Chapter 29, Where Fates May Lead

Blake came perched over the edge of the open window of the dorm. Carefully, she then stepped down onto the floor as she came inside, turning back to close the window behind her. There was a faint moaning sound from off to her left, causing the cat ears atop her head to twitch. She glanced to the side. Only to see Pyrrha, still deep in sleep as she was before. Blake uttered a sigh of relief. It was clear that neither she nor Qrow had noticed she had was gone. She was all but fortunate that she had managed to get back in time.

Blake walked over to her bed, taking off her white coat which she then placed at the edge of the bed. She the proceeded to strip out of her clothes, till she was wearing noting but her crop top and underwear. She the climbed into bed, dripping then covers over her body as she laid facing the opposite direction. She laid pondering, her eyes narrowed in utter contempt.

She knew Adam would be expecting her to call him about what she had discovered about the vault's whereabouts. Though she pondered what she was going to tell them. With the Academy weary of the White Fang's presence within the Kingdom, finding it would prove difficult. Especially with the rumors of a spy on Academy grounds. By the sounds of it, the Headmaster was determined to keep the Vault hidden until things had settled.

Or discover who the spy was.

Though a part of her hoped that would be so. She wished not to bring any further death to the ones Adam proclaimed to have wronged their people. To become what all the Kingdoms had thought of them. All she wanted now was to pay for all the crimes she had committed against all the Kingdoms.

Lost within her thoughts, Blake suddenly heard Pyrrha's voice from behind.

"Jaune."

Blakes eyes suddenly widened. She then turned her head, glancing across the room at Pyrrha. Only to see that she was still fast asleep, facing toward her her. She then uttered a small chuckle, smiling. She would have to lay low for the time being until everything had settled.

"Jaune, wait for me." she moaned.

Blake leaned up from the bed as she glanced over at the Pyrrha. She squinted her eyes, curiously. All the while, Pyrrha continued moaning in her sleep as she continued to say that name.

"Jaune." she said.

It looked as if she was dreaming. Though what that dream was, she could only assume that it was one joy and happiness. Perhaps of someone that she knew. Someone that was close to her.

Blake eyes narrowed as he ears did the same from atop her head. She then turned, laying back over the bed as she faced away from Pyrrha. She the closed both her eyes Once more, the feeling of guilt from before had taken hold of her once more. Finding herself back in the same place as she had back on the Cargo Transport. When she had taken someone away from the ones they loved. And now it seemed like she was yet again about to make that same grave mistake.

Pyrrha was waken up the next morning at the sound of the alarm clock on the nightstand. Pyrrha eyes gapped open with a gasp of anticipation, glancing up at the screen of the Alarm and saw it was seven o'clock. Reaching up her hand, she pressed the snooze button, silencing the alarm. She glanced over at Blake, who was uttering a groan.

"Blake, wake up!" She exclaimed to her.

Blake leaned leaned up over the bed, moaning. She then glanced over at Pyrrha.

"Pyrrha, what time is it?" she asked, curiously.

Pyrrha threw off the covers as she stood up from her bed.

"It's still early, but we should start getting ready," Pyrrha insisted to her.

"The Team Trials begin today."

Blake narrowed her eyes for a moment. The realization the came to her in the moment that followed.

"Oh, right." Blake said.

Pyrrha glanced to her curiously.

"What's wrong?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

"Aren't you excited. It's our first step at becoming Knights of Lothadare."

The mention of being a Knight of Lothadare brought a feeling of contempt to Blake. Though she didn't express it to Pyrrha.

"I... I'm am." Blake insisted to her, as she stood up from the bed.

"I'm just... well... it's all so sudden."

"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

"I mean, this is the day we will be assigned to a team. Who knows what the Fates have planned for me. What if I'm not ready?"

Pyrrha smiled, nodding her head to her. She herself wondered what it was that the Fates had in store for her. What path she was destined to follow. Although her destiny had already a clear path for her. She was to be the prodigy of Akara after all. Thus she was to be the one to restore peace and freedom to all the realms.

A responsibility so great and could only be done by one with the heart of a true Knight. She had often wondered if she was truly one who was destined for such a task.

"I know how you must be feeling," Pyrrha insisted, glancing to her

"It's a bit nerve racking to learn what path you destined to take and those you that it with. Whether it will be with someone you know, or if you destiny lies with someone you don't even know."

Blake glanced to Pyrrha.

"But at the same time, I'm eager to know who it will be," Pyrrha insisted.

"To know where my journey will start and who I'll take it with. It may not be what I hoped, but I know I'm destined for something great. And I know the Fates must have something for you."

Blake smirked to her

"Do you really believe that?" Blake asked, curiously.

Pyrrha nodded her head to her.

"I do." She insisted to her.

Blake gave a sly smirk.

"Thanks, Pyrrha." Blake claimed to her.

Pyrrha smiled and nodded her head in appreciation.

"Come on, we should probably have a shower before we get dressed." Pyrrha insisted to her, gesturing back across the hall.

At the mention of shower, Blake widened her eyes as her ears stood erects atop her head.

"Showers?" she said, glancing to her, nervously.

The sound of the Morning Bell tolled across the Academy grounds to what would be a grand beginning for the students. Headmaster Reuben staggered through the hallway. Most of the new students had already began arriving at the main entrance, making their way to their lockers. Overhead, he could see Professor Kallus talking with several of the other professor whom he had tasked with the preparations. They then took noticed of the Headmaster approaching them.

Professor Kallus stepped forward to the headmaster.

"Headmaster." The professor greeted to him.

"Good Morning."

Reuben gestured a nod to the Professor.

"Good morning, Professor Kallus." The Headmaster greeted.

"You will be pleased to know that we had finished with the last of the preparations," The Professors claimed to him.

"The spell has been completed and is ready for today's trial."

The Headmaster nodded his head in appreciation.

"That is good to hear." Reuben said.

Professor Kallus turned to one of the professors, who handed him a small tablet. He pressed down on the screen.

"With the number of students enrolling this year, we've managed to divided them evenly amongst the staff." Kallus insisted to them.

Kallus turned the screen of the tablet to the headmaster, which depicted a map of the valley which they had used for the team trials. Around the valley stood the start points marked by large green lines.

"Each of the markings are the start points where each of us will be stationed with the students assigned to us," Professor Kallus insisted to him.

"I have taken the liberty of selecting a few of the students for you to overlook."

Professor Kallus handed the Headmaster the tablet. Reuben took the device from Kallus. Glancing down at the screen, he saw the ten students his staff had selected for the trial.

Auron Tarith.

Blake Belladona.

Cardin Winchester

Hanako Tanaka

Keith Madric

Pyrrha Nikos.

The Headmaster shifted his gaze up at the Professor and the rest of his staff.

"I see you have taken my words to Heart, Kallus," He commented.

"You have chosen well."

The Headmaster then turned and began making his way down the hall. Kallus and the rest of the staff followed suit.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Kallus said, nodding to him.

"I figured you'd want to over see the Prodigy personally. Shall I make the announcement?."

"Yes, now we shall see what the Fates have decided," Reuben proclaimed to them.

"Perhaps some of our students are destined to follow the prodigy of her Quest."

"Yes, but can we be so sure?" Kallus asked.

"The Fates decisions have never been that simple when it comes to the Knights of Opara. And their followers have always come from different Kingdoms."

"Ah, but you forget, Professor Kallus, there can be more then one follower from each Kingdom." The Headmaster proclaimed to him.

"And from what i have seen, it would appear that the Prodigy had already began to make bonds with those around her. Time will only tell if the bonds she has made her at this academy will the ones that will follow her on this journey she will soon take."

It was after hearing Professor Kallus' announcement that students made their way to their weapon lockers. Pyrrha opened the door to her weapon's locker she had been assigned to. Inside she found Milo and Akouo. Exactly where she had left them after having to finished last night's training. She then reached out her right hand, using her semblance to draw her weapon's. Milo, currently in it's sword form, flung out to which she grabbed it in her right hand. She then reached out her left and drew out her shield, which came up over her wrist.

Pyrrha brought her shield in front of her, glancing down with a look of awe and anticipation. Though it wasn't anything new to her, the thought of now being on her way to becoming a Knight continued to bring a sense of excitement to her. And now she was about to take a major step in her training.

Blake emerged from behind the open door of her locker, having to have seen what she did. She had also seen it while Pyrrha was training. Seeing her draw her weapons to her to her like that. Was it her semblance?

"Impressive." Blake said, placing her hand over her hip.

Pyrrha then glanced up, where she saw She glanced to her, curiously,.

Pyrrha smiled and nodded her head.

"Thank you." She said, placing her shield over her back along with her sword.

Blake insisted to her.

"That thing you did, I saw you do it back at the stadium," Blake said.

"How are you able to do you do that?

Pyrrha then realized what she was saying.

"Well, it's my Semblance." Pyrrha insisted to her.

"Your semblance?" Blake asked, curiously.

"Yes, my semblance is polarity." Pyrrha insisted to her.

"So I can attract anything that's metal.

Blake narrowed her head as she pondered. That would explain how her weapons were able to come back to her like that.

"Makes sense." Blake said.

"The way you were able to pull your weapons back like you did. You must have had years of practice."

Pyrrha nodded her head.

"Well, I suppose so," Pyrrha insisted to her, glancing down at the palm of her hands.

"It took some time to practice using it. But I think I managed to control it."

She then glanced to Blake.

"I used to see my father do the same thing with his semblance." Pyrrha said.

"Wait, you and your father share the same semblance?" Blake asked curiously.

Pyrrha nodded her head.

"That's right," Pyrrha insisted to her.

"My father has polarity too. I hope to show him and mother one day."

Blake squinted her eyes, curiously.

"They don't know?" Blake asked.

Pyrrha frowned, narrowing her eyes as she glanced to the side. She then shook her head.

"No," Pyrrha said.

"I haven't seen my parents since I was little. I only discovered the day we were separated."

Blake narrowed her eyes, frowning. She then turned forward, facing her open locker.

"I'm... sorry to hear that." Blake said, glancing to the side.

Pyrrha shook her head.

"It's alright, I know I'll see them again one day." Pyrrha insisted to her.

Blake shifted her eyes to the side.

"How about you?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

"How is your family?"

Blake frowned at the mention of family.

"I... I don't have one," she said, shaking her head.

"Not anymore."

Pyrrha turned to face her with a look of concern.

"Are they...?" She asked, curiously.

Blake shook her head.

"No, nothing like that," She insisted.

"It's... it's just... complicated. I haven't seen them for so long and... we just don't talk much anymore."

Pyrrha felt her heart shatter, cupping her hands over her chest. She knew what it was like. How hard it was to be separated from her family and to not hear from them. It wasn't something to be taken lightly.

"I'm sure they miss you very much, Blake." She said.

Blake's eyes narrowed with a look of uncertainty. Along with a feeling of contempt, believing that couldn't be true. Not after the things she's done. She doubted her family would ever want to see her again. Let alone still love her anymore.

She the shook her head before reaching into her locker and pulled out Gambol Shroud, which she strapped over her back.

"I wish I could believe that." Blake said.

She then turned and began making her way down the hallway. Pyrrha paused there for a moment with a look of confusion. She wanted to say something. Only to then pull back, knowing that Blake would not wish to speak further of her family. She sighed, narrowing her head.

"Pyrrha!"

Pyrrha turned and saw Auron, Keith and Hanako coming up from across the hallway. The three of them looked to already gotten their weapons from their lockers. As evident with the Blaster rifle over Auron's back. As well as the large hammer that Keith was holding over his shoulder.

Pyrrha closed the locker behind her before turning to face Auron and his friends.

"Oh, hello, Auron." Pyrrha said, smiling.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We came looking for you." Hanako claimed to her.

"Me?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Auron pulled out his scroll and opened the screen.

"It seems you were right," Auron insisted to her.

"The Fates may yet have are destiny's intertwine."

He then showed her the screen of his scroll, which revealed the assigned group that was being over looked by Headmaster Rueben. And there were all selected by the headmaster's watch. Blake was as well.

"We've all been selected to be under the watch of Headmaster Rueben." Auron said.

"Isn't that great?

"Yes, it is." Pyrrha proclaimed to them

Though the moment of joy was not to last. For the sight of Cardin and his gang brough a look of distain as Pyrrha glared down at the screen.

"But it seems we're not the only ones to be chosen." She said, glancing up at Auron.

Auron turned the screen to face him. The sight of Cardin Winchester and his gang brought a look of distain upon the face.

"Yea, we know." he insisted.

"Hopefully we won't have a run in with Cardin and his goons during the trial."

Pyrrha nodded her head in agreement.

"Too bad we won't be facing off," Keith proclaimed, taking his hammer in his hands.

"I wouldn't mind sending getting even with them."

"Save it for the Tournament." Auron said.

The group then heard the announcer come over the speaker.

"Will all First year students please report to the Courtyard for the Team Trial."

Auron glanced back at Pyrrha, Keith and Hanako.

"Looks like we better get a move on." Auron said.

"Lets go team."

Pyrrha smiled and nodded in agreement as the group made their way down the hall.

"Ah, yeah, it's game time!" Keith proclaimed.

Pyrrha and his friends walked down the steps to the Academy entrance. Overhead, they could see the other students were all gathered over the field in the eight separate groups they had been assigned to.

"Looks like everyone's already ," Auron proclaimed.

"We should hurry up and find ours!"

Pyrrha gazed down the stairway, where she Blake standing below, looking down at her scroll.

"Blake!" She called down to her.

Blake glanced back and saw Pyrrha and the others standing over the stairway behind her. Pyrrha came down the stairway as she came up to Blake.

"Did you see the assigned teams?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Blake nodded her head.

"Oh... Uh, yeah, I saw it." She insisted to her.

Auron, Keith and Hanako came up behind her.

"Looks like we've all been assigned to the same starting point." Auron insisted to her.

"Isn't that grand?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.

Blake hesitated for a moment. She then gestured small smile to them, shifting her eyes to the side.

"Uh, yeah, that's great." Blake said to them.

"I'm glad."

Pyrrha came up to Blake, placing her hand atop her shoulder. She smiled back at Blake. She had said that the fates had something special for her. That the bonds that united Auron and his friends would do so in the trial ahead. She knew in her heart that was so. And now it seemed that was so.

Auron came up from behind the, glancing back at the two

"Come on, we shouldn't keep the Headmaster waiting." Auron proclaimed to them.

Pyrrha and Blake turned to Auron. They then glanced back to each other, exchanging a nod before following along.

Headmaster Rueben was waiting at the far end of the Courtyard near the Academy Gate. Though he was not alone in waiting for the students that he was to overlook during the trial. As Qrow was there along side of the Academy Headmaster. Along with Cardin and his gang. The sight of which was met with a stern glance By Pyrrha and his friends as they approached the headmaster. Only to be met with the sly smirk of Cardin, holding his weapon the executioner over his shoulder.

The Headmaster nodded his head.

"Nice of of you all to join us." Rueben said, placing his cane before him.

"I would advise in the future for you all to be on time."

Pyyrha glanced to the side as she grinned nervously.

"Sorry." she said, rubbing the back of her head.

Rueben gestured a wave of his hand to her. He then turned to face the ten students assigned to his watch..

"Now that we are all here, we may begin." He announced to them.

"Today you all shall be embarking on your journey of becoming a knight of Lothadare. But it is no one you shall take alone."

Pyrrha and Blake glanced to each other, gesturing a smile. Only for when Pyrrha to turn forward, the smile that was once upon Blake's face to turn to a frown. Followed by her glancing away in contempt.

"The Team Trial shall determined who it will be you that you shall be taking that journey with." Rueben continued to say.

"What the fates have decided for each and everyone of you. It shall be a test of skill, of resolve. But most of all... Teamwork."

Rueben turned forward toward the wall behind him.

"Now, lets get a move on, shall we?" The Headmaster proclaimed.

"Uh, how exactly are we getting there?" Keith asked, curiously.

Rueben then raised his staff, pointing the very tip to the sky over. Conjuring his magic which then shot forward with a bright yellow bolt, dispersing into several bolts which then descended over the field below. Upon touch the very found, the bolts of magic dispersed and formed into portals before the eight groups. As a portal formed before the Headmaster, he then glanced back at Pyrrha and the others.

"Now then, let's be on our way." The Headmaster proclaimed, staggering into the portal.

Pyrrha and the other followed after the headmaster. Just as Blake was to step inside, she was then brushed aside by Cardin who gave a sly smirk to her. Blake glanced up at him, sternly. Pyrrha came up next to her, placing her hand over her shoulder as the two watched Cardin and his gang enter the portal. Them to follow soon after.