I was up at dawn as usual. I had slept fitfully but it had still been sleep, for which I was thankful. My bags were cleaned up and ready to go and then I made my way to the bathroom to begin the day.
One of the perks of being up early was not having to fight for a shower.
I took a hot shower, making sure every inch of me was clean. The pounding water also helped relax my tense muscles.
Was I really ready for this? Or was I just fooling myself in believing I could mask as a simple student? Would someone notice? Would someone realize? Would that old bastard keep his word and keep his mouth shut or was he just waiting for the right moment to reveal me?
If he revealed me, I would be as good as dead.
I did my best to shove all those questions away. Of course, I was ready. Of course, of course, of course. The old bastard would keep his word. For all his crookedness, he was an honorable man. It was something he didn't show much and it made me fond of him.
Strange.
After the shower, I dried off, brushed my teeth and went to the extensive mirrors they had. I spent time brushing out my long silver hair, air drying it. Still, no one entered. Apparently, dawn was considered 'too early' to most of my classmates.
I found the special strands of hair as I brushed. The one place that had lasted through Omar's tortures. There was a spot at the base of my scalp that still produced the black strands of hair that I had been born with. I always felt absurdly proud of it. I had outlasted even the mighty Omar.
When dry, my hair was soft, wavy and shiny, hanging all the way to my hips. Then I decided it was time to really get ready.
My younger sister and I had created our daily outfits together. A long, long time ago.
The first thing to go on was the top.
It was a hands width swath of soft, flexible black matte leather.
I'm a fairly well-endowed girl. Not like Yang's endowment but pretty close.
I put it behind my back just below my shoulder blade then I stretch out my arms till I think the fabric is even on both side of my body. Then the end in my right hand goes over my left shoulder and the end in my left hand goes over my right shoulder where the two ends are tied tightly behind my neck. A little adjusting here and there to make sure my endowments stay within the leather cups and an extra tug at the knot completed my top.
I can always feel the extra fabric brushing my back as I walk.
The next thing I put on was metal and leather gorget. I didn't know what the metal was but I knew that it's the strongest armor ever created.
It looked like a steel and leather collar. It completely encased my neck in its protective grasp except a small grove near the front to allow me to move my head.
I fit it on my neck and pushed it till I heard a small click that meant it was securely shut. The gorget had saved my life on a number of occasions.
When I pulled my pants and belts out the sun began to rise above the horizon significantly. Soon the others would be waking up.
I pulled on the tight black matte leather pants that fit me like a second skin, depriving an enemy of a hand hold. My tall knee high black combat boots accepted the curve of my foot. Ah, familiarity. I pulled the thickest leather belt out and slid it through my belt loops.
The silver matte belt buckle was a delicate orchid matching my staff.
With the ease of practice, I began to belt the smaller belts in their places along my legs. I hooked my various belt pouches along them with a lot of extra ammo, dry food, a canteen went on my hip and I always had a healing kit with me, attached to my big belt on my back, where Ruby stored her scythe on herself.
Finally, I buckled my black cloak around my shoulders.
I gripped Orchid in my right hand tightly and went back over to the mirrors to study myself.
I will not look like one of Omar's children again. This is me now.
I shuddered. I looked into my own eyes, eyes so dark blue they were almost black and saw fear. Fear that someone would see what I was before I could change.
I wanted this face and these clothes to mean something different than before. I wanted eyes that looked so dark because even my long eyelashes had long ago been turned to blackened silver, to know the world for the good, not just the bad.
I smiled at myself, showing my teeth. Something I never could do. My sharp elongated canines glinted back at me, a testament to why I never smiled with my teeth. A testament to yet another secret.
Then I heard the groggy murmurings of other people and I quickly exited.
I pulled my hood up to hide my hair and my face. No one noticed me as I made my way to breakfast. On my way, I woke the still sleeping Elise to save someone else from doing it. She had told me yesterday of her difficult time waking up. "Morning, Ely. Go shower before there is a line." I said gently before she rolled up and walked like a zombie towards the bathroom.
I consumed a delicious breakfast of blackberry pancakes before the rest of my fellow initiates had reached the room. Another perk of being the first one up. Breakfast is always fresh and hot.
Too bad my morning was ruined by the radio.
"... still on the hunt. Though Faceless hasn't struck since the murder of Professor Hawkin, authorities still remain alert, wondering where the villain will strike next."
Student's murmured about the broadcast, wondering where the elusive killer would attack next. Faceless was considered a threat too far and yet too close for anyone's comfort. I could hear and feel the fear and awe mixed together when they spoke of the terrible assassin.
Not wanting to participate in any conversation having to do with Faceless, I moved to the back of the cafeteria and waited.
Elise finally came and found me with her tray full of food, dressed for combat. She looked awake, alert and humming with excitement. "Initiation day!" She said when she dug in. "I know. I feel like my heart is about to burst from excitement." I said. She looked me up and down appreciatively. "I like your outfit." She said, downing pancakes like a pro.
"Elise, try not to be such a pig. Good morning, Dahlia." Elin said before sitting down, also looking ready for the day. Everyone's attire was so interesting, I saw as they all slowly made their way into the dining room. Each one was unique and a statement of that persona's personality. For a moment I wondered what my outfit said about me.
Elise shot her brother a dirty look before devouring her bacon. Both me and Elin laughed.
"So did you hear? We're being put into teams." He said, consuming his blueberry waffles with passion. I slumped.
Teams?
Who wants a cripple on their team?
"Dally, you had better be on my team. Or else. I mean, who else is going to make sure brick head stays in line." She said eyeing Martris. Apparently, time had not soothed the big boys temper. "I'm not worried about him." I said quietly, drinking some water to ease the dryness in my throat.
"You shouldn't be. You're my friend." She said brimming with confidence.
I eyed her.
Her long hair was braided and wrapped into a large bun on the back of her head with her messy bangs swept over her right eyebrow. She had applied some makeup to her face, which made no sense to me, but if she liked it then who was I to question it?
Her outfit consisted of a loose long sleeve v neck white blouse with tight cuffs tucked into tight black pants, high heeled black leather boots. Over her upper torso she wore a molded black chest plate and the same on her shoulders. She wore what looked like a metal harness that hooked around her waist, under her bust and looped around her shoulders and the giant metal plate that near covered her back was what her sword magnetized itself to.
Across her back was the largest sword I'd ever seen. It was taller than her and the hilt stuck up over her left shoulder and wide enough to need her whole back to cover it.
How is she strong enough to lift that thing?
Elin was dressed exactly like his sister; the only difference was the opposite coloring. His shirt was black and his pants and armor were white. His boots were more like mine, without Elise's high heels. Not to mention that his v-neckline went much deeper than Elise's; showing off a smooth, well muscled chest.
Coiled at Elin's waist were two oddly designed whips. Their hilts became two matching points, deadly melee weapons if used right and on their grips there were finger holes that looked an awful lot like brass knuckles. How interesting.
"Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation. Again, all first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."
Goodwitch sounded so sweet and collected over the speaker when she was really a generally stern person.
Elise finished the last of her enormous meal and smiled. "It's time."
Beacon Cliff was aptly named. An enormous 90 degree drop right down into the Emerald forest.
Each of my classmates stood on a metal platform facing Professor Ozpin, with a mug in his hand that smelled of coffee and Huntress Goodwitch who held a tablet.
"For years, you have trained to become warriors and today your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald forest." Ozpin looked at all of us, his eyes meeting mine momentarily. I didn't drop my gaze this time. Today, I would show him my mettle.
Goodwitch took the stage for a moment. "Now I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates. Today." She said looking at Ruby who if she could, would have gone even paler.
"These teammates 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 whom you can work well." Ruby groaned at Ozpin's statement. For the rest of school. Oh ye Gods, I thought horrified. I looked at Elise who winked at me.
"That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years." I thought I would faint.
Oh, please, let me find Elise or Elin before anyone else.
Then a thought struck me.
What if Martris found me first?
I controlled my expression and calmed my breathing. Don't think of the bad. Find Elise.
"After you've partnered up, make your way to the Northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path- or you will die." He continued, looking at me from out the corner of his eye.
Me? Die? I should be so lucky.
"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, 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 gauge that item, as well as your standing and grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
Jaune began to speak but Ozpin cut him off with a, "Good, now take your positions."
Everyone dropped into a battle stance. I crouched with my right leg back, putting all my weight on my good left leg. That would be the leg I would use to send me flying. Orchid was in my left hand parallel to the ground.
Only Jaune wasn't prepared to fly. He just kept trying to ask his question about our 'landing strategy'. Poor boy. I guess he didn't know that you had to figure one out.
One by one, the metal plates we stood on launched us into the air over the Emerald Forest.
I looked at Elise, who was going next and smiled. She would really fly. She winked at me again before her plate flung her. I heard a "Whoohoo!" As she went.
Next to Elise was a poised red haired woman in Spartan like battle armor with a red and gold spear and shield across her back.
I met Professor Ozpin's eyes once more before I felt myself launched into the air in a rush of wind.
With a last push from my left leg, I surged into the wind, my black cloak flapping behind me like wings.
I was joined in the air by my fellow classmates all smiling with battle glint in their eyes. Then I heard a terrified scream and knew the Jaune Arc had taken to the sky, unprepared.
I whirled Orchid around above me, to lessen my impact as I fell towards the large trees.
As I whirled the silver staff faster, the lighter I became. And with the gracefulness of a falling petal, I landed on a sturdy branch. I looked around and saw everyone falling into the tree line. Then I saw Yang, blasted across the tree line right towards me. I ducked out of her way. She was laughing as she bounced from tree to tree, hitting the ground with an exultant 'Nailed it.'
The red haired girl barreled through the tree branched before rolling onto a branch below me, her spear changing into a rifle.
A scream overhead showed where Jaune was. Poor boy, I thought again looking as he somersaulted wildly through the air.
With her rifle turning into a spear again, the red haired girl iron sighted Jaune and fired her spear. I thought she meant to kill him but she was merely stopping him from falling, pinning him to a tree. "I'm sorry!" She cried sweetly.
I smiled. I kind of was starting to like my classmates.
I whirled Orchid again and gently drifted down to the forest floor.
Ruby whipped past me yelling for her sister. I thought about calling out to her but then I thought better of it. So I got my bearings and started walking North with painful ground devouring strides.
I got glimpses of pairs as walked and began to panic. What if I didn't find anyone?
As I got farther away, the less people I saw.
And the more I began to wonder... where were all the Grimm?
Suddenly, I heard gunshots and howling and the crackling of fire.
Oh, there they are.
Sounds like a pack of Beowolves had found some of my teammates. But closer off to my right, I heard a boy yell in pain and what I thought sounded like an Ursa roar. Deciding that the boy was in more danger than the other pair, I took off towards the right.
Even as a cripple, when I needed speed, I could cover ground. And I made it just in time. It wasn't just an Ursa. It was an Ursa Major.
The big burly boy was fending it off with Aura alone.
The Ursa Major was a big one, but not the biggest I had ever fought. Centering myself on both legs, I felt the excruciating pain in my right leg turn to the energy that I used to fight. I slid my hand down Orchid to the center where the familiar etchings of the triggers dug into my fingers.
I pointed the top of the staff at the big bear like Grimm and pressed the first trigger.
Blam! Blam! Blam!
I fired off three shots that didn't pierce the Grimm's side but distracted it from the wounded boy.
The Grimm's burning red eyes fixed on me. I smiled.
Gripping Orchid in both hands as the Ursa Major charged, I twisted the staff.
Twin blades slid out from the ends, deadly sharp and strong.
Time always seems to slow down for me in a fight. I no longer felt the pain in my leg. Just strength and speed as I whirled and kicked and sliced and killed.
Orchid was my own design. Forged by my hands in the way I wanted.
Yes, Orchid was used as my walking staff, due to my severely injured leg. But as a weapon, she was hard to match.
When twisted a quarter turn to the left, the twin blades popped out of the ends to become a bladed staff. Another twist separates the top and bottom halves revealing two more blades inside, making a total of four blades.
With the two halves of the staff with all four blades, I become a storm of silver. Much of my fighting style is acrobatics as hand-to-hand. And if I chose to have more flexibility and speed with Orchid, the two halves both had a switch near my thumb that if release the two halves became four. The halves swung on a steel chain to become double bladed nun-chucks. I had trained for many years to master their use this way. It was Orchid's most deadly mode because one wrong move and you would hurt yourself more than your enemy.
The Ursa Major was missing most of its body parts and was bleeding messily as it made its final charge on two legs.
As easily as the parts come apart, Orchid fit back together smoothly in a few strokes of movement.
Orchid had a few other personal features. Long range modes. When a full staff, Orchid was also a high powered rifle which was her first trigger. Her second trigger was a powerful knife thrower. It was the secret defense I had for I could use it when leaning on it. The knives were housed in a compartment at the top of the staff and when the second trigger was pressed, three knives were loaded. They were fired when I slammed the butt of my staff down.
I put a single rifle shot through the Ursa Major's eye before it fell dead at my feet.
Then the pain returned and I leaned heavily on my staff and limped to the bleeding boy on the ground. He wasn't crying but was in pain-shock.
"Hello, my name is Dahlia." I murmured, pulling my healing kit out. "Don't bother. My leg will have to be removed. I know it. No one could save it. I've failed before we'd even begun." He said, voice thick with despair. I only smiled at him.
"Hush now." I said, pulling his leg back into place. It was his left leg and it hung on by a little skin and muscle. Yes, anyone else would have cut it off. But the skin and muscle was enough for me to work with.
"See that leaf above you? Focus on it. This will feel strange." I whispered to him.
Once his leg was repositioned properly, I began to prepare it for the Deep Healing. I wanted no internal infection once it was complete.
I talked to him as I worked, telling him about the plants and herbs I used for healing.
He didn't seem to listen but I knew my soft voice provided a soothing background noise.
Once his leg was ready, I reached deep inside myself to the place in my heart the housed my Aura. I entered the dark Blue of its power and instinctively activated my Semblance and pulled the strands of Healing from my body into my hands and pressed those strands into the wounded leg.
It was hard work but my concentration never wavered. I watched with my inner sense as I coaxed muscle to regrow and knit itself back together, bone reattach and heal firm, veins and arteries grow back and new skin to form beneath my hands.
And as I healed his physical wounds, I went to work healing his emotional and mental wounds. I healed most of the trauma and ease the soul-hurt that I could.
For my Semblance wasn't just physical Healing but Emotional and Mental Healing as well.
I don't know how long we took but in the end, he was left without even a scar.
"Oh… my God." He said as I pulled him into a sitting position.
I was tired but proud.
He moved it for me and wiggled his toes before I let him put his boot back on and helped him to his feet. "It feels good as new." He said smiling. "My name is Peyton. Thank you... for everything." He said taking my hand and kissing it gently. I blushed. Boys were so gallant.
He was dressed in full dark gray and black camouflage colored molded armor with a peculiar techno looking crest engraved into his chest plate, over a pair of black pants and a gray long sleeved t-shirt and dark gray combat boots.
"It's not a problem... partner." I murmured smiling. "C'mon, let's get going before anything else attacks us."
He grinned.
He was a really big guy, broad shoulder with rippling muscles and powerful legs, towering a good three heads over me. He had long shaggy brown hair tied in a tail and big green-hazel eyes.
He ran a quick studying eye over my generous figure but it was a strictly professional look. I had a love-hate relationship with the way my body looks. As a girl, I enjoyed how beautiful it was, but at the same time, I never knew if this was the body I was meant to have. Omar had such a hand in designing me from the beginning. Was this my body or the one Omar wanted me to have?
I had a flat stomach and a beautiful hourglass shape. Many men have wanted to place their hands on my well rounded hips but those same men found my crippled leg unappealing.
My pace wasn't as fast as before but it was still quick. I disliked the thought of being the last ones. A Nevermore circled overhead and I watched as a little black and red dot fell from off it.
"Dahlia, we are close." Peyton said. I made sure to steer clear of his arms. His choice of weapon were gauntlet blades that rimmed his outer forearms to his elbows and they were wicked sharp. Shorter blades rimmed his knuckles, giving his already powerful punches a deadly edge. Strange panels lined his inner forearm.
We began to move again when I heard a crack behind us. I fell into a battle stance, Orchid as a bladed staff faster the Peyton could match.
"Dahlia!" I heard a voice cry.
Joy lit my features.
"Elise!"
The little girl ran towards me, her twin appearing behind her as if he had been a part of the tree. She threw herself at me in a hug and I saw blood oozing from a deep cut above her right eyebrow.
"Beowolves." Elin said, seeing my look of concern. He looked tired but calm.
I smiled at him but he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Peyton.
"Hi. I'm Elin." He murmured to the large boy. "Peyton. Nice to meet you." Peyton replied shyly.
I covered their conversation by telling Elise that the temple was close and cleaning her wound and dabbing it with an antiseptic. I'd properly Heal it after we had made it back to the cliffs.
"We'd better hurry. Those Beowolves weren't all killed and they'll follow Elise's blood scent. And I'm all out of Dust." Elin said quickly.
"What kind do you use?" I queried, reaching for a large pouch on my left thigh.
"Red and blue are fine, if you've got them but I'll work with anything at this point."
I looked in the pouch. There at the bottom were two small jars of red and blue Dust. "Here" I said handing them to him. "Now let's move. I can feel them closing in." I said putting on speed.
We showed up right as the Deathstalker Weiss had apparently trapped broke its stinger free of the ice to pursue the two groups. There was Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Blake, Jaune, the red haired warrior girl, a bubbly orange haired girl and a black haired boy in green. As the Deathstalker passed us after them, the four of us ran to the Temple.
The relics were large chess pieces. Ah, the irony.
Elise and I grabbed the two black knight pieces and smiled at each other. "Now all we have to do is reach the top of the cliff again."
Elin smiled. "No problem."
Then the packs of Beowolves found us.
"Oh look, they brought friends." Elin said sarcastically, looking at the two King Taijitu's that slithered up with the Beowolves. A black one and a white one. They were larger than I had seen in a while.
Aiya.
"Elin, Elise can you take the snakes for a little? Peyton take as many of the wolves down as you can." I snapped. Everyone nodded and went to work.
Orchid was already in bladed staff mode but with the dozen or so Beowolves I needed more.
Peyton and I fought back to back. His style was much more strength base, using his impressive physical capabilities to decimate the Beowolves, while I danced with Orchid around them.
The leader was harder to kill than the others. It took effort on both mine and Peyton's parts to kill it.
It was weak from my fast attacks and Peyton's destructive charges but it took a hard round house kick with Orchids rifle blast behind it into Peyton as he charged with his blades ready to finally take the head off it.
They all lay dead but we were not finished.
Elise and Elin had done their best with the King Taijitu's. Gave us time to take out the Beowolves.
But snakes are hard to kill.
Elise's attacks were much like Peyton's, somehow she could move that enormous blade, the one she named Serenity, with enough strength behind it to do some damage, while Elin's style was much more like mine. Armed with his Dust infused whips, he danced, flaying his opponents with deadly speed. But they weren't enough.
"Peyton get them down side by side!" I yelled.
He did exactly that, leaping into the air and slamming his weight down on the two massive snakes side by side, with their eyes in perfect alignment.
"Elise!" I yelled but she already knew. "Got it!"
She hurled her mighty sword into the black King Taijitu's evil red eye where it stuck. It tried to buck but Peyton held it down with effort.
"Elin, fling me!" I cried running. He flicked his wrist and I felt the sting of the tip of his whip wrap around my left wrist. I leapt up, using Orchid's rifle to give me extra speed as Elin swung me in a great arc right as Elise's sword.
It would hurt. I had to use my right leg, but as I was swinging towards it, pain was the furthest thing from my mind.
I slammed my heel into the pommel of Elise's Serenity. With the combined power of the swing and my own speed, I hit it with enough force to slam it through the black and white King Taijitu's eyes.
Both were dead instantly, heads imploding and Serenity quivered in the tree where it had been embedded.
We were all too tired to speak but we nodded and laughed a little before walking away from our battlefield.
We heard the echoes of another fight and ran towards it. "We need a better vantage point." Elise said, pointing up above the ruins after she pulled Serenity from the tree.
It was the two groups we had seen earlier with the same monsters. Jaune and the other people I didn't know fought the Deathstalker.
While Ruby, Weiss, Yang and Blake fought the Nevermore.
With a last bit of effort, the four of us sprinted to the top of the cliff near the ruins. We watched as Jaune's group killed the Deathstalker with its own stinger. We all cheered. The Nevermore circled near us and I saw Yang leaping towards its open mouth.
I clicked Orchid's second trigger, took no time aiming and slammed her down.
Three nearly invisible knives shot from my staff. One missed and scraped its bony forehead. But two of them hit their targets. A Nevermore has four eyes, two on each side. Now that Nevermore was blind on one side.
No one saw me fire and I smiled a little. Orchid's secret was still safe.
Ruby, with the other three girls help, beheaded the Nevermore in a spectacular way. The four of us cheered wildly for them before making our way to the finish. I breathed a sigh of relief.
We had survived.