Beacon Academy

Raishun and Alisa didn't have to walk for long before the amount of trees surrounding them began to dwindle, signaling to them that their destination was close. Another minute of walking, and before the pair lay Beacon Academy.

"Woah, I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore." Raishun muttered under his breath.

The academy resembled a college campus, if it were years in the future. Large airships floated around what he assumed to be docking bays, where droves of students rushed out towards tall buildings that dotted the campus. What stood out to him the most was the large castle looking spire that stood in the middle of campus, and reached so high into the sky to call it a skyscraper would be an understatement.

He was so enraptured at the campus that he didn't notice Alisa staring at his awestruck face until she playfully slugged him in the shoulder with a giggle.

"What's the matter, Grimm got your tongue?"

"Huh? N-no, I'm fine. The campus just looks a lot prettier in person don't you think?"

"Hmm. Yeah, you've got a point." She smiled, and casually rested her rifle across her shoulders. "Anyways, this concludes our little tour through the forest. I've gotta go make sure the rest of my stuff made it here in one piece."

Turning away from him, she started walking in the direction of one of the many buildings. "Try to find your weapon before the entrance exam, otherwise I really will charge ya an arm and a leg for my knife."

He waved goodbye to her, though he doubted she saw it with her back turned to him. All the talk of semblances, auras, and the monster they had run into frightened him. He really was in another world, one where he could be killed by monsters or huntsmen. As to how he ended up here, did he die when he was attacked before, or was he transported? The thought of his death shook him to the core, and he could feel his heart begin to beat through his chest. Shaken and unsure of where to go, he simply followed a large horde of students into a large, and very crowded ballroom. All it took was one look at the messy labyrinth of sleeping bags to tell him they would be spending the night there.

"Home sweet home…" He muttered, as he leaned back against one of the many pillars that filled the hall. The moment he did, the raw fear he had felt throughout his excursion caught up with him, causing his eyes to widen in shock. Reaching a hand up to rub his tired eyes, he was surprised to find that he couldn't stop it from shaking. Taken aback, he gripped his wrist tightly to keep himself still, "Heh, looks like I didn't make it out unscathed after all." His stomach growled loudly, as if agreeing with his previous statement.

He chuckled wryly, his head leaning back as he prepared himself for a night of restless sleep. A soft and sudden pressure on his lap forced him to open his eyes, where he saw a small loaf of bread sitting there. He quickly grasped it tightly in his hands and looked up towards the heavens with a cartoonish stream of tears running down his face, "Thanks god!! I promise you my first born son in return for this-"

"You're most welcome, although my name isn't god."

Startled, he turned to look at the direction where the voice came from, and was surprised to see a petite white haired girl standing beside him. Her fair skin shone in the dim ballroom light in such a way that it reminded him of the princesses he had seen on TV. Though he had a feeling if he said so out loud she would be less than pleased.

"Are you aware that it's not polite to stare?" She huffed in a high pitched voice. Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned her head away with an upturned frown. "My you really are a rude one, I didn't even receive a thank you for my troubles."

"Oh! Thank you very much!" He smiled gratefully before tearing into the bread. "I'm, uh, sorry for before. It's been a long day." He spoke between bites. Within a few seconds, the hefty loaf of bread had been devoured.

"Man that really hit the spot," He looked up at her with a bright smile, and tapped his chest with his fist. "Hey let's be friends! My name's Raishun, if you ever need a hand with something then feel free to give me a call!"

"Raishun… Consider yourself lucky that I, Laura Izuna, have taken pity on you. I accept your friendship, and your thanks for my bread." She pridefully puffed out her nearly non-existent chest , and grinned down at him smugly. "Feel free to remember this day for the rest of your life."

He stared at her with a confused look on his face, Alisa seemed to joke about being famous but this girl acted like it. "She must be important." He thought, "I should play it safe and be honest."

"Izuna? Sorry but I've never heard that name before." An apologetic smile formed on his face, "Am I supposed to know who you are?"

She stared back at him blankly for a moment, as if in shock. Then a wide smile appeared on her face, quickly followed by tears. "No, I suppose not."

"Huh!?" H-Hey wait a minute, why are you crying!?!" Quickly rising to his feet, the blue-haired boy began fuss over her with a worried expression. "Is it because of the bread? It's the bread isn't it! Don't worry I'll get you one later okay, just please stop crying!"

Laura shook her head, and began to dab at her tears with a handkerchief she had pulled from her sleeve, "There's no need for that, these are tears of joy. Your words have warmed my heart."

After a few tender moments, she was able to regain her composure. "I believe it's getting late, I should take my leave." She flashed him a dazzling smile, "I wish you the best of luck in the entrance exams Raishun."

Raishun waved goodbye to her with a dumbfounded expression as she vanished into the crowd. [She certainly was a weird girl...] Returning to his place on the pillar, he leaned his head back against the cool marble in an attempt to sleep, though he knew it wouldn't come to him.

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"Hey!... Hey wake up!"

Raishun felt something slam against his shoulder twice, forcing him to slowly open his eyes. "What the hell…?"

Before him was a tall boy, with long wavy brown hair. His eyes, while slightly hidden under his cap, narrowed as he pulled his hand back to hit him in the shoulder again.

"I'm up, I'm up!" Raishun groaned, quickly rising to his feet and wiping a strand of drool from his mouth to help prove his point.

"Good. If you slept any longer we would've missed the entrance exam." The boy roughly grabbed him by the wrist, and began to drag him along through the halls. "I don't understand how you missed the damned wake up call, the thing was so loud I'm pretty sure some of the students went deaf."

Thoughts of his restless night flashed through Raishun's head, making him flash a nervous smile. "I'm a really heavy sleeper. But that's not the problem right now, who are you and where are we going?"

The boy pushed his way through a door and began to run across the campus field with his hand still grabbing tightly to Raishun's wrist. "To the entrance exam obviously. We're probably missing some instructions right now because of you!"

"The entrance exams!? Wait a minute, I don't have my weapon on me! Or a pencil, or some snacks to eat while I take it so I don't lose focus!"

"Not my problem. She wanted to make sure you made it on time, all I do is follow orders"

After running for a short while, they arrived at a large cliff overlooking a large forest. A large mass of students was lined up along the cliff's edge, each one stood on an identical circular metal pad. The boy shoved Raishun onto one of the pads, then got on his own before pulling free a device similar to the one Alisa had used , and raising it to his ear.

"I don't know why you wanted him, but I've got him here now…" He sighed, and readjusted the hat on his head. "Yes I do need to know why you wanted him, I'm your cousin and the one taking care of you... He doesn't look too impressive, what did he bribe you with to make you bring him here… Can I--No…? Fine, good luck out there."

The boy snapped the device shut with a heavy sigh, and turned his attention to a white haired man walking towards them.

"This task will help us evaluate your current level as a hunter in training. You are to make your way through this forest, and find the relics located in the ruins. Take one, and make your way back to this cliff, or one of the various extraction points located throughout the grounds." The man raised a mug to his lips and took a small sip, his cane tapping rhythmically on the ground as he walked. "But fret not, you will have an ally to help you face the dangers ahead. The first person who you make eye contact with will be assigned as your partner for the rest of your time at Beacon Academy."

He stopped abruptly, his eyes examined the line of students thoughtfully. "Now, show me all that you have learned… BEGIN!" With a strong tap of his cane on the ground, students began to launch one by one into the forest below.

"Uh… I don't think they had a parachute…" Raishun said nervously. Looking to the boy beside him, he flashed a worried smile, "There wouldn't happen to be one really big foam pit to land in would there?"

"Of course there is… at the nearest McGronalds play place that is." The boy scoffed. He crouched his body down, preparing for his own launch as the amount of students left on the cliff grew shorter by the second. "Just shut up and use your aura."

"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine." He grumbled in annoyance. Copying the boys stance, he tried to prepare for his own launch, though it was difficult due to the shaking of his knees.

"Please, calm yourself Mr. Alenko, there's nothing to fear." The white haired man reached out and patted the frightened boy's shoulder. "I assure you that you'll have no problems with this exam. You managed to arrive here unscathed after all."

Raishun felt his heart sink into his stomach at his words. Slowly, his gaze turned to unfamiliar man. "How do you-"

"Know your name? Please Mr. Alenko there are many students who come to attend this academy. While they may be the best of the best, there are always a few among them who manage to inexplicably catch my attention." The man's eyes took on a dangerous glint, causing a chill to run down his spine. "It seems your turn is fast approaching, I wish you the best of luck in the entrance exam."

Raishun's thoughts immediately returned to the white-haired girl he had met last night. [She said the same thing.] He thought, [Could they be related? They have the same hair color… and they talk the same way too.]

He opened his mouth to question the man, but a loud click from below him stopped him in his tracks. "Oh shi- WAAAAAHH!!!" He felt air quickly rush past him, as he plummeted into the emerald colored forest below. "WHAT DID I DO TO GET MYSELF IN THIS MESS!!!"