A couple of weeks had passed since the eventful night at the Coil family's property. Since then it was nearly astounding just how quickly things had changed. Lukas was often second to wake, only after Caelum, and saw to it that both his sleeping teammates were on time for their first classes.

Even his appearance had changed, once loose ties were now fastened as all the buttons on his vest were closed and his usual condescension was nowhere to be found. Yet his messy blonde hair was still left to freely hang. The change garnered wandering eyes from students and teachers alike, girls he had flirted with were turned away for later appointments, and teachers received straightforward answers.

Port himself fumbled as the more often Lukas was called upon to answer, the more he got correct. He nearly tumbled out of his seat when Lukas referred to him as 'Sir' without any sarcasm. Lukas seemed to be taking a note of stoicism out of Caelum's book but within their dorm, he reverted slightly and professed his satisfaction with the newfound attention and admirers he was getting.

Even a snide comment to Caelum over "I see why you always act so mopey now, the ladies love it. Don't be shy you can admit it." Despite his newfound middling popularity and verbal jab, Caelum let it slide as it was the first obnoxious remark in quite some time.

Weekly, Lukas's father would send a letter detailing his impressions and surprise at the subtle changes. He voiced how he 'had no idea how you did it but it's as if he's completely different! It's as if something got through to him.'

Over the course of three letters, the latest being sent at the start of the week, the contents showed the truly drastic changes behind their backs. Lukas had been going to Vale less lately but according to his father, his partying was more tame and reserved to their institution alone. Just the night before he had patrolled the club floor to see his boy in a private booth studying. The man's strong emotions could be felt through the ink. The final words promised they were to receive that initial payment soon for their work.

Thus team CRLN's days passed the same with two notable changes. Lukas' grades improved gradually and the four boys found themselves chatting on occasion with even Caelum putting in. The arguments had not disappeared in totality however, they still arose during times of stress or importance.

The most notable of which was their weekday spars against team CFVY. Team CRLN still had not cemented a victory against their seniors despite their sessions increasing. An expected outcome for only a few weeks but no less grating for the leader and former problem child of the team. At the least, the arguments were conducive to performance and enhancement. Port himself oversaw the battles and proudly boasted of the boy's exemplary performances before promptly moving on to give a long-winded speech relating to his growth as a 'spry young buck'.

Team CFVY themselves had also happily taken to the change, willingly brushing aside Lukas' past offenses and assessing his training. Lukas himself had taken a formal tone with his team at first but soon mellowed into his casual, friendly manner of speaking. This was the most receptive of signs as Caelum began assisting him and Lukas with their training and performances, so long as they asked.

Lukas and Niel as partners had seemed to grow closer as well. It was fledgling acts, eating together, training together, even studying, neither of the two's strongest points. The presiding awkwardness between them had dissipated and in its culmination, they began to hang out on the weekends.

The most recent tale they brought back at night was Lukas teaching Niel the art of picking up women. Niel hung his head low, covering his face with his hands in shame as Lukas recounted the disastrous results. Raiden felt sympathetic at the story but couldn't restrain his laughter. Even Caelum seemed to perk one ear up as he routinely went through his inventory of odds and ends. That night would end with Niel defending himself, accusing Lukas of cheating by using his semblance. The two partners would bicker before ending up in a harmless fight that was disrupted by Caelum at his insistence that it would disturb their neighbors.

The memories were surprisingly fond ones that Lukas didn't think he would experience at Beacon. Not with his initial distaste and resulting actions.

Soon the team even began discussing team attacks and combining abilities. The proposer was surprisingly Caelum who said he had been given the inspiration from one of their grades front running teams, team RWBY.

After witnessing their performance in combat class, he had given a surprising amount of praise, at least from him. Claiming that they were indeed skilled and creative, he suggested they emulate such practices. This was only a precursor to their interaction with the exuberant team.

Once their performance in class began to improve and the added eyes upon their team, It seemed Ruby Rose saw a chance to approach them in class. Perhaps unknowing, but a smart move as she couldn't be so dismissively turned away in public.

Though her initial inquisitiveness was a hurdle for Caelum who dealt with her so that his partner wouldn't say anything unneeded, he soon found himself speaking to her for advice on her inspiration for her team's performances and their unique tactics.

As if she had never been validated as a team leader before, the girl excitedly told him all he wished to know. When it seemed there was no longer anything to discuss one day, Caelum had performed a functions check on his weapon in maintenance class, and when the bipod locked outwards into its 'Scythe' form, Ruby was none too hesitant in zooming over and interrogating him. Despite the fact she was the only one to approach him or his team, the small girl didn't seem to care for the matter and became more insistent on waving or speaking to them casually.

Port himself began warming up to the team as well, even comparing Raiden to a younger version of himself. One could assume it was because both had weapons that fired projectiles with axeheads attached but that was where the similarities ended. For Port, however, he used it as a chance to engage in reminiscence whenever he could.

"Truly a future me!" he often complimented despite Raiden always giving the same polite and uneasy laugh.

When the professor would depart the young boy couldn't help but groan aloud. "I at least hope my eyebrows don't grow that bushy."

Caelum would barb his partner, saying "Nor your gut that hefty." The remark grabbed laughter from all but the unfortunate target who felt as if he was being jinxed. It was one day at the end of their training as Port and team CFVY had departed that Lukas asked for a moment of his team's time.

"Do you boys think you can spare a moment after we clean up? We'll need to head to Vale."

Niel and Raiden gave immediate affirmation as Caelum apologized. "Sorry, I have further training."

"You can't cut it short for today?" asked Raiden. "It's not often Lukas asks for something."

Caelum shook his head once. "I would but this is a one on one with our senior, Ms. Adel at her insistence."

Bewildered looks were sent his way. "Coco?!" asked Raiden.

"Agh God, she's got her claws in him again" groaned Lukas slapping a hand to his forehead.

Niel himself even seemed conflicted as Caelum cocked his head in confusion. "We're both team leaders and she offered personal training with no distractions. It seems nothing but beneficial for me and our team. I will try to hurry it along however so that I can catch up with you in Vale."

"Taking her attitude into account I almost feel as if that's a risk we shouldn't take. If it weren't a request from my father then I'd let you have your little date."

Caelum seemed perplexed by the terminology his teammate chose and declared his intention to arrive no matter what. With their team leader preoccupied, the other three members of CRLN went to explore Vale with Lukas as their guide as they awaited Caelum.

After a couple of stops and failed attempts at goading Niel into picking up women, they sat outside a small shop discussing mundane topics.

Lukas slapped Niel's shoulder. "He may have no luck with the ladies but he does have a unique skill. Tell Radien here about it."

With a curious Radien looking his way, Niel bashfully admitted his 'skill'. "I'm good at telling what someone's type is."

"Give him an example!" urged Lukas, grinning ear to ear as Raiden seemed disbelieving.

Reluctantly Niel turned to Raiden. "You like older women right?" Raiden's silence was damning as he urgently looked away. "You're mature but awkward around our classmates. You also look at Professor Goodwitch more often than not."

Cheeks red in embarrassment, Raiden pointed at Lukas who was struggling to retain his chuckling. "What his type then?"

Without pause, Niel answered. "A girl to match his tempo I'd suppose. Perhaps more street-smart than wise."

Faltering at the immediate response, Raiden tried again. "T-then what about Cardin Winchester?"

Again Niel answered. "He seems to have an affinity for blondes. His eyes wander to Miss Goodwitch and the Xiao Long girl. But with his attitude against faunus, he may have a fetish for them. Usually, when he bullies the female faunus he grabs their appendages doesn't he?"

Raiden wilted under the surprising information as Lukas nodded his head in thought. In one last attempt, Raiden raised a finger. "What about Caelum?"

Niel faltered for a moment. "Er well someone… quiet? Domineering and confident, probably? A confident Raiden and surprised Lukas turned to him, their expressions leaving him to explain his lack of confidence. "I have to know the person okay? Otherwise, it's just a guess. It's not like you two know him any better than I do!"

Lukas leaned back in his seat and agreed. "Fella sure is strange, and speaking of the devil." Looking down the street he caught sight of Caelum.

Caelum soon joined his peers as their laughter died down and they turned to their leader, wide eyes looking him up and down.

Raiden broached the question. "What uh…"

Lukas spouted his interpretation, however. "What meat grinder did you come out of?"

Caelum's long sleeves were rolled up to elbow length showing a series of cuts and bruises along them. His face faired better but still bore the tell-tale signs of aura having healed a beating and a couple of bandages.

"Ms. Adel seemed irate at me cutting our training short. She said she intended to fit the whole practice into the short bout and then some."

"You just let her beat you senseless?" asked Niel.

"She was in charge of the training and decided I needed to sharpen my dodging. Without being able to fight back she attacked relentlessly. Her bullets today seemed stronger as well.

Raiden seemed concerned. "I think you follow orders too much, Caelum." The battered leader tilted his head, his half-lidded eyes and indifferent expression showed how he didn't consider it a flaw.

"Ah forget it. You're alive so let's get going now. I only need a minute of your time anyway. Follow me" demanded Lukas. The boys were taken to the 'nicer' part of Vale where a private airstrip lay. Not revealing anything, Lukas led his team to a small hangar where he scanned a hand and unlocked the door.

His three teammates walked into the dim hangar as Lukas flipped the lights on. A pristine Bullhead of Atlesian make was parked in the center. Tinted windows with Valean black, red, and green camouflage on its exterior, the boys gave inquisitive looks as Lukas stepped next to the impressive tech.

"This is the downpayment my father promised. Took him a while to find, the bureaucracy of the syndicate and all, but he did it. Calls it a collector's item as no one outside of him, us, and the guy who smuggled it twenty years ago knows about it. Atlas's military doesn't even sell its old models so it's definitely rare. He promises he kept the internals and weapons up to date after a few refits as it was used for 'covert ops' in the syndicate until five years ago."

Raiden and Niel excitedly hurried into the vehicle, examining every facet. Smugly Lukas watched them, noticing Caelum's unimpressed expression. "What still not good enough for ya?"

"No, I am thankful. Surprised even."

"Color me surprised, your shocked face is the same as every other."

Ignoring the remark, Caelum shrugged. "I've seen plenty of the old and new models. It's nothing new."

"You speak as if you can fly one."

Caelum gave a condescending glance to Lukas who fought to keep his temper down. Instead, Lukas joined his teammates and explained the internals and weapons aboard it as Caelum watched from the side.

The team would split up later after agreeing to park their new ride somewhere closer to school grounds at a later date, believing secrecy and the bullhead itself of vital importance. Caelum took Raiden to continue instructing him on his aura while Lukas and Niel wandered about Vale.

After an evening of sharing drinks, good food, and even using his clout to call some female attention over at the club, the two partners found themselves sobering up with the cool night air next to Vale's famed bay.

Lukas contemplated the past few months as he watched the moon float in the night sky. Its fractured grace peering back at him.

He stood and looked over at the docks of Vale, the usually bustling, noisy, piers and waterways were silent as the occasional ripple would disrupt the mirror-like sheen of the waters. 'Mirror' The word sprung up, his recollection of Caelum and his tale. It wasn't often but after seeing that side of his leader, even Lukas felt like an ass.

As he stood staring out into the distance a voice spoke from behind him, kicking a stone in his direction. "There a reason you brought me here?" asked Niel.

Lukas snapped out of his thoughts and turned. Thinking of how Caelum and Raiden's partnership was. He bent down and picked up the stone Niel had kicked. As he stood he thought over how enigmatic the two other team members of his were. How Caleum seemed to guard and teach rather than learn with Raiden. He couldn't begin to understand him nor claim to be a better fighter, leader, or strategist. But his pride did tell him one thing. He could be at least a better partner and teammate.

"I used to come here as a kid a lot." Lukas began tossing the stone in the air, catching it rhythmically. "Street rats would often sneak around in the early hours of the morning and late hours of dusk when everything wasn't locked up. Food shipments or any damaged goods, if it wasn't sealed up and wouldn't be missed it was all fair game to them."

Lukas swiped his hand and with a loud snap, snatched the stone out of the air. "I never really understood back then how hard it was for them. It was before my father had coerced the rival gangs to play nice. For me, it was an adventure, however. Those ragged, dirty kids were the coolest to me. Where others adored huntsman, police, or soldiers, I thought their ingenuity and compassion were something else. Something I could tangibly see."

Lukas cupped the stone close to his chest and lifted his right leg. Planting the appendage forward, he threw the stone underhanded, and with a loud crack, the stone skidded dozens of times across the water and into the distance leaving a trail of ripples across the water's surface.

Watching the object skim away, Lukas threw his hands behind his head. "I was a bit of an introvert way back when. Those kids helped me come out of my shell. Become someone I thought was worthy of my father's inheritance, someone tough, ingenuitive, and rugged."

"That why you pitch with your left hand when you're right-handed?" asked Niel approaching with a handful of stones.

Lukas grabbed one and pitched it again, the same audible crack ensuing. "Yep, Baseball was a staple among them. When I brought a bat we all could use their eyes lit up like it were Christmas. I told them I had stolen it to cover up my father buying it" snickered Lukas.

Niel hummed as he eyed a stone himself, rolling it between his fingers. "Where are your friends now?"

Jail, dead, I don't know. Childhood innocence doesn't last long after all. Thankfully my father has helped in toning down the number of homeless within Vale, it's not a good look for business so it's a win-win. Good publicity and business. The lot I hung around were some of the last but they were done with me well before my father got things organized. Didn't take kindly to me actually having affluence."

Niel gripped one of the stones and pitched it himself, getting a measly two skips before it sank a few meters ahead of them. "Tch, Seems they weren't great friends."

"I don't blame 'em. To them, the word friend meant someone who could help them survive. They probably thought I was a snitch or mocking 'em. By the way, grip it like this."

Niel emulated Lukas' grasp and tried once more. This time achieving three skips. "Alright, how do you do it?"

Lukas gave a tight upturn to his lip, the smug look earning a roll of the eyes from Niel. "Turns out when you're dozens of times stronger than the average person, you can pitch faster too. Think about it, never seen a huntsman or aura-unlocked individuals in national sports have ya?"

Niel cocked his head at the question.

"Right, nomadic tribe and all" amended Lukas. "Well here, you know how to shift your aura right, feel it build in your lower back. Then as you shift your body forward let it sling up to your shoulder and down your arm to your fingertips. Do it right you'll get a nice crack like a whip."

Niel pursed his lips as he rolled his arm in a circle, with closed eyes he focused on his abdomen. Lukas watched as his partner's aura flared, an earthy tone of yellow and brown before settling in his core. Then as if it was a circuit, pulsated up his right side and down his arm. This repeated three times before, with a confident breath, he opened his eyes and nodded.

Planting a foot forward, Niel pitched his stone and with a swift crack, the stone impacted the water and dove straight toward the seabed. Lukas let a loud laugh erupt as he patted Niel's shoulder. "You may have control down but you still need technique!" Lukas wiped away a fake tear at Niel's expense.

The two boys began taking turns, improving, and criticizing each other. It was no real competition but the lightheartedness of the affair was well received. The small pile was soon gone and the two sat on the water's edge.

Eventually, Niel felt obligated to speak. "I don't really fit in with the rest of you. No intricate pasts or enigmatic presents. I come from a humble tribe and was raised by loving parents. My knowledge of the cities and the world at large is equivalent to rumors and hearsay honestly. I thought I'd be out of place when I arrived, but then I saw all of you and felt relieved."

"Gee… thanks," said Lukas with a roll of his eyes.

" Now though… I'm not so sure."

Lukas snorted. "I'm sure we all felt that way coming in. I doubt anyone's really normal there. I guess, like when I was a kid, we found a new adventure. Besides, seems we're all stuck together now that my father's put his nose into things."

Niel chuckled at the cynical encouragement. "To the next four years together then, If you choose to take your father's job that is."

"Pft, as if I'd give up a cushy job like that for a few more years with you ass pains."

"We'd find even more adventure together, would we not?"

The two continued their banter before growing bored with the peaceful scenery and returning to Vale proper.

-Chapter End-