"Breathe deeply. Allow the tension to roll from your shoulders, be weightless." Catalaya said to the Hunters. During the night, Cat had gone over events of the previous day. She was both proud and disappointed, proud that the mortals had found a way to break free of Tifana's illusion, yet disappointed that she'd not taught them the important items such as magical sensory. The moment the sun began to rise, she set out to create a serious of tests, exercises, and what not to make sure they were prepared for what may very well come. At the call of the rooster, she woke up the group as gently as possible; using the airhorn Nora had in her pack.
The group was beyond startled and bordering on angry, at least until Cat gave them what Ruby had dubbed the Death Stare. They moved quickly to prepare. First she had them learn to burst, which is the magical equivalent of a sudden sprint, by instilling fear. Weiss was the "assistant teacher" then, demonstrating how the process was done, having already done this numerous times. The only ones able to master it easily were Ruby and Velvet, runners at heart. Yatsuhashi and Yang had the most trouble, best suited for heavy, strongarm tactics, not running in those conditions.
After that was defensive tactics. Catalaya had Weiss conjure ice spheres and hurl them at the others, speeding up the projectile gradually, until she was confident they could handle bombardments. Jaune, unsurprisingly, was the best at this, his very fighting style relying mostly on avoiding his opponents. Yang found deflecting them easier for her just as Blake could use her environment to her advantage.
At the moment, they were trying to unlock their magic potential through meditation, the catch was they had to do it under a small waterfall. "This is fucking useless." Yang grumbled as her hair draped over her face. "Its the best way to unlock your potential." Cat spoke from a rock across from the group who sat in a line beneath the water. "Why do we need to so this?" Coco asked. "Because neither Cat nor myself can constantly protect you. You must learn to protect yourself from any enemies weilding magic, which means every one of them." Weiss said from beneath the water.
With that Coco went silent as Cat repeated their instructions. "Simply breathe, think of nothing and no one. Focus on the sound of the water, on the birds, and the feel of the wind." She walked beside each person, checking posture and breathing. "The cold water is a blanket of shelter, it soothes you and brings you into its embrace. Listen to the feeling of your beating hearts, listen to its monotonous sound. Embrace the feeling of peace, fall into a calm trance. All will fall into place."
Just like that slowly, one by one the members of Hunters fell into a trance, digging deep into themselves and searching for their potential. In the darkness of their soul, they gathered together, asleep on a floor made of aura. "What's going on?" Ruby asked as she stretched as though she'd had a nap. "You're in your spirit." A voice said, echoing off the walls.
Yang jumped up, "Who are you?" The voice didn't respond, "Through the door is your magic. It may hurt a smidge." One could tell the voice was shrugging. Weiss herself hadn't gone through this trail, her magic was close to the surface, slightly easier to access. Catalaya had recommended that she participate with the others in order to get more control.
The group slowly split, drawn outward by a strange, compelling force.
Ruby's Journey
Ruby, though inherently cautious, followed willingly, her feet moving of their own volition. As she journeyed further she felt warmer, safer, more safe than she's felt in a long time. A calm light stood not far in front of her, its prescence a soothing blanket over her mind. As she entered the light she almost collapsed at what she saw; her childhood home.
The cobblestone pathway, rose bushes resting at the front of the home, and the tire swing attached to a tree in the front yard. "Ruby, sweetheart." She turned to see none other than her mother, Summer Rose, on the front porch looking at her with a soft smile. "Come sit with me." Ruby soundlessly, and slowly walked up the front steps, her eyes never leaving her mother's form.
Suddenly, Summer leapt and hugged her daughter tightly. "It's been too long." Ruby was crying,"Mom.. How are y-you here?" Summer chuckled softly, "I don't know the answer myself." Ruby laughed, "Then is it right for me to assume you're here to help me?"
Summer pulled away with a large grin, "Indeed." She gently pulled her daughter up with her to the front yard.
"You're friend is right, you must learn to protect yourself from enemies who use some type of magic." Ruby nodded along, she knew this already but had no clue how to go about it. She was scared that her mother was just an illusion, yet, the very fact that she is standing before her was enough for her to forget that. Summer Rose created a sword out of thin air and said, "Let's get started." Ruby smiled and followed after her mom.
With Catalaya At The Waterfall
Catalaya had been watching the group very carefully. Making sure their breathing remained even, their body's core temperature stable, and that a calm aura surrounded them, keeping them safe. Her gaze continuously traveling to Weiss then immediately directing to someone-anyone-other than her. She checked on her much more than the rest of the humans, at least until she realized it. Cat's feelings for the pale woman were closer to the surface, what with her worrying over the group who had remained in their trance for so long. With it so quiet she was left with her thoughts, which just as her actions, were flooded with Weiss.
Cat was increasingly frustrated, the wolf shifter had known that she wasn't having friendly feelings for the mage, but actually realizing the extent of her emotions made her confused. Cat was taught as a child that most emotions, besides anger, were unneeded, that they were useless and must be squashed before they get too far.
The taller woman had thought of confessing her feelings, her thoughts to Weiss before. An idea quickly shot down by her inner self, her wolf believed the object of her stress-of their affection-should be taken by force, she didn't agree. Thus leaving her in the unbelievably confused mess that she was in now. Cat sighed and looked to the group again, she could only hope they were okay.
Yang's Journey
The blonde hadn't exactly felt anything out of the ordinary while she was walking, she didn't feel that pull everyone else had, she just walked and walked. She thought it was the right direction, yet she had nothing to make sure of this. It was when a blast of heat hit her skin that the feeling grew strong she traveled a bit faster.
Blinking away the light she found herself in a place similar to the Forever Fall Forest, red covered the landscape, not a frightening sight, it was just there, almost calming. She grazed her hands on the trees, admiring the soft bark, and the glistening red leaves. Yang came upon an encampment in a clearing, the tents a dark black with odd white and red symbols covering them.This is so strange, what is this place?She thought to herself. "It's my home." A sultry voice said causing Yang to jump.
In front of her stood a woman with long black hair, she wore a Nevermore Grimm mask on her face, her clothing an ensemble of reds and blacks, and on her left hip rested a large sword. "Who are you?" Yang said with a rough voice, her mind conjuring images of an old photo of her parents BEACON team. "My name is Raven Branwen. Your mother." If Yang wasn't already technically unconscious, she would've been then. Instead she leapt and hit her mother in the jaw, a punch filled with hatred and anger.
Raven didn't fight back, she took the hits, didn't wince or cry, she deserved it all. Her daughter attacked her with unbridled fury, fists flying, hatred in her eyes, her hair billowed behind her like an untamed flame, it made Raven a bit proud.
Yang pummeled the woman for what felt like hours, until she couldn't feel her muscles, till her own knuckles bled, and her breathing shallow. She lay on her side, resting-barely-beside her mother, whose face resembled that of a squashed berry at this point. "Are you done yet?" Raven asked her daughter. "Explain." Is all that Yang replied with. Raven laughed darkly,"I don't know what you want me to say. There's nothing I can say to make this any less worse than it is."
The bandit sighed, "I abandoned you in order to fulfill my duty as leader of the tribe, but also to protect you as well." Yang arched a brow yet before she could speak her bandit mother continued, "Unfortunately the time is not right for me to tell you the tale." Raven sat up slowly, a spell restitching the flesh on her face and throat, gesturing to her open, outstretched palm, "Now, I train you harder than you've ever trained before." With a sly smirk matched only by her blonde daughter, they grasped hands and helped each other from the red ground. Together, already covered in bruises, they started their intense training.
Yang was going to enjoy thisquality timewith her mom.
With Catalaya at the Waterfall
Cat had paused her watch for a moment to snag a quick something for her to munch on; a plump brown rabbit that had most likely sensed a predator's prescence when it ran. Her wolf was most thankful for the meager yet fulfilling meal. Her gaze, blocked slightly from the rabbits blood, was drawn back to the humans when a bright aura enveloped two in particular. Ruby, a woman she'd mistaken for a 12 year old numerous times, seemed to be the first to unlock their potential as indicated by the soothing red aura wrapped around her body.
The same went for her older sister Yang, who seemed to come in at a close second , with a warm, peaceful yellow aura around herself. To Yang's left was Blake, still in her own trance, caused the wolf shifter to worry. A violet aura seemed to appear, fluctuate, then become almost tainted with a frighteningly dark red. "What's going on in your head?" She thought aloud, rushing over and trying to calm the cat faunus who had begun to sweat profusely accompanied by seizure like shakes that rocked her whole body.
Blake's Journey
"Blake!" A gravely voice shouted as she ran through the industrial buildings. "Come back here!" A bullet rushed past her face, imbeding into the wall adjacent. Blake came to A sudden halt as the man of her nightmares stood before her.Adam Taurus.A male bull faunus that had once been her greatest friend and ally years ago. The man had small bull horns atop his head and reds streaks in his onyx colored hair.
As friends, they were in the White Fang, a faunus political association turned terrortist group, together they went from rallies and petitions to high stakes theft and murdering any Anti-Faunus politicians.Why would he be here?She thought to herself as he came close enough to her for her to be able to fell his breath on her skin. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm simply an illusion brought on by your trance, it seems the spell believes I'd be best at helping you unlock your own magic."
With that he backed away, sheathed his weapon and the scenery changed from abandoned industrial sites to a feild of daisies. Blake could tell now that she wasn't overwhelmed by fear that it was an illusion, that didn't make the man any less scary however. Cautiously she approached her old friend turned for, her mind screaming at her to run while her heart demanded she stay to hear him out.
She nodded at illusion Adam, as she was calling him, told her how he was conjured by the recesses of her mind as a physical being created to teach her, to train her in magic. He had no resemblance of the real Adam in personality because he was made from the memories of the Adam she cared deeply for long ago, her best friend.
Blake truly believed this illusion, the youthful Adam wearing his signature polo shirt and khakis stood before her with that mysterious half smile, hand outstretched in peace. With doubt in her mind she took his hand and allowed him to begin her teachings.
Weiss's Journey
I hate magic.Weiss thought to herself repeatedly as when she found her light she was immediately subject to some nonsensical, random shouted out lecture from an image of her father.Why is it everytime I encounter this stuff he has to appear?She thought disdainfully as she lazily avoided another vase being thrown at her head by her outraged parent. Eventually the man seemed to tire and began to breath harshly. "Never thought you'd shut up." Came a familiar voice from the side of the room,Don't tell me?Weiss didn't actually expect her to be in her trance and yet, the 6 foot 3 wolf shifter sat before her, a glass of Scotch over ice in her hands and a delinquent smirk on her face. "Hey there, Snowflake." She winked causing Weiss to blush uncontrollably.
"Why are you here?" Weiss asked with a shy voice, still trying to control her blush. Catalaya just shrugged and took a sip of the strong liquor, "You tell me." From behind her, her father Jacques grunted and snarled out, "Yes, tell me dear." He walked closer to his second daughter drawing a low growl from Cat at his unnecessary closeness.
"Why do you associate yourself with such a mongrel, you deserve better." The sound of shattering glass drew her attention to Catalaya who was growling low, the glass in her hand a shattered mess, blood dripping from numerous gashes in her palm.
"Is that so?" She stood slowly, "because I know for sure she needs adadand not afather." The two powerful beings came close enough to headbutt each other when Weiss split them apart. "That's enough!" She glared at both of the overprotective idiots before before she had a sudden thought.Is this what she meant?Taking into consideration her previous conversation with the real Catalaya she took a deep breath to calm herself and began her own journey.
"I think I understand now." She mumbled to herself before speaking, "You're what's blocking me." Jacques and Catalaya looked at Weiss strangely. "I was taught, by you," she pointed angrily at her father, "how I should live, how I should act, what I should value and what I should toss to the side just like the ambitions you drained from me as a child."
Her father seemed to fall back, shock across his face. Weiss turned to Catalaya who was waiting expectantly, "You, however, have been subtly trying to break me from that mindset. You've been trying to show me the love I never got, right?" Cat nodded, "Indeed."
Weiss smiled to herself and declared, "Now that that stuff is out of the way." She looked expectantly at the two beheamoths in front of her, "Which one of you is teaching me magic?"
"I am." Both Jacques and Catalaya said at once before turning to the other and glaring with enough power to melt an iceberg. Weiss facepalmed hard enough for the slap to echo in the room, "This going to be a long night."
With Catalaya at the Waterfall
"Looks like everyone else has made it through the trial." She said to a semi-conscious Ruby. Ruby had woken up not long after Blake's aura calmed down and was discussing her vision with Cat while waiting for the others to awaken. "That was a trial?" She asked as she brushed Yang's bangs back across her forehead, "Of course. The spell was created by a group of elves that believed if one couldn't conquer their mind's barricades, they weren't worthy of learning magic." Ruby nodded in thought and made a fist, watching with interest as her veins glowed a light red, feeling the magic sparking within her bones. "I feel so..." Cat questioned, "Strong?"
Ruby shook her head, "Different. Like I'm not really there, completely, if that makes sense."
Cat nodded,"I felt like that before as well," Ruby looked at her expectantly,"it felt as though something else was inside my being. Almost tainting my soul, in fact I was pretty much close to the truth. When my mother unlocked my magic, it awoke my wolf, the dark half of a Phantom Beast, my darkness." She looked to Ruby, "Weiss's magic, is like a light, a calm one, that just wraps you up in its comfort." She turned back and watched as they group slowly, groggily awoke, "I can't wait to cultivate it into the dazzling beauty I know it will become someday soon."