Raoul POV The hotel room was nicer than anything I had lived in before.
Even nicer than my apartment back on Earth.
Or rather, Draconic Deus.
Suspicious.
Qrow had apparently paid for it.
Uh-huh, how?
100% sketchy connections.
I didn’t know where he got the money from, and honestly, it was too much for me to bother about.
Ruby had claimed one bed.
Yang had claimed the other.
Ruby complained because apparently bestest friends did not let bestest friends sleep on couches.
Yang laughed at me.
Gorilla woman.
At least they won’t take my blankets.
“Are you sure you three are going to be okay on your own?” Taiyang Xiao Long asked for the seventh time.
I looked up from where I was checking the edge of my scythe.
Ruby groaned in embarrassment.
“Daaaaad.” Yang crossed her arms in an X and looked at her father like he had grown a second head.
“We’re going to Beacon, not moving to another kingdom.” Taiyang looked at her dryly.
“Okay, technically we’re staying in Vale for a few days first, but still!” Taiyang’s eyes moved to me.
Ah.
There it was, the father stare.
I had faced Grimm.
I had sparred with sober Qrow.
I had been punched by Yang hard enough to briefly understand astronomy.
But this man’s face.
It scared me.
“Raoul.” “Sir.” I saluted him.
Ruby tilted her head in confusion, meanwhile Yang grinned.
I can’t wait to get payback when I’m stronger.
“If anything happens to my daughters,” Taiyang said, very calmly, “I will find you.” “…” “And if you do anything to my little princesses, I will beat you so badly that Qrow will have to identify you by your shoes.” “Understandable.” Ruby turned bright red, and Yang started laughing.
“Dad!” Taiyang did not look away from me.
I looked him in the eye and decided I didn’t want my teeth anymore.
“Sir, with all due respect, Ruby is more dangerous than I am, and Yang has threatened to suplex me through a window three times this week.” “Four,” Yang corrected.
“Four times this week.” Taiyang nodded slowly.
“Good.
Then you understand the danger.” He smiled.
That wasn’t comforting.
Ruby grabbed my sleeve and started dragging me toward the door.
“We’re leaving before Dad gets worse!” “You can’t escape the love of your old man!!!” Taiyang called after us as we stepped into the hallway.
“Ruby!
Yang!
Call me when you get there!” Ruby just huffed and didn’t answer.
“And Raoul!” I stopped.
“Yes, sir?” “Remember the shoes.” I slowly nodded.
“Yes, sir.” For a moment, the hallway was silent as we walked through it.
Then Yang burst out laughing, and Ruby covered her face with both hands.
“I am never going to recover from this.” I patted her shoulder.
“There, there.” “Don’t there-there me.” Yang slung an arm around both of our shoulders.
“Come on, kids.
Beacon awaits.” “You’re barely a year older than us.” “Emotionally debatable.” Yeah, because you’re a violent gorilla.
Ouch, must have said that out loud because she smacked my head.
— Vale was loud.
Just alive.
Cars moved through the streets, people walked in every direction, airships drifted above the buildings, and every second person seemed to be carrying a weapon that looked like an engineer had a fever dream.
Remnant was insane.
Beautiful, but insane.
Ruby practically vibrated beside me.
“Beacon,” she whispered.
“We haven’t even gotten there yet,” I said.
“I can feel it.” “You have a sixth sense suddenly?” “It’s called destiny.” “It’s called dramatic framing.” Ruby gasped.
“You take that back.” “No.” Yang walked ahead of us with her hands behind her head.
“You two are going to be unbearable at school.” “You love us,” I said.
Yang hummed with a Cheshire grin.
“Rubes, maybe.
I don’t know about you, though.” We turned onto another street and noticed the atmosphere had changed.
Not an Aura flare, just tension.
Great.
Trouble.
I looked toward the Dust shop down the street, where a group of men in red stood outside.
A man in white walked with a cane, his hat tilted just enough to make him look like he thought the world existed for his personal entertainment.
I’d seen wanted posters of this guy before.
Roman Torchwick, I think?
Snazzy clothes.
Oh.
Right.
That.
Ruby followed my gaze, and her eyes sharpened.
“Raoul.” “Nope.” “But—” “Nada.” “He’s robbing a Dust shop!” “Probably.” “Probably?!” I grabbed the back of her hood before she could move.
She made a choking noise and started kicking her legs.
Thank God I’m taller than her.
“Walk.” Ruby struggled.
“Raoul!” “Ruby, we are three prospective Beacon students carrying weapons through Vale on the day of our arrival.
We do not have licenses.
We do not have authority.
We do not have context.
And we absolutely do not need to start our school career by fighting organized criminals in the street.” Ruby stared at me and her cute pout.
I will not cave!!
“But they’re criminals.” “…” “And they’re getting away.” “Maybe.” Her eyes narrowed.
“I know you hate this too.” I did.
I hated it a lot.
I hated just walking away.
I hated feeling like I was leaving someone else’s problem untouched.
I hated that Sakaki’s voice was still in my head.
Choose.
Kill.
Spare.
Run.
But decide.
“This is not our fight,” I said quietly.
Ruby stopped struggling when she noticed I was gritting my teeth.
Yang’s expression softened a little, and a voice spoke from behind us.
“A surprisingly mature conclusion.” I froze.
Ah.
Wonderful.
We turned around to see a woman standing behind us, holding a riding crop with the posture of someone who could make a demon cry.
Blonde hair, sharp glasses, annoyed teacher aura.
Wait, why does she have a riding crop?
Let’s selectively ignore that since Yang looks like she’s going to pee herself.
Serves you right!
I stood straighter.
Ruby saw my posture change and looked on in confusion before mimicking me.
Yang shuddered.
“Oh, we’re in trouble.” Glynda’s eyes moved from Yang, to Ruby, to me, then back to Ruby.
“Miss Rose, I presume?” Ruby stiffened.
“Y-yes, ma’am!” “And Miss Xiao Long.” Yang gave an awkward wave.
“That’s me.” Finally, Glynda looked at me.
“Raoul Kurokaze?” Second time today an authority figure scared the shit out of me.
“Ma’am.” Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You saw a crime in progress and chose not to involve yourselves.” Ruby deflated, and I prepared to be scolded.
Glynda smiled faintly.
“Good.” — We approached Beacon feeling like prisoners, despite the fact that we were praised.
That woman’s aura is— Oh no, she’s glaring at me!
“Is there a problem, Mr.
Kurokaze?” “Not in the least, ma’am.” This is going to be a long day.
I glanced at the System screen in the corner of my eye.
[Cursed Objective] [97%] I’m not ready.