As night fell upon Beacon, the preparations for the final exam had begun. Seated amidst the students within the gymnasium for now, Salem meditated, faint flickers of light dancing around her as she held her eyes shut. The dancing symbols of ancient magicks flickered in and out in the darkness provided by her eyelids. She attempted to peruse the world for other magical beings.
She very obviously felt Ozma's… Ozpin's presence, one mighty magical light, flaring and flickering emerald in the tower. She had asked him if she could spend the night supervising the youths and he had agreed gladly. She could also feel the faint flickers of magical prowess amidst the students, though that felt more like their Auras. Their souls.
Magically, the Soul was tied to her powers as much as it was to theirs, but in a much different way. Here, all she felt were the faint touches of Remnant's ancient history amidst the new. Dust itself seemed to glow with a certain magical weight, but it remained a volatile material, something her soul would need to get accustomed to…
Regardless, she kept her search going. It was much easier to pick through the magical realm, considering Remnant seemed to have forgotten the ancient arts provided by the Gods. That, or, as she felt now, the Gods had disappeared and their powerful gift faded into obscurity. She sighed deeply, then focused again.
Though for a moment she picked up naught but silence, there were a few faint, hidden flickers of Souls touched by the light of magic. They were few and far between, but they were here, unblemished for the most part. Though the farther away she got, the more dizzy she felt. Something else approached.
She delved deeper, partly driven by greed, partly by curiosity, but felt it. A flickering black cloud, a scarlet touch like that of dripping blood. A bitter aftertaste turned into both Ambrosia and the horrifically metallic taste of blood. She focused on it, trying to peer, to see what darkness touched an unseen part of the World…
"Who are you…?" A voice called out, sending a chill up Salem's spine. Her voice…!?
She yelped the moment she felt a hand touch her arm, leaning back as her eyes glowed lilac. She heard a thump and felt pressure on her behind. With a heave, she looked ahead, to see the four young women she'd encountered just today staring at her. Ruby, though a bit surprised, chuckled and said, "Are you alright, miss Salem?"
"O-Oh… Ruby," She breathed a sigh, "You scared me."
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She lifted her hands defensively, "I didn't mean to!"
Weiss sighed and said, "I told you," crossing her arms. She watched Yang offer Salem a hand, which the young woman took gracefully, gently being lifted back to her feet. Weiss then asked, "Are you well? I mean that less in regards to the fall and more to how you seemed to be… Writhing. Did something happen?"
"O-oh… One, was I floating? And two… I had a bad dream, I suppose," She replied, a bit sullen. That could not have been her voice. She was right here, after all. The four girls seemed genuinely concerned about her, even Weiss. She told them, "Ladies, please, calm down. I am well," before lifting her hands.
"I guess that's okay," Ruby sighed, relieved, "Sorry again."
"And yes, you were floating," Weiss replied, a bit surprised, "What did you use? Gravity Dust?" to which Salem shook her head. Confusion wormed its way into the four girls' faces. Salem chuckled a little, lifted her right hand and formed a ball of glowing lilac in her hand, a flaming flower, causing all four of them to gasp.
"That is…" Weiss blinked, "A fairly incredible trick…?"
Salem chuckled again, then said, "Oh, no, dear," before she closed her fist, letting the gentle blast of the energy wash over the four, causing them to take a step back. She looked at Weiss, putting her hands together in front of her and stating, "I don't believe I've told any of you, but I do dabble in strange abilities."
"What, like Magic?" Yang chuckled, a bit mocking, a bit surprised. Salem smiled rather brightly at her, to which Yang's smile faded, eyes widening. Salem then summoned a flaming ball in her left hand, followed by an arcing ball of electricity in her right. Weiss seemed in pure disbelief, while Blake perked up like a kid during an Elders' Day Celebration.
Ruby herself let out several various 'oohs' and 'aahs' as she saw Salem make the two magical displays dance around each-other as she moved her hands. She then balled her fists and both disappeared, to which she added, "As much as I'd love to demonstrate my capabilities now, we are amidst a crowd of other students. Tomorrow, perhaps?"
Yang's mouth was open, agape, while Blake smiled brightly and Weiss still seemed in disbelief. Ruby was also fairly giddy, but in her own adorable way, while Salem noticed Blake's bow flick about, despite the girl's best abilities to restrain it. The Sorceress giggled a little, then gently moved her hand over to Yang's chin, pushing it up to close her mouth.
She then asked, "Are any of you concerned over the examination tomorrow?"
"Ehm…" Ruby, caught a little off-guard by this, rubbed the back of her neck and admitted, "Sorta…?"
"Not really, I suppose," Weiss stated, holding her hands behind her back. She saw everyone look at her and defended herself, "It certainly seems like a routine exam. Maybe even written," before pausing as she saw Salem wince, which caused her confusion. Salem herself had seen what the exam was going to be like, to a degree.
She had tried to convince Ozma to make it less dangerous, but he said that it would be necessary, should the children ever delve into the defense of humanity. Know thy enemy and all that. She replied, "I will not spoil it, but I believe you ladies should go get a good night's sleep. You will need it when it begins tomorrow…"
Though concern seemed to be the name of the game now, the girls did as requested by Salem, simply taking their walk back to their beds after bidding goodbye. As soon as most students were asleep, Salem moved to an adjacent room to see about the Crystal. She wondered if Miss Peach would arrive in Beacon any time soon.
… Come tomorrow morning, Salem had joined the Students, chaperoning them toward the Cliffside where their exam would begin. Walking with Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang as Ruby seemed to peppily talk to Weiss about something(while the Heiress was somewhat listening, somewhat worried about the exam) was heartwarming. Helped get her mind off of her little search…
"So, miss Salem," Blake started, taking Salem out of her own thoughts. The woman turned her head toward Blake, who smiled a little awkwardly and said, "Strange place to meet again, huh? I mean… I didn't know you were in Beacon…" and she shrugged, seemingly a tad confused. Salem giggled at that. It was rather adorable.
"It's where I was taken by miss Goodwitch after you departed from the tea shop. I suppose it is a rather blissful coincidence," Salem smiled back. She stated, "I did not get to thank you for the tea, by the way. It was wonderful. Especially since I got to know you better, miss Belladonna. That and the fact you decided to aid me…"
"It's fine… And it's just Blake. I think we talked about that before," The black-haired girl stated as they walked. She told Salem, "I wanted to come here for a while. Figured I could do a lot more good as a Huntress than anything else…" and the Sorceress felt some weight behind that statement. The young girl sighed, to which Salem put a warm, friendly hand on her shoulder.
Salem replied vocally, "I am certain you will do amazing things here," with a smile, her voice soft and soothing. Blake smiled back, thanking her quietly as they continued walking. Salem then gazed over at Weiss, who was making some calculations in her mind. She had her weapon clipped to her belt, much like everyone else, but hers was… Elegant. A rapier with a revolving cylinder, each chamber containing Dust.
Interesting…
She inquired, "Is all well, Miss Schnee?" as she took a step back to walk with Weiss. Weiss looked up, taken out of her thoughts. She nodded, to which Salem asked, "Are you certain? You sure seem focused on whatever calculations you're making," as she scratched her brow.
Weiss breathed deeply, a heavy sigh, then replied, "I am honestly stunned that the Headmaster would have this kind of test already. Yes, we have all trained in some form of Combat School or had tutors," and she unknowingly cast a glance toward a blonde, scraggly boy in the rear that they'd met during the Roll Call yesterday, "But that doesn't mean we should…"
"It will be safe," Salem replied calmly, "You have the best Hunters in Vale watching over you. If anything proves too dangerous, they will come to retrieve you," and she would drop in, too, if need be. Hells, she might even do it willingly now, just to test herself. She told Weiss, "So, relax. It won't be so bad."
"My thanks," Weiss gave an awkward smile, seemingly unused to kindness. She looked at Yang next, tapping the girl on the shoulder, with the blonde turning to meet her fellow's gaze. Salem raised a brow as if asking if she was alright. Yang smiled back and gave a thumbs up, jovial about her odds. Salem chuckled and nodded, then turned back toward Ruby.
The girl, though uneasy, seemed ready. Crescent Rose lay on her back, folded up, but ready to be deployed at a moment's notice. She saw Salem stopping to talk to her, then said, "O-Oh… Hey, miss Salem. I'm alright, before ya ask, just a little… Worried," and she pushed her index fingers together, "It's gonna be the first time I go up against a proper Grimm."
Salem placed a soothing hand on the girl's head, patting her and causing her to shudder. She looked up, face red, while Salem offered a kind smile and said, "You'll do fine, Ruby. What I've seen of your combat prowess when we went up against Roman Torchwick shows that you have the skill to win. You and your friends. So, do not give into the fear. Let your heart shine bright."
Ruby smiled a little, happy to feel the warm touch of the Teacher's Assistant with magical powers. There was certainly something familial about Salem, almost like she was trying to be a mother to everyone she met. It was rather sweet, all four girls of this little party thought. She smiled at them, then took a step back to comfort the blonde boy.
"Heh… She's even going to comfort Vomit Boy," Yang spoke happily, smiling.
Weiss was soft-spoken, calm, even partially smiling herself, "She certainly seems much warmer than any other person I've run into in my life…" which got a few sideways glances from Ruby and Yang. She rolled her eyes and told them, "That does not mean I didn't have warmth when I was a child," which was, by far, the biggest lie she'd ever told. Aside from her Sister, nobody cared.
"Fair enough," Blake conceded, then looked back as she saw him patting the blonde boy on the head, then turning to the redhead with green eyes right next to him and offering her a smile, too. She chuckled and said, "And what's this now? She trying to play matchmaker or something?" as they walked. The other three chuckled a little.
As they reached the edge of the cliff, Salem joined Ozpin's side while Glynda held a Scroll Tablet, looking over the files. She locked onto Jaune for a moment and whispered to Salem, "Do you think that young man should be here, Salem? I ask this out of professional courtesy for all of us… I cannot detect his Aura."
She smiled a little, "He shall be fine, miss Goodwitch. Believe me."
"... Okay then," Glynda sighed, watching the kids settle into position on moss-covered stone pads. She spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Emerald Forest. Your objective here is simple:Retrieve a chess piece from the temple deep within the Forest and return. Be forewarned, however, that Grimm inhabit this forest. Though, with the training you all must have received, they should be no issue."
"Additionally," Ozpin spoke calmly, "To dissuade any thoughts, the first person you make eye contact with will be your partner for the next four years," only to hear Weiss balk, much to Salem's amusement. Oz hummed and chuckled a little, too, then took a sip from his coffee, standing straight, cane in one hand.
"U-Uh," Jaune Arc, the young blonde, stammered, raising his hand, "Sir? Ma'ams. How will we get down there?"
"You will be utilizing your landing strategy," Glynda replied as the first student was launched by the pad, a springboard of stone. Salem yelped, then laughed as she watched the girl, Weiss, arc into the Forest's depths.
Jaune laughed awkwardly, then asked, "O-Oh. Yeah, that… A-and if we can't find a partner in time or fail our 'landing strategy'?"
Oz sighed, then said, "I'm very sorry, mister Arc, but you will die," only to watch as another member of the would-be team of miss Rose, Yang, put on her aviators, gave a wink to Ruby and was launched off the platform. Jaune started to stammer something out before being launched. Ruby was launched before him and, comparatively, she launched like a bullet.
Poor Jaune launched like a flapping bird trying to regain its flight capabilities. Salem sighed and said, "Ozma? I wish to join them down there," only to see the Headmaster pause. She smiled and said, "Simply put? I would love to test myself out in combat again after so long. It has certainly been an eventful few weeks, but…"
Ozpin hummed, then smiled and said, "We'll retrieve you if something goes awry, same as the students. Take care of yourself, dear," to which Salem beamed. She moved over to one of the reset jump pads and took position. Glynda cast a worried glance Ozpin's way, but he shook his head and showed her to remain calm.
She sighed, looking at Salem and waited. Salem set up, prepared, then gave a thumbs up and a smile. Moments later, she could hear the air rushing by her ears. She flew through the air with the rippling wind around her, her dress flowing through the gusts caused by her dive. She remained straight as an arrow, however, simply flipping forward as she got close to the ground, so she was feet first.
Then, a lilac light enveloped her hands. Winds rippled through the leaves, followed by the very gravity pulling multiple of the greens off the trees' canopy. She landed amidst them, dropping onto the ground from a branch. She then discarded her sandals, feeling the grass tickle her toes. She smiled, feeling a small surge of energy as she searched the area.
She grabbed her shoes, stowed them somewhere for later retrieval, then began to sprint, guiding herself by the faint feelings of the students' Auras. She rushed forth, through the thicket, smiling brightly and laughing as she began to basically bounce on her feet, magical energy flowing through her body to provide safety.
She kept moving, prancing through the greens with laughter, pushing past shrubs and grass even as she felt her dress catch onto the branches. She didn't tear it, thankfully, simply finding her joy. She had always loved nature, regardless of how dangerous it was in places, but she was still on her mission to find the Teams.
She paused, however, feeling a dark touch amidst the life of the Forest. Her expression shifted from joy to focus, eyes widening, senses sharpening under the weight of her own magical powers. She shifted, turning as she heard close growls. She furrowed her brows, watching the beasts of night formerly belonging to the God of Darkness move out from among the shadows of the forest.
Bone-white plate with red, vein-like glow, scarlet burning eyes, spikes protruding from their backs and fur as black as the night, catching light within and never letting go. Their claws and teeth were sharp, snouts snarling, black ichor dripping like drool. They growled at the woman, a seeming confusion in their movements as the pack surrounded her.
She scoffed, then asked, "What's the matter, Beasts of the Dark…? Your master left you alone upon this world?" before she whispered to herself a spell. Her eyes glowed scarlet like the flame growing in her hand. The burning flame flared in her hand, her heart slightly racing. If she recalled correctly, having read manuscripts and books about them, the 'Grimm' were attracted to negative feelings.
The twinge of fear she felt now was one such target. A pack of seven beasts surrounded her. Seven large, lanky wolves that looked deformed. Their leader, one slightly bigger than all of them, let out a bellowing roar that scratched the woman's ears. Then, they charged. Salem grinned and called out, "Like old times, then! COME! SHOW ME WHAT PASSES FOR FURY AMONG YOUR MISBEGOTTEN KIND!"
The first beasts jumped her. She took a step back, narrowly avoiding the slashes of their claws and delivering one swift blast of heat against the one on her right. She watched as the fur burned away from its faux-skin, black muscle tissue throbbing in pain. She slashed down upon it again with a tongue of flame, causing the beast's frame to melt, then sunder and scatter in the night.
Its sibling charged forth again, followed by two more. She narrowly dodged the first's strikes, summoning a bolt of ice in her left hand and one of lightning in her right. She dodged, darted past the first creature as it swung her way and shot the bolt of ice clean through its mouth. The second, she sent the lightning bolt through, tearing its entire body asunder.
The third, or fourth, however, swept in from behind, slashing her across the back with its claws, a light hit that drew blood. She swiveled about and, with lilac energy flowing into her palm, grabbed the beast. Gravity seemed to fail it. She utilized that power to throw it against another of its siblings, killing it and wounding the other by leaving a bone spike in its right paw.
She felt a swing from behind catch her hair clip, tearing it off and letting her pony-tail flow free now, blonde hair weaving in the wind as she turned, dodging another swipe that ripped her dress slightly. She delivered a two-handed bolt of ice against the charging beast, then sent some of her magic into her feet.
She jumped out of the way of another beast trying to pounce on her, then sent another slashing tongue of fire across it, shearing it in half, its corpse disintegrating. She landed, looking at the leading Beowolf stared her down, snarling and grinding its teeth. She panted heavily, but smiled, whispering to herself, "This is fun…" before wincing as she felt the sharp pain of the five-claw mark on her back.
She prepared herself, however, as the monster threatened to charge, trying to call upon more of her magic, but finding part of her reserves already exhausted. She needed to be careful with how she utilized the next bursts, so, she thought, she would dodge when the next attack came. And she did, just as the beast lunged at her.
She put a hand against its black mane, feeling a searing pain for a moment. She withdrew it and sent the beast flying back with a blast of Gravity or Telekinesis or whatever newfangled term the children called it today, shattering it into a dozen small pieces that soon disintegrated. Panting, she dropped to her knees and laughed.
"Oh, I am home…" She whispered, wiping the sweat off her brow. She paused, however, as she felt two familiar presences. Turning her head slowly, she saw both miss Schnee and Ruby staring at her, eyes wide, before she smiled awkwardly and waved, "Ladies…? Apologies, was this pack yours…?" only for the two to exchange a glance of concern.
Weiss turned first and said, "You are actually a Sorceress," her voice incredibly sharp and filled with disbelief.
Salem nodded, slowly standing up and dusting herself off. The two walked over and helped her to her feet, to which Salem said, "My, were you quick to accept it," teasingly. She felt her back, then saw faint trickles of blood on her hand. She sighed and said, "It will heal…" as she wiped the blood down on the grass.
"Are you sure you're okay, miss Salem?" Ruby asked, cradling Crescent Rose. Salem nodded, smiling.
She replied, "Yes. And worry not, I won't interfere more than this," before she motioned to them to lead the way to the Chess pieces. The two Huntresses-in-Training stared at her, then nodded and walked, leading the way toward their intended target. Salem followed closely behind, hands behind her back and a peppy smile on her face.
… Back on top of the Cliff, Glynda stared with wide eyes at the camera that had caught Salem's fight. Ozpin, meanwhile, couldn't help but crack a little smile at the sight of his wife-to-be still retaining her professional capabilities. They'd hunted plenty of Grimm together, after all, back when the God of Darkness left them outside his realm.
He spoke calmly, "Are your worries assuaged, Glynda?"
"... Somewhat…?" She blinked, then whispered, "The Grimm still seemingly hesitated…" before she scratched her chin and arranged her glasses, watching the other Students go about their business. Miss Nikos had reunited with Mister Arc, while miss Valkyrie and mister Ren had also met up. Other than them, a dozen other Students had found partners.
Including miss Xiao-Long and miss Belladonna finding each-other. Glynda sighed and murmured to herself, "This is going to be quite the year, is it not…?" to which Ozpin let out a short chuckle, sipping from his… Well, Glynda had at first assumed it was coffee, but it turned out to be hot chocolate back when she mistakenly tried it out.
They kept watching as the groups moved forth, navigating toward the Temple. Salem's injuries seemed to be healing, to nobody's surprise. Her magical abilities probably included self-healing at this point. She was, however, certainly more mortal than Ozpin had described. Her human form, at least. Her Dark Form? Glynda had never seen her. She prayed she wouldn't have to.
Back with the crew in the Forest, however, Salem couldn't help but crack a small smile as she saw Weiss and Ruby interacting. They two weren't the best at coordinating, just from how she saw it as an outsider, but given enough time and training(And hopeful willingness from Weiss to cooperate) and the two would be best of friends.
Ruby would also need to learn not to be so clingy, though, going by the fact she was about an inch away from hugging Weiss's frame with Crescent Rose. Or poking her in the ribs. Of course, Salem really couldn't warn them, being focused on finding their allies and thus, presumably, their target:The Temple.
She did also start noticing structures the deeper they walked. Ancient stones, carved aeons ago. She ran her hand over one and paused as a momentary flash of life in the Forest's ancient grounds played in front of her, one of laughter and joy, of family lives, of normalcy... She blinked, wiped away the confusion, then saw the two young women ahead of her stare at her with concern. Not even a word needed to be said.
She urged them forward. They were close, if nothing else…