“Assumption is the Lethal Poison…” [Private: Invite Only, 5/5]

[Professor Wednesday Haptasnytrir]

“…especially in matters concerning the Grimm. Many of you doubtlessly believe that Mankind ill understands this manner of creature and that, for as long as we have been on Remnant, this has been a commonly accepted convention. That is categorically not true. The sooner you rid yourself of this falsehood, the sooner you will realize the breadth of knowledge that has already been uncovered. We have, in actuality, learned a great deal about Grimm from their mannerisms to their morphologies. Not as much as we would prefer to know, in truth, but it is an ever-increasing collective constantly being added to in both depth and value as time goes on.” Planting that preface was integral to how Wednesday developed her class at its start. Not addressing the notion that Grimm were unknowable entities lacking any means of being comprehended at all was a self-destructive idea to keep around when they were meant to be training specifically to confront them.

Mankind freely gave Grimm power over them by maintaining the myth when all evidence pointed to the contrary. Yes, Grimm were as terrifyingly vicious as they knew evident in the untold amounts of ruin they sowed, but they could be repelled, killed, and studied. The strength of this monstrous opposition dwindled when stripped of their image of invincibility. Quantifying capabilities and recognizing behaviors went far in doing so. Wednesday was going to hammer in this vital lesson of Grimm Studies while they were still in their formative years as soon as possible. Grimm were not a threat she would allow her students to regard as an impossible obstacle. Declaring them such would proffer them the opportunity to slip the burden of having to confront it at all. A more deadly poison there was none than that which sapped the very thought of even trying. Individually, the Grimm wouldn't seem insurmountable if initiation had proved anything. The issue stemmed from Grimm as a whole regarding the threat they posed at large to Mankind and not just their personal well-being. There would come a day when the terror of the night would flee, and she'd ensure her students would be at the forefront of the charge.

"This class is designed to cultivate within all of you this sensibility and open the way to truly understanding what it is you will be facing. Do not allow preconceived notions to form the basis of your judgement here and long after you leave this class. That is all I ask of you." Wednesday swept the room allowing her students to mull over everything she had said up until now.

"Now then, do any of you have any questions before we begin?"

[Bartok Evergreen]

Professor Wednesday spoke in a very textbook sort of way. Practically perfect use of words and language that made her sound studied and very knowledgable, which she was, but Bartok's large ears could detect a hint of an accent. Something... something he didn't know, really. It was odd. It underlayed the way she spoke, the staccato syllables and clear pronunciation in the same way that someone else hid an Atlesian accent when in Mistral. It was small and some people would maybe think it was just how she talked, which could very well be true, but with how she spoke like an old grandmother without that creak and shake in her voice as actual old people did...

Bartok raised his hand. "Professor Wednesday, did you learn this perspective about Grimm by fighting them where you are from? Or more laboratory studies?" Understanding if fighting them could instigate learning, which he was sure was possible, or if more is found out in controlled environments was all well and good, but the bat was more fishing for any information on where she was from and if she would let anything slip or guard it.

[Myron Hyles]

Myron was a bit puzzled by the professor since he entered the room. Her appearance was an odd mix between regal and dangerous, a sharp lone eye, a smirk and the (very) tall figure of a Huntress under clothes that you'd only normally see at a military ball. This and her speech straight out of a fable gave off a 'hero of old' vibe, not at odds with Beacon's general grandiosity but still standing out, and kind of demanding attention.
Myron had never paid this much attention to classes before, but everything taught in Beacon was closely tied to not dying, which was a fairly good motivation. On top of that, each sentence out of the professor's mouth sounded like an adage, one more incentive to listen carefully. He didn't doubt that he shouldn't need the incentive, but it definitely helped that she cared about both style and substance.

When she ended her introduction, the first to speak up was Bartok; the only known face to Myron, who'd stupidly waved at the blind faunus back in the hallway. He asked about the professor's experience with Grimm, something of which Myron already had an inkling, her eyepatch being the biggest giveaway. Assuming it wasn't a weird fashion choice and she'd lost her eye in battle: she would have spent her Aura, taken a debilitating wound - or several - and lived to tell the tale; quite the statement about her survival skills. Also, you didn't get that built with just research work.
Myron waited for her answer to the first question before asking his own: "Did that knowledge save your life?"... Maybe a bit blunt, but he was curious to know how far knowing your opponent could get you.

[Rouge Ako]

This wasn’t Rouge first time sitting in a classroom, having a general discussion of Grimm, but what was the musician’s first was a class held by the Professor. She obviously had enough experience in the field to be teaching young huntsmen and huntresses about the terrifying creatures, and how she spoke of them was very different to every other Professor Rouge has had to listen to. She wanted the class to remove the past learnings of how these students perceive Grimm and to learn a new base line. Rouge scribbled a little note in his journal that summarized what she spoke and put a little star next to leaving behind his past judgements.

Speaking of Rouge, he was currently sitting in the back of the class wearing his usual school uniform but the only difference was the red sash around his waist that he was never seen without. A glass rod was sitting behind his ear and acted as a hair clip to hold back the scarlet locks from obscuring his vision. It revealed what used to be the usual blank look on his face was in fact replaced with a quizzical look. ”How are we supposed to forgo what basically was the foundations of our conceptions of Grimm from youth?Even after years of fighting, you still have thoughts of some of those falsehoods from when you were younger, yes” He wasn’t disagreeing with her or trying to fight what she taught, he more or less wanted to know if she doesn’t think like that, even a little, how to rid of your mind of those legends you grew up believing. He also realized when he just asked his question, it ended up interrupting another student’s. Rouge doesn’t recognize them, so either new or younger year, or just simply never noticed them. Which seems harsher…

[Akiko Momiji]

Akiko took a good moment to take a look around the room, ears flicking, tail waving in curiosity as she listened to the professor's speech. The Majority of the room had their eyes fixated on Professor Wednesday, her voice echoing inside as she gave off some battle-hardened vibes as Akiko looked down towards the textbook in front of her. She kept on doing a few quick doodles of the Grimm that were on a novel she had brought in, adding in the shades and details of a few common Grimm such as Boarbatusk and Beowolfs. Akiko continued to listen to Professor Wednesday, glancing up as she finished her introduction while asking if anyone had any questions before the lecture had begun. Akiko took notice as the first person had asked their question, putting down her pencil to take a quick glance towards the source of sound.


The first to speak was the Bat Faunus, unknown to her a bit as she didn't really interacted with anyone else outside of classes as he asked about the professor's perspective about the Grimm. Soon after another person, a dark green eyed individual asked their question and then a red haired upperclassmen right after. Akiko waited for a bit as each person got their answer right before she asked her own. "In your past experience, were there any Grimm that seemed like they had no weakness at a glance? If there were any, did you ever managed to find the weakness?" Akiko held tight onto her book, a illustration of a Nevermore on the back of the cover looking as fearsome as it would appear normally. Mostly spending her off time reading books, Akiko kept a few books with stories of the small handful of Grimm as the text from within held stories of their ferocity and the strengths they had which seemed like no ordinary person could handle.

[Professor Wednesday Haptasnytrir]

Perhaps it would have been prudent to specify if her students had any questions concerning the curriculum rather than any curiosities about their professor. Circumstances aside, this would still serve as a gainful learning opportunity for them. It was the duty of any educator to provide their students with a fulfilling education, after all, and Wednesday was not one to shirk duty. At least they seemed inquisitive enough. If only they channeled that interest in the class subject. Evergreen seemed only tangentially invested in what she was teaching. Good enough for now, she supposed.

"Mostly the former of the two if only as a result of where I was born and raised. Sterile laboratory environments weren’t the most effective approach when learning about Grimm. The beasts sit ill in captivity, for one. Each method has its merit, I will not deny, but my experiences form the opinion that Grimm can only truly be comprehended when left in natural settings. Second-hand accounts and pure data documentation fail to encompass the visceral factor I hold in great importance for this study. Fighting them shouldn’t be the only interaction considered when attempting to understand their existence. We have enough meatheads thinking a big stick is all anyone needs for Grimm."

Wednesday knew about her bias and how it affected her teaching method. Enforced by a longstanding viewpoint not often proven wrong meant it had solid ground to stand on and was not easily shaken. That didn't mean she would obscure other perspectives and not be upfront about where she was coming from. The facilities that the Atlas institutes provided when she officially went into formal education did have more than a handful of interesting approaches exclusive to them. Living outside of a kingdom simply lent higher degrees of urgency to what was effective. Her reply was designed with those things in mind to not only share a little about herself, but to answer the current and possibly future questions they may soon think to field. This way, she’d have a little more control over the flow of questions by guiding it.

"If any of you haven’t figured out already, I hail from Solitas. That small, snow-ridden continent across the whale road some of you may have heard of. Outside both the walls of Atlas and the pit of Mantle was where I had numerous encounters with Grimm that found the blistering freeze only a minor hindrance. Observing their habits and abilities was a necessity for my people's survival and a practice I want to impress the importance of on all of you." This was her reply to… Hyles. The boy’s face taking barely a second to match on the roster Wednesday had memorized for the class. “So yes, I think it did prove at least somewhat positive to my well-being.”

It took less time to recall the next student to catch her attention, if for no other reason than his alphabetical position on the roster. It would be hard not to notice the young man even when he was seated at the back. The shocks of red made sure he stood out. Ako’s question was refreshingly centered on the class and held appreciable investment.

“Perhaps I should clarify on that front,” It was true that simply telling them to do something, more over in reconsidering what served as foundational knowledge for them, would be near impossible. “What I mean is that the preconceived notions you have all held yourselves to possess flaws that will become apparent to what you will learn here. The first step is to recognize and acknowledge them before they cause issues. The next is seeing them from a more detached perspective, the examination in isolation and then in relation to new principles where upon you will form the new foundation.”

In simpler terms, to educate themselves with what she offered and what they would learn. Pit their knowledge and refine it with wisdom. Momiji’s question transitioned smoothly into Wednesday’s next point to support her earlier one. This time, she would have visual aids to help things along.

“Not all Grimm are alike. Applying one species’ characteristics on another is foolhardy at best. Still, all Grimm have commonalities between them despite how drastically different they may seem.” Wednesday couldn’t help the smile that came to her face when recalling just such situations. Whether it was born of bitter remembrance or of a dark humor, no one could tell in the short instance it appeared. Attention would move toward images of Grimm projecting to life at the head of the lecture hall. Their characteristic black forms stood beside frosted over variants where the bone-like armor was as one with ice.

“Grimm take after their environments, for example. The ones in Solitas adapt for the extreme cold-as I’ve said. Blizzards that would freeze a man black and blue in a matter of minutes hardly matter to them, but therein also lies a weakness. Specialization to any environment means losing effectiveness in others. For those winter-veined creatures, they gained a glaring weakness to heat. Yes, raising their temperature proved fatal. So much insolation would cause them to cook given the right conditions. There’s a particularly riveting documentary on Grimm traversing outside of their ‘habitats’ I’ll make available on the class page that observes what happens when Grimm stranded on ice flows end up in Vacuo’s climate. Be sure to look into it afterwards.”

Whatever Grimm were, they were still beholden to this world. As far as evidence went.

[Bartok Evergreen]

Well, he was going to try and figure out where she was from. She just told everyone straight out. Perhaps she wasn't as secretive as Bartok had originally assumed about her. He also had assumed that no one really lived for long outside of Atlas, Mantle, and other cities in that kingdom. That bitter cold too much for people to bear.

This came about not from his own question, but from three other's questions. Myron's voice he knew, they were on the same airship into Beacon. Another guy and a girl, by the sounds of their voices, also asked questions.

“What I mean is that the preconceived notions you have all held yourselves to possess flaws that will become apparent to what you will learn here. The first step is to recognize and acknowledge them before they cause issues. The next is seeing them from a more detached perspective, the examination in isolation and then in relation to new principles where upon you will form the new foundation.”

Bartok mulled this over in his head quite a bit, trying to understand what she meant. To a degree he did, but... He raised his hand again. "I'm not sure I fully understand what you meant by the flaws in our original notions and seeing things in isolation and then in relation to new principles. It's theoretical and without an example. I'm trying to imagine it like notes on a wall, with strings attaching whatever these 'notions' are, as I'm sure you will tell us going forward. Examining and understanding one piece of information in a vacuum, and then what it means when it's linked to other notes and pieces of information. That concept, is that what you was wanting us to get from this?" It seemed fairly smart, and he could imagine the amount of understanding one would get from it.

[Myron Hyles]

Living in Solitas, beyond the city's security? Yep, that was another check mark on the 'people to hide behind in case of danger' list. The northern Grimm now shown above the professor didn't really seem tougher than Vale's variants, but it might be another story to face them in their territory with your Aura trickling down to fight subzero cold.

After her answer, Myron hummed in acknowledgment and raised an eyebrow at the perceived snark. A continent that some of them may have heard of? The words seemed to be a quip, however her tone sounded like she was just accounting for the lowest possible level of education... Which was a weird precaution in a world-renowned academy, but she was definitely cautious enough to take it.

Myron had slumped a bit at the mention of supplementary work. Not that watching an apparently 'riveting' video was a tall order, but seeing the so-called class pages on the academy's private network appear in all of his most visited tabs was a little unsettling. Although, he didn't like that he felt included in the 'meatheads' the professor mocked, since he'd never stopped once to think about the how and why of Grimm, despite fighting the creatures several times.
It was kind of frustrating to not have gotten curious once before when he could incapacitate monsters without even hurting them. And according to Miss Wednesday, there was a lot to be curious about. Though she spoke about the problems of research and experimental conditions, Myron wondered how one could do better than captivity. You couldn't study Grimm up close without isolating, or at the very least restraining them.

He raised a hand with these concerns in mind and waited for the professor to spot it.
"It seems somewhat doable to study Grimm in their native environment... but how can you learn their habits if you're here to observe them?" He took a second to choose his next words and clarified: "The presence of any human or faunus would obviously disturb them, so how'd we know how they behave when no one's around? How could we see a Grimm doing something not tied to destroying mankind, if that ever happens?" ... In hindsight, that seemed like a pretty deep question for an introductory class. "Um, what I mean is... I can't see a way to study a creature trying its best to attack you", he corrected meekly.

[Rouge Ako]

A simple nod of the head came from Rouge as she answered his question thoroughly, something that clarified that the Professor knew the subject and offered insights for Rouge to learn. ”Understood Professor. Also, are we looking at exams, essays, or is this classroom going to be solely based off of lectures, discussions and possibly the occasional lab?” After asking his question, it became obvious that his attitude and posture changed, his sat straighter and stared at the student surrounding him, listening in their questions.

There was definitely something to learn here in this elective, even if he was forced by faculty to come here. They must’ve seen his ineptitude towards the studies of Grimm besides the combat aspect and because of this he must’ve been heading towards a decline to becoming a huntsman. These Professors were something to not scoff at, especially those who teach these peculiar lessons. ”Also, in this class… are we going to discuss the much more rarer Grimm and some with strange differences or mutations or are we going to cover the common variety of those we will see?” This would be the last question Rouge would ask, his pen and journal at the ready to make a list for what he should familiarize himself before next class.

[Akiko Momiji]

Akiko kept her focus as the professor spoke, listening to her answers for the other student's questions as she jotted it down on her notes. She also made smaller doodles of the Grimm along the side of her notes, adding in the details and features as she took an ear towards the professor. She left out some parts, but she kept the the general idea of observing Grimm habits and abilities while in a different environments. Even the slightest change in temperature, or change in basic happens could trigger a butterfly effect for the future. Akiko's question was answered and that's what had satisfied her giving a quick smile as she continued to etch and doodle in her notes, pulling out a quick snack in the form of cookies to get some energy.

Akiko couldn't think of any other questions at the moment, her notes all set up with topic points, small grimm drawings and a few introductory notes. She quickly opened up her snack, taking a quick bite as her ears perked up while continuing to listen to the lecture as the others still had some questions.

[Professor Wednesday Haptasnytrir]

"I'm not sure I fully understand what you meant by the flaws in our original notions and seeing things in isolation and then in relation to new principles."

...

Wherein was there difficulty? Unless... Aah...

"This: my just due for not heeding my own words... Evergreen, is it? Note your teacher for apposite example. Find little comfort in reliance to one approach to any circumstance. There is place that breeds complacency and error in abundance." It was not often days blended together, but it seemed orientation was a day measured in equal parts refreshing and dreary... New faces could only do so much when it was the same information she needed to regurgitate year after year to them. First days chaffed at the mind when none were in tune. What hid her minuscule embarrassment at the slip-up was the gloved hand rubbing at Wednesday's temple above her eyepatch. The other wound about in slow loops in the air quiet mutters floated through that came to end nearing the other side of the lecture hall.

"If you would allow me to revisit my previous statements; the essence of what I am attempting to convey is not to discount other options simply because you believe something to be true. A narrow mind is inflexible and dangerous. Many a time has there been where unaccounted for factors tipped the balance. The Battle of Fort Castle in the third year of the Faunus Rights Revolution stands as one such case. General Lagune of the human forces launched an attack on the Faunus position at night, which is a sound strategy as darkness is an ideal condition to catch your opponent unaware." Here, Wednesday took the time to look over her students with an intensity meant to impress the importance of what she would say next.

"The attack was a complete failure and the human forces were soundly defeated with General Lagune himself captured in the aftermath. The factor that gave the Faunus the advantage? Near perfect night vision. Something that rendered the general's assault in darkness pointless and instead turned it against the Human forces." The Battle of Fort Castle. Quite possibly one of the most studied military conflicts, and for good reason. Even a numerically superior force would lose against another they outnumbered if the opposition knew how to make the most of the circumstances.

"General Lagune assumed that a strategy effective against the forces he knew, Human forces, would be just as effect against the Faunus. It was not. I hope this is adequate for why I incessantly impress the importance of careful deliberation. Grimm will not offer mercy when you freely offer them opportunity at your life and the lives of those you protect. They can be devilishly clever if given the chance. Do not let them have it." At that, Wednesday allowed the classroom a moment to absorb everything and awaited the next round of questions her students would pose. They proved a lighter subject matter, and for that, she was grateful. The class might have been called "Grimm Studies", but that didn't mean it had to take after the name. Heh. Wednesday's tone reflected the shift in atmosphere.

"A dose of each of the expected tasks, Ako. My class has predetermined material, such as the texts I mentioned in the syllabus. If any of you have read it-which I sorely hope that you have, it is a modular curriculum designed to be currated towards your needs. The first few classes will be discussions, similar to the one we are having, where we familiarize ourself with each other. In this way you will learn something about me and I will Iearn more about each of you. A give and take. Once introductions are completed, then I will field whatever it is I feel is most appropriate and conducive to your education. A general schedule will be provided to at least inform you all of the lesson plan I will create for the week well in advance. While the material we will go over will be known ahead of time, how I choose to implement it is at my discretion and what resources I have available. Your seniors lucked out and had the opportunity to study abroad in Vacuo for a week. If you thought our academy garden, the Emerald Forest, a den of monsters in your initiation, see what grotesques call the desert kingdom home." Wednesday couldn't help the smirk coming onto her face. The expressions that they made when seeing a Ziraph for the first time, haha. Mouths open in shock, eyes bulging at the sheer size and unnatural shape of the creature. Assuredly one of the least pleasant kind of beast to deal with for even experienced Huntsmen and Huntress.

"As for studying Grimm, the species fall into certain categories that rarely stray too far from the "mold", so to speak. Although I spoke of the importance of the differences between species, there is only so much morphology can change how an appendage will maim and injure. A claw will slash and tear, teeth will bite and gnaw. No matter the shape of limb bared against you, you will come to know Grimm and gain an understanding of their tactics. Whether you are able to adapt in response to the differences will come down to your own abilities and knowledge. Unique Grimm are those that do not fit into the usual categories. They are the outliers of even the strangeness of Grimm and possess abilities that make them dangerous because of how they alter the rules of engagement. Seeing to them will be a matter of course, and we will be covering them from the most common to the unique ones." Geists, Apathy, Leviathans. All manner of walking calamities expanding the scale of conflict from mere physical confrontation. They were a large reason caution was heavily encouraged. Yet for all that... A stick of chalk leveled at the blackboard would illustrate her point.

"For all their atypical relationship with the natural order, nothing in this world lives in it without leaving a mark. As you leave a mark on the world, so too does it leave a mark on you. It matters not if a being be of Grimm," Their visage of ghastly white outlining a body of consuming dark slowly formed at the tip of her fingers in dusty scrawl. Its final shape evoking an air of eery unease... "When death comes..."

Now it was nothing more than a smattering of dust. Remnants of what it once was now a pale smear radiating from her palm.

"They leave something behind." A small flair to help her students tangibly visualize the anecdote. If any one of them appreciated it, then she would have at least imparted a grain of the knowledge to sprout awaiting further nurturing.

"Nothing simply disappears without leaving evidence of its existence, and Grimm are not exempt from this. Tracking Grimm is entirely possible by examining the traces they leave behind. Detritus riddling their hide remains when everything else returns to nothing. Flora, insects, dirt, and viscera are among all manner of evidence detailing where they have traveled. If a certain composition appears from a sample, we can determine the region from which the Grimm was present. I am sure some of you are familiar with procedural crime dramas, so you may know the kind of investigative methods they use. Our methodology is not largely dissimilar." Fiction writers made it out to be more fanciful and stragihtforward then what it actually was, but they could relate to this better than if she went into a more in-depth run down. There would be time for that later in the course.

"In life, it is tracking their movements and compiling sightings to piece together patterns and find areas of interest to maintain surveillance on. There are ways to observe them as, like most animals, they are beholden to what their environment at present. Civilization is a sure way to guess at a Grimm presence, but a hospitable surrounding does as well. Grimm take after their environments, and that holds true for moving to where they can still function. Winter is the typical standard period for the migration of populations. It is also when Grimm attacks tend to increase due to the growing numbers being pushed closer to civilization." Glancing at the clock, Wednesday mentally noted the remaining time and how to proceed. Pacing herself and the class was important for retention. If only they let her reinstate live handling classes. Students always paid close attention to what she had to say when a pack of Ursa were gnawing on their shins. Maybe next year. When the parents stopped sending lawsuits.

"Now, if there remains nothing else, I believe it is time I moved questions along to where else I had in mind. You all have heard a little of me and mine, but I have yet to acquaint myself with any of you bar names and faces. So I wish to hear from each beyond what roll call allots me. I leave the measure to you for what you are willing to share and I will in turn give as much." Clapping her hands to rid herself of chalk dust and grab their attention, Wednesday moved to the front of her desk to lean against it, again waiting for what her students would bring to bear.

[Bartok Evergreen]

The professor went on speaking about the narrowness of minds and gave a real-world example. So that's what she meant, not allowing biases or presuppositions to get in the way. Always learn more, and be open-minded enough to let new information replace the old. He nodded, understanding.

She went on answering the rest of the student's questions, how to track Grimm, leaving a mark on history, and some other things. Bartok was an excellent listener, but sometimes how she spoke befuddled him and he had to twitch his ears and refocus.

Eventually she wanted to hear more from them, the students.

"Bartok Evergreen, from Vale." He began introducing himself. "Little about myself, I think girls are the literal best thing ever. Sadly enough for the lot of you," Although blind, he turned his head to the girls in the class. "I have a girlfriend already and we're pretty tight. Other than that, yes I'm blind but I can see just fine. Yes, my ears are big and beautiful. And I look forward to learning more from you, Professor Wednesday."

[Myron Hyles]

General Lagune's incredibly ironic tale got precisely what it deserved for how many times it had been told: the words "not again" scribbled in the margin of Myron's notebook, next to actual notes about tracking Grimm through wilderness. That was an interesting prospect. Even though it didn't fit the usual image of Huntsmen, not all of them focused on fighting Grimm directly. Besides, who would venture into known Grimm territory without a Huntsman — if not to take part in field studies, then at least to protect those who gathered evidence? Tangential as it sounded, the work was still suited for everyone here.
The mention of inter-kingdom trips was equally exciting, however dampened by the possibility of fighting in Vacuo's deserts or Atlas' ice caps. Wednesday wasn't one to safeguard her students... Duly noted.

Listening to Bartok's self-appreciating speech brought a hand to Myron's mouth to smother his laughter. Unfortunately, it didn't tell him what to say about himself. The faunus' words, while funny, didn't relate to the class and probably weren't what the professor expected. But what did she expect, really? Something personal, their thoughts on the subject, a famous movie quote? There was a pause when his turn came as he was still pondering. Introductions were awfully uninspiring like always.

"I'm Myron", he cut the silence before it became weird, voice and expression neutral. In the end he settled for the most relevant piece of information in context. "Uh... I'm skilled at fighting slow and resistant Grimm, and I know how to patch up and stitch wounds." Painlessly, he didn't care to add. Unwilling to appear as cheerless as that sentence sounded, he alleviated the serious tone with a quip: "Also I wanted to marry Bartok, but that ship sailed apparently." Trying to fake disappointment while grinning didn't quite work out.

[Rouge Ako]

Eyes widened as the Professor spoke and it was quickly realized the gap between her's and Rouge's knowledge was beyond obvious and as she answered his question and potentially any further questions he had, Rouge was incredibly impressed that there were professors willing to express a unique interest in the common enemy everyone in the classroom had, Grimm. She's going to personally save a lot of lives and time just by offering this class. The scarlet haired student quickly thought of this when she finished answering both of his questions. Rouge leaned forward a slight bit, thankful that the glass hair clips kept his vision unobstructed and his attention fully on the expert in front of him. He was quick to begin writing down and summarized everything she spoke of, making bulletin marks and underlining possibly the more important information he will need to study later, that is if the teachers will let him back in after showing proof that he is taking classes once again. Rouge was engrossed with his writing that he only realized that there was a pause when he heard Wednesday shift focus, an fact he only heard the responses of his fellow classmates when Professor Wednesday turned the floor over to them.

When it came to introductions, Rouge watched every student announce themselves, a few stood up while most sat down to answer. The first who really caught his attention was the one named Bartok, a bat faunus who wasn't afraid to express himself a bit. Rouge internally skipped over the fact he was taken and obviously a bit of a flirt because the information that he was a blind huntsman in training was far more interesting, and in fact was possibly the greatest reveal in this class so far. It also wasn't hard to infer that this student possibly used his rather large bat ear to assist him in day to day, combat to combat life. A blind bat faunus huntsman, probably a great tracker in the field, he's definitely going to be a valuable addition for his future team. Rouge imagined the several times he could've used that when he was out on the field for his ride along with licensed huntsmen, and huntresses.

Then came Myron's introduction which was interesting. A hard hitting field medic with a sense of humor and possibly knew Bartok already? Rouge wasn't sure if that was true or by the grin on Myron's face made it out to be a first impression joke to not just Bartok but to the whole class. The musician looked over Myron a bit from his viewpoint, he could see a bit of muscles on his back when the rather loose school shirt, made easy with the lack of jacket. A swordsman? Or maybe close combat. Would have been all Rouge thought of the man until he remembered their one encounter, the casino night flyer. Rouge's thoughts were whisked away when the next student started talking. A few more students spoke out, none really catching his ear until he noticed that he was next.

Introductions weren't Rouge's best subject, usually failing first impressions with his demeanor and less than apathetic voice he carried. So he decided this time he was going to try. The musician leaned a bit back to straighten himself out to help with projection and help stand out that he was the one talking. "Rouge Ako, third year and former member of team EMRD" This would have been all he said until the look upon a few of the student's faces. Ah. Need a bit more for a first impression. Rouge gave a little under a second of pause until he continued. "I am currently on a forced break from the training hall and library and as well as a ban from the gardens after I accidentally let a glass hurricane rip apart the head groundskeeper's favorite flower bed."

[Akiko Momiji]

Akiko's sense of curiosity grew a bit, the professor speaking as she answered the second set of questions thrown out. The professor revisited her previous statements, recalling back to General Lagune's attack on Fort Castle during the Faunus Rights Revolution and how it failed and using it as a source to understand how Grimm could take an advantage even if given the slightest chance. Akiko continued to listen in, snack slowly being consumed as the professor continued to answer questions and touch up on topics such as tracking Grimm, leaving a mark on the world and natural order and also knowing and identifying unique Grimm to adapt.

Soon the professor wanted to hear from the class.

Akiko waited a bit as the first few did their introductions, taking in a few glances as each student went one after another, soon coming to her after Rouge finished his introduction. She started to fluster a bit, all eyes on her as she scrambled a bit to compose herself. "Um... I'm Akiko and..." The numerous eyes on her as she spoke caused her to lean back a bit before making her chair almost tip over to the side. "Eep! Uh...~ I usually try to use m-my surroundings to my advantage-." Akiko tried to recompose, but the minor stunt made her lose her thought a bit. "I-I have a mass collection of books a-and c-cookies." Akiko's face turned red as she didn't realize what she had said out of the quick burst of adrenaline from the chair tipping.