Up on a cliff face, facing a massive green forest, stand countless candidates for this year's Beacon Initiation. Each student stands at attention upon a small raised metal contraption, listening as the headmaster of the academy explains their trial.
Azraq looks over to his left, noticing Jaune's nervous stance as his eyes gaze worryingly at the forest. He then looks right and finds another nervous candidate, one he doesn't recognize. Azraq then glances over at Ozpin, a smirk crossing his face as he listens to yet another 'grim' speech.
While mentally chuckling at the double entendre, he notices the blonde woman beside Ozpin glaring at him. A wry smile crosses his face as he recalls her name, 'Damn, Glynda looks pissed. Shouldn't she be used to my lack of attention by now, though? I've heard the old man's speeches like fifty times by this point.'
With a wink that makes Glynda's eyebrow twitch in anger, Azraq refocuses to hear Ozpin's speech cover their task in the forest, as well as how partnerships are formed.
"Your teammates will be with you for the rest of your time at Beacon. So it'd be wise to choose people with whom you'll work well. That being said, whoever you first lock eyes with will be your partner for the next four years."
Azraq grimaces as he hears exclamations from nearby aspirants, his internal dialogue critiquing Ozpin, 'What a nasty personality, old man. I bet this trial only gets better from here.'
"After you've found your partners, head to the north of the forest. There you will find ruins where the relics you'll seek are found. Select a relic, and return here to complete your initiation. We will grade you based on your performance. It'd be in your best interest to treat this task as if you were constantly facing death, or you will die."
"Are there any questions?"
Right as Ozpin finishes his speech right as Azraq feels a yawn kick in, his eyes close as he hears Jaune try to ask a question, only to be blatantly ignored by both Ozpin and Glynda. Ozpin then announces the beginning of Initiation, "Now then, take your positions."
Azraq bends his knees as he moves his shield onto his arm, khopesh held at ready in his other hand. Jaune continues to question the initiation to no effect, before turning to Azraq as he asks, "So what do they mean by landing strategy?"
"Just avoid going splat." A student at the far end of the line screams as he is sent flying as the platform below him springs up. The takeoffs continue every second, slowly approaching Azraq and Jaune's position.
"Yeah, I got that." Jaune exclaims nervously as he attempts to explain himself, "I mean, what exactly should I do to prevent that…"
Azraq then notices the last student before Jaune springs away as he hurriedly responds, "Just throw up your aura."
"Throw up my whaaaaaaaaaa." Before Jaune can finish his question, the pad beneath him launches him away, his screaming echoing in the forest.
Azraq then hears Ozpin clear his throat to catch his attention, "I do trust you'll be able to handle yourself; it would be rather embarrassing if my most recent protege failed initiation."
Azraq grins, shark-like smile gleaming as he remarks, "Don't worry, I'll keep some of the Grimm alive for next year."
He is then launched into the air a split second later, his parabolic arc carrying him deep into the forest. It's then that he notices Jaune still screaming as he falls, as well as a red spear flying right towards him.
Reacting quickly, Azraq shifts his shield, Romulus, into a crossbow. Instantly taking aim and firing a bolt at the offending spear, it hits with a red explosion and sends the spear flying off course.
Azraq smiles proudly before shifting Romulus back into a shield as he holds it in front of him. His aura roars to life as the shield slams into a tree and begins cracking branches on its way down. Each branch serves to slow Azraq down as his shield prevents any sharp or blunt edges from slamming into him.
Azraq finally slows down enough to control his fall as he grabs hold of a branch, swinging a couple of times to kill off momentum, before climbing up to inspect his surroundings. After a quick glance reveals nothing, Azraq drops down onto an oily, black, and bony rock.
He instantly freezes before looking down again, staring into the unblinking red eyes of a Ursa, a bear-like creature composed of oily black skin, with bonelike protrusions and a mask, who seems just as confused as Azraq is. The two hold the stare for a minute before the Ursa recovers and roars at the offending human.
Azraq instantly reacts and stabs his khopesh, Remus, into the Ursa's neck. Just below the area where its bone-like mask meets the oily flesh of darkness. Dark foggy particles burst out before the Ursa collapses to the floor.
Azraq hops off his opponent, wiping the sweat off his forehead as he thanks the stars he landed on its back. 'Don't know if I would've made it if I landed within reach of its paws.' He then looks around before jogging North.
****
Farther away in the forest, birds fly away in a hurry as loud screaming startles all wildlife in its vicinity. The screaming is abruptly cut off by a grunt as a heavy, blonde projectile slams into the trunk of a tree with a golden glow flashing.
The projectile pauses there for a bit before comically sliding down, eventually landing seated on a low-hanging branch. Jaune stays there for a bit, catching his breath before he looks around.
He then tries to hop off the branch, but his foot gets caught, and he flops onto the ground, leaving coating his form as he spits out a mouthful of dirt.
"Pffft, Gross. That tastes disgusting." Jaune pats his armor, clearing away the stubborn leaves that followed him down his rapid egress.
Suddenly, a rustling sound comes from a nearby bush, Jaune quickly draws Crocea Mors, shield on his arm as he assumes the stance taught to him by Azraq. His fear grows as he curses Azraq under his breath, "Ha ha, 'Avoid going splat' he said, like I wanna cosplay a pancake!"
Jaune musters up his courage as he points his sword at the bush and shouts out a warning, "If you're not a Grimm, come out! If you are…ideally just stay put."
A snort is the only answer he receives as a black-haired girl with yellow eyes emerges from the bush. She looks Jaune up and down before turning her head away and clicking her tongue. Meanwhile, Jaune remains frozen, starstruck by the sudden appearance of a beautiful woman.
He recovers and his troublemaking instincts kick in as he puts on his charming(read: goofy) smile and says, "The name's Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue. Ladies love it."
The girl raises an eyebrow in suspicion, clearly doubting his claims, before bluntly responding. "I see."
She remains silent from that point on, pushing Jaune to cough awkwardly before prompting an introduction, "Aaand you are?"
"Blake." Yet another short answer follows as the newly named Blake turns away and begins searching the surroundings.
Jaune extends his hand for a handshake before confidently remarking, "Well then, Blake, since we're going to be partners, let's get along, what do you say?"
Blake stares at the hand for a moment before turning on her heels and beginning to walk north without a word. Jaune shatters into pieces, eyes dead as yet another interaction with a woman goes sour.
Jaune then hears Blake's voice quietly answer him, "Agreed." He immediately reanimates before running off after his teammate as she disappears into the undergrowth. "Hey! Wait for me!"
****