7 / 6 / 12

Today had a lot of… Unexpected events, to say the least. The students were going to be put into teams this morning, but it was different from anything that I was expecting. Ozpin decided that it was a good idea to send us flying into Emerald forest to find relics to collect, all while having no equipment to make sure that we didn't break our spines during our landing. I mean, just... Really?

I'm not sure how much I actually agree with this system, but it's brought forth some of the most powerful and legendary hunters on Remnant, so I guess I can't say that this doesn't work.

I quickly caught on how the grouping worked. Assuming that each person had a partner with them, they would be put into a team with whatever duo that had the same chess piece as them. Simple enough, right? That's how it should've been. However, when I finally found where the relics were at, I saw a Death Stalker running off in the distance. I knew from studies and personal experience that Grimm walk when they are traveling. When they run, though, it's because they have a target.

Death Stalkers are very dangerous Grimm, and it could easily kill a pair of students. I didn't want to take the chance of letting other people die because I chose to do nothing about it, so I quickly grabbed my chess piece and ran after the Death Stalker. It wasn't that far away from me, so I managed to catch up to it to fight it by myself. I was able to attain victory, but it was far from easy. There were a lot of times that I was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the Death Stalker, and I had deep gashes on my arms from the fight, which caused me to stay in the nurse's office for most of the day afterwards. Still, even with my many wounds and mistakes during that battle, I felt accomplished for beating a Death Stalker on my own. While I know this feat is smaller than the size of a pebble compared to his power, it's definitely a sign of improvement. I still remember when I could barely lift a dumbbell back before I had unlocked my aura.

Surprisingly, however, this wasn't the paramount event of my day. It happened later in the evening, during the team-ceremony. The event that happened will no doubt dramatically change my years here at Beacon.'


|(Ralph)|

"Ow ow ow!"

I shout in pain as the nurse wraps bandages around my arm, but she didn't seem too upset at my predicament. In fact, she sternly says, "You may have potentially helped other students, but this is not something you should earn a medal for! Fighting a Death Stalker all by yourself?! You should be grateful that you won't have any scars from this!"

I roll my eyes at her, but I knew that the nurse is absolutely right. There were plenty of hunters that got themselves killed for being too gung-ho. Even so... "It's not like I had much of a choice. I couldn't just stand by and let the Grimm attack someone else."

The nurse sighs in annoyance, but her expression softens. "I understand that you had to make a hard choice. While it was a dangerous decision you made, it is respectable what you did. But don't be deluded by your actions. If you can't protect yourself, you won't be able to protect others. I've had a lot of students end up here because of that, and I've seen a lot of good hunters die from it. If you don't want to be one of these people, then you better learn to avoid taking such risks sooner rather than later." As she finishes her sentence, she finishes tightening the bandages. "Leave this on for at least twenty-four hours. Although your aura will heal the damages to your arm, it will take time. Refrain from using it as much as possible."

I nod. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Just try not to make me work too much, okay?" She said those words in a teasing tone, but her eyes were sharp as a knife, letting me know that I shouldn't challenge that statement. The nurse then leaves me to rest, and says on the way out, "I'll be back when the ceremony starts to tell you if you can go or not. It'll be in three hours, so try to get as much rest as you can until then."

"Sure thing, doc."

She smiles in satisfaction, then closes the door, allowing me some peace and quiet. However, while I was the only person in the nurse's office, I couldn't relax. My head was swirling from the events that happened during the team exercise, and my heart was still clutched by a humiliating-frustration. I can't believe it… I'm the only one who didn't to find a partner.

Even though I had found the relics, I didn't run into anybody in the forest. It might've just been plain bad luck. Others might chalk it up to destiny. Either way, I thought that I could just grab a relic and look for a partner with the remaining time. I didn't expect to see a Death Stalker hunting after someone. It sucked that I had to abandon finding a partner, but as I said to the nurse, it wasn't a choice for me of what to do.

Still, I couldn't help but feel nervous about what would happen to me. As far as I knew, this was the first time something like this happened at Beacon; A complete freak-accident. I didn't know if Ozpin was going to have me retake the exercise or what. All I knew was that whatever was going to happen to me, I was going to be in for a rough ride.


When the time came for the ceremony, the nurse came back. She says in a tone much softer than when she had patched me up, "You're in luck Ralph. Ozpin is giving you permission to attend the ceremony."

I sigh in relief and quickly sit up, unable to bear the anticipation any longer. Of course, that just makes my wounds burn. I wince in pain, and the nurse just shakes her head and sighs. "If it was up to me, you'd be staying right here all day. However, Ozpin specifically requested your presence on the stage immediately."

"Me? On the stage?" I was honestly surprised that I would be on the stage where the students with partners were supposed to be on. I was assuming that I was going to have a private talk with professor Ozpin after the ceremony. Hearing his request for me made me a bit curious of what was going to happen... And scared of it's outcome.

I take a deep breath and stand up, slowly this time, and make my way out the door. With a warning to be careful from the nurse, I walk as fast as I can to the auditorium.

When I arrive at the doors, I can only hear the faint mumble of Ozpin's voice. Alright... Let's get this over with. I take a deep breath, and push open the doors.

Going in, I see that it is filled to the brim with students, and every single one of them looks at me as I walk in as casually as I can. It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention in this crowd, and I try to ignore it as best as I can.

I make my way up to the stage where Ozpin and four other girls are currently standing at. Coincidentally, I recognize all of them. There's the girl I met on the ride to Beacon, as well as her buddy. Ruby, I believe. Right next to her is Weiss Schnee of the Schnee Dust Company. And Blake Balledona… I didn't think that I'd run into her again. I doubt that she remembers me from the White Fang meetings.

Ozpin takes a sip of coffee before saying to me, "Ah, Ralph. I see that your injuries are starting to heal."

I think to myself, Actually, my legs feel like jelly and I feel like my head's about to split open. "Yeah, I guess so."

Ozpin lightly taps his cane on the ground as he turns to face the crowd. "Every student here has the potential to change the world. Some students may find themselves in a precarious situation as Ralph here did." He looks at me before continuing, "While your efforts at during the team-exercise today hasn't gone unnoticed, it has come to my attention that you have failed to find a partner."

The students broke out into murmurs at the newfound knowledge. My chest swells in both embarrassment and discomfort, and I can't help but hang my head down.

"This was, is an unprecedented event. Not that a student didn't manage to find a partner, mind you, but that you found a relic while partner-less. There are plenty of other students that you could be paired up with, but I find it unfair for a person to be rewarded for something that they did not do, even if that person is one of my students." The crowd instantly hushes at Ozpin's words. Even I was taken aback by his bluntness. "With that in mind," Ozpin continues as he turns to me, "I have reached a conclusion. The fairest thing I can do within the authority that I have is to put you into another team." He takes a step back and holds his cane towards the four girls. "Team RWBY will be the host for your place at Beacon."

The four girls scream in unison, "WHAT?!" The crowd of students break also burst into gasps and chatter. As for me, well, I was too speechless to get words out of my mouth.

Ozpin patiently waits for the voices to die down before addressing to the students, "While this is the first time I have ever done this at my school, rest assured, this isn't an act of favoritism. I have acted many times on the potential of hunters and huntresses alike." Ozpin then turns and faces me. "I also see great potential in you, Ralph Samuel Riana. I believe that you will be able to change the tide in this war."

For a few moments, I'm speechless. I don't know what to say to this. But eventually, I find the right words. "Professor Ozpin…" I bow my head to him. "I am deeply honored to be at your school, and would be more honored to be a part of this team."

He slightly smiles. "Then from today on, team RWBY will be a team of five: Team RRWBY."

The only person who seemed to laugh at the little joke Ozpin made was the blonde girl. All the students suddenly break into cheers and clapping, which was pretty ordinary in a ceremony, but I personally wasn't fond of being the center of attention. However, unbeknownst to everybody else, I see Ozpin make eye contact with me. His eyes were giving me a warning. One that I understand clearly.

"Team RRWBY," Ozpin continues, "You are free to head to your dormitory."

We all nod, and start to exit off the stage. However, Ozpin calls out to me, "Ralph. Just remember..."

If you make so much as a single error here at Beacon, you will face punishment to the most severe degree.

"...Have a enjoyable time here at Beacon."

I feel my spine shiver, and a sinking feeling that my time here at Beacon isn't going to be what I hoped for starts to take form. Even so, I put on my best smile and say, "I'll do my best." However, as I walk with my new team to our assigned room, I feel that Ozpin is watching me the whole time. That he isn't looking at me as Ralph, but as the son of Zxchoal.


|(Ozpin)|

When all the students have left to their rooms, I return to my office with Glynda. She gave me a hard glare the entire time, but waits until we are alone to safely talk. As soon as we get off the elevator and into my office, Glynda says sternly to me, "You know that I don't like it when you make decisions without talking to me about it Ozpin."

"Glynda, we both know how dangerous Ralph is at our school. It's better to have him in a team that are partnered with each other than partners with him."

"I understand that, it's just…" She shifts uncomfortably, and I could tell that she was thinking of the battle against Ralph's father. "...I want to prevent our students from getting hurt again."

The familiar anger towards Zxchoal starts to surface again, and I swallow it down with some coffee. "I perfectly understand. There have been few tragedies greater than the massacre caused by Zxchoal." I close my eyes and see the faces of those trampled under the raw bloodthirst of Zxchoal. The people whom I failed to save. "It's a weight that I will always have to carry with me."

"Ozpin, you know that this isn't solely your burden to bear."

I shake my head at her. "It might as well be. If I was more willing to do whatever it took to end Zxchoal, then the council would be spared from all this trouble, as well as every person on Remnant." I take another sip of coffee, it's bitterness helping me keep my emotions stable. "It's now my responsibility to clean up my mess, and I will start that by making sure Ralph will never become a threat like his father."

I meant what I said when I told Ralph that I could see great potential in him. However, his potential to be a hunter could easily turn into potential to destroy Remnant by the legacy of his father. This was the danger that Ralph posed to students at Beacon Academy... And which is why the other three professors of the other three schools that held a relic didn't want Ralph at their school.

Glynda's expression twists in pain. I could see the worry in her eyes, the worry that I would lose myself to my anger. Once upon a time I had that same worry, and that worry caused me to make the wrong choice when it mattered most. "Ozpin... You know that you don't have to face the past alone. There are people on your side to help you."

"I know. I am a very lucky man to have such good friends with me." I drink the last of my coffee, savoring it's taste. "I'll be sure to rely on you in the days to come."

Glynda breaks into a small smile, satisfied with my answer. However, I refrain myself from letting Glynda know of my promise that I made to myself, as well as to the dead and the living. I will not make the same mistake of being too naive. If Ralph adopts his father's actions, no matter the circumstances...

Then I will kill him where he stands.