It had been a few days since Port began his new extracurricular program for the fledgling team CRLN. In those days he had gained a rough assessment of the boys and their personalities and that was precisely what was fraying his mind at the moment.
There had been two more sessions since the first and the results were troubling. He had intended for them to learn their shortcomings and the benefits of teamwork in their first match. They performed exemplary so he grabbed a higher ranked team of sophomores for the second bout. Then he did the same for the third and CRLN didn't seem to show indifference to the new challengers.
On one hand, he felt compelled to applaud them on the other as a teacher and self-appointed advisor he was concerned. Individually their skills varied. Niel was the baseline, talented but humble and aware of his weaknesses. He showed potential for the fastest growth.
Raiden was one step under, showing inexperience and amateur technique. He wished to see if his skill with his rifle implements differed but after reading the reports of its 'efficacy' he knew that wasn't practical let alone safe. Despite his weaknesses, he was showing prominent growth and beginning to pull his own weight within the team, credit for which perhaps belonged to his partner and leader rather than the school itself.
Then there were the two most concerning students. Caelum showed skill, knowledge, and a cold calculative talent for combat. The boy excelled in no particular field yet performed exemplary across the board. Range, close quarters, hand to hand, he showed competency in it all. Though he didn't show any vanity in it his confidence and isolated personality allowed no room for trust and little delegation to his teammates, leaving a heavy burden on himself.
Finally Lukas. The most choleric and emotional of the four. He showed no refinement nor advanced knowledge, not even practical experience but he made up for it with tenacity and the inability to be subdued. He had seen the boy take hits directly to the skull just so he could dish a blow twice as fierce back at his foe. The fact he used a bat and seemed to enjoy 'street styled' brawls over refinement or technique. Notably, the disregard for his leader's instructions left much to be desired in his ability to obey.
Lastly, the main worry that started this program was their teamwork. It was akin to any Grimm that passed the Professor's path, that is to say, dead. Or nonexistent to say the least. Caelum may have brought up his partner's shortcomings in combat and covered the field while straining himself to do so but that was far from the trust in teammates that Beacon emphasized.
Lukas outright disobeyed some orders and only occasionally complimented Niel's fighting style. However, he made it a point to outright ignore or overrule any suggestion his partner sent his way if he disagreed. To sum it up best, they were a pair of duos. Realistically? It was a leader babysitting a team while keeping a prominent eye on his partner and one rogue element dragging his partner around.
That is precisely what made the fact that they had won all three bouts, against upperclassmen no less, all the more frustrating. Raw skill and unpredictability were their forte and it was potently effective. Until now that is. Port felt his hand was forced and called in a special favor.
Another uneventful day of school passed for team CRLN who did have a change of pace in Professor Goodwitch's class. Half the class was to go out into Forever Fall and collect sap for Professor Peach's next demonstration and the other half was to assist in the next day's preparation.
To Caelum's relief, they were to assist with Professor Peach's setup. The reason was that Ruby Rose had taken to trying to start a conversation with his partner more than once in recent days. While having to guard his partner against her wasn't something he enjoyed, his partner's inability to lie made it necessary. Today was a reprieve from the small girl's excitable chatting and the pressure her team omitted as they watched him with caution and suspicion. Maintaining his polite persona with her, he placated her questions with empty responses which grew more difficult with each day.
The class setup had finished early and Professor Peach dismissed their half of class to free time. It seemed the other half in Forever Fall would use the rest of the two-hour class period. With nothing to do but sit and study. Caelum looked over his teammates, Lukas and Niel were asleep in their textbooks as Raiden quietly watched his scroll with a pair of headphones.
Caelum peered over his shoulder to see images of black and white flash across the screen. Raiden was startled, noticing his partner's sudden interest. "O-oh! I just figured since we have free time and all-"
"You're interested in history?" asked Caelum interrupting him.
Raiden switched gears and nodded excitedly. "I especially like the history over the last century. There's so much recorded and fascinating innovation. I have to admit, the cool factor plays a big part." He turned his scroll's screen to Caelum. On it were large aerial warships flying above even larger naval ships. The gray-hued screen showed their armaments and arsenals. It was an old propaganda video.
"I wish I could experience the innovative technology on the old dreadnaughts and battleships of the great war and color revolution. The capital ships were marvels of technology! I know it's just a dream but I wish they were at least museums. After the color revolution, modern warfares change in combat doctrine from mass warfare to strategic aerial deployments, and now robotics, sadly they've scrapped all the old ships. Or at least in Atlas's case, mothballed and on the way."
Caelum hummed at the spiel, still looking at the screen as his partner seemed depressed at his own explanation. With the four boys locked in melancholy, it was a welcome surprise when Port popped in to snag them away.
Again they were told to prepare for combat and did so without complaining already used to the practice. Caelum noticed the skip in their teacher's step and the self-satisfied tone paired with the wide grin behind his mustache.
Now equipped with their weapons and prepared for combat, the four boys walked into the training room quietly. All except for Lukas who was boastfully speaking to Niel about how he could use another senior to beat on as classes were dull.
Their eyes were met with Port standing proudly in front of four new figures again. He proudly marched to the side of the room before introducing them. Caelum quickly scanned over the four in preparation for their bout.
Two boys and two girls again. Of the girls, one was a rabbit faunus and the other, eccentric to say the least. Both had no visible weapons and seemed to be slick of any gear except for each possessing a bag or box. Though questionable, he presumed those were somehow their weapons in storage.
The two males cut intimidating figures One was a full head and shoulders taller than even Niel with a massive sword on his back and green Eastern-styled armor. The shorter boy was covered in scars with pure white eyes and a discerning frown.
"Ahem! Allow me to introduce!-"
"Team CFVY or Coffee if you will" announced a smooth voice from the eccentric female as she stepped forward with her team. "Coco, Yatsuhashi, Fox, and Velvet" she explained pointing at herself and each teammate in succession.
Port fumbled momentarily at having been interrupted and disregarded. Caelum's eyes narrowed on his opponents. The rest of his team seemed to linger on the shy-looking rabbit faunus.
It wasn't immediate but they recognized her from the bullying incident in the cafeteria. Content with leaving the incident in the past, Caelum stayed silent with Raiden and Lukas following. Unfortunately, Niel's moral compass conflicted once more.
His taller cohort stepped forward and profusely apologized. "I'm sorry we didn't help! Our peer had no right to treat you so disrespectfully in the cafeteria!"
Velvet grew flustered at the sudden outburst unsure of how to respond. Both Caelum and Coco stepped forward to answer for their teammates
Under the scrupulous eye of team CFVY's leader, Caelum stepped ahead of Niel, interrupting him, and created an alibi on the spot. "We unfortunately heard how a fellow freshman acted in regard to your teammate. Though we were not there nor have any ties to Mr. Winchester or his team, we extend our regret and condolences" offered Caelum accentuating his point with a hand over his heart.
All eyes on Caelum showed varying emotions. Port seemed impressed by his professionalism. Velvet, Yatsuhashi, and Fox were surprised by his courteous manner and speech. His own teammates, Lukas and Raiden seemed more surprised by his ability to lie flawlessly. Niel on the other hand glowered at the back of his leader's head.
Only Coco seemed to not care for his response, her aviator glasses slid down the bridge of her nose as she eyed her junior. Her dark brown eyes seemed to pierce into his, seeking any deceit or ill intent. With his hand still over his heart his brown irises stared back into her own.
A sultry grin slid across her face as she leaned back placing a hand on her hip and pushed her glasses back up. "No worries kiddos, We caught wind of that mistake and corrected the poor boy."
The giant of a student, Yatsuhashi, agreed. "Coco was very thorough in adjusting Mr. Winchesters' attitude, He has since toned down his antics to a stop from what we have heard."
Velvet's ears lowered, hugging her head at the embarrassment of her apparently very protective teammates. Ignoring the blatant admittance of student-on-student violence in both cases from and against Cardin, Port interjected, excited to proceed with the day's bout.
"I have determined that you desire a real challenge!" He announced striking a pose and flexing his bicep as he continued his explanation. "As men, you require challenges, and hurdles to launch yourselves into greatness!"
As he continued speaking Coco rolled her head dramatically, her eyes undoubtedly following behind her glasses. Velvet laughed politely behind a hand and muttered the truth to team CRLN. "He offered us exemption from exams if we participated."
Without acknowledging the undramatic truth, Port then forced the matter. "Now let's get on with things! Any questions?"
Caelum, for the first time in any of these extracurricular bouts, raised his hand.
"Yes, lad?"
Caelum's gloved hand extended towards Fox. "Is he blind?"
Port turned to the boy in question who nodded. "Ehem, yes he is."
Coco slapped Fox on his rear with a chaffing tone. "Ah, looks like he's worried about you Foxy." The seemingly demure boy's cheeks tinted red at his teammate's harassment as Caelum remained indifferent, watching them closely.
Clearing his throat, Port then dismissed the teams to strategize for two minutes as usual. As the two teams walked away from each other, Lukas passed a warning to his teammates. "Oi, boys, Careful with the gal all dolled up. I hear her attitude makes her a difficult one. Word is she likes to 'break in' the juniors. Whether that gets ya gears going or not, be careful not to get broke in."
His hesitance in referring to Coco was unusual and unnerved Raiden and Niel who expected a far more cocky response. It was almost chilling how cautious he was being. With the warning sent, Caelum divvied out their tasks. To add to the group's anxiety and uncertainty, Lukas seemed content with obeying.
The two teams fanned out, one opponent standing across from the other. Caelum stood across from Coco, Yatsuhashi across from Niel, Lukas against Fox, and Raiden against Velvet. In his excitement, Port swung his weapon, a blunderbuss and axe, from behind him. Spinning it in his hands he raised it high above his head. With the quiet click of his trigger, a raucous erupted from the muzzle.
The students moved instantly. Niel and Yatsuhashi clashed head-on. The taller boy swung his large blade sideways nearly slashing Niel's side before he blocked with his blades. Taking the impact and using it to spin on his heels he flipped one of the blades in his hand into a reverse grip and fired at Yatsuashi's foot, the boy backpedaled when Niel fired another shot at his head. He barely brought his sword hilt up in time to barely block the large projectile which sent his sword arm reeling from the impact.
In contrast, Lukas and Fox slowly walked toward each other. Lukas nonchalantly spun his bat in his left hand, his right in his pocket. Fox, with both his bladed tonfas, casually strolled to meet him. Lukas's emerald eyes stared into Fox's unblinking white pupils. In an instant, Lukas' bat swung directly at Fox's head, blocked by his right arm's gauntlet, when he jabbed with his left. The fist stopped short of Lukas's face who bent backward dodging the projectile emitted from it. The slow prodding was over. Lukas shifted his bat into its SMG form and rushed in. Fox responded in kind as the two began exchanging blows.
Seemingly wild punches and grapples from Lukas hid their skill and strength as Fox wisely avoided strikes that were too damaging. Instead, he took the brunt of the weaker blows as Lukas wailed away.
Raiden stood fast with his halberd between him and Velvet. Neither made a move even though both were tense, ready to strike. She held no weapon and showed no intent to initiate. This left him in a curious predicament. He had never been on the offense, always on the receiving end, he was unsure of how to proceed. Yet he knew he must.
A quick step forward followed by a thrust to test the waters. Velvet elegantly sidestepped and twirled on a foot dodging the blow. He shifted his weight and weapon to bring the hammerhead up and to the left. She ducked. A slide of his hand and the axehead came harshly down. She then shifted her body weight, dodging it by inches.
Raiden stepped back and kept distance between them. His guard was now higher than ever. Her effortless dodging left him at a loss of how to proceed. She was no meek opponent and worst of all, she reached behind her back, ready to begin her attack.
Caelum was perhaps the first to reach his opponent, a forward attack with his weapon slung around his torso. He was prepared to open with a buttstroke from the unforgiving stock of his MG. As he closed in Coco stood unflinching swinging her handbag from her side, aimed clear at his head. Caelum sensed danger from the unassuming weapon and contorted his body to the side dodging the accessory and rolling onto the ground.
With a devious grin, Coco used the inertia from her swing to bring the bag down. Caelum raised his MG at an angle, catching the bag and parrying it down and away from him. Immediately he felt the immense weight and force behind the bag. The strengthened concrete next to him suffered the majority of the blow as it fractured under the parried strike.
Port gave a watchful eye as he took in the fights. To a beginner, it would seem CRLN had taken the initiative and was nearly overwhelming their seniors. He knew better and could see the tide turning. CRLN had succeeded by overwhelming individual opponents in the past, they would find CFVY to not be so easily shaken.
Caelum watched with wide eyes as a small handbag transformed into a chain gun that proceeded to rev up and fire at him, who had no cover. Almost as if she were playing with him she chased him with the trailing hailfire of rounds as his own MG struggled to compete with her rate of fire. The two ran opposite, closing in on each other as they circled. Even when engaging in close combat, Coco still effortlessly swung the large weapon around.
To worsen matters, Caelum felt he had no choice but to keep the engagement close. While she was preoccupied in close combat her rounds seemed weaker, less explosive. It may have been her semblance but he was now limited in range and options.
"Lukas Coil is eliminated! Announced Port. Caelum spared a brief glance to see Lukas disposed into a corner of the arena with his weapon a fair distance away. The last thing Caelum saw as he turned his focus to Coco once more was Fox rushing in to attack Raiden.
Urgency filled his mind as Adrenaline continued to pump. He landed before Coco, his barrel placed at her gut, the girl was quick to slam her weapon downwards the multiple barrels clipped his drum mag and snapped it out of its breech. Rounds spilled onto the floor as he pulled his trigger and a switch on his weapon. A single round discharged into her stomach, skimming her aura as the switch activated his bipod. The two prongs locked together as they released their bladed attachments and locked into place as a bayonet. The already backstepping girl found herself now in range of his bayonet.
Caelum thrust forward with murderous intent as he felt a heavy blow to his side. Niel had been thrown into him by Yatsuhashi.
"Niel Taklashin is unable to battle!" declared Port.
With no time to reload and the giant rushing him as Coco retreated to catch her breath, Caelum rushed the mountain of a man. With a wild look in his eye, he thrust at Yatsuhashi's heart. Yatsuhashi's large blade blocked the thrust diverting Caelum's weapon upwards.
Unblinking, Caelum planted both feet on the boy's blade as his weapon shifted again. The bayonet shifted down, locking itself ninety degrees perpendicular to the MG's barrel, taking the shape of a short scythe.
Yatsuhashi noticed the shift in his peripherals but was unable to avoid the blade aimed at the back of his neck with Caelum's weight on his blade. Then Fox came to his rescue. Literally jumping into the fray, the tan boy wrapped a leg around Yatsuhashi's left bicep and inserted his tonfas between his friend's neck and the damning scythe.
Yatsuhashi then pushed Caelum away with as much force as he could. Unable to deal a blow, Caelum ripped his weapon to the right and began a retreat. He rushed to find Raiden who was somehow still in the fight. A glance showed Velvet with a strange weapon, transparent yet clear. In a moment it mimicked Fox's tonfas, the next Yatsuhashi's large blade. A blue light immersed her body as the weapon shifted.
With each, she showed an unusual mastery as she kept Raiden reeling from each strike. Perhaps trying to educate him by keeping him in play for so long, but as a copy of Ports weapon manifested in her hands and she lowered it level with the boy's torso Caelum reacted with immense speed.
Fox and Yatsuhashi chased after him as Coco aimed her barrels. He had no way to retaliate, that is until he noticed a golden glint below him. One of Niel's revolvers had been discarded in his path.
A quick roll resumed into a sprint as he picked up the weapon, his eyes caught a glimpse of the empty cylinder, within a heartbeat he pulled a single round from his pocket and into the open cylinder. As a burst of no less than thirty rounds danced at his feet he fired the single round from the revolver at Coco. The round hit her weapon throwing off its aim.
Caelum closed the distance as Velvet fired the blunderbuss. The impact caught Raiden harshly draining his aura, causing it to flair in a bright show of electricity. Caelum's eyes widened at his opportunity. Velvet switched to a copy of Coco's weapon seeing Caelum come to Radien's aid, two final targets lined up.
Sliding onto one foot, Caelum grabbed Raiden by his collar and spinning on his heels, threw him at Velvet. The girl just like Raiden, was surprised and hesitated. His still flaring aura worked as hoped and shorted out her weapon with a discharge of aura-powered electricity. Her transparent minigun flickering then disappearing as Raiden collided with her.
Caelum spun to see Coco rushing in from afar as Yatsuhashi and Fox bore down on him. He tucked in and rolled between Yatsuhashi's legs. Dodging both boys strikes as he left a present for them. A flashbang.
Blinding light and deafening sound erupted as Fox fell to his knees, clasping his ears. Disoriented but aware of Caelum's presence, Yatsuhashi swung his blade from behind. Caelum caught the blow but was able to dampen its effect, rolling to the side and hooking his scythe around the large boy's leg while reaching into one of his pockets. With a heave, he pulled the much larger boy to the ground, buying himself a moment. Ripping his gloved hand out of his jacket he revealed nothing but broken glass in his palm.
Seemingly surprised himself, he was quick to his feet reaching for a different pocket before turning to see Coco, just in time to catch an upwards swing of the minigun to his chin. His teeth clacked painfully as he reeled back, stumbling with a bloody lip. A strained roar caught his ear as he instinctively dodged to the side avoiding Yatsuhashi's horizontal swing before catching a knee to the gut from Fox, bringing him to his own.
The boy's tonfas came downwards as Caelum barely avoided them using his weapon to push himself away. Spinning on the ground he rose to a knee with his MG propped up onto one arm with the bayonet locked forward and Niel's gun blade locked in a reverse grip in the supporting hand.
Blood dripping from his lip, breathing heavily, and disheveled hair draped across his face, the boy stared down his three opponents. He knew it was a hopeless fight. His body wanted to give in, he was berating himself for not giving up and for even thinking he wanted to. Shakily on one knee, all ears perked up at Port's voice.
"Raiden Gorm is indisposed!" Sure enough, Velvet held a strange staff that emitted a small flame from it, professor Oobleck's weapon from what little they had seen. Raiden was panting beneath her, defeated.
Port and team CFVY turned their eyes to the bedraggled leader of CRLN. "Mr. Hyalus, I believe this match is over."
Caelum breathed heavily, clamping the stock in his armpit but not lowering the bladed barrel. He looked around with those same wild, alert eyes. His hands tensed, poised to attack, before finally relaxing as he lowered his weapon with a loud clack against the floor. Shakily he stood and excused himself.
"I will see myself out, professor. I leave my team to you as I am in no state to care for them. I will await further instruction."
Port nodded, a concerned look under his bushy features, as all watched the boy limp away. Team CFVY relaxed. The two male members took a knee, catching their breaths. Fox laughed disbelievingly as Yatsuhashi propped himself on his blade. Velvet rushed to Coco's side. Before she could inquire if she was okay she noticed her leader's intense eyes from behind her glasses, following their junior as he left.
"Coco no…" plead velvet
-Chapter End-