"You don't know me!" Raiden called after the figure marching away from him.

"And I don't want to" the stiff voice called back.

Raiden ran after the fellow initiate, desperate to amend the rough start he had found himself in.

Having been launched off the cliff and into the sky a few minutes prior, Raiden hadn't landed so gracefully as low altitude entries were not something he anticipated. Inspecting himself and brushing the dirt off his coat, he looked upwards to orient himself by the sun.

Before he had broken the treeline he had seen where a few other students had been thrown. It was a rough guess but as they were launched after him they couldn't have landed too far. With feelings of anticipation and anxiety, he took off. Moving through the forest where the least brush and easiest terrain took him while holding to his rough direction. His peers would most likely do the same till they found a trail. 'Growing up in the countryside did have its merits' he fondly lamented.

He didn't need to wait too long. His pace soon slowed to a halt as he saw a figure in the distance. There was no sound of combat, signaling it was safe to approach. He wasn't anywhere near to be considered close yet as he approached with his feet crunching the foliage beneath, the figure spun, crouching to a knee and reaching for the metallic contraption on his back.

Raiden stopped immediately throwing his hands up to show his innocent intent. The figure relaxed for a moment as they observed each other. Hands still in the air he looked over the crouched individual.

His glasses provided the clarity he needed to see every detail and it struck him as odd. The boy seemed different from the other initiates even himself in the way he dressed. Raiden proudly wore his blue and white clothing, though he considered his own style to be innocuous enough compared to others.

The boy before him wore a bland mixture of grays on clothing that fit loosely on his body. It was obviously not a fashion statement as some hunters dared to do and made it difficult to tell if he was skinny, stout, strong, or any other form of basic observation aside from height.

The only thing he could use to define him was that his head and face were uncovered. Average brown hair that was kept at a medium length with a part and brown eyes to match. Raiden then noticed another oddity. The boy was eyeing him in depth as well before lowering his arms and standing. His eyes however stayed low as he turned to leave.

He was purposely avoiding eye contact. Raiden panicked slightly as he chased after, trying to at least have the chance to make a first impression. The boy, however, would not let him and dismissively snubbed him at every opportunity. It was when Raiden tried to force interaction he received a chilling gaze and harsh words.

Raiden had run ahead and stood in front of him with an outstretched hand, the boy looking him over again while avoiding eye contact took a short breath. "You're no warrior, no soldier, not even good bait."

The boy walked past Radien, uncaring for the effect of his words. Frozen in place, Raiden was unsure how to feel. Shock seemed to be his instinctive reaction. The logical side of him said to cut losses and find someone else. Yet for the first time in his life, he had felt deeply insulted, enraged even. And so he pursued his critique, eager to prove him wrong. Thus bringing them to their current dispute and his reluctance to change course.

Meanwhile, the rebuffing boy was seeking to be rid of his unwanted accessory. Caelum had had one look at the boy who had run up on him and knew he wouldn't be of any use. Now the nuisance was following him while shouting.

"You know nothing about me you piece of shit!" Spat out the now indignant follower vehemently.

Caelum stopped, glancing back. The boy halted himself and froze at the expression he made. A disgusted sneer marked Caelum's face as he hissed the same response. "I don't want to" he bit back coldly resuming his trek.

Raiden was stunned again, anger rising before realizing he would soon lose track if he didn't resume following the infuriating boy. Caelum deigned not to speak or discourage him from doing so as their destination was the same and he wanted to make as little noise as possible.

Though quiet, Caelum's mind was rather active running all the available information he had. The first was the clear inexperience of the boy following him. Before he had grown irate with him, he had seemed anxious and tense. His unsteady breathing showed his cardio to be lackluster and the appearance of his frame underneath his clothes seemed slim, fragile even.

Speaking of which, his clothing didn't show much favor to him in practicality either. An out-of-place vibrant white jacket and trousers with dark blue trim around the hems. Though he reasonably sported black boots with blue laces along with a white and blue belt adorning several pouches at his waist. Like everyone else, he was advertising colors that represented himself as a person. A concept Caelum found to be useless.

On his back was an extremely slim, strange silver container that seemed folded in half. The item spanned across his back from shoulder to waist, a significantly large weapon at least. It seemed it was mechanical on the outside though whatever it contained was a mystery. At least that spoke practicality and possibility in favor of him.

With only these observations, however, the boy didn't shape up to the standards of a partner for Caelum. Hence why he ensure they hadn't made eye contact. He had no obligation to help this boy and so would let him prove himself or fail. Otherwise, he would just die at a later date.

Perhaps he would even deign to watch his pursuer get ruffed up a bit by some of the eldritch monsters meandering about the woods if he insisted on harassing him. After all, Caelum had learned firsthand that pain teaches the most valuable of lessons.

Glancing back once more Caelum saw lengthy Silver hair and matching square-rimmed glasses adorning the frowning face of his nuisance as he trodded through some thick brush after him. In a split second, his eyes snapped forward again, ensuring there was no opportunity for eye contact.

Caelum suddenly paused only for Raiden to do the same. Despite not even knowing the name of the boy he was following, Raiden's curiosity and frustration got the best of him. "Do you actually know where you're going?"

Caelum took a moment to respond, mulling over if he wanted to listen to his follower whine or not. "Yes. I observed the forest as we were falling. Not only that but there was plenty of clues that were given to us prior to our send-off."

Raiden was confused by what he meant. As if he could hear it in his voice, Caelum explained further.

"None of us were given maps. Not even an approximate location."

"So what, the headmaster said we would know it when we see it."

"So, it means that there's more to it than just being launched into a den of man-eating monsters. We were fired off into the woods one by one. Each is in the same direction with a little bit of difference in distance. Those who didn't alter their trajectories landed in a predesignated spot due to the angle they were launched."

Raiden's silence was telling enough for Caelum to go on. "They designed the platforms to launch people closer together and form groups. Each group was placed somewhere from southwest to southeast of the ruins at an equal distance."

"Wait, are you trying to say this is rigged?" asked Raiden.

"No, but for safety and the most part, the teams were already decided. To keep the image of complete chance, they allow students the freedom to change their courses and the loose legality of eye contact for teammates. Hence our situation."

Raiden grit his teeth at how the interesting and perhaps paranoic observation had come around to somehow slap him in the face once again.

Caelum turned in a random direction and slowly lowered himself. Hesitantly Raiden followed, listening in. There was no sound aside from the wind rustling the trees around them. It took a moment for him to understand that it was exactly that which garnered such caution from the boy ahead of him. Silently the gray-clad boy unlocked his metallic weapon from its sling and held it in front of him. Raiden followed suit. Lowering his case and unlatching it.

The hairs on Raidens neck bristled, standing vertically. A moist wind brushed against his skin, almost like a breath. His case in hand, he slowly turned his head. His dark blue eyes dilated, the Grimm eyeing him curiously. As panic grew in his heart so too did the beowolve's aggression.

In an instant, Raiden jumped back and began gaining distance while throwing a glance to his 'companion' who now had his weapon fully extended and was attending to three beowolves on his own. As Raiden's vision was cut off by the foliage and his ears filled with the howls of the beast chasing him, the last he heard of his peer's retaliation was a short terrifying burst of gunfire and the sound of howls.

Struggling to unfold and unlock his case while running, Raiden barely managed to dodge the nimble Grimm's swipes. Stumbling into a clearing, the case fell out of his hands and his weapon with it. Diving for his weapon, Raiden rolled with the metallic staff as the Beowolf emerged from the clearing in a sprint. Rolling to his back he twisted the shaft which doubled the polearm's length and revealed its hammer and blade head.

Sloppily he swatted at the creature, warring it away as he stood to his feet and stepped back. Glancing around he noted his immediate environment. A small clearing, with a still body of water and a decrepit water mill nearby.

His eyes swept the surroundings, a means of fighting, an upper hand, an escape! His mind raced but his panic preoccupied his thoughts. The beast lurched forward, catching the spearhead of the halberd in its shoulder. Letting out a yelp of pain it recoiled back. Though wounded it continued testing the waters of its prey.

A step to the side and Raiden would swing the pole between them. It would get on all fours and scurry around him and he would follow. The halberd between the two at all times, constantly rotated in a small circle to keep the beast guessing where he would strike if it closed in.

The creature tried stepping forward as it circled, but Raiden stepped back. Ever conscious of never cornering himself by the river. Was the Grimm doing it intentionally? It couldn't possibly be intelligent. Yet as he stared at the crimson eyes, he knew that it did hold the intent of preying upon him.

Breaking the monotony of their dance, the sounds of combat emerged from the treeline. A pack of Beowolves emerged running toward him as a cold sweat broke on Raiden's back at the sight.

The three Grimm didn't make it far as a torrent of gunfire ripped through the air from behind them. Two of the beasts were riddled by the short burst as the third ran past Raiden. As the felled Grimm collapsed into a pool of black ash, the gray-clad boy emerged from the woodline with a Beowolf falling on its stomach and beneath his foot.

His weapon at his hip, an LMG held by the bipod in his left hand and right on the trigger, the boy easily lifted the heavy device and brought its wooden stock down mercilessly onto the creature's skull. With a sickening crunch, the Grimm's eye popped out of its socket before it began disintegrating.

Caelum had already slaughtered a dozen or so of the Grimm. He had allowed the boy pursuing him to run off as he had assumed that he could handle himself. He was a huntsman in training, right? It seemed his assumption was wrong. His weapon may have been unique in appearance but his handling was rough and his expression shocked.

He had only seen a glimpse of the boy warding off his opponent as he chased his prey through the treeline but it was certainly lackluster. His stance, grip, and movements, all were exceptional, but also basic. Most of all, the fear in him was apparent. His feet seemed to move inward, his knees feeble, and his movements stiff. He could only imagine the look in the boy's eyes up close.

More growling emerged from behind him as he observed the boy. Another handful of Beowolve's arrived, perhaps from the boy's anxiety. Nonchalantly, Caelum pulled the bolt of his MG back. It clicked in place as the creatures cautiously approached. From behind he heard the boy defend himself, too focused to call for help less the lapse in attention be his end.

With no urgency, Caelum lifted the small feed cover and detached the drum mag. Pulling another off of his waist sling he clicked it into place and dragged the belt onto the feed tray. The beasts were evenly spaced, not ten meters away from him and closing. He betrayed no fear, a beginner's knowledge in fighting Grimm yet so easily overlooked. The Grimm in turn, seemed curious as to why their prey was not faltering, not fearful.

Caelum slapped the feed cover and rotated the gun to the left as he shoved the bolt forward. The Grimm, as if mockingly impersonating a hound, cocked their heads. Caelum pulled the trigger as the beast lunged. Two were blown back by the veritable hail of fire. The staccato of gunfire blended together to mimic the sound of a buzzsaw. As the other four closed in. Caelum' engaged once more as Raiden's situation worsened.

Raiden's blue eyes were wide and skittish. He had glanced at the strange gray boy easily dispatching multiple Beowolves but he couldn't linger on the thought or any sense of inferiority. The creature before him had in the meantime tested its luck again by lunging low. Raiden swung downward, unprepared for the attack, and landed a blow with the axehead onto the beast's back. It left a nasty gash but the Grimm was unphased as it approached on all fours.

In a panic, Raiden jumped and rolled over the beast, dislodging his weapon as he went. The beast howled as his weight went over and it skittered around. Raiden had no time to face it as the second Beowolf that had passed him had returned. Seeing its allies come its confidence may have bolstered.

The monster stood in front of where Raiden had landed, clawing at him and leaving barely any time to bring up his lengthy weapon. Stumbling to get a footing once more, Raiden couldn't gain any space for his weapon. The creature threw its body at him setting him constantly off balance and tripping him. His jacket became the victim of one too many close calls as he dodged.

No fancy spins, no acrobatics, a far cry from the huntsman he envisioned to be. Raiden was struggling to breathe let alone retaliate. The second Beowolf enraged by its wounds charged, knocking the second out of its way. So enveloped in taking its prey for itself, it rammed Raiden, sending his body flying back and colliding with a creaking structure.

Looking up, Raiden found himself slumped against the decrepit watermill. Fighting to his feet, a roar grabbed his attention: crimson eyes, ivory white teeth, a maw prepared for his blood. At a crouch, he instinctively swung his Halberd around, the bladed hilt burying itself in the dirt. With a spark in his eyes and a flash of his movements, he knew he wasn't fast enough. Raiden winced, prepared for death. Then he heard struggling breaths, a warm air assaulted his face. Cautiously he looked up. The Beowolf was impaled on his halberd. The spearhead piercing its sternum and axehead a lung.

The creature was kept at a comfortable distance as it limply raised an arm before disintegrating. Raiden felt relief as well as disgust as the ash fell atop him. Rolling away with his spear in his hands he dusted himself off and spat, trying to clean his mouth.

Caelum stood a few feet away. He watched from where he had slain the second Beowolf that had assailed the boy and was prepared to kill the one lunging at him. He would have made it in time and saved him but as he moved, he saw an interesting sight. A literal spark in the boy's eye's, a small bolt of electricity seemed to jump from him and stun the Grimm long enough for him to impale it.

As the lad dusted himself off and shook himself, glad the ordeal was over, Caelum collapsed his weapon with a sigh. He approached the boy reluctantly. He was rough, extremely rough. But there was potential in him. Figuring he could help a gem in the rough, shine. So long as he didn't die that is. Caelum accepted that he had made eye contact even if accidental. Orders, even if it were a headmaster's rule, had to be followed.

After finally getting the feeling of Grimm ash out of his mouth, Raiden looked up to see the other huntsman aspirant sling his weapon to his back and extending a hand. Raiden couldn't help but do a double take between the hand and the expressionless face of the one offering it.

"Caelum Hyalus. Your name?" he asked.

"Raiden… Raiden Gorm" he hesitantly replied, looking into the disinterested brown eyes before him.

Raiden eyed the hand a moment longer before it was retracted. Caelum turned on his heel and began walking. "Time to go, come on," said Caelum gruffly.

"W-wait!" called Raiden jogging next to catch up. "What's with the sudden change in attitude? You wanted nothing to do with me and I'm no fool. I… I know I didn't put on the best performance out there, so why?"

Caelum shrugged his left shoulder indifferently. "I intend on becoming a student here and that means there will be a lot of free time. May as well spend it making sure that my partner doesn't die just because he's ignorant." Glancing left, Caelum could see the confusion on Raidens face. He didn't offer any further explanation.

Raiden processed the loaded comment. Free time? In a huntsman academy? The institution is known for its loaded curriculum? And to train him, a fellow student? But it was the word partner that caught his attention the most.

"You mean it?! We're partners?!"

Caelum gave a single nod. "Orders were the first person you make eye contact with. I slipped up and looked at yours. Besides we just made eye contact didn't we? So we're partners."

'Orders?' that was another oddity Raiden noted of his peer. There was also the way he stated it as if it was an inconvenience. But he wasn't one to turn down a blessing. He felt like a hindrance but with Caelum as his partner, he was sure to get into Beacon. The boy had said it himself that he intended on passing and he had seen his skills himself.

"You don't talk much do you?" It was a blunt attempt at small talk but Caelum responded as uncaringly as before.

"Only ever spoke when exchanging important info or when addressed."

"A-ah. Is that so?"

"Yes"

"..."

"I get the feeling I'll have to be talking a lot more here, however" sighed Caelum.

Raiden fumbled for another friendly topic, taking that as a sign of willingness to chat. "Thanks for the hand by the way."

"Don't worry about it. Just don't make it too much of a habit," remarked Caelum, conceding to his attempts at discussion.

The two proceeded on to their objective, short and hushed chatter between them as the rest of their competition followed suit.

-Chapter End-