Chapter 4

Ruby stood on the deck of the ship and watched as she was getting further and further away from her home island. She couldn't say she was sad for leaving the Signal behind, but she was worried about getting further away from home than ever in her life. Before leaving she had sent her father a letter where she explained that she had been chosen on a special project, which demanded her to travel to the mainland. She sighed.

"Having second thoughts, Miss Rose?"Constantine asked. He was wearing a green suit and brown bowler hat.

"No, I just… don't want my Dad to worry, my sister is already gone and I worry about him…"

"I see. Is he an overprotective-type?" Constantine asked with a smile

"He can be… ever since my Mom…" Ruby paused but brushed the thought out and continued. "He has lost a lotta people, so I'm scared he might do something brash because I left…"

Constantine nodded and looked at the waters below them.

"You mentioned a sister. What was she like? And do you have other siblings?

"She was the best, always reading me stories of Heros when I was younger, she did anything for me… In a way she was a parent when Dad wasn't around…" Ruby reminisced on old times, feeling slightly melancholy as she wondered where her Big Sister was.

"Well. Maybe we will meet her once your training has been completed. I know it ain't easy when siblings disappear from our lives without a trace", Constantine said and gently patted Ruby's left hand.

"Yeah, I know I'll see her again one day." Ruby smiled.

"That's the spirit",Constantine said. "Let's take our stuff into our cabin",he said and picked up his suitcase.

Nodding her head, Ruby grabbed her bag and followed closely behind, navigating the ship's passages. After a short search they find the correct door and get in. Room was very small with one bed on each side separated by a thin wooden wall.

"Not a five star hotel, but it will do for one night" Constantine said taking the right side bed.

Next morning Ruby and Constantine landed on the mainland and took a train to get closer to their destination. After four hours of sitting on hard wooden seats, they got off their train in a small village station.

"We need to take a carriage to get to the estate", Constantine said as he eyed the small map Ozpin had given them before they left.

"So what is this instructor like?"

"Well, I haven't met the guy since my first mentor was someone else, but from what I have heard, he is a former soldier and lives by farming and hunting. He also keeps dogs. He is said to be the best sniper in four kingdoms"

"Best in Four Kingdoms, wow… he must be really talented…" Ruby voice to herself, wondering what it would be like to train under someone who is considered the best in their field, trying to imagine what he would look like while Constantine went to ask from the station workers where they might catch a ride. They were pointed towards a post office, which had stables next to it. Constantine thanked the workers and returned to Ruby.

"Let's go see if we can get a ride from post carriage"

Nodding along, Ruby followed along, taking in the area. She had not traveled this far within her life and it was strange how different things seemed, even if only a little.

As they got to the door of the office, its door opened and a short man, little taller than Ruby herself walked out. His left cheek was deformed and had scars on it. He was wearing a brown jacket, pants and dark brown leather boots.

"Oh, pardon me young ones", the man said with a friendly smile. Man had an open letter on his hand and he then stopped to look at the duo and then back to his letter.

"You youngsters wouldn't happen to be and ?",the man asked with a very thick accent that Ruby had only heard Constantine slip a few times in his speech.

"Yes. We would",Constantine said.

"Very well. I am Simo Halayha. Welcome, "the man said, offering his hand to Constantine.

Constantine was a little surprised but took the hand and they shook. Man then turned to Ruby and offered his hand to her too.

Gently taking his hand, Ruby bowed her head slightly to him. "Nice to meet you sir, I'm Ruby Rose… Thank you for having us here."

Simo smiled. "Pleasure is all mine. You're not the first to be sent to me for training", he said as they let go of each other's hand.

"Follow me. We will use my carriage to get to the mansion" Simo said and lead them towards the edge of the town. Two youngsters followed him. Town had mostly buildings made of wood, and each building, with few exceptions, had just one floor. Buildings looked like they had been pulled from an Western fronts. Some, like the railway station and few shops they passed, had false fronts that hid their roofs. They could also see a few barns at the edge of town where Simo's carriage was waiting. Carriage was open and the driver's seat was wide enough for two. There were few sacks and wooden boxes on the platform.

"I was getting some supplies before going to get the mail",Simo said as from the platform a dog's head popped up. It looked at Ruby and Constantine with its dark brown eyes.

"Is that dog yours sir?" Constantine asked as they got closer. Dog growled little

"It is," Simo said and petted the dog. "There, there old buddy. These kids are okay. They'll be staying with us for some time", he said and ruffled the head of the dog. Dog had pointy ears and an arching fluffy tail. Its fur was light brown from top and white from the belly. Dog leaned closer to Ruby to sniff her, "Hello there." Ruby smiled, waiting for the dog to accept her so she may pet them.

Dog took a few sniffs at her and then licked her hand and wagged its tail happily.

"I see he likes you ",Simo said smiling.

"At home we have a Corgi, I think he might smell him. What race is it?"

"Karelian bear dog",Simo said as Constantine got closer. Dog sniffed him too and accepted him as well, but clearly with less enthusiasm than with Ruby.

"All right. Get on the carriage. Mind sitting at the back ?" Simo said and climbed on the driver's bench.

"Sure thing. Make way dog. We are sharing our seats",Constantine said and climbed up as Simo helped Ruby to sit next to him. He then picked up the reins and they were on their way.

They drive through countryside, where Ruby and Constantine could see acres upon acres of fields of wheat. Land was pretty even and there weren't many hills anywhere before they came into the forest of pine trees where grounds began to take more uneven and hilly forms. There were also more rocks as the road began to snake in more bare areas.

"Have you two ever been in these parts of the kingdom?"Simo asked as they were driving towards a small bridge. Constantine shrugged.

"I think I passed by here once. But it's pretty similar to my family's summer home's surroundings", Constantine said as he looked up. Dog had made itself comfortable next to him as he laid on the platform.

"How about you ?", Simo asked.

"No. I have lived my whole life on one island with my father and sister and we rarely traveled. And usually not very far",Ruby said and looked at forests around them. Even though they had passed those fertile farmlands, she could see that in here land was much more dry. Simo nodded as they drove across the bridge and up a hill again.

"We will soon be there", Simo said as they got on top of the hill.

"Awesome. This ride hasn't been the most comfy I have ever had",Constantine said jokingly.

Ruby giggled.

After fifteen more minutes of driving, they see a mansion and farmlands in the valley. Mansion was made of logs and had two floors, with a green rooftop. House also had a terrace at the front. On the left of the house, there were few doghouses, on the right, there was a garden. There were also two other buildings, one was a barn, and the other one, across the mansion, stables. Further away from the house was another barn, and near it was cattle pasturing. Furthest away from the mansion, behind it was fields of rye and other one which had been plought and there was something green growing in rows. Surrounding the mansion were forests of pine trees and hills.

"Youngster, welcome to Hunters Rest",Simo said as they approached it down the hill. Both Ruby and Constantine were amazed by what they were seeing.

"It's huge!",Ruby said.

"Do you live here all by yourself?" Constantine asked.

"No. I have other recruits here. Also few workers and maids. Good people, who help this old fool to keep his life running smoothly as he trains new soldiers", Simo said.

"Do they know that you train assassins?",Constantine asked

"No. They don't know and we won't tell. But they know that we train the use of guns and weapons. Both in hunt and combat. But they have sworn to stay out of our business, since I pay for them to take care of the house and farm", Simo explained. They drive to the yard and park the carriage near the barn. "All right. Let's get you two settled in", Simo said and got down from the carriage, dog jumping right after him, followed by Ruby and Constantine.

"How many people live here?" Constantine asked as they walked towards the mansion.

"Well, from eight to fifteen usually at a time. Depending on the season and number of recruits. As I said, I have few workers and maids. Six in total" Simo answered as they walked to the terrace and the door. Simo opened it and inside took off his boots. Ruby and Constantine followed him in and took off their shoes. The hallway was spacious and was decorated with skulls of animals Simo must have hunted. There was one skull of a wolf and one of male elk.

"You got some fine trophies on your walls" Constantine said as Simo took them upstairs.

"Well, I suppose they appear impressive",Simo said as they passed the stuffed head of a wolf. "But in the end, they were nothing more than targets. Tracking them before the kill, that was the best part. Roaming in the wilderness, on the mercy of Lady Nature herself, feeling life on every step. In every breath. Being free to follow your instincts and learning from nature. That my friends, is freedom. I have spent my life serving the needs of others. Needs of my country and I will serve others in their needs to the end of my days. Not because I have to, but because I can choose to do so", Simo said as they arrived at the end of the hallway.

"Ladies live on the left and men on the right. There should be free beds to choose from since at the moment we have only three other recruits in here",Simo said pointing at the door on both sides of the hallway. He then turned and headed to the stairs.

"Make yourselves feel like home and then come down to the kitchen. I will see if Misty has cooked anything for us".

"Sure. When will we meet others?" Ruby asked, feeling a little nervous.

"You will meet them once they return from wherever they are. I asked them to go check traps. They might be back around time for sunset",Simo said and returned back to the lower floor.

"Well, let's settle down, shall we?" Constantine said and opened his room door.

"Yeah. Let's", Ruby said and went into her room. Room was quite large. It had five beds across it and at the end of each was a wardrobe. Each bed looked like they hadn't been touched in a long time. Room had one window from which Ruby could see to the courtyard, on the wall opposing the door. Only thing decorating the walls was a hunting horn that was hanging from a nail.

"Guess I am the lone girl in here too", Ruby thought and put her change clothes into one of the wardrobes. She noticed that inside there were folded clothes. She thought for a moment if she should take a look at them, but chose not to. She closed her wardrobe and walked to the door and then to the stairs.