"Well that had certainly been close." Kad mused to himself.
The news would have had a much more interesting story to tell if he had been caught in that robbery.
Little chance to see what Torchwick was really made of.
It had been a long night anyway. Kad didn't need to sleep as often as other people, two straight months was his record so far. But he didn't like to sleep anyway.
That was when the nightmares came.
Always the nightmares. Flashing images of the things that had assaulted his birth pod. They never ever let him have a full night's sleep, the faces in the fire that always woke him up sweating in a panic. Convinced the creatures had found a way out of their hellish realm and were coming straight at him.
But Cinder always seemed to be there during these times. Lending a steady hand and calming words when he woke, about to scream and swing at the first thing in range. Her absence for those times was one of the very few things he was worried about. But as the saying goes he would cross that bridge when he came to it.
So after locating the airship docks and hiding his bags behind a bunch of very heavy cinder blocks in a nearby alley. Kad set out to explore the nightlife of Vale.
He didn't have the time, money on hand, or any real inclination to go into any of the various night clubs. Interesting though they were. Loud thumping music and bright over the top light shows. He did mark some of the quieter ones in his head for later reference. For if he got some free time at Beacon.
So Kad continued on through the sleeping city. Not really with a destination just mindful of how long it would probably take him to get back to the docks. It didn't take long for him to almost completely map about half of the city south of the river in his head. Stores, restaurants, apartments, factories, municipal buildings, bus stops and highways, and other points of interest. He didn't hang around long near any of them. Only once walking into a Dust shop to browse for a few minutes before left, back into the night.
Dust was tricky for him. Despite how smart he was, and how far Cinder said he had come in just a few short months he could only just manage to manipulate his aura in the proper way to shield himself, never mind control the nearly magical element. So as an added bonus he hadn't figured out what his semblance was either from his lack of deep aura use. And it frustrated him to no ends. He tried everything Cinder had shown him, meditation, spirit walks.
He had only succeeded in combat a few times.
Fully manifesting his aura had saved his life when he had stumbled across a Deathstalker in the deserts of Vacuo, caught off guard it had managed to seize him in one of its claws during their fight. His aura was finally strong enough to hold the claws open long enough for him to escape. And lured the giant scorpion into a narrow canyon where it got stuck and Kad was able to push a few heavy rocks onto it to kill it.
Cinder had offered to fully unlock his aura for him but he felt that was cheating. Not only cheating dangerous. Being suddenly gifted with a strange ability he had no idea how to control. He would prefer exploring the depths of his strength and aura on his own.
Police drove by occasionally, slowing down to give him a cursory once over. Doing their job obviously not looking for anyone in particular, or just not him. Kad hadn't heard any sirens all night. And even walking through parts of town that usually would have some criminal activity anywhere else in the world he hadn't seen anything suspicious or outright criminal.
Kad kept walking into the night and early morning when he judged it was time to start doubling back to the airport.
"The robbery was led by nefarious criminal Roman Torchwick, who continues to evade authorities. If you have any information on his whereabouts please contact the Vale police department, back to you Lisa."
Kad wasn't really paying full attention to the news report. Just enough to wonder what he would have done if he had been caught in a store hold up.
He was looking out over the city from one of the windows on the airship. His mind on half a dozen different things. Was his stuff okay in the cargo hold? How long until they landed? The things Cinder had told him before he left.
"Your part may take some time. Beacon is usually a four year course."
"I know… Just why am I going alone?"
She had told him all ready, Cinder knew that. But she decided a reminder couldn't hurt. "You don't need our help, and the rest of us are going to be busy for the moment with phase one."
Cinder reached up to lay her hand on his shoulder reassuringly, even though such an act was becoming more of a stretch as of late.
"You'll be fine. You'll be the finest student Beacon has ever had. There'll be no doubt who's the best candidate for Vale's next Marshal Huntsman."
She almost frowned at his silent response. Only guessing at what turmoil he was trying to bury.
"You can do more good after Beacon than you ever could just working in the shadows." His master told him, "Trust yourself and don't worry, remember we'll be joining you for the Vytal festival next year. But before you go I have a gift for you."
She held out the knife she had been keeping at her side.
He knew what was coming. Revolution and war. The old ways were dying, and it was up to them to sweep in the new era of the strong. Kad knew his job,
But that didn't mean he had to like it.
The video display on the wall emitted a tone and the news broadcast turned off. A holographic projection of a woman now stood there. Her hair color was very light-blonde pulled back in a tight bun. She had thin rectangular glasses, a white long-sleeved suit with puffy sleeves up to her wrists a black business skirt. Black boots with brown heels, and a tattered purple cape.
The speakers around the passenger hold kicked on, students crowded close to the hologram while Kad stayed back leaning on a distant ledge in front of a window.
"Hello and welcome to Beacon, my name is Glynda Goodwitch." The woman began, "You are among a privileged few who have received the honor of being selected to attend this prestigious academy."
Kad quietly laughed to himself, mentally underlining Goodwitch's welcome speech, "Or lucky enough to scam your way in."
"Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace,"
"At least in the kingdoms, where there are no wars of men. Trapped and locked behind their walls. Peace not prosperity."
"And as future huntsmen and huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it. You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task. And now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world."
Kad couldn't help but wonder, and smile just a little bit in amusement...
Did any of these other youngsters really know what they were getting into? How many others had stared death and evil in the eye unblinking? How many had ever fought a wild Grimm outside of a school? How many had ever been in a real fight, with no rules and the ultimate price paid for losing?
Hunting was a dangerous business, not a dream fantasy job were everyone retired a hero. He had practically run several solo missions already under Cinder already. Kad knew what they were all in for. They would be the ones to walk in the darkest places of the world, remaining cold as steel as they overcame what dwelled there.
But in the end, it wasn't his place to ask. Perhaps they would learn, perhaps they wouldn't. If any of his fellow trainees were useless that would just make him look all the better.
When the time was right of course.
Towering over his new peers, Kad was the first off the ship once they finally touched down.
No one was present to guide them but signs hung in the distance seemed to indicate where they were supposed to be going. Kad took a moment to look around as he walked, surveying the place that would be his home for the foreseeable future. Looking up at the whitewash buildings and the immaculate shrubbery, sprinkled with trees of every variety from both of the nearby forests.
Choosing to ignore the sounds of commotion which echoed over the campus from behind him.
Kad along with the majority of the rest of the incoming class made it to the designated building in no time at all. Inside there was a large open space with a large raised and rounded platform stage right in the middle. Professor Goodwitch was standing there in person watching her new students file in.
"Welcome again all of you," She said into the microphone before her. "Professor Ozpin will be down shortly to address you. Please see one of the upper classmen around the room, they will provided you with a hand book and answer any quick questions you might have."
Kad didn't have any pressing questions, but he took an offered pamphlet and started flipping through it casually while waiting for the headmaster. Glancing around to get a little glimpse of his eventual comrades, and potential competition.
Shortly turned into about twenty minutes later as the last of the incoming class trickled in from outside where they had been trying to explore the campus before orientation had officially begun.
The indistinct murmur of a hundred different conversations passed from wall to wall. Students greeting friends. Making introductions, gossiping about anything and everything. But one single click of an opening door somehow silenced everything.
Out from the shadows, a grey haired man with a cane dressed in a black suit and green scarf stepped out onto the stage and approached the microphone. Quieting the whole room just with his arrival. Professor Ozpin, Kad presumed.
"I'll keep this brief." The Headmaster began.
"You have traveled here today in search of knowledge. To hone your craft and acquire new skills, and when you have finished you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people."
"True enough." Kad thought to himself.
"But I look amongst you and all I see is wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this. But your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far."
Ozpin paused for the briefest of moments, looking out at the hundreds of young faces staring back at him.
"It is up to you to take the first step."
Kad dreamt again, of his time lost amongst the monsters that haunted his dreams, the ones who took him from where ever he was born so long ago. Sometimes that place seemed like just a fantasy he only half remembered. Other times it felt as if he was back there again and all that he had seen and done since coming to Remnant had been a dream.
It was good that he rarely needed to sleep, but tonight was one of those rare nights he slipped into the abyss of rest. After the speech Professor Goodwitch shepherded the whole incoming class over into the ball room. Luggage was carted in, and the new students all rounded up their personal belongings. They found old friends and some even made efforts to find new ones.
Groups were organized throughout the afternoon to take the new students on a cursory tour of the campus before dinner. They showed off the dormitories, the class rooms and training arenas, the library, the forge, the cafeteria. Letting the new students get a feel for their home to be. Finally they were all fed and placed into the ballroom once night and darkness had begun to fall.
In the ball room he tried to just lightly doze in a corner. Jacket tucked behind his head leaning against a pillar listening to the people around him, weapons within arm's reach to his right. But before he knew it he had fallen deep into slumber, and the nightmares began again.
But this time it was different.
It didn't feel as sinister as the last times over the years. Something was at the back of his mind, nagging for his attention and making his heart beat start to flicker. Like he was trying to remember something very important and beginning to fear what its absence from his awareness meant.
The giant grew confused. Why? He didn't forget anything… did he?
In his dream he walked down a dark metal corridor. Figures followed close behind evident by their heavy armored boots thudding on the deck, but he did not turn around. His guards went with him everywhere he hardly noticed their presence.
The thoughts were not his. Kad had no idea where he was and began to grow alarmed.
The monolithic doors opened as he drew close and stepped through onto what looked like a control station for an airship.
But Kad had been on board the bridges of airships before, you could fit an entire Atlas warship in this place here and still have room to spare.
Dozens of figures sat at or stood near consoles that managed all of the functions of the ship. More individuals and their honor guards in full dress uniforms and mirror polished armor stood before the massive view port at the far end of the room.
The young huntsman was stunned "Wow that window..."
The view was incredible, and Kad had no idea what he was looking at.
Stars spread out all across the blackened sky. Again Kad could only speculate. Was this place on a mountain? To high up to see the ground?
No.
His eyes picked out hundreds of shapes dotting the view from the window. Ships carrying his warriors ready to begin the great reunification of humanity's lost empire. On the front of this vessel a great two headed golden eagle shone bright in the void. Bathing the entire fleet in its radiance as they orbited over the cradle of humanity. The symbol of what comprised the strength necessary to bring his dream to fruition.
What dream, he was in a dream…
The envoys waited for Him to break words. Some trembled in anticipation, still unused to being in the sheer manifest majesty of His presence. Others pushed out their broad chests to make sure they had their most heroic and regal pose ready for the ones who would seal this moment for eternity in pictures and paintings, and their own memories.
Kad felt himself smile. And his deep voice boom out over the gathered aristocrats of Sol, and through the ether by the vox to his legions.
"The wheels of fate are turning my friends. And now our destiny is within grasp. Many worlds lie beyond our ancient home, so many places lost and confused. Desperate for the truths we have to share. The galaxy is ours for the taking. Let…."
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON OVER HERE? Don't you realize some of us are trying to sleep!"
Startled awake, Kad sucked in a deep breath of almost panic and reached for his javelin. The mysterious dream pushed to the corners of his thought by reality making its way back to the forefront of his thoughts.
He was at Beacon, in the ballroom. Everyone was supposed to be going to sleep.
If some idiots decided to start a fight he was going to have a word with them. Kad looked around and quickly found the source of this commotion. Three girls were bickering on in the middle of the ball room, although much quieter now then whichever one of them had shouted to the whole room. The smallest girl present trying to silence the others before more took notice.
No real problem Kad decided.
He cursed to himself "What a dream, memory… whatever."
Kad knew for certain he had never experienced anything like that. But regardless of whether or not it was real. Kad wanted to know, what did it mean? These alien thoughts crept along the edges of Kad's mind. A hundred different explanations managing to only leave im with more questions.
Challenges met, start of something big.
Great things were about to happen. The righteous were coming to aid the weak.
Almost like the same thing Kad had come to Beacon to do.
He tapped his chin and began to muse a little more. The thinking comforted Kad, reminding him of his purpose. The change he would bring and the strength that would follow. And for once it felt completely real not a theory or possibility. Regardless of their origin Kad took them to heart and relaxed.
And for the first time in his life Kad managed to rest peacefully, until the dawn light started streaming in through the academy's windows.