"Beacon! Here we are!" Yang crowed as the Bullhead touched down.
The blonde girl lifted and twirled her smaller, dark-red headed sister before setting her down and grabbing a hand. Ruby giggled at the exuberance while she was tugged towards the exit ramp. Yang was in rare form.
Others were not as impressed. A girl with a cute black bow on her head glared at them before returning her attention to a screen. The on-flight visual receiver was turned to the news. VNN was broadcasting a special on the White Fang.
Ruby's good cheer fled once more.
They were far along before Yang noticed and stopped. "Feeling okay there, Rubes?"
The concrete pathway they stood on was lined with unlit lamp posts. Blue and red flags atop them waved welcome on a gentle breeze. At the end of this path, surrounded by an expansive and well-manicured lawn, was a wonderful castle.
The scene was straight from a fairy tale. Just like the ones their mother used to tell them. It was all amazing.
Yet everything felt so muted.
"I just-" She took a step back.
And immediately collided with something.
Yang reached for her sister as she fell backwards. Ruby flailed, unable to course correct. Her legs had been taken out from under her. Despite this, the fall ended as abruptly as it began. Someone had caught her.
"Always causing someone trouble, aren't you Red?" A rough voice groaned.
She peered at who was propping her up by the armpits. It was a man in a Bullhead attendant's uniform. He looked down on her with a cocky grin. A glint in his blue eyes tickled a memory in the back of her mind.
"Eh?" Was her brilliant response.
"My luggage!" Another shrieked.
A girl in a white dress with a side-ponytail was beside them now, kneeling. Spilled around were a series of silver cases. They had been dislodged from the pushcart Ruby had just tripped over. After setting her down, the man got to work collecting the wayward belongings.
"Oops! Can I-"
"Do you have any idea of the damage you could have caused?" The new girl snapped before opening one of the cases to reveal rows of glowing glass vials. "This is Dust - mined and purified from the Schnee quarry."
Ruby blinked. "Uh…"
"There's Dust in these bags!?" The attendant cried before swiftly backing away from the case he had been lifting. "I-is that safe to just carry around like that?"
The crabby girl rolled her eyes. "These containers are climate controlled and reinforced to withstand the missteps of a klutz. But still!"
She pulled out a bottle of red Dust before closing the case. She then took a step towards Ruby. Yang stepped between them.
Using her most 'big sister' voice, she asked. "What are you doing?"
Such a question would have sent most scurrying for shelter. The attendant certainly was intimidated. He edged closer to the upturned cart beside Ruby. The subject of the verbal spat was not as easily cowed.
"I'm wondering if she — and you! — are completely brain dead."
Far from impressed, Yang folded her arms. "Listen princess, I don't know who you think you are-"
"Weiss Schnee." Came the haughty reply before the Dust vial was wagged before Yang's nose. "You would know, if only you paid attention. Who else could have such perfect specimens?"
"They'll call you Weiss Schneed-in-the-face if you don't get out of mine!" Yang growled.
The threat did nothing to dissuade Weiss. In fact, it made her more insistent. She pressed further into Yang's personal space. Having had enough, the blonde slapped the white-haired girl's arm away.
This proved unwise. As if in slow motion, they all watched as the vial was jostled. Dust spooled out of the top to form a scarlet cloud.
Under most circumstances, Ruby would have run away. She had worked with enough Fire Dust to know what happened when pure particulates met an open-air environment. Yet her legs did not want to work. Bracing for a detonation, she attempted to cover up.
II. Rulebreaker
There was a bang and a flash. However, it was muted. There was also no suffocating warmth on her skin. Something had blocked the explosion from reaching her.
Ruby opened her eyes to see the attendant was now in front of her.
He stood braced behind a heater shield. Smoke swirled around. Both of them went unscathed. As he lowered the metal barrier, they learned how lucky they were in that regard.
As the haze cleared, the status of the others was revealed. They were still upright. Their Auras shimmered from having tanked the blast. However, their spirits did not protect them from all the effects of the sudden fireball.
"You absolute buffoon! Look at what you have done!" Weiss screamed, her once pristine outfit now covered in soot.
"Me!?" Yang, also smudged up, said in disbelief.
She patted her messy hair. Her lilac eyes flickered red, Semblance threatening to break free. Weiss, unaware of the thin ice she was on, continued to push.
"Yes you! It's your fault! You knocked the Dust out of my hands!"
"Yeah, well, who walks around with loose Dust anyway?"
"Those adept in the subtle art of elemental manipulation."
Hanging from her waist was a silver rapier, which she pulled off to show them. Despite the simple appearance, it was obviously modern and custom. A rotating cylinder was integrated near the hilt, like a gun revolver. There was even a hammer and a trigger on the handle!
Weiss pushed on the needle-like blade to bend it downward at a ninety-degree angle. The cylinder contained six chambers. Ruby watched in awe as a blue Dust cartridge was inserted into the mechanism before the sword snapped back to attention.
Yang was far from impressed. "Subtlety is not my thing."
She touched the pair of yellow bracelets on her wrists. They instantly shifted into bulky gauntlets that covered her forearms. The sleek metal gleamed in the sun as she held a fist up, displaying the visible shotgun shells loaded into the weapon.
Weiss gave the weapons a once-over before retorting. "Clearly."
"Never seen the point." Yang continued along as though not hearing her. "Total and overwhelming force usually gets me what I want, such as shutting down some prissy little missy who got too big for her britches."
"H-hey, aren't we taking this too far?" Ruby tried to interject.
This warning went unheeded. As the girls circled each other, the people from the Bullhead had caught up. They now watched from the sidelines. After a few revolutions, the two stopped.
"Let me disprove you of that notion." Weiss entered an 'en garde' stance. "Have at thee!"
Yang bounced on the balls of her feet. "Bring it!"
A whoop came out from the crowd. Chants of 'fight, fight, fight!' egged them on. Taking the bait, Yang and Weiss charged.
Before they could reach each other, the air between them shimmered. A purple bubble appeared from nothing. Unsure, the girls skidded to a stop.
The bubble began growing exponentially. They avoided the effervescence temporarily by hopping backwards. It then popped, shooting violet waves outward. Neither of them could dodge the fast-moving tidal wave.
As the colored air passed over them, their weapons took on the same hue. Suddenly, they started to levitate as though attached to invisible strings. Their owners also began to be lifted.
Yang hurriedly wiggled out of Ember Celica and fell back to Remnant. She landed butt first with an 'oof.' Weiss was not as willing to abandon her sword. Holding on for dear life, she was brought along on the journey upward.
"What is the meaning of this?" A stern voice demanded.
The sea of huntsman-aspirants parted for a professional-looking blonde woman. In her hand was a riding crop, which was pointed at the would-be fighters. She waved the simple implement and the rapier waggled wildly. Weiss lost her grip and fell.
Now free, both sets of weapons floated over to the lady before touching down at her feet. Ruby recognized her as the huntress from the night of the Dust shop robbery. Evidently, she was recognized as well. Green eyes settled on her.
"Ms. Rose." Glynda Goodwitch chided. "Why am I not surprised to find you in the middle of another explosive disturbance? This time, at my very school. Did you not heed my warnings on such matters?"
Everyone around turned to face Ruby. Unprepared to be at the center of attention, she stammered. Before she could set the record straight, Weiss beat her to the punch.
"Professor! If you are looking for the one responsible, then look no further!" She pointed to Yang who had just stood up.
"Wha- No way you are pinning this on me you little-"
The crack of the riding crop in her palm silenced them. A glare from the professor kept them that way. She then spoke in a cool and even voice.
"I see. Thank you for the correction, Ms. Schnee. Perhaps you, me, and Ms. Xiao Long ought to have a frank discussion in my office about proper behavior in public spaces."
"You already know who I am?" Yang asked with pink cheeks.
"I familiarize myself with all applicants, especially those with a well-documented inclination towards mischief."
There were a few 'oohs' from the sidelines. A mere glance from the teacher quieted them down. She waved her wand-like tool once more and the weapons were returned. The girls took them hesitantly.
With a crisp nod, Professor Goodwitch turned on her heels and walked towards the tower looming in the distance. Yang and Weiss ducked their heads and quickly followed while keeping a healthy distance from each other. Show over, the crowd dispersed. Ruby was soon left alone in the middle of the walkway.
Or so she thought.
"That was awkward." The attendant muttered as he gathered Weiss Schnee's luggage. "Better them than us."
Ruby stooped. "Here. Let me help you."
Minutes later, all the cases were secured on the cart. For extra measure, they ensured all the outside clips were clasped tightly. Once done, she was unsure of what to do next. Unaware, he smiled at her.
"Thanks for that."
"No worries." She toyed with the pleat of her dark skirt. "Sorry to trouble you. I didn't mean to make your job more difficult."
"My j- Oh. Right." He peeled off his jacket before laying it over the luggage. "Thanks for the reminder."
Without the top half of the uniform, he no longer looked all that old. As he transformed the shield he carried into a scabbard, Ruby realized how odd that act was. Baggage handlers did not have shields. Or swords. He picked up a cross-hilted blade and sheathed it.
"I don't understand."
"Well, I can't exactly go walking around dressed like that. What kind of first impression would that make?"
"You're not a Bullhead attendant?"
"No."
"Then why were you dressed like that?"
He chuckled nervously. "Would you believe that this was a huge misunderstanding?"
Yes. No. Maybe. Ruby settled on the last of that list.
"So, you're going to be a student?"
"Hopefully. Assuming I pass the big test. How about you?"
If he did not look the part of a huntsman aspirant, then she must have looked much worse. Being moved up two years earlier than everyone else was going to be a major hurdle. Ruby was determined to overcome that.
"Definitely." She smiled shyly. "I'm Ruby, by the way."
"Jaune." He got behind the cart to push. "Any idea where I can drop this off? Even if I am not really her attendant, I'd feel bad leaving this behind."
Ruby had no idea. She had been relying on Yang to provide that information. She pointed in the direction that the others had gone.
"Follow the pack?"
"Works for me."
/ / /
Inside a rustic atelier, a man wearing a knitted green hat closely scrutinized a metal array fused to pale flesh. His spectacle eyes squinted while soldering a connection point. Gears rotated and clicked into place.
"How does that feel?" He asked before leaning back.
"Strange but… better?"
Dr. Pietro Polendina hummed. "Try touching your face."
The young woman on the patient's table lifted her metal arm. The hinge point for an elbow bent, bringing the brown forearm closer. Two robotic fingers gingerly uncurled and tapped her nose.
"It worked!" She laughed.
Hopping up, the girl rushed the seated man. Pietro laughed along. Her white, cub bear ears wiggled along. He had to resist petting them, no matter how cute they were. The legs of his chair raised up to help him place the faunus on her feet again.
"Fantastic. Let's get you on your way."
After running a few more diagnostic tests to ensure everything was in proper order, he led her out of the examination room. His chair clicked with each mechanical step. Pietro chastised himself for forgetting to lube the pistons.
At the reception desk, he gave a rundown of how to maintain the new appendage. He had an aftercare bag ready to hand over. A copy of the instructions was written down inside. Grabbing it, he turned around to a sniffling face.
"I-I can't believe it. Ms. Maria said you'd help, but I never-"
Tears welled in her eyes. Pietro was prepared for this as well. He reached into a jar and pulled out two sticks with caramelized sugar on the ends.
"Lolli?" He unwrapped the root beer flavored candy and stuck it in his mouth.
She blinked before reaching for the other with her artificial hand. That one was made to taste like cotton candy, yet she did not partake. Instead, she merely stared at the confection. This time when she looked at him, she was composed.
"Thank you."
Soon after, she left. Pietro hummed happily. A successful installation brought him no shortage of joy. Before returning to tidy up for the next morning's appointment, the door opened once more.
Pietro bit down on his lollipop. He threw the stick into the garbage. Then he put on his kindest face to receive them.
In the doorway was a man in a white uniform. He was a stately figure sporting a freshly shaved face, tidily cropped black hair with gray streaks down the sides, and almond shaped eyes that blazed intensity. A gray satchel bag hung over his wide shoulders.
"General Ironwood! Forgive me! I forgot you were dropping by." The doctor checked his appointment schedule before his eyebrows scrunched up. "Strange. Your next check-up is not for another few months. Are your prosthetics bothering you?"
"Ah, no." He absently touched his gloved hand. "This was an unscheduled stop on my part."
Spontaneous visits were never a good sign for a government funded scientist. Though, this did not have the trappings of a surprise inspection. For one, they were at his clinic in Mantle instead of his laboratory on Atlas. For another, a grant committee would not send someone so high-up.
Pietro then grasped for other reasons. An exceptional mind, such as his, immediately went for the worst possible explanation. Namely, his daughter.
"Is Penny alright? She's not in trouble, is she?"
They had not spoken at all that week. This would have been highly unusual under most circumstances; except Penny had just started her second year at Atlas Academy. He did not begrudge giving her space to grow into a fine young woman and, eventually, a Specialist.
The problem was, being a Specialist was dangerous. He could imagine all kinds of ills that might befall his precious child. Thankfully, Ironwood quashed this catastrophizing with a laugh.
"Not at all. Her instructors sing her praises. In fact, I was strongly considering adding her to an upcoming diplomatic visit to Vale."
"How wonderful!"
Penny had expressed much interest in traveling. Pietro was happy for her, and relieved that her first experience would be with Atlas' most steadfast, and stable, ally. He would worry about her naivety in a lawless place like Vacuo.
"Which brings us around to my reason for being here. The purpose of my visit to Vale is twofold. The first is to ascertain certain troubling trends in that kingdom."
"Ah, yes. I've seen the news alerts." The White Fang spreading their destructive tactics to another continent was both unbelievable and inevitable. "Not much more I can do to help on that front. You have my latest designs and creations. I'm assuming it is this second purpose, then?"
"Indeed. Tell me what you think of this."
The general set the bag on the worktable. He then gestured for the roboticist to examine it. Curiosity piqued, Pietro unzipped the top.
Inside was a heavily damaged infantry helmet. Pulling the item free, he pondered the burst chrome dome. Tears on the side paneling indicated that the head gear had been placed under immense pressure.
Whatever had done this was strong. Something akin to an industrial bench vise. The failure rate for their helmets was purposefully low. It was made to take an elevated level of punishment.
"Where did you get this?"
"Our friends at Beacon Academy. A student seemingly encountered one of our soldiers within their territory. This soldier is believed to have perished while fighting against the Grimm. The helmet was all that they could recover from the incident."
"Seemingly?"
"I combed through the active and inactive rosters, contacted every company commander, and even had the MPs perform wellness checks on anyone that fitted the description of the soldier. We are not missing any personnel." He breathed heavily. "At least officially."
"You believe that someone is conducting off-the-books operations."
"Unsure, but I am unwilling to ignore the possibility."
At first blush, it would seem laughable that anything unsorted could happen without Ironwood's knowledge. He was, all at once, the leader of the armed forces, headmaster of Atlas Academy, and a two-vote member of the Council.
And yet, such things had occurred previously.
Years ago, the general in charge of Argus had been found diverting weapon shipments to a criminal syndicate. Before that, a Black-Ops handler had deployed assets to settle personal vendettas. Further back still, a former Specialist had used their bomb making skills to target Valean Council members.
Solving these incidents had made Ironwood. They granted him the mandate he needed to cleanse the military of rogue elements. His successes had brought the kingdom stability and elevated him to a position as lofty as their floating city.
"Are we sure about the student's identification? Perhaps they were mistaken."
Plenty of Atlas-styled armor was out there on the secondary market. There were plenty of people who thought that equipment was all that separated a civilian from a soldier. All it took was one enthusiast thinking too highly of themselves for tragedy to strike.
"The student in this case was Velvet Scarlatina."
"Will's daughter?" Pietro asked and received quick confirmation.
Dr. Will Scarlatina was a colleague of Pietro's. Will primarily worked with Dust to develop novel applications. The two researchers rarely interacted outside work-designated functions, but they were on friendly enough terms.
Pietro had met the young woman in question. She was exceptionally intelligent, with an engineer's mind and a photographic memory. If she had not been dead set on becoming a huntress, he would have offered her an apprenticeship at his lab.
Just as importantly, she had grown up around the Atlas military. Her words carried weight. If she said she saw an Atlas soldier, then there must have been a strong reason to believe so.
"I also ran the serial number stamped on the helmet's inside. The number was over a decade old, forcing me to slog through a long paper trail. This unit belonged to R&D. Specifically, the Computer Interaction and Telemetry design bureau."
"My old working group?" Pietro asked in astonishment.
"Yes. The records indicated that the helmet was procured but does not mention why. I was hoping you might shed light on this issue, seeing as you were the principal investigator."
He peeked into the empty space where a head would have gone. No blood stains, thankfully, but plenty of wires were inside. Red and white dongles poked out from between the seams like spaghetti noodles through a strainer.
This puzzled the doctor. There should not have been any electronics. Yet, the cables seemed to run from the visor to the back brim. He could not think of why that would be.
"Unless…"
"Doctor?"
It was then that Pietro remembered that he had a guest. Ironwood had been standing quietly for the last few minutes. Quite the feat for someone so busy.
"Sorry. Lost in thought." He set the helmet in his lap. "Can I get back to you? I have a hunch about what this is but will need confirmation."
"Certainly. We will not leave for a while yet."
The two shook hands before Ironwood left. Pietro closed up shop before retiring to an adjoining study room. Booting up his terminal, he connected to the Atlas CCTS mainframe. The simulacrum of a woman appeared on his monitor.
"Greetings, Dr. Polendina. How may I be of assistance?" CAI asked.
"Please compile for me all information available regarding the Strategy Operating System, aka STRATOS."
"Certainly. One moment."
The screen flickered. The distributed intelligence began scraping data from all the computer systems Pietro was granted access to. Given his credentials, he was allowed in most of them.
A new directory was created on his desktop interface. Already, text documents and images were being copied there. Out of interest, he opened a file.
The digital photo was a copy of one that he kept in his office to remind him of a different time. Pictured were the five members of the design bureau in their lab coats. Surrounding them were the fruits of their labor. Pietro was seated front and center.
Four flanked his younger self. Two were on each side. Three were smiling.
One was not.
Using the terminal's magnifying tool, Pietro focused on them. On the far right was a man with a yellow turtleneck under his uniform. His thin mustache hid a grimace.
The doctor wondered what he would think of this development. What would any of them think? Pietro could not ask. As the only surviving member, all he could do was ensure that their creations were used properly.
/ / /
"Smooth." Ruby tittered.
"Hey, you try saying no to her!"
Jaune had finished explaining how he had been pressed into service by Weiss Schnee. There were a few alterations made to the story to make him sound less like a criminal. Unfortunately, these changes had the side effect of him coming across as lovesick.
"I think it's sweet."
"I think it's sickly. Guess little Red can't tell the difference."
As always, Roman was there to provide a running commentary. Jaune also picked up a strong amount of vitriol towards their newest acquaintance. He did his best to ignore the snipes.
After handing off Wiess' belongings to some men in suits — who assured that she would receive them — they entered the auditorium. It was a tall, square room with elevated seating slanted towards the main stage. Most were standing.
Jaune was about to ask Ruby if she had any thoughts on where to go when there was a buzz over the speakers. The stern woman from before was on the stage and tapping at a microphone. She cleared her throat.
"Welcome. Headmaster Ozpin is away on important business, so I shall be leading this ceremony. Let me begin by commending you all for your achievements. Only the most promising of individuals are invited to our humble campus."
Jaune shuffled in place, knowing that he was far from qualified. Everyone was more focused on the professor to notice. Or rather they were more curious about the two girls beside her.
Weiss and Yang shivered in place. Jaune recognized the look on their faces. It was the same expression his sisters had after being on the receiving end of a major telling off. They flinched when the riding crop slapped into her open palm.
"Do not mistake this praise as permission to slack off. The road ahead becomes tougher from here. You all have potential. Now you must apply yourselves to reach it."
Her eyes roved over the applicants. When that stern stare landed on him, Jaune straightened up immediately. He felt Ruby do similarly beside him.
"Tonight, you will sleep in the ballroom. Tomorrow morning, we will gather at the cliffs facing the Emerald Forest for Initiation. Know this: Once begun, there will be no tolerance for tomfoolery."
She dismissed the girls with a shooing motion. Chastened, they muttered quiet apologies before disappearing into the crowd. The professor continued without missing a beat.
"You will be orderly. You will be disciplined. And above all, you will be professional. Otherwise, your stay here at Beacon Academy will be short and unpleasant. Am I clear?"
No one answered. They all believed that she was being rhetorical. This was proven incorrect.
"Am. I. Clear?"
This time around, there were plenty of 'crystal' and 'ma'am' in affirmation to her question. There was also a shrill 'yes, mistress' that was twice as loud as the others.
Everyone in the auditorium turned. The person who had uttered this was a boy with a green mohawk. Realizing what he had said, his face had gone red as he attempted to shrink in on himself. Despite this, none of the gathered dared to laugh.
The professor ignored the odd outburst. "Dismissed."
With that, she made her exit. Her doing so immediately took all the tension out of the room. Jaune let go of the breath he had been holding on to. Ruby did as well before speaking.
"I should go find my sister. See you later, Jaune!"
Before he could say anything, she hurried off in the direction they had seen the blonde girl go. Jaune, alone now, scratched his head. With the only other person he knew leaving, he was not sure what to do with himself.
"Great. Where am I supposed to find another nice, quirky girl to talk-ah!"
His half-hearted complaint was interrupted by something colliding with his back. The weight shifted as a head of orange hair craned around his shoulder. Mischievous turquoise eyes gazed upon him.
"Careful what you wish for." Roman commented.
"Nora?"
"Jauney!" Her toothy grin grew. "I finally found you!"
"Wasn't aware I was being looked-whoa!"
Gravity somehow increased on his back. He fell in that direction but was caught before hitting the ground. His feet dangled in the air as Nora began to carry him.
"Of course, I was looking for you! You never came back to the hotel! I was so worried that something had happened. Like, what if you had been kidnapped! Some crazy lady could have gotten their hands on you! Or what if those Lancers had come back, seeking revenge! Or-"
Nora continued to rattle off a list of increasingly implausible scenarios. The whole time she held him high and gave no chance to shake free. Other students pointed and laughed as he was manhandled.
"That's it. I'm out of here."
Roman floated off, leaving Jaune to Nora's tender mercy. The boy cursed the spirit. Soon enough, he was deposited at the feet of another familiar face.
"-and poor Renny here cried himself to sleep every night missing you!"
The boy in question raised an eyebrow before shrugging noncommittally. "There was some concern. Glad to see you made it to the academy."
Jaune picked himself up and smoothed out his clothes. "Yeah, I got distracted with getting things lined up for the semester's start. Forgive me?"
"Hmmm…" Nora scratched her chin. "I don't know. You ruined my attempt at the greatest super best-friends sleepover ever. That is not something easily forgiven."
Jaune did not recall that ever being discussed. But, as he had learned with his siblings, pointing out the flaws in their communication skills was not a winning idea. So, he went along.
"It's not ruined forever, though. We could always try again."
Her eyes lit up. "You're right! In fact, we have the perfect opportunity right now! All the extra people might hamper our style, but we can give it our best shot!"
"Alright." He breathed in relief. "Let me go grab my stuff and-"
Before Jaune could step away, Nora grabbed an arm. "No way! I'm not letting you out of my sight."
She began pulling him towards the auditorium exit. He squirmed under her grip. Ren simply followed them dutifully.
"B-but I need to grab my bedroll and night clothes!"
"We'll lend you that stuff. Now come on! Let's stake out a good spot before they are all gone!"
/ / /
"Rumor is, we are to form teams of four during initiation." The boy with the pink streaked bangs said. "It is something of a tradition. They like to test incoming students on how well they work together."
He sat cross-legged on a bedroll in an ornate ballroom. His two friends were lying on their own in a triangle near the back windows. All were dressed for bed but had not turned in yet. They were already planning for the next morning.
The orange haired girl pumped her fist in the air. "We've got three! One more, and wham-o! Team Nora is a go-go!"
"It won't be quite that simple. I heard the assignment process tends to be a bit peculiar. Also, who said the team will be named after you?"
"You always call a team by its most interesting member, Renny." Nora stuck her tongue out before contemplating the selection process. "Peculiar, eh? Like what? Drawing lots?"
"It changes every year. The only constant is that our assessment takes place inside the Emerald Forest."
"Oh! What if they air-drop us in to randomly make teams with those nearby."
Renny seriously considered the oddball concept. "Well, that would test our flexibility."
"Do you think-" The third member, a blond boy, started nervously. "I mean, if that is the case, is there a way we could… stack the deck in our favor?"
"You mean cheat?" Nora gasped.
"No! Just, y'know, could we find a way to ensure we end up together? Maybe some sort of signal to find each other?"
"Ooh! We could use a sloth call!"
"Sloth call? What does that-"
Nora proceeded to cup her hands around her mouth and let out the strangest of noises. It sounded like somewhere between a whale and an orangutan. Others nearby shot them dirty looks before grabbing their sleeping bags and moving.
The blond looked absolutely lost. Renny was the one to explain.
"We visited a zoo once, and she's been fascinated with sloths ever since."
"Sure, but do they really sound like that?"
"I've learned not to question these things, Jaune."
Jaune. That was his name. Pyrrha Nikos smiled at the discovery.
"It's rude to eavesdrop, you know."
Years of participating in competitive combat events had granted Pyrrha complete control over every muscle in her body. Even then, she barely avoided screaming in response to the unexpected voice directly behind her. She instead turned in the direction of the speaker.
Sitting against a wall, was a black-haired girl. She was dressed in a dark-gray sleeping yukata. A book was open in her hands, with which she was engrossed.
There was no one else around. Pyrrha spoke to her.
"I did not mean to. It was accidental."
She had been working up the courage to approach the three. Seeing them act so casually with each other was intimidating. To walk in on that seemed too intrusive.
"Is that so?" The girl hummed at the answer.
That was her only response as she turned a page. Her amber eyes moved rapidly, greedily absorbing the text. Feeling obligated and awkward, Pyrrha tried to keep the conversation going.
"I should introduce myself. I am-"
"Pyrrha Nikos. The Pride of Mistral. Record setting four-time regional tournament champion. Current favorite to win this year's Vytal Festival, despite not even being admitted to Beacon yet." She flipped another page. "I'm aware."
With each sentence, the red head flinched. The amber-eyed girl's dispassionate, almost bored tone was somehow worse than fawning over the accomplishments. Pyrrha put on her practiced, fake pleasantness that she usually reserved for hostile interviews.
"That is quite succinct."
"Your name came up sometimes with the crowds I ran with."
"All good things?"
"Not really."
Pyrrha winced. She knew she could be a polarizing figure. There were plenty of hard feelings about tournament losses or those sick of hearing about her runaway success. Even in her homeland, there were people who disliked her simply for who she was.
Jealousy. False friends. Clingers-on. She had experienced them all in the search for true companionship.
Over her shoulder, she saw that Jaune, Nora, and Renny were in the process of turning in. The sole girl had positioned her sleeping area between them.
Her head was using the dark-haired boy as a pillow while her legs were draped over the blond's torso. Pyrrha was unsure of why she was doing that. The lightest of movements would wake the orange haired lady. Regardless, envy welled in the red head's chest.
"I see." She said curtly. "I will leave you to your readings. Goodnight."
"Blake."
"Hmm?" Pyrrha stopped her retreat.
"My name." The girl glanced up for the first time with a small smile. "Blake Belladonna. And don't worry. I no longer associate with those… jerks. I'll make up my own opinions."
"Oh. That's kind. Good luck tomorrow."
"You as well."
As she walked away, Pyrrha could not stop her own smile from forming. Maybe life at Beacon would not be so bad. Still, she was unwilling to leave things to chance. There were other ways of tilting the odds in her favor.
