"Well done team SDTM," Glynda said while Tigre was still being praised by his brothers for getting the final blow in their match. "Next up will be team ROXA versus team CODE." The eight students adjusted their gear while heading to the arena platform. Celeste and Riliane got into their positions as they were supposed to as team leaders, but they remained in their combat stances even after the match was called to begin. "Ms. Avadona, Ms. Shade, would the two of you like to start?"

"T-to be honest," Celeste lied, "I'm not feeling that great right now. I'm just kind of, um, tired…"

"Um, m-me too actually…" Riliane mumbled.

Glynda sighed, "Very well then. Each of you can switch out with another teammate."

"Thank you, ma'am. Xan it's- er Olive, you can go." Riliane hopped off the slightly raised platform.

"You've been wanting some practice, right Owen?" Celeste got down before he answered the question.

Owen and Olive faced each other and waited eagerly for Glynda's signal to go. She looked at them both and spoke in a calm tone, "Begin.

Olive instantly disappeared and reappeared clanging her blade into Owen's glaive. "Oo~ You're getting faster," She sang with glee, flipping over his head and ducking under a swing. As he sidestepped away from her stabbing attempt, she teleported just out of range for his counterattack.

"Not really," He said in her mind, "You just don't guard your thoughts and you haven't gotten any new tricks."

She stayed on the defensive, moving away from his swings. "Oh yeah? What do you weigh, 150?"

"Why? What!? You can do that?" He hesitated.

"I've only done it on accident once to my sister." Olive closed her eyes and tried to visualise what she wanted to happen.

"Sorry to interrupt, but maybe it'd be better to try that outside of class."

"Probably." They went back to their combat again, but it seemed to everyone like they were practicing set motions. "You ever figure out how to advance your semblance?"

"I think so, but I'll need to spar with Xanthic or Eve."

"Alrighty~" Olive teleported to the edge of the ring, "Switch Xan~"

"I think I'll pass, thanks." Nivens crossed his arms.

"Oh come on," She whined. "One match can't hurt."

"You've clearly never been in a real fight." He looked up at the crowd and then at Riliane and sighed, "Whatever, let's get this over with then." Nivens stepped up and rolled his shoulders, "I'm guessing you want something?"

"I didn't think she'd do that, sorry."

"Honestly, for someone that can read minds you're pretty bad at understanding how people think." Nivens charged at him with the same form Owen recognized from watching him fight before. When he got close enough, he slammed the pommel of his weapon into the ground to knock Nivens off balance. But it didn't stop the blond, he grabbed the metal rod and kicked off of Owens side to create distance between them.

"How do you do that?" Owen asked while beginning his own attack. "All I can see is your confidence."

"Really? You can't even figure that much out on your own?" Nivens chuckled and cartwheeled out of the way.

He altered his stance last minute and lunged to the side. "I know you can make blocks between your and Xanthic's awareness, but in combat even you shouldn't be able to seperate your focus that much."

Nivens barely reacted in time to stop the blade with his hands. "Idiot, not everyone had the same training." He jumped, putting his full weight on the edge of the glaive. As it's tip hit the floor Nivens twisted his body and slammed his heel on Owens' closest hand, if it had still been there at least.

Owen had let go in time and grabbed Nivens' ankle. He threw him to the ground, causing him to slide on the tile, and recollected his weapon. "There's no way that was muscle memory."

"That's true," He stood up and brushed himself off. "But it was an application of it through reflex and instinct."

"So you just make a habit of hammer kicking giant sticks?"

"And if I do?" They both chuckled. "Really though," Nivens charged in again, "I'm willing to bet there are very few huntsmen that actually think while fighting." Owen swung down at him and he blocked with both his arms.

"Vincent wasn't, everything in his mind was perfectly filed away. It was all there, I just couldn't get to it."

"So that's what you've been worried about." Nivens rolled into a handstand and kicked out, only to have his leg swatted up and receive a solid blow to his chest. "I don't think you'd have that problem if you didn't announce yourself so much."

"What do you mean announce myself?" Owen questioned with his glaive pointed at the back of Nivens head.

"Ah, who knows." He yawned overdramatically, "But if you wanted advice you should have just said so, having a conversation in combat makes it so boring. And since you're making me waste so much energy the least you could do is make it enjoyable. Y'know, like Celeste, she's always fun to beat."

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Celeste demanded, approaching the two.

"I said you're easy to beat." Nivens responded matter of factly.

"Care to to put your lien where your mouth is?" Celeste challenged.

Nivens chuckled and grabbed Owen's glaive to move it away from himself, "I thought you'd never ask."

"Owen swap out," Celeste commanded.

"Take him down Cel," Owen said before stepping out of the arena.

"I plan on it," Celeste said as she took to her fighting stance.

"Good luck carrying that out, Snowflake." He teased while taking his own position.

"What. Did. You. Just. Call. Me?" Celeste growled, the blades of Ferrum Glacies extending out.

"Careful now, you get too hot headed and you might melt, Snowflake." Celeste launched a flurry of slashes at him, which he dodged with a condescending grin. "C'mon, I know you can do better than that." Nivens punched her arm to the side and kicked at her chest.

"Of course I can," Celeste snarled. She dropped down and kicked his leg, throwing off his balance just enough. Then punched his side, coating him with ice, and again, this one burning it off.


Eve flipped to the next page of her book as she scanned the top few lines. Her fingers tapped the spine softly as she bit her lip. Sounds of combat resonated around her, pounding in her ear drum, distracting the story that was playing out in her mind. She looked up, her eye watched Celeste, whose face was contorted with anger, as her slash was parried by a strike from Nivens. She kicked him in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards. The two were quite evenly matched, but Nivens seemed to be slightly more exhausted. His stance was lowered, and his chest was heaving up and down slowly. Eve could see the droplet of sweat that slid down his chin. His lips curled into a grin.

Celeste, who was a mere five feet away from him, was also exhausted, but still appeared to be in better shape. Her eyes narrowed before she charged towards him. Eve glanced at the television screen where their statuses were displayed. Nivens' aura was dangerously close to the red zone, Celeste's a few inches away. Although Nivens had more skill as a fighter, in a battle of aura, Celeste would be the winner. Eve's eye slid back to the fight, where she saw Nivens parry another slash and block a kick with his arm. His expression was cocky, as usual.

"What are you reading?" Amelia scooted over to Eve who glanced at her and then looked away.

"Oh…just...a random story I picked up. I've been running out of things to read."

"What's it called?" She inquired politely.

"Forlorn," Eve flipped the book over to its cover. Amelia peered at it.

"It's always sunshine and rainbows with you, isn't it?" She added. Eve stared at her.

"Amelia…were you just...sarcastic…?" Amelia's emerald green eyes flicked towards her, but before she could reply, they were interrupted.

"Hey, Eve! Get over here!" D'art waved at them, a large grin on his face. Eve glanced at her partner before letting out a quiet sigh and closing her book. She gave a small wave to Amelia, whose face seemed to sadden slightly, as the raven haired girl walked away.

"What…?" Eve asked, as she approached him.

"You're fighting next," He responded.

"Said who?"

"Said me," D'art replied, an innocent expression on his face. Eve gave him an irritated look.

"Oh come on...you never participate in these things. It's always you and Nivens sitting out, but today Nivens participated in two fights. You gotta do something."

"Hmm," Eve pretended to consider this, "I'd rather do nothing."

"I'm sure your grades are suffering." D'art replied, making her stifen slightly, "You're an excellent fighter, but you never show anyone that. I know you have almost perfect grades in everything but this class." Eve fidgeted with her hair. D'art raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure if you participated in a fight...it'd raise...even just a little." Eve frowned a little, but it looked more like a pout, which made D'art laugh. "Come on, it'll be quick. Hey! Riliane!" The blonde girl, who was sitting a few feet away from them, and meticulously watching the fight between Celeste and Nivens, glanced towards the general direction of D'art.

"Yeah?"

"You wanna fight Eve after this?"

"Oh um, sure!" Riliane smiled warmly before exchanging a few words with Gynda who nodded and glanced at Eve. "Oh, Miss Glamis, you're participating?" Eve glanced at Glynda.

"...Yes."

Eve and Riliane walked out into the arena, weapons in hand. Eve looked around. Her eye scanned her teammates that watched intently from the sidelines. Her hand tightened around her whip as she turned around. She felt the eyes on the back of her neck, watching, judging. Eve's eyes squeezed shut. She got the feeling she always did when entering the arena, like she was back in Humanity, being judged, scored- No. Eve's eyes snapped open and she let out a soft sigh. Enough, get a hold of yourself.

Eve held her sword out in front of her with one hand. The chain whip that was connected to her sword clinked slightly, moving back and forth as she pointed it towards Riliane, who was in a starting stance, her spear in front of her. Eve rarely got to see the spear form of her weapon due to her often leading her own team from the back, so she did not know what to expect from a one on one with her. The chains of Eve's whip clinked slightly, back and forth, as she gathered it up in one hand. She let out another breath, ignoring the tension in the air. Riliane swallowed, her stance lowering further.

Suddenly, Eve's hand snapped forward, as she moved her weapon. The chain whistled through the air before it as Riliane rolled away from it. Eve quickly grabbed her whip with her other hand, swinging it once more. Riliane dodged it again and turned her weapon into a bow, immediately shooting an arrow. Without flinching, Eve tilted her head slightly to the side, watching as it slid by, and then snapped her fingers. The chain quickly slid back towards its owner, and she effortlessly grabbed her sword on the other end by the handle, before sprinting towards her opponent. Riliane turned her weapon into its melee form just in time, before they clashed. For a few seconds, they struggled back and forth, before Riliane broke away and took a few steps back. She spun her weapon in her hands before slashing at Eve who deflected it. Only taking a second to recover, the two continued to engage in another bout of exchanges.

As the fight continued Eve paid no attention to the display, but knew her aura was beginning to weaken and assumed Riliane's was the same. Wanting to end the fight soon, Eve made her chain slowly snake towards her opponent from behind. Fully aware of its presence due to her semblance, Riliane quickly moved back causing it to miss. But as soon as Riliane's attention was elsewhere, Eve took the opportunity to swiftly kick her in the stomach. The aura absorbed it, but it was a blow nonetheless. Riliane stumbled backwards with a cough. Without giving her time to recover, Eve attacked again. Her chain sliced through the air, right where Riliane's feet had been, but the blonde had hoisted herself off the ground with her spear and kicked her square in the midsection. Eve stumbled back with a grunt. Noticing her opponent stumble, Riliane quickly moved forward and jabbed her spear towards Eve again, and again, and again all aimed at different parts of Eve's body. Eve deflected several of the jabs with her sword, but was unable to stop them all as a few impacted against her aura. Flashes of white appeared between them when the blades did clash. Eve was slowly being driven back. Rilane jabbed her briefly in the side, and then in the shoulder, before she quickly ended her assault and swung the weapon wide as Eve's legs, sending the girl tumbling to the ground.

After Eve barely rolled out of the attack that followed, and as a result of the miss Riliane's spear was firmly driven into the floor. Seeing her opportunity, Eve maneuvered behind Riliane and pointed the tip of her blade at the nape of her neck. "That's enough!" Glynda called out. Eve smiled slightly at her assumed victory. "The match between teams ROXA and CODE is a draw." Shocked she looked down and saw that Riliane had been able to reposition her spear in time to be just barely touching her heart.

"Wow...good fight, Eve," Riliane stated exhaustedly.

"You too," Eve replied with a soft sigh.

"Great fight you two," D'art grinned, slapping Eve on the back.

"Yeah good fight," Owen added with a supportive nod. Celeste walked over to Riliane.

"Nice job," Celeste said sheepishly.

"You too," Riliane blushed.

"Alright, well, I don't know about you guys," D'art said slowly, "But I'm starving, and I feel like some food."

"Oh! Oh!" Olive jumped in front them, "Ramen?"

"I want tacos," Owen said, partly to himself.

"Pizza?" Riliane joined them.

"I think we should get pizza," Celeste agreed.

"I'm up for anything," Said Eve.

"Why not all three?" D'art grinned.

"I suppose, since Nivens is paying for it after all," Celeste smirked.

"Eh, somewhere, anywhere, at this point I'm willing to eat a horse. Let's go."

"Gross…" Amelia muttered. D'art gave her a grin before putting his hands behind his head and walking out of the arena. The rest trailed behind them. Glynda watched them go before she pushed up her glasses and shook her head.

"Too much energy," She muttered, as she tucked her scroll underneath her arm looked back towards the others students, who had yet to participate. "Alright, that was team CODE and team ROXA. Next."


After returning back to Beacon, their stomachs full, the students gathered in a secluded corner of the library to discuss Humanity in hushed tones. Eve was pointing out on a map of Vale all the places she knew had connection to them and tried to remember all the names she heard. "Sorry to interrupt, but what exactly are you people going to do about Humanity?" Nivens questioned in his usual condescending manor. "I mean really, you're not gonna do this like Pinkie are you? Just go down a list killing everyone."

"What's wrong with that?" Olive asked.

"You don't see the problem with indiscriminate murder?"

"Any man who would cast away their loyalty to peace has lost their privilege to life. That's what my family says."

"So what, you'd kill a guy for robbing a bank?" Celeste asked, judgment apparent in her voice.

"If I had to," Olive replied with a shrug.

"You and Pinkie would get along great," Nivens yawned.

"Her name is Yukina," Eve said sternly.

"I'm aware, Miss-" He glanced at Riliane, then sighed and leaned back with his eyes closed.

"Please stop calling her "Pinkie."

"Fine, whatever. But you can't argue that ram bucked her head a few too many times."

"She's not crazy. We've been over this."

"No, sadistic is a better word I suppose."

"I'll admit she has some issues right now, but I know there's more to her than that. I can help her…"

"Personally, I doubt it." Eve didn't bother to respond and merely let out a brief sigh before looking away. "She cut off a man's arm and was laughing at him." Nivens glared at Eve, waiting for a reaction, but her face was emotionless. "So I think you'll have to excuse me if I don't have a lot of faith in your sadistic sweetheart."

She looked straight at him. "Nivens," She said calmly, "Stop calling her sadistic. You don't know her past, you don't know what she's been through."

"I'm just telling you what happened."

"Then she must not have been thinking clearly," Eve replied, "She hasn't been thinking clearly for quite some time now. Just...don't talk about her like that."

"Um…" Riliane spoke up quietly, "I really don't think this is the time to be talking about Yukina. Nivens is right that we need to make a proper plan."

Celeste nodded, "As much as I'd love to just walk up and smash their heads, we do need to have a strategy for these guys."

"Well for that we need to know what they're up to," Eve looked at Nivens.

"Hey, I said I'll tell you what I know when I know it." He paid attention to the list and map for the first time. Nivens took Eve's pen and began crossing things off. A whole district of buildings in Vale was scratched out and he removed nearly all the names. "Bo-Peep already got them. And in case it wasn't obvious already," Nivens put a big circle around the police station, "They are not going to help."

"Naturally," D'art laughed to himself, "Never trust officials from Vale to ever get anything done."

"I wouldn't trust officials from anywhere right now-" Nivens scroll buzzed in his pocket and he looked at the caller ID. "Hm, speak of the devil. This'll definitely more interesting than this little board meeting," he gestured at the papers before answering his phone and walking away. Watching him go the rest continued with their work late into the night.