Rio's eyes opened just as the early light of dawn began to make itself known. His body being hardwired to wake up at the earliest possible moments coming into play.
Sitting up slowly, he put a hand to his head as a dull throbbing echoed throughout his skull. Since his encounter with Kratos, throughout the night he had bore witness to the man's past. The battles he fought, the victories he claimed and the losses he suffered. Every event leading from his battle with the dreaded Hydra to the final confrontation with Ares off the shores of Athens.
How the ancient warrior had used the power within the fabled Pandora's Box to slay the God of War.
More than once Rios felt as though he were reliving these moments through Kratos' eyes, feeling his rage and blood-lust on the battle field as he carved a path of death and chaos through anyone and anything that dared stand between him and his goal.
It was inspiring...as much as it was terrifying.
The last images the wolf-faunus witnessed were the moments when Kratos had been crowned the new God of War and took his seat upon Mount Olympus with the other Gods and Goddesses before his ancestor pulled him from the memories.
"That is enough for now. Your mind can only handle so much at one time. Rest, boy. We will continue this another time." with that being said, Rios was sent into a dreamless sleep.
It was strange, now that he thought about it. The Kratos he met in person was very different when compared to the one in the memories. He was calmer, more patient, and lacked the same vengeful fire he possessed when he was alive.
What had happened in the past that had changed the legendary Spartan warrior on such a powerful level?
Shaking his head, Rios knew deep down he would understand in due time. Just not now.
Looking over at the other beds, he saw the rest of his team still peacefully sleeping. It was still early, classes wouldn't start until 9 so they had plenty of time to get the rest they would need for the day ahead.
The pain in his head fading, Rios slipped out of his bed and went over to his ruck sack. Pulling out a pair of black cargo shorts and matching wife-beater, he got dressed and slipped on his boots before picking up the Blades of Chaos.
Like the previous night, he sent a pulse of aura through the chains bound to his arms. The ends coming alive almost like serpents as the end-links rose up and attached to the pommels of the mystical swords.
Crossing the weapons over his shoulders, the hunter gave one last look at his team before slipping quietly out of the dorm. Following the path he had memorized out of the academy and in the direction of the Emerald forest, his face calm as stone as he drew closer to the cluster of dark trees.
As if sensing his approach, several sets of glowing red eyes appeared. Growls and snarls echoing from the shadows at the Faunus as he approached.
Reaching back, Rios withdrew the Blades of Chaos and held them ready. "Time to put what I learned last night to good use." he said as the blades lit up with magical fire.
X
Back in team SPRN's dorm room, Pyrrha awoke feeling refreshed after initiation the previous day. The young champion sat up in her bed and stretched with a soft yawn before looking toward the bed beside her own and found it empty.
"Morning, Pyrrha." Nora chirped happily from her own bed on the other side of the room, already dressed the school uniform provided for them during classes.
"Good morning, Nora. Where are Ren and Rios?" asked the red-head as she got out of bed.
The bubbly bomber grinned and bounced in place a bit, "Renny went to get us some pancakes! As for our fearless leader...Haven't seen him. He was gone when Renny and I woke up."
Pyrrha looked back toward her partner's bed and wondered where he was.
Some time later, Ren had returned with a good breakfast for all of them while Pyrrha had gotten ready for their first day of classes. They had just settled in and started eating when the door opened.
The three team mates looked up to see Rios coming in, his clothes dirty and torn in several places with his new swords on his back stained with Grimm blood. "Hey fearless leader!" Nora said through a mouthful of pancake that she quickly swallowed, "What were you up to?"
"A little early morning training. Sorry for disappearing, but I figured you all would need your rest." Rios replied as he removed the Blades of Chaos and set them on a nearby desk gently. "I'm going to shower, then I think it would be best for all of us to talk before we head to our first class."
Getting nods from the others, the wolf-faunus went into the bathroom, coming out several minutes later in his own school uniform with the sleeves torn off at the elbows exposing his chain-wrapped forearms.
"I'm going to be honest." said Rios as he sat on his bed, accepting the plate Ren offered him graciously. "I didn't expect to be elected as team leader. Even though I was trained well, I have very little experience in fighting with a group. That doesn't mean I won't do my best to lead us, but it will be a work in progress."
Pyrrha smiled at her partner, "We can understand that, Rios. And we'll have plenty of time to work on our dynamics together, as a team should."
"We wouldn't have gotten through initiation without your quick thinking." added Ren, "Even team RWBY followed along when we all attacked the Cerberus."
"You can count on us, fearless leader!" Nora exclaimed before realizing something, "Oh! Speaking of initiation." she pointed at the hunter's arms. "Where did the cool bracelets come from? And the flaming swords?"
Rios contemplated on what to say. What could he say? He really didn't fully understand everything that had happened, and was still happening, himself.
"They're family heirlooms. They came to me when I needed them most." he answered honestly, but evading the full story at the same time.
Ren and Nora seemed to accept the answer and focused on their breakfast, but Pyrrha kept her emerald gaze on her partner. Shifting them over to the wicked looking blades on the desk in thought.
From that moment team SPRN spent the remaining time they had before class talking. They would be spending the next four years together, so it was imperative that they at the very least got to know one another.
Rios found it was rather easy to get along with Ren and Nora. He could tell that they had known each other a long time and had a deep connection, despite their near polar opposite personalities.
Ren was calm and collected, while Nora was brash and energetic. Even though they were very different, they seemed to fit together perfectly.
They all talked about random things, likes and dislikes mostly. Pyrrha spoke about her time in Argus and the training she had done while Nora spoke about all the different things she and Ren had done since childhood.
When asked, the wolf-faunus told them about his home in the Northern frontier, his training with his parents and how Ozpin had offered him a place at Beacon personally. Nora had oddly asked him if he had acquired Ursa skinned rugs to decorate his home which had Rios raising an eyebrow at her while Ren sighed.
At 8:30, Rios had said they should get going and headed out to find their first class which was Grimm Studies with Professor Port.
Finding seats in the middle of the small lecture hall, team SPRN got settled as more students came in. Just before class was set to begin, team RWBY came barreling through the doors and quickly took the four seats next to their fellow first years.
"Cutting it a bit close there." Rios said to the all female team,
"Someone decided it was a good idea to decorate our dorm when we should have been getting ready for classes." Weiss said with a sharp look at Ruby who bashfully rubbed the back of her head.
"Well...we made it just in time, that's what matters." stated Yang from her spot beside the wolf-Faunus with Pyrrha on his other.
Before anything else could be said, Professor Port entered the room and took his place at the front of the class.
"Good morning everyone!" he said jovially, "And welcome to your first day here at Beacon academy! I am Peter Port, and I will be teaching you everything you need to know about that darkness that you will soon be hunting."
The mustached man motioned to the drawings and diagrams of various Grimm around the room, "Monsters, demons, prowlers of the night." he started his lesson, "Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names. But I merely refer to them as prey!" he gave a laugh but was met with the chirping of crickets from the gathered students.
"And you shall too after graduating from this prestigious academy." he continued unhindered. "Now, as I was saying. Vale, along with the other three kingdoms, are safe havens from the otherwise treacherous world. Our planet it absolutely teaming with creatures that would love nothing more than to tear you to pieces. And that's where we come in."
Most of the gathered students had started to lose interest in what the man was saying as he monologued more and more about facts that didn't seem to fit a lesson plan. Even Rios found it difficult ro follow along as the Professor seemed to go on and on about tales from his youth.
The Faunus found it more than a little frustrating when he went on and on. Wasn't the point of the class to teach them about the Grimm and how to beat them?
Scanning his eyes around the room, Rios saw that the rest of the class were doing what they could to focus and stay awake. Only a select few were actually taking notes while the man spoke. Looking to his other side, he saw the girls of RWBY doing similar.
Ruby was drawing crude cartoon rendition of their teacher which caused Yang to laugh, and Weiss was doing her best to shoot daggers at the red cloaked girl, gritting her teeth as she scribbled notes harshly into her notebook.
"The moral of this story," Professor Port said wrapping things up. "A true huntsman must be honorable, dependable, strategic, well educated, and wise. So who among you believes to be the embodiment of these traits?"
"I DO SIR!" everyone's attention went to Weiss who had her hand raised and her whole form tense like a spring ready to snap.
"Well then, let's find out." the professor said as a cage was wheeled into the room from the back. The reinforced box rattled as whatever was inside fought to break out. "Step forward, and face your opponent."
The heiress left the room and came back in her combat attire a few minutes, her team cheering for her as she stood on the opposite side of the room with weapon in hand and prepared to fight whatever Grimm Port had in the cage.
The Professor approached the lock for the cage. "Are you ready, Miss. Schnee?" Weiss nodded stiffly, keeping her gaze locked on the crate. "Now, let the match...begin!" he took his Blunderaxe and shattered the lock, allowing a Boarbatusk to come shooting out and nearly spearing her with its tusks.
Rios' attention went completely to the match taking place, his sharp eyes keeping track of every move the heiress made as she fought against the boar-Grimm. It was easy to tell that she had been trained well to use her rapier, and her movements were fluid and precise...
However, he could also tell that there was a strong aura of arrogance about her, most likely from her upbringing and drive to be the best at everything put before her. It was this point that made her over-confident which ended up leaving her disarmed and struggling, refusing help from her leader and even snapping at her for only trying to offer assistance to her partner.
In the end she had managed to put the Grimm down.
"Bravo! Bravo! We seem to be in the presence of a true huntress in the making." Professor Port said as the Boarbatusk dissipated into the air while Weiss went back to her seat and sat down without saying a word. "As you can see, each Grimm is capable of attacking in very unique, and even surprising ways. As future hunters, you must always be vigilant if you wish to succeed...and survive any hunts you may find yourselves on."
The bell suddenly rang, "I'm afraid this is all the time we have for today, students. Do the assigned reading and I'll be seeing you all again soon. Class dismissed."
Everyone started to file out, Rios with his team when his sensitive hearing picked up the sound of the Schnee heiress berating Ruby and her inability to be a leader of their team.
"You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up in a minute." he said to the others. Pyrrha nodded as she, Ren and Nora headed to their next class while the wolf-faunus headed toward where he could hear Weiss still talking down to the younger girl. Turning the corner in the hallway just in time to see the heiress stalking away from a distraught Ruby.
The cloaked girl sighed and turned around only to jump when she saw her fellow leader standing there. "Oh...h-hey Rios." she said, trying hard to cover her sadness.
"She's wrong." Rios stated, motioning to where Weiss had disappeared.
"You...heard all that?" asked Ruby, her face falling.
"These ears aren't just for show, Ruby." the Faunus replied, wiggling his wolf-ears back and forth. "That aside, Weiss had no right to talk down to you in such a way. Not when she herself has much to learn."
"But what if she was right?" the younger girl implored, "What if I'm not cut out to be a leader? What if Professor Ozpin made a mistake?"
Rios searched her face, the vulnerability in her silver eyes showing that even though she was a prodigy in her own right, she was still a 15 year old girl trying to attain her dream.
"I asked myself the same question when the headmaster made me leader of team SPRN." the Faunus said honestly, surprising Ruby. "I've lived and trained on my own for so long, I had my doubts about being able to work with others. I informed Pyrrha, Ren and Nora this morning about that, but they're willing to be there and help me overcome any doubts I might have."
He gave the girl a calm smile, "You're still young, inexperienced. But that's why we're all here. To learn, to adapt, and to grow. I can see now why my parents wanted me to come here." Rios put a hand on her shoulder gently, "You are not alone, Ruby. The last thing either of us expected was to lead, but we can help each other, and become what we need to be so that our teams succeed."
Ruby gave a beaming smile from the hunter's words, "Rios...thank you."
"No problem, pup." the wolf-faunus replied before motioning down the hallway, "Come on, we're going to be late for our next class."
The two leaders walked side by side down the hallway, unaware that Ozpin had stood just out of sight listening to their conversation.
"Well said, Soterios."
X
The next class was Combat Class. The course being held in a circular arena with seats surrounding the upper level for the students to observe the events happening on the floor below.
Rios took his place beside Pyrrha like in Grimm Studies while Ruby took a seat next to her sister, she and Weiss separated by their team mates which didn't go unnoticed by either of them.
When everyone was finally settled and the bell rang, the professor began. "Welcome students, to the combat portion of your studies here at Beacon," she said as she checked to be sure everyone was present, "Where you will hone your skills and learn the fundamentals needed to ensure not only victory, but how to keep yourselves and your team mates alive in a conflict."
"As future huntsmen and huntresses, it is imperative that you maintain a strong training regiment to ensure that your abilities are at their peak. Practicing outside of classes either on your own, with your partner, or with your team as a whole, is greatly encouraged if it means helping you to succeed in your time here at Beacon."
Goodwitch typed a few things on her scroll and a large screen appeared above the stage with everyone's pictures on it. "Starting today, you will be randomly selected to face off in mock-battles with other students in the class to test your skills. Each match will be held within tournament standards; if your opponent gives up, is unconscious, or their aura level is in the red, the match is over. Your grades depend on your performance, skill level, and creativity while in combat."
Her green eyes looked up and scanned the gathered students, "If for any reason there is an issue during a match, I will call an end to it immediately if there is risk of injury." she said loud and clear. "Be aware of your aura levels and keep your scroll on hand at all times to be sure of this, the infirmary is on stand-by...as a precaution."
Some of the students looked nervous, while others looked ready to get things started.
The blonde huntress nodded and motioned to the board, "Now then, once your names appear, you are to prepare yourselves and gather in the arena below." the pictures on the board cycled as the selection process began.
After several seconds, two images appeared;
Weiss Schnee VS Soterios
A series of mutterings could be heard among the students, Weiss turned her gaze toward the leader of SPRN who rose from his seat and silently made his way to get ready for their match.
Despite her confidence in her skills, especially with how she had dispatched the Boarbatusk earlier, a part of the heiress felt dread seep into her stomach at having to face the wolf-faunus in combat.
The memories of what he did to the Grimm back in the Emerald forest heavy on her thoughts. Regardless, she wouldn't be seen as weak, and she was intending on showing everyone what she could really do.
Standing up from her chair, her team wished her good luck as she went to get ready...the feeling in her stomach only intensifying with each step she took.
X
A/N: Nothing against Weiss, but in the beginning of the series she was a complete bitch to just about everyone thanks to her upbringing. And even though Port's talk with her set her straight a bit, I personally believe that she needed to be humbled a bit more.
And she's got one hell of a life lesson coming to her in the form of Kratos' descendant.
Hitting my stride again with this story, so keep reviewing and I'll keep writing.