Chapter 2

The bullhead smoothly descended from the skies, gracefully touching down at Beacon. The students began to disembark, their pace leisurely, with Yosuke and Blake among the last to step off the aircraft.

The campus of Beacon Academy sprawled before them, a breathtaking sight of grandeur and elegance. Towering spires and architectural marvels adorned the grounds, evoking a sense of prestige and tradition. The air buzzed with the excited murmurs of students, their anticipation palpable as they embarked on their journey as future huntsmen and huntresses.

Yosuke's gaze wandered across the landscape, taking in the meticulously manicured gardens and the bustling activity of students going about their business. He couldn't help but feel a surge of enthusiasm and curiosity building within him, eager to explore the halls of knowledge and further hone his skills.

Meanwhile, Blake's attention remained firmly fixed on her book, her amber orbs absorbing every word as if they held the key to a hidden realm not yet known to man. Yosuke respected her focus and decided not to disturb her further, knowing that they would have plenty of time to get to know each other in the days to come.

As they meandered through the campus, Yosuke's ears caught a deafening boom originating from his left, immediately drawing his attention towards the source. His gaze zeroed in on a girl clad in a black and red dress, currently on the receiving end of a scolding from another girl. The latter, adorned in all-white attire that had been seemingly tarnished by the earlier explosion.

At Blake's feet, a small vial containing crimson-colored dust rolled to a stop. In an almost instinctive motion, she gracefully lowered herself, retrieving the vial with practiced ease. Her amber eyes briefly skimmed the pages of her book before flickering to the distinctive symbol branded onto the container—a snowflake insignia.

'The Schnee Dust Company. White hair... I assume she is Weiss Schnee, the heiress to the company.' Yosuke's thoughts whispered silently as he scrutinized Blake. Turning his attention towards her, he gently posed a question, "Will you intervene?" Blake nodded in response, her stride carrying her over to the scene.

The girl dressed in white couldn't contain her exasperation, emphasizing her frustration by stomping her foot and exclaiming, "I can't believe this! This is exactly what I was talking about!" Her hands rested on her waist as she narrowed her gaze, directing it firmly at the other girl.

The girl in black and red appeared apologetic, her head lowered slightly as she fidgeted with her fingers. "I'm really, really sorry." She murmured, her voice carrying a hint of sadness.

The white-haired girl scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "You dolt! What are you even doing here?" She retorted, leaning forward and crossing her arms.

Yosuke, observing the tense exchange, approached the scene with a composed and calm demeanor. He positioned himself a few steps behind Blake, silently offering his support without directly interfering. Carefully, he assessed the situation and discerned the dynamics at play.

He wasn't one to intervene in altercations between others if he lacked knowledge of the cause of the argument or didn't have a valid reason to interfere.

The girl in black and red averted her gaze, a trace of sadness evident in her expression. "Well, I-I..." She stammered, struggling to find the right words.

"This isn't your average combat school," The girl in white asserted, staring pointedly at the girl before her as she straightened herself and crossed her arms in front of her.

"We're not here to play around, you know? We're here to fight monsters, so watch where you're goi-" The lecture from the white-haired girl was abruptly cut off by the girl in red and black.

"Hey, I said sorry, princess!" The girl in black and red bit back.

"It's heiress, actually," Blake interjected, her voice calm yet firm as she positioned herself to the right of the confrontation. With Yosuke standing adjacent to her, his blue eyes momentarily drifted downward to the luggage on the ground, deducing it as the place where the vial of dust was kept.

"Weiss Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company," Blake stated, pausing briefly to let her words sink in. She continued, her voice steady, "One of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world." Blake concluded her statement, holding up the vial of dust as evidence.

The aforementioned girl perked up, a smug grin spreading across her lips. "Finally, some recognition," She said, shooting a pointed glare at the girl in red.

Blake continued her statement, her sharp amber orbs locking with Weiss' pale blue ones. "The same company infamous for its controversial labor practices and questionable business partners, as well as racism." She remarked, causing Weiss to sputter, taken aback by her rather rude accusations.

"What? How dare- the nerve of...Ugh!" Weiss stammered, clearly flustered by Blake's comment.

The girl in red couldn't help but silently grin at Weiss's angered expression. Yosuke, however, observed Blake with a critical gaze, 'She's quite knowledgeable about the Schnee Dust Company and judging by her tone she seems to carry some form of resentment towards them.'

Weiss took a step forward, abruptly snatching the vial from Blake's hand. She scoffed as she turned on her heels, and stormed off in a fit of anger.

"I promise I'll make this up to you~" The girl in red and black shouted with genuine sincerity as she watched the heiress disappear into the school grounds.

Letting out a sigh, she muttered to herself before turning her head to the right. "So, what's..." Her sentence trailed off as she noticed Yosuke and Blake walking away.

"Nice to meet you too..." She whispered under her breath, flopping onto the ground before sighing once again.

-.-

As Blake and Yosuke walked side by side, a quiet atmosphere surrounded them. The air was filled with a sense of tranquility, interrupted only by the faint sound of pages turning and the steady rhythm of their footsteps.

Yosuke's curiosity got the better of him, and he stole a brief glance at the book held in Blake's hands. His eyes quickly scanned the pages before returning to her.

Intrigued by the depth of knowledge Blake seemed to possess, Yosuke mustered the courage to break the silence. His voice emerged, softly interrupting their serene journey.

His words carried a genuine curiosity, revealing his interest. "Blake, you seem to have a deeper understanding of the Schnee Dust Company than ordinary citizens." He remarked, his gaze shifting back to the path ahead.

Blake, engrossed in her reading, responded with a calm and detached demeanor. Her voice carried a touch of intrigue, mirroring the curiosity expressed by Yosuke.

"Is that so?" She replied, acknowledging his observation and inviting further discussion. Despite her response, her focus remained on the pages before her, entranced by the wealth of information they held.

"Yes, you spoke about the Schnee Dust Company as if you had some history with them, a rather bad one I assume." He added, the girl's bow twitching slightly at his words, the unusual occurrence not escaping Yosuke's perceptive gaze. However, he brushed it off as the wind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He inquired, slipping his hands into his pockets, trudging alongside her as he awaited her response.

He didn't have to wait long for an answer. "No, it's nothing really. I've only mentioned what I've heard from the news," She replied, though it was an obvious lie. Had the news displayed such information to the public, it would cause a negative reaction from the civilians and that would spell disaster for the people if not properly dealt with.

Yosuke studied her for a moment, rationalizing that her evasion might indicate a more personal connection to the subject. As curious as he might be, he won't pry into the matters of others unless they willingly choose to discuss them with him since he respects people's privacy as much as he does his own.

"I see." He nodded in understanding as they continued along their path.

After a while, Blake and Yosuke entered the auditorium, their pace leisurely as they made their way through the halls. The corridors were bustling with students, their excited voices creating a lively atmosphere that filled the air.

Finding a spot amidst the crowd, they settled down, waiting for the commencement of the ceremony. Blake swiftly tucked away her book, her eyes trailing to the stage.

Yosuke's attention was drawn to the stage as well as a middle-aged man stepped forward. He had short, tousled silver hair and thin auburn eyes, he exuded undeniable authority and the gentle air of that of a well aged wise man. A pair of dark-shaded spectacles rested on the bridge of his nose, accompanied by a small, purple, cross-shaped pin adorning the cowl around his neck with his cane in tow.

Adjusting his glasses, the man, known as Professor Ozpin, began to speak. His voice projected with a calm authority as he addressed the gathering.

"I'll keep this brief. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, I am Ozpin, your Headmaster." He started, his calm voice reminiscent of an old wiseman, capturing the attention of the audience.

"You have come here today in search of knowledge, to refine your skills and acquire new ones."

Pausing briefly, he continued, his tone becoming more direct, "And yet, when I look among you, all I see is wasted energy, yearning for purpose and direction. You may believe that knowledge alone will set you free from this, but your time at this school will reveal that knowledge can only take you so far," He declared, emphasizing the limitations of knowledge. His enigmatic hazel orbs peering above the dark shaded spectacles perched atop his nose and into the crowd of students. He stood like an old royal; both hands placed atop his mechanical cane.

'Indeed, having a wealth of knowledge doesn't necessarily mean you possess power. However, possessing power but lacking the knowledge to use it properly can only be detrimental. Either way, one cannot exist without the other, else chaos would ensue.'

"It is up to you to take the first step." Ozpin concluded, stepping away from the microphone, his cane in hand.

Following Ozpin's departure from the stage, Professor Goodwitch stepped forward to address the students. Her presence exuded confidence and authority.

"Tonight, you will gather in the ballroom. Tomorrow, your initiation will commence. Be prepared," She informed them, her voice firm and resolute. "You are dismissed," Glynda declared, signaling the end of the gathering and allowing the students to disperse.