VNCA

CH. 4

The morning came with the sun beginning its ascent over the horizon. The students were all awoken early that morning, told to put away the bed rolls, get redressed, get breakfast, and be prepared by 8 at the cliffs overlooking the Emerald Forest. The dewy morning air clung to them all as they trekked up the hill, but even through the wet of the morning, there was an electricity in the air. Many students were trying to hype themselves up to face down the nerves, others kept quiet, locked in their own heads where they could find some semblance of peace while it lasted. Some were trying to come up with plans right then, to make sure they ended up on a team together, trying to think of things like code words and code names. All the things happening, Coby hadn't given thought to teams. How would they be sorted? Would this test decide it?
His hand reached down for a second to check his holster dangling from his hip, making sure that weight sitting in it wasn't just his mind. As soon as he felt his fingers graze the handle of his revolver, he dug his other hand to the leather hip pouch that was tightened to his other hip. As soon as he had that peace of mind that he wasn't missing anything, he took a breath and looked around again. Was Nigel around? Artemis? He clicked his tongue a few times, soundwaves lighting up the area around him, trying to get a better view, but only saw unfamiliar heads and faces. Maybe he'd see them during the test? He could only hope.
When the students all came to the top of the hill, they were met with Headmaster Pine and Professor Goodwitch, both standing at the edge of the cliffs overlooking the verdant, beautiful forest. In one hand, the Headmaster was holding a warm cocoa, still fresh with steam whisping into the air. His attention was out over the Emerald Forest, as though making sure every little tree, every flying bird, every skittering leaf was in perfect place. The wind brushed softly against the students and staff as they all came to recognize eachother, and Headmaster Pine stepped forward. Miss Goodwitch, holding a hardlight tablet between her fingers, flicked her eyed between it and the crowd of kids.
"Good morning students," welcomed the Headmaster with a tone almost as warm as his beverage. "I hope you all slept well, because today will be your first test here at Beacon. At each Huntsman Academy, it is tradition that all students be put through a rigorous test of survivability and teamwork on their first day. Here, you will be sent to the Emerald Forest. Your mission is simple: you will fight through until you come upon a cave system at the other end of the forest. In those caves, you will acquire a special totem. Grab it, and return to these cliffs before day's end."
He stopped, taking a drink of the cocoa. When he came back up for air though, his voice was as cold as ice. "Be warned though, the forest crawls with creatures of many shapes and sizes, most of which would not hesitate to treat you as prey. You will be monitored by teachers and staff, but you will, essentially, be on your own. Hesitation to act will be," he paused, closing his eyes as though to prepare to use the words that everyone already know was coming: "Fatal," he said as his eyes opened. A cold finger guided the chill down the spines of many students. Stomachs dropped with new found weight, and one could feel the anxiety spike in the air. "However," the Headmaster spoke like he was trying to give a soft glimmer of hope. "You will not have to do it alone."
"That brings us to teams," Miss Goodwitch spoke up with her arm cradling the tablet. "As all of you may be aware of right now, questions and rumors about team assignments have been floating around. We will clear the air here: this exam will be where you forge your alliances with your teammates. These people will be the three others you spend your days with here for the rest of your time at Beacon. There will be no chance of do-overs, so it will be in your best interest to ensure you match well with other students."
"That being said," Headmaster Pine smiled softly to professor Goodwitch, before turning his attention back to the children. "In keeping with tradition here at Beacon Academy, the first students you lock eyes will will be your teammates for the rest of your years here." His smile was almost as if he took joy in seeing so many people start to worry. Many of the students exchanged looks of disbelief, and quiet muttering webbed between them.
"Are there any questions?" Miss Goodwitch asked. One student with a strange accent asked how they would all be getting down to the forest, stating that, "I don't know about you but I'm not seein' any walkways down there."
"Oh, you wont be walking," the huntress shook her head. Headmaster Pines swept his arm to the ground, gesturing to a line of metal plates that lined the end of the cliff. "It is also a tradition here at Beacon that, as the first part of your first exam, you'll be working on your landing strategy to get to the forest."
Landing strategy?? The words went through Coby's head like a bullet, bouncing around in his head and almost dizzying him with anxiety. He had prepared for nearly anything else, but this?? Flying through the air to try and land?? That would be hard enough if he could see! He looked around again, trying to see if he could find his friends for some kind of reassurance Were they just as worried as him about this? Did they have some kind of plan?
"Now, line up, one column of students behind each plate, single-file."
The kids did as Miss Goodwitch ordered, readying themselves as they stepped onto the metal pads, before—FU-SHOOM! The burst of air from under the plate propelled it up, sending the student flying through the air from the cliff. As the lines became shorter and shorter, the bat faunus was able to finally find Nigel, stepping up to the plate in another line. He looked as stone-faced as he was when they first met, stone-faced, and ready. When he was sent skyward, Coby felt his heart leap with fear. When he was only a few steps away from the plate, he looked over to where the teachers were.
"Hey, so, is there any other way down that doesn't include falling??" he asked, growing more nervous with each burst of the launching plates. He saw the headmaster shake his head.
"We apologize mister," Miss Goodwitch started, and stopped to see her tablet. "Braye," she continued, "but no."
"Oh crap," Coby muttered, and turned to look to the plate as though it were an awaiting execution. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he took another step forward, and heard a short, soft, shrill whistle. Coby's ears locked to where the noise came from, and he looked over, seeing Artemis giving him a reassuring look along with a thumbs up. He felt the weight in his stomach lighten just a bit, until the rush of air hit him from the student in front of him suddenly sent flying forward. Slowly, Coby stepped forward, going from the soft grass to the hard metal. He looked to his left, where the others were getting ready, and felt the system whirr under his feet. He took a breath, readying for the next moment as he tried to keep himself from being too scared. No, no, he couldn't be scared of this if he was going to be a team leader. No, this, this is just something he'd have to overcome, like Ruby Rose did, or his father, or any other great Huntsman or Huntress. He heard his uncle whispering in the back of his mind again: "Steady, kid, you got this." And for a second, he really did feel like he had it. 
When he was finally sent flying, Artemis heard Coby let out a terrified scream through the air as he tried to not tumble head-over-foot. Her eyes went from the flying bat faunus to the plates that she was only a few students behind. She remembered her breathing-control her father had taught her. Her eyes closed, and she forced her lungs at her command, through her nose, hole it for two seconds, and out through her mouth. Just as she felt her heart finally come to a calm pace, she heard the sound of a heavy clicking noise. When she turned her head to investigate, she saw another student, dressed in a long, gray coat and hat, checking over a heavy-looking weapon, almost looking like some kind of grenade launcher.
"Looks like you're more than ready," she commented, getting the attention of the other student. He nodded, and aimed the weapon to the off, arced up in the air.
"Any sorry strunz wanna mess with me, they'll be getting cleaned up with a mopeen, ya feel me?" he smirked. Artemis raised a brow and her smile went crooked for a second, like she was trying to decipher another language mixed with English.
"Um, I think so?" she answered uneasily as her eyes scanned over the heavy weapon that swung low in the other one's hands. It certainly wasn't something she'd want to use, let alone even be able to lift well, from the looks of it. She reached back over her shoulder, taking her rifle from the leather holster on her back and breaking open the breech. The canister's of air and fire Dust were fully loaded, and locked back when her rifle was closed with a satisfying click. There was a sudden rush of air at her front, and she looked up and holstered the rifle back as the platform reset itself. It clacked when her metal boot-strapped claws scrapped against it, and she readied for what came next. She reached behind her head, and pulled up the leafy hood.
When she went flying, the young man pulled the tip of his hat down, shielding his eyes from the kick-up of dirty air and debris that came up. When it was his turn, he clicked the button on the grip of his weapon, changing the explosive mortar launcher to its sledgehammer form. The heavy weapon rested on his shoulders as he stepped to the plate. His eyes tracked down to the mark that was looped through the side of his coat, and the shattered volcano stitched onto it. The words still rung in his ears from all those days ago.
"You're leaving soon for the Huntsman Academy," his mother said in that cool, cold tone that she always had.
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Vilano was standing there in his mother's study, but it may have well been her very own throne room. She was there, sitting at the soft leather seat away from the door, dressed in her usual finery; a sleek, silken, pearly-white dress with a sandy feather boa resting on her arms. Her hand gently swished around a glass of Henac Dolce red wine as she looked out the bay window to the grounds below.
"What? Is this because of what happened?" Vilano asked as he knelt there before her. His hands were folded in front of him, resting on his knee. His face screamed of confusion. "Ma, you know those disgraziats packed a whole car full of those robots, none of us knew about 'em! I was--"
He was silenced with a slow, raised hand, and Vilano felt as though he was about to breathe out steam through his nose.
"I know you were taken off guard, Vilano, we all were. I'm not blaming you for that. However, it showed me how ill-prepared you are. It's probably my fault," the mother said as she closed her eyes, like she were trying to hide her own shame from herself. She opened them again after chasing that feeling away with a gulp of wine. "I've kept you here, and there's only so much you can learn."
"I only need the Family, Ma. I dont need no mooks that dont know how we work; how I work."
"Dont," the mother started, her voice more stern at first, before smoothing out, "be so cabbadost, Vilano. If they dont know the Family, teach them." She turned her head to look to her son this time. Even though there was a smile, it was still as cold as freezing rain. "You're my son, be the flag-holder for our Family. I know you can do it."
Vilano felt his own breath chill as he calmed, and he nodded. "I'll do my best, Ma."
"I know you will," she said as she lifted her hand. Sitting on her finger was a bright ruby stone nested in a gold band. Vilano stood up, gently took his mother's hand in his, and kissed the ring. Her hand then rose, caressing his cheek as he finished rising. "Make the Family proud."
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The machine fired, and he was sent flying through the air with the last of the students.