After finished spending time with Ruby, Yang and Qrow, Hyunwoo went back to his dorm.
He leaned against the door after closing it, scanning the three who were clearly waiting for him. "So, you guys understood the briefing at the group."
Jaemin crossed his arms, answering first. "Yeah. All we need to do is act normal until the third day of the Vytal Festival. When the chaos starts, we move. Targets are Emerald and Mercury."
Jisoo frowned. "And the White Fang?"
Jiwom straightened, his expression cooling. "We know about the two. But White Fang... how are you so sure they'll show up?"
Jaemin's tone carried doubt. "I mean, yeah, they've been tied to Roman. But storming Vale, hitting Beacon directly? That's not like their usual hit-and-run style. Aren't they too confident thinking they can win?"
Hyunwoo walked past them, setting his bag on the desk. His voice was calm, but carried weight. "It's not about confidence. It's desperation. Cinder's manipulating them, feeding them promises of change and victory. They think this is their one shot at proving themselves."
Jiwon, who'd been silent until then, leaned forward slightly. "And if they're that desperate... then they'll throw everything at it."
Hyunwoo nodded. "Exactly. Which is why we'll be ready before they are. The White Fang aren't just pawns this time—they're the distraction. The real blades are Emerald and Mercury."
Hyunwoo leaned back in his chair, the low light in the dorm giving his words more weight. "Emerald, Mercury, and the White Fang. That's the lineup."
Jaemin exhaled sharply. "Still feels insane. Them hitting Vale and Beacon head-on... even with Torchwick, that's too much."
Hyunwoo shook his head. "It's not insanity—it's strategy. The White Fang are desperate, and Cinder's feeding them a lie big enough to risk everything. They'll attack because they think it's their only chance to change the world."
Jiwon rubbed his jaw. "So the Fang's the storm. And those two—Emerald and Mercury—are the lightning."
"Exactly," Hyunwoo said, his tone firm. Then he straightened, his eyes locking on each of them in turn. "Which means we prepare before the storm hits. No mistakes. So here's how it'll go down."
He pointed to Jaemin. "You shadow Emerald. She's the manipulator. Illusions, trickery—if she gets free rein, she can turn this place upside down. I want her eyes off our people."
Jaemin smirked faintly, flipping his knife once before catching it. "So basically, cut through the smoke and corner the trickster. Works for me."
Hyunwoo's gaze shifted to Jisoo. "You're on Mercury. He fights dirty, unpredictable. Don't give him room to play around. You're the only one fast and sharp enough to ground him before he hurts anyone."
Jisoo leaned back on the bed, grinning despite the seriousness. "Guess I get the flashy one. Fine by me."
Finally, Hyunwoo looked at Jiwon. "The White Fang will hit hard. When they come, you'll be the wall that keeps the civilians safe. Hold the line, keep them from pushing through. You're built for it."
Jiwon's lips curled into a small smile. "A wall, huh? I can do that."
With everyone assigned, Hyunwoo rested his hands together. His voice dropped lower. "Remember, our job isn't glory. It's to cut their fangs out before they can sink in. We keep Beacon standing, no matter what."
For a moment, silence filled the dorm—then Jaemin, Jisoo, and Jiwon all nodded. The plan was set.
The quiet room went along , but Jaemin broke it with a frown. "Fine, we've got Emerald, Mercury, and the Fang covered... but what about her?" His voice carried a sharp edge, the one name left unsaid but heavy in all their minds.
Hyunwoo didn't answer immediately. His eyes dropped, then lifted again with steady resolve. "Cinder... I'll handle her."
The three exchanged uneasy glances. Jisoo leaned forward, her usual grin gone. "You sure about that? Your injuries aren't even healed yet. You can barely hold back from wincing when you sit down."
"I'll be fine," Hyunwoo replied calmly, but his tone was iron. "Besides... I won't be fighting her alone."
Jiwon's brows furrowed. "You mean Glynda? Or Ozpin?"
Hyunwoo shook his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Doesn't matter who. What matters is that when the time comes, she won't be walking away as easily as she thinks."
For a moment, no one spoke. The weight of Cinder's name hung in the air like a storm cloud. Then Jaemin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Tch. Guess it's pointless trying to stop you. Just don't do something stupid and make us look bad."
"Yeah," Jisoo added with a half-smile, though her eyes betrayed her worry. "If you fall, who's gonna yell orders at us?"
Hyunwoo chuckled quietly, leaning back. "Exactly. So I will not fall."
The tension eased just enough for them to exchange small grins, though the unease never really left their eyes. The plan was set, but the unspoken truth was clear: Cinder wasn't just another enemy.
She was the storm behind the storm.
____
The dorm eventually quieted. Jaemin laid sprawled across his bed, already half-asleep, while Jisoo hummed softly to herself before dozing off. Jiwon was the last to turn in, shooting Hyunwoo a long look before muttering, "Don't carry everything yourself," and pulling the blanket over his head.
Hyunwoo stayed awake.
He sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the dim light of the scroll on his desk. His mind wasn't on the mission details anymore. Not on Emerald, Mercury, or even the White Fang.
It was her.
Cinder.
The moment he thought her name, that old heat stirred inside his chest—like sparks clawing at dry wood. His body tensed. His fingers curled into fists. It wasn't his will, not entirely. It was something deeper, something carried in this body itself. A fury. A storm.
The red Aura itself.
'The one who killed my father.'
He remembered the stories. The whispers. The day he'd know the truth: Hyun Kim had stood against her—and fallen.
His father, the man who never yielded to anyone, taken by her hand.
The fury surged again, sharp and violent, and for a moment Hyunwoo felt like the fire would burn him alive from the inside. His breath grew unsteady, and his hands trembled. He pressed his palms hard against his knees, grounding himself.
"No..." he muttered under his breath. "Not now."
The fire didn't fade, but it settled into a low, simmering ember. Hyunwoo exhaled slowly, lifting his eyes to the window where the moonlight poured in.
Cinder wasn't just another enemy. She wasn't just a name on Ozpin's board or a shadow lurking in Vale.
She was the weight of every scar his father had left behind.
And when the time came... that fury wouldn't be something he held back.
It would be the blade he struck her with.
___
The crowd erupted as the match came to an end. The screens replayed Penny Polendina's swords spinning in flawless unison, scattering Russell Thrush and Sky Lark across the arena floor like leaves caught in a storm.
"Victory goes to Penny Polendina and Ciel Soleil of Atlas!" the announcer's voice boomed, followed by roaring applause.
The hallway outside the arena was buzzing with students and spectators moving between matches. Ruby squeezed through the crowd, waving when she spotted a familiar figure skipping toward her.
"Ruby!"
Before Ruby could brace herself, Penny launched forward and hugged her so tightly that both of them tumbled onto the polished floor.
Ruby groaned, her voice muffled. "Penny... can't... breathe..."
Penny hopped up at once, dusting Ruby off with exaggerated care. "Apologies!" she said brightly, then gestured toward the girl standing neatly behind her. "This is my teammate."
The girl stepped forward, posture sharp and composed. She gave a formal bow. "Ciel Soleil."
Ruby smiled nervously, rubbing her head. "Uh—hi, I'm Ru—"
"Ruby Rose," Ciel cut her off, her tone clipped and precise. "Age fifteen. From Patch. Leader of Team RWBY. Status: questionable."
Ruby froze mid-introduction, blinking. "...Right. That's... me."
Penny clapped her hands together proudly. "Wasn't she incredible, Ruby? We make a splendid team!"
At that moment, Hyunwoo emerged from further down the hall, carrying a small paper cup of water. He stopped when he saw Ruby on the floor and raised a brow. "...Do I even want to know?"
Ruby scrambled up quickly, cheeks red. "She just... hugs really hard."
Penny tilted her head, smiling. "Oh! Hyunwoo! This is Ciel Soleil, my partner."
Ciel's sharp eyes flicked to him at once. She didn't bow this time, only narrowed her gaze slightly as if running through a mental file. "...Hyunwoo Kim.. Age.. 17. Status: anomalous."
Hyunwoo gave a faint smirk, unbothered. "That's one way to put it. Nice to meet you."
"Penny," Ciel interrupted, checking her watch, "we are off schedule." She tapped her wrist once, then took a step back, her expression never softening. "You have one minute."
Penny nodded, then leaned close to Ruby with an almost conspiratorial grin. "So! Did you like our performance?"
Ruby's eyes lit up again. "You were amazing! How do you even control all those swords at once? It's... so cool!"
Penny beamed. "Practice!"
Ruby glanced at Ciel, then lowered her voice to Penny. "Sooo, is she... like your friend, or...?"
Penny tilted her head. "Well... in a way. She's like Blake, but if Blake was ordered to spend time with you."
Ruby stifled a laugh. "...So... Weiss."
"Precisely!" Penny chirped.
Hyunwoo chuckled under his breath. "That actually makes sense."
Ruby leaned even closer, whispering, "Wait—does she know about... y'know..." She stiffened her arms and jerked her movements like a robot, adding an exaggerated "beep-boop-bop" under her breath.
Penny's smile wavered and she shook her head quickly. "Oh no. General Ironwood doesn't want anyone to know. There was an incident with a magnet, but I was able to play it off."
Hyunwoo raised a brow. "...A magnet?"
Ruby covered her mouth, giggling. "Okay, now I really want to hear that story."
Penny's smile softened as she leaned closer to Ruby, lowering her voice. "Ruby, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about."
Ruby blinked, her cheerful expression fading when she saw the seriousness in Penny's eyes.
Penny glanced toward Ciel, then whispered, "I want to stay at Beacon."
Ruby's eyes widened. "Penny... they'll never let you do that."
For a second, Penny's lips curled into a small frown—before she quickly masked it with a mischievous grin. "I know... but I have a plan."
Before Ruby could press further, Ciel stepped forward, watch in hand. "It has been precisely one minute, ma'am."
Penny straightened, giving Ruby's hands a quick squeeze before stepping back. "I'll talk to you more soon, Ruby!" she said brightly.
Ruby smiled faintly and waved as Penny and Ciel moved down the hall. Penny turned back one last time, waving enthusiastically until Ciel tugged her along.
Ruby sighed, then jumped when the stadium speakers crackled overhead.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Professor Port's booming voice echoed through the halls, "our next match will begin in fifteen minutes!"
Ruby gasped, eyes lighting up again. She clasped her hands together with a squeal. "Oh my gosh, that's right! It's time for Yang and Weiss' match!"
She turned, grabbing Hyunwoo by the wrist. "Come on, Hyunwoo!"
Hyunwoo blinked, his mouth opening like he wanted to comment on what just happened with Penny—but Ruby's excitement left no room. He gave a small smile, letting himself be pulled along toward the arena. "Alright, alright. Lead the way."
____
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