Chapter 4 - Equipment locker

The early morning sun filtered through the large glass panes of Beacon Academy's airship hangar. First-year students bustled about, retrieving their weapons and personal gear from the lockers assigned to them the day before. The metallic clinks of latches opened, and the faint hum of conversations filled the air. Despite the lingering nervous energy from the upcoming initiation, the mood remained light as students laughed, stretched, and double-checked their equipment.

Weiss Schnee walked confidently through the rows of lockers, her posture as graceful and refined as ever. She was fully dressed in her battle attire: her iconic white combat skirt paired with a corset-style bodice, the shimmering ice-blue trim complementing the pale elegance of her complexion. Her long silver ponytail swayed behind her, catching the morning light like strands of moonlit silk.

Stopping at the assigned locker, Weiss entered her combination with quick precision. The lock clicked open, revealing her Myrtenaster encased in its protective holster. She carefully removed the weapon, admiring its pristine condition before securing it at her side.

As she turned to leave, her icy blue eyes caught movement from the adjacent locker. Standing there was none other than Pyrrha Nikos.

Pyrrha, the Invincible Girl, had just opened her locker. Dressed in her striking bronze and crimson armor, she looked every bit the warrior she was known to be. Her red ponytail framed her elegant features perfectly, but despite her composed demeanor, her emerald-green eyes betrayed a flicker of nervousness as they landed on Weiss.

Pyrrha froze.

She had seen Weiss around during the airship ride to Beacon, but standing this close to her was something entirely different. Weiss Schnee wasn't just elegant—she was breathtaking. Her every movement was deliberate yet effortless, and Weiss's small, soft smile as their eyes met sent Pyrrha's heart racing.

"Are you okay?" Weiss's concerned voice broke the silence, her brows furrowing slightly as she tilted her head.

Pyrrha blinked, her cheeks instantly warming. "Oh, um, yes! I'm fine," she replied hastily, nodding a little too quickly.

Weiss didn't look entirely convinced. She stepped closer, her expression softening. "Are you sure? You look a bit... flustered."

Pyrrha's hands fidgeted at her sides as she forced a reassuring smile. "Really, I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

Still uncertain but not wanting to push further, Weiss nodded and smiled again. "If you're sure, then I won't pry. My name is Weiss Schnee, by the way," she said, extending her hand politely. "It's nice to meet you."

Pyrrha hesitated, her heart pounding. Should she introduce herself? What if Weiss immediately recognized her as the Invincible Girl? Would she treat her differently, like so many others had in the past?

But as Weiss stood there, waiting patiently with her hand extended, Pyrrha decided there was no turning back. She took a deep breath and shook Weiss's hand gently. "I'm Pyrrha Nikos. It's nice to meet you, too."

To her surprise, Weiss's reaction was perfectly normal. There was no sign of recognition or fanfare—just a polite, genuine smile. "Pyrrha," Weiss repeated, her voice melodic. "That's a lovely name."

Pyrrha blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "T-thank you," she stammered, her cheeks flushing again.

Weiss's eyes briefly flicked over Pyrrha's armor before meeting her gaze again. "You look strong," she remarked, her tone thoughtful. "I imagine you're quite skilled in combat."

The compliment made Pyrrha's heart skip a beat. "Oh, um... thank you," she said, nervously tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Weiss's smile widened ever so slightly, a warmth that Pyrrha hadn't expected. "I hope you end up with a good team," Weiss said sincerely. "Good luck with the initiation."

Pyrrha nodded quickly, her chest swelling with happiness. "Thank you. I wish you the same."

With that, Weiss turned to leave, her steps light and graceful as ever. Pyrrha watched her go, her cheeks still warm and her heart racing.

"She's so..." Pyrrha muttered, trailing off.

Before she could finish her thought, a loud voice interrupted the moment.

"Ridiculous!"

Pyrrha turned her head just in time to see a blonde-haired boy walking toward them, holding a crumpled map and looking exasperated.

"There's no way I put my gear in locker 636 yesterday! I would've remembered having to count that high!" Jaune Arc grumbled, his blue eyes scanning the rows of lockers. "Why does this have to happen today?"

As if on cue, he walked straight between Weiss and Pyrrha, oblivious to their presence until Weiss spoke up.

"Excuse me," she said, her voice kind but firm. "Is something wrong?"

Jaune froze mid-step, turning to face Weiss. The moment his eyes landed on her, his cheeks turned bright red.

"Oh, uh... hi!" he stammered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I didn't see you there."

Weiss raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently for an answer.

Jaune quickly composed himself—or at least tried to. "I think my gear locker was moved or something. It's definitely not supposed to be 636, but..." He trailed off, glancing at the locker in question, which Pyrrha was currently standing in front of.

Pyrrha, wanting to help, chimed in. "There's probably been a mix-up. But at least your gear isn't missing, right?"

Jaune sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just frustrating, you know?"

Weiss nodded sympathetically. "I can understand why you'd be upset. But I'm sure it'll work out."

Jaune waved his hand dismissively. "It's not your fault or anything. I'll figure it out."

A brief silence fell over the group before Weiss spoke again. "I'm Weiss Schnee, by the way," she said, offering a small smile.

Jaune's face lit up as he puffed out his chest slightly. "Well, the name's Jaune Arc! Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue—ladies love it!"

Weiss blinked, momentarily taken aback by his confidence. Pyrrha, standing nearby, couldn't help but suppress a small smile.

"That's... nice," Weiss replied diplomatically. "I'm sure some girls might."

Jaune's proud expression faltered, and he let out a defeated sigh, his head hanging low. "Yeah... not really," he muttered under his breath.

Trying to lift the mood, Pyrrha offered him a kind smile. "I'm Pyrrha Nikos. It's nice to meet you, Jaune."

Jaune perked up slightly, giving her a sheepish grin. "Nice to meet you too, Pyrrha. You seem pretty cool."

Weiss glanced between the two, her curiosity piqued. But before she could say anything else, a loud chime echoed through the hangar, signaling the start of the initiation process.

"Well," Weiss said, adjusting Myrtenaster at her side, "I suppose we'd better head to the launch area."

Pyrrha nodded in agreement, and Jaune quickly stepped behind them, muttering something about not getting lost again.

As the three of them walked together, Weiss couldn't help but glance at Pyrrha from the corner of her eye. There was something about the red-haired girl that intrigued her—a quiet strength that Weiss admired.

And for Pyrrha, the simple fact that Weiss had spoken to her so warmly was enough to make her heart flutter.

Unbeknownst to either of them, this was only the beginning of a partnership that would shape their time at Beacon in ways neither could have anticipated.