I looked at the room we were assigned. It was at the end of a corridor, so we were luckily given a large room. The four beds were split into pairs, and lined up against opposite walls and were fit snug against the four corners of the room. Between the beds, along the walls in the space between beds, were large wooden desks with one wooden shelf above each of them. The desks had three drawers for storage along one side. On and near our beds were our larger bags of clothing and whatnot. Not a word was said as we all walked to our respective beds. An awkward silence filled the room.
"So…" I begin, sitting on my bed in the left corner of the room by the window. "It seems we have some reputations."
"Mmm…" Was Nero's only vocal response. He sighed and crossed his arms, looking down and refusing to make eye contact with anyone. I turned to see Argos, who was lying down on the other bed on my side of the room. My partner's eyes were closed, but there was no real way to know if he was actually sleeping or secretly listening in. Turning to Elysia, who occupied the bed directly across from mine, I could definitely see some signs of distress and a bit of anger. Her fists were balled, and her very form was trembling slightly.
"Elysia?" I call out to her. "You ok?"
"N-no." She answered definitively. "I'm not."
"If anything, your reputation is the widest known." I asked. "Why Ceres? Why not just Aurell?"
"I have my reasons for what I've done, Railen." The young woman answered calmly. "Of course, as do you, Nero, and Argos, I assume. I don't feel very comfortable talking about this right now."
"R-right." The way she talked, her voice shook with a sort of anxiety that I had never seen from her before. She was calm, collected throughout the Initiation Exam. Now, after her real name was revealed, Elysia looked vulnerable, haunted even, by whatever she's done. "I apologize."
"You of all people shouldn't even talk, Railen." She added with touch of venom. "You've many reputations from Sanctum that I'm sure many people have heard."
I stood up immediately. It took me a lot of will to not walk over to her and get in her face, a sort of primal reaction of mine. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I feel like you may already know." She retaliated, her hands still wrapped around her staff gripped hard, her knuckles taught with annoyance.
"You're not exactly out of the hole here, Elysia." Nero finally spoke back up. "Unless you've legally changed your name, what you've done is technically fraud."
Both Elysia and I glared at the Wolf Faunus, who was completely correct. I looked back at Elysia waiting for an answer, and sighed when she eventually shook her head.
"So identity fraud, then." I deduced.
"So a cheat, then." She countered.
"I never cheated." I stepped forward, and she got off her bed.
"A liar as well, then." She pointed her staff at me. I don't know where are this hostility was coming from, but I didn't like it. I suddenly felt my dagger in my hand.
"Excuse me? gritted my teeth. "I don't exactly like what you're trying to imply."
"How unbecoming of a leader," I heard Nero scoff. "Losing his handle so soon. How mindless."
"You didn't have much of a brain charging at the Raptor back there." I countered. "It's like you have a death wish or something."
"And your show wasn't all-so impressive either," He retorted. Argos made no attempt to add anything in, though it would have been a little difficult for him to do so. "My idea would have still left an opening for people to attack the crystal in the first place."
"Yeah of course, following what everyone could call a stupid and unnecessary sacrifice play on your part." I countered. "What were you trying to prove there?"
I was answered with a glare, but was satisfied when he made no other comment. Before anyone else could speak up, all four Scrolls in the room buzzed with a notification saying:
Team RAEN report to Headmaster's Office for pre-course meeting
"Pre-course meeting?" Elysia read aloud. She looked to us for an explanation, but both Nero and I shrugged; we weren't told about any sort of meeting like this. Even Argos was roused and confused by this development. Then, another buzz from our Scrolls.
Are you ready? All four must tap the screen to continue.
I shrugged, and tapped the screen, and looked up to see the rest of my team do so. Immediately, a green light surrounded us, not unlike the one from the initiation mission. After another few seconds, we found ourselves in a completely different location. The room was about five times the size of our dorm room, and was decorated with a multitude of softly glowing green crystals. In front of us was a large wooden table with paperwork scattered across the top, and a monitor facing who else but Headmaster Watson. The Faunus was seated, looking at us with a soft, sympathetic smile.
"Hello Team RAEN," He greeted us, and received general greetings in return. "I apologize for the abrupt summons, but it was to avoid any more confrontational commotions like the one earlier today." I could just make out the tip of his ears twitch lightly in his dark hair. "From what I could tell, there was also a bit of conflict amongst yourselves as well. Care to elaborate for me?"
I wanted to dispel this. It was up to the leader of team to take responsibility and solve it, right? Truth is, I didn't really know. I knew how to negotiate with people. I knew strategy. I knew survival. That last one was drilled into me from outside of Sanctum. None of this truly prepared me to lead a team. Even with this in mind, I wanted to speak up and dispel this notion of in-team conflict and try to resolve it myself. Before I could, however…
"I have a problem with the selection of leadership roles." Nero spoke. "Specifically within RAEN."
"Is that so?" Headmaster Watson asked, with a knowing smile. "From what was observed, you were foolhardy enough to run up alone against a member of the Grimm species that has been responsible for the most Hunter's ends for the last two decades. Even at an adolescent age, that Raptor Grimm would have decimated you if Railen hadn't kicked you out of the way. Now, in what way do you think the leadership should fall?"
"If anything, Headmaster," Nero gritted his teeth, having been reminded of his failed tactic. "I feel Elysia should be the one to lead."
"I will have to object against that as well." Watson spoke before Nero could defend his point, the latter succinctly silenced again. "While it was an unfortunate mistake that we let her real name slip, but putting her rather recognizable name at the lead, questions and investigations would ensue for all the wrong reasons. Despite the money Haven makes, we wouldn't be able to afford any cover-ups."
"What?" Nero and I asked simultaneously. We looked to Elysia once more, who only looked somewhat upset that our Headmaster talked about her predicament.
"Nonetheless," I turned back to Watson, "You all have a rather shaky path. Both ahead and behind all four of you. You're quite young, yet you have history with the world that won't be forgotten easily. That's why I feel you fit as Hunters, that's why I accepted you. Not because of your names, what you've done, or what you've committed yourselves to."
"And the leadership role?" Nero queried, gesturing to me. I rolled my eyes at this. He just won't let that go? I've yet to hear a legitimate reason for a change in leadership.
"Railen is the only one of you to have been given a leadership role." My attention was now on our Headmaster. How the fuck did he know that? I've heard of you, Mr. Roame, from Sanctum and… other sources I recalled the first time we met, and what he said. What exactly did he learn about me? How in-depth was his information? "Even though it was rather minimal, I think he would do well to learn how to be a member and leader of a much more capable team."
Now? Now I was scared. This man obviously knew a lot about each of us, and he teased the idea of revealing our secrets at this very moment. That would be… pretty bad for me. I don't know about Argos or Nero, but I don't know how Elysia would react about my experience.
"And while, yes, it would be somewhat beneficial to learn each other's histories, it is ultimately up to you all to let your team know who you are." Headmaster Watson continued. "However, from here on out, you must make sure your eyes are set on the path that is your future as Hunters. You were recommended and accepted into Haven Academy, where we have pride in having taught some of the most elite Hunters. As a team, you will fail, pass, fight, and die as a team before you even think of doing so as a Hunter. I warn you all now, if your conflict over leadership becomes so great that it impedes your progression, I will take action. Your responsibility as a student and Hunter-to-be is imperative for your success. So please, do try and maintain the peace. I will see you all again next week, for first mission assignments."
"Thank you, Headmaster." All four of Team RAEN said, all simultaneously sullen after the lecture. He hadn't raised his voice, but his tone was sincere. Within moments, the green light surrounded us again and we were returned to our dorm room. And once again, our Scrolls buzzed.
So where do we go from here?
Argos looked to us all for an answer. We had a weekend before classes, and I was sure I didn't want my Haven career to be thwarted by something like this. But for right now, I had nothing. We had nothing but a dysfunctional team and no way to deal with it. So I answered Argos with an answer I've given before.
I made sure not to slam the door as I left.
Author's Note: Heyo everyone! BleachCadelina here!
Sorry for the delay, been dealing with a lot of personal stuff and couldn't write very much. But I managed to finish writing this chapter as a birthday gift to myself! Turning 20 isn't all that, kids, I gotta tell you. Sorry for the short chapter, by the way. I know it wasn't as long as the previous chapters.
Also, in the comments, let me know how you'd feel about me starting a as a sort of motivation to write more!
NOW FOR REVIEW RESPONSES!
Hiero II: Thanks for the criticism you've been giving me so far for this story. I'll definitely be taking it into account when I write future chapters.
Wallflowerpower: Prepare yourself, friend! We got some things incoming!
Niar-Muse: Anora is a cool character in general, in my opinion. I have plans for her.
Once again, thanks to all y'all for reading, and I'll see you all next chapter!
