Chapter Three
Clashing Classes
Ruby stares at the ceiling of team RWBY's dorm, dazed and unwilling to get out of bed. Even with her aura healing most of the muscle pain, her body protests all the action from yesterday and she probably won't be able to use her semblance much today. But more than anything else, Professor Ozpin's words echo through her head.
Lead by Ruby Rose. Her. Out of all four of them, why her? She doesn't want to be the leader, and she certainly isn't fit for it! She hadn't shown the kind of skills needed to lead, all she can do is kill Grimm. And it probably ruined any possible friendship she could have had with Weiss.
Rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands, she rolls out of bed and reaches for her bathroom stuff, jolting when she spots Bella already awake. "Oh! Good morning!" Ruby says loudly, then winces as Yang grumbles. Softer, she asks, "How did you sleep?"
Bella shrugs. "Well enough. I'm not used to noise at night," she casts Yang a quick glance before returning to her book, flipping a page.
"Yeah. Yang's just kinda always loud," Ruby giggles, scratching her cheek. "Sorry if she was a bit much," she adds.
"It's fine. I'll need to get used to it," the last part is muttered under her breath and Ruby was probably not supposed to hear it, so she politely ignores it and scurries into the bathroom.
She leans heavily against the door, dully thudding her head onto it as she tries to settle her over-reacting heart. "Stop it, Ruby," she lightly raps her knuckles on her temples, facing the mirror with a deep pout. "It's not your place to question someone like Professor Ozpin. He made you team leader for a reason. So act like it!" she glares at her reflection, but it quickly melts away as she plays with her hands. "...At least try to act like it..."
Only feeling worse after her attempt at a pep-talk, Ruby quickly washes off and gets into the Beacon uniform (brown and red like the buildings). She exits the bathroom, spotting Yang and Weiss still asleep and snoring, and grins mischievously when she sees they have an hour until class.
She digs into her bag and produces her whistle, holding it up proudly and rushing over to Yang's bed side. She spots, and hears, Bella retreat into the bathroom seconds before she blows it loudly above Yang, waking her and Weiss up with startled screams.
"Damn it, Ruby! What was that for?!" Weiss shrieks, holding her pillow over her head and glaring. Ruby winces, belatedly realizing that making Weiss angry so early probably won't help her earn friendship points.
Yang sits up, lightly flicking Ruby in the ear. "Never do that again."
"Okay team!" Ruby says, hoping to distract and forget that happened at all. "We got an hour 'til class and need to organize our dorm!"
The dorm itself is rather small for four people, a bed for each of them kinda cramped to the wall at the window, with a desk next to their door, the bathroom of course, and a tiny kitchenette that Ruby knows Yang will complain about when it comes time to cook food. And frankly, between the four of them they have a ton of stuff. Well, at least Ruby, Yang and Weiss do, Bella has just a small, worn-out suitcase. Still, they need to make this work somehow or else everyone will get annoyed sooner rather than later.
"How do we do that?" Weiss asks, eyeing said luggage with narrow eyes.
"Oh! Oh we could make bunk beds!" Ruby claps, bouncing on her heels. "Remember when we had them, Yang?"
"Hmm," she crosses her arms, tapping her chin with a grin, "I remember you pitchin' a fit when we got rid of 'em."
Ruby's cheeks darken as she lightly baps Yang on the arm. "Anyway, what do you think?"
"I like it! Hey, Bella?" Yang cups her mouth to call at the bathroom. They hear a hum in return. "What do you think about bunk beds?"
"...Sure."
"Three votes!" Ruby spins to Weiss, pointing dramatically at her with a fist on her hip. "Weiss? Yes or no?"
"They seem rather childish," Weiss huffs. "But fine. If it stops you all from touching my stuff."
How someone can be grumpy about bunk beds Ruby has no clue, but she counts it as a win! "Okay! I call top bunk!"
"Top bunk!" Yang raises her arm.
With less than an hour before class, they stagger the bed-building process and the getting-ready-for-the-day tasks. Ruby keeps track of how long each teammate takes, already knowing Yang takes about twenty minutes, and Bella matches her. Weiss takes the longest, roughly half an hour, and Ruby remains the quickest already being done. But she also doesn't have super-long thick hair.
But, alas! The beds are complete!
"Ta-da!" Ruby spreads her arms out, proud of their project.
Her own bed hangs above Weiss' with the sheer willpower of drapes and ropes, able to rock a little but not unstable enough to fall. Yang's bed is balanced atop a bunch of books, tied together with rope and as strong as any old wooden beam. They all have curtains surrounding their beds for privacy, red, light blue, deep purple and yellow to match their colours.
"If your bed falls on me I will kill you."
"Oh relax, Ice Princess," Yang waves her hand from where she sits in her bed, testing the strength. "If Bells here can have a pillar of books stand solid, you won't be getting squished."
"Don't call me that," Weiss and Bella say in unison, stare at each other, then sharply avert eye contact.
Ruby picks at a fingernail at the awkward tension, glancing at Yang. "Okay, no nicknames, got it," Yang says, vaulting off the bed with a thumbs-up. "Hey, what's our first class?"
"Grimm Studies," Weiss says, already walking for the door.
Yes! This is gonna be the best start to the day!
0o0o0
This is the worst start to the day.
Ruby had grown up getting more in-depth knowledge of Grimm better than most people, listening to Dad and Uncle Qrow telling her stories. Even while on the same team, they had different experiences and views of Grimm, so learning about them from a Beacon professor sounded wonderful.
"-and, being a foolish youth, I thought that I had bested the beast! But all I had accomplished was making it angrier!" Professor Port declares, gesturing to a diagram of a Boarbatusk. He's been ranting on for almost a whole hour, not really saying much despite the lengthy rambles. It's all just...boasting about his accomplishments, and Ruby's pretty sure they're being blown out of proportion.
She'd grown bored in the first fifteen minutes and started doodling. She's just glad she isn't the only one; nearly half the class is nodding off, a few are even boldly sleeping, and she spots Bella hiding her book behind the class textbook. Yang seems to be paying attention, but she's never unhappy hearing grandiose tales. Ruby imagines she'll probably try some of the stunts Professor Port said he did.
Leg bouncing, Ruby checks the time. Only three minutes have passed since she last looked, and there's still twelve minutes left. Ruby groans under her breath, slumping down in her chair as she begins to flick her pencil in her hands, watching it bounce. When that gets boring, she begins folding her notebook paper into shapes. When that gets boring, she makes a paper airplane and chucks it at Yang in the front.
Her sister jolts at the sudden assault and pulls it from her hair, looking back to smirk at Ruby.
"I thought this would be so much better," she mouths.
Yang's shoulders just shake in silent laughter and she turns back to the professor.
Dang it, there's still ten minutes left.
"Stop messing around," Weiss hisses from beside her.
"No one seems to care," Ruby glances around, noting only a few curious glances and Professor Port continuing his ramblings.
"See, this is why Professor Ozpin made a mistake making you team leader," she all but snarls, her foot tapping almost as fast as Ruby's. "No one will respect you."
"And nobody would like you," Ruby fires back, whisper-shouting as her face burns with anger and shame. She knows more than anybody that Ozpin made a mistake, she doesn't need anyone rubbing it in her face.
"A leader doesn't need to be liked," Weiss scoffs.
"Then I'd like to see why you would be a better leader!"
Please prove why. I don't want this anymore than you do!
"Just watch me."
"-now who would like to volunteer?" Port cuts through their whispering and Ruby sees a Boarbatusk being rolled in. For the first time in her life, Ruby is too slow and Weiss raises her hand before hers. "Miss Schnee, thank you! Come, come."
Giving Ruby a withering glare, Weiss walks towards the cage with her head held high. The rest of the students are now alert and awake, eagerly realizing something is actually going to happen in this lesson.
"Tell me when you're ready, Miss Schnee," Port places a hand on the latch. Ruby marvels at the Grimm, she's never seen a Boarbatusk before. It's much bigger than she expected them to be, about the same size as an Ursa if not a bit bigger, and quite long. Of course, its overall bulk and the massive tusks it carries is what makes it look massive, especially when compared to Weiss.
I really wanna fight it, Ruby sighs at missing this opportunity.
Weiss traces two fingers across Myrtenaster, taking in a deep breath before pointing it at the Boarbatusk. She gives a sharp nod and Port opens the cage. Interestingly, the Grimm completely ignores him and charges at Weiss, even though he's closer.
Boarbatusk are super resilient. They're dangerous until all that's left is a skeleton and their only real weakness is their underside, which is dangerous to get to if you can't manage to knock it down. But that takes more strength than I think Weiss has so she probably has to rely on her skill.
And just like yesterday, she shows she does have it. She evades and attacks with precision, dancing circles around it as she uses ice Dust and her panel-thingies to attempt to trip it. But the Boarbatusk's mass keeps it better balanced than one would expect, so she's left avoiding the charges and leaving weak pock-marks on its hide.
But there's something...off about Weiss today. Yesterday she could handle an Ursa perfectly find on her own, and they're also very enduring, and it isn't until the Boarbatusk almost catches her leg that Ruby realizes Weiss isn't being as mobile as she was. It's almost like she's holding herself back or second-guessing her actions, which doesn't make sense since she's so determined to show Ruby, and the class at large, why she deserves to be the leader.
What changed since yesterday? Well, they're all definitely still exhausted from the Nevermore fight, but that doesn't sound right. Weiss doesn't strike Ruby as the kind of person to let fatigue or pain stop her from giving nothing but her best performance. Ruby tilts her head in thought as Weiss dodges yet another charge, but notices there had been a split-second where she'd almost jumped above it before deciding to roll to the side instead.
Is she...fighting her own battling habits? Ruby blinks in bewilderment, but then understanding. Maybe Weiss has only recently been blinded in her eye, which is an injury that might not be career-ending but definitely takes time to adjust to. Even professional Huntsmen would struggle with such a drastic change in vision and depth perception.
That makes sense.
Except...she hadn't struggled so badly yesterday...
Oh! Boarbatusk must not be native to Solitas, while Beowolves and Ursa are found on every continent. So this is likely Weiss' first time fighting one, which would make anyone more cautious than to just rely on instincts.
With the mystery solved (but something still seems off...), Ruby blinks back into reality as she notices frustration beginning to show on Weiss' face, alongside panic. Ruby wonders how she isn't breaking under the pressure of the whole class' undivided attention.
Some students watch with clear amusement, others pity, and a few look concerned, but there is one consistency; they're all waiting and expecting Weiss to fail. Ruby shutters, heart pounding as her imagination runs wild with her being in the same position, suddenly grateful she'd missed being called. But that doesn't fix the current issue of Weiss being on her own. Ruby wants to do something. She needs to do something. But is there anything she can do? She doubts Weiss would appreciate direct help right now, but what other options are there?
Weiss stumbles out of the way- there's a minute left until class is over.
"Slide under it!" Ruby shouts, standing up suddenly. Her shoulders are hunched to her neck as she wrings her hands, attention being drawn to her but she keeps her eyes on Weiss. The heiress shoots her a glance, clear defiance on her face. But after a near-miss due to the distraction, Weiss sweeps a sheet of ice across the floor again and uses it to run and slip onto her back. She slides under the charging Boarbatusk, avoiding its tusks and piercing its neck, using her momentum to slice into its stomach.
Sharp spikes of ice burst from the Grimm's back before she continues on, rolling and spinning into a stand as it wheezes on shaking legs. After a tense moment, its legs give out with a thud, dissolving as the bell rings.
"Well done, Miss Schnee!" Professor Port praises happily, clapping. "You showcased excellent form and avoidance, however I suggest you don't become so fixated on one solution. Fighting Grimm is like solving a problem; there is never just one way to do it!"
Ruby waits for Weiss, opening her mouth to speak, but winces back when she just storms past without looking at her. "Let 'er be moody," Yang gently claps her shoulder as they walk out. "She can't deny you helped her."
"But she will," Bella comments, making Ruby jump because she hadn't heard her approach. "Why did you?" she raises an eyebrow slightly.
"Well...I wouldn't like it if everyone expected or wanted me to fail so badly," Ruby says, shuffling from foot-to-foot.
"Even for someone like her? She probably wouldn't do the same."
"Maybe not, but Grimm don't care if someone is kind or mean, and one day we'll need to save people who we might not like. You know?" Ruby timidly plays with her hands, quivering under Bella's really intense and quiet stare.
"That's just the kind of person Ruby is," Yang throws a comforting arm over Ruby's shoulders, grinning. "She could show empathy to just about anyone. And hey, you even left your comfort zone to do it! I'm proud of ya," Yang affectionately noogies her.
"Yaaaaang," Ruby blushes, failing to struggle free, "leggo!"
Bella regards them for a moment, before walking ahead to reach their next class.
"...Do you think she hates me now, too?"
"Mmm...nah," Yang says as she lets Ruby go, tucking her hands into her jacket pockets. "Her beef is with the heiress, not you. Don't worry so much about all this, okay? We're a bunch of strangers suddenly living together, so it's gonna take time to adjust and get used to each other. Remember when I first met my friends? We didn't always get along so well."
Ruby remembers all the scraps Yang would get into and giggles. "That's true. Thanks."
"Anytime! Now what the heck is our next class?" Yang pulls out their timetable
Yang should have been team leader. It just doesn't make any sense why Ozpin chose Ruby.
0o0o0
Beacon's mess hall is a giant of a building, standing tall with wide panes of glass for a roof and stretching up the walls, and displays a huge buffet of food. Because they get people from all across Remnant there's a large spread of food that Ruby doesn't even recognize half of. Feeling too tired to experiment, she just goes with a simple peanut butter and jam sandwich and a bowl of strawberries. And swipes a handful of cookies because, dang it, she deserves something good after another drawn-out class.
She still can't believe that someone made something as important as Disaster Relief boring.
"Hmm. None of my friends share our lunch. Oh! Hey, there's Pyrrha! Let's go sit with her," Yang is already walking over and Ruby lags a bit before trotting to keep up. "Howdy, Pioneers!" she cheerfully says, sitting on the other side of the table.
"Hello, Yang. Good morning Ruby. Congratulations on being team leader," Pyrrha smiles pleasantly. Ruby nods back timidly, taking the spot next to Yang.
"Hiya, I'm Nora!" Ruby jumps at how loud Nora is as she sticks her hand out to Yang. Yang shakes, and then both seem to realize something as they bring their elbows down to arm-wrestle with wide grins. Ruby watches in surprise as Nora holds even ground with Yang.
"Ren," says the only boy at the table, sipping some tea. He has an even more stoic face than Bella, but his eyes are more expressive with an open curiosity at Yang. Looks like he's never met anyone who matches Nora's strength.
Ruby gulps, eyes flicking to Yang who is still busy, and gives Ren a little wave. "H-hi."
"And this is Neo," Pyrrha nods to the short girl, who doesn't look particularly interested as she taps away on her scroll, only offering a lazy wave. "How has your morning been?"
"Eh..." Yang and Ruby exchange glances, the former still keeping up with the arm-wrestling. "Not...terrible, I guess. We haven't really clicked with our partners yet, but we all sorted our dorm out to be comfortable. They went along with making bunk beds, so maybe things'll get better later."
"How did you make bunk beds?" Pyrrha asks.
"The power of drapes and books!" Yang grins.
"Is that safe?"
"Probably!"
"That explains the noise we heard this morning," Ren comments. "I think we're across from you."
"Oh, cool!" Yang's arm gives slightly, then slams Nora's into the table with a triumphant smile. "So sparring will be easier to plan. We," she points her thumb and pinky between her and Nora, "definitely need to fight."
"Hell yeah! You won't stand a chance against me 'n Magnhild!"
"As if you could match my girl Ember Celica," Yang chuckles.
"Will this be before or after our promised match?" Pyrrha has a competitive gleam in her eyes, which Ruby shouldn't as be surprised by as she is. It only makes sense for a champion fighter to like, well, fighting, but Pyrrha just seemed kinda meek before. Not that Ruby has room to talk.
"I could take ya both on at the same time."
"Confident, are we?"
"We'll kick your ass!"
How does Yang make it look so easy? She's chatting and joking with complete strangers and here Ruby is sitting quietly and too scared to look any of them in the eye. Her leg blurs and she looks around the large mess hall as a distraction. Weiss is far away from anybody and she can't see Bella anywhere. Every other team is sitting with each other; they're the only ones apart.
"Would you like to spar with us, Ruby?" Pyrrha asks.
"Oh! Um...if that's okay. I'm not used to fighting people though."
"You seemed pretty experienced during initiation. Who do you usually fight?"
"Grimm. Our home, Patch, has a lot of juveniles from this Malice Spring in the northern forest."
"Malice Spring? One exists there?" Nora's jaw is dropped as Pyrrha and Ren exchange shocked looks. Neo leans forward to listen, eyes flicking between brown and pink.
"Yeah. It's kinda small, but too deep to extract without spreading it to the river nearby," Yang nods. "So Signal Academy has the students and teachers keep the numbers low. Ruby liked to sneak out at night to fight on her own."
"As if you never snuck out," Ruby sticks out her tongue.
"I didn't know there were any springs left in the kingdoms," Pyrrha taps her chin, looking up in thought. "I'd always heard they were dealt with."
"I think Signal has an agreement not to make it more public knowledge to reduce panic, and in return we're protected by Vale should it become under attack," Yang shrugs. "Dunno who the Hills would wanna attack little ol' Patch, but it's kinda our only defence."
"So should you really have told us?" Pyrrha raises an eyebrow.
"Probably not, but I don't see the harm," Yang shrugs again. "Let's try to keep it a secret now, though, Rubes."
"Right. Sorry," Ruby blushes.
"Back on the topic of sparring, how about we plan for the end of the week?" Pyrrha suggests.
"Sounds great!" Yang agrees as the bell rings. The six of them discard their trash and walk together to their next class, which Ruby isn't sure she can muster up excitement for after this disappointing morning.
Ruby feels an itty-bitty-bit jealous of Pyrrha as the champion, Yang and Nora continue to chat. She was literally born to be a team leader, with how kind and passionate she is, her talent for combat, and, you know, actually getting along with her teammates. Yang said that it will take time to adjust to strangers, but team PNNR have broken those walls. Except for maybe Neo, who keeps herself a bit distant behind them, but she isn't exactly shooting her teammates glares and sneers.
Her downer thoughts are knocked clean out of her mind when she steps into their next class.
She falls in love with it instantly. Bookcases act as the walls themselves, filled to the brim with books new and old, as tapestries hang from the tops of the shelves. A small counter near the entrance has several teapots and mugs, and such a verity of hot drinks, from coffee to hot chocolate, that Ruby knows it will be crowded very often. Tables are spread out in the center, but there are separate couches and lounge chairs scattered around in the open and few in little nooks. No matter what, though, everywhere can be seen from the professor's desk. A red-orange-yellow bonsai tree sits on the desk, completing the warm room.
Ruby suddenly hears a soft gasp from behind her and smiles at Bella, who had appeared from nowhere again, and who's eyes shine like the other night when they talked about books. She giggles, a hand covering her mouth. "This is so cool, isn't it?"
Bella just gives a short, sharp nod, before retreating to a lone chair in the corner and curling up. Ruby's shoulders relax as she follows Yang to a couch, the fear that Bella hates her dissipating. Yang was right, as she often is, and Ruby realizes that Bella is most likely just shy like she is.
The students all find comfortable places to sit and begin to wonder where the professor is, when sharp heels clack from a staircase they'd all somehow missed. Their professor is a tall Mistrali woman with pale skin and pitch-black hair that covers the right side of her face. Her dress is a rich red with gold stitching, and the hem of her dress dances with sparks with every step. Ruby's eyes widen.
"I am Professor Cinder Fall." Also known as the only Huntress to graduate at seventeen. She smiles as her eyes sweep across the class, seeming to linger on Ruby for a moment longer than the rest, but she's too stunned to care.
Here is a Huntress worthy of being emitted into a Huntsmen academy early, unlike Ruby. She wants to be excited, but all she feels is inferior in the presence of a legend who's semblance lets her mildly mind control Grimm to prevent disaster before it even strikes. Ever since she'd been accepted into Beacon she hasn't even been able to think about Cinder Fall without feeling all her stress and anxiety rise.
"Welcome," she smiles warmly, "to Tales of Remnant."
She paces behind her desk, laying her hands flat on top. "I already know many of you have scoffed at the idea that this class is required to graduate Beacon. It certainly isn't like learning how to fight Grimm or give aid in the aftermath of disaster, nor is it based off our known history. However, to any who think this is unimportant, what are fairytales and fables if not history told through the eyes of the vanquished?" she pushes off the desk, walking around it to lean against it with crossed arms, proudly lifting her chin. "All stories are born from a truth, and there is much you can learn from looking deeper into them."
"Now, class, I want to you think long and hard about this next question. You need not answer me today or anytime soon, but I expect to hear it by the end of the semester. What is your favourite fairytale?" she tilts her head. "What themes do you connect to? Are there any characters you relate to or aspire to be? And as time goes on...will that change, I wonder? No one is stagnant. We are always learning and growing," she traces her fingers over the bonsai tree, "and you will not walk out of this class the way you came in. That is a promise."
Ruby bounces in her seat, watching Professor Fall with undivided attention. Her favourite fairytale...she doesn't even know! She's read so many and she's loved all of them, can she really find a favourite out of all that? And what of all the ones she hasn't read yet? These shelves have more books than all of Signal's library, so there are so many new stories to experience!
"The first fairytale we'll be going over as a class," Professor Fall interrupts Ruby's thoughts, walking to the chalkboard, "is Born of Malice. It's a twist on a typical Grimm-tale by being told from the perspective of one, or our closest approximation of what could be going through a Grimm's head. A creative choice by the author is never describing what kind of Grimm we're following, it's up to you to decide."
Surely there has to be some clue of what Grimm it is, though? If it was a Nevermore or a Leviathan, it should be obvious.
Professor Fall hands out copies of the tale, continuing to speak as Ruby runs a hand over the cover, which depicts a Grimm's red eye surrounded by inky black fur. The title is coloured like a Grimm's bony mask, red cracks crossing the letters.
"Your first assignment is to read two chapters every day. There will be a test in two weeks to go over your thoughts and theories of what the story is about," Professor Fall leans against the desk again. Bella is already reading.
"So you're going to grade us on our opinions?" Cardin asks with a scoff.
"I'll grade you on how well you share your thoughts and describe your feelings," she corrects, smirking at Cardin. "If you think you can slack off here, you're sorely mistaken. This is a required class for a reason, Mister Winchester, and I certainly don't wish to see your first assignment fail."
"Now, because it is the first day and I understand it can be tiresome, you may spend the rest of the class reading," she sits at her desk, steeping her fingers and smiling warmly. "It can be your assignment or any other book that catches your attention. Just keep any books other than your assignment inside the classroom. If you don't finish in time, hand it to me with a bookmark and I will safeguard it until next time."
This is going to be Ruby's favourite class. After the rough morning, Ruby sinks into her cushion with Born of Malice as she and Yang exchange ideas and theories. The room fills with quiet chatter and page-flipping, a few people deciding to take different books from the shelves.
She occasionally looks around, curious of everyone else's thoughts so far. Bella isalready much further into it than either of the sisters combined, and Ruby can't help but be baffled by Weiss looking between the book and writing notes as if she's analyzing a textbook.
Pyrrha and Ren seem to be discussing their predictions of events, and Nora is rattling off facts about northern Anima fables to Neo who looks like she would rather be anywhere else. She keeps glancing around the room, gaze often lingering on Professor Fall as if she wants to ask a question, but ultimately she stays with her team.
After completing the first chapter, Ruby puts the book down and drums her legs, bouncing in her seat restlessly. Yang stopped talking a bit ago, getting absorbed into the book, and as much as Ruby loves this class she's still worn out from the day. She takes out her notebook and begins to fold her paper again, sticking her tongue out as she attempts to build a Beowolf.
The bell ringing startles her out of her craft and she begins to pack, glad their next class is Combat Training so she can move, but a voice stops her. "Miss Rose," Professor Fall says, causing her to tense, "stay behind a moment. I wish to speak with you."
"Alone, please," Professor Fall adds when Yang lingers by the door.
"I'll, uh, be by the door, Rubes," she apologetically rubs her neck, stepping outside. Ruby walks over to the desk, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"I noticed you were rather distracted during my class," Professor Fall tilts her head curiously, propping her elbows on her desk and resting her head on her hands. "And I'd heard it was the same in your morning classes."
"...You did?" Ruby rubs her arm, voice small and sheepish.
"Yes. Playing around and daydreaming isn't a good first impression to make." Despite the warning tone, Professor Fall has a warm understanding in her eyes. "But I understand the stress and uncertainty of being a Huntress so young, let alone team leader. Neither of us were given much time to prepare for the sudden shift in academics, no matter how well-suited the adults in our lives thought we were for the task. It's intimidating being surrounded by older students who have more experience, isn't it?" she smiles sympathetically.
"...Yeah," Ruby rubs her arm, staring at the floor. "I don't...I think I-...I feel like Professor Ozpin made a mistake letting me in early."
Professor Fall clicks her tongue softly. "Why do you believe that, Miss Rose?"
"...I'm not like you," she says, voice small and awed as she lifts her gaze through her bangs. "You've saved countless lives with your abilities and changed the way Remnant sees 'less desirable' semblances," as she talks, Ruby bounces on her heels and begins to smile. "You fight alone and do more to save people than an entire team can. But," Ruby wilts, eyes back on the ground, "all I did was stop a robbery. I didn't even catch Roman Torchwick, I just chased him off. Compared to all that, I just don't think I'm fit to be here, or to be a leader."
"I only got here today by making mistakes," she says softly. "I only grew into the Huntress I am because I worked hard, stumbled, and got back up to work even harder. You are here to learn,Miss Rose. And never compare your accomplishments to others, it's a good way to drive yourself mad. Instead, think about what you have done. There's no doubt in my mind that you have a rare, brilliant talent. I saw the recording of your initiation, and adjusting to sudden alphas is no small feat."
Ruby blushes, eyes wide. Professor Fall stands up, folding her hands behind her back and walking to a window, watching the clouds. "Some people in this world shine with little effort, like Miss Nikos, but there are others who must crawl to the very top through willpower and hard work. We are of the latter bunch, Miss Rose. Our talents and skills hide deep within us and needs care to reveal our true selves. I saw that with your battle yesterday," she turns, eyes bright. "You have the sparks of greatness. I've no doubt that you will one day shine brighter than even myself or Miss Nikos."
"If you ever fear you're falling behind, or feel you need help, my doors are always open to tutoring," she sits back down, arms folded on her desk.
"Really?" Ruby tilts her head, beaming. "Why would you wanna teach me?"
"I want to help any students who struggle as I did. I was left fumbling in Haven Academy, and I wish to be the support I didn't have. The first class of students I aided just graduated last year," she looks so fond and pleased. "So if you or your friends need extra help, my invitation stretches to them as well."
"I would like the help, definitely!" Ruby nods quickly, almost to the point she gets dizzy. "I'll ask my team later."
"Excellent! Now," Professor Fall reaches into her desk and pulls out a slip, "I will write you and your sister a pardon for being a tad late to your next class. We wouldn't want you to get detention on your first day."
"Thank you so much for everything, Professor Fall!" Ruby takes it and waves brightly, rushing out of the room. Yang chuckles curiously.
"You're thanking her for keeping you late?"
"No, no! She's offered to tutor me and help me get settled here! She extends it to you, too, by the way," she hands Yang the slip.
"That's nice of her," she nods thoughtfully. "I probably won't need it, but good to know."
With a skip in her step, Ruby wonders and hopes if she can ever be a Huntress like Cinder Fall.