High in the sky, an airship carries prospective Beacon students up to the renowned academy. The airship is a boxy container mounted with four flippers that allow it to 'swim' through the air. Despite its slow movement, the constant rise and fall create a sensation similar to that of a sea vessel.
Within the air vessel, nervous chattering echoes as students naturally form groups of familiar faces. Occasionally, a lone student can be seen leaning against the wall, pondering their existential values.
One such student with gray hair is currently contemplating when he should call his mother in order not to get yelled at for not calling her sooner. Azraq sighs as he simply opts to call her as soon as the ceremony is over.
According to the itinerary, they are to stay the night before participating in the initiation. The thought of the small woman he calls his mother brings a smile to Azraq's face, especially when he recalls how much she fussed over him before he left to take the airship to Beacon.
He closes his eyes and leans back on the wall, taking a deep breath to ground himself.
His inner peace is interrupted by the sound of barely suppressed retching. His barely closed eyes instantly open as he spots a blond man stumbling in his direction, one hand cupped tightly over his mouth. The man's dark blue eyes widen with panic as he stops in front of Azraq.
Azraq immediately sees what's coming next and pre-emptively leaps away, using the wall as a foothold. Right as Azraq clears the blonde's surroundings, he sees the man suddenly vomit onto the floor directly next to where he had been standing.
Azraq quickly turns away as he covers his nose to block out the smell. He waits until he stops hearing retching noises and asks the man. "Do you need some water, dude?"
The man seemingly goes to answer, but instead quickly covers his mouth again as he heaves. The man shakily signs Azraq a thumbs-up. After Azraq carefully steps forward and hands him the water, he nods his head in thanks before stumbling away, probably to the restroom.
Azraq stares in the direction the man left before glancing at the pile of vomit. He can see some other passengers panicking as they come in contact with the splash zone. Upon noticing Yang shouting and panicking as she attempts to kick off vomit, Azraq chuckles before turning away to find another spot to rest.
***
Azraq walks down the gangway, stepping onto Beacon Campus for the first time. He takes in the sight of the most renowned hunter school in Remnant. Azraq starts walking a long road that leads up to what appears to be the main academy buildings.
The road is lined with trees and light poles with hanging banners, as well as several aqueducts and archways. In front of the entrance to the main courtyard is a large statue with a fountain of a Huntsman and Huntress standing atop a rock, which sits on top of a cowering Beowolf. There's also a large circular pond which is surrounded by a pathway and a garden of red trees.
With a deep breath, Azraq moves to step forward when he hears shouting from behind him. Initially paying it no mind, he pauses when he recognizes familiar characteristics.
"Hey, wait! You, with the gray hair, blue cloak, and silver armor! Wait for me!"
Azraq turns back to spot the blonde man running in his direction. The man is wearing a white chest piece with pauldrons of the same color, a sword sheathed at his waist. The man skids to a stop before doubling over, hands on his knees as he catches his breath. "Man…you're…kinda fast."
He then stands upright as he offers a hand and introduces himself. "Anyways, I wanted to thank you for helping me back on the airship. I really needed that water, to be honest. The name's Jaune Arc, future hunter."
Azraq nods as he takes Jaune's hand and introduces himself, "Azraq Akulov, don't worry about it. I'm just glad you made it. Sounds like you were having a hell of a time."
"Ehehe, yeah. I've never been on an airship before, so it kinda came out of nowhere. So, I saw you dodge my…spew…that was awesome! How'd you pull that off? I've never seen anyone move like that!"
Azraq glances at the receding crowd and nods at Jaune before starting to walk as he responds, "Let's walk and talk. As for the dodge, it didn't seem like something particularly impressive. I imagine most hunter trainees could pull off something similar."
Azraq then glances at the blade at Jaune's hip as he notices something. "Say, that sword looks a little small for a mechashift weapon. Is it a classical model?"
"Walk? Sure. So you noticed? Yeah, Crocea Mors is kind of a family inheritance, my grandpa used it in the Great Wars."
"Hm? It doesn't look that old. How interesting. Speaking of classical weaponry, check out my Khopesh. Genuine classical article and Mastercraft certified. It's called Remus. I got it as a gift for making it into Beacon." Azraq unclips his sword, flourishing it before showing it to Jaune.
Jaune looks it over with a wide smile, awe in his eyes as he admires the weapon. "Sweet, this thing looks like it could do some damage! It's a really unique shape too, never seen a half-curved sword."
"Haha! That's actually a funny story, see, there was this one time I was fighting when my sword got bent…" Azraq's recounting is interrupted by the sound of an explosion. Both he and Jaune turn to spot Ruby getting scolded by a white-haired girl.
Azraq can hear Jaune go starstruck over the white-haired girl, but his own attention is on Ruby, Yang's sister. Seeing her get so viciously scolded, Azraq moves to intervene, "Hey Jaune, I know the red hood, so I'm going over to see if she's okay."
As Azraq begins approaching, he hears another voice cut through the noise, and a black-haired woman stepping up to defend Ruby. As the two begin to argue, Azraq walks over to Ruby, "You okay, Ruby?"
"Ehh! Azraq?" She looks surprised to see him there, but quickly recovers as she thanks him, "Y-yes, I'm good. Thank you!"
The argument seems to end when Azraq turns back to look at the white-haired girl as she does the same. She glances at him up and down before scoffing and walking away.
Ruby looks at the black-haired woman to thank her, but the woman's eyes are locked on the white-haired girl, glaring. "Thank you for helping me."
The woman doesn't respond, simply glancing at Ruby before narrowing in on Azraq. She opens her mouth as if to say something, before closing it and turning away without a word. Ruby sighs in sadness as her start at Beacon ends in disaster.
Azraq notices and pats Ruby's shoulder as he reassures her, "Brighten up, Ruby, you look like the world just ended. Still, I'm a little surprised to see you here. I thought you were younger than Yang?"
Ruby immediately brightens up, before beaming as she responds to him, "You're right! I have to stay positive! As for me, y-yeah, I'm younger than Yang…by two years. But Professor Ozpin recruited me! He said I'd displayed enough talent to enroll in Beacon with Yang!"
"Oh? You too? Small world, huh." Azraq looks slightly surprised before shrugging and accepting it.
Ruby looks confused as she looks at Azraq, "Huh? What do you mean you too?"
Before Azraq can respond, Jaune walks up behind and speaks to Ruby. "Yo! man, it seems like you were really bummed, are you okay?"
Ruby reflexively looks around for Yang, upon failing to find her, Ruby panics slightly before responding to Jaune. "Ah, yes, thank you for asking. I'm okay."
"No need to worry about him, Ruby. Jaune seems like a stand-up guy, even if a little attached to solid ground." Azraq introduces Jaune to Ruby before glancing at the main buildings as he remarks, "We should get moving if we don't want to be late." Azraq then begins walking.
"Ah, it's nice to meet you, Jaune. I'm Ruby."
"Um, nice to meet you, too, Ruby. Right then." Jaune smiles at Ruby before following behind Azraq.
Ruby hesitates for a second before running up to Azraq's other side, glad for a familiar face.