The bell finally rang and everyone rushed to leave the room and escape from the tortuous lecture.
"See? I told you he wouldn't correct the essays," Blake laughed, and the rest of her team laughed with her.
"So what do you think of classes so far?" Yang asked, turning to Neo.
"They're alright I guess. But I don't know how many I could sit through in a row, especially if they're all like that one," she answered.
"Well you're in luck then!" Ruby cheered. "Combat training is next!"
Neo smiled, "Sounds like fun. Hey Yang, maybe we'll get a rematch."
"Don't expect to win this time if we do," the blonde said with a grin. The two went back and forth until they arrived at the arena and took their seats, joining back up with team JNPR. Professor Goodwitch walked to the center of the ring shortly after, looking down at her scroll.
"Alright students, today we'll be doing something a little different," she began. "Today we will be sparring in random pairs to test your ability to adapt to new partners and their fighting styles."
Neo surveyed the other students in the room, deciding in her head who she would and wouldn't want to be matched with. Her heart nearly stopped when she locked eyes with a familiar silver haired boy and green haired girl across the way. Oh my God, what're they doing here? she thought in a panic. Did Cinder send them to finish me off? Make it look like a training accident?
"Our first match: Russel Thrush and Jaune Arc, against Ruby Rose and Mercury Black," Glynda continued, interrupting Neo's thoughts. The four students entered the arena and stood with their partners. Miss Goodwitch stepped outside the ring and waited a moment to let the fighters discuss their fighting styles. "Ready... Begin!" The match started, but Neo couldn't keep her attention on the fighters. Her gaze constantly wandered to Emerald, who stared back at her for the length of the match with a blank exclusion. A loud thud finally brought Neo's attention back to the arena, where Jaune and Russel were lying dazed on the ground. "And that's the match! Excellent job," Goodwitch called out, stepping back into the ring. The fighters returned to their seats and Glynda turned back to her scroll. "Our next match: Cardin Winchester and Pyrrha Nikos, against Weiss Schnee and Neopolitan."
Neo turned to Weiss, who gave her an exasperated look. Well... Looks like I get my wish, Neo thought sadly, and got up to join her partner in the arena.
"So... Is there anything I should know about your fighting style?" Neo asked, and Weiss shook her head.
"Just stay out of my way," she replied coldly. Neo sighed, and looked at her opponents.
Alright... Looks like I get my chance to kick Cardin's ass. He looks like a typical bruiser, nothing too much to worry about. Pyrrha on the other hand should be interesting, but I have a feeling Weiss will keep her occupied. Neo had been feeling down up to this point, but now her entire demeanour changed. She felt the change come over her and let it take hold, switching her from one personality to another. This was the Neo that Yang had fought on the train. She drew her umbrella and leaned on it, giving a cocky look to her opponents. Her change in personality showed more than she thought, with the rest of her team as well as team JNPR taking notice. Pyrrha took a step back, shocked at the psychopathic smile staring back at her.
"Ready?" Professor Goodwitch asked, looking at both pairs. "Begin!"
Weiss and Cardin charged toward each other while Neo and Pyrrha stayed still, each analysing the other. Cardin swung overhead at Weiss, who gracefully parried, landing a blow to his midsection. He spun around, carrying the momentum from his first swing and took aim at Weiss' legs. She leapt back, Cardin's mace burying itself into the ground, and charged forward again. Cardin was prepared this time, pulling his mace up and landing a strong blow square to Weiss' chest. She was sent flying back toward her partner, landing a few feet to Neo's left.
Neo locked eyes with Cardin and slowly strutted toward him. Pyrrha moved forward to intervene, but hesitated, wanted to watch the girl fight before she engaged her. Cardin charged at Neo, swinging wildly, but she dodged each blow as if it took no effort at all, moving only slightly to one direction and letting the weapon pass fractions on an inch from her body. Cardin's attacks became more wild and aggressive as his anger grew at his inability to connect. Pyrrha ran to help her partner, but Weiss moved in on her before she had the chance, leaving Neo to take care of Cardin. She continued to avoid his assault, waiting for the opportune time to strike back.
Finally, she extended her umbrella, deflecting a blow aimed at her head, and struck out at Cardin's ribs with her other hand. He recoiled at the unexpected attack, and raised his weapon to retaliate. Before he could swing, Neo kicked at the side of his knee, knocking him off balance. She planted a series of blows across his head and chest, finally grabbing his arm and flinging him into the air.
At that moment, Weiss was also off the ground, having just dodged an attack from Pyrrha. Seeing Cardin behind her, she created a glyph at her feet and jumped from it to the falling bruiser, grappling him and slamming him into the ground with incredible force. Pyrrha now turned her attention to Neo, running toward her with her shield raised. Neo dodged the girls initial attacks, and began parrying the continued onslaught with her umbrella.
Neo suddenly found herself on the ground as Weiss collided with after being thrown by Cardin. The two rolled several yards before coming to a stop, getting back to their feet to see their opponents charging at them full force. Weiss raised Myrtenaster and prepared to meet them, but Neo put her arm out to stop her. "Wait," Neo commanded. Weiss was hesitant, but held her stance as Pyrrha and Cardin drew closer. She smirked and activated her semblance, moving her and Weiss to the opposite side of the arena and leaving an illusion of them behind. Cardin slashed at the illusion, shattering it and leaving him and his partner off balance and confused. "Now," Neo said, and Weiss charged, creating a series of glyphs around her opponents.
Neo leapt forward as well, slamming into Pyrrha and sending her high into the air. Weiss unleashed a devastating assault on Cardin, dashing from glyph to glyph, also sending him flying. She gave a nod to Neo and the two launched up to continue the fight, each grabbing their opponent by the shoulders, spinning as they plummeted to the ground, simultaneously slamming them onto the floor, the thud echoing through the arena.
"And that's the match!" Glynda called out, moving toward the fighters. Neo was surprised that match was called so soon, but sure enough Cardin's aura had already dropped into the red. The adrenaline began to wear off and she began to revert to her normal self. She stood in an almost meditative state for a moment before she noticed Pyrrha approaching her.
"That was a good fight," the redhead said, holding her hand out to Neo. "I'd love to face you one on one."
Neo smiled and shook her hand, now fully from her second personality.
"Yeah, me too. Maybe next time," she replied, and turned to go to her seat.
"Hey!" Weiss called to her, and she spun to face the heiress. "That was... impressive. You're a good fighter."
Neo smiled, "Thanks, Weiss. That means a lot from you." Weiss smiled back and the four returned to their seats.
"Hey, what happened at the start of the match?" Yang asked with a look of concern once they'd sat back down. The rest of her team and team JNPR had been wondering the same thing, and leant in to hear an explanation.
"Well, you can see a lot of me is split," Neo said, gesturing to her face. "My hair colour, my eyes, and also my personality. Right now, you're talking to normal Neo. When things heat up, like in combat, I take on my other personality. When I make the transition, I become a psychopath. It's not easy to control, but I manage."
The group went silent, and Neo feared she shouldn't have said as much as she had. Yang was the first to respond, "I guess that explains the Neo I fought on the train versus the one I found on the streets. Is it only a fight that triggers it?"
"No, any strong emotion can bring it on too." Neo continued. "I can usually keep it under control when it's from a positive emotion, but otherwise it can be difficult, especially when it's something like stress or anger."
"How do you switch back?" Pyrrha asked. "You looked like you do now when we spoke after the match."
Neo thought a moment, "Well, that really depends. If it's from a fight, once it's over I can switch back right away. When it's from an emotion, it just takes time. How long depends on how strong the feeling was."
"Wow, that sounds... frightening," Blake said with a sympathetic look.
"What's her name?" Nora asked, suddenly turning all heads to her.
"What?" Neo asked with a confused look.
"Does the other you have a name?"
Ren sighed and put his head in his hand, "Nora..."
Neo giggled, "No, no, it's fine. I guess not, I've never thought of it as another person but... I guess she is."
Nora's eyes lit up, "Then we should name her!"
"I take it you have something in mind?" Jaune laughed. Nora shrugged and looked to the rest of the group for suggestions.
"How about Psycho?" Yang said, and Neo shook her head.
"Hmm... Gina? No wait, Debbie!" Nora cheered, earning another facepalm from her partner.
"I've got one. How about Harley?" Blake suggested. "As in Harlequin?"
"I like it," Neo smiled. "I'm sure she does too."
Weiss laughed, "I feel like Harley and Nora would get along really well."
Nora went to retort, but then only shrugged, "Yeah, probably."
Everyone laughed and eventually returned their attention to the ring. Professor Goodwitch announced the next match, but Neo wasn't listening. Her attention had shifted to the white haired girl to her left.
Well, she wouldn't have made a joke about me yesterday, she thought happily. That's definitely progress. Maybe she's starting to warm up to me. I should see if we can hang out over the weekend, just the two of us. We can get to know each other more, that would help, I'm sure of it. Weiss Schnee, come tomorrow night, I'll finally be able to call you my friend.
Class continued, with the teams of Yang and Emerald defeating Ren and Sky, Nora and Blake beating Dove and a boy Neo didn't recognise, and a several other matches of students she didn't know. After class ended, Neo noticed Mercury and Emerald making their way toward her as she and her team made the walk back to their room.
I guess I should see what they want, not point in drawing it out, she thought. 'I doubt they'd try to kill me right here, there're way too many people around. Actually, I don't think that would stop Mercury. Now I just need an excuse to stay behind.
She looked around and got an idea when she eyed Ruby's backpack.
"Hey, I'll meet you guys back at the room," Neo said to her team. "I think I left my bag back in the stands."
"Okay, see ya!" Ruby said and waved goodbye, not even thinking Neo hadn't brought a bag in the first place.
After her team was out of sight, Neo took a breath moved to confront her old allies. They stopped on the side of the path as Neo approached, Emerald putting her hands on her hips. "Well well, look who we have here," Mercury said with an amused grin, crossing his arms. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Neo was confused at the comment, "What do you mean? I thought you were here because I was?"
Emerald laughed, "No, we've been here a while for Cinder. I bet she'd love to know you're here though."
"She expected you to be in jail by now. Or dead," Mercury added.
Neo glared at him, "Well you can tell her I'm alive and well and, as of yesterday, a student here."
"Is that so?" Emerald asked in surprise. "Too bad, she said she was thinking about taking you back."
Neo huffed, "Not going to happen. I'm training to be a Huntress now."
Mercury smirked, "Not if Cinder has anything to say about it. I can't imagine she'll want you around anymore once we relay that to her. What we should just off you now so you can't cause trouble."
"Calm down," his partner snapped. "We need to keep a low profile, and I don't think killing her is a great way to do that."
"Well then what do you suggest we do then?"
Emerald thought a moment and turned back to Neo, "Alright, it looks like we both have a secret we don't want getting out, so I'll make you a deal; As long as no one finds out we're here, Cinder won't find out you're here. Sound good?"
Neo was hesitant. She didn't want to keep a secret like this, especially since she didn't know what they were up to. On the other hand, Cinder knowing she was a student now would almost assuredly bring her time here to an end. She went back and forth in her mind for another few moments before she gave a nod.
"Deal," Neo replied, already feeling uneasy.
"Alright then. See you around," Mercury said, and he and Emerald left.
There's no way this is going to end well for me, Neo thought sadly, taking a seat on a nearby bench. If I tell someone about them Cinder will find out it was me. But what if they do something and I could've stopped it? Maybe I should talk to Yang. No, I don't want to drag her in with me. She sighed and got up to leave. How did I get back to the dorms again? I think I have a map on... Where'd I put my scroll? She searched her pockets for a minute before laughing to herself. I guess I left something in the stands after all.