Chapter 2: An Uncertain Path

After that, they trained daily, the page continuously impressing Corona with her rapid progress. For months, this training continued without incident, until a certain event disrupted the normal flow of their daily routine.

Their sparring match started out normally enough, Corona's apprentice having progressed to the point where she actually posed a significant threat. They traded blows for a while, simply to build up physical strength, before Corona signaled a halt. Moving to one end of the ring, her apprentice mirrored her movements on the other end.

"Now," she said, raising her sword, "let's see what you've learned."

The page circled cautiously, looking for an opening. Not content with simply waiting, Corona moved forward, directly toward the page. The young red head, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on her instructor, slowly backpedaled, attempting to keep her distance. Soon, however, she met a certain obstacle to her movement, namely the edge of the ring. Corona smirked at the blunder. "Keep one eye on your surroundings. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Her page didn't respond, simply waiting at the edge. Corona had to give this much to the little one, she had nerve. With a burst of speed, she lunged forward, thrusting at...nothing. In the corner of her eye, she saw the page rolling around her, positioning herself on Corona's unprotected right side. Corona, however, used the momentum of her thrust to spin around, catching a swing on her shield, before countering with her own upper cut. The page parried the blow with her blade, bashing with her shield. Catching the bash with her own shield, Corona tried a sweep with her leg, but the page leapt over it. Corona had anticipated this, though, and swung her blade in a vicious sideways slash. Her page reacted quickly, raising her shield to block the strike, but without her feet to anchor her and absorb the shock, the force of the blow threw her backwards. She hit the ground hard, rolling as she did so, before landing on her back. Coughing, she struggled to get up, looking around for the sword she had dropped as she fell. Corona did not relent, thrusting down hard enough to pierce the ground as her page rolled out of the way. The child's shield had become loose, and a heavy downward slash knocked it from her hand. She prepared to deliver the final blow, only to have her attack blocked by the red head's blade. She could not mask her surprise. Wasn't her sword on the other side of the ring just now? Shaking off her confusion, she raised her shield to block her apprentice's counter, or, at least, attempted to raise her shield, as it seemed to be locked in its current position, unmoving. Now, that is interesting. The page stopped her blade inches from Corona's throat; the fight was over. Corona nodded in approval, before making her way to a bench to recover. Meanwhile, her apprentice retrieved her fallen shield, before sitting down next to Corona.

"...me," Corona muttered.

"Ma'am?" the page asked.

"I said, I think it's about time you told me your name."

"Oh," the page said, "it's Nikos. Pyrrha Nikos."

Corona nodded, smiling just slightly. "Nice to know you, Pyrrha Nikos."

"So, what now?"

"Now, now we start your semblance training."

"Really?" Pyrrha asked, her eyes shining.

Corona chuckled. "Don't be so quick to get excited, this means I get to use my semblance from now on, too."

"Oh, right."

And so, seasons came, and seasons went, and soon enough, four years had passed. Soon, Corona would graduate and be knighted. Then, a visitor came to The Amazon Group who would change her life forever. The first she heard of this visitor was the announcement that all squire level candidates were to assemble in the main hall in full combat gear. Along with the other members of her dorm, she retrieved her armor and weapons, before making her way to the hall. Once there, she broke ranks in order to collect Pyrrha, who had, a year ahead of schedule, just achieved the rank of squire. She directed the girl to stand next to her in line. When all the squires had fallen in, Commander Argona stepped forward.

"Squires, I know you must have questions as to why you have been summoned. Fear not, I will answer these questions forthwith." As she spoke, another woman strode up beside her. Her hair was long, unruly, and black as night. Her eyes were bright red, matching her rather ludicrously short, kimono-like apparel. "This woman," the commander continued, "is part of an organization which has had a long-standing association with our own. In light of this association, we have been requested to lend them aid whenever they have need of it. Therefore, she has been sent today to acquire a resource that only we can provide."

Resource, Corona thought, puzzled, but the only resources we have are...

"That's right. As many of you have, no doubt, concluded, this means that one of you will be leaving us today." Even years of militant discipline could not suppress the murmuring that swept across the hall at this statement. The commander held up her hand, though, and silence returned to the hall. "I'm afraid that if you are chosen, you will most likely never return to this place. But, you have all sworn your lives to the defense of the people, and do not doubt, the work you do will be for the sake of the people."

As soon as the commander had finished speaking, the woman in black and red made her way from the front of the hall towards the first row of candidates. Sometimes she passed a candidate without a second glance, sometimes she would stop for more than a minute, examining them from head to toe. In the end, though, these too she passed. Eventually, she came to Corona and Pyrrha's row. When she got to Corona, she stopped, looking her over her carefully, but in the end she apparently did not find what she was looking for, for she moved on. She almost passed Pyrrha completely, but then suddenly stopped, turning to look at her. Looking into Pyrrha's emerald eyes, her own ruby eyes widened in apparent surprise. Nodding to herself, she began to raise her hand. Before she could though, an armored gauntlet latched onto her wrist, holding her arm in place. She looked down at it in bemusement, before following it back to its owner, none other than Corona herself. Commander Argona stepped closer, opening her mouth to reprimand Corona, but the raised free hand of the other woman stopped her in her tracks. Ruby met citrine, and the edge of her lips turned upward in a smirk.

"You'll do."

"It's not right." Pyrrha shouted, later. "Why did you step in?"

"Because, you're not ready. Not ready to fight, and certainly not ready to die."

Corona and Pyrrha were currently in Corona's dorm, the former packing the few possessions she owned, while the latter paced furiously.

"But I don't want to say goodbye."

"Either way, we still would be parted. But, I have no intention of saying goodbye. One way or another, we will see each other again. I promise." Having gathered all that she was planning to take, she made her way out of the room. Just before she crossed the threshold, however, she stopped. "Pyrrha?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"And after that?" Rin asked. Corona had long since finished cleaning and rebuilding her armament, and the two were lying on their shared bed, facing each other.

Corona sighed. "A few years later I learned that she had left The Group, gone to Sanctum Academy."

"Pyrrha Nikos," Rin said, testing the name. "She's pretty famous, isn't she?

Corona shut her eyes, grimacing. "She was."

Rin's eyes widened. "Was?" she asked hesitantly.

Corona rolled away, facing the other direction. "Beacon."

Rin gasped. "Oh. I'm sorry. I...I'm-"

Corona twisted around, reaching over to clamp her hand over Rin's mouth. "Yeah. She was always sorry too." Rin nodded, and Corona removed her hand, kissing her on the forehead. "Now go to bed, we've got training tomorrow."