"Why do I get the feeling this isn't a typical form of punishment, professor?" Rio asked, smiling wryly as he followed after the older blonde, weaving through the myriad of shrubbery and trees.
They were in the Emerald Forest.
"It's not. Yet because you were all too willing to be punished for something that no one held issue with, I won't accept any complaints." Glynda retorted.
Rio faintly chuckled.
"True enough."
Clearing out Grimm in the Emerald Forest.
That's why he was currently accompanying his teacher in the sparse of forest they were delving in.
—"An influx of guests will be arriving shortly, so safety is a top concern."
That's exactly what Glynda had said.
Though since he didn't understand what she meant, and since the professor didn't seem it necessary to clarify, Rio just chalked it off as another case of him missing out on information everyone else probably knew just fine, that is, given his otherworldly status.
Still, the present task was simple enough.
Killing Grimm, Rio mused, absentmindedly pushing past an overly thick strand of leaves and holding it there for the person coming up beside him, not even noticing the indecipherable look that got him as a result.
Darkness and negativity, Port had said.
He would admit, he was curious.
After all, this would be his first time encountering the mysterious creatures.
On a side note, Rio was no longer dressed in his school uniform, but his combat outfit, the black and blue dragon leather. This, coupled with the sword affixed to his hip, jostling as he walked, and the way the smallest gleam of silver was exposed to the early morning glare, those that saw him would easily make him out to be an adventurer of some kind.
Or rather, a huntsman.
Steady posture.
A balanced gait.
Impassive gaze, not bored, but focused, methodically combing over the forest.
Yes; it definitely wasn't the behavior of an amateur.
"…"
Or so Glynda concluded with discrete glances.
Of course, then there's the bout he had yesterday with Xiao-Long, even if I ignore the fact that he was clearly holding back...
At that time, Rio's strikes had been simple, his parries and dodges even more so, hardly worth mentioning.
But, that was the point.
Because at their core, they showed off the very basics of swordplay, of movement. There was no wasted energy, no pointless flair. Every move was either put in motion to cut away at his opponent's momentum, or to make room for his own.
In other words.
It wasn't how a child, even a teenager, was supposed to know how to fight yet.
Unless they had experience from an early age, that is.
Pyrrha Nikos came to mind.
But unlike her...
Those scars, Glynda recalled grimly.
For some reason, the thought that Rio had gotten his skills through sanctioned matches and friendly competition didn't seem like the case at all.
Of course, such a thing wasn't strange at all,
Grimm attacks wiping entire villages off the map by the daily left for a lot of abruptly ended childhoods. Why, Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren were no different in that regard. Rio could truly just be another one of those unfortunate victims, forced to grow up far too quickly.
—"Yes, I've killed someone."
Glynda's movements slowed somewhat.
Yes.
Far too quickly.
"...As expected of Miss Glynda. You had also noticed."
Rio's words tore into Glynda's murky thoughts like butter, making her round on him with a strange look.
"Noticed? Noticed wh—"
AH—WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Just then, guttural howls tore through the air all around them, stilling any and all conversation.
Glynda's face immediately stiffened, posture going rigid right alongside it.
The roars were quick to subsided though, but only so it could allow the sweeping sound of countless stomping, illustrating in the most obvious of ways that creatures, quantity unknown, were closing in on their location.
They were Grimm, and by the sound of it, a pack of Beo-wolves.
Knowing full well that they could very easily be surrounded if they weren't careful, Glynda already had her riding crop up and at the ready, poised to dish out as much damage as possible to get head-start on curbing the tide. Then she remembered Rio, and her mouth shot open, ready to give quick and concise orders—
Leaves rustled a half a step behind her.
"You assault the main force and I focus on stragglers, I assume?"
Back almost meshed against hers, Rio was already had his sword drawn and was in a combat stance.
No, more than that.
Even if she overlooked the fact that she hadn't even heard him move, nor draw his sword, to so quickly be able to ascertain the situation and settle into a role of support...
"..."
Glynda's pause lasted for a beat longer than necessary.
"...That is correct," she eventually said with practiced calm. "They are just Beo-wolves, but there sounds to be a lot of them. I will send as much of the first batch flying as I can to disrupt their formation. If you could pick off the stragglers when I do..."
How shameful.
But even as she spoke, she thought such a thing.
After all, to talk in a way that pretended she hadn't just made a mistake?
To be the one who had been irrefutably caught off guard, but still able to spout such things like she was in any position to claim maturity and poise?
Her, Glynda Goodwitch, the adult and a Huntress, but still the same person who had been distracted by unruly thoughts, ones that had no doubt alerted the Grimm of their presence to begin with?
Glynda shook her head free of these thoughts, if only because this was no time to be getting dragged down by useless things.
"Of course, I will not be letting you do all the work, however, I have a feeling your offensive capabilities far exceed my own…"
Rio had been listening without interruption, gaze not once shifting from the trees just beginning to reveal numerous red and black forms.
"Understood. I'll follow your lead."
If the boy said anything else, it was cut off in the next moment as the stampede of sound in their surroundings suddenly got louder and louder.
And then.
Out of a clump of bushes, jumped several Beo-wolves, claws and fangs upright, ready to slash any incoming flesh to blood-soaked shreds.
That of course would have happened, had Glynda not immediately shot her riding crop forward, enveloping the six or seven Grimm in a magenta hue, ceasing their movements mid-air. Now, the professor was about to open her mouth to relay additional instructions to her charge...
But it proved to be unnecessary.
Rio darted to the side briefly, but only as a means of not hitting Glynda when he rapidly his swung his sword in numerous deadly arcs. The act, meaningless she thought, didn't remain that way for long. Not as several blades of wind seemed to just materialize into existence, speeding towards the Grimm held aloft with frightening haste.
Kshkkkkk!
With only that, countless limbs and heads flew through the air, a black colored mist following soon after.
The display had Glynda blinking in surprise, if only briefly.
Of course, it wasn't just the act itself.
Rio had quickly shown her that he had impressive ranged capabilities beyond the reach of his sword.
In other words, she did not need to waste time and apply risk in moving their enemies into close quarters for him.
But Glynda had no time to be impressed nor approving, not when the next wave came with even more fury.
Near twenty of them appeared, two halves flanking both Rio and Glynda respectively. And when their backs found each other once again, Glynda was a little disturbed by the easy reassurance that seemed to come along with it. After all, it was similar to what she would feel if it was Ozpin behind her, or even Peter or Bart...
The sixteen year old's voice cut into this.
"Er, this might be needless, but will you be okay on your own, Miss Glynda?"
The huff that escaped her was as reflexive as it was bemused.
"You're right. It was needless. No, more than that, as the one who's older, that's supposed to be my line."
Glynda felt like Rio smiled at that, because his voice suddenly gained a bit of mirth as he replied. "Of course. My mistake then."
And with that exchange, they each tore into their enemies.
Glynda wasted no time uprooting a log covered in moss and undergrowth, but only so she could hurl it at the approaching Grimm spawn, effectively ending the life of two of them right off the bat.
If that intimidated the rest, they certainly didn't show it.
In fact, it only seemed to make them angrier.
Howls echoed in a frenzy as they tried to close the remaining distance, but the woman shut that down immediately as she lobbed a cool to the touch dust crystal up in the air, instantly manipulating it to cause a sizable storm cloud to appear.
The few Grimm who actually stopped and looked up did not stand a chance.
Icy spears rained down in the artificial blizzard, impacting bodies without relent.
With just that elemental attack, there was only half of the remaining number.
The last couple who had not halted their advance at all vigorously jumped at Glynda, maws wide open, however she nimbly dodged the telegraphed blows and simply flicked her weapon from side to side, sending each one flying quite fatally into trees and other obstacles.
Realizing that was all of them on her side, Glynda relaxed slightly, but ultimately tensed when she realized she wasn't the only one fighting.
But, as she turned around, it was clear as to why her body naturally calmed.
There was not a single Grimm left in the vicinity, only the faint wisps of black smoke indicating their timely demise.
Rio was standing in the midst of this, sword held outright, looking none the worse for wear, much to Glynda's quiet relief.
As if somehow sensing her stare, he turned to her and gave a smile.
"Well done, Miss Glynda. As expected of a professor at Beacon."
"Yes, well... it looks like you took yours out with just as much ease."
"I wonder about that. They gave me quite the trouble."
Or so the boy said.
But Rio didn't not look winded in the slightest, as opposed to Glynda, who was trying to control her breathing, almost panting.
What was more, swinging that sword around, one that was definitely on the heavier side given the brief time in which she had confiscated it...
They didn't really run into any larger groups of Grimm after that, just the occasional short skirmishes here and there. Of course, none of them were quite as intense as their first fight. Either way, they soon began to make their way back.
Incidentally, Glynda took this chance to properly observe Rio's fighting style, further than she was able to before.
Although, technically, this was her justification in agreeing to bring the boy out in the first place.
As a teacher, she couldn't exactly match him against opponents without first knowing the extent of his combat ability.
It was… fluid.
Glynda didn't know how else to describe it.
Movement, sharp and clean. His body, quick and agile to the point of impossibility.
Not to mention... his wind semblance.
The boy's attacks and reaction speed was already impressive, but the well-timed gusts of winds only accelerated these capabilities.
Now, Rio hadn't done much "flying" during their time out here, but she knew that if he did, the opposing Grimm would probably stand even less of a chance.
Glynda even briefly amused herself with the idea that he could chase down a Nevermore, not only successfully overtaking it, but flying circles around it too.
Actually, it was somewhat vexing.
I can fly as well, but it's more of complicated floating. Not to mention, my speed isn't nearly so impressive...
Something invisible began to scrape at her, and Glynda frowned. Thankfully, it wasn't something as childish as envy. She was reasonably certain of that. But, if this hazy almost completely see through feeling floating over her wasn't that, then...
"Are you tired?"
That sudden question roused her from her thoughts.
And it came so suddenly that it surprised her, or rather the type of question did, to the point where she couldn't even mask the inquisitively raised brow she gave him. "...No. Not particularly. Why, do I look a certain way?" Glynda asked, and with the kind of dryness that really didn't want to know if she was spot on.
She still was a woman after all.
But Rio's reply was swift, unbothered even.
"No, you actually don't. But... it can't be easy navigating through a forest with heels, no?"
Glynda blinked, looking down at her feet.
She was indeed wearing heels, and she would be lying if she said there were no feelings of discomfort, but she couldn't tell him, a teenager and her student that. Not only that, she would also feel lacking as an adult if she complained in that sort of manner.
"Rest assured, I'm fine," Glynda breathed out. "I wouldn't have made it this far in life if I couldn't handle the strain of combat heels."
Rio took those words with a nod.
"That's a good point. Ah, but now that you mention it, Weiss wears them as well. They must be more common than I initially thought."
Glynda looked at him, ducking under a low branch.
"Weiss, is it? I see those girls finally cornered you into addressing them more casually."
Of course, this was her own way of subtly making a playful jab at his expense, even revenge for earlier, which was why it was slightly satisfying when she witnessed the boy's momentarily stunned expression.
It looked like she was right on the mark.
Rio coughed lightly into his fist.
"Yes, well... they were quite vocal about it, some more than others..." The boy's expression suddenly turned into a strange mix of amusement and fatigue, no doubt replaying such events in his head, but... with the slightest hint of a fond smile that Glynda couldn't help but find strikingly familiar for some reason.
Of course, she figured out why with a blink.
It was the same secretive and subtle expression a colleague might wear after dismissing a particularly rowdy class.
But there was no time to think about that further, not when Rio's expression suddenly changed on a dime, as if realizing something.
No, he suddenly looked vaguely nervous?
"A-Ah, actually, regarding that... it should be the same with Miss Glynda too, no? I should be referring to you as Miss Goodwitch after all…"
Glynda's mind went blank for a few seconds.
Then, with an even expression, she sighed.
"We already discussed this. Refer to me as you have been doing. I'm the one who gave you permission already, correct? Besides, it would be weird if you suddenly stopped."
Glynda honestly believed that, even if she didn't know why.
Was it because none of her students had ever tried to be friendlier with her? Even if that was the case, she would have instantly shut them down if they made advances.
And yet, that was the distinction, she supposed.
Rio's behavior towards her wasn't that of advances made to a woman, but the respect, if a little too refined, given to a comrade or a peer.
An equal, even.
It really was strange.
"That may be so, but...um, well..."
Rio's words failed him for a moment, and coupled with the look on his face, it caused the woman to raise a silent eyebrow.
After all, the white haired boy was strangely articulate about all manner of things, his words even more so. So for him to be tripping over his himself like this, well, it definitely grabbed at Glynda's attention.
"If…someone you hold feelings for heard me addressing you so casually, wouldn't... they get the wrong idea?"
Those words were delivered with halting awkwardness.
"...This is naturally one of my business, of course, but surely there are a few you want to leave a favorable impression on. I'd feel horrible if I got in the way of something important like that... is what I'm trying to say."
Glynda, who had been walking slightly ahead of the boy, suddenly stopped in place.
Because of this, Rio stopped as well.
He was confused by the sudden behavior, tense too, and even feared he had taken things a step too far.
"..."
"Professor?"
Glynda shook her head all at once.
"It's nothing. And while it's considerate of you to worry about such a thing, you don't have to. There's… no one like you're imagining, not now anyway."
With those words, she briskly started walking anew, further into the forest, just about reaching the outskirts where the Bullhead they arrived in was waiting for them.
"Then…"
Rio wasn't sure if she would be able to hear him, but he spoke nonetheless.
"…Please allow me to continue calling you as I have, Miss Glynda."
He barely caught the nodding of her head, yet she didn't stop.
No, it was more like she couldn't stop.
It was because the teacher did not want to turn her head and show Rio the expression on her face right now. His words, ones that might have seemed fine to him, left her in a rather precarious state, after all.
That was to say…
How shameless indeed.
Brows furrowed, Glynda could not get over the fact that her heart had unnaturally skipped a beat.
The woman was so conscious of this, that on the whole way back, even as they talked like normal, exchanging chatter about simple school related topics like normal, meeting the boy's eyes for any given time proved to be quite the challenge.
It was like the invisible barrier of teacher and student, one that she had always maintained without fail, felt incredibly weak and flimsy all of a sudden, and for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.