Change of course

A_fateful_Meeting


The crunching sound of the snow under his boots grated on the elderly man's nerves as he trudged through the thick snowdrifts. With each step, his feet felt heavier, and his movements slower.

His rough hands were chapped and numb with cold, and he rubbed them together in a futile attempt to generate warmth. His fingers were stiff and resisted his efforts to open and close them. The old man cursed his luck. The bitter winter season had descended upon the village of Argus, blanketing the forests with deep piles of snow.

The man couldn't recall when exactly it had started, but the past few weeks had been a constant struggle for him. An unexpected snowstorm had swept across the continent known as Amina, disrupting the lives of its inhabitants. For some, like the people of Minstral, a kingdom accustomed to snowy weather, it was a minor inconvenience that forced them to stay indoors.

But for the old woodcutter, it was a different story. His livelihood depended on cutting and selling firewood, which was in high demand during the winter season. So, as soon as the storm had passed, the scrawny old man had taken up his rusty axe and his trusty old basket and journeyed into the forest in search of wood to sell.

"...This is utterly ridiculous."

He muttered quietly in frustration, unable to believe how ridiculous the situation was. How could he have forgotten something as crucial as his gloves? As a seasoned woodcutter, he knew all too well the dangers of the cold, and yet he had somehow managed to neglect the one thing that would keep his fingers warm. Letting out a sigh, the elderly man trudged forward and continued his ascent up the snowy hill.

Eventually, he reached his destination - a small field filled with fallen trees, a casualty caused by the nocturnal creatures that haunted the area. The mere thought sent a shiver down the old man's spine - those creatures of the night.

Occasionally referred to as monsters, sometimes animals inhabited by malevolent spirits, or just mere demons devouring human flesh. The woodcutter clasped his hands together and expressed a brief prayer of gratitude to the divine beings safeguarding his spirit.

"I express my appreciation to the deities safeguarding my well-being. May they bestow their blessings upon my endeavors and bring prosperity, abundance, and kindness to both me and my ancestors, forevermore."

Every day, the woodcutter followed the same routine. When he went out to chop wood, he would consistently express gratitude to the gods, ensuring his continuous favor with them.

They had always protected him against the creatures of the night, more times than he could even remember. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh. His customers always mocked him for being so superstitious and religious.

The elderly man would often receive questions such as, "Aren't you tired of saying the same prayer over and over again?" or "Why aren't you angry at the gods for putting you in such a desperate situation?" or "The gods won't listen to a prayer from a poor, lonely woodcutter."

The man could only laugh in response. In a way, they were right. Occasionally, doubt would sneak into his heart. But that's just a part of life. Not every prayer would be answered, and not everyone would be lucky enough to escape the grasp of the creatures of the night.

Despite not having his own family due to his wife's passing, the old man remained grateful for his continued existence. He may not be wealthy or have a support system of family and friends, but he found solace in the fact that he was still alive.

Some may argue that he was overreacting, but the old man paid no mind to such opinions. He was content with his circumstances, and that was all that mattered to him.

Holding his axe tightly, he began to work, using the heat generated from his labor to combat the biting cold. Each swing of his axe chipped away at the lifeless wood, until finally, with one mighty blow, the piece of bark came loose.

Gathering the freed pieces, the old man carefully placed them in his basket. He repeated this process until his basket was full, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. With his work completed, the woodcutter prepared to depart.

"...whaaah..."

The man became still, immobilized by an unfamiliar sound. Could it be the howl of that dreaded wolf? He tightened his grip on the rusty axe, holding his breath.

He knew from past encounters that running in fear would lead to certain death. Those wolves had a knack for detecting fear, and the consequences would be a pile of bones by morning.

"... whaaah..."

The man was once again startled by the cry, causing him deep confusion. This meant that the creature making the noise was not a demon wolf after all. Despite his old age, a strong desire to discover the source of the cry began to burn within him, like a gentle flame in his heart.

Although the elderly woodcutter possessed the ability to quickly extinguish this flame, he could not immediately suppress it in this instance.

There was something about the cry that tugged at his emotions, causing his heart to ache. With cautious steps, he slowly turned around and started moving towards the direction of the sound. Pausing momentarily, the old man focused intently on the sound he had heard.

".. whaaah!"

"!"

Without hesitation, the elderly woodcutter followed the distinct cries that pierced through the night. He headed toward the stack of trees, positioned in a manner similar to a child who is dismantling a tower made of building blocks. Looking around and listening closer.

The old woodcutter found the source of his curiosity. He discovered a hole in one of them that was large enough for a small animal to conceal itself. Despite the darkness making it difficult to see, the woodcutter pressed on, determined to uncover the source of the cries.

Aware of the possibility of encountering a nocturnal predator mimicking sounds to lure unsuspecting victims, he cautiously extended his hands into the unknown darkness. As he did so, he suddenly felt a smooth surface, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"WHAAAH!"

"What in the name of the gods is this?!"

The woodcutter gasped as he held an infant in his hands, a tiny child who appeared to be no older than three months. The baby was softly crying and trembling from the cold, dressed only in tattered rags. The child was dangerously blue in some areas. The woodcutter looked around, unable to find any signs of other people nearby. This filled him with a momentary confusion, wondering how a child like this ended up in such a place.

"What is a child doing here? Don't tell me..."

The man had a single thought in his mind - this child had been abandoned. It seemed that they had been purposely left behind, hidden in a hollow tree. The man couldn't comprehend how someone could leave a child like that. The unfortunate baby was already starting to experience the effects of approaching frostbite. If the child had remained exposed for a longer period of time...

As the baby cried, tears rolled down its small cheeks. However, the woodcutter quickly refocused his thoughts. He couldn't waste time dwelling on what had happened. The most important thing now was ensuring the safety of the infant. He delicately embraced the baby, soothing it as best he could.

"You are such a resolute child. To withstand such a severe blizzard and still have the will to keep on living is truly miraculous."

An adorable little snowflake landed on the baby's nose, causing a gentle sneeze. The woodcutter, with aged eyes, observed the baby's silver eyes, sparkling like the moon, full of wonder.

The woodcutter was mesmerized by her captivating eyes, unlike any he had ever seen. His face lit up with a smile "There is no doubt, it must be destiny that I have come across you in this place. Your eyes are unquestionably heavenly, so undoubtedly you must have a name that matches."

Looking up, his eyes moved towards the sky. Among the snow-filled clouds, the moon was visible. Each fragment seemed to emit its own glowing light. It possessed the same renowned beauty as the sparkle in a child's eyes. "The gods have been merciful to a child like you. Therefore it must be fate that I stumbled upon you. In honor of them the name that shall be given-"


Ruby exerted her utmost effort to project an appearance of boundless energy. Her silver eyes, wearied from the day's demands, struggled against the weight of heavy eyelids. In a futile attempt to stave off drowsiness, Ruby squeezed her eyes shut, only to snap them open again. She yearned for the abrupt shift in lighting to jolt her awake.

"...this sucks," she muttered under her breath. The girl seated next to her shot a fleeting, disapproving glance, scowling at Ruby. "If you had gone to bed earlier, you wouldn't be so tired!"

The words were delivered with a reprimanding tone by Weiss, the white-haired beauty seated beside her. Ruby, met with the harsh whispers of her neighbor, couldn't help but pout in response.

Ruby sought refuge from the chilling displeasure of the ice queen by immersing herself in the tales Professor Port spun about his youthful escapades as a hunter. It had been a span of three weeks - three weeks since Ruby had stepped into the hallowed halls of Beacon Academy.

three weeks of drawing nearer to the realization of her dream of becoming an official huntress. three weeks of being acknowledged as the youngest prodigy amid her peers at the most esteemed school in Vale. Yet, despite these remarkable achievements, it had also been three weeks of unrelenting boredom.

Ruby could only release a heavy sigh as she reflected on the tumultuous journey of her first three weeks. As a fresh-faced student and newly appointed team leader, Ruby found herself faltering in her role as a capable leader. Her first misstep occurred on the very first day, a consequence of her lack of focus on time management.

Engrossed in the task of decorating their dorm room, Ruby nearly led her team to the brink of tardiness for their classes. To compound matters, this blunder as well as her so-called naive attitude earned her the ire of Weiss, who was less than pleased with Ruby's perceived incompetence as a leader.

The issue was later resolved as Weiss apologized and both promised to help each other out. The only problem was that throughout the week, Weiss only assisted Ruby with homework-related matters.

It wasn't much for the first week at school, and outside of that, they didn't really engage in many conversations beyond school-related topics. When they did try to discuss other things, Weiss would always dismiss it by saying "You're just a kid" or "that's childish."

Silver eyes stole a few glances at Weiss before settling on her sister a few seats away. The blond girl rested her head in her palm, her other hand supporting the weight.

Lilac's eyes met Ruby's as Yang flashed her sister a toothy grin before turning her attention to the lecture at hand. Ruby returned the gesture with a thin smile.

Yang.

Throughout the past few weeks, Yang had been quite active, to say the least. Given that Yang had friends who accompanied her to Beacon, she often found herself hanging out with them, making plans to go shopping or spend time in their dorms rather than her own. This isn't to say that all connections were neglected.

Yang did interact with Ruby in some instances, such as when she inquired about Ruby's friendships or suggested going for a jog around campus. She also playfully teased and annoyed Ruby with her usual and terrible puns, as any older sister would.

Despite this, Ruby couldn't shake the feeling that Yang had been acting somewhat differently, even if only slightly. This feeling was especially noticeable the day before when Ruby approached Yang while she was hanging out with the others.

Yang's expression seemed to briefly contort before she flashed Ruby a bright smile and subjected her to a playful noogie and headlock, thoroughly mussing up her hair. Though Ruby didn't think much of the incident at the time, reflecting on it now-

"Miss Rose?"

Huh.

Ruby blinked.

Her gaze shifted to the elder voice in question. Professor Port fixed his gaze on her as he gently stroked his mustache. Ruby tilted her head. Did she do something wrong? Was she being called out to demonstrate how to effectively defeat a Grimm, as Weiss had done? Questions swirled in her mind as she gazed back at the professor, who taught Grimm biology.

"Miss Rose, could you please provide an explanation regarding the specific instance when King Tajitu demonstrated the highest level of aggression?"

It took a moment for Ruby to understand. He asked a question, and Ruby, as a student, was supposed to answer. The only problem was, she didn't know. Her light pale cheeks slowly turned faintly pink as Ruby flipped through her notes.

She could already hear Weiss sigh, making it even more embarrassing. As Weiss said, Ruby was the leader of Team Ruby, so she should know the answer to this question. With no answer found in her notes, Ruby gulped.

"S-somewhere around the spring season?" Ruby guessed, hoping it would hit the mark blindfolded from an impossible distance.

"Close but not Quite."

Only for the poor girl to shoot herself in the foot.

"King Tajitu are at their most aggressive when they undergo the process of shedding their skin," the elder man explained in a serious tone.

"While a few of them molt during the spring, the majority undergo shedding in the summer. The higher temperatures during this time help prevent their fresh skin layer from freezing, which would hinder their movement. It is important to note, students, that even though losing their tough skin makes them susceptible, they remain quick and nimble enough to vanquish even the most feared hunters with their lethal bite." Port eyed all of his students, making sure they understood the seriousness of the situation.

"As for you, Miss Rose."

Ruby jolted as all eyes focused on her little frame.

"As a leader, it is of utmost importance that you take the time to thoroughly acquaint yourself with the subject matter and comprehend the obstacles that lie ahead. Always remember that your decisions and behavior can significantly impact the team.."

Ruby's cheeks, which were once gently pale to rosy to scarlet as Snickers and snorts, have been voiced by her classmates. The impulse to conceal her face with her hood appeared to grow as the smiles of mockery came from all directions. Of course, Ruby could not do that. It would solely make the state of affairs worse. Professor Port went again to teaching, moving the interest back to Ports.

Ruby felt slightly comforted, but at the same time, a sensation of unease crept up her spine. Though she couldn't explain it, Ruby became aware of the fact that she possessed a newfound intuition. A sixth sense that she developed in three weeks of attending Beacon Academy. As she sensed the cold gaze of her neighbor, Ruby simply responded with a sheepish smile. Silently praying that Weiss wouldn't be too angry.

Weiss observed her and let out a sigh before turning her sight away, muttering about an abundance of tasks to do and Ruby's behavior. Ruby let out a sigh of relief, unaware that she had been holding her breath. Weiss tended to be intimidating at times. If Blake hadn't stepped in the day Ruby first encountered Weiss, she would have been at a complete loss on how to handle the situation.

Speaking of Blake.

Once again, Ruby looked in Yang's direction, but this time her gaze focused on the person beside her sister. The eyes, similar in color to amber, displayed neither boredom nor curiosity. It was a girl with dark hair and an enigmatic aura skillfully twirling a pen between her fingers, creating the impression that the pen was gracefully dancing in her hand.

One distinctive characteristic of Blake was the bow she wore on her head, setting her apart from her teammates. Amongst them, Blake proved to be the most difficult person to converse with. Ruby noticed that she had hardly seen Blake at all this week, if at all, as she only seemed to appear in class.

Apart from that, Ruby was clueless about her whereabouts. On the initial day, Blake assisted with the decoration. However, since then, she has vanished. She is usually the first to leave and the last to return to the dormitory. Engaging in conversation with Blake also appears to be impossible.

Similar to a target gradually shrinking in size, the young leader's interactions with the solitary girl were limited to a single conversation revolving around a book concerning an ancient tale concerning a lumberjack. Ruby furrows her brow. This won't do. Her team barely talked to each other.

When was the last time Weiss talked to Yang or Yang talking to Blake or even Blake talked to the both of them? Ruby went over her thoughts. She couldn't remember a single important conversation they had as a team.

There was that whole Cardin bullying Jaune thing but it was more of a one-time thing. She thought about it before on how her team lacked... Well teamwork, a bond like how she sees with other teams around her. Silver eyes shifted at a tall boy who furiously tried to take notes.

Jaune Arc.

The very first friend she had made at Beacon. Clumsy as he is. Ruby did appreciate all the Time Jaune talked to her. Just like her, Jaune was made team leader. The only contrast was Jaune did not seem to have a problem talking to Pyrrha, Nora, or Ren. As they were practically always together, though Ruby did remember there was distance between them for reasons Ruby did not know. (Although she had a slight suspicion that Cardin was involved.)

Team Juniper acted as a team. The other day, when Ruby returned after providing ammunition, she witnessed them engaging in coordinate training. Ruby vividly remembered Jaune's laps around the campus, drenched in sweat, his blonde hair clinging to his face, on the verge of collapsing.

Thinking back on it, Jaune looked somewhat funny. A little stone weight at Ruby's heart. She's happy for them that everything seems to work out... But what about Her? Why can't Ruby have something like that? The best she pulled off was having the team sit at lunch. But was with team Juniper and even that was short-lived.

Did that mean that Ruby wasn't a good enough leader? Was headmaster Ozpin actually wrong in choosing her as a leader?

Ruby felt a brick sinking in her stomach but swiftly pushed the feeling away. Nothing good would come out of it if she felt hopeless. Beating herself down would do nothing. Besides this time she had a plan. A plan to unite team Ruby and be an amazing team leader. To be something her mother would be proud of.

The school Bell rang indicating the start of Ruby's mission. As students packed their belongings and left the classroom one by one. Ruby made sure she was the first. And zoomed out of the classroom. Leaving a trail of rose petals behind. Since classes were over. This should have a 100% success rate.


"Sorry Rubes, I already made plans to go see a concert with a couple of friends."

"Sorry, I'm not really interested."

"I Have something better to do than spending time on something so useless."

Saying her plan had a 100% success rate would be inaccurate. In reality, it had a 100% failure rate at best. Ruby was frozen in place, her heart pierced by those words like she was shot with a bullet. She blinked repeatedly to confirm that she hadn't misheard. Classes had ended, and Ruby had ensured she was the first one back at the dorm.

"W-what do you mean you guys can't?" Ruby sounded perplexed." "I know the third week of school is almost over but I planned this all night!" The young girl was confused about what had gone awry. She had expected a perfect triumph! Since classes ended ahead of schedule, there would be plenty of time to engage in group activities.

Yang's face was apologetic. Removing herself from leaning against the wall Yang placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Like I said Ruby, I already made plans today. There is a concert that started around the same time as Professor Peach.

Saying her plan had a 100% success rate would be inaccurate. In reality, it had a 100% failure rate at best. Ruby was frozen in place, her heart pierced by those words like she was shot with a bullet. She blinked repeatedly to confirm that she hadn't misheard. Classes had ended, and Ruby had ensured she was the first one back at the dorm.

"Combo's?" Blake raised an eyebrow. "Like unified attacks that create more destructive power, and-" "I think she knows what combos are Ruby." Weiss butts in.

The way she gracefully crossed her legs and maintained an elegant posture truly gave her the appearance of a privileged child.

"What she meant was why that was necessary. This isn't like some dumb action movie where things like that actually would work." "It worked against the Nevermore we fought on our entrance exam." Ruby countered.

"T-that's a totally different thing and you know it!" hands crossed the ice queen looked the other way. A snort was heard from both Yang and Blake.

"She got you there Weiss."

"D-doesn't matter! The point is Ruby. We don't have time to play games, Ruby. You still have an assignment due Friday."

"Heh, we have plenty of time."

"don't try to act all smug, Yang. In case you forgot, tomorrow is Friday."

"Like I said plenty of time."

Weiss squeezed the bridge of her nose in frustration. Despite Yang's endless carefree attitude, that wasn't the issue at hand. Ruby was determined to continue persuading her team, as she still had some ammo full of arguments left to fire. "Then we'll have a study session! If the assignment is due tomorrow then we can work on it together."

"Already did it."

"Done it."

"Finished it yesterday."

Eyes were fixed on Yang, causing the room to fall silent. However, Yang merely huffed in response. "What? Just cause I'm more lenient with my school work doesn't mean I neglect it."

"Well... It was quite easy. The only thing we had to do was write about how to identify edible herbs."

Blake pointed, her gaze glued to a book from who knows where. Ruby however didn't care much and was too busy regarding Yang with a perplexed expression as if she were an alien lifeform. In response, Yang let out a breath and playfully tousled Ruby's hair, despite the fact that she had combed it earlier. "Ruby, what Ice Princess is trying to say is that we do like hanging out with you."

"Then-"

"But," Yang interrupted Ruby to indicate that she had more to say.

"We all have our own stuff to do. As I said earlier you should make some new friends Ruby. I get that you want to hang out and strengthen our bond as a team but it's not healthy to only talk to us."

"I talk to lots of people! The other day I had a conversation with Jaune and Pyrrha about their thoughts on cookies! I still don't get how anybody could like oatmeal?!"

"Jaune and his team don't count; I'm referring to individuals you haven't crossed paths with or engaged in conversation. Come on Rubes, go out there and be social! Make some friends but... stay away from some weird guys okay?" "I can take care of myself thank you."

"I know sis but you don't have a lot of friends at Beacon. Hell! You only had one or two at Signal."

Ruby had a cute pout on her face. It wasn't her fault that people found her difficult to approach. She simply had unique interests that didn't align with others.

This didn't mean that she was closed off to new experiences and ideas, mind you. Others just perceived her as something... outside of the norm.

"Hey Ruby, I know we've been spending less time than usual and we're thankful for all that planning... but please can we do this another day? I promise that I will make it up to you okay?"

"...Do you really mean that?" Yang pulled Ruby towards her and gave the young huntress a soft hug. "Of Course. I just want what's best for you Ruby."

"Liar, that's what you always say," Ruby whispered.

"Sorry Ruby, did you say something?"

"Nothing!" Ruby's face lit up with a radiant smile, completely ignoring any previous events. The words she had uttered seemed to have vanished into thin air.

She extended her finger towards Yang, adopting a serious expression. "You better hold on to that promise ok!"

Yang gave her signature grin in response. "Of course not, you're my little sister. What kind of sister would I be if I didn't keep my promises?"

"As for you two!" The young girl turned to her other two teammates.

"As leader of team Ruby, you two should also keep your promises." Weiss's head shook, yet the smile on her face was clear to see. "Such a child you are, using your position as a leader to command us."

Blake, who was still engrossed in her reading, acknowledged Ruby's request by giving a thumbs up.

"Then that's settled. I'll send you all a message when we meet up. I'll be in Vale for a while. Bye!" "Just be careful Ruby." Yang grinned as Ruby exited the room, oblivious to the fact that a particular Cat faunus had overheard Ruby's hushed words.


"This sucks"

Ruby grumbled quietly as she walked wearily along the footpath. The gentle wind brushed against her face, causing Ruby to brush her bangs aside with frustration.

The sky was gradually turning grayer, a sign that the weather was about to become unpleasant. However, this was not the only thing that people were concerned about.

The girl's eerie energy caused others to move hastily away from her as if she were a brewing thundercloud ready to unleash a lightning bolt. Ruby found herself strolling through the commercial district, seeking solace after her failed attempt to connect with her team.

She hoped to soothe her sorrows with a new magazine, eager to share with Yang the news of an upcoming sniper rifle scope featured on the next cover.

But with Yang and the others being busy, Ruby found herself on her own and began to wander around. The scope she had been excited about wasn't as impressive as she had hoped.

The slight improvement in distance and detail from the previous scope was barely noticeable, and the biggest disappointment was the weight of the new model. Worse still, it wasn't even compatible with Crescent Rose! This news brought Ruby's mood down even further.

"It wouldn't have been so bad if they were here," laughter echoed in the air. Ruby shifted her gaze to the sound. A group of girls she didn't recognize were happily chit-chatting about all kinds of stuff.

She didn't know why, but her heart ached a little. The group passed her, walking and laughing until they disappeared from Ruby's sight, seeming so close and comfortable sharing warmth and laughter.

"Must be nice having friends like that." The young huntress knew what was bubbling inside of her was awful. The nasty feeling gnawed inside of her made her heart crack a little. She hated that part of herself. There was no reason to feel this way. She has a loving father, a cool uncle, and an amazing sister.

Then... why?

Ruby tightened her fist. Why did her heart ache when Weiss dismissed her? Why did it hurt when Blake was so disinterested in their conversations? And why does she feel that Yang is pushing her away?

It all left a bitter taste in her mouth. The girl knew they did not ignore her. Even so, the connection felt cold. It feels that all of them are wearing masks. Hiding their true feelings or something.

The feeling of gray. A colorless world Ruby knew all too well. The loving father, the cool uncle, and her amazing sister. All of them wore a smile that Ruby couldn't phantom yet still ignored.

After all, they weren't the only ones.

Something Ruby noticed about Weiss was that she was never truly satisfied. On sparring matches. Weiss rarely makes mistakes but when she does. The Schnee heir would then practice after school for hours till she finally got it.

Ruby first thought Weiss was just a sore loser and offered to help her. (Even if Ruby was no good in hand-to-hand combat. herself) The girl with silver eyes thought that maybe she could close the bridge between them. Even by a little. The response Ruby got back was an icy tone.

"I don't need your help."

After that, Weiss was back to the rich snob she always was. As if the Weiss from back then never existed. Ruby wasn't sure if Weiss wanted to talk about it, so she let it be.

Blake was also similar in that regard. Sometimes Ruby caught her staring into space. Staring off in the distance as if watching from afar. Silently thinking of something Ruby did not know of. What Ruby did know was She saw twisted emotions behind Blake's eyes.

The young huntress had no idea if it was anger, hurt, or regret. So Ruby yet again approached her black-haired team with the idea that Ruby maybe could soothe her worries if Blake had any.

"Nothing much."

Was the answer she received. The pain behind Blake's mask was perfectly concealed. Gone were the emotions brewing behind her eyes. As if nothing happened, Blake was back to the Blake That viewed books as their only real interest.

So Ruby did the same as what she did with Weiss. Dropped the topic and never brought it up again. It wasn't any of her business to butt in someone else's life. However, it still bugged Ruby to see her team like that. Is it that difficult to open your heart? Is it that hard to speak your mind?

Then... Why couldn't they?

Why can't everyone just smile for real once?

All Ruby wanted was warmth.

She longs for the warmth that others seem to possess. It's not that she's lacking it, but Ruby just wishes that the vibrant energy could be shared amongst her team, Team Ruby.

A team that promised before the headmaster to stand by each other until the end of their four-year journey, protecting the innocent lives that were terrorized by Grimm. A promise that was filled with countless adventures and cherished memories. It was like a family.

"Does this mean that they are a family now?"

'Hypocrite.'

Ruby frowned. What was she thinking? It was greedy, egocentric, and selfish. Her mother would never approve of that.

Just because she was the team leader didn't mean she had the right to dictate what her team should or shouldn't do. Hadn't she been a burden to them all week, constantly asking without any consideration?

She was always the one to engage Weiss in conversations about her weapon, relentlessly querying Blake about her current reading choices, and unintentionally placing herself in the middle of Yang's friend group. Could this have been the reason why her hopes did not materialize as she expected? Was she somehow a nuisance? These thoughts led back to the expression on Yang's face, fleeting but not unnoticed by Ruby. It showed a side of Yang that Ruby rarely witnessed.

Annoyance.

Ruby wasn't stupid. Yang was not happy with something and Ruby couldn't figure out why.

Still...

Was it wrong for Ruby to want warmth?

Was it Wrong to be selfish for once?

'Of course it is. Heroes aren't selfish.'

Dismissing these perplexing thoughts, Ruby shook her head. "Negative feelings won't take me anywhere. As long as I hold onto positivity, everything will be fine." A smile spread across Ruby's face; she felt better already. She just had to keep smiling and remain positive, like Yang.

"negative feelings would lead nowhere."

Those were the words her sister had spoken to her when they were younger. So Ruby would hold on to that advice. Her father and uncle, Qrow, preferred to see her smiling rather than have her face twisted in sorrow. It brought some color to their lives.

So it doesn't matter how tough the world may be. Doesn't matter how unjust some people are. If Ruby's positivity could bring happiness to others like a hero in those story books. even if it is a tiny bit. Then that is all that matters. besides Yang, Weiss, and Blake promised to free some time for her.

So Ruby Just has to be patient. only a little while longer, then they could finally kick ass and show everyone how cool and awesome they are. The smile on the young huntress's face shone brighter.

As Ruby continued down the sidewalk, something collided with her.

Losing her balance Ruby tried to grab anything to stop her fall. To no avail, she fell flat on her face.

Ruby's face isn't the only thing that fell on the ground. Loud clinks and clank noises were audible, creating a ringing sound of distortion.

"...owie..." Ruby whimpered, the impact of the fall softened by her protective aura, yet she felt it necessary to vocalize her discomfort. As she lay on the ground, a concerned voice reached her ears, "S-sorry, miss. Are you alright?"

Ruby turned her gaze toward the source of the voice, finding a petite girl extending a small hand toward her. The guilt in the girl's eyes was evident, and Ruby couldn't help but be struck by the sincerity in her expression.

When she used the term petite, Ruby wasn't exaggerating; the girl had a tiny frame, almost reminiscent of a 5 year old. Clad in a simple brown dress with short sleeves, her fair skin accentuated the youthful impression.

"Sorry, miss, are you okay?" The concerned voice jolted Ruby, who found herself still seated on the floor, her cheeks flaring to a pink hue. Hastily, she scrambled to her feet, petting her dress in an attempt to rid it of any dirt.

"I-i'm fine, but are you okay?" Ruby questioned, her concern mirroring that of the mysterious girl. A sigh of relief escaped the girl as she realized Ruby wasn't angry. She gracefully bent down to retrieve the glass containers, each filled with a substance recognizable to Ruby as refined dust.

'Deja Vu?'

"Oh yeah, let me help you,"

"H-huh!? Y-you don't have to! It was my fault that I bumped into you," stammered the other girl nervously, but Ruby paid no heed and started tidying up the scattered containers.

Awkward silence enveloped them, the air thick with unspoken words. Ruby fidgeted, her silver eyes glancing around as if searching for a lifeline in the quiet tension.

Ruby had no idea why she always bumped into people like that. First, it was Weiss, then Jaune, and now it was this girl. Was this someone semblance at work?

"Are you a huntress?" the girl suddenly asked, breaking the silence. Ruby cocked her head sideways, "Hmm?"

"Are you a huntress?" the girl repeated, her curiosity undeterred.

"Oh yeah, I'm a huntress in training," Ruby affirmed with a smile,

The eyes of the girl gained a spark. The young huntress blinked a few times. Surprised by the stars exploding in the girl's eyes.

"Really? That's so cool! So you hunt those nasty Grimm and save people, right?" the girl continued, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Of course, that is part of the job after all. Huntsmen and huntresses are the beacon of hope," Ruby's words laced with pride and determination, painting a vivid image in the girl's imagination.

The gleam that was found in the girl's ocean-like eyes glowed brighter. "Then then how many Grimm did you fight?" Ruby struck a thinking pose. She thought for a moment. During her first year at Signal Academy, she had successfully taken down her first grim by herself.

It had been a lone Beowulf, separate from its pack. However, Ruby didn't face this challenge alone. She recalled Uncle Qrow observing from afar, ready to step in if needed.

A fond smile of nostalgia graced her face as she remembered her time at primary school. The foundational knowledge and skills such as weapon upkeep, dust utilization, and essential survival abilities were ingrained in her to ensure she possessed all the necessary tools.

The most memorable experience was discovering her semblance. She still vividly recalled the joy she felt as she raced down the hallways, eventually crashing into the wall... yeah that wasn't the best ending but it was still cool!

"Well, I did defeat a large pack of beowolves once." The girl in the chocolate dress made with her lips an o form. "L-like hundred of those wolves on your own!?" "W-wait not that ma-"

"A thousand! Did you defeat a thousand of them!" Ruby, who wanted to argue against the idea, was interrupted by the enthusiastic behavior of the girl, who was significantly younger than her.

The girl's excitement was clearly expressed through her words and her curiosity was on full display. "That's amazing! You're like a superhero!" Ruby chuckled. She tried to be a hero like her mother at least.

"So... what do you need that dust for?" Ruby inquired, skillfully diverting the conversation to prevent herself from succumbing to embarrassment. Regardless of others' opinions, receiving compliments from children always made her feel a bit self-conscious.

"aren't you a bit too small to go shopping on your own? Where are your parents?" The young girl gave an angry scowl. "Am not small! I'm Nine you know! That's basically an adult! Besides, aren't you also a child?"

"I'm not! I drink milk! Can't you see how mature I am!?" "No, your chest is still flat." "T-there Not! I-I'm still developing..." tears almost spill from the corner of her eyes.

Ruby doesn't care much about appearance and is quite happy with how she looks. That doesn't mean that she is unconcerned about her sense of pride as a woman.

Nonetheless, she couldn't help but notice the girl's beaming smile. "My caretaker, who was busy, asked some of us to run an errand and pick up some stuff." The young girl proudly pushed her chest forward.

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Caretaker?" Does that mean the girl next to her was an orphan?

"So as a big girl, I volunteer myself to help out." "Aren't you putting yourself at risk by handling something like dust? I notice that you don't have any fire ones with you, but if you did, it could potentially lead to some explosive consequences. Like... BANG!" The girl's eyes grew as big as dinner plates and looked at the bag with dust then back at Ruby.

"W-whah! Don't tell me I could cause an explosion, Miss Huntress!?" "Not really but... believe me you would want to be careful." Quickly nodded in understanding.

The girl gently wrapped her hand around the bag's straps. "Thanks for the advice, Miss Huntress. I'll take the advice to heart!"

She raised one of the bags, but it appeared to be too burdensome for her as she nearly succumbed to its weight. Struggling on unsteady legs, she attempted to grasp the other bag. The force of gravity seemed to be working against her, as the bags proved to be too heavy for her petite stature.

Ruby swiftly intervened and prevented the girl from falling to the ground. "Maybe I should help carry some of that load." Ruby's sweat dropped.

The girl in the brown dress, wanting to refuse, stopped herself. "...Thank you." "No problem, that's what heroes do right? Oh, I never got your name, have I? I'm Ruby, nice to meet you." Ruby smiled an innocent smile. "I'm Gerda, Nice to meet you too Ruby!"


"Is this the place?"

"Yup"

"Never realized that you lived here."

"Don't you like it?"

"Well... gotta say... it looks a bit old..." Ruby replied to Gerda.

Ruby and Gerda left the busy commercial district and navigated through several streets to reach their intended destination: the Orphanage. The Orphanage was an ancient building, at least five times older than Ruby.

It stood three stories tall, with rows of windows on each floor. In front of the main entrance, there was a small garden with three flowerbeds, one on each side.

Ruby notices flowers in the Orphanage that remind her of Madame Mallari's garden. The flowers, including orchids, roses, and tulips, are arranged in a symmetrical pattern. But Ruby is particularly drawn to the wooden door at the main entrance. Ruby was perplexed by the peculiar symbol etched onto the door.

Positioned at the center was a sizable circle, within which a triangle resided, each of its sides adorned with yet another circle, all adorned with mysterious carvings. The young huntress couldn't help but marvel at the intricate nature of these shapes and symbols. Beneath the enigmatic symbol, there was a word that held no meaning to Ruby.

"Magnum opus."

"What?"

"That's what it says, Magnum opus. It means great work. It symbolizes something that mortals could reach somewhere beyond or something. At least that's what my caretaker said."

Gerda tapped on the door, patiently anticipating its opening. It was silent for a moment till footsteps were heard coming closer and closer till the door swung open, unveiling a towering figure.

Ruby couldn't help but stare in astonishment, acknowledging her own petite stature among the other first-year students. (Even if she didn't like to admit it.) Ruby was significantly shorter than the man in front of her, who stood at an impressive height of 6,6, while she was only 5,2 feet tall.

Weiss' status could be easily identified by the way he was dressed, in a white suit paired with a blue dress shirt and a light pinkish tie. However, what caught Ruby's attention the most was his perfectly slicked-back, unnaturally bright green hair. This stranger made Ruby feel uneasy; there was a heaviness in the air around him and his demeanor was cold.

The young huntress wants to step away from the door and leave as fast as possible. "Mr Aureolus! I'm back from the errand you sent me!"

Gerda, who doesn't seem to notice Ruby's discomfort happily held the bag with dust in front of the man known as Mr Aureolus. "Ah welcome Gerda I see you have returned safely from the errand I sent you?"

Gerda nodded. "Yep! I still even have some Lien Left!" Mr. Aureolus smiled and patted Gerda's head. "That is splendid to hear. Go and play with the other children now, I will take it from here okay?"

"Okay!" Having bid farewell to Aureolus, Gerda embraced him warmly and departed. Now Ruby found herself alone with a man who greatly surpassed her height. "And who might you be, young lady?"

The affectionate manner in which he had spoken to Gerda was swiftly replaced by a cold and distant tone when addressing Ruby. Ruby's mouth went dry.

The man definitely had a scary aura around him that was something very akin to Professor Goodwitch's. With a nervous gulp Ruby introduced herself.

"O-oh ehmm Hi! The name's Ruby! Ruby Rose. Nice to make acquaintances?"

Ruby offered her hand weakly, but Aureolus simply stared at it disdainfully, as if it were a filthy object discarded on the street. "It is a pleasure to also meet you as well, Miss Rose.

"For what do I owe a visit for this Fair maiden?"

"Nothing much! Just helping Gerda with some of her errands. Oh S-silly me I still have that bag of yours! I'm sorry I didn't mean to take it." Ruby did not know what she was saying.

The words she spoke sounded so stupid in her ears that it felt like she rambled like a madman. Was this what Yang had warned about? That lack of communication would make one person so nervous that the sound like an idiot.

Comedy beads of sweat rolled all over her face as Mr. Aureolus said nothing for a moment. "Then I must thank you for guiding her back to safety. Is there anything you wish for Miss Rose?"

"No-no, you don't have to, I'm happy to help, that's all."

Aureolus sharpened his gaze towards Ruby, carefully observing her stance for any signs of potential deception.

"..."

Silence enveloped them both as neither uttered a single word. The only sound that could be heard was light children's laughter from inside. This was too much for Ruby.

With nothing else to say Ruby stepped back. She got a feeling she wasn't welcome here. "...Then I'll take my leave now."

"wait."

Ruby stopped. The monotone voice sounded even scarier than a pissed-off Professor Goodwitch.

"Yes..."

"It's going to rain soon. It will be of more interest if you stay in the orphanage for some time." Mr. Aureolus offered. The young huntress blinked.

That... was quite nice of him. Ruby's first impression of him was the kind of apathetic person who would show coldness to people he didn't care about. Guess she was wrong. Weiss wasn't the only person to act that way.

Somewhere in Beacon, a certain white hair sneezed.

Ruby thought for a moment but shook her head. She still had some work to do. Professor Peach may be a nice teacher but she wouldn't protect her from the ice queen's wrath.

"No thank you, while I would love to stay for a bit. I really need to get going. I'm sure that I could beat the rain if I use my semblance. Again thanks for the offer!" With that Ruby Turned away and took a few steps till-

Drip.

"?"

a wet sensation was felt on Ruby's head.

Drip. drip.

There came two more.

Drip drip drip drip drip.

And then came along five!

Ruby lifted her gaze towards the sky. And immediately regretted it. Down came the pouring rain, splashing along her face as if a bucket full of water poured over her. Hair now sticking on her face. The girl rotated to the man staring at her.

A small smirk was placed on his face. Clearly enjoying the misfortune Ruby went through. She was drenched from top to bottom. Her cape felt awfully heavy. Going home in this weather would be idiotic. Aura would mostly protect her from the cold but there would always be a chance she would get sick.

'That's what you get for not wearing your cap Ruby. Your cape will be drenched from the inside out dummy.'

Ruby smiled meekly. Rain still dripping down her dress.

"Is the offer still open?"

Mr. Aureolus remained silent, moving aside to allow Ruby to pass. It was precisely at that instant that Ruby made her entrance.

Her whole world changed.


Hey hi Nicko here! this fanfic was imported from Ao3

If you enjoyed it a fave or follow and a review would be very much appreciated. Tell me your thoughts about it so I can improve further. Till then, see you guys.