Everyone who was injured in the trial had been moved into different medical rooms allowing the staff to treat them properly leaving Ruby and Pyrrha as the only ones left. Soren looked at the two and shook his head as he continued to pace back and forth. He was at a loss for words but that wasn't everything. Something was nagging at him, what it was he didn't know. Stopping in front of the two, he reached for his side and drew what looked like a staff and held it in front of himself. He spoke words that neither huntress recognized. Within minutes their wounds had fully healed but that left the mage weakened. "Now that you can stand without trouble." He held his head as he fought off a wave of dizziness.
Ike walked over and helped steady the mage. Once he was feeling better, he spoke once again. "What I saw there was terrifying." The two looked down as he continued. "Terrifyingly bad. You have no semblance of strategy nor do you understand when specific strategies should be used." He crossed his arms and looked at Pyrrha first. "You choose a strategy that applies the principles of scouting but you never thought that when scouting you require at least two people." The spartan was about to reply when he cut her off. "By separating yourself from your team, you not only endangered your life but theirs." Once again she was about to speak when he stopped her once more. "If you were about to say that you planned to reunite with your team then you are dead wrong." He pointed to Ruby and spoke once more. "She knew what you were planning and prepared to counter that strategy, you're lucky that this was not a real mission. Otherwise your life expectancy would have been rather low."
"How do you know?" Her words caught the mage off guard as he looked at her defiant glare. "We were working with limited resources and we chose the strategy that should of given us the highest chance of success!" She clenched her fists as she took a step forward and looked the instructor in the eye. "What do you know about strategy in the first place? Having power like yours means you can easily defend and attack a position." This statement struck a chord with the mage as he narrowed his eyes at the spartan and gave a cold chuckle. "I knew someone who had your mentality. Guess where she is now." Pyrrha took a step back at the way the words came out. It felt like they were full of spite yet worry at the same time. "From your tone. I can only assume this person is no longer living."
"You are right. Seems like you do have some intelligence." The spartan was about to speak once more when the mage stepped away from her despite her protests. "A strategy that used the advantages of your situation. The one who can fight at range holds the scroll, the laguz takes to the trees and guards the area, and finally the sisters who hunt together." The word he used to describe Blake caused Ruby to raise an eyebrow at least until the mage spoke once more. "A strategy that is perfect. For defense." He stopped in front of Ruby this time and he looked at her. "Impressive knowledge of strategy. Unorthodox for someone who is supposed to be attacking." He looked down at the ground then shook his head and looked back up to her. "It is a shame that your plan failed. Terribly." She sunk into her cloak as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Your scout leaves her post in order to attain an advantage that was given to her by poor planning." She looked down at the ground and bit her lip while Pyrrha placed her hand on the reaper's shoulder. "Once you lost your scout, you got ambushed, you got taken and worst of all." He now stood directly in front of her causing her eyes to widen in fear. "You turned on each other with nothing but a simple push." In order to make his point he pushed her back causing her to nearly fall back until the spartan caught her. "A weak foundation will cause nothing but destruction." He turned back to the people in the stands watching. "If a simple push caused your team to collapse onto one another. I fear what would cause you to fall apart."
The reaper didn't even try to respond, she was too far in her thoughts and tears were now freely sliding down her cheeks as she heard everything the instructor said. Jaune sighed knowing all too well how she felt. It hadn't even been a couple of days and the words he received were still fresh in his mind. What might be going on in hers caused him to worry for his fellow leader. "What happened to you that you have to be this...this...cold?!" The JNPR leader turned to his partner who was holding the reaper in her arms while glaring at the mage. "What happened to me?" His reply was colder than anything he had said at that point. "Simple. I've seen strategies like yours falter. I've seen armies decimated because of some fool who thought they knew all the answers!" He stepped forward and looked down at the two huntresses. "You're here to avoid those situations. I chose to be here to make sure no one makes the mistakes that I've seen happen."
The vanguard was surprised as he knew the mage never raised his voice. At least not like he was at that moment. "I am here not of my own volition but out of necessity." He knelt down and looked at the pair. "If I have to remind you of your failures to grow then I WILL." He stood up and turned away from the pair. "Dismissed!" Once everyone left, Ike walked over to the mage who was gripping his robe in frustration. "Children. These people are nothing but children acting like adults." When he felt his friend's hand on his shoulder he shook his head. "I let my emotions get the best of me."
The vanguard shook his head. "You did but that means that those people are going to have plenty to think about if they want to continue down this path." He noticed that the staff in his hand was broken in half. "You're going to need materials Soren. You broke your staff." The mage looked down and chuckled bitterly.
"I'm going to wander the grounds and potentially find a way to the city. While I'm there I can find materials to work on some things." Soren stopped at the exit and shook his head as memories of that person ran through his mind. Images of emerald eyes and violet hair, a childish grin yet mature at the same time. He shook his head once more and continued his walk through the academy grounds.
A couple of hours had passed when the Schnee heiress opened her eyes and looked up at the white ceiling. The last thing she remembered was attempting to stop Yang when she felt her world go black. She tried to push herself up when her head unleashed a throbbing pain which caused her to lay back down. The nearby medic rushed over and told her not to move too much as she came back with some medicine for the heiress to take in order to repair the damage done. "Thank you." She spoke as she was about to close her eyes once again. Her attempt at sleep was stopped by the sound of sobbing. Someone was in the room and they were crying. Regretting her decision immediately, she pushed herself up and moved the protective screen over revealing Ruby who was holding her sister's hand. Her eyes were red indicating she had been crying for quite a while.
"Weiss..."
Her voice was strained. She was scared, sad, and unsure of what to do. The heiress stepped forward and winced a bit as she shook her head. Taking a chance, she had her aura work on her damaged body which instantly began to work as she sat next to the reaper. "What's wrong Ruby?"
"I'm a terrible leader."
The response caused her eyes to widen. What in the world had caused her to think that? One bad execution of a strategy was not enough to cause distrust. It must have been that instructor, he must have told her something. "You're not a bad leader Ruby. Far from it." She placed her hand on the reaper's causing her to look up, tear stained cheeks. The look in her eyes made her heart break as she pulled the girl into her arms. She knew the feeling all too well. Being treated like you were a failure, it was common whenever she did something wrong. She wouldn't let Ruby become a victim of the same treatment. "We need to grow. Knowing where we failed is the first step." The girl clung to the heiress before finally giving in to sleep's touch. "Once we're all better. We'll figure this out." She picked up Ruby and placed her next to her sister who had been untied from the bed. "We always do." She smiled before stepping out of the room.
Soren had just finished a meeting with headmistress Goodwitch where he explained his intentions with the trial as well as his plans for the coming days. Once they had finished their conversation, he had asked what was the fastest way to the city. Now with directions in hand he made his way towards the docks at least until he got lost in the courtyard. He sighed while looking around, his eyes scanning the surrounding area until he noticed the heiress walking around. Thinking back to his speech he decided to avoid anyone from that team at least until the meaning behind his words had finally sunk in.
He looked once again at the map until he heard the sound of footsteps coming towards him. His eyes met with cold blue. He turned and began walking down the path closest to him until a hand gripped his wrist. "I can guide you if you happen to be lost." The words coming from her mouth surprised the mage, his eyes narrowing in suspicion at least until she pointed to the path opposite of him. "The docks are that way, the map you're holding is backwards." He grumbled to himself until he began walking towards the direction the heiress pointed at.
The two walked in complete silence until the heiress spoke once more. "Your ability. Its strange, at least in terms of what it can do." Soren hummed in agreement, his footsteps becoming faster as if avoiding the conversation completely. "Its similar to mine." The statement caused the mage to stop in his tracks. He turned to face the heiress, his eyes glancing her over then her weapon which he took note of had multiple colored tubes in it. "I can use glyphs that allow me to manipulate my surroundings as well as some elements." The two began walking once more until reaching the docks where the airship was waiting for people to board.
"Our abilities are nothing alike." Weiss raised an eyebrow in curiosity but was stopped from talking when they boarded the ship. "You use materials that mimic elemental properties. I call to them, control them, master them." To prove his point, flames danced around his hand before he closed his hand causing them to die out. The heiress watched as if in a trance at the way he called the elements to him. Like he was calling the very essence of their existence. She looked to the dust chambers on myrtenaster and thought about her abilities.
"Would I be able to learn? In theory." The mage rubbed his chin and looked over at the heiress who looked at him with hopeful eyes. He thought back to her fight with the brawler and how she had been able to stop her mobility with her glyphs. In theory he could teach but they were from a completely different place and unlike his partner Ike, he had no intention of letting his secrets go easily.
"Potentially. Yes. Will I? Time will tell." The two sat in silence until Weiss noticed the uncomfortable stares he was giving their surroundings. 'I'm in a metal container who knows how high in the sky and I don't know how.' He shook his head to clear his thoughts until his companion decided to strike up a conversation once again.
After a conversation about flying ships and dust, the airship finally landed allowing the passengers to leave. After walking off of the ship, the mage began walking towards the busiest parts of the city. "I will be parting ways with you here. I am assuming the busiest parts of this town involve the shopping district." Weiss sighed and decided to follow along anyway just to make sure the mage did not get lost in the town.
During their walk towards a nearby weapon shop, Soren stopped in his tracks and stared at a figure in front of him. It was a person wearing a white hooded coat that was lacking sleeves. Instead, orange sleeves covered the person's arms. The mage met eyes with the person and decided it was best to avoid them. "We're moving." The pair continued walking until he looked behind him noticing the figure was now following them. "Run." The two began to move through the side street and ran through the alley hoping to avoid this mysterious person.
Their run was stopped when that same person appeared in front of them. "Who are you?!" The heiress drew her weapon and readied herself as the enemy in front of her held their hands up and began to walk towards the mage. "Answer!" She charged forward attempting a thrust when in one motion, this person drew a sword of their own and parried the thrust. The two entered a dance of blades in an attempt to take advantage of the other's weakness. Thrusts, slashes, parries and sidesteps were all the two exchanged until the mage pulled the heiress back and with a dagger stopped a crimson blade. "T-thanks."
"Leave this to me." A second dagger made its way into his hand as he closed the gap and swung with his left. In response the person blocked with their blade at least until the second dagger caught the side of their hood revealing the person's hair. Purple. Soren's eyes widened as he grit his teeth. No. This wasn't possible. He roared as he charged forward, pressing his opponent with rapid strikes that were easily parried. When their eyes met, emerald. The world seemed to slow down as the mage jumped back and began chanting.
In response, the attacker charged forward and slammed the handle of her blade into his stomach causing him to gasp for air. "Not this time." With a pivot, the attacker slammed the flat of their blade into the mage's gut sending him flying into a nearby wall. He coughed out some blood as he pushed himself back up. At this point, his eyes were glowing as he chanted once more. "I. Said. No!" The attacker was about to close the distance, they were sent into the opposite wall by a cyclone of wind.
After the two fell to the ground, Weiss walked to the fallen instructor and helped him up. The pair then walked over to the fallen person who was coughing in between breaths. Soren took a deep breath as he walked to their assailant and grabbed the hood. Purple hair, emerald eyes, that grin, the movements with the sword. He prayed to the gods that this was who he thought it was. With a swift motion he pulled back the hood and with wide eyes he stared at the woman before him. "You caught me." She grinned as she leaned against the wall.
Pyrrha was at the training grounds attacking drones until she heard the door open behind her. Ignoring the new presence, she continued attacking the machines until the person hit the button to shut them off. With an angry scowl she turned to face the visitor only to have her eyes widen when she realized it was Jaune. "Have a minute?" The spartan nodded as she sat down by the stands where the knight joined her. "I know how you're feeling right now." She looked at the ground in silence until he spoke again. "As much as we may not like these people." She was about to speak when he motioned for her to wait. "They showed me how far behind I really am." He looked up at the carnage that was the training grounds when he sighed. "I know I have a long way to go but this isn't about me." He looked at her. "Its about you."
"He comes in and bad mouths all of us. Like he knows what we've had to deal with the last few months." The spartan shook her head as she was about to stand and walk over to the machines once more. "They know nothing of what we've given up to come here. To learn. To grow."
"That's exactly what the situation is." Pyrrha looked up in surprise as she looked at the knight smiling sadly. "To grow. We gotta look at how weak we are at the moment. Accept it and then grow from it." She looked at the ground then shook her head. "Its hard to accept it I know." He stood and walked to the center of the grounds. "But once we know what to do." He drew Crocea Mors and pointed upwards. "We can grow stronger. Together." He turned to face her with a smile. The light was in the right spot as the spartan blushed at the appearance of the knight. His blue eyes staring into hers as she walked to him.
"Only if you promise to help me while I help you." The knight nodded and grinned as he turned to the control panel. He took a few steps and pushed a series of buttons awakening three times the machines that were originally active. The two stood back to back with their weapons ready as the horde of machines charged at them. The first one was a Beowolf which chose the knight as its target when a spear pierced the side of its head. Returning the favor, he grinned as he jumped over his partner and bisected a second Beowolf in half.
The two were in sync as they avoided each other's attacks yet followed up on openings easily. One thing that was certain was, although they would suffer against other people. Against the creatures of grim, they were unstoppable. A pair of Ursa decided to take a chance at taking down the duo when a grenade smashed into them blowing them up. From another entrance, the second pair of JNPR had made their way into the arena with their weapons. Nora grinned as she held her grenade launcher with one hand. Meanwhile Ren winced a bit as he moved but took the chance to draw his weapons and fire at the remainder of the machines.
The leader sheathed his weapon and turned to his team. His eyes full of sincerity as he held his hand out. "I promise to help you guys grow as much as you've helped me." The others placed their hands over their leader's as he placed his other hand over his chest. "And Arcs always keep their promises."
Ike took a deep breath as he finished his last push-up and stood back up. He looked over at the table and noticed the weird thing they had given him was glowing. "How do you work this again?" Picking it up, he analyzed it as much as he could before hitting a random part of the screen. He reeled back as it made a noise. "What the?" Staring at the image he noticed it was Soren. "How the hell did he get in this thing?" Shaking the scroll he sighed as he tossed it back on the table with a low thud. Shaking his head he went back to his workout until it stated shaking once again.
Stopping once again he sighed and picked it up once again only for it to start vibrating. In surprise he dropped it which caused the device to beep followed by a voice coming out of it. "Hello?" The vanguard picked up the piece of technology and stared at the screen once more. This time the image of one of his students, Weiss was on it. "Hello? Instructor?" Ike raised his eyebrows in amusement while thinking of a way to reply. "Is this a ghost?" The voice on the other side sounded surprised as it retorted quickly. "I am not a ghost! This is your student calling you on your partner's scroll!" Scroll? That was what this device was called. He shrugged as he was about to toss it when he heard a voice once more. "Ike. This...object...is like the heron's seer stones. It allows us to communicate from afar. How it works. I have no idea."
Sighing once more he shrugged as if they could see him. "If this thing is like the seer stones. How are we using them?" The voice on the other side let out an annoyed sigh as they began a complex explanation of how the scrolls worked. "Okay so this is a device which can let me keep in contact with people. Okay I understand that much." The voice spoke once more but this time it sounded serious. "Get the directions to the docks near the school. Theres someone that you need to see." The vanguard rubbed his chin as he thought about the sudden secretive nature of his friend. "Alright I think I know where they are. I'll see you there then."
Once the call ended, Ike tossed the device on the table once more and left the room. A towel draped over his shoulders as he walked towards the docks near the entrance of the academy. Using the end of the cloth, he wiped his brow all while thinking about the device they called a scroll.
It was around midnight when Yang finally opened her eyes. She sat up and winced slightly but quickly shrugged it off. Looking over to her side, she noticed Ruby sleeping next to her. She stared at her sister before moving and getting off of the bed. Testing to see if she could move well she jumped in place a few times before walking towards what looked like a balcony. Opening it, she took a few steps outside and stared at the night sky.
Yang roared as she slammed her fist into Russel's head causing him to pass out almost immediately. His knife flew to the side and crashed into the ground with a weak thud allowing the fighter to hold onto her sister with a warm smile. Those warm feelings were gone very soon when she heard a voice. His voice. Cardin was laughing as he watched the fallen members of JNPR keeping each other safe while team RWBY was fractured beyond belief. Blake warily looked to her partner who was about to say something when he spoke.
She moved her eyes towards the moon and looked at it. Her eyes rested on the pieces that seemed to just float in place no matter how different it should look. Her eyes roamed over to the pieces which seemed to be fading from existence. "Today is a crescent moon." Looking at the emptiness that was there caused her to think back to the events earlier that day.
"A tiny little push. You all make me sick." The warrior had pulled himself free and was about to attack when he stopped and instead tossed his weapon down. "One little push and you all turned on each other." He turned to Yang and smirked. He knew that even though they may have all failed their trial, he won, he won by manipulating a team to turn on each other. "But, I've been caught so I give up. Feel free to take the scroll piece" The fighter grit her teeth and roared as she closed the gap faster than anyone could react.
No one threatened Ruby, forced her to turn on her friends and got away with it. No one. With one punch to his unprotected jaw, he flew into the ground and bounced a couple of times before landing still. The rest of the people there were telling her not to continue but she ignored them. With every step, she could feel her anger grow stronger. Her hair and body now fully ablaze with golden flames.
Faster than anyone could move, that was how fast she moved when Ruby was in trouble. She felt a strange sensation looking into that empty section of the moon. She knew it was there and it existed but the inability to see it caused her discomfort for some reason. Maybe she blamed Blake for leaving her post, maybe not knowing what she did was causing her trouble. Maybe, just maybe, she understood that the events that lead up to their failure were all her fault.
She reared her fist back but before she could punch through her target, she heard Blake and Pyrrha. Instead of words coming out of her mouth, she roared and charged at her friends. The rest went black as the only other thing she remembered was being moved from the training grounds.
Yang continued to look up at the sky when she decided it as time to go back into the room. She eyed her sister and decided for her, for everyone, it would be best if she took some time to herself. Searching for Blake, stopping Weiss from making a stupid decision, fighting together as one. That was everything to her and if staying away allowed everyone to get back into form, then so be it. On the bright side it hadn't been too long since she last hit juniors. On the other hand, she decided training took priority. "Maybe I can look for someone to help me." With a yawn, the brawler sat back down on the bed and laid down. "G'night rubes. I'm sorry." She kissed her sister on the forehead and closed her eyes once again as she let the remaining thoughts of her failure haunt her.
A/N: OK wow. This chapter is not my finest work especially with all of the jumping around. BUT if you stick with me on this I promise there will be a payoff at some point. For now let the story lines build and let things happen. Yang is planning to step away while JNPR is more united. Soren and Weiss have stumbled onto someone rather unique. Oh btw, there will be a poll sometime this week or next. Keep an eye out.
Next chapter: Two Weeks