So, this is the new slot for this story – every Sunday. I think I've mentioned it enough times, but we'll see how many confused PM and reviews I receive.

Chapter 14

Ruby stared in equal parts shock and horror. "Jaune…?"

Coco dragged her back from the arena, the other Arcanists doing the same and creating space – except Malneux, who was staring at Jaune with shock. As much, if not more, than Ruby herself. They were hardly the only ones. A Collegium Guard though he may have been, he was still a normal person fighting against an Arcanist.

The Crimson Arcanist didn't look too bothered by it. He stood as bored as he had been since she was his opponent, although he looked Jaune up and down with a somewhat respectful gaze. Most in the crowd didn't, especially the other Initiates. A few were laughing.

"You wish to fight on her behalf?" Malneux asked. "You're not even an Arcanist."

"Do you reject my right, Lord Malneux?" Jaune raised a single brow. "Do you slight me?"

"No. No!" Malneux shook his head. "I would never do that to one of your standing. Please forgive me, I was surprised."

Ruby tugged on Coco's sleeve. "His standing…?"

Coco glanced down, still relieved she wouldn't have to fight – or more likely be completely tossed aside – by the Arcanist. With how she was in control of the Initiates, it was hard to remember at times that she still was one. Coco didn't have a single gem to her name. She was in every way that counted still a student; only, she was a student tasked to look after and mentor others. Her brown eyes were locked on the impending fight but she leaned down to whisper in Ruby's ear. "He's a noble. Quite a big one from what I remember. More important than my house, anyway. He never told you?"

Jaune…? No way. He acted so normal.

"I assumed he would have, especially since the two of you are… involved." He might have, if that were true, but since they were just friends. She supposed she'd never asked, but Ruby thought she'd have noticed. "Not every noble has the spark within them necessary to become an Arcanist," Coco went on. "Those that don't either go into politics, the military or the guard. Of course, a noble wouldn't serve in the rank and file and graduating as a Collegium Guard ensures you're an elite."

A noble couldn't dirty their boots in the slums, of course. Even the Collegium Guard was a playground for noble families then. Is everyone here nobility? Am I the only one who isn't? It suddenly made a lot more sense why Malneux wouldn't want to offend Jaune. Arcanist or not, he was still someone important.

And fighting on my behalf. That's not a good thing, is it…?

"How much chance does he have?" she asked.

"Against an Arcanist? There's always a chance." Coco bit her lip. "But against a Crimson Arcanist…"

The Arcana focused entirely on war and battle. She couldn't have picked an opponent worse for Jaune, other than maybe the Grand Arcanist himself. He was going to get destroyed in there. She was a Wildmage on the other hand. It'd be risky, especially holding her own against someone she should have no hope of beating, but if it meant not throwing him to the wolves it was worth it. "Maybe I should fight instead. I can at least create fire…"

"It's too late now."

It really was. Martyn Malneux had stepped back and out the ring, leaving the two combatants in the centre. The Arcanist bowed from the waist to Jaune, who returned it and drew his sword from the dirt. The two opponents sized one another up, not like the slums at all. By now, insults would be thrown and battle soon joined. Here, they held to some nebulous code of honour.

"Leon Artois," the Arcanist said. "I will be your opponent today."

"Jaune Arc. Unto yield or unconsciousness?"

"Yes." The Arcanist drew the sword at his side but held it much more nonchalantly than Jaune did his own. "I have no issue with you or yours; let us fight with clear minds this day."

"The same unto you, Lord Artois. A good fight to you."

Were speeches normal before fights? Ruby's gut twisted into a knot, not sure if she wanted to run in there and stop this or scream at the top of her lungs. This wasn't Jaune's fight. It shouldn't even be hers. Malneux has twisted the rules – though why she expected anything different, she wasn't sure. He was a noble. Of course they wouldn't do their own dirty work.

In the end, she stayed where she was, nibbling on her nails and for once not having them slapped away by Weiss. If it was just to unconscious, Jaune would be fine. There wasn't any risk here. Other than that he loses and I have to become a retainer of the Malneux family. Yeah sure, no problem at all. If that happened, she was out. Running back to the slums, taking Yang and leaving Vale would be better than servitude and inevitable discovery under a noble family.

The sentence for impersonating a noble was probably death. Most sentences were when it was someone from the lower tiers of life interacting with the upper. Get caught stealing in the Merchant's Quarter and they'd break an arm or take a hand – either of which meant certain death once you were tossed back down the wall, or into the river. The younger urchins would line the banks to pick coin and items off corpses floating by.

Hers wouldn't be among them. If they tried…

If they tried, then she would show them what a Wildmage was really capable of.

"The honour duel between Martyn Malneux of the Malneux house and Ruby Rose of the Rose House shall commence." It was a familiar Arcanist who spoke, Arthur Watts – the same who had unwittingly helped her into the Collegium. He didn't look amused to be out here and fixed everyone, her included, with a glare. His hands rose into the air, he murmured under his breath and a shimmering wall of light spread up around the area, cutting them off. "Champions Leon Artois, retainer to House Malneux, and Jaune Arc, scion of House Arc, will fight until yield or until one is rendered unable to fight. Do both champions agree to these terms?"

"Aye," Leon said.

"Aye," Jaune echoed. "Let it be so."

"Interference from outside participants will result in forfeit. The Collegium does not grant you permission to use deadly force. Attempts made will be met with intervention by myself – and immediate punishment for the one responsible." The Arcanist focused on Artois as he said that, who nodded respectfully back. He was the only one who could use magic after all. "An esteemed member of the Emerald Arcana is on standby in the event of injury. Champions, bow to your opponents."

Despite already having done so, both Leon and Jaune bowed. They were deep, she noticed. Nothing like what Malneux offered to other people. Was Jaune respected for stepping into a losing fight, or was it just because of his title? If I get a noble dragged into a duel on my behalf, how much do I owe them? Even if Jaune said it was okay, would his family agree?

"This is going to be a massacre," Weiss hissed.

Hopefully, Ruby asked, "On Jaune's side…?"

The noble's grimace said it all.

"BEGIN!"

Leon leapt back, pushing one foot behind him and levelling his free hand in Jaune's direction. "Fires of creation burn a path!"

Light flickered to life in the palm of his hand, but unlike the fire they'd summoned before, it tore away immediately, snaking along the ground and burning three feet tall. It rushed toward Jaune, forcing him to roll to the left and stop with one hand flat on the dirt. The flames curled toward him again, tracing in on his location. Jaune ran to the left, holding his sword with one hand and circling around his opponent.

"Through force, be pushed!"

Jaune leapt to the left again, dodging a shimmering distortion in the air. The wall of fire behind him ballooned out and was expunged, embers tossed against the shield along with dirt and sand. It would have thrown him away had it connected, but Jaune charged in, sliding his second hand to the hilt of his weapon and sweeping it low across the ground.

The clash of steel as the Arcanist's sword bit down echoed over them. Despite being primarily a magic user, he steadied his foot against the blade to hold Jaune's back and shifted his weight to the left to avoid a thrown punch. His free hand pressed into Jaune's ribcage, right up against his armour.

"Through force, be- ah!" The hand was caught at the wrist and twisted to the side. "Be pushed!"

The blast of air launched the Arcanist away and out of Jaune's grip. Leon twisted in the air and shouted something that caused the air behind him to coalesce, slowing his fall and letting him right and land on his feet. He flapped his casting hand to loosen it up and held his sword up before him in a guard stance.

The Initiates had stopped laughing now. Jaune…

He'd almost managed it.

"Collegium Guards are no laughing matter," Coco whispered. "The odds are still against him, but you've seen them train. You don't want to let one inside your guard. If he was anything but a Crimson Arcanist, he'd have lost."

"What do you mean?"

"Crimson Arcana enforces training in a weapon. Other colours don't bother."

So if this had been any other Arcana, they wouldn't have been able to defend themselves in melee. How far had Malneux stacked this? It was bad enough with Jaune, but if she was a noble as advertised, she wouldn't have stood a chance. Bastard. It was like making a trained solider fight a child. He didn't want her beaten; he wanted her humiliated.

Ruby cupped her hands over her mouth. "You can do it, Jaune!"

"Ruby!" Weiss gasped, scandalised. "Show some class!"

Jaune heard her. He glanced over and nodded, then turned back to his foe, taking a side-on stance that minimised the amount of his body exposed. He began to step forward, closing in while strafing to the left, circling in such a way as to push the Arcanist back against the barrier. His boots stepped over and through one of the dimming trails of fire, snuffing it out.

The Arcanist was too far away to hear but he yelled something and sent three balls of white light hurtling toward Jaune – an attack she recognised, albeit different. It was the bands of light an Arcanist used to try and stop her when she was running through the Upper District. If one hit him, he'd be bound instantly.

Come on. You can do it!

He swayed under the first and knelt, twisting on one foot to push through and past the second. Leon was no slouch, however, and had used the first two to corral him. The third was heading straight on, mere inches from Jaune's face.

"No!"

"He's done," Weiss said grimly.

Jaune's shoulder hit the sand – the rest of him followed. His head clutched in against his neck, he rolled back up onto his feet.

The spell fizzled in the air.

"What!?" Weiss yelled.

"He dodged it?" an Initiate gasped. "I could have sworn that hit!"

"Impossible. It was already upon him!"

Leon was just as shocked and neglected to cast another spell. That gave Jaune the opening he needed to close the distance and snatch his free hand, bringing his sword around and down on the Arcanist's shoulder. It would have ended the fight right there, but Leon managed to defend, instincts and training kicking in even while he was out of it.

Even so, he was off balance. Ruby could see it and recognise the signs from her own brawls. His right knee buckled, and he braced his shoulder against the flat of his sword, cleverly keeping his weight behind it but letting Jaune score a cut on his shoulder. It was the best the Arcanist could do and anyone less than a Crimson Arcanist wouldn't have had the training to pull it off. On top of one another, they locked blades. Jaune's foot swept under to try and trip but Leon was ready for it. Sand was kicked up as they fought for space, Leon to cast and Jaune to prevent it.

Through the haze, she saw Leon break his hand free and press his palm against Jaune's stomach. Saw his eyes narrow and lips move. He was about to cast!

"Jaune," she yelled. "Move!"

Leon smirked and finished his incantation. Jaune clamped a hand on his collar.

Ruby clenched her hands into fists.

Nothing happened.

It was a second in real time but felt so much longer to her, stood ready to burst through the barrier at the first sign of trouble. Most couldn't even keep up, so unused to fighting they were, but she saw the flicker of absolute shock on Leon's face – the moment he, in complete confusion, let his guard down.

Jaune dragged him down and over his knee by the collar. Head and upper body bent forward, Leon tripped and sprawled onto the sand. He struck the ground headfirst but to his credit rolled away, training ingrained in him not to sit still and get killed.

It was a lesson taught in the slums, too. A fight wasn't over when you fell, and honour was for fools. Leon Artois staggered back onto his feet, red robes splattered with dirt and face rubbed raw. He spat out some dirt and rubbed a hand over his chin.

Jaune locked his sword before him again.

Leon stabbed his into the dirt. "I yield."

He… yielded…?

"WHAT!?" Martyn Malneux slammed his hands on the barrier, causing reflections of light to ripple out from him. "Artois – what is the meaning of this? You can still fight! I demand you fight!"

"The duel is over." Arthur Watts dropped the barrier. "Through surrender, Ruby Rose is victorious. Consider this matter of honour concluded." He fixed Martyn with a fierce scowl. "And do not waste our time again. You are all of you here to master the arcane arts, not indulge in petty squabbles."

"Heh." Jaune offered a hand to the downed Arcanist. "Good fight."

Leon looked at the hand but didn't take it. He stood and offered a wary nod. "Good fight."

"Jaune!" Ruby crashed into him, arms wrapping around his stomach and face smashing into his leather armour. He smelled of sweat and leather and sand, like he'd been rolling in it. "What are you doing here? How did you even find out? What were you thinking!?"

He placed one hand around her back, letting the other hold his sword tip down and to the side.

"In order? I'm here to fight. Sun told me. And I figured you could use the help."

"Help was certainly something she needed," Weiss said, stepping up and for once offering him a respectful nod of the head. "I must admit I didn't recognise you at first, Lord Arc. Forgive me."

"Ah? Well, nothing to forgive." Jaune laughed. "I didn't exactly advertise anything. Besides, it's not that big a deal." He cracked a smile. "Sun heard about this from the Newbloods. The newest of them, anyway. They were taking bets and talking about coming down, and when he heard who was involved, he let me know." He pushed her away. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Ruby blinked stupidly at him. "I didn't think it was a big deal."

Jaune frowned.

"It's true," Coco said. "We thought it would be a little fight between two Initiates. No one expected Malneux to bring in an actual Arcanist." She sighed and shook her head. "He's going to take some heat for this. It's not against any rules but he brought in a Crimson Arcanist to deal with a schoolyard argument. And he lost. That's going to hit him right where it hurts – his pride."

"Good," Ruby growled. "He tried to get me killed!"

"Leon wouldn't have killed you," Jaune said. "I doubt he'd have used any of those spells against you. The Crimson Arcana spar with the guards, though. He'd know to take me a little more seriously."

"Not enough to win," Weiss noted. "I can't believe you dodged that spell at such close range."

"Ha." Jaune's fingers dug into her robes. "Yeah. Guess I was lucky."

With the fight over and the adrenaline dying out, most of the onlookers were getting bored and wandering off. Martyn was gone, either to berate Leon or save face – or maybe just to avoid her before she could demand something for his loss. She'd have to ask Weiss later about that. The Arcanists left too, including the Emerald Arcanist.

"She didn't even stop to heal you," Ruby hissed, poking his cheek.

"Hey." Jaune winced and caught her index finger in his hand. There was a small cut on his cheek. "Don't poke it. And it's fine; she probably didn't even realise I was hurt."

"Pssttt." Coco elbowed her side and wriggled her eyebrows. "That's your cue."

Ruby stared at her.

Coco tapped her cheek and nodded to Jaune.

Ruby rubbed hers and looked at her fingers, wondering if she had food there.

"I'm sure Ruby will be willing to help you with it," Coco said, apparently giving up on subtly and laying it out flat. "After all, you just stood up for her honour. Makes sense you'd want to have a little alone time if you know what I mean."

Weiss grimaced and stepped away. "I believe I'll retire early and do a little studying. I'll speak to you later, Ruby."

"But I-"

"Have fun," Coco teased, walking after Weiss. "But not too much fun!"

Ruby sighed.

/-/

The inside of the Newbloods barracks wasn't exactly what she'd expected. In her head, she imagined them to be like the watchtowers in and outside the slums, with floors dedicated to cramming as many people in at once, usually with bunk beds and locked chests for belongings.

Jaune actually had a room with Sun not unlike her and Weiss', except it was bigger. Way bigger. For one, Jaune and Sun got separate bedrooms to call their own, along with a small communal area, a bathroom and a corner with a bookshelf and chair. Sun was in that, legs up above his head as he dangled upside down with a book in hand, occasionally shooting them coy smiles as Ruby dabbed at Jaune's face with a white towel and washed away the blood.

"I don't think it'll scar…"

"Damn shame," Sun said. "Girls love scars. Not that you need help in that department. Not even two months into the new year and you've already fought a duel in your beloved's honour. I'd be jealous if I wasn't so proud."

"You'll be unable to feel either if you don't stop being an ass."

Sun cackled.

He knew they weren't a thing, of course – hard to hide the fact she and Jaune were apparently up to no good when he slept in the next room. That didn't stop him finding the whole thing hilarious. She had a suspicion he wouldn't have been so relaxed about it if she'd been Weiss or some other girl, but Sun seemed to like her. Probably because I don't act like I've got a stick shoved up my ass.

Sadly, what he'd said was probably what everyone else thought. There weren't that many ways to spin Jaune stepping in to defend her honour as a casual thing. Not when he was apparently quite the bigshot noble.

"Eh. At least you won. Not sure you'd have looked quite so hot otherwise."

"It was a close fight," Jaune said. "I nearly didn't."

"Hmm." Sun didn't sound convinced. "Whatever. Glad I told you about it, though?"

"Yes. Thank you, Sun."

"Thanks," Ruby echoed, aware he'd saved her butt as well. "I owe you both."

"Heh. No problem. You need to be more careful in future though – don't trust nobles to be so honest. If they can find a way to cheat, they will."

"You say that in front of two of them," Jaune pointed out.

"Eh. You're different. Both of you."

"You're not a noble?" Ruby asked.

Sun yawned and put his book down, sweeping his legs around so he was sat up. "Do I look like one? Or act it?"

No. He was nothing like Weiss or even Coco, and yet she'd just sort of assume that was normal for the guard. Jaune didn't act like it either. Her gaze on him didn't go unnoticed and Jaune laughed awkwardly, moving to scratch his cheek before she slapped his hand away. She didn't spend the last few minutes dabbing it for him to scratch it open again.

"I don't really like to make a meal of my title. I want to get by on my own achievements."

"What he means," Sun explained, "Is that he's a pretty big deal within the Kingdom. Eighth in line to the throne."

Ruby balked. "Royalty!?"

"No. Definitely not." Jaune shot Sun a glare. "Almost everyone in the nobility is `in line` somewhere. The succession is complicated and it's an incestuous group and if you look back far enough, almost everyone is related in one way or another. Distant cousins. Being in line doesn't mean you have a chance of ever bring king. I'm about as likely to become King of Vale as you or Sun are. Even if the seven above me died, Vale would be placed under a regent long before it did me. It's just a thing nobles like to mention."

"You wouldn't think it to listen to him." Sun said. "Jaune's about as humble as they come."

"I prefer to think I'm just reasonable. My dad didn't exactly let me get away with much as a kid and I don't have any spark to speak of. When most nobles are busy trying to become Arcanists, I don't stand out much."

"I'm not a noble at all," Sun said. "If you do good enough in training to be a city guard, you can get scouted for the Collegium. It's rare – maybe two out of every person in a year gets the chance. I was lucky. Plenty of folk here aren't a fan of that."

She could imagine. It was bad enough when they just thought she was an eccentric noble. The Collegium really did seem corrupt – or at least it let a lot of favouritism through. If the nobility made up both the Arcanists and the Collegium Guard, then so much for that influence triangle Miss Lavender showed them. It wasn't much of a balance on the city if the nobility had this much of a hand in things.

As far as she knew, there wasn't a single non-noble or wealthy Initiate in the Collegium.

No one in the slums was tested for the `spark` Coco mentioned before.

And since magic can't be used without extensive training – unless you're a Wildmage – that means the only people who ever have the power are those already on top. No wonder we've never had any healers in the lower districts.

"That's a worrying look on your face," Jaune said teasingly. "Is it infected? Am I going to die?"

"Oh. No. I was…" Nothing she could say. "How did you beat the Arcanist?"

"He gave up. You saw yourself."

"Not that. I mean… are you guys taught to fight Arcanists?"

Jaune looked away nervously. "Not exactly…"

"It's more like they're taught to fight us," Sun interrupted. "Crimson Arcana spars against us and every Arcanist at some point has to learn to defend themselves. Since most people would be coming at them with weapons, they spar against Newbloods at first. We're not exactly taught to beat you guys, but we pick things up."

"Yeah." Jaune nodded. "That."

They were lying.

If she'd been Weiss or Coco, she might have believed it, but Jaune's lack of commoner savvy made him pretty weak on his hustle. Sun was much better, but the fact he came rushing in to Jaune's rescue spoke volumes.

He'd rescued her, though. That earned him his secrets.

"Hm. That makes sense. How do you beat an Arcanist, then?"

"Attack 'em hard and fast." Sun made a slashing motion with one hand. "It depends on the Arcanist obviously, but most of you lot rely too much on spells."

"Crimson Arcana are different," Jaune said. "Leon could fight alright with a sword, but it was still obvious his training was split between that and spellcraft. And then there were his incantations. Those let me know in advance what he was doing."

"I noticed that!" Both from Leon and the one who attacked her before. "Do they always have to speak to cast? We didn't have to in lessons."

"Depends on the spell. You probably weren't casting spells in lessons, right? Just doing exercises."

That was true, but she'd not needed to say anything to make herself invisible to the guards either. "I guess. Did you know all the spells he cast?"

"No. It was more I knew when he was going to cast and where. Having to shout things out is a pretty big weakness and gave me warning on when to move. Not all Arcanists have to do it. I think once you start to master spells, you say them quieter – or not at all." Jaune shrugged. "I'm not the best person to ask on that. Coco would know more. Maybe Weiss, but… well, she's still an Initiate."

We've not learned any real spells yet and we've been here a month. Oh, they'd summoned some fire to their hands and played with control, but now that she thought of it there wasn't a single spell to their names.

Was that normal? Probably.

But did it make sense? Why were they being made to go so slow? She had a feeling that if she asked, they'd tell her it was to learn control, or because magic was dangerous, and the thing was, she had no way of knowing if that was true or not.

The guards were stronger than them. They were being kept excited about magic but not taught it. They were limited to two Arcana. They weren't allowed outside the Collegium until they mastered one. Was this what Cinder meant? The Sanctum may have been the prison, but the more she learned, the more it felt like the Collegium itself was the real prison – the Sanctum just solitary confinement.

No. It couldn't be. If that were the case, they wouldn't have taken all the nobles, and the noble families wouldn't be sending all their heirs and heiresses here. If it was a prison, they'd rather have Dredgers locked away.

"You should be careful about Malneux," Jaune said.

"Hm. What?"

"Just because you won out here doesn't mean he'll stop. From what I hear, you insulted his family pretty badly. It might be best to cut your losses now you embarrassed him and make peace. If he'll accept it. Might be too late for that…"

"Are they a big deal?"

"Not as big as some, but that only makes them more sensitive about it." Jaune cocked a smile for her. "You can always mention me if he acts out."

"I don't want to keep using you like that. You already helped me here."

"It's fine. We're friends, aren't we?"

It felt like he was really asking, like he really thought she might say no. Sun was watching too. Carefully. Ruby didn't know why, or why they thought she'd ever deny it. "We are. Even before you helped me."

"You're lovers too," Sun teased, "So Jaune's expected to step in and help you every now and then. If he didn't, he'd probably be hounded by the other Newbloods saying he's letting us down. We've got a certain image to hold. Hard to pick up pretty Initiates if we're not seen as dashing knights in silver armour."

"I don't see you picking up anyone," Jaune said.

"Kinda ironic for you to say that when the closest the two of you have gotten to hot and sweaty is Ruby watching you train."

Jaune threw a scowl Sun's way but the faunus was unaffected. They really were close – it reminded her of her and Yang, or maybe Yang and the Malachites. That constant back and forth that might have been insulting to anyone but them. There was history there. Sun's loyalty spoke of a little more than just friendship. Maybe Jaune had stepped in to protect him as well; something to do with the commoner aspect he mentioned earlier.

"It won't cause problems for you, will it?" she asked. "With your family."

"You mean us being together? Or not being…?"

"Yeah."

"It doesn't really matter. We're kind of expected to make connections in the Collegium – even those kind. A lot of us have arrangements waiting us outside, so this is our last chance of freedom."

"Arrangements?"

"Positions. Posts. Roles. Marriage." Jaune shrugged. "It's something of a quietly agreed secret that we can do what we like in the Collegium and no one makes mention of it after. Or that's the theory. The truth is, the Collegium is a cooking pot full of the best and most influential of Vale, and some of the relationships and friendships made here can shape the city for the next generation." He reached out and tapped her nose. "That's why it's in your best interest to avoid any more feuds. You never know who you might call ally in the future. Or husband."

"The day I marry Malneux is the day I throw myself off the city wall."

"Well, you don't have any family to arrange it so any requests would be made directly to you, your caretaker or the King."

"The King…?"

"He could enforce a marriage for you, ostensibly in your best interests." He saw her pale and quickly added, "I doubt he would. That sort of thing doesn't happen often and you're not exactly important enough for him to take notice of you. Don't worry. The point I was making was that Malneux can't actually do much to you other than posture and threaten. You're the head of House Rose now. You make the decisions."

"R-Right. Good."

"That also means your actions affect your house, both good and bad. Turning Malneux's plan back on him has made an enemy out of him but might make you some allies too. If there's anyone who also hates him. Or those who benefit from his downfall."

"I'm not really into the political angle…"

"You might not be, but everyone else will be. You can't just ignore it."

"Why not? You do."

"Do I?" Jaune smiled crookedly. "I'll be writing a letter to my father tonight to explain why the Malneux family will be contacting him tomorrow to protest at my stepping in to impinge on their honour."

"You mean… You're going to be in trouble because you helped me?"

"Not in trouble, more there'll be consequences. Don't worry about it, you didn't make me do anything I wouldn't have already."

Even so, she'd not thought her getting in a duel might drag him into trouble, or Weiss. It hadn't helped Cinder either. For all she'd stood up for her fellow Wildmage, most people probably didn't believe the Malneux family actually had one. If anything, the only thing they'd be gossiping about now was the fact he tried to pull one over on her and lost. No one cared about Cinder or the injustice done there.

"All I did was make things worse…"

"That's not true." Jaune nudged her shoulder and laughed. "If nothing else, you've cheered up every Newblood in the Collegium. It's not everyday we get to hold something like this over the Arcanist's heads."

"Oh great…"

"No, I'm not joking. Every action has consequences. If you're ever in trouble, I dare say you could come to one of us and we'd help – not just Sun and I, but any Newblood who recognised you. At the very least they'd escort you to me. An Arcanist challenged a Newblood today and the Newblood won. As far as everyone in the barracks is concerned, that puts you on our side."

"Nothing like a bit of friendly rivalry between the schools," Sun agreed. "It's kind of a right of passage for us to try and get one over on you lot. Not you, obviously. You're one of us now. Honorarily."

"Because I set up a fight or because I'm apparently in bed with Jaune?"

Sun grinned. "Yes."

And all of a sudden, the Collegium seemed less terrifying again. If it was just rivalry, it wasn't so bad. The nobles probably just wanted more things to hold over each other's heads. I'll have to learn some spells if Martyn is going to try again. And some incantations. If I can say the right thing for the wild magic I cast, it'll be less suspicious.

And there was always one other option.

"Hey. Are there any rules against Initiates training with you guys in the morning?"

So, how many of you actually expected Jaune to win?

I mean, it's early in the story and the plot might not make sense if he lost and Ruby was forced into servitude, but this is a Coeur story. Jaune can't win. At least not before the end. It's just not feasible! Ha. Well, with Jaune not being the main character here, he can have a few wins.

Next Chapter: 3rd November

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur