Chapter 2

Jaune and Ozpin sat in silence. Staring at him through his glasses, Ozpin was clearly inspecting every detail of the man in front of him. Finally the silence was broken.

"I assume you know why I brought you here?"

"To help me recover from my … amnesia?"

Ozpin nodded. Jaune hadn't heard of amnesia but perhaps this could help him learn about his situation and the planet. He shouldn't mention to Imperium or he'd be answering a lot of questions.

"How about we begin this with something simple. What do you remember about your family and upbringing."

Why would he be interested in something like that? He should make up a similar story to his actual family notably leaving out the Imperium but when he tried to think of them his mind couldn't.

It was just blurry pictures and conflicting memories. The only image he could make out was an old sword and shield hung on an old wall.

Ozpin noticed his struggling. "If you cannot recall it is fine. How about we skip to Beacon then? What do know about your team and the academy."

So it's a schola? Well this'll be short.

"The two girls from earlier, Pyrrha and Ruby, both study here."

Ozpin nodded. "Go on."

He wanted more? He had just woken up here, what else was he supposed to know? But without thinking he spoke.

"Ruby is the leader of team RWBY and Pyrrha a member of team JNPR."

"That is correct, continue."

What was that? His mouth spoke before he could think. But how did he know that information? Could he have been… no that was impossible, or was it?

"And I was a student here?"

"Yes you were."

He was, he somehow was. He could tell the professor wasn't lying. But then what had happened? Had he been wrong about everything? Could he have really gotten injured that bad happened and it lead to him forgetting his previous experiences here? But then how did he end up comatose?

Ozpin seemed to notice something, he was spending too much time debating irrelevant information in his head.

"Are you going to continue?"

"I got distracted. Where was I?"

"You were saying how you studied here, maybe you remember your team?"

Yes his team, he immediately remembered Pyrrha but the others? All he could think of was some kind of weird flat bread

"As mentioned before Pyrrha was part of my team but I can't remember of the other two ."

"What about Ruby and her team?"

Ah yes Ruby, the first person he spoke to in Beacon. Wait that was Pyrrha, he woke up next to her so than why did he think never-mind.

"I remember she was the leader of her team but I don't know her teammates."

Ozpin thought for a moment. "Well if that is any indication you should see your friends, after spending some time with them you should be back to normal. As for your family I'm sure we can arrange a visit. They will be glad to hear of your recovery."

His family? He thought they died a long time ago, did he make some cover story here? It would be best to feign complete ignorance of them for now to avoid questions. As for his 'teammates' he would need to see how powerful they were, perhaps they might be of some use.

"Now I have only a few questions left now before you may leave. Firstly do you remember what aura was?"

Jaune thought. As with most things it was familiar yet foreign. Looking at Ozpin he shook his head."

"That's unfortunate. While I won't go into too much depth it is essentially an extension of ones soul which allows you greater protection from attacks."

Before he could think his mouth spoke.

"So it's like a forcefield?"

Ozpin chuckled.

"While that isn't necessarily wrong I wouldn't call it right either. Yes it does function like a forcefield but it can do so much more. An example is how it can allow some to use what is called a semblance, a power unique to the individual that can manifest in a number of ways."

People wielding some form of magic and using it to do feats ordinary people could only dream of? This sounded like some form of warp power and that would explain the psykers.

"One you might have seen is Ruby's semblance allowing her to go at speeds unimaginable to a normal person."

So thats how she was able to surprise him. He'd need to be careful of semblances in future. However all this information brought a question. Did he have aura? He needed to find out how to use this if it was as powerful as Ozpin made it out to be.

"Do you have a questions about it?"

"Yes two actually. Do I have this 'aura' and how do you use it?"

"To answer the first half of your question, yes you do, Pyrrha activated it upon your initiation if I recall correctly. Now as for the second it is a little more complicated."

Of course it was, but to Jaune if it would help him further serve the Emperor than any amount of training was worth it.

"Activating your aura takes little effort and will allow you to heal any minor injuries while protecting you from attacks and extreme weather however a semblance is harder to unlock. In general it can be unlocked by moments of high pressure, both physically and mentally."

Interesting, his 'aura' may help make up for the lose of his implants and equipment. Thought his semblance was tougher . If what Ozpin says is true that it needs a high pressure situation then mental was out of the question however seeing how much he's out of shape and un-augmented it might be possible with training.

"Actually that reminds me." Ozpin searched the desk holding out what looked like a letter.

"What is this?"

"It's your scroll, I was going to give it back to you however it slipped my mind until now. You can use it to check your auras power, message someone or a number of other things. I assume you can figure it out."

"Yes, thank you … Professor."

Hmm this was a strange device, the same one he saw Pyrrha use earlier. The headmaster was lucky he wasn't a tech-priest or else he would've gone insane over some perceived heretek.

"Getting back on track, secondly do you recognise the word Grimm?"

Jaune hated that word. He couldn't remember what a 'Grimm' was but the world made him think of white malice and black darkness.

Ozpin smiled slightly. "I see you have some idea."

"Yes, I am unsure as to what they are but I know they aren't good."

"Quite bluntly they are the greatest threat humanity has ever known. There are almost endless in number and since recorded history they have been at war with humanity."

Inside he laughed. Greatest threat? Tell that to a hive ship or the Black Legion. Perhaps he was being a little unfair, when you're stuck on a planet you probably wouldn't be all that aware of events in the galaxy.

"They are drawn to negative emotion and will butcher any human they see. They are often mindless, their instinct to kill driving them to suicidal feats however in swarms this can prove deadly."

This sounded familiar to him but not in the same way as usual.

"They sound like some kind of daemon."

"A demon? Yes many people do call them that. But no matter the name they still pose a threat to us all."

Looking towards Jaune Ozpin spoke. "It is our responsibility here at Beacon in order to train huntsmen and huntresses in order to help protect the people of remnant and slay the Grimm."

An order of psykers dedicated to the destruction of daemons? How familiar.

"So now, you have heard what we face and what being a huntsman means, do you agree to continue your studies? To help keep humanity safe from darkness?"

Perhaps this was why he was here. He was sent to this world, Remnant, as the one to finally destroy the Grimm. If the Emperor had chosen him for this then he would persevere no matter the cost even if it included his life.

"I agree."

—

Ozpin watched Jaune leave through the elevator. He had agreed to continue his training and would move back into his old dorm, though he wasn't entirely sure if they were 'his' to begin with.

To anyone it was obvious, he had changed. He spoke more commandingly, he used words never heard before and he acted differently. However Ozpin was more than some ordinary man. He had lived many lives and from that he had many years of experience.

Jaune Arc was no longer the unprepared boy that entered Beacon but something else. He had the eyes of a battle hardened warrior. A soldier forged in the fire of war. And while these may simply be his first impressions it was still concerning.

However what was far more worrying was when he looked at Jaune, Ozma saw something familiar in him. While he still looked young Ozpin got the feeling that he was much older than he seemed. But how could that be possible? Was he some kind of immortal? Was he too someone with…

He considered the possibility of this being a plan by Salem to infiltrate Beacon by somehow taking over the man. He doubted it as no such thing has been done. Even if it was possible the power needed to do it from so far away would be unimaginable. For the first time in possibly centuries, there was something he had absolutely no answers to.

Whatever it may be he would need to keep a closer eye on young Arc.

—

Jaune walked to his teams dorm, he was glad he remembered how to get there. For now he had a moment of peace. So to recall what happened, he was deploying to a planet facing a demonic incursion. However while there he either died or was sent to the warp. Either way he was sure the Emperor must've saved him.

Afterwards he woke up on 'remnant' and eventually entered Beacon. After several weeks he fell into a coma which he had just now recovered from. Maybe not recovered, his body still hurt with every movement, awake might be a better term.

However this still left many questions. The motives behind his previous actions were completely unknown, not to mention his previous supposed losses in combat. He must've been faking it right? How else would a 2nd Company Librarian of the Blood Ravens Space Marines with centuries of fighting behind him lose to what was basically a trainee? And what about the girl who trained him. Was Pyrrha in on his origins? She couldn't have been or else she would have understood him. Not knowing about segmentums he could understand but he would have mentioned he was a space marine. So did he fake his skill while training as well?

Focusing on the larger picture. Humanity at war against daemonic creatures with him one of those holding them back. Despite being in a different world nothing had changed.

He saw the dorms and entered his old room. It was how he remembered it, four beds a window and in a bit of a mess. On some miniature bookshelf was a note, likely for him. Looking at it the handwriting was atrocious, a disgrace to low gothic. Making it out was somewhat difficult but he did it.

"Jaune if you're reading this then Professor Ozpin must've let you move back to the dorm. Your weapons are on your bed, the one on the far left. If you want to see us we're at the library. Hope you're feeling well - Pyrrha"

He thought that was it but then he saw a small message on the bottom.

"If you feel up to training meet me on the roof tonight."

Ah yes the 'training' he was receiving. At least he'd have his weapons back. Wait his weapons, did he still have his force sword and plasma pistol? He doubted he'd have his armour. Even if it made it through with him there was no doubt it would be taken apart by scientists and researchers. It's not exactly easy to hide a suit of power armour. His plasma pistol might've been taken too but at least it was simple to conceal. Luckily his force sword, Malitiae Finem, was pretty ordinary on first glance and would pass as a normal sword. Thinking of it made him miss its weight in his hand.

Looking on his bed he saw a sheathed sword. Not his force sword, sadly, but instead a sword he remembered as Crocea Mors, it was the sword that hung on the wall when he thought of his family. Pulling it out it was a fine blade, but where did he get this? He looked at the sheath, something told him to inspect it. Touching something it suddenly turned into a shield. Interesting, this worlds technology could have weapons that change form. Though it was odd as he never used a shield before so why would he have had one for this? It looked used with some small scratches on it, perhaps he got it from someone or someplace.

Well until he could find the time and resources to forge a new force sword he'd have to use this. He swung the sword a few times testing its weight. It was a sharp, well made blade and for a less advanced world was somewhat impressive. He placed the blade on his lap and prayed. Saying a short litany asking for the Emperor's blessing.

Sheathing his sword he thought about his conversation with Ozpin. He remembered what he said about aura, was it possible for it to be magic unrelated to the warp? He knew of one way to possibly find out. He asked the Emperor for protection from chaos and started meditating on his bed. He looked into the warp. He needed to be careful, without his psychic hood or implants he was more vulnerable. He expected the usual whispers, voices promising anything he could want whether it be money, power or even a simple drink. But there wasn't

This was most unusual. He was already risking himself but he decided to push in further. That couldn't be right, he felt no presence from the four terrible gods. The warp here was weaker and calmer, or at least calm by warp standards. There was a presence here but it was different. Could it be the source of aura? He had learned enough.

Snapping back into reality, he needed to test something.

Drawing his sword he ran his finger along the edge drawing blood. Sure enough a bit of effort he activated his aura and the cut healed in front of him. He deactivated his aura this time, he focused on his arm changing it from flash to solid iron. He swung the sword hitting his arm leaving not even a scratch.

He was satisfied with the result. Though it took more effort then usual psychic powers still worked, saying a prayer he checked the scroll and it appeared that it didn't affect his aura. Perhaps psykers and auras were unrelated.

Interesting, if he was right he would want to hide his powers for now. Perhaps he could tell his teammates but otherwise having a fallback plan if he's cornered is worth it. Not to mention the attention it would draw

Well now that he had his weapons what was he to do. He might take Pyrrha up on that training though who would be training remains to be seen. For now he would make a visit to the library. He was a librarian after all though he doubted it would have much of interest to him.

As well as allowing him to gain more knowledge on remnant he would see his previous … friends. He left the room. Though he'd never admit it there was a small part of him that was happy to see his old friends again.

—

Jaune entered the library, a grand hall filled with knowledge. A place of complete silence where not a single soul would even dare to speak. The perfect place to study or pray without interruption…

Was what he was used to, instead it was filled with chatter and noise. Some read but many more were in their own groups socialising with each other or doing some form of game.

Well with any previous expectations crushed he went to find Pyrrha and her friends.

He saw Pyrrha sitting with the two teams. Ruby appeared to be playing what looked like regicide with someone else… it doesn't look like they know how to play. Looking at the table he doubted any of them would surprise him. From slaying the enemies of man to having to socialise with these people. Emperor what had he done to deserve this?

He approached the table. One of them, Yang was it? Pointed him out to the rest.

"Hey looks like vomit boy finally showed up."

Ah yes the name he got after vomiting on a ship while coming into Beacon. He never recalled getting plane sick before though.

After the inevitable 'are you ok's and a couple questions the conversation went back to before. He was reading a book on the history of the Kingdom of Vale. Only half paying attention to the rest of them.

"Jaune what do you think?" Weiss asked

"What was the question?" He replied

"Are you paying any attention?", Jaune could tell she was irritated. "I thought you came here to talk with us and catch up on everything, not just to read a book."

"Well this is the library." Blake added

Pyrrha joined in. "Ozpin did tell us to talk to you to help you recover and be a part of the team again."

Jaune sighed, "Fine" he looked at what Ruby and Nora were doing. "What game is that?"

"It's a game of chess and I'm winning!" Ruby said cheerfully.

Yang looked at the board, "Ruby why is there an Atlas robot there?"

"Isn't that a rook?"

There was the audible slam of Yangs palm into their face.

And these were the people to he had to work with… it was a miracle this world hadn't died out millennia ago. Well there was Pyrrha who had gotten the nickname the invincible girl. Perhaps she might prove to be closer to his expectations.

Well he'll find out tonight.

—

Ruby master chess player strikes again! Please don't try to teach her regicide.

The Pyrrha fight will happen in the next chapter, you will see whether the apprentice will become the master and how well I can write a fighting scene.

A lot of you also appear to be interest in his reactions and mostly whether or not he hates the faunus. Which will probably be in either the next chapter or the one after so look forward to that.

Also while I didn't even think of this originally I realised we have a Blood Raven fighting for humanity while unsure of his origins. Some things never change I suppose.

Thanks for all the support and expect an update either this weekend or soon afterwards.