He stared out across the vast sky, an almost detached feeling gracing his mind.
He could not quite believe it, the sheer circumstances he was in.
And not for the reasons one might expect.
You see, Jack Song, was not a human.
Or was he?
What did he identify as now?
What could he identify as now?
He was swathed in dark fabric,which revealed naught but his upper head, in its relative normalcy, but did not inhibit his movement.
Normally, people would notice his, unusual choice in clothing, and he would be forced to try and fight them back.
A terrible inconvenience.
But amongst this crowd, none stood out, as everyone dressed…oddly.
Why do they dress so weirdly?
Moreover, why is their a, seemingly intoxicated person in a wheelchair onboard? Unless he was very mistaken, tho was taking them to Beacon Academy, a School that turned students into huntsmen, and their was no place in any combat group for a cripple.
Jack Song reined his emotions in with a cold brutality of a person who is well versed to such activity.
After all, if negative emotions were able to run free, especially his, they would bring…things back with them.
And they would find my secret.
He did not wish for this.
Despite possessing no attachments to any of the individuals present, he wanted to keep his secret.
That way, he could protect them. And they may yet…welcome him.
He would like that.
…
Argent Pious stood, and observed the crowd.
There was no discipline, students lounged, babbled, and a few even began to fist fight each other, little skirmishes, of no use.
Were these really the people he would spend his time with at Beacon?
Were these people really the greatest fighters Remnant has to offer, masters of Aura use and martial skill? Such an undisciplined clutch of…incompetent individuals
He could stand being at ease, or being social, very easily in fact.
But this was their first day at Beacon, were they really incapable of a little composure, as to make a good first impression?
Pious stood ramrod strait, eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, alert for any possible test or to any sort of danger. Unlike the others, he would not be caught off guard, and would pick un everything that occurred.
Argent Pious continued to stand there, hands behind his back, a model of military discipline. Such discipline was not needed, but it just felt natural to him, additional to giving off a professional image, and rapidly raising opinions of himself.
That particular reason was what swayed him to inaction, rather then attempt to socialise, despite his lack of skill in those matters.
He was aware that there were people watching him.
His eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, could make out three people observing him.
An unusually short girl, who observed him with near awe, a taller girl, who stood, heavily listing to her right, eyes slightly too wide to be sane, and an…overly cheerful boy, dressed in formal, but lose clothing. A closer inspection revealed a series of reenforced cables, connecting to the crown of his head, and trailing down the back of his neck.
Could the cables have something to do with his emotions? Potentially…
He abandoned the thought process, his lack of facts making any conclusion unreliable. Besides, it did not matter currently, and he was sure to learn sometime later.
Despite his lack of sight, he could tell that they were nearing their destination, as their vessel slowly drifted down to what must be the Beacon landing pad.
It seems their journey was nearing its end, and their new reality would commence.
And unlike others, Argent Pious, the Silver Knight, would meet it with grace and nobility.
…
As the ship opened its doors, the forgetful girl found the tide of bodies carrying her out, the bodies dispersing around the wide courtyard before the magnificent structure that was the school.
She walked out slowly, taking in the structures, the sounds, the smells.
She could sense a great number of Humans and Faunus in the area, out of sight, and she coughed, the touch of smoke coming from her mouth being the only clue to her inner dragons discomfort.
Dragons, now extinct, were very territorial and antisocial, and whilst she was only a Faunus, the traits still held a slight sway.
She turned, and gaped at the jaw dropping scene of…Vale?, so small and so far away.
She did not know for how long she stood there, but once she turned around…
the courtyard had dispersed, to where, was unknown to her.
She walked around one of the sweeping pathways that took her through some sort of place with, plants.
A garden.
Right, a garden.
Something behind her.
She spun, coming face to face with the boy on the transport, the one who stood like a statue.
Like he was not fully…alive.
"Hello."
Such a simple word caught Sam off guard, an unexpected statement from the boy.
"H-hello." she replied, unsure.
He chuckled, an oddly deep rumble, for a boy of his age.
"Are you lost? You seem unsure of where to go."
Wait, he knows I'm lost, he seems sensible, he's probably been methodically searching for others, he ca…
"Seemingly we're in the same boat, any idea where to go?"
Well, damn.
"No, sorry."
His face remained the same, his eyes only giving the faintest glimmer of annoyance.
"…Right."
They wandered through the gardens together, idly conversing.
"So, how do you fight, what's your weapon?"
Samantha's eyes lit up, this was something she knew.
She took the bundle of metal from its resting place, forcing the memories through the black ink of her mind.
"These are Nidhog and Smaug." she said, confidently baring them to the boy.
"As you can see, Nidhog is a bastard sword, whilst Smaug is a combat shield."
The boy looked surprised, the first vestige of emotion Samantha had ever seen from him. A surprise.
"A-and you?"
He frowned slightly.
"Most of my gear is in my bags, but I do have this."
He removed the large, previously unnoticed sword from his back.
She gaped at the sheer size and complexity of the weapon. It nearly went up to his shoulder, and had the words 'Aun si bas la vid' inscribed down the flat of the blade.
"This…" the boy said, almost boastfully, "…is Angels fall. A longsword I produced myself, capable of channeling most kinds of dust."
"That thing looks heavy to use…"
"Aha, thats where the cross guard comes into play, as that can channel a fixed dust supply to create additional thrust where needed.
silence.
"It makes the sword swing itself."
"And what are…" she gestured.
"A six shot heavy revolver. Hard to reload in battle, but very powerful. It fires multiple stage rocket propelled rounds, with fire and gravity dust present."
She was just staring, slack jawed.
Hopefully impressed, he thought.
"Seemingly, we have found the rest of the students here."
She turned, witnessing the open door with the interior swarmed with students.
The forgetful girl ran off to join the throng.
"Wait!"
She stopped, hearing for the first time, the boy raise his voice.
"What's your name?"
Oh, d-did he?
"Samantha Ferrox." she replied, not stuttering.
"…Right." he said. If he was interested in her, he gave no hint of it.
"A-and you are?"
"Hmm, my name is Argent Pious."
And with that, the forgetful girl ran off, eager to join the crowd.
Argent Pious watched her leave, gears whirring in his head, faster then most.
She seemed…normal, she behaved casually and gave off no sense of power.
She almost seemed cute.
But that sword.
Argent pious could recognise dust infusement.
Fire and ice, in the same blade. Anyone who held that sword was no ordinary fighter.
And that shield, that spine, arcing out into a beaten claw.
Even without the advanced senses of a Faunus, Argent could still smell it.
The clotted remains of Red Ichor, accumulated through what must have been...very common use.
He put it out of his mind for now. She was a problem yes, but he was…fairly confident his abilities could surpass hers, even with…
But his combat gear could make up for that little flaw, easily.
He shrugged his shoulders, and followed the enigma girl inside.
had preformed all the notable bedtime rituals, as had the rest of the students, subtly hinted toward this action by the well crafted timetable. However, this had subsequently left him, along with the rest of the students in question, with a sizeable window of time, between preparation for sleep, which had begun at 8.45, and conventional sleep time, which began approximately around 10.00. This, naturally, had led to an extended period of time in which the prospective students were able to socialise and get to know one another, away from the pressure and suspense of the Beacon staff. To not be constantly reminded of the upcoming trials.
had taken the opportunity immediately to converse, and had made his way around a great swarth of the gargantuan hall they found themselves bedded in.
felt content, safe in an environment, he could feel the endorphins coursing through his body, relaxing his body and mind.
He saw a student in a wheelchair, sitting by the wall.
I should go and talk to him he decided, more hormones pumping into his body.
"Hi, I'm , or seventeen two. Nice to meet you, whats your name?" he started, extending a hand out in greeting.
No response.
"Isn't this exciting, finally at the one and only Beacon academy!"
Still…no response.
examined closer.
He was breathing.
So he's not dead.
His eyes were open.
Not asleep.
So why wasn't he talking.
Emotional? Scared? Annoyed?
It was then that noticed the subtle yellow edge around the boy's eyes.
A drug addict.
Why a drug addict.
felt a momentary pang of sorrow, quickly swamped by the endorphins in his system.
A drug user never has a good life.
What made him start? Is it to do with his legs? Is he running from something unpleasant?
chucked, if so, they may have something in common.
"What the hell!"
turned, to behold another student, a girl, shivering in disgust and pointing at his head.
Ah, another one.
"This." he began, gesturing to the device on his back… "is a prototype machine connected to my brain. It observes the surroundings through my own senses and then it determines if it needs to alter my emotions by adding chemical stimulants or hormones. through these tubes."
The girl looked as if she could throw up.
A spike of adrenaline hit him like a bolt, and he grabbed the waste bin by the other boy's wheelchair and placed it before her.
Just in time.
A flood of endorphins in victory.
"I do not understand your reaction, but many people have had similar ones, if that is any consolation."
As soon as she could, the girl ran away from .
Just like all the other attempts.
Ah well.
set out once more, uncaring in the rejection.
He would find one that would talk to him.
One will…eventually.
All that separated these two moments was time. Which he had.
Although trying again and again would shorten this time, unnecessary but positive.
continued his personal objective, his success rate, non-existent but irrelevant in his eyes.
Eventually however, he, like all the other students eventually decided to go to bed.
A few drifted off to near forgotten sleeping bags, often trodden on by other, more energetic peers. Gradually however, more and more people began to find their way to their temporary resting places.
The chatter died down soon after, and soon, most people were asleep, a mere few still active on scrolls, light toned down to minimum.
None however noticed the black form that drifted through the hall, a forgotten figure, softly exiting the shadows for the briefest spell.
The figure looked around, but made no other actions, merely…observing.
Satisfied, it slipped back into the shadow of a pillar…and was not seen again.
FelixNox1846 has entered the chatroom
Lotusbloom4: How are the students looking?
FelixNox1846: Good, most are asleep, some are still awake, scrolls and such.
Rosenrot5024: Probably too excited! Remember when we started guys!
Vomitboy263: I remember when you were small and adorable.
Rosenrot5024: Jaune take that back Im still cute!
Ursanova9281: No sis, you're more matured now, you're elegant.
Lotusbloom4: How did we get to this?
Paragon6827: I remember you detonating a particular set of refined dust!
Hypaspis4479: Let it go, it has been several years, and you have endured worse.
Paragon6827:It was special to me.
Hammertime3: LET IT GO-O!
Lotusbloom4: And now she's triggered.
Hammertime3: CAN'T HOLD IT BACK ANY MO-ORE.
FelixNox1846: Good night everyone.
FelixNox1846 has left the chatroom
Hammertime3: LET IT GO!
Finally! So sorry about the massive time gap to any viewers, been swamped with school stuff, literally had no time to do this between new (and harder) school year, sporting commitments, several extra curricular matters, and another slip back into minor depression. So I now am going to try to dedicate my free time to trying to write more, and give myself something to do. Also, next chapter will have my first big reveal, and the chapter after will have the original big surprise I first planned at the first point of planning.
Idea for other story is put on hold for now, might try start it in more free time, possibly.