Had to plan out a bit more and change the outline, since I didn't expect so many people to be interested in this concept. It was originally meant to be a rather short one. Not sure if you all like how I write, or if you're just simping for a yandere Cinder. Oh well!

Before coming to Beacon, Lionheart had supplied them with extensive knowledge on its staff. The coward of a man had written down everything, from the most common knowledge to even the smallest detail. Nothing went unchecked. Fear was a powerful motivator on its own, but when Lionheart was faced with only a veiled threat, the Faunus couldn't bend over backwards faster than Tyrian stabbing someone. Frankly, it was a miracle his spine had snapped yet – if he had one.

But the traitorous headmaster had his uses. He'd given Cinder many useful tips about the teachers that worked at Beacon academy. These people were some of the most accomplished hunters and huntresses, handing down their wisdom and knowledge to the next generation of Grimm slayers. Plenty of which who worked directly underneath Ozpin, and knew of the man's secret war with the embodiment of evil.

Glynda Goodwitch, for example. Of all teachers and other staff members, she was by far the most dangerous. She possessed an almost ridiculously strong semblance, and had the accumulated experience of a veteran huntress. Additionally, the woman's strict demeanor and position as deputy headmistress told volumes of her professionalism. But the fact that she was a confirmed member of Ozpin's little group was far more important.

Cinder vividly remembered the brief clash with her, during one of Roman's botched robberies. The deputy headmistress had easily countered most of her attacks. While she was quite sure she could take Goodwitch in an actual fight, rather than simply hurling projectiles and fire at each other, the outcome would be in Cinder's favor. Still, Goodwitch was dangerous.

Professor Peter Port, resident sleep-inducing storyteller, who sported a mustache that rivalled Watts? Not so much.

"So there I was; all alone, outnumbered by the pack of winged Beowolves, with only a few sticks and a single rock. They were ready to pounce, waiting for me to make a single mistake that would cost me my life. But I wasn't planning on becoming Grimm food, you see. Ho ho, on the contrary! These foul beasts soon learned that Peter Port can kill with what nature gives to him. For the rock is as mighty as the sword, and one hell of a useful tool!"

The man was droning on about yet another tale of his youth – most likely fabricated – while his students either pretended to listen, or didn't even put in the effort to hide their disinterest. Some were outright sleeping, for heaven's sake. Yet the old hunter did nothing to reprimand them. He was probably too invested into his own delusions to notice. Still, when Lionheart had warned them of the man's boisterous attitude and boring classes, Cinder had not expected… whatever this was.

She liked to think she'd developed a good amount of patience over the years. Between Tyrian's mad ramblings about his goddess, and Watts' continues prattle of his so-called 'superior' intellect, she was patient enough to deal with even the most difficult people. Take Roman for example; vain, dramatic, always looking for excuses, and annoying to listen to. Cinder could work together with the master thief, as long as he didn't overstep his boundaries. She allowed him to complain, if only to keep him complacent.

Port's obviously longwinded, boring storytelling was something she had no patience for, however.

The classroom was filled with the man's loud, obnoxious voice. He was so damn loud, in fact, that the underlying chatter between his students was muffled. They whispered among each other, trying to keep themselves entertained. Emerald and Mercury were bickering as usual. Quietly though. She'd give them that. And considering how no one could survive Port's lesson unscathed, she was inclined to forgive them for throwing jabs at each other. It'd be far more strange if they didn't do something to pass the time.

As for Cinder, she was conflicted. On one hand, she wanted this farce to be over with as soon as possible, so that she could have a chat with Jaune in private. On the other hand though, the longer Port's tale lasted, the longer she was able to gaze adoringly at the wonderful man seated several chairs away in the auditorium.

She sighed longingly, resting her head in one hand, as she kept her eyes locked on his back. Cinder hadn't paid even the slightest bit of attention to the front of the class so far. Her mind droned out all stimulus of her surroundings, and kept its focus on Jaune. The rational side of her head often warned her in time to avert her gaze, as to not be too obvious. She hated that. Looking away from his splendor felt like committing a sin.

He's just too perfect. Everyone else in this room seems so dull in comparison. Cinder thought, feeling very peaceful just from staring at her beloved. It was official; Jaune's presence was soothing in a way she couldn't comprehend. Much like her memories of him often were. I could watch him all day. Mhm, maybe I should make a recording, to help me fall asleep at night. I want my darling to be the last thing I see before meeting him again in my dreams.

A recording of his voice would be nice too. However, that was out of the question, seeing as that tub of lard in the front was being too noisy. Cinder clicked her tongue in genuine annoyance; something needed to be done about professor Port, if he was going to disturb her precious moments like this.

At her side, Emerald stiffened. Mercury followed suit out of reflex. The two of them gave her nervous glances, which she pointedly ignored in favor of watching her knight.

"Ma'am?"

"What is it, Emerald?" She glared at the girl out of the corner of her eye.

Emerald swallowed nervously. "It's just… You've been looking a lot at that blonde guy on Nikos' team."

"And your point is?"

"What Emerald is trying to ask," Mercury offered bravely, or foolishly depending on one's point of view, "Is why you're paying so much attention to the guy?"

They were curious. Cinder knew this would happen at one point. As troublesome as they were, neither Mercury nor Emerald were ignorant. One had been raised as an assassin, while the other had survived as a street rat. That meant both had picked up keen observational skills – another reason for recruiting them. But right now, they didn't need to know everything.

"Because he's their team leader. The more we know about team JNPR, the better." She wasn't afraid of other students listening in on them. They'd just misinterpret her words as those coming from a rival school team, which wanted a shot at beating the Invincible Girl of Mistral. "And a good place to start is its leader. After all, he develops their strategies and oversees team cohesion."

A lie. Cinder couldn't care less about team JNPR right now. The explanation she gave them was simply to avoid suspicion, seeing as she didn't want her underlings to be aware of the love she held for Jaune just yet. Luckily, they didn't question her – as they should. Emerald and Mercury simply accepted her reasoning as it was. Questioning her motives was regularly discouraged.

"Makes sense."

"He has to be good, right?" Emerald asked. "I mean, if he's team leader instead of Nikos. There were a lot of people in Haven that were upset with her current position. Then again, they were also upset she was at Beacon, rather than Mistral's academy."

"Only because of their national pride. Pyrrha Nikos comes from an influential family, and has been their idol for a long time now." She explained to them. Neither knew enough about Mistralian culture, but Cinder did.

Mercury huffed. "Is she really that good? Winning a few championships and appearing on some cereal box doesn't make you that important."

"On the contrary. Mistral is very proud of her accomplishments. Some of those contests you mentioned just now were international. They cheer and boast of her victories, because they can claim Mistral has beaten the other kingdoms – mighty Atlas included. For years, they have idolized Nikos, giving her the title of Invincible Girl; just to inflate their egos. Now, you can imagine the outrage when Mistral's rising huntress star decided to study at a foreign academy, instead of their own. Especially when she is finally allowed to compete in the Vytal tournament."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess that explains their attitudes."

"Of course it does." Emerald rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Cinder knows this stuff better than anyone."

As did plenty of critics. But Cinder wasn't going to comment. If explaining such a trifling matter made her seem so impressive, then she wasn't going to dispute her apparent brilliance.

More importantly, it was essential to know this due to Nikos being Jaune's partner. Oh, and she was also a maiden candidate. But that wasn't exactly a priority, now was it? Cinder was far more interested in the… relationship that the two shared. And it had better be purely professional, or else.

As she looked at team JNPR, it was hard to say. Cinder believed herself to be an expert at reading people. You'd be surprised by how easy it was, as long as you looked for the right signals. Humans weren't always aware of the nonverbal signs they put on display. It was a subconscious thing, like looking away out of reflex when telling a lie.

Jaune's teammates weren't as obvious though. The second male member of the group was incredibly stoic, moving and speaking only when necessary. Even his facial expressions were limited. A stark contrast to the girl sat at his side; the orange one. To say that this girl was the exact opposite of him would be an understatement. She couldn't stop talking, and did so at a volume that almost eclipsed Port. The girl was a possible rival, even though she seemed to have eyes for the monk. Cinder wasn't going to take any risks without knowing more; for now, the girl was on her list.

As for Nikos, she'd need to observe the red-haired champion more closely.

"Still, do you really think the guy's that impressive?" Mercury spoke up, lounging back in his seat. One metallic limb rested on the table, showing just how little he cared for class rules. "He doesn't seem tough at all. Bit on the scrawny side, even. If I had to bet on who would win, between him and Nikos, I'd put my money on–"

Emerald hissed, gaze frightened. "Mercury!"

The assassin-trained teen snapped his mouth shut. With each word coming out of him, Cinder grew angrier and angrier. It wasn't an explosive anger, which would be followed by shouting and violence. No, it was cold and dangerous; almost manifesting itself as an oppressive aura, aimed at Mercury, but thick enough to be felt by those around her. It hung in the air like a miasma. Several students behind them were suddenly quite occupied with Port's lesson, or hiding behind the books they held upside down.

"That's enough out of you, Mercury." Cinder spoke calmly, but with an underlying tone that threatened retribution. Her head was tilted forward, lustrous hair clouding her features. However, the blazing eye glaring sideways was more than visible. Enough for him to shrink in his seat. "I don't want to hear such comments again. Am I clear?"

Mercury nodded rapidly. His skin was pale, and a bead of sweat formed on his temple. Emerald didn't fare much better.

The sheer audacity of badmouthing Jaune… If she didn't have any use for him, and had it been easy to dispose of the body, she would have taught Mercury a lifelong lesson he'd never forget. Certainly not when his life ended during the process. To speak badly about her beloved was a heinous crime, and Cinder did not have much patience for those who committed it. In fact, Mercury was fortunate he hadn't said much.

Cinder took a deep breath, relaxing slightly now that the flow of words had stopped. She needed to keep her anger in check. These two were vital to her infiltration attempt, and would play a big role in events that were yet to come. She returned to her previous activity; gazing lovingly at her knight. His laidback posture inspired peace within her, draining whatever tension she might have felt. How could one man make her feel so peaceful without even doing anything?

"And then I faced the biggest challenge of all; choosing between the reward and the rock. For how could I throw away that which had saved my life, fighting against the darkness that plagues all of Remnant!"

But for now, less listening to Port, and more Jaune-watching.

Finding Jaune all alone was more difficult than expected, Cinder realized. Quite hard indeed.

It was almost as if he never went anywhere without his teammates. She could understand wanting to sit with them for classes, but was he really that attached to his friends, wanting to hang around them constantly? Cinder didn't understand this behavior. She couldn't stand being around her companions all the time. The bickering between Mercury and Emerald would drive her mad. So would Roman's constant blabbering, and Neo's snarky attitude. And Tyrian's behavior–

Maybe it was the company she surrounded herself with. Come to think of it, the people she kept in touch with were only tools to advance her own goals. That is how it's always been. Cinder considered Jaune to be the only person she would willingly associate herself with, and truly care for. Everyone else could be eaten by Grimm for all she cared. He was the only person on this forsaken planet who mattered. His company was all she needed; his love; his attention.

Still, Cinder had to accept that he liked his friends. The blonde Adonis was almost glued to his team, though luckily only in a purely platonic manner – so far.

Take the orange-haired girl for example. From what little Cinder had seen, through careful observations throughout the day, the girl was affectionate towards everyone. Or maybe outgoing was a better word. Regardless, this particular person had an incredibly bombastic personality. She hugged and touched without having a sense of personal space. If she didn't do it to everyone, Cinder might have considered her a primary threat. But no; it was the opposite.

The girl dragged her team along, sparking conversations left and right. They looked quite close actually. From what Cinder had heard, teams did not always get along perfectly – especially first-years. Such bonds needed time to develop.

That was not the case with team JNPR, unfortunately. Cinder strode through Beacon's hallways with purpose. Today had been nothing but reconnaissance so far, and while she was not able to isolate Jaune just yet, she was making progress. Every bit of info counted. Speaking of which, she would need to see if their timetables matched those of Beacon students.

While the academy obviously offered classes to all exchange students, not all of them had the same lessons. That'd be silly. Every huntsmen academy had its own curriculum, which was created by its headmaster and senior teachers. Sure, a few subjects were pretty much universal, but that didn't necessarily mean they were given in the same way or detail. You couldn't expect a student from Vacuo to follow the same survival lesson an Atlesian student had to, when they'd seen said lesson in the first semester.

Therefore the school's staff, led by deputy Goodwitch, had carefully made lesson plans for all exchange students. Many of which overlapped with the Beacon student body, yet some catered to their own curriculums. This meant that Cinder would not be in each class Jaune had. A pity. School life became incredibly boring when you couldn't worship your beloved with your eyes.

"We'll need to get a copy of the first years' timetables." Cinder explained. She received a hum of acknowledgement from Emerald. "See if you can acquire it from some student. If needed, you can sneak into the teachers' lounge, but make sure they can't see you. Our cover comes first."

"Of course. My semblance will render me completely invisible to them."

Hmm, true. Emerald's semblance was very useful. Recruiting her had been a wise choice; both for the mission, and Cinder's true goal. Illusionary semblances were hard to get by, and certainly one as powerful as the mint-haired girl's. Breaking out of her illusions was not only extremely difficult, but almost impossible. As long as she kept her focus, Emerald could deceive several people at the same time despite the heavy strain it put on her. And Cinder had made sure to give plenty of infiltration advice.

"I know. You've become quite skilled at using it." She said, with a hint of appreciation. "Keep up the good effort."

Emerald beamed at the praise. "Yes! I-I-I mean… I'll do my best, Cinder."

"While Mercury is establishing an information network of his own, we'll keep an eye on our targets. I'm still convinced Ozpin has a plan for them."

As much of a sociopath as he was, Mercury was surprisingly good at interacting with others. No doubt because of his father. Assassins didn't just blend in the shadows, or kill their targets from afar and be done with it – there was more to it. Killing someone required preparation. Information too; things like habits, routines, abilities and whatnot. But in order to get this intel, you needed to be able to immerse yourself in the public; get them to spill the beans, so to speak.

And if Mercury's new contacts would supply them with necessary information for future operations, then that was time well invested.

"Why do you think so?" Emerald asked out of curiosity.

"It's simple. Well, at least when you look at the signs. Take Ruby Rose as an example. Not only did she walk away from fighting Roman – out in the open streets where she could have hurt someone by accident – without any repercussions. The girl was also allowed to enter Beacon two years in advance." Cinder glanced at the corridor to their left; always on the lookout. One couldn't be too careful. "That is unheard of. Prodigy or not, you shouldn't expect a girl barely old enough to drink to fight Grimm like her peers."

"Because it's frowned upon by society, right? They don't believe the situation is dire enough to send in little girls to fight monsters." Emerald said.

"Among others. This isn't a prep school like Signal academy – people can die. It isn't unheard of for students to die during initiation, even if there are teachers on standby. But it would be both bad and unheard of if you expected a fifteen year old to participate."

And that was without going into detail about the initiation itself. Seriously, what was wrong with these people? Launching fresh students into the air from a cliff, while telling them to think of a landing strategy? Madness. Pure, utter madness! Had they not considered that her poor Jaune might have died?! Cinder couldn't care less about the other teens; their broken bodies meant nothing. But the image of her beloved, bloody and broken, while being stuck in some tree…

Cinder had to rein in her mounting fury before it exploded.

"Huh. That is kind of messed up." Emerald muttered to herself, completely unaware of her boss' inner thoughts. She frowned in confusion. "When you put it like that, it does look suspicious why that Rose girl was allowed to enter Beacon early."

"Precisely. Defeating a bunch of thugs that don't even have their aura unlocked is hardly noteworthy enough. Many – if not all – students in the advanced classes of any prep combat school could perform such an act. But Ozpin chose her, and then put her on a team filled with strong or influential huntresses-in-training."

Her companion gave her a questioning look. "Wait, didn't they have this silly rule of having to partner up with the first person you make eye contact with? And when you retrieved a chess piece, you had to form a team with a duo that matched yours."

"Seems rather random, no? It's not that difficult to understand though. What if I told you the platforms were rigged, so that certain students would land in a close vicinity to each other?" Cinder could see the gears turning inside Emerald's head. For someone who had received minimal education, the girl was smart. "Not to mention it's easy to prearrange the chess pieces. Meanwhile, the students are none the wiser; they think their teams were formed by pure chance, while in reality, someone nudged them into the right direction."

"That's… a bit creepy to be honest."

But practical. Emerald simply didn't understand the sheer size of the game Ozpin played; what was at stake. In a fight against an immortal woman, who commanded Grimm and human agents alike, you needed all the assets you could get your hands on. Team RWBY wasn't even aware of how their headmaster was molding them to be his next chess pieces.

Cinder found the analogy a bit humorous.

But no smile found its way to her perfect face. Not when she contemplated on how Jaune was also being manipulated. That bastard in the tower knowingly sent wonderful people like him into battle, knowing there was no way of winning against Salem. Just like a pig to the slaughter. By the time she was done here, Ozpin would be on his way to a next reincarnation. And then she'd find him again, just to watch him suffer. He would pay for putting her Jaune in harm's way.

"Nevertheless," She spoke up after a moment of silence. "I need you to infiltrate team RWBY. Befriend them in one way or another. Not only are they important to Ozpin, but they're also good friends with team JNPR."

"Killing two birds with one stone. I understand, ma'am."

They continued their walk to the classroom. Apparently their next lesson would be professor Goodwitch's combat class, which Cinder obviously did not need. She was plenty dangerous herself. Cinder's combat experience was far more advanced than these children. It was a given, seeing as they hadn't been exposed to life and death situations as she had been. What was fighting a small pack of Beowolves compared to being thrown into the Grimmlands by its ruler, where you had to constantly fight for your own survival?

Salem's training had been nothing short of cruel, hard and life-threatening. But she survived. Cinder had slain Ursai, skewered Deathstalkers and burned whatever other creatures had attempted to eviscerate her. Each encounter had made her stronger. She had thought of Jaune during every day that she spent in that hellscape. The pure, sheer love she had for that boy was what kept her going.

And now she would be rewarded. Cinder was going to stand at his side, either as an equal or a servant, once her chains to Salem were finally broken. He was the only one she'd ever serve again.

They arrived early; only a few students were inside the auditorium, all dressed in their combat outfits. Unlike the other classes, diversity between academies was encouraged in Goodwitch's class. It was a good opportunity for students to learn from each other. Of course, that's what the teachers had in their minds. The students themselves simply wanted to see what the competition had in store, while trying to limit showing off too much. That's what the smart ones did, at least. If you wanted to have a shot at winning the tournament, you didn't just display all of your tactics and skills for all to see. Only arrogant idiots did that.

Cinder sat down in a secluded section. Emerald quickly joined her, and kept a seat for Mercury, who arrived ten minutes later. She gave him only a moment of attention. Then she returned to scanning the audience for Jaune, hoping to see him again. Students from all academies were starting to fill the seats. Unsurprisingly, most kept to their own groups. While the Vytal tournament was supposedly all about cooperation, you didn't see many students mingling with those of other academies.

Which was fairly normal. Who wanted to sit with total strangers, when you could talk in hushed whispers with friends you already knew?

Her interest in them – as small as it already was – vanished completely when Cinder spotted Jaune. He walked into the auditorium dressed in jeans, a black hoodie and bits of armor. On his waist hung an ordinary-looking sword. Curious. Was that the only weapon he fought with? She shifted her gaze, scanning his friends in order to see what they fought with. Judging by the far more modern designs, she assumed they did use mechashift weaponry as opposed to her beloved.

Well, Cinder was certain that Jaune knew what he was doing. And even if he didn't, she'd make sure to point him in the right direction. No way she would allow her future husband to put his life in danger without proper training. Then again, he wouldn't need to fight at all, if it were up to her. She'd kill his enemies long before they could so much as set foot in a ten meter radius of him.

"Welcome, everyone. Sit down please." Goodwitch announced as she walked onto the stage down below. The bespectacled woman knew how to radiate authority, Cinder would give her that much. "As usual, we will start off with several sparring matches. Those who were unable to come to the front last week will be called on today. If there's still time left, I'll call on students from the other academies. Remember that we are here to learn from each other. Even if it will only be two individuals fighting, that doesn't mean you can't observe and analyze the fight. Any mistakes made here are meant to be learned from. Additionally, any feedback I give to them can be valuable to you as well; so keep that in mind."

And with that, the lesson officially started.

Cinder sat casually as the students fought against each other, albeit with the refined dignity she'd learned from the Atlesian elite that visited the hotel, back when she used to be a slave to the madam. If only the hag could see her now. She'd become so much more without that witch. The villainess decided to watch the spars, while also keeping an eye on the familiar blonde knight.

However, what she saw was subpar at best. Cinder easily picked out the many flaws of multiple students, and smirked haughtily with a sense of superiority. They were still children after all. Some fought sloppily, thinking their stances were good enough in close combat. Yet she could make them lose their balance with the right kick of shove. Then there were those who relied on brute power, but lacked the finesse and agility to catch her. Cinder almost scoffed at the display; none were potential threats.

After several fights, however, the deputy called upon the blonde bitch from team RWBY. The one who had talked so leisurely to Jaune. Suddenly she was quite invested in this fight. Hopefully the bimbo would get trashed, or knocked out cold.

Sadly not. Yang – as Mercury had learned of the brawler from his new contacts – was far more durable and skilled than expected. She managed to keep up with her opponent; some fellow with two knives. Whoever had taught close quarters combat to this girl, he or she knew their stuff. Even Cinder couldn't spot any visible blind spots. And while her defense was impressive, Yang's offensive capabilities were definitely her strongest suit. Each blow dealt considerable damage to her foe.

"Is it just me, or is every blow she lands stronger than the previous one?" Mercury wondered out loud.

"I think it has to do with receiving damage." Emerald pointed out. The girl's red-tinted eyes observed the fight closely; a technique taught to her by Cinder. "Whenever that guy hits her, she deals more damage. Has to be a semblance. I mean, just look at how her hair is glowing."

"There's conditioner for that, Em. No need to be jealous of strangers."

Emerald's cheeks darkened. "Not that, dumbass! Her hair is literally glowing."

"Children, children," Cinder interjected before another argument could start, "Play nice with each other. But Emerald is right; the girl seems to have a semblance that turns damage into extra power. It would explain how they managed to take down our good friend from Vale."

Also known as Roman Torchwick, of course.

It was obvious from the start who would win though. Xiao-Long was the more experienced fighter, and had a semblance that nullified her opponent's efforts. That being said, the boy did not go down without a fight. He fought hard and was quick. Sometimes he halted Yang's advance, but never quite delivered a decisive blow, or could change the course of this fight. Not to mention he was getting tired.

Yang slipped through his guard at one point, and punched him right in the face. The blow was strong enough to bring down his aura into the red. Cinder was disappointed to see the guy with the mohawk lose – only because the bitch won as a result.

"Mister Trush is unable to continue this fight. Victory goes to miss Xiao-Long." Goodwitch announced.

Mercury hummed. "Not bad. Looks like blondie knows how to fight."

"She seems to be one of the highest ranking first-years, indeed." She said in reluctant agreement.

Xiao-Long joined her team, boasting of how she'd won the spar. Cinder gritted her teeth when the bimbo turned to team JNPR, and received their congratulations too. Seeing that girl draw Jaune's attention made her want to kill someone. Preferably in a very violent manner. Meanwhile, her opponent passed several boys in armor and said a few words to them, before wandering off to the showers. Most likely his friends or team.

So, it would appear that team RWBY was more dangerous than expected. Cinder didn't doubt her own ability, but she couldn't say the same for her allies. Even the most experienced fighters in the White Fang were no match for Xiao-Long, nor were the minions she'd 'recruited' in Vale's criminal underworld. Only Roman, Neo or Adam could put a halt to the brawler. And there was the rest of her team too.

"Will Cardin Winchester and Jaune Arc make their way to the stage, please."

What?!

Cinder's head snapped to team JNPR's position, only to see her beloved already moving reluctantly. Just like that, her mind muted the rest of the world once more. She only had eyes for Jaune. He looked so dashing in that armor, while carrying a sword and shield. Truly befitting of a righteous knight like him.

When the boy set foot inside the ring, she glanced for a split second at his competition. The other student was tall, broad and wore armor as well. Yet where Jaune wielded a sword, this burly teen used a large mace. Cinder was immediately pissed off by the arrogant smirk on his face. Who was he to think of himself as superior to Jaune?! That Winchester bastard had no right!

"Begin!" Goodwitch announced.

Jaune's opponent immediately rushed in, shouting loudly in an attempt of intimidation. How silly. It was a childish act fit for idiots. In response, Jaune took a stance and braced himself. Yet when the mace-wielding brute tried to swing at him, he dodged at the last second, giving him an opening. Excitement pooled in Cinder's stomach as she watched her idol slice at the boy's side. Above the ring, the green bar representing his aura decreased.

"Smart move." Emerald grunted.

It was! But what else should she expect from Jaune? Of course he was an amazing knight, and no doubt his abilities were superb as well–

Jaune crashed into the ground after being struck by the large mace that his foe swung around. Cinder paused. Her eyes saw him fall in slow motion; hurt and in pain. He got up again, but the bully maintained his initiative and kept attacking faster than Jaune could recover.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

She could hear her own heartbeat inside her head as her rage increased. This wasn't like the jealous mood from when she saw Jaune's female friends hang out with him. It didn't even come close to when Mercury had unknowingly insulted her beloved.

The fight lasted a minute longer, before Jaune was forced to concede. His aura was in the red whereas his foe's was at 65 percent. Cinder was faintly aware of Goodwitch calling an end to the match; how her underlings discussed with each other. Murmurs erupted from the audience. But it was all white noise to her.

When she looked at Jaune, battered and humiliated as he slumped towards the locker room, both of her hands heated up considerably. As a result, the edge of her seat began to darken and smolder. The boy who had fought her knight boasted of his victory. Much like Xiao-Long, but with mocking laughter aimed at Jaune. Never before had she desired to kill someone as much as she did now. Her blood was boiling, and thoughts of vengeance filled her mind.

It would be so easy. Simply summon a pillar of fire underneath his feet, shoot arrows of dark glass, or driving a sword straight through his insignificant heart. However, that would be too merciful – he needed to suffer.

But she refrained from doing so. It would not only blow her cover, but also neutralize any chances she had of getting closer to Jaune.

Cinder stood up, ignoring Emerald's confused inquiry as to where she was going. Instead, she left them behind. There was no time to be wasted here.

Her knight needed her.

So as you might see, this chapter doesn't really contain much. Rather it's to set the scene a bit further than only the prologue. Plus, I've learned that it's best not to rush these kind of things. Instant gratification is bad and all that. Also didn't want to stretch out the fights, since they don't matter that much.