Half a mile from his home, Rios stood in the middle of a small clearing deep within the snow covered forest. His old tattered cloak billowing in the cold wind as he looked down at the large, flat stone that stood from the ground with writing carved into the smooth surface.
Vance & Willow
Loving Parents and Loyal Hunters
"In the Darkness, the fires of Hope will set us free."
Kneeling over the grave, Rios removed the axe and bow from his back and laid them across one another over the ground below the headstone. "I'm sorry it's been as long as it has." he said quietly. "There has been a lot on my mind for the last couple of days, but I believe you already know all about that."
The young hunter smiled softly a moment before becoming serious again, "I've decided to go to Beacon. I know deep down that would be what you wanted for me. Though I can't guarantee that it'll change my mind about the whole experience being a waste of time, given everything you both taught me about how to survive in the world."
A small gust of wind picked up, oddly warmer than what it should have been as it caressed his face and gently flowed past his wolf-ears. Rios smiled again, "I'll do you both proud." he vowed, reaching out and laying his hand on the grave stone. Keeping it there for a couple of moments before picking up the weapons and standing.
"I don't know when I will return. But I hope that you will be there with me on this journey." Rios looked down at the weapons in his hands. Leviathan, his father's axe. And Artemis, his mother's bow.
"...I know you will be." said the young hunter as he slipped the weapons onto his back. Sending one final look as his parents' grave before turning and heading back toward home.
After the call he had made to Ozpin, Rios had gathered together everything he had needed for not only the journey to Vale, but also for the time he would be spending at the academy he would soon become a part of.
Entering the house, he approached the couch where a large rucksack was already packed and waiting. Picking it up and throwing it over his shoulder, the young hunter gave his home one last look before heading back outside, locking the door behind him before going down the long trail that led through the forest.
Making sure his belongings were secure to his back, Rios gathered his aura to his legs and shot off into the trees. Infusing the energy into his muscles granting him speed that surpassed an average person. The snow covered landscape blurring past him as he headed in the direction of the nearest village.
He had a long trip ahead of him.
X
A bloody and chaotic battle waged in all directions. Men in ancient armor were locked in fierce combat against a massive army of barbarians, the armored warriors outnumbered by the thousands as they were mercilessly slaughtered.
Despite how hard they fought back, the smaller army was overwhelmed by the sheer number and ferocity of their enemies.
In the very center of the carnage, the Commander of the armored soldiers was locked in his own battle against the hulking chieftain of the barbarians. The bigger man wielding a massive warhammer and making it harder for the other man to land an effective hit against his opponent.
"Is the best the 'Great Sparta' has to offer?" the chieftain goaded as he swung his hammer down hard. The weapon impacting the ground just after the Commander had managed to roll out of harms way.
"You and your savages will regret this day!" the smaller man bellowed back, bringing his sword to bare and charging his enemy with a fierce battle-cry.
The chieftain grinned ferally, a wide swipe of his warhammer landed hard against the Commander, sending him spinning in the air and landing in a heap on the ground. His sword fly from his hand and was lost somewhere on the battlefield.
Coughing up blood, the Commander looked at the carnage around him. His army was all but decimated, a few brave souls still fought, most gravely injured but refusing to back down even in the face of death.
But as damning as it was to accept...the battle was all but lost to them this day.
A deep, rumbling laugh drew his attention back to the chieftain. Looking up at the larger man from his back as he loomed over him. "It is over." he said grinning in victory, "Our next conquest...will be Sparta itself! Be thankful that you won't get to see your cherished home burn to the ground!" he raised the warhammer in high in the air, intending on dealing the final blow to the young Commander of the Spartans.
His death all but certain, the bald, red marked warrior gritted his teeth, defiant to the end...but then he saw it.
In the sky above, the clouds swirled and pulsed with a power that was none of this world. Then he felt it, a powerful presence that many great warriors had only prayed to feel while in the heat of battle.
HE was watching from his throne up on Olympus...it was his only chance for victory, for survival. The Commander didn't hesitate;
"ARES!" he bellowed, hand raised to the heavens, "DESTROY MY ENEMIES! AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!"
The skies opened up, a massive vortex was revealed that shined brighter than the sun itself. All the fighting came to a stop, both armies staring up at the heavens at the spectical as a towering, all powerful being began to descend upon them...
X
Rios blinked his eyes open, the remnants of the dream he'd been having slowly drifting to the back of his mind as he rejoined the waking world.
He'd been having dreams similar to that one for the last couple of months. Each one about the same bald, tribal marked man that fought with a ferocity and strength greater than any huntsman. Each one becoming more vivid than the last as he seemed to see the man's life from his perspective.
There was no explanation for the appearance of the dreams...but each one left him confused and a bit drained by the end.
Yawning, he sat up in his seat aboard the large transport ship that was currently heading to Vale. The wolf-Faunus had spent the last four traveling. Arriving at the small town in the valley where he lived, he got land transport to Atlas where he booked passage to the next kingdom via dust plane.
Showing the customs officials the credentials Ozpin had given him, he had no trouble in his journey, though he still got odd looks given his rough and rugged appearance that apparently didn't 'fit in' in Atlas.
Torn un-kept clothing was looked upon with contempt by those from a 'higher-class', even more so given that he was a Faunus. But Rios merely ignored them and their shallow ways and let his mind wander as he boarded the plane and got plenty of rest from his journey so far.
Looking across from him, Rios saw a little boy with brown hair looking back at him with curiosity and awe. Giving a gentle smile in return, he waved at the boy who waved back grinning widely. The boy's mother saw the interaction and pulled her child's attention away, "Don't interact with it sweetie." she said before sending a harsh glare at the wolf-Faunus and moving herself and the boy to another place to be seated.
The hunter watched them go, keeping his frustration of the woman's prejudice in check and took a breath to calm himself. Even after all the years since the last war, the Faunus were still looked upon as second-rate compared to others.
Although not everyone was that way, there were many Humans who treated Faunus with equality. But there were still a great deal who looked upon them with hate, fear or indifference, many businesses openly refusing to serve them or give them jobs simply because they were different.
And things weren't getting any better thanks to the White Fang and their terrorist-like attacks. Making all Faunus look like the monsters everyone believed them to be. Forcing some of them to hide their animal features so that they had a chance to fit in with the rest of the world.
Rios, however, wasn't one of those Faunus. He grew up proud of his heritage and was always told to never be ashamed of who he was.
"Attention passengers. We will be arriving in Vale shortly, please gather your luggage and prepare to disembark." the PA system chimed with a female voice. All of the passengers gathered their things and waited for the ship to touch down.
The wolf-Faunus pulled out his rucksack from the compartment beneath his seat, making sure that everything was in place while he waited for the ship to touch down.
It would be a couple more weeks before the start of the new semester at Beacon, and Rios had already decided to familiarize himself with Vale during that time before starting at the academy. There wasn't much point in being in a new place if you didn't know the lay of the land. And according to the information Ozpin had sent him after accepting the invitation, all new students coming from other kingdoms were put up in a couple of hotels around Vale until the start of the new year, so he didn't have to worry about a place to stay thankfully.
However, it was strange to have such things already prepared for him, having been used to foraging for himself for so long. But if there was one thing Rios could be sure of it was how to adapt...though that didn't make it any less odd given his upbringing.
Several minutes later, the transport vessel touched down on the sky-port on the far edge of Vale, the passengers beginning to disembark down the ramps that extended. Rios was the last one off, his large bag slung over his shoulder as he took in the new sights and sounds around him.
Vale was a bit different compared to Atlas. The Northern kingdom looked more advanced given that it was home to not only the biggest militant army on Remnant, but also the Schnee Dust Company headquarters as well.
Vale, however, looked to be more like an average city, calm yet busy at the same time. Not nearly as crowded with people and had a more average feel to it. It wasn't a bad change.
Wolf-ears twitching frequently, the hunter took out the scroll that had been given to him and checked the directions to where he would be staying. Closing the device down, he started making his way in the right direction.
X
On the other side of the sky-port, another ship was letting off passengers that had been traveling from Mistral. One of said passengers was a young woman with bright-green eyes, long flowing red hair tied into a ponytail and a very athletic figure.
She smiled kindly at a few flight attendants, a duffel bag in each hand and dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a red hoodie as she disembarked.
Pyrrha Nikos was known throughout Remnant as one of the youngest and most talented up and coming huntresses. Being the top of her class at Sanctum, she had also won four tournaments with her impressive skills, making her a celebrity in her home kingdom. It was all of this together that all but ensured her acceptence into Beacon academy.
However, there was more of a personal reason for wanting to attend combat school in another kingdom.
Given her fame, it was very hard for her to make connections with other people. Either she would be approached for the sake of either getting an autograph and being used for her status, or she was avoided given her level of strength and skill which was considered intimidating by many.
Because of all of this, Pyrrha didn't have many friends, if any at all. And she didn't enjoy any of it.
She enjoyed training, and always had the dream of being a huntress for the sake of making the world a better place. But she didn't think that would entail all of the attention that was thrust upon her, being given names like 'The Warrior Goddess' or 'The Invincible Girl', the latter of the two her least favorite.
There was even a time when she was a model for a breakfast cereal, though the cereal itself was overly sweet and didn't taste too good in her opinion. It was another reason why she wanted to search for education elsewhere.
So when she was given the opportunity to attend a different school in a different kingdom, she saw a chance to make connections with people she couldn't back in Mistral.
Taking a deep breath and adjusting the hold she had on her luggage, Pyrrha headed into the city toward the direction of the hotel where she would be staying unti the start of the new school year.
She'd been to Vale a couple of times, one of the tournaments that she had one had been held here and she knew the lay of the land rather well. And since she would be here for the next four years it would work to her benefit if and when she needed something outside of school.
Making her way down the sidewalk among the early afternoon foot traffic, the red-headed huntress in training took in all the sights and sounds around her. A small smile lighting up her pretty face as she enjoyed the warm, sunny day.
Mistral was located in a much warmer climate, some days could get as high as 90 degrees depending on the season. So the weather here in Vale was actually rather refreshing.
Green eyes checking out the many shops and restaurants, Pyrrha rounded a corner ahead of her and failed to see the tall individual that had stopped until she walked right into him.
A soft gasp of surprise escaped her while a small grunt came from the one she bumped into. "I'm so sorry!" she apologized a moment later, "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
The individual turned around and Pyrrha was met with the visage of a rather handsome young man around her age if not a year older. His outfit consisting of combat boots, a pair of torn black cargo pants and long sleeve thermal shirt beneath a ragged brown cloak.
Messy, slightly spiked black hair covered his head with a pair of black wolf-ears peaking out. A pair of light-hazel eyes met her gaze, a jagged scar running over his right one from his forehead to the center of his cheek giving off a slightly intimidating aura.
But the calm half-smile he gave back to her defused that bit.
"It's fine. Had to stop and check out some directions." he replied holding up his scroll while having a large rucksack slung over his left shoulder.
Pyrrha blinked, her face darkening a bit when she realized she'd been staring more than a bit. "Oh, uh, anything I can help with? It's the least I can do for running into you."
The wolf-Faunus shrugged and handed her his scroll, "Trying to find this place." he said showing her the map on the screen with the location he needed to go marked. The Mistral champion was surprised to see that he was heading in the same direction she was.
"You're on your way to the Vytal Peak Hotel too?" she asked looking back at him.
"Yeah, I take it your attending Beacon as well?" he asked in return and getting a nod, "Mind showing me the way? Never been to Vale before."
Pyrrha smiled, "It would be no trouble." she said as they started walking together toward their destination. "If you don't mind my asking, can I get your name?"
The Faunus held out his only free hand, "Soterios, though a select few call me Rios."
"Pyrrha Nikos, nice to meet you." she said back as they shook hands. The champion feeling the roughness of his palms which was a clear sign of how much he worked with them.
They walked a few feet before the red-head spoke again, "So, you said you've never been to Vale. Which kingdom are you from?"
"I'm not from any kingdom," replied Rios, "I live in the Frostbite forest in the Northern Frontier."
"The Northern Frontier?" wondered Pyrrha, surprised given how isolated the location was from what she knew. "I thought such a place was uninhabitable given the extreme weather conditions and Grimm presence?"
Her companion shrugged, "I've lived there most of my life. And I wouldn't call it uninhabitable, dangerous, yes, but that's only if you don't know how to survive the environment and wildlife." he replied casually.
Nodding in understanding, Pyrrha was quiet for a few moments trying to decided whether to ask more about him or continue their travels in silence. Rios saw this and decided to ask a question or two of his own.
"Which kingdom are you from?" he asked getting her to perk up a little.
"Mistral, I graduated from Sanctum a few months ago." replied the young champion. Her already peaked curiosity rising a little more when she didn't see the overly excited or hesitant reaction she usually got when she mentioned her name and where she was from.
Perhaps it was the fact that he lived in such a remote location, either way, it was nice to have a conversation with someone that didn't result in discussing her celebrity status. "Did you attend combat school before being accepted into Beacon?" she asked curiously.
Rios shook his head, "The headmaster invited me to attend himself. As for schooling, my parents trained me from when I was young. I never actually attended a combat school before."
The red-head was surprised again, to have professor Ozpin invite a student personally really means something about the level of skill the Faunus had. "That's very impressive. To have the headmaster of Beacon invite you personally, you must have really impressed him."
"...Guess so." he replied with a bit of hesitation. They arrived at the hotel a few minutes later, after getting checked in, the duo headed to where their rooms were which happened to be in on the same floor a few doors away from each other.
"Thanks again for showing me the way, I appreciate it." said Rios as he stopped by his door.
"Thank you for the company, it was nice talking to you." replied Pyrrha, biting her lip nervously before adding, "I wouldn't mind meeting up and talking a bit more. If you're okay with it that is! I mean, we are going to Beacon together and there's a chance we'll see each other a bit while we're there." The last portion of her statement being rushed giving how it sounded which had her cheeks coloring a shade lighter than her hair.
Rios gave her a half-smile and nodded, "I'd like that. Don't be a stranger, Pyrrha." he said before he opened the door to his room and stepped inside. The Mistral champion giving him one last smile of her own before heading down the hall toward her room.
Her spirits a little lighter than before as she got herself situated.
X
Looking at the standard room he'd been given for the next week and a half, Rios tossed his ruck sack at the foot of the lone bed before taking a seat on it.
There wasn't a whole lot to the living space, just the bed, nightstand, a small table with a chair and a dresser with a tv on it. There was also a one person bathroom making the overall room very spartan in style, which was all perfectly fine to the Faunus.
Pulling up his bag, he opened it up and started pulling out his luggage. Laying his weapons on the table in the corner of the room and putting his clothes in the dresser. It was still early in the day, but after all of the traveling he'd done in the last week with little sleep he was feeling fatigued and decided to grab a little rest before doing much else.
After disrobing and taking a quick shower, Rios put on a fresh pair of boxers before collapsing onto the bed. His mind going over everything thus far, which included his interaction with the beautiful red-head he had met on the way there.
Normally he was a very private and closed off person, but there was something about Pyrrha and her warm and kind demeanor that drew him out a bit more than what he was used to. And it really didn't hurt to get to know someone who would be going to the same academy as he was.
Blowing out a slow breath, the wolf-Faunus closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
X
A deafening hush fell over the blood soaked battlefield as the skies above opened above them. Moments later, a massive, imposing, all powerful being stepped forth. Standing taller than any structure built by man, wearing thick armor covered in chains, his beard and shoulder length hair blazing like a deadly fire, was the god of war himself...
Ares.
His feet touched the ground with a tremendous quake as he towered over all, his dark, piercing gaze locked onto the one who called his name and promised their very soul for his aid.
The Commander was on his knees, bowing before the powerful god who had heard his call. "My life, is yours, Lord Ares." he vowed as he rose up to look at his future master. "From this day forth, I shall carry your very will."
Ares was emotionless a moment, before a blade-like smile spread across his face. "VERY WELL, SPARTAN." the God of War's voice boomed, raising his arms and gathering energy around himself before sending it out in a powerful shockwave.
All around the battlefield, barbarians started dying in quick succession. Some burning alive as they suddenly caught on fire, others grabbing their heads in agony before their skulls exploded in fountains of gore. Each enemy of the Commander dying more gruesomely than the last.
For the man himself, Ares turned to him when the barbarians were all but finished. "NOW, MY NEW DISCIPLE, FOR PLEDGING YOUR LOYALTY TO ME, YOU WILL BARE A WEAPON FITTING OF YOUR NEW STATUS HERE IN THE MORTAL WORLD." a portal of fire opened behind the god and several, humanoid, flying creatures came forth.
Echoing shrieks resonated among the creatures as they closed in on the Commander, one of them clutching two demonic, and deadly looking swords attached to chains in their sharp talons.
The Commander held out his arms, accepting the fate that would be bestowed upon him.
The chains connected to the swords glowed bright orange and came to life, like serpents, they shot from the flying creatures and straight toward him. Each one coiled around an arm, the super-heated metal hissing as the links seared into his flesh, a cry of pure agony ripped from his throat as the weapons were bound to him, and by extension binding him to his new lord and master.
A permanent reminder of the man's pledge to Ares...and in return; ultimate power.
When the chains cooled, a powerful rage burned through the Commander as he brought the blades to bare. Swinging them on their chains as he brought them together, decapitating the barbarian chieftain who had been frozen in disbelief at what had happened before him.
The severed head of the enemy leader flew through the air, blood spraying in a spinning arc behind it as it landed among the piles of corpses that had once been his formidable army.
"VERY GOOD, MY DISCIPLE." Ares' voice echoed through the now silent battlefield. "NOW GO FORTH, AND SPREAD MY WILL THROUGHOUT THE MORTAL WORLD. DESTROY ALL WHO OPPOSES ME."
"By your word, Lord Ares." the Commander vowed to the God of War as he stood upon the pile of bodies that had been his enemies. It was the beginning of a new era for him...and one that would cost him more than he realized...
X
Rios snapped awake with a gasp, holding his throbbing head from suddenly sitting upward when blood rushed upward too quickly.
Taking a few seconds to let the pain subside and blink away the last bit of the most recent dream experience, he got out of bed and staggered his way to the bathroom. Flicking on the light and squinting through the brightness as he went to the skin, splashing cool water on his face to help wake himself up a bit more.
Whatever these dreams were, they were becoming more and more intense, yet he still couldn't make heads or tails of them no matter how hard he tried. So all he could do was endure until he could figure it all out.
Heading back into the main room, he checked the time and saw that it was now early evening. The sun had just barely started to set with the beginning twilight painting the sky an array of bright and dark colors.
Now wide awake, the wolf-Faunus felt his stomach remind him that he hadn't eaten yet that day and decided to head out for a bite. Grabbing a clean set of clothes, he started to dress for his outing.
Completely unaware of the chain-shaped burn marks on his forearms that his aura was quickly healing.
X
A/N: Looks like someone's reliving the past hardcore style.
It's good to see a lot of you guys happy to see this back up and running again. Don't worry, it won't be going anywhere now. I got several more updates already finished and waiting to be posted, when you're ready I'll have them up for all to see and enjoy.
Also, if anyone's got any ideas that they think might fit into this story feel free to PM me. I'm always happy to see what you guys would incorporate if given the chance, and I just might put it in if I am able.
Till next time, read, review and kick ass guys!