~Kaage
YAY! Chapter 2! Never thought I'd be doing this. Thanks to StormDragonSlayerand Groszekace for the review. I'll try my best to lengthen the chapters!
Prologue, Chapter 2: The Grand Order
Cinder awoke to an unfamiliar room. It was large. VERY large. She was lying on something soft. A bed? How'd she end up here? She got up, her mind dazed and her senses scrambled. All she remembered was being enveloped in a bright light and then blacking out. Feeling sober, she got on her feet.
She wasn't in her own clothes. No, she was, instead, in hospital robes. Was this a hospital? That would explain the large space. The high ceilings that resembled a cathedral reminded her of the great hallways of castles in the stories she had read.
"So firstly... Get out of here" she said to herself. She looked around for anything to fight with. Looking at the small lamp stand, she found a few syringes. She could use them as throwing knives.
Then she heard something. The pitter-patter of small feet running around. she peeked through the curtains to see children running about hiding in various places.
"Children! don't play here. You'll disturb the patients. Play in the courtyard instead"
Cinder turned to see a young blonde woman, around her own age, walking in and searching for the children. Target number one. Take her out and move along. As she got ready to attack, she saw the blonde do something unbelievable.
"Alright, you leave me with no choice"
"Zwei, Arbos, Deti"
And in an instant, the children were surrounded in a blue light and being carried towards the young blonde.
"Hey! You used magic!" One of the children yelled.
"Well don't play in the infirmary. You'll wake the- Oh"
The blonde seemed to notice Cinder as she was walking towards her. It was now or never. She rushed forward, throwing three sryinges towards the blond and brandishing another makeshift weapon, leapt towards her. But all it took was a simple gesture of her hand and Cinder was suspended mid-air, constrained.
"Hello! My name is Arturia Pendragon. You've been asleep for a few days, so you may feel a little groggy. You're currently in the infirmary of the House of Knights" The young blonde said, flashing a genuinely sweet smile towards Cinder, sending a chill up her spine. After Cinder's attempt to kill her, she was still smiling and talking like they were friends. She was either too dense or too confident in her abilities. She continued struggling, but eventually, she felt all the energy leave her body.
"… would love to see you awake. He was worried he put you in a coma"
"What?" Cinder didn't catch what Arturia was saying. Who was "he"?
"Oh, I was talking about Rain. He's been visiting you since you got here last week. He was worried you got into a coma" Arturia said, putting her down.
"Don't worry, I just placed a constraining seal on you. Don't worry about trying to hurt me, or anyone else, ok?" Arturia said, handing Cinder some undergarments and clothes to change into.
As soon as she finished dressing, Cinder spun around and took one of the children hostage, holding a syringe against the child's neck, just against his Adam's Apple.
"Miss Arturia, what's she doing?" the child asked, confused about Cinder's actions.
"Nothing much Jace, she's just taking you hostage. Just relax, ok?" Arturia said, keeping her smile on.
"Don't you care what happens to this child?" Cinder asked, her voice loud and threatening. She proceeded to press the syringe against the child's neck, but as soon as the very tip of the touched skin, Cinder's body was overwhelmed with a numbing feel.
"See! Told you didn't have to worry about hurting anyone! Now let's go meet Rain" Arturia beamed, helping her up and letting Cinder lean on her.
"Oh, and one more thing..." Arturia said, smiling at her.
"Welcome to the Grand Order"
Time skip
Cinder and Arturia were walking through the halls of the House of Knights. Well, 'House' was an understatement. This place was a CASTLE! The large, ornate hallways and the grand-looking doors, and from the view she saw from the window, this 'House' was HUGE. On the way, Arturia started talking about Rain.
So... Rain was a 14 year-old Wolf Faunus who was training to be a Huntsman in Sanctum Academy. Rain Gleave… She couldn't remember any Huntsman with that surname, so his family was probably full of small-time hunters. She would've thought the same of Rain if she didn't see him fight.
It was almost unbelievable. One Wolf Faunus against five other opponents in a middle of a courtyard. One sword against five. And the one sword was winning. And it was… glowing?
She had never seen it before. She was sure there was no dust involved. Why? Because they were WOODEN swords. Wooden swords that apparently could cut Cinder-block, from what she saw from the other trainees. But back to the battle at hand. Rain was seamlessly dodging and parrying all the hits front, back and side. It was as if he could see everything at all times, His semblance?
"Hey Rain! Stop playing around with us and fight like a man!"
"...whatever you say" Rain said with an innocently bashful smile.
…whoever said that had forsaken themselves.
Rain back-flipped away from his opponents and got low into a battle stance, his wooden training sword glowing and his face now calm and neutral.
"Forever Fall, Mirage"
In an instant, he was in their faces, slashing. His one sword moving faster than Cinder could see. It almost as if he used two blades instead of one. With each swing, stab and cut, the five swordsmen got pushed back. And with the final swing, all five of them flew to the walls, creating human-shaped craters. And with that, he was done.
"Hey Rain! She's awake!" Arturia shouted, taking Cinder out of her trance.
"Oh, hey Art! I'm com- Oh" Rain said, finally noticing Cinder. He immediately flashed an apologetic smile. The first thing she noticed were his eyes, which changed from Arctic Blue to Rose Red. Then was his hair, which was mostly Ebony Black, with a streak of Pearl White and Garnet Red at the tips of the hair strands, and on his head were two wolf ears with the same Ebony Black shade.
"Sorry about knocking you out. I kinda panicked when you trapped me with the fire pillars" Rain said.
"How... did I get here?" Cinder wheezed, still numb from the activation on the constraining seal.
"I carried you here with the help of a portal."
"Why did you bring me here? If you want to interrogate, I won't spill" Cinder said, regaining her strength and now standing on her own feet.
"Oh, don't worry, the mages took all the info from you guys while you were all asleep" Rain said, waving it off. And to this Cinder tried to hit him with a stray wooden sword, only to have it broken in two with Rain's own sword swing. When he looked at her, she could've sworn she saw some sort of killing intent in his eyes before it turned cheery and normal.
"Oh, and you're friends are ok, by the way" Rain said with a reassuring smile.
"Friends?" Cinder asked, genuinely confused.
"You know, Mercury and Emerald? Gray and Mint-green hair? Ring a bell?" Rain asked.
"They're not my-"
Right on cue, Emerald appeared, panicking.
"Rain, Arturia, Cinder's gone- Oh, hey Cinder!" Emerald said, relieved.
Emerald was wearing a simple black and white dress that had complemented her Mint-green hair which had small braids at the side, tucked behind her ears. But where was Mercury?
"You must be wondering where Mercury is. Come on, I'll show you where he is" Rain said, walking past a doorway.
"Where are we going?" Cinder asked as they walked through the hallways.
"The Children's Dorm"
As they approached the dorm, Cinder could hear cheers coming from the dorm's common room. And upon entering the common room, she found out why.
She saw Mercury dancing.
Mercury was dancing.
Mercury.
Dancing.
That must be how he trains. Well, we learn something new everyday.
"Hey Cinder! Nice to have you join us" Mercury said, giving a sly smirk.
Mercury was wearing a gray t-shirt and jogger pants of the same color. And honestly, he wasn't bad looking.
"So… I assume you guys would want an explanation about where you are, and what is happening" Rain said, motioning towards a small room
And now… The lay of the land
"So, you guys are currently in the House of Knights. We're part of an organization called the 'Grand Order', led by the Master's Council. There are different ranks: Apprentice, Enforcer, and King, as well as different Vocations: Archer, Caster, Saber, Assassin, Shielder, Ruler, Rider, Assassin and Lancer. All members of the Grand Order practice mana usage… And I'm sure you're wondering what mana is" Rain said, to which the three listeners nodded their heads. "Ok, so can you guys tell me what Aura is first?" Rain asked, to which Cinder answered.
"Aura is the manifestation of one's soul, and can be used for a wide range of abilities. The specific abilities and their strengths differ from individual to individual and are dependent on a number of factors, such as experience, training, and innate skill"
Rain smiled, accepting the answer."So, while Aura is about the soul, Mana is about the mind. Mana can be channeled into our bodies to make spells or into our weapons for 'Sword Arts'. Mana is also split into different elements, also known as aspects: Fira, Aqua, Spark, Aero, Holy and Dark. Think of Mana as white light in this aspect. White light can also be split into different colored lights. Those in the Caster Vocation are efficient in using all aspects of Mana. I myself use Fira, Aero, Spark and Holy. Any questions?"
All of them shook their heads, and Rain continued."So, on to my final point: Why magic is no longer used... Once, magic was common all around Remnant. It was practiced not only by Hunters, who used it in tandem with their Aura. But also by doctors who used it to heal, mechanics who used it to repair and other professions. And the Grand Order was regulating it's usage, upholding laws and such. It was going fine until man discovered dust. With dust, it was easier to use elemental attacks, work on machines, and other things. Soon, most people stopped practicing magic and forgot about Mana. Fearing the practice of mana would be lost forever, they made the World Tree, to house all the knowledge on Mana and its uses." Rain gestured towards the huge tree just that rested in the middle of the Master's Council building, or as Cinder calls it 'castle'. It was huge tree with gold, pink and green leaves. "Only those with Mana manifested within them at birth are able to use Magic, and it's usually common among families that practice Mana and Magic. So… you guys are out of luck. We can teach you how to use Dust for magic, though."
"And that's the story of the Grand Order. Now you guys can go explore or get some sleep, but you should do the latter. We've got classes at Sanctum Academy tomorrow. And you guys don't wanna be late"
"Wait, Sanctum Academy? The one in Mistral? I thought we were in Vale. And why are we attending. We ARE criminals, you know" Cinder asked.
"Nope. Firstly, we're actually in Mistral. See the bit that looks like a Dragon's head? That's where we are" Rain said, taking out a map and pointing at the far north of Mistral. "This campus is protected by a protective dome that also works as camouflage. The first Masters created it to protect the World Tree and can only be accessed using magic. Or those who have these crystals" Rain said, holding a crystal out. It was black, with gold, blue and silver metals forming a sleeve at the top and bottom of the crystal. "It's a Port-Crystal. These will act as passports to enter this realm, as well as beacons and navigators if you wanna get somewhere. Just say where you wanna go, and the crystal will point the way" and Arturia continued. "And as for the second point, yes, we're aware you stole some of the Fall Maiden's powers AND almost killed Rain. But I got friends in high places and am willing to forgive you, if you mend your ways"
"But what about-"
"Salem. Don't worry, she won't ever touch you. Not since you joined us" Rain said, full of spite.
"Wait, join you?" Cinder asked.
"Yep. As a representative of the Grand Order and apprentice of the King of Casters, I am inviting you to join the Grand Order. Should you wish to accept, The three of you will select a Vocation to study. That is, if you choose to accept" Arturia said, leaving the three speechless.
"Art's a Caster and I'm a Saber. We'll tell you about the other Vocations when you join" Rain said, giving a reassuring smile.
"I'll let you guys think"
And with that, Rain and Arturia walked out.
The three individuals were now in a heated discussion, still thinking about Rain's proposal. Well Mostly Emerald and Cinder. Mercury was just minding his own business.
"We can't turn our backs on Salem. She promised power, a lot of it. And if we desert her, she is sure to kill us" Cinder said.
"But you heard what Rain said. The Grand Order can protect us, make us stronger. If we just-"
"That Rain is a child. He surely doesn't know what Salem is capable of"
"But you saw him fight us. He took us on without breaking a sweat. He must be strong. Plus, he said he can erase our tracks, right? Think about it. It means a whole new life for us" Emerald argued. She was not one to disobey Cinder. But now, of all times, she had to break her habit. Not accepting this opportunity was one order she could not follow.
Frustrated, they looked to Mercury for a deciding vote. "Hey, don't look at me. I don't really care what happens. As long as it's fun"
With a sigh, Emerald continued. "Cinder, I know you want power. I don't blame you. Power is intoxicating and can be good. But only if we use it right. And I think Rain and everyone here can help teach us that. And you may be afraid of Salem, but from what I've seen, the Grand Order can protect us, as well as help us grow stronger… I'm sorry Cinder. But in the past few days I've been here, I've seen what life can be if we did things right. So I don't know about you, but I want out. From Salem's plans, From everything. I want to be good, for once"
Cinder was silenced by what Emerald had said. "But..."
"Emerald's right"
The statement took them by surprise. They turned to see Arturia, leaning against the door. "Rain may be dense, bunt, and stubborn. But he never lets people down. And he really is willing to help you guys. Especially against Salem" the young blonde said. "Salem… did something to him. Something that cannot be recovered or forgotten or healed. And he's afraid Salem will hurt you too. He really cares about you guys, despite the short time you've been together. Because when he looks at you guys, he sees himself, young and wounded. And for that, he's willing to risk his life to get you out of Salem's grasps. If you don't trust me, trust him. So please, consider this offer"
And with that, Arturia left.
The three stood in silence, before Mercury broke it. "So what now, boss?"
With a sigh, Cinder finalized her decision. "We've got no choice..."
The trio found Arturia inn the library, reading a book written in an odd language. However focused she was, she sensed their presence and looked up smiling.
"Oh, hello! please, sit down." she said, smiling.
"So… You guys decided yet?"
"Yes... We'll join your organization, Ms. Pendragon"
"Thank you! And please, call me Arturia. Rain will help settle you in. And welcome to the Grand Order" The young blonde said, pulling out a case of Port-Crystals. "Please, take any one of them!"
There were countless number of choices, from the brightest shade of red to the deepest shade of blue. Emerald was about to go for the pale gray crystal when Mercury swooped it from her. "Sorry Emerald, but grey's more of MY color" he smirked, tossing her a green Port-Crystal. But while the two accomplices were bickering, Cinder was deep in thought. She still didn't trust them. And this act of kindness only furthered her suspicion. She picked up an Arctic blue Port-Crystal, it reminded her of Rain's eyes when he was fighting, cold and calm, without a shred of doubt in every move he made, it carried it's own danger. She put it down and took a Wine Red Port-Crystal.
"Now I'll go and get Rain. Stay put, okay?" Arturia said, standing up and leaving. She then took out her scroll, and dialed a number.
"Hello Mr. Ozpin. I'm Arturia Pendragon, we spoke last week. I have something to discuss with you. You see..."
Hey, Kaage here.
SO! Chapter 2 is out. Kinda like how this chapter played out. But I'll see the reviews. Also, we hit more than 3,207 words! Yay me!
So I wanted to explain more about the suit I wanted to give Cinder. You see, the Infiltration outfits and her normal red dress are mad of Dust-Infused fabric, which allows her to do dust spells. But since I wanted Cinder's normal outfit to be the one she wore in the Vytal Festival Tournament, I needed her suit to deploy the same way Rain's Gaia does, but by channeling a small portion of her aura into a dust crystal on her pauldron, deploying the suit. This is so she can keep her Dust spell fighting style. But while her red dress is her signature, using the infiltration suit would make more sense, hence why I cannot decide. Sorry to Groszekace for the misunderstanding and hope this chapter can help make it up to you.
So one more prologue chapter until this story joins the RWBY timeline. Until next time!
~Kaage