Velvet hurried towards class, her heart hammering in her chest. Something wasn’t right about that boy, she thought. Nothing about him felt like anyone else. He didn’t feel quite like a human, and she was positive he wasn’t a Faunus.
So what was he?
Skidding to a halt, she realized that once again, she had made a wrong turn. It happened at least once a day now, albeit less than when she first enrolled in Beacon. Fortunately, she had enough experience to know how to get back on track.
She paused. The boy, Daniel, needed directions to the recruiter’s office. That meant that he had never set foot in Beacon before. Which meant that he could very easily get lost just trying to find the front door. Sighing, she pulled out her scroll and checked the time. If she hurried, she might be able to help him back to the lobby and still be able to make it to first period.
Velvet quickly turned around, and ran back the way she came. In no time, she reached the door. As she reached for it, the wall beside her exploded as Daniel was launched out of it. He went sailing for a good ten feet before landing hard and tumbling into another wall where he made a sizeable impression.
Velvet ran over to him. “Are you okay?” she asked. “What happened in there?”
“Goddamit.” Daniel muttered as he struggled to get back up. “That shisno tore up my application!” (A.N. I know that shisno is not from the RWBY universe and has yet to make an appearance, but let’s face it, it’s only a matter of time before Roosterteeth puts it in there in some form.)
The door opened and Mr. Langweilig stepped out, wiping nonexistent dirt off of his suit. In his right hand, he held a ball and chain that he spun in slow arcs. “I will ask you once more Mr. Grigio; remove yourself from this campus or I will be forced to call security.
“No, way,” Daniel replied angrily. He carefully got to his feet, drawing his sword as he did so. “I’m not leaving without an approved application.”
“Daniel,” Velvet cautioned.
Daniel ignored her, launching himself at the recruiter. Mr. Langweilig swung at him, but Daniel, still unsteady from hitting the wall, stumbled at just the right second to miss the ball. He regained his footing just in time to be hit in the face by the ball as it swung around. He flew once more into the wall and collapsed in a heap.
Mr. Langweilig looked at Velvet. “Ms. Scarlatina, I believe that you have classes to attend.”
“B-but what about him?” Velvet asked, motioning at Daniel. To her surprise, he was already up and slicing at Mr. Langweilig. Mr. Lanweilig brought the ball and chain up to defend and barely managed to block a downward slash that Daniel had aimed at him. Daniel angled the sword so that it slid down the length of the shaft and scored a hit on Mr. Langweilig’s hand. He roared in pain and dropped the ball and chain. Daniel followed up with a shove that sent Mr. Langweilig stumbling backwards. As he tried to recover, Daniel hit him in the head with the guard and he fell to the floor. Before he could get up, Daniel planted a knee on his chest swept his sword across his throat, holding it mere millimeters above the flesh.
“Now, resubmit my application or things get real ugly, real fast,” Daniel ordered.
Mr. Langweilig growled. “Son, you’ve crossed the line. Unprovoked attacks against school faculty results in immediate expulsion.”
“Oh I think we can agree that wasn’t exactly unprovoked now can we.”
Daniel turned in surprise to see a man in his early twenties strutting down the hallway. He wore a plain blue suit with a red bowtie. Blonde hair obscured part of his face and swung back and forth as he advanced.
“Professor Glas!” Lanweilig said in shock.
Professor Glass nodded at him and turned to Daniel. “If you would, please remove your sword from the neck of Mr. Lanweilig. I doubt the oaf is particularly comfortable down there.”
Daniel frowned but pulled the blade away and sheathed it. “You’re Professor Glas, I’m assuming?” He asked.
The Professor nodded. “Professor Arthur Glas. Instructor of battlefield tactics and unofficial doctor of Beacon. Speaking of which,” he reached into a pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Daniel, who nodded in thanks and pressed it against the cuts on his cheek where the ball had hit. “You'll want to get some ice where he hit you,” Professor Glas said. “It will help keep the bruise away.”
“Thanks,” Daniel replied.
“May I ask your name?” Professor Glas asked in curiosity.
Daniel nodded. “Daniel Grigio. Applicant to train here at Beacon.”
Professor Glas raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Indeed. Well, I think that it’s safe to say that you have fighting well under control.”
“Really?” Daniel asked; surprised that someone was actually complementing his fighting skill.
“Yes. Most people would take on a ball and chain with a longer distance weapon, or at least a shield. And yet you fought with only a sword. Speaking of which,” he held his hand out. “May I see it?”
Daniel hesitated for a moment, then unbuckled the sheath from his belt and handed it to the Professor. He took the blade out and inspected it. “No apparent customizations that suggest multiple forms” he murmured. “And yet more useful than many weapons that cross the threshold of this school.” He resheathed it and handed it back to Daniel. “It’s from the great war, if I’m not mistaken.”
Daniel nodded. “Came across it in a chest in my basement. Figured that it’d be better than a lead pipe, so I took it.”
Professor Glas nodded appreciatively. “Keep it well maintained” he instructed. “If you’re going to become a Huntsman, you will certainly need to be able to defend yourself at any moment.”
Daniel nodded, then realize what the Professor had just said. “Wait, do you mean that-”
“That I believe you have the capacity to become a student at Beacon?” Professor Glas asked with a hint of amusement. “Yes. Yes I do.” He turned back the way he came. “I have the first two periods of today reserved for planning. I would gladly proctor your written examination during that time. If you will follow me please.”
Daniel hurried after him. “Oh, and Mrs. Scarlatina, you’re five minutes late for your class.”
Velvet squeaked and took off, running in the opposite direction.
Lanweilig stumbled to his feet. “Professor, I must protest. This boy attacked me! A staff member. The rules say that-”
“The rules say that any unprovoked attack on a staff member results in immediate expulsion of the student,” Professor Glas finished. “However, Mr. Grigio is not yet a student, nor was the attack unprovoked. I seem to remember you ripping his application apart. That would most certainly count as provocation. I think we might have to have a talk with Headmaster Ozpin at a later date.”
He put a guiding hand around Daniel and steered him down the hall. For once there was someone being actually kind for Daniel, and going out of their way for him. It was a very nice feeling, Daniel decided.
“Time!”
Daniel mercifully put down his pencil and massaged his cramping hand. The test had taken longer than he had expected and had consisted of everything from multiple choice, to a page long essay.
Professor Glas took up his papers and fed the multiple choice section into a grading machine. He then sat on his desk and read the short responses and the essay. After about ten minutes he looked up. “So you’ve had a very rough upbringing,” he said. “I can’t imagine having to live in a single parent home where the parent was an alcoholic.”
Daniel nodded. “It wasn’t good. One time I had a doctor’s appointment and he didn’t like the results. I got it pretty bad that day.”
Professor Glas nodded. “Really, Can you remember what the results he didn’t like were?”
Daniel opened his mouth to answer, but caught himself. He liked Professor Glas, but wasn’t ready to divulge his secret to anybody, at least not yet. “I really don’t know,” he answered. “I was five at the time and didn’t really understand what the doctor was saying. Still don’t,” he added sheepishly.
Professor Glas smiled. “Truth be told, neither do I. Quite honestly, I’m more of a medic than a doctor. The way I see it, a doctor’s job is to tell you what’s wrong with you. A medic is supposed to fix what’s wrong with you and if need be, make you comfortable until you die.” He laughed at Daniel’s shocked face. “Don’t worry” he assured him. “I’ve treated a lot of people at Beacon, and I haven’t lost a patient yet.”
At long last, the machine spit out Daniel’s test results. Professor Glas pulled them out and after a brief inspection he smiled and looked back up at Daniel. “Congratulations,” he said. “You passed the exam.” Placing the multiple choice sheet on top of the written response, he slid both into a manila folder and slid off his desk. “All that remains is for Professor Ozpin to approve your application. We can take it to him now if you’d like.”
Daniel nodded. “Yeah. That’d be cool.”
Professor Glas exited the classroom and Daniel hurried after him. “So when do classes start?” He asked.
“Well, Classes start for freshmen later this week, but you have to get assigned a team first,” Professor Glas answered. “That happens the day after tomorrow.”
Daniel nodded, mentally planning out how he’d get back into the unused bedroom. As he did, they neared an elevator that ran up the spine of the tower. They entered it and Professor Glas pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator shot up at a rate that surprised Daniel. He was expecting a leisurely climb to the top.
“So what is Professor Ozpin like?” Daniel asked.
Professor Glas thought it over for a moment. “He is, different from you and I. He’s a genius, obviously; it wouldn’t be possible for him to run Beacon otherwise. But he doesn't flaunt it like you would expect. He genuinely tries to stay on a one to one basis with everyone. I personally believe that makes him the best Headmaster this school has ever had.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Professor Glas exited and after a moment’s hesitation, so did Daniel. The room they entered was unlike any Daniel had seen. It was like someone had taken the interior of a clock tower and turned it into an office. A desk and chair sat in front of a massive circular window that had gears attached to it, controlling the hands of a clock. The chair was occupied by a man with silver hair, tinted glasses, and a black suit and a green scarf. He was sipping a something out of a white ceramic mug. He looked up as they entered. “Good morning Sir.” Professor Glas said.
“Good morning Professor.” Ozpin replied. “To what am I owed the pleasure?”
“This is Daniel Grigio.” Professor Glas answered. “He submitted an application a few days ago and just passed the entrance exam. I proctored it myself.”
Ozpin nodded and raised his mug in acknowledgement before placing it down and shifting through a pile of papers on his desk. “I don’t believe that his application was submitted to me. Who was responsible for processing it?”
“It was Lanweilig sir. He tore it up and threw it in the trash.”
“Indeed.” Ozpin said. “Tell me, where is Mr. Lanweilig now?”
“Most likely in his office nursing his pride.” Professor Glas answered. “Daniel here did quite a number on him after his application was destroyed.”
“I didn’t really do a number on him.” Daniel said, rubbing the back of his skull sheepishly. “I'm actually kind of surprised that I won. I was kind of out of it after he threw me through his wall. Next thing I know, he's on the ground and i'm on top of him.”
“All the same; to defeat any staff member in combat is not a feat to take lightly,” Ozpin said. “Professor Glas. If you would please, go back to Mr. Lanweilig’s office and try to recover the remains of Daniel’s application. If at all possible, I would like to take a look at it.”
Professor Glas nodded and left the office. Ozpin waited until the doors had closed and the elevator began moving before speaking again. “Your reputation precedes you Daniel.”
Daniel felt a ball of ice form in his stomach. “What exactly do you mean, sir?”
“I make it my job to remain informed of current events,” Ozpin replied. “Even those that people attempt to be covered up. Especially those that people attempt to cover up.”
Daniel swallowed. “So you know what I am. You know that i'm a gr-”
“I do not believe that you are in any way related to the Grimm, Daniel,” Ozpin said. “I believe that what has happened to you is nature and nature alone. You share a trait with the Grimm. We all share traits with the Grimm. But traits alone do not define us. Neither do physical characteristics. It is our actions that define us. Although,” he said as he took another sip from his mug, “It will certainly make being a Huntsman more difficult for you.”
“What do you mean sir?” Daniel asked.
“The job of a Huntsman is a dangerous one, where a safe future is not always guaranteed,” Ozpin said. “Without an Aura, it could become potentially suicidal. You will have no semblance, nor any healing or shielding abilities. Furthermore, your use of dust will be limited to dust rounds and anything else that does not require an Aura. This will severely limit your options in a battle. Daniel,” he said as he stared straight into Daniel’s eyes with a piercing gaze, “These limitations could very well spell your doom. Are you willing to take that risk?”
Daniel gulped. Today had definitely taken a different turn than what he was expecting. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and forged ahead. “I understand perfectly,” he said firmly. “I don’t know what the future holds, but it’s better than what I’m leaving behind.”
Ozpin nodded. “Very well then,” he said just as the elevator doors opened and Professor Glas reentered.
“Found them sir,” Professor Glas said triumphantly. “He tore it pretty neatly, so it shouldn’t be that hard to fix.”
Ozpin took them from him and gave them a brief once over. “I suppose everything is in order then,” he said, putting them in a stack with the rest. “Just one thing I want to make certain you understand Mr. Grigio.” He stared directly into Daniels eyes. “The course of action you took today with Mr. Lanweilig will not be tolerated a second time, unless it is for dire circumstances. Failure to comply will result in your immediate expulsion. Do I make myself clear?”
Daniel nodded. “Clear sir.”
“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an initiation to prepare.”
Daniel thanked him and turned to follow Professor Glas out when Ozpin called out once more. “One more thing Mr. Grigio.”
He turned to see the Headmaster with his chin resting on his hands and a faint smile playing on his lips. “Our guest rooms and mess hall are open to you until the initiation in two days. I think that you will find them preferable to pop tarts and a matressless bed.”
ns 15.158.61.8da2
