The cafeteria was an enormous section of the school; in his mind, they could have saved a lot of money and room if they tried to stop being so opulent. A thousand people could have fit in here, and last he noticed the school didn't have that many students or staff.
What baffled him more than the dining room itself was why he came here. Kroenen never ate in public, his dietary needs were unorthodox compared to the normal person, so it was indeed entirely pointless to even come here and to see others enjoy their meals.
Unlike most days, this however was starting to become interesting. His eyes were fixated on the table that was usually the spot of Team CRDL, a sorry bunch of average fighters if he ever saw one. They were currently tormenting the blonde-haired boy whose name he remembered was close to that of a French saint.
He did not really have any strong opinions on bullying, indeed he remembered being quiet the bully back when he was chronologically seventeen. In his mind, only weaklings allowed themselves to be bullied, hence were utterly deserving of such things if they don't do anything about it.
The saint boy limply walked away as he clambered back up after being tripped by that meathead Cardin.
It was pathetic, why was the meek loser even here?
He looked as he returned back to his own team, solemn and utterly defeated. He then shifted his gaze to Team RWBY. They seem to have noticed that little incident and didn't seem to be entirely pleased.
Kroenen lost interest for a while, rested his head-on cafeteria table that was being occupied by him and him alone.
Then something even more interesting happened.
Team CRDL had moved on to bullying a rabbit eared Faunus, Cardin tugging on her ears and his band of merry men laughing on.
He looked back to Team RWBY noticing the subtle but smoldering rage on a certain black haired beauty.
He had an evil idea.
He stood and quickly walked over their table with a clearly agitated pace. The other tables taking note of his uncharacteristic action.
Soon he found himself standing before Team CRDL, their sneering expressions turned towards him. The crying Faunus girl on the floor, looking at him as if he was her savior.
She was dead wrong.
"What do you think you are doing?" Kroenen asked in an icy and deathly whisper.
The earlier enthusiastic band of wastrels were now a lot quieter.
"Well if isn't the scary skull guy. You a Faunas lover?" Cardin was already on the floor when he finished that sentence. His yes-men shot up from their seats, utterly failing to even catch him move.
The cafeteria became oh so quiet, everyone's eyes focused on the fight that was going to erupt.
Team RWBY in particular were looking on intently. Blake was curious as to why Kroenen would have come to the aid of a Faunas.
"Say one more word and I will tear out your tongue and feed it to Grimm." Cardin placed his hand over his stinging bruise, he felt rage which quickly dissipated as he looked into the eyes of the person who floored him.
"Why did you touch this wretched beast?" It was quickly made apparent that he was referring to Velvet.
This situation was not what it initially appeared as.
"W-What?" Cardin could only gasp out. Kroenen squatted near him, his eyes boring into his soul.
"What do you think of the Faunus?" He asked dangerously, in a chilling voice that promised violence.
"T-They're just dumb animals? "Cardin was scared now, Kroenen was an intimidating figure from afar, his skull motif gas mask made him even more terrifying up close.
"Wrong. They are not animals; you insult such noble creatures by using such a slur. They are rabid beasts, worthless things undeserving of life. Not even the Grimm are so disgusting. "Kroenen wasn't quiet when he said that. The level of prejudice that Kroenen seem to have for the Faunus shocked even Cardin.
To Kroenen however this level of prejudice was actually quite normal back in his original life.
"W-What are you saying? Velvet asked incredulously as she took his words in.
Kroenen slowly looked at her, he looked at her with sheer utter contempt that was seething with rabid rage.
He grabbed her by the neck, flinging her away with a great force.
Many of the students were standing up now, taken back by the sudden violence.
Kroenen jumped upwards on the nearest table. Standing high as he looked down at Team CRDL.
"I am appalled by you maggots; your lukewarm prejudice sickens me." Kroenen declared, apparently enraged that Cardin and his team weren't racist enough.
"What is wrong with you!?" Blake yelled out, her eyes falling on Velvet who was being helped to her feet by her team.
Kroenen acknowledge her presence slightly. He cracked his neck.
"I am merely addressing several important issues here, chief among them is the fact that faunas are allowed to attend this academy."
Kroenen was and still is a racist, indeed if asked he would admit to it very simply and mildly. He truly did not consider Faunas as his equals, but then again he did not consider many people to be his equals.; however, Kroenen was not the sort to make such daring proclamations, standing atop a table and orating like the Fuhrer himself. He was not the sort to scream at the top of his lungs talking about the inferiority of those not Aryan, he much preferred to prove it through killing.
There was a method behind the madness, he had a good grasp on the personalities of both Ruby and Weiss. Now was Blake's turn and he was going to press her buttons as far as he could.
"Issues? What issues? Did you come here not knowing that the people who run this school aren't repulsive racists like you Silber?" Blake responded back fiercely, the anger and disgust in her voice very evident.
Yes this was doing it. She was clearly upset, and not only because of what he did to the Faunas girl. This was something she grew up with, something very close to her heart.
"Racist? I take offense to such a term! The Faunas are no race! They are scabs of creation! Mistakes of a catastrophic scale! I dare say they are the same kind as of the Grimm!" Blake froze solid in maddened fury. Kroenen couldn't help but take a quiet glee at prodding her with the proverbial stick.
The other members of RWBY were not idle during all of this. Ruby was utterly aghast, not expecting such hateful vitriol from her first friend from Beacon; Yang just had a scowl, crossing her arms as she looked at their verbal exchange with a quiet but not surprised fatigue; Weiss had her hands on her mouth, a bit taken back by the insults and hostility from both sides.
"You're despicable Silber. I knew it the moment I laid my eyes on you. People like you are the reason why peace isn't possible between humans and Faunas! You are completely blinded by your hate! This is the sort of thing that leads to the Grimm proliferating!" Kroenen relaxed, it was not a comforting thing.
"Peace?" Kroenen was quiet now, before he was acting; but now he was being very serious.
"You think peace is possible between man and beast?" Blake was taken back by his sudden change in posture and tone. No longer was he raving, now he was quiet, now he was acting like the Totenkopf they come to know.
"I believe it is." Blake answered a bit cautious.
"What you believe is a lie. Peace is an illusion, there is only struggle." Kroenen was being especially harsh now, this deluded notion of peace had stroked a chord in him.
"That's what you say. You're deluded Totenkopf. You see nothing but the faults and evils of the Faunas. Peace is not an illusion." Kroenen fought the urge to retch.
"How does the lion live?" Blake took some seconds to process his question.
"What do you mean?" Kroenen shook his head.
"The lion eats those which are his natural lessers, if he does not then he dies." Blake couldn't understand his point.
"The lion does not live in peace; he struggles and kills. He feasts on the lamb, for if he does not he dies. If the lamb escapes than it lives but the lion is one step closer to biological oblivion." Kroenen's monologue had captured the attentions of everyone present, he had this strange commanding aura that demanded respect.
"We're better than animals. We're civilized, we have technology, dust, we have knowledge an-".
"You cannot defy nature." Kroenen cut her off.
"Where was all this civilized wonder when the Great War happened? Where could they be found when the kingdoms fought one another? These were human civilizations that fought and killed; brother against brother. Why then must the Faunas be treated any better?" Blake bit her lip.
"People are flawed." She could only answer.
"No, people are bounded by a natural order. A higher principle or divine providence that creates a stratum between inferior and superior."
"Who determines who is who?" Blake was intrigued now.
"Easy, it is determined by fate. The Faunas have biological traits that should theoretically give them an edge over humans; but for some reason it is humans who rule kingdoms and it is the Faunas who play beggar, asking from their human masters to give them a taste of their power." Every Faunas in the room were obviously angered by his words.
"We aren't begging! We're fighting for them!" Blake said resolutely.
"No you are not, the White Fang I dare say are doing more than you lot." At the mention of the Faunas terrorist organization many people were obviously agitated, Weiss especially as her mood darkened.
"Why are you talking about the White Fang?" Blake said apprehensively.
"The White Fang are laughable and pathetic welps who nonetheless have learned a very important lesson that many Faunas rights activists fail to even consider. The only true power originates from violence and force." This horrified Blake, it horrified pretty much everyone. Even the usually easygoing Yang and the hyperactive Nora were disturbed by his answer.
"You're twisted Silber." Was all Blake could manage to say.
"You think asking for equality is all that takes? You think that is solely enough? The Faunas fought a war to unshackle their chains, what more then would they need to do to gain their true freedom? Men with power do not give it freely, they are either forced or threatened with the usage of force. The Grimm are a perfect example; they are an inscrutable entity and no amount of negotiation will stop them. They are the ultimate enemy to kill, because no matter how much you destroy, they always come back. They understand force and force only. So why not apply the same principles to politics?" Such an alien thinking was incomprehensible to most of these teens. They lived in a time of comparative peace, not exposed to the horrific violence that Kroenen was accustomed to.
"The Grimm are mindless; they aren't even alive. We're talking about people. With lives, hopes, dreams and so much more!" Kroenen chuckled darkly.
"So what? Are people with desires entitled to anything?" Kroenen failed to understand what she meant, and she failed to understand what he meant.
This was a divide that was deeper than Faunas vs Humans. This was a conflict of worldviews, of deeply entrenched beliefs that could not be reconciled with one another.
The brutal, uncompromising and unyielding doctrine of National Socialism against the hopeful, optimistic and progressive ethos of Beacon and Remnant. It was thesis and antithesis, the complete opposites facing each other.
"People are people! We can't just act as if they're Grimm! They can think! They can be reasoned with! They have lives" Blake exasperatedly stated as if it was an obvious answer.
It wasn't
"YOU cannot treat people as if they were better than Grimm, I however can without much difficulty. I despise reasonable people, compromise is death. You cannot compromise on freedom. To live is no miracle, indeed I believe that no being has a right to live at all." This was the turning point.
Blake's jaw fell, utterly breathless at such insanity.
Ruby was almost in the verge of tears, whatever her lofty thoughts on Silber were gone now.
Weiss was of a similar situation. She just couldn't believe the sweet and honest boy who understood her so well was utterly demented.
Even Yang was affected, visibly angered by the callousness that Kroenen showed.
Such degrees of disgust, shock and revulsion were common throughout the crowd.
10 minutes was all it took to solidify Silber's reputation as the sickest student enrolled in Beacon.
"You're a monster." Blake said harshly, seeing no point in continuing.
All Kroenen could do was laugh, a bloodcurdling noise that could make even Grimm shiver.
"No my dear Blake. The Grimm are monsters; I am far more terrifying. I am a man who realizes the truth of the world. There is nothing but the struggle. There is nothing but violence. Is that not what Huntsmen and Huntresses do? Tell me Blake. Would you exterminate the Grimm if it were possible?" Blake knew what he was aiming for.
"I'll do what's necessary. Don't make hunting Grimm sound more sinister than it really is Silber." Kroenen nodded his head, impressed.
"That is important, necessity. That is what the Faunas must realize if they wish to become higher than baser creatures. It means to eat like the lion and to flee as the lamb. In their struggle for true freedom, the Faunas must realize that their enemy is humanity itself." This was greatly disturbing.
Kroenen had started off as the raving demagogue, now he was advocating Faunas terrorism?
"I'm done arguing with you Silber. You're too deranged to know anything about what the Faunas need to do." It was sudden, he had jumped from atop the table and in a short span his lenses were inches from her eyes.
To Blake's credit she didn't flinch as hard as someone who'd normally experience such a rapid invasion of privacy.
"How many of your people were enslaved?" Blake felt her heart beat in panic as she realized Silber was addressing her as a Faunas.
Thankfully he was just whispering now.
She never really noticed how tall he was, he was maybe even slightly taller than Adam.
"How much death and misery has happened?" Blake wanted to tell him about her time in the White Fang, but then she realized he would have tried convincing her to return.
"Such divide cannot be fixed with words." His tone was less hostile now, it sounded like he was giving her advice.
"Blood can be answered by only blood." She grew uncomfortable, his blue eyes piercing right into her.
"Terror can only be fought with terror." He continued, even though several students were making noise now as high-heeled footsteps were echoing across the room.
"A people who does not fight and die for their existence do no deserve to live, If you want your freedom then you must wage bloody war and close your heart to pity." She couldn't believe it, a human supremacist actually encouraging her to fight, albeit through violent and sickening means.
"Mister Totenkopf!" Silber broke away, walking towards a very incensed Goodwitch.
Blake found herself standing there, completely numb to the world outside.
She felt filthy, like she had been dirtied when Silber went so close against her.
But she couldn't help but feel horrified to know she was sympathizing with Totenkopf.
So many within the White Fang believed in what he did, and that was the reason she left; but even she realized the conflict between the humans and the Faunas would not heal through normal means.
She looked at Silber's fleeting form, as he was taken away by Goodwitch. No fear nor hesitation.
What was he?
"Did he hurt you Blake?" Yang asked in concern, Ruby and Weiss quickly by her side as well.
She couldn't answer.
She laid on her bed, after a hard day of school.
She didn't know what happened to Totenkopf, all she knew was that he was punished.
She couldn't stop thinking about him. Her mind occupied by the name Silber Totenkopf.
She had hated him, hated him the very moment she laid her eyes on him. She thought she was no different from every other Faunas hating fanatic. She thought he was just a mindless bigot.
But he wasn't, Silber was many things; but he wasn't dumb. She realized that.
She was afraid, intensely curious about someone she shouldn't even think about.
The Faunas Hunter had intrigued her.
He was so intense and so driven. He ardently believe in what he was talking about, no matter how much of his beliefs utterly repulsed her she couldn't help but be taken back by his absolute passion.
He was dark, so full of dangerous secrets. He was a threat to her, a threat to what she stood for.
She advocated peace, he advocated terror.
Why?
He was the Faunas Hunter, a human supremacist and lap dog of the Schnee. He was a figure born of her nightmares and hatred. Not a person but a thing to be despised.
Yet she couldn't stop remembering how he told her to fight for what she believed. For the longest time she was doubting herself, doubting the course she was taking as a Huntress.
Too hear someone like Totenkopf telling that to her.
It confused and angered her.
He shouldn't have been the one to tell her that, not after all he had done. Not with the blood on his hands.
He had no right to tell her to live.
She held her knees, and felt wetness in her tears.
She hated him.
She hated him so much.
Not because he was a racist jerk.
No it was because out of everyone in Beacon.
It was Silber: quiet, cruel, murderous and pitiless Silber who she she understood the most. His drive, his passion, his mind and his demented view of the world. She thought she couldn't fathom such a thing; but she could and that scared her.
And a small part of her was terrified of the implications of Totenkopf knowing who she really was.
She placed a had on her bow, feeling the ears beneath.
She couldn't help but think Silber would not reveal her just yet.
She couldn't help but think Silber understood her just as much as she understood him.
