"Raphtalia, there's so much about the world that you don't know about. Let's say people for an example. For every bad person you meet, there will always be a good person. For every good person you meet, there will always be someone bad." Raphtalia nodded her head, understanding her father's weird logic of people.

"Father, what if there was someone out there who wants to be rid of the bad people?" Her father rubbed his chin.

"Then that person, is a hero."

"A hero?" Raphtalia's head tilted to the side in confusion. Her mother, who was holding her in her lap, giggled.

"Yes, a hero. You know, Raphtalia, I thought of your father as a hero when we first met." Raphtalia looked back at her mother with sparkling eyes.

"Really!? Was he a cool hero!? Did he beat every single bad guy!?" Her father was nervously laughing while scratching the back of his head.

"Not exactly. He was wasn't doing of the sort at all. He was more like a savior than a hero."

"Honey, that's because you were all mopey when it came to talking to others."

"I don't have the slightest clue of what you're talking about, dear." She smiled at him. But to him, that smile meant something bad for him.

"If he didn't beat up bad guys, then why did you call him a hero then?"

"Because, Raphtalia, just because you defeat bad people, it doesn't make the better person."

"It doesn't? Then what does it mean to be a hero?"

"To save first, or to fight the bad guys first. Which one of these choices suits best for a hero?" She pouted at her mother. Testing is not really her strong suit.

"Um… fighting the bad guys?" Her mother shook her head and smiled.

"Incorrect. The first priority is to worry about the innocent lives first. Saving the innocent comes first, then you handle the bad guys."

"I… think I get it! Save the innocent first and then fight bad guys!" Her mother giggled again.

"Well, if you can't handle the bad guys, then worrying about your life, along with others comes first then as well." Her father said.

"When I grow up, I'll be the strongest hero ever! I'll save everyone, and beat every single person that harms my friends!" Her father laughed loudly at her.

"That's the spirit! No doubt, you'll be the best hero that saves everyone, Raphtalia!" Her father started to rub her hair, proud of the enthusiasm that his daughter showed.

"Honey…" Her mother called out her father in a tone that started to make Raphtalia worried. Her mother was standing near their houses window, motioning him to come see what sees.

"...I see. So it's time…." Raphtalia was starting to get nervous. What was going on?

"Raphtalia, we're leaving the house." This was the first time Raphtalia saw her mother in such as frightened state. This only made Raphtalia even more scared.

She was scared…

"B-But, why? Is there something going-"

"Raphtalia, listen to your mother. We have to get going… now!" Raphtalia's ears twitched when she heard her father's demand.

"O-Okay…"

"Honey, remember to take "them" with you!" Her father nodded, as he disappeared from Raphtalia's sight to acquire what "them" was. Soon after he came back, the family left the house.

"Raphtalia, keep running! Don't look back!" Raphtalia didn't know what was going on, but she kept running. She was scared. Her hand tightened as she held onto her mother's hand. The sky….it was the same beautiful blue sky she remembers….

Why… why was the sky red?

No, why was this happening in the first place?

"Raphtalia, sweetie, don't ever let go of my hand. Be strong. We'll all make it out of this, do you hear me?" Raphtalia nodded her head. She was still scared, but she had to be strong. She had to be strong, for her parents sake.

However, as they continued to run, they found themselves at a cliffside. There was nowhere else to go. There was no one that was going to save them from their end. The waves were crashing against the cliff side. All that was left, was the waves.

There was no hero…

"Raphtalia, stay behind us!" Her father moved Raphtalia behind him and her mother.

"F-Fa-" Growling… the sound of growling had managed to quiet her.

A three head dog-like creature had met her sights. It was huge… bigger than her mother, and bigger than her father. Saliva came from the creature's mouth. Ready to kill, and ready to feast on the flesh in front of it.

"M-Mother, I'm scared!"

"..." Her mother didn't say anything when she looked back at her. She only held onto a smile that was meant to reassure her that everything was going to be fine.

"Raphtalia… please, you have to continue living…" What was her mother going to do? Why was she saying this to her?

"W-What? What about-"

"Don't worry about us, sweetie. It's more important to have you continue to live."

"No! I want us all to continue to live! I want the entire family to keep living!" Tears started to soak her eyes. Her mother continued to smile at her. The creature continued to walk towards them.

"Raphtalia, here." Her father had given her something long that was covered in cloth, a book, and a egg. She hasn't seen these items before, but she still held onto them.

"Never let go of them. The lord gave us these items in case of an dire situation such as this, but… we are unable to use them. And make sure that the egg is safe too. It was said to bring great luck to us all. We hope that one day, you'll be the one to use them." Raphtalia couldn't manage to say anything. Her fear was starting to take over her. She could only nod her head as the tears continued to run down her face.

"You're 16 years old Raphtalia. As you continue to grow, you will start to see the world more different than now. Remember to always look ahead of you with your head hung high."

"Sweetie, remember that we love you. Live, so you could be the hero that saves everyone. Please, make sure that no one else experience the same pain as you. We'll be watching over you." With her final words, Raphtalia felt herself be pushed back.

Pushed into the terror of the sea….

As she fell into the sea, she could see her parents looking down at her with genuine smiles…

Until they were replaced with red that covered her vision.

"Nooooooo!" Raphtalia screamed as she continued to fall down to her demise. Falling into the water, she held onto the items that her father had given her. It was the only thing she had to remember them. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel the warmth of the blue sea surround her body.

The sea was a light that wanted to comfort her….

But there was no one that could save her. She opened her eyes to see the sparking sun looking down at her. It looked pretty to her.

Wait… the sun? Why was the sun there? She didn't see the sun when she was falling, so why was it there?

It didn't matter…

She was slowly being pulled down into the warm ocean. Nothing mattered now. Her parents were gone, and she had nothing to live for. She gave up, and let the ocean take all of the feelings she kept inside away.

But not until she felt someone her arm pull her up…

"I'm sorry Jaune, I don't think it's working between the two of us." Ruby, who had been going out with me for two months, had said this. We were currently outside Beacon Academy, at the front entrance.

"It's alright, I hope that you find someone else that will keep you happy." I smiled at her. I was happy that Ruby was going to break up with me, to find someone else that could make her happy.

I was happy after all…

"Y-Yeah…. Thank you for all that you've done Jaune. I'll… see you around, Jaune." After exchanging hugs with one another, Ruby left me.

That was a lie wasn't it?

No one talked to me after my transcripts were revealed by Cardin…

My friends… didn't want to be friends anymore...

They left me…

They didn't want me anymore….

They gave up on me…

The transcripts didn't do the damage. It was the attempts to help me learn how to fight. Weiss wasn't fond of the idea of teaching someone who didn't have any experience in fighting anything. But the rest of her team was though. And my team was already liking the idea as we continued to plan it.

So we spent days, weeks, and a month to get me better than I already was.

But I was hopeless…

I would always fail at the simplest things…

Then, they didn't want to teach me anymore...

They didn't want to speak to me anymore….

Because I was a failure….

"Mr. Arc, may I ask what you seem to be doing out here at this time? You have classes to attend don't you?" A familiar voice had broke me out of my thoughts.

"H-Headmaster Ozpin! P-Please, don't scare me like that!" Ozpin started to sip on some of his coffee. When would there be a day where I don't see him without any coffee?

"Mr. Arc, I asked you a question. Please do not ignore what I am asking you."

"I… I just broke up with my girlfriend." I chose to be honest this time. There wouldn't be any point on hiding anything from him.

"You're being honest. That is something I did not expect from you."

"There wouldn't be any point on hiding anything from you. You already know what's happening to me..."

" ."

"Yes?"

"Your eyes are hollow…" My eyes were… hollow? Why would they even be hollow to begin with?

"R-Really? I must've not got any sleep yesterday." Ozpin continued to look at me. I don't know what he's thinking, but I could tell that it was going to be something along the lines of "then you should be sleeping at a expected time, ."

" ."

"Yes?" I'm already prepared for his next words. He's going to lecture me, and tell me to get to class….

Where the bullying continues…

"Take the week off."

"Yes, Headmaster Ozpin. I'll be heading to class now…" Sulking about it wouldn't do that much for me. If only I had a day off or something. I don't want to be anywhere near this place for now.

"Mr. Arc, why are you heading to class?" I looked at him as if he was stupid. His calm demeanor wasn't budging in the slightest.

"Because that's what you told me to do. I might not like my classmates, but I guess I have to deal with it."

"I told you to take the week off, ." He did? Now I'm the one who's looking stupid.

"R-Really? B-But why?" At this, he sipped his coffee for a second before responding.

"You're never honest when it comes to questions about yourself. You hide your feelings deep down in your heart, and hope that someone would notice that something was wrong with you. Take the week off Mr. Arc. You need the time after all." How much does he know about me? I could call him a stalker, but saying something so rude to the person who gave me another chance at this school would be bad.

"I-I see. Thank you for the time off." Walking away from him, I went to my next destination…

The Docks.

Wearing my hoodie over my head, I didn't want to bring attention to myself. I don't know if the people in Vale know about my fake transcripts, but I won't be taking that chance.

Rushing past the citizens, I wanted to visit a place that allowed me to cool my head off. And that place, was the docks. Just looking at the calm sea in front of me puts my head at ease. Ever since my transcripts had been revealed, I decided to visit this place often.

Finally reaching the docks, I sat down at the edge of the platform. The sea was really beautiful. The waves calmly glide past one another. It was calming to me. It was like the water was talking to me. Telling me that everything was going to be fine.

And so, I gently closed my eyes. I wanted to hear the sounds of the water splashing to calm me even more.

*Splish*

*Splash*

*Splish*

*Splash*

*Splish*

*Splash*

"Noooooo!" Hearing a female's scream, my eyes jolted open. That scream…. it sounded close. Too close to my demise. As I got up and looked around the area, I found out that there was nothing wrong here.

"Wh-What? Th-There's no one here…" It was only me, and the waves. There was no one else around that was close to me to make such a frightened scream.

"Nooooo!" There it is again! I looked around... to find nothing again. Where were the screams coming from?

Wait…. don't tell me.

Looking at the water, I saw something that was not meant to be there….

A glowing light…

"What the…" The light seemed to be glistering more and more by the second. What was going on in the water? Should I… check it out? No, only a fool would jump in. But what if there was actually something down there?

"I guess I'm the fool as always then." Jumping into the water, I starting to swim towards the bright light in the water. Whatever it was, it seemed to be coming from below the water's surface. Swimming downwards, I noticed something…

It was a girl…

And... she was unconscious !

Without any hesitation, I started to pick up my pace to go save the girl. Was she trying to die? Or did she do something stupid that led her up to this point?

Grabbing her arm, I started to swim back up to the surface. I hope I wasn't too late. I can't live with the fact that someone had almost managed to kill themselves. Whichever choice it was, I shouldn't be talking.

With my experience, I should be the one who should be wishing to die….