"You don't have anything flashy like that? I can't use this more than a few times, so I need to save it", he inquired. What was this fox able to do? He had some okay marksmanship, but nothing out of the ordinary, and he was fast, so he can do his role... If he was more careful. To be honest, Asher didn't go here with very high expectations, the only reason he's pushed himself was to never be behind his friends, who've been picked up by other countries, and are likely hunters and huntresses there now.

"You gotta have more than just your dinky little crossbow and agility. What about your semblance?", he questioned.

What was this sinking feeling in Julio's stomach? It was as if something bad was going to happen. They had already passed that flaming Taijitu that seemed to have been protecting the entrance. That should make it easier for the other students. And now it was so close and they'd be passing it soon. It was a good thing he was with the girl in the flowery dress, so that if something bad would happen, he'll at least have some backup. Ignoring the feeling but keeping his senses sharp, he followed the girl towards the shining star.

Julio's gut feeling turned out to be... very misplaced. The two of them arrived at the star shining above the exit perfectly fine and were able to step out of the Gauntlet without issue. Beyond the doorway they found themselves in a small rest area with large seats provided for finishing students, plus a water cooler in case they needed hydration after their long endeavor. They found a familiar face or two here. The dapper looking man was sitting crossed legged in one of the seats, about as quiet as ever. A blonde haired boy with jagged hair was also puffing and panting nearby, downing a cup of water. There was a stairwell leading upward, for when they felt they'd had their rest.
"Phew... I think we just about did it." The girl at his side sighed thankfully.

At the mention of semblances, the Faunus shyed away, his fox ears folding down slightly as he avoided eye contact with him... he didn't answer for a little while and just seemed to get his words stuck in his throat.
"It's not important... or worth talking about. C-Cmon, we've got a test to finish." He quickly reloaded his crossbow and fired into the mud to form the earthy platforms and began darting across them toward the star in the short distance ahead of them.

Julio sighed in relief as they went through the doorway without any issue. Guess he was just being paranoid with the run-in with the flaming Taijitu. He then scanned the area. There were two students inside. Oh, then that means they arrived pretty early. That was nice. Upon seeing the man with the invisible semblance, he waved at him. Julio figured the guy could get here without any issue considering his semblance. The Grimm wouldn't have seen him. And he was pretty capable.

He walked towards the water cooler and took two cups. He walked back to the girl in the flowery dress and offered one with a smile. "Thanks for helping me back there. I don't think I could've done it without you." He thanked her again. He was really grateful for her assist. If not for her, he would still probably be dancing with that flaming Taijitu. "Name's Julio. You might've guessed that I'm a faunus from my tail." The tail swung to view and dropped the gravity crystal on his hand. He inspected the dust crystal and placed it back on his pocket. He would have to dispose of this later. It had no more juice in it.

"Hmmm? Well whatever, there's not much left yet, so we've yet to see if this even is worth talking about", he responded. The subject was dropped, and so Asher followed on towards the finish. He could easily guess the fox probably didn't awaken his semblance yet, that or it was pitifully weak, either way it didn't seem a subject he was proud of, but they can worry about that another time. He kept going along, eventually they should leave the swamp, but then how much longer to the goal? They saw it was quite close the last time they got a good view of the area, so they should be very close.

The man in the hat and mask nodded politely in reply to Julio's wave, not a word uttered or wasted. The blonde student didn't offer any sentiment, he seemed more wrapped up in catching his breath.
"Thank you. It was a pleasure hunting with you." She smiled and sipped at the water with a crisp sigh of relief. She placed a petite hand on her chest and bowed slightly to him. "Yasmin Ginshi. I did hazard a few guesses... how juicy." she giggled sweetly.

Thankfully for both Asher and the Faunus, the swamp proved to be holding nothing else to deal with them. Perhaps the Grimm were busy attacking the other students who would surely by now be in the swamp with them... in the end, both managed to reach the shining star and the door beyond it, winding up in the same recovery room as Yasmin and Julio.

"The pleasure is all mine Yasmin." Julio said, replying with a small bow of his head. He then took a huge gulp of the water that he had and smiled. Water always felt refreshing when you're done with some rigorous exercise/training/deadly exam. He let it hang by his side for a few moments. He thought that it would be best if he didn't hoard all the water for himself since the other students have yet to arrive. He looked around again and finally took notice that the grey haired person from earlier had not yet finished. He was a leader earlier. Guess something happened. "You got to admit, the exam was pretty tough huh?" He let out a chuckle. He thinks that everyone would agree. But while it was tough, it was for experience. Hunstmen and Huntresses dealt with these kinds of stuff almost daily so they needed to be prepared.

When two others entered, he greeted them with a polite wave and then beckoned to the water cooler, silently telling them that there was water there if they needed it.

"Not the first ones here... Tch", Asher looked away for a moment with a look of disdain before turning back to the one... Or two in the room, besides him and the fox. It was probably the damn frog that really slowed them down. In any case he took a look around... It really was only just them here, four people total.

"Well at least we're not last... Gimme some of that water, this damn test was a pain", he commented as he strode right over to where they were keeping the water, snatched a bottle and took a quick swig.

"So, how long do you reckon it'll take until we see the last examinees?", he looked back over to the others. They may as well make conversation... For now.

"It was a rough ride indeed. When that fight broke out in the forest? I thought certainly i'd be shot from behind." She nodded in response, taking a seat as the man in the hat and mask decided to leave, headed up the stairs. "I wonder if our normal tutelage will be this rough." she joked. Though knowing this school, it could unintentionally be carrying some truth to it.

"Phew... thank... goodness..." The Faunus also took a cup and drank the whole thing in a manner of seconds.

"Ages." the blonde guy said smugly to Asher. "I was miles ahead of everyone else back there. Could be an hour before those slowpokes arrive." he boasted.

"That's true. The fight in the forest was quite intense. I'm sorry for causing the fire by the way." Julio said, admitting his mistake and lapse in judgement. He just got so into the spirit of fighting at that time and did not think of the consequences. He was content just standing up, holding his water cup to his side.

He looked at Asher and shrugged. "Well, we already defeated the Flaming Taijitu for them so maybe they'd arrive faster?" He guessed that would be the case unless they can't battle through the hordes of Grimm that were waiting for them at the lava pit.

Julio looked at the blonde human who was boasting about his achievements. Guy could probably back up his boasts though, considering that there were only a few of them there, excluding invisible guy who already went upstairs. "What route did you take? We took the forest." He said, gesturing to him and the girl in the flowery dress.

"That far ahead huh?", he responded. He let the arrogant boasting slide as merely childish, he would soon grow out of it to some extent. He flourished his weapon before taking a seat all in one motion and then sighed,

"If I'd known I'd have to wait that long I'd have just slowed down... Then again maybe not... I really dislike that damn swamp", he commented. There wasn't much else to do but wait for the rest, and see the results of the test. He should've brought something to play with...

"Took the canyon. Led us over a geyser field and then a cornfield covered in Grimm. Blew em apart, no problem." The blonde continued to boast with a grin on his face. "I couldn't even see who was behind me they were so far. Got this in the bag."

They were joined by more students soon afterward. The copper haired girl with the flail who'd been behind Asher was next inside, her lower half covered in muck. She must've waved right through it as she puffed and panted slightly.
"Phew... what a workout." She smiled, flecking the mud off of her legs in the doorway. She was soon followed by the large fellow in the stetson and the girl in the raincoat. The waiting room would be filling up soon... of course, the could always check where those stairs went.

Julio nodded. So that's where the third path led to. He let the guy boast and then turned to the entrance where the students were slowly trickling in, all looking tired but otherwise alright. It was going to get crowded here sooner or later and he'd rather not wait for that to happen. He looked at the people he was with and said, "Well, I don't know about you guys but I've had my rest. I'm going up." He then readjusted his cap and then walked upstairs, not knowing what to expect.

Looks to him someone decided to wade the swamp. Well he was done waiting here, there was nothing else to do but wait, and he's waited long enough, so he got up and headed out too.

"Same, no use sticking around here... Also you don't want that mud to dry", he commented, directed at the girl who seemed to have waded through the swamp. The mud was thick, but she... Somehow made it? Regardless, he was heading up too.

"I know, i'm working on it." The girl chuckled as she continued to fleck mud off her clothes, just as the grey haired boy entered and got a glob right in his face for his troubles. Before anything else ensued, the two had left, the Faunus and Yasmin following suit.

At the top of the stairs they found themselves back outside Lustre Academy, closer than where the Gauntlet started, a path winding its way amidst the ruby grass going back into the great hall from earlier. Two of their teachers stood watching, Miss Lariet holding a scroll as she continued to watch the students progress, and Grandmaster Trendle, surprisingly having curled his old face into a smile.

"Very good you four. Please, go take a seat in the great hall until the exams are finished. We'll be assigning you into teams shortly." He gestured with a open hand. They could see the man in the tall hat and mask was already sitting in the hall up ahead. The sun in the sky was sinking now, headed for the horizon and soon to set.

Oh so it lead back to the Academy, or at least a little ways from it. He continued to walk the path, his hands in his pocket as he looked around. Then there were two teachers, Miss Lariet and the Grandmaster, standing there. He instinctively stopped when the female teacher spoke, congratulating them in their success of finishing the Gauntlet he supposed.

When she told them to go take a seat, he continued walking towards the great hall and then sat down on one of the chairs. The man from earlier was already there. He wondered what was up with him, considering he was so silent. But he'll find out sooner or later once they all become students in Lustre Academy. He's pretty sure that would happen though, getting in as students, since they did finish ahead of a lot of students. His mind wandered to the teams. Now who would he be grouped with? Hopefully it was with someone he knew. Or at least fought with, like Yasmin... or even that grey haired boy from earlier who he attacked. Or maybe even top hat guy. Well, whoever it may be, hopefully he can work with them well.

"Huh, so more waiting... Hey, Grandmaster, they serving anything in the cafeteria? I could use a good meal right now", he asked as he turned towards the teacher and grandmaster, besides it was almost dinner time, so there has to be something. He couldn't care less what team he was placed into right now, he had confidence he can adapt to whatever they threw at him, that said it would be nice if the people in his team weren't dead weight, but then again this was a school... So teaching them to not be dead weight and improve was also part of the program.

"Dinner will be served after the team forming ceremony, lad." Trendle assured Asher as they took their seats in the hall. About 20 minutes later, all remaining students had returned from the Gauntlet, not a single one had perished. Once they were all seated, Trendle moved back onstage with Miss Lariet at his side.

"Welcome back. First of all, I apologize for lying in saying the last four students would be expelled. That was a little lie to get you to give this test your all. And none of you disappointed in that regard, all have passed." he seemed a lot less harsh speaking this time, not once did he bang his walking stick upon the wooden panels of the stage. "And now, before we retire for the afternoon, it is time to place you in your teams. We have chosen these teams based on your performances in the Gauntlet, as well as pre-Lustre skills and tests from your combat schools. When I call your names, please come up to the stage."

From then on, the naming ceremony went as one would expect it to. The first team picked consisted of the grey haired boy who'd started the fight in the forst, the blonde braggart, the girl in the raincoat and a fourth none of them recognized with a bandana around his head and dark rounded glasses. They were named team STAR, consisting of Silas Sleet, Terrance Thunderhead, April Showers and Remus Fogg respectively. Silas was named as the leader. They got minute applause.

Next up, a different silver haired boy, this one in particular looking incredibly meek with white fox Faunus ears and amber eyes was called up first. Following him was the large fellow in the stetson, the muscular girl with the flail and another unknown face, a blonde in a railroad engineer cap and overalls with a grin so wide it looked almost painful. They were named team SILC (Silk) composed of Sliver Quill, Isaac Carbon, Lariah Marine and Cassidy Brassbell. Sliver, the meek looking Faunus, was named their leader. He looked as surprised as everyone else in the hall.

After SILC, the third team was chosen. Headmaster Trendle cleared his throat.
"Will Julio Taiyou, Asher Brandt, Yasmin Ginshi and Cedar Glade please come on stage?" The flowery dressed girl and the Faunus with the crossbow headed on up ahead of them.

@Sho Minazuki@Polaris North

After the ceremonies for those teams were done, his was the third up. He recognized everyone who went up with him... Most familiar to him, regardless he stepped up to the stage. There was not much else to do but wait for the team name and leader to be announced, and then dinner. That said he disliked needing to wait for food, usually he'd sneak out to go to his favorite stall, but that was not a luxury afforded to him while he was here.

Julio smiled as he heard that none of them were going to be expelled. So that was the case. He watched as some of the students he recognized walked onstage and named as a team. When his name was called, along with Yasmin, he stood up and then headed for the stage, quickly noticing that it was the two he conversed with earlier. He wanted to get this over with to be honest. After that pretty tiring run through the Gauntlet, he just wanted to lie down and close his eyes and drift off into dreamland. But dinner first before that.