Professor Goodwitch's voice sounded from the speaker within the corner. "Would all first-year students please report to the amphitheater."
Team CRLN exchanged nonchalant glances, standing to comply with the request, they knew what the purpose was. Their first official assignment to shadow professional huntsmen.
The sight of four separated groups, each consisting of students from the four academies met their eyes as Headmaster Ozpin stood onstage. The gray-haired man wasted no time in beginning another speech. One met with general disinterest from the students due to its repetitive notions. Something not lost on the elder as he looked out into the crowd, emphasizing the importance of individuality and in his own words, the war that brought it to the forefront of the world.
Yet in the crowd of young faces, Caelum could barely keep his ire from showing on his face. As the old man continued speaking about the war and its causes, the young man's glare sharpened. A clear disdain for the speaker and his indifference to the topic. His team noticed but knowledgeably ignored it as Ozpin continued.
"As first-year students, you'll be tasked with shadowing a professional huntsmen or huntress on a mission. Some of you may be out of the kingdom for several days. Some may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose. Remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best."
Without delay, the headmaster left the stage as applause followed him. The large groupings of students quickly dispersed and began discussing amongst their teams their excitement, worries, and most of all, which assignments to pick.
Team CRLN turned inward and thankfully, their leader had returned to his usual placidity. Lukas and Niel pitched ideas as to what they wished, the former wanting an easy week in the walls as the latter preferred outside so he could show his skills in the wilderness.
Raiden happily joined their conversation mentioning his advancements with his weapon. Notably that its cooldown had been significantly reduced and now could hold a charge without him in direct contact.
As Caelum quietly simmered down, he called his team's attention. "We've been offered an assignment by Professor Port. He said if we enter this code he gave us, it will unlock a mission for our team to accept."
Lukas raised a brow. "Are ya asking if we want to partake in it?"
"Telling you but you can infer as you'd like so long as you prepare accordingly."
Lukas sneered as Niel chuckled and acted as the voice of reason. "Let us see what it is first."
The four boys walked over to the floating screens holding the listings of available missions when a few brightly colored girls caught their attention nearby. Team RWBY was talking amongst themselves with a noticeably lighter atmosphere when Weiss came to join them.
A closer look showed her returning from a conversation with a blue-haired boy as his team joined him. The curious sight was forgotten as Ruby's voice called out to Weiss playfully. "Well if it isn't our favorite cloud chaser." Blake and Yang raised curious eyebrows at the foreign name as Weiss stopped mid-stride. An expression of shock crossed her face.
Raiden, Niel, and Lukas recognized the familiar monicker turning to Caelum who silently shocked them all. He was holding a hand over his mouth, attempting to hide a wide smile and restrained laughter. As his bewildered team looked at his first genuine expression of mirth in school, Caelum glanced over at the girls.
"Ruby!" hissed Weiss, looking side to side, ensuring none of the crowd around them heard. "Do you even know what that means?!"
Recognizing Weiss's anger, Ruby wilted and frantically looked around. "S-someone from Atlas?"
"No! Ruby Rose!" spat Weiss quietly. "It's a slur against Atlesians."
Ruby gave a horrified gasp as she fumbled for an apology that just couldn't form in her mouth. Not willing to miss the opportunity, Yang feigned horror and began pressing Ruby harder before restraining her panicking self with a tight embrace. Blake shrugged her shoulder, muttering "I wish I knew that sooner" with a smirk and earning her a tongue lashing from Weiss.
Seeing the girls argue, Lukas and Niel turned to Caelum who was snickering at the sight before turning to Raiden. "You-" he laughed quietly. "You told her it was a name for Atlesians didn't you?"
Raiden turned his back to the girls and his team as he threw his hoodie over his head and pulled it low, embarrassed as heat fumed from his face. The boys pulled up the mission on screen and began reading the details. A simple reconnaissance of a small town and reestablishment of communications. It drew little opposition from the boys who promptly submitted their team name and Ports recommended code. With a green light, their team was accepted.
Next to them the Headmaster strolled up and began speaking to Team RWBY. The boys wished to stay a little longer to review some details but as he brought up the docks incident last semester and cast a glance towards them, they took their leave. It was doubtful he knew anything of their involvement and was only addressing Team RWBY who was there but being around such a troublesome person would only spell trouble. Especially as it was their headmaster.
With one lasting glance back at the screen, Caelum eyed the detailed font. "Establish comms" stuck out to him. Raiden stopped to ask what was wrong only for Caelum to dismiss the worry. The boys then left to begin packing and preparing for their mission that would take place soon.
On their way out a random peer announced Team CFVY's return from their mission. Worries had risen as they should have returned a week ago yet they all seemed fine albeit exhausted.
Despite this, once the senior students noticed Team CRLN they made a temporary excursion to greet their juniors. With cursory greetings given, the obvious question was raised. Where had they been? They were scheduled to return a week ago and with heavy sighs at the questions they had answered a dozen times, answered again.
"There was that many Grimm?" asked Raiden disbelieving of their retelling. The four nodded, even Coco didn't have the energy to tell a joke. Instead, the subject was changed.
"Are you going on your first sanctioned mission soon?" asked Yatsuhashi, aware it was near that time for the first years.
"Yep, any advice for us big fella?" asked Lukas.
Before Yatsuhashi could speak, Coco raised a hand and interrupted. "Nope," she smiled cooly. "Just remember your training and stick close to your huntsman. Her eyes glossed over the four boys beneath her sunglasses before stopping on Caelum. Let's not get headstrong and lose a limb or two okay?" Reaching out to unexpectedly ruffle his hair, surprised he aloud it momentarily when she was taken aback by a thunderous voice.
"I couldn't agree more Ms. Adel!" shouted Port appearing at their side.
"Professor Port?" asked Velvet. "What are you doing here?"
Niel took the chance to explain. "He's our huntsman."
Team CFVY shared uncertain looks.
"Ri~ght," said Coco slowly stepping away.
Fox silently followed as Velvet waved frantically. "Good luck on your mission!"
With a bow and a fist in the palm, Yatsuhashi was last to follow. "May you find success in your trial."
Port watched the students leave with a triumphant smile. "Ha ha! What good students. They must be exhausted. Enough of that however gentleman! We have a hunt to prepare for! And I even have a surprise for this venture!"
Quickly, Port shooed the boys along. Their departure was sooner than expected and their surprise was heavily unwelcomed.
At the bullhead docking area, CRLN had passed through the growing crowd of students and awaited at loading area they were informed of. Nearby a team of foreign students stood. In passing they heard the red and green-haired boys arguing in quiet hisses with a familiar-looking monkey faunus as a blue-haired boy attempted to mediate.
Team CRLN kept to themselves indifferent to the internal spats of others but that didn't prevent some words from reaching their ears. From what little could be heard, the blonde faunus seemed to have a troublesome habit of loose leadership and leaving his teammates without warning. Uncaring for their surroundings, the red-haired boy raised his voice and mentioned the faunus left their home continent of Mistral without them. The boy's defense of 'having fun' and 'a venturous spirit' did little else than anger his teammates and worsen his mediator's position.
As the four strangers continued arguing, Team CRLN kept their eyes to themselves but quickly realized just how poor of a team those boys were. As they awaited Port to arrive, Team CRLN wondered if a similar fate had awaited them if they had not fixed their differences. Port would probably chomp at the bit for a chance to remediate their team. Thankfully they were from Haven and that left them someone else's problem.
With these thoughts circulating along with idle chatter as they waited, Port suddenly arrived with a large bag and his gut both jostling around. Before Niel could offer to take the Professor's bag, Port threw it to the ground and puffed out his chest. "Gentleman! We will be reestablishing communications at a town outside of Vale's walls. I'm sure you understand the importance of such an endeavor for such a populated and vulnerable town. Details shall be given at our first stop! Before that! Team Cerulean this is Team Sun! Team Sun, this is Team Cerulean!"
The stout man gestured open palms to the confused boys of CRLN and the bewildered boys within SSSN as he snatched up his bag and without further ado, boarded the idling bullhead. The eight boys gave cautious glances as they followed the professor onboard and departed without delay.
Before anyone knew what happened, this mission suddenly was underway with two teams chaperoned by Port. Though it was doubtful they could sway the old man anyway, it was just one grievance that they hadn't been informed or consulted.
So, on a small bullhead out of Vale with Port sitting next to the pilot, CRLN sat on one side of the bullhead as the only other seats were taken up by four strangers. At least most of them were. Caelum and Raiden recognized the monkey faunus who had been with Blake at the dock incident. Thankfully they had not fought within eyesight of him.
Next to him was the blue-haired boy Weiss had been speaking to earlier and past him was a thin red-haired boy with long bangs and eyeliner. Their final member was a stout male with green hair and surprisingly, tattoos on his exposed chest and neck.
The ride was quiet and tense. Port kept himself occupied by chatting the pilot's ear off and the eight boys in the back stared across at each other. Team CRLN seemed content at remaining silent, each member having differing opinions but all silently agreeing it would be best to avoid befriending this team.
Lukas eventually passed out none too gracefully as Niel seemed to meditate during the lengthy ride. Raiden looked around anxiously, trying to keep his mind preoccupied and away from initiating conversation. The fact that the faunus boy had been at the scene of one of their 'interventions' left him slightly nervous and paranoid. Only Caelum kept his eyes firmly on the foreign students. Regarding Team SSSN, the four boys stayed awake out of ire, seemingly split amongst themselves.
The blue-haired boy turned inwards as he was placed between his teammates as a buffer. The blonde faunus seemed uncaring for his teammate's misgivings and happily tapped on his legs almost mockingly. The red-haired boy came across as fussy, tapping his foot on the steel floor and grumbling about his discomfort with the seats. The green-haired boy stayed composed but seemed pessimistic as he consistently showed a deep frown at everything.
Caelum glossed over each of them, stopping on the green-haired boy who glowered as Caelum disregarded him and received a deeper frown as he looked back. Growing tired of the tense atmosphere the faunus spoke with a bright smile and loud introduction.
"Heya! So little awkward introducing names now but it'd be a good idea rather than later, right?" Caelum quietly looked on as the faunus continued with uncertain confidence. "So… At the far end there is Sage, then Scarlet, next to me is Neptune, and I'm Sun! Pleasure to meet some fellow Huntsman!"
A hand shot out from the exuberant boy, awaiting a shake and anticipating acceptance. Caelum eyed the extremity with cold indifference before looking up and speaking, ignoring the offer. "Team Cerulean." with a tilt of his head to the side, Caelum mimicked Sun's introduction. "Niel, Lukas, Raiden, Caelum" and abruptly ended their talk.
Sun didn't seem pleased with his failed conversation and tried again. One sidedly speaking to Caelum who grew tired of the incessant talk. As Sun spoke of his joyous time in Vale, Caelum interrupted him. "Aren't you the one who was stalking outside the dorms? Standing outside window ledges and peering in?"
Sun's eyes widened as his open mouth went silent, a smile frozen on his face at the question. His team's eyes shifted to him with piercing intent as Raiden cast a curious glance and Niel stopped his meditation.
"W-what are ya talking about?" asked Sun. "Kinda a misleading thing to say there ya know?"
"Maybe" conceded Caelum. "But wasn't you're friend, Neptune was it? Wasn't he with you before sneaking into an open window?"
Being targeted, Neptune's fragile personality couldn't withstand the persecuting eyes of his teammates and immediately confessed. "How did you know?" he asked in exasperation.
"It was broad daylight. After school hours. At the student dorms. Where I live. How would I not?" asked Caelum condescendingly.
"Everything okay back there boys?" asked Port from the co-pilot's seat. "I heard some shouting!"
"Just fine sir!" answered Sun in a panic. With a thumbs up, Port returned to admiring the view from his seat.
"Is that where you've been running off to? Some, some tryst?" Asked Scarlet indignantly as Sage glowered at his team leader.
Pressured, Sun leaned forward and begged Caelum. "Alright fine it was us but it wasn't anything bad I swear!"
"Then what were you doing?" asked Caelum.
Sun's lips sealed themselves, narrowed eyes telling all that he couldn't answer. It was obvious to Caelum that it involved his attendance at the docks, perhaps a promise of secrecy to team RWBY since it was their room he entered. With a sneer, Caelum looked down his nose at the sweating Faunus.
"So it was" declared Sage seeing his leader's silence. Caelum was happy to let Sun and Neptune stew under the pressure of their teammates.
"Wait…" said Raiden speaking up. "If you saw them break in, then why didn't you report it to the staff?"
With an innocent expression, Caelum fibbed. "I thought it may have been a failed suicide attempt." The answer drew a few concerned stares when in reality, he didn't want to draw more attention from Team RWBY.
"And you didn't think to report that? Asked Raiden unsure if he should still be disbelieving of his partner's wild statements at this point.
"I didn't think much of it."
The statement left such an awkward pause to the conversation it ended just as abruptly. As Team CRLN returned to their prior actions, Team SSSN was now split between each other as accusations and pleas of forgiveness were traded. Though it was noisy, Caelum was at least glad he didn't have to speak with them for the rest of the ride.
Port was not as oblivious as he would have the young lads in the back believe. He had expected some friction, even some spats. But it seemed worse than he expected. He had seen a team in need of guidance and perhaps his success with Team CRLN had led him to snap up Team SSSN and bring them along. He just hadn't expected the boys to be so divided amongst themselves. To add to it, most of Team CRLN seemed to outright dismiss their new allies.
From what the robust man could tell from information he acquired from Haven Academy and his observations, the two teams seemed to completely contrast each other. Goals, initiative, chain of command, respect, compliance, let alone the sheer difference between the capability and mindset of both team leaders.
Although his mouth was distracting the pilot with tales of his glory, his mind was thinking over other matters. How could he aid these young huntsmen in training? What could bring their team together? They were no Team CFVY, he had Glynda to assist him with those four after all. The same method wouldn't work with two separate teams anyhow.
The main problem was that with CRLN those students had seemed to take the initiative to close their rifts personally. As a teacher, he left their personal matters private and merely admired the fact that they had become a cohesive unit as well as be struck with awe at the sudden leaps in teamwork and skill.
A glance back into the rear of the bullhead showed the dismal atmosphere. Mr. Hyalus seemed to snub Mr. Wukong. Almost something inevitable as the prim and proper lad took one look at Mr. Wukong's attire before settling on his first impression. It only seemed to be surpassed by Mr. Wukong's teammates. Those who seemed to grow only more embittered after the troubling information Mr. Hyalus had revealed.
Past his bushy eyebrows, Port looked at Mr. Hyalus a small and barely noticeable twinge of a smirk on his lips. The boy had said all that on purpose, the sly and calculative little troublemaker he was. Port settled back into his seat, content to let the pilot focus on his task in peace.
It didn't matter as the man seemed to sigh in relief and announced the blinking green lights in the distance. Gesturing at his radar, He declared that was the landing pad at their destination. Port bellowed a laugh, mentioning his apologies for losing himself in talk. He would think about how to assist Team SSSN after their mission. After all, he was charged with the safety of not just four but now eight students. He would not disappoint Ozpin nor Haven Academy's headmaster.
Perhaps he could even mend the bridge between the two teams. The start of a true renaissance of manliness! Across academies no less! But first, he would choose to ignore the revelation of Mr. Wukong's illicit rule-breaking on school grounds just this once. An extra pair of eyes would need to be kept on him for certain once they returned. Perhaps some extra difficult training would correct him? Port was a rascal in his youth himself but you can't cause trouble if you're busy after all! The thought brought a delightful chuckle to his lips as the bullhead slowed and began to hover. Port prepared to stand and announce their arrival at Figura, where they would start their mission.
-Chapter End-