Chapter Nineteen
It was six am and Damian awoke to a burst of pain in his gut, it seemed he had still not recovered from his encounter last night or form the last couple of days if he was perfectly honest. He limped over to the bathroom to grab a drink. As he stepped out he tripped over his boots and hit the floor with a resounding smack. Ryu jumped out of his bed and rolled to grab Zang Jisuh. Nathan tried to get up quickly got caught in his duvet and fell to the floor as well which in turn woke Gagana who scurried under her bed.
"Sorry." Damian mumbled face still in the carpet.
"Gees don't scare us like that." Ryu said propping his weapon against the wall.
"How are you so alert all the time?" Damian asked as he crawled back to his bed.
"I lived quite far north, Grimm attacks we're frequent but the location was beautiful." Nathan finally removed himself from his duvet and said
"Man I could never do that, only Grimm we had to deal with were the occasional deep sea kind, but they tend to avoid humans so no biggy."
"Aren't you supposed to be a huntsman?" Ryu asked
"Yea I'm willing to fight Grimm daily but I'd still prefer a warm and safe bed to get back too." He replied disgustedly.
"Do you guys want to do anything we all seem to be awake?" Gagana asked as she peered over her bed.
"We could." Damian said through his pillow.
"I mean I want to sleep but it may not happen at this point." Nathan added.
"Any Ideas?" Ryu asked as he climbed into his bunk.
"We could just walk around and grab some breakfast." Gagana replied slowly.
"Okay… I mean we could." Damian said, while heaving himself off his bed and stumbling to the shower.
"It's kind of a drag that we only have two showers." Nathan said as he leaned against the bathroom door.
"Well we could us the communal ones in the gym." Ryu said, he then stifled a yawn.
"I guess the watch dog does need sleep." Nathan giggled.
"I'm only human." He replied blankly.
"How does that expression work if you're a faunus, is it I'm faunus? But faunus have different physical limits depending on what type they are." Nathan asked aloud.
"But by that notion you could say different humans have different physical limits, I mean that's what sets the huntsmen apart from the civilians." Ryu replied.
"Isn't that more to do with ability to use aura and semblances?"
"I guess that's a factor." The two boys thought to themselves until Damian returned. When he did he was practically glowing, his hears had perked up, he had a smile on his face and all the sleep seemed to have be washed away.
"Someone is looking better." Nathan said as Damian entered the room. Nathan who was still leaning on the door frame, turned to enter the bathroom but before he could take a step Ryu darted past him and slammed the door in his face.
"How did he…" he shook his head.
"Early Nevermore catches the worm." Ryu replied from the other side of the door.
"Where's Gagana?" Damian asked. Nathan looked around and shrugged.
"Shower maybe?" Nathan replied. Damian took his opportunity and started to change before she returned. Ryu returned soon after and before they knew it they were all ready to go and it was only Half past six.
Walking down the corridors in the early hours was kind of different to walking during the day not because there was no one else around, Atlas Academy didn't have that many students at all, maybe a tenth that the other schools had. It was because all they lights were dimmed and the school wasn't giving off its normal hum of activity. It was just dim and silent so the team were quite surprised to find another group of students in the cafeteria. After they grabbed some food and sat down Ryu peered over to the group of students.
"That's team… BLYD isn't?"
"Possibly." Damian replied.
"Shouldn't our leader have more knowledge of potential enemies?" Nathan asked.
"What do you mean enemies? Wouldn't it be better to make friends?" Damian replied through his toast.
"My sentiments exactly." Gagana said as she finally opened her yogurt.
"Well when it comes to fights and tournaments, everyone can be an enemy" Ryu replied matter-a-factly.
"Nice to know your plotting the end of every student around you." Nathan replied coldly.
"Excuse me are you team DRGN?" a voice quietly asked which caused the team to jump. One of the girls form team BLYD had walked over.
"Oh how rude of me, I didn't mean to startle you. My name is Maya Brass in case you forgot." Her voice was airy and emotionless but somewhat calming.
"Now we didn't forget." Gagana said sweetly.
"I did… sorry about that." Nathan replied bluntly.
"Nathan!"
"I did not lie and I did apologise." He retorted sounding somewhat hurt.
"Well… you're right… I guess." Gagana replied slowly accepting what Nathan had said.
"Anyway." Damian said, regaining control of the conversation, "Hello Maya what's up?"
"I… We were curious to see other teams active at this time in the morning." She said as her team arrived behind her.
"I hate to be the one to say this." Ryu began.
"Then don't." Gagana said interrupting him.
"But you lot seem to have a very odd aura around your selves." Ryu continued ignoring Gagana. Everyone stared back at him blankly.
"I just feel like there is slightly more to team BLYD than meets the eye." He said defensively. Yuki walked out from behind Maya.
"You are very perceptive for one so brash. Yes, I'd say we are a special case but what exactly sets us apart I'll let you decide." He said slowly, his words wrapped in mystery. While he spoke Damian notice that the other girl, Qui Lin, was making hand gestures to the remaining member. Maya picked up on this and explained.
"Damian," She said to gain his attention, "Demir is deaf so Qui is signing the conversion to him."
"Wait so Yuki is blind and Demir is deaf?" Nathan asked trying and failing to be sensitive.
"Maybe I just like wearing a blindfold." Yuki replied defensively. Demir tapped Maya on the shoulder and signed something to her.
"Demir says you are very observant."
"Really?" Nathan asked. Maya looked to Demir and shook her head.
"It's hard to sign sarcasm apparently." She said apologetically.
"Jokes aside you are correct. We all gave up an aspect of our being to increase the potency of our others." Yuki said more seriously.
"Why didn't you give up smell?" Nathan asked deadly serious.
"I'd rather not see then not taste, what is life without food am I right."
"What about life's wonders views?" Ryu said
"Or wonders babes." Nathan added. Gagana slapped him over the back of his head.
"It's a lot easier to describe something you can see to someone then something you taste. So the others can fill in my blanks." Yuki replied honestly.
"Well what about, Qui and Maya?" Nathan continued.
"Nathan! Stop digging into people's lives." Gagana snapped.
"No its fine." Maya said softly, "Qui has the inability to speak and I have the inability to act."
"Like putting on a show?" Nathan asked clearly confused.
"To act violently or defensively." She replied
"Doesn't that seem like a giant oversight for a huntress?" Damian asked now looking as confused as Nathan.
"Well we all have our drawbacks but we can regain our lost features in a powerful form with the use of our semblances. I can act if the evil cannot be reasoned with, Yuki can see were evil hides, Demir can hear what the evil is thinking and Qui can quell evil with her words." All of DRGN looked on awestruck.
"Well that is something isn't it?" Ryu said trying to hide his excitement behind a smug smile. Yuki looked towards Maya.
"Good thing we aren't part of a secret organisation or something with your loose lips around."
"I like think that sharing is caring." Maya retorted then a bleeping noise came from her pocket.
"Oh that must be training time see you guys else were." She waved as she and the rest of team BLYD walked off.
"Well that was pretty interesting now wasn't it?" Damian said stretching his arms.
"I feel like we keep meeting strong students." Ryu said with an almost glum look on his face.
"Birds of a feather flock together." Nathan said energetically.
"Would that imply you are also strong?" Ryu sneered.
"What are you implying?" Nathan said brushing off Ryu's comment. Damian felt his scroll vibrate.
"It would seem we have an announcement from Ironwood." He got looks of mild interest so he opened it and read it aloud.
"Dear captains of the first year teams I am sending you this announcement to inform you that there will be a chance for you to prove you're standing in your team, year or even the school itself. With support from our backers, the Schnee Dust Company and the Gold Mining Corporation, we shall be holding tournament this weekend for the people of atlas; students, huntsmen and even civilians who are considering entering the Atlesian military to show off their full potential. Click here for rules and regulations."
"Sounds interesting what does it entail." Ryu asked eyes Lit up.
"It's called The Robo-Dome," Nathan burst out laughing.
"What a stupid name."
"Anyway name a side, it is apparently a single fighter tournament where the fighters will fight waves of robots, whoever can beat the most will be considered the winner. Fighters will compete in brackets so first years aren't being compared to fully fledged huntsmen."
"I mean I do like prizes." Nathan said once his laughter had subsided.
"Sounds like a good way to prove who is the best around here." Ryu said slyly. Gagana glared at him to make him remember what happened that last time he went around picking fights.
"Morning y'all!" A voice called from cafeterias entrance. Scarlet ran up to Damian, eyes burning with excitement.
"Did you get the news?" She asked practically bouncing on the spot. Damian pushed her back,
"Yes we just got it a minute ago, you seem vibrant, even by your normal standards." He replied.
"Hitting the pills a little hard?" Nathan laughed.
"Yea just a little." She replied. Mary walked over beside Scarlet and inserted a piece of toast into Scarlet's mouth.
"Captain Sunshine has been like this for the last… Six hours." Mary said, she seemed very colourless.
"What exactly happened?" Gagana asked concerned.
"Let's just say it was a mix up, and now we are all a bit sleep deprived because of this one."
"Wait here guys," Gagana said before she ran off. Damian squinted at her but she didn't elaborate, he shook his head and returned his attention to Scarlet and Mary. Both had sat down across from Nathan and Ryu and Mary was providing a steam of toast to the ravenous Scarlet. Damian placed a hand on Mary's tiny shoulder.
"You're quite the little trooper aren't you?" She looked up to him, still absent mindedness shoving toast in Scarlet's mouth.
"Well I have to be… I need to make a name for myself." She said gloomy.
"It seems like all of STRM are having a tough time." Nathan said looking and anywhere but the two girls.
"Want to talk about it?" Ryu asked causing Damian and Nathan to double take. He waved them off and waited for Mary or Scarlet to answer.
"Know Schnee?" Mary said gloomily.
"I'm pretty sure everyone in Remnant knows of them." Ryu replied.
"Well I got a message from daddy last night saying that they are taking over our company and removing him from his position of chairman." She said them smothered her face into her arms. Scarlet put her arms around her, she had lost the excitement in her eyes but was still smiling. Gagana returned with several cups of steaming tea. Timothy and Richard followed shortly after.
"This should freshen you up." She said trying to stay composed. Damian walked over to the two guys and whispered to them.
"What's up with Scarlet guys?"
"She had a nightmare thing, but it was like super crazy she looked possessed or something. Richard had to hold her down so she didn't hurt anyone. Mary told me to grab some medicine form Scarlet's bag but apparently I gave her the wrong one. So instead of calming her down I gave her a buzz. Which didn't help at all." Timothy blurted out. Richard slapped him on the back.
"Tim cool it!" Timothy fell to the floor.
"Fuck! Sorry! Fuck! I'm just on edge like everyone else." He said as he picked up his teammate. Timothy regained his composure and brushed himself off.
"Damian, I'm not sure if Scarlet would probably be cool with you know it but let's just say while she was fighting, whatever it was in her dream. She cried out a lot. We learnt a lot of things. I'll just say give her some space and pretend like nothing's different." Timothy said emotion void from his words.
"Got it." Damian replied without thinking. The three boys walked over to the table. No sooner had Damian sat down when he heard hurried footsteps approaching them. He saw Rylee dragging Ramona along at top speed. Brett and Oscar where only just entering the doorway. Damian and Nathan tried to silently motion for her to stop. She did and pulled out her scroll, pointed to it and trotted back to the rest of her team.
Damian thought that no amount of new people would improve the situation. It was now silent at the table, everyone seemed to reach the conclusion that some quiet time would be needed for the two girls.
A bell sounded which announced the start of classes for the day. The students got up and plodded along to class.