Oh, Gods and Great Ones above, both lands, sea, and the cosmos, please answer my plea...
Which one among you guys I've angered?! She cursed her luck, wondering how she had managed to make such a mess of things on her very first day at Beacon.
Stumbling back to her feet, Ruby quickly bowed and blurted out an apology to the Schnee heiress. "Sorry!"
Weiss retorted sharply, "Sorry? Y-" But her words faltered as she recognized the girl standing before her-the same strange girl from the Bullhead who had annoyed her with her freakish appearance and whose sister had the audacity to accuse her family's company of slavery. Weiss's face twisted in irritation as she yelled, "Y-you again?! Didn't I tell you not to show your face in front of me, ever again?!"
Weiss's frustration only grew as she turned her attention to her Dust-filled briefcases, scattered around Ruby. "Do you have any idea of the damages you could've caused?"
Ruby's heart pounded as she frantically looked around at the fallen briefcases, silently praying that none of them were broken. To her relief, they seemed intact. She quickly picked one up and meekly offered it to Weiss, "Um..."
Weiss immediately snatched the briefcase from Ruby's pale hands, her eyes narrowing as she opened it to check its contents. She inspected the inside with a mix of suspicion and annoyance, ensuring that none of the precious Dust within had been disturbed.
Thankfully, none of the vials filled with various types of Dust inside the briefcase was broken. Weiss, clearly relieved, held the case close and proudly stated, "This is Dust mined and purified from the Schnee Quarry."
Ruby, who had spent her entire life under the tides amongst the Ægirians-her kin-had never heard of the Schnee family or its Dust-related monopolies. Her brief visit to a Dust store the previous day, where she had encountered Roman and his goons, had only piqued her curiosity about what Dust was and how a Dust store worked. So, with genuine confusion, she replied, "Uh... sorry, never heard of it."
Weiss's eyes widened in disbelief, her irritation boiling over. "What?! Are you braindead? Have you been living under a rock this whole time?!"
Ruby cringed slightly at the latter comment, mentally noting, Well, under the tides, actually...
Weiss, still fuming, continued, "How did you even learn those etiquettes, anyway? The last time I saw something similar was during my birthday when some royal elites were invited."
She pulled out one of the vials of Dust-a red-colored one-and waved it around in her hand, emphasizing, "This! Dust! Fire, Water, Lightning, Energy!"
Unfortunately, as she waved the vial, it became apparent that something was amiss. Either the vial had been damaged when Ruby fell on its case, or the person who originally filled it hadn't done a thorough job. Tiny particles of the red Dust began to leak out, carried by the wind toward Ruby. Weiss, engrossed in her explanation, hadn't noticed the Dust escaping, but Ruby instinctively felt something strange as the red particles floated in her direction.
Ruby's nose began to twitch as something tickled it, the sensation growing more uncomfortable by the second. She tried to stifle the sneeze building up inside her, but Weiss was still in the middle of her beration, completely oblivious to the leaking Dust vial she was still waving around.
"Uhhh... ahhhh... uhhh..." Ruby fought against the sneeze, her eyes watering as she struggled to focus on what Weiss was saying.
"Are you even listening to me?!" Weiss snapped, her voice sharp with irritation. She held up the vial once more, unaware that a larger waft of Dust particles was now swirling in the air between them. "Is any of this sinking in?" she demanded, her frustration reaching its peak. "What do you have to say for yourself?!"
But Ruby couldn't respond. She couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Uhhhaaaahhhh-Choooo!"
Ruby sneezed, and the result was catastrophic. The sneeze triggered a massive explosion as the Dust particles in the air reacted. A brilliant flash of light erupted between the two, engulfing them in a cloud of elemental chaos. Ashes, embers, crackling electricity, and swirling snowflakes filled the air, a wild mix of elements from the various Dust types that had been exposed.
The force of the explosion sent the vial in Weiss's hand flying. It clattered away with a loud clank, rolling across the floor until it stopped near a pair of feet belonging to a nearby person, who stopped what she was reading and looked down at it curiously and picked it up.
As the dust and elemental remnants began to settle, both Ruby and Weiss were left covered in soot and remnants of the chaotic blast, their hair and clothes singed and dusted with the remnants of the explosion. Weiss, stunned and furious, could only gape at the mess around her as Ruby blinked through the aftermath, her red eyes widen with a mix of surprise and guilt.
Weiss, her patience completely gone, stomped her foot on the ground in frustration. "Unbelievable!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the hall. "This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!"
Ruby, feeling the weight of her guilt, could only look down meekly, her fingers nervously fiddling together as she stammered, "I'm really, really sorry!" In her panic, she completely forgot the etiquette lessons drilled into her by her Nana, and her voice quivered with genuine regret.
Weiss, still seething, glared at Ruby. "Ugh, you complete dolt! What are you even doing here?!" As she took a closer look at Ruby, noticing her pale skin, silver hair, and striking red eyes, Weiss couldn't help but blurt out, "Ignoring how weird you look, aren't you a little too young to be attending Beacon?!"
Ruby stuttered, her confidence shaken under Weiss's scrutiny. "W-well... I..."
But Weiss cut her off, her frustration boiling over. "Whatever. You should know that this isn't your ordinary combat school." She folded her arms across her chest, her tone dripping with condescension. "It's not just sparring and practice, you know. We're here to fight monsters!" She snapped her eyes away from Ruby, the haughty expression on her face hardening. "So watch where you're going!"
Ruby's temper now starting to flare, retorted, "Hey, I said I was sorry, Princess!"
Before the tension between the two could escalate any further, a third voice interrupted from their side, its tone mature and sweetly gentle, carrying a serene, almost ethereal flair.
"Ahh, so there thee are, little Hunter," the voice said, each words drawn out with a soft, soothing cadence that seemed to calm the air around them.
+++++++++
Ruby's face lit up with joy as she recognized the source of the voice. Without a second thought, she spun around and beamed as she caught sight of the figure on their side.
Meanwhile, Weiss snapped her head towards the voice, suddenly aware of a looming shadow that seemed to cast itself over her. She hesitantly looked forward and was confronted with the sight of a person's lower torso. Their hands, clasped gently together, had an eerie quality-smooth, almost too perfect, and when she looked closer, they were jointed. Like a doll's.
A prosthetic?
Slowly, Weiss raised her gaze, taking in the person's appearance. It was a woman, or... looked like one, yet the figure before her was tall, almost unnaturally so, draped in a long, dark gown that reached the ground.
The skin on her hands and face was as pale as porcelain, smooth and flawless, yet somehow lifeless. Her face, framed by long, soft, ash-blonde hair, bore an expression of serene calmness, She couldn't deny that the person or... thing, in front of her is indeed beautiful, but ghastly.
But her eyes-those glassy, haunting emerald eyes-seemed to pierce straight through Weiss.
It was as though she were staring into the eyes of a ghost. She felt a chill run down her spine and an overwhelming sense that made her felt like she was small in the presence of this... thing?. The woman's ghastly gaze and her unnaturally pale skin, eerily similar to Ruby's, sent a wave of fear washing over Weiss.
"W-who-" Weiss began to stammer, but her words were cut short as Ruby ran towards the woman with a burst of happiness, shouting, "Marie!" Her voice was filled with such affection, almost child-like, that it took Weiss by surprise.
Ruby threw herself at the woman, wrapping her arms around her lower torso. Due to the her significant height, the shorter Ruby could only manage to hug her waist.
Marie, slightly taken aback by Ruby's sudden embrace, stuttered backwards a bit but quickly regained her composure. She giggled softly, the sound delicate and gentle, as she placed one of her cool, ceramic palms on Ruby's head, her touch light and affectionate. "Hello, little Hunter," she spoke in her serene, sweetly gentle tone. "It hath been so long."
As this scene unfolded, nearby onlookers began to whisper among themselves, their voices a mix of curiosity and unease. Some stared in disbelief at the strange, almost otherworldly figure, while others exchanged puzzled glances, wondering who or what this mysterious woman was.
The odd combination of Ruby's childlike joy and the the woman's unsettling presence created an air of confusion, leaving those around them unsure of what to make of the scene.
Weiss stared at Ruby and... Marie, her mind racing with thoughts she didn't dare speak aloud. They look a bit similar, she mused, noting their shared pale complexion and ethereal aura. Is she her relative? But why is she here, then?
As Weiss tried to piece together the connection, a darker thought crept into her mind, slowly festering.
Is she using some underhanded means to get into Beacon?! The very idea made her seethe internally.
Unlike me, Weiss thought bitterly, who had to sacrifice and fight so much to be where I am now.
Meanwhile, Ruby looked up at Marie with unbridled excitement. "Yeah!" she exclaimed, then asked eagerly, "Oh, why are you here, Marie?" and blurted, "And how did you manage to be here, in the Waking World?"
In her mind, Weiss scoffed. Hmph, must be to babysit you, she thought sarcastically. Also, Waking... World? What is she talking about?
But as Marie's glassy eyes shifted toward her, Weiss felt a chill run down her spine. It was as if the Doll had read her thoughts, her cold gaze causing Weiss to shudder involuntarily.
Marie then answered Ruby, her voice calm and sweet, "I have been sent by both your Nana and Anne to be another representative of Ægir as a teacher here."
She continues, "Also, I am currently using a spare doll body that the Good Hunter, once created long ago. I transferred some of my soul and consciousness into it, so while I'm here with you, in this Waking World. I'm still technically tending to the Garden of Hunters and the Old and New Workshop using my main subconscious."
Ruby's eyes widened in surprise, her excitement bubbling over. "Whoa! That's so cool! What are you going to teach here?!"
Weiss, however, was shocked. The person in front of her, Marie, was capable of splitting her soul and consciousness into a doll body. Her mind raced with thoughts—Is this some secret Atlas technology? How did Ruby manage to get a hold of it? Did she stole it?! Or maybe, Is it Marie's own Semblance that allows her to do that? Yet she also cringed at the thought of the process of splitting one's soul and subconsciousness into an inanimate object, which she thought was impossible.
Marie simply raised her hand, placing one delicate porcelain finger against her lips, and winked at Ruby. From Ruby's perspective, the gesture was playful, but to Weiss, who was still frozen in fear, it looked nothing short of terrifying. The Doll's wink, combined with her unsettlingly perfect features, sent another wave of dread through Weiss. She could feel her legs shaking beneath her, barely able to keep her composure.
"It's a secret," Marie whispered mysteriously.
Ruby groaned in playful frustration. "Awww, please, I won't tell anyone!" she promised, then quickly turned to Weiss, pointing at her as she added, "She won't tell anyone! Right, Weiss?!"
Weiss, still too stunned to form any coherent words, could only manage a silent nod. Her eyes remained locked on the Doll, her expression meek and bewildered, as if she were trapped in some nightmarish trance. Despite the fear coursing through her, she couldn't tear her gaze away from Marie, whose presence seemed to fill the air with an almost supernatural intensity.
The Doll giggled softly, a sound that, to Ruby, was comforting and familiar. But to Weiss, it was something far more unsettling. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, a primal shiver of fear running down her spine.
She had never felt so terrified, not even in the presence of her imposing father. This... person, or perhaps even thing, if her suspicions were correct, was terrifying her in a way that reached deep into her mind and heart, shaking her to the core.
Weiss could feel the urge to cry rising within her, a feeling she hadn't felt in years.
Marie, still smiling, looked down at Ruby and said gently as she puts her hands behind Ruby's small back, "I am afraid I still cannot tell you, little Hunter. I am bound by a contract of educational confidentiality with Beacon's Headmaster. This includes not only the curriculum but also what I am to teach, and my scoring systems."
Ruby pouted, clearly disappointed, but Marie's tone remained kind and understanding as she continued, "While the specifics may be debatable, it is a necessary precaution."
She looked into Ruby's eyes, sensing the conflict that had been brewing within her ever since she received the news that she would be attending Beacon two years earlier than the usual age, and that she had nobody she knew in this school except for her sister.
Marie had no intention of either enabling or disabling Ruby's confidence in her abilities. She had already observed Ruby's growth and training as an Abyssal Hunter, watching her perform alongside her family and friends in Ægir and in the Kingdoms and Great City of Yharnam in the Isles of Dreams.
The water mirror, placed by the Good Hunter when they still lived in Terra, long before Ruby was borne, had allowed Marie and the little ones to see Ruby's journey. She concluded that Ruby was worthy of the title of Good Hunter, much like the Good Hunter herself-Anne, Ruby's great-grandmother.
As Marie finished speaking, she looked at Ruby with a warm, almost maternal gaze, her glassy eyes softening slightly. Despite her porcelain-like appearance, there was an unmistakable depth of care in her gaze, one that only Ruby could truly appreciate.
Weiss, on the other hand, was left feeling even more unnerved, her mind reeling from the encounter.
Marie turned her gaze towards Weiss, her eyes drifting down to the small red vial in her porcelain hand. She noticed how Weiss's fearful eyes followed the vial, and she asked gently, "Oh... Is this yours, my lady?"
Weiss gingerly nodded, her fear evident in her trembling.
Marie extended her long, delicate hand, gesturing for Weiss to take it back. "Take care not to lose it," she cautioned, her voice carrying a weight of wisdom, "A Good Hunter must always care for their equipment during the Nights of the Hunt, lest they lose themselves-to Beasts, or by the Bloodlust."
Weiss gingerly reached out, her fingers brushing against Marie's hand as she took the vial. The contact was brief, but it sent a chill down her spine. The Doll's hand was hard, like smooth ceramic, not soft and warm like flesh. As Weiss pocketed the vial, her curiosity got the better of her fear, and she stammered out, "W-what are you?"
Marie's thin smile returned, a gesture that only deepened Weiss's dread. The faint smile seemed to carry an air of something ancient and eerie, far beyond what Weiss could comprehend. And as she looked into Marie's eyes, she felt a strange sensation-something wet, something that made her heart race with humiliation and terror.
And Marie's answer, confirmed her suspicions.
Placing a hand on her chest in a gesture of greeting, Marie answered, "I am a Doll, Lady Weiss. My given name, is Marie. I have been sent to this school by both Luna the Flower, and the Consul of Ægir's Honor Exercitus' will, to look after Ruby and her sister, Yang." She spoke with a grace that felt almost otherworldly, her tone unwavering.
Marie then inclined her head slightly, almost as if in prayer, and added, "I pray that you will be a good friend or acquaintance for Ruby, and achieve your dreams to be a Good Hunter for the days to come."
Weiss was left standing there, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and the lingering dread that came with Marie's presence. She managed a shaky nod, feeling as if she had just been touched by something not of this world.
All the while, Ruby stood nearby, smiling brightly, completely at ease in the company of this eerie yet familiar figure, unaware of the turmoil brewing within Weiss.
The Schnee heiress shakily nodded, her voice trembling. "T-tha-thanks, I-I-I will take that t-to heart, P-Professor Marie!"
She glanced around and noticed the S.D.C. staff members who had been accompanying her. They, too, seemed visibly unsettled by Marie's presence. Weiss caught the eye of one of the staff members, who returned her gaze and gave a subtle nod before signaling his colleagues. They slowly approached the trolley, carefully gathering her suitcases and other baggage, tidying them up as they tried to mask their unease.
Turning back to Marie, Weiss attempted to regain her composure, unaware of the dampness between her legs. "I-I shall take my l-leave, Professor Marie. Th-thank you for your time!" she stammered, before hastily bowing and turning around, walking faster to distance herself from the two. As she hurried away, she could still feel Marie's gaze crawling on the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
Once Weiss felt she was a safe distance away, she finally noticed something was wrong. Her thighs felt wet. "Wh—!" She frantically looked around, relieved to find she was alone. Raising her skirt slightly, her eyes widened, and her face flushed a deep, tomato red as she realized the embarrassing truth.
She had soiled herself...
++++++++++
Ruby watched Weiss walk away, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. She pouted, feeling let down that she couldn't say a proper farewell or express her hope to see her again soon.
She groaned, "Ugh, this is just like my first day at the Schola all over again..."
Marie, noticing her dismay, gently inquired, "By the by, little Hunter, why are you on your lonesome? Where is your sister?"
Ruby sighed and explained, "Yang saw her friends from Signal Academy and decided to hang out with them, leaving me here alone." She groaned, feeling a mix of frustration and abandonment at her sister's actions.
The Doll nodded, though deep down, she understood Yang's intentions. She knew Yang hoped Ruby would make new friends and interact more with these... Land-walkers, perhaps to broaden her perspective and help her grow. Marie responded, "I see. Oh, I must go now, Little Hunter. The faculty members are having a gathering soon."
Ruby snapped her head back in alarm, "Wh-wha—Marie, wait! Don't leave me here! I don't know where to—"
But as she turned around, Marie was already gone. "Go..."
Ruby's heart sank, and she fell to her knees, then slumped onto the ground in a dramatic display of despair. She muttered to herself, "Welcome to Beacon, Ruby..." and closed her eyes, letting the reality of her situation sink in.
A shadow approached Ruby, prompting her to scowl slightly as she opened her red eyes. She was greeted by a hesitant, "Hey..."
Looking up, she saw a boy with messy blond hair, clad in a set of simple white armor with a pumpkin-orange hoodie underneath. He had a kind but slightly awkward smile as he extended a gloved hand toward her. Ruby quickly recognized him as the boy who had a rather unfortunate encounter with his breakfast earlier.
"I'm Jaune," he introduced himself.
Ruby sat up, taking a moment before replying in kind, "Ruby," as she accepted his hand. Jaune helped pull her to her feet, his grip firm but gentle.
As she dusted herself off, Ruby couldn't help but comment, "Aren't you the vomit boy?"
+++++++++
-One explanation from Jaune later,
A short while later, Ruby and Jaune wandered through one of the quieter areas of Beacon Academy, a park perhaps. Jaune was still in the middle of a long-winded explanation about his unfortunate encounter with motion sickness, his face twisted into a scowl as he vented his frustrations.
"All I'm saying is that motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on!" Jaune finished, clearly annoyed that Ruby had labeled him with such a visceral nickname.
Ruby, not wanting to hear any more graphic details—or endure any more scowling from anyone—quickly apologized. "Look, I'm sorry 'Vomit-Boy' was the first thing that came to my mind, okay?"
Jaune shot her a sideways glance. "Oh yeah? Well, what if I called you 'Crater-face'?"
Ruby's eyes widened in protest. "Hey! That explosion was an accident! I didn't know I might have an allergy to Dust!"
Jaune's scowl softened a bit as he realized they were both just having a bit of fun. He then reintroduced himself, this time with a flourish. "Well, the name's Jaune Arc!" He waved his hands dramatically, adding, "Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it!"
Ruby smirked, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Do they?"
Jaune hesitated, then gingerly put his hands together and said, "W-well, they will." He looked down, almost like a lost puppy, and added, "Well, I hope they will... I mean, my mom always says that..." He trailed off awkwardly, waving it away. "Never mind."
Ruby giggled, sensing the awkwardness, and decided to change the topic. "Hmm, so I got this thing," she said, pulling out her Crescent Rose from behind her hip. With a swift motion, she unfurled it into its full scythe form and stabbed it into the ground. The red, blue, black, and silver metal gleamed in the light, catching Jaune by surprise.
"Whoa!" Jaune exclaimed, looking at the ridiculously large weapon, especially considering Ruby's small stature. "Is that a scythe?!"
Ruby smirked proudly. "It's also a customizable, high-impact velocity sniper rifle," she explained, hefting it up and racking a bolt on the scythe's body, which also featured a scope near the handle.
"A wha-?" Jaune stuttered, struggling to process the information.
Ruby deadpanned, "It's also a gun."
Finally connecting the dots, Jaune let out an impressed, "Oh. That's cool!"
With her inner weapons enthusiast taking over, Ruby quickly asked, "What about yours?"
"Oh-uh, I got this sword," Jaune stammered, pulling out his weapon. Crocea Mors was a classic arming sword with a broad, slightly tapered blade that gleamed in the light. The sword had an intricate hilt and crossguard, which, while not as advanced as the weapons used by Abyssal Hunters like her Quiet Aunt or the trick weapons crafted by her great-grandmother, still impressed Ruby with its craftsmanship.
"Ooooooh!" Ruby marveled, clearly appreciating the sword's quality.
Encouraged by her enthusiasm, Jaune smiled and continued, pulling out the scabbard from his side. With a quick motion, he transformed it into a shield. The shield was sturdy, pentagon shaped with some curves, with a simple yet practical design. It featured a pair of golden crescent shaped half circles on top one another and was edged with reinforced gilded metal, making it a reliable defensive tool.
"Yeah, I've got a shield too!" Jaune added, beaming with pride.
Ruby's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she excitedly asked, "So what do they do?" She reached out to touch Jaune's shield, not realizing that her touch accidentally triggered the mechanism. The shield suddenly started to transform back into its scabbard form, causing Jaune to throw it up in surprise. He fumbled with it for a moment before catching it and keeping the shield intact.
He smiled awkwardly and explained, "Well... the shield gets smaller..." Jaune pressed a button, and the shield smoothly transformed back into its scabbard form. "So... when I get tired of carrying it..." He hooked the scabbard back onto his belt. "I can just put it away."
Ruby tilted her head and commented, "But, wouldn't it weigh the same?"
Jaune's smile faltered slightly as he gingerly admitted, "Y-yeah, it does."
Noticing his disappointment, Ruby quickly tried to cheer him up. "Hey, the weight of the shield will help you train your muscles and improve your reaction time to defend against attacks!" she encouraged, her tone uplifting.
Jaune's expression brightened as his hopes rose again. "You think so?"
Ruby nodded enthusiastically. She then held out her scythe proudly. "Well, I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons. It runs in the family, so I guess me and my great-grandmother did go a little overboard with her design," she said with a playful grin, referring to her Crescent Rose.
Jaune's eyes widened in surprise as he pointed at Crescent Rose. "Wait-what?! You and your great-grandmother made that?!"
Ruby nodded confidently. "Yep! Gran-gran and I designed it," she explained, then pointed at herself with pride. "But I made it with my own hands."
She added with a touch of pride, "All students in my schola forge their own weapons. But most of them don't have any transforming or trick mechanisms like mine. They're similar to your sword, but with different shapes, materials, and craftsmanship."
At the mention of "schola," Jaune raised an eyebrow and thought to himself, Schola? Is that another name for school? I mean, they sound the same...
But before he could dwell on it, Ruby cut through his thoughts.
"So, did you make yours?" she asked, curious about his weapon's origins.
Jaune shook his head, looking down at the sword in his hand with a hint of sadness. "No, it's um... it's a hand-me-down," he sighed. "My great-grandfather used it to fight in the war."
Ruby's eyes widened in awe. "Whoa! So it's a family heirloom then? That's so cool and romantic, you know." She giggled, her enthusiasm infectious. "Well, I like it. My scythe's blade also used the metal from my gran-gran's mentor's weapon. She said that if he were alive, he'd want it to be used rather than left to grow rusty, no matter how much it got changed."
She continued, "Also, not many Land-walkers I've seen appreciate the classics like you do these days."
Jaune slid the sword back into its scabbard and replied gingerly, "Y-Yeah, the classics..." But as he processed Ruby's words, one term caught his attention. "Wait, Land-walkers?" he mumbled to himself, puzzled by the unfamiliar term.
Before he could ask, Ruby started walking ahead. "So, why did you help me out back there, in the courtyard?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
Jaune shook off his thoughts for the moment and shrugged. "Eh, why not? My mom always says, 'Strangers are just friends we haven't met yet.'"
Ruby suddenly came to a stop, looking around as she realized something was off. The area around them was completely deserted, with only trees, green foliage, and a pool nearby. "Hmmm... Hey, uh... where are we going?" she asked, a slight hint of concern in her voice.
Jaune blinked, looking just as confused as she did. "Oh, I dunno, I was following you."
Uh oh...