A/N.
Starting as of this chapter I'll be responding to specific questions/reviews you guys have from the reviews. Mostly as a way to connect with you guys but also clear the air on certain things! Without spoiling the story, of course. I won't be responding to outright bashing or flames, though... for obvious reasons. lol. I'll take criticism and advice at face value and try to do better, though.
I won't be able to respond to every question, as I don't wanna clog half the chapter with them. So let's start off!
DarkDragon472: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the story. Yeah, Gwain Saga was the main inspiration for Sirius' character and the plot for Unknown Hunter. That and my love for RWBY!
Dreadix: I don't want the pairings to be completely set in stone in case I end up changing my mind. I'm indecisive like that. lol. But Ruby is a prime candidate as a love interest for Sirius! The thought of a harem has crossed my mind, but I know that harems tend to be the bane of most OC fics. For VARIOUS reasons that we are aware of.
If I were to do a harem, I'd have to play it very carefully or at the very least, keep the harem small and make each relationship actually believable. I intend to flesh out character dynamics and relationships regardless with their time at Beacon in between major plot points and stuff.
So! This goes for you and the rest of the readers. Would you like to see Sirius in a harem? If the answers are positive, I'll do it! The max harem number may be 3 or 4, though, and nothing beyond that. And if I do do it, who would you guys suggest be part of it?
On the topic of Sirius not being able to use aura, that's going to be revealed in this chapter. But I can say that no, Sirius is no Grimm hybrid. He's completely human. But his biology has been altered upon arriving on Remnant.
Batthan the Dark Knight: Snrk. Considering how noodly Weiss' arms are, she'd probably fail trying to strangle you and sooner freeze you in ice.
Chapter 3: Student Life
The moment his body hit the floor, she panicked. She was back with her group in seconds and they cluttered around him in seconds. His breaths were labored and faint. She dropped to her knees and shook him, trying desperately to rouse him awake.
"Sirius! Sirius, wake up!"
Blake crouched next to her and checked his pulse. Her eyes narrowed deeply. "He's alive. His pulse is getting fainter, though, we have to hurry."
"Then what are we waiting for?! Let's get a move on already!" Weiss stomped her dashed off.
"This went to 0 to 100 real fucking quick..." Yang muttered, running a hand through her hair before picking Sirius up in her arms and hurrying after Weiss. "Hang on, Shorty. We got ya."
She watched her sister and partner leave, biting the inside of her cheek nervously. She felt her heart hammer against her ribcage again, threatening to burst out her chest. She was scared that he was going to die. She didn't know why she was so scared... she hadn't known him for that long. But, when she looked at him, she thought of...
She flinched slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder, glancing up to meet Blake's eyes, the raven-haired girl gave her a reassuring squeeze. "He'll be alright. We'll make sure of it. Let's go."
She nodded her head numbly and watched as Blake too, left. She stood there alone, in silence, stewing in her fear, before squashing it and rushing after them.
He'll be okay. He had to be.
...
"I can't believe we're sharing our room with a boy!"
Ruby was snapped out of her daze by her partner venting out her frustration. The silver eyed girl blinked, having taken a seat on her top bunk. If it can even be called that. After Sirius was escorted to the infirmary by Beacon staff, she and her friends were to go to the ceremony for the teams and their leaders to be announced. Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha formed Team JNPR, with Jaune as the leader. Ruby herself, Weiss, Blake, and Yang formed Team RWBY... led by Ruby.
That totally isn't going to get confusing. Ruby thought to herself in mild amusement. She didn't understand why she was chosen as leader when there were others more qualified. Like Weiss or Yang.
... Okay, maybe not Yang.
Regardless, afterwards, they had clocked in for the night before beginning their first day at Beacon the next day, where they settled in, unpacked, and made bunk beds. It was both boring and exciting. Boring because homework, exciting because it was the next step in her chapter of becoming a huntress! It wasn't without it's ups and downs, though.
The first day went off on a rocky start. Weiss wasn't happy about Ruby taking the leadership role. Maybe it was because she was goofy off in class, Ruby could understand that. But who in their right mind would actually take lessons from Professor Port seriously? She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed by any means, but even she could realize that his stories were practically useless in the grand scheme of things! He droned on about his stories more than he taught his lessons!
Weiss' words stung though, and left a sees of doubt in Ruby. Was she not fit to be leader? Did Ozpin make a mistake? She didn't know. It was the first day, after all. She didn't have a chance to prove herself yet... but she wanted to prove herself to Weiss. Prove that she could be a great leader. To be a hero! So that nobody would get hurt.
So that she could save everyone.
They patched things up as best they could the following night. But Ruby could tell things were still rocky. At the very least, Weiss as trying her best to be a supportive teammate and be kinder. She'd still snap at her for lazing about, but it was mostly to set Ruby straight. Kind of like a strict teacher. That she could appreciate.
"Chillax, Weisscream! It's only for a day." Yang snickered at Weiss' attitude, hanging off her bed and sending the heiress an amused grin. "You can't seriously think Shorty is a big ol' perv, do ya? Doesn't seem like the type."
"Tch. You never know, Xiao-Long." Weiss grumbled, her brow twitching before she suddenly snapping. "And I told you to stop calling me that!"
"Whatever you say, Ice Queen!"
"And stop calling me that, too!"
"One's true colors are revealed at the most unsuspecting times." Blake chimed in, flipping a page in her book. "He could be waiting for the right opportune time to strike and ravish us in the dead of night."
Ruby, Weiss, and Yang stared at Blake in a mixture of confusion, disgust, and amusement. The raven haired girl glanced up from her book and shot them a look of lax confusion.
"... What?"
"Didn't know you could have such depraved thoughts, Blake!"
".. Just a passing thought."
"It's still uncouth! How could you say such a thing?"
"You're blushing, though."
"Oh~ Weisscream wants to be ravished, huuuh~?"
"S-SHUT IT! THE BOTH OF YOU!"
Ruby giggled and shook her head, grinning. "C'mon, guys. Sirius isn't like that! Talking behind his back? Not very nice.."
"Heh, sorry, Rubes."
"Right."
"Hmph."
"Still though..." Ruby hummed, tilting her head to the side. "Other worlds..."
The girls quieted down at that as the thought came to mind. They wanted to check up on Sirius and see if he had woken up. Lo and behold, he did, and was talking with Headmaster Ozpin. Ruby didn't want to interrupt, but she couldn't help but be nosy. Weiss said they should have came back another time, but Ruby didn't listen, and neither did Blake or Yang. Curiosity killed the cat. And the found out Sirius was from another world entirely separate from Remnant.
It was hard to believe, they hadn't even been able to accomplish space travel, and find evidence of the existence of aliens, and yet, here one was, taking a shower in their dorm. It was odd though, when Sirius himself explained it to them, he said he was human. From a world called Earth. But they were humans. From Remnant.
Did that mean there were more humans out there in the universe? Were they normal and mundane, like Sirius, or did they have special powers, like them?
"I still find it very difficult to believe that he's... an alien." Weiss scoffed with a roll of her eyes, crossing her arms.
"The facts do align. He didn't give off the air of a warrior, no idea how he ended up in Emerald Forest. And he didn't know what aura was, nor what Grimm were. And that's relatively common knowledge, even for someone outside of the kingdoms." Blake shrugged her shoulders. Flipping another page. "The photos and... 'phone', don't lie, either. I will admit though, a world without Grimm or aura is..."
"Fantastical, right?" Yang nodded in agreement, sitting up and criss-crossing her legs. "Sounds nice... peaceful, too."
All the girls let out mutual hums of agreement. Ruby pumped her fists with a smile. "Well, alien or not, Sirius is our friend now. And as team leader, I officially announce operation: Make Sirius Feel at Home and Welcome to Remnant, is a GO! BONZAI!"
Yang and Blake thrusted their fists into the air. "BONZAI!"
They looked towards Weiss and the girl stared at them incredulously. Eventually, she groaned and half-heartedly threw a fist into the air.
"Bonzai..."
A shriek of horror halted any further musings from the girls as they hopped to her feet and looked towards the bathroom door. Ruby rushed up and began banging on it in a panic. "Sirius! Are you okay?! Did you hurt yourself?! Was it a spider?!"
"MY HAIR IS WHITE!"
. . .
Team RWBY sweat-dropped as the tension left their bodies. Weiss facepalmed and Blake let out an exasperated sigh, and Yang snickered to herself. The blonde blinked snd abruptly thumped her fist against her hand.
"Oh, yeaaaaah. His hair was brown in those photos, huh? Weird."
[HUNTER]
"It's not that bad, Sirius..."
"Whyyyyyyy...? How did this happen?!"
"I don't understand the issue. What's wrong with white hair?!"
Team RWBY one Sirius Caelan walked through the halls of Beacon Academy. The white-haired boy was clearly distressed and making it the girl's problem. Weiss seemed agitated by his behavior, sending him a scrutinizing gaze.
"I look like an old GRANDPA!"
Weiss let out an offended gasp. "I--you! THE NERVE! White hair does not equate to old age!"
"Eh, I dunno, Weiss." Yang snickered, folding her arms behind her head as she walked at a leisurely pace. "Last I checked, you're old when you get grey hairs! You sure you aren't 1,000 years old?"
Weiss shot Yang a withering glare. "One more word out of you and I'm freezing you to the wall."
Yang grinned. "Chill, out, Weiss. No need to be so ice cold with me! I may get frostbite if you keep looking at me like that!"
Each ice related pun continued to wane on Weiss' withering patience. She looked about ready to snap until Blake spoke up. "I think that's enough, Yang. Your puns are grating on the nerves."
"Thank you!"
"Though if Weiss was thousands of years old, I wouldn't be surprised."
"BLAKE?!"
The group burst out laughing at Weiss' expense, causing the girl to flush in embarrassment and indignation with a scowl. She stomped her foot with a growl and grumbled under her breath. Meanwhile, Yang sidled up to Sirius and threw an arm over his shoulder.
"Ay, keep your chin up, Shorty! Having white hair isn't the end of the world. You just gotta Yang in there!" Her pun caused her teammates to groan, but the blonde remained undeterred. "And if it's just between you and me? You totally rock the look."
Sirius let out a sigh, nodding his head and sending Yang a grateful smile. "Guess you're right... thanks, Yang."
"No problem, Shorty!"
"I'm not that short!"
"Annnnd, we're here!" Ruby beamed and pushed the doors to the cafeteria open with a flourish, spreading her arms wide. "This is the cafeteria! Here all the students gather to have lunch before heading to their next classes."
"She's really leaning into the tour guide shtick," Yang whispered to Weiss and Blake with amusement, the monochrome pair nodding in agreement.
Sirius' eyes widened in awe as he looked around. "Woah... there's, a lot more people here than I expected."
"We're still getting used to it ourselves." Weiss nodded her head as she stepped inside. "But like Ruby said. All students gather here. From 1st Years to 4th Years."
"Everyone seems to stick to their own clique or teams, though." Yang surmised, shrugging her shoulders.
"GUYS! OVER HERE!"
They shifted their gaze over to a table in the far back of the cafeteria, where Team JNPR sat. Nora waving them over enthusiastically with a large smile. Team RWBY snickered to themselves and walked over, with Ruby tugging Sirius along by the sleeve.
"Hey, guys." Jaune greeted with a smile, before spotting Sirius. He blinked. "Oh! You're... Sirius, right? The--"
"THE GUY THAT RODE THE GIANT NEVERMORE!" Nora exploded with a cheery grin, leaning forward eagerly. Her bouncy nature did wonders for her assets, and Sirius felt himself stumbling back in surprise and averting her gaze.
"Uh... hi?" Sirius sheepishly grinned. He glanced at Ruby. "... 'Guy that rode the Nevermore'...?"
"The initiation was recorded and broadcasted throughout the school." Ruby shrugged her shoulders and took a seat near Ren, who nodded to them all in greeting.
"Built up quite the reputation, Shorty. Well, we all kinda did." Yang shrugged, plopping down next to Pyrrha and sending a group of boys that were staring at them a wink. "We're making waves and it's only been a couple of days~"
"Right." Sirus sat next to Jaune, while Weiss took a seat near Ruby, and Blake near Nora.
Jaune waved at Weiss and put on his best charming grin. "Hey, Snow Ang-"
"Don't."
The blonde groaned and slumped in his seat instantly, causing the group to chuckle at his failed attempt at flirting with the heiress. Pyrrha smiled sheepishly and pat him on the back.
"So!" Ruby clapped her hands together with a grin. "Guys, I know you haven't formally met yet, so it's time for introductions! Sirius, this is Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha. They make up Team JNPR."
"Hello!" Pyrrha waved with a charismatic grin.
"HIYA!" Nora beamed, cupping her face in her hands and swaying from side to side in her seat.
"Hey..." Jaune mumbled with a haphazard wave, face still planted against the table.
Ren gave Sirius a silent nod.
"And guys, this is Sirius! Beacon's recent addition!"
"It's awesome to meet you all." Sirius waved, grin both excited and nervous as he looked around. "So, uh... I'm kinda new to this whole thing. What exactly can I expect to be getting into?"
"Well, if what Ruby said is to be true and you are a new addition to the student roster, you should be given a schedule." Pyrrha helpfully supplied, digging into a salad while idly conversing. "At Beacon, we'll be attending various classes to better prepare ourselves for our future occupation as Huntsman and Huntresses. The classes range from History, Dust Application, Aura and Semblance Application, Combat Training, and many more."
"Alongside that is the average educational courses and classes you'd normally attend in school." Weiss hummed, filing her nails.
That made Sirius dawn an incredulous look. "... We're training at a highschool filled with super-powered teenagers, taking on an occupation to become heroes to save the world, and we have to attend boring everyday classes?"
"That's what I said!" Ruby and Jaune exclaimed in sync.
That made Weiss scoff. Pyrrha shook her head with a patient smile. "While fighting is what we're preparing for, your mind must be as strong as your body, if you want to be a successful Hunter."
"Spoken like a true sage, Pyrrha." Yang quipped with a smirk, causing the spartan to flush.
"W-Well, it's true!"
"I guess that makes sense." Sirius groaned, slumping his head against his arms. "Ugh... this is gonna suck. I was never good at math tests!"
"I could tell that much from first glance."
...
"... Now that's just foul Weisscream."
[HUNTER]
Sirius set down a stack of books on a table and took a seat. After lunch period, RWBY and JNPR had to attend their next class. But since Sirius hadn't been given his credentials, schedule, and student ID, he wouldn't have to attend class until then. So he opted to hit the library instead and dig up some knowledge on the world he was currently stuck in... who knows how long he was going to be here.
"Let's see..." Sirius murmured, taking one book out of the stack, a dark blue book with the title Dust for Dummies, labeled in bright gold. He hummed and began to skim through the pages.
"Dust. A mysterious resource that holds the forces of nature in crystallized form. The definitive origins of Dust have been lost to the sands of time, but what is known is that it is a powerful, hardened source of raw energy resting underneath the planet's surface. Dust comes in various different elements and types, and to this day, new types of Dust are being discovered and created. Dust, alongside Aura, is one of the primary uses of defense the Huntsman use to combat the Grimm."
Sirius let out a quiet whistle, grinning softly. "Man, that's so cool... the applications of Dust could be endless." He shook his head, and glanced up in thought. "... Doesn't Weiss use Dust? She was summoning ice and fire and stuff... and then there's those magic circles she made."
Thoughts for later. Sirius skimmed through the rest of the pages. Most of it detailed things like what to do and not to do with Dust, the finer applications of the art, and the skill of Dust Manipulation. Apparently, to manipulate Dust, one must have a clear understanding and control of their own aura and the Dust they operate with, as aura acts as a natural conduit and trigger for the material. Those who's fighting style revolve around the use of Dust Manipulation are labeled 'Spellcaster', or the 'Catalyst Type'.
Weiss must be a Catalyst Type fighter, then. Sirius hummed, setting the book off to the side and grabbing another. The next book was a red one with the title: Guide to Aura and Semblances. He immediately flipped the book open and began to read.
"Aura is regarded as the 'Light of One's Soul', a physical manifestation of someone's very being. Aura lives within every living being, be it humans or faunus, to even wild animals. But they do not exist in Grimm, as they do not possess a soul. This source of power naturally strengthens humans and faunus, keeping them in peak condition. Though it is always locked... shackled. Through centuries of training and experimentation, the power of aura could be brought out, effectively making one a 'superhuman'. This phenomenon is regarded as 'Unshackling'."
Sirius hummed in intrigue, flipping to the next page.
"If Aura is the light of one's soul, then Semblances are the manifestation of it. In layman's terms, Semblance can be considered 'superpowers' that are innately unique to each individual and their respective families. Semblances were always born with the user, but require extensive training or triggers to unlock them. The abilities granted can vary, from super-speed to strength, granting one the ability cling to walls or generate gusts of wind, to absorbing kinetic energy to boost their own parameters."
"That must've been what Ruby's speed and those weird magic circles Weiss used were..." Sirius' eyes widened. "Their Semblance..."
He was awed by it. The sheer variety and versatility made him want to dig deeper and research it extensively, but an issue arose that knocked the wind out of his sails.
"Why don't I have an aura...?" Sirius frowned. "I'm human, and I have a soul. I wouldn't be alive other wise, but Professor Peach and Ozpin said I didn't have one. Or at the very least, it couldn't be unlocked..."
He chewed the inside of his cheek lightly; tapping the table carefully. He didn't know the full extent of his strength, and didn't want to accidentally break anything. That begged the question, though. Where did his abilities come from, if not from aura or a Semblance?
Sirius' brows furrowed in thought. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat. "I have a soul, but I don't have an aura that can be unlocked... so what makes me different from everyone else?" He sat there in silence as he contemplated that very question. He seemed to be drawing blanks... but then his eyes slowly widened as one thought came to mind. "... Wait. I'm on another planet."
"Earth and Remnant are completely two separate planets... they may have humans, but they clearly went through far different events and experiences. They evolved differently... the humans here are far stronger and more physically capable than Earth's... a result of their gravity being lighter or heavier, maybe? Like in Dragon Ball..." Sirius hummed, grinning softly as he tapped his chin and nodded to himself. "The shift in gravity must've altered my biology in someway. Maybe whatever teleported me here had something to do with it, too..."
The boy looked down at the books he hadn't read or finished yet, smiling. "So I may not have aura, but I'm still effectively superhuman. That makes it easier to blend in, at least." He sweat-dropped. "If only I knew how to actually fight."
Sirius shook his head. Thoughts for later. For now, he'd just take the time to relax and read. He needed to get as much knowledge as possible before tomorrow. That'd be his first official day at Beacon, after all. And he didn't want to look stupid and out of place. He nodded to himself with a determined grin. Gotta make a good first impression!
He grabbed the next book and started reading.
[HUNTER]
Sirius let out a jaw-popping yawn as he made his way back to Team RWBY's dorm. He'd spent much longer in the library than he'd anticipated. It had been nightfall and soon to be curfew by the time he'd finally left. He rubbed at his eyes instinctively as he reached their door and grabbed the knob.
Twisting it successfully, he let out a sigh of relief. They left it unlocked for me... thank God. He smiled tiredly and slowly pushed it open. The door creaked softly as he stepped inside, and closed it gently.
The room was dark, with the only light illuminating the room being the moonlight beaming through the open window. He could hear their soft breaths and snores, so they were asleep. He sighed quietly and went to take his hoodie off...
"You're back."
Sirius resisted the urge to scream like a pansy, practically jumping ten feet in the air as he whirled around, searching for the voice. He soon came eye to eye with two glowing molten golden eyes. Almost catlike. He instantly knew it was Blake, and his racing heart slowly calmed down.
"Oh... it's just you, Blake..." Sirius sighed in relief.
"Who else would it be," Blake drawled, raising a brow.
Sirius shrugged his shoulders uselessly. He gave the girl a closer look and noticed the droplets of water that matted her hair down. So she must've just gotten out of the shower. Luckily, he was spared from mortification, as she was dressed in a simple black yukata. She dried her hair off with a towel as she made her way to her bed.
"You were gone nearly all day after lunch."
"Oh--I was at the library reading... sorry. Did I worry you guys..?"
"You certainly worried Ruby. She was fretting like a mother would their own child."
That made the two chuckle quietly as their gaze drifted over to the sleeping form of Ruby, falling into a comfortable silence. Eventually, Blake climbed onto her bed and pointed down at a makeshift bed comprised of pillows and blankets stationed in the middle of the floor in between their bunkbeds. "We made that for you."
Sirius' eyes widened. "W-Woah... you guys didn't have to do that. I could have slept on the floor..."
"Ruby insisted. And, she's the leader." Blake shrugged, tone laced with faint amusement as she tucked herself in. "She considers you a friend, even if she hasn't known you for long."
"And what about you?" Sirius asked, his mouth moving faster than his brain. He immediately tried back tracking. "I-I mean...! uh, er, well, are we-"
"I understand what you're trying to say." He could hear the smirk in her voice. Blake gazed off into space, humming. "... I don't know if I'd consider us friends."
Sirius couldn't help but deflate slightly, but paused once Blake looked his way with a small smile that caused his breath to hitch. The moonlight illuminating the room, combined with a midnight black hair, smooth, pale skin, and bright golden eyes led to a mesmerizing sight that took his breath away.
"But, I believe we can become friends, given time."
"... I'd like that."
"Me too. Goodnight, Sirius."
"G'night, Blake."
Sirius rested against his temporary bed and let out a sigh. As Blake drifted off to sleep, Sirius soon began to follow. And as he laid there, a small, creeping thought crawled it's way up to the forefront of his mind, causing his eyes to snap open in horror and for him to break out into an uncomfortable sweat.
I'm in a room full of GIRLS!
Poor Sirius, always panicking over the little things.
So yeah, this chapter among others to come is mostly slice of life. Mostly used as a way for world building, lore, and character interaction before the big plot threads!
This is the start of many, as Sirius slowly begins to adjust to his new life on Remnant, makes new friends, enemies, and maybe... even lovers~ but only time will tell.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter though, even if it wasn't as action packed as the first portion of Chapter 2. And I especially hope you enjoyed my thoughts and headcanons sneaking into things such as Dust, Aura, and Semblances. We all know that RWBY's power system is kinda... all over the place with not much being explained in-universe. And if they are, it's either not much, rehashed stuff, or makes us question even MORE stuff.
I'm not saying I'm gonna fix the system, I doubt I could do that without it going full blown AU territory, which isn't the story I wanna exactly tell. While the story will follow canon, I wanna try expanding on Remnant's world, throw my own take on it, and even have original arcs in between if I can find a way to squeeze them in. Bear with me, though. I ain't no professional writer, I'm a novice at best, but I do hope that I made the system easy to digest and understand, while also giving a good/reasonable explanation on Sirius' circumstances.
I've talked long enough, and as I'm writing this, I've already started Chapter 4. So! I hope you all enjoyed! Got questions? Leave it in the reviews! Annnnd, I'll see you all next time!