An aircraft's door opened. Teens walk out, some in a group, some alone, but all have weapons or armor with them.
\(>~<)/ *hmmm*
"Got a nice nap Neo?" I asked.
Neo nodded cutely.
"This looks like a castle. It feels more...cool." Emerald said.
"I think majestic is the term you want to say," Aiden replied.
Emerald stomps on his feet. Then the air around them suddenly turns grim. All girls look badly at Emerald.
Aiden is physically a tall, handsome guy, he also has the aura of a prince charming. So when they flirt(argue) in public, girls tend to hate Emerald. Speaking of an attention grabber Neo starts taking a selfie with a lot of filthy animals staring at her.
I casually stop hiding my presence and look around for Yang. The people suddenly start walking away.
"Ohh… Hey, they're going already, let's go meet Ruby before we get left behind by the crowds. Yang said they were at terminal 9." I told them as I walked.
Still arguing as they follow along. Neo stopped taking pictures and started skipping in front, maintaining a certain distance with our group.
Halfway there, we heard an explosion that's a bit too familiar for our liking.
"That's in front of terminal 9, right?" Aiden asked.
The terminals are placed in a semi-circular manner facing Vale. With multiple pillars blocking our point of view. But we could still see a cloud of used-up dust. It only happens if the commercial or combat dust got activated due to sudden instability. Based on the explosions, it's a large amount of combat dust? For its specific stats, I have no idea.
We all ran toward the explosion. We run past a girl with a huge ribbon you mostly see as children or a fashion style in the archipelago of Anima. They value culture and tradition the most, so the majority of them entered Haven Academy. That's not what makes it weird, the way she moves is similar to the noble people I met when I'm traveling with Uncle Kiyoshi.
When we reach terminal 9. We saw a cleaner cleaning the burn mark created by the explosion, but no damage was done to the ground.
I stomp the ground hard enough to crack concrete, but nothing happened to the ground, I even felt the force being redirected back to me.
No surprise that there are only 4 academies in Remnant after 75 years.
I then used my Heart pulse to find Ruby. Neo suddenly ran against the crowds. My pulse finally reaches Ruby, and she seems to be talking to a guy. No wonder Neo runs somebody with her girlfriend.
We three stared at each other, then chase after Neo. We found caught up to them. Neo is now hugging Ruby starring at the blonde hair guy. Aiden started to get annoyed at the guy probably because he disregards his sword and shields like an antic that was worth nothing. Emerald also doesn't like the guy not because he's weak, but he looks like someone who doesn't train nor prepare to combat Grimm. Although I also thought the same, he was able to qualify for Beacon's initiation and without his Aura being activated. Although it feels impossible with the way he presents himself. One can't judge a book by its cover. A lot of manga showed me that.
"Hi, I'm Sora, you're a friend of Ruby?" I asked gently.
"Ahh... Yes, the name's Jaune, Jaune Arc. You...!!?" He said but accidentally stared at my eyes, maybe due to surprise he falls on his butt. Surprisingly even if he's afraid he kept eye contact.
"Rara-nii!!!" Ruby hugged me then noticed my weapons.
"Whoah! Rara-nii can I have a look?" Although we don't meet much in person, we did occasionally call each other, and Yang did talk about Ruby's passion for weapons. So, I let her hold one of my guns and my blunt sword.
"Do they have a name?" Ruby asked.
"The sword's name is Oath Keeper. It's currently in Brave Heart Form. While that gun's name is Shooting Star. my other gun is called Star Cluster. Both have the same functions but due to the material used that is more efficient for coated bullets while the other is easier to use with dust bullets."
"Wow, A three caliber semi-automatic pistols focused on durability and dust usage. Allowing it to use dust round and dust-coated rounds and this blunt sword, it's lighter than I expected, wielding a blunt sword suited Rara-nii's fighting style. This is a LOT of dust but how is does this have a good point of balance? Ahhh!!! It's a wand and a sword. The gravity dust distribution is good it's very efficient. This can win the best weapon innovation award!!! The purpose of this weapon is obviously for a prolonged fight. But..."
"Ruby!" I shouted this time. I kept calling her but she didn't respond. I even poke her shoulder to no effect.
"Ahh!!! Sorry Rara-nii" Ruby softly said.
We giggled at Ruby's cuteness.
"It's ok. So, what were you and your friend talking about?" I asked.
"Ohh yeah. Amm... Hmm... Rara-nii, Crocea Mors. Crocea Mors, Rara-nii.
Ahh. I mean Jaune. I mean weapons. We're talking about weapons. Yeah, weapons... and about a stranger is... Friend..." Ruby took cover with her hood and hide behind Neo.
"We better go to the Auditorium," Aiden said.
"The Auditorium?" Ruby asked.
"We're going there, why?" Jaune added.
"You don't even know where to go?" Emerald asked Ruby.
"I'm just following him," Ruby said. Neo stared at Jaune rudely.
"Ok, that's enough. The auditorium's that way." I led to where I saw people are gathering.
At the Auditorium.
"Hey Ruby, over here!" Yang shouted.
"Ohh Yang-nee, see you later Jaune," Ruby said to Jaune, Neo pulled Ruby towards Yang. Aiden and I politely bow then follow them. Emerald already circled around Yang.
"Sup Hoodie," Yang said. She then looks at her pouting sister. How's your first day going, little sis?"
"You mean since you ditch me, and I exploded?!" Ruby complained.
"Yikes meltdown already," Yang said in a semi concerned tone.
"No literally exploded in front of the school! Ruby continued, "There's some fire and... Umm, I think some ice?" She said doubtingly.
"Ohh Ruby are you being sarcastic?" Yang replied.
"*scoff* I wish I trip on some crappy girl's luggage then yelled at me, then I sneezed, then I exploded! Then she yelled at me again. I just—" Ruby got cut.
"You!" A girl in white shouted.
Ruby jump at her sister's arm, at the same time emerald light folded Yang's knees with hers. Causing them to nearly fall, thanks to Aiden preventing it.
"Ohh it's happening again!!" Ruby complained.
"You're lucky we aren't blown off the side of the cliff!" The girl shouted.
"Ohh my gosh you really exploded," Yang said in disbelief and concern.
"It was an accident," Ruby replied.
Then the girl started muttering words with the term 'Schnee' in it. Aiden preventing Emerald from lounging at the girl while Neo trying to hide what they're doing.
"What?" Ruby asked.
"Here read this then don't talk to me again," the girl then walks away. Yang was about to call the girl again. So, I stop her.
Yang looks back confused and about to ask but stops when she noticed Emerald's bad mood.
"Who is she?" Yang softly asks.
"Weiss Schnee, that what the other girl told me," Ruby replied. Yang just nodded then sneak a peek at me.
Aiden walks closer.
"So, what did you see?" Aiden asked. Pertaining to my Heart's intent, the reason I name it that because I know someone's current emotion in general but not the details why.
"No hatred just annoyance, and also some concern," I said.
"Concern?... How about you?" He asked.
"Don't worry even if she's his daughter, I won't hate her for that," I replied.
"Then why did you steal 5% of her Aura?" He asked.
"It doesn't matter who's her family is, do you think Neo won't do anything after she shouts at Ruby?" I said.
*Sigh* *Sigh*
"The girls in our group are quite wild,"
"I think wild is an understatement."
Neo walks closer.
"Hmm, it's nothing" Aiden shook his head.
"Look like it's starting" as I pointed at Professor Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon.
"I'll...keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge— to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose... direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step." Ozpin said.
"He seemed...off," Yang said.
"Yeah...it's almost like he wasn't even there," Ruby replied.
"So not just me," Emerald whispered.
"How about you Sora bro?" Aiden asked.
"Same," I replied.
"Same… like Grimm?" Emerald followed up.
"No, even though Grimm doesn't glow I can still see their unsaturated figure, but all I see is a silhouette and everything behind him is void even if it's within my sense sphere. Just like what ruby said, it's like he wasn't even there," I explained.
"You will gather at the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins... Be ready. You are dismissed." Glynda Goodwitch is both the Assistant Headmaster and the Combat Department Head of Beacon.
At the ballroom
"It's you with that kid," Weiss said.
"Which one? Anyway yes, I am. So... You still want to stay here?" I asked as I place Yang, Ruby, and my group's futons.
"Hmm, I'm not stupid. I have the same reason as for why you stay here, hmph!" She replied.
The ballroom has 5 double doors. 3 at the west 2 at the north. The west doorway directly leads to the hallway and the north doorway leads to stairs towards the ballroom balcony and the hallway.
The place where I lay our futons is on the west side near a pillar between the west doorway and the northwest doorway. I preferred to stay on the north side, too bad it's taken, but I guess it's also a fortune to not sleep with the Racist side.
The north doorways are occupied by people who prejudice against Faunus. While the Southwest door is occupied by the Faunus.
"Hmm... Don't you want to stay on the north side?" I asked.
"I might not like those filthy animals, but I don't hate them, I hate those who are in the White Fang and I have reasons why," she then faces away then cover herself with her quilt.
"You don't sound like one," I said softly.
"Sup hoodie, you have been staring at her quite a bit," Yang walks closer.
"Hmm, it's nothing." I was looking at the girl in black that we ran past earlier.
"You're wearing armor?" Yang asked.
"Same to you, you have your knuckle gloves with you," I said as she notices my vambrace under my long sleeve. I also have my greaves equipped.
"Well better safe than sorry. About a while ago... With the girl in white?" Yang asked.
"She's not half bad. I just talked to her. In fact, she's sleeping over there." I pointed at where Weiss is.
"Ehh...hehe. I SORA stayed at the locker longer. You know, *giggle* you might melt the Weiss." Yang said. I sigh, " You can even give Snow Weiss a wake-up kiss." Yang teased.
"Sure, I'll do it tomorrow," I replied.
"Ehh. Ok, prince charming go sleep early, your Snow White might wake up earlier than you." Yang then covers herself with a quilt facing away from me.
"Sorry, I'm just joking," I said.
"Stop bothering me I'm trying to sleep," Yang replied.
"Ok..." I said.
"Yang-nee's sleeping already? This early?" Ruby walks in with Neo linking arms with her and Emerald. While Aiden Using the girls to hide his presence.
"Maybe she's... tired." Ruby did not ask further, but Neo did stare for a bit longer.
Emerald separated from the 2 then waved her hand in front of Yang's face. She somehow manifests a whipped cream out of nowhere. I hurriedly stop her.
"Tomorrow's the initiation," I said.
"Ohh yeah Ruby, what sector are you initiated?" Ruby looks confused.
"You did not check in your scroll?" I asked for her scroll.
"Sector 1..."
"Ehh is it bad," Ruby asked.
"No nothing's bad about it. It's just that sector 1 is for individuals. meaning you need to look for partners and form a group during initiation. I thought you will enroll with Yang as partners," I said.
"It's possible but nobody told us!?" Ruby yelled.
"SHUT UP!!! SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO SLEEP HERE!"
"It's you again!"
Ruby hides behind Neo and Wiess continue on shouting. I stared at my group before they engage hinting at them to stop. They all stop but they're in a bad mood.
"Sorry, our bad for disturbing you but can you tone down you're bothering everyone," I said softly just enough for her to hear. I can feel the displease of Neo and others for not shoving her sarcasm to her face. Weiss did tone down a bit, then did what yang did before facing away from us. Before others could start gossiping. The light inside the ballroom dims until everyone got consumed by darkness.
I woke up early the next day. Aiden and I did a light exercise, clean up then went to the ballroom to check whether the others are still sleeping. Aiden and I noticed that a lot of people running out of the ballroom. Some were pulled back inside.
Before we can enter the ballroom, we notice Emerald ran past the door being chased by Yang with whipped cream on her hair.
Suddenly we got hit at the back with a pillow once we enter the ballroom.
"Some early birds went back!"
Emerald and Yang are now fighting together against someone. Ruby and Neo are also fighting in another corner. Aiden and I split up to help others. Aiden went toward Emerald and Yang. I went towards Ruby and Neo.
"What is happening?"
"They said it's seniors welcome party to new enrolls."
"Hey, you know today is our initiation," I said as I evade an augmented pillow.
"No worries we make sure your Aura won't go below 70% and we won't attack you if your aura is below 75%," One senior said.
"Are you sure we might bite back?"
"You can give it a try."
As we evade the pillow, we went closer towards Aiden and others. Of course, the seniors noticed and try to cut us but the ratio of seniors and freshmen 1:2. Although outnumbered the senior was able to restrain us and with a lot of freshmen having less than 75% going out decreasing our number advantage. Some freshmen noticed that the Seniors ignore them. they started harassed the Seniors. Some even guard those who have more than 75% Aura. I notice the princess using an augmented rolled pillow cloth as a sword. From a pillow fight to cloth augmented weapons.
The fight became fiercer, but we are still losing but not by much. Once our Seniors' Aura is less than 75%, they stop joining. Other freshmen also stop fighting when their Aura is lowered to 75%. Some don't care and attack more fiercely, one idiot even berated the Seniors. So, some seniors attack those shameless freshmen and throw them out of the ballroom, and suppressed them.
While evading one of the senior's attacks I hit one freshman.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" The bat Faunus girl shouted. "Where did you came from?!" She yelled surprised.
I noticed she's blind and probably using her echolocation to see. She probably did not notice me because my stealth also works against Mom's sense. Although I need to fully concentrate. Since her sense is based on sound, it probably works against echolocation.
"Sorry," I tried to use a different stealth technique. I still won't cause sound but sound waves bounce off me.
Unfortunately, it gives an opening for one of the seniors to attack. She guards it for me. allowing me to counterattack and push away our Senior.
"Thanks..."
"Thanks as well."
The end with ab expected result of our Seniors winning. The activity helps the Freshmen to interact, cooperate and exercise. To prepare us for the initiation. It seems to be a ritual here at Beacon because I notice some professors talk about it and they are prepared to stop it at any moment.
"You did great. you're the last to fall." A senior said.
"It's a team effort," I said.
The senior smiled and said of course.
The rest cleaned themselves and some Seniors receive us in the cafeteria.
My group asked seniors about the initiation.
"Senpai, how come others barely know that they can enroll as partners or as a group?" Aiden asked a senior named Yatsuhashi Daichi. Whom Aiden got close to as they both aspired to be Hunter Huntsman.
"I also don't know. I only learned about it at the end of my first year." Daichi Senpai said.
"What am I gonna do, why do I need a partner!?" Ruby freaking out.
"Sis, calm down. At least I'm in the same sector as you, but still, you need to meet other people to grow up."
"I know other people got better when they team up, but not me. I'm better alone. Just like earlier, when I'm cooperating with Neo-chan she can't fight properly. I only hold her back on one v one against the Senior. Besides, I don't need people to grow up. I drink milk."
"That's not true. When you two are fighting against a senior before I joined you two. Neo won' be able to last." Ruby looks at Neo nodding, "and for Neo's one v one fight against a senior. It's only possible because I'm covering her blind spots. Of course, me cooperating with Neo will be better because we were trained that way. If you don't believe me. Go asked Yatsuhashi senpai. He seems to know who you guys are fighting with." I said.
"No, of course, I believe you... It's just that."
"He's right if it's one v one. Fox can beat her. Sorry if I offend you." Neo shook her head, "it's only hard at the beginning, you will love it. I swear, it's like having an extended family that you never knew you wanted." Yatsuahshi senpai smiled.
"All 1st-year students, please report at the Beacon cliff with your gear equip under 30 munites," Then the speaker repeats the announcement 2 more times.
Yatsuhashi senpai stated some encouragement before we head towards the armory.