Important Note

This story is going to be updated on different days from now on.

Basically, Tuesday is a slot to rotate in new stories on a bi-weekly schedule until another slot frees up, so Arcanum is going to become a weekly story. This will be the last time it is on a Tuesday – and it will after this be released each Sunday. However, this won't start until Sunday 27th October, after which it will be every seven days.

If you're using alerts then it'll tell you when it's updated but I'm mentioning it here so you all know in advance.

Smaller note: This caused confusion in Forged Destiny and has again to one or two people here, so I shall reiterate. When a medieval story refers to "court" or "royal court" it doesn't mean someone being sued or charged in a court of law. It's basically the seat of power and where nobles and courtiers (hence the name) gather to discuss affairs of state. Think of it more as parliament or the senate, except with more power in the ruler and a lot of diplomatic, marriage and trade deals being made between powerful people.

Chapter 13

Weiss pushed past Ruby with a loud snort that burst into laughter. "A duel? With what? We've barely learned to cast a fire spell and you already saw how that went. What are you going to do, set fire to yourself again?"

"This is none of your business, Weiss Schnee."

"Oh, but it is. You see, this is my companion you are challenging, not to mention calling a liar. Do you mean to imply I would be so gauche as to let that insult pass? You are suggesting my choice in associates is circumspect. I should be the one challenging you for that."

"What? No!" Martyn looked around for help and found little. Subtly mocking Weiss was one thing, but apparently challenging her to a duel was another. So was backing down. He drew a sharp breath and squared his shoulders. "I mean no insult to you, Lady Schnee, but your companion has insulted not just myself but my family. She implies that my family – the esteemed Malneux family which has served Vale for generations – harbours the blood of Wildmages. Surely you cannot expect me to back down in the face of such an offence! She insults my mother and father, and in their absence, it is my right – nay, my duty – to defend them. Or do you disagree? Would you let such insult slide were it your family which was dragged through the mud?"

Weiss tutted under her breath and her eyes slid back to Ruby.

The momentum had turned against her. Ruby herself was lost in the byplay but it was obvious Martyn had struck a blow by bringing family honour into it. Weiss was rigid and caught, left to choose between what was apparently family honour and personal.

That, at least, Ruby understood. It was street cred, pure and simple. Weiss' reputation within the Collegium was on the line. If she didn't defend the friend, she'd come out to protect, she'd look a coward. If she did defend her, she ran into whatever Noble problems it caused. Martyn was smirking already, and the crowd had begun to whisper. There was blood in the water.

"Thanks for the thought, Weiss," Ruby said loudly, stepping up past her to take the heat. "But you shouldn't waste your time with a nobody like him. He isn't worth it."

The crowd shifted to look at her and Martyn's smile fell. His eyes burned with so much fury that she might as well have killed his sister herself. Ruby stared back, legs tensed and ready to attack if he so much as made a move. She may not have known much about how nobles did their honour duels, but she knew how to look and talk big and protect her reputation. Yang made sure of that.

"Doesn't matter if they're bigger or stronger than you," Yang would say, "The only thing that matters is that you face them head on. Win or lose, you'll come out better than if you back down."

People were animals like that. You snarled, bit and tried to look bigger than you were, and if you did good enough the other person would decide it wasn't in their interests to fight you. And even if they did, so long as you did enough damage, everyone watching would know better than to start something as well. In the slums, a broken bone or open wound could be a death sentence, especially with how rare proper healers were.

"Worth it? I am from the esteemed Malneux family. I have not even heard of the Rose family."

"Menagerie was destroyed," Weiss said. "Do you know make light of tragedy?"

"Of course not. The fall of the esteemed empire of the faunus was nothing less than a travesty. Such allies will be sorely missed. Still, she comes here and sticks her nose in business that does not concern her. I will have honour. Either she retracts her spurious statement and apologises to me on behalf of my family, or I shall have justice."

Weiss nudged her side urgently. "Do it," she whispered. "Take it."

And back down? Ruby laughed. "I'm not apologising for the truth."

"There we have it," Martyn said, holding his arms out wide. "You have insulted my family and you refuse to apologise. I demand honour in the form of a duel. Do you accept it, Rose? Or shall you bend knee to your betters in chastisement?"

Weiss all but drove an elbow into her back. If she hadn't been used to taking hits like that, she might have been winded. As it was, she bumped forward and her eye twitched, but she kept her glare locked on his. None of this was about Cinder for him. He just wanted his stupid family honour kept – as if they'd been sullied by the birth of her and not the fact they betrayed and threw her away like a piece of trash. Honour had a different meaning for nobles than it did the common folk.

"Name a time and place. I'll be there."

Behind her, Weiss sighed explosively.

"Two days hence – on the day of rest. We shall meet at noon in the Crimson Arcana training grounds."

"Fine by me." Ruby summoned a ball of fire into her hands, shocking the class with how easily she learned the class' lesson, the same one that had caused Martyn to set fire to himself. His face paled as well. "Try not to waste of my time."

/-/

"What were you thinking!?"

"Ow…" Ruby poked a finger in her ear and rubbed it around. "You don't have to shout at me. I'm right here."

"Apparently I do!" Weiss shrieked, "Because you were `right there` in class as well but I couldn't get it into your thick skull to not accept his challenge! By the Gods," she snapped, "How can you be so reckless? Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Started a fight with some stuck-up idiot?"

"Is that all you think it is? Ruby, you didn't insult Martyn Malneux. You insulted everyone Malneux. This isn't a spat between two students; it's a feud between the Rose and Malneux families now, and bloody skirmishes and trade wars have taken place over lesser insults than you delivered."

It wasn't that bad, surely? And besides, there wasn't a Rose family. They couldn't even find or go for Yang since she had a different last name. "Meh. It's fine. We're in the Collegium and they said noble stuff is left outside the wall. What's the worst that can happen?"

"They could make your life difficult once you leave the Collegium. They could oppose you every step of the way in court."

That was assuming she had any plan of joining the royal court once she graduated. There wasn't much chance of that happening, both because she had no interest and because she had no power or wealth. Faking nobility and an Arcanum might have been enough to get in the Collegium, but it wouldn't do much after.

"It's fine. I don't really care about that stuff."

"Then you should at least care about how he can make your life difficult here. Even without the influence of his parents, there are other students who can't afford to go against him. Whether they agree with you or not, they will have to pick sides between the Malneux and Rose family. Few are going to risk throwing their lot behind a foreign house, let alone one that has been wiped out. And I mean no offence there."

"None taken. It's fine, though. Really." It was nice of Weiss to worry and even more that she got involved, but it wasn't needed. "You don't need to take my side either if it means you're in a bad spot."

"Ruby, you're my friend!"

Yeah, she still wasn't sure how much Weiss knew about friendship. Not that she disagreed with the idea – Weiss had with today's standing up for her proved to be an ally – but that still made her a clumsy and bossy friend at best. Maybe it'd be best to try and explain.

"I know you are, but I'm your friend too, right?"

Weiss nodded eagerly.

"Then that means I get to worry about you the same you do me – which means if your reputation is going to be in trouble by helping me, I should try and stop you. Just like you tried to stop me."

Weiss stared at her, lost. Ahah! Logic. That was the way to beat Weiss down.

"I… well… I cannot argue with that… However," she said, regaining herself, "My family honour is strong enough to weather anything Martyn might think to throw my way, and the Schnee house has numerous important trade deals and the ear of the King. Even if I were to strike him across the face, his family would not dare make a public affair of it. At best, they would speak to my father in private and request he chastise me."

Why do you sound so proud of being that spoilt?

Ruby had to fight back a laugh. Weiss was Weiss, it seemed.

"Fine. As long as you're okay." Ruby sat on the bed. "Don't worry about the duel, though. I mean, what is he gonna do? It's like you said, we barely even know any spells. We're more likely to set fire to ourselves than each other."

"There is that, I suppose. It's not going to be much of a fight."

Weiss relaxed and sat down herself, running her fingers through her long hair. Ruby watched a little jealously. Her hair had to be cut short when one of the urchin hunters tried to catch her for one of the brothels outside the walls and grabbed her by her hair. She'd cut a knife through it without thinking, took a finger from the asshole too. That, she didn't regret quite so much. Maybe she could grow it long again in the Collegium.

"Why were you so upset?" she asked.

Ruby blinked away her nostalgia. "Huh?"

"Is it something that happened in the Sanctum? I suppose it must be since you mentioned a family member of his being kept there. Is it true?"

"Yeah. His sister is a Wildmage."

"I see." It meant a lot to her that Weiss didn't call her a liar like he had. That wasn't to say she believed her, but at least she didn't call her out on it. "To have a Wildmage in a noble bloodline is a scandal for sure. I can see why he would try to deny it, to distance himself from any atrocities she might have committed."

"There weren't any."

"Excuse me?"

"The woman – Cinder," she said, tired of referring to her so distantly. "She was locked away when she was a child, literally a day or two after they realised what she was. She didn't even know. They didn't tell her or say goodbye, just threw her in the Sanctum and left her to figure out what was going on. She grew up there."

"Oh… I… that is…" Weiss picked her words carefully. "I can see that bothers you. I mean no offence but… you realise being a Wildmage is a crime. The Sanctum is what awaits them…"

"It's not that! It's the fact they betrayed her. Family shouldn't betray family. They could have talked to her. They could have said something! Shit, the least they could do was put her in there but visit – still love her like their daughter and not just lie and pretend she never existed! Instead, they just washed their hands of her. She was a child, Weiss! A fucking child!"

For once, Weiss didn't berate her on her language. "You're right. Wildmage or no, they had a responsibility toward her. They could have preserved their reputation by publicly hiding her away but continuing to visit and care for her in secrecy."

"Exactly!"

"Family is important to you, I take it. Is that a house creed of the Rose family? That you look after one another?"

"No. It's what my sister taught me." Ruby jutted her jaw out. "And what I believe."

"It's not so bad a belief. Or a creed." Weiss smiled whimsically. It faltered a few seconds later. "But you should know that it's not something many people will share, at least not openly. I doubt you'd find a single person who wouldn't agree in private or with the sentiment – perhaps even Martyn – but the life of a Noble is far more cutthroat. If I had been born a Wildmage, I dare say my father would not have sent me to the Sanctum. He would have smothered me as a baby and claimed I died in childbirth."

Ruby clenched her teeth together. "That doesn't make what they did right."

"No, it doesn't." Weiss sighed. "Starting a house feud on behalf of someone locked in the Sanctum, though? Really, Ruby, you choose the strangest battles to fight. You're the most bizarre noble I've ever dealt with."

"That's why you like me. Right? Can you imagine being friends with me if I was like the others?"

"No." Weiss chuckled. "I cannot."

/-/

"You're so reckless…"

"He insulted you!" Ruby whined. "I couldn't accept that."

Cinder rolled her eyes and folded the page in her book, placing it down on the side. "I really don't see why not. I am flattered, Ruby, really, but my little brother was a child when I was sent away. He still is by the sound of it, though clearly not the young boy who I loved so dearly. It doesn't help me that you fight for my honour."

"It makes me feel better…"

"Ironically, I would call that a more suitable reason." Cinder tapped her nose. "But it does not make it any less reckless. You have to stay hidden, little Rose. While I would appreciate the company, I don't want you locked in here like I am."

Ruby huffed. "Yeah well, what's done is done. Besides, it's not even gonna be a proper fight."

"Going to be. Not gonna."

"Ugh. You sound like Weiss."

"Your roommate, I presume? Well, we would both be of noble birth. You could catch a switch for mangling your words like that." Cinder affected a pompous voice. "A lady should speak with clear poise and grace, caressing each word with delicate care and attention."

"Nope," Ruby said, purposefully popping the p just to drive it home. "Sounds borin'. I'm not gonna."

"I won't waste the effort trying then. Still, be more careful. This duel may be more trouble than you realise. I know he cannot adequately cast," she said when Ruby made to complain. "But you can. You can quite easily flay the skin from his bones or immolate his body or summon vines from the ground to wrap and ensnare him. Things you should not be able to do at your level of education!"

Because she was a Wildmage. Ruby ducked her head, conceding the point in silence. Cinder was right, she'd let her anger get away from her and this was going to be a much more dangerous affair for her than Martyn, though not in the way he expected.

"I'll stay in control."

"I hope so."

"It'll probably just be me beating him up anyway. I asked Weiss and there aren't any rules against it – the Crimson Arcana mix melee with magic so I can do the same. Or not even mix it at all." He didn't have the fine enough control to cast any magic and she could close the distance and make it a fistfight. He was bigger and taller than her, but she was quick, vicious and had been in more fights than she cared to admit. "I won't even use magic to beat him."

"That would be best. Your reputation might suffer but… well, it is clear you don't care for it and his will suffer worse. They'll call you a brute."

"They already call me a barbarian for how I eat."

"You are looking a little less emaciated. The food at the Collegium is doing you well."

"Hey Cinder. There's something I wanted to ask…"

"Hm?"

"You know a lot about the Collegium, but you were brought here when you were a child and locked up. How do you know about the Arcana and the Collegium if you're a prisoner? It can't all be from reading."

"You would be surprised. The Sanctum serves as an inescapable prison for us so they don't much care what reading material we have access to. There are no spells, of course, but the history of the Collegium is covered in detail. I believe it is some vapid attempt to make us feel included, or perhaps to convince us that the Collegium only has our best interests at heart. Beyond that, there are other Arcanists here who talk."

"I thought no one liked you because you were a Wildmage."

"That is true," she said, brushing away some long hair from her face. "But I am also a young woman, and I am told, quite an attractive one."

The implication wasn't lost on her. "Oh…"

"Do you think less of me?"

"N – No. I mean, you do what you have to. Right?"

"Yes. I am a prisoner without anything to trade but myself. Many a man and woman has graced my chambers and my body, sometimes for information, sometimes for objects. When I was younger, even because I longed for comfort or attention." Cinder laughed bitterly. "I was a vulnerable young girl thrown into a new world without guidance once upon a time. Not every guest in the Sanctum is innocent. Many are locked away for good reason."

"I… I'm sorry…"

"Don't be." Cinder laid a hand on her shoulder and cupped her cheek, drawing her face up. "You did not put me here and I would not see you join me. Though," she teased, "You are quite adorable in your own way. If you wish it, you could also share my bed."

Ruby's face burned bright red. "Don't tease me!"

"Who is teasing, little Rose?"

"You!" Ruby pushed her away and Cinder's smile said it all. "Ugh. You're worse than my sister sometimes. Besides, I'm not here for that and I wouldn't do it to you if I was. Is it better now at least? It doesn't happen anymore?"

"Not with me as the victim, no. I dally, occasionally, but only by choice. It is rather boring in here."

"Then that's fine. Still gonna beat your brother up, though. He deserves it – and not just for what he said about you, but for being an ass." Ruby pushed that aside. "But there was something else I wanted to ask you. Something important."

"Oh? Go on."

"Why do Arcanists hate Wildmages? Why are we locked away?"

Cinder smiled. "I do not know."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. The fact that Wildmages are locked away is contained within the books I've read but the reasons are never given – oh, they say we are dangerous and hold power, but what Arcanist doesn't? That is obviously a shallow justification and I doubt it is the real reason at all."

Yeah, it didn't sound like it. Too vague to hunt every single one down. "Do you have any ideas?"

"I have theories," Cinder said carefully.

"Yeah?"

"But I do not think I should give them to you. They are solely my own and based on nothing more than what I have been able to figure out – and that," she said, "is circumspect. I'm hardly unbiased and my world has been the Sanctum for the last decade. I'd convince you of my beliefs, but they would be no more accurate for it. I think you should make your own conclusions."

"Is it that big a deal?" Ruby asked.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I myself am curious as to the true reasons and you're in a better position than I to find out. I can pose a small question as to my own if you wish it. Something to make you think, if not to give you the answer I found."

A riddle? Ugh, she wasn't good at those. "Sure. Hit me."

"Hit you…?"

"It means tell me."

"Hm. Street slang is rather unique. Very well, ask yourself this, why is it that Arcanists are limited to two Arcana? Do not answer now," she said quickly. "Think on it. Consider. Ask around if you will – I doubt it is a question considered taboo. Tell me what answers those around you give, and what answer you come upon."

Two Arcana. The gems set within the Arcanum. There were two slots in her own, both the Menagerie one and the one she'd stolen from the Arcanist before, which she'd thrown away before coming to the Collegium. Arcanists were only allowed outside the Collegium once they received a single gem. It was important in some way, that much was clear.

"Alright. I'll ask around."

"Good. Now come here, it's time for your lessons."

/-/

People kept whispering about her in class.

Martyn Malneux was watching her as well, but it was the whispers that got to her. Those couldn't be blocked out and kept getting louder whenever they weren't in class. They even followed her into the food hall where she'd normally have the pleasure of drowning herself in fine spices and thick cuts of meat. Manners or no, it wasn't easy to eat with so many people watching.

"Don't they have anything better to do?"

"Not really," Weiss said. "It's the lunch hour."

"Then eat!"

"Not everyone wastes away if they miss a meal. And you did start a feud with Martyn. That's not something people just ignore. Why, if this were court, it would be the height of gossip. Families would already be picking sides and calling in favours."

"Over an insult?"

"Certainly. Insults are big business."

Nobles were stupid. She'd known that before, but this was proof. You couldn't waste time getting worked up over harsh words in the slums. Yesterday's enemy could become today's drinking partner if it meant making a few extra lien or earning a loaf of bread. You only really made an enemy if you stabbed someone in the back, and that wasn't done without serious rewards. Once you were known as a cheat, no one was going to do business with you. Junior was always clear they did good and honest business. If she'd stolen or short-changed a client, he'd have beaten her black and blue, but she'd have gotten away with that as a lesson. None of this `feud` nonsense.

"You really are trouble," Coco said. She'd come and sat with them again, and Ruby had a suspicion it was to stop someone else doing so and making things worse. "You realise I've had to tell the Arcanists, right? They're going to be aware of this."

"Will they stop it?" Ruby asked. It might be a convenient way out if they did.

"No. Spars are commonplace, especially with the Crimson Arcana. They will be watching, however. Only to make sure no dangerous spells are cast or any magic gets out of control."

Great. Even more people to notice she was a Wildmage. Wonderful. I should have backed out the fight while I had the chance. There was no retreating now – and she wasn't sure she would looking back. She should have avoided it, but she'd be damned if she let that smug son of a bitch make light of throwing away his own sister.

"I have a plan." she said.

"Does it involve you taking him on in melee?" Coco asked. "Ha. Don't look so surprised. You've been here a week or two at best – what spells are you going to know? Everyone knows this is going to come down to a stupid brawl. Just keep in mind he's bigger than you."

If Coco knew then there was a good chance he did. He probably thought it'd be as easy as Coco made it sound – weight played a big part in a fight between amateurs. Lucky for her she wasn't that.

"What is the Crimson Arcana like?" Ruby asked. "I keep hearing about them and we're fighting at their place."

"They're the combat-focused Arcana," Coco explained. "Red gems. You've probably seen a few. You can call them the red or crimson arcana, but they prepare crimson. All the Arcana do. Ask any green and they'll politely ask you to call it Emerald Arcana." She laughed. "I guess even when you're an Arcanist, people like to sound more important."

"They're soldiers, then?"

"No. Arcanists don't fight in the military to prevent huge losses on both sides. It's more the school of magic you focus on learning. Green – sorry, Emerald – is healing magic. Crimson is combat. It's mostly used against Grimm and Rogue Arcanists. A big part of their job is hunting them down. I wouldn't worry about it just yet, Malneux would have chosen it because they have actual training rings to fight in, not because it gives him an edge."

"Would he have contacts in the Crimson Arcana?"

"Almost certainly," Weiss said, "But they couldn't interfere, surely…" That was aimed at Coco.

"With Arcanists watching?" Coco laughed. "He better hope that isn't his plan. If someone tried to interfere in your fight and actually hurt you, that'd be breaking the tenets. They'd be looking at the Sanctum."

No one would risk that. Ruby relaxed. "Could he ask for training?"

"Maybe. Not sure how much he could learn in two days, though. If you want my advice, if he tries to cast a new spell just rush him. You know by now how important concentration is, and actually learning a spell is the easy part. It's maintaining focus that's hard. That's a big part of what the Crimson Arcana does – training under intense conditions to keep casting. He's not going to have that, so if you keep him distracted, he'll be hopeless."

Weiss coughed. "While we appreciate the advice, Warden Adel, should you really be helping us?"

"No rules against it. Maybe I've just become fond of you two. I've spent enough time dealing with your little problems that I'd have to like you, or I'd have gone mad by now."

"I still think you're too overconfident," Weiss said. "You can't not take this seriously, Ruby."

"I am taking it seriously. It's just… what can he do?"

"What if he's mastered a spell in secret?"

"Not likely," Coco murmured.

"Even if he has, the worst that happens is that I lose. This isn't to the death, is it?"

"Illegal in the Collegium."

"Good. See? Worst case I lose, and people turn on me. No one is willing to stick up for me anyway since there's no benefit in my friendship, so nothing changes."

"I am," Weiss whispered.

"I know. Will that change if I lose?"

"No."

"Then it doesn't matter. I win, it's dealt with. I lose, it's dealt with."

She could get her own back on Martyn in other ways – stealing and fencing his stuff or causing more accidents in class. No one said she had to be a good sport about losing if he wasn't going to apologise. As long as she kept the fact she was a Wildmage hidden.

"Sounds like you're having doubts already to acknowledge my victory so soundly." Martyn strode up alone, his friends not quite as willing to approach Weiss and Coco as he was. Or maybe he had to – some noble bravado demanding he act. "There is still time to avoid this if you wish it. I am not unreasonable and if you apologise profusely for your slanderous words, I may yet show mercy. Some small recompense as reparations would suffice."

"Awfully generous of you," Coco said neutrally.

"The Malneux is a generous family and I was raised in kind. I do not wish to fight a young girl but if she will lay stain upon my family, I must. To imply we would beget such filth as a Wildmage is a grave offence."

Filth…? Ruby's teeth ground together.

"Ruby," Weiss whispered, tapping her leg.

Biting back on her rage, she closed her eyes and settled down. It wasn't worth it to cause a scene.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Malneux. Be sure you're ready to fight."

"This madness continues, then? A shame." He shook his head, as if commiserating her stubbornness before an audience of his peers. "I have tried to spare you and been quite generous about it. If you will not see reason, I shall be forced to act. Tomorrow then, Rose."

He strode away.

"He's confident," Weiss said. "He has something planned."

Of course he did. Only an idiot would go into a fight without a plan.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Coco said.

Yeah. Me too.

/-/

The Crimson Arcana training grounds were far more mundane than she'd expected. Large open pits of sandy ground with target dummies, several areas clearly dedicated for spars and racks and racks of weapons. It wasn't so different to where the Collegium Guard trained in the mornings. Behind it stood a single storey building shaped like a horseshoe. That must have been the school for the Crimson Arcana and where she'd be training if she chose to learn that type of magic.

I can only pick two. Why is that? Why limit it?

The Crimson Arcana might not be a bad choice. She didn't really need to learn anything thanks to her wild magic, but she could pick up some tricks and whatever school she chose would be used to mask her abilities. If combat magic was flashy and her wild magic was more likely to flare up when she was in danger, it might best explain away her abilities. On the other hand, hiding with the very Arcana dedicated to hunting down Wildmages? That was a dangerous idea.

"A lot of people here," Weiss noted, nodding to the hundred or so people. Around seventy of those were from the initiates, some of their year and others above, while the rest were Arcanists, either of the Red Arcana or elsewhere. One had a green robe – probably there to heal if someone got injured. There were Collegium Guards, too. Were they there to stop the fight escalating?

"Is it really this big a deal?" Ruby asked.

"No. It's not." Weiss' eyes narrowed. "A duel makes for interesting gossip, but no one would want to waste a rest day to watch it. That means Martyn has been talking, telling people to come watch. He's that confident in himself. He wants to make a spectacle of you."

Either to send a message that he was someone to be respected or that his family should never be insulted. Ruby shrank back under the gazes. There's way too many people. Even if I try and be subtle, someone is bound to notice me cast magic I shouldn't be able to. I'll have to do this full melee. She touched her daggers beneath her initiate robe. They'd be a last resort. Weapons weren't barred – she'd made sure to ask with Coco – but if she drew them, he might draw his own. If he went for magic, her fists would do.

If he managed to cast a spell, she could use her wild magic to muck it up. Since he was a student and expected to make mistakes, she could get away with that. If he went for the fireball, she could take control of it and make it spread down his arm again. Given it happening before, no one would believe him if he said he didn't lose control. They'd think he was just trying to get out of being embarrassed.

He can't beat me in magic and he can't beat me out of it. Ruby managed a grin. I've got this.

"You came," Martyn said, flanked by one of his friends to his left and a much older boy on the right. That boy had a red mantle and his Arcana featured a singular red gem. He looked around twenty-three with a light dusting of a beard and an annoyed expression. It wasn't aimed at her so much as the bright sun high in the sky.

"I did," she said, stepping ahead of Weiss and Coco. "So. Are we doing this?"

"We are." He raised his voice. "For insults against the Malneux family, I challenge you, Ruby of House Rose." He paused for effect, and though there were no cheers or applause, people listened. "Do you accept this duel?"

Ruby swung her arm to loosen her muscles. "I accept. How are we doing this?"

"Loss by yield or inability to continue."

So, she either surrendered and humiliated herself in front of all these people or he got a chance to beat her until she couldn't move or went under. He really was looking to send a message. Anyone else her size would have been intimidated. Tch. She was a Dredger. People threatened to beat her down day in, day out. You didn't survive without taking a few.

"Alright." Ruby pushed her sleeves up. "Let's do this."

Martyn smiled. "Excuse me? Oh, I believe you misunderstand." He laughed, still maintaining that loud tone to make sure his words carried. "We are both students and lack training. It would be awfully unfair to expect us to face off against one another, no? As Lady Schnee put it, what magic would we hope to cast?"

He turned, slapping his hand against the chest of the man to his right.

"This is Leon Artois. A retainer of House Malneux and loyal friend to the family." The man, a Crimson Arcanist, sighed and stepped forward. It was clear he was disinterred in it all. "He will act as my champion today. Send forth your own so that honour might be satisfied."

"Champion…?"

Ruby looked back nervously. Weiss was pale and her mouth had fallen open. She hadn't expected this – none of them had. Her eyes met Ruby's and she shook her head quickly.

"You did bring a champion, did you not? If not, you'll need to stand in for yourself – unless, of course, you wish to formally apologise to me. I gave you the chance yesterday and you rejected it, but I shall offer it again." His smile turned vicious. "Though after rebuffing me so many times, I think I might add a few caveats. Service as a retainer to House Malneux would suffice. What better way to pay off your insult?"

"Malneux!" Weiss howled. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Goodness, no. I am simply defending my family's honour – and Lady Rose's family was cruelly taken from her in Menagerie, no? What better way to secure her place in the courts of Vale than by having a house sponsor her? Despite her insults and crass behaviour, the Malneux family will take her in so long as she bends the knee. Considering the lies she laid upon us before, I believe my offer quite generous. Make your choice, Lady Rose."

He'd caught her. Son of a bitch! There was no way she could fight a Crimson Arcanist without giving herself away. He wouldn't mess up spells and he'd know if she tampered. And street fighting wouldn't match up to a professional. It wasn't supposed to beat trained guards, just give you a chance. With his skill and magic, he was out of her league.

I can't yield, though. He'll push the service if I do.

The fact Weiss had stayed quiet since he said it was proof enough he could. And why not? She was an orphan to them, and they'd probably write it off as helping her. She looked back again, hoping for an idea. Coco was standing slowly. Was she going to offer to stand in as the champion for her? She knew spells – she was a Warden.

Her eyes met Ruby's. They were wide and white.

Coco was an upper-year initiate. She didn't have a single gem to her Arcanum.

No choice. I have to fight and win. Need to hide my magic while I do. Fuck, Weiss was right. Cinder was right. I'm such an idiot! Fists tight at her side, Ruby looked up to Malneux with so much hate in her eyes.

He smirked back. "Well, is your champion ready?"

"I… I will be-"

"I'm ready." The masculine voice called out, wiping the smile from Malneux's face and drawing all eyes to the back of the arena, where the crowd was parting for a single figure dressed in tight leather armour. "I stand as her champion. Until I yield or can fight no longer."

Jaune stabbed his sword down into the dirt and rested his gloved hands atop the pommel.

"Let honour be satisfied by our battle."

Well, people have been asking how long it will take for Ruby's stubbornness to cause her problems. Here's your moment. A lot of people definitely caught the unlikely prospect of two complete amateur students getting a duel on. Kind of like Draco and Harry, though at least they had the excuse of a spell or two under their belts. Of course, looking back through history there were relatively few nobles who fought their own duels.

The reasons why Weiss didn't catch on will be shown next chapter, though you might be able to figure them out anyway. It's obviously related to how they're in the Collegium and away from their family's resources, hence her, despite her wealth and power, having to share a room with Ruby. She anticipated the same for Malneux, not realising he had allies within the Collegium to hand. Anyway, next chapter will be on Sunday 27th.

Time to see how an Arcanist specialising in battle magic fares against a newblood guard with no magic to his name.

Next Chapter: SUNDAY 27th October (and then every Sunday thereafter)

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur