Chapter 35: Chapter 35
Professor Port was unusually silent as his class started. He looked around at his students before his gaze focused on me for a moment. Port then scooted out of the chair from his desk and stood up, pacing around the front of the room. "I had an interesting chat with someone today." He began, glancing at me once more. "And they made some inspired points. So! Sometime this month, I shall later be dividing you all into groups of two. To ensure no sort of favoritism of any kind, I've written the students' names on these." Port lifted a ping pong ball, and on it was written 'Ruby'. These balls shall be put into this box here. Port said gesturing to his desk and they will randomly be sorted into pairs. Aside from your team, you will also hang out with this assigned person, learn about them, and learn how to effectively fight alongside them. You shall be quizzed on the knowledge of your partner, and Ms. Goodwitch has agreed to add this combat teamwork as one of her lessons. These teams of two will fight alongside each other and be graded by her."
There was a good bit of commotion from the students after Port explained this. Pyrrha raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms. Nikos?"
"Sir? Where exactly is this coming from? We already know how to fight with more than one person. Isn't this why teams were formed in the first place?"
"Ms. Nikos let me ask you something. You have become better at utilizing teamwork with the members you have is that not correct?"
"It is."
"And this is because you have learned over time to compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses in order to better draw out your capabilities?"
"That's right."
"And what if your team were replaced with entirely new members, what then?"
This time Pyrrha didn't respond immediately, a puzzled look appearing on her face. "What do you mean?"
"What if you were dropped into the Emerald forest with different team members than you currently have? Would you be able to work well with them right off the bat, or do you believe you would have just as hard as a time when you first took the entrance exam?"
"Well, I suppose I wouldn't be able to work with them immediately."
"Do you think the enemy will accept that excuse?" Port asked.
"...no."
The teacher gave a sage nod, turning his attention to the class, pacing back and forth. "As huntsman, you must be ready and able to fight to the best of your abilities no matter what. Putting people in teams is a good way to encourage teamwork."
He stopped, immediately jabbing a finger at us. "HOWEVER! Staying exclusively with the same people on your team can also breed dependence! A need for your specific teammates around in order to perform in groups properly. This will not do. Keep in mind your teams are only for your remainder of time here at Beacon. After that, you may find yourself parting ways with your team for various reasons. Differences in beliefs, a need to explore your identity, simply drifting apart over time, needing to keep a low profile for a mission. There are a great many reasons for a team to disperse after you leave this academy. Whatever the reason it is, the world will not simply wait for you to adapt to your new circumstances or allies. You must learn to work with any and everyone, connect with any or everyone. This is part of what it means to be a huntsman. To be able to adapt to whatever the world throws at you."
Port crossed his arms, his brows furrowing at the class. "Make no mistake. Our job as huntsmen and huntresses is great and noble indeed, however it is also dangerous. Those who cannot adapt may meet a terrible fate as many others have."
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After class, Jaune gave me a nudge as everyone was packing up to leave "You were the one who gave Port that idea didn't you?" he said, turning to me.
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Oh come on, you just got through talking about trying new stuff and shaking things up. Who else could it have been?"
"Alright alright, keep your voice down. You're right, I did that."
"Why though?" Nora asked tilting her head. "I mean I'm all for hanging out with new people but still."
"Just like Port said, a huntsman needs to be able to work with anyone." And I'm going to need everyone to be at the top of their game during the attack on Vale. The top huntsman students from each academy were all present when things went to shit. Despite that, around less than half of them actually stayed behind and fought. If I can get everyone to perfectly be in sync with each other, that'll improve our chances. Step 1: Money. Step 2: Teamwork. "Now, I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
"I need you to distract Port so I can rig that box of his before he checks it."
"What?! But that's cheating! Nora, you agree with me right?"
"I'll do it!" Nora said excitedly. "Just make sure I'm not paired with anyone on team CRDL okay?"
"Oh come on! Ren?" Ren turned to Jaune with a helpless smile and shrugged. "Ugh, you probably just want to put yourself paired with Yang..."
"Sh-shut up! Who told you that?!" I glanced over at Nora who immediately evaded my gaze, whistling innocently. "Anyway, I wasn't gonna do that. But if by some chance it DID happen, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Now, are you going to help me or not?"
"I got your back fearless leader." Nora said giving a salute. "Me and Ren will distract him. Ren, you wait here and just follow my lead."
"Oh boy..." Jaune face-palmed. "Okay, I guess I can message you when Port is about to come back. And uh..." Jaune let out a light cough. "If you could see to it that I'm not paired with anyone from CRDL too, I'd be really grateful."
"Got it."
"Alright Aero, let's go." The two of us marched back to Port's class. Nora entering the room while I hid outside of it watching.
"Heeeeeeeeey professor."
Port looked up from a pile of papers on his desk he was grading. "I was talking with Ren, who is outside in the hall by the way, and he told me none of your old hunting stories are true!"
"What?!" Professor Port pounded the desk with his fist causing the papers to jump. "Why, absolutely every one of those daring adventures of mine is the complete and utter truth. Those tales are the ones of my childhood that made me the man I am today! Ones that I now pass down to make huntsman and huntresses of similar caliber! To question such a thing! Ms. Valkyrie, you said he was in the hall did you not?"
"Yup!" Nora chirped with a smile on her face. "C'mon, I'll show you." Nora led Professor Port out of the class, giving me a secretive wink.
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EternalEden
EternalEden Isn't Nora cute sometimes?
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