Liar, Liar

A flash of black steel, near invisible in the shadowy forest. A scythe, racing to reap its victim's life.

A sword clashed against it, held by a young man with brown hair. His clothes, a red jerkin over a white dress shirt and matching pants, rustled with the force of the blow.

A click.

Gwyn jumped to the side. A fraction of a second later, the scythe shifted into a submachine gun and filled the space he was just standing in with bullets.

He kept moving, creating space between him and his opponent. When the distance reached five meters, he stopped and narrowed his eyes at the man standing before him.

That man was unremarkable. He possessed a face and build that you would forget the moment you lost track of him. Even now, after all his years in Signal under his tutelage, Gwyn still couldn't recall Qrow's appearance unless the man was standing directly before him.

Like now.

Qrow flicked his wrist and the submachine gun turned back into a scythe. He tilted his head to the side and stared at Gwyn. "...You've gotten much better, Mr. Adams."

Silence, then a blur of white and red. A flash of silver followed, racing towards Qrow's neck.

He smiled and shifted his wrist.

A crash of steel echoed throughout the forest.

Even then, Qrow's wrist never stopped moving. A soft click, and the scythe was a submachine gun once more. "But you've still a long ways to go."

Gwyn paused. His sword was an inch from Qrow's neck, but a quick glance down revealed a black steel barrel hovering above his heart.

Qrow smiled.

Gwyn sighed and stepped back, lowering his sword. The blade shimmered for a moment and then vanished, leaving behind a small silver sphere in Gwyn's right hand. He placed it in his pocket.

"So I see, Professor."

He ran a hand through his spiked hair, but winced when he felt a sudden stab of pain in his head.

Qrow shook his head. "And the first step of that is mastering your Semblance." The professor lowered his gun and peered into Gwyn's eyes. "...Bloodshot, like I thought." He sighed. "Mr. Adams. I understand that training is important to you, but you must remember to rest. Even Aura cannot heal sustained injuries forever, especially those caused by our own powers."

Gwyn was silent.

A soft glow surrounded him, and then his pain vanished.

"Thank you, Professor."

Qrow frowned. "So polite, even now? You've graduated already, with naught but a month to spare before leaving for Beacon. Surely we've moved beyond such formalities?"

Gwyn gave him a smooth smile. "Yes... but one must keep up appearances, should they not?"

"I suppose they must." Qrow turned his back to Gwyn and began walking away. "But I wonder, Mr. Adams. Which of those appearances are real? Are you truly the polite student I taught? Are you the ruthless warrior I just fought? Or perhaps... you are someone else?"

Gwyn remained silent, watching the retreating back of his fondest instructor.

"Good luck at Beacon, Gwyn. May you find yourself there."

And then Gwyn was alone.

His hand went to the silver sphere in his pocket. The real me...?

He shook his head and made his own way through the forest.

It doesn't matter.

A month passed.

Gwyn stood among his peers as they boarded the airship to Beacon Academy, the prestigious school for future Huntsmen and Huntresses. He was dressed in his usual attire, white clothes with a red jerkin, and held a worn leather suitcase in his right hand.

Time ticked away, and his position in the line to board the airship didn't change.

A flicker of irritation. Instantly, Gwyn's free hand went to the silver sphere in his pocket, the cool metal offering him a sense of comfort among the chaos.

Eventually, he managed to board the airship and arrive at the storage deck to store his suitcase. As he was ensuring its place among the other belongings that would arrive at Beacon, he heard a voice call out.

"Are you... Gwyn?"

I know that voice.

He turned around.

The speaker was a young girl with reddish-brown hair who was relatively short in comparison to most of the other students walking around the airship. Her outfit was fairly distinct, consisting of a matching black blouse and skirt, with a red cloak over both.

She was fidgeting back and forth on her feet, silver eyes catching and avoiding his gaze.

Gwyn tilted his head. "Ruby Rose?"

Ruby let out a long breath. "Oh thank God. I was starting to think I wouldn't know anyone here, you know? I mean, I suddenly get moved ahead two years, don't know what we need to do... and I still haven't found Yang!"

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ruby." He gave her a small smile and a slight nod. "It must be a stressful situation."

"Ehehe... yeah. But I'll be alright. I mean, Yang's here too. Er, you know Yang, right? My sister? We don't look a lot alike, but-"

Gwyn raised his hand. "Relax, Ruby. It'll be fine."

The storage deck had cleared in their short conversation.

Gwyn smoothed his clothes and then glanced at the viewing deck, where some students were standing. "Why don't we head over there and ask if they've seen Yang?"

Ruby nodded and stood close to him as he led the way.

Those on the airship were Beacon students, all having been accepted to the prestigious academy. All of them were also at least seventeen years old.

Gwyn glanced at the girl by his side. To be invited to attend Beacon at only fifteen... Ruby's become much more skilled since we last met.

Yet, despite her skill, Ruby's age was showing. The normally talkative Ruby had been quiet since they arrived among the other students, her hands clenched along the hem of her skirt, and stood close by Gwyn.

He couldn't help but smile a bit at the sight. It's refreshing to see someone so sincere in their emotions.

Ruby perked up and pointed towards a group of students. "Oh! There's Yang!"

Gwyn looked towards the direction Ruby pointed.

They were students that he was familiar with, vaguely. Most of them he could call passing acquaintances, though he didn't bother to remember more than their names and faces. Classmates that he only gave the minimal level of interaction to not be marked as rude or asocial.

However, there was one student among that group that stood out.

It was a girl with blonde hair, trailing behind her in a wave of immaculate curls. Violet eyes and an enthusiastic air made her the center of attention. Like Ruby, her outfit was fairly distinct with a tan vest reminiscent of olden brown aviator outfits, a yellow blouse beneath it, an orange scarf, and black shorts.

Yang Xiao Long, the infamous yellow dragon of Signal Academy.

"Thanks for the company, Gwyn! Sorry to be a bother!"

With that said, Ruby ran off towards her sister. She gave Gwyn a final glance and waved. "See you at Beacon!"

Gwyn watched as Yang wrapped her sister in a tight embrace and engage her in an animated conversation.

He felt a twinge of irritation and something at the sudden lack of company, and his hand went once again to the silver sphere in his pocket.

Cool metal calmed his frayed nerves, and he left to examine the rest of the airship.

The airship was large, as it had to be to fit the dozens (closer to a hundred really) of students travelling to Beacon.

Windows were a frequent sight as Gwyn explored, showing the vast expanse of blue sky and white clouds outside. A number of his fellow classmates stood along the windows he passed, staring at the passing scenery with wide eyes.

He ignored them, stopping only if they called out to him, and even then only to engage in the smallest exchange of courtesies to remain polite and amiable.

In time, he found an area with a window and without anyone else around.

He made his way to the window, one hand on the silver sphere in his pocket, and looked outside.

Though it was still in the distance, there was no mistaking the distinctive stone buildings fast approaching.

Beacon Academy was in sight.