'Hey' -is the voices of the swords

"Hey" -is dialogue (unless otherwise stated)

Hey -is thoughts

Sorry for late updates, random commitments have been popping up, but I should be able to get at least 1 chapter out every week (hopefully)


"The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."


"200 lightning crystals, 350 fire crystals, 350 water crystals, 200 air crystals…" I muttered, tracing the items on the list as I read them. No clue why Roman wants more of them. I massaged my temples. All this dust in one place was a giant disaster waiting to happen. Not to mention the fucking pain in the ass it was to keep track of it.

"I need a break" I stood up, stretching. I walked across the warehouse to where Roman stood in front of a map of Vale. He had already taken the liberty of adding his own alterations to it.

"So," I said, walking up to stand beside him. "You going to tell me exactly why we need this much dust?" He laughed. "Oh don't worry about it. It's for a plan so magnificent, so masterful…" He gestured wildly to emphasise his points. "You have no idea what it's for do you." I deadpanned.

"Not a clue." Roman replied. I moved to lean against a table, sighing. We were clearly being used in something bigger than us, and we both knew it. To say it was infuriating was an understatement.

"But enough of that, "Roman said. "Tell me more about you. We've been partners for a month, and I still don't know your name." He paused, before adding "Unless you want me to continue calling you Wolfy?"

This raised a few eyebrows from both me and a few grunts carrying crates nearby.

"Even if I told you, you would probably still be calling me that," I snorted, shaking my head. "I'm probably going to regret this but…" I said looking straight at him. "You can call me Rayes."

"Well then Rayes! I'll be taking some of your men for this shop," He said pointing at a spot on the map. "My contacts say they have more security than the rest." He says. I nod, before taking out my scroll to check the time. I should really start to wear my watch when I'm working.

My scroll beeped in my hand, signalling a message. I opened it to see it was from Professor Goodwitch. Apparently she had a mission coming up in a few days that I had to be there for, and she wanted me back ASAP.

I kept my scroll in my pocket before turning back to Roman. "Well Roman, looks like I have to disappear for a while." I said. "Try not to get my men killed, and update the numbers." I added, putting the clipboard with the list down on the table.

"Don't worry Rayes, if your men get captured, or killed, it would be their lack of skill that causes it, not my superb leadership and planning skills!" He said with a heavily exaggerated tone, striking a pose.

"Yes, very funny Roman, but I should be leaving soon." I told him, shrugging on my cloak. I turned to my newly appointed second in command, giving him a bunch of things that the cell were allowed to do and things they were not while I was gone.

The fox Faunus nodded at my every word, taking in everything I was saying. There had been a shortage of members wanting to be my stand-in after they heard what I did to that Beaver, so I had appointed my most trusted tracker in the hopes of him being more competent than the rest.

I walked out of the warehouse, slipping off my mask and putting on my hat, before beginning my walk back to the skyport, where Professor Goodwitch had told me that there was a bullhead waiting specifically for me.

As I walked down the streets, I keep my eyes forward, but my senses were on full alert. I could feel the tension in the air, caused by who knows what. I heard discussions ranging from the rising dust prices due to the robberies, to the drop of white fang activity in Vale.

I kept my face straight, trying not to show anybody that I could hear them and betray the fact that I was behind most of it, as I continued walking until eventually I saw a bullhead waiting at the port.

I entered the bullhead after showing the pilot Professor Goodwitch's message, and soon enough, we were on our way to the academy.

I took out a sketchbook I kept in one of my cloak's inner pockets, mindlessly beginning to flip through the pages, pausing momentarily on each image.

As I turned the page, I stopped abruptly. Staring back at me from the page was a younger Adam, looking up from cleaning his sword. That was the day we were called back to menagerie for our promotion, I realised.

I remember the looks on the other Lieutenant's faces when Sienna Khan did it. Cries of "They're too young!" and "They're not ready for the responsibility!" were silenced almost immediately. While we were far younger than any other Lieutenants, we were given control of the Vale and Mistral Cells of the Fang, at the age of 15.

At the time, we were ecstatic, but now I know the real reason for our fast promotion.

After Sienna installed himself as the new leader, he needed people he could trust in leadership positions, and with Adam and I being part of the ones who were more…bloodthirsty, we fit the bill completely.

I was pulled from the memory by the side door of the bullhead opening. How we landed without me noticing was beyond me. I thanked the pilot as I stepped out. He nodded, before flying off.

So, how do I find her now… 'You could always ask around' Alpha suggested. "Or, you could just go to the duelling hall, where she holds her one and only lesson?" Omega smugly said.

"You know, I would say I missed your voices," I quietly said. "If it weren't for your smart-ass attitude." I guess they did both make good points, and they knew it. I began to walk towards the building that held the duelling arena, where Professor Goodwitch always held her lessons.

As I pushed open the door to the arena, I saw a stage erected in the pit, with a bench in front. Seems like they're still doing introductions to combat… feels kind of off, considering the first years should have been training for about a month.

I shrugged to myself, taking a seat at the back of the empty upper area. I pulled out my sketchbook and flipped it open, this time to an empty page. I took out a pencil, before beginning to draw a rough sketch of Roman.

It was a weird partnership at first. He held no respect for any of the White Fang members, and I would have hated working with him, but after I found out he treated everyone like shit, I decided it wasn't an issue I'd pursue. After all, it isn't discrimination if you hate everyone equally, and he was pretty damn good at his job.

Upon hearing the Arena doors open, I looked up to see Professor Goodwitch walking up the stage, with the rest of the first years proceeding to stand around in front of her.

Professor Goodwitch strode to the front of the stage, scroll in one hand, riding crop in the other, obviously preparing to brief the students.

Before she spoke however, her gaze flicked over to find me. Her eyes widened momentarily, before she schooled her expression. Some of the more observant students, looked around to find what could have startled their teacher, before they had their attention dragged back to the professor, who had just begun to speak.

"Now students, after weeks of practice bouts, this will be the first simulated tournament duel of many to come." Professor Goodwitch said. "Most matches will have randomised opponents, but you are allowed to volunteer whenever you want to." She continued, fiddling with her scroll, before names of the student's began to flick past on the two screens on the side of the stage, before settling on two boys.

"To show an example of a tournament-style duel, will Jaune Arc and Cardin Winchester please step on to the stage." She finished, stepping backwards as the two boys came on stage.

I got out of my seat and walked up to the railing, leaning on it to watch the fight. Jaune seems to have unlocked his aura somehow, and it was one of the biggest I've ever seen. Pure White too, which was pretty rare in terms of colour.

The buzzer sounded, commencing the start of the fight. Jaune immediately rushed forward, swinging his sword like a mad man. 'Holy hell he's bad' Omega stated as Cardin blocked Jaune's first strike, before slamming him in the chest with his mace. Jaune slid back a few feet, wobbling dangerously, but otherwise managing to keep everything important with him.

Sensing an advantage, Cardin rushed forward and began to relentlessly pound Jaune, who only barely managed to use his shield to block the strikes. Even still, his aura was slowly dropping, having dropped to 3 quarters in the first 10 seconds.

"How did this kid even survive the first week, much less a month" I muttered to myself, eyes fixed on the duel. Cardin managed to sneak one strike behind Jaune's guard, and sent the boy flying. No matter how much aura Jaune had, after the beating he's taking, it's no wonder why he's almost in the red. A few more strikes and it would be over.

I sat back down, albeit in the front row this time. Since Jaune clearly had not made a significant improvement to his fighting skills, it was clear who would win the match.

As I watched Cardin dodge a strike from Jaune, before sending Jaune flying across the stage, losing his shield in the process, I couldn't help but wince. Jaune had almost no skill in fighting with a sword and shield. If he was fighting one handed, he could probably stand a chance, but right now, it seems like he only knows how to use one hand at a time.

As the buzzer sounded, I leant back into the chair. 'He has almost zero talent,' Alpha said. 'Why exactly did you nominate him as a leader?'

"He had potential to become a great swordsman, but looks like most of it is still just that, potential. And besides," I continued, "compared to the other three, he's the best choice." I paused, before adding, "My first choice was actually the silent kid, but he has to devote himself to making sure his partner doesn't break anything too valuable."

I looked up from my thoughts to see the students slowly moving out of the arena, leaving behind a few who were still chatting with each other. I jumped over the railing, landing as softly as possible, before making my way towards the stage, which was being dismantled by Professor Goodwitch.

"It's not like you to be easily startled Professor." I stated, moving to stand next to her. She sighed as she somehow managed to fit the entire stage into a suitcase, before sending it to who knows where. "I just didn't expect you to be here this fast." She said, turning to face me.

"Well, you said ASAP so…" I made a gesture at myself "Here I am." She nodded, before she started walking away, motioning me to follow.

"In a few days, the first years are to be brought down to forever fall on an assignment for Professor Peach." She said. I nodded, recognising the same assignment the first years were given yearly. "We might have to be a bit more… restrictive in the area we let them move in."

Professor Goodwitch raised her eyebrows at this, before I answered her unspoken question. "A group of my friends set up camp there, and it would be a real pain for the kids to uncover any troublesome questions."

She nodded, before continuing." That is not why I called you back Rayes. I need you to be around when we bring them to the forest." I stopped dead in my tracks.

Professor Goodwitch noticing this, turned towards me questioningly. "You called me back for a …babysitting mission?" I asked in a strained voice. She sighed, before she continued to walk down the hallway. I followed, trailing slightly behind.

"There have been an unusually high number of troublemakers in this year's intake, and I would be unable to keep my eye on all of them by myself." She confided.

I exhaled deeply, running a hand through my hair. "Fine I'll do it. But you know I have very limited ways of subduing people without risk of major injury." I warned her.

"Fantastic!" Professor Goodwitch said, looking very relieved. We stopped in front of a door that I recognised led to the cafeteria. I opened the door to see a very specific team harassing a bunny Faunus.

I glanced over at Professor Goodwitch to gauge her reaction. There was a spark in her eye, but she did not move to stop them. I sighed inwardly, before walking forward. I was about to call out to them when I saw them do something that made my blood run cold.

They had touched her ears. Pulled them. They had violated what was sacred to Faunus', and now they were going to pay the price.

"Cardin Winchester," I called out, edge present in my voice. He turned towards me, smirk present on his face. "Let go of her." He sneered at me, before tightening his grip around the Faunus's ears, causing her to wince and cry out.

I narrowed my eyes, before darting forward, stopping in front of him and jerking my elbow upwards. I heard a solid crack as I felt my elbow connect with his chin, sending him flying back a few feet, knocking him out in the process. Seeing their leader laid out on the floor, his team started to charge towards me.

As I ducked under a swing from the blue haired boy, I remembered what Kaz taught me about fighting without a weapon.

"It's alright to let your hate and anger fuel your blows, but never let them take control. That is when you lose". Kaz said as he tightened his Vambraces

I quickly jabbed the boy in the stomach, before grabbing him and tossing him into the bronze-haired boy. As they both stumbled backwards, I turned to the one with the Mohawk. He had faltered in his charge after seeing me dispatch his teammates.

"Take your Teammates and go, before I decide that you four haven't learnt your lesson" I said in a monotonous voice. Sensing the underlying threat, the boys quickly grabbed their leader, who was still on the ground, and hobbled off, presumably towards the infirmary.

As I looked at Professor Goodwitch who still stood in the open doors of the cafeteria, I saw her shaking her head disapprovingly, but with a trace of a smile on her face.

I turned my attention towards the girl, who was still seated on the bench, cowering slightly. I took the seat next to her and watched her shrink away from me. I reached into my coat and discreetly made some Ice dust, wrapping it in a handkerchief.

"For your ears." I said as I passed it to her. Timidly, she took it and held it to her ears, letting out a sigh of relief as it numbed the pain.

I watched her slowly use the makeshift ice-pack to soothe her ears, before she suddenly piped up. "I know who you are. You're Rayes Aeron."

"Oh?" I said, a little surprised. "And how did you figure that out?" She smiled bashfully, before replying. "You kinda opened up a little portal in one of my duelling classes." Ah, so she heard of me from that event. "Which begs the question," She pauses, "Why is arguably the strongest 3rd year willing to stick his neck out for a Faunus like me?"

"Well Ms…" I started. "Oh! I'm sorry, my name is Velvet Scarlatina, just call me Velvet" she informed me. "Well Velvet," I continued. "We Faunus have to look out for one another." I stood up and made to walk back to my dorm.

Before I left, I tipped my hat in Velvet's direction, giving her a clue about my Faunus heritage, before slipping out of the Cafeteria and heading to my dorm to catch some Zs, despite it still being early in the afternoon.

3rd POV

As Rayes left the cafeteria, many pairs of eyes followed him. One such pair belonged to a certain Blake Belladonna, who was interested in who this student was, that he would fight for a Faunus.

'He almost seems too good to be true' she thought to herself. She recognised his voice, but couldn't put her finger on who it belonged to. She sighed, before picking up her book and continuing to read.

Yo

I hope I haven't made Rayes feel too overbearing, and I know my fight scenes are still piss-poor (would appreciate any criticism and feedback to improve). Not really planning on pairing him with any of the canon people. Probs gonna be Mikki(Infirmary) TBH

As it's not explicitly stated in the series whether Faunus could identify each other through some method, I've made it so in my Fic that those who choose to hide it (i.e. Blake, Rayes) would not be recognised as Faunus unless something gives them away, like Blake's Bow twitching

Also, to make Rayes's presence not totally useless in Forever fall, I'm gonna give him his own Grimm to fight. Should it be a Bigger Ursa, or another more dangerous Grimm?