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"Hm, it seems that all worked out for the better. A brazen paladin, a nimble halberdier, a cunning guardsman, and a moonlit crusader…" The headmaster trailed.

"...I couldn't ask for a better replacement." He finished, earning the wary glance of 'Asche' at the implication.

"Now with that out of the way, you should all take this time to introduce yourselves. After this, please feel free to make your way to your dorm, number A-3. Classes will begin tomorrow morning at nine." Ozpin said, taking his own leave.

Once the headmaster was gone from earshot, the other boys relaxed their posture. The boy with faded orange hair, Cardin, stepped forward, introducing and specifying what name belonged to who.

"Name's Cardin Winchester, my family is pretty well known in parts of southern Sanctus. That guy with the slicked hair is Sky Lark. And the blonde fringe is none other than Dove Bronzewing, they're both from a city in western Sanctus." The leader said, each boy raising a hand when their name was mentioned.

"So what kinda name is 'Asche Embers' anyway? Definitely doesn't sound like it's from Vale or Atlas." Cardin said, crossing his arms.

"Actually, it sounds like a Vacuo name." Dove chimed.

"Or maybe…northern mistral." Sky hesitantly added.

The Ashen one shrugged, not knowing what 'Vacuo' or 'Mistral' was. He guessed they might have been another kingdom, considering the limited knowledge JNPR and RWBY had openly discussed en route to the rendezvous point.

"So uh...where'd ya get your...armor? It's pretty metal." The boy, Sky, murmured while giving a small thumbs up.

"Eh, the mask is pretty neat. Almost makes you look like a fencer from Mistral." Another said, this comment belonging to Dove.

"Speaking of which.. you never said where you were from." The leader prodded, his arms still crossed.

Again the group was met by awkward silence. 'Asche' shifted his gaze towards the dirt, shuffling a small non-specific area with a blackened boot. The answer seemed simple enough to answer and yet...he couldn't bring himself to voice a response. Cardin raised an eyebrow at the continued silence that "Asche" gave, thinking the fellow student had been shy enough to put even Sky to shame.

"What? Grimm got your tongue or something?" He said, shifting his weight into his right leg.

The champion scratched the nape of his neck, a little perplexed when thinking of how long this sick joke had been going on for. The ever exasperated Dove meanwhile, pinched the bridge of his nose. This charade was long overused, and it drove each young man's patience. Sky thankfully though, took notice over the continued lack of speech from the masked boy and doubted it was meant of ill intent.

"Not a talker. Probably a mute or something, right?" He weakly guessed.

Figuring this had been the best excuse, the Ashen One immediately bowed his head, agreeing with the rightfully assumed guess.

"Right...that'll definitely add some tension." Cardin said to no one in particular. "Whatever. We should probably go check out our dorm though, it's getting late and I'd hate to be sleep deprived during combat class tomorrow."

The journey through the courtyard had been largely uneventful, as had the parade through the halls of Beacon. Along the knight themed team's trip, three of the boys traded in idle chatter, 'Asche' simply memorizing each and every detail of the path they took.

The school layout seemed fairly simple, despite it's near comical size and extravagance. Priceless decor, well kept carpentry, and the occasional painting littered nearly every occupiable space.

The corridors for the dorms however, were distinct. Unlike the previous hallways, this stretch was as bland and generic as a designated dormitory area could be. Every so often, the group spotted recreation rooms meant for lounging, student gyms, the occasional shared laundry room, and the student oriented kitchens.

It seemed that in place of culturally valuable pieces of art, this wing of the campus had been dedicated to offering ample entertainment. And considering the students were expected to live long term in Beacon, it only made the most sense to provide numerous methods of entertainment. The Ashen One made a mental note to investigate the unfamiliar and nearly alien rooms at a later date.

With Cardin Winchester taking the lead, the group stepped through a doorway holding the label "A-3". The room was reminiscent of a barrack belonging to the knights of Lothric, albeit with less decrepitation and with more emphasis on being a blank canvas in need of creativity to its occupants.

"Not too shabby, buuuut... it's a little-" Dove trailed, letting Sky finish his sentence.

"-Boring. It's uh...actually sad."

"Well alright then. Team CEDL's first mission: 'Liven the place up'." The leader said in an almost commanding tone, immediately marching toward his luggage.

And so for the next two hours, CEDL went about unpacking and decorating the room to their preferred tastes.

The bunks had been positioned parallel to the wall, curtained drapes had been hung over each, including the Ashen One's own. Posters of each boy's favorite bands had been plastered next to decorative weapons. Dressers were topped with figurines of Grimm and clothes were hung in the wardrobes. Casual wear, undergarments, socks, and even exercise clothing were promptly placed in the various dresser drawers. Rugs were unrolled and a sizable coffee table with equal sized edges had been placed atop the largest of the rugs.

In just a matter of minutes, final touches were made and the dormitory now felt like a true abode for the boy's. The Ashen One meanwhile, had only offered a hand with the heftier of objects, giving free reign of customizing to his companions. He had no possessions to speak of, save for his currently sheathed weapons and the armor on his back, as well as the few items and articles of clothing he held within his bottomless pouch.

He, along with each boy, sat atop their corresponding draped beds. By this time however, the sun had set and time of rest drew dreadfully closer.

Cardin was the first to shower, followed by Dove, and then Sky. Each boy scrubbed their hair with a towel matching the color reference to their name. The Champion of Ash meanwhile, sat and watched, not knowing just what his next step should be. It was now his turn to bathe, but there had only been one little problem… He had no towel. Thankfully however, his room-teammates had already set aside some of their own garments for him.

"Yo, Asche. These grey towels are yours. So are the sweats and tanks. Don't bother returning them either, that was kinda the point of me bringing extra." Cardin said, handing the seated boy the aforementioned items.

The clothes were...strange to say the least. They were for all intents and purposes, clothes...but they seemed rather revealing and informal by the Ashen One's standards. With the thin and loose fabric, he figured the clothing was intended for either sleep, training use, or both. The grey towels though, were only simple run of the mill towels.

'Asche' then stood to make his way to place the clothing in his drawers, thankful they had now been even the slightest bit less empty. Meanwhile Cardin had returned to sitting on his bed, eyeing the champion and his fellow teammates. After shutting the compartment, 'Asche' felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around revealed Dove and Sky, one holding a neatly folded pile of additional clothing while the other presented two pairs of vastly different styled shoes.

"Don't worry, these are new socks and some shirts I never wore. I threw in a couple pairs of pants too for good measure. I think we're all pretty much the same size, so I'm pretty sure they fit." Dove said, handing a bundle of black clothing with the occasional accent of dulled red or orange.

"I... had shoes and uh...jackets to spare in the wardrobe of course...Our feet size is uhm… pretty much the same…So ah, yeah. Kind of also Clothes." Sky murmured, hesitantly placing two pairs of shoes next to 'Asche's dresser.

The two black shoes were also strange. One pair only went as far as the ankle, while the other, dark leather pair was just above shin length. Each had a string woven throughout, likely being the means to tighten and fasten them to the wearer. Like before, 'Asche' placed the new clothing into his dressers yet again. This time, not a compartment had been left empty or barren.

"Right, bathroom's all yours now. Don't forget your towel or sweats." Dove said, him and Sky returning to their own racks.

Mentally facepalming, the Ashen One opened his dresser again to withdraw a towel, the apparent sleep trousers, and a long sleeved blouse. With a hesitated step, he strode into the bathroom, fumbling with the strange lock for several seconds. Eventually he realized that all it took to secure his privacy was a simple turn, which resulted in a comforting clicking sound. Afterwards, the Unkindled Ash took time in familiarizing himself with the shower, toiletry, and sink before he inevitably began the process of cleaning himself.

While he did, he took note of the lack of hollowing on his body. His skin was no longer grossly contorted and aged. In fact, aside from the accumulated dirt, he looked just as he had prior to his first true death. His violet eyes were vibrant and filled with life, and his untamed raven-like hair was once again thick and lush. But more importantly...the accursed dark sigils he was once bound with were nowhere to be seen.

As he inspected this strange spectacle within the mirror, he felt his face contort in an unfamiliar manner. The corner of his lips pulled into an upwards slant, his eyes slightly squinting. It felt strange...yet comforting. Against his own will, he couldn't help to contain the stretching of his facial muscles. In a moment of panic, in fear of having his face be permanently stuck like this, he slapped the feeling away. Literally. In fact, he hit himself multiple times just for good measure.

With a pink handprint on his cheek, he resumed his chore of understanding the peculiar facilities around himself. Luckily, the appliances were fairly simple to use, much to his own relief. And after what he guessed had been just shy of thirty minutes, he had dried and dressed himself. He now wore a loose long sleeved shirt in addition to a plain set of sweatpants. As for his previous attire, he had stored his true garments away within the confines of his bottomless pouch, though he chose to still wear Leonhardt's silver mask. He exited the bathroom, making sure to turn the light fixture to the "off" position. The other boys meanwhile, had been occupied with a multitude of tasks.

Cardin had been slouched over his bed, carefully inspecting and polishing a combat mace with a rag. Sky meanwhile, sat on the floor at the coffee table, scribbling away on a sketchpad with various other unfinished projects. And lastly, Dove. He held a strange device upwards with two hands, hammering away at translucent buttons. Each press seemed to cause an action to unfold on his strange projection though. Before long though, the Aschen One buried his curiosity and intrigue, tossing the bottomless pouch on his bedding before eventually taking a seat atop the covers.

"Still wearing the mask? You got something to hide from us?" Mr. Winchester prodded, not bothering to stop tinkering about with his mace.

Sky peeked upward from his sketchpad, of which he had made very little progress on. Dove meanwhile, stalled in his once rampant button mashing. A thought had drifted in Cardin's mind, one that could sour his stay in Beacon if he guessed correctly. Asche remained as silent as always, observing the growing feeling of a suffocating atmosphere around himself.

"You hiding some extra ears under that hunk of metal? Are you one of those faunas?" The leader asked bluntly, momentarily pausing his rhythmic polishing.

The Ashen one was confused by this question. He only had one set of ears...and he never recalled being labeled as whatever the hell a faunas was either. He shook his head, skeptical that Cardin's sanity was intact with whatever term he used.

Unceremoniously, the mood to the room returned to one of life and contention. Cardin only shrugged, a half smile etching itself on his adolescent face. Dove and Sky returned to their pastimes without any ire, leaving 'Asche' even more confused on the sudden shift in demeanor.

"Alright, then you're cool with me, my man." The mace wielder light heartedly responded, whistling a familiar tune as he began cleaning the remaining rivets in his weapon.

The boys then instinctively resumed their activities. But it seemed that fate itself spat in the face of their hobbies, considering they were interrupted yet again. A knock on the door is what caused the boys to pause their respective diversions...again. Asche, being the closest, stood to his feet and swung the door ajar. A silver haired man draped in dark green clothing stood in the doorway.

"Good evening gentlemen." He said, addressing the other students within the room.

Each boy, 'Asche' excluded, all gave a nod or a simple 'Hello Professor' in response. The guest had been none other than headmaster Ozpin himself. And after the moment to bow in greeting, the older gentleman stepped into the dorm, a bundle of items held in one arm.

The headmaster glanced around the dormitory, content that the boys had decided to make it as close to home as possible. Though a small frown tugged at his lips when seeing 'Asche's' own barren and rather bland side. This expression, though, was remedied once he studied the boy's attire. He figured it would have taken longer for 'Asche' to adorn the vague and unknown fashion of Remnant, but sleepwear was a good enough start.

"Mister Embers. I see you're now wearing more casual clothing. Very good. Now, I believe these are for you." He said, handing the Ashen One the bundle.

The champion of ash set the pile of various items atop his bedding. He found a device, one identical to the one Dove was currently playing with. After fumbling with the strange object, the screen sputtered to life, the bright flash nearly causing the Unkindled One to drop it.

"Yes. Your very own 'Scroll'. Each student is required to have one, I'm sure you'll become well versed in it's features with due time. If you have any questions regarding your 'Scroll', feel free to refer to either Doctor Oobleck or your teammates."

For an obvious reason, the Ashen One doubted the electronic system really was a scroll. After tucking the item away, he then grabbed a white envelope, one bearing the Academy sigil. After carefully tearing the seal, he grabbed a hold of five strange cards...each holding their own color with varying numbers.

"Your promised Lien, please use it wisely. I'm sure you'll find the amount adequate enough. During this weekend, you may spend the currency in the city of Vale." He explained.

The Ashen One inspected the cards once more, the combined number resulting in roughly twenty five thousand 'Lien'. Were colored plastic slips truly this realms currency? They seemed overbearing and needlessly frustrating. Why couldn't they just settle for souls? Speaking of which...what would the value of a single drop of a soul be worth?

He shook these thoughts away, figuring he may find that very answer as time passed. The final item had been placed inside a plain uninteresting bag. After tearing the seal to the plastic sack, he reached a hand inside; now knowing it was actually multiple items. One by one, he pulled a fabric of clothing from the pouch to reveal a blazer, dress shirt, formal shoes, a pair of slacks, a belt, and a tie...it was the school uniform.

A cloud of despair overcame him, the shame was foreboding. Under his mask, his eyes widened in fear and the thought of potential humiliation. Ozpin meanwhile, wore a smug, neat sadistic grin. The headmaster leaned in closer to "Asche's" ear, playfully whispering his words of "wisdom".

"It's more embarrassing than it looks." He mischievously whispered, sending a ghostly shiver down the Ashen One's neck.

"Like... way more embarrassing and uncomfortable than what you're currently thinking." The man teased.

For the first time in nearly ages, 'Asche' felt true fear…Was it too late to turn down Ozpin's offer?

That night, once 'Asche Embers' had finally (somewhat) coped with the horrendous outfit, his team fell fast asleep. He meanwhile, lay awake on his bedding, only presenting the facade of rest. For the duration of the peaceful night, he would plan his school day.

In the morning, he would join Cardin Winchester for Grimm Studies and Remnant History, and the two would rejoin Dove and Sky for combat class following a rather extensive lunch period. For the lunch period, he supposed he could take his meal to the bathroom or rooftop, trashing or giving his own meal away. He, being undead and reborn ash, had no need for nutrition afterall. And… because he felt skeptical of standardized meals.

After school would conclude, he set his mind on exploring the recreational areas. Reading more about this land was a necessity, and so the library took the forefront of his planned visitations. Training his extensive swordsmanship and mediocre sorcery fell to a close second. Finally...he would be a liar if he said he wasn't curious over how Jaune and Pyrrha were getting along.

Much more importantly though, he would also first need to attend his own additional class. Ozpin assured this course would be vital for the student, slowly enabling him the ability to regain a 'semblance' of his speech. It was of course, 'Sign & Digital Language Class'. And as customary by this point; he was oblivious to what it would exactly entail.

Still...that thought always wandered itself to the forefront of his conscience. The thought of just how comical he would look in that accursed uniform. Though...he supposed it would not be a completely horrible circumstance. He was, after all, permitted to wear Leonhardt's mask and hat along with the outfit. And although he would need to strip the black metallic coverages, he was also allowed to wear the dark leather portion of his gloves.

But oh well...it was a school. There were rules for a reason, and he wouldn't blatantly complain too much about them. Restrictions and regulations aside, this felt like a more than welcomed vacation to himself...and he would enjoy it the best he could.

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[BONFIRE LIT]

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||| "Don't You Dare Go Hollow..." |||