Hyunwoo and Ruby walked side by side, stepping deeper into Beacon Academy's heart.
The wide courtyard stretched before them, paved with smooth stone and surrounded by soaring towers that gleamed in the sunlight. Students bustled about—some chatting excitedly, others checking schedules or carrying luggage—everyone seemed caught in the thrill and nerves of starting something new.
Ruby looked around with wide eyes, her excitement barely contained. "This place is huge. I didn't realize so many students come here."
Hyunwoo nodded, gripping his spear lightly but feeling the strange comfort of company. "Yeah. Feels like the start of something big."
Nearby, groups of students laughed and shared stories, while faculty members moved purposefully, their presence both reassuring and imposing.
Ruby's gaze settled on a large bulletin board covered with notices, schedules, and a map of the campus. "Looks like we're not the only ones feeling the jitters."
Hyunwoo smiled faintly. "Welcome to Beacon, huh?"
Ruby laughed softly. "I guess so."
As they continued walking, the vibrant hum of voices and footsteps surrounded them—promising adventure, challenge, and a future neither of them could yet imagine.
After weaving through the courtyard and a few long corridors, they finally stepped into a massive open hall that looked like it could fit a small stadium inside. The floor was polished, banners bearing Beacon's emblem hung high, and the air buzzed with chatter from dozens of new students already gathered.
In the middle of the crowd, Ruby's face lit up. "Yang!" she called, waving.
Yang Xiao Long, tall with flowing golden hair, spotted her immediately and waved back with a grin. "Ruby! Over here!"
Ruby glanced at Hyunwoo. "My sister's calling me. Do you want to join us, Hyunwoo?"
He shook his head, slipping his hands into his pockets. "It's okay. I'm gonna stay at the back. I hate being suffocated by people."
Ruby chuckled at his matter-of-fact tone. "Alright. See you soon, Hyunwoo."
"Yeah. See you, Ruby."
She jogged off into the crowd, her red cloak fluttering behind her until she disappeared among the sea of faces.
Hyunwoo stayed at the back, leaning against one of the tall pillars that framed the arena. The crowd's chatter blended into a low hum, and he kept his eyes drifting across the room, idly noting who looked confident and who looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.
"Not a fan of crowds, huh?"
The voice came from beside him. A boy, about his height, with short dark-brown hair and a relaxed posture, stood there holding a folded map of the school. He had the kind of easygoing smile that made him look like he wasn't taking the day too seriously.
Hyunwoo glanced at him. "Not really. You?"
The boy shrugged. "I don't mind them, but I'm not big on the whole... 'everyone pile together and pretend we're already friends' thing."
That earned him a faint smirk from Hyunwoo. "Finally, someone who gets it."
The boy extended a hand. "Jaemin."
Hyunwoo shook it. "Hyunwoo Kim."
Before they could say more, the crowd suddenly grew louder—Ruby's voice somewhere in the middle as she reunited with Yang. Jaemin glanced over, then back at Hyunwoo.
"Guess the big speeches are about to start. You sticking back here?"
"Yeah. Best seat in the house."
Jaemin grinned. "Alright then, I'll hang here too."
They stood side-by-side, quietly watching as the rest of the first-years gathered, neither of them realizing that in a few hours, they'd be fighting side-by-side.
The low rumble of chatter began to settle when the heavy doors at the far end of the arena swung open. Glynda Goodwitch, tall and poised, strode in with the precision of someone who could command a room without raising her voice. Behind her, walking with an almost unhurried calm, was Headmaster Ozpin.
Glynda stopped at the center, tapping the tip of her riding crop against the floor once. The sharp clack echoed through the room, silencing the last pockets of whispering.
"Welcome to Beacon Academy," she began, her voice crisp and clear. "You have traveled from many different places, each of you possessing skills, talents, and ambitions that have brought you here. However, let me be perfectly clear—admittance into this academy does not guarantee success. From this moment onward, you will be tested in ways you may not expect."
Hyunwoo stood still at the back, his eyes shifting between Glynda and Ozpin. Jaemin leaned in slightly and whispered, "Friendly welcome, huh?"
Hyunwoo smirked faintly. "Guess they're cutting straight to the point."
Then Ozpin stepped forward, a mug of coffee in hand. He regarded the crowd with a quiet, measured look before speaking.
"You are here because you seek to become Huntsmen and Huntresses," he said. "The world is dangerous, and the path you have chosen is not a safe one. But it is necessary. Over the next few days, you will begin to understand what that truly means."
His gaze lingered, moving across the rows of students, and for a brief moment, Hyunwoo felt those grey eyes stop on him.
"That is all for now," Ozpin concluded. "You will be given further instructions soon. Until then, prepare yourselves."
The crowd began to break apart, some students buzzing with excitement, others quietly nervous. Ruby was already chatting animatedly with Yang, while Weiss stood off to the side with her nose held high.
Hyunwoo glanced at Jaemin. "Looks like tomorrow's going to be interesting."
Jaemin nodded. "Yeah... something tells me it's going to be more than that."
Hyunwoo stood at the back with Jaemin, watching the crowd from a comfortable distance.
"Crowds feel like they're sucking the air out of the room," he muttered.
"Then we picked the wrong school," Jaemin replied dryly.
Before Hyunwoo could respond, two voices spoke at once from his side.
"Looks like we're not the only ones hiding back here."
He turned to see a pair of students—clearly twins. The girl had her hair tied back, a playful smirk tugging at her lips; the boy's hair was short and neat, his expression calm and measured. Their uniforms were worn the same way, but the girl's jacket hung looser, sleeves rolled up.
"Not hiding," Hyunwoo said. "Just... staying out of the mess."
"Exactly what hiding is," the girl countered, eyebrow raised.
The boy stepped in before it turned into an argument. "I'm Jiwon. This is my sister, Jisoo."
"Hyunwoo," he replied, then motioned beside him. "And this is Jaemin."
Jisoo leaned against the wall next to him, arms crossed. "So, Hyunwoo... do you usually keep your distance, or is this just a first-day thing?"
He gave her a sideways glance. "I don't like wasting energy unless it matters."
Her smirk grew. "Good answer. Guess we'll see if you actually mean that."
Jiwon gave a quiet hum, like he already had an idea of what was coming.
Jaemin, watching the exchange, muttered under his breath, "Great. Two of them."
____________
The ballroom was buzzing with the sound of a hundred conversations, the occasional laugh echoing against the high ceiling. Bedrolls and sleeping bags covered the polished floor, each one claimed by a new student settling in for the night.
Hyunwoo had picked a quiet corner away from the clusters, sitting cross-legged on his bedroll with his jacket draped over his shoulders. He wasn't scrolling through his device or talking—just quietly watching the room like he was measuring it.
Yang, scanning the crowd with Ruby at her side, caught sight of him. A slow grin spread across her face.
"Ohhh," Yang drawled, leaning down to Ruby's ear. "That's the guy you were talking to earlier, right? The tall, fit, and handsome one?"
Ruby's cheeks immediately went pink. "Yang, stop—he's just— I mean, we just talked about weapons for, like, two minutes."
"Uh-huh," Yang teased. "And now you've got the perfect excuse to talk to him again. You're welcome."
Before Ruby could protest, Yang had already started walking, dragging her along.
Hyunwoo looked up as they approached, his expression calm but curious.
"Evening," Yang greeted, plopping down onto the floor without asking. "Hope we're not interrupting your... intense people-watching session."
Hyunwoo gave a small shrug. "Not much to interrupt." His gaze shifted briefly to Ruby. "Hey again."
Ruby rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh, hey. So... nice spot you got here. Away from the chaos."
Yang leaned back on her hands, smirking. "She means she's here to make a new friend. And, y'know, you are a pretty good-looking guy. Makes it easier."
Ruby's eyes widened. "Yang!"
Hyunwoo blinked, then let out a small, almost amused exhale. "I'll... take that as a compliment?"
Ruby groaned into her hands, mumbling, "I'm never bringing you anywhere again."
Yang just grinned wider. "Relax, Rubes. I'm just helping you socialize. Besides, if you keep hiding in my shadow, you'll never make friends. And who knows? Maybe you and Mister Cool over here will end up in the same team."
Hyunwoo tilted his head slightly. "Mister Cool? Haven't heard that one before."
Ruby peeked at him from between her fingers. "Don't... don't encourage her."
Yang ignored the protest, leaning forward. "So, Hyunwoo. What brings you to Beacon? Big hero dreams? Or are you here because you like the uniforms?"
He shook his head lightly. "No... I'm here because I want to follow my father's path. He was a Huntsman. I figure... if I can be even half as good as he was, it'll be worth it."
Ruby's eyes widened a little. "Your dad was a Huntsman?"
"Yeah." His voice softened for a moment. "He always said protecting people was the only thing worth risking your life for. I guess that stuck with me."
Yang smirked, sensing Ruby's interest. "Ooh, that's noble. Bet you've got some pretty cool stories from him."
"Maybe," Hyunwoo said with a small shrug. "Guess you'll hear them if we end up working together."
Ruby smiled faintly. "I'd... like that."
Yang clapped her hands, satisfied. "Look at that, Rubes — you're making friends already.
Hyunwoo leaned back against his bedroll, glancing between them. "What about you two? Why'd you come to Beacon?"
Yang tapped her chin, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Me? I want adventure, excitement... and maybe to punch some bad guys while looking good doing it."
Ruby hesitated before answering. "I... just want to help people. I like the idea of being a Huntress — traveling around, keeping others safe." She glanced at Hyunwoo. "Guess we've got that in common."
Yang smirked. "See? You're already finding common ground. Told you this was a good idea."
Ruby rolled her eyes, but there was a tiny smile tugging at her lips.