Disclaimer: This universe nor its characters are my own, they are products of RoosterTeeth. Enjoy reading!
Jaune didn't know why he was walking out so late. Perhaps he just needed to take a break after Pyrrha's training, possibly that or he had some thoughts to get out. It's been 4 months since he was admitted into the academy, other than the training he's been receiving he had no clue as to how to improve. It was now or never to find a way, after all so late at night the hallways were empty, he had plenty of peace and quiet.
So he thought until his first thoughts were disturbed by the sound of high heels elegantly making contact with the floor. It sounded like a book kept being closed over and over again. For all his issues fighting, his self-awareness kicked in and he looked around to see none other than Ms. Goodwitch herself. She carried her riding crop in hand and the curl on the left side of her hair waved in the air.
She was the first to break the silence with her usual stern tone, "Mr. Arc, why are you out so late?"
Her words cut through him, it was as if she could see her way to his core and bring him to a state of incompetence. He remembered her disapproving look back at initiation like she knew he wasn't supposed to be there with forged transcripts covering it up.
He scratched the back of his head and awkwardly replied, "I was just clearing up some thoughts."
She glared at him, "What might those thoughts be?"
"Uh, they were team issues. Stuff like," he paused fumbling for an excuse, "Nora not hitting hard enough and Ren's slow reaction time."
He looked at her roll her eyes, not trying to hide it, "Mr Arc., we don't raise liars. Ms. Valkyrie is among the strongest first year students and Mr. Ren has an average reaction time."
He was cornered pushing him to tell the truth, "These thoughts are more personal."
She was able to see right through him, "Is it your less than average performance?"
He groaned, "I know it's less than average but I've been trying."
"Sometimes trying isn't enough, applying is what makes all worth the effort," Ms. Goodwitch advised.
Jaune shook like a cool breeze just blew through the hallway. Had all his effort really been worthless? Was he focusing on trying too much and not applying it enough? His teammates were fine with his effort, Pyrrha was supportive, Nora was always offering new ideas, Ren was Ren.
"That's not to institute that your effort has been pointless, despite your subpar," she took a breath after emphasising the last word, "performance, you have improved some of the most of the students in your grade. Even though your academic standings are less than ideal still."
"I know but I still manage to fall behind. It just seems I'm inferior, everyone else has cool weapons and whatnot. My team tells me not to worry but then they just end up doing all the work," he let out.
"There are ways around the weapon predicament, though that is not what you're referring to, is it?"
He shook his head and the co-headmistress continued, "Perhaps you have a future in this industry if you continue the effort. You come from a long lineage of hunters, aura is largely inherited, besides," she took a deep breath, "no matter how much I question his judgment, Professor Ozpin does know what he's doing."
With that she walked off, leaving Jaune with advice attempted to be covered up, if she believed in him perhaps there was hope for him after all.