"Yes Headmaster?"
"Come in and have a seat."
Jazpeer sat down nervously at the Headmaster's desk, feeling a bit sick at his stomach. Was the Headmaster going to change his mind? Was he going to kick him out of Beacon before he even got a chance to attend? He watched expressionless as the Headmaster cooly flipped through his scroll.
"It says here in your records from Signal.." the Headmaster began.
Oh no, his records.
"That you were involved in quite a number of fights," the Headmaster looked up. "If I were to guess, one a day at least."
Jazpeer gulped, unfortunately the records keeper hated him. It wouldn't be listed that most of those fights were not started by him. That the rest he started to save a weaker student.
"I hope you won't be continuing this record here, Mr. Aldenwood," the Headmaster looked him in the eyes.
Green met silver. Jazpeer bit his lip. He would start other fights for bullied students and most likely the bullies would come after him next. He had learned this at Signal. But...he couldn't predict how things would go here.
"I try not to, sir," he dropped his gaze hastily.
"Hm," the Headmaster hummed. "Good. Now, go get ready for Initiation. I hope you do well."
Jazpeer swiftly stood, tilting his head in respect before walking out of the room. Once outside he took a deep breath.
Maybe Beacon would be different.
Headmaster Odran stood at the edge of the cliff, his scroll in one hand, his cane in the other. His green depths examined the twenty new students in front of him. His eyes drifted to a student. She intrigued him. Her papers had the highest compliments from one of most talented teachers at Bullspear. It always interested him when a student with a disability entered the school. They worked harder, faster, and were some of the strongest, not letting whatever blocked their path for so long hinder them in any way. It would be intriguing to see her fight today, after reading her records.
Professor of Combat, Slate Sterling, stood to one side, examining the student's weapons. An interesting assortment. From what he had read, two of the weapons had been ranked very deadly this year. Then the scythes, which required great skill but had fallen from the deadliest of weapons twenty years ago.
"Students," Headmaster Odran cleared his throat. "Today we will be testing your skills. This is not a game. Death is possible. Not only will you be judged during this, but you will make choices that will place you with the people who will be your teammates for the rest of your time here. We will be watching," he glanced at the small drones readily equipped with cameras that linked back to his own and Professor Sterling's scrolls. "May I warn you. Out there, do not hesitate to destroy, or else you will be destroyed."
Professor Sterling stepped up, "In the Emerald Forest is an abandoned temple. Headmaster Odran has hidden relics there which you must retrieve before coming back. Each group of partners retrieves one relic each!"
"Good luck," Headmaster Odran added.
"Prepare your landing strategies!" Professor Sterling barked.
Each student took up a stance, some more cool and relaxed, others more rigid and intense. Professor Sterling took note of this.
"5...4...3...2...1!"
Each landing tube sealed close one at a time before launching the student like a cannon ball into the forest.
Initiation had began.
Cally whooped as she whistled through the whirling, windy sky. This was so fun! Her descent was a bit more sloppy than when she had practiced, then again, she hadn't practiced so long of a descent. Before long, she found herself hanging from a low branch, her double scythe extended and hooked on said limb. Hopping to the ground, she disengaged her scythe and shrunk it down into a boomerang again. Much better for traveling.
Catching sight of one of the drones, she winked at it and waved. Rolling her shoulders back, she looked around excitedly. No Grim yet. No people either. She hoped she got a partner just as fun as she was. There were a lot of choices here today.
Shaking some leaves from light grey bomber jacket, she began walking through the narrow path. Whistling, until she was distracted by some noises in a bush, which turned out to be a little mole, she forged her way in hopefully the direction of the temple. Surely she wouldn't miss the temple and go walking into a Grim lair? That would be awesome, but she didn't want to be the only student to get lost and completely miss the temple.
"Gotta find a partner, gotta find a partner," she sing-songed absentmindedly.
Hopping over a log she looked around. There was the crunching of leaves ahead. A person! Perspective partner! Following the sound, she rounded a corner to come face to face with….!
"Er..hi...my name is Cally!" she said with a big smile, trying to hide the fact she didn't know this girl's name at all.
Moegi looked up, her big almond-yellow eyes blinking as if sleepy. She yawned as she held out her hand.
"I'm Moegi. Looks like we are partners."
Greetings! So I'm breaking Initiation into small chapters so we get to see more of the partners and not a lot of broken up short things that I tend to do. Also since I tragically misspelled Eucalypta's name in the last chapter she is first in this chapter.
Hope you enjoy! See you next chapter!