Chapter 1:
It was early sunrise, light was just starting to fill the world of Remnant, and Petal was sliding thin, black rings onto each finger and thumb. Set around the smooth band were several colored crystals, all representing a different element. Around her wrists were already a pair of black bands that were similarly smooth, and possessed a slim, rotating centerpiece. They resembled cuffs, though they were a bit more comfortable and less bulky. Afterwards, she examined herself in a mirror that was positioned in the room she had been staying in for a couple of weeks now. Her black hair had natural infusions of a pale gold mixed in, and it had been cut short so that the end of her miniscule ponytail reached her shoulder blades.
She had aged many years since meeting that man, eight years to be exact, and while her face still appeared young, the time still showed. She had lost most of the roundness of her youth, and her body matched it. Her lithe body remained small, and her height still didn't reach five feet, she had grown more fit in that time. Her stomach was smooth, flat, but her legs and hips had grown more curvy, more muscular, as they were some of her more powerful tools for fighting. Overall, her figure was well proportioned, but she knew she still resembled a kid more than most others her age, though that was more to her height than her figure. A black tail waved behind her as she turned to see the new clothes she had acquired the day before. A pair of well-fitted black pants with yellow lines creating various patterns down the left leg, some black leather boots, a skin-tight, sleeveless shirt, black in color, and also accented by yellow lines. Her right shoulder still bore a scar, though it had whittled slightly in time, from her fight against the Grimm near her old home. Around her neck still hung the silver chain and ring that it had since that time, as well.
Petal, taking enjoyment in the improved gear, turned and lifted a large leather coat, colored deep brown, and had a hood attached on the inside of the collar, so when it was lifted, it would look as if she was wearing a hoodie underneath. The bottom of the coat had a split in it, leaving two sepete flaps, so her tail could still move freely, and to make movement easier. She then tossed it back down on the bed before lifting up a belt, one that held two pouches, one on the back and one on the left side. She buckled it around her waist, pulled on the coat, and smiled at her reflection.
"I told him it would fit well." she said, aloud. "But did he believe me? No, of course he didn't. That man is always doubting me, I swear. One of these days, he'll learn to accept that I'm just always right."
"Will he?" came a man's voice, deep, but caring.
"Yep, of course he…" She paused and turned to see a man standing in her doorway, leaning against the frame. He was wearing some denim pants, blue in color, brown leather boots, and a white shirt that fitted him well enough to show the thin, yet fit body underneath. He had dark black hair that had been cut shorter recently, so that it was somewhat spiky on the top and the sides were shaved into fades. He had a thin goatee and a small scar that cut slightly through the portion of hair above his right-upper lip. She scowled and her tail bristled slightly.
"How long were you standing there?" she asked.
"A minute or two." he replied, smiling. "Don't worry, I didn't see you changing. I was just in time to enjoy the one-sided conversation though. How was that? Did you find her to be talkative?" he questioned.
"Shut up. It's a habit I have, you know that. It's been with me since I was a kid." she stated, turning and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I know, I'm just poking fun. Come on, we have a job to take care of."
"You're always 'poking fun'. When are you going to stop making fun of me?" she questioned, following the man out of the room and into a corridor of wooden walls and floors.
The smell of the inn was of freshly made bacon and it was carried on the waves of a thin layer of smoke that wafted through the establishment. Clinking silverware and cups could be heard from the lower floor, especially for her, as her Faunus blood gave her better senses than any humans possessed, even if she did still possess human ears. Petal looked ahead and noticed that the man did not carry his usual metal bow over his back, which was unusual, as it was something he never left anywhere without. It was him that taught her to never leave her weapons behind, after he had helped her make them. His bow was thin, silver and metallic, and resembled most bows, though the string was made of a more flexible metal wire. The main difference between his and a normal hunting bow that she would have seen the men and women of her old village using was a cylindrical port that protruded at an angle from a circular opening in the center of the shaft. His weapon was unique in that regard, that it didn't fire arrows, at least, not ordinary ones. It instead used dust, which he would insert into the port, to create the arrows.
"Cole, where is your bow?" she asked him.
"It's getting worked on at the moment, I thought since you were getting some upgrades, I should do the same. The weaponsmiths here in Mistral truly are an artistic bunch. The one that made your clothes had some awesome ideas for my bow, so I decided to have him make the changes."
"What about our hunt, then?" asked Petal.
"I figured you could handle the heavy lifting. Consider it a test of your recent improvement."
Petal scoffed as she crossed her arms again. "Sounds to me like you're using me to make you money again." she hissed.
"I'm hurt, Petal, when have I ever done that?" he questioned, turning and walking backwards down the corridor.
"There was the village in Vale, you know, the one with the wolf things. Then there was the scorpion Grimm in Vacuo, then after that was the village just outside of Mistral's borders, if I recall correctly. Oh yes, the one that was only two weeks ago." Petal said, glaring at her mentor.
"All of those occasions were me teaching you. You did well, and you handled it flawlessly." said Cole.
"The point is, you didn't do anything to help. You simply walked in after I was done cleaning up the mess, and collected your payment. I know you can fight, so why am I doing all of your so-called 'heroism' for you?"
"Because I ask nicely, and because it does help people, which is the primary reason you asked for me to train you in the first place. I will quote your own words here, and say, 'I want to prevent this from happening to anybody else. Please, oh, please teach me how to be a Huntsman.' It was quite adorable, I must admit."
"I didn't sound like that, and you're putting words in my mouth again."
"Not many." he protested, spinning to face ahead once more, just as they came upon the wooden stairs to the bottom level. "Look, Petal, I honestly am doing this for your sake. I started out as a petty thief in my youth, way before I thought about killing Grimm. Do you think I had anybody to teach me how? All I had was my own wits, my own ability, and my own drive to stay alive. I would never let anything happen to you, even if it cost me my life, so please, understand that what I'm doing is giving you the best schooling I can give, and that's experience. You can go to those fancy Huntsman academies for as long as you want, but studying out of books and listening to lectures don't compare to facing the real things. I won't always be around, or there will come a time where you don't want to be around me any longer, and I'm preparing you for whenever those days get here. You need to be able to fight for yourself, it's a lesson you have to know, especially if you wish to continue hunting these things down. Grimm don't have souls, Aura, or emotions. They will kill you simply for the fact that that is what they're made to do. You need to be prepared." Cole explained, walking carefully down each step.
Petal was left speechless for a moment. "I suppose that it makes sense. I'm sorry for accusing you like that." she said.
"You don't need to apologize. Besides, I am happy to have you doing the heavy lifting from time to time. I'm getting older, and your young body can handle a lot of this better than mine. And I did use the money from that village a few weeks back to get my bow worked on, so you aren't entirely wrong."
"I knew it." she said, sharply, after scoffing. "I swear, you're a real piece of work, Cole."
"Oh, don't be like that yet. You don't even know what we're hunting for today."
"And what might that be? Some rabid grimm outside the gates, some bandits in need of sorting out? Perhaps I'm to polish your boots while I hunt down some rare flowers for a cripple old woman, while you go and get drunk at another bar?" she yelled, the fur on her tail standing on end.
"Jeez, Petal, calm down a bit. Today, we're dealing with a local underground terrorist group, nothing too crazy. Mistral, while being one of the most artistic and beautiful kingdoms, also has one of the shadiest and most corrupt underbellies. I was asked to look into the rumors of an unknown organization that's smuggling in some kind of strange elixir. I heard that some people say that this drink can turn people into Grimm, or something like that. I don't really believe it, but still, it might be worth looking into."
"Really?" asked Petal, giving him an incredulous look.
He spun and smiled at her as the hands behind his back grasped the handles to the doors of the inn. "Partially. You see, I kind of lied a bit. That will be my job today, while your job will be to enjoy yourself."
Her eyebrow raised as she watched him push the doors open. Music instantly filled her ears and the muttering conversations of the city's denizens entangled with the melodic instrumentals. "You're joking." she said, softly, her golden eyes wide in astonishment.
"Nope, I'm not. You're right, Petal, you've been working hard, and I think you deserve a day off. They're hosting a festival in honor of Haven Academy's anniversary. I thought it would be a nice surprise for you, and maybe you could even go scout around the school for a bit. I heard that it's open to the public today, and I know you've been interested in them for a while now. I personally don't see why, but to each their own, I suppose."
Petal's gaze darted from stalls to musicians to wandering poets before falling back on Cole, who was closing the doors to the inn. "So, I get to run around and have fun all day while you investigate some seedy terrorist group?"
"Pretty much." he replied. "Why, does it not sound fair to you? Would you, perhaps, want to trade places?" he asked her.
"No!" she swiftly yelled, much louder than she had originally intended to speak. "No, it's fine." she then said, correcting her tone, and keeping her excitement from spilling over.
"I thought so. Well, you have this whole city to explore, so best get to it. I might not be back tonight, and if I am, it will be pretty late, so don't bother waiting up for me. Just try to stay out of trouble, okay? That's the only thing I ask of you."
"You act like I'm some rebellious child. I've already gone through that phase, you don't have to worry about it anymore."
Cole gave a quiet snort of laughter and shrugged his shoulder. "I guess you're right. Anyway, see you later." he said, giving her a single handed wave, and walking off through the crowds in the streets.
Petal grimaced suddenly, as a strange anxiety swelled up within her. She wasn't a shy person, or she didn't think she was. If she had to be honest with herself, she didn't really know what she was when it came to interacting with this many people, more so since they were all strangers. She never had a problem holding conversation before but this time felt different, but she didn't believe it to be a bad sort of different, just a new kind of different, one that would take some getting used to.
"Alright, Petal, it's time to explore." she said, before lightly smacking her cheeks. "First stop should be the academy, I think. I really do want to go there." At that moment, her stomach growled horribly and she clutched her abdomen as her face blushed slightly. "Food first, then the school." she stated, quietly, and began following her nose to some of the local stands of fruits and cooked meats.
After some time, and many questions asked, she found her way to the academy grounds. All of the buildings she had seen in Mistral had a unique design when compared to the other kingdoms, and the school was no different. There was a massive courtyard that had the main hall of the academy at the far end. There were some other buildings on the grounds, which she assumed to be dormitories and such. Tables and stalls were scattered everywhere across the courtyard, giving the massively open space a much more crammed sort of feeling. Inhabiting all of this cluttered area were people around her age, both girls and boys, some faunus and some human, and all wearing the black uniforms of the school. The girls wore a black jacket that matched the boys' own clothing, but the difference lay in what they wore below their waste. The boys all wore a pair of black slacks while the girls possessed a gray and black checkered skirt.
Petal's eyes widened at the sight, and she hurriedly, and somewhat clumsily, scurried through the crowds of students and patrons alike. Her agile body slithered around and through the crowds easily, and she vaulted or glided over tables wherever necessary. As she hopped up onto all fours, into a perching position atop another blue painted table, a girl's voice called out to her, almost in an amused tone.
"Hey, what are you doing there?"
The voice itself was soft, calming, almost like a gentle breeze, and the wind carried a flowery scent with it, causing it to reach Petal's sensitive nose. When Petal looked over to the direction of the voice, she saw a girl, small in frame, short in height, thought she was still taller than Petal, walking towards her. The girl had eyes that were a bright shade of pink, with little black pupils in the centers, and some darker red flecks sprinkled in with the pink. Her hair was long, straight, and braided down her back. Her hair was more of a reddish color, though it was light enough to maybe be considered some shade of pink. She also wore the gray and black uniform of the surrounding students, and had a clipboard in her left hand as she marched over to Petal, who was still perched on the table like some sort of feline.
"What?" asked Petal, stunned at the sight of the girl, and the sound of her mesmerizing voice.
The girl gave a quiet giggle as she covered her mouth with her free hand. "I asked what you were doing on the table?" the girl replied.
"Oh, sorry, I was just kind of… Yeah, I'll, uhh, get down, then." Petal stammered, nervously, as she gracefully maneuvered to the edge and slid off of the surface.
"Thank you. We do plan on putting food there, and seating a few people there to eat it, so it's nice to know your boots won't be anywhere near them." said the girl.
Petal, growing lost in the student's eyes, let out a nervous laugh, one that didn't sound like her own. "Y-yeah, right. I don't think it… I mean, that… would be a good thing."
Again the girl laughed and nodded her head. "Obviously." She then held out her hand and tilted her head slightly to the right, causing her loose strands of pinkish hair to cascade around her face. "Your name is?"
"P-Petal." Petal answered, reaching out and reciprocating the offered gesture.
"Funny name."
"Why is that?" Petal questioned, almost stunned by what she took to be an insult.
"Oh, it's nothing like that." said the girl, shaking her head and covering her mouth slightly. "I mean, it's a funny coincidence. My name is Rose, so it's kind of like… rose petals, you know? I thought it was cute, that's all." explained Rose.
"I suppose it is," said Petal.
The girl turned around and started walking towards a nearby set of small crates, and looked back at Petal, who quickly moved and perched atop a separate one. Her tail swayed behind her as she stared into the pink eyes of the girl.
"Why do you move like that?" asked the girl. It was then that Rose seemed to notice the tail moving behind Petal, and she smiled. "You're a faunus."
Petal quickly reached behind her and grabbed hold of it to keep it from sight. "Y-yeah, I am. I-is that a problem, or something?" she asked, somewhat afraid of the answer.
"Not at all. I actually adore the faunus. I think it's wrong that they receive the prejudice that's constantly sent their way. Any person that dislikes your kind is no friend of mine, I promise you that."
"What makes you like us like that?" asked Petal, unable to stop herself from delving further.
"I don't know, maybe it's just because I don't see much of a difference between our two species. The only thing that's different is that you guys have horns or ears or tails. If anything, I believe your kind to be better than most of mine." said Rose, before bending down and lifting the crate, holding the clipboard under her arm as she did so.
"Here, I can grab that." said Petal, sliding off of the box she was perched on, and reaching for the crate.
"If you don't mind." said Rose, allowing her to take it. "It's going right over here." said Rose, pointing a finger to the right of her. A bright light flashed and in an instant, something that looked like a hazy mirror was in front of them. Instead of their reflections, however, she saw a completely different space, one that resembled a storage area. Noticing Petal's stunned expression, she laughed again. "It's my semblance. Here, you can just walk through it." Rose said, taking Petal's arm and pulling her through the spawned doorway.
"A semblance?" asked Petal.
"Have you never heard of that? It's like an ability that people have, one that's created from our Aura."
"Ooooh, like a power, right? I have one of those."
"And you didn't know what they were called?" asked Rose, as she pointed to a spot for Petal to set the box down.
She did so while shaking her head. "Never. I never really had the opportunity to learn much about those sorts of things. I know how to do a bunch, but I don't really know the correct terms of it all. I do know what an Aura is, though." said Petal, standing straight again.
"Well, now you know about semblances also. Congratulations." Rose said, clapping quietly, and while most would do it in a sarcastic sort of way, Rose's gesture felt genuine, like she was happy for Petal. "Now, we just walk back through and we'll be back in the courtyard. There's a bunch more prep that needs to be done for the festival so I really have to get back to work." she said, and she gestured for Petal to be the first to return.
Once they were both back, the door closed, and Rose held out her hand again. "It was nice meeting you, Petal. I hope we can talk more when I have some free time. Actually, maybe we can, sooner rather than later. I only have a few more things to get situated before I can take a break. Maybe I can show you around the school, if you would like that?"
Petal's eyes widened and she instantly took Rose's hand in both of her own. "Seriously?" she shouted. "I would love it. I want nothing more than to do that."
"Well, you get excited easily. Then it's a date. If you want to wait around while I finish things up, I'll be back in about half an hour."
"I can help you. I mean, I can move some boxes or something, if you need it, or… you know, want it? I can be really strong and fast if I need to be, I might be of use." Petal said, tapping her fingers together in a timid sort of way.
Rose smiled gently. "Or you can be some much needed company. I don't see a problem with you tagging along. It will give us a chance to get to know one another." Rose said, before looking at her clipboard again. "Hmmm, I have to go see Chalk, he's in charge of the games and stuff. Come on, I think he's in this direction."
Petal instantly closed the distance between them and followed closely at her side, her brown coat flapping behind her as she walked.
"I don't mean to sound rude, but what kind of name is Chalk?" asked Petal.
Rose gave her adorable, calming laugh again, and smiled softly. "It's more like a nickname. He really likes a white aesthetic, so we call him Chalk. His real name is Carson. You see, most people try to name their children in relation to a color, but there is only so much creativity that can come of that rule, so some people don't follow it. Your parents for example. They named you petal, which isn't exactly color related, right?"
"Actually, it is. Around our village, a bunch of these big yellow flowers would grow in the summer months. When I was born, my mother looked at my eyes and thought that the flowers were a similar sort of coloration, but she couldn't think of a good name for it, so she just called me Petal, like the yellow petals of the flower." explained Petal.
"Hmm, I take it back, then. Either way, I thought it was a cute name."
Petal blushed slightly at the compliment and hurried to keep up with the girl. "S-so, have you gone to the school for a while? What's it like here?" asked Petal, hoping to change the topic.
"I'm in my second year now, and I like it alot here. It's a fantastic place to meet people and to learn how to do good in the world. The headmaster, and even the rest of the teachers are all lovely, and they really make it a good experience to come here. I honestly recommend it for anybody that wants to attend, like yourself, maybe?"
"I would like to, but my guardian has never liked the idea of the academies. 'Presumptuous, egotistical, know-it-alls', he would say about them."
Rose giggled and nodded. "Some of us are, perhaps. There are definitely a good number of both staff and students that fall under those categories. Still, I would like to believe that not all of us fall into that sinking ship. I for one think I'm above that."
"Hmm, really sounds like it." said Petal, without thinking how that would come off.
"Maybe modesty isn't always my strongest trait, but still, I do like to believe I can back up my confidence. Besides, a bit of humble bragging doesn't make me an insufferable know-it-all, right?" asked Rose.
"N-no, of course not. I never really believed him anyway. He's always complaining about something, so half the time I don't even bother listening."
"Is he your father or something? Oh, I don't mean to pry into personal affairs, I was just curious. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to."
"I don't mind." said Petal. "No, he's just somebody who took me in when I was a kid. I was orphaned at a young age and he found me in the forest near my home. It's a bit of a drab tale, boring and unnecessarily sad, you don't want to hear it. The short of it is that he trained me how to fight, and was a sort of father figure, I suppose. In some ways, I might know him better than I know my real dad. It's sad to say, but I think Cole has taught me more than I ever learned from my parents, or at least more important things."
"Like how to use those?" asked Rose, nodding at the rings around each of Petal's fingers.
"These? Not really. He taught me how to fight, kind of. Most of it was just me studying myself. Practicing and doing what felt natural. He's a bit more… manly than I am. Plus, I'm a cat, he's a bit of a brute. No, these little things are all mine. You see, these rings are—"
"Are those dust crystals, there, in the rings?" asked Rose, interrupting Petal, and taking her hands in her own. "Incredible. What do they do?" she questioned.
Petal took her hand back and slid a ring off of her index finger. She handed it to Rose, softly placing it in the girl's pale, open palm. "The centerpiece rotates, the piece that holds the crystals, that is. There's a little tick at the top, on the part that doesn't move, and whatever crystal is there, is the element that's selected. Go ahead, put it on." Rose slid the ring onto her own finger and examined the refracting crystals in the sunlight that hit their surface. "Good, now just make a claw-like motion, like you're a cat."
Rose stretched her hands as if she was about to scratch somebody and a red flame burst around her index finger, appearing in the shape of a clawed appendage around her actual skin. "This is incredible." Rose gasped, examining it.
"And that's not all." said Petal. She then let her sleeve fall down her arm, revealing the black band around her left wrist. She rotated the centerpiece and the rings on her fingers, as well as Rose's single finger, rotated with it. The red flames turned to a misty frost that sent white mist cascading down to the ground. "The rings are all linked with the bracelets so I can change out the crystals whenever I want. They do some other things too, but it's not worth getting into it now."
"Wow." said Rose. "Uhh, how do I get it to stop?" she then asked, looking to Petal for assistance.
"Flick your fingers again, it retracts the claw."
Rose did so and the icy aura faded so that only the ring remained, solid, and as black as normal. "What an astonishing weapon, really. You made this?"
"Cole said that every Huntsman makes their own weapons. He doesn't know everything, and I believe even less, but I thought that it was a good custom, so I did it." replied Petal, taking the ring back in between the sharp nails of her index and thumb.
"You really would be great here," said Rose. "I truly believe that. Anyway, we should—"
"Rose! Come on, you were supposed to be here ten minutes ago. We need to get these things sorted out before Copper has a fit." came a boy's voice, young and energetic.
Rose and Petal turned to see a boy with white hair and the usual gray and black uniform. His eyes were also a similar contrast to snow, and they had small glimmers of black that seemed to dance within them.
Rose covered her mouth again and gasped. "I forgot all about that. Sorry, Chalk! I'll be right there!" she said, taking Petal's hand and rushing over to the boy.
"Who's the stray?" asked Chalk, as they approached, and his eyes scanned her from head to toe.
Admittedly, she wasn't an impressive sight. Her black pants and shirt didn't really come off as sociable, and her old coat looked worn and shabby, as that was a gift from Cole a number of years ago. She could see how she could be seen as poor or less than themselves.
"Petal," said Rose. "She's interested in the school and came today to check it out. I do hope you will be kind to her." she added, tilting her head slightly, and her grin becoming one that even sent a shiver up Petal's spine.
"O-of course I will. It's wonderful to meet you, Petal, the name's Chalk."
"Pleasure," said Petal, shaking his hand.
His eyes fixated on the rings that he felt during their shake and then widened. "Are those dust infused rings?" he asked.
"Chalk, focus, we don't have the time for this. I want to take my break, and like you said, Copper could be by at any moment. Let's get this over with." Rose stated, holding up her papers.
"You act like I'm responsible for your tardiness. If you're late every time you run into a cute girl, I doubt you'll hold your spot for long."
"Shut up, I know, I know," said Rose, examining her notes. "Alright, do you have the bean bags?" she asked.
"Yes, and we have the buckets all set up. We also have the dumb bobbing fruit game, and we even have the targets all situated. If you can just check those off of your list, we can all move on with our day." said Chalk.
"What about the dust, do you have those sorted?"
"Dust?" asked Chalk.
"Yes, you idiot, the dust. The dust for the fireworks!" yelled Rose.
Chalk backed away from her and grimaced. "Ah, that dust. You see, Amber might have dropped that particular box earlier this morning and—"
"Then go get another. Here." Rose pointed her finger and a doorway appeared for the storage room. "Petal, can you grab that one, the one with the black glyph on it?"
Petal nodded and stepped through the portal. She reached down and lifted the crate before walking back through. The portal vanished behind her as she set the crate down on the stand by Chalk.
"A fresh supply of dust, all for you. Next time, stay on top of things. That show is supposed to be the biggest attraction of the night and you were put in charge of it."
"Yeah, well, you know Amber, she's a bit clumsy at times." said Chalk, rubbing the back of his head.
"I know, just make sure to come to me next time something goes wrong. They wanted me to make sure everything runs smoothly, and I can't do that if you guys don't keep me updated." Rose stated.
"We know, Rose, sorry about that. I'll make sure it won't happen again." said the boy.
Rose nodded and rubbed her forehead. Her hand brushed back some of her pinkish hair as she sighed. "Okay, then, time for my break. Come on, Petal, I did offer you a tour. It won't be long, or all that thorough, but I'll show you some of my favorite places. I think we'll start with the grand hall. It's a marvelous thing, and it has this weird statue in there that I really like, it kind of gives the place some kind of… I don't know, mystical vibe." said Rose, leading Petal by the hand again.
The grand hall was an incredibly open room with a green and brown color palette. There were plenty of doors along the first and second floor walls, and two curving staircases were on either side of a statue that appeared to be made from some kind of white stone.
"Up those stairs is the headmaster's office, as well as some other rooms and stuff. I don't really know what's up with the statue, but I do enjoy looking at it. As far as I know, it's been there since the school's creation. Alright, quickly moving onto the next stop, we should go this way. I think we should go to the dorms. I really do love them. I heard that at Beacon, you have to share a room with your teammates, but here, we get our own individual rooms that branch out from a shared common room."
"Teammates?" asked Petal, embarrassed by her own ignorance again.
"Ah, I keep forgetting that you don't know these things. Don't take it as an insult, but I'm used to being around people that know all of this stuff already. Everyone I know is either at the academy, or had been here at some point in their lives, like my parents. I'm used to them knowing about the rules and systems, while you didn't even know what a semblance was called. Oh, that might have come off worse than I meant it, I'm sorry." she said, noticing the downtrodden expression on Petal's face.
"It's fine. I'm aware of how little I know."
"It's not fine. I shouldn't have said it like that. I just meant that it's kind of fresh, like a nice change of pace. It's different, and I'm in desperate need of that lately. Besides, I think your lack of knowledge is really adorable, I really like it. Anyway, when a student enters an academy during their first year, they are assigned to a team of four people. These four students will be a team for their entire attendance to the academy, and some even transfer between academies for certain circumstances, like if the school shuts down or something like that."
"Do you have a team, then?" asked Petal, trying to move past the girl's callout of her naivety.
"I did, but not anymore. Two of my teammates were siblings, and both of them were faunus. Well, our other teammate didn't like faunus very much, and while it was fine during our first year here, things heated up when we came back after break. I don't know what happened, but all three of them started getting into heated arguments, even going as far as physically fighting with one another. Things were said, actions were done, and there was even some blood that was drawn after a while, so the siblings left school. They couldn't handle it anymore, and I don't really blame them, I can't blame them. They were being bullied by more than just our partner. Anyway, since I like the faunus so much, and he apparently disliked them, we also started fighting. Last month, he spit in my face and left for Beacon Academy. I've been without a team for a few weeks now, and they haven't been able to find anybody else. Like I said, those are decided before you even have your classes in your first year, so it's not like they have a pool of students on standby to take the places of any that leave. Luckily enough, I've still been able to attend classes and be given responsibilities such as organizing this festival, or our school's portion of it, at least." explained Rose.
"So, you can't just get new partners, then?"
"Not really. It's not a problem right now, but we do have team contests that I won't be able to participate in now. I also don't know how long I'll be allowed to stay without anybody else on my team. But, those are tomorrow's problems, and we have enough of those to deal with today, right? It's best to just keep looking at what's in front of you."
Petal scowled deeply. "You miss them, huh?"
"They were like family to me. We only knew each other for a year, but they were like the brothers and sisters I always wanted. I do miss them, and it hurts that it all went up in flames like that, but there's nothing to be done. I don't know where the siblings went, and the boy is all the way in Vale, so I'll probably never see him again. On the brightside, I get the whole dorm to myself now, and I even went on an expedition with another team a couple of weeks ago, so I still get to participate in things." Rose then grimaced as she looked at Petal. "I'm sorry for putting all of that on you. We haven't even known each other for two full hours yet and I'm already giving you some sob-story. You must think I'm a mess."
"I think it's normal. I've lost friends too before, it hurts, I know that."
"It warms me up to hear you say that. Thank you." said Rose. She then pushed open a pair of wooden doors that gave way to a large, half-circular room. Within it was a couch, a table, a tiny kitchen, and four doors that branched out along the curved wall in the back. "Welcome to my home. We had more furniture before, and it was a bit more busy, but you know how that went. I usually just spend my free time in my room, when I'm not running around the school, attending classes and doing errands for the staff."
"It's kind of interesting." muttered Petal.
"What is?" asked Rose.
"Being somewhere that actually feels like a home. I spend most of my time traveling so the only home I ever know is whatever inn we find a room in that night. We don't normally spend more than a couple of weeks in any given place so I can never get too attached. This is an odd experience for me."
Rose gave her a little smile and a faint titter. "Well, you're always welcome here, I have plenty of spare room." After several moments of silence, Rose put a hand on Petal's shoulder, surprising her, as she was looking around the place. "Well, that concludes our tour, and my break, I really need to get back to work. It really was nice meeting you, Petal, I hope we can see more of each other."
"Me too." said Petal, returning her own smile.
She watched Rose race off, mumbling to herself as she read her paper aloud. The sight made her chuckle, and then the laughter died away as the girl rounded a corner, vanishing from sight.
"I want this. This is where I want to be." Petal thought aloud. "Tonight, for sure, I'll talk to Cole about staying here. I'm eighteen now, and I think it's time I start living for what I want." She then sighed. "But I don't want to leave him either. What do I do, then?"
Slowly, she left the school grounds and tried to enjoy more of the festival before finding herself back in her room at the inn. The sun was starting to go down by the time she returned, and Cole still wasn't back. After a small dinner, she bathed, dressed in a more comfortable ensemble of an oversized tunic, curled up in her bed to rest. Her golden eyes closed tight, and that night, she dreamed of Rose, and nothing else besides.