Hyunwoo woke to the quiet hum of morning — faint voices in the distance, the occasional shuffle of footsteps on the ballroom's polished floor. The sunlight streamed in thin slivers through the tall windows, striping the sleeping bags scattered across the room. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and rolled his shoulders until the faint stiffness from the floor eased away.
He packed his things with minimal noise. Most of the other newcomers had already left, probably to get breakfast or gear up for whatever was coming next.
Hyunwoo adjusted the strap of his spear case as he approached the row of lockers where the newcomers had stored their weapons yesterday. The clink of metal caught his ear before he even spotted the familiar figure.
Jaemin stood there, one foot braced against the lower locker, sliding a compact bladed tonfa into place on his arm. The blade gleamed under the overhead lights before he clicked a hidden latch — schk! — and the two tonfas locked together, forming a short glaive. He spun it once with practiced ease, testing the balance, then separated them again in one smooth motion.
"Morning," Hyunwoo said, resting the spear against his shoulder.
Jaemin looked up, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Morning. Ready for initiation?"
"As ready as I can be," Hyunwoo replied. "Your weapon's... interesting. Haven't seen something that switches like that before."
"It's for options," Jaemin said, clicking the blades back into glaive form. "Close range or mid-range, depending on what I need. Figured it might pair well with someone who fights at longer reach." His gaze lingered briefly on Hyunwoo's spear — not quite an invitation, but close enough.
Hyunwoo caught it, giving a small nod. "Guess we'll see."
⸻
Hyunwoo spotted Ruby further down the row, fiddling with Crescent Rose's transformation mechanism while Yang leaned casually against the locker beside her. Yang noticed him first, her golden hair almost glowing under the fluorescent lights.
"Well, well," Yang said with a sly grin, "if it isn't the mysterious loner from yesterday. Ruby's been talking about you."
Ruby's eyes widened. "Yang!"
"What? I'm just saying you made a friend. A tall, kind of broody, handsome friend." Yang's smirk widened.
Hyunwoo raised a brow, glancing at Ruby. "Is this normal?"
Ruby sighed, muttering, "More than you think." She quickly changed the subject. "So, uh, you ready for initiation?"
"As ready as I can be," Hyunwoo replied, fastening his spear onto the magnetic holster on his back. "I'm guessing you're the type who's been ready since you were twelve."
Ruby brightened. "Since I was eleven, actually."
Yang chuckled. "She's not joking."
Hyunwoo shook his head slightly. "You two really don't seem nervous at all."
Ruby twirled Crescent Rose once, letting it fold into its rifle form. "Nerves mean you're not prepared. I'm prepared."
Yang grinned. "And I'm just here for the fun."
"Well, I wish both of you good luck"
"You too Hyunwoo"
________
Hyunwoo fastened the strap of his spear to his back, stepping into the crisp morning air. The crowd of new students was already gathering in the main courtyard, where a line of large, mechanical platforms waited.
Jaemin stood nearby, his eyes wandered the cliff to the forest with amusement.
"Guess this is it," Jaemin said with a smirk, testing one blade with a flick. "Think we'll be on the same team?"
Hyunwoo shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "If we are, don't slow me down."
They joined the line at the launch pads, where Ruby and Yang were already waiting. Ruby was fiddling with Crescent Rose's folded form, pretending to check its mechanism but clearly avoiding too much eye contact. Yang, catching sight of Hyunwoo and Jaemin, immediately elbowed her sister.
"Well, well," Yang grinned. "Your tall, spear-wielding mystery guy is back."
Ruby's head snapped up. "Yang, not again!!" she hissed, cheeks tinting pink.
"What?" Yang's grin widened. "You don't see many people here walking around looking like they just stepped out of some heroic painting." She glanced at Hyunwoo with mock seriousness. "Do you even wake up like that?"
Hyunwoo gave a small shake of his head. "Not exactly."
Ruby groaned into her hands. "Can we not do this right before getting launched into a forest full of Grimm?"
Before Yang could reply, the crowd fell quiet as Professor Ozpin stepped forward. He stood just a few paces away from the students, his cane lightly tapping against the stone as he stopped.
"You will be launched into the Emerald Forest," he began, his voice steady but carrying easily. "Your objective is to reach the temple at its heart. There, you will each choose a relic and return here. Your performance will determine the composition of your teams."
His eyes swept across the gathered students before adding, "The first person you make eye contact with after landing will become your partner for the duration of your time at Beacon. Choose wisely... or rather, land wisely."
Several students exchanged nervous glances. Yang smirked. Ruby froze. Jaemin just rolled his shoulders. Hyunwoo didn't react — but his mind was already mapping out how to control where he landed.
The launch pads underfoot began to hum, hydraulic systems hissing in preparation. Glynda Goodwitch stood nearby, her gaze sharp as ever.
Steam burst from the mechanisms as the first platforms catapulted their occupants into the air. Ruby gripped Crescent Rose tighter, Yang rolled her shoulders, Jaemin's fingers flexed over his tonfa grips — and Hyunwoo simply set his eyes on the forest horizon, already picturing the path ahead.
The platform beneath Hyunwoo hissed and vibrated, tension building with each passing second. He shifted his weight, one hand resting on the strap of his spear, mind already running through how to land without breaking something.
Landing wrong could cripple him. Landing right could put him a step ahead.
A memory — not originally his, but one that came with this body — surfaced. A warm hand on the shoulder. A deep, steady voice.
"A spear isn't about how far you can reach, but how certain you are when you strike. Be sure, and you'll never have to swing twice."
Hyunwoo's grip tightened.
'I'm not the boy you raised. But I'm the one carrying his life now. I'll make you proud... both of you.'
The launch cylinder fired with a deafening hiss, hurling him into the air. Wind roared past his ears as he adjusted mid-flight, twisting his body so his boots would meet the ground first, his spear swing down the trees to reduce the momentum.
Impact. A short slide in the dirt. No stumble.
No time to breathe. His eyes turn to a sound of growl.
Two Beowolves emerged from the trees, black smoky fur bristling, red eyes locked on him.
Hyunwoo slid his spear from his back in one clean motion, lowering his stance. His body moved on instinct — not his original instinct, but the instincts of this body's training, sharpened by his own resolve.
The first Beowolf lunged. Hyunwoo stepped diagonally, the spear's tip driving into its throat with a single decisive thrust. No flourish. No wasted energy.
The second circled to his flank. Hyunwoo advanced instead of retreating, the spear sweeping low before snapping upward into its ribs. The creature crumpled without a sound.
Two strikes. Two kills. Efficiency, just like the old man taught.
The forest fell quiet again, leaves whispering above. Hyunwoo steadied his breathing. Somewhere out there, his future partner was waiting — and the next set of eyes he met could decide it.
A shadow moved between the trees — steady, deliberate.
Hyunwoo turned, muscles tense, and there he was.
Jaemin stepped into view, twin bladed tonfas in his hands. A flick of his wrists and schk! — the weapons locked into a short glaive, the steel glinting in a shaft of sunlight.
For a heartbeat, they just stared at each other.
Hyunwoo didn't look away. Neither did Jaemin.
Somewhere in the back of Hyunwoo's mind, Ozpin's voice echoed from earlier: The first person you make eye contact with... will be your partner.
The thought settled like a quiet certainty — this was it.
Jaemin tilted his head slightly. "Guess that makes us partners."
Hyunwoo gave a small smirk. "Looks like it."
They stood there for a moment, sizing each other up before Jaemin broke the silence. "You fight up close or keep your distance?"
"I adapt," Hyunwoo replied, resting the spear casually against his shoulder. "You?"
"Same. Just don't slow me down."
Hyunwoo chuckled under his breath. "We'll see who slows who down."
Jaemin's lips twitched into the faintest smile. "Fair enough. Let's move — relics aren't going to collect themselves."
They moved quickly through the forest, leaves crunching underfoot, weapons ready. The silence didn't last long. A rustle in the bushes — then two Beowolves burst out.
"Left's mine," Hyunwoo said, already moving.
"Fine by me," Jaemin replied, locking his tonfas into a short glaive with a click.
Hyunwoo's spear flashed, movements sharp and efficient — each thrust calculated, no wasted motion. He drove the tip through the Beowolf's chest and twisted, dropping it instantly. Beside him, Jaemin spun his glaive in a tight arc, cleaving through the second creature in one clean motion.
Both bodies hit the ground almost at the same time.
Jaemin exhaled. "Not bad."
Hyunwoo smirked. "You too."
They pressed deeper into the Emerald Forest, weaving between gnarled trunks until faint voices drifted toward them. Stepping past a thick curtain of vines, they spotted two familiar faces — the twins from yesterday, Jisoo and Jiwon.
Jisoo rested one of her chakram against her shoulder. "Well, well... looks like we've got company."
Jiwon nod. "Didn't think we'd run into you two so soon."
Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow. "You're after the relics too?"
Jisoo smirked. "Of course. Question is... are we gonna be friends—" She spun her chakram lazily. "—or competition?"
Hyunwoo and Jaemin exchanged a glance — that quick understanding that came from fighting side by side just moments ago.
"Teams are supposed to be four people," Jaemin said, resting his glaive on his shoulder. "Looks like this works out for all of us."
Jisoo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're saying you want to team up with us?"
Hyunwoo shrugged. "We could spend time arguing about it... or we could get the relics before anyone else does."
Jisoo chuckled. "Practical. I like it."
The four of them fell into step, moving deeper into the forest. Despite having just met, there was an unspoken agreement — no one here wanted dead weight, and everyone looked capable.
Jaemin adjusted his grip. "Guess we better make sure we can watch each other's backs."
Hyunwoo gave a short nod. "We will."
The twins traded a glance and a small grin — maybe this wasn't going to be so bad.