User blog comment:Gundam Legilis/Is there religion in RWBY?/@comment-10390252-20150606153824

Purely FWIW, I've always had the headcanon that the Huntsmen/Huntresses are a semi-religious vocation, somewhat like the Justicars in the Mass Effect universe. Warriors/protectors with a complex religion-like code of personal ethics and honour. Here's the kicker: You only have to take the final oaths (which carry literally medieval-level hair-raising punishments for being broken) at the moment of graduation; there is nothing stopping a fully-trained novice bugging out before the final ceremony and going into business for themselves as a Dust and Semblance-using mercenary.

It is possible that Cinder is one of these last-minute drop-outs. Alternately, she may be a true Dark Huntress who has deliberately foresook her oath because of either personal issues with it or a deliberate decision to be a servant of Chaos rather than Order.