Felt like the weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and before anyone knew it, it was time for Beacon to start up again. Still that didn't force a change in Gales schedule, at least not the morning part. He still ran with Pyrrha, and spent the next couple hours adding the last touches onto his weapon. Two weeks of hard, almost nonstop work but in the end, he pulled it off. Then again he had more free time since Juniors club had been forced to close down. Turns out the same day he had gone to see Pyrrha, someone came and wrecked the place. Some people just couldn't get a break it seemed. Still with the club a wreck now, that opened up the nights for a while, as would Beacon.
"That also means that I won't be able to work at Tukson's for a while either." Gales noted as he finished screwing a gear into place before looking the work over. "Maybe I can do weekends?" The teen muttered as he looked at the weapon he was currently still working on. Floor was covered in sketches and some still unattached gears and screws. A bit of grease and soot covered his face and there was a large cloth spread out on the floor. Small tools were here and there as well. He glanced at the nearest clock, checking the time before frowning. "I still got time to finish this and shower." The teen muttered as he returned to work. "Still, no wonder the Smithy's charge so much. Building a weapon is hard work." Gales thought aloud as he leaned back. Resting his palms on the floor and stared at his work.
"I always thought that the hard part was just getting all the materials they need, but no, actually making it… back home I had the easy job." He admitted with a whimsical smile before reaching for the weapon and lifted it towards the ceiling. "Either way your body is more or less done, took me a good while but you're finally finished." He told the weapon as he looked it over.
It… certainly wasn't the most impressive looking weapon, then again this was his first attempt at actually building a weapon himself. Still it was sturdy and it wasn't going to break apart any time soon. What he created wasn't a Switch-Axe like he had told Pyrrha about; rather it was something else. It was a bladed weapon, about the size and width of a greatsword, but the base of the blade was connected to what could be considered the inner mechanisms of a Charge Blade.
An Ignition Blade; that was what Gales chose to call this 'thing'; it was something he'd thought up when he was a kid at Eldenwyrm. A modified greatsword that had been improved upon with the latest technology available to the Old World. It was silly admittingly ambitious idea, but it was something that stayed in the back of his head and something he kept trying to improve over the years.
As for his firearm; he'd chosen to stick with the piece that Junior had given him a while back. It was still going to be a temporary thing though, he used all the material he had to get his prototype Ignition Blade together.
"You look ready…" Gales muttered as he rised the weapon up with one arm. "You 'feel' ready too - but you still feel pretty light despite the Os infused with your components." Gales muttered as he gave the weapon a few practice swings. There was a fourth form, but he'd take a look at that later. "Feels like I'm wielding a Longsword instead of a Greatsword." He turned the weapon a few times before tossing it, catching it again to hold properly. "Had you been borne of Wyvern scale and Leviathan bone your weight would definitely be what I prefer." He brought the weapon over his shoulder before pointing it forward. "Don't get me wrong you're fine the way you are, I guess I'm just being picky." He told the weapon as he brought it back and ran his fingers along the weapon for a moment. "All that aside anyway; your body is done, all that's left is to awaken the spirit." He dropped, crossing his legs for a moment before resting the weapon on his lap and closed his eyes.
In the Old World, in the world of scattered tribes and hut sized monsters it was common to have an armorer name a newborn weapon, because it was believed - they believed that in naming the thing awoke the soul within it. Without a soul, the thing was never truly alive, just a hunk of iron, or stone and bone. Wielding a weapon like that… it felt wrong, literally and figuratively. A weapon like that; it was lost, it had no purpose, no directive, no consciousness.
If he wanted to compare it to something… the closest he could think of were likely the Grimm. Soulless apparitions given false skin. Not fully part of this world or the next. They just… existed. Cold and malicious and hungered for destruction without purpose.
At least that was how he saw it.
"Your name…" He began as he opened his eyes, his attention focusing on the weapon before him as he ran his hand over it for a moment. "Your name… shall be Wyrmsflare." He told the weapon as he felt it tremble. The weapon didn't do anything further though, didn't suddenly sprout flames like some Rath weapons or generate a spark of lightning like a Lagia, but he could "tell" that the soul had settled. Invisible strings tying it to it's vessel. He smiled lightly as he patted the weapon before he stood, taking Wyrmflare with him as he gave it a few test swings. "It's a pleasure to meet you, partner." He set it on his bed. "I hope you're ready, we're going to working together from now on. He glided his fingers over the weapon one last time before he started walking into the shower to get washed up. When he stepped out he went about looking at his choice of clothes - his "Hunters Attire" and started to think back. He grabbed these last week. Nothing too impressive, wasn't made from Aura-reactive fibers or anything, but it would work for him.
The first thing he found himself putting on were a pair of black pants and placed his waist harness over them. He grabbed some plain - practically featureless boots save for the trio of small belt like straps on them. He grabbed a gray-blue short-sleeve shirt that was a bit too tight for his tastes, but it still fit at least. Lastly he just grabbed a pair of fingerless gloves and tied his pelt around his waist.
The pelt didn't really fit the look, but he didn't really care at the moment. Al though he'd probably trade it out if he had a cool ass coat like that Offlander he met once, a man by the name of Dante.
"Wonder how he's doing." Gales muttered as he grabbed a backpack and slipped it on his back before grabbing his Ignition Blade and hooked it into place thanks to a small but powerful magnet. "Hope he's well." He muttered as he looked to Gandora and his bowgun Fangbreaker. "Well, guys, time for me to go." He told them as he patted both his weapons. "I'll see you when I get back."
Beacon Academy
An academy for hunters, no matter how much he thought about the idea it still sounded a bit strange. An interesting idea, but still a strange one. Then again where he was from every Hunter was trained either privately or by their personal experiences - usually both. The closest thing he could think about to compare it to might be the Wycademy; the corporation that specialized in researching and surveying various monsters. If that was the case and they were similar he had an idea about what to expect. Hopefully he was right on that part.
"I really can't get over how Remnant-forged Airships look." Gales muttered as he turned his attention towards the the docking airships. As neat as ever, was all he could think of at the moment. Actually that was his second thought. His first thought was actually what kind of coal or gas did they use. His third thought; his third thought was who was the kid throwing up in the trash can. He shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. "Poor guy must be air sickness… Thorn hated air travel because of it." Gales muttered as he waited for a moment and the crowds started to catch up to him and the others that were already…
Gales thoughts went dead as he turned his attention to look through the incoming crowds. "Holy… shit." School hadn't even started yet and Gales was already learning a few things. Well he already knew this but; Remnant girl's were really cute. Like seriously. Good complexion, nice eyes and hair. Seriously he knew a few girls back home that would kill - probably literally- for clean hair like that. Hell he'd kill to have soft hair like that.
…
"Huh… I just learned something about myself." Gales muttered as he watched the various figures walk on by.
"The view from Vale's got nothing on this." Hearing the voice Gales turned his attention back to the courtyard as he watched one girl cross her arms. 5'8", fair-skinned with lilac eyes and long bright golden hair. She dressed herself in a tan jacket that showed off her midriff, with golden brown piping and short, puffy sleeves with black cuffs with two gold buttons over a low cut yellow crop top with something stylized on her left breast in black. A brown belt covered by a pleated brown piece of material reached from hip to hip around the back of her waist, with an emblem emblazoned on the right-most pleat in gold. Beneath that was a longer, white, asymmetrical piece of material reaching to her knee on the right side along with a pair of black mini-shorts. Brown, knee-high boots and orange over-the-knee socks, with the right sock pushed down just below the knee. A purplish-gray bandanna was tied around her left knee. An orange infinity scarf and black fingerless gloves wrapped up her outfit.
"Wow…hot." Gales muttered as he continued to stare though his vision started to drop after a few moments turning to a more "pronounced part" of her figure.
"Ooh! Ooh Sis! That kids got a collapsible staff!" His eye immediate jumped up at the new voice; paying attention to the other figure next to the blonde.
"Red?" Gales blinked in surprise as he looked at the teen. "She's here too?"
One Week Earlier
"You know… I really should have expected things to get a bit wild tonight, I just had one of those feelings" Gales muttered as he stared across the street at the Dust shop. A case over his shoulder as he took in the sight of a group of armed men stepping into the shop. Bunch of Black suits with red blades. "Wait those Junior's boys? What are they doing out here?" Gales questioned as he stared at the group for a moment longer before stepping forward… only to stop when someone went through the window. From the inside of the store the group of Junior's men stepped into view, although Gales had his attention focused on who was in the streets.
5'2", fair-skinned young girl with silver eyes and black, neck-length, choppy hair. Dressed herself in a long sleeved thick black blouse with a high collar and red trim on the sleeves. A black waist cincher with red lacing up the front, and a black skirt with red trim. Also wore a pair of thick black stockings and black combat boots with red laces, red trim around the top and red soles. Outfit was topped by a red hooded cloak fastened to her shoulders by cross-shaped pins. Her emblem, appearing as a large silver brooch, was pinned to a wide black belt slung around her hips on an angle, which also carried bullets and a pouch.
'She's cute.' The teen thought as he heard a series of gears turning as she revealed herself to be a huntress - more likely one in-training. "Is that a scythe?" Gales blinked before he stared at the sight. 'Little red, you just went from a 6 to an 8!... Huh… I like girls with weapons… Why does that make sense to me?'
Maybe because every girl he knew back home had a weapon either the size of their arm or the size of their body.
"Ok~" Gales turned his attention towards the speaker as he blinked in confusion. That… wasn't one of Junior's guys. 6'3" with dark-green eyes and bright, long, orange hair, with long bangs covering his right eye while black eyeliner traced the left eye. Dressed himself in a red-lined white suit with long black pants and black shoes. He also had small gray scarf, black gloves with buckled sleeves, and a black bowler hat with a small feather tucked into its red band.
'Who's… wait I know that face… he's been on some of the Wanted Posters… Torchwick.'
"Get her." Gales moved reaching to set his crate down before coming to a stop.
Red was… good. Really good. Whomever taught her knew what they were doing. "You were worth every cent, truly you were." Torchwick muttered as he removed his cigar and dropped it on the floor. "Well Red, I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening. And as much as I'd love to stick around." He pointed his cane at Red as the end opened up. "I'm afraid this is where we part ways." One shot from the cane and Red moved, pointing her scythe downward as she used the recoil to fly upward and into the air. Good thing too, that one shot broke part of the street, she tried blocking that she'd be in some serious she landed Gales already had his attention on Torchwick watching him climb up a fire-escape as Red took a moment to look for him.
"You ok if I go after him?"
"Uh huh." That was all Red needed before she moved leaving the shop-owner and unknowingly Gales behind. Seeing the sight of the retreating girl Gales just walked over to one of Juniors men as they groaned weakly.
"Hey Nolan."
"Ugh~ Gales… what are you doing here?" Gales just gestured to his crate as he crouched down. "I'm just bringing some books home from Tukson's been working late since Junior's club got trashed."
"Oh…"
"Yeah. So~" The teen gestured to the other unconscious men before he turned his attention back to Nolan. "Wanna tell me what this is all about?"
Turns out Torchwick had hired some of Junior's men to rob a Dust Store. Just business, Nolan said, then this little red hood who was in there up and dropped them all. Turns out that same little red was now going to school with him. "Well this i'll be interesting, I gotta remember to thank her at one point anyway."
Little Red gasped as she grabbed onto her apparent sister's arm before she somehow started to float off. "And she'd got a fire sword!"
"Ok that's cute." The Hunter muttered as he continued to watch the scene for a moment. "Oh Spirits, that's a very dangerous combination. One sister's hot, the others adorable."
"Ow, ow."
"Easy there little sister. They're just weapons." Gales actually felt insulted when he heard that.
"Just weapons?"
"Just weapons?" Apparently little red had the same feelings as Gales did. "They're an extension of ourselves! They're a part of us!" Little red squealed for a moment. "They're so cool."
"Well why can't you swoon over your own weapon? Aren't you happy with it?"
"Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose!" She cradled her weapon for a moment before holding it a bit more properly. "I just like meeting new ones. It's like meeting new people, but better." The blonde just smiled as she pulled red's cloak over her head for a moment. "Ruby, come on, why don't you go try and make some friends of your own."
"But why would I need friends when I have you?"
"Aw~" Gales suddenly wanted hug little red - Ruby was it? Well he either wanted to hug her or adopt her as his own little sister. "Is that legal in this world?"
"Well... actually, my friends are here now. Gotta go catch up. 'Kay, c'ya bye." The hot blonde moved so fast that she sent Ruby into a tailspin.
"Wait!" Where are you going? Are we supposed to go to our dorms? Where are our dorms? … do we have dorms? I don't know what I'm doing…" And like that little Ruby fell, landing on an assortment of briefcases and knocking them over and Gales winched slightly.
"An~d…"
"What are you doing!?"
"There we go."
"Uh, sorry."
"Sorry? Do you have any idea of the damage you could have caused?" Another girl called out as she stared down at little red. 5'3" pale skinned with pale blue eyes and long white hair pulled back into an off-center bun tail on the right side that was for some reason pinned with an icicle shaped tiara. She wore a thigh-length strapless dress that gradated from white to pale blue at the hem. A small piece of black lace sat in the front of her neckline and the hem of the dress was scalloped and stitched to resemble snowflakes, with layers of white tulle under the skirt. Over it she wore a bell sleeved bolero with the same color gradation as her dress from shoulder to wrist, lined in red and with a ruffled collar. On the back of the bolero ws some kind of crest.
She also wore a small apple pendant on a silver chain and thin, rectangular silver earrings. Boots were white, wedged heeled and higher at the back than the front. They had a small silver decoration across the top of the foot and are lined in red. A thin white sash was tied around her waist with a pouch attached to the back. … was that a scar under her eye?
"Nice~ but she could really use some sun Pyrrha has moonlight skin, her's is snow."
"Uh~"
"Gimme that. This is Dust, mined and purified from the Schnee Quarry."
"I still need to figure out if you could liquify Dust."
"Uhh…"
"What are you, brain dead? Dust; Fire Water, Lightning, energy!"
White really should stop shaking that, from the looks of it-
"Is any of this sinking in? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Uhhhhaaaahhh - Chooooo!" An explosive of flames erupted in front of little red - and unfortunately directly on the white girl.
"Called it." Gales snickered slightly as he watched the scene. Taking a step forward he reached for his pelt, intent on using it to pat the exploded girl down before stopping. "Huh… she's still standing. She must be really durable."
"Unbelievable! This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!"
"I'm really, really sorry!"
"Ugh! You complete dolt! What are you even doing here? Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?"
"Well… I."
"This isn't your ordinary combat school. It's not for sparring and practice you know. We're here to fight monsters! So watch where you're going!"
"Ok, I've had about enough." Gales muttered as he shook his head and stepped forward stopping when someone else crossed his line of vision.
5'6", fair skinned with amber eyes and long, black hair. A ribbon is tied with a large bow on the top of her head. Purple eyeshadow in catseye style. Dressed herself in a black buttoned vest with coattails and a single silver button. Underneath this was a white, sleeveless, high necked, crop undershirt and white shorts with a zipper on the front of each leg, emblazoned with a logo. Black low-heeled boots and full stockings that gradated from black to purple at her ankles. An emblem was visible on the outside of both thighs just below her shorts in white. Left arm had a detached sleeve with a silver cuff around her bicep, and black ribbons are wrapped around both forearms. A small, loose scarf is wrapped around her neck and he could scarcely make out her backpack.
He actually whistled at the sight of of the dark girl. "By the Spirits how many good looking girls are at this school?" He muttered as he stared at the new figure walking up to the two other girl. "… what was I about to do?"
"Hey I said I was sorry Princess."
"It's Heiress, actually." Dark and alluring stated as she made her presence known. "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world.
"Finally , some recognition!"
"The same company infamous for its controversial labor forces and questionable business partners."
"What - how dare -! The nerve of - !" Gales snickered at the frustrated girl before shaking his head.
"Ok, I'm sure I won't be needed after all." The Hunter stated as he watched the white girl - Weiss Schnee walk off. He shook his head for a moment about to follow her example as he noticed the black haired girl leaving Red on her own and the girl dropped to her knees. "Second thought~" Gales turned on his heel, walking back over to the girl as he offered her a hand, he wasn't the only one. A blonde teen was doing the same. For the moment the two boys locked eyes with each other before returning their attention to Red.
"I'm Jaune." Jaune was 6'1". His blonde hair was messy and the right part was nearing his eye. He wore a white diamond-shaped chestplate cut off above his lower abdomen and white spaulders with rerebraces set under them. Underneath the armor, he wears a black short-sleeved hoodie with detached reddish-orange sleeves. Pants were blue with a white patch on the left knee, as well as black sneakers. There were also a pair of elbow guards with cords strung through them and he had black high tops. Accessory wise; he had two belts crisscrossing his waist, both different shades of brown, with a pair of small pouches on them. Brown wrist-length gloves with exposed fingertips and small metal plates over the back. And there was a sword strapped to his left hip.
"I'm Gales." Red just released a weak smile as she took both boys hands as they helped her up.
"Ruby." Right when she got to her feet she looked at Jaune and snorted slightly. "Aren't you the guy that threw up on the ship?"
A few minutes later Gales was snickering slightly as he followed the pair through the grounds and smiled.
All I'm saying is that motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on!"
"Look I'm sorry Vomit-boy was the first thing that came to mind."
"Vomit boy."
"Oh yeah, well what if I called you Crater Face."
"Hey that explosion was an accident."
"To be fair Weiss was shaking it in your face." Gales added his two cents in as Ruby turned to him.
"Exactly, it just got all in my nose and it started itching and then it just happened."
"I bet. I sneeze sometimes when ash gets in my nose." Jaune just smiled as he turned to the pair.
"Well, the name's Jaune Arc! Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it!"
"Really?"
"Do they?" Ruby was on the same page as Gales apparently.
"They will. Well, I hope they will… I mean, my mom always says that… nevermind." Gales and Ruby just laughed lightly as Gales put a reassuring hand on Jaune's shoulder. Ruby seemed to drift into thought for a moment before whipping out her Crescent Rose.
"So I got this thing."
"Whoa! Is that a scythe!"
"Yes it is."
"It's also a customizable, high impact velocity sniper rifle."
"Nice."
"A wha-"
"It's also a gun." Gales stated ruby cocked the weapon.
"Oh. That's cool."
"So what've you got?" Ruby asked curiously as Jaune reached for his weapon.
"Oh- uh, I got this sword."
"O~oh!"
"Yeah, I've got a shield too!" Jaune admitted as he reached for his sheathe as it expanded into it's shield form.
"Ah you're a Sword and Shield type."
"Yeah."
"So what do they do?" Either the shield was sensitive to touch, or Jaune hit a button on it, cause a moment later it shrunk back down and Jaune had to juggle the shield in an attempt to catch it."
"Well… the shield gets smaller… so when I get tired of carrying it. I can just put it away."
"But wouldn't it weigh the same?" Gales and Ruby asked together as Jaune hunched over."
"Yeah, it does." Gales just gave Jaune another pat as Jaune gave him a reassuring smile.
"So what about you?" Ruby asked as Gales just smiled slightly. Reaching for his weapon Gales spun it a few times in his hand before stabbing the weapon into the ground.
"This is my partner." Jaune couldn't help gaping at the massive weapon.
"I-is that supposed to be a sword too?"
"I call it an Ignition Blade. It's incredibly dense, with exceptional heat and corrosion resistance. Wonderful cutting power even without the engine mechanism being activated and it's size allows it to double as a shield." Gales said proudly as he reached under his pelt and pulled out his handgun. "I also got this thing."
"O~oh."
"How are you even lifting that thing?" Jaune asked as he looked at Gales. "That things gotta weight a ton."
"It probably does." Gales shrugged as put his weapon back on his back. "But I really can't feel it."
"Oh." Jaune looked between Ruby's scythe and Gales blade then his own. "I suddenly feel very under equipped." Ruby made this light chuckle as she closed up Crescent Rose and put it away.
"Well, I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons." She admitted. "I guess I did go a little overboard designing it."
"I wanted to make something I knew." Gales admitted. "Then I got a better idea about finally making a prototype of a weapon concept I put together." He stated as Jaune just looked between the two before stopping, something ringing in his ear as he repeated what they had just said.
"Wait, you two made those?"
"Of course; all students at Signal forge their own weapons."
"I had to make mine here in Vale."
"Didn't you make yours?
"It's a hand-me-down. My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the war."
"Sounds more like a family heirloom to me." Gales agreed. "Well I like it! Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days."
"Yeah. The classics."
"So why did you two help me out back there, in the courtyard?"
"Eh, why not? My mom always says, "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet"."
"That's a good saying." Gales admitted as he crossed his arms. "Whenever I meet new people I usually end up making friends with them somehow."
"Hm~ hey, where are we going?"
"Oh I dunno, I was following you." Jaune admitted as he looked around. "You think there might be a directory?" Gales just laughed lightly as the two looked at him. "Uh, what's so funny?"
"I thought you just wanted a walk around the school, but you've actually no idea…" He sighed in relief as the two flourished slightly. He turned on his head with a smile and made a gesture with his hand. "Come on, I'll get you to the others." He said as he smelled the air for a short second. "This way. Oh and~" The teen trailed off. "Allow me to be the first to properly welcome you to Beacon."