[fieldbox= Windia Milkyway, Turquoise, solid]
[fieldbox= Aelius Cedomir, Gold, solid]
[/fieldbox]
[fieldbox= Aelius Cedomir, Gold, solid]
Meanwhile, Ael was surprised at how the damsel in distress didn't appear to be particulary appreciative of being rescued. In fact, instead of being a delicate maiden, this girl was acting like a raging gamer who was accusing him of performing a Kill Steal when he cleaved that Beowulf in half.
It certainly didn't look like she was happy being partnered with him but since the rules clearly stated that the first person a student makes eye contact with upon arriving in this area would be his/her partner for the next four years, the brown-haired girl didn't have any choice for the matter.
So, Hazel begrudgingly accepted the fact of being partnered with the blonde knight. Contrary to her reaction to their sudden pairing, however, Ael was absolutely ecstatic to be partnered with the grumpy brunette. The way she outright lashed at him and glared at him murderously... he could not be mistaken. This girl had the potential to be a real life tsundere so he was thankful he came to her aid and consequently became her partner. After all, it'd certainly be interesting to spend the next four years together with one.
"I can't exactly stay out of your way while you're hell bent on killing every grimm on sight here. This isn't a competition you know. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who kills the grimm as long as it's dead. Though, I guess we can compromise. As long as it doesn't put your life in immediate danger, I'll let you kill these mutts. That said, you can't expect me to just idly stand by while you do all the work right?" Ael told Hazel nonchalantly as he smiled at her.
That smile was immediately replaced by a frown when he heard a rustling sound getting closer and louder, as if it was heading straight towards them accompanied by the sound of falling timber. Then, all of a sudden, a Deathstalker came crashing out of the trees and it certainly didn't look as pleased as Ael when it saw Hazel. Unknown to Ael, the scorpion-Grimm was led to their location by the combination of Hazel's semblance and shouting when she threw a tantrum earlier.
"Oh you've got to be shitting me right now..." Ael yelled while gripping his sword tightly.
"Fight, or Run? I'm not confident we could take that thing down with just the two of us so running seems like the better option, don't you think?" He asked Hazel in a shaky voice, eyeing the Deathstalker as it got ever closer to them.
Regardless of her answer, Ael was just about ready to drag Hazel out of there, or even carry her, if need be. One of the most important lessons Ingram taught him is to know one's limits before steadily attempting to overcome them. Fighting this Deathstalker with just the two of them isn't steady at all and Ael wasn't about to bite off more than he could chew. They needed to find other students who'd be able to help them take down the creature. And they needed to do it fast.
@york @Minerva @Schnee Corp Lawyer
[/fieldbox]
Angus knew how to deal with that. Like any law of nature really, despite these creatures make up and the stories centered around them. Monsters under the bed, whispers of how they were made up of madness and lost souls. Out in the wild, learning his skills and his semblance the solution once you got down to it, was simple.
You became the bigger fish in the lake.
....No pun intended. A snarl crossed his features as he breathed out slowly, something hard starting to enter his eyes as he forced himself to get angry. Get enraged. Think about the loneliness. Think about what people must have thought of the hick from the sticks. Think about all the sneers and all the things, they must have whispered or thought of.
And when the Grimm came his way, Angus responded with a savage roar so different from his prior cool and committed air. It was savage, bestial...
Grimm.
Aura coated him, encasing the boy in a suit of armor. An animal howl emitted from the helm crafted, and he was almost giant-size in his rising wrath.
And with a thundering charge for the Grimm as Angus made himself a target, he reached out his arms to grip the beast's head, and if he managed to take hold?
Crack
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGHHHH!!!"
The visage of the Black Knight turned towards the Grimm affecting his partner, banging an impromptu gauntlet on his chestplate before charging once more.
On the plus side for anyone in the area, it'd be easy to find them now if they wanted.
The downside, was that so would the Grimm.
@Hospes
@Gummi Bunnies @Demmy
Chapter One: Free Fallin'
The journey had admittedly been a long one, that much was for sure. Lasting two days, the soon-to-be students of Eden likely found themselves tired of being on the aircraft at some point during the journey, despite the surely made friends and allies they'd come to know. If only somewhat. After all, everyone has a secret, and the teens were certainly no exception. But I digress, whether the young heroes- and less than such -enjoyed or disliked the ride, they likely wouldn't enjoy the way it came to an end. The tip top of the morning, before the sun had even risen, they would come to a rude awakening. A loud, deep voice blaring over the speakers of the entire craft, undoubtedly jolting any and all passengers awake in the cabins. Or, well, wherever it was they'd happened to fall asleep in.
Or, if you were Midna, where you hadn't been sleeping at all.
Throughout the ship, an apparation appeared to the students, standing tall but casual with hands clasped behind it's back. A man, bespectacled, with orange hair and nice dress, the hologram staring at the group as though the man were truly there and able to see them all. Which, given the craft was surely equipped with cameras all around, he likely could. Regardless, with a brief adjustment of his glasses, he gave a wave before replacing his hands behind his back. "Good morning, students," came a voice through the speakers as the hologram's shining teal eyes regarded them. "I apologize for the rude awakening, and I understand you'd rather be asleep at this time. A sentiment that I can assure you, I share." Humor. Well, at least he wasn't a complete stick in the ass. "However, I'm here to inform you- you've all safely arrived at Eden Academy." A pause. "Well... Almost."
Oh, great. Of course there was a catch.
"As you all are likely aware, I'm the headmaster of Eden. Solomon Oran. As such, it falls upon me to inform you that arriving at my academy is sadly not as simple as catching a ride from my associates- the gentlemen and ladies on board with you," he mused, openly gesturing with his arm. "While you've all passed your examination tests, proving your capability to attend the prestigious Eden, there is one final trial you must undergo before your arrival." Taking a moment to step to the side, seeming more comfortable in movement, the man continued. "This may seem like a review to many of you, but Ashea is home to many a woodland, the densest and harshest of which surrounds our very school. We consider it a line of defense, not many wishing to venture through it with the numbers of the creatures of Grimm within. You lot, on the other hand, well... You'll be doing precisely that."
A smile grew on the man's face, and he turned before adjusting his glasses once more and straightening his tie. "Now, then, as you may have noticed, despite my statement that you have arrived where you'll be being dropped off, your craft has not ceased moving, has it?" Well, the likely groggy students would in fact notice that they were still moving along, despite this claim, indeed. As though to accentuate this fact, abruptly, a hatch opened beneath one of the student's cots, the one that held an unfortunate Qing You Xia and Aelius Cedomir, sending the two students free falling to the woods from the airborne craft. "Well, that would be because you'll be practicing your landing strategies and making sure you cannot easily be caught off guard. Expect the unexpected, and you'll find it hard to be surprised. Anyhow, don't worry for your friends, there. After all, you were all briefed on how you'd receive your partners and teammates before your journey here began, no? But I suppose I can give you a quick recap."
With that, he continued. "You'll be dropped off on the outskirts of the forest surrounding the academy, filled to the brim with Grimm and other creatures that may wish you harm. In the very center of the woodlands, you will find our academy. However, before you may enter, you must find a token, of sorts. Spread throughout the woods, two of which at every alter. Of which, there are eleven. In addition, whoever you first lay eyes upon once you've landed will be your partner for the years to follow. That said, I do hope none of you tried to cheat and pre-plan a team." Knowingly, he winked, before giving a final wave. "Now, then. I'll be seeing you all shortly. Try your best to stay alive, yeah?"
And so, one by one, the students would find hatches opening under them, dropping them into the sky. Whether they were ready... Or not.
"Wooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Ahahahaha!" exclaimed a girl who entered the free fall with a particularly large amount of excitement. Stretching her arms out to her sides, she relished the feeling of the wind rushing up against her skin as she fell, blowing her black hair about, running against the fur of her white tiger ears pleasantly. Laughing with pure joy, she whipped out Night Tearer, flipping the weapon open into it's Tessen form. Continuing to laugh heartily, she brought the two war fans downward as she came close to the treetops she'd be landing through, causing a gust of wind that kept her up moments longer. Just long enough, more specifically, to switch Night Tearer into it's shield form, curling into a ball behind it, crashing through the trees before switching positions so that it was beneath her feet. Using the thing like a surfboard, she sped down a slope, smiling all the while.
"Wooooooohooo!"
Less excitedly, another fell, dual sickles in hand and cloak skillfully concealing her wolf tail she worked so hard to hide from the world. Long, wavy blonde hair rippled in the wind much like the dark fabric of her cloak as she fell. With but a small grunt signifying her minor exerted effort, she slammed through the leaves, skillfully hooking her sickle off a thick tree branch and easily swinging off of it with her already gathered speed. She landed on the ground in a roll, ending on her feet in the end before brushing herself off.
Hmph. Well enough.
In any case, the students were dropped off in fairly different areas. Windia, Teanna, Audrey, and Liliya found themselves on the western outskirts of the forest. Unluckily for them, it appeared the outskirts were lined with many a detour, thick vines and undergrowth making navigation difficult.
@Accelerator @C.T. @Gummi Bunnies
Mona, Duviel, Duke, and Aqua found themselves closer to the Northeastern areas of the woodlands, a little further in. The area was near a peculiar body of water, looking to be perfectly clear, with the shadows from the treetops cast over the water.
@Hospes @CrunchyCHEEZIT @QuakeUPSB @Ringmaster
David, Aria, Franky, and Kwame, meanwhile, found themselves further to the East, in an area that seemed a bit more forgiving. Flowers of various shades laid around, and the trees were not stirred by even a breeze. But it seemed almost as though a bit too calm.
@LuckycoolHawk9 @FrozenOcelot @BlueFlameNikku @Yun Lee
Shizune, Alcander, Gainsborough, and Felix landed to the South of the rest, in what seemed like a bit of a valley.
@Schnee Corp Lawyer @Crimson Spartan @Minerva @QuakeUPSB
A more meadowy area was where Soneri, Eshell, Midna, and Angus found themselves landing, though it was still littered with various trees and other vegetation.
@Gummi Bunnies @Demmy @Hospes @Ringmaster
Aelius, Mason, Tiara, and Hazel wound up surrounded by trees and... A growling could be heard nearby where Aelius and Hazel had ended up, more specifically. That couldn't be good.
@Accelerator @Mason Moretti @Accelerator @york
Finally, Joylu, Lilac, Qing, and Erin landed deeper in the woodlands, For now, it seemed like things were safe enough, but one could never be too careful.
@True Ending Eliza @Valentyne @OrlandoBloomers @TyranntX
But hey, at least the sun had finally risen. It was the dawn of a new day, and, more than that? It was time for their days at Eden to begin.
[fieldbox= Windia Milkyway, Turquoise, solid]
For a brief moment, Windia momentarily let go of her militaristic persona to giggle a bit when she heard Audrey's outright refusal of being referred to as a Tsundere. The more time she spends with the blonde, the more she's sure that she would be a fun target for her mischievous antics. In fact, should the four of them really end up becoming a legitimate team, Windia was confident that she could "handle" all of them, specially Audrey. After all, she's like a genderbent version of Ael, and he could handle her, as long as she doesn't do anything that's both crazy and life threatening at the same time.
"'Yknow, the more you deny being a tsundere, the more you affirm being one. I'm seriously shipping you with my friend now. I just know you two would make a great pair!" She teased Audrey one more time in a conspiring manner, adding a wink at the end to deliver the full effect of her jest.
"And it's very nice to meet you too, Liliya. I'm really looking forward to our time together in Eden!" was her enthusiastic response to the nervous Liliya when she regarded her.
Shortly afterwards, her serious side returned once more to address Audrey's request.
"Well, since Liliya here already showed us what she could do... and since it would be rude to make you show what your semblance does next since you're the one who asked first...."
With an impish grin, she equipped her beloved crossbow, Zephyrus, and fired an explosive bolt to a nearby tree to her right. However, before it could hit the tree, Windia stretched her right arm toward the arrow bolt and it suddenly shot up in a straight vertical line. Unfortunately, said bolt hit a passing Nevermore, resulting in a rather big explosion. However, the explosion seems to not be enough to put it down for good and now they had an extremely pissed Nevermore glaring at the four girls before it rapidly descended towards them.
"Oops..."
Grabbing Liliya by the hand, she turned towards Teanna and Audrey and smiled at them nervously.
"Semblance Later, Run and Survive Now!" She exclaimed.
Then, carrying Liliya in a princess-style fashion, Windia signaled the two other girls to follow her before she hopped off the tree branch and run deeper into the forest. That isn't to say that she completely abandoned Teanna and Audrey. Every few meters, she would stop and provide cover fire for the two girls, using only normal arrow bolts of course. She was afraid she'd accidentally impale them if she used scatter bolts, melt them if she used acid bolts, or blow them to smithereens if she used explosive bolts, so until they could assume appropriate battle positions, this was the best she could do for now.
@C.T. @Gummi Bunnies
[/fieldbox]
[fieldbox= Aelius Cedomir, Gold, solid]
Meanwhile, Ael was surprised at how the damsel in distress didn't appear to be particulary appreciative of being rescued. In fact, instead of being a delicate maiden, this girl was acting like a raging gamer who was accusing him of performing a Kill Steal when he cleaved that Beowulf in half.
It certainly didn't look like she was happy being partnered with him but since the rules clearly stated that the first person a student makes eye contact with upon arriving in this area would be his/her partner for the next four years, the brown-haired girl didn't have any choice for the matter.
So, Hazel begrudgingly accepted the fact of being partnered with the blonde knight. Contrary to her reaction to their sudden pairing, however, Ael was absolutely ecstatic to be partnered with the grumpy brunette. The way she outright lashed at him and glared at him murderously... he could not be mistaken. This girl had the potential to be a real life tsundere so he was thankful he came to her aid and consequently became her partner. After all, it'd certainly be interesting to spend the next four years together with one.
"I can't exactly stay out of your way while you're hell bent on killing every grimm on sight here. This isn't a competition you know. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who kills the grimm as long as it's dead. Though, I guess we can compromise. As long as it doesn't put your life in immediate danger, I'll let you kill these mutts. That said, you can't expect me to just idly stand by while you do all the work right?" Ael told Hazel nonchalantly as he smiled at her.
That smile was immediately replaced by a frown when he heard a rustling sound getting closer and louder, as if it was heading straight towards them accompanied by the sound of falling timber. Then, all of a sudden, a Deathstalker came crashing out of the trees and it certainly didn't look as pleased as Ael when it saw Hazel. Unknown to Ael, the scorpion-Grimm was led to their location by the combination of Hazel's semblance and shouting when she threw a tantrum earlier.
"Oh you've got to be shitting me right now..." Ael yelled while gripping his sword tightly.
"Fight, or Run? I'm not confident we could take that thing down with just the two of us so running seems like the better option, don't you think?" He asked Hazel in a shaky voice, eyeing the Deathstalker as it got ever closer to them.
Regardless of her answer, Ael was just about ready to drag Hazel out of there, or even carry her, if need be. One of the most important lessons Ingram taught him is to know one's limits before steadily attempting to overcome them. Fighting this Deathstalker with just the two of them isn't steady at all and Ael wasn't about to bite off more than he could chew. They needed to find other students who'd be able to help them take down the creature. And they needed to do it fast.
@york @Minerva @Schnee Corp Lawyer
[/fieldbox]
Once, he had tried to describe what he felt encased in the semblance he had been born with.
It was a feeling of power, of being the absolute strongest. It was a shucking of all higher thought processes, becoming more animal than the most rabid dog, without the excuse of cognitive thought behind it. It was like taking everything that had hurt you, turning it into a literal weapon.
It was like becoming a Grimm. And for as long as he could recall, there had never been anything to discern between it and the Grimm he turned it on. Until now.
There was no trace of fear sensed. An anomaly in the otherwise discordant orchestra his semblance played upon. Faint and easily lost among the other feelings warring for control, urging him to let it play out and damn the consequences. Grimm, Hunter, Huntress- It didn't matter. The Black Knight wanted to fight and would seek control every step of the way till it burned out.
And utterly still, he took a step forward and crushed the skull of the quickly fading Grimm underfoot as the visage leaned close to look Midna in the eye. A beat passed and the growling began to slow off into one of confusion, before the hand raised up to touch her.
Dissolving to ash, the armor faded and in its place, was a very much surprised Angus. On his knees, much smaller than the armor and with his hand reaching to her, before he took control and rose up, brushing himself off and looking anywhere but her direction.
"....Still time fer finding another. If you want."
And calmly, he strode to pick up his weapons, examining both before transforming them back to storage mode, the Kurgan becoming his sheath and Headhunter returned as he continued.
"We need t'move too. Grimm r'gonna be coming."
They always did, whenever he took that form.
@Hospes
@Gummi Bunnies @Demmy
[fieldbox=Tiara Pendragon, Aqua, solid]
[fieldbox=Tiara Pendragon, Aqua, solid]
A lone figure could be seen traversing the vast forestland surrounding Ashea's Huntsman Academy, Eden. Clothed in a shabby brown robe, one would not be able to determine the figure's appearance or gender until they got close to it. Though by the pressure it exerted by its mere presence alone, it'd be foolish to approach an entity wrapped not just by the cloak concealing its appearance, but by the mystery surrounding this person's existence... if one could call it a person anyways.
However, even with the mystery surrounding it be shrouded like its appearance, there was no mistaking why it was in this neck of the woods. After all, nobody would dare try to enter these woods unless they wanted to go to the Hunter Academy the lies within. And those with similar intentions stated above couldn't infiltrate the academy through normal means.
The mysterious person would have continued on its route towards the academy had it not been for the loud crashing noises coming from nearby. In an effort to determine the source of the sound even better, the cloaked figure placed a hand over the hood covering its head and removed it, revealing... fox ears?
You heard that right, our mysterious cloaked person is actually a teen-aged fox-girl faunus, or at least had the appearance of one. She looked just like about any ordinary faunus girl her age, sporting flowing white hair, amber eyes, fluffy black and white fox ears, and donning a dress similar to a sailor uniform, there was no reason to suspect the girl whatsoever... aside from her presence alone in a grimm-infested forest and the deadly weapon strapped to her back.
"Tch... a fight? Here? I thought I was supposed to be alone in these woods, you damn loli." She grumbled at a microphone disguised as one of her uniform's buttons.
"Hey, I already arranged all those files and credentials proving you're a legitimate professor but nooo.... You decided that you wanted to become a student, AT THE LAST MINUTE! Do you have any idea how hard it is to fake documents nowadays?" The angry voice of what sounded like a girl that's barely in middle school responded from the other end of the line of the earpiece the faunus was wearing. "Well everything's digital now, surprisingly, so it was quite easy to hack but that's not the point! I already have enough stuff to deal with here in Atlas so I don't need you to add to my stress levels. And since you "got admitted at the last minute", you missed the damn aerial transports so you have no right to complain to me about anything."
"Alright, alright. Calm your flat chests. Just tell me why there are people here. Nobody normally comes through these woods, right?" the white haired fox-faunus
After a heavy sigh, the girl from the other end of the line spoke once more, desperately trying to calm her voice.
"I intercepted a broadcast from the airships. It seems the headmaster chucked his students into these forest. Same shit, different academy. Looks like all the headmasters have a knack for making initiation tests a living hell for the poor suckers. Anyways, there are multiple objectives. First, find a partner which will be determined by the first person you make eye contact with, provided they didn't already have a partner of course. Second, you and your partner must retrieve a pair of tokens from an altar. There are two in each altar. Which brings us to the last objective. Get to Eden, at the center of this forest, preferably not in a body bag. I hope you're listening. Cuz I ain't explaining that shit again."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks a lot, Corona." The faunus replied as she smiled wryly.
"Good luck on being a kid again, Tiara. I know for a fact none of us four had a proper childhood experience anyway. I'll tell the others that you've already arrived in Eden. Corona, out." the girl named Corona replied in a bored tone before disconnecting the connection.
With a sigh, the girl named Tiara decided to make a detour towards the source of the loud crashes. Best case scenario, she manages to find a partner. Worst case scenario, she gets to beat up a couple of grimm. Upon arriving at the source of the noise, however, all she saw was complete chaos. A dark-skinned girl was seemingly moving at blinding speeds while fighting a Deathstalker in close range to no avail. A fellow faunus was providing ranged support by shooting arrows at the arthropod-grimm, one of which froze the stinger of the damn thing on contact but that seemed to have only pissed off the grimm as it was now skittering towards him. And then, there was a blonde guy that looked more like a proper knight than Tiara was right now, just gawking at the scene.
She was about to give him a piece of his mind, when she suddenly spotted something strange. The blonde boy's armor and weapon, eerily looked familiar. Those couldn't be the same set, right? If they were, then there could only be one explanation. Though Tiara decided to find out more about the blonde huntsman-in-training's equipment for another day.
"Hey, you. Look alive! We're in the middle of a battlefield here. Get moving, or get out of the way. Either help us take that thing down or stay out of the way. Either way, make yourself useful!" Tiara barked angrily before gripping her sword.
After heaving a deep breath, she focused her semblance on her legs before she shot up towards the Deathstalker like a bullet. While practically flying towards the giant, monstrous scorpion, she looked towards Mason and gave him a wink while smiling smugly at him. Afterwards, she retrieved Hexcalibur from its sheathe and gripped it tightly before single-handedly parrying a crushing attack from its pincer that should have been directed to Mason. The magic sword of promised victory had not seen combat for many years, and right now, Tiara was determined to deliver victory to these young students, or at least help them reach that conclusion.
[/fieldbox]
[fieldbox= Aelius Cedomir, Gold, solid]
Ael observed Hazel cockily try to bring down the Deathstalker. Emphasis on the word, try. He knew from the start that an initiate wouldn't have any chance of defeating a Deathstalker single-handedly. Judging from the way she lashed out at him earlier, it was clear that the brown-haired tsundere candidate wanted to be the heroine of the story. That, or she just had an insatiable desire to kill any grimm she set her eyes on.
Even legitimate Huntsmen and Huntresses would have trouble killing one alone, unless your name is Ingram Pagos. The damn old man once punched a Nevermore in the head, killing it, without using his Semblance!
In any case, there was no way Hazel could ever hope to beat the beast on her own, and even if he did decided to help, even he was not confident they'd beat the Deathstalker, without him overtaxing his Semblance. He was aware Hazel would be visibly upset if he forcibly removed her from the battle but he'd rather have an upset tsundere than a dead one. Besides, wouldn't she turn more into a tsundere when she gets upset? Hazel lives, and Ael gets one step closer to having a tsundere for a partner. It's a win-win situation!
Fortunately for Hazel, who appeared to already showing signs of fatigue, and unfortunately for Ael, who was now daydreaming of Hazel spouting lines like "I didn't cook breakfast just for you or anything, idiot. I just made a bit too much and I didn't want them to go to waste so I'm letting you have some.", a certain Wolf-faunus arrived, and didn't hesitate to help out hazel by shooting arrows at the giant scorpion. One of it hit the creature's stinger, freezing it instantly. Well, with that little display, Mason looked more like the knight in shining armor than the one wearing the actual armor.
Finally, another faunus, this time a female, appeared out of nowhere, suddenly lectured him about being useful, then joined the fray, saving the wolf faunus from earlier from being pummeled by one of the Deathstalker's pincers by parrying it.
With two new people already engaged in combat with the Deathstalker, it certainly looked like Ael and Hazel no longer needed to find help. With 3 people fighting the damned thing in close combat, and one of them providing ranged support, Ael decided that the odds were now in their favor.
After an exasperated sigh, the blonde knight grinned from ear to ear as power coursed through his body. His eye changed from the usual golden eyes turned a shade of green indicating the activation of his semblance. Warmth, and flames radiated from his body as he became a living conduit of the sun's power. And in a manner similar to how Tiara started towards the beast, Ael shot towards the Deathstalker like a flaming cannonball approaching its target.
The grimm, meanwhile had set its eyes once again on an exhausted Hazel, launching its other pincer towards her despite Tiara's attempts of keeping it at bay. The girl would have taken a direct hit from the oncoming pincer attack. Heck, she may have already closed her eyes, accepting her end at this point. Whatever the case, she would hear a loud clang as the pincer collided against metal. And once she focused her eyes in front of her, she would see Aelius and Tiara parrying both pincers at the same time.
"See, this is why you need to be aware of your limits. We're just students, you know. We're not ready yet to face grimm of this caliber. At least not on our own. Alone, neither of us could beat this thing no matter how hard we try. But together, we are stronger. United, we can overcome even the largest and most fearsome of obstacles, and the harshest challenges that could come our way. I don't know what sort of issues you may have with teamwork but you should learn to let go of that sooner or later. Because whether you like it or not, you have me now. And whether you like it or not, I won't hesitate to save you and protect you when you're in trouble. I'd appreciate it if you'd be able to do the same... preferably tonight, at dusk." Ael told Hazel in a calm yet stern voice as he looked her straight in the eyes. He was having no trouble repelling the grimm's attacks as he did this.
"Now, I believe we can start being partners by telling each other our names. I'm Aelius Cedomir, Ael for short. It's nice to meet you..."
Ael intentionally left his sentence open for Hazel to insert a reply. He figured that this method, coupled by what he said earlier, would be key to getting dark-skinned brunette to cooperate with him. Or at least tell him her name. Whatever the case, the two needed to get their act together now as it will take all four of them to take down this creature of grimm.
@york @Mason Moretti
[/fieldbox]
For a brief moment, Windia momentarily let go of her militaristic persona to giggle a bit when she heard Audrey's outright refusal of being referred to as a Tsundere. The more time she spends with the blonde, the more she's sure that she would be a fun target for her mischievous antics. In fact, should the four of them really end up becoming a legitimate team, Windia was confident that she could "handle" all of them, specially Audrey. After all, she's like a genderbent version of Ael, and he could handle her, as long as she doesn't do anything that's both crazy and life threatening at the same time.
"'Yknow, the more you deny being a tsundere, the more you affirm being one. I'm seriously shipping you with my friend now. I just know you two would make a great pair!" She teased Audrey one more time in a conspiring manner, adding a wink at the end to deliver the full effect of her jest.
"And it's very nice to meet you too, Liliya. I'm really looking forward to our time together in Eden!" was her enthusiastic response to the nervous Liliya when she regarded her.
Shortly afterwards, her serious side returned once more to address Audrey's request.
"Well, since Liliya here already showed us what she could do... and since it would be rude to make you show what your semblance does next since you're the one who asked first...."
With an impish grin, she equipped her beloved crossbow, Zephyrus, and fired an explosive bolt to a nearby tree to her right. However, before it could hit the tree, Windia stretched her right arm toward the arrow bolt and it suddenly shot up in a straight vertical line. Unfortunately, said bolt hit a passing Nevermore, resulting in a rather big explosion. However, the explosion seems to not be enough to put it down for good and now they had an extremely pissed Nevermore glaring at the four girls before it rapidly descended towards them.
"Oops..."
Grabbing Liliya by the hand, she turned towards Teanna and Audrey and smiled at them nervously.
"Semblance Later, Run and Survive Now!" She exclaimed.
Then, carrying Liliya in a princess-style fashion, Windia signaled the two other girls to follow her before she hopped off the tree branch and run deeper into the forest. That isn't to say that she completely abandoned Teanna and Audrey. Every few meters, she would stop and provide cover fire for the two girls, using only normal arrow bolts of course. She was afraid she'd accidentally impale them if she used scatter bolts, melt them if she used acid bolts, or blow them to smithereens if she used explosive bolts, so until they could assume appropriate battle positions, this was the best she could do for now.
@C.T. @Gummi Bunnies
Angus knew how to deal with that. Like any law of nature really, despite these creatures make up and the stories centered around them. Monsters under the bed, whispers of how they were made up of madness and lost souls. Out in the wild, learning his skills and his semblance the solution once you got down to it, was simple.
You became the bigger fish in the lake.
....No pun intended. A snarl crossed his features as he breathed out slowly, something hard starting to enter his eyes as he forced himself to get angry. Get enraged. Think about the loneliness. Think about what people must have thought of the hick from the sticks. Think about all the sneers and all the things, they must have whispered or thought of.
And when the Grimm came his way, Angus responded with a savage roar so different from his prior cool and committed air. It was savage, bestial...
Grimm.
Aura coated him, encasing the boy in a suit of armor. An animal howl emitted from the helm crafted, and he was almost giant-size in his rising wrath.
And with a thundering charge for the Grimm as Angus made himself a target, he reached out his arms to grip the beast's head, and if he managed to take hold?
Crack
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGHHHH!!!"
The visage of the Black Knight turned towards the Grimm affecting his partner, banging an impromptu gauntlet on his chestplate before charging once more.
On the plus side for anyone in the area, it'd be easy to find them now if they wanted.
The downside, was that so would the Grimm.
@Hospes
@Gummi Bunnies @Demmy
Once, he had tried to describe what he felt encased in the semblance he had been born with.
It was a feeling of power, of being the absolute strongest. It was a shucking of all higher thought processes, becoming more animal than the most rabid dog, without the excuse of cognitive thought behind it. It was like taking everything that had hurt you, turning it into a literal weapon.
It was like becoming a Grimm. And for as long as he could recall, there had never been anything to discern between it and the Grimm he turned it on. Until now.
There was no trace of fear sensed. An anomaly in the otherwise discordant orchestra his semblance played upon. Faint and easily lost among the other feelings warring for control, urging him to let it play out and damn the consequences. Grimm, Hunter, Huntress- It didn't matter. The Black Knight wanted to fight and would seek control every step of the way till it burned out.
And utterly still, he took a step forward and crushed the skull of the quickly fading Grimm underfoot as the visage leaned close to look Midna in the eye. A beat passed and the growling began to slow off into one of confusion, before the hand raised up to touch her.
Dissolving to ash, the armor faded and in its place, was a very much surprised Angus. On his knees, much smaller than the armor and with his hand reaching to her, before he took control and rose up, brushing himself off and looking anywhere but her direction.
"....Still time fer finding another. If you want."
And calmly, he strode to pick up his weapons, examining both before transforming them back to storage mode, the Kurgan becoming his sheath and Headhunter returned as he continued.
"We need t'move too. Grimm r'gonna be coming."
They always did, whenever he took that form.
@Hospes
@Gummi Bunnies @Demmy
[fieldbox=Tiara Pendragon, Aqua, solid]
A lone figure could be seen traversing the vast forestland surrounding Ashea's Huntsman Academy, Eden. Clothed in a shabby brown robe, one would not be able to determine the figure's appearance or gender until they got close to it. Though by the pressure it exerted by its mere presence alone, it'd be foolish to approach an entity wrapped not just by the cloak concealing its appearance, but by the mystery surrounding this person's existence... if one could call it a person anyways.
However, even with the mystery surrounding it be shrouded like its appearance, there was no mistaking why it was in this neck of the woods. After all, nobody would dare try to enter these woods unless they wanted to go to the Hunter Academy the lies within. And those with similar intentions stated above couldn't infiltrate the academy through normal means.
The mysterious person would have continued on its route towards the academy had it not been for the loud crashing noises coming from nearby. In an effort to determine the source of the sound even better, the cloaked figure placed a hand over the hood covering its head and removed it, revealing... fox ears?
You heard that right, our mysterious cloaked person is actually a teen-aged fox-girl faunus, or at least had the appearance of one. She looked just like about any ordinary faunus girl her age, sporting flowing white hair, amber eyes, fluffy black and white fox ears, and donning a dress similar to a sailor uniform, there was no reason to suspect the girl whatsoever... aside from her presence alone in a grimm-infested forest and the deadly weapon strapped to her back.
"Tch... a fight? Here? I thought I was supposed to be alone in these woods, you damn loli." She grumbled at a microphone disguised as one of her uniform's buttons.
"Hey, I already arranged all those files and credentials proving you're a legitimate professor but nooo.... You decided that you wanted to become a student, AT THE LAST MINUTE! Do you have any idea how hard it is to fake documents nowadays?" The angry voice of what sounded like a girl that's barely in middle school responded from the other end of the line of the earpiece the faunus was wearing. "Well everything's digital now, surprisingly, so it was quite easy to hack but that's not the point! I already have enough stuff to deal with here in Atlas so I don't need you to add to my stress levels. And since you "got admitted at the last minute", you missed the damn aerial transports so you have no right to complain to me about anything."
"Alright, alright. Calm your flat chests. Just tell me why there are people here. Nobody normally comes through these woods, right?" the white haired fox-faunus
After a heavy sigh, the girl from the other end of the line spoke once more, desperately trying to calm her voice.
"I intercepted a broadcast from the airships. It seems the headmaster chucked his students into these forest. Same shit, different academy. Looks like all the headmasters have a knack for making initiation tests a living hell for the poor suckers. Anyways, there are multiple objectives. First, find a partner which will be determined by the first person you make eye contact with, provided they didn't already have a partner of course. Second, you and your partner must retrieve a pair of tokens from an altar. There are two in each altar. Which brings us to the last objective. Get to Eden, at the center of this forest, preferably not in a body bag. I hope you're listening. Cuz I ain't explaining that shit again."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks a lot, Corona." The faunus replied as she smiled wryly.
"Good luck on being a kid again, Tiara. I know for a fact none of us four had a proper childhood experience anyway. I'll tell the others that you've already arrived in Eden. Corona, out." the girl named Corona replied in a bored tone before disconnecting the connection.
With a sigh, the girl named Tiara decided to make a detour towards the source of the loud crashes. Best case scenario, she manages to find a partner. Worst case scenario, she gets to beat up a couple of grimm. Upon arriving at the source of the noise, however, all she saw was complete chaos. A dark-skinned girl was seemingly moving at blinding speeds while fighting a Deathstalker in close range to no avail. A fellow faunus was providing ranged support by shooting arrows at the arthropod-grimm, one of which froze the stinger of the damn thing on contact but that seemed to have only pissed off the grimm as it was now skittering towards him. And then, there was a blonde guy that looked more like a proper knight than Tiara was right now, just gawking at the scene.
She was about to give him a piece of his mind, when she suddenly spotted something strange. The blonde boy's armor and weapon, eerily looked familiar. Those couldn't be the same set, right? If they were, then there could only be one explanation. Though Tiara decided to find out more about the blonde huntsman-in-training's equipment for another day.
"Hey, you. Look alive! We're in the middle of a battlefield here. Get moving, or get out of the way. Either help us take that thing down or stay out of the way. Either way, make yourself useful!" Tiara barked angrily before gripping her sword.
After heaving a deep breath, she focused her semblance on her legs before she shot up towards the Deathstalker like a bullet. While practically flying towards the giant, monstrous scorpion, she looked towards Mason and gave him a wink while smiling smugly at him. Afterwards, she retrieved Hexcalibur from its sheathe and gripped it tightly before single-handedly parrying a crushing attack from its pincer that should have been directed to Mason. The magic sword of promised victory had not seen combat for many years, and right now, Tiara was determined to deliver victory to these young students, or at least help them reach that conclusion.
[/fieldbox]
[fieldbox= Aelius Cedomir, Gold, solid]
Ael observed Hazel cockily try to bring down the Deathstalker. Emphasis on the word, try. He knew from the start that an initiate wouldn't have any chance of defeating a Deathstalker single-handedly. Judging from the way she lashed out at him earlier, it was clear that the brown-haired tsundere candidate wanted to be the heroine of the story. That, or she just had an insatiable desire to kill any grimm she set her eyes on.
Even legitimate Huntsmen and Huntresses would have trouble killing one alone, unless your name is Ingram Pagos. The damn old man once punched a Nevermore in the head, killing it, without using his Semblance!
In any case, there was no way Hazel could ever hope to beat the beast on her own, and even if he did decided to help, even he was not confident they'd beat the Deathstalker, without him overtaxing his Semblance. He was aware Hazel would be visibly upset if he forcibly removed her from the battle but he'd rather have an upset tsundere than a dead one. Besides, wouldn't she turn more into a tsundere when she gets upset? Hazel lives, and Ael gets one step closer to having a tsundere for a partner. It's a win-win situation!
Fortunately for Hazel, who appeared to already showing signs of fatigue, and unfortunately for Ael, who was now daydreaming of Hazel spouting lines like "I didn't cook breakfast just for you or anything, idiot. I just made a bit too much and I didn't want them to go to waste so I'm letting you have some.", a certain Wolf-faunus arrived, and didn't hesitate to help out hazel by shooting arrows at the giant scorpion. One of it hit the creature's stinger, freezing it instantly. Well, with that little display, Mason looked more like the knight in shining armor than the one wearing the actual armor.
Finally, another faunus, this time a female, appeared out of nowhere, suddenly lectured him about being useful, then joined the fray, saving the wolf faunus from earlier from being pummeled by one of the Deathstalker's pincers by parrying it.
With two new people already engaged in combat with the Deathstalker, it certainly looked like Ael and Hazel no longer needed to find help. With 3 people fighting the damned thing in close combat, and one of them providing ranged support, Ael decided that the odds were now in their favor.
After an exasperated sigh, the blonde knight grinned from ear to ear as power coursed through his body. His eye changed from the usual golden eyes turned a shade of green indicating the activation of his semblance. Warmth, and flames radiated from his body as he became a living conduit of the sun's power. And in a manner similar to how Tiara started towards the beast, Ael shot towards the Deathstalker like a flaming cannonball approaching its target.
The grimm, meanwhile had set its eyes once again on an exhausted Hazel, launching its other pincer towards her despite Tiara's attempts of keeping it at bay. The girl would have taken a direct hit from the oncoming pincer attack. Heck, she may have already closed her eyes, accepting her end at this point. Whatever the case, she would hear a loud clang as the pincer collided against metal. And once she focused her eyes in front of her, she would see Aelius and Tiara parrying both pincers at the same time.
"See, this is why you need to be aware of your limits. We're just students, you know. We're not ready yet to face grimm of this caliber. At least not on our own. Alone, neither of us could beat this thing no matter how hard we try. But together, we are stronger. United, we can overcome even the largest and most fearsome of obstacles, and the harshest challenges that could come our way. I don't know what sort of issues you may have with teamwork but you should learn to let go of that sooner or later. Because whether you like it or not, you have me now. And whether you like it or not, I won't hesitate to save you and protect you when you're in trouble. I'd appreciate it if you'd be able to do the same... preferably tonight, at dusk." Ael told Hazel in a calm yet stern voice as he looked her straight in the eyes. He was having no trouble repelling the grimm's attacks as he did this.
"Now, I believe we can start being partners by telling each other our names. I'm Aelius Cedomir, Ael for short. It's nice to meet you..."
Ael intentionally left his sentence open for Hazel to insert a reply. He figured that this method, coupled by what he said earlier, would be key to getting dark-skinned brunette to cooperate with him. Or at least tell him her name. Whatever the case, the two needed to get their act together now as it will take all four of them to take down this creature of grimm.
@york @Mason Moretti
[/fieldbox]
