-The Ever Forest-
Sunsprite was gliding fast through the air after being catapulted from the courtyard. As she looks around for a landing spot, she turned into rose pedals and scattered towards a branch before reverting back. Her feet landing on the branch.
"Whew. Made it." She sighed.
Sunsprite then hops off the branch and rolls on the ground before regaining her balance.
Sunsprite then focuses on finding Leon to form a team with him. Although thinking back when Tide mentioned about teams of four being required. Sunsprite wonders who else can be in a team with her and Leon.
Who else besides Leon might join my team? Li is cool, but I think he and his friends had plans. Kai is funny, but he already got ideas on who will be on his team. Rita? Maybe I can ask if she wants to join.
Sunsprite then hears growling. And came to a stop. A pair of white eyes are seen in dark spaces. She remembered what Leon's father had taught her.
Keep calm. Don't let the enemy sense your fear.
Sunsprite breathes as she keeps the monsters in sight. Her heart was beating fast. As she never faced Grimm yet other than the Nevermore in the island.
Let the enemy come at you, then strike.
A Major Ursa then charges at Sunsprite. But as the Ursa was about to make a swift slash with its claws, Sunsprite twirls to avoid the attack and slashes her sword to its side body. "Hyah!"
The ursa roared in pain. Then it turned to Sunsprite. Then dashed at her again.
Alright. It's a first.
Sunsprite rolled away and sprung at the Ursa and lunge her blade at the creature. The Ursa runs to shake her off. But with her strength from training with her aunt, Sunsprite uses her hilt of a sword to steer the Ursa. And led it to the tree. Sunsprite flips back and makes her stance when the Ursa recovers.
-Beacon Academy Courtyard-
Tide is watching the First-year students on screen with a scroll-like tablet. With the cameras placed in the Ever Forest, he can see them for safety reasons. He is in charge of overseeing the process since he is a student council president.
The first student he sees in the monitors is Sunsprite. "Sunsprite Rose, raised in the Isle of La Lune by her maternal aunt for 14 years." Tide said identifying the students. Glynda felt familiar with the name.
The headmistress then walks over to Tide. "May I see this for a moment?" Glynda asked. Tide hands the tablet to her and she sees the screen. She zooms in after rewinding the footage. There was Sunsprite.
Her silver eyes are familiar to Glynda. "She has her mother's eyes." Her eyes stared down in sadness. Almost as if it was the first time a parental figure's first time seeing a daughter-like figure.
"Professor Goodwitch? Are you okay?" Asked Tide. He figured Goodwitch knew the student. Glynda then shook her head and turned to Tide. "Nothing, Tide. I just happened to know someone years ago. It was a surprise, that's all." She replied.
"Oh, okay." Tide replied. It did not stop his concern for the headmistress. But for now he focuses on the students. "I heard your brother is now a first-year in Beacon. It must be exciting to see him around." Glynda said.
"Tristan doesn't think so." Glynda looked at him. From the sound of his voice, it seemed to her that the brothers are estranged.
"Is there anything you are planning when you are graduating?" Glynda asked. Wanting for the young man to be less bored. Feeling bad for asking him to help with checking the students. Since he is the heir of Chioni Tech, a tech company that his mother is a CEO of in Mistral. As a result of his accomplishments, including the Mistral Regional Tournaments in Sanctum, Tide became the pride of Mistral which reminds Glynda of a former student she knows. Many young women would ask him out on dates, and even proposed to him, though Tide refused wanting to focus on his future.
There is more to his goals than to take over his mother's company. "You saw my portfolio, right, Professor?"
Glynda nodded. "I did."
"I planned to enroll into the military. And it's not because of family honor." Tide said. "A couple of archeologists my mother hired had discovered a dooming prophecy. I feared this. It was supposed to be a fairy tale to hear since my siblings and I were children. But after researching the histories, I feared the worst. I want to enroll into the military, to protect my family. And to fight so that future generations after us won't live in fear." Tide explains.
"You sounded as if war is coming." Glynda said. Looking away.
"You are aware it will come. Ever since Mirak Arc sealed away the great evil centuries ago, someone released the seal. "She" cannot be destroyed. But if my hunch is correct, one of the students we are seeing today could be a hidden member of the Arc bloodline to seal away the master of Grimm once again. We'll leave it as a fairy tale to them all as of now. In time, all will be revealed to whoever we are finding. After all, the children after your generation was never aware the real reason the 2nd Great War started in the first place."
"I don't want to frighten the students as it had before. But fate will never be fair to us. Which is why we need to prepare them beforehand." The records of the 2nd Great War were kept hidden by the militaries of the four kingdoms. So that the new generation of huntsmen and huntresses cannot knew about it until the time comes. Official records said that the cause of the 2nd Great War were the Black Vipers, which part of it were true. Due to their terrorism on the cities.
"The ancestors of my mother and father had seen many battles beforehand. The next battle will my turn to see it." Tide said. Glynda looked at her student like a son she never has. It worries her that the lives of the youth had been set in stone.
"You're a brave young man, Tide. But you need to enjoy your life. You may be grown-up, but you're still young." Glynda advised.
"Enjoying life. Huh..." Tide paused thinking of Glynda's words. He then takes out his scroll and looks at a photograph of his girlfriend, who he loves very much. They had been secretly dating for a while. Taking things slow. His girlfriend has a long dark-brown hair and green eyes. Tide smiles to see the face he longed for.
His girlfriend is currently in Haven Academy. The couple agreed that once they graduate, Tide will introduce her to his parents.
Then he receives a text from his mother.
Mother: Hi, sweetie. I am sorry, but can you check on your brother? He's been ignoring my calls.
-Ever Forest-
Sunsprite was still fending off against the ursa. She has weakened it to the point where she aims her sword at the Grimm, she speeds up the moment she examines the creature before her. And once she figured the Ursa wasn't getting up ant time soon, she readies her aim.
And sprints on her feet. "Haah!" She yelled out. And swipes her sword across and slices the Ursa'a head off. Causing the creature's body to turn into an ash-like particles. "Huh..." She sighs.
Sunsprite wipes off the sweat from her forehead. But then remembers more Grimm surrounding her. "Oh, forgot they are here." She said, innocently. She then makes the stance again facing the Grimm around.
A Beowolf makes a jump at her, but someone behind her slashed the creature away from her. Sunsprite turned around to see Leon holding his own sword. He looks at her, Sunsprite nods as the two stick their backs to each other like each other's eyes and ears.
The two fulfilled the promise to be partners in the field. Meaning they will be in the same team together. "Ready?!" Sunsprite asked. Leon nodded. "Let's do this."
-Isle of La Lune, 14 years ago-
Leon was playing with his baby brother building a sandcastle while their father, Saber, was adjusting his fishing hook.
"See this? If you add water, but not too much, you might mold the sand into a tower." Leon explained to his younger brother. Of course, the baby boy just laughed seeing him using the bucket to mold a sand tower. Then again, he can't understand anything because he is an infant.
"Leon, why don't you go play? I am going to take your brother. You make some friends." Said Saber.
"But, Dad! I am fine just playing with my brother!" Leon whines. His baby brother just giggled again.
"It's fine, kiddo. It won't be fair for you to watch over him all the time. Time for little Jace to play with his old man!" Saber holds Jace and nuzzled his nose a little. Causing Jace to squeal happily.
"What should I do?" Asked Leon. Saber then told his son. "Why don't you take a look around, but don't be too far." Saber suggested.
"Okay." Leon groaned. He left to walk around the beach. As he wanders around. While also making sure he isn't too far, he hears laughter. And there it was, a little girl his age with blonde hair and silver eyes. Being picked on by a couple of boys kicking the sand at her.
"Hey, kick it a bit harder!" Said one boy. And just like that, another boy kicked the sand harder on the girl. "Ah!" The girl cried.
She turned around and open her eyes. Leon noticed something about her eyes are extrordinary. The boys then made snide comments. "Look at those eyes! They are weird."
"Ugh, they burn so bright! I am gonna be blind for this!" Said the third boy. Then kicks the sand again. The girl covered her eyes with her hand.
Leon was angry to see kids picking on the girl. He wasn't going to stand and watch. But before he can do anything, Leon sees the girl tackling one of the boys in anger. And was wrestling. Until she was grabbed by two other boys. But she keeps fighting. Until Leon intervenes by pushing one of the boys to the sand.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Demanded the second boy.
"Stop it! Didn't your mom teach you not to hurt other kids?!" Leon taunted.
"Sean, where are you?!" Called one of the boys' mothers called. The boys then gave up for today and left. Not wanting to get into trouble with their parents.
Leon then approached the girl. "Hi, are you okay?" He asked. The little girl then cries. "Don't look at me! Waaah!" She wailed.
Leon then sees a seashell. He picked it up from the water and ran back to the girl. "Don't cry, look what I found!" The girl turned around, removing her hand from her eyes. Revealing her silver eyes.
She then sees a shell. "Take it, it's yours." Leon said to her. Reluctant, the little girl takes the seashell. It was yellow. "Ooh." She looked at it with awe.
"Like it? My mom likes to make necklaces with shells." Leon said. "I am Leon." He introduced himself.
"Sun...sprite. Just call me Sunny." She slowly said her name. Wiping tears off her eyes. Leaving a few sniffles and hiccups. Leon wonders why she is alone in the beach. "Where are your mom and dad?"
"I don't have a mommy and daddy. They passed away." Sunsprite replied. Leon blinked, shocked. "Oh. Who are you living with?"
"My auntie."
"Why are you alone?" Leon asked. Wondering if Sunsprite's aunt is around. "Oh...I just see the ocean. And my auntie went to get some fish. So I just went to look at it.
"Sunny! There you are!" Sunsprite's aunt, Ling Xiao Long, just arrived. "You shouldn't walk off. You could've got lost."
"I'm sorry."
"Just don't do it again." Ling sighed. Then she walks up and picks up little Sunsprite and placed her on her shoulders. "Up you go, firecracker!" Ling said cheerfully. Sunsprite giggled happily.
Then Ling turns her attention to Leon. "Oh, hey there, Kid. You lost? Where are your parents?" Ling asked.
"Daddy is playing with my baby brother. And then I saw Sunny being bullied by some other kids." Leon said. Ling was astonished. Regretting getting some fish when Sunsprite wandered off.
"What?! Where are those pesky kids that messed with my niece! I wanna have a word with their mothers!" Seeing her anger, Leon can tell she isn't taking this lightly. Like a lioness protecting her cub. It scared him, but he understands that she is very protective of Sunsprite.
Sunsprite then uses her words to calm her aunt down. "Forget it, auntie. I don't know their names. Can we invite my new friend over dinner? He gave me a seashell. And scared those other boys away." Sunsprite asked, innocently.
"Daw, Sunny! You made a new friend here." She ruffled her hair.
"Leon, there you are." Saber came carrying Jace once he finds Leon making a new friend.
"Dad, Sunny wants to invite me over her home for dinner. Can I go?" Leon asked.
Saber then sees the little girl on Ling's shoulders. "That's an adorable little girl you got here. Is she your daughter?" Saber asked. For some reason, Saber recognized Sunsprite by looking at her silver eyes.
"Hmm? No, she's my niece. Her parents passed away after she is born." Ling explains. "We recently moved here a few days ago."
"Oh..." Saber scratched the back of his head whith his other hand holding Jace, who is confused with the conversation. "I'm sorry." He apologizes for bringing up the losses.
"Ah, don't be. You should join us for dinner. Little Leon here just helped Sunny today. She could use some new friends." Ling said. She puts down Sunsprite. The little girl hid behind her, shyly.
"We are more than happy to join." Saber said, ruffling Leon's hair. Sunsprite looked at him. The two are very shy since they just met.
-Ever Forest-
Leon just finsihed another Ursa among the other Grimm. And stands on its back. Impaled it, and destroyed the Ursa. "Whew. It's done."
Sunsprite then faces a Boarbatusk rolling at her. Sunspritr cancelled the attack by lunging at her own speed. Causing the Borabatusk to roll backwards, uncontrollably.
She then impales her sword onto the head. "Hyah!" Sunsprite shouted. The Borabatusk is now reduced to dust.
Leon noticed a change in Sunsprite since they were children. She was a shy little girl turning into a brave swordswoman. Even her aggression in battle was steady.
Sunsprite panted. Sweat dripping from her head. "Gee, Li is right. This is nobody's playground." She then takes out a hairtie and tied her hair into a high ponytail.
Author's note: Tide Vasilias knows there is more to Remnant than just fairy tales and monsters. Including the history of the 1st Great War.
What does Tide and Glynda planned for the other students? Find out in the later chapters, or in the sequel fanfics. Happy Reading!