"Now, focus. Expand your mind. Reach out, and feel the magic flow through your body. Collect all of it, as much as you can." Wynion did as he was instructed, gathering (what he used to call aura) energy from his surroundings, as if he was using his sem- his magic like normal. "Do you feel strained?"

"No."

"Interesting, you seem to be directing the flow of magical energy rather than absorbing it. Try coalescing the energy into a single point."

For a brief second, a ball of… something appeared in the air between them, and fizzled out of existence. The headmaster and his new apprentice were in some warehouse that had been long since abandoned.

The older man sighed, "Wishful thinking. You don't have any stores of magic, and the magic that naturally permeates the environment is rather negligible. We can investigate later whether or not adding grimm to the equation changes this." Oh, joy. "For now, come closer."

The headmaster closed his eyes, and summoned a green energy around him. "I have just summoned my aura, try to shape it as if you were gathering magic."

Wynion did just that, taking note of the headmaster's discomfort as the aura seemingly dispersed into the air. The process of taking the aura felt no different from his usual magic. Proceeding to use the aura much the same way the headmaster instructed him to use magic before, he concentrated on a single point and manifested the aura into a ball roughly the size of his fist. "Good. As… strange as that experience was, it seems you have plenty of control over soul magic, not to mention that it yields far better results naturally."

After a moment of thought, Wynion tried to absorb the aura into himself, as if he was using his own. It was a strange experience. Wynion shuddered. Ozpin's aura felt like... cobble. Many rough stones, most of them broken and incomplete, not fitting together perfectly. A wall that had been broken so many times over, that it became a smooth pavement. The kid in the tattered white hoodie dropped to one knee. This method felt… tiring. Very… very…

Wynion's eyes fluttered open, looking up to see a familiar blonde and a somewhat unfamiliar redhead with a circlet atop her head (he felt like he knew her from somewhere). He groaned, "What happened?"

The redhead flushed, "Uh, I'm so sorry about that. I was just trying to help Jaune land…"

"Help Jaune land?"

"She threw a spear into my hoodie and had me pinned to a tree, since I didn't have a great landing strategy." Jaune explained, scratching his head sheepishly. "I was kind of knocked into you. I got stuck on a tree, and you were high in the branches"

Wynion groaned, pawing around for Ladrones, "Ugh… I have a headache."

The redhead handed him his weapon, "Here, it landed in the bushes." Wynion got to his feet and unfolded Ladrones to check for damage. This weaponised scythe had it's blade a bit more curved than traditional farming scythes. The inner edge was kept dulled, with only the outer edge and the point sharpened. The mechanical parts whirred as he briefly tested the mechanisms the scythe carried. At the very end, where the handle met its end, was the small rose insignia of Ruby. She wanted him to put something of his own instead, but he insisted-

Jaune was talking to him, "-it kinda ticked me off a bit when snow angel decided to go and abandon me to partner up with Ruby, knocking out two of the potential three partners, but I guess Pyrrha isn't so bad-"

Wynion gripped Jaunes shoulders, "Which way did they go?"

"Hu-huh?"

"Ruby and uh- snow angel, which way did they go!?"

"I um, wasn't really paying attention…"

He sighed, "Damn."

It wasn't like he even could go after them, the headmaster was pretty clear in his instructions. Wynion was to make sure all pairs he came across would succeed in passing initiation, or he would not get in. Out of all the partnerships, he was pretty sure the one with Jaune would be the most at risk.

"I guess you're Pyrrha then?" He turned to the girl.

The redhead nodded, "Yes, you would be correct."

"Haven't I seen you somewhere-"

"I think it would be best if we focused on passing initiation first."

Wynion shrugged, "Which direction do you think the Relics are?"

"Uh… I don't think they're here. Let's go… er- that way." Jaune pointed in a random direction.

He and Pyrrha looked at each other, then nodded and let Jaune lead the way.

It was a boring walk through the woods. Silence was as consistent as the endless trees.

"So, you know Ruby?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah, she's my best and only friend."

"Ah." Was Jaune's only reply.

How do the both of them get along? Probably the weapons.

"Fuck no," Wynion shuddered, "I told you, it is not a burden I carry willingly."

"... I said that out loud?"

The faunus snorted in amusement.

Jaune decided he would be better off talking to Pyrrha, "So… You're a tournament fighter?"

Wynion blinked, "Oh, that's where I know you from… You were some fancy tourney fighter on TV!"

Pyrrha shifted uncomfortably, "Yes."

"Got any stories to tell-"

"Yeah, you ever do special favors for a rich prick?" Wynion smirked, and they all came to a stop.

Pyrrha looked really uncomfortable as she narrowed her eyes, "No."

"Hey! What's your problem!?" And why was Wynion becoming such a jerk?

The faunus just grinned, "I can see when I'm not welcome, I'll scout ahead!"

As he left, Jaune put a hand on her shoulder, "You okay?"

For some reason, she seemed surprised by his concern, "Uh, yes. I had to deal with people like him all the time back in Mistral. Didn't mean I ever liked it though…" The gladiator let out a bitter laugh.

"If he says something like that again, I'll punch him." Jaune promised.

Pyrrha laughed again, but this time it was lighter, "I'll be fine, but thanks."

They pushed forwards a bit when they heard the distant explosions behind them.

"Looks like some of our comrades have found the grimm." She gazed into the distance, before pushing aside a tree branch that snapped back to hit Jaune in the face.

"OW!"

"Jaune! I'm sorry…" The fighter apologised.

"It's fine," he reassured her, "Just a scratch." He gingerly touched the minor cut. It stung, but it would heal up soon enough.

As he got back up, Pyrrha approached him, "Why didn't you activate your aura?"

"Huh?" What did she say?

"Your aura."

"Gesundheit." He blessed her.

"Jaune," Pyrrha raised an eyebrow, "Do you know what aura is?"

"Of course I do... Do YOU know what aura is?" He defended himself.

Pyrrha sighed.

"... So you're say'n that the kid over there my niece got a crush on, is a magic user?" Qrow asked, pointing at the passed out kid on the crate.

"Indeed he is. It appears he can use magic to displace almost anything into his possession. Physical objects, magical energy, aura… And we have possibly just scratched the surface." Ozpin confirmed.

"And why are you being so secretive about this? If Glynda knew, she wouldn't be calling my phone wondering which bar I've dragged you to-"

"Because Qrow, this. Is. Huge." The former bandit had seen Ozpin wear many faces. He had seen Ozpin angry. He had seen him despair. He had seen him smile and laugh. He had seen him disgusted and disappointed.

He has never seen him… enthusiastic. Maybe he should prove Glynda right and take Ozpin on a drinking-

"Qrow. Imagine what he could do."

Qrow took a long swig from his canteen. "I can't."

"So far, he hasn't shown any trouble with any kind of magic. More than that, he displays incredible control over his abilities. If he really can steal anything... Imagine what he could do to Salem. Imagine the burden he could free from the Maidens." Ozpin's gaze was unfocused, "Imagine what he could free me from…" The immortal's hoarse voice was almost a whisper.

Qrow stared at the headmaster.

"So let me get this straight. You wanna dump all the responsibilities of the world on to a kid?" He needed more alcohol, "Are you fucking high?"

The warehouse was silent for a minute.

Oz sighed, "Sorry, Qrow. Perhaps you are right. I just… got excited."

Not excited, obsessed.

Qrow coughed, "So why are you telling me?"

"While you are out on the field, I need you to pay more attention to all signs of magic you can find from Her agents. This child may be the end. The actual end to this eternal war."

After initiation, I will go back and correct all mistakes and inconsistancies I made. There's quite the few of them.

Some bot maybe, don't worry about me burning out. I find reading and writing very soothing and theraputic, almost addictingly, plus I write whenever I feel like it (almost every day). So yeah, worry not about me burning out, worry about me not doing the shit I need to get done in real life in favor of writing. I may need to take a few brakes to make sure I have things done though. I,m tired...

Woah. I'm feeling better now. Anyways, Wynion is kinda a douchebag as a self defence mechanism. I don't think anyone from the community objects to me using him to get Jaune and Pyrrha closer.

Initiation is a tell instead of show chapter, introductions and all, but again, it would be worse if I didn't have it in.

Initiation is gonna be three or four parts then I guess.