Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone for helping make the previous chapter my most successful one yet. Your response was inspiring and hopefully it shows in me being able to write my largest chapter yet this week. I really do appreciate the support I'm getting from all of you. You're all awesome. I'll keep trying to do my best.
Dear Weiss,
First let me express that I am pleased that you seem to be getting along better with your teammate. Not only is it important for the morale of a fighting unit to have its soldiers all on the same page with the same goals, but it is important to have a leader that one may place their utmost faith in. While your leader Ruby Rose does sound like an interesting character it is good that you are finally learning your place. Given time I am sure that you will indeed be able to learn even more from her, and her from you. Keep in mind that one does not have to be in an official position of power in order to exert their influence and leadership. I believe that the greatness in our blood makes this a foregone conclusion. Your strong will and natural born talents may still shine even in a supporting role on your team.
However, I am most disappointed in the fact that you did let your emotions get the better of you. No matter what this boy Cardin Winchester did or said to you, it is no excuse for you to behave as you did. Do remember that you are representing more than yourself in your attendance at beacon Academy. You are representing the Schnee name. To act so recklessly and gamble that name could be a disastrous turn of events for your career. And while this boy you chose to wager with is a nobody in the grand scheme of things, failure here will damage the family name nonetheless.
The situation may still be salvageable, however. The boy that you said you will be training, Jaune Arc. While my own personal schedule makes it difficult to give this matter my undivided attention, this detail has given me pause. As you may know, the Arc family is well-renowned in military circles throughout Vale and even the whole of Remnant. Their history and legacy of heroism stretches back even further than the founding of the Schnee Dust Company. For you to have formed an academic relationship with this boy is indeed a most interesting turn of events. If the heir to the Arc family is as much of a neophyte as you claim him to be then this presents an interesting opportunity for all parties involved.
I wish to discuss the matter with you personally, or at least as personally as circumstances will allow. I remain stuck in Atlas for the foreseeable future and continuing this conversation via mail would be most impractical. While it may take a couple of days for you to receive this letter, I wish for you to contact me via the CCT at you earliest convenience. I shall inform my secretary to be expecting your call. Do try and be discreet in the nature of this arrangement and use a private both at Beacon's CCT tower.
I trust in your abilities until we may speak with one another once more. Do not let this opportunity slip through your fingers.
Winter
Four o'clock. Another day of classes done.
Jaune stood from his seat in Professor Goodwitch's classroom and turned to look at his friends. Pyrrha herself was not present, having been one of two students who had fought in the final match of the day and was busy changing back into her school uniform in the locker room. Nora was happily bouncing in her own seat in excitement now that they were free for the rest of the afternoon. Her antics did little to phase her best friend who remained sitting still, stoic as ever. Jaune wondered if the boy was just letting Nora get all of the energy out of her system before they left. He smiled at the thought. As if Nora could ever run out of energy. Her electric personality never seemed to fade. He wondered if it had anything to do with her semblance of channeling electricity itself. That would explain a good many things.
He took a deep breath. While official classes may have been over his day was truly only just beginning. Soon he would have his second training session with Weiss. He still did not know why. But he decided he would not question it. After his chat with Ruby the other day he knew that receiving help from a friend was never a bad thing. Or in this case, an acquaintance. Was Weiss even an acquaintance? What was a word for a girl who openly displayed disdain and contempt for you? Would that not be an enemy? And if this were the case was it truly wise to be receiving aid from an enemy? He shook his head at the thought while attempting to clear the idea from his mind. Now he was just over thinking things.
He had less than an hour until he was to meet up with her back in the sparring chamber. Looking around the classroom as students were filing out he did not see her. She was probably gone already. A girl who carried herself such as she did likely did not engage in small talk after class. Nor did he expect her to loiter around with her teammates wasting time until their scheduled meeting. No, she was probably already preparing herself for what was to come. Should he not be doing the same then?
He was stirred from his thoughts by the voice of his teammate. "What do you think, Jaune?" Nora asked him.
He looked over at her, eyes looking into her own as he struggled to think about what she had said. But he came up empty. "Huh?" he asked. "Sorry, I kind of zoned out for a second. What did you say?"
"I said what do you want to do now?" she repeated. "Classes are over and we have the whole day ahead of us."
"Oh. Um, I have to do something in about an hour."
Nora hummed in interest. "What's this? Our fearless leader making plans without us? What's the meaning of this betrayal?"
Jaune put his hands up defensively. "No no, it's nothing like that. It's just, um, a little personal project I'm working on. Nothing too big."
Teal eyes gazed into his own searching for any signs of deceit. She smiled happily when he assumed she found none. "Okay!" she said cheerfully. "How long will that take?"
He shrugged. Truthfully he did not know how long it would be. An hour? Two? He could not imagine it going for too much longer than that. Especially in their first true session. Weiss had said yesterday that she had just been getting an idea of what he was capable of when she had attacked him and asked to see him attack the training droid. He did not know what today would consist of or how long it would take. But he decided to make a rough guess.
"Maybe an hour," he answered. "Hour and a half tops. Don't worry, we'll hang out after that."
"Promise?" she said, leaning in close. She stood on the tips of her toes in an attempt to compensate for the massive height difference between the two. And despite being a foot shorter than him Nora still managed to be an intimidating little ball of redheaded energy.
"An Arc never goes back on his word," he smiled.
His teammate nodded with approval at his answer. "Then that's good enough for me," she said as she reached out to grab Ren out of his seat. "Come on, Ren. Let's go grab some food. I'm starving."
Jaune watched as Nora grabbed her best friend by the arm and dragged him after her. The classroom had almost completely emptied out by this point. It was about time he left as well.
As he exited the room he wondered what he would do with the little spare time he had at the moment. His stomach seemed to answer the unasked question for him. While he would not be joining his team for what was sure to be a lengthy and not to mention filling meal, he did feel as though he needed a little snack before his work began. Making his way to a vending machine he saw a variety of tasty, if not unhealthy treats that were available to him. Candy, chips and some items that were by comparison considered healthy lined the rows. But there was one thing in particular that caught his eye.
After inserting the appropriate amount of lien and pressing the correct buttons he watched as the item of his desire began to move forward. Hoping against hope that this would not be the day that the vending machine decided to be difficult and deny him of his prize, he was satisfied when the package did indeed tumble from its slot and into the bottom of the machine. Reaching down he picked up his small bag of beef jerky and looked at it with delight. Already the saliva was building in his mouth in anticipation for devouring it.
It had not lasted long. After only a few minutes it was empty and Jaune sought out a trash can to throw the empty package into. Lien well spent in his mind. A meaty snack full of protein for a training body. The food of champions. Well, technically speaking Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes would be the official food of champions since it did feature Pyrrha on its box covers. But beef jerky was a delicious second. And first in his heart.
Jaune wandered around aimlessly for a while before pulling his scroll out. Still twenty minutes until their scheduled training session. It did never hurt to be early. And he honestly had nothing better to do. Maybe he could even impress the high-strung girl by being early. He smiled to himself. That was one thing he had noticed about her some time ago. She was always so serious. So literal. Easily set off. Quite honestly the comment he had made to her the other day had been by design. Seeing her get upset over nothing had been amusing. He wondered just how far he could go before she finally snapped.
He set off to the locker room that he had become very familiar with over the past few weeks. He still remembered how he was unable to find them on initiation day. That had been the first time he had met Weiss in fact. To ask for directions. It had not gone well. Nor had their second meeting. Or their minor run-ins with one another through the friendship between other members of their respective teams. And if he was being honest their sparring session had not been the greatest of interactions either. She talked down to him like he was some sort of idiot. And while he would be the first to admit he did not have the best grades, he was not stupid. Yes he did enjoy playing the fool at times. And maybe he was not always the smoothest guy on campus when it came to the ladies. But he was far from the moron she believed him to be.
After changing into his combat attire he stepped out of the locker room and approached the sparring chamber. Taking out his scroll he saw that it was still ten minutes to five. He would show her that he did indeed know the meaning of proactive.
Pushing open the doors he expected to find himself alone once more, but this was not the case. In front of him Weiss was already there performing basic stretches in preparation for physical activity. She looked up at the sound of the opening doors and froze. After a moment she stood up to her full height.
"You're early," she told him.
Jaune shrugged. "Is that a problem?"
She blinked and remained silent for a couple of seconds before replying. "No." A pause. "I just do not care for surprises."
"Oh. Sorry?" he asked hesitantly.
She waved her hand. "It's fine."
Note to self. She doesn't like surprises.
Jaune decided to mentally tuck away that little piece of information for later use. Whether it would be for good or bad purposes he did not know. But the idea of picking up on the little things was something he had gotten from first Blake and then Weiss herself. On both occasions he found himself thinking how the two girls were always studying the people and environment that surrounded them. They were always taking in information and learning. It was a trait he had decided he would actively start to emulate. Notice the little things and learn from them. The fact that Weiss did not like surprises was the first in what he was determined would be many new facts that he would learn.
"So what are we doing today?" he asked her.
The girl folded her arms. "The discipline I intend to teach you comes from the Atlesian School of Fencing. It is an art that I have studied since I was young. Given the fact that you and I both use swords in combat I believe it will be your best hope for improving your severely lacking skills."
Severely lacking skills. She was still not holding back. But she was still not wrong.
"Okay," he said cautiously. "I think that's a little bit extreme, but you're the expert."
Her eyes were cold when she looked into his own. "What's a little bit extreme?"
"To go all the way to Atlas to go to this school," he explained. "I mean we're already here at Beacon. Isn't that good enough?"
Weiss opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Inwardly Jaune grinned. He knew what she had meant. But this was just too much fun.
Her mind was finally able to formulate words. "No, you dunce. There isn't an actual physical school. When I say the Atlesian School of Fencing I mean it as a form of combat that is studied all over the world."
"Oh," he said with an exaggerated nod. "Gotcha."
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with a pair of fingers as she did so. "Okay. Now that we have that out of the way let us go over how we will proceed from this point forth."
"Sure."
She clasped her arms behind her back as she began walking. "The foundation of any good warrior is conditioning," she explained. "Swordsmanship will not be enough if you want to be the best. Therefore you will begin an intense program of not only strength training, but cardio as well. Skill with your sword will be useless if your body is unable to wield it."
Jaune nodded. It made sense. He was never the most physically imposing young man like Cardin for example. However he was not weak either. Puberty alone had broadened his chest and increased his muscle mass, but he knew it would not be enough in a world where he had to slay monsters. As for the cardio aspect of the training, he did have a thin, lanky body. He could run with little difficulty that may have hindered larger and more bulky people. But he could always use more endurance.
"Okay," he agreed.
"Therefore in addition to daily training sessions here," she continued as she paced back and forth. If he had to guess he would say that she actually enjoyed the feeling of lecturing others. Perhaps one day she would make a fine teacher much like Professor Goodwitch. He pitied any potential students of hers. "You will alternate every other day between cardio and strength training. An hour minimum in the gym lifting weights on one day. And for the other I expect you to jog three miles to begin that portion of your training, which will increase in distance every two weeks."
Jaune's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly this training idea had become a lot more serious. What had began as simply learning how to better use his sword was quickly becoming a much bigger thing.
If she saw the shocked expression on his face she did not acknowledge it. So he decided to speak up. "Um, isn't three miles a little extreme? I mean back in physical education class at my old school we only ever did one mile tops."
Weiss stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "This isn't for fun anymore," she said darkly. "What you do at Beacon has real implications and consequences."
She sounded quite serious when she spoke of consequences. And again, it made sense. She was correct. Once they were away from the safety of the school, the safety of the walls of Vale, he and his friends would be putting their lives on the line every day. Criminals and terrorists he had heard about such as the White Fang could kill you without a second thought. And the Grimm out there would kill you without any thoughts at all.
He sighed at the realities. "You're right," he admitted. "You've obviously put a lot of thought into this."
She nodded proudly. "Well someone had to."
Someone indeed. But why her? And why him? The two of them went together about as well as a Vacuan street merchant at a formal ball. The thought that had entered his mind yesterday returned. Only now he felt a little bit more bold. That, and he was more curious to learn the answer now.
"So, why do you want to train me?" he wondered.
Weiss glared up at him, her icy blue eyes revealing nothing. Her face was neutral as she spoke. "As I said yesterday. You have a team to worry about now. You need to get better."
Again, she was not wrong. Still, why her? She did not seem like the most charitable of girls. So what was her incentive for wanting to this with him?
It was anything but normal. In fact it was so unlike everything that had happened before between the two teens that an idea suddenly entered his mind. An idea that was so important that it drowned out the whatever words she was saying now.
You fool! he mentally chastised himself. The girl you've tried to get to know better like twice now is trying to willingly spend time with you! You know what this means, right? Jaune tilted his head thoughtfully as his internal conversation continued. The Arc charm has finally worn her down! She totally wants to be your friend! It may have taken a while but I finally broke through the Ice Queen's walls. Wait until I tell Ruby.
"Are you even listening to me?" she said harshly.
Okay maybe she has her own unique way of showing affection. But still, this solves all of your problems. You didn't want people to fight your battles for you. You wanted to improve. And what better way to get better than with the help of what's basically a professional fighter? You don't even have to tell her why you suck so badly! Because she wants to help you! Because she's totally all about the friendship! Clever girl, this whole 'training' thing is totally just a way for her to spend time with you. Combine this 'training' with your own studying and there's no way you can fail. No way you'll let your team down. No way you'll let the family down.
"I swear if you keep ignoring me I'm going to bludgeon you to death with your own shield."
"What?" he said suddenly. "No, I was totally listening."
Her icy expression gave him chills. "Then what did I just say?"
"Oh, um," he stuttered as he sought to buy time. "That you would beat me to death with my own shield?"
"Before that."
He bit his lip as his mind struggled to think of an answer. In reality he had no idea. He had been too lost in his own thoughts of how Weiss must have completely changed her opinion of him. And honestly he could not blame her. The Arc name was about more than just its military heritage. It was also about charisma. And Weiss was just the latest victim.
Weiss sighed, once more breaking him from his thoughts. "Never mind. I should have expected this lack of focus from you."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You have zero discipline," she told him. "For example, when you fought against Cardin Winchester and then myself, you completely lost your focus on the fight once you got frustrated and started swinging wildly with that sword of yours. It is one of many terrible habits that must be broken."
He recalled the times that she spoke of. First against Cardin when he had been brought down to a knee as the larger boy slammed his mace down on his shield again and again. Jaune had grown tired of being on the defensive and so began to lash out with Crocea Mors. The only blows that had struck his opponent were ones that Cardin wanted to block. Other than that the attacks were avoided with ease.
The same had applied to Weiss just yesterday. Only there he had not even landed a hit. She was faster than anyone else he had ever seen in battle except for Ruby. And that was only because his friend's semblance was speed itself. The way in which Weiss moved with her rapier was quick yet graceful at the same time. There was never wasted movement with her. Every action seemed to have a purpose. Was that what she would in time teach him to do as well?
Jaune shrugged as if he was a younger version of himself having been scolded by a teacher. He did not have much to say in response to Weiss' remarks.
Seeing him respond she continued. "But before we get to that we have to start with the very basics." She sighed, looking frustrated. Oddly enough it was not directed towards him. "Footwork. Let me see your footwork."
An odd request. But one that he would comply with.
Jaune pulled out his scroll and began tapping around on it. It did not take long for his actions to earn Weiss' ire.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"What?" he answered innocently. "If I'm going to show you my footwork I need some music to dance to."
She stared at him. He could have sworn he saw an eye twitch. Twice. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before speaking. "This has to be a joke."
"What? When you think about it dancing and fighting are kinda-"
"No," she cut him off. "Not another word. I refuse to believe even you are that dumb."
"'Kay..." he said as he shoved his scroll back into his pocket. "So what did you mean then?"
Another deep breath. "Swordsmanship is about more than just swinging your weapon," she stated. "It's about motion. Momentum. Stance. Speed. All of these things are based on your footwork."
He looked down to see that she had begun to focus her weight on the balls of her feet. How she was managing to do that while wearing heeled boots he had no idea. At the same time she had drawn her rapier and held it out in her left hand. Her legs were angled in a way so that the left one was out more forward from her body. Her head was facing left as well.
"Look at my feet," she explained. They were in a constant state of motion, almost bouncing up and down. The movements could be measured in millimeters with how subtle they were. She was like a spring ready to uncoil. "You can see that I am not flat-footed. By staying on the balls of my feet I am always ready to move. Momentum will already be on my side when I decide it is time to strike my opponent or react to their own attack. If I were to keep my weight on my heels as you do the only thing I could effectively do is stand still and take hits."
That was indeed what Jaune had been doing. It had made sense with the use of his shield. He needed to have a sturdy foundation so that he could use the shield effectively. At least that was what he had thought. But apparently he was wrong. It would not be the first time in his life.
"I can perform a number of actions in this position," she continued. "I can advance," she said with a quick couple of steps accompanied by a thrust of her rapier. "I can retreat," she said as her blade was brought back up into a defensive stance and she hopped away a few feet. "I can circle left or right around my opponent to make them change their own position as well. The point is that because I already have a starting momentum I can seize the initiative at my leisure with the proper footwork. Now you try."
He drew Crocea Mors and transformed the weapon's sheath into its shield mode. Being right-handed he naturally held the sword with his dominant hand and shield with his left. But he mimicked Weiss' own stance the best he could, facing left with his shield held close to protect the side of his torso and Crocea Mors up around stomach high.
Keeping the weight on the fronts of his feet as she had he realized that it actually was a little bit like dancing. Growing up with seven sisters he had had little choice in the matter when it came to learning the art. And much like what Weiss was trying to teach him, footwork was important. To be flat-footed on the dance floor was to invite disaster. And the wrath of your partner when you inevitably stepped on her toes.
It felt natural to move like this. He shuffled forward a few steps with his shield raised before delivering a slashing attack with Crocea Mors. Combined with what he had learned the previous day about wasted movement it was a rather good looking attack. But that's indeed all it was. In a controlled environment like this with no actual danger he could take all the time he needed to make it look nice.
Still, his movements had obviously surprised Weiss. She stood off to the side with her rapier at her side and her remaining hand on her hip. But it was her raised eyebrows that told the whole story. "I'm actually impressed," she admitted. But her genuine reaction was soon replaced with her more familiar tone. "Beginner's luck I'm sure."
"Maybe," Jaune said as he lowered his weapon. "But it really is a lot like dancing. The whole footwork thing at least."
She brought a hand up to massage her forehead. "You really weren't joking about the dancing thing."
He shook his head. "I never joke about the torments that my seven sisters put me through."
"Seven sisters," she pondered. "I can only imagine the torment that you put them through."
"Hey, I'm not the one who forced them to learn anything. It would be different if I had made them learn something manly like how they made me learn something girly."
Weiss let out a soft laugh. "It would be different if you had anything manly to teach them in the first place."
Ouch. That had hurt. But it was not surprising. She saw an opening and had taken it. As if it had been a chink in the armor of her opponent and she thrust her rapier straight into its weak point.
"Real funny," he sighed. "Can we get back to this training thing instead of insulting me?"
"I can do both," she told him. "I happen to be a very good multitasker."
"I'm sure you are."
"But you are correct," she admitted. "We aren't here to discuss all of your negative aspects. We're here to remedy them. For the rest of the session we will drill your footwork. I want this to become second nature to you. I want you to not even have to think about doing it while you're in a combat situation."
Jaune nodded. Raising his sword and shield once more he got back into his newly adopted combat stance and began to go through the motions. A slash through the air with his sword.
"Again," Weiss told him.
Another slash.
"Again," she repeated.
Another. Each time Jaune had his mind focused on his lessons. Keep your feet in motion how she had done. Always ready to move. Always in motion. And do not leave any wasted motion with your weapon. No fancy moves. No exaggerated attacks. Simple. Swift. Fluid.
"Again. You must be perfect."
They spent the better part of an hour practicing these movements. Sometimes Weiss moved alongside with him mimicking his actions. At other times she acted as a faux opponent for him to move against to see what effects his footwork would have on her. And on a few rare occasions she had even began to attack back, forcing him on the defensive. The first time she had done this he had become entangled in his own feet and fallen backwards. She had shaken her head at this, but they resumed immediately after he had picked himself up.
It was indeed almost like dancing. Two partners moving simultaneously, their feet guiding the movements of their entire bodies. Truthfully his past experiences with the art made it a lot easier to learn. But he knew it was only the first step in his first lesson. There was an entire world of combat techniques out there that he would be studying. And his past would not always be there to aid him on his journey.
It had been several days since Weiss began her training program with Jaune. In that time she had stuck with the lessons on footwork each session. He would have to be built up from nothing by the looks of it, and thus such basics were essential. By his own admission he had learned dancing which was actually aiding in the process. It was a most unexpected development that led to an equally unexpected result. He had picked up the techniques quicker than she had thought he would. However he was still a long way from being combat ready.
After their latest meeting Weiss had learned that she had received mail from back home in Atlas. Seeing how it could only have been from one person she tore open the envelop with delight when no one was around to see her. It would not do to let others see anything more than the prim and proper girl she had been groomed into. She was a Schnee. And appearances mattered. Blood mattered. Family mattered.
That was why the letter was so important. Winter was the only person she truly felt comfortable around. Even though her older sister was equally as cold and aloof as she was herself, the two shared a bond that stretched back to their childhoods together. And no amount of formalities could ever break the bond between the two sisters.
It was the content of the letter which was the surprising thing about it. Weiss had fully expected that in time she would receive a reply from her sister. The only question was how long it would take. However when she read what Winter had wrote she had not expected her sister to chastise her to the extent that she had about the wager she had made. Yes, in hindsight it was most unbefitting of her in her position as heiress to the Schnee Dust Company to take on such a challenge. But in the heat of the moment it had seemed like the logical decision. Not only for defending the family name. But for satisfying her own emotions. Winter would understand more than anybody why she had reacted the way she had to Cardin Winchester's behavior. Wouldn't she?
Her mind froze with hesitation. What if the years away from their father had dulled Winter's memories? No, that could not be. Even in recent letters Winter had expressed her frustrations in dealing with their father in both business and personal matters. So surely she would understand her own sister's reasoning for confronting the Winchester boy. But should she bring it up? It was a question she did not know the answer to.
However the most confusing part of Winter's letter had concerned Jaune himself. She seemed to speak of the boy and his family as if she knew them. Maybe not on a personal level, but she was familiar with them nonetheless. And they seemed important. It was in fact the reason Winter had requested a live call over the CCT. Such requests were rare from Winter since she had to juggle her duties to the Atlesian military along with being a liaison to the family company. On top of all that being in different time zones made calls such as these a nightmare to coordinate. But this seemed important. Weiss was determined to find out why.
It was why she was wearing a smile on her face. Another wave of excitement hit her as she neared the tower. Of course under normal circumstances Weiss could have simply used the terminals in Beacon's library to make her call. But Winter had specifically requested in her letter that Weiss use a private booth. Thus a special trip to the tower itself was necessary.
Inside the tower there were a number of students standing at smaller terminals already in what could be called the structure's lobby. After heading to the elevator and verifying her identity via her scroll she felt herself travelling up. The ride was smooth and quick, as could be expected from Atlesian technology. It was amazing that this technology was produced as a result of a war. A war of ignorance and oppression. But as Winter had said in the past, war was the great innovator of mankind. It was that great conflict which had produced the Cross Continental Transmit System as well as the Huntsman Academies. Even simply battling the Grimm on a daily basis ad resulted in the discovery and innovation of dust. And that led to all varieties of new and deadly weapons that could be seen just by walking around the campus of Beacon Academy for an hour.
A quick glance above the elevator doors showed that she had passed the standard floors in which most people used to make their calls. Such areas were public and very much open where rows of monitors and keyboards lined the desks. The only privacy a person was afforded was a tiny wall which blocked the views of the people on either side of you. However any random stranger could still see who it was you were speaking to simply by walking behind you. And anyone in the vicinity could hear your conversation. This was in Weiss' opinion the only flaw in the system. Luckily there were the private booths for those who were willing to pay for the service. And luckily for her money was not an issue for someone such as herself.
Weiss felt the elevator come to a halt, and the doors slid open a moment later. Stepping out she entered a long hallway with doors on either side of her. She walked several feet before choosing a random, unoccupied booth on her left. Placing her scroll once more onto a smaller terminal, she heard a small click signaling that the door had been unlocked. Stepping inside and closing the door behind her she took a deep breath before sitting down. Before her sat a single, lonely screen. Its blank green surface stared back at her. It along with the desk it sat atop and the chair were the only things in the room. It was what she had come to expect from Atlesian technology. Minimalistic but efficient. Unlike the other three kingdoms, Atlas rarely took advantage of the arts that many fought so valiantly to preserve in the Great War. They expressed themselves through the sciences and their military more than aesthetically pleasing visuals. The design of the CCT showed this.
Unlike in public terminals there would be no holographic operator to take her call request. It was a private booth after all, and making someone else privy to her actions would defeat the purpose. Instead it was an automated, robotic sounding male voice which greeted her.
Hello. Please select a payment type before continuing.
Before her were two options, credit card and lien. While she easily had enough lien on her to satisfy the cost she instead chose to use her card. Despite both coming from her monthly allowance it felt as if the lien in her pocket was more her money. It was a physical and tangible amount of currency that could be held in her hand rather than the idea of money that would be paid back on a later date. And it was more important to keep her money than that which was provided by her father. It was an odd and hypocritical distinction to make, but she made it nonetheless.
After completing the transaction and taking her card back from the slot it had been inserted into the voice returned.
Perfect. Please enter the number you wish to call on the keypad.
It was a private number. Another reason she could simply not go to the public communication room and use that to contact Winter. It would be a long and arduous hassle to explain to the operator that she wanted to call her sister's personal extension at a military facility in Atlas. Much easier to simply enter the number herself and be done with it.
Several seconds ticked by after Weiss had initiated the call. But soon enough the screen before her lit up and a female face appeared on it. Dressed in the usual white uniform of the Atlesian military, the woman's blonde hair was worn up in a professional manner. The hard blue eyes that were typical of Atlas looked back at her, which looked somewhat intimidating despite thousands of miles separating the two of them. She was likely a trained killer much like any other soldier in that complex. Luckily Weiss was not a typical person and the woman's eyes did nothing to affect her. She had grown up with far worse.
"Good evening," the blonde woman greeted her. The fact that it was evening there spoke of the time difference that they faced. "How may I assist you?"
"Hello," Weiss greeted. "My name is Weiss Schnee and I wish to speak with my sister Winter."
The cold, expressionless face of the woman betrayed no emotion when she spoke. A tell-tale sign that she was indeed of Atlesian birth. "Of course. Ms. Schnee has informed me to expect your call. Please hold while I transfer you to her directly."
"Thank you," Weiss said with a curt nod. She did not smile. The gesture would have gone unappreciated by the other woman.
The screen once more went blank. Seconds passed. Seconds which seemed to last an eternity. But finally a human torso once more appeared on the screen. Winter had arrived.
Immediately Weiss felt her back straighten to give herself proper posture. Her shoulders were flat and rigid and her head was held high. It was strange. Even after not seeing her for so long and being separated by such a long distance her sister still had this kind of effect on her. And it was not out of fear of being reprimanded by her elder sibling. It was out of the desire for respect. For acceptance. Weiss admired her sister more than anyone or anything else in the world. All she had ever wanted was to be more like Winter. From her intelligence to her martial prowess to her willingness to step out into the world on her own, Weiss desired nothing more than to emulate the woman. And therefore having her approval was of paramount importance.
Looking at Winter was like staring into a mirror that showed one their own future. The same cold, icy eyes Weiss had looked back at her. The older woman's face was more mature, but the sisterly resemblance was there. And while Winter's hair was worn up like the secretary before her, the same pristine, white color matched Weiss' own. The only major difference between the two was the fact that Winter did not bear a scar on her face. At times it made Weiss self-conscious, wondering what could have been if not for that incident.
"Good evening, Winter," Weiss began. "I apologize for calling you at what must be a late hour, however this was the most opportune time to speak with you uninterrupted due to my schedule here at Beacon Academy."
Winter nodded. "It is nothing to be concerned over, however the sentiment is appreciated," she said with as much comfort as a cold winter morning. It was not out of any kind of malice or ill-will. It was just the way that she spoke. "I am pleased that you have been able to contact me with such expediency."
Inwardly Weiss beamed. Of course she had. She would never pass an opportunity to speak with her sister. Especially not at Winter's own request. But she knew that she had to remain professional. She had to refrain from letting her emotions spill forth. Winter was not the kind of person who appreciated such displays of affection in professional environments. Weiss wondered if this call qualified as one.
"Of course," Weiss agreed. "May I inquire as to the reasoning behind the importance of this call? Not that it is any sort of hindrance, I am merely curious as to your... interest in my classmate."
Winter's head tilted slightly. "Getting straight to the point, are we?"
Weiss stopped. As she thought about it what she had done was quite rude. There was no small talk. No catching up. It was akin to diving straight into the entree at an important business dinner. Her father had always stressed proper pacing when it came to negotiations. The need for patience. The importance of setting the proper mood so that all parties were comfortable. She had failed to do so.
"I'm sorry," she winced. She attempted to calm her racing mind down. "How have you been, Winter? It has certainly been a while since we have spoken like this."
"Too long," Winter agreed. There was a faint hint of amusement in her voice but she did not let it show fully if it was indeed there. "I am doing well. Business in Atlas is progressing smoothly as always. With the exception of certain... classified incidents which have occurred recently, that is." She let the words hang there for long moments before she continued. "And how have you been, dear sister?"
Classified incidents. Weiss could only imagine what they entailed. Knowing her sister's line of work and her family connections she had a clue as to what they could be. "Fantastic. Thanks to your advice I am already performing my duties as a member of Team RWBY much better than I was previously. As you may remember I had a little talk with one of my teammates, Yang Xiao Long. I learned much from her that day."
Winter nodded approvingly. "Good. It is important that you never stop learning. Even from those who you feel you have nothing in common with."
"I agree."
"Even from those you may feel that you hate."
Weiss stopped herself from repeating her previous response. Surely there was something specific behind those words. She just could not figure out what. And she could not bring herself to ask. Instead she chose the diplomatic route.
"I see," she answered neutrally.
Winter let a long breath out through her nose before continuing. "And how has your time away from home been? How are you adjusting to life at Beacon Academy?"
For the first time since the conversation began Weiss let a smile creep onto her features. "I have been enjoying my time in Vale so far. The independence is refreshing. And I believe I am proving to both myself and others that I am responsible and mature enough to live a life of restraint and discipline without the need for others to watch over me and regulate every aspect of my life."
Winter's cold eyes bored into her. Seemingly searching her sister for anything she might have been holding back. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Weiss confirmed with a nod. "So if and when father inquires as to my well-being you may pass this information along to him."
"You know you cannot avoid him forever," the older woman said knowingly.
Weiss knew that. But she also knew that she would not have to. She only had to avoid the man for four more years. In just one more year she would be of legal adult age. But in four years she would graduate from Beacon and be a true huntress. After that she would owe nobody and no corporation her allegiance unless she herself was willing to give it. And whether or not she would immediately return to Atlas to continue learning more about her family company she could not say. Because once she became a huntress it was the people of Remnant who would be her top priority.
"I know."
"However when he does choose to contact me again under the pretense of a business call, I will indeed give him an update on your situation, as well as your regards."
Weiss smiled in appreciation and nodded once more. "Thank you."
"Now then..." Winter began, her gaze never breaking from Weiss as she spoke. "Since formalities have been covered I believe it is time to approach the reason for this call."
Weiss nodded. She was as curious as to Winter's interest in Jaune as she had been about anything in recent memory. "Indeed," she agreed. She decided to lead off the conversation by being open with her sister rather than asking a question directly. "What would you like to know, Winter?"
Winter's eyebrows raised slightly in interest. And Weiss knew why. There she had been attempting to be sneaky. Attempting to obtain information from Winter without actually inquiring as to what she had wanted. Because based on what Winter herself asked, that would tell Weiss much about her intentions. And by the looks of it Winter had not fallen for the ploy.
However, it did not stop her elder sister from playing along. "Very well. We will start out with the simple things. Tell me, what does the boy look like?"
An odd question. But simple enough to answer. "He's tall. Above six feet by perhaps an inch or two. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Average build."
"And does he wield Crocea Mors?"
Weiss' eyes squinted in confusion. "I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with that term."
"Crocea Mors is a longsword," Winter explained. "A legendary weapon forged at the birth of the Arc family line. And every famous Arc warrior throughout their history has carried it into battle."
Now it made sense. That sword that Jaune possessed was named Crocea Mors. That marvelous masterpiece of a blade that he had no business in owning. She remembered him saying that it had been passed down his family line for generations. Winter had only further confirmed how old it really was.
"Oh, of course," she said. "Yes. He does indeed carry that."
"That weapon has quite a history behind it." Weiss saw that her sister was going into full Atlesian military mode now. She had more knowledge of weaponry than even Ruby, and years of combat experience to legitimize it. "Some say that the blade never loses its edge. Others say that it was woven with enchantments at the time of its forging, and speak in terms of fairy tales like the Four Maidens." She snorted softly at the idea. "And others say that it may have gotten its name from the fact that the mere sight of the sword would cause those who saw it to turn and flee before inevitably being cut down as they ran."
It was rather eerie how much Winter knew about a sword. And the Arc family for that matter. It made it that much easier for Weiss to ask her next question. "Winter, may I ask why you know so much about the Arc family and their sword?"
"Any good student of history should be familiar with the exploits of the Arc line," she told her. "And while in this time of peace their star has fallen noticeably, they are still regarded well in the military circles of Remnant's kingdoms." Winter paused to gauge her sister's reaction before continuing. "The Arcs are legendary warriors whose line stretches back to times of legends and fairy tales, if such stories are to be taken at face value. Stories of Alastor Arc cutting down Royalist forces and being the first into the breach of Vale's walls during the Great War. Or Azure Arc leading the desperate rearguard action in a last stand at the disastrous Battle of Fort Castle, allowing the forces of General Lagune to escape following the general's capture."
Oh yes. Winter had most certainly entered into full-blown military history mode. Here she was spouting off detailed accounts of battles and soldiers that Weiss had only been vaguely familiar with at best. Even now she was only just finishing up studying the Faunus War in which the Battle of Fort Castle took place. But in her reading of the school textbook she had not caught any mention of the name of Azure Arc or his role in the battle.
So Jaune had a storied and prestigious family. Weiss could relate to that all too well.
Furthermore Weiss was flabbergasted by just how much respect her sister was treating the Arc name. How did such a family produce someone like Jaune?
"I assume you have seen the statue in the courtyard of Beacon Academy?" Winter asked.
The question snapped Weiss back into reality. "Yes. I have."
"Please examine it closer the next time you pass by it."
Weiss nodded. She would not ask why. Only obey her sister's request. "I will."
There was a brief pause in the conversation before Winter continued. "You mentioned in your letter that you are training with the Arc heir. What exactly does this entail?"
"Not training with," Weiss corrected her. "Training period. As in how to even use his sword and shield."
A slight frown crossed Winter's lips. "This time of peace we live in has been harsher on some than others," she mused. "However as I alluded to previously, this presents us with an opportunity. If the boy is as raw as you claim him to be then he is much like a block of clay. And as a Schnee you are an artist who will be able to mould him into a work of art rather than what he is currently. No matter where he may be on life's path right now, one irrefutable fact is that he has Arc blood running through his veins. That alone gives him more potential than the commoners who are your peers at Beacon Academy."
"Winter, I must confess that I am uncertain as to why you seem to believe there is anything exceptional about him or his family. What is so special about them?"
"The Arc line is known for their massive Aura pools and keen warrior intellect. These are attributes which have contributed heavily to their success and fame on the battlefields of the past."
Weiss realized that another mystery had just been explained. In her first spar against Jaune his Aura had taken many direct and punishing blows from her attacks. Yet when she was confident that he should have been in the red Jaune was still at nearly two-thirds strength. Winter had merely confirmed how large his Aura must have been.
She decided to explain as much to her sister. "I noticed his Aura after our first match. I could not believe how much he possessed. I thought there may have been something wrong with the meter, or that I was merely pulling my attacks."
"No. That was merely the potential he possesses in his blood."
Weiss nodded. "So far potential is the only thing he has going for him. Jaune Arc is an absolute disaster of a fighter."
"You certainly seem to have many negative things to say about this boy. Which is unusual since your confession about training him was the first time I have ever seen you express interest in a boy at all."
The last sentence grabbed Weiss' attention. She looked incredulously at her sister. "What? Winter, did you have to phrase it like that?"
The older Schnee's eyes narrowed. "Is there something factually incorrect about my statement?"
"Well, no. But the way you said it implies-"
Winter cut her off. "Gossip is for people beneath your standing. Let them worry about implications. You are Schnee. Do not concern yourself with the opinions of others."
It was a lesson that had been drilled into her head, into both of their heads, since they were young. The lions did not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep.
Winter's studious gaze fell on her sister. What she was searching for Weiss could not say. "However since you have broached the topic, it is never too early to consider your options for marriage. Especially when it comes it comes to the suitors that father has in mind." Weiss wondered briefly if Winter was speaking of her own past experiences. That was before the full meaning behind her sister's words hit her.
The realization prompted an outburst of sputtering from Weiss as she attempted to form words. "What? Me? Him? Surely you must be joking."
"It would be most prudent of you to find a suitable candidate of your own choosing rather than relying on father to provide a suitor for you," Winter emphasized. "You are approaching prime child-bearing age. Tell me, have your hips widened at all to reflect this since your last medical examination?"
Weiss was mortified. This was not at all what she had been expecting to discuss when Winter had written to her. She could feel her heart rate increase and face flushing in the embarrassment of discussing such a personal topic.
It was becoming difficult to maintain her composure. "Winter... why are you talking about ideas like these? This is absurd!"
"I am merely considering the practical benefits that the progeny of our two bloodlines would inherit. Natural born warriors with the gifts of the Arc's Aura levels and the Schnee semblance combined with the resources and training of the Schnee Dust Company would produce truly legendary hunters. Tall. Blue-eyed. Fair-haired. It is a smart match, Weiss. I believe it is in the best interest of our family for you to seize this opportunity and begin working toward this outcome immediately."
Begin working toward this outcome... the implication hit Weiss harder than any combat instructor or tutor ever had. What Winter was asking her to do... to do with him...
It was all too much. Proper etiquette and manners had their place. Even her admiration for her sister had its limits where a subject this intimate was concerned. Weiss had been pushed too far. The warm feeling on her face was proof enough that she could not hide her frustration and embarrassment from her sister. She snapped without another thought.
"Well if you admire the guy so much why don't you go marry him and have his children!" she practically yelled out at the face on the screen.
Winter's lips began to curl into the ghost of a smile. "Do not tempt me, sister. A girl should be so lucky to find a man with Aura levels and... stamina as high as his."
It had been too much. For the first time in forever Winter had broken first. A single soft giggle escaped her mouth. The smile could no longer be contained.
Weiss' eyes widened at the sight before her. "Winter... are you... teasing me?"
Winter's eyes looked up as she gave a slight shrug of her shoulders.
It was indeed too much. Weiss broke down. She laughed. For the first time in ages she laughed. Fully. Genuinely. Heartily. There was no formality here. No politics. No business. No need to keep up appearances. For the first time in what felt like years they were sisters and nothing more. There was no heir to the family business. No specialist in the Atlesian military. No huntresses. They were as they had been when they were just children. Before they had been given expectations beyond those of normal people their age. Before their father had begun exerting his influence in an attempt to guide them to the futures that he desired for them.
The worries and embarrassment she had felt just moments earlier had melted away. It was all a joke. A cruel and very effective joke. And one she would have never seen coming from her normally cold and professional sister. That made it all the more impactful. But here and now Weiss was reminded of just one more facet she admired about Winter. That she could always remove the masks that she wore. Underneath the hard and icy exterior was still the girl she had grown up with.
"Winter," Weiss said as she wiped a happy tear from her eye. "I've missed this. I've missed you."
"As have I, Weiss." She sighed. "However I fear that I must be leaving shortly. Time is a precious commodity in the military, as you will one day learn in your duties as a huntress."
Weiss nodded. "I understand."
"All joking aside, do try and befriend the Arc boy. I was not lying when I discussed his family's heritage and importance throughout history. Having the Arc and Schnee heirs share a professional relationship would be a boon to all parties involved."
Weiss bit her lower lip. At least Winter wasn't discussing obscene marriage proposals anymore. However a professional relationship with him... even that would be difficult. Jaune Arc had proven to be an annoyance at best and a hindrance to her mental wellbeing at worst. The best that she could do at the moment was answer honestly.
"I will see what I can accomplish."
The scrutinous gaze of Winter seemed to be studying her before she spoke. "Good."
Weiss smiled. "It was really good speaking to you again."
"Indeed it was. Until next time, sister."
The screen went blank. Weiss leaned back in her seat finally feeling all of her muscles beginning to relax. That had been a most unexpected experience. Just about everything that had been discussed was new information.
It gave Weiss much to think about in the coming days.
Author's Note: So... Winter has pranks. I'd like to think that it keeps in line with her character since we saw in Lessons Learned that she has it in her to be warm and playful with Weiss. Specifically when they're alone together, when it comes to Weiss' allowance being cut off and her potential job as a receptionist for their father.
Also that part she jokingly mentions blue-eyed and fair-haired children. My own headcanon is that Atlas is kind of like pre-WW2 Germany. A militaristic society that is big on science and technology, and produces disciplined and professional soldiers. Oh, and also most of the named characters we see from there have blue eyes. All three members of the Schnee family, General Ironwood, Ciel Soleil... Even Neon and Penny have light colored eyes.
I'm basing the Atlesian School of Fencing stuff on an actual centuries-old historical practice, the German School of Fencing. It taught longsword combat in addition to other forms of armed and unarmed combat. Purely coincidental that it fits with my headcanon too.
So what do you think about the stuff our characters did and learned this chapter. Agree or disagree with the direction it's going? I'll do my best to address any concerns you may have. Thanks for reading.
