We were standing on square platforms spaced evenly apart, each suspended high above the forest below. I couldn't help but notice the others around me adopting strange, almost theatrical poses. They seemed calm and prepared, while I... I felt like my legs might give out at any moment. My heart raced as though it was trying to escape my chest.

"Uh... Professor Ozpin, sir?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts to sound composed. "What exactly do you mean by 'your own landing technique'?"

Professor Ozpin turned his head toward me, his expression unreadable. His cool, even tone only added to my unease. "It means exactly what I said, Mr. Arc."

I could feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. My throat was dry, but I somehow managed to stammer, "Oh, uh... right. Sorry for the unnecessary question."

He looked away, leaving me to my spiraling thoughts. I wanted to ask about parachutes or literally any safety mechanism—but I held my tongue. First, because I couldn't see anyone else with a parachute. And second, because I didn't want to invite Ozpin's unnerving attention again. There was something about him... something that made me feel incredibly small.

Suddenly, a loud thoomp echoed through the air as the first person was launched into the sky. My stomach churned. Cold sweat dripped down my back as I watched them disappear into the treetops. Everyone else seemed so calm, so confident. If they could handle this, then surely, I could too. Right?

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I bent my knees slightly, trying to mimic the stances of the others, and leaned forward to prepare myself for the inevitable.

When my turn came, the sheer force of the launch was overwhelming. I shot into the air like a cannonball, the wind ripping past me as I soared higher and higher. My plan had been simple—spread my arms and legs to stabilize myself, aim for the treetops, and try to snag a branch on the way down to slow my descent.

It sounded good in theory. In practice? A total disaster.

The launch sent me into an uncontrollable spin. I twisted and tumbled through the air, utterly disoriented and completely panicked. The world became a dizzying blur of green and blue. I couldn't tell which way was up or down. All I knew was that I was falling—fast.

My thoughts raced even faster. This is it. This is how I die. My hunter career is over before it even begins. I'll be a cautionary tale 'remember that kid who didn't even make it past initiation?' I cursed myself for every bad decision that had led me to this moment.

Then, the treetops came into view closer, closer. I braced myself for the crash, but instead of a soft landing or even a painful one, I felt a sudden jerk. My body whipped sideways as something yanked me toward a nearby tree trunk.

I hit the trunk hard, the impact knocking the wind out of me. Dazed, I looked up and saw it. A golden-red spear, its sharp blade embedded deep into the wood, had stopped my fall. My eyes widened as recognition set in. That weapon... it was familiar. I knew exactly who it belonged to.