gods themselves with their resilience. Team Crimson's leader even managed to blind the beast in one of its massive eyes.
"That same leader, Cinder Fall, was the same person who, just a day prior, defeated Team Force's leader while fighting blindfolded. A story all of you have been retelling in the school halls."
Whispers and rumours, much like in the marketplace, began to swirl about. Cinder could here every word, was beyond happy to be praised in such an open matter by one of Haven's professors. A true huntress in every respect was now acknowledging her in an equal light. A better light.
"I want all of you to look at her, take in her character, and realize something important."
Cinder closed her eyes, basking in the glory with pride, her smile growing.
"I. Don't. Care."
The sudden change in tone, the harsh declaration, all had the effect of sticking a pin in a balloon. Cinder deflated immediately: first shock, her eyes widening in surprise, then anger. Where she had previously been struggling not to show off, she was now trying not to erupt, not truly uncomprehending what the professor had said.
"I don't care." The professor repeated, red eyes meeting the fiery orbs of gold head on. She spoke to all students, but her gaze remained focused on Cinder. "Much like the Grimm don't care about who they hunt and destroy. A single victory means nothing to them. Your actions in the heat of the moment mean nothing. The only thing that DOES matter, is your flaws, and how you address them moving forward. A mistake can be easily corrected. It only becomes a flaw should you fail to correct it.
You are reckless, Ms. Fall. Prone to anger. You underestimate those around you because you believe you have already done the impossible. Had you faced a group of bandits perhaps, I doubt you would have fared all that well. You are not ready to be a Huntress yet."
It was madness. Infuriating. The fire within Cinder's core was burning red hot, and she was finding very little reason to not let it all vent out. Had she not proven herself against the Komodusk? Wounded it more than everyone else combined? Did she not earn her place as the top huntress in her level by defeating Otho, despite the odds stacked against her? How was she not ready?! It made no sense!
Was everyone going to continue to treat her as some outcast, some child, until she defeated each and every one of them?
She clutched her hands tightly into fists, hands shaking from the strength of her rage, and she grit her teeth with all her might.
Professor Hyacinth saw every moment of it, saw how the young huntress in training was struggling not to lose control, bristling under the accusations. She inwardly sighed, disappointed. One step away from a tantrum. It seemed that young Cinder was only proving her misgivings about her correct.
Time to nip that problem in the bud, lest it fester into something worse down the road.
"It seems you disagree. A demonstration, perhaps?" She turned her attention to the other students. "Do I have a volunteer then, to face Cinder in a quick, one on one sparring session?"
At first there were no takers. No one in fact seemed all that eager, which Cinder thought was appropriate. No doubt they all remembered her victory against Otho. If she could do that while blindfolded, what could she do without any handicap? Or was Professor Bles about to have a senior student challenge her instead? Wouldn't that be a sight to witness—
"I will face her, Professor."
All eyes turned to Ivory as she stepped forward, the Atlesian staring down her team captain with the same cold stare of determination from before.
"You?!"
"Well, you did want me to challenge you, did you not? Why wait any longer than necessary?"
The professor scanned the two women, then noticed how their two teammates made no move to intervene. In fact, they seemed resigned to the inevitable clash ahead. The tension was thick between the two of them, fire and ice clashing and sparking against one another. A part of her wondered what would if she allowed it to boil over.
"I see. Very well then. Both of you, take position." She stepped back to assume the role of official. "Prove us wrong, Ms. Fall."
Cinder cast a hard glare towards Ivory, but followed the professor's direction and stormed forward, towards the centre of the sandy arena, drawing her blades from her back as she did so. Anger was still burning deep inside her, demanding to be let out, yet a pleased satisfaction was also present overtop of it all. This was her chance to kill two birds with one stone, showing Ivory who was the better huntress, and proving her position as the best in the academy with another victory to her name. She was smiling again, an almost feral edge to her grin, twirling her blades in a small arc as she settled into a ready position. Knees slightly bent, one blade in front, angled downward, the other to the side, angled upward, prepared for an overhead swipe in an instant.
Ivory, in contrast, made no grand display. She remained calm and frostily composed, standing across from Cinder and waiting for the signal to begin. Even as she drew her blade, the emotionless mask concealed her thoughts as she calculated her next move. Mismatched eyes focused intensely on Cinder, her saber at the ready, assuming a fencer's posture: Facing Cinder with her body angled to the side, holding her sword in a straight line in front of her body, and her unused hand held behind her.
For three measured heartbeats, both huntresses staring the other down, neither moving, tense and alert.
It was Cinder who made the first move, closing the distance with a single leap forward. The moment she was in range, she thrust a sword forward, aiming for a low gap.
Ivory's response was as swift as it was effortless, a twist of the hand all she needed to spin her blade in an arc, batting Cinder's thrust to the side, knocking her off balance with the strength of the impact. She then lunged forward into the opening, driving a knee straight into the unguarded stomach, knocking the wind clean out of Cinder's lungs. The black haired woman staggered back from the unexpected blow, keeping her blades up in case of a retaliative strike.
No such attack came. Ivory simply reset her stance, eyes firmly locked on Cinder. The footprints in the sand made it look like Ivory hadn't shifted her position at all.
Wincing, growling, Cinder pressed forward, more intense this time. She swung high with one blade, thrusted low with the other, then reversed her attacks, combining a flurry of strikes and attacking from a multitude of different angles. Despite the intensity of each blow, Ivory again held her ground, feet firmly rooted in place in the sand. Her arm was the only part of her body that was moving, but it moved with astonishing speed. Twisting and coiling like a serpent, she deflected each attack as if they were nothing.
Then she countered after a wild swipe to the head missed its mark, a single slash cutting in between Cinder's blades and catching her hard on the ribs. As Cinder hissed in pain, Ivory spun, gripping her saber with both hands for extra momentum, bringing the blade down right on Cinder's head. Cinder only barely blocked the blow in time with both blades, but it was still more than enough to knock her flat on her back, unable to endure the Atlesian's assault.
So fast! Cinder was stunned, eyes wide, uncomprehending. How did she—?
"You attack boldly, to try and hasten victory." Professor Bles announced from her position, watching the duel unfold. "Countered with proper training. An attack must be grounded, with proper footing. You attempt to press before regaining balance, and leave yourself vulnerable."
You don't know a thing about me! I can beat her!
She rushed to her feet again, trying to get in close. But again her attack was thwarted before it even began, the Atlesian's saber deflecting her attack, stepping past her guard in a movement almost resembling a graceful dance and smacking her opponent hard across both shoulder blades before Cinder could even hope to react. She crashed into the sand once more, shouts from the onlookers her only indication as to what had happened to her.
Getting to her feet again, Cinder was already panting hard, anger and embarrassment coursing through her. She refused to let Ivory continue to make a fool out of her like this!
As she watched the battle move forward, the professor shook her head. She had hoped Cinder's wild attacks had at least in part been due to her lack of sight when facing Otho. But as her approach to Ivory showed, that was far from the case. Her swordplay was woefully lacking, far too wild, unbalanced, her defences full of holes that Ivory was easily picking apart. The aggression might benefit in a brawl or quick scrap, getting an edge on the opponent before they could properly set up, but it would do no good against a trained duellist.
In contrast, Ivory was calm, focused, each movement precise and wasting no extra energy than what was needed. She seemed almost to be gliding over the sand with each step back and forth, swinging her saber in continuous, fluid arcs that either deflected Cinder's haphazard strikes away from her body or immediately struck as fast as lightning towards an exposed limb or torso. All while maintaining a perfect form and unmatched technique. Her training in Atlas was more than apparent just from a glance.
Another careless two handed swing from Cinder was immediately met with a slash to the legs, dropping her to one knee. Crying out, Cinder still tried to attack Ivory from her hobbled position. The slash was easily knocked aside, followed instantly by another counter straight to the spine, driving Cinder to the dirt a third time. Ivory was certainly not holding back; that particular blow would leave a sizeable bruise even with her aura at full strength.
"Allow advantage to your back, and you are dead." she announced, pointing out another of Cinder's ever growing list of flaws.
Cinder spat out a glob of dirt, forcing herself back to her feet, wincing as the lines of fire flared across her back and limbs, each line marking where Ivory's saber had struck her.
Ivory had retreated a few steps, giving Cinder the time to recover, her back deliberately exposed, arms widening as if playing to the crowd of seniors directly in front of her, earning a cheer or two as a result. 'You are no threat to me,' Ivory's posture all but taunted Cinder in that moment, which just made her even angrier.
Ivory… was toying with her. She had Cinder completely outmatched, and she knew it!
Snarling, she charged at Ivory's back again. Her next attack was deflected away as Ivory spun to face her at the last moment, a swing to the legs leapt over, then the blade in Cinder's off hand was knocked clean from her grip as she tried an overhand swing for Ivory's collarbone. Only out of pure human reflex did Cinder dodge a counter thrust to her torso, somehow managing to catch the wrist of Ivory's sword arm in that blink of a moment. She tried to take advantage, swinging with all her might with her other sword, but Ivory's free hand suddenly shot out as well, snagging her own wrist before it could connect.
The two grappled for control. The tendons in Ivory's wrist were like lines of solid steel, the strength of her grip around her off hand bone crushing, unrelenting. Cinder couldn't even budge Ivory's sword arm, as if she were trying to pull on the limb of a statue. As she struggled, fighting through panic and rage with all her might in a futile effort, Ivory stared her down, the faintest hint of enjoyment visible behind the icy mask of a soldier.
Then Cinder suddenly saw stars, her chin and jaw cracking loudly with an explosion of pain as Ivory drew back, then leaped high, driving her knee forward with all her might into Cinder's face. Her grip on Ivory's sword arm slackened, and a moment later a straight haymaker to the face knocked Cinder even more senseless, followed by a charging shoulder tackle to the sternum that left her a dazed, disoriented heap in the sand yet again.
There was nothing she could do. Ivory was completely dominating her. Making a complete joke out of her every effort to get up and fight, reducing her to a pup taking on a much larger alpha. One that only briefly entertained her for a few moments before swatting her away with only the necessary amount of energy such a trivial task acquired.
She couldn't win.
She was completely outmatched.
"Come entangled with a stronger, more powerful opponent, and you are dead."
And Professor Bles was turning her humiliation into a lesson for the other students! Dissecting her mistakes, highlighting them, announcing each one as she floundered about. Making a complete joke out of her in front of everyone!
In that moment, all of Cinder's rage boiled over. Pain, humiliation and anger all erupted to the surface, and she just wanted to make Ivory burn. Roaring in anger as she surged to her feet, roaring in furious indignation, she released her semblance, a wave of fire surging through her core and out through her hands, an inferno seeking to consume the Atlesian in front of her.
But Ivory had seen the surge of Cinder's aura in time, the warning flashing brightly in her eye before Cinder had even gotten back to her feet. Swinging her free hand in an arc across her chest, a sheet of ice sprang into existence at the exact same moment Cinder unleashed her fire.
The impact of the two elements colliding was so loud, so colossal, it caused everyone to flinch and turn away simply out of instinct. Dust and dirt sprayed all around from the impact, momentarily obscuring the battle from view. Panting heavily, struggling to remain standing, a small sense of satisfaction lingered in Cinder's heart in that moment. A sense of pride returning, knowing she had finally landed a blow on Ivory with her semblance.
…that satisfaction melted away into shock as the dust cleared, revealing Ivory standing tall, completely untouched. Her eyes were wide with shock, a single strand of white hair knocked loose from her bun… but otherwise, there wasn't so much as a scratch nor burn on her entire body or uniform. How did she—?
"Use your semblance in one of my training sessions like that again," Professor Bles' voice thundered, peppered with barely contained anger at Cinder's actions clear as day, "and you are dead again!"
For a moment there was only silence. Then, recovering from the shock of Cinder's attack, Ivory charged forward, a snarl of her own now visible on her face. Cinder didn't have a chance of defending herself, and soon ended up thrown one last time to the dirt. A moment later, Cinder froze as the cold steel of Ivory's saber pressed against her throat, a boot firmly pinning her sword hand to the ground.
"Submit!" Ivory hissed. "You are done!"
Cinder said nothing in response, simply glared back. She couldn't free herself, but like hell was she about to admit defeat.
She didn't notice Professor Bles approach until the the professor was crouching down beside them, face set in a firm disapproval.
"Your foolishness nearly cost you against Otho." she stated with the matter of fact tone of one remarking upon common knowledge. "And it cost you here now against Ivory. For all your skill, you are still far from ready."
She grit her hands into fists, still glaring with all her fury. If the look of pure hatred did anything to intimidate the professor, Cinder couldn't see it.
"I don't care if you hate me. What I do care about is if you are able, and willing, to learn. A single mistake is all it takes to kill even the greatest huntsman alive. Prove yourself in the years to come, little girl, and learn how to temper that pride of yours. Or say goodbye to your dreams as a huntress."
The professor rose to her full height, addressing the students as a whole. As she did so, Ivory pulled away, her sword replaced with a hand to offer her team leader back to her feet.
Hurt and humiliated, Cinder refused the gesture, trying to salvage what dignity she had left by getting up on her own. Ivory said nothing. In truth, she did not seem overly surprised, her point already having been made.
"You all saw her flaws. Her inexperience. In the field, agains the grimm, this could have easily led to her demise. She is not alone in this regard. We all have flaws that must be addressed if we are to move forward.
However, in these next four years, you will all learn to address and master your own flaws. Learn to make up for them with your experience, your teamwork, and your own dedication. Now then, find a partner and begin training. Sparring to start, obstacles to follow later."
The commotion of students moving to join the practice field was immediate. With so many voices and bodies moving about, Cinder was all but forgotten as she removed herself from sight.
Cy had seen a tiger once, in his youth. His entire village had once been granted a great opportunity to visit it, under the watchful eyes of their parents of course. He had laughed with his friends at the antics of the monkeys, drawn back in fear as the dire wolf had thrown itself against the glass of its cage and stared in wide-eyed delight as a brightly coloured parrot carried on a conversation with its zookeeper.
The tiger, though...it had been beautiful, but at the same time, it had been the one thing he couldn't forget. With an audience in front of it, the great cat had been inspired to take several pacing steps, baring its bright white fangs, intimidating them with its presence before wheeling and taking several more steps in the opposite direction. On and on it kept moving, muscles coiled with a frustrated energy beneath the thick fur, golden eyes alternately blazing a challenge at the onlookers and glazed with something that looked very much like despair as it made yet another tiny circuit. As powerful as it had looked, there was no denying it was far from happy in that moment.
He had to admit that the memory was a very fitting analogy for what was happening right now. From incredibly proud and dominant one moment to angry and fuming about her failures the next. A caged animal trying to break free of her entrapment.
Two hours and several bumps and bruises later, Hyacinth decided to call the training over for the day. Each group of two got in a handful of tries against both their fellow teammates and the other teams as well. Cinder had also had a couple more face-offs against Ivory, but much like the first bouts, none of her attacks or aggression was enough to force Ivory onto the defensive. She was able to land a few clean strikes on the Atlesian fighter—granted, none of them were lethal hits. All of them landed on the arms, once to the leg, but all missing anything vital. While the could have been debilitating were it a serious battle, in a simple spar, they didn't amount to much.
And judging by the look on her face, Cinder had realized it too.
So now she paced, back and forth, back and forth, stopping only briefly to vent upon the dummies in front of her. Cinder had spoken to no one, and nobody seemed all that eager to try and approach her. Each and every single one of her movements was as agitated and instinctive as the tiger's had been so long ago, the rage simmering underneath, struggling not to boil over, far from fully spent.
"What do we do, Cy?" Stone's face was taut with distress, his face calm to those who didn't know him, but to Cy, he looked no less worried than Cy himself felt.
He sighed, weighing his options. So similar to Ivory, yet so completely different. He knew that he would see the same hollow despair in Cinder's eyes that he had seen in the tiger's; he even understood the reason for it, but that did not mean that he could allow it to continue unchecked. Self-pity was not an uncommon response in those who pushed themselves way too hard without thought to those around them, and he'd seen it all too often. While you allowed them some time to vent, you didn't let them wallow in it.
"Well, we can't just let her stew. Remember 'Becca? How bad her temper got when she was just left alone? Or how nasty you got, before Ol' nan literally knocked some sense into 'ya?"
Stone grunted, a weak chuckle escaping him as he rubbed at his temple, evidently remembering something or other from that time period. "I wasn't as bad as she was. … Was I?"
"Nah, you were fine. But the boss might need some help, all the same."
"With her temper or her training?"
"Hmm… Both." He turned his attention briefly to the giant. "I can talk to her. That part's easy enough. You up to showing her how to improve the physical way? That could help her catch up in no time."
The giant considered for a moment, then nodded. "If she's willing to try, then definitely. But I won't force her if she's not willing."
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure she will be."
"Alright then."
Plan not set in motion, Cy wiped the sweat from his brow, closely watching Cinder as she got a few more good thumps in on one of the wooden practice dummies. Either out of frustration, or simply pure determination, she was hitting the targets with all her strength. She was breathing heavily with each swing, splinters of wood breaking off with every impact. He took a few more moments to refocus himself, then stepped closer.
"You sure have a lot of stamina, boss," he called out to her as she since him approaching.
"What good is stamina if you can't hit a damn thing with it?"
She punctuated her statement with a two handed swing of both blades on her poor victim. The dummy completely shattered under the impact, sending dozens of little splinters every which way.
Cinder growled under her breath, kicking the remnants of the training dummy aside.
"Haven Academy really should invest in better training equipment," she huffed, shooting a glare at her partner. "The stuff here is useless."
Cy simply hummed to himself.
Cinder rolled her eyes, moving over to the next training dummy in line, resuming her bombardment for several seconds of silence. Then she stopped, glaring out of the corner of her eye.
"You clearly have something you want to say, so get on with it," she grumbled, then promptly went back to smacking the dummy around.
How should I put this tactfully…?
He walked a delicate line now: push too hard, and the young woman before him would snap at him. A poorly formed choice of words would no doubt land him in some hot water if he wasn't careful. Still, he knew he'd have to press to figure out what would work best.
"I knew you were competitive, but I didn't know you were this competitive."
"I am not—!"
Cy cocked his head to the side in exaggerated fashion, giving her a flat look.
Cinder sighed, her shoulders drooping.
"Fine, I admit that I hate losing, but who doesn't?"
"A fair point," Cy shrugged. "But I have to ask, if you hate losing so much, why keep fighting head on instead of backing down when you knew Ivory was besting you? Save yourself some pride instead of getting crushed like that?"
That decision was still nagging at him. She was the leader of Team Crimson, and took the position very seriously. If she thought the key to strength or leadership was simply what you could accomplish on your own, then he was sorely misjudging her. Even the best huntsmen knew when to fold and come back at another time.
"You're good in a scrap; beating Otho blindfolded like that proved you know how to improvise. But you could tell Ivory was better trained in a straight up duel just by how she picked you apart. Yet you kept attacking."
"I am aware of that," she grunted, striking the dummy's ribcage.
Cy tilted his head to the side, confused.
"Then why…?"
"I know I'm weaker alone. I'm not an idiot."
Cinder's arm fell to her side, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"But if my strength alone cannot rival yours… If I can't be the best Huntress… Then all of this is for nothing…"
He furrowed his brow. 'All for nothing'? What did she mean by—
"Tsk! Sorry, it seems my mouth is moving on its own." Cinder turned to him, released a pent up breath and smiled. "All I mean is that I want to be the best. I want to one day be able the greatest huntress there is. I have to be the best. And if I can't surpass Ivory alone, then I'm not strong enough to be the best huntress, am I?"
"…I guess not," he agreed, albeit hesitantly. There was just something about her smile… It reminded him of something, but he just couldn't pinpoint what.
Still, he had to press forward. Set things up for Stone later. "What if I told you the Big Guy and I wanted to help you out?"
She stilled somewhat, eyes turning briefly to Stone in the background, then narrowing at him. "I don't need any help."
"Never said I was making you. He's not either. It's just a suggestion from a friend." He quickly clarified. "Just you and the Big Guy. Alone. No one else even has to know."
Cinder did not respond right away. There was pride, resistance in her eyes. All to be expected, honestly.
So Cy switched tactics.
"Well… I can't force anyone to do something they hate." he shrugged, moving his hands behind his head as if about to move and walk away. "If you want to indulge your pride, that's your decision... but you probably won't learn anything if you do. You'll struggle out here on your own. Get beaten by Ivory again next time you take her on."
That got her attention, as expected. "… I'm starting to see why she doesn't like you."
"Heh. I'm just telling the truth. The people who can't swallow their pride are the people who never get anywhere — because they're too proud to let themselves truly learn and improve."
For a moment it appeared that Cinder was about to reject his offer outright, but the refusal never came. She lowered her gaze again, an unexpected calm seeming to come over her, eyes moving back and forth, considering the offer presented to her. It was almost like she had broken her anger limits and come full circle to calm again.
"How exactly would no one else know about it?" she asked.
He very narrowly hid a satisfied smirk. There we go.
"Haven's got a lot of trees all around the edges of its territory. Easy to conceal any late night adventuring. Sneak out when no one's looking, and you can practice all night if you want, so long as you're back before sun up."
"And it would just be the two of us? Nobody else?"
"Not even Ivory. Especially not her. Gotta surprise her later, right?"
Despite the tempting offer, Cinder did not seem entirely convinced. There was doubt, the earlier insistence she had to work alone flaring up again, and a few other emotions he couldn't quite describe. The offer was clearly tempting her though. Enough to break through the restraint despite her efforts to squash it.
"Well, I guess I'm done for now," Cinder said with a sigh, placing her swords on her back. "I'll think on it, okay? I'll see what Stone wants to teach me tonight, and after that…we'll see."
It wasn't an outright no. Cy could live with that. "Sure thing. See ya later, Cinder."
Her smile was the only other response she offered. And once that was given, his team leader turned and strode out of the training grounds, leaving Cy all alone with his thoughts.
That smile…
It only took a second showing of it to jog his memory.
His parents.
It reminded him of his parents.
The type of smile that never reached the eyes.
The rest of the day was spent with relatively little excitement. Classes were completed, homework was handed out and later completed, and the overall events of the morning were passed over in favour of other, more immediate topics of conversation. There was still the odd rumour circling about, but compared to the morning they were much more subdued and offhand. Most of which had already been replaced with talk of Ivory's rather one sided victory against her.
Cinder sighed softly, keeping an eye on the setting sun, trying to will away the image of Ivory standing tall over her, saber at her throat after she had been flung into the dirt. She had lost, she could admit that much now, but it still left a bad taste in her mouth. Try as she might to focus on anything else, the image was one that would not leave her, rudely butting in without much warning.
The sound of her new scroll buzzing at her side was actually something of a relief.
Cy told me you were interested. Everything's set up. Just waiting on you.
Next was a picture of the location, one not too far from where they ran together. Good. The area was familiar, but also out of the way. Perfect to work and practice on whatever it was Stone wanted to show her in private.
Taking just her blades and her coat, Cinder made absolutely certain she wasn't seen or followed as she left the dorms and made her way over to the forest's edge. For several long minutes, everything was silent, save for the wind in the trees, the cracking of branches underneath her boots, and the faint but growing sounds of scraping stone over metal. Following the sound made finding the giant much easier, and as she saw his large frame appear from behind the trees and bushes, Cinder felt the tension begin to ebb from her muscles.
"You doing alright?"
Stone's voice surprised her slightly. She had thought him completely focused on his weapon's maintenance, yet he had evidently noticed her approaching. Another motion of sharpening his axe, and then he looked up to face her with an unblinking stare, his expression mostly unreadable.
"I… Yes, I'm fine." she replied tersely, dropping her eyes away from him.
"But still bothered by what happened today." It was not a question.
"I said I'm fine," she repeated with an edge in her voice, clenching her teeth again, "I don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"As you wish." he answered, holding Valor at arm's length and tilting it to and fro in the setting sunlight, inspecting the edge and nodding in satisfaction.
"Have you ever had a challenge blow up in your face?" she challenged him.
"Not quite," Stone admitted, "Not many are eager to challenge me alone."
"Lucky you," she muttered.
"They usually attacked in large numbers. Much easier to overwhelm that way."
That part surprised her a bit, but she nodded as she thought it over. "Makes sense. Wolves do that all the time with larger prey - working together to bring down animals that they couldn't alone."
"Indeed." For some reason, that seemed to gain some measure of respect from the giant...though only a bit. "You know how to hunt. You know how others hunt, from human and faunus to all manner of beast. You would still benefit from more lessons on discipline, however. If you continue to allow your emotions to rule your actions, you will in all probability not get very far alone."
"Don't you think I know that, after today?" She was trying for flippancy, but the bitterness could not be hidden. The loss against Ivory was really bothering her. More than she cared to admit, even now.
The giant's calm, dark grey eyes regarded her firmly. "You wish to do your duty as a Huntress and to be the best among us. That is undeniable. Though you cannot accomplish such without learning to control yourself first. Failing to do so will put those that you lead at risk."
He was right, damn it, though that didn't make his words sting any less. The idea that any of her odd assortment of companions could die in their travels was one that haunted her waking moments, as the losses of her past stalked her sleep. "What do I do, then?" she asked, annoyance and dejection warring in her voice.
He stood, towering over her. "Come with me," he ordered calmly. "Leave your coat, bring your swords."
She eyed him curiously as he strode after him, then took off her coat, folding it neatly and tucking it safely away off to the side. Then moved to follow him, drawing her swords in preparation for whatever the giant had planned. "Are we going to be sparring then?" Her curiosity was peaked, drawing her forward despite a minor bit of apprehension. She wasn't exactly prepared for a fight, and while she had seen enough of Stone's skill over the past few weeks to know that he would not harm her inadvertently, she had little doubt that the flat of Valor's axe could still leave bruises, aura or no.
"Sparring has its uses," Stone replied, stopping a short distance away, his form still dimly lit by the fading sun that reflected on his axe in a golden dance, "but there are other things that can help you to learn, if you want to be the best huntress you can be." He planted Valor's pommel into the dirt, standing straight backed and impassable. "What do you see?"
She cocked her head, knowing that the question was not an idle one, but unsure what answer Stone was looking for. "…I see you standing in front of me with your sword," she replied at last, her voice rising slightly on the last word in an uncertain query.
His expression gave no hint of whether or not her answer had been a good one, but he nodded. "And what will happen next?"
She frowned, thinking, and at last shook her head. "Whatever you decide to do," she said. "How could I know that?"
"By being aware of what could happen," came the prompt reply. "What are the possibilities?"
"For you, or for anyone?"
"Treat me as an opponent for whom you know nothing about. Perhaps even a large grimm, if you prefer."
She nodded slowly. "All right. … You could sheathe your weapon, or attack me, or—"
"How might I attack you?"
She sighed, thinking back to their sparring sessions and the techniques that he had utilized. "You could try a straight hammer shot, bull into me to take me down quickly, a side to side sweep to do the same, or you could try to disable me by taking out an arm or a leg."
"And if I were to do that, what might be the reason for it?"
Impatience and irritation rose up in her, but she restrained it. She knew Stone did nothing without good reason, and that likely included this line of questioning. "Are you a bandit then? You could be trying to take me alive, for ransom or information; you might be trying to get me out of the way to get past me and attack someone behind me. Or maybe you just don't like killing."
He nodded again. "It's possible, but not a motivation that I would advise attribute to an enemy. Even if it's just friendly sparring, assume that any foe that you face intends to kill you, and fight accordingly."
"So...I'm supposed to go through all this each time that I face an opponent?" Seemed like a great way to get cut to pieces.
"You already do," Stone replied, then continued in response to her look of disbelief, "You currently do so without conscious thought, and that is how it should be in a real fight, but if you engage in this exercise when you do not fight, asking yourself not only what you see, but what could happen next, and how you would respond to it, it will become much more difficult to take you by surprise."
It made a certain amount of sense, particularly since she already found herself sizing up nearly everyone they encountered, from Otho to Ivory and any grimm she she dealt with in the woods. In fact, she realized it wasn't all that different from her old hunting habits, going over everything she did, finding what worked and what didn't, and adjusting accordingly.
A different profession, yet a similar approach.
"Now then." Stone's voice brought her attention back to him as he drew himself to his full height, feet placed shoulder-width apart with his axe in both hands, held perpendicular to his shoulders. Drawing a slow breath through his nose, the giant released it as he pivoted slowly to the left, the axe dropping smoothly into a blocking position. His elbows flexed as he drew the weapon back, then extended again in a slow thrust as he stepped forward with his right foot. He stepped back, turning on the balls of his feet until he faced the opposite direction, sweeping the axe in a waist high arc, then bringing it back to the ready position, then out to block, back, raising into an overhead sweeping strike…
Cinder watched as he proceeded, each movement slow, measured, precise, his eyes slightly unfocused, fixed somewhere in the middle distance. He finished in exactly the same spot and position as where he had begun, drawing a final slow breath and releasing it as his gaze came back into focus.
"What… was that?" she asked him quietly. The slow, formal tempo of his movements had almost seemed like a dance. Surprisingly graceful for a man so big.
"You probably wouldn't be able to pronounce the name properly," he replied. "It predates the Great War by several generations at least. The closest word in today's language is 'form'. It's a ritual used to bring mind and body together, to improve focus and discipline, and to become one with your weapon of choice."
She shook her head. It didn't make any sense at all. "You were moving so slowly, anyone could have dodged your attacks, or gotten by your blocks."
"The forms are not meant to be used directly in a fight," he said. "In the beginning, they are used to teach basic technique and improve muscle memory. As you get more used to it, more advanced, their purpose shifts to one of control and meditation, discipline and skill."
"Forms?" she echoed. "How many are there?"
"As many as there are warriors who practice them," was the somewhat unhelpful reply. "I can perform about nine or ten. The person who taught me was capable of twenty-three in her prime."
She looked down at the swords in her hand. "And you think me learn them will help me improve?"
"If that's what you want." Again, his face gave no indication of his own opinion on the matter. It was her choice, one way or another, and he would respect her decision.
She stared back down at the swords, at the intricate dancing light of the sun behind them dancing upon the steel blades. What she wished was to be the best, to prove all of her doubters wrong on her own merits. Her one sided match today with Ivory proved she could not achieve that goal on her own just yet, and while she still could not see the use in these 'forms', there had been something oddly compelling about the deliberate, precise grace of the big man's movements.
"All right," she said at last. "Teach me."
Ivory peered through the main window of Team Crimson's dormitory room, watching as Cinder attempted to mirror Roderick's movements. She was awkward and stilted at first, with the larger man stopping her on occasion to adjust her stance when she stumbled, but she learned with exceptional speed. It wasn't long before she could execute a passable version of the first series of controlled movements Roderick had shown her. Since this was their first time practicing, Ivory suspected Roderick had chosen the location far from the dorms for some measure of privacy.
He couldn't have known he was still in range to be seen by her. The benefits of Atlesian tech, she supposed.
The irritation and humiliated expression from before had faded from Cinder's face, replaced by a look of intense concentration and interest. A genuine desire to improve and learn. That was good, she supposed.
With a sigh, Ivory removed her fingers from her temple before resting her chin in her hand. Theoretically, anything that took Cinder's mind off of her losses today should be for the better, but the Atlesian could not help be uneasy with the knowledge that her team leader was only doing this to avenge an embarrassing defeat. Her pride had been bruised, but it was still present, in one form or another.
The respite that training granted was brief. It wouldn't be long before she would have to try and prove herself again in front of the others students. Any sign of improvement would help to dull the sting, but simple improvement would not be enough to erase the first loss from her record. No doubt she would be determined to prove herself a better fighter than Ivory was, and would keep pushing herself no matter the difficulty ahead. If she could help Cinder see that it wasn't possible to catch up, it would be only the smallest step toward getting her head on straight, but it would be a step.
It was more than that, though. If the girl continued to fight so recklessly, get enraged every time something didn't go her way, she would get herself killed sooner or later. Her obsession with being identified as the absolute best would harm not only herself, but the others as well. Roderick and Cy seemed supportive for now, but what if they got killed indulging her?
Like Professor Hyacinth had said, the grimm didn't care. They'd exploit any flaws and slaughter them, personal issues or disagreements between teammates be damned.
Roderick and Cyrus were both capable fighters, their experiences fighting together before attending Haven creating a chemistry that gave definite advantages over other pairs, but they seemed determined to have Cinder join them, overlooking her flaws or trying to gently tend to them. They had good intentions certainly, but didn't seem to realize Cinder should be the one leading and helping the team improve, not the other way around.
Perhaps it was that same approach that made Cyrus continuously try to learn more about the both of them. She didn't know how Cinder felt about the constant questions, but Ivory had prevented every effort that the man had made to get closer to her, politely yet very firmly. And yet he remained stubbornly persistent about it.
She shook her head, shaking the train of thought away. She had to keep her own duties accounted for. Team Crimson as of now was still rough around the edges. Perhaps if she shared the pain in her own history, entrusted Talia with those secrets...but she dismissed the idea as quickly as she had thought of it. It was disheartening at times, to realize how easily she had fallen back into old habits and stuck to what she knew in Atlas. To do anything else was admittedly completely alien to her, and difficult to change.
But she would do what she must. For father's sake, as well as her own.
I choose.
To live by choice, not by chance.
To be motivated, not manipulated.
To be useful, not used.
To make changes, not excuses.
To excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice, not the random opinions of others.
I choose to do the things that others won't, so I can continue to do the things others cannot.
I am a Mineko. And this is my duty.
The words of the Mineko code her father had pressed upon her from a young age soothed her, as it always did. And after a last peek in the direction of her two teammates practicing, she retired to her room, resolving to begin her efforts anew in the morning.