Before the Dawn

It had been a hard life for Jae, a kid growing up and moving between foster home to foster home; from a young age he learned how to live, how to think and more specifically how to fight back against the people that called him a freak. By the time he was old enough to live for himself, he worked job to job; earning Lien and paying for his room and board while he trained for the same thing that every teenager and ambitious adult wanted: to become a Huntsman.

It took him 7 and a half years to train, to study and to have enough money to gain entry but he finally did it…he had passed the entrance exam and excelled in the practical tests that the proctors and the famous Headmaster of Beacon had lay out for them; "So, you wish to enter my school….why exactly?" Professor Ozpin quizzed as the young boy sat in front of him.

Jae was wearing a faded blue hoody with crude but effective thin armour plating along the sleeves, a pair of thin black gloves along with deep crimson pants that had seen their fair share of rips and burns along with their repairs and a scuffed pair of black combat boots; "For the same reason that anyone else would want to join, I want to become a Huntsman and help to make a difference." Jae responded with the speech that he had repeated in his head over and over, "To be able to protect the world that we share and to help make it a better place." he made sure to explain with Ozpin coolly nodding along as he listened to Jae speak and his assistant/Vice Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch taking notes.

"That's a noble enough sentiment to carry but why choose Beacon? You could sign up for the police or for the military to do that exact same purpose." Ozpin countered as this was a common thing he heard from would-be students that came this far, most of the time that was as far as it took them before they stagnated in their role.

"I could…but I also know that the Huntsmen who graduate can also expand themselves….to learn more about the world and it's history….I want to learn as much as I can and ensure that it is put to the right use." Jae further explained, knowing that there was a lot more to what he wanted than to simply fight monsters, however what it was happened to be something that he wanted to keep to himself for now at least.

"Oobleck would like this boy." Ozpin mused to himself as he tapped his finger on the head of his cane; "I must admit, most would-be applicants gravitate towards seeking greater strength or the glory….and Beacon is happy to welcome all walks of life into it's classrooms…no matter if they are rich or poor….Human or Faunus, everyone remains welcome." Ozpin would remark as he took a sip from his mug; wanting to see if this triggered a response.

Jae shook his head; "I thank you Professor, but I want to be known for deeds, not who I am as a person and if you do indeed choose to accept me….I will put my utmost effort to ensure I can be someone to be proud of." Jae finished his comments as Glynda scribbled his and Ozpin's words down.

"I see, I can assure you that you have indeed made a good impression and you have more then what it takes to be accepted into Beacon…..but there are other applicants besides yourself…are you sure that you can excel where they can't?" Ozpin asked as he took a long, pensive gaze at Jae, watching him for any anxieties or second thoughts but was surprised and somewhat impressed that Jae responded with a resolute nod, with a amiable thanks and a farewell…the interview was over.

"He seems steadfast in his comments and I can see very little reason that he would not be ready." Ozpin would say as Glynda shut the door to share their thoughts on their final applicant.

"Indeed Professor, I've looked over his gradings for the theories and the practical tests, his combat testing is above average and he certainly shows commendable skill, though he lacks the coordination that we typically see in combat school graduates….and considering that I've seen no transcripts that indicate that he's been approved by a teacher or a combat specialist." Glynda explained to Oz as he looked over the grades of other applicants, middling or average with the occasional failing scores; "But the other applicant that seems to be viable to be accepted is this one." Glynda commented as she handed him another set of transcripts under the name "Jaune Arc".

"Interesting, Average test scores yet excelling in combat training….and signed off as Signal Academy, though it is rather surprising that none of the teachers have brought that name up before…." Ozpin mentioned while he scanned Jaune's documents as his assistant adjusted her glasses while reading it herself.

"I have made some calls to Signal and asked if they had a student like this." Glynda laid it all out to him; "However no one seems to recognize his name or his picture when I showed it."Glynda explained with a rather serious tone; "So it sounds like this Mr Arc is either a similar case to Mr Cielo and is self taught…..or these transcripts are doctored...Under normal circumstances neither of them would be accepted even if their gradings are to be considered. Mr Cielo not having official training is concerning enough but Mr Arc submitting these falsified documents is not something we should accept, passing grades or not….It would be more prudent to blackli-"

"Permanently stopping someone who is willing to learn is counter productive Glynda….I say we refuse his entry this time and we ensure he goes through the proper channels before he can take his test again….But I think that Mr Cielo may be the student we're looking for…." Ozpin made his judgement but before Glynda could protest; "ON the conditions provided….."

The hours carried on into as Jae was training in the woods with a silver sabre in his hand, he was practicing his katas as he did every night before sleeping and even though he was finished with his exams, he was still determined to keep training when he heard the jingling of his scroll; a wave of his hand made his sword vanish into the night as he answered; "Mr Cielo, I have news for you regarding your acceptance to Beacon Academy." a familiar voice was heard as Glynda brought him the news, ordinarily he would've yelled for joy but her tone seemed to indicate an oncoming "But".

"While we are happy to accept you into our school and welcome you to the coming semester, we will be doing so with some added conditions regarding the concerns we have over your paperwork; the rules are as followed: Because you had not engaged in any prior combat school or shown us you have approval from either a teacher or a professional Hunstman….you will be surveyed and reviewed at the end of every semester." She laboured on it further.

"That doesn't sound that bad." Jae thought to himself before Glynda rattled into the second condition.

"You will be accepted but you also have to maintain an adequate rapport of good scores and good behaviour in your classes and if we notice a trend of failings in any of these, you will be expelled….that is all." Glynda finished with a quick yet somehow stiff farewell before the call hung up. Jae wasn't sure what to think; the news of being accepted into Beacon was the biggest and greatest news he got however the subsequent rules placed on him was a sufficient dampener on the mood…

"Well….If that's what it takes to be accepted into a Huntsman academy? Then I'll take anything they can throw at me…..who's the failure now, dad?" he would mutter the last part to himself as he directed his gaze to his right forearm; on it was a black mark similar to a tattoo of a sword with a wolf's skull on one side that seemed to pulsate with each breath; "I got a lot of training to do." he remarked as he started heading back inside to the apartment complex he was staying in.