"And so, in ages past, humans and faunus alike reveled in their natural magical abilities, without relying upon the use of dust… or so the story goes. The reason I share this tale with you, at the outset of your first year, is to consider its implications, and how they apply to your lives, thousands of years later. For example, if what I have said is true… can anyone think of something about society, or our abilities today, that might line up with my words?"
Professor Ozpin finally stopped his recounting of the supposed origins of humanity and cast his free hand out to the audience of students, while the other rested atop his cane. The shaft was planted firmly into the wooden boards of the floor, and seemed polished to a mirror sheen. For several seconds, no one moved or spoke as they tried to review the headmaster's story in their minds. Finally, Bartholomew slowly raised his hand, barely to head level, and Professor Ozpin's neutral expression shifted into a knowing smile.
"Yes, Bartholomew? Share your thoughts with us, if you would."
Bartholomew took a deep breath as he stood from his seat, and watched nervously as all eyes in the room turned to him. He swallowed hard and brought a shaky hand up to brush his drooping bangs from his eyes, before working up the nerve to speak.
"Well, you said that… two gods, of light and darkness, created humans and faunus, and gifted us magical power. When our kind became unworthy to wield their gifts due to our predilection for war between the two races, that power was stripped away. However… I still see 'magic' in all of us, human and faunus alike, without the use of dust. Glimmers and comparatively small abilities and unexplainable talents that I cannot describe in any other way… and now, I can't help but wonder if that's why they're called 'semblances'. They're mere semblances of the power we once used to have… and maybe one day could have again, if only we were to regain our worth in the eyes of the gods."
Professor Ozpin walked around his desk and picked up a stainless steel tumbler full of liquid as Bartholomew spoke. He kept his eyes on the ceramic mug placed in the center of the desk as he poured and listened, and only after the cup was full did he look back up into the audience. The headmaster trained his eyes on Bartholomew's as he slowly drank, and then let his smirk turn into a full-on smile.
"…now, wouldn't that be something. You're quite astute, Mr. Oobleck, and your opinion on semblances is one that I personally share. That tale was told to me by an old man from Mistral, many years ago. It changed my perspective on how I look at students, their potential, and their semblances… and I can only hope that it changes the way you look at each other, as well. Particularly… between humans and faunus," Professor Ozpin finished with a pointed look at Bartholomew's row.
Adam shifted in his seat from his position at the end of the aisle, and he held his breath as he saw Professor Ozpin look up. After seeing that he wasn't the target, he slowly breathed out, and turned his eyes to follow the headmaster's gaze. Adam found himself looking over at Jay Winchester, who seemed incredibly uncomfortable and had his eyes locked on Professor Ozpin's in silence. After mere seconds, the blonde broke away and looked off to the wall opposite of Adam, his jaw clenched and his features sullen.
With a small chuckle at his personal victory, Professor Ozpin turned and began to pace the floor, keeping his eyes trained on the wood.
"Now, with that in mind, let's continue off of that theory- what, might I ask, is dust?"
Taiyang let out a subtle groan as he brought his hands up to rub at his temples. The boy closed his eyes as he whispered to Adam, looking almost constipated.
"How are we supposed to know? Aren't these mysteries that people have been working on since before we were born? And why are we just assuming that all of this is true, anyway? Where's the proof?"
"…I think I might know, if it is all truth… and I don't like the answer," Adam replied in an equally hushed tone. A sickening feeling pulsed through his chest, and he tried looking everywhere in the room but at Professor Ozpin as the lecture hall descended into uncomfortable silence. Adam jumped and felt his heart beat double time as a sharp noise rang out, and he looked up just in time to see Professor Ozpin's cane bounce up off the floor and into a spin. The headmaster depressed the handle on the side of the weapon and stored it back upon his belt in one smooth motion, before raising his cup to the crowd.
"As I thought. Not an easy question, and depending on where your mind wanders, perhaps an uncomfortable one. Consider that your homework, for this evening. Answer me, as best you can… 'what is dust?' No matter what you write, or how much, there are no wrong answers. I simply wish to hear your theories, and to give you an opportunity to share them. Soon, you'll all be sharing much more. Take a moment to collect your weaponry, and then meet me down here, if you would," Professor Ozpin instructed as he moved to sit on the edge of his desk.
Adam was the first to move as he grabbed his katana from below his seat and stood. He immediately made his way down the steps toward Professor Ozpin, and chanced a look over his shoulder toward the row from which he came. Jay was having a tense conversation with Yatsuhashi as neither moved from their seats, while Taiyang and Bartholomew caught up to Adam quite quickly.
"Hey, are you alright?" Taiyang asked with a concerned frown as he moved to stand beside Adam in the space before the headmaster's desk.
"I'll be fine. We'll talk once I know we're safe to do so," Adam said softly as Bartholomew took position on his other side.
"Unfortunately, our next classes are different, but we should be able to talk privately soon," Bartholomew reassured.
"I hope you're right. It may be important," Adam replied as other students began to assemble in a semicircle around Professor Ozpin. Jay and Yatsuhashi finally made their way down to join the crowd, though they stood on the opposite side of the floor as Adam and his friends. The faunus let out a sigh of relief as he took note of their position, and turned his full attention back to the professor.
"I feel it is my duty as headmaster to remind you all that you have one more period of typical classes before free sparring, and that the gap between those two is longer than usual. That gap exists for a reason, and though I've asked your professors to tell you what I'm about to divulge… one can never be too careful with reminders of important matters. The longer gap between classes exists so that you can all return to your dorms and get changed into something looser and casual. Sparring in school uniforms is not only uncomfortable, but counterproductive. That being said… don't be late. Professor Goodwitch isn't fond of tardiness. I'll see you all tomorrow afternoon, when we'll discuss both dust, and what evidence exists that the two gods did indeed once walk upon our soil."
Bartholomew and Taiyang mumbled amongst themselves as they led the other students toward the exit of the room. Adam remained in place as he took out his notebook and flipped to a new page, before rummaging in his pocket to find his pencil. He jumped slightly as he felt a hand impact his shoulder, and looked up to find Jay patting him lightly as the larger boy passed. Adam shivered as he watched Jay continue on into the hallway with Yatsuhashi, and then shook his head before writing 'What is dust?' at the top of the empty page.
"How are you finding Beacon, thus far?"
Adam blinked and looked up, only to find himself alone in the room with Professor Ozpin.
"It's… very different. Mostly in a good way," Adam admitted as he let his eye wander to the doorway. Taiyang lingered just outside in the hall, out of earshot.
"I'm glad to hear it. Has your team worked out for you?" the headmaster asked as he circled his desk once again, and slipped into the waiting seat.
"Extremely well. They're all good people, and I'm trying to get to know them better. They've all been supportive and outgoing… and so has Team STRQ," Adam replied as he closed his notebook and slipped it back into his bag.
"Team STRQ," Professor Ozpin repeated. "How curious. I'll make a point to pay more attention to them. Where are you off to, next?"
"Plant Sciences," Adam said in the most neutral tone he could manage. Despite the effort, it wasn't enough to hide his apprehension. Professor Ozpin merely chuckled as he waved a hand, while the other brought his mug to his lips once again.
"Give it a chance. You never know what you might find interesting. Good luck, Adam. Don't push yourself too hard."
"Thank you, Professor," Adam offered before turning and making his way out of the room. He picked up his pace as he felt eyes on his back, and shivered as he made his way up to Taiyang. The other boy nodded and turned, before the pair began to make their way down the hall.
"Barty said he had Weapon Crafting next, and it seems like everyone's got either that or Plant Sciences. Figured you were with me," Taiyang explained.
"I am, in that case," Adam replied. "Sorry for the delay. Are you feeling alright? You looked almost sick, earlier."
"Me?" Taiyang questioned as he pointed a finger into his chest. "Yeah, I'm fine, but when things get too intellectual for too long, my eyes glaze over and I start to die inside. What about you? You looked kinda… pissed, when class started."
"…I don't think we should associate with Yatsuhashi," Adam snarled. "At least, not OKRA. You should be fine."
"Whoa, hold on. What's that mean?" Taiyang pressed as he stopped walking. Adam pulled a face as he turned back toward Taiyang, and shook his head.
"Jay Winchester. He's… he's a complete asshole, and so is his brother. I had History with the pair of them, and they spent most of the class antagonizing me," Adam complained.
Taiyang searched Adam's face, before cracking his knuckles. "Jay seemed fine to me, just now, but don't take that the wrong way. Maybe it's just when they're together? Maybe Yatsu doesn't know? I mean, can you imagine that guy pushing you around?"
Adam considered the notion, before turning away from Taiyang and beginning to walk once again.
"No, but we only just met. As for the brothers… maybe. I suppose he did seem quieter. Maybe even more… tolerable."
"Then go with that, until we know for sure," Taiyang offered as he moved to catch up. "No sense assuming the worst, just yet."
Adam opened his mouth to retort, before thinking better of it.
"…let's just get to our next class."
"…so, yeah. I think I might have wet myself a little," Kali stated as she unbuttoned her jacket. Roman kept his eyes locked upon the small of her back as she shuffled out of the garment, while Bartholomew respectfully faced away from the pair.
"Come now, Professor Calavera isn't that intimidating, is she? She simply enforces discipline and holds her students to high standards. To be honest, I find it refreshing, compared to how lax most of the other professors seem to be," Bartholomew countered as he began taking off his own uniform.
"Again with the crazy talk. Keep that up, and we may have to get you checked out by a psychiatrist," Roman joked as he rolled off his top and tossed it over his shoulder. The shirt draped near perfectly over Bartholomew's head, and the boy let out a labored sigh.
"Would you mind? We only have a few minutes to get changed and get to the amphitheater."
"We'll be fine," Kali reassured. She stripped down to just her black bra and panties, and ignored her teammates as she began to rifle through the closet on her side of the room. Roman stopped in the middle of removing his slacks to watch silently as Kali's back muscles flexed. The overhead lights seemed to give her skin an ethereal glow, and the boy found himself lost in the curves of her shoulder blades.
"…did Roman die, or is he busy doing something inappropriate? He's never silent for this long," Bartholomew questioned after several moments of silence.
"He's probably busy checking out my ass," Kali informed as she pulled down her casual outfit and turned, only to find that her assumption was completely correct. Roman merely laughed and looked farther down as he returned to his task, while Kali rolled her eyes. "I don't really care, either way. You'll probably both have seen me totally nude by the end of the week."
"I will absolutely hold you to that," Roman said with a filthy grin as he pulled on a pair of black jeans. He finished off his look a leopard print sleeveless tee and several multicolored bracelets upon his left wrist.
Bartholomew made a noise of disgust, and turned to face his team. He wore a simple combination of a light blue turtleneck and khakis, along with dark brown dress shoes.
"To be frank, given that we'll be cohabiting for four years, such a thing does seem a likely accident for everyone here. I see no need to accelerate the occurrence, especially when it will, to put it lightly, make things weird."
"Implying that we're not weird already," Kali countered as she finished off her own outfit. The faunus had donned a black tube top surrounded by an open white leather cropped jacket that hung only to her navel, and white leather pants. The look was topped off by a black studded belt featuring two holsters and a golden buckle. Upon her feet were a pair of black stilettos, each accented by golden stones embedded around the toe of the shoe.
"The weirdest thing, honestly, is that Adam won't change with us. I mean, I've already seen him naked, so what's the big deal?" Roman asked with a shrug as he picked up his cane and began to twirl the weapon in his right hand.
Kali and Bartholomew exchanged an uneasy look, before the faunus twitched her ears and spoke.
"…his eye, probably. That, or it's me."
"It's you," Adam confirmed as he pushed open the door. He wore the black suede shirt and acid-washed jeans that Roman had given him, and had his worn katana strapped to his belt once again. "The walls are thin, you know, and I can quite easily keep the bandanna in place while changing a shirt. I simply don't feel comfortable stripping down in front of a lady, or watching her do the same so casually."
Roman and Kali both snickered in unison as Bartholomew shot them a dangerous glare.
"Don't start, you tw-"
"Adam, I'm about as far from a lady as you can get. Still, if you're not cool with it, then that's fine. I'll break you, eventually," Kali teased. Roman did one final loop of his cane, before nodding in Adam's general direction.
"We need to get you laid, my good man."
Adam furrowed his brows, and shook his head.
"Come. Let's just… get to our last class, for the day. I'd rather not talk about this anymore."
Kali was the first to join Adam near the door, and laid a gentle hand upon his biceps. He looked down to see a pair of golden pistols in the holsters upon her belt, and raised a brow.
"To be completely honest, I think it's sweet, in an innocent, boyish sort of way. Don't let Roman get to you."
Bartholomew was next in line, and nodded in agreement as he and Kali slipped past to enter the hallway. In his hand was a simple spiked mace that seemed to feature some sort of gun barrel for a handle.
"Stay true to your own moral compass, my friend. It may end up being the only thing that keeps you moving forward, at times."
Adam remained in the room for a moment as Roman approached, and stopped before him. The two boys eyed each other up, and Roman gave Adam a quick nod.
"…you do know I'm just messing with ya, right?"
"I do," Adam confirmed as he tilted his head. "Perhaps it's time I start to return the favor."
"Oh, by all means, brother. Now, come on. Let's not keep Raven and Summer waiting. I hope they're still in skirts. Lots of jumping and rolling in sparring," Roman mused as he rubbed his hands together. Adam shook his head yet again and followed behind Roman.
"I hope they're wearing overalls and ponchos, just so you don't get your way."
"Why you gotta trample on my dreams?"
Summer capered along through the halls in front of her team, wearing her casual black combat skirt, corset, and knee-high boots. Her white cape billowed behind her as she twirled, all smiles and humming softly.
"You're really that excited to get your hands dirty?" Qrow asked as he shuffled along, dragging his feet against the crimson carpet of the hallway. He wore a pair of cargo pants and a band shirt featuring a boat being dragged beneath the surface of the ocean by overlarge tentacles. Both items of clothing looked brand new.
"Mm… not necessarily," Summer countered as she continued her jolly display with a twirl of her long mace. "I just think people like us are at their best and brightest in a fight, and I like to see what others can do. It's really, really fun to see how a fighting style or semblance reflects a personality. It's like a conversation… with blades and guns."
"Well, don't expect people to be very talkative, tonight. After all, it's only day one, and I'm sure we're about to get hit with a litany of ground rules," Taiyang grumbled. "From what I've heard of Professor Goodwitch, she makes Professor Calavera look like a cheerleader."
Summer gave the boy a disappointed look, and let her eyes trail up his body to take in his unfamiliar clothing. Taiyang had chosen a pair of brown board shorts with yellow bands along the cuffs, which hung down over his knees. His upper body was covered by a puffy, sleeveless vest of dark green color. Upon his elbows, Taiyang wore protective yellow pads held in place by black, stretchy material, and he wore padded fingerless gloves to match. In his right hand was Reel Talk, slung up over his shoulder.
"I hope you're wrong, Tai. I want to see at least one fight, tonight. Ooh, maybe Goodwitch will fight for us? That would be cool!"
Raven cleared her throat, and awkwardly looked up as her team turned their attention to her. She had chosen to wear her sleeveless red vest and black skirt as her casual outfit. After all, it was the only set of clothes she owned bar her Beacon uniform.
"If we're allowed to fight tonight, I owe Kali a duel. So… look forward to that, I guess."
Summer squealed in delight at the statement as the team approached the amphitheater, and Raven rolled her eyes. Qrow muttered something to himself and moved to follow Summer with his hands in his pockets and his sword affixed to the back of his belt. Taiyang reached to out to the side, and intertwined his fingers with Raven's as the two reached the doors. Raven froze in place, eyes wide and furious as she snapped her head to the side and gave Taiyang a look.
"Hey," he began in a soft, gentle whisper. "Try to relax. Please? We're all here to support you, whether it's through a fight, or weird feelings, or even finding your semblance. How'd it go with Summer?"
"It went… fine," Raven admitted as she slipped her hand from Taiyang's grasp. "We're fine. I'm just having a bad day, all around. Professor Calavera was all over me, and for some reason, I feel like she was singling me out in her class. It's got me on edge. Now, back off, and don't touch me."
Taiyang shrugged, and leaned against the frame of the door as he folded his arms. "I'm pretty sure she gives that feeling to everyone, Raves. I don't think she meant an-"
"Raves?" Raven's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she bared her teeth.
"…yeah. It's just a cute name, is all," Taiyang said as inoffensively as possible.
Raven's expression remained soured for a moment, before she snorted and began to walk once again. "If it's a choice between you touching me and calling me that, I'll take the name. Don't use it in front of anyone else."
Taiyang watched the girl walk for all of a moment, before chuckling softly to himself and moving to catch up. "You like it, don't you?"
Raven chose not to answer as she made her way up into the bleachers. Wild, uncoordinated waving from two girls caught her attention on the left, and she sighed to herself as she made her way over to join Summer and Kali. Taiyang wasn't far behind, and sat on her other side as she took a place next to their leader.
"Could you two do a little less of that sort of thing? So many people are staring at the eight of us right now."
"Yeah, 'cause we're a sight to see," Kali teased. "You look super cute with bare arms, Raven. Where'd you get this thing?" she asked as she reached over Summer's lap and pinched at the fabric around Raven's shoulder.
"I… made it myself, actually," Raven replied. The statement brought about a quick memory of a flattened switch being slammed into her knuckles, causing her to drop her sewing needle as she worked it through a swatch of cloth. A harsh, disappointed masculine voice range out in her ears along with it, and for a moment, drowned out the din of the crowd of students.
Wrong! I expect better!
"That's so cool! I used to make my own, too, but then I got lazy. That, and I look good in white leather," Kali stated boastfully.
"…you do," Raven agreed as she leaned slightly forward to look down the row. Qrow had taken a seat on the opposite side of the two teams, and seemed to be having a conversation with Adam. Raven allowed herself a small smile at the sight, and leaned back as she focused on controlling her breathing. Summer and Taiyang started a conversation across Raven's body, and the girl worked to actively block it out in a sort of small meditation, until a shrill sound pierced through her thoughts.
Most of the crowd of students jumped in surprise as they fell silent. Raven merely opened her eyes, and looked down to the stage, where Professor Glynda Goodwitch stood waiting with a silver whistle in her mouth. She idly bounced a riding crop against her hand as she waited for dramatic effect, and then let the whistle slip back down from her lips to hang on its attached cord necklace.
"…free sparring," Professor Goodwitch began in a tone wreathed in ice. "Many of you have been looking forward to this. Others among you dread it. I am well aware that this is not every student's main focus, but for the duration of this class, it will be. Similarly to some other professors you have, I tolerate no fooling around when you are on my time."
"Professor Calavera!" someone called out from the crowd, only to earn a spattering of laughter from the other students. Professor Goodwitch's eyes snapped to a specific spot within the crowd, as though they had somehow been magnetized to the heckler. All of the students fell silent as she kept up the piercing glare, and Bartholomew shook his head in disappointment as he muttered to himself.
"Stupid…"
Suddenly, Professor Goodwitch's eyes diverted from her target, and swept the assembled students at large once again.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted- safety is to be your priority, while you are with me. For the first half of the year, only single, organized, tournament-style fights will be permitted. If and when your team earns their way, you will be permitted to spar unsupervised in the training grounds, or remain here to watch officially judged and scored fights, with me. Are they any questions?" Professor Goodwitch inquired. The entire audience remained silent for fear of upsetting the young professor again, and she nodded curtly. "Good."
Without another word, Professor Goodwitch made her way across the stage and behind the gigantic, black curtains that obscured the edges. The sound of her high heels continued to echo throughout the amphitheater as she disappeared from view, and a muted, confused murmuring broke out among the students once again.
Roman leaned into Kali's side, and cupped a hand around her ear.
"How much you wanna bet she just comes out with a cattle prod and goes after the student who called out?"
Kali tensed slightly at the comment, and shook her head before inclining it slightly toward Adam. Roman followed the motion with his eyes, and became a bit more pale as he leaned back to sit upright. He risked another glance over to Adam, only to find the faunus back in the middle of a conversation with Qrow. Roman let out a sigh of relief, and looked up as the volume of the crowd picked up once again while Professor Goodwitch reappeared. The woman strode back across the stage with purpose, wheeling what looked almost like a free-standing heart monitor with two screens behind her. Upon reaching center stage, she stopped once again, and waited. The noise in the room died down automatically, and Professor Goodwitch offered the crowd a nod of approval.
"What I have with me today is a state of the art piece of equipment, courtesy of Winchester Military Technologies. Before this year, this piece of equipment was utilized only within Atlas military bases, behind closed doors. Now, as a show of good faith, WMT has donated a lot of ten to the school for use in sparring. This is a portable aura monitor."
Adam scowled as he cast his eye around the room, trying to locate his rivals while most of the other students offered polite applause. Eventually, he had to turn his head to look in his blind spot, and found Jay, Robin, and Yatsuhashi sitting far away and down in the row closest to the stage with a fourth student. Adam squinted as he tried to make out any defining features upon him, and came to the conclusion that he had never seen the other boy before. The stranger was clad in camouflage pants, a black, spandex tee, and had some sort of silver necklace dangling in the center of his chest. Befitting of his team, he was tall, muscular, and had a black crew cut hairstyle, along with a closely-trimmed beard that encircled his mouth and chin. What appeared to be an overlarge silver baseball bat rested against the bench beside his left leg. Adam tore his eye from the mystery teen as Professor Goodwitch began to speak again, and held up what looked like a small black bracelet.
"May I have two volunteers?"
Kali and Raven had the same reaction to the question, with wildly different intensities. While Raven slowly raised her hand in a calm, yet obvious motion, Kali launched herself forward with such force and enthusiasm that Roman had to grab the back of her jacket to keep her from tumbling into the next row down. Professor Goodwitch caught sight of the stumbling faunus, and pointed her crop directly at Kali.
"You. Come on down, Miss…?"
"Moonglove," Kali replied as she made her way down the aisle. "Kali Moonglove. Can I fi-"
"And you," Professor Goodwitch interrupted as she leveled her crop elsewhere. "Please, make your way to center stage."
Kali's cat ears wilted as her hopes were dashed, and she climbed up onto the stage. She offered Raven a sad look, only to see her friend staring down past her and to the other volunteer. Kali turned around just in time to see her opponent climb the steps up onto the stage and offer a manicured hand to Professor Goodwitch, who took it with a curious expression.
The tall, slender girl had a simple outfit of a long, form-fitting white dress with a slit up the side of the left leg, a tight, thin black belt around her waist, white heels to match, and a sapphire pendant hanging around her neck. Her bobbed hair was a white so pure that it seemed to reflect the overhead lights in the room like a mirror. In her left hand, she held a long, deadly-looking rapier with a revolving chamber of multicolored dust vials protected by a curved, bladed guard. The girl's expression and stance were incredibly tense, and she flicked her sapphire eyes full of worry over to Kali before looking down at the professor.
"And you are?" Professor Goodwitch asked as she shook hands with the girl.
"Willow Schnee, Professor. It's a pleasure to meet you," the girl said in a clear voice full of authority.
"Willow… Schnee," Professor Goodwitch repeated, unable to hide the shock in her tone. "I was unaware that you would be joining us, this year. Welcome to Vale, I suppose."
"Thank you," Willow replied with an anxious smile. The entire amphitheater seemed to echo Professor Goodwitch's facial expression, and scattered whispers broke out within the crowd. Roman stared down at the girl in disbelief, his arms folded.
"Willow Schnee… that's her, alright. I've seen her at parties, once or twice. But why would she be here, instead of up at Atlas Academy? Not to mention, last I heard, she wasn't even trying to become a huntress. She was planning to take a desk job as an intern at the SDC this year."
"And who, exactly, is she among the Schnee family?" Adam spat in a tone that sounded more like a growl than a human voice. Roman blanched and scooted slightly away from Adam at the sound as Qrow joined the conversation.
"The heiress to the entire dust company. It makes no sense for her to be down here. Roman, you're sure that's her?"
"You're doubting me?" Roman asked, offended. Adam shifted his weight and breathed out heavily through his nose as Professor Goodwitch and Kali shook hands.
"I need to find Professor Ozpin. As soon as possible," Adam snarled as he shifted in his seat. He moved to stand, only for Roman to place his hand on Adam's shoulder and force him back into a sitting position.
"Down, boy. We'll figure this out as a team, later… but for now, don't you want to watch a Schnee get her ass kicked? Trust in Kali. She's got this."
Finally, Willow stepped forward and seemed to tense up even more at the sight of Kali. The faunus merely stared at her opponent, tight-lipped and uncertain as they stood across from each other. As though she was reaching out to touch something potentially dangerous, Willow offered her hand outward. Kali hesitated for several seconds, before lifting her own and clenching the other girl's fingers in a firm grasp.
"…gotta say, you're not at all who I was expecting," Kali said in a neutral tone. Willow shook hands, before pulling her own back and mashing her lips together in a self-conscious display.
"I'm sorry. And… please, go easy on me?" she asked in a hushed tone as Professor Goodwitch returned to the aura monitor and began to fiddle with a few knobs on the front of the machine.
"What? Why?" Kali questioned as Professor Goodwitch began to approach the pair, holding a pair of wristbands.
"…because I've never been in a real fight before…"
Author's Note:
Willow's reveal isn't quite the last major character debut in Volume 1, but we're getting there. Bar one more oddball OC coming up somewhere in the next few chapters, this is more or less the Volume 1 cast. Expect things to heat up in the next chapter and for some conflict to start. Only took 50,000 words of flirting, bullshit, and stupidity to get there.
One other quick note- I'm going to dial back chapter posts of this story to just one per week, on Mondays. Double updates may return eventually, but I have other projects I want to work on at the moment as well, and Arboretum takes a ridiculous amount of effort to write. I'll still try to upload content twice per week, but the Thursday "slot" will be something else- a one-shot, another chapter for another project like Echo Chamber or What You Stole II, or an update for another story tied to Arboretum. This Thursday, I'll be posting the first chapter of Journal of a Vacuan Vagabond, which will be a first-person collection of journal entries of an OC that will show up later in this story. It is most definitely canon to Arboretum and will help flesh out Vacuo, so it's worth a look if you're a fan of this. I may update more than twice per week, but I'll do my best to make Monday and Thursday a guarantee. See you next week for Chapter 10, or Thursday for the start of something related, but different!
-RD