Pathfinder/RWBY: You Call That a God? A Summoner in Remnant Quest

As you explore Beacon you can't help but feel severely out of place. They others seem to find the place to be welcoming and exciting, like a chivalric ballad brought to life. But you find the buildings to be absurdly tall and regal and the gardens and walkways to be too artificial to be relaxing.

You're not even sure what the gardens are for. They're not devoted to any god and Beacon is far enough from the city that the students should be able to venture into the wilderness on their own instead of needing some fake substitute.

And that's just the outside!

Every single building is full of open, unused space, vast windows in the walls and roofs and massive furniture that can seat dozens. Despite the hundreds of students present the place feels empty, only approaching the sort of comfortable crowd you're used to when you're all herded into one place.

Like the cafeteria they serve you dinner in, full of long wooden tables and benches that wouldn't be out of place in the hall of a Linnorm King. You soon find yourself crammed in with Ren and Nora on one side and Ruby and Yang on the other, Sun having vanished to talk to someone else a while ago.

Your mouth waters at the royal feast before you but you manage enough restraint to let Nora and Yang start tearing into the food before you do. You pile your plate high with beef and some sort of poultry, vegetables that roughly resemble what you've seen in Drezen, bread and cheese, though there's depressingly little of that on offer.

The drinks largely consist of the sweet bubbling nectar that Remnant favours, with a complete absence of any real drinks. No kumis, ale or mead or cider is on offer, nor are any of the wine you'd expect to see at such a feast. Odd.

"Isn't there any milk?" You ask.

"Right here!" Ruby cheerfully announces behind you, a pitcher of milk in each hand. You squeeze over with a surprised blink, not having noticed her leave.

"My thanks." You say as she fills a glass for you, taking it and barely suppressing a grimace at the taste.

"Cows milk." You identify, dearly missing the mammoth milk that is a staple of your home. The herd had a few bison, goats and horses, but the mammoths were preferred due to their superior strength, intelligence and long lives.

"What else?" Ruby asks cheerfully.

You don't answer, instead taking a much longer drink. This time you appreciate it for what it is and fall back into conversation of those around you, even if the girl across from you shoots you irritated glares whenever you wipe your hands or burp.

Someone should teach her manners.

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After dinner comes your to what communal bathing looks like in a world without baths. You're not sure what's stranger - the abandonment of the communal aspect for the faux privacy of stalls with gaping holes at the top and bottom that takes up the left wall or the way most of the girls just ignore everyone else if they use the wide open space on the right.

Either way you're glad Ren gave you a heads up about etiquette and proper hair care so you don't stand out too much. Though you do seem to be more comfortable just existing here than most.

Once dressed in sleepwear, with you wearing a dark blue gown that you'd purchased when Ren said your chemise was too revealing, you're all issued bedrolls and ushered into a gigantic ballroom that has enough space for more than double the initiates to sleep in before anyone starts to feel uncomfortably.

Despite the space more than a few people complain, while others seize the chance to socialise or show off. Shirtless boys and men leave you confused at the double standard and mostly unimpressed, though one gigantic man with long dark grey hair and a pair of white-furred wolf ears on his head wouldn't be out of place among your people.

You settle in beside Nora, half listening to Yang and Ruby's quiet argument about making friends and look at the sea of strangers all around you.

Back home this sort of gathering would mean the entire following has gathered in one place and brought a trade caravan en route to Icestair or another following with them. It'd be a time of celebration, of dancing, singing, boasting and feasting.

But in Vale this is a simple gathering, even if the students are meant to be a cut above most warriors their age.

It all feels wrong.

As the lights start going out you step over Nora's slumbering form and signal to Ren that you're just stepping away as he stirs, moving quietly through the ballroom towards the doors and stepping outside, relaxing as you feel the breeze and look up at the stars.

Or you would, if there wasn't already someone else out here. A redhaired Taldan woman only an inch or two shorter than you, wearing long brown pajamas, clearly enjoying the peace of the night.

"Good evening." You say, turning your gaze skyward and frowning at how empty it is. What happened to all the stars you saw in Anima?

The woman starts when you speak, not having noticed you come through the door.

"Hello." The woman says, trying to sound cheerful.

You step forwards and take a seat on the balcony railing, leaving her plenty of space as you look down at the forest beyond Beacon's grounds.

What you'd give to be out there, sitting around a campfire or sharing a tent with the others.

"I can go if you want to be alone." The woman offers.

You give her a confused look.

"That's not necessary. Desna's stars - the night belongs to everyone." You say, not pointing at the sky above when you remember the missing stars. but instead waving beyond the balcony.

The woman sighs and turns, looking out at the forest just like you.

"So, what's your name?" She asks after a peaceful moment.

"Xanthe. Of the W - Xanthe Valkyrie. From Anima" You say, almost defaulting to telling her your following. When the silence stretches you glance at her. "What's yours?" You ask.

"Pyrrha Nikos." She says, sounding surprised. "I'm from Argus."

You nod as if you know where that is.

Several more quiet moments pass before the door opens once more and Yang emerges.

"Hey Xanthe, I was wondering where you got to." She says cheerfully, before she notices Pyrrha. "Oh, hey. Pyrrha right?" She says, trying to sound casual.

"Hello." Pyrrha says in the same tone of slightly forced cheer she'd greeted you with.

"I just needed some time to think." You say, meeting her pale purple eyes and looking away almost immediately as you can't help but think of Azira.

Where was he now - the crowded city of Absalom? Was he exploring the distant jungles of the Mwangi Expanse or guarding traders as they traveled through Minkai or Lingshen? Or had he been caught by his people just after leaving and been killed by his own kin?

He'd have enjoyed being here a lot more than you - he'd always loved the forest.

"If you say so." Yang says, stepping up to the balcony and following your gaze. "I noticed you've been pretty uncomfortable and figured I'd ask why."

"Beacon, and all the other people here, is a bit of a new experience. Less so than Vale, but still different." You say carefully. "Plus, you've been around a lot."

"Wow. I didn't think I'd made that bad an impression." Yang says flippantly.

"It's nothing you've done." You say placatingly. "Your eyes just remind me of an old friend."

"Well they do look pretty good." Yang says with a grin. It takes you a moment to recognise the wordplay and you can't but smile when you do.

"You're the only other person I've met with purple eyes. I hadn't thought about Azira in years, but then I saw you and it all came rushing back. As if he'd left yesterday." You explain.

"I get that. Sometimes I turn around and see Ruby and half think she's my mom." Yang says quietly.

"Um, I think I should go." Pyrrha says awkwardly.

"You don't have to. Azira isn't a secret, I just don't talk about him much." You say. "Which might be a mistake, because talking about it has already helped me feel better." You admit.

"Yeah. No need to rush off, we're all friends here." Yang says cheerfully. "We could even go grab some pillows and have a little slumber party out here." She suggests.

"Slumber party?" You ask.

"It's been a few years since I did anything like that." Pyrrha says considering the idea.

It only takes you a few minutes to retrieve a few blankets and pillows, with you taking the time to push Nora close enough to Ren so she hugs him as they sleep before joining the other two outside.

"So, why are you trying to get away from the crowd?" You ask Pyrrha as you take a seat.

"With everyone trying to talk to me, convince me to join their team or get an autograph, it gets a little..." Pyrrha pauses, trying to find the right word.

"Annoying?" Yang suggests, looking a little guilty.

"Tiring." You say.

Pyrrha nods and sighs.

"I was hoping Beacon would be different, but it's hard when everyone knows me from tournaments, cereal boxes and sports drinks." She laments.

You take another moment to look at Pyrrha before speaking.

"I have no idea who you are." You say with a shrug, trying to figure out what would make someone famous. Getting someone to write a book about you works for the Pathfinder Society, the Queen of the Stolen Kingdom and the Knight-Commander, but you have to do something impressive first. "What did you do, kill a dragon? Discover a lost civilisation? Unleash a horrifying curse?"

Pyrrha looks at you for a moment before smiling.

"I've won the Mistral Regional Tournament for four years in a row, going undefeated at every tournament I attended." She explains.

"That's impressive." You say.

"So, tell me more about Azira." Yang says when you don't ask Pyrrha anything else. "Was he tall dark and handsome?"

"Of course he was taller than me." You say, well aware that only the halflings, goblins, dwarves and gnomes in the following were shorter than you. " He was an archer, like me. A decent hunter, but a little impatient. An excellent tracker though. A good voice for stories and songs." You add.

"What happened to him?" Pyrrha asks.

"His family believe in staying together no matter what." You begin, carefully choosing your words so you're telling the truth without talking about the Amethyst Eagles or anything else too revealing about your home. "They were proud of their heritage and guarded it fiercely. To the point where they didn't let their children choose who they married or where they lived. The day Azira fled, they held a funeral for him. Because as they were concerned, he was already dead."

Pyrrha in Yang sit in silence as you talk, surprised by your words.

"He spent some time with us, but he didn't want to stick around. His family wouldn't hesitate to hurt us when going after him, so one day he left to find somewhere safe. I haven't seen him since." You finish.

"That sucks." Yang says.

"His own family want him dead?" Pyrrha asks in disbelief.

"They believe he's already dead, that someone else is walking around in his skin." You explain.

"I'm sure he stowed away on a boat or started wearing contacts and changed his identity." Yang says with a smile.

"Azira knew what he was doing, he's fine." You declare, deciding to change the subject. "So when you say Ruby looks like your mother, does that mean she had silver eyes too?" You ask, deciding to attack one mystery.

Yang blinks at you before smiling and shrugging off the abrupt shift.

"Yeah, and she was a Huntress too." Yang says, before launching into a story about how amazing her parents and uncle were as Huntsmen.

From there you discuss simpler things, movies and songs and stories that you have little to say about. Fortunately sleep isn't elusive once you look fr it.

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In the morning everyone prepares for Initiation. Who has the locker next to yours?
[ ] The Haughty One - The girl with the white dress, who seems quite eager to be on Pyrrha's team
[ ] The Quiet One - A woman in black and white with a bow in her hair trying to ignore the tall wolf faunus on the other side
[ ] The Sisters - Yang and Ruby are discussing who's team they might be on and the possibility of not being on the same team
[ ] The Tense One - A girl with a brown ponytail and prominent freckles who seems determined not to stab the arrogant jerk that keeps complaining about the other students


A/N: Up next is a short Ozpin interlude.

It's worth noting Yang didn't mention Raven, beyond implying STRQ had a fourth member.