Chapter Text
Both girls were panting, their eyes locked on one another. On the screens above, their aura bars were teetering on the edge of red. The battle had reached its peak.
“I have to admit, you’ve put up a good fight…” Weiss said, rotating the dust chamber of her rapier, loading the next round. Her lips curved ever so slightly. “But this ends here.”
A white glyph bloomed beneath her feet, launching her forward with lethal speed.
Ruby didn’t reply. Instead, she pulled Crescent Rose’s lever. With a sharp metallic click, the mechanism spun and fired a gravity round behind her, propelling her straight toward Weiss with incredible speed.
The two girls screamed in unison, weapons raised, charging headlong at one another. The impact was deafening.
—A few hours earlier—
“She’s so dead,” Yang said, her voice thick with fury, her lilac eyes flashing into a burning crimson. The boy who had brought the news backed away in fear and bolted down the hall.
“Yang?” Blake called cautiously, sensing the heavy tension in the air.
Yang didn’t answer. Her steps echoed sharply against the floor, each one accompanied by a subtle wave of heat Blake couldn’t ignore.
“Yang… what are you planning to do?” Blake pressed, quickening her pace to keep up.
“Oh, nothing special,” Yang replied mockingly, though her voice burned with anger. “I’m just going to put a hole in Weiss’s stomach.”
Blake’s eyes widened in disbelief. It took her a few seconds to recover, but when Yang tried to walk past, Blake stepped in front of her, blocking her way.
Yang stopped abruptly, fists clenched. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Stopping you from doing something stupid,” Blake shot back firmly, even as a chill ran down her spine.
Yang gritted her teeth. “Stupid? What’s stupid is what Weiss did! She made my sister cry in front of everyone. I’m not letting that slide.”
She shoved Blake aside and continued walking. But Blake knew Yang was serious—this wasn’t a passing tantrum. Swiftly, she ran ahead again and cut her off.
“Listen,” Blake said firmly. “I know I don’t know you or your sister that well… but this won’t help.”
Yang’s crimson eyes blazed hotter. “What won’t help? Ruby ran off crying! And Weiss just walks away like nothing happened!”
Blake took a deep breath, holding her ground. “If you go after Weiss now, it’s not just about her being a Schnee and risking expulsion—it’ll make her *right*.”
Yang’s fists tightened, veins bulging as waves of heat radiated from her. “I don’t care if she’s from some big-name family,” she growled, her voice trembling with rage. “Nobody… *nobody* messes with my sister.”
Yang tried to push forward again, but Blake stood firmer than before.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Blake said seriously. “If you go after her, you’ll only prove Ruby *can’t* handle her own problems. Weiss will think Ruby hides behind you like the little kid she assumes she is. That’ll only make her believe it more.”
Yang froze, glaring daggers at Blake. The hallway was silent except for the faint hum of Yang’s burning aura. Blake seized the moment.
“I’m not justifying what Weiss said,” Blake continued softly. “Believe me, I wanted to hit her myself after what she said. But this isn’t about her right now.” Her voice gentled even further. “Ruby needs her big sister right now.”
Yang lowered her gaze. The heat around her began to fade, her eyes slowly shifting back to violet. Closing her eyes, she let out a long, weary sigh.
“…Fine,” she muttered finally.
Blake eased her shoulders but knew the tension was only buried, ready to ignite again.
Just then, Yang’s scroll chimed softly. With a sharp motion, she pulled it out, still frowning.
“Who’s texting me now…?” she muttered, swiping at the screen.
Her expression softened a little when she saw the sender. “…It’s from Ruby,” she whispered, reading silently.
*“Where are you? Class is about to start.”*
Blake leaned slightly to peek at the message and smiled faintly in relief. “Looks like she’s okay.”
Yang slowly put her scroll away, her expression still dark and wary. She didn’t reply at first, and for a moment Blake thought she’d stay frozen there. But finally, Yang spoke, low and guarded:
“Yeah…”
—Meanwhile—
Ruby ran.
Her footsteps echoed through Beacon’s halls, uneven, desperate, stumbling as tears blurred her vision. Everything ahead of her melted into shapeless streaks of color. She tripped once, then again, but forced herself to keep running.
Students’ eyes followed her—curious, confused, some even mocking. Ruby tried to ignore them, but the ache in her chest burned hotter with every step.
*“Even an awful faunus would make a better leader than you.”*
Weiss’s words crashed through her mind, relentless and cruel. Each echo stung worse than the last.
Ruby gritted her teeth, lowered her gaze, and sped up without watching where she stepped. The ground seemed to shift beneath her boots until her foot snagged on an uneven edge of the hallway floor. Balance slipped from her, and she pitched forward.
She was going to fall.
Ruby squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the painful impact—
…but it never came.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, startled to find herself suspended, a strange pressure tugging at the metal cross-pins fastening her cloak, holding her steady.
“W-what…?” she whispered shakily.
“Sorry—hold on,” a soft female voice said behind her. With an odd, gentle pull, Ruby was upright again, her body guided smoothly back to balance as though pushed by invisible hands.
Ruby turned her head just as she heard the voice continue, nervous and apologetic:
“I know we’re not supposed to use our Semblances inside the school, but you were about to fall and I…”
Ruby’s eyes widened at the first thing she saw—a carefully tied auburn ponytail, a golden circlet gleaming against red hair. Her heart skipped a beat. Pyrrha Nikos.
Pyrrha, noticing Ruby’s expression, blinked awkwardly before lowering her voice. “Oh… are you okay? Sorry if I pushed you too hard.”
Ruby shook her head quickly, flustered. “N-no, it’s… not your fault… I… thanks…”
Still overwhelmed, Ruby turned and started walking again, shoulders hunched. She didn’t have the strength to talk—not now, not about this.
But Pyrrha followed with soft, even steps. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked gently.
“…Yeah,” Ruby replied automatically, her voice faint.
Pyrrha frowned, concern softening her features. “I don’t think you are,” she said, though without judgment. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but… maybe you should sit down. You don’t want to fall again, do you?”
Ruby hesitated, biting her lip. She could brush Pyrrha off and keep wandering aimlessly… or she could sit down and try to breathe, even just for a moment. Neither sounded appealing, but she knew staying like this would only make things worse.
Reading her silence as consent, Pyrrha touched her shoulder lightly. “Come on,” she said warmly, leading Ruby toward a nearby bench.
Ruby didn’t resist. Exhaustion dulled her body and mind as they sat side by side. The faint scent of metal drifted in the air, oddly comforting—it reminded her of the garage where she’d forged Crescent Rose.
Ruby didn’t understand why Pyrrha was helping her. What surprised her most was that she hadn’t run away herself. Maybe she was just… too tired to fight it. Too tired to keep pretending she was okay.
A tiny sob escaped her lips before she could stop it. Ruby curled into her cloak, trying to hide her vulnerability.
“Are you alright?” Pyrrha asked softly, with the kind of patience that expected no honest answer.
Ruby glanced up for only a moment, meeting Pyrrha’s calm green eyes, then quickly looked away. “…I said I’m fine,” she mumbled.
Pyrrha tilted her head gently. “Is this about what happened in class this morning?”
Ruby stiffened at the mention. Of course Pyrrha knew—everyone had seen it.
“Did you talk to Weiss?” Pyrrha asked, voice careful.
Ruby nodded slightly. “…Yeah, but…” Her voice cracked before she could finish, another sob breaking free.
Pyrrha remained silent, watching with genuine empathy, though she didn’t fully understand everything Ruby was carrying inside. Ruby, meanwhile, couldn’t help but wonder… why was Pyrrha being so kind? She and Weiss seemed close. Ruby even remembered how Pyrrha had punched Jaune when he tried flirting with Weiss—and again after he was named leader. Ruby had assumed Pyrrha would side with Weiss.
But she hadn’t.
An insecure thought surfaced, uninvited.
“Do you… approve of Jaune being your leader?”
The question caught Pyrrha completely off guard. “…S-sorry, what?”
Ruby repeated it, her voice faint and uncertain. “Do you… accept Jaune as your leader?”
Pyrrha hesitated, a little flustered. “Oh… well, yes. I do.”
Ruby blinked, surprised, though Pyrrha’s calm expression left no room for doubt. Jaune wasn’t… remarkable. Not compared to her. Not compared to Pyrrha. And yet, Pyrrha smiled softly and continued:
“I won’t deny it surprised me at first,” she admitted. “But after thinking about it… yes, I accept him.”
Ruby stared, wide-eyed. Pyrrha Nikos—the undefeated champion, renowned warrior, the one everyone admired—was perfectly fine with following someone objectively weaker?
“…Doesn’t that bother you?” Ruby whispered.
Pyrrha thought for a moment, tilting her head. “Hm… it didn’t bother me. But it bothered a lot of others.”
Ruby frowned slightly. “Others?”
Pyrrha gave a small, ironic laugh. “Everyone expected I’d lead my team at Beacon. When I wasn’t chosen, people started questioning Professor Ozpin’s decision. Some even argued with him openly.” She smiled faintly at the memory. “I had to tell them I was fine with it. That I accepted it.”
Ruby stayed silent, impressed. Of course Pyrrha would think like that. That’s why she was Pyrrha Nikos.
“And Jaune didn’t want to be leader, either,” Pyrrha added softly. “In fact, he asked me to take his place. But I refused.”
Ruby brushed the tears from her cheeks, the knot in her chest loosening ever so slightly.
“It’s too early to judge anything,” Pyrrha said gently. “It’s our first day here. If your problem with Weiss is about leadership… maybe patience is the key. You’ll get your chance to prove yourself—not just to Weiss, but to everyone. After all, you’re the youngest here. That’s an achievement she should acknowledge.”
Ruby didn’t respond right away, lost in her thoughts. Pyrrha… knew about her early admission? Ruby kept her gaze down, thinking over everything Pyrrha had said. It was true—it was just the first day, and yet she already felt like she was failing. Weiss’s words still cut deep, especially the last ones.
But then she glanced sideways and caught Pyrrha’s warm, genuine smile. Ruby couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh.
“You know… I don’t think we’ve ever officially introduced ourselves. Though, of course, I already know who you are,” Ruby said shyly.
Pyrrha blinked before laughing softly. “Oh, you’re right. I’m sorry.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Pyrrha Nikos.”
Ruby smiled faintly. “Ruby Rose.”
For a brief, quiet moment, they shared a small sense of peace—until Ruby’s scroll buzzed with a notification for their next class. Pyrrha noticed it too.
“I guess we should get going,” Pyrrha said.
“Yeah… I guess so,” Ruby replied, standing slowly. Then, with a sheepish smile, she added, “Thanks… I really needed that.”
Pyrrha rose beside her, offering another warm smile. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.”
———
The rest of Ruby’s morning went better—she’d even call it fun. Pyrrha brought her along to hang out with Team JNPR, who welcomed her warmly. Nora, unsurprisingly, bombarded her with rapid-fire questions and boundless energy, while Ren smiled calmly and kept quiet. Jaune, being her first real friend at Beacon, made her feel at ease.
Not long after, Yang and Blake joined them. Yang immediately wore the look Ruby knew too well—the one that meant trouble.
“Well, little sis… care to tell me what happened with Ice Princess?” Yang asked, her tone caught between curiosity and restrained fury.
Ruby sighed, knowing she couldn’t dodge it forever. She explained what had happened, how Weiss had been harsh, and how Pyrrha had helped. Yang’s jaw tightened, but Ruby quickly pleaded:
“Please, Yang, promise me you won’t break Weiss’s legs.”
“Did someone say *breaking legs*?!” Nora shot her hand up enthusiastically. “Because I wanna help too!”
Ruby nearly choked on a nervous laugh. “No, no, no! If you do that, you’ll get expelled! And besides…” Ruby straightened, uncharacteristically serious. “I want to handle this with Weiss myself. If I’m gonna be a leader, I need to learn how to deal with things like this.”
Blake, who had been quiet, let out a soft chuckle, which confused Ruby entirely. “What are you laughing at?” Ruby asked, pouting.
“Nothing,” Blake replied smoothly, though her amused gaze said otherwise.
Yang raised her hands in surrender, though her tone carried a silent warning. “Alright, alright… but if this happens again, Ruby, don’t expect me to stay out of it.”
Ruby could only sigh in defeat.
Just then, the classroom doors opened, and Weiss stepped inside. For an instant, their gazes met. Ruby tried to smile, but Weiss turned away and took a seat on the opposite side of the room, far from her team. The quiet sting of distance hurt more than Ruby expected.
“Good afternoon, students.” Glynda’s firm voice echoed across the wide training hall as she stepped onto the platform, instantly commanding everyone’s attention. “Welcome to my combat class. Here, you won’t just perfect your skills—you’ll prepare your minds for any enemy that dares cross your path.”
The students listened intently, some nervous, others excited. Glynda, with her usual poised elegance, swept her gaze across the room, evaluating everyone until her eyes landed deliberately on one side of the hall.
“As is tradition at the start of every semester,” she continued, adjusting her glasses, “we’ll open with an exhibition match.”
A ripple of whispers spread through the room, a mix of tension and anticipation.
“Now *that’s* what I’m talking about,” Yang murmured, grinning eagerly.
“Right?!” Nora chimed in, practically bouncing in her seat.
Ruby tried to focus on Glynda’s words, but her eyes kept drifting to Weiss, who sat perfectly composed, attention fixed on the instructor.
At that moment, the back doors opened quietly, and Professor Ozpin entered. With calm, deliberate steps, he took a seat at the far end of the room, hands resting atop his cane, silently observing.
“I see a lot of excitement in your faces,” Glynda said after a pause. “However, that energy alone will get you nowhere.”
She tapped her heel sharply against the floor, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. Instantly, the scattered murmurs ceased, and the room grew tense.
“To start,” she said firmly, “one student will be chosen at random… and they will select their opponent.”
Nervous whispers erupted again as Glynda’s gaze slowly swept over the class before stopping with deliberate precision.
“Miss Ruby Rose will take the first match.”
“*Eh?!*” Ruby yelped.
Yang burst into laughter and clapped Ruby on the shoulder. “Heh, lucky you, sis. First up. Oh, hey—why don’t we show ‘em how it’s done?”
“Ruby, *please* don’t pick me…” Jaune muttered nervously, raising a hand like he was volunteering as tribute.
Blake, without looking up from where she sat, murmured softly but with faint amusement, “Feels like this was planned on purpose.”
She finally glanced at Ruby, her tone neutral but supportive. “Good luck, Ruby.”
Glynda struck the floor lightly with her riding crop to regain focus. “Miss Rose,” she said clearly, “who will you face?”
Ruby, still shaky, took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Her pulse raced, but a spark of determination flared in her eyes. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and scanned the room until her eyes locked with Weiss’s.
Weiss’s expression stiffened instantly, her widened eyes betraying that she understood Ruby’s decision.
“I want…” Ruby clenched her fists, swallowed hard, and said firmly, “…to fight my teammate, Weiss Schnee.”
———
Ruby climbed the stairs on the far right of the platform, her cloak swaying with each steady step. She was already wearing her combat outfit, Crescent Rose resting snugly across her back—ready to be unleashed.
From the opposite side, Weiss ascended with pristine poise. Her rapier, Myrtenaster, glimmered under the training room lights, and her icy gaze never wavered.
They stopped several meters apart, neither breaking eye contact. The tension between them was palpable.
Glynda stepped between them, scroll in hand. “Before we begin, I’ll explain the rules for your matches this semester.” With a button press, a large holographic display lit up behind her, showing portraits of Ruby and Weiss, each with an aura bar beneath.
“These gauges represent each student’s aura levels,” Glynda explained. “Once one drops into the red zone, the match is over, and that student loses immediately.”
As Glynda spoke, Ruby and Weiss stared one another down, the rest of the room fading from their awareness.
“Kick her butt, Ruby!” Yang yelled from the stands.
“Wow…” Jaune whispered nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “You’ve got a lot of faith in your sister, but honestly… I think Weiss has this.”
Blake arched a brow and turned toward him. “…And why do you think that, blondie?” Her tone carried a quiet threat.
Jaune froze, feeling both her piercing stare and Yang’s glare boring into him. “I-I-I didn’t mean Ruby’s *bad* or anything! Just that… you know… Weiss is… um… good. Really good…”
Pyrrha, calm and composed, added softly, “It’ll be a close match.” Her serene tone drew everyone’s attention. “I saw them both fight in the Emerald Forest. I wouldn’t bet on either one.”
“Break her legs, Red!” Nora bellowed, raising both arms like a cheerleader.
“Nora…” Ren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with the patience of a saint.
Glynda raised her riding crop, her voice sharp. “Combatants—ready yourselves.”
Ruby and Weiss drew their weapons at once. Crescent Rose spun fluidly into its full scythe form, Ruby holding it low and poised.
Weiss, graceful as ever, lifted Myrtenaster with precision, her off-hand folding neatly behind her back. Her posture radiated discipline and elegance, a stark contrast to Ruby’s raw, kinetic energy.
Neither girl blinked. Neither girl flinched.
Glynda stepped back. “Begin!”
Ruby wasted no time, firing Crescent Rose behind her to propel herself forward at blinding speed.
Weiss reacted instantly, summoning a crimson glyph before her. A wave of fire erupted outward, roaring toward Ruby.
Ruby fired her weapon again, vaulting upward and over the flames. Suspended in midair, she aimed upward and pulled the trigger, launching herself downward in a devastating descending strike.
“Tch!” Weiss barely managed to raise her rapier, blocking the scythe with a shower of sparks. Ruby’s weight forced her back, but Weiss sidestepped at the last possible moment to avoid being crushed.
Ruby landed hard but didn’t stop, launching herself forward once again. Their weapons clashed in rapid succession, the metallic ring echoing through the arena.
Weiss leapt backward, summoning a white glyph beneath her feet to launch herself high into the air. Briefly suspended above, she conjured a dark glyph to hold herself aloft, then summoned two more glyphs that fired icy shards downward in rapid succession.
Ruby dashed and spun, dodging as many as she could while deflecting others with her scythe. But there were too many—several shards struck her, forcing a grunt from her lips.
“Not yet!” Ruby shouted, activating her Semblance in a burst of rose petals, reappearing behind Weiss in an instant. With another recoil blast, she dove downward, Crescent Rose swinging in a heavy arc.
Weiss barely turned in time, meeting the strike with Myrtenaster. The clash shook the air, their weapons screeching as steel ground against steel. Ruby twisted her scythe mid-lock, slamming the blunt end into Weiss’s side, sending her stumbling backward.
“Ah!” Weiss gasped but retaliated immediately, summoning a fire glyph behind Ruby.
Ruby fired her weapon just after striking, the recoil propelling her into Weiss. The blast sent Weiss rolling across the floor. With a sharp cry, Weiss stabbed her rapier into the ground to stop herself, her aura flaring wildly around her.
Ruby, airborne, didn’t notice the glyph behind her until it detonated. The fiery blast sent her spinning violently before she landed hard, barely catching herself on her knees. Her aura flickered dangerously.
Both girls stood panting, sweat beading down their faces, aura levels on the brink of red. The entire class held its breath.
Pyrrha watched with a soft smile, eyes following every movement without missing a beat.
“Oh my gods…” Jaune whispered, slack-jawed, unable to look away.
“That’s my sister,” Yang said proudly, folding her arms, a wide grin plastered on her face.
Blake, meanwhile, couldn’t hide her surprise at Ruby’s skill—clearly exceeding her expectations… and, judging by her scowl, Weiss’s too.
“I call dibs on the next fight!” Nora shouted, nearly leaping over the railing.
“That’s… not up to you,” Ren replied calmly, though even he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the duel. “At this rate, we won’t have to wait long. The next strike decides everything.”
The two combatants steadied themselves, determination radiating from both. Weiss broke the silence first.
“I must admit, you’ve fought well…” she said, rotating Myrtenaster’s dust chamber with a soft click. Her lips curled faintly. “But this ends now.”
A white glyph formed beneath her feet, launching her forward like lightning.
Ruby didn’t speak, simply pulled Crescent Rose’s lever. With a metallic snap, the chamber spun and fired a gravity round, propelling her straight at Weiss.
Both girls roared as they charged. Weapons raised. Aura blazing.
Their strikes collided.
In a blink, they passed one another, landing back-to-back on opposite sides of the arena. Silence blanketed the room.
One of the girls staggered, their weapon slipping from trembling hands. Their aura flickered faintly… and then shattered. A ragged gasp escaped as they dropped to their knees, struggling for breath.
“The winner of the first match of the year…” Glynda announced solemnly, “…is Miss Weiss Schnee.”
The hall erupted with cheers and applause, the spectacle leaving everyone awestruck.
“Though this *is* a training match,” Glynda added, already repairing the damaged arena with her Semblance, “I expect you both to avoid such recklessness in the future.”
Yang and Blake rushed down to Ruby without hesitation while Nora slammed her hands against the railing in frustration.
“Noooo! I wanted Little Red to win!” she wailed.
Ren rested a calming hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Nora. It was a great fight. Perfectly even.”
Jaune clapped enthusiastically, even letting out a whistle. “That was amazing, Weiss!”
Nora and Ren turned to stare at him blankly.
“…What? Did I say something wrong?” Jaune asked awkwardly.
“Forget it,” Nora sighed, slumping against the desk.
Pyrrha smiled softly, correcting him gently. “No, Jaune. You’re right. It was a match worth respecting. We should be grateful we got to witness it.”
———
On the stage, Weiss lifted her gaze toward the screen displaying her victory. But her pride didn’t shine as usual. Her rapier fell from her hands, and she herself dropped to her knees, exhausted, her aura fading just like Ruby’s.
She heard footsteps approaching, and when she looked again, she noticed Ruby lying on her back on the floor, her hood still covering her face. Shortly after, Yang knelt beside her, lifting her carefully to rest her in her lap, preventing her from remaining sprawled on the ground. Blake joined them in silence, bowing slightly with a gentle gesture.
Weiss, though sore and exhausted, couldn’t help but notice Ruby. She expected to see her defeated, perhaps frustrated or even crying after everything that had just happened. But, to her surprise, what she found was the opposite: Ruby was smiling. She laughed as she spoke with Yang, exchanging light words also with Blake.
Weiss’s expression darkened. Of all the feelings passing through her mind, only one prevailed:
Envy.
She had won, standing as the “victorious” one. She should have been the one wearing a radiant smile, bidding farewell with elegance, as she had so many times in other stages, surrounded by an audience and congratulations. But now she didn’t feel the same; she felt empty. Her triumph was cold, barely highlighted by the screen behind her announcing her victory.
Gathering her strength, Weiss forced herself to stand. Her steps were firm but heavy as she began to walk toward the trio.
Yang smiled softly, adjusting Ruby in her arms. “You put up a hell of a fight, Rubes. Just like I knew you would.”
Ruby chuckled faintly. “I’m fine… I just lost a match, that’s all. You know I’m not exactly great against *people*.”
Blake corrected her gently, voice calm. “Maybe your weapon’s better suited for Grimm, but you held your ground. That was impressive.”
Ruby’s tired smile widened. “Thanks, you guys…”
“Ruby Rose.”
The cold, clipped voice made them look up. Weiss stood before them, expression calm but strained.
Yang narrowed her eyes. “…What do you want? The fight’s over.”
But Ruby surprised her sister by standing immediately, facing Weiss head-on. “Yes, Weiss?”
Weiss glanced briefly at Yang and Blake, who seemed ready to step in, then cleared her throat softly. “…I’m sorry.”
Ruby blinked. “Huh… what?”
“I said I’m sorry,” Weiss repeated, firmer this time.
Ruby stared blankly, as though she hadn’t processed it. “…Sorry, I think I misheard you—”
Weiss let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m *apologizing*.”
Ruby’s silver eyes widened. “…Y-you’re apologizing?”
“Do I need to repeat myself again?” Weiss shot back, raising a brow.
Ruby waved her hands frantically. “No, no! It’s just… I wasn’t expecting that.”
Weiss crossed her arms awkwardly, forcing her composure. “Look… I may have been too harsh before. Maybe I took out frustrations on you that had nothing to do with you. After thinking it over, I realized… I haven’t given you a real chance.”
Ruby’s eyes shimmered, tears threatening to spill. “Weiss, I—”
“But,” Weiss interrupted firmly, “if you fail, don’t expect me to stand by quietly when it comes to leadership.”
Ruby’s tears turned into a grin, and before Weiss could stop her, Ruby threw her arms around her. “Thank you! I promise I won’t let you down!”
Weiss stiffened, face flushing, trying to pry Ruby off. “H-hey! Stop that before I regret this!”
Ruby laughed softly as she stepped back. Weiss exhaled sharply, adding dryly, “…Considering what I said earlier—even suggesting a faunus would make a better leader than you—I suppose I’ll… let that go.”
Before Blake could comment, she felt a strange sensation—eyes watching her from afar. She turned toward the upper stands just in time to see a pair of doors closing quietly.
She didn’t have time to process it.
“YANG, WAIT!” Ruby’s sudden panicked shout snapped Blake back around.
Blake barely had time to shudder before a deafening impact shook the training room. The force was so intense that it felt like a shockwave rippled through everyone present.