Since the creators of RWBY have yet to release the name of Shade's headmaster I have taken the liberty of creating one for the purpose of this chapter and those to follow.
Time had passed, a year had come and gone since Sin and Brick arrived in Vacuo. They had attended the Desert Mast combat school, forged and named their own weapons and taken several classes that would prepare them for what would come next in their lives, the Huntsman Academy. There were four to choose from, Beacon in Vale. Atlas named after the kingdom it called home, Haven in Mistral and Shade in Vacuo.
Sin had decided long before their entrance exams which he wanted to attend and as always Brick agreed and followed after him. Sin refused to return to Mistral to avoid running into his parents so Haven was crossed off the list, Atlas was too strict and militarized for his liking leaving only Beacon and Shade to choose from. Sin had decided to look into the two remaining academies; he liked what he saw of Beacon it seemed like a nice and quiet place located at the top of a mountain overlooking the city below it, but he ended up choosing to remain in Vacuo and attend Shade Academy.
The entrance exams were difficult even by Vacuo standards only a third of those that had applied to the academy were accepted. Sin was just happy that Brick had passed with him, not that he was surprised. Of course he was also happy to see that the two Faunus girls he and Brick had met, Rhia and Alena had also been accepted into Shade.
Seeing the two Faunus sisters Sin walked over to them and greeted them, "Well looks like we meet again" he bowed to them and winked at Rhia, "Have the fates brought us together or am I just incredibly lucky to cross paths with you again?"
Rhia smiled sheepishly, "I'm not sure, but it's nice to see you both again."
Sin nodded, "Likewise. Looks like we're going to be classmates again" he smirked at Rhia, "I look forward to it."
Rhia blushed, "Well, same here."
"Come on Rhia" Alena said to her sister, "The opening ceremony, remember?"
"Oh right" Rhia said, "Um would you two like to join us?"
Sin crossed his arm over his chest and bowed to her, "Nothing would make me happier milady."
Brick raised his fist and lightly punched Sin's shoulder causing him to stumble forward.
Sin chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder, "Brick doesn't like it when I flirt with the ladies."
Rhia's face turned brighter, "You were actually…" she fell silent as she looked at the floor.
"Why wouldn't I?" Sin asked, "Someone as pretty as you, you're not about to tell me I'm the only one are you?"
Rhia fumbled her words as she tried to speak causing her sister to step in, "We're going to be late. Let's go, if you insist on following us just keep several feet behind us" Alena told them.
Following the two girls outside the academy they arrived at what looked like an arena. Many students had gathered and at the center was a middle aged woman waiting to address them. Sin looked around taking in the number of people he saw, this event was clearly only meant for new students considering how many were present.
"Hello" the woman in the center of the arena said.
She had platinum colored hair that stopped just below her ears, radiating green eyes, a toned athletic build and tanned skin. She wore an azure shirt that stopped above her midriff with a white cloak hanging down her back, her tan shorts stopped halfway to her knees, she was barefoot right now, but next to her was a pair of black shoes. She looked to be of average height for a woman her age, but she was so far away Sin couldn't tell.
"I am Jaina Eden, you're headmistress. You are all here because you wish to make something out of yourselves. As you begin your first year at Shade please keep in mind the reason you wish to become huntsmen and huntresses and use that as your motivation. Your time here will be difficult as in keeping with Vacuo's only rule; as long as you can prove that you can handle yourselves will you be allowed to remain. As such your initiation will begin tomorrow night an hour after the sun sets. Until then become acquainted with your fellow students and prepare yourselves for your first test. The main hall of the academy will serve as a sleeping area for you all, after initiation is over you will be given dorm rooms. That is all, you are dismissed."
Sin watched Professor Eden reach down and grab her shoes before leaving the arena, "She seems nice enough" he said to Brick and the girls.
Brick nodded as Rhia agreed, "She does, but she also seemed really tired. Did you hear it in her voice? She sounded exhausted."
"Long night preparing for all of this maybe?" Sin wondered, "At any rate she did tell us to get to know our fellow students, but so far I'm only interested in knowing more about the two of you."
Rhia blushed again, "Well you already know a lot about us from combat school."
"True" Sin replied, "But I would like to know more. Perhaps we could have dinner together again."
"We'll pass" Alena said as her sister's cheeks brightened, "You know enough about us and we know very little about you."
"Fair enough" Sin said, "I already told you we're from Mistral, what else would you like to know?"
"Nothing" Alena told him.
"Come now" Sin said to her, "We can't get to know each other like that."
"I don't want to get to know you" Alena said.
"Alena don't be so rude" Rhia told her sister, "He's just trying to be nice."
Alena crossed her arms staring at Sin, "Why are you so fixated on us? There are dozens of others you could talk to."
"I like the two of you" Sin answered before looking to Rhia, "Especially you."
Again Rhia blushed, "I like you and Brick as well."
"Besides" Sin continued, "We did fight those Grimm together that alone should be reason enough to want to know more about you."
Alena shook her head, "You seem like a decent guy."
"Better than decent" Sin told her, "Brick can vouch for me" he looked over his shoulder, "Right buddy?"
The large bear faunus nodded and raised his hand in a thumbs up.
"So why don't you talk that much?" Alena asked Brick.
Brick looked to Sin and then back to Alena, "Most of the time I don't have anything to say, so I remain silent."
"Now you want to talk about a nice guy" Sin said patting Brick's muscular arm, "This mountain of a man right here is one of the biggest softies you'll ever meet. Hands strong enough to crush rocks and Grimm alike yet gentle enough to cuddle a puppy. On top of it all he's my best mate, I love this guy."
"I suppose the two of you do seem really close" Alena said, "Then again you did tell us you both grew up in Mistral together."
Again Sin nodded, "Oh yeah, Brick and I have been together for years, I could not ask for a better friend, but I wouldn't mind adding the two of you to that list."
"I'd like that" Rhia smiled.
Sin looked up to Brick again, "What do you say big man?"
Brick nodded with a low grunt to which Sin grinned.
"Right, so" he looked back to the sisters, "Would the two of you like to join us for dinner? We haven't done that since that one day back at the Desert Mast."
"I'd like to" Rhia said before looking to her sister, "But Alena may not want to."
Alena sighed, "I will join you just watch yourself around my sister."
Sin bowed, "You will find me a proper gentleman. I always act properly in the presence of such lovely ladies."
Alena noted, "You seem more like a flirt than a gentleman."
"I can be both" Sin told her as he straightened himself, "Besides; I merely speak the truth that I see before me. The two of you are beautiful."
"Oh" Rhia muttered, "Well…thank you."
Alena shook her head, annoyed by Sin's comment.
"I only speak the truth" Sin said, "Now about dinner, my treat I still have some money left over."
The night gave way to morning and by Headmistress Eden's advice the students all rested until it was time for their initiation to begin. The students were gathered one again at the arena where the headmistress and two other staff members were waiting for them. Next to them were dozens of large duffle bags.
"I will warn you now" Professor Eden began as all of the first years were gathered, "What you are about to embark on is dangerous. There is a high chance many of you will return with serious wounds and there is a moderate chance some of you may die, but the life of a huntsman requires sacrifice at some point. If any of you wish to back out I will not think less of you."
She looked around at them, "Very well, I acknowledge and appreciate your determination. Your initiation is as followed. Each of you will come forward and take one of these bags each are filled with supplies needed for survival in the desert, but they are not complete sets. Some are just food and water while others are merely tents and sleeping bags. Once you have all taken a bag you will proceed to the rear of the academy where an airship and a number will be waiting for you, once you have all boarded you will be flowing out toward the border of the desert and you will jump from the ship in the order of the number you were given. From that point you will have until noon tomorrow to make your way to the spire in the center of the desert battling the harsh environment and any Grimm you encounter along the way. Once you reach the spire you will find a card, you will take one per person and return to the border of the desert. Along the way you are encouraged to team up with your fellow students should you encounter them. The supplies you will be given are the minimal required for a single person's survival, but as I said you will not have everything needed. When you team up with your fellow students you will have enough to survive as a unit, a team. I wish you all luck and hope that you will all return safely."
Sin wrapped his hand around his chin as the other students filed into lines to collect their duffle bags. The desert was basically the entire kingdom, so Professor Eden clearly meant only the part beyond the academy and the nearby town. Even though he had become accustomed to Vacuo's climate in his year of being there he was still unsure of his ability to survive alone.
"What are you thinking about?" Rhia asked him seeing the look in his eyes.
"Just being thankful they're dropping us in at night" he answered, "It'll be cooler, but once the sun rises different story."
Rhia nodded, "The spire she mentioned it's about twenty miles out. If I remember right it's a structure left from the war eighty years ago."
"They'll have to circle around as they drop us off" Alena told them, "If they just dropped us off while flying toward it, those with higher numbers would be closer. So they'll fly a perimeter around the area until we've all jumped."
"I wonder if we'll get lights or flares" Sin said falling into line with Brick and the two girls, "Since we're dropping in a night we'd be able to see where the others land or are we dropping in at night so it would be harder to see?"
"It wouldn't make since that way" Rhia said, "If they want to encourage teamwork then they would give us a method of finding others."
"But this is also a survival exercise" Alena noted, "Either way we will find out soon enough."
"They never said anything about how we team up" Rhia said, "Like if we have to stick with the first people we encounter or if we can try to survive until we find someone we have a preference to."
"Well I know who I would like to team up with given the choice" Sin said smirking at the fox faunus.
Rhia blushed again, "Would you not prefer to stick with your friend?"
Sin shrugged, "It would be a difficult choice, but I think in the end I would prefer you. For starters you're better to have a conversation with. You're also better looking."
Sin stumbled forward as Brick's massive hand pushed him.
He grinned at the bear faunus, "I love you buddy."
Reaching the arena floor each of them were handed a duffle bag and they followed the line of students to the airship waiting for them. As they boarded they were each given numbers, Rhia was 18, Alena was 29, Brick was 20 and Sin was 7. Once all the students were on board the airship took off and headed toward the desert.
"Attention students" Professor Eden's voice said from the ship's intercom, "There is one thing I forgot to mention. The first person you encounter will be your teammate for the next four years. Again I would like to wish you luck."
"Alright kids" the professor at the door of the airship said, "We're approaching the first drop zone. Line up in accordance with the number you were given and be ready. You'll be jumping from a decent altitude so don't forget to use your Aura when you land."
He opened the door and yelled, "Alright number one, go."
The first student jumped and another seventeen seconds the second followed by the third another seventeen seconds later. Three students per minute, Alena looked behind her there was fifty-two students total it would take about roughly eighteen minutes for all of them to jump. Looking ahead she saw her sister, her eyes were closed, Alena could tell Rhia was trying to steel her nerves for what was coming, it would be the first time in their lives they were away from each other, but Alena wasn't worried. No matter how far Rhia landed from her, she would find her.
"Number seven go" the teacher at the doors yelled.
"I'm not a fan of heights" Sin yelled before jumping.
Tucking his legs in and rolling as he landed Sin looked up following the airship's flashing lights. He could see the students as they jumped, but they were quickly lost in the darkness of the night sky. He heard the numbers given to Brick, Rhia and Alena they would jump long after him, but how far or long would it be until he found them. There was also the rule about being teamed with the first person he saw.
"I should hurry then" he said lifting the duffle bag and slinging it over his shoulders.
Tracking the flashing lights of the airship he began running after it, while it was miles ahead of him already he wasn't going to give up. Finding Brick was his first priority, while he would prefer Rhia to be on his team as well, he wouldn't feel right without his best friend with him. As he ran he heard a loud hiss followed by a shriek and he slid to a stop his shoes becoming buried in the sand.
A death stalker emerged from the sand as he ran by and swung its claws at him. Rolling to the side Sin avoided the attack and charged at the Grimm focusing his Aura into his fist. With a yell he demanded for the monster to die as he punched it in the center of its eye cluster his Aura exploding outward as he struck it fracturing the creature's carapace.
The death stalker shrieked as it backed away now weary of its prey. Making sure his duffle bag was secure Sin raised his fists in the stance of a boxer and waited for the Grimm to move first. The monster lunged forward sweeping with its pincers one after the other both of which Sin dodged as he jumped over them and landed in front of the creature's face and punched it again further damaging its carapace. The Grimm recoiled again backing away and curling its backside as it drove its stinger toward Sin only for him to grab onto it.
When the death stalker pulled its stinger from the sand Sin waited until he was above the monster before letting go of its tail and falling toward its damaged shell. Rearing his fist back he praised the laws of gravity as he landed fist first in the center of the Grimm his Aura once again exploding out at the moment of impact causing the beast to collapse to the ground, evaporating into a black mist a few seconds later.
"Never understood why they do that" he muttered to himself before turning to try and locate the airship.
He found it, but he had no way of knowing how many students had jumped while he was fighting the death stalker. Swearing he picked a direction and started running, praying he was right and cursing the Grimm that had distracted him. As he ran it dawned on him that he never checked what kind of supplies he had been given, not that he cared for him finding Brick was the most important thing at the moment, he would worry about his supplies later.