The three of us broke through the trees and entered a long clearing. To our right was a stone ruined temple with pedestals arranged in a semi-circular pattern. To our left was a distant cliff face and what looked like stone towers just beneath it.
"Do you think this is it?" Yang asked Blake, who responded with an unamused look.
I opted to lean heavily against a tree and look out over the clearing. My legs were in almost numb from over-exertion. "You two go on ahead. I'll catch up in a little bit. Just need a moment to rest."
Yang looked at me, puzzled. "We just took a break five minutes ago. Why would you need another so soon?"
"Yang," Blake interrupted before I could retort. "She will be fine. Ask your questions after we get this done."
She eventually acquiesced, and the two of them went down to the stone temple where their relics were supposedly located. I had a great view over the clearing where I could watch the remainder of 'Initiation' take place.
Six more people eventually found their way to the temple, all in their own way. Half of them fell from the sky, somehow. Two rode in on one of those black monsters. The last one rushed into the clearing with an enormous scorpion chasing them.
It was at this moment, watching colorful teenagers fight against gigantic monsters, where I started to really wonder where the heck I ended up. Unfortunately, the monsters weren't the only thing about this place that concerned me. The people here were using abilities very much akin to a Warframe. One of them created a wall of ice similar to Frost, another created clones like Ash, and Yang could hurl fire blasts like Ember.
Who were these people?
After at least ten minutes of fighting a gigantic scorpion and equally oversized feathered bird, ending in victory for the teenagers, a twin engine aircraft appeared over the cliff face. This was when I made my move. I stood up from my spot beneath the tree and started a light jog to the strange aircraft landing in the clearing. This was my only chance to get some answers.
"Hey, Tenno!" Yang called to me over the roar of the engines, "We were just talking about you!"
Blake was already inside the aircraft's passenger compartment and extended a hand toward me. I grabbed it and she pulled me inside. I claimed the seat next to her, glad to be sitting down again. The aircraft took off after I strapped myself in.
One of the passengers leaned over and extended a hand to me, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tenno! My name is Pyrrha Nikos!" I shook it and nodded.
The boy sitting next to her also leaned over to offer his hand, "Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it." I doubted that claim, but I shook his hand and nodded anyway.
"I'm Nora! The quiet one over there is Ren! We found each other by imitating sloth noises!" The girl called 'Nora' said first, then hastily extended a hand my way as if remembering its something she should be doing. I hesitantly shook the limb in greeting. I nodded toward the only other male in the aircraft, whom I assumed to be Ren.
"Weiss Schnee," The last girl greeted, not offering a hand. She looked exhausted, so I could excuse the lack of formalities. "That oaf was right; you do look like my partner. Thankfully, I can tell you're much more mature than her. I believe we'll get along swimmingly."
"My sister is at the top of the cliff. We'll stop there before we get to Beacon." Yang pointed out the window as we circled around a a red and black figure with a long trailing cloak. "Did you see that thing my little sis did to that Nevermore? It was so awesome!"
"Hey! I was the one to launch her in the first place, and I made those glyphs to propel her up the cliff!" Weiss retorted before I could respond. The aircraft landed roughly on the open ground, side doors opening to let the new passenger inside.
"Hey everyone!" The newcomer chirped, looking over everyone in the cabin as she claimed the last seat next to Weiss. Her gaze stopped on me. "Wow. Yang was right. You do look like me a little bit."
"I keep getting told that." I responded over the aircraft taking off again. "Anyway, it's nice to meet all of you. My name is Tenno, and I have a lot of questions to ask. Preferably to someone with authority."
"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white Rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team Juniper." Headmaster Ozpin formally announced the teams and their leaders in a rather hasty, but nonetheless proud moment for all involved. "Lead by Jaune Arc."
For some, it was downright baffling. Just by looking at that boy I could tell he didn't belong here, let alone be made leader of his own team, JNPR.
"And finally, Blake Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Yang Xiao Long. The four of you retrieved the white Knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team Ruby."
That wouldn't get confusing. Team RWBY on paper, Team Ruby out loud.
"Lead by Ruby Rose."
Wow. Did this Ozpin guy even know what he was doing? Blake or even Weiss would have been a better choice for the leadership role, not an immature girl two years everyone's junior. I didn't voice my dissent from my place at the back of the auditorium. I didn't want any more attention brought my way.
After a few parting words, the crowd of faceless students dispersed, undoubtedly turning in for the night. I stayed in my seat, watching Ozpin make his way toward me.
"Miss Tenno, is it?" He greeted, then leaned in close to my face. "You… have silver eyes."
The observation caught me off guard, but not enough to let it show. Ozpin quickly changed topic at my lack of response.
"Normally, we end our Initiation with less potential students after its conclusion. This would be the first year the opposite has happened."
"I'm not looking to become a student; I'm not a child." I corrected the Headmaster. "I'm looking for answers."
"Aren't we all?"
"With all due respect, don't be vague with me. I need to know where I am and how I ended up here, as it is very important I get back home as fast as possible." I watched Ozpin's expression and waited for a response.
"We call this planet Remnant, Miss Tenno. As for where it is, I cannot tell you. Not many of our people dedicate their lives to astronomy." He took a sip from his mug as if the presence of an extraterrestrial alien didn't bother him in the slightest. "I would recommend you visit the academy's infirmary. We can provide a place for you to rest and offer physical therapy to reverse the muscle atrophy you are very clearly afflicted by."
Observant. Calm. Caring… It would be foolish to pass up on his offer. Besides, this was a school, right? There might be a thing or two I could learn here. I would need to swallow my pride and accept his help. At least for now.
"Fine. I'll go. But we are going to have a long talk in the morning." I stood from my seat. "Seeing as this is your school, would you mind showing me where the infirmary is located?"
Ozpin nodded and turned toward the closest auditorium exit, "Follow me. I'll lead you there."
I did as he asked, and we were soon walking through Beacon's hallways and courtyards. Many students and faculty were still outside their dorm rooms talking about trivial things. A few of them glanced my way, but very quickly refocused on their friends once they recognized my company. What captured my attention, however, were the plainly non-human traits some of the students and faculty displayed. Traits from old-Earth animals. A rabbit's ears, a wolf's fangs, a boar's tusks, all growing out of people as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Theses animal traits were utterly bizarre and had no biological purpose to being there.
"They are called Faunus, Miss Tenno," Ozpin said as if he was reading my thoughts, "And they have just as much a reason to be here as anyone else. Beacon Academy does not discriminate against one's race or ethnic background. All are welcome to attend. Even you." He stopped at an elevator door and pressed the call button.
"I'm not interested in becoming a student, Ozpin." I reaffirmed, leaning against the wall next to the elevator. My legs were already starting to hurt. "While it's nice to know you're not racist, that doesn't matter to me. What I want to know is why you want to help me and how you know I'm not from your world?"
The elevator arrived at our floor with a beep, depositing two students talking about their teammates. We entered the cabin and Ozpin waved a device in front of a scanner. He pressed a button on a holographic display and the elevator began moving.
"I am helping you merely because I want to." Ozpin responded. "You are in an academy that has students who want to do nothing more than to help others. At least, that is my hope. We make very powerful individuals, Miss Tenno. I believe you have what it takes to become the greatest huntress Remnant, or your world, has ever seen."
"Speaking of which. How do you know I'm not from Remnant?" I asked, mildly impatient.
Ozpin merely smirked and responded with, "An emaciated human appears in the forest, wearing a skin-tight jumpsuit, kills a creature of Grimm with nothing more than a wave of her hand, without any Aura, and you're surprised I can see she doesn't belong here?"
"You saw that? How did you-"
"I have hidden cameras throughout the Emerald Forest to monitor Initiation. You happened to appear at just the right time."
The elevator stopped with a bing, opening the door to another hallway. Ozpin strutted out and I followed as quickly as my aching legs would allow. The headmaster stopped before a set of double doors with the word 'Infirmary' blown up and stretched to fit on both doors. He pushed them open with a flourish and I quickly entered behind him before they closed. Those doors seemed… heavy.
"Headmaster Ozpin!" The woman behind the front desk seemed surprised by his entrance. "What can I do for you this evening?"
"Glynda, this is Miss Tenno. Miss Tenno, this is Glynda Goodwitch, headmistress and acting head-nurse at Beacon Academy." Ozpin introduced us. Glynda looked at me once before recognition dawned on her expression.
"Ah, Miss Tenno. A pleasure to meet you." The headmistress greeted me with words that seemed overused. "She is the one from Initiation, correct?"
Ozpin nodded. "She will be staying at Beacon Academy as a guest until further notice. I will assign her a visitor's room tomorrow morning, so Miss Tenno is to stay here for tonight."
Glynda nodded and stood up – by the stars why does everyone have to be so tall – and waved me deeper into the infirmary. "Thank you, Ozpin. I'll handle everything else from here."
The headmaster nodded and left the infirmary. He was very obviously hiding something, but it was no use pondering over it.
I followed the acting head-nurse through a few doors and into the patient's hallway. "Hey, Glynda. Ozpin mentioned something about 'Aura' and not having one myself. What does he mean by that?"
We entered an empty room and she flicked on the lights. "Firstly, you are to refer to me as Miss Goodwitch. Second, how could you not know what Aura is?"
I wasn't fond of her attitude towards me, and I retorted hotly, "I'm not a child! Do not even think to treat me like one! And didn't Headmaster Ozpin tell you I had no 'Aura' to begin with? Didn't he tell you I'm not from-" I stopped myself before potentially confidential information found its way out of my mouth.
To her credit, Glynda stood and watched me silently through my small rant. It made me feel even more like a child.
"Headmaster Ozpin has informed me of your physical condition. We can start physical therapy tomorrow after a full night's rest." She promptly left the patient's bedroom without another word, softly closing the door.
I didn't have time to tell her I was incapable of sleeping. With an exasperated sigh, I sat on the floor, crossed my legs, and closed my eyes. At least meditation can help pass the time.