18/04/82

Amber and I have been assigned a living space in the staff section of the Beacon dormitories. Our sudden arrival has forced us to share quarters for the time being, however I have been assured that another vacancy in the student wing is sure to open within the coming month.

Sister Moon has long since risen, and I find myself unable to put my mind at ease. The words of Professor Ozpin keep repeating themselves. For what am I not ready? What are they keeping from me?

Supplemental entry:

I was finally granted the serenity of sleep around four o'clock this morning. It occurred to me, since I have been on the road for the better portion of two months, I had not given proper tribute to Sister Sun or Sister Moon. The moonlight had long departed from the window, but I still faced eastward nonetheless, and went through the nightly ritual. The effects were instant, and a wave of exhaustion came over me.

I was then awoken by Amber at eleven this morning, telling me to bathe, then dress in clothes she had requisitioned from… somewhere. I had not given it a thought until now. But it is of no matter, as I have been told that Amber and I would be venturing into the city of Vale to purchase more clothes, food, necessary supplies for our stay, and a device called a "Scroll." I asked how I would be able to pay appropriate compensation for such items, but Amber told me to not worry about such minutiae.

Also, when I came out of the washroom, I was told my Justicar robes had been taken for dry cleaning… which does not make sense to me. How does one "dry clean?"

Supplemental entry:

What a day! We have just arrived back to our quarters after our extended excursion into Vale. This city gleams with such luminosity, it almost hurts my eyes. It is also incredibly warm here. I am currently suffering the effects of my first sunburn. Amber says it is due to my pale "Northern" complexion, and eventually I will adapt to the intensity of sunlight of the southern latitudes.

We made quite a haul on supplies. A once-empty dresser designated for me has been filled, our kitchen is stocked, and the bookcase now stands proudly full of books, mainly of the non-fiction variety. I have much to learn of the history of the southern kingdoms before I am officially admitted to Beacon.

While on the subject of books, I had a rather strange encounter with a bookstore owner. His name was Tukson, and I could tell something was unique about him the moment our eyes made contact. I believe he sensed my suspicion, and I could tell it was making him uneasy. I confronted him about my feeling, being quickly stopped by Amber.

Tukson assured Amber that my question was alright. He could easily tell I was not from Vale, and had never seen a "Faunus." I had heard of those people who possessed traits of animals, but, to my knowledge, had never met one until today. He seemed surprised, after my learning of his Faunus lineage, that I continued shopping. I overheard Amber tell him I had no knowledge of something called the "Faunus Revolution," or the "White Fang." Upon departing, he told us we were welcome back at any time.

19/04/82

I was surprised this morning to find I was the first to wake. I walked into the bedroom to see if Amber had roused, only to find her sleeping diagonally in her bed, limbs sprawled in every direction, and softly snoring. It was almost too adorable for words.

Mornings are tranquil here. There is a serene calmness in the still morning air, save for the songbirds who have begun their daily chorus. I looked to the east to see a pallet of deep reds, oranges, and yellows of which I have never seen, streaming over the mountains.

It is peaceful here, far unlike the harsh lands of Camaden.

Amber has just awoken. She entered the main living area, still in her sleepwear, looking quite disheveled. She must be a hard sleeper, or our adventure yesterday wore her out. Before disappearing into the washroom, she instructed me to change into the athletics wear we purchased, for today, we would begin training.

I will be learning the "Spring" fighting technique, personally developed by Amber during her time at Beacon. This technique, as I have been told, places emphasis in close-quarters engagements, quick and debilitating strikes, and grappling and subduing. I asked if it would involve any weapons training, with Amber replying that if I learned her technique well enough, I will never need a weapon. We would train with them, nonetheless, but at a later time.

I look forward to beginning.

Supplemental entry:

I regret having ever crossed paths with Amber.

The morning started well, with us making and eating a hearty breakfast. Afterward, we attended an activity called "yoga" with a group of current students. It was quite a nice experience, along with getting to meet other prospective Huntsmen and Huntresses.

When the class was dismissed, much to my disappointment, Amber led me to an unused sparring room. She then told me to attempt to hit her. I was hesitant, naturally, but she assured me she would be able to take any strikes I could throw, and that this was so she could have a baseline of my fighting skill.

As Justicars, we are only given enough combat training to subdue the always possible rambunctious actions of an accused. This includes defending, and fast, non-lethal strikes. I demonstrated these to Amber to the best of my ability, to little effect. Every punch I threw, she countered. Every block I had up, she saw a way through it.

In a last bit of frustration, I threw a jab that Amber caught, then ducked under and threw me over her shoulder. As I laid on the ground, Amber gave me my first lesson: "Emotions cloud judgement in an engagement." She then said she had enough information from me to have a baseline, and that training could begin.

I spent the rest of the day learning and holding combat poses, being corrected by Amber as she saw fit. She is quite the studious teacher, as by back, front, arms, and legs are red and bruised from her "corrections."

It makes me miss all the reading I could have done in the Hall by now.

07/07/82

It seems a great deal of time has passed since my last journal entry, though it hasn't been from a lack of trying. Most nights, I would sit at my desk, and be too exhausted to form a thought worthy enough to set down in words. However, tonight seems to be an exception. I'm either adapting to Amber's training, or I'm about to undergo a psychotic breakdown. I like to think it is the former.

Speaking of training, we have moved on from basic form memorization to transitory movement practice. Amber tells me that half of the attacks I make will come from these motions, the other half either immediately before or following them. Amber is happy I am making progress, but I can tell it is not at the rate she wishes. I'm doing my best, and that is all I can do at this point.

I have made several friends since attending the yoga class. Amber is at least content in that.

08/10/82

Again, too long of a timespan has passed since my last entry, but this time, it has mainly been due to a lack of things about which to talk. That was the case, until today.

Amber has progressed my training to include light sparring, to begin to incorporate elements of what I have learned and apply them more practically. That is when things began to… make sense. I can now see the purpose of my movements, connect and string together combinations of strikes and movements. Amber could see it, too, when things began to click.

I vocalized this to her today, saying I was getting used to her training. A look of long sought relief washed over her, as she said she was finally glad to start the intense training.

Amber did not waste any time. Today was the most intense sparring session I have experienced. Hands and feet were flying faster than ever, but she kept her relieved look throughout our session… until the end.

We were sparring at around half speed when she began to spin. That was not unusual; I have seen her do this literally hundreds of times. But as she continued her clockwise rotation, my Truthsense fired. Instinct then brought my right forearm up to employ an elbow block, even when Amber's positioning said "Defend low." At the last second, her leg shot up toward my head, and met my elbow with a slap.

When skin met skin, Amber's composure broke. Her other knee collapsed as she rolled several feet away. She regained herself, and asked how I was able to block her Equinox feign-low high. I told her of my Truthsense registering, and my instinctive response.

She commended me, saying I was the first person to have ever successfully countered that move. In my studies, I have read of certain Semblances being able to control actions in extreme circumstances. Perhaps my Truthsense and Semblance are related, in some way. Amber has said that we will be exploring my Aura tomorrow, using a technique to unlock it.

09/10/82

I am currently writing in the medical wing of Beacon. There's been an… incident with Amber.

We began our day normally, with yoga and sparring, when she decided to use her Aural unlocking technique. She placed her hand on my cheek, the other over my heart, and everything seemed to be going well, when I started to feel a pressure in my chest. I tried to stop Amber, but she just told me to relax and try to stay calm. The pressure suddenly intensified, and Amber flew to the other side of the sparring ring. I went to see if she was alright, but at the time, she was unconscious. I threw her over a shoulder and ran here.

That was two hours ago now. She has, thankfully, regained consciousness in that time, and is resting. Professor Ozpin and Miss Goodwitch came sprinting into the medical wing, both with looks of dread. They relaxed when they learned Amber was stable, then proceeded to question me about what had happened.

I willfully obliged, sparing no detail about our encounter. After I had completed my oral report, they both seemed confused. I don't know how to explain it. They then left to go research what might have gone wrong.

I know Amber is special, but to have enticed such a reaction from the both of them…

Supplemental entry:

Amber has been released, and we have retired to our quarters for the day. She appears to be in good spirits, and is eating and talkative. I still feel horrible for what happened. Amber keeps telling me to not worry, as if I can simply dismiss this. She says that Aura and Semblance can be a fickle thing… and dangerous, apparently.

In spite of this, she wishes to continue with training, by sending me to the Emerald Forest tomorrow.

10/10/82

The Emerald Forest. I can clearly see how it received its namesake. Though, topographically speaking, I believe it should be named as a valley which happens to have a forest within it.

After being launched into the valley from some kind of spring-loaded platform, I landed among some dense shrubbery, rolling to kill my final momentum. Amber contacted me on my Scroll to congratulate me on my landing, then gave me my mission: I was to retrieve a relic at an abandoned settlement on the far side of the forest. I was also told that I would encounter creatures of Grimm along the way, and should not hesitate to destroy them.

I encountered only two Grimm on the way to the site, which I was told was unusual. I asked if it was due to the lateness of the year, but the reply I received was from Miss Goodwitch, commanding me to move to a clearing to await Bullhead pickup.

I told her I would comply… at the completion of my objective. I was well within sight distance of the ruin's location by that time, and decided to continue with the task at hand.

My foolish, or perhaps stubborn (or both), sense of duty nearly ended me, for as I approached the ruins, a Death Stalker emerged from its den. It moved to attack, while I moved into more defensive grounds among the trees to determine the Stalker's intention. When it barreled through the first line with no regard to its surroundings, they became clear: It was set on destroying me.

In my readings over these last few months, I have read of various types of Grimm, from the small and docile Nevermore to the ferocious Death Stalker. As the Stalker was marching through the vegetation, I had a realization from a passage concerning its tail. I remembered it was powerful enough to break rock, and had the ability to redirect itself mid-lunge.

Using this information, I devised a plan, but first would need to agitate the beast. My memory of the execution of this event is blurry, but I do remember dodging its claws, doing a heel-slam onto one of its eyes, and then sliding under its belly as its stinger was coming down, forcing the Stalker to strike itself. I vividly remember the audible cracking it made when the stinger penetrated its own carapace.

I stood to see the creature fall lifeless and beginning to disintegrate, then turned back to the ruin, only to see several unoccupied pedestals. I also heard the sounds of a Bullhead in flight. I ran to the ruin and hastily picked up the nearest portable loose object, which was a palm-sized chunk of carved marble.

The Bullhead came into view, landed in the clearing, and I was ordered to board by the occupant. I complied, and a short ride later, I was back on Beacon grounds, with an obviously agitated Miss Goodwitch to greet me on the landing platform, along with Professor Ozpin and Amber.

Miss Goodwitch immediately set upon me, demanding to know what I was thinking. She didn't appreciate my answer, as I said I was merely completing a given task. Miss Goodwitch looked to Professor Ozpin for support, but he chose to hold his tongue.

During their exchange, I reached for and presented my recovered "relic." Amber saw this small token, and her still face lit up with joy. Miss Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin took note, and turned back to me. I walked to and placed the piece at their feet, saying, and I quote: "There wasn't anything else for me to retrieve, so I hope with will suffice."

I then proceeded to return to my quarters, and have been here since then. Not the best move on my part, but i knew not what else to do. Amber has yet to return. I believe she is talking to (or being talked to) Miss Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin.

Supplemental entry:

Amber returned no more than two hours ago, aglow with a giddy grin on her face, and my recovered marble piece in her hand. Upon further discussion, my resolve in completing my mission and display of combat ingenuity has stayed my premature expulsion from Beacon. However, my entrance will be delayed one year, "as a way to distance ourselves from this incident," Professor Ozpin told Amber. In addition, we have been "sentenced" to six months of hard training.

When Amber told me this, I could not help but to laugh. The best part of it, she joined me.

It is going to be a most splendid Winter.

04/04/83 - Year of the Amethyst

So, there may have been an... incident involving one of the new teams, a Fire crystal, and me, trying to demonstrate my resistance to Dust.

There's a fairly sizeable hole in one of the northern spires. One of the on-campus security guards rounded a corner, and Velvet panicked and dropped the crystal, it destabilized, and blew. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

We were all brought before Professor Ozpin for an explanation, when I took full and sole responsibility, even when it was one of Team CFVY's crystals, and their idea. My plea was accepted, and Professor Ozpin dismissed us, saying he would find a fitting punishment for me at a later time.

Who knew being sociable could be so dangerous?

15/06/83

My punishment for the aptly named "Spire Incident" has finally been decided. It will be a mission. I don't know how this equivalates with punishment, but apparently this call for help has certain specifications to which I am uniquely qualified.

Supplemental entry:

I have just received mission notes twenty minutes ago, and I know understand why I am going.

We have been called to a small town to the southwest, to help settle a land dispute. The local presiding regional judge has been taken for ill, and both parties are seeking an immediate hearing, and Beacon is the only available party for arbitration. Going over the notes, it seems quite similar to Igthankul, but this is an intrafamily dispute.

I will be accompanying a second year team, Team TRNP, to which this mission was originally assigned. Though nothing is expected to happen, this is a precautionary measure. White Fang activity has been known to occur in this area, and there has been a notable increase in the last few months.

I do find it strange why a community would reach out to a Huntsman school for arbitration. It could have been Professor Ozpin's suggestion, I suppose.

In celebration of my first "official" mission, Amber has given me a gift. She calls it a "dogi," a lightweight and flexible combat outfit personally designed by her. It is to better reflect the Spring fighting style, but the outfit itself carries no armor. "So you better remember to dodge," she told me as I came from the bedroom wearing the green dogi with its blue underlay.

I should return in two days' time, provided all goes well.

17/06/83

It was a Mother-forsaken White Fang ruse, and we took it, hook, line, and sinker!

All seemed to be well when we arrived in Bluff Falls. Our arrival was expected, we were given a tour, saw the series of falls from where the town received its name, then retired to our guest rooms. I did not voice this to the team, but I felt this burning sensation where my Truthsense normally manifests. Never in my life have I had such a feeling, but it would come and go throughout the day, so I paid it little mind.

The following morning, I was shown the hall in which deliberation would take place. The members of TRNP were not allowed to join me, which, at the time, I found bizarre. Deliberations proceeded normally, and a forged will was the only evidence needed to exonerate the accused. The accuser continued to plead his case, despite my summary judgement, also claiming I had no authority to render such a decision.

I calmly informed him that I had been granted temporary authority by the Vale Council for this one case, and my decision would be recognized throughout the kingdom. He raised his hand to protest, but stopped when I called for a recess, just so I could get away from his incessant voice. I retreated to the room acting as a private chamber and attempted to contact TRNP, only to not receive a reply.

Immediately following my attempt at communication, I quickly learned two things: A backstabbing attempt registers on Truthsense, and the true motives of the White Fang. My Truthsense fired suddenly, and instinct told me to dodge right. As I did, my assailant's blade found the wall, and buried itself to the hilt. I brought a foot around for an Equinox kick, and found the rear of my attacker's head. The figure went limp.

I turned the unconscious body over to reveal my attacker was the accused. I fought off momentary confusion, then attempted a Soul Meld, but could not believe what the low cunning and depth of their plans. The White Fang intended to capture a team from Beacon, brainwash them, then ransom the team back to the school, only to have them be sleeper agents and informants.

Fortune was in my favor, as the accused had seen the exact location where TRNP was to be held. I opened and crawled through the window, then departed into the nearby woodlands, finding my captive companions a short distance away from the town. There were only two posted White Fang guards, dressed in their normal attire. A taller make Faunus, in a more ornate mask, who I assumed was the mastermind, stood before the bound team, lecturing them on his intention about which he was lying.

A fourth figure stood to the leader's left; another Faunus, but unadorned in any of the traditional regalia that would identify her as a member of the White Fang. She didn't even bother to hide her face. She was doing her best to appear resolute, but even I could tell she was taking issue with what was transpiring before her golden eyes.

One of the guard's fingers went to an ear. I assumed my absence back at the hall had been discovered, and that he was being informed. It was time to take action.

I pressed the emergency transponder on my Scroll, and revealed myself from over, much to the surprise of everyone. One of the guards charged, and I simply reached out with a Monsoon jab. The other raised his weapon to fire, but was met by my taking of his weapon, and proceeding to knock him unconscious with it. I still do not know how I reached over so fast.

After disposing of the guards, I demanded the immediate release of TRNP, to which the leader turned to the unadorned girl. She simply nodded, and in a blink, was engaging me with a short sword. I barely had time to evade her first strike when she came back around with another. As she did, I saw a momentary opening in her defense, and reached out to strike. It hit, and as it did, she let out an audible gasp. I did not strike with great intensity, which leads me to believe this was out of surprise rather than pain.

I moved to disengage, indulging in a bit of light banter as I regained posture and analyzed her attack patterns. She did not appreciate my combat dialogue, as her weapon came flying at me, then sailed back with the sound of a gunshot and the whipping of a tether. Crazy inspiration struck, and I dashed to my captive comrades. Her weapon came at me again, but I had saw how it flew, and caught it, placing it between the bindings. The weapon began to to go back, cutting the rope in the process, and taking me with it.

As I reached to unadorned girl, my hand reached for a Soul Meld, and briefly touched her face. I believe she could sense what was taking place, and reacted with a downward wild swipe from her blade, catching between my eyes, and along my left cheek. I didn't realize the gravity of my wound until I had boarded the Bullhead. My Soul Meld was long enough to confirm my suspicion. She carried doubt in her heart about the legitimacy of her cause, and I called her out on it. She reacted negatively, yelling in great anger that I knew nothing of oppression. I said that she was right, but I did know of redemption, saying her skills were wasted.

The Bullhead flew overhead and dropped rappel lines. Team TRNP moved to board as the White Fang leader moved to engage, but was fired upon by the combined fire of the team and the mounted gun on the Bullhead. When I went to grab a line, I said she could use her skills for greater things, and urged her to go to Beacon. The line tensed, and I was pulled away. I then passed out when I was pulled aboard.

I awoke in the medical wing after being told I have over one hundred stitches on my face. Amber apparently had a panic attack when I was being brought into the wing, and has yet to leave the side of my bed. Professor Ozpin came by earlier, apologizing for not seeing the obvious trap. I told him to not dwell on it, that we are only human, and we make mistakes. He didn't seem to like my response, as he looked contemplative, and left without saying another word.

I'm feeling constrained. I hope I am released soon.

18/06/83

I've been released from the medical wing and am resting in our quarters. Amber still refuses to leave my side, and she herself keeps apologizing to me. I finally grabbed her, looked her in the eyes, and said that had it not been for her training, I wouldn't be alive. But then, as we looked at each other, I felt a warming feeling in my stomach.

I guess you never realize the connection you make with someone until an event like this happens.

19/06/83

Due to my injury, Amber has let me sleep on the bed. This morning, I awoke with her arms around me. It was surprising at first, but I didn't dismiss it. It was quite… comforting.

19/10/83

Something has happened. I have not seen Amber in the last two days, and I cannot get a straight answer from either Professor Ozpin or Miss Goodwitch. Not only can I sense they are withholding information from me, I can see it upon their faces.

They have been traveling around campus together more often, specifically in the evenings, being accompanied by two other men that I do not recognize. I hate what I am about to do, but I must know.