The armored convoy of the eleventh legion trudged onwards through the mountain pass. The sounds of ork weaponry and Imperial defenses grew with every moment they advanced up toward the shelter while gunners cautiously observed their surroundings for signs of ambush. Acheron simply watched through the connection feed linking his helm to Brother Raziel who swung his mounted combi bolter up toward the imposing edge of a cliff in case of ambush.
"Sergeant Eshmix take your bikers and scout the path ahead; I don't want any surprises." Captain Bolvar ordered over the company vox as Acheron heard the confirmation and the sounds of acceleration from the legion outriders speeding past his transport.
"He hasn't changed yet." Brother Hengried stated as he checked his bolter and power axe for any lasting battle damage.
"He has started the path, Arkhic, you can't expect his armor to become charred like yours right away" Acheron rebutted, gesturing to the marine's blackened armor with only some sections maintaining the white and gold of their legion. It was an ever-present reminder to the squad of what they were; the ones to bear the curse of fire. They didn't even begin as a single squad but were the remnants of many eleventh legion units wiped out during the Rangdan Xenosides and only lived thanks to the burning curse that flowed through them. Borith Mourne was the oldest of them and every inch of his armor left ashen with even the great hawk that the legion took as its emblem nearly faded away. He had gained the curse in the aftermath of the slaughter of Zera IV where he along with two hundred battle brothers from the second, fourth and fifth companies tried to buy time to evacuate the planet from the Rangdan onslaught; they had failed, and he was the sole survivor rescued after months of captivity where ten million imperial citizens had died or worse. It had left him as nothing more than an ever-silent berserker whose eyes had remained in a permanent crimson beneath the mask of his mk 3 armor as he maintained a vice grip on his great chain axe. They rest of them held similar tales from Brother Sammis Arturias who was a survivor of a pyrrhic victory to rescue Imperial citizens from one of the many strongholds the Rangdan had used to harvest the Imperial populace to brothers Syman and Astovian who were aboard the Blade of Terra when it was boarded by xenos raiders and desperately held it despite the loss many of the ship's crew. Meanwhile Bolvar received a transmission from the Vox.
"Bolvar, this is Dagon. We've cleared the third battery and have turned it on the Orks. Eighth company is deploying on our position; once we've secured, me and the fifth will join you at target Priorus."
"Understood, we are proceeding to target Priorus with little resistance, with luck the shelter will be secured by the time you arrive." Bolvar replied.
"Throne willing; I'll see you at target."
"Second be advised Ork stragglers are beginning to assault our position at the battery. We expect fiercer resistance in the next few hours; we'll hold them back as long as we can."
"I told you Damarchus! Fight well and don't get yourself killed." Bolvar ordered jovially.
"Hah you won't be rid of me that easily."
"Keep the main channel's clear, all of you! The Blade of Terra is entering the atmosphere to provide orbital support. The Dragon Guard are ready for redeployment at your word Bolvar." Legion master Solan replied.
"Understood Legion master, we will send word when ready." Bolvar started before cutting off the vox and Raziel began finishing his sweep of the cliff when a single faint sound carried on the wind that caught his ear as it steadily grew louder, and he kept training on the cliff edge as the sound of distant bolter fire rang out.
"Captain the Orks are moving on our position, and we are moving to engage." Bolvar shook his head at Eshmix's message.
"Pull back to us. Don't sacrifice yourselves needlessly. Lahmia have your rhino blockade the path and disembark all remaining squads and prepare for combat. Breacher squads Orbus and Valor set up a second defensive line.
Acheron and his squad quickly disembarked the transport as they prepared for combat and watched the breachers form a defensive wall with their shields and bolt guns which formed just as Eshmix and one other biker returned and swerved their bikes into makeshift barricades.
The Fire Cursed wasted no time and took out their own bolt guns while some marines climbed the rhino in order to gain a vantage point for their weapons as the Orks drew closer.
Acheron could see the crude weapons they carried, the savage gleam in their beady eyes. He could already imagine the satisfaction of tearing through their ranks to avenge the fallen dead in the crucible of war he was made for.
As the Orks shouted their battle cry of "Waaaggh!" in their charge the Space marines opened fired and killed dozens of orks in the tight confines of the canyon path in a barrage of explosive violence. Yet more kept coming barreling and tripping over the dead bodies of their hideous kin in a hateful effort to chop at the humie marines shooting at them and they were slowly edging closer.
"Now." Bolvar ordered as two more astartes atop the leading rhino aimed their Flammers down upon the horde and unleashed twin streams of promethium to burn the charging xenos to kill the momentum of their charge. Meanwhile the rest of the convoy had already disembarked and were entering formations for their own counter charge to break the back of the diminished ork advance.
Then just as the first of the orks reached the breacher squads and Bolvar shouted the order to engage, Acheron felt a shadow fall over him and looked up.
He shook off the surprise and fired into the air while shouting.
"Above us!" Orks were jumping off the cliff face above them in a suicidal frenzy to attack the legionares with some flying so high they overshot the convoy and continued to plummet down the mountain while others were pulverized when they hit the ground or by the impact of bolter shells mid fall. But some survived hitting solid ground or the unbreaking ceramite of astartes rhinos and power armor. While primitive rockets and projectiles flew from ramshackle Ork guns and tankbustas; most went wild but one slammed into a nearby rhino and sent it careening down the cliff edge.
One massive brute slammed into Acheron as the marine blasted apart two more with his bolt pistol and sending him tumbling to the ground with his superhuman senses regaining focus in the same instant the damn brute above him started pounding his helmet with his choppa before Acheron fired the bolt pistol still held tightly in his grip and burst its torso apart before shoving the body off him and getting to his feet.
The Fire Cursed gathered him in a defensive semi-circle and blasted the orks apart as they fell while the rest of the legion scattered to slay the orks who survived the landing dodge the falling xenos desperate to engage the eleventh legion in haphazard groups while Acheron saw the line of breacher's starting to break before the main horde that was charged against it.
"Fire Cursed with me!" He shouted and charged toward the breacher line while Bolvar slew three orks that rose to strike him while organizing the defense. The surviving orks were swarming and dividing the marine's ranks and making forming a defensive line difficult.
"Legion master I need arial support upon my coordinates."
"Understood. Assault squads Falcion and Wolcen support the Fire Cursed and cover the Breacher Squads. Orbus once relieved, turn around and cover your flank. All remaining units get out from underneath the ridge and form a killzone." Bolver shouted as he smashed the head of an ork nob and fired at another that was about to slay a downed marine.
Acheron and the Fire Cursed were already in the thick of it, carving their way forward to make space for the Breachers to reform with the help of their curse.
They fought like crazed phantoms chopping and tearing the limbs from xenos bodies in a frenzied display of violence and using their curse to burn any Ork that dared get too close. Acheron sliced through three of the greenskins with little efforts in a flurry of swift and precise blows while nearby Hengried had forgone his bolter and picked up the shield of a fallen breacher and held off the greenskins and protecting the body of bother Syman whose charred form lay still with a massive rent in his armor. Astovian and Sammis were fighting back-to-back with the latter missing an arm and had discarded his smashed helm and keeping the orks back while Astovian dueled a massive brute of a nob with his maul on top of a mound of burning ork bodies. Mourne meanwhile stood alone and farthest from the squad as he slew orks in droves. Any ork he didn't slay outright were burned by the smoking conflagrations of flames coating his armor. He bisected one, decapitated another and butchered two more before hacking away at a fifth with his massive chain axe. Sadly, however, it got stuck in the greenskin's mangled guts. He tried to wretch it free before another Ork charged at him with a few scattered shots from its improvised weapon that failed to penetrate his armor and then struck him with a crude blade. Mourne brought up his arm blocking the blow as it slammed into the ceramite and then proceeded to punch the ork in the face. His fire soaked fist breaking bone and Cartilage even as it left smoldering and burning skin in its wake. The punch sent the ork back and Mourne followed up with another punch and then another until its skull was pulped and crushed beneath his bloodied fists.
He went to retrieve his axe but another Ork came at him from behind and grappled him uncaring that it's flesh was starting to melt and bubble by sheer proximity, He made for the knife at his belt and tried to stab at his attacker only for another appear and smashed into his chest plate with a brutal parody of a chain axe that sent a spray of blood into the air and prepared to bring it down again in a killing blow.
The mutated abomination towered over his fallen body in the black depths of the Rangdan's slave pits. It held up a scythed limb of broken flesh and reknit bone with three learning human faces stitched together in a twitching, screaming mockery of humanity even as the nearby Rangda and their brutish leader cheered in hideous glee from above the pits Shadowblasters still aimed at his prone form even as the abomination above him threatened to end his misery. This is where it would end for him, and he welcomed it in the depths of his berserk fury and between the howling pain erupting from his torso until
Until a bang and a splash of vitae hit his face and ground him back as the Ork exploded in a hail of bolter rounds and Mourn stabbed into the eye of the Ork grappling him from behind. A group of astartes surrounded him as Acheron dragged him away from the melee and toward the apothecaries; much to his efforts to break free and rejoin the fight and grab his Axe.
Meanwhile the orks falling from the ridge were left in a kill box as astartes surrounded the impact zone and fired on any ork that surrounded the landing. There was no end to them, and they had to end this quickly before the Fire Born were overwhelmed but the literal tide of orks wouldn't stop falling. Then he heard the sound of howling engines as two Fire Raptors in eleventh legion colors descended on the ridge and fired onto the ledge above Bolvar's company and into the cascade of rushing orks.
The two birds swooped on the ledge, their bolt cannons blazing with fire, sending gouts of xenos flesh into the air as they decimated the horde and stalled them from further jumping down the ledge.
The company regrouped and Bolvar pushed them forward to regroup with the Fire Cursed and the assault squads that pushed up the pass. within an hour that last of the oncoming horde had either fled or died and Bolvar gathered his Sergeant for a council of war
"How many?" Bolvar asked.
"twenty by my count and at least a dozen more wounded but they will be fine after some time with the apothecaries." Acheron stated.
"Considering the Xenos' attempts to kill us it could have been worse." Bolvar stated,
"It will take another two hours at least to reach the pass. If the orks keep coming it will be a hard march up." Sergeant Daealus observed.
"Then we should get moving before they regroup, if we are to reach the shelter. Acheron, your fireborn will lead the charge with the assault squads." the Captain ordered.
"It would be my distinct pleasure brother captain. Though we should remain wary whatever warboss that led this rabble is still out there."
"We will rectify that before long. considering how things have been going I'd say we are doing a-Ork-ay" Crassus stated and the sergeants shared a collective groan at the honor guard's pun. That was bad even by their standards.
Remnant: Beacon Academy.
The Beacon Auditorium had been massively furnished for the events of initiation. By Yang's count roughly six hundred were seated within the Auditorium itself and at least two hundred more outside. They were mainly parents and sponsors whose children were lucky enough to survive the horrors of initiation. The students were situated near edges of the Auditorium with the students yet to be announced at the left most recesses and meant to move onto the right section of the auditorium once they were squared away.
"Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Sky Lark." Ozpin announced and Yang's eyes went crimson for a moment as the four proudly marched forward onto the stage; the fact that Cardin of all people wasn't washed out was a travesty.
"Have a little faith. We could be wrong about him." Ruby whispered.
"Do you really believe that?" Ruby said nothing for a moment before shrugging.
"... It could happen."
"I'll believe it when I see it. You see mom or dad?" Yang asked finally.
"I think row ten, eighth and ninth seat to the left. Can't be sure though." Ruby suggested as Ozpin announced the next team.
"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren. Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie." He shouted through the microphone and the Four assembled in front of him; with Jaune visibly nervous in Ruby's eyes.
"The Four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward you will work together as team JNPR; led by Jaune Arc." Ozpin finished as Nora hugged her partner in a burst of barely contained joy while Jaune stood gob smacked at the declaration as Pyrrha smiled and sent him a friendly jab on the shoulder.
"Congratulations young man." The elderly headmaster said.
"Huh, not bad for a kid who didn't even have his aura unlocked until a few days ago." Ruby whispered to her sister.
"Hey at least he isn't lacking guts. Not just anyone would be brave enough to enter a Grimm infested forest without only a sword and no aura." She whispered back as Ozpin announced the last four.
"Finally, we have Blake Belladonna, Weiss Schnee, Ruby Rose, and Yang Xiao Long." The headmaster announced and as they ascended onto the stage Yang looked and saw the distant forms of Summer and Tai sitting exactly where Ruby had said. She had to physically stop her eyes from going red at how close the Headmaster was. It was not time, not yet.
"The four of you have retrieved the White Knight Pieces. From this day forward you will work together as team RWBY led by Ruby Rose." The headmaster declared. Giving a momentary glance at Ruby which sent a chill down Yang's spine. As the cheers erupted, she went to hug her sister in a show of pride and congratulations and put herself between the two.
"I'm so proud of you." She shouted loudly. The others were less expressive. Blake rolled her eyes at the sibling affection while Weiss outwardly had her eyes wide and a hint of worry in her features that was so well hidden that only Ruby and Yang could notice it.
After their team was announced the students were let loose to visit their families and the two sisters separated from their team to find their parents.
"Ohh my Girls!" Summer shouted as she embraced her girls, she wore her old combat uniform from her days as a huntress including the white cloak to the high-neck décolletage blouse with studded wristbands on the arms. Tai dressed in a similar fashion in what was likely a freshly cleaned combat attire of a tan leather vest over a brown shirt and paints along with a metal spaulder, leather vambrace and a brown fingerless glove all on his right arm.
"It's good to see your face Ma!" Yang said before moving to hug her father.
"Uh It's good to see you Yang." Tai said hugging his eldest for the first time in weeks.
"You too. How's the hunt?" Yang asked.
"Took too damn long, they nearly had me assigned to another clearance mission when I got back your mother nearly gave me a heart attack." Tai exaggerated
"It was not that bad." Summer replied with a groan.
"You literally texted me. "Oz has the Kids. I'll explain when you're home." Tai quoted word for word. Ruby looked at their mother like she grew a second head while Yang gave a knowing smile.
"Well considering you keep letting the corps walk all over you and send you on long hunts constantly, how else was I supposed to get you home." Summer sardonically replied.
"MOM, you didn't have to freak dad out to get him to come home! Everything is fine, we're fine, Grimm are dead, we got awesome teammates. Everything is fine." Ruby rambled until Summer stopped her.
"We know little Rose. Still, we just want to make sure you are settling in alright, or you maybe have us all go on a long vacation. I hear Menagerie is great this time of year." Summer emphasized. Yang shook her head, picking up what her mother was saying.
"Nah, Let's does not have a vacation yet. The semester has just started. Besides I doubt the Teachers would excuse us to go off campus." Yang remarked noting the teachers and security personnel. Summer shrugged.
"I mean we could." Summer cryptically said and Yang took note of the bladed weapon hidden beneath her cloak.
"By the way, where is Qrow?" Ruby asked, trying to change the topic as Summer watched his namesake land on a nearby tree."
"Oh, you know him, he's around getting drunk." Tai Replied while a Raven joined the Crow on the tree and the bird gave a surprise squawk. The other bird quickly pecked him with its beak. Summer frowned at the display.
"Something wrong Ma?" Yang noticed a change in her mother's demeanor.
"Nah, just being here has me on edge. I really wished They'd let you off campus for a day so we could actually talk. Without being watched." Summer stated with great emphasis.
"To be fair it was like this when we were here." Tai pointed out. Summer shrugged as she looked around.
"I know, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. Yang nodded in understanding as Ruby took a look toward the mess hall.
"Hey, why don't we go and get some food. The cafeteria is open and who knows, the food might not be as bad as it was at Signal." Ruby suggested trying to lighten the mood.
"Ruby, that is a low bar, nothing was as bad as Signal's food." Yang replied with a smile.
"Good idea kiddo. let's get moving while the line's not long."
"Yeah sure. It's better than standing out here."
"Awesome... Raceyouthere." Rwby ranted suddenly before leaving her family in the dust with a burst of speed to the cafeteria.
Jaune picked at the food on his tray while the man sitting across from him calmly ate the vegetables on his tray. He was old with a balding head of gray hair and wrinkles and wore an old and outdated version of the Warrior's Own uniform which lacked the iconography of the current generation. He also had a cane resting on the space beside him.
"Not as good as Juniper's cooking, but it's not too bad." His grandfather remarked before looking at the still full plate in front of his grandson.
"Ready to talk about what's bothering you." Tiberius asked, pushing his tray to the side.
"Did I... Did I make a mistake coming here?" His grandfather gave him a kind smile.
"Was it a mistake?" Tiberius asked.
"I... I don't know. It wasn't what I expected."
"Of course, it wasn't. Life rarely meets our expectations, Jaune. Being a Huntsman isn't glamorous no matter what the shows and news tell you. You came here because you wanted to become a hunter; to help others. It's an admirable goal and I'm glad it's what you want to do. But it was never going to be easy or without your fair share of suffering." Tiberius said solemnly.
"I just feel so out of place here. I could barely hold my own out there at initiation. Brothers I'd be dead if not for Ruby."
"Rose? The Woman with the red cape?"
"Yeah."
"Interesting." Jaune frowned and gave his grandfather a questioning look.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nah. Word is she's going to be a rising star in your class. I'd stick close to her if I were you, try to strike up a friendship; that's honestly the best way to get out of your funk. Make some friends and you'll be settled before you know it. Hell, maybe get a Girlfriend."
"That's unlikely the girls here are out of my league."
"You don't give yourself enough credit." Tiberius stated as he saw a certain Red-haired beauty staring at his grandson from the distance.
"How's the family taking the news by the way." Jaune asked to change the subject.
"As you'd expect Juniper, and your sisters are worried sick; Saphron outright threatened to fly down here and drag you back home."
"And Grandma? I hope I didn't put you into too much hot water."
"Honestly, I'm glad you came to me when you did. If you didn't, you'd have had to fight through the field without a shield or a sword. As for Abigail, the old girl is a real Grimm when she wants to be, but I'll be fine." Tiberius brushed off Jaune's concern as they heard the cafeteria doors fly open and fast-moving red ball burst into the room in a shower of rose petals and sped through the cafeteria line in a haze before stopping at the vacant table next to jaune. which was now filled with four trays.
"Whoo. Think I overdid it." Ruby muttered as she bit into a strawberry. Tiberius blinked rapidly as he looked at the door which now sported a miniature trail of rose petals that was being cleaned up by an irate janitor who glared at the energetic reaper as she feasted on the sweet fruit.
"Uh, hey Ruby." Jaune remarked surprised. The red head turned to face him.
"Hmm? Oh, hey Jaune, how's it going?" She replied casually while the rest of the Rose and Xiao-Long household entered the cafeteria.
"Fine I'm… just catching up with my gramps." Jaune remarked.
"So, you're the famous Red Reaper. Jaune's talked up a storm about you." Tiberius interjected with a sly smile, causing Ruby to blush.
"Oh, really now?" Ruby said, scrutinizing Jaune with a grin which he shrank under.
"He's just exaggerating, really," Jaune said, feeling his face heat up as well. He couldn't believe his grandfather would say that.
"It's hardly an exaggeration, rumor has you as the cream of the crop after surviving that Grimm migration." Tiberius stated.
"Well, I didn't do it alone... gah!" Ruby started before she felt Yang's strong arms trap her in a choke hold as she ground her knuckles against Ruby's head repeatedly.
"That's what you get for leaving us in the dust with your super speed."
"Mercy mercy mercy! I got all your food for you, stoooop!" Ruby cried.
"That's enough Yang I think she learned her lesson, right?" Summer asked as she stared down at her youngest. Yang released Ruby from the chokehold, a mischievous grin still plastered on her face. Ruby rubbed her head, pouting.
"I did learn my lesson, promise." Ruby replied, shooting a glare at her older sister who stuck her tongue out in response as the rest of their family sat down and Summer eyed the two Arcs at the table beside them.
Jaune's heart raced as he felt Summer's gaze on them which sent a cold shiver down his spine as the Rose matriarch examined him.
"Care to introduce me to your friend Ruby?" Summer asked as ruby finished eating another strawberry and swallowed.
"Mom meet Jaune Arc we met at initiation; he's a bit... behind when it comes to fighting but has a good head on his shoulders... when he's not being an idiot." Ruby stated and Tiberius laughed at his grandson's expense.
"Sounds about right!"
"Arc? So, your?" Tai began to ask before the old man stopped him.
"The very same." Tiberius interjected warily.
"Though I haven't worn the uniform in years, it's changed a lot in that time. So has yours I imagine." Tiberius remarked which earned Summer and Tai's attention.
"Huntsmen don't wear standard uniforms." Summer reminded.
"Right of course. Sorry sometimes the mind goes a bit wonky at my age." Tiberius explained.
"So, what do you do nowadays? Are you two still in the core?"
"I am. Though Summer got out after we had Ruby." Tai explained, casually.
"Really? Don't miss the Huntsman's life?" Tiberius asked. Summer shrugged.
"I do but I couldn't go off on missions with two little girls to take care of. Though I am considering renewing my license now that they are out of the house. Maybe pick up the occasional odd job to relieve boredom" Summer explained.
"Well how fortunate. I actually am in the process of looking for a bodyguard for me and my wife."
"It's a bit overkill to hire a former huntsman as a bodyguard." Tai muttered.
"Yes, but Huntsman tends to have good moral character and great skill."
"Well, you won't find a better Huntsman than mom on that account. She drilled the Hunter's code into us since we could walk." Yang remarked.
"Why exactly do you need a bodyguard?" Summer asked.
We got a retired Huntsman on retainer after a break in a year ago but recently had loaned him out to a family friend some months ago. The loan is more long term than we'd like so we decided to find a replacement.
"Oh? Who is he? I might know him." Summer asked curiously.
"Oh, I doubt that. He's been out of the core for some years and his exit... well it left his opinion of the headmaster and the Vale Corps in bad shape."
"He sounds like a party." Tai observed as Summer gave the matter some thought.
"It would be nice to stay close to the girls... I'll think it over." Summer remarked.
"You know we can take care of ourselves, right?" Yang remarked.
"Yes, but I'm still going to worry." Summer started as the school intercom activated.
"Attention parents visiting hours to the academy will be ending within one hour please start making your way to the landing pad to be transported back to Vale City." The announcer stated in a monotone uncaring voice.
"Well, they sure know how to have fun. Tiberius Grumbled as the group finished their meal.
"Looks like we should get going, all the other parents are clearing out." Tai stated as he gathered the trays on the table.
"Yes, I suppose I should be going as well."
"We can walk you guys out." Ruby offered.
"Thanks, little Rose but we'll be fine. You should get yourself to your dorms. I'll call when we make it back to Patch. Promise me you'll keep a low profile?" Summer asked as she got off.
"Don't worry we won't cause much trouble." Ruby remarked.
"And I'll make sure she actually doesn't go overboard." Yang added much to Ruby's chagrin as Tai chuckled before the two parents and students went their separate ways.
The dorm rooms of Beacon were buzzing with activity as the students prepared for the first night as official students. The rooms themselves were expectedly spartan for a combat school with only four desks and four beds assigned in different corners of the room illuminated by a soft golden light. Blake was already in the room when the sisters arrived sitting on the bed and reading a novel. She turned as the two entered the room.
"Hey."
"Hey Blake, oh is that the Tower of the Witch Anthology?" Ruby asked excitedly.
"The one and only, it's all three books in one contained in a nice, limited-edition volume." Blake teased which caused the young Reaper's hands to twitch.
"Can I borrow it after you're done?" Ruby asked with a hopeful expression.
"Sure, but I expect it back in one piece." Blake replied with a smirk before turning her attention to Yang. "So, how was dinner with your parents?"
"Oh, same old, same old. How was yours?"
"Oh, they couldn't make it." Blake replied curtly as she focused on her book.
"What? they didn't show."
"We lived outside of Vale and the Grimm have been persistent, we just couldn't make it."
"That's too bad. Maybe they can come visit another time?" Yang offered.
"Yeah, maybe." Blake shrugged meanwhile Ruby had already taken the liberty of inspecting the room running her hand along the desks and bed stools.
"Where's Weiss by the way?" Ruby asked as she observed one of the desks already set up with a notebook and familiar snowflake emblem. Blake pointed to the bathroom with light showing beneath the doorframe.
"Believe it or not she got here first. I found her unpacking here and she seemed colder than usual." Blake explained not looking up from her novel.
"Well, she is a real Ice Queen." Yang muttered as Ruby held out something between two of her fingers. After giving her sister a moment to inspect the small round piece of metal she crushed it.
"Well, we should get unpacking ourselves. Not alot of space to work with." Ruby muttered.
"You think you could make us bunk beds?" Yang asked?
Blake looked up from her book and raised an eyebrow at Yang. "Are you serious?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
"Oh completely." Yang replied.
"Serious about what?" asked Weiss as she stepped out of the shower in her nightgown.
Yang turned to Weiss with a grin,
"Ruby's going to make us bunk beds!" Weiss blinked and then. scoffed.
"Yang it is too late to do that, and she doesn't even have the..." Weiss trailed off seeing Ruby already taking out her tool kit."
"You are not doing this! I don't even think you have all the parts, and I don't want to sleep on the floor Weiss exclaimed. Ruby scoffed.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing. Blake, you may want to move away from the bed." Ruby called out as Yang's partner rolled her eyes and stood next to Yang.
"I'll bet you fifty the Ice Queen has a meltdown." Blake stood still for a moment.
"I'll take that action." The two then shook on it as Weiss suddenly let out a surprised yelp as Ruby activated her Semblance and within moments their four separate beds were replaced by two separate bunk beds.
Weiss looked up at the newly constructed bunk beds with a mix of disbelief and awe. "How...how did you do that?" she asked, still in shock. Ruby grinned proudly, wiping her hands on her pants.
"Well, I don't just make weapons and ammunition. Since I could walk, I also have a talent for crafting and building things. I actually helped maintain the house back home.
"At least until she tried weaponing the actual house." Yang pointed out as she climbed up to the top bunk, testing out the sturdiness of the bed frame.
"Hey Home defense is a very serious issue." Ruby pointed out sternly.
"Hey, not bad! It doesn't even shake when I move around. Also, home defense is one thing, putting an automated flamethrower on our front door is another." Yang pointed out.
"Oh, by the brothers I've been paired up with two crazy people. Please tell me you're actually normal and not hiding some dark secret or something." Weiss cried to Blake.
The amber eyed teammate gave her a mischievous smile that made the heiress groan. It was going to be a long semester.
Ozpin frowned at the monitor screens on his desk as the cameras and audio recorders of team RWBY's dorm room went out in near unison during the young Rose's liberal use of her semblance. Still, he supposed it wasn't all bad, it confirmed it was likely there was something to hide. There was the possibility of there being nothing and simply the younger siblings watching over the older, though that was unlikely. He shut off the screen as he heard the flutter of wings through an open window.
Raven Brawnwen looked at him with enough sheer hate that one would have thought she was blessed by the hound. She was armed of course in her red and black armor and the grip on her blade Omen was tight enough that it could cause her hands to bleed if not for her gloves.
"We had a deal." She growled out like the snarl of Beowolf.
"And I have honored it." Ozpin remarked calmly, placing his hands openly on the desk.
"Bullshit, how dare you bring Yang here, you swore you'd leave her alone!"
"And I have not touched her Raven, She made her application and it went through the normal channels. I had nothing to do with her accepting it.
"Besides bringing Summer's kid into the mix." She spat.
"Ohh come now our bargain did not involve the young rose in the slightest. It does not break our agreement to investigate her. Though I am noting some similar…"
"Don't you fucking dare." Raven interrupted.
"Or what. You can't harm me, and you know it." Ozpin said with an icy chill to his voice as Raven's body tensed and she found herself crumpled to the floor in pain and grasping her hand the brand igniting to the point it imprinted on her glove."
"You forget who you're dealing with, Raven. It was you who approached me all those years ago and our bargain was made for my benefit. For the sake of your child don't break our agreement. Yang's unusual biology makes her a weapon of untold promise, if it were not for the fact you convinced me to this pact, I would have taken her long ago. It is only your usefulness to me that keeps me from dissolving this pact.
Raven gritted her teeth and struggled to stand up, her hand throbbing with pain. She glared at Ozpin, her eyes filled with fury and resentment.
"Now Raven, leave my office. I'll have another assignment for you in the morning." Ozpin ordered without room for debate and Raven didn't waste a second before transforming and running back into the night.
The forges of Beacon academy were large and industrious as befitted a Hunters academy of its renown. The smell and sound of iron and fire was in the very air as the forge light left it in a low illuminated space as across several forges members of the warriors own and veteran students alike worked diligently over their weapons and armor. Ruby felt herself right at home with the calming scent of metal as she and the rest of the first years were told to assemble in the entrance area of the forges as the Forge mistress inspected them. She was tall and dark skinned with raven hair and eyes the color of brown earth and a serpent's tattoo. Her attire was a simple but well-crafted leather vest and pants with long boots and her demeanor matched that of an experienced craftsman, a simple but well-crafted leather vest and pants and scanned each of them with a critical eye.
"I am Captain Euryale Lern of the Warrior's Own, and the academy's master of Arms and I will be responsible for ensuring your proper use of the forges." She started marching in front of the group.
"Now I don't demand much so I will make this simple. If you want to use the forges, you will respect them and the craft that goes into them. You will keep them clean and orderly, and you will not engage in any horseplay in or around them. If you fail to follow these rules, then I personally toss you into the forge furnaces and out the gene pool!" She shouted before moving in front of the assembled students. You will be required to be in this forge at this time twice a week of every week until the end of the semester at minimum to ensure the maintenance and operation of your weapons and perfecting this craft. You will also be given use of exotic and rare materials to work with and improve your craft and your weapon with this being said the forge is open most of the day except for Sundays for routine Maintenance so you can come in for additional times; in fact, I encourage it." She said bluntly before taking a breath for the students to process the information and took a glance at the young reaper.
"Now all of you should have known the basics of forging in the training academy's but on the off chance someone in your group has a bad memory we will be going through these procedures again over the next few weeks until you know them as gospel. Once that is done, you're on your own and the only thing I expect of you is to show up on time and to present schematics at the end of the semester for an improved version of your weapon." The captain locked eyes with Ruby for a moment before continuing onwards.
"Now do we have any questions?" She asked the assembled students in a sarcastic tone and raised an eyebrow when the young reaper raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss Rose?"
"Could we make our own ammunition?" Lern raised an eyebrow.
"There is no rule against it, but the school provides the ammunition from the best of Schnee Dust company stock; so, there isn't a point.
"Even if I could make better dust rounds?"
"Ruby..." Yang whispered clearly not enjoying the attention now focusing on her younger sibling as the students whispered at the claim. Lern for her part considered Ruby's question for a moment, studying the young reaper's determined expression. She could see the glint of ambition, no confidence in her eyes.
"I hope you're willing to back up that claim."
"I can if you like." Ohh, she liked this one. Lern took a glance at the student next to her.
"Miss Schnee, it's your family's honor on the line, you think your partner can outdo your family?" Weiss gave a narrowed glare at Ruby.
"I'm willing to give her a chance but I won't be surprised when her work proves inadequate."
"I'll make you eat those words Weiss." Ruby muttered and Lern smiled.
"Forge five is open Miss Rose. Three bullets fire dust rounds, I will supervise to ensure you don't hurt yourself. Grafford." Graff jumped at his name being called.
"Yes mam?"
"Go to the vaults three fire dust rounds from the top shelf and a pistol. Then show the rest of these brats the rest of the forge." She replied, making a three with her hands before Graff went to the vault to retrieve what was asked.
Lern followed the young student to the forge and supervised, never directly interfering with the process as the girl worked. She was good, once the protective gear was on, she worked with precision being careful with the metal selection, and the amount used in the bullet molds was precise and once the casts were made then came the hollowing out of the casing and the selection of dust. Her hand was steady as she checked the dust purity and filled the cores with fire dust with practiced ease. The final product came in the form of three bullets with steel tips and a core of fire dust ready to unleash flaming death on whoever it shot.
She took one from Ruby's hand and inspected it. The cast is well done, hardly as blemish and dust and the tips... armor piercing."
"Naturally." Ruby remarked. Lern nodded and then took one of the bullets Graff gave her from the armory. It was heavier near the back and the design had several distances.
"These openings have fire dust; some would say that's dangerous."
"Crystalized and in the front of the bullet. The propellant won't touch it and it's crystalized so it won't explode until it hits something with a bigger blast."
"Ohh really. Then I suppose we will have to see. I hope you don't mind an audience Lern stated.
"The more the merrier." Ruby stated by the end of the period the class then assembled in front of the forge's firing range. as Lern picked up a pistol and showed off the Ivory standard Schnee dust company bullet. She then loaded it and fired the dust round at a dummy.
The dummy exploded in a fiery burst, decimating it completely as Lern then loaded one of Ruby's creations. The class watched intently as Lern loaded one of Ruby's creations into the pistol. She took careful aim and fired at another dummy. The bullet struck with deadly accuracy, piercing through the dummy's armor and exploding with a fierce burst of flame utterly eviscerating it with a larger burst.
"Impressive. Alright miss Rose I guess you're not all talk. You can make ammunition here as long as the forge is open. Lern said, impressed with the quality of Ruby's work.
Ruby grinned as the bell rang and no sooner then she got out did Yang put a protective arm over her shoulder.
"What happened to lie low?" She whispered.
"Relax, it wasn't that bad."
"Ruby, you have to stop showing off or you'll get found out."
"Don't worry that was my only stunt for this semester I promise. I just wanted to make sure we had good ammo; I didn't think the mistress would call me out!" She exclaimed.
"Well now you're going to be the talk of the school and you kind of pissed off the ice queen. Ruby cringed.
"Yeah, I don't think she'll take the humiliation to her family's brand very well."
"No, she won't, so you should figure out how to fix it." Yang emphasized as they reached their next class.
Instead of the forges it was a classroom and Ruby saw Weiss avoiding her gaze on the opposite end of the lecture hall. On the chalkboard was sprawled "History of Remnant" The professor was a tall man in a white suit and dress pants and glasses and was currently drinking a cup of coffee.
Ruby took her seat at the back of the class as the professor cleared his throat.
"Greetings class I am professor Obleck and I will be your teacher for the History of Remnant. Now given that this is a new semester today we will simply be reviewing the broader strokes of the Great war era roughly four hundred years ago and in following classes we will expand upon certain areas of the great war but most of our efforts will cover the events of the Valeon Empire which came to end roughly eighty years ago. Now to begin with, which of you young scholars can tell me about the Great war itself." The professor spoke words in a massive, caffeinated tirade that made Ruby paused as he sped across the front of the room. Several students raised their hands.
"Yes, you miss Nikos.
"Well professor the Great War began when tensions rose between the alliance of Mistral and Mantle and the kingdom of Vale which had recently begun embracing the faith of the old Gods." Pyrrha started.
"Indeed. the old gods of Remnenti myth, truly a barbaric mythology to say the least. A faith worshiping the four deities of the Hound, Raven, Crow and Serpent. But what were the issues of the faith? Miss Schnee."
"Well, the faith was first practiced amongst rural communities and wandering Faunus tribes but after King Ozma adopted the faith barbaric practices such as human sacrifice, slavery and blood rituals were performed, amongst other atrocities. These practices are what caused the old faith to be mostly outlawed in the kingdoms though these rites are still practiced in certain fanatical sects such as the White Fang."
"Yes, truly terrible how the cult's influence could corrupt society to such a barbaric state. Let us move to the war proper, can someone name several causes for Vale's victory over Ministral and Mantal Alliance." Obeleck asked to take a break from his tirade to drink his coffee before in a flash he was in front of another student.
"Mr Arc!" he shouted, waking up the poor boy.
"AH, What? Binoculars?" He guessed much to everyone's amusement.
"No that is not it" Obeleck sighed. You Miss XIao Long.
"Vacuo joined mid war after also embracing the old gods." Yang replied bluntly.
"Ahh yes, Vacuo's support was indeed a boon to Vale's forces primarily due to their unexpected invasion of Mantle but what other causes led to Vale's victory? You miss Rose."
"Dirty tactics. Vale and Vacuo would often lure Grimm to engage the enemy before fighting themselves or utilizing plagues and fear tactics."
"Demoralization, indeed, we have heard many reports and tall tales such as priests of the old faith transforming men into twisted monstrosities of great power or summoning foul spirits. Thankfully we now know those are just tall tales. Now what about the end of the war, ah yes Arc want to try again." The professor asked as Jaune raised his hand nervously.
"Well, after Vale won the other nations surrendered King Ozma's authority and formed the empire and they spread the faith to the rest of Remnant.
The professor nodded; his eyes gleaming with interest as Jaune spoke. "Ah, yes. The empire's influence has spread far and wide, bringing with it the old faith and the power struggles that come with it. But there were still those who resist," he said, his tone turning ominous.
"The White Witch!" Ruby shouted excitedly.
"Yes, the legendary founder of the Huntsman who led the Rebellion against Ozma the third and helped set the groundwork to dismantle the Empire and broke the old faith. She will be an important topic later in the semester but for now let us go back to the Empire's foundation. Particularly in the spreading of the old faith." Obeleck began drawing on the board a representation of Remnant. As you can see when the Old Faith spread to the different kingdoms it did so due to the power of one of the churches growing power starting with the Cult of the Crow being forced out of Vale and Toward Mistral and the Rise of the Cult of the Raven in Vacuo. This also led to a rise in religious militant orders in these regions and a series of minor conflicts between minor cults that kept the regions weak and pacified under Vale's thumb. These warbands as they were noted also hunted down any who resisted the Old faith." Ruby felt herself growing uneasy as the professor went on drawing out the map and even drawing several of the faith's symbols for ease of reference.
She had the instant urge to burn the symbols off the chalkboard, those were wrong, and they shouldn't exist, she knew that in her gut. Still, she managed to keep it under control for the rest of the lecture and distracted herself by looking around the room. Yang didn't share her unease but ironically, she saw how Blake avoided looking at the profane symbols altogether, perhaps a kindred spirit?
She brushed the thought aside and focused back on the lecture until the bell rang.
"Ah it seems we are out of time. now next class we will start the lessons proper with a more in-depth view of the Valien Empire until then be sure to keep with the readings." Obeleck stated as the students started filling out.
Authors Note: Hey all here is the next chapter of the Forgotten Gods, and the wait was not nearly as long thankfully. So, a few things, first I got a new Beta reader and thank you darksidersfollower97 for beta reading this it helps allot to get feedback when I work. I am happy to report I am in the last stretch of collage. Just two semesters left and then I'm free so I will hopefully have more time to write. (Knock on wood)
I actually had allot of fun with this one particularly with the battle of raining orks and yeah, I know I'm going to be paying for pun, but it was worth it. As for Obeleck's section
I've been waiting to introduce some of the background lore for a while and I'm glad to get some of it out.
As always, this story is still going, please leave of what you think, and I'll try to respond when able. Until then I hope you all had a great day.