To say that Jaune was nervous about his upcoming bout with the headmaster would be an understatement. His knees were already shaking with each step as sweat fell like rain. He had only just recently started with his training with Pyrrha. He was still significantly behind his peers and to face someone leagues beyond them was like a nightmare.

Headmaster Ozpin stood on one side of the ring, though. His expression was calm and his figure relaxed. He was leaning on his cane, his weapon. Ozpin smiled at the boy as Jaune was entering the ring at a snail's pace.

All the students had their scrolls out too. A chance to witness not only a professional huntsman but their very own headmaster? How much skill would such a man possess? Most members of Team RWBY and JNPR looked at Jaune with pitiful smiles. Nora was at least cheering him on.

"Break his legs, fearless leader!" she shouted. Jaune gulped.

Ozpin only chuckled. "I would certainly encourage you to try it, Mr. Arc. It certainly is a viable strategy when dealing with the possibility of a rogue huntsman."

"Master," Jeanne said in his mind. "Have faith, I will be with you."

"Thank you, Jeanne." Jaune drew his sword and expanded his shield. With a deep breath, he took his stance. "I am ready, Headmaster Ozpin."

Seeing that both combatants are in position, Professor Glynda Goodwitch gave the signal to begin.

/-/

The moment Glynda gave the signal was the moment that Ozpin was suddenly in front of Mr. Arc. The end of his cane was already aimed for the student's chest. But with aura, armor and shield at the ready, it would difficult for even the headmaster to punch through those layers. It wasn't the goal though, putting Mr. Arc off-balance was the goal. By doing that, the fight would immediately be in his favor. Being a professional huntsman meant that Ozpin was ovbviously superior than the young knight. Ozpin was a teacher though and knew how to held back. If it were any other student, they would have been knocked back easily.

What made Mr. Arc unique here was his Semblance. The Servant, Jeanne d'Arc, materialized in front of the boy, deflecting Ozpin's cane upwards with her banner. Mr. Arc stepped back still, shield up and surprised by the sudden speed. The students watching were on the edge of their seats. Glynda wasn't sure if it was because of the headmaster or because of Mr. Arc's Semblance. Either way, their scrolls were out and begun recording.

Using the momentum against Jeanne, Ozpin twisted and stroke at Jeanne's sides. When Jeanne had materialized, she was still in mid-air thus allowing the headmaster to take such action without much resistance. Ms. D'Arc recovered quickly but not quick enough. A series of thrusts so fast that it looked like there were multiple strikes simultaneously landing on the blonde knight. The boy's aura reserves were definitely large if the still high bar was anything to go by. Given the nature of the boy's Semblance, it was fitting, Glynda supposed. While it was a noticeable reading, it was negligible, nothing more than the first jab.

Ms. D'Arc's spearhead went between them and with a swing, made Ozpin jump back. Surprisingly, the Servant was able to match the headmaster in this exchange. Ms. D'Arc had the advantage of reach, though. Keeping the banner between them and thus between Ozpin and Mr. Arc meant that Ozpin would have move his way around the spearhead. Even then, the rest of the banner could be used as a combat staff.

The three engaged once again. Ms. D'Arc and Ozpin locking banner and cane while Mr. Arc mostly came for the other and exposed side. A poor attempt as Ozpin easily broke off from Ms. D'Arc and swung hard on the boy's face. Mr. Arc fell back as Ozpin thrusted back at the distracted Servant. Their teamwork leaves much to be desired. Then again, such an alliance was only formed recently. It always has been like this for newly formed teams. With a familiar that think for herself, that meant that any fight involving Master and Servant should be treated as a pair of huntsman and huntress, albeit for a limited time.

Speaking of aura levels, both combatants were still in the green. Ozpin had his already reduced a little and Mr. Arc's depletion was more noticeable now. It didn't matter who Ozpin went for in this fight, either would be fine as his opponents drew from the same reserves. Interestingly, this was where Mr. Arc's armor and shield had come into play. By playing more to his defenses, Mr. Arc was able to offset most hits that would otherwise have been blocked by aura.

It was an interesting trade-off. On one hand, Ms. D'Arc was the aggressor of the two blondes but was lacking in the defense. On the other, Mr. Arc was more defensive but lacked much offense. But that was just one element of the fight, the other was experience. That was something made clear since the beginning.

Mr. Arc was sorely lacking in it, even among his peers. Ozpin clearly took advantage of it, exploiting any opening's in Mr. Arc's attacks and punishing him as much as he could for it. It doesn't last long whenever Ms. D'Arc would intervene. Such a sequence had become a recognizable pattern; a tempo in Ozpin's favor.

Glynda was a professional Huntresses herself and as Combat Instructor she has had a trained eye when it comes to combatants holding back. Mr. Arc was giving it his all, albeit a little clumsy with the exception of the textbook thrust. It was unsurprising that Ozpin would hold back. Ms. D'Arc, on the other hand, was holding back as well. While her swings and thrusts could match the power of the headmaster, it was clear from her expression that she could output much more. If anything, she looked frustrated at having to hold back so much.

"So why isn't she?" Glynda wondered. Ozpin was pressing her too, increasing his own tempo and power to force the frustrated Servant to do the same. Looking at the aura reserves which were nearing the yellow for both, Glynda realized why.

The amount of power that Jeanne can use is proportionate to the amount of aura drained from Mr. Arc. It really was fitting then that Mr. Arc's aura reserves were high. But doing so meant that Ms. D'Arc's involvement was a careful balancing act between restraint and power. Restraining herself meant reserving more aura but would impede her abilities. More power meant ending fights much faster at the cost of aura. It would be a glaring problem if the fight were prolonged or in were in back-to-back battles.

"Go get them, Jaune!" Ms. Rose cheered from the stands. "Come on guys, back me up here."

The one who did was Nora Valkyrie. Her cries were deafening. "Yeah! Come on, Renny! Jaune-jaune needs us!"

Glynda smiled at that. It was a nice sentiment, cheering for your team leader. This wasn't a tournament fight though, nothing more than a spar. However, looking at the eyes of the two blondes, one would be hard-pressed to think of anything other than a serious fight.

Mr. Arc was certainly a fast learner, either that or Ozpin was much more generous here. Given that that the blonde's opponent was a professional huntsman, it was a sight to see that he stayed in the ring as long as he had, unique semblance or not.

As steel clashed with steel, the intensity of this spar was much closer to a rather clean battle. Ms. D'Arc was even more cautious now. Mr. Arc's reserves are in the yellow with Ozpin trailing behind.

From above, Jeanne d'Arc slammed her banner against Ozpin's cane. In a display of teamwork, Jaune Arc went behind Ozpin and with his shield, bashed the headmaster and carried him upwards. Ms. D'Arc drew her banner back and swung back down at one of Ozpin's side. Mr. Arc's sword rose from behind the shield to strike the other. The Servant's strike would hurt more as Mr. Arc's angle was rather awkward but the intent was still rather clear: defend from the banner and let the sword hit Ozpin's neck or defend from the sword and be struck at the rib by the spearhead. Ozpin still had enough aura to defend himself from either but which of the two would cost him more?

Ozpin chose the former. Deflecting the banner, his neck was exposed to the biting edge of Crocea Mors. If it wasn't for aura, that cut would have been fatal. As it is though, the strike took a significant amount of the headmaster's aura, just now entering the yellow.

"Woo!" cheered Ms. Valkyrie. "That's our fearless leader!"

In a show of camaraderie, the other students cheered as well. It was a close battle, mostly due to Ms. D'Arc and Ozpin but Mr. Arc wasn't a dead weight. That alone brought a proud smile on Glynda's lips

"A fast learner indeed," she whispered.

The three of them split off. Ms. D'Arc, rather than standing between the two, stood beside Mr. Arc. The Master and the Servant stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Ozpin checked his neck and nodded. He adjusted his glasses.

"Excellent work Mr. Arc, Ms. D'Arc," he praised.

"Thank you, sir," they both responded.

Judging the aura levels, both combatants were still in the yellow. That last exchange took a lot out of the headmaster. No doubt that while Ms. D'Arc's attack was blocked, it still took some aura to brace it. However, if it kept going until they were in the red, then Ms. D'Arc's presence would be more of a liability than an asset. It is slow now for they haven't done anything yet but should they engage, Mr. Arc would lose his impromptu partner and have his weakness exposed.

Glynda shook her head. "Honestly, Ozpin," she whispered. "You're just giving everyone else a guide on how to best one of your own students."

The three combatants stood there, locked in place. Neither making any moves. By itself it was a risk for the two blondes as Ms. D'Arc's materialization would drain Mr. Arc's aura, albeit unnoticeably slow.

"Jeanne," said Mr. Arc. "Be my eyes, we'll need to conserve as much aura as we can, for now."

The familiar looked at him with concern. Whatever it was she saw on the boy's face was unknown to Glynda, but she nodded and dematerialized. Now there were only two. A student far behind his peers and a professional huntsman standing at the pinnacle of his.

Ozpin was the first to break the stalemate. Appearing suddenly behind, Mr. Arc, he should have stroke at the back of the head. What Ozpin had stricken however was the shield that was now raised. Ozpin used it to his advantage however, for behind that shield also meant that Mr. Arc wouldn't be able to see beyond it from that angle. It came as a surprise then, for both Ozpin and Glynda, that Mr. Arc was able to predict Ozpin's next strike, aimed at the left where Mr. Arc's shield used to be and where the sword most definitely was not.

"Interesting," commented Ozpin. "Even like this, Ms. D'Arc is aiding you. She can see where you cannot." Ozpin then kicked Mr. Arc, causing the boy to lose his balance and flew to the side.

A loud buzzing noise was then heard. The match was over as Mr. Arc was defeated by ring-out. The students were unsurprised but were still disappointed. It would have been nice to see the spar continue until the red, but Ozpin clearly had achieved whatever goal he wanted from this.

The headmaster's expression can only be described as a euphoric satisfaction. Like he had just witnessed a miracle with his own eyes and up-close. Glynda could guess why. There were certainly more things to be done afterwards, but to Ozpin, this was enough for now.

Mr. Arc then got up, sore and beaten but not discouraged. He thanked the headmaster saying, "it was an honor sparring with you, sir."

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Arc," Ozpin returned. "As your professor it is always a pleasure seeing my students grow. You certainly gave this old man a good stretch." He wasn't even panting.

Seeing her opportunity, Glynda addressed the class. "Take this as a lesson, children. Just because you have the superior numbers does not mean victory is yours. Always consider other factors when it comes to victory and defeat."

The class was dismissed after that. Teams RWBY and JNPR sang praises for Mr. Arc. A smile appeared on Glynda's lips seeing that the boy wasn't frustrated at the lost. He also didn't seem to brag about being able to spar with the Headmaster.

Ms. D'Arc appeared soon after, apologizing profusely. Mr. Arc didn't seem to mind at all.

"That was my call, Jeanne," he said. "I'll take responsibility for that one."

"We'll have to intensify our training then, Jaune," said Ms. Nikos. "It wouldn't do to be relying on Jeanne all the time."

"I'll join in too!" Ms. D'Arc volunteered, determination burning in her eyes. "I will help Master become a better Huntsman!"

The teams then exited the room, leaving behind their combat instructor and their headmaster.

"They have quite the future ahead of them, don't they?" Ozpin said, standing next to her.

"They're still children, Ozpin," replied Glynda. "I say let them be such for longer."

"Oh, what changed?"

"I could ask the same for you. But we both already know the answer to that. Got what you needed?"

Ozpin nodded. "For now, I'll take what I can here and move forward on my own. It is only right I make my own path."

Soon after, the two professors left the classroom. Ozpin stood taller after that, more refreshed. His eyes were sparkling and full of anticipation. To think that after all this time, there would be something that would surprise a man as old as Ozpin. It was a good thing. With everything that has happened recently, Ozpin could use this moment to revive that hope.

As another day in Beacon Academy has ended, Glynda was sure that recordings of the spar would circulate online.

/-/

Somewhere in an out-of-the-way motel, Cinder Fall's lips curved upwards. She was watching a trending video on her scroll. It was uploaded in Beacon's forums but Cinder was able to gain access to it through her contacts.

"Interesting," said she. "Ozpin has never shown such interest before. Not that it changes anything." She then turned and called for her minions. "Have our contact look into the records of this boy, this Jaune Arc and this Semblance of his. If it is of interest for him, then it might of interest for us."

"Yes, ma'am," they replied.


AN: Probably the longest I've made thus far. If there was ever a moment I kept on second-guessing on what should happen and how long it would be, it would be this one.