A note from the author!

There! I did it!

...Kinda. Okay, so, it took me a lot longer than anticipated to come up with this story. I watched all of RWBY, forgot half of it, watched it again, watched it a third time to take notes, and then a fourth time to confirm my notes and storyboard. Some of the canon doesn't make sense but I think I can take it as a liberty to tweak a few thing to fit.

Originally, this was supposed to be a trilogy. Each chapter was going to be at 30k words. But as I drew out the storyboard, I realized I am building a whole world instead of just creating a simple story. By the time I got to 10k words and realized where I was in the story, I realized there was no way possible I could cram it all in under those restrictions.

So, here you go. A whole new story.

For new readers,

This is a crossover between RWBY and my personal lore from the "Arryverse". I swear I didn't come up with the name myself. I am taking the world of RWBY as a template while throwing my own lore into the mix. Most of the roles will be the same. The only difference would be how well it all fits in a... cosmic sort of scale. Technically speaking, all of the canon cast should remain the same in terms of personality and background. It's just they will undergo new trials when involved with new mechanics I will be introducing.

For example, I want to see what would happen if the cast has to fight against a Dra'cueri. Assuming you're a new reader (hence the tag above), you won't know what I'm talking about. These sorts of things will be explained as the story progresses. And if there is something you don't understand, I apologize for the confusion beforehand and ask that you be a little patient as chapters are produced.

For, uh, "Arryfans",

Okay, that one I made up. Moving on, the lore you have seen in, say, The Dragoon series or Broken Rules is mostly the same. Originals, Primordials, Guardians, Predators, etc all exist. However, things such as Predators will be different from those in Dragoon due to the nature of the planet. Again, everything will be explained in due time. I've also introduced a new concept that I haven't had the chance to reveal in any of my other stories.

I believe that covers everything necessary right off the bat.

Right then.

On with the show...

Chapter One

This Charming Man

A quiet day in the office. The cogs and gears keeping the tower alive played a blunt melody as they worked. It was a subtle orchestra of machinery. Most would have paid it no mind or think it as disruptive noise. Some would have claimed to have gone crazy having to listen to it all day every day.

Ozpin took a sip from his coffee. The noise to him was music. It reminded him of his once and only time of perfection, where both harmony and disaster ruled his life.

The tapping of glass disrupted the song. He didn't need to look to see what it was.

The day would no longer be quiet.

He got up, walked through the piles of paperwork littering his floor, and opened the window. A raven as black as the night flew into his office.

Before he could finish shutting the window, the raven had transformed. A woman still in the peak of her youth stood in front of his desk. Her hair was black, eyes as red as blood, and skin pearly white. She wore a red dress favored in the Kingdom of Mistral with the additions of armor, gauntlets, and grieves. At her side was a katana, to which she kept a hand on its hilt at all times.

"Raven," Ozpin shut the window and turned. He didn't return to his desk as he gazed at her for a moment, sipping his coffee to prolong the moment further. "This is a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Raven Branwen had a hard expression. Harder than usual, anyways. While he had been gazing at her for nostalgia's sake, her eyes were wary and observational.

"Ozpin," her voice was curt while her eyes narrowed. "I've come here for answers. No more games. No more secrets."

He didn't comment right away. A curious brow rose out of habit. And out of just as much of a habit, he took another sip from his coffee. "I don't believe I follow. I already told you about Salem and the Maidens. What more is there to ask for?"

She remained silent just as long, watching him as if she had never seen him before. Her guard was up. She would use that sword against him at an instant. Her Aura was folded over her skin, acting as a second layer of armor as well as a medium to amplify her strength. Her control had been refined since the last time they met. It would have taken a huntsman more than just experience to reach this level of fortifications; they would also have to have been in the midst of fighting to produce this amount of Aura.

He had deduced what she had become since the disbandment of Team STRQ. But there was no need to reveal this to her. Not yet.

He did not put up a guard. There was no need. He welcomed her. And he showed it by returning to his desk and sitting himself down in the leather chair. He also placed his cane against the desk and out of his immediate reach.

He took another sip of coffee while he awaited her response.

Her response was to approach his desk and stab a black dagger into the center.

Another brow was raised. The dagger was beautiful. And powerful. He could feel Aura resonating through it like a tuning fork that never stopped. It played such a beautiful note only he could hear. Perhaps Raven could hear it, to a degree of course— just enough to realize there was something special about this instrument.

"And what, may I ask, is this?" he gestured at the dagger with his coffee mug.

"You said the Maidens were the only ones who could wield magic," she hissed as she pressed her hands flat on his desk. She leaned forward to look at him at eye level. "At first, we thought it was a Semblance. To completely conceal his Aura… I'll even accept the ability to turn invisible. Those two abilities seemed similar enough.

"But to duplicate himself? To turn into shadow? To create as many of these daggers as he wanted? Maybe, just maybe, it was a rare Semblance of illusion. I've seen people who can turn illusions into physical objects. Fine.

"But when he ripped the heart of one of my men without directly touching him… that's where I drew the line. It took everything I had to kill him, Ozpin. He wasn't even an experienced huntsman. He was just a boy who got caught trying to steal from us."

Ozpin listened. He didn't drink from his coffee this time. His eyes never looked away from hers.

Incidentally, the dagger had vanished. The only proof it had been real was the scar left on his desk.

"So," she stood straight and crossed her arms, "do you have a fairy tale for this one?"

"As a matter of fact…" he began as he leaned back in his chair. It was going to be long so he may as well get comfortable. "I would prefer to call this one a legend. Fairy tales are things told to children. This one is more myth and should be taken with a lot more skepticism than your typical fantasy."

"I will decide for myself whether it's real or not," she said curtly.

"Very well. You are aware of the two, the Brothers? The older ruled over the light and the younger ruled over the dark. One brought about creation and life to the planet while the other brought about decay and ruin. But when the older brother grew upset with the younger's constant attempts to destroy his work—"

"They both created humanity and blessed them with the four gifts," she cut him off with a bored tone. "Creation, knowledge, choice, and destruction. I'm also aware they took on physical forms as Relics— one of which you guard here. Do not waste my time, Ozpin."

He smirked, "Glad to see you haven't forgotten after all these years. Yes, well, once humanity began to prosper and started to find ways to fend off the Grimm, something had tipped the scales. The Grimm were becoming more ferocious in their attacks. Villages and wholesome cities were purged. Grimm that hadn't been seen before had appeared suddenly. And with each time the Grimm succeeded in wiping out a civilization, fear rose among the people.

"With more fear and panic came more Grimm. And with every confrontation were the Grimm becoming stronger. Humanity was on the brink of extinction.

"But, I find in the moment of absolute despair does humanity's strongest side rise up. Bravery, sacrifice, and hope.

"When the Grimm came to a small village without a huntsman to protect it, a young woman stood in front of the pack with only a guardsman's shield and sword. She only thought about protecting her family. She stood alone to face against the monsters of Grimm.

"And by a miracle was she able to repel them.

"News of her victory spread. People flocked to the village to meet this girl who had saved her village. With the same sword and shield, she rallied the people who gathered towards her. She went on a campaign to save the next village over. And the one after that. And eventually the kingdom at the time.

"With each victory did her army grow. Hope filled everyone upon hearing a unified force that could oppose the Grimm of that era. And with each person added to her cause did she become more powerful. It was said at the peak of her power did she alone slay an army of Grimm.

"But this story has no happy ending. Perhaps out of jealousy, or perhaps out of fear of being overthrown, or perhaps out of a darker reason behind closed doors, the king of that time had her arrested. She was tried and charged with practicing forbidden arts and taming Grimm. And the people believed it despite following her for so long. After all, how else can a single individual fight against the Grimm with countless assured victories? She was burnt at the stake. No one could save her. No one… wanted to save her."

He drank his coffee as silence filled his office. He couldn't hear the music of clockwork at the moment. All he could hear were the choking screams of a woman on fire.

"And what does this have to do with my issue?" Raven asked, albeit with more calm in her voice this time.

"I cannot say whether or not this was a design of the Brothers," he said after a moment. "But this isn't the first time this had happened. Arc, Nikos, Alcaeus, Pendragon… these are but a few names whose great ancestors were met with similar circumstances. When humanity as a whole is at a breaking point, when they are backed into a corner and when darkness is at its strongest, will a spark of light come from the deepest pits of fear.

"I have no name for these beings of unique power. But if you say you came across one of them only tells me dark times are upon us. These… heroes only rise up when humanity is on the brink of extinction. It's possible you may have doomed us all by killing this boy."

"…Heroes," she said, tasting the word. Then, she gave a single dry laugh. "I have no need for such things. If humanity is weak enough to need to rely on a single individual, then it's better if we die off. I, however, have no intention of laying down quietly."

"Your confidence is admirable, Raven," he replied in a simple tone. "Be sure to not confuse it with arrogance. There is nothing wrong with leaning on your fellow man when it is needed."

"Don't try to lecture me, Ozpin," her eyes turned sharp. "I'm not one of your students. Not anymore."

"Consider it advice from a friend."

"Tell me something," her tone matched her eyes next. "Why didn't you tell us about any of this? You talked to us about you, Salem, the Maidens, and the purpose of the academies. And, Ozpin, I'm going to be upset if you tell me you were waiting for the perfect opportunity."

"No, Raven, I'm not as forgetful as I pretend to be," though his voice was even, his eyes had sharpened just as much. He leaned forward and cupped his hands together under his chin. "The appearance of these individuals was of no relation to our battle against Salem. Just as there was no need for me to speak to you about something you already have suspicions about, Predator Branwen."

Her Aura spiked, covering her in a thick layer that distorted her outward appearance. Her hand was upon her katana faster than any person, commonfolk or huntsman, could have seen.

"Congratulations on your ascension," he said and meant it. "You have reached a level of talent not even the finest of huntsmen can obtain after a lifetime of training. Was the transition a shock?"

For the longest moment, neither of them moved.

Her Aura settled back into its previous fluctuation. "I can't sleep. I can sense every threat directed at me, no matter how big or small, constantly. I know the location of anyone I think about no matter how long it's been since I've seen them and how far they are from me. I know my brother is just like me. And I know he knows I'm here as soon as I thought of him. He's looking at me all the way from Vacuo. But you already know about all of that, don't you?

"…Just as how you should know the only ones I can't sense are Salem… and you. You're not like us. I don't even think you're human. What are you?"

He smiled. A disarming smile full of warmth… and a bit of bitter spite. "I'm afraid, Raven, that is one secret I'm not willing to give up so easily. Not to someone who is no longer a part of our cause. I'll have you know I am human. I am just as mortal as the next person. But I have my ways of going unnoticed by the World."

She frowned with annoyance and disappointment. But also with acceptance. She knew he wouldn't talk about it unless she devoted herself to the fight once more. And he knew she wouldn't no matter how hard he tried to convince her. Her mind was set.

"I have no proof for the story I told," he said as he leaned back in his chair once more. "I cannot point you in the right direction just like with Salem or the Maidens. These beings appear when humanity is in dire need… and oft disappear just as quickly. They are forgotten more times than I am comfortable with. Their legends are only told through oral depictions by their descendants. And that is assuming, of course, they lived long enough to have offspring in the first place."

"I don't need to believe in your story," she said as she began to make her way towards the window. "I only needed to confirm my suspicions about something. Whether or not your story is true or exaggerated, I know for a fact beings like that exist. I can find the truth for myself."

"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay for a drink?" he asked while raising his mug. "For old time's sake."

"I came for one thing and one thing only," she said and stopped short when she stepped on a few papers. She frowned as she looked around, "Just as I remember it… Get yourself a secretary, Ozpin."

"She starts at early next week," he replied with a wry smile.

She hummed in dismissal. She opened the window, climbed out, and leapt off the edge and towards the ground thirteen stories below. When he looked again, a raven flew off towards the horizon.

It would be the last time he'd heard from Raven Branwen for several years.

0-0-0

Jaune hurled into the private bathroom of the transport airship. Someone was banging on the door but he had already told them he needed a minute. They kept banging. His hands clenched around the sink's rim as he stared at himself in the mirror.

He was fifteen now, almost sixteen. He had inherited his family's traits of fair skin, blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. He was a man now. More of a man than most people on this ship. Probably more than the actual adults.

He was on his way to Beacon Academy. His favor had come through and he was admitted into the huntsman's academy. He was to be trained as a huntsman for the next four years. His dream was starting.

He wasn't deaf to the mocking from the other students on the ship. They laughed at him, especially when he was dressed in ragged clothes such as the whitewashed and torn jeans, a sweatshirt he picked up from a thrift shop, and cruddy and smelly armor picked off from a bandit. They almost refused him to board until he showed his identification. The sword at his hip helped.

He wiped his mouth with a paper towel and stood up straight, placing a hand on the pummel of his sword out of a habit ingrained into him by years of abusive… training. He briefly wondered how much weight was placed on the importance of this sword. Out of everything he had on hand, the heirloom was the finest piece of equipment he owned. Despite its simplicity, it was a weapon better crafted than most on the ship.

The students had laughed at him anyways. That he could ignore… to a par. He wasn't a huntsman. He may have been a part of the Arc family but he didn't exactly grow up the way his father wanted. He didn't receive the training he was supposed to. He didn't even get to go to any of the prestigious boarding schools his father and grandfather attended.

He was a sham. A fake. It took the moment of absolute bravado in the peak of his confidence to call in this favor. He was on top of the world at that moment! And then it came crashing down like a bird losing its wings as he realize who he made this request to. He wasn't fully surprised she kept her word until the identification card worked on the scan.

It didn't stop him from puking. The students called him weak, saying if he couldn't handle a little turbulence and motion sickness then he couldn't handle being a huntsman. He might have agreed with them if it were true.

He was having a panic attack because he was afraid. He wasn't used to this kind of fear. This was all new to him and he didn't know how to handle it. What he was doing was a crime.

If he was found out, he wouldn't just get kicked out of the academy. He could get arrested for identity fraud. Worse, if they made him talk and find out where he got the ID and transcripts from, they would charge him with things much worse. Things he would rather bury in the deepest reaches of his mind and forget forever.

No. Worse, she would come after him if he was caught.

"Yeah, yeah, just give me a minute already!" he shouted back when the banging was becoming hammering. Seriously, it was like these people couldn't control their bladders.

…Not that he was one to talk. He may or may not have accidents here and there.

He readied himself, taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves and looking at himself in the mirror once more. He wasn't a boy anymore. It was time to be a man and face his fears.

He stepped out of the bathroom, ignored the glare from the boy taller and thicker than he was (plus the shoulder bump on purpose), and walked down the hallway to the viewing deck. Here was where the majority of the students resided, sharing stories and gossiping as they awaited the arrival time.

He isolated himself from everyone else as he leaned on the railing and looked through the glass wall. They were out in the middle of the ocean with the capital city of Vale on the horizon. He could see Beacon Academy with its iconic watchtower beacon standing above all other buildings.

He took another deep breath as his nerve began to rattle him. He was almost there. There was no need to get so riled up. He would find out if this planned worked once he got there. It was all or nothing at this point.

Towards the front of the deck was a hologram screen that took up a few glass panels. On it was the Vale news with a pretty anchorwoman sharing recent events in an unattached voice. One of the girls on the ship had single-handedly stopped a robbery on a Dust shop but the head perpetrator had gotten away. She was kinda cute, though she seemed pretty young and had their air of innocence despite the weapon on her back and her most recent exploit of vigilantism.

He didn't know why he was surprised about the criminal activity. There were bandits no matter where he went, including and especially within society. They only went under a different name: criminals. But he understood the distinction despite their similarities.

Bandits followed their own laws. Criminals purposely disobeyed the laws they lived under. The common folk believed bandits were criminals (and they wouldn't be wrong) but even bandits have their own criminals.

While lost in his thoughts, he realized they were approaching the docks. An announcer was heard through the speakers. They would arrive at Beacon's private port within the hour.

He didn't realize he had been clenching against the guard rail until he decided to stand up straight. His hands were shaking. The nausea was returning.

Another trip to the bathroom it was.

0-0-0

They docked and the doorway was flooded with eager students wanting to reach the academy grounds as soon as possible. Excitement was in the air. And as soon as the doors opened, Jaune was the first one out.

…Because he needed to puke into the trashcan he had been eying for the past twenty minutes. The amount of students at his back wouldn't allow him to slip back into the bathroom. Once again they laughed at him as they walked past him.

He waited until the crowds thinned so he could slip back inside the ship and use the bathroom. He needed to clean himself up. Again.

"Nervous, boy?" asked one of the crewmen as soon as he stepped out.

"Something like that," he replied without making eye contact. "Is it really that obvious?"

"You're not the first one to use this bathroom five times," the man assured with a humorous tone. "Nor will you be the last. Every year we get a kid or two who can't keep down their excitement. They all have something to prove and are afraid of disappointing themselves. Try to not let it bother you so much."

"Thank you, mister, but…" he paused as a new wave of fear washed through him. "It's not me I want to disappoint."

"Either way, just do your best," the man said with understanding this time. He had heard this all before. "You were accepted into Beacon Academy! If you've got the grades for it, then you have everything you need to pass the entrance exam. You'll do fine."

The man walked off to carry out his duties after that.

His words made Jaune feel worse.

Regardless, there was no going back. If she ever found out he ran away before he could take the entrance exam… he wasn't sure what she would do to him. Probably worse than whatever he could imagine. And the years had given him a rather colorful imagination.

He stepped out of the ship and headed down the path towards Beacon. It was a smooth cobblestone road with Dust lanterns positioned every twelve feet. There was a crossroads ahead— the left would take him on the road to town while the right took him to another section of the docks. Directly ahead of him was the academy grounds.

Some students had lingered behind. As he walked, he saw an exchange of words he couldn't quite hear unless he forced himself to pry. Heated words, based on the way things were going.

He flinched in shock when he saw one of the girls sneeze and create an explosion. Dust had been waved around and the sneezed had the girl's Aura flare, igniting the Dust just enough to create a chain reaction.

Fortunately the damage was minimal, shallow at best. The other girl, the one covered in soot, yelled a little louder and then stormed off. The first girl tried to apologize but the other girl was already marching towards the grounds. It deflated her and the girl wound up slinking onto the floor, looking up at the sky with hopelessness.

Jaune approached and held out a hand for her.

"Jaune Arc," he introduced with a sympathetic smile.

He registered that it was the same girl in the news report. Dark red hair, ashen skin, and silver eyes. The detail was as relevant as knowing today's weather. He greeted her the same as he would anyone else.

She didn't notice the way his other hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

"Ruby Rose," she greeted back with a friendly smile. She took his hand and he pulled her up. She looked him over, her eyes widened for a moment… and then she gave a single laugh. "Aren't you the guy who threw up on the ship?"

He groaned and pulled his hand free. He looked away from her as his cheeks flushed. "Is that really how I'm going to be known by around here?"

She laughed a little more this time. She couldn't hold it in.

He began to walk down the road. She followed at his side.

"Look," he gestured with one hand while keeping the other on his sword. His mind flashed to the first excuse he could think of. "All I'm saying is motion sickness is a more common occurrence than people let on."

"I'm sorry," she said with the same smile on her face. Still, she meant her words. "Vomit Boy is the first thing that came to mind."

Vomit Boy? Oh great. He even had a nickname now.

"Okay, what if I call you Crater Face from now on?" he gave her a pointed look.

"Hey! That explosion was an accident!" she argued with a flushed face.

"Right, well, the name's Jaune Arc," he waved his hand around for emphasis. "Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue nicely. Lady's love it."

She snorted while giving him a skeptical look, "Do they?"

"Sure they do!" he puffed out his chest. But then… started to recall a few things. "Half of the time. Sometimes. But that was in Haven! They'll love it here."

Her laughter changed from teasing to friendly. It was light and in good spirits.

Their conversation dropped dead after that. They walked in silence towards their destination.

"So… You're from Haven?" she opened up with.

"Uh… kinda, sorta," his voice dropped in pitch as he rubbed the back of his neck. "My family's from Vale but I, uh, spent a lot of my time with… distant relatives. All over Haven. We moved around… a lot. Though I visited the capital often whenever— n-never mind about me. What about you? You from Haven too or more local?"

"I lived with my dad and big sis in a small cottage in the woods," she spoke without suspecting a thing from him… or chalked it off as him being odd. "I've lived in the Kingdom of Vale all my life."

"Ah, I see," he said.

Once again their conversation dropped dead.

"Soooo…" she dragged out, looking around to think of something to talk about. "I've… got this!"

He almost drew his sword when she reached for the weapon at her back and spun it around. What had been a red compact case had transformed into a scythe longer than she was tall and with an orichalcum blade sharper than any Grimm's claws. She slammed the tip into the street floor.

"Is that… a scythe?" he tested. His hand on his weapon went from lax to tight.

"Yup!" she said with excitement. "It's also a customizable high-impact sniper rifle."

She demonstrated by lifting her weapon and cocking it. The shaft had been modified to also be a rifle. There was a scope above the grip and a magazine cartridge beneath the upper handle. But as she cocked it, he realized the weapon was now locked and loaded.

"Neat," he said warily, eyeing the weapon and estimating how much damage it could pull. "How much heat does it pack?"

"It uses standard .50 caliber rounds," she said matter-of-factly. "This baby can punch through most Grimm armor. I made it myself. I can't wait to see what sort of upgrades I can make here at Beacon Academy."

She sounded like a girl who wanted to buy her favorite doll a new dress. It was the only reason why he didn't assume his life was in danger. She was only showing off her prized possession.

"What do you got?" she asked as she flicked her weapon around with a masterful stroke. The weapon folded in on itself until it was back in its carrying form.

"I, uh, got this sword," he said after a moment needed to get used to this eccentric girl. He already had a hand on his sword. He drew it out steadily and pointed the tip towards the sky.

"Ooo," she leaned forward and tilted her head back and forth, trying to look at the weapon at every possible angle. "Does it do anything special?"

"…Not really," he admitted with some disappointment. Only some. "It's just a sword. But, uh, its sheath can turn into a shield!"

He tapped on the sheath. It attached to his hand and spread open, becoming a kite shield with his family crest etched onto the center.

"It's been in my family for a long time," he said with pride this time. "It was my father's, and before him my grandfather's. It's saved my life more times than I can count."

She nodded eagerly and with understanding. "Crescent Rose has had my back no matter what. That's the name of my weapon. I… may have gone a little overboard when designing it."

She gave a nervous laugh as she scratched her cheek.

Crescent Rose. She named her weapon. Jaune wondered if the sword and shield had a name. Probably. It's not like he could ask about it, though.

"Wait," something else she said caught his attention. "You designed your weapon?"

"Of course," she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "All students at Signal forge their own weapons. Don't they do that in the prepschools in Haven?"

"Uh…" he blanched and looked around as if the answer was floating on a gust of wind.

"Well, I like yours," she said, coming to whatever conclusion she came up with. "Not many people have an appreciation for the classics."

"Yeah…" he muttered while putting his equipment away.

For the first time since today, he didn't place a hand on the hilt. He felt he didn't need to around this girl. She was completely different from the people he lived around. It almost worried him.

"So why'd you help me out back there in the courtyard?" she asked as they began to walk again. She wasn't suspicious of him. She was asking earnestly.

"You looked like you were having a rough start," he admitted after some thought. "'Course it's not like I'm having any better of a day. I also try to make it a habit of helping as many people as I can. My… family frowned on being nice to strangers. They had their reasons but… sometimes people need help."

"Hmm," Ruby gave a nod of appreciation. "Thanks, Jaune. Hey, uh, any idea where we're going?"

Upon asking, he stopped walking to look around. "Not really. I was following you."

"Really?" she blinked at him. "I was following you."

They stared at each other as their words settled. They had reached the campus but had been roaming around aimlessly. They passed through the gates some time ago. However, because of both their incidents did they miss what direction the sea of students flooded towards. There was no one around to direct them either.

"Think they have a directory or… something?" he asked while looking around once more.

She gave another nervous laugh.

"Yeah… I didn't think so."

This time, she laughed at his humor.

0-0-0

After walking around (which became a panicked running in every possible direction), they eventually found the singular place the students and staff were gathering. They both had a good laugh at how they missed it. One of the largest buildings on campus as the grand hall, which was more of an auditorium used to partake in these celebratory events. Such as orientation.

They had thought they were late. Fortunately, the scheduled speech had yet to begin.

"Ruby!" someone called out from one corner of the crowds. "Over here! I saved you a spot!"

Jaune looked and saw a blonde bombshell with lavender eyes. She was the one Ruby had been talking to on the ship and was waving her over.

"Oh," Ruby spun around to face Jaune… while steadily moving away from him. "Hey, I've gotta go. I'll see you after the ceremony!"

"Hey, wait!" he tried to call out to her but she was already gone. He sighed, "Great. Alone again. Without anyone to talk to. No quirky girl to hang out with. Guess I'll just… stand back here."

He shuffled around where he stood, placing one hand at his hip while the other had its fingers drummed along the shaft of his hilt. He looked around, seeing everyone in groups and chatting away. There wasn't any other loner among hundreds of students. Just him.

"You're not planning on using that, are you?" someone asked at his side.

"Huh?!" he jerked from surprise.

"Sorry!" the person said. She put her hands up to ease him. "I didn't mean to startle you."

He looked her over. She was a very pretty girl with a sort of grace around her that both amazed him as well as put him on edge. He recognized the posture and presence of a warrior. Someone experienced in combat that shouldn't be present in this environment.

She had long, wavy red hair that was tied back in a tail, light olive skin, and emerald eyes. She was dressed in mostly leather with the exception of gold grieves, a vambrace on her left arm, and a crowned helm wrapping around her brow to protect her forehead as well as to keep the hair out of her face.

He didn't hear this girl approach. Understandable considering the amount of noise coming from the other students. But he didn't detect her either. He didn't know how she got this close to him without his notice.

"No, it's just… nerves, I guess," he offered while trying to calm his hammering heart. "What was that about using something?"

"Your sword," she said while pointing at his weapon. "You have your hand on it as if you were about to use it."

"Oh, that?" he looked down. His hand was still rested on it. Instead of removing it, he drummed his fingers along it once more. "It's just a habit I do. Keeps me calm. Reminds me that I'll always have this thing at my side when nobody else is around me."

"I see," she said with a softer smile. "You don't seem like a bad person. I wasn't assuming anything wrong. I guess you can say I'm also having a tough time trying to fit in. My open greeting wasn't exactly the best."

He could breathe a little easier. He had disarmed the situation entirely. Thank goodness.

"You? Having a tough time?" he scoffed as he looked her over once more. "You seem a lot more collected than I am. You're not the one who's known as Vomit Boy."

"You'd be surprised…" she said while looking around the crowds.

He didn't want to assume anything. So he shrugged and said, "Well… we misfits should stick together than. I just so happen to have an empty space right here. And here. And here too. Also… here."

She giggled as he pointed to the vast openness around him. "I most graciously accept. Thank you."

"Jaune Arc," he said while sticking out his hand.

She took it but had the expression of someone bracing for impact, "Pyrrah Nikos."

"Nice to meet you, Pyrrah," he pulled his hand free and let it rest on his hip. "And where are you from?"

She looked at him as if he had just sprouted a third arm. The moment came and went as she bounced back, "Vale, mostly. If I'm correct, the Arc family is also in Vale, am I right?"

"Mostly," he returned with another shrug.

"Well, Jaune, it's very nice to meet you," she said with a warmer smile. It was as if a wall had crumbled down. Her warrior's presence softened. He could feel her welcoming nature. In this instant, they were no longer two strangers having a casual conversation.

He had no idea what he had just done. Or how.

But, hey, Pyrrah was pretty cute. Who was he to argue?

There was a buzzing noise of someone tapping on a mic. When his head (and everyone else's) snapped towards the front, he saw two people standing on the stage.

The one at the mic was a man with gray hair. Jaune wasn't sure if it was natural or aged. He assumed the latter due to the man's presence. Though he still looked to be in the peak of his youth, probably around his early or even mid-thirties, he had this aura of maturity and age surrounding him. His eyes were hardened as though he had witnessed all the burdens of the planet.

The fact he leaned on his cane added emphasis to this observation. He looked crippled— not in a physical sense but it was as if his spirit and will had taken such a devastating blow his physical body struggled to keep up.

Still, Jaune hadn't felt this amount of dread and overwhelming authority before. Not even from her. It was as if all his expectations and understandings of strength had been shattered like glass.

"I will keep this brief," the man said in a dispassionate and almost spiteful tone as he looked around the auditorium. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you will dedicate your life to the protection of the people."

Jaune could almost feel the sarcasm in those last words.

"But I look amongst you and all I see is wasted energy," the speaker went on without hesitation. Not even to change his words or pull back the bluntness in his tone. "You are in need of purpose; direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this. But your time at this school will prove that knowledge will only carry you so far.

"It is up to you to take the first step."

Deciding he was finished, he walked off the stage. His steps were slow and steady, matching with the movements of his cane. He kept his other hand at his back.

Jaune knew from the way he walked the cane was just a front. He didn't need it. It could have been a comfort or a misdirection. There was also no doubt the cane was his weapon of choice.

Almost immediate after, the other person on the stage stepped up to the mic. She was a blonde beauty with glasses, light green eyes, wearing a tight blouse, black skirt, and a violet cape with deviled tails at the tip. Everything about her oozed professionalism.

"You will gather in the barn tonight," she instructed. "Tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

She walked off after that.

"…That's it?" Jaune slumped as he gawked at the stage. The two… instructors (the term being used loosely) had left through the stage exit.

"I have heard Professor Ozpin is a rather… eccentric headmaster," Pyrrah chose to say carefully. "But he always gets results. They say Beacon is the best school out of all of them for a reason."

That was Professor Ozpin? He wouldn't call the man eccentric. Ruby was eccentric. That man was just… bored. Detached. Not completely there.

All the stories he had heard about him from her… all that credibility just went out the window.

Well, most of it. The man's presence alone made him question who was truly the strongest being Jaune had come across.

"So, Jaune," Pyrrah spoke up. Her hands folded behind her back as she glanced at him through the corner of her eye. "Do you happen to have any plans right now? Would you care to join me for lunch? I also think they're going to give a tour of the academy."

"I think I was supposed to meet up with a… friend?" he said while looking around. Ruby was around here somewhere.

"O-Oh," Pyrrah sounded off-guard. "I see. No worries then. If you have prior obligations…"

"Lunch does sound amazing right about now," he admitted. His stomach was so empty it couldn't even growl. "Man I'm so hungry I might eat a cow. Do you mind if she tags along? It doesn't hurt to make new friends."

She didn't answer right away. But when he looked at her, she had a friendly smile. "Sure. The more the merrier."

Her eyes didn't match her smile.

"Right where I left him! Jaune!"

Before he could do anything else, Ruby leapt out of nowhere. Being dragged behind her were two other girls.

0-0-0

"This year's candidates seem promising," Glynda Goodwitch commented once they returned to Ozpin's office. She took pride in her work. This place had been a complete disaster when she first started to work as his aid all those years ago. How the man ever got anything done without her was a mystery.

"As promising as they are willing to take themselves, Glynda," Ozpin told her as he gazed out the window that viewed the entirety of the campus grounds as well as the city neighboring. His thumb rubbed against the rim of his coffee mug as he contemplated what he saw moments ago.

"Perhaps, but I don't think that will be much of a problem with this bunch," she said as she pulled out her scroll and went through the records. "We have your favorite, Ruby Rose, as well as Pyrrah Nikos. Some others of worth but I will agree time will determine how far they are willing to go."

Without looking away from the view, he turned his head to ask, "The one in Miss Nikos' company. Who was he?"

Glynda gave him a studious look before adjusting her glasses and skimming through her scroll. She flipped through the records until recognizing the profile picture and transcripts. Her eyes narrowed at the picture. It didn't look standard. The background looked like it had been altered. Wherever the picture was taken, it wasn't from another academy. Already that was a red flag.

"Jaune Arc," she read aloud. "There's no noteworthy history other than high marks in his grades. He passed the written exam without any trouble and has a few recommendations from Haven Academy. Should I contact Professor Lionheart for confirmation?"

"Haven, huh…" Ozpin muttered to himself. "No, there's no need. I was merely asking for curiosity's sake. He reminds me of someone I haven't seen in years…"

Glynda eyed him but didn't comment any further.

He took a slow sip from his mug to drag out the silence. His eyes moved from the wandering specks of black dots down below and up towards the constantly shining moon in the sky and its shattered form.

When he looked at it… the mundane affairs of managing a battle school seemed so trivial.

He flexed his hand— the one holding onto his cane. He was reminded once more mundane affairs were all he could manage right now. There was only so much he could do on his own.

"I would like to compose a list," he said suddenly. "There are a few students I have in mind we will be watching closely through the years. Be sure to give them special attention. And no matter how well they score in the exam, place them one level above their score."

He moved away from the window and went towards his desk.

"Who do you have in mind?" she asked as she readied a blank tab on her scroll. She didn't question his motives. Not after becoming one of his most trusted and learning everything.

He gave her the names.

One of them made her brows crease.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked with a healthy amount of skepticism. She trusted him just as much as he trusted her. But the one name thrown in the middle of the list…

"Quite," he said simply, giving her a wry smile. He knew exactly what she was asking about. "I understand your hesitation. Yes, well, I find when humanity is pushed into a corner do our strongest features come out. Bravery, sacrifice, and hope."

She didn't understand. But she complied anyways and made the list.

0-0-0

"Dad? What's going on? Dad!"

"Jaune, look at me. Go back to camp. Find your sisters and go down the path we hiked to get here. Don't try to carry your things. Just get them out of here."

"I don't understand. What's going on?!"

"Jaune… I need you to be brave. I know you're still young. You're only seven. But I need you to be a man. You have your great-grandfather's sword. It's yours now. You are the man of the house. Do you hear me, Jaune? No go. Protect them."

"But! Dad! Where are you going? I can't do this by myself! It's dark!"

"You must! Go Jaune! Now!"

0-0-0

Jaune leaned against the railings of the balcony as he stared out into the night. It was fortunate he was able to find this place without disturbing anyone else's sleep. He huffed once while adjusting his balance. There was no way he'd be able to go back to bed.

"Trouble sleeping?"

He jerked up and spun around. There she was again, surprising him. Pyrrah approached him in her pajamas— a large shirt and a pair of gym shorts. Her feet were bare, which were even more silent than her heeled boots.

"Sorry, sorry…" she cringed as soon as he jumped.

"No, it's just…" he began but stopped himself. He ran a hand through his hair and turned back to stare off over the balcony. "Nerves are still a little active, I guess. I didn't wake you too, did I?"

The academy had shoved everyone into a single building and expected them to sleep together. On the floor. Boys and girls together. He found a spot on the ground, curled up… and woke up a few hours later. Those sleeping around him hadn't been all too happy.

"I was already awake," she assured. It didn't exactly reach her eyes. He heard her approach this time. He glanced at her as she leaned against the balcony beside him. She was watching him closely, "Do… Do you want to talk about it?"

"Thank you, Pyrrah, but you hardly know me," he sighed. "I really don't want to lay my problems on someone I just met. Seriously, what kind of loser does that? I didn't even buy you lunch today."

She laughed lightly at his attempt of humor, "Well, Jaune, I think it's because we don't know each other is it a good idea to talk. Sometimes people just need a wall to bounce ideas off of. I'm willing to listen if you're willing to share."

He said nothing for the longest moment. He wasn't used to this kind of conversation. He didn't know Pyrrah. Sure, she was a sweet girl and maybe her intentions were true. But…

"It's nothing, really," he put up a smile and laughed as if it were all a joke. "Just a bad dream. I'm still really nervous for tomorrow. I guess I'm just afraid I won't pass the exam."

He didn't look at her. He could feel her gaze at his side, burning through his skin like a microscope under the hot sun. It felt like she was peeling back a layer of himself to see what was underneath. A part of him hated it. A part of him felt guilty for having this girl genuinely worried for him. She didn't know him. She had no reason to.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," she said after the agonizing moment of silence. "You made it this far, didn't you? Just believe in yourself and you'll do fine. You've been trained for this."

His head snapped at her. What she just said…

"Did I say something wrong?"

…No. He shook his head. Her intentions had been sincere. They must have been. Besides, she didn't know anything about him. No one did. She didn't know what sort of training he went through, if it could be called that in the first place. She must be assuming he went through one of the preparatory schools before trying his hand at Beacon.

"No, it's just… never mind," he breathed out and stood up straight. "Thank you, Pyrrah. I think I needed to hear that."

"It's no problem at all," she said with a warm smile. A smile as if they had been friends for far longer than a few hours. She was that kind of person, he supposed. She trusted him immediately without a single shred of doubt.

It had been… a very long time since he came across a person like her.

"You should go back inside," he said as he went back to leaning on the rail. "It's a little cold and you're not dressed for it. I'm going to be out here a bit longer."

"…Alright then," she said after a brief pause. She stepped off but gave him one last look. "Good luck tomorrow. And, Jaune? If you ever want to talk about anything at all, I'm always willing to listen."

"Ditto," he said as he gave her his best smile and a wave.

He turned back to the edge. He felt her linger. He felt her eyes on the back of his head. The moment passed and she went back inside the building.

Jaune wound up watching the sunrise a few hours later. It wouldn't be the first time he pulled an all-nighter.

0-0-0

An hour after dawn, all of the students were split apart into different groups and escorted by at least two teachers to take their exams. When Jaune's name was called, he was astonished to find most of the group featured everyone he had come across yesterday.

That included the lovely and charming Weiss Schnee, one of the girls Ruby introduced to him yesterday but had been distracted by conversation by Pyrrah. It was a rather engaging conversation; no matter how hard Jaune tried to get her attention, she couldn't hear him.

She wasn't ignoring him, right? Nah, he was irresistible!

…Okay, not irresistible but he had his moments.

…Okay, moment. Singular.

Weiss was one of a kind. He'd never come across someone like her before. She had snow-white hair tied into a side tail, fair skin, and a pair of icy blue eyes. She wore a white battle dress with red accents. She had this air around her that was so sophisticated. She had expectations and knew they were going to be met. She was just… wow.

She was everything Jaune was not.

Right before the exams could commence, their group of twenty were allowed to use the locker rooms to gear up and do some last minute maintenance. Even Jaune was given a locker… though he had nothing inside of it. Had he known he could have used it, he would have at least removed the chestpiece of his armor. The thing was heavy to wear all day long.

While everyone else seemed to be busy with one thing or another, he chose to sit on one of the benches. He pulled out his sword and tested its edge. It could use a little sharpening but he didn't bring a whetstone with him. Nor did he want to ask for someone else's. It would have to do.

"So Pyrrah."

Like a dog hearing the bell for dinner, Jaune's senses sharpened at the sound of the terrific Weiss' voice. He instantly locked his attention towards her direction. Her locker was right next to Pyrrah's and the two were talking about something.

"Have you given to any thought on whose team you'd like to be on?" Weiss engaged the conversation pretty straightforward. "I'm sure everyone is eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself."

Huh? What? Teams? Where in the world were the formation of teams mentioned? Was there some sort of pamphlet the school was handing out that he wasn't aware about?

Pyrrah shifted around where she stood, bowing her head slightly as she thought. "I'm not quite sure. I was planning on the chips falling where they may."

"I was thinking maybe we can be on a team together," Weiss offered mildly.

"Well that sounds grand," Pyrrah agreed.

"You know what else sounds great?" Jaune said as he cut himself between the two of them. He leaned his shoulder onto one of the lockers and put up a stunning Prince Charming smile for Weiss. "Me. Jaune Arc. Remember me?"

"…You again?" Weiss' joyful mood instantly soured.

"Good morning, Jaune," Pyrrah slid around him to stand beside Weiss. She had a smile filled with sunshine as she waved at him.

"Morning, Pyrrah," he said instantly, almost on reflex. Most of his attention was locked on Weiss. "So, Weiss, couldn't help but overhear your fondness for me—"

"My what now?" Weiss looked at him as if he were crazy. She pressed a hand to her brow, "You've got to be kidding me."

"Don't worry," he shook his head. "No need to be embarrassed. So! Been hearing rumors about teeeaaams~ I was thinking you and me would make a good one. What do you say?"

Weiss was giving him a flat look as she crossed her arms.

"Actually," Pyrrah spoke up, "I think the teams are comprised of four students each so…"

"You don't say," Jaune spun around to give her his full attention. "Well Pyrrah, play your cards right and maybe you can join with the winning team."

He puffed out his chest, stuck his thumb to his chest, and gave her a winning smile as he gave her a wink. He saw it once in a movie and if the rogue cowboy could win the heart of the farmgirl, then it was sure to work on any other girl.

Pyrrah looked like she didn't know how to respond. She must have been stunned by how well it worked.

"Jaune, is it?" Weiss circled around him, stepped between their group, and placed her hands on both their chests to create some space. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

She cocked her head in Pyrrah's direction.

"Oh, yeah," he nodded and answered quickly. "Pyrrah Nikos. Met her just yesterday. I think we hit things off pretty nicely. Hello Pyrrah."

"Hello again," she waved back and in a sing-song voice.

"This is Pyrrah," Weiss put emphasis on the name. "She graduated first of her class in Sanctum."

"Where?" Jaune looked at Weiss.

She gasped with disgust and rolled her eyes. "She won the Mistral Regional Tournaments four years in a row. A new record!"

"The what?" his face drew in a blank.

Weiss looked at him as if he were a child. As she reached the peak of her frustrations, she stomped one foot down and blurted out to him, "She's on the box cover of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes!"

"Never had it," he shrugged.

"Um… Jaune?" Pyrrah stepped in before Weiss could blow a gasket. She pointed at his chest, "Isn't the emblem on your sweater Pumpkin Pete?"

He looked down and lifted his chestplate over his head. There on the front of his sweatshirt was a cartoon illustration of a bunny rabbit.

"Is that what that is?" he asked aloud before placing his gear back on. "Huh. I needed clothes so that jerk Zain picked it off of a guy… guy, guy, guy's, uh, thrift store. As a parting gift."

Both Weiss and Pyrrah exchanged looks. The former was questioning his intelligence while the latter had a slight look of concern.

"Aren't those things like super rare?" Weiss looked at the sweatshirt again before staring at him straight in the eye. "My brother wanted one of them but the company wouldn't just let us buy it. We had to order fifty boxes of that junk. Only a few were made and collectors have gone crazy in auctions. And you're telling me you found it in a thrift store?"

"…Yup," was all he could say.

"Wow, what luck," Pyrrah said, mostly to diffuse the situation. "You never know what you'll find in one of those places."

"So, uh, cereal boxes," Jaune went back to the topic at hand. "Front cover. Don't they do that for famous people and cartoon characters?"

Weiss slapped her palm to her face and shook her head.

"Yeah…" Pyrrah's cheeks flushed as she looked away. "It was pretty cool. Too bad the cereal isn't that healthy for you."

"So after hearing all of this," Weiss butted in with a pointed look. "Do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be in the same team as you?"

Oh, right. They were talking about teams.

"What do you think, Pyrrah?" he asked the girl in question. "Do you think you have what it takes to join Team Jaune? It's a very serious team only the best can join. But I think you qualify if you're on a cereal box."

She giggled and, this time, that smile matched her eyes. "Thank you kindly for the offer, Jaune. I think you'd be an excellent leader. I'll have to check with my manager first for approval."

"Hear that?" Jaune continued with his charade and turned it on Weiss. "Slots are filling up pretty fast. But I think I'll be able to squeeze you in, Snow Angel. What do ya say?"

"I think I've had enough of you," Weiss sighed with irritation. She leaned to the side to look around him. "Pyrrah. A little help please?"

He began to turn to persuade Pyrrah into convincing Weiss to join Team Jaune. He saw something flicker in the corner of his eye. Instinct drove him before he could register what it was.

Pyrrah's weapon, a rifle-spear, had been hurled from where she stood. He only had an instant to react.

His hand whipped around. The sheath had detached from his belt with the sword still sealed within. He used the blunt metal to swipe Pyrrah's shortened spear out of the air. It was deflected to the side and impaled itself into one of the lockers. Had she, a faunus girl, not finished gathering her things then she would have been pierced through.

All conversation within the locker room ceased.

"Pyrrah," Jaune's voice fell flat. He watched her, trying to figure out her next move. She looked stunned, completely surprised by his reaction. She made no move to press on. "What are you doing?"

"I… I'm sorry…" she said while raising her hands to placate him. "I meant to snag the hood of your sweatshirt. I didn't expect you to react like that."

She meant those words. She truly looked apologetic about startling him. He looked elsewhere, trying to replay the instant in his mind. What was the angle exactly when he saw the blade approach?

She was right. The technique would have been harmless. It would have pulled him away from Weiss. That's all she was trying to do.

"Right, well…" Jaune cleared his throat, straightened himself, and placed his weapon back on the slot at his belt. "No harm done. No one's hurt. Just… warn me if you're about to do that again. Um... S-Sorry about that."

The faunus girl glared at him.

"Holy crap!" he heard Ruby from a few lockers down. "Jaune! That was so cool! You were all like bu-sha!"

He felt his face burn as he bowed his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't mean to show off. He just reacted naturally.

"Students," a sharp voice cracked through the air like thunder.

The blonde instructor who accompanied the headmaster yesterday marched through the locker room. She eyed the spear still lodged in the metal cabinet before addressing everyone else. "It is encouraged to have spars with your fellow students at Beacon Academy— provided a member of the faculty is present to mediate it.

"However, none of you are students as of yet. I will advise you to keep your hands to yourself from now on or you will be turned away until next year. Miss Nikos, I believe this is yours."

Her arm snapped upright. In her grip was a riding crop. She pointed its flap at Pyrrah's spear. Jaune watched in amazement as the spear was pulled out of the locker and all damages within were sealed shut. The locker looked brand new.

"I'm sorry," Pyrrah said as she accepted her extended weapon. She tucked it away before bowing her head at the instructor. "I went overboard. It won't happen again."

Jaune felt like he should say something. Maybe take some of the blame. But… that teacher really scared him. The look in her eyes reminded him of… her.

Mistakes, excuses, and failures won't be tolerated around her presence.

"See that it doesn't," the instructor said sternly. "Now then. If you will all follow me I will bring you to the examination grounds. The time of preparations is up."

Jaune gulped. A new wave of nervousness washed through him. It was time to take the exam. So far things were going smoothly. None of the staff had approached him about his transcripts. None of them even questioned his history. He could only assume the favor he gained had come in full plus extra.

Now all he had to worry about was passing the exam and getting accepted into the school. He had been put through physical hell. So what if he wasn't trained to be a proper huntsman? If he could survive out there in that hell, then he sure can survive anything some government regulated school can throw at him.

0-0-0

"Wait. What was that part about landing?"

He should have kept his trap shut. Well, he didn't say it out loud. But he should have shoved the thought back down his mental windpipe before the universe could hear it. Out of the hundred gods in all of Remnant, he was sure one of the nastier ones heard him.

Everyone stood on their own square platform. And they were facing the edge of a cliff that had a rather steep drop. Their group's evaluators was the blonde lady (Glynda Goodwitch, he found out) and Headmaster Ozpin. They listened to his speech and his instruction on how to pass the exam.

It was simple. Head north, grab some kind of relic, and reach the end. There was also the mention of Grimm and students shouldn't hesitate… or die.

Simple. Just a normal walk through the woods. Literally in every case Jaune could think about.

But there was one word out of everything that caught Jaune's attention. Landing.

He looked around. There wasn't a hill, or a slope, or staircases, or elevators, or even an airship. How exactly were they supposed to get to the bottom?

He really didn't want to know. But ask he did.

Both instructors ignored him. Glynda spoke her next line of a practiced speech she probably had to say every year, "I'm sure many of you have heard the rumor of the assignment of teams. Allow us to put an end your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates. Today."

A few students groaned and looked at another with confusion. Jaune was among the confused type. Hell, he was still confused about the whole landing thing.

"These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon," Headmaster Ozpin spoke up as he looked up and down the aisle of students. "So it is in your best interest you pair with someone you can work well with. That being said… the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

There it was again. Landing. What did it mean?!

"What?!" meanwhile, Ruby was having a panic attack over the whole partner ordeal. Jaune didn't understand.

"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation," he went on without a hitch. "But our instructors will not intervene. Are there any questions?"

Jaune raised his hand, "Yeah, um, sir—"

"Good," Ozpin said while looking straight at Jaune. "Take your positions."

Everyone braced themselves as if a meteor was going to come down from the heavens. Jaune flinched and looked to the sky… like an idiot. When nothing happened he tried to press the issue with the Headmaster.

"Um, sir, I have a question."

In the meantime, he heard something at the far end of the line.

Ozpin took a sip from his coffee mug as he eyed Jaune.

"So this… landing strategy," Jaune tried to voice his concerns out to the best of his abilities. "W-What is it, exactly? You dropping us off or something?"

"No," was Ozpin's single and bland answer. Even Glynda was looking at him with a blunt stare. A pitying stare. As if he was in way over his head, they both knew it, and knew nothing could stop him.

More noise came from the left. Jaune saw a flicker of movement.

His eyes widened as he realized the figure being launched forward was one of the applicants. They were being launched off the cliff by the platforms!

He understood what it meant now. But… landing.

"Did you, uh, give out parachutes or something?" he asked out of worry.

"No," Ozpin's tone was still simple and bland. But he evaluated further this time, "You will be using your own landing strategy."

"Uh… huh…" Jaune muttered as his brain felt fried. More students were being launched. It would be his turn soon. None of the other students had gear that would guarantee them a safe landing.

Was it something covered in prepschool?! He didn't learn anything like that! Sure there was that one… okay, four times he was pushed off a cliff. But this is ridiculous! He broke his bones every time! How was he supposed to land and deal with Grimm and achieve the objective?!

He should have stayed in Mistral.

But he didn't want to admit she was right about everything. He refused to go back there and admit defeat. Not after the show he put on for her. Not after years of torment and finally achieving his goal. He didn't want to be her Jaune-boy ever again.

…Plus he was pretty sure she would skewer him.

But first, he needed to figure out how to land… after getting tossed off a hundred foot drop at breakneck speeds.

"Okay, fine, but what exactly is a landing strategy?!"

Something changed in Ozpins stare. Something that made Jaune reel back a little.

"It's rather rudimentary," he began with a sliver of something raw in his voice. "Follow your instincts and rely on your training. Someone with such high marks from one of the most prestigious academies in Remnant would find something like this as child's play. Unless, of course, Mister Arc, there was an error in the transfer of documents? I was under the impression you were among the top of your class."

Jaune swallowed as a pit fell into his stomach. Did… Did Ozpin already know about—

He was not ashamed to have screamed like a little girl when it was his turn.

And he could have sworn he saw the headmaster smirk when he took a drink.