Chapter 2 - Ozpin's speech

The three girls began walking together across the expansive courtyard of Beacon Academy, the soft hum of chatter and the clatter of luggage serving as a backdrop to their journey. Ruby had insisted on leading the way at first, only to realize she had no idea where the auditorium was. Blake and Weiss, despite their composed exteriors, didn't seem to have much better luck either.

"Well, this is embarrassing," Ruby mumbled, clutching her scythe case tightly against her shoulder. "I thought I saw a map earlier, but everything just looks so... big!"

"It is quite grand," Blake agreed, her amber eyes sweeping across the towering spires and immaculately landscaped grounds. "I've read about Beacon Academy in books, but seeing it in person... it's even more impressive."

Ruby nodded enthusiastically, her face lighting up. "Right? It's so cool! I mean, just look at those buildings! And the design—it's like something out of a fairytale!"

Blake's lips curved into a small smile, her amusement clear. "Fairytale? That's one way to put it."

Ruby spun to face Weiss, her silver eyes sparkling with excitement. "What about you, Weiss? Isn't this amazing?"

Weiss walked a few steps ahead, her hands folded neatly behind her back. Her gaze roamed over the academy's impressive architecture, the bustling students, and the pristine walkways. Outwardly, her expression remained composed, though her tone carried a trace of detached amusement as she replied, "It is certainly well-built, though I wouldn't call it extraordinary."

Ruby blinked, tilting her head. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Blake raised an eyebrow, curious about Weiss's lukewarm response as well.

Weiss gave a soft chuckle, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. In her mind, she couldn't help but scoff. 'Grand? Perhaps by this world's standards. But compared to the luxury I've seen in my past life... this is child's play'. The lavish skyscrapers and breathtaking innovations of her previous life—albeit a world of mundane normalcy without magic or monsters—were still leagues ahead in her eyes. Yet she knew better than to voice such thoughts openly.

"It's just that," Weiss continued, choosing her words carefully, "I've been exposed to... quite a few extravagant places in my life. Beacon is impressive, of course, but I suppose I'm harder to impress than most."

Ruby furrowed her brows, pouting slightly. "Huh... I guess that makes sense. You are Weiss Schnee and all. Probably used to fancy castles and stuff..."

Weiss smirked, amused by Ruby's naivety. "Something like that."

Before Ruby could press further, Weiss's gaze shifted, catching sight of the large, crimson case slung over Ruby's shoulder. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed with curiosity, and she gestured toward it. "Ruby, if I may ask, is that your weapon?"

Ruby immediately perked up, her pout replaced with a wide, toothy grin. She swung the case off her shoulder and hugged it close to her chest, practically bouncing on her toes. "Oh, this? This is Crescent Rose! She's my baby!"

"Your... baby?" Weiss echoed, quirking an eyebrow.

Blake watched with mild amusement as Ruby carefully unlatched the case, revealing the intricate weapon inside. As Ruby pulled it out, Crescent Rose unfolded with a satisfying clink and a faint hum, transforming seamlessly into its full scythe form. The massive blade gleamed under the sunlight, its craftsmanship evident even to an untrained eye.

"Ta-da!" Ruby exclaimed, holding Crescent Rose with pride. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Weiss blinked, genuinely impressed despite herself. "Did you buy this, or did you build it yourself?"

Ruby nodded enthusiastically, a faint blush of pride creeping onto her cheeks. "I built it all from scratch! Crescent Rose is a customizable, high-impact sniper rifle that can transform into a scythe. I spent months designing and building her. And trust me, I've trained like crazy to master her!"

Blake stepped closer, her amber eyes carefully examining the weapon. "A sniper rifle... that transforms into a scythe?" she murmured, intrigued. "That's... unique."

Ruby grinned, holding Crescent Rose out for them to see more closely. "She's not just unique—she's awesome! Watch this!" With a flick of her wrist, Ruby spun Crescent Rose effortlessly, the weapon transforming fluidly between its scythe and rifle forms. The movements were smooth and practiced, a clear testament to Ruby's skill and familiarity with her creation.

Weiss found herself nodding in approval, despite her initial doubts. "Impressive," she admitted. "Your design is innovative, and your handling suggests you've spent considerable time training with it. I didn't expect this from someone your age."

Ruby beamed at the praise, her silver eyes sparkling. "Thanks, Weiss!"

Blake smiled faintly. "You weren't kidding when you said you were good with your scythe," she remarked. "Though now I'm curious—how did you even come up with an idea like this?"

Ruby grinned, her enthusiasm spilling over. "Well, my uncle's a scythe user too! He's the one who trained me. His weapon's amazing, but I wanted something that suited me better—so I designed Crescent Rose. It's versatile, combining close combat and long-range firepower. Plus, scythes are just... really cool, don't you think?"

Blake chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement. "You've definitely set a high bar for weapons. Though, since we're on the topic..." She reached for the weapon on her back and unsheathed it, revealing a sleek, black-and-white blade. "This is Gambol Shroud."

Ruby's eyes widened as Blake demonstrated its transformation. The blade shifted fluidly between a cleaver, a sword, and a semi-automatic pistol. Blake then extended the ribbon attached to the hilt, showing how it could turn the weapon into a sickle.

"Whoa..." Ruby whispered, her jaw practically hitting the ground. "That's so cool! It's like... four weapons in one!"

Blake smirked at Ruby's enthusiasm. "It's versatile, like yours. Though I must admit, I'm curious about your fighting style with Crescent Rose. A scythe is... unconventional, to say the least."

Ruby puffed out her chest proudly. "Oh, you'll see! Crescent Rose and I are an unbeatable team!"

Weiss, who had been watching with mild amusement, decided it was her turn. She drew her rapier, Myrtenaster, from her side and held it out with a practiced flourish. The weapon's polished blade gleamed, and the multicolored chambers near the hilt sparkled faintly.

"This is Myrtenaster," Weiss explained. "It's a rapier equipped with six Dust chambers, allowing me to use various elemental effects in combat. It also functions as a revolver, adding another versatility layer."

Ruby's eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer, practically vibrating with curiosity. "No way... That's so cool! How does it work? Can you show me?!"

Weiss chuckled softly, twirling the rapier effortlessly in her hand. "Perhaps later, when we're not wandering aimlessly through Beacon."

Ruby pouted but nodded reluctantly, clearly eager to see Weiss's weapon in action.

As the three continued their walk, chatting animatedly about their weapons and combat styles, they eventually found themselves in front of a large set of double doors. Inside, a massive auditorium stretched before them, filled with rows of students already gathered for the entrance ceremony.

The three of them slipped inside, blending into the crowd as a sense of anticipation filled the air. At the front of the room, a tall man with gray hair and a mug in hand stepped up to the podium. His presence was calm yet commanding, and the room quickly fell silent as he began to speak.

"I'll... keep this brief," he began, his voice steady but carrying an almost enigmatic weight. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people."

Ruby straightened up, hanging on his every word, while Weiss and Blake listened intently.

"But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose... direction."

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd as students exchanged puzzled looks.

"You assume knowledge will free you of this," the man continued, undisturbed by the murmurs. "But your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."

The man stepped away from the podium, leaving the students stunned. A woman with blonde hair and glasses—who Ruby recognized as Glynda Goodwitch—stepped forward, her posture stiff and professional.

"You will gather in the ballroom tonight," Glynda announced, her voice firm and authoritative. "Tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

As the students began to disperse, Ruby caught sight of a familiar figure with bright blonde hair weaving through the crowd. Her face lit up, and she eagerly waved her hand. "Yang! Over here!" she called, her voice carrying just enough to catch her sister's attention.

Yang grinned widely, easily pushing through the crowd to reach her little sister. "There you are, Rubes! I've been looking all over for you." She ruffled Ruby's hair affectionately, earning an indignant huff.

"Yang! Stop it!" Ruby whined, swatting her sister's hand away.

"I can't help it; you're just too adorable," Yang teased before her gaze shifted, noticing the two girls standing beside Ruby. "Oh? Who are your new friends?"

Ruby perked up, gesturing excitedly. "This is Weiss Schnee! She's so elegant and super nice! And this is Blake Belladonna—she's quiet but really cool too!"

Weiss smiled warmly, giving Yang a polite nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yang."

Blake nodded as well. "Nice to meet you."

Yang's trademark grin widened as she greeted them, but as her eyes settled on Weiss, her confident demeanor faltered slightly. Her lilac eyes softened, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Weiss's presence was undeniably striking—her refined beauty, graceful posture, and the warmth in her tone were enough to make Yang momentarily lose her composure.

"Uh... hi," Yang said, her usually smooth voice sounding uncertain.

Weiss tilted her head slightly, smiling softly. "Hello too, Yang. Ruby has told me a lot about you."

Yang quickly recovered, scratching her head with a sheepish laugh. "Oh, uh, all good things, I hope?"

Ruby smirked mischievously. "Mostly..."

"Ruby!" Yang shot her a mock glare, but her attention soon returned to Weiss. "So, uh, Weiss, huh? That's a beautiful name. Very fitting."

"Thank you," Weiss said graciously, her voice calm and sincere.

Yang chuckled nervously, glancing away as her blush deepened. She wasn't used to feeling so flustered, but something about Weiss left her a little off-balance. Ruby, meanwhile, watched the exchange with a growing grin, clearly enjoying her sister's uncharacteristic awkwardness.

"Yang," Ruby said innocently, "are you blushing?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Yang protested, though the redness in her cheeks said otherwise.

Blake raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly but choosing not to comment. Weiss, for her part, seemed unaware of the effect she was having on Yang, though her smile remained kind and unassuming.

"Well, we should probably head to the ballroom," Weiss said, her voice drawing everyone's attention. "We wouldn't want to be late for tonight's gathering."

"Right!" Ruby chimed in, her enthusiasm breaking the momentary awkwardness. "Come on, Yang! Let's go!"

Yang nodded quickly, stealing one last glance at Weiss before following the group toward the ballroom.