An Aura of Hope: A RWBY Fan Fiction

Chapter Two

I waved hello to Jess, the city gatekeeper as I approached the city. "Hey, Jess. Any mail for us today?"
"Morning, James. Actually I think there is something here for you." She reached into her pack and pulled out a Manila envelope and handed it to me. "All the way from Vale."
No.
It came.
It finally came.
My response to my application to Beacon.
Only the greatest school for aspiring Huntsmen and Huntresses in the world.
It has been my dream since that fateful day thirteen years ago to go there and avenge my father's death. He was a Huntsman in our area before he was killed. The only thing I had left of him was Viartannie Ijs, my ice-dust-infused boomerang. It's what he fought with, and it's what I'll fight with.
"Thank you so much!" I folded it up and stuffed in my back pocket.
"You seem pretty excited about it. What is it?" asked Jess.
"It's the response to my application for Beacon."
"Oh cool! You aren't gonna read it?"
"Not yet. I want to wait until I get home."
"Well good luck! See you around!"
"Bye!"
I walked through the gates and into the city, towards Germaine Public Combat. My best friend and fellow senior, Alex Caine, was waiting outside. Alex was a Faunus. That means that he was only half human. In his case, he was also half wolf.
"Smelled you coming from a mile away," he joked as I approached.
"Well that would make sense, seeing as I live in dirt and you're a dog." I gave him a playful punch in the arm. He didn't seem too enthusiastic that day. "Everything alright, man?"
"Meh. Not really. My Beacon letter came."
Uh-oh. "And?" I had a feeling I already knew the answer.
"I didn't get in. It's probably because I'm a Faunus." See, Faunus are generally regarded as inferior beings by society and are discriminated against because of it.
"Don't be ridiculous. Beacon wouldn't do that." I don't think, I added in my head.
"Whatever. Did you get yours yet?"
"Yeah. I'm not going to look at it till Grammy can see it too."
"Good luck, I guess."
"Hey man, cheer up! It's a beautiful day and Beacon is one of the hardest schools to get into. I probably didn't get in, either."
"No, don't say that. You're the best fighter at the school! Of course you're gonna get in. Plus, you're human, so you've got that going for you."
"Would you cut it out with that racist crap? Schools don't discriminate."
"Fine. Let's just get this day over with."
---
Four hours later, the final bell rang. I got out of the building first, as usual, and rushed down to the factory. Alex would beat me there, since he could run three times faster than me. But hey, can't blame a guy for trying, right? I crested the final hill, where Alex would usually speed right by me, but Alex was nowhere to be seen. Weird, I thought. He must be pretty beaten down about Beacon still.
I got to the factory and punched my time card and got into uniform. This part of the factory made buttons for clothes. I always used this time working to reflect on my day and formulate ideas on what I could do better the day afterward.
But that day, the only thing on my mind was the letter.