Chapter 27, Team Rivalry
The students all gathered in the Academy's Cafeteria building that evening. Auron and his friends were walking along through the cafeteria, carrying their trays of food. They then came up to a table that had yet to be claimed by the other students. They placed the trays down over the surface of the table before taking a seat on opposite ends.
"Oh, man, did you guys see that back there!" Keith insisted to them.
"That girls got some mad skills! She just completely wiped the floor with all those Grimm. I'm telling you guys, she's the forth member. With her on our team, we'll be top of the class for sure."
Hanako nodded her head in agreement.
"I hate to say it, but I agree with Keith." she said, turning forward at Auron.
Only to then shudder as she uttered a groan of contempt.
"That did not feel right." She said.
Auron narrowed his head. He agreed with what they were saying. But that only meant the competition would be fierce. Her skills had proven to surpass that of the other students. Which meant that the other students would be asking her to join their team. Especially now with the Team Trial the very next day. The very chance of them having her on their team was slim to say the least.
"I hear what your saying, but we shouldn't get our hopes up," Auron said.
"With skills like that, everyone will be lining up to ask her to join their team. Even if she's selected for the Team Trial the same time as us, the chances of us being on the same team as her are slim."
"Dude, she's a first year student like us." Keith insisted to them.
"We have to at least try."
"Her skills are quite formidable." Hanako said.
"She could prove to be a valuable member of our team. But then again, we shouldn't be so hasten for her to join us."
Auron nodded his head in agreement.
"Exactly, we can't just force her," Auron insisted to him.
"For all we know, she might have already been asked by someone else to join them."
Keith shook his head.
"Hang on, nothing set in stone yet," Keith insisted to them.
"Not until the trials. We might still have a chance."
Auron uttered a shrug as glanced down to his food. Just as he was about to take a bit, he then overhead the students that were sitting at the table across from them.
"Did you guys see that back there?"
Auron cocked his head, glancing across to the students.
"Yeah, she just took out three entire squads of Grimm by herself." One of students said.
"Man, that was sick." Another said.
"I'd loved to be on the same team as her."
"You know, I overhead some of the Professors in the hallway," A third said.
"Apparently, she's undergoing some sort of special training. She's got her own private tutor and everything. She even got access to use the stadiums training simulations."
Auron squinted his eyes, curiously.
"Special training?" He said, glancing to Hanko and Keith who glanced to her with the same curious expressions.
Pyrrha and Blake were standing in line at the food counter, both holding a tray which each had a drink and a side for their meal. Blake was facing forward, glancing down at her tray. She thought back to the stadium, watching Pyrrha train. When it was that students were not suppose to use the stadium until teams were chosen and classes began. It was already becoming apparent to her that she was different from all the others. In more ways then one.
She then glanced at Pyrrha, about to speak up. Only for her to pause in hesitation. Something which did not go unnoticed by Pyrrha. She turned to her, narrowing her eyes.
"It's alright," she insisted to her.
"You can ask me."
Blake glanced to the side.
"It's just... the way you fought in the stadium." Blake insisted to her.
"W-what about it?" Pyrrha asked.
"You said that this was your a first year like everyone else." Blake said.
"But you don't fight like one. You seem like someone who's gone through years of training."
Pyrrha glanced to the side.
"You could say that," she claimed to her.
"When I was seven, I used to train with my mother. And sometimes my father when he came home from the war. They wanted prepare me for when I would go off to train at the Academy."
The two then stepped forward as they came to the very front of the line. It was there that one of the chefs placed a meal over Pyrrha's tray. Blake came up next to her, shaking her head.
"No way, those skills you used are far too advance for a first year." Blake insisted to her.
As the chef then served Blake her meal, the two then picked up her tray and made their way into the cafeteria.
"There's something different about you." Blake insisted to her.
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.
"I mean, your given access to use the Stadium by the school," Blake insisted to her.
"Not to mention, you passed a level that only students of their fourth years could. I wouldn't call that coincidence."
Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, glancing to the side. Already people were beginning to take notice of her abilities. Not that it hadn't been an issue before in the years she and Qrow had spent training. Some of the previous students that had attended the Academy often questioned why it was that someone as young as her was training at the Academy. But it had never escalated into anything more then that. That was until now.
All those students were watching her train in the stadium. They saw her pass the fiftieth level of the training simulations, many of the student want her to join their team. Not for reasons that she might have thought they would. Rather it was because of her fighting skills being more advanced then all the others. Thus would place their team ahead of everyone else.
Something which Pyrrha was not at all for. Especially since she and Qrow were suppose to be laying low to avoid unwanted attention.
Pyrrha turned forward, shaking her head to her.
"I... I can't talk about it." Pyrrha said.
"Why not?" Blake asked.
"It's just... complicated," Pyrrha insisted to her.
"I'm not suppose to talk about it."
Blake squinted her eyes at Pyrrha, sensing there was something off about her.
The two then passed by one of the tables, where a tall guy with burnt orange hair that was combed in a backward fashion, indigo eyes. Wearing silver and gold armor with a large gold bird over the chest, overtop of a black shirt and pants with red sash tried around his waist. He glanced over at Pyrrha and Blake, glancing up at the two cat-like ears protruding from her head. He then smirked as he chuckled.
"Hey guys, check it out." He said, glancing at the three guys who were sitting across from him.
"That girls has an extra pair of ears!"
The four erupted with laughter.
"What a freak."
Pyrrha and Blake both paused upon hearing what they said. Blake glanced back to them a stern expression.
"Oh look, I think you hurt her feelings."
The four of them once more erupted in laughed, making Blake glare as she uttered a groan of frustration. Pyrrha glanced to Blake. She then turned back to the four who were mocking her before stepping forward.
"Excuse me, that wasn't very nice." Pyrrha said to them.
"Apologies to her."
"Mind your own business." the guy said.
But Pyrrha did not back down. She instead stepped forward toward them.
"I said apologies!" Pyrrha proclaimed to him.
It was then the guy stood up from the table, where he came up to face them. Though he was standing much taller then them, Pyrrha was hardly intimidated by his size.
"Or what?" He said.
"What are you gonna do about it?"
The other students had already began to take notice of what was happening. Though many of them were quick to turn away. Seeing who it was that Pyrrha and Blake were facing, none of them wished to get involved as they knew what that entailed.
Keith glanced up from his food as he gazed across the Cafeteria.
"Ah, shit." He said, guesting with his head.
Auron and Hanako glanced back in the direction he was pointing. It was there they saw both Pyrrha and Blake facing...
"Cardin." Auron said, turning in his seat with a stern glance.
"Yep and he's at it again." Keith said.
"Looks like the new girl isn't backing down."
Auron smirked at Pyrrha. It wasn't everyday that someone was willing to stand up to Cardin. Back at the previous Academy they attended, Cardin and his Gang were feared and renowned by the other students. No one was willing to stand up to them. That is, no one except for them at least.
Auron and his friends were the only ones that never took any shit from Cardin and his gang. They were the only few that were willing to stand up to them. Thus beginning what would be a long rivalry.
Hanako shook her head in utter disgust.
"He's a disgrace to this school." She proclaimed to them.
"You said it." Keith said in agreement.
Auron took a quick glance at the other students, who were looking away as if to try and void what was happening. A reaction he had come to expect from most of them. But unlike them, he wasn't willing to stand by and allow Cardin to continue to threaten other students.
Auron then stood up from his seat.
"Come on." he said.
Cardin stepped closer to Pyrrha and Blake, standing over them. Though even still, Pyrrha refused to back down from him.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" Cardin said.
Pyrrha shook her head to him, continuing to glance back up at him sternly.
"No." she said.
Cardin's gang came up behind him, grinning and chuckling.
"You hear that, she doesn't know who you are."
Cardin groaned, clinching his fist tightly.
"Then why don't show exactly who your dealing with." Cardin proclaimed to them.
Blake came up next to Pyrrha, placing her hand over her shoulder. Pyrrha glanced back to her, where she shook her head.
"Come on, it's no worth it."
Cardin glanced to Blake.
"Stay out of this, freak," Cardin said.
"You people don't belong here. Especially with your White Fang buddies in the Kingdom."
Blake squinted her eyes in utter contempt.
"The King never should allowed freaks like you to join the Academy," Cardin continued.
"He should have locked you all up in a cage when he had the chance."
Blake attempted to lung forward at Cardin. Only to be held back by Pyrrha, who wrapped her arm around her. Blake growled angrily at Cardin, who smirked mockingly at her.
"Hey!"
Cardin and his gang glanced behind Pyrrha and Blake, who looked back and saw Auron, Hanako and Keith coming up to them. Auron came up between them, where he faced Cardin.
"How about you back off, Cardin!" Auron said.
"Well look who it is," Cardin said with a sly smirk.
"Why don't you mind your own business."
Auron stepped up to him.
"I said Back OFF!" Auron proclaimed to him.
"Oh, yeah," Cardin said.
"You gonna do something about it?"
"Well someone needs to take your ass down a notch." Auron proclaimed to him.
Cardin's gang were in awe of what Auron had said. Cardin glared at Auron, tightening his already clinched fist.
"I wouldn't push this time, soldier boy." He taunted him.
"Last time I checked, this Academy is for Knights. People that can actually fight the Grimm. Not a bunch of nobodies with death wishes."
Cardin's words all but trigged anger within Auron. Though he was sure as to not reveal it to Cardin. Rather he continued to face him and his gang, Hanako and Keith by his side.
"Oh, now you've done it." Keith said, cracking his knuckles.
Pyrrha glanced to them, seeing things were beginning to escalate. She then came between them, pressing her right hand against Auron's armor as she attempted to separate them.
"Please, no fighting." She proclaimed to them.
There was then a voice from behind Cardin and his gang.
"Is there a problem here?"
Upon glancing back, they saw one of the professors walking up to them. Upon sight of the elder coming, Cardin glanced back at Pyrrha, Auron and the others.
"This ain't over." Cardin proclaimed to them.
With that, Cardin and his Gang then turned and stormed off into the Cafeteria. Auron then glanced to Pyrrha and Blake.
"You two alright?" He asked.
Pyrrha glanced to Blake, who was glancing away, sternly. She then turned back to Auron.
"We're fine." She insisted to him.
The professor came up to the five students.
"There a problem here?" he asked, curiously.
Like a solider being approached by their commanding officer, Auron stood upright, both arms to his side.
"No sir," Auron insisted to him
"Situation has been handled."
Pyrrha in turned nodded in agreement.
"Yes, everything is fine." She insisted.
Pyrrha and Blake placed their tray down over the table as they sat down at the table. She then turned and glanced up at Auron, who sat down next to them.
"Thank you for helping us... uh." Pyrrha said.
"Auron." Auron said, turning them.
"My names Auron Tarith."
"It's nice to meet you, Auron." Pyrrha said, nodding her head to him
Auron uttered a nod back to her.
"You too." He said.
Auron then glanced up at Keith and Hanako, who sat down at the opposite side of the table.
"That's Keith." He said, gesturing to his teammate.
"What's up." Keith said, giving Pyrrha and Blake the peace gesture.
"And that's Hanko." Auron said, gesturing to her.
Hanako bowed her head to them.
"It is an honor to meet you both." She insisted to them.
Pyrrha smiled, nodding back to them.
"Pyrrha Nikos." Pyrrha said.
"This is Blake."
Back turned her head, glancing up at Auron and his friends. She paused for a moment, hesitant to speak up. She was unsure if she would be able to trust these humans. Despite the fact that they stood up to the ones that were discriminating against her, it still wasn't enough. What Adam had said about humans and from all her time around them, she had learned they were all the same and could never be trusted.
That was until she met Pyrrha, who proved to be different from all the rest. Perhaps they too could prove to be the same. She also needed to blend in. Thus she would need to gain the trust of the students. She narrowed her eyes, taking breath before speaking up.
"Uh, hi." she said.
"It's nice to meet you, Blake." Auron insisted to her.
"Yeah, nice to meet you." Blake said, glancing down.
The look of distraught and contempt she expressed did not go unnoticed by Auron, Keith and Hanako. Pyrrha turned to her. She had to still be upset with what those guys had said to her. She then reached out her hand and placed it atop her shoulder. Blake turned to her, seeing Pyrrha to comfort her.
Auron sighed, shaking his head.
"We're sorry about what happened back there," he said.
"Cardin was out of line."
Pyrrha turned to Auron.
"Cardin?" She asked, curiously.
"The guy you just saw back there." Auron insisted to them.
"Yeah, he and his gang are bad news," Keith claimed.
"They've been bullying everyone since back in Sirada Academy. Especially some of the Faunus students."
"Many of the other students fear them," Hanako proclaimed to him.
"They refuse to stand up to him cause they are afraid of what they'll do to them."
Pyrrha narrowed her eyes with a look of utter contempt and disgust. The fact that the Academy, let along the Kingdom would allow someone like that to represent them. Someone who antagonizes all his fellow students in such a way. Especially Blake and the other Faunus students for that matter. How could someone such as that be allowed to represent the kingdom?
"That's not right." Pyrrha proclaimed to them.
"How could someone like that be expected to represent the kingdom?"
Blake shook her head.
"It wouldn't be the first time." she insisted to them.
Blake then turned to Auron.
"So then why did you help us?" She asked.
"Because we're the only ones that won't take shit from Cardin." Keith claimed to them.
"I refuse to yield to a coward like him." Hanako insisted.
Auron nodded his head to him.
"Cardin and his gang have been terrorizing everyone," He said.
"A Knight of Lothadare is to protect and honor it's kingdom. Not bring more fear to it's people. Especially now."
Pyrrha nodded her head in agreement.
"I agree." she proclaimed to them.
Blake narrowed her head, glancing off to her right. It was there by one of the pillars, she noticed a figure standing by one of the pillars which stood before the entrance of the cafeteria. Pyrrha squinted here eyes, curiously. As she continued to stare over at the mysterious figure, she noticed they were a familiar girl in a white coat with half brown and half pink hair, leaning against the pillar. She then glanced up at her, smirking.
Blake gasped as she turned forward.
"Dammit." she whispered to herself.
She then stood up from the table.
"I need to go." she said to Pyrrha.
Pyrrha glanced back to her as she stood up from the table.
"Where are you going?" Pyrrha asked.
"I just... need to take care of something..." she insisted to her.
"I'll see you later." She said.
Blake then turned and began walking back toward the cafeteria entrance. Pyrrha glanced concern to her, fearing that she may be more upset with what Cardin had said to her. She was just about to go after her. Only for Auron to place his hand over her shoulder, shaking his head.
"Just give her some space." he said.
Pyrrha looked back up at Blake as she walked away. She then narrowed her eyes, knowing he was probably right. She then sat back down at the table as she turned forward.
"So Pyrrha, have you decided on a team yet?" Keith asked, curiously.
Hanako glanced to him, nudging him with her elbow.
"What?" he asked, curiously.
Pyrrha covered her mouth with her hand, uttering a slight chuckle. She then shook her head.
"I'm not sure," she said.
"I was planning on just letting the chips fall where they may."
"Well we're actually looking for a fourth member," Keith insisted.
"Right, Auron?"
Auron paused for a moment, glancing back to Pyrrha. He then paused for a moment, glancing to the side as he rubbed the back of his head. All the while, he struggled on what to say.
"Uh, well, I mean, if you like we have an open spot." Auron insisted to her.
Pyrrha smiled and nodded her head to him.
"That sounds grand, I'd love to." She insisted to him.
Blake came outside the Cafeteria. She then glanced to the the pillar off to her left, where she saw Neo leaning up against it. Neo cocked her head, smirking as she stood up from the pillar.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, curiously.
Neo reached down to her side, where she pulled out her scroll from her pocket. After dialing the number, she then handed her the scroll. Blake stared sternly at Roman's right hand before taking the scroll from her. She then held it up to her ear.
"Hello?" she said.
"Blake, good to hear from you," Adam's voice said from the other line.
"Are you in?"
Blake narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm in." she insisted.
"Good, we were worried," Adam said.
"Lothadare has issued Martial law."
Blake glanced down at the scroll, sternly.
"I know," she insisted to him.
"They had a squad of troops inspecting some of the Faunus students. But I managed to pass it with my ID."
"Then that means the school will probably be on high alert." Adam insisted.
"Which means the vault will be kept hidden while the Kingdom is under martial law."
"So what now?" Blake asked, curiously.
"Lay low for now," Adam insisted to her.
"We'll wait until Martial law has been lifted. Until then, see if you can locate where the vault is."
Blake nodded her head.
"Right..." she said before closing the scroll.
She then glanced back up at Neo, who simply smirked before she turned and skipped her way down the path.