Beacon academy could have passed as either a castle or a fortress given how it was built and the massive size of the campus. The many buildings topped with high spires and the endless walkways that went in and around each structure stretched in every direction.
The combat school sat upon a massive cliff face with large waterfalls that fell to the large river that led to the ocean outside of Vale. The rest of the academy was surrounded by a large forest that went on in every direction.
Given the geology of the surrounding area, the only way in or out of the campus was by airship. Making it one of the most secure places in the kingdom.
Rios thought about all this briefly as he stepped off the ramp from the craft that brought all of the students and looked out over the academy with a critical eye. It was an impressive sight, he had to admit. And given the history of this place, there was a high standard set for those hoping to attend.
Standards, that he somehow managed to either meet or bypass to gain entry.
Adjusting the bag on his shoulder, the wolf-Faunus started making his way up the path before him while other airships docked letting more students out.
A few students glanced in his direction as he passed by them, but Rios paid them no mind as he headed toward the building in the front of the campus. There wasn't much in terms of instructions, Ozpin had just told him to head to the atrium where everyone was to gather after arrival.
Yang and Ruby walked ahead of him, also taking in the many sights around them in awe.
"The view from Vale's got nothing on this." said the blonde crossing her arms under her breasts.
Ruby went to comment before her attention was drawn to another student walking by, gasping loudly with stars in her eyes when she saw the weapon they were carrying. "Sis! That guy's got a collapsible staff! And she's got a fire sword!" she started hovering after another student that walked by, only for her sister to drag her back by the hood of her cloak.
"Relax, Ruby. They're just weapons." Yang said with an eye roll.
The younger girl gasped indignantly, "Just weapons?! They're an extension of ourselves! They're a part of us! They're so cool..."
"She's...really into weapons, isn't she." Rios said to Yang with a raised eyebrow.
"You have no idea." she replied before turning to her little sister, "Why don't you swoon over your own weapon? Aren't you happy with it?"
Ruby pulled out her massive scythe and hugged it adoringly, "Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose. I just like seeing new ones. It's like meeting new people...only better."
"Ruby, come on." said the older girl pulling the hood of the other girl's cloak over her face. "Why don't you try make some friends of your own?"
"Why would I need friends when I have you?" Ruby asked in return after fixing her hood.
Her sister chuckled nervously as a group appeared behind her, "Actually...myfriendsareherenowcatchupwithyoulaterbye!" she said all in one breath before she and the others that were with her disappeared so fast that the younger girl spun around and became dizzy.
"Wait! Yang?! Where are you going?!" Ruby called after her as she stumbled around trying to regain her footing. Almost falling into a luggage carrier that was passing had it not been for a strong hand on her back that stopped her in time.
Shaking her head, the young teen looked up at Rios who smiled. "You alright?"
The cloaked girl nodded, "Yeah, it's just..." she trailed off as she looked to where Yang had disappeared. The wolf-Faunus saw the loneliness clearly and patted her shoulder.
"Don't feel bad, Ruby. I'm here on my own too, if that helps any." he said, getting her to smile a bit back at him.
"What are you two doing?!"
They turned their heads and regarded another girl, dressed all in white with pale skin, blue eyes and long white hair that was put up in an off-center ponytail. Everything about her looked prim and proper, someone of high-class, in fact the only flaw about here seemed to be the pink scar that stretched over her left eye.
"Do either of you know what kind of damage you could have caused if one of these broke open?" she demanded while referring to the luggage that was being pushed forward by a butler that was most likely hers.
Ruby scratches her head, "Uhh, sorry?" she said confused about the whole thing while Rios just crossed his arms and looked unimpressed.
The girl scoffed and looked her over a moment, "Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon? This isn't just sparring and practicing you know, we're here to fight monsters. So why don't you and that mongrel start watching where you're going."
"Hey! I said I was sorry for whatever it is I almost did, princess!" Ruby sniped back, not liking the girl's attitude or the way she was treating Rios.
"It's heiress, actually." said another female voice, this one calm and collective as the one it belonged to approached them.
Rios turned his head and saw another young woman approaching them. Slender and moving with a calm grace wearing a black and white outfit with long black hair and amber eyes. The wolf-Faunus' nose twitched when he caught the scent of feline coming off her strongly, and his sharp eyes saw the bow on top of her head twitch ever so slightly.
She cast a glance in his direction briefly, more than likely knowing that he knew she was a fellow Faunus as she closed the book in her hands and tucked it under her arm.
"Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. One of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world." the girl in black said looking at the one in question.
Weiss preened at the introduction, "Finally, some recognition."
"The same company infamous for its controversial work forces, and questionable business partners." the ravenette continued effectively shutting her down.
The heiress glared at them with vindication before turning and stomping away.
Rios shook his head at the girl's attitude. Like most Faunus, he had issues with the Schnee Dust Corporation given what they had done to their kind. Discrimination, forced labor and countless other forms of maltreatment only being the tip of the iceberg.
Turning back, he saw the girl in black walking away while Ruby stood looking after her before slumping down on her knees. "Welcome to Beacon..." she muttered to herself lowly.
"It'll get better." the wolf-Faunus said, holding out a hand and helping her up, "Come on, let's find the main atrium where everyone's meeting up. We'll probably find your sister there."
Ruby smiled at him again as they set off down one of the many walkways around the academy. The two of them walking in relative silence while taking in the scenery.
"So...uh," the younger teen began, struggling to try and start a conversation. "Are you from Vale?"
"You're not used to meeting too many new people, are you?" asked Rios, picking up on her anxiety almost immediately. Ruby laughed nervously, her face turning pink. "And to answer your question, I'm from the Frostbite Forest in the Northern Frontier."
"Oh, that's pretty far away." replied the cloaked girl. "Me and Yang grew up on Patch, that's pretty far away from everything too...but not as cold."
The hunter nodded, "Was raised out there. Learned how to survive off the land. You have to in order to live out there."
Ruby gave another nervous laugh, "So, I have this thing;" she said taking out her prized weapon, Crescent Rose. The massive scythe unfolding from its compact form, the large blade's tip piercing into the stone walkway with a loud thud.
Rios looked the weapon over with sharp eyes, noting that it was hybridized with a high-caliber sniper rifle with the barrel being the shaft of the scythe itself with a scope and trigger mechanism attached.
"Impressive." he said, stepping closer to the black-red themed weapon. "The craftsmanship is a work of art. Well balanced. No doubt your fighting style would be based around the recoil too."
"Yup! She's my baby." Ruby beamed, stroking the weapon almost lovingly. "How about you? What about your weapons?"
The hunter reached back and pulled out Leviathan, "This is my father's axe, Leviathan. The blade was forged with the metal from the weapons of the previous generations in our family, it's a tradition that was passed down for as long as we can remember." he motioned to the ice-dust crystal embedded in the blade. "The dust doesn't need to be changed out often, it's strictly an ice element."
Putting the axe back over his shoulder, Rios brought out his bow next. "This is Artemis, my mother's bow. It may not look like anything special, but my mother made it with her own two hands from an emerald tree that grew outside her house growing up. She was a natural with it, could hit any target better than a soldier with a sniper rifle."
"They trained me in how to use them, and they left them to me when they died. It's like carrying a part of them with me." the wolf-Faunus finished, leaving the younger teen in awe.
"Wow, that's so cool." said Ruby, all the while admiring the the classic-type weapons. "They're well maintained, I bet they've seen a lot."
Rios nodded as he slung Artemis over his shoulder with Leviathan, "More than you can imagine. Come on, everyone's probably gathered in the atrium by now." they continued on their walk. The cloaked girl sending a small smile at the hunter beside her along the way.
X
The duo walked for some time, the younger teen asking Rios about himself while she talked about her time at Signal and her home on Patch with her sister and father.
Rios couldn't help but smile at the girl's energy and enthusiasm. She was a bit innocent and naive, but it seemed to add more to her overall charm. He had a feeling that she was going to go far here at Beacon, especially if she was able to get in sooner than most.
Going through a pair of large double doors while Ruby was talking about her weapon, they were greeted with the sight of dozens upon dozens of people all inside and trying to find a place close to the center stage.
"Ruby! Over here! I saved you a spot!" Yang called out, waving her arm from a few rows up.
"Oh!" the cloaked girl exclaimed before turning to the older boy. "It was nice meeting you, I'll see you after the ceremony, okay!" she called out before running off to meet up with her sister.
Rios blinked as she quickly vanished in a blur of rose petals, his nose twitching when the smell overpowered his senses for a moment when he heard a light chuckle behind him. "Making new friends?"
"Something like that." he replied, turning to find Pyrrha standing there. "How about you? See anyone from Mistral?"
The champion sighed, "One or two, but I don't know them all that well. The joy's of being considered 'The Invincible Girl'." she said solumnly.
"You still got me." said Rios putting a hand on her arm, "Granted you don't mind hanging around a mangy wolf who lives in the wilds." he added with a light smirk which got the red-head to laugh a bit.
"That's true, although you don't strike me as 'mangy'. More like...rough and rugged." said Pyrrha, blushing a bit when she heard herself speak before thinking.
Rios raised an eyebrow and twitched an ear, "You saying you got a thing for 'rough and rugged' types, Miss. Nikos?" he asked, grinning when he saw the girl turn several shades darker than her hair and began sputtering. "Relax, Pyrrha. I'm only joking."
The champion calmed down, doing her best to laugh it off just as the large group of huntsmen/huntress hopefuls started to quiet down when they saw Professor Ozpin stepped onto the stage. Flanked by Glynda Goodwitch as everyone in attendance sat down to hear the man speak.
"I'll keep this brief." he said into the microphone that was set up, his voice echoing all around the room. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge. To hone your craft and to acquire new skills. And when you've finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people."
Everyone listening stood a bit straighter, but his next words stopped them cold. "But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy. Wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this. But your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you, to take the first step."
When he was finished, the headmaster stepped away from the microphone and walked off stage leaving Professor Goodwitch to speak next. "You will all gather into the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."
As the students began to file out of the large room to where they would be sleeping, Rios hung back a moment and narrowed is eyes at where Ozpin had left.
Something about the man seemed, off, compared to how he was when they first met. His speech was a good one, it made the more eager students focus more on what they can get from the academy in a realistic way. But his tone felt wrong, separated from the present.
He'd have to look into it later, for now he'd focus on getting through whatever they had planned for the initiation.
After picking out one of the many lockers that were empty and syncing it to his scroll, he put all of his combat equipment and weapons inside and put a personal pass code for the lock so no one other than himself could get into it. He took his remaining luggage and went into the ballroom where everyone was picking out a spot to sleep in.
The large room had been divided. Girls on one side, boys on the other. It was cliche, but to some it was a good course of action given the number of teens there was to deal with.
Rolling his eyes as he watched a few of the guys in his age group trying to catch the attention of the girls, Rios found a spot in the far corner away from everyone that was beneath a large window and set up his sleeping area. Unfurling a bedroll he'd used from time to time for when he was out in the wilderness away from home, he removed his shirt and kicked his boots off before laying on the semi-soft surface. Hands behind his head as he stared outside at the night sky and letting his mind wander.
So much had changed in such a short period of time. But he was more than prepared for any trials and challenges that might await him. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that was the longer time went on, he would end up forging alliances with various people. Much like he had with Pyrrha
The concept was hard to grasp. Having lived alone for so long, he didn't think he'd have the social skills needed to get along with anyone. Yet he surprised himself rather well.
Noticing that many of the other students had already turned in for the night. Rios decided to get as much sleep as possible, he took a deep breath and calmed his thoughts before closing his eyes. Allowing the hands of sleep to claim him moments later.
X
The storm raged, lightning flashing in the dark sky as rain came down in an endless torrent. The ocean violent as the waves slammed hard against the shipwrecks that had been bound together during the maelstrom.
But the weather was the last thing occupying Kratos' thoughts. The Ghost of Sparta stood atop the mast of one of the shipwrecks, the Blades of Chaos clenched tightly in his hands as he sneered up at the beast that loomed over him.
A massive serpent that rose up from the dark waters, its head adorned with spikes and horns with scales almost as hard as steel and a pair of large fins on either sides of its head. Mist rising from its nostrils before it let loose a bellowing roar that shook the air around the warrior.
But he remained undeterred, standing firm even under the powerful roar. The sounds of combat echoing from below as what remained for the deck hands fought feebly against the smaller beast's smaller heads as they wreaked havoc on the survivors.
With a war-cry of his own, Kratos lunged. His blades swinging in wide arcs on the chains attached to them, the weapons lit ablaze as they carved deep gouges into the serpent's neck. Tearing through the hardened scales and splashing gallons of blood into the air.
The beast screeched, swinging its massive head around and attempting to capture the warrior in its maw. The spartan using one of his blades to grab the mast of the ship and swing out of its path, bringing its twin up and slashing along the monster's face as he came back around, driving both swords into the creature. Using his monstrous strength to smash its head against the top of the mast and splintering the wood.
Staggered, the beast roared before going on the attack once again. Opening its jaws wide and lashing downward. Kratos rolled backwards on the platform just as its fangs sank into it where he had been standing, his body sparking with electricity that exploded out of him in a tornado of power.
The volts of magical energy striking the creature and frying its skin, sending it reeling back in pain as it tried to regain its bearings.
But Kratos would have none of it, slashing with his blades, he struck wherever they could reach at the ends of their chains. Blood raining down around him just as quickly as the rain itself as he speared the beast again and slammed its head down on the far end of the platform, jumping to the other side where he smashed it once again against the mast.
The hardwood shattered under the impact, leaving behind a sharp point which gave the Ghost of Sparta a grand idea to end this conflict.
"Come foul beast! And meet your end!" he roared over the storm.
Shaking off the pain from the last attack, the monster roared as it snapped its head down. Grabbing the warrior in its terrible maw and attempted to swallow him whole.
Kratos planted his feet firmly on the beast's lower jaw, hands grasping the fangs above him while using all his strength to keep its mouth open. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his hands and broke the fangs he'd been holding, using the opening to leap free of the monster's mouth.
Unsheathing his blades, he spun around and launched one directly into the beast's left eye. When it jerked its head back in surprise and pain, he used the leverage to get high enough to land on the end of its snout. Yanking on the chain hard enough to cleave the serpent's eye in half from the socket.
In agony, and half blinded, the creature snapped its head forward, sending the warrior downward...but it was what he had been hoping for.
Kratos lashed out with both blades, spearing into the side of the monster's head. Planting his feet underneath the platform on the downswing, he gripped the chains tightly as he began to pull. The serpent's head being yanked down farther and farther as it tried to break free.
With one mighty pull, the beast's head came down. The sharp end of the mast going into its mouth, up through the roof of its upper jaw and out through its damaged eye. The unholy screech of agony could be heard for miles as it struggled against the makeshift pike it had been impaled by.
The platform collapsed, Kratos dropping down to the deck as he looked on as the serpent thrashed around hopelessly. Blood gushing like a waterfall from its maw before the head collapsed before him unmoving.
Glancing around him, he saw the beast's smaller heads seize before erupting in geysers of crimson. With the main head destroyed, the rest soon followed in its wake.
Sheathing his blades across his back, Kratos turned to leave when he heard shouting from somewhere within the serpent's open mouth.
Curious, he climbed up and entered its throat. Walking down the slick, slimy walls around him, he came to a stop to a long drop that he knew went to the monster's stomach. His eyes finding the ship's coward of a captain struggling to keep from falling to his demise.
"Please! Please help me!" he begged as he fought to keep from sliding farther down.
Kratos snorted, reaching down and grabbing the man by the front of his tunic and hoisting him up.
"Th-Thank you! Thank the gods you came back for me!"
The Ghost of Sparta sneered, "I didn't come back for you." he grabbed the large key from around the man's neck and snapped it off before dropping him down the dead serpent's throat. Ignoring his cries while he fell as he made his way out of the monster and headed off to the other side of the shipwrecks where the Captain's cabin was located.
Unlocking and opening the door, Kratos was greeted with the sight of several undead soldiers laying waste to the innocent people that were housed within. Bringing forth his blades, he cleaved through them with brutal savagery, leaving only blood and severed body parts in his wake.
He had been too late. The undead army had killed everyone and left no survivors. The scene before him making the Spartan remember his greatest failure as he stood among the carnage.
X
Sometime later, the warrior could be seen on a bed in a small vessel that headed to parts unknown. Two naked women sleeping behind him as he sat on the edge, head in his hands as he was once again plagued by the nightmares.
Memories of a past he hoped to escape, that would not grant him peace.
Growling feraly, he snapped his head back and shouted to the ceiling. "ATHENA!"
Ignoring the startled screams of his bed-mates, Kratos stormed up the small stairs that led to the upper deck, slamming open the doors and stepping out into the rain and approaching a stone statue of the Goddess of Wisdom that stood at the bow that had started to glow brightly at his call.
"Ten years, Athena! For ten years I have faithfully served the gods! When will you releave me of these nightmares?!" the warrior demanded.
"We request one final task of you, Kratos." spoke the statue, the Goddess using it as a conduit to speak with her champion. "Your greatest challenge awaits, in Athens. Where even now, my brother Ares lays siege as we speak. Athens is on the verge of destruction, it is the will of Ares that my great city falls. Zeus has forbidden the gods from waging war on each other, that is why it must be you, Kratos. Only a mortal, trained by a god, has a chance of defeating Ares."
"And if I am able to do this, to kill a god. Then the visions, they will end?" Kratos implored.
"Complete this final task, and the past that consumes you will be forgiven." said Athena. "Have faith, Kratos. The gods do not forget those who come to their aid."
The glow faded, the statue becoming still when Athena's influence left it. With a new heading, Kratos went to the helm and steered the ship toward the ancient city.
Where his greatest challenge, and freedom from his growing madness awaited him.
X
Rios awoke, much more gently then he had before. But he could still feel his blood pumping strongly in his veins, like adrenaline injected directly into his heart and spreading to all corners of his body.
Once again he felt as though he were in the man's shoes. Fighting the serpent beast and the undead hordes that prowled the wrecks. The thirst for battle in the dream carrying over into reality and leaving him energized.
It felt...good. Which confused the young hunter to no end.
The sun had just started peeking over the horizon and started shining warm light through the large windows while the other occupants of the ballroom continued to slumber. According to the positioning, it was just after 6:00 in the morning. And since there wasn't any way for him to go back to sleep now he got up and cleared his sleeping area before grabbing his clothes and heading to the locker room.
Once cleaned and dressed, the wolf-Faunus ventured to the cafeteria for breakfast. Settling at a small table the farthest away from the others, he ate silently as the morning continued on. A few hours passed and the other students started to trickle in, rubbing sleep from their eyes or talking excitedly or nervously among one another while they prepared for the day to come as well.
Rios watched them out of the corner of his eye, wondering how many of them would pass by the end of initiation. Some looked promising, others not so much, though only time would tell if their skills were sharp enough to get them through the day.
Finished with his small breakfast, he stood up and left the cafeteria and headed to the locker room again to gather his gear. Finding a couple other students who were already there getting ready who looked eager for the challenge.
Among them was Ruby and Yang who were talking among themselves by their own lockers, and Weiss who was talking with Pyrrha.
Approaching his own locker, he pulled out his scroll and punching in the code he had set before swiping it over the panel causing the door to open for him. Taking out Artemis and its quiver along with Leviathan and slipping them into place before going over to the red-head.
"Morning, Pyrrha. Sleep well?" he asked garnering the attention of both girls.
"Good morning to you as well, Rios." the champion said smiling brightly. "And yes, I slept very well. And yourself?"
The wolf-Faunus shrugged, "I've slept worse. Though I'll avoid sleeping on marble floors for the foreseeable future.
"Um, excuse me." Weiss said, interrupting the conversation, "But how do you know Pyrrha?" she asked pointedly.
Rios didn't miss the harsh point in how she referred to him, it was something he knew all too well. But he ignored it. "We met when we arrived in Vale at the same time. Since we were both coming here to Beacon, we decided to hang out a bit so that we each would know someone when everything started." he explained calmly.
The heiress crossed her arms, "And what would you know about her? I doubt she would waste her time with a mongrel."
Anger flashed through Rios's mind. A calming breath washed it away to avoid trouble as he spoke. "Why don't you try asking her yourself. Instead of pretending that she's not here listening to your obvious racism." he turned to Pyrrha. "Good luck out there, Pyrrha. Maybe we'll run into each other." he added before he left the locker room.
"Hmph, good riddance." Weiss said before smiling at the champion, "Now, as I was saying..." she trailed off when she saw the sharp look Pyrrha was giving her.
"I don't like it when people insult my friends." she said, picking up her spear and shield and leaving without another word. Leaving the heiress slack-jawed.
X
The first year students all gathered on the cliffs outside of the schools campus. Below them, the massive expanse of trees that made up the Emerald forest stretched out far for them showing nothing but green as far as the eye could see.
Each future huntsman/huntress were standing on small metal platforms with the symbol of Beacon on them as they regarded Professor Ozpin as he stood beside Professor Goodwitch as he started speaking to them.
"For years you have trained to become warriors. And today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald forest." he started allowing his associate to pick up the rest.
"Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given team mates...today."
A brief pause went through the gathered students. A subtle 'What?' came from Ruby while the headmaster continued where Goodwitch had left off. "These team mates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
The red cloaked girl shrieked 'WHAT?!' even louder while several others muttered between themselves. "After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest." Ozpin said motioning to the massive wooded area behind him. "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path...or you will die."
Rios stood firm on his platform, his mouth set into a hard line as he clenched his fists in anticipation for the coming fight.
"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation." the headmaster continued. "But our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one, and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
No one said anything.
"Good." Ozpin said acting as though he didn't hear them. "Now, take your positions."
All the students braced themselves on their platforms as each one started ticking. The wolf-Faunus crouched slightly, taking into account the sudden thrust that would end up launching them all into the air in moments and prepared accordingly.
Beside him, the students started launching off one after another until it was his turn. Catching Ozpin glance in his direction and give him a subtle nod from the corner of his eye before he was airborne, the others shortly following as they all flew over the forest toward their mission objective.
A small grin spreading on Rios' face in preparation for the challenge he would be facing. Unaware that his very fate, and those who would side with him, was about to change in ways he would never imagine.
X
A/N: And initiation has officially begun, and Rios is already making an impression on his fellow students. And more ancestral memories are making themselves known to him, but where all of this will lead is still unknown...but will all become clear soon.
Even though I'm weighing a bit heavily on God of War 4 at the moment with only bits and pieces of the rest of the series, but all of that is going to change soon. Along with canon for RWBY turning on its head. Till next time folks!