Chap 1
—-
We Set our eyes upon the glorious Atlas Academy in Solitas, floating above the city of Mantle. Several youths gather from all over the kingdom, with the goal of earning a huntsman's license.
Getting off the transport, a nervous boy looks through the crowd of old and potential students, his black, feathered wings bristle with anxiety as he lugs his luggage through the crowd. Trying to not get in anyone's way, he ends up being pushed around more than finding his way.
He soon bumps into someone else that takes note "Oh hey!" starts a young woman, sporting a white wavy bob, light, almost pinkish skin, and a long aquatic tail "You look nervous, are you ok?" She asks
The boy startles "y-yeah, just, looking for some, some friends." he starts to explain "We were supposed to meet up near the-"
"Well here, I'll help you! What's your name? I'm Aqua, Aqua… last names can come later." the girl, Aqua, says as she grabs the boy by the hand and pulls him along through the crowd.
"Wh-oa, I'm Fara, Faraday." the winged boy says awkwardly
"Nice name, i like it." she smiles "So, what are your friends like?"
"Oh, um. One's kind of pale with black hair… probably in a ponytail… one has white hair, looks kind of… tough, and the last one has a bit of a tan, and wavy red hair."
"Huh, three friends?" Aqua asks "Hoping to all get on the same team?"
"I- o-oh, no, we are, already on a team." faraday says "We're second years."
Aqua stops and turns to Faraday with a look of shock and delighted surprise and gasps "You're already a team?! That. is. So. C O O L!" she beams, stars in her eyes
"I-it is?"
"You bet! I can't wait to see my who new besties will be! But, I gotta get through an initiation, right?"
"R-ight." Faraday confirms "It changes a bit each year, but, last year we… well, im, we arent exactly suppose to give hints or anything… but, um, just be careful. Alright?"
"Of course! Why wouldnt I be? It's only a test to decide my future!"
"That's, one way to look at it-"
"It's the only way! Well, besides looking at it in a positive light!" she smiles brightly "It will all work out, i just know it!"
Somehow, her optimism, and the conversation, calms the anxious boy as he smiles slightly.
—-
"Faaaaaaar a daaaayyyyy!" the two faunus hear
"Gasp! Those must be your friends!" Aqua exclaims, before pulling the poor boy in the direction of the voice
Walking over, the crowd starts to thin out towards the edge, as many of the teens are spreading out and going to their lockers or the auditorium for a comming briefing.
As the pair get through the crowd, they see the trio described by the Raven earlier, the red head standing atop an oversized hammer head like a barrel.
"Heyyyy! I brought your friend!" Aqua says cheerily, pulling Faraday towards them
"Oh my gosh, arent you the cutest, i LOVE your outfit!" the red-head says, hopping down from her hammer "I'm Rhythm Beats, I see you met Faraday,!"
"Yep! And im Aqua! It's nice to meet all of you, who might you two be?" she asks the others
"I'm Lucy Jotunn." the pale girl with dark hair says
"You can call me Duncan." the last one says, with his white hair and dark circles around his dark eyes.
"You're one of the new initiates, right?" Lucy asks calmly
"Yep!" Aqua answers "Im looking forward to the test tomorrow! I can hardly wait!"
"Then we all better get going to the auditorium- Hey! How about we trade scroll info?" rhythm suggests
"Great idea! Here's my scroll, oh hey, if youre a team, what's your name?"
"LBFT, Liberate." Faraday says
"So that means, youre the leader, Lucy? Bet you make for a great one!"
"Im alright, i have alot to learn, honestly."
—-
As they walk to the auditorium, many students, new and old, converse and get to know one another a bit. The new school year anxiety not sparing many from it's grip.
Within the hour, the auditorium has everyone in attendance as the Achadamy's teachers, headmaster, and a few of Solitas's council members gather on the stage and discuss things quietly. Whispers are shared among the young ones as they anticipate the speeches they will hear.
But those whispers soon quiet down as the headmaster steps up to the podium and taps the mic, awful feedback echos through the room briefly, causing most of the listeners to wince or flinch away. Thoughts with enhanced hearing being the worst off.
Once the feedback settles, the headmaster leans forward slightly to speak into the mic "While many of you already know of me, allow me to introduce myself."
"I am Headmaster Ciel Soleil, and I welcome you to Atlas Achadamy." the headmaster introduces herself with an almost stone-faced expression "I know that we of Atlas Achadamy have a reputation for being strict, and unflinching in our ways, *however*. Atlas, Mantle, and all of Remnant has faced many trials and hardships since the forces of Salem started their war eight years ago."
"It is a long time coming for a new outlook on the world, on our teaching methods, and on how we look at and handle problems we face as not just a military, but also a community."
"While we have worked to progress change in the past seven years, we can improve further. Unless we can adapt, we will fail."
"And I trust, that each of you, our future, can adapt and bring the change we need. Together."
"Now, I shall turn the podium over to General Winter." headmaster Soliel finishes, stepping back and gesturing for the white-haired woman to take her place at the mic
A tall woman in heals walks up to the podium, her long white ponytail swaying as she does so, "Thank you, Headmistress." she says
"Headmaster, please." Ciel quietly corrects
"Right, my apologies." Winter says, hand over the mic. She uncovers it and turns to the audience "I am not one for speeches, however, Mimicking Headmaster Ciel… I welcome you all, and wish to encourage each of you, both current students and potential candidates."
"Each of you hold a spark of hope for the future of Atlas, Mantle, Solitas, and all of Remnant. With this, comes the weight of responsibility that comes with being a huntsman. It is a heavy burden, but we are capable of carrying it." Winter continues, voice turning more serious and determined, before lighting up and becoming more encouraging again "But, it is not just a burden, it is a duty, and for many, a joy."
"I, no, we all trust that each of you, and each of us, have what it takes. We are not alone, we carry this burden together."
While she says she isnt one for speeches, her's has certainly gained some cheers from the crowd, putting a smile on some onlooker's faces.
For nearly an hour, several brief speeches are spoken and soon blend together into a long string of words. Many listeners have found their attention waning. A peek into the future of their class lectures.
But finally, the speeches and presentation come to a close, as Headmaster Ciel steps back up to the podium. "With that, we end by saying, we look forward to this next year here at Atlas Achadamy with our returning students, and those of you that will be joining us for the school year."
"You are dismissed, thank you." she finishes
As everyone starts to stand up and make their way out of the auditorium, one of the staff takes the mic "Class is starting the day after tomorrow, current students will be pending the night in the dorm rooms. Initiates will be sleeping in the auditorium here, we will provide cots within the hour, but there is time before curfew. So feel free to explore this level of the Acadamy."
—-
As the auditorium empties, while Liberate and Aqua are walking out, they hear some folks calling out to them. Or rather, some playful heckling.
"I'm surprised that you were able to stay awake during that snooze fest," A thin boy in a purple dress shirt and suspenders says, running his fingers through his dark purple hair and a smirk on his somewhat round face.
He's followed by a few others.
A shorter girl with two messy buns, a green top and bellbottom jeans. Her jaw has some odd lines on it… and both her arms seem robotic. Like she has double prosthetics.
Another girl with cornrows and a scar, going from her left cheek up between her eyes to her forehead. With red eyes, she has a beauty mark under her right eye.
Lastly, a tall, but feminine person with soft white hair, fluffed up and framing their gentle face. Square glasses sit Infront of their baby blue eyes.
"'Im pretty sure I heard you snoring, Fin." Lucy teases, getting a few chuckles and giggles
"And who might you be?" Fin asks the initiate with Liberate
"Im Aqua, nice to meet you all." she beams "Wait, are you another team already enrolled?" she asks
"Yes, we are." the tallest of the four answers "I'm Drift, but my friends call me Snowie."
"You can call me Sweet Pea!" The girl with the bellbottoms and metal arms says, smiling bright and throwing out a peace sign with a wink
"Im Ansa, and this purple menace is Fintan." The last one introduces
"But you can call me Fin, most do." he adds "We are of Team Dapper." he says cooly
"Well you certainly seem so!" Aqua says "I cant wait to be classmates with all of you!"
"You have to get through initiation first." Ansa says, shifting her weight and smiling "Good luck."
"Thanks!" the fish replies "I'm going to go meet some of the other initiates, make some friends, toodles!" she says, already moving and heading off
As she goes, Fin leans over "Think she's got what it takes to get through initation?" he asks the other seven
"I mean, we did." Duncan says, shrugging as he turns and walks towards the stairs "C'mon, we got unpacking to do."
That gets some genuine smiles from his friends as they glance back at Aqua and follow along to go to the dormitory floor.
—-
Outside the warm confines of the Achadamy, down below the floating city of Atlas, shiver goes down the spine of a lone man walking as a brisk, northern breeze blows through Mantle.
The heating system is always on the fritz. He thinks to himself.
He stops by a news stand briefly, hand caressing the papers and magasienes, but he just grunts and walks away. Not buying anything.
Despite that, heading around the corner, he unfurls a newspaper to read. Eyes passing over the article about the Solitasian council soon to make some important announcements about the future of Solitas. In particular, Mantle and Atlas.
Scoffing, he flips the page as he walks past a casino, skimming an article about the initiation taking place tomorrow. Wishing all the new, potential students luck.
Inside the office of the casino, overlooking the street, the proprietor has a large holo screen with several people on it. All with shadowed faces as they have a conference call.
The woman at the desk of this opulent office speaks "As most of you surely know, every year I host this betting pool for the four Acadamy's Initiations, betting on the students's success and such."
"But for those that are new here, allow me to explain." she waves a hand over her personal holo screen, pulling up some added information "As per usual, each better will place their bid on individual initiates, if they get in, you'll get a pretty penny from the betters that bet poorly."
"But, we're doing something special this year." she grins
With her voice turning to more of a presenter, she says "This is the first year that we will be hosting an additional pool. Each initiate will be scored on several factors, each worth points."
"Only one initiate can win this pool for the bidders, meaning higher risk, but also a much better reward. If youre lucky, or are just good at reading people."
"will we be alloud to know the rating system before hand?" One person asks
"What if there's a tie? Whatcha gonna do then?" Purposes another
A flurry of other questions bombard the scarlet suited woman. Each wanting to embolden their chances at winning the pot, but one voice comes through clearer than the rest.
"What if the initiation is rigged?" A clear, sturdy voice asks. His tone showing aged and weariness. Causing the others to quiet down.
"Now now, you don't have to worry about that." the white haired hostess reassures "I certainly won't be rigging the bets, I'd rather not make enemies of any of you, let alone all of you. Not to mention Atlas itself."
"As for the initiates themselves, they'll be going through a physical tomorrow before the event, and have all their gear checked for tampering. They always do." She explains"even if someone knows where they're holding the initiation, such as I, it will be under heavy surveillance. No one will be able to sneak in and tamper with anything, not even I."
"Then how will you get the footage?" The same man asks
She smiles, and looks at the code name on the screen "Castle was it? I have my hands in everything in these two cities, we'll be using their own cameras against them. It's really quite that simple."
"Intriguing." 'Castle' says "I will throw my hat into the ring, you have my bet."
"Thank you." The woman smiles "Now, do I have your bets as well?" she asks the others
"Of course."
"I suppose."
"You do indeed."
"Si."
"Ja."
"Yes."
Along with these, she gets several other affirmations. A few are hesitant, but they all soon agree.
"Then we have ourselves a deal, you have until 9 am Central Solitiasian time tomorrow to finish placing your bets." she explains "Ill send you the proper details individually."
She smiles "Let the games, begin."