Chapter Twenty: Anniversary
(Ryker pov)
Tonight was a bad night, a very bad, not good, absolutely horrible night. In just a few short hours the clock would strike midnight, and it would have been a full year. A full year since the death of my mother. Since the death of Maria Thorne.
The girls had gone to bed a few hours ago, even Blake had fallen asleep with her arm wrapped around Weiss who in turn had pulled Ruby to her chest in her sleep, the three having slept in what was now no longer considered Weiss' super bed, but the team bed.
I had chosen to sleep in my bed tonight, alone. Ruby had tried to crawl into my bed but I made up a lie about feeling sick. She seemed to buy it, the usually peppy team leader showing me concern as she slowly crawled into the team bed. I assured her I would be fine. I had to be fine after all.
So why was I still awake and watching the clock as the minutes passed and the painful date grew closer and closer to arriving? I lay there just staring, nothing really passing through my mind. It was only thirty-till when I crawled out of bed and got dressed silently, leaving the dorm and walking down the quiet empty halls of Beacon, not a soul awake and out at this hour.
I hit up the locker room and grabbed my gear, pulling a few Crystals as well as Regret and Hope just in case. I didn't plan on getting into a fight, but with where I planned on going I had no guarantee.
The trip was about a thirty-minute walk, the full moon illuminating the world ahead of me, the twinkling of stars casting their light as well. It was quiet… I liked quiet, yet I hated it too. I hated it because I would give anything for the quiet to be broken by the sound of her. If I could just hear the real, living, breathing sound of my mother one more time. It would be the sweetest noise I could ever hear.
I had reached my destination. The cliff edge that overlooked the Emerald Forest. Ruby had cut a Nevermore's head off here. It was a funny memory looking back, how not so long ago I had frozen up at the mere sight of a Grimm, and now I had no problems throwing myself at any enemy that got in my way or put my loved ones in danger.
I walked to the edge and sat down, my legs dangling over the cliff as I leaned back on my hands and looked up at the stars and shattered moon. It was breathtaking. I didn't get to see stuff like this back in Mantle, the light pollution from Mantle and Atlas combined hid most of the stars, but out here, miles from Vale, I could see the belt of stars for what they were, nothing hidden from me as I looked out into the cosmos.
"Wish you could have seen this," I whisper.
I sat there for hours, time passing by quickly as I watched the night sky. I wasn't a religious person. Many people worshiped various deities. Some worshipped Oum the Creator of Creators, some worshipped The Brothers, two gods of immense power, one of light and the other of dark, said to be the creators of Remnant and humanity as a whole. I had even met a few people who worshipped the very elements that governed our world, using natural Dust types as the basis of their beliefs.
It was believed that four gods came together after humans had lost the ability to use magic and gifted the second wave of humanity small pieces of themselves to use as tools to fight back against the Grimm. There was Furia, the Goddess of Fire, she gifted humans Fire Dust, and with it the ability to push the darkness back with humanity's very own light and warmth. There was Waret, the God of Water, he gifted humans Water Dust so that Humans would never run out of the very life-giving essence that we needed to survive. There was Velcate, the God of Lightning, he gifted humans Lightning Dust so that humans would be able to strike the Grimm with divine wrath. Finally, there was Learia the Goddess of Wind, she gifted humans Wind Dust so that humans would be able to spread far and wide across Remnant.
No matter, regardless of if there was a correct god or gods to worship or even if there was no such thing as a god. I hoped wherever she was, I hoped she could see me, I hoped that I was making her proud.
Maybe one day, if I lead a good enough life, I could be reunited with her once more, and we could spend eternity amongst the stars, exploring the depths of a universe bigger than imagination can allow.
I wipe the tears from my eyes as I pull out Mom's scroll, turning the old thing on and scrolling through the videos. I scroll for a while till I see a video titled 'Anniversary'. My thumb hovers for a second before I click open the video.
Just like all the past videos the black screen eventually gives way to my mom sitting somewhere in the apartment, this time she was sitting in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hands. She looked younger, her hair looking like it did when I first met her. She had gone through a few hair phases in the time we had been together, but when I first met her she had beautifully long hair that she always kept up in a ponytail.
"Hey kiddo, I don't really know why I'm making this, I guess I just feel compelled. It has officially been one year since…" She paused for a moment trying to come up with the right word. "I guess I adopted you… Anyway, I wanted to make this as a way for me to say what I would love to say to you in person but can't because I am a very flawed faunus."
"I guess I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for coming into my life. I was drifting for so long, and I had thought that my ability to have a kid was long gone, but then you just kind of fell into my lap, and I can't thank you enough for it." She spoke getting a bit choked up as she talked, her eyes never meeting the camera directly. "I don't know where I would be without you, I don't even know if I would still be alive if I hadn't met you. You give me purpose, you give me strength, you give me everything I need to wake up every morning."
She shuttered, the emotions starting to overwhelm her, and it was starting to overwhelm me. My mom was an ugly crier, in turn, I was an ugly crier when I saw my mom start to ugly cry. "Good job Maria, this is real age-appropriate for a nine-year-old. What next gonna talk about how you don't have a uterus and the fact that you have him means he was your only shot at having a kid?"
I chuckled wetly as my mom berated herself on camera. I couldn't believe she would put this with all the other videos, what a nerd. Mom wiped her face clean and tried her best to dry her eyes. She took a big sigh before she finally looked into the camera for the first time since she started the video. "Ryker… Thank you. I love you. You haven't said it yet, but I am so glad to be your mom. You are the best child I could ever ask for."
Mom smiled for a moment before she reached for the camera, the video cutting off as I was once again left alone in the silence. Tears poured down my face as I hung my head and cradled the scroll.
I missed her. I missed her so much. I would never not miss her.
"Ryker?"
I turned and looked at the source of the voice, there stood Ruby, Weiss, and Blake. They looked awful, like they had run to come find me. Ruby was still wearing her pajamas, and Weiss had a pair of Ruby's jeans on and a T-shirt of Blakes, while Blake was in nothing but leggings and a sports bra. They all had their weapons on them too.
"What are you doing here?" I choke out as I try to dry my eyes.
"Going for a midnight stroll." Weiss sassed.
Ruby sighed before elbowing Weiss. "I woke up and you weren't in the dorm. It kind of scared me. I woke everyone up and we checked the team tracker and saw you all the way out here. Why are you out here?"
Blake's eyes widened for a moment. "It's not…" She cut herself off but I just nodded.
"Today is the anniversary of my mom's death," I say tightly, not wanting to break into tears again.
Ruby gasped and Weiss's eyes widened. Before I knew it Ruby had rushed towards me and tackled me into a hug.
"Aghk! Ruby, the edge." I choke out as a flurry of rose petals pulls us away from the edge of the cliff.
"I'm so sorry, Ryker. Why didn't you say anything?" Ruby asked desperately as I tried and failed to remove her arms from around my neck.
"I didn't want to worry you about it. I'm already enough trouble." I whined as I kept trying to push Ruby off me before I felt another arm wrap around me as Blake sat down next to me and pulled me into a one-armed hug.
"It's more trouble us having to walk all the way out to the edge of the Emerald Forest at three in the morning to find you than you just telling us about such an important day." Weiss hissed as she daintily sat down in front of me with her back turned to me before she laid back onto me, completing the 'cuddle Ryker pile' that had been created against my will.
"Your mom was Maria Thorne, right?" Weiss asked softly, yet something told me she already knew the answer to that question.
I sighed into the cuddle puddle and finally relaxed. "Yeah," I finally answered.
"Could you tell us about her? You never talk about her, we have known you for like eight months, and yet the only thing we know about you is that your mom died and you used to want to be a faunus civil rights advocate." Ruby whispered as all our gazes turned to the stars.
"I was orphaned when I was eight. One day I got home from school to find my house completely empty, my parents and my brother gone, and no clue what to do about it." I spoke finally.
"That's awful, couldn't the police help you?" Ruby gasped.
"No," Weiss answered for me. "I might have grown up… Let's say sheltered, but even I know that orphans in Atlas and Mantle are not a priority for the police. Instead of spending time and resources on finding the parents they would rather send kids to orphanages that double as a military prep program. It's a big reason why Atlas has such a large military." Weiss spoke as I nodded along.
"Yeah, the police were no help, and even at eight, I knew how bad those orphanages would be for my long-term survival. So I traveled down to Mantle, and I became a street rat. I had to steal food to get by, and I would spend nights underneath bridges for cover." I sighed, the long-forgotten memories coming back to me. It had been years since I thought about those early days of being an orphan.
"So how did you meet your mom?" Ruby asked.
I smile. "She found me getting the crap beaten out of me by a shopkeeper."
"What?" Both Ruby and Weiss gasp.
"Yeah, I had gone a while without eating and I finally broke down and tried to steal a loaf of bread. The guy caught me, and at some point, I passed out from the pain and hunger. Next I woke I was at Mom's house and I never looked back." I couldn't keep the sad smile off my face.
"Mom was complicated. She seemed like she didn't know what to do half the time, so she just did what she could and then did a little more. It was hard though, I didn't fit in anywhere. I was a human kid who had a faunus for a mom. I went to a mixed high school and nobody wanted anything to do with me because I didn't hate the faunus, and I was human. I was the ultimate outcast. It made learning how to be around people hard. When everyone is an enemy, it's hard to learn how to make friends." I sigh.
"Wow… That makes so much sense." Weiss chuckled.
"Love you too, Weiss." I deadpanned not seeing the blush adorn Weiss' face.
"C-Can we watch a video from her scroll with you?" Ruby asked timidly.
My gut instinct was to say no, but before I could even open my mouth I stopped. Would it be so bad for them to see her? "I-I guess," I say slowly. I turn her scroll back on and start cycling through her video list. I spy one that shouldn't be too emotional and click it.
Mom popped up on the screen, and she seemed happy, she was in the kitchen but this time she had an apron on and was at the kitchen counter.
"Your mom is pretty," Ruby whispered.
"Is it weird to say that you both kind of look alike?" Blake commented.
"Weird yes, but I will take the compliment anyway." I grin.
"Hey kid, you know, there comes a time in every person's life where they feel like they got to woo someone. Now, if you wanna woo a guy just take your clothes off, they're not that complex to control. Show a little skin, shake your ass a bit, and they will nip at your heels like wild dogs." I groaned burying my head into the back of Weiss' neck.
"Leave it to Mom to make a video about cooking weird," I whined in embarrassment.
"I think it's sweet," Ruby spoke.
"In a very embarrassing and funny way," Blake added.
"However, if you wanna woo a lady, you got to put some more effort in, you hear me? We women are complicated messes of emotions and fury. So here is my family recipe for seared tuna." I giggled when Blake suddenly perked up. She was not beating the cat stereotypes anytime soon.
So we sat there for what felt like twenty minutes as my mom walked us through step by step of how to make a seared tuna. Eventually, the video ended and it was nearly four in the morning.
"Sorry, I kept you all up," I whisper as we get up and start heading back.
"It's ok, this is a tough day for you, you are allowed to be an inconvenience. "Ruby grinned.
"Just not too much of an inconvenience," Weiss added.
I chuckle at the banter. "Ok, I promise to not be too much of an inconvenience."
The girls let me get at least four hours of sleep before waking me up, Blake volunteered to stay up for the rest of the night to make sure that we didn't oversleep. I wanted to argue, but it made sense for the person with insomnia to be the one to stay up, even if it was a shitty solution to a problem I had caused.
The day was nearly over though, we just had combat class and then we could all go and sleep off the long night that I had caused.
Till then I had to suffer, and with my mom's anniversary still fresh in my mind, the day not quite having ended yet. I felt on edge, my temper felt volatile, and I frankly just wanted an excuse to hurt someone.
"As you all know the Vytal Festival will be happening at the end of the semester, for teams to qualify they must have a cumulative A in their combat class, as well as a cumulative B in all their classes overall. The first-year Beacon teams that qualify currently are Team PNLY, Team CRDL, and Team AMYT. All other teams will need to improve their grades before finals to have a chance at competing." Professor Goodwitch spoke at the center of the combat arena.
I could feel the guilt creeping into my chest, my grades were the worst out of the team. While I was managing B's in most of my classes, my combat class grade was a C-. I was barely passing, and with the entire team pulling A's in combat I was the only reason why we didn't qualify for the tournament.
It was my fault, after my loss to Cardin I hadn't fought since, and only got by on team training exercises. I had been training so hard with Yang and Pyrrha, but I still wanted to be better before returning to one-on-one fights.
I had to get several wins over the next few weeks if I wanted to get my grade up in time. It was that or let my team down.
"Now would anyone like to volunteer to fight?" Professor Goodwitch asked.
Cardin raised his hand. "Yeah, me and the boys want to fight Nikos."
Professor Goodwitch rolled her eyes. "A four-on-one fight hardly seems fair, you may fight Ms. Nikos if you want, but you will not be fighting her with your team."
Cardin shrugged. "I'm just saying that if she's as good as people say she is then fighting us shouldn't be a problem… Unless Nikos is a coward." He egged on.
The crinkle in her eye showed that regardless of her attempt to hide it, Pyrrha was angered by Cardin's comment. "Why should I waste my time fighting you instead of a stronger student like Yang or Blake?"
Cardin growled at the slight, the broad-shouldered boy standing from his seat in the bleachers of the combat arena. "Want to say that again, Nikos?"
Pyrrha shrugged her eye twinkling as she began to toy with the class bullies emotions. "I'm simply saying I would rather face a challenge instead of a waste of time." She eyed Cardin before turning and spotting a few of the teams who had come early for the Vytal Festival. "I'm sure some of the visiting teams could offer me a much better fight than you."
"Then you should stop being a coward and fight us, Nikos," Cardin shouted.
"That is enough, Mr. Winchester sit down, you will not be having your team fig-" Professor Goodwitch started before I cleared my throat.
Excuse found, here goes nothing. "I will fight Team CRDL," I say standing.
Everyone looked at me with confusion before Cardin started to laugh. "You have got to be kidding me. Ryker, buddy, did that coma make you forget what happened last time you fought me?"
"While I will again remind Mr. Winchester to watch what he says, I have to agree with his assessment Mr. Thorne. You do not even have a weapon currently." Professor Goodwitch spoke.
"Me and Ruby finished up my new weapon two weeks ago, and I have been training with it daily with my team as well as Team PNLY. I'm ready, and I want my rematch." I spoke confidently, stealing a glance at Pyrrha and Yang who gave me confident nods. "I also have no issues fighting the entirety of Team CRDL simply because it's their only shot at beating me." I grinned.
Professor Goodwitch pursed her lips, seemingly searching my eyes for something, when she found what she was looking for she simply sighed. "Then I suggest that you and Team CRDL go get your gear."
I smiled, this was my opportunity. I couldn't waste it. I turned to walk before my arm was grabbed by Ruby, my team leader looking at me, a determined look plastered across her face.
"Ryker."
"Yes, Ruby?"
"Kick their butts!"
(Cinder pov)
This was an interesting turn of events. While Pyrrha Nikos was on our list of possible Fall Maiden candidates to look out for, it was just as advantageous to learn more about Ruby's mysterious teammate. Ozpin having such an interest in Ryker Thorne was a red flag, we knew very little than what we had gleaned from a few conversations and looking into Ryker's Academics. They showed two very different stories. Where Ryker's academic grades and teachers notes showed an average to below average fighter but above average academic, Ruby claimed Ryker to be some fighting god, untouchable, comparable to that of Pyrrha Nikos. It was interesting, and to find out that Ryker had lost his weapon and had been apparently building a new one was even more interesting.
"I want all of you to pay close attention to this match, I want to have a detailed and comprehensive understanding of his fighting style, skills, and semblance," I spoke softly, my three teammates all giving small signs of confirmation.
We waited for around five minutes before Team CRDL filtered back into the room. The team was a bunch of nobodies, not even worth being on my radar. They would just be fodder for what was to come. This however left me wondering where Ryker was, surely it wouldn't take him to long to get his gear on.
"Mr. Winchester where is Mr. Thorne, surely he is not still getting ready?" Goodwitch asked.
"The loser was sitting in the locker room muttering to himself. He probably realized that he was gonna end up in the hospital again." The Winchester boy spoke arrogantly.
Muttering to himself? What about?
My questions would have to wait for later as Ryker walked into the arena and several of the nobodies around us started whispering and I understood why. "I thought you said he used a sword?" I hiss into Neopolitains ear, the mute looking just as confused as everyone else. Had Ryker switched to a completely different fighting style?
The boy had two cyan and pink gauntlets on his arms, the gauntlets curling protectively over his fists much like brass knuckles. That left the shin guard on his leg, gleaming cyan-colored metal with what appeared to be some kind of bladed chain running up the front of it.
"Wow, didn't think you would show up, thought you realized in the locker room how outclassed you are." Winchester mocked.
Ryker to his credit stayed silent, he had an air of seriousness about him that had me wondering if the poor grades in his combat classes were simply a mask.
"If all parties would take their positions, let's get this started, there are plenty of other students who would like to fight this class period, so let's not waste any more time throwing childish barbs at one another," Goodwitch spoke as Team CRDL stood on one side of the arena and Ryker slowly walked to his starting position.
The auras of all five combatants appeared on the giant screen on the wall opposite of us. A field of green. "You may begin," Goodwitch spoke as the temperature of the room dropped. Everyone leaned forward in their seats as they waited for the first few moments of the match.
Ryker's body lit up with electricity arcing around him for a moment as a sense of deja vu assaulted me. It was nauseating, but I shook it out of my mind. I needed to focus on this match. I needed to see Ozpin's pet.
Ryker casually pulled a Wind and Lightning Crystal from a small hip pouch, the boy slowly loading the crystals into his gauntlets, a Wind Crystal in his left gauntlet and a Lightning Crystal in his right gauntlet.
"Are you kidding me? Do you really want another trip to the hospital? Take this seriously!" Winchester snarled as his team looked at the lone fighter with confusion, Ryker was seemingly in no hurry, he wasn't even bothering to look at his opponents.
"That's just it Cardin, I am taking this seriously," Ryker spoke calmly before his gauntlets hummed to life. Ryker pointed his left hand behind him before a blast of air launched him across the arena in a split second, Ryker quickly slammed his right fist into Winchester's chest before a large explosion of lightning filled the arena blinding everyone for a moment from the intense sudden light.
Once the light cleared Ryker was already on another team member, this one I believe was named Bronzewing, another burst of electricity surrounded his body as Ryker seemed to sense the CRDL member who sported an axe was running up behind him and swung a roundhouse kick in a quick turn with his shin guard covered leg, the revving of what sounded like a chainsaw filling the arena as sparks flew once his leg met the giant head of the axe. I could have sworn that Ryker took a hit from the axe, not that he parried it. What was going on?
The momentum of his kick brought the axe down to the ground, the axehead embedding into the ground as Ryker launched himself into the air and pulled out more Dust Crystals. This time an Ice Crystal as well as another Wind Crystal.
The reload was much faster this time as his gauntlets hummed with Dust-fueled power, Ryker came back down to earth behind the axe-wielder, what was his name? Lark? Either way, Ryker's fist slammed into the ground, ice quickly spreading and encasing Lark up to his knees in ice. Ryker uses the Wind Crystal to once again blast himself across the arena aiming for the one called Thrush. The boy easily bowled over by a powerful punch from Ryker who hit the ground and rolled to his feet.
"He's doing it again." Ruby groaned.
Doing what again? Without taking my eyes off the fight, I tried my best to listen to the conversation happening a few seats down from me.
"Yes, but it looks like he has it under control, he's not burning himself out like last time." The Belladonna girl spoke.
"Yeah, his aura is only at eighty-eight percent. Do you think his aura reserves have grown that much?" The Schnee girl asked.
"He did tell Ozpin after he woke up that he felt better than ever. Do you think his weight issue was hampering his aura reserves that much?" Ruby whispered the last part but I was able to just barely hear it.
Weight issue?
"Ryker was seriously underweight and we were only just starting to fix the issue before he got hurt," Belladonna said simply.
"I did research into it, Huntsman and Huntresses who develop eating disorders severely harm their aura reserves, basically their aura is all used up trying to mitigate the damage of being severely underweight. Ryker had been handicapping himself before, now that he gained all the weight he needed, and has nearly reached the weight goal set by Ozpin…" Schnee spoke before trailing off.
So Ryker had an eating disorder? That was new information, and how kind of Ryker's team to speak about such a delicate topic where anyone who bothered to listen in could hear. Truly remarkable.
Focusing fully back on the fight going on down in the arena it was not looking good for Winchester and his lackeys. Every time they tried to mount an offense, the electricity would burst to life and Ryker would perfectly counter them. It also just so happened that every time the electricity burst to life I would have an intense feeling of having witnessed the same event with a much different outcome.
"It's safe to say that the electricity around his body is a tell of when he activates his semblance, when he does do any of you get a sense of deja vu?" I whisper softly only to be given three individual shakes of the head, none of my pawns seeming to have noticed what I had been experiencing.
"Do you think he can see the future? It's like he knows what's gonna happen before it happens." Emerald whispered back as Ryker sent the Lark kid flying into Winchester who batted him out of the way, choosing to rush Ryker by himself as his team tried to scramble to their feet.
"Maybe he has like a six-sense that can tell when he's in danger?" Mercury mumbled.
I ignored their theories as I was starting to craft my own just as Winchester was sent flying across the room from a particularly powerful explosion of Fire and Ice Dust. A cursory glance at their auras showed Lark and Bronzwing nearing the red, with Lark hanging around forty percent and Winchester at fifty percent, meanwhile, Ryker who had yet to take a hit was sitting at eighty percent. It was clear that his semblance use was draining his aura, but it didn't seem to be a problem with the amount of reserves he had.
Winchester's lackeys picked him up off the ground, the boy pushing them away with a snarl before he practically growled at Ryker who stood across the arena from them with his hands in his pockets, acting like he didn't have a care in the world.
"You think you're so cool, Thorne? If you remember last time you started strong and then choked. You can't win, a loser like you could never beat me!" Winchester shouted. The boy's anger was as amusing as it was annoying. He was refusing to accept the reality that Ryker was a tier above him, if not several tiers above him.
Ryker grinned, it was wolfish and dangerous. It reminded me of me, the same kind of smile I would sport when I see a pathetic worm squirming at my feet. I liked it.
"You ready to lose?" Ryker asked as electricity flared up around him. Several images assaulted my senses as I tried to pick out pieces of memories that shouldn't exist. Yet, try as I might, I couldn't grasp them. They slipped through my fingers like sand. I snuck a glance at the aura board and saw Ryker's aura now sitting at forty-five percent. Whatever he just did, he took a massive chunk out of his aura.
Ryker lazily raised his hand and pointed at the team. "Here's a hint, Sky goes down first, then Russel, then Dove, and then you. I wanted to save you for last, so that you get to watch as I show you just how much better I am than you, you toxic, entitled, spoiled, racist piece of trash. You keep telling me that I don't belong Cardin, but the fact is that you do not belong."
The vein that was throbbing in Winchesters head seemed to grow in size as the boy became completely red in the face with anger. "I'm going to finish what those stupid animals failed to do. You are dead Thorne!" Winchester rushed forward, his team rushing alongside him. Ryker pulled out an Ice and Lightning Dust crystal and loaded them into his right gauntlet. He dodged to the right as Winchester slammed his mace into the ground right where Ryker had just been standing. The hum of his gauntlet grew as Ryker rushed forward and punched at the air, a large discharge of energy going off as all parties were thrown away.
"Did he just-" Schnee started.
"Make a magnetic field that repelled everyone, yes," Pyrrha spoke in awe.
As Ryker was flung away he flipped in the air as he loaded another Wind Dust Crystal and fired it immediately, propelling himself towards Lark. His shin guard revved to life as he slammed into the boy, the chainsaw sending sparks everywhere as the boy's aura shattered as he was kicked into a wall and fell to the floor unconscious.
"Sky Lark is out," Goodwitch called out.
Ryker landed on the ground and immediately darted towards Thrush, the stupid boy uselessly slashed at Ryker who caught his dagger in the curved blade on his right gauntlet, Ryker slammed his left fist into the boy, the first one cracking his aura, the second one shattering it as the boy slumped to the floor, only being held up by Ryker who tossed him carelessly to the side.
"Russel Thrush is out," Goodwitch called out.
Ryker turned around and sidestepped an overhead mace swing, and started backpedaling as Bronzewing and Winchester kept trying to rush him. A side step here, a sidestep there, a duck under here, a jump backward there. It was like Ryker was dancing across the arena, with the two following behind him. He showed no hesitation, no concern, his face was one of concentration but it didn't look like he was panicking.
On a particularly wild swing of Bronzewing's sword, Ryker rushed forward kicking Winchester away before kicking Bronzewing right in the kneecap, if not for the boy's aura he would have surely shattered his kneecap in that kick. Instead, it made the boy cry out in pain and fall backward onto the ground, and roll to his side clutching his knee. Ryker responded as any sane person would and punt kicked the boy's head, his aura shattering and the boy slumping unconscious.
"Dove Bronzewing is out. Mr. Thorne please reign in your brutality, this is a practice match!" Goodwitch admonished, but I saw it in her eye. She was scared of Ryker. Not only was she scared she seemed shocked, like she didn't know Ryker was capable of this. A small glance over to his team and friends showed that none of them thought he was capable of such brutality either.
Winchester got up from the ground and began to literally shake as Ryker looked at him with the smile I was now learning we shared. Ryker had an even darker part of him than the one I had seen momentarily in Ruby. This boy was like gasoline begging for a stray spark to give him a reason to let loose.
"What's wrong Cardin? I thought this would be easy for you?" Ryker mocked stepping over Winchester's unconscious teammate.
"Stay away from me you freak," Winchester shouted in fear as he backpedaled away from Ryker.
Ryker grinned as his shin guard revved up once again, the sound of the engine inspiring fear as to what the hooked teeth of the chain could do to Winchester. He quickened his pace to Winchester who had now fallen onto his ass and was crawling away from Ryker.
"I give. I give. I give!" Winchester called quitting just as Ryker was within a few feet of him.
"Winchester has forfeited, Ryker, stand down!" Goodwitch called.
Ryker smiled, staring a hole into Winchester before finally relaxing. The moment he relaxed he collapsed to one knee, taking deep breaths as his entire body shuddered, the adrenaline seemingly dumping from his system.
I peaked at the aura board once more and Ryker was still sitting at forty-five percent, but what made me chuckle with joy was the fact that Winchester had forfeited while having fifty percent of his aura.
Mr. Winchester, Ms. Stroud, and Mr. Daiyling, please help the rest of Team CRDL to the nurse's station. Mr. Thorne go to the showers and then go see Headmaster Ozpin." Goodwitch ordered. Ryker looked like he wanted to argue but thought against it, the boy literally biting his tongue as he wordlessly nodded and walked off to the showers.
I internally groaned, I still needed more information on Ryker, that match was not enough for me to figure out his semblance. I would have had Mercury challenge him to another match, but now that option was out the window.
I sigh and lean forward. "Mercury, challenge Nikos to a fight, get as much info as you can, then forfeit."
Mercury nodded before raising his hand.
I lean back in my seat and tap my fingers against my arm. Ryker Thorne just became a whole lot more interesting to me.
(Ryker pov)
I didn't really think, I just let my body do what it needs. The fight was quick, I made sure that it would be. Using my semblance to avoid taking any hits and to know what I needed to do to win. This felt like a rerun from the first fight. I keep on the offensive, don't let them breathe, don't let them get any offense. However, unlike last time I was taking quick peaks at my aura, checking on it constantly. It was holding stable through the entire fight. My new reserves were pretty solid.
It was like being outside of myself, watching myself do things that even I flinched at. Professor Goodwitch admonished me for being so brutal and I could only agree with her. Yet, that didn't stop me. If Cardin hadn't forfeited I don't even want to think about what I would have done.
The moment the fight was ended though, it all flushed out of me, the anger, the want to hurt, the hyperfocus. All of it was gone in a matter of moments. It brought me to my knees, I was just so tired. I wanted to argue about going to Ozpin's office, but I held my tongue. While I didn't break any rules, I had gone too far. Professor Goodwitch knew about my distaste for Ozpin so that was an easy way to punish me without officially punishing me.
The walk was quick, I at this point had the route to Ozpins office memorized in my head. The elevator climb was long, in fact, it felt absurdly long, but eventually, it came to an end, the doors opening to show Ozpin and one other man. The man was in some sort of military uniform, though his conversation with Ozpin stopped the moment the elevator opened. He took one look at me and an annoyed expression popped up on his face.
"Ah, Mr. Thorne, come in," Ozpin spoke from behind his desk.
"So I finally get to meet the boy who is wanted across Atlas." The man spoke as he looked me up and down.
"Forgive me, but I don't believe I know you," I say calmly as I approach the two.
"I am General James Ironwood. I am the head of the Atlesian Military." Ironwood introduced himself.
"With, introductions out of the way, I wished to speak with you, Mr. Thorne," Ozpin spoke.
I quirked an eyebrow at that. Wasn't I sent up here because I was in trouble? "Yeah?"
Ozpin nodded before turning his monitor so that I could see, the screen blank. "I think it would be best if you sit down."
I eyed them both warily, my anxiety starting to climb. "I think I will stand."
Ozpin looked at me for a moment before sighing. "Very well, Mr. Tho-" Ozpin cut himself off before taking one more big breath. "Ryker, we have discovered the identity of the White Fang members who attacked the Schnee Corporate Office last year. We have identified your mother's killers." Ozpin pressed a key on his keyboard and the screen lit up, the moment it did I felt my entire world fall away as I was greeted with the familiar patchy green and brown skin of a gecko faunus that I had met once before.
"Damien." I breathed.