Honour's Curse - A RWBY fanbook

Chapter 11 - A Friend Falls

I woke to a familiar sound, the buzz of my scroll next to the bed. Undoubtedly a message from Ozpin regarding the days event. It was the day in which the teams of Beacon would take on field training missions, the message read: "Miss the mission selection today, meet me in my office at midday, come in battle attire, you must be armed." I would be taking on a mission by myself it seemed.

I did as I had been asked to, departing my dorm to head to the tower in my usual battle attire. The familiar hum of the elevator to the office filled my ears as I ascended to my familiar destination. When I found myself at the top of the tower I was greeted by Ozpin sitting at his desk, with his hands cupped under his nose. He was alone in the office, and his cane rested next to him lent against the desk. "You wanted to see me?" I clarified as I looked around the room.
"Yes. Tell me Ettore, in your travels, were you ever employed on a protective shadowing mission?" He asked a strange question.
"Once or twice." I answered, "Why?"
"Team RWBY have been sent on a mission above their grade," He began, "I want you to follow them and keep me up to date with their actions and the activity in the area, it is important that they do not know you are with them, unless some sort of danger presents itself or I tell you otherwise."
"Why are they on this mission in the first place?" I was confused.
"I believe they have reason to believe that the White Fang are operating in the area, they wished to choose that mission regardless of whether it was available to them or not." He explained, "Doctor Oobleck is with them, he knows that you will be tailing the group."
"That makes things a little easier." I sighed.
"Take this." The professor instructed, handing me an earpiece, "It will allow us to communicate while you are out in the world."
I fitted the earpiece, "So where am I headed?"
"Mountain Glenn" Ozpin answered simply, his voice taking on a far more serious tone.
My heart sank, "Damn it. I hate that place." I sighed, "It's way too dangerous for those four."
"My thoughts exactly." He agreed, "That's why I must send you, you have knowledge of the area, and the experience of the world that those girls don't."
"Just how much do you know about me?" I used a more serious tone, surprised by the headmaster's knowledge of events in my past.
"More than you know." He chuckled, "Anyway, I think you had better be going. Remember, don't let anyone see you."
"Of course, I'll get this done." I walked out of the room, back to the humming of the elevator.

Upon reaching the ground floor, I sprinted out towards the docks, determined not to waste any time in following the team. When I reached the docks, I saw an airship heading towards Mt. Glenn in the distance, seeing this I sped up my running, leaping off the side of the dock and immediately engaging my wings for flight, following the airship at a distance. I raised my hand to the earpiece, "I'm currently following, I estimate we should be at the destination within the next fifteen minutes." I reported.
"Good, alert me when you arrive." Ozpin's voice buzzed into my ear.

The ruined city loomed in the distance, a horrid sight, crumbling grey buildings and decaying structures lining the mountain. The airship began to land on the outskirts of the city as I approached. I watched as the four girls and the green haired doctor departed from the ship when I was struck in the side by a sudden rush of black feathers. A small swarm of young griffon grimm circled me. I scowled, stabilised myself in the air and drew my sword. The four creatures circled me, each one staring at me intently, their red eyes attempting to pierce me. One of the things screeched at me, before breaking the circle and lunging, I flew upwards landing on top of its back and plunging my sword through its head, as I withdrew the sword from the dissipating corpse I used my gauntlet's spray function, placing electric dust onto the blade. Another beast lunged at me immediately, I leapt from the body I had been stood on and switched my blade into an icepick grip slicing the grimm as I sailed past it, killing it instantly. The remaining two grimm tried to attack me together, one on each side, I pulled my wings in, cocooning myself in flames. The beaks of the griffons were less than a meter away when I spread my wings sending out a wave of flame which immediately incinerated the two beasts as they flew.