Disclaimer: See prologue.
Chapter 3:
The following day, at breakfast.
While Nora finished to tell her dreams to a captivated audience, Yang, with Ren offering corrigenda on the go, Jaune enjoyed a peaceful breakfast in company of his team and friends. Making small chat with two of his closest friends, his first good friend at the academy and fellow team leader, Ruby, and his other good friend and partner, Pyrrha.
Sadly, said peaceful breakfast wasn't about to last for long...
According to his Spiritual Sense and his mundane hearing behind him was Cardin Winchester, Beacon's resident first year bully, about to act as cliché as it could be. By bullying.
As the man-child was about to grab the bunny ears of the Faunus student he currently verbally bullied, Jaune in a flash took one of the spare knifes on the dining table, imbued it with his Qi, and with an invisible use of one of his Spiritual Sense's abilities, Telekinesis, threw the knife hard enough to nick Cardin's hand before he could go through his act. Without looking.
The knife drew a slight amount of blood before it lodged itself, guided by Jaune's Telekinesis, in the opposite wall at the far end of the room.
While Cardin cursed more from the surprise of his wound than the pain, Jaune merely continued to normally eat his breakfast as if nothing happened.
Which from the sudden quiet in the Dining Room and the glances cast at him from his friends obviously wasn't the case.
"Damn it Arc! What do you think you're doing!?"
"Really?" He returned dryly. "You're going to pull that card? How about we ask the student your were about to sexually assault in the middle of the Dining Room in broad daylight..?" He asked between bites as his back still faced him.
"What sexual assault!? I'm not turned on by animals!" And there went another knife, this one so fast Cardin hadn't had the time to process it coming his way and to raise his Aura, getting one of his ears nicked deeper this time. "Shit Arc stop that!" He raged while he had one hand nursing his slightly bleeding ear.
"One," he started by lifting a finger, his attention still focused on his plate, "stop being such a crybaby I bet your Aura has already fixed those paper cuts. Two," he lifted another finger, "you're going to apologize to the lady for insulting her and three-"
"Apologize!? Ha! As if I'd say sorry to an ani-"
Before he was about to add anything else, he felt something that froze him mid-sentence, something he recognized from that evening but hadn't a name for it. Killing Intent.
"Are you really thinking that just because we are in a public location that I wouldn't act." Asked Jaune as he sent a focused wave of Killing Intent right at him. Though others in the vicinity of the wave were still able to feel a slightly cold sensation, proof that he needed more control over this ability. "Now. Apologies. To. The. Lady."
Stuck in place, his survival instincts worked just enough to allow him to turn toward the student.
"I'm... Sorry... I.. Apologies..."
The wave of Killing Intent stopped instantly and he folded on himself in relief.
"And three, get out of my sight."
This instantly made Cardin do a one-eighty and he hurried to the exit.
"L-let's go guys this place cramps my style." He said to his teammates as he clearly tried to put a brave front. Once close to the doors he regained enough courage to suddenly turn toward Jaune. "A freak will always stick with other freaks!" And he left after saying his piece.
Jaune merely took a sip of his juice and now went to eat his bowl of Pumpkin Pete's cereal. It's not because he remembered of his past life that it meant he was going to forget the simple pleasures of this life. Namely, sugar treats trying to pretend they're healthy cereals. They really weren't.
"Jaune, what the fuck?" Asked Yang eyes opened wide. In her defense she wasn't the only one feeling like that or even thinking this.
"Yang! Language!" Well maybe there were exceptions. "But seriously Jaune, what was that?" Maybe not totally.
"Exactly what it looked like, preventing bullying. Something this academy should have done a long time ago."
"He was bullying a Faunus..." Said Blake, her focus uncharacteristically placed on him.
"So..?" Of course he knew why she asked that. His Spiritual Sense long ago told him what was hidden behind that cute little bow of hers. 'Seriously though, isn't she hurting with this thing constricting her ears all day long?' Now to know if he'd had actually realized without any extrasensory abilities the question was still up in the air. He'd like to think he would have but he wasn't so sure about himself.
"Fearless leader is awesome!" Not much could disturb Nora very long. Except Ren. Speaking of which...
"While the method was maybe more than necessary I approve of your decision." He bowed in respect.
"Meh," he shrugged off, politely returning the bow, "those types only understand one language sadly."
"I think you did a good thing Jaune." Pyrrha said with a warm smile.
"Me too!" Started Ruby. "While I don't think I would have personally used knives, this was very heroic!" She turned to Weiss. "Isn't Weiss?"
The heiress took some time to choose her words.
"While this was an unsavory display, I imagine that you did good."
"Gee, it's an honor to receive the princess's seal of approval." Jaune said with a smirk only to receive a humph in return.
He was about to go back to finish his bowl went he sensed movement behind slightly off of his side.
"Hu-hum… Excuse me..." Said an accented voice, he turned in her direction.
"Yes?"
"I... I'd like say thank you for your help."
"You're welcome, miss..?"
"Oh! Hum, Velvet, Velvet Scarlatina, nice to meet you..." She said with a nervous tilt of the head.
'Eh, what would you know, she's cuter in real view.' "Nice to meet you too, Velvet, I'm Jaune Arc."
The rest of the table presented themselves in turn.
"Well that was nice meeting you all. I have to go back to my team now."
"Alright, have a good day. See you soon." He waved her off with a smile.
"Y-yes! See you soon!" She waved back and went her own way with a spring in her steps.
"Damn... You work fast Lady Killer…" Yang teased.
"Can it Yang."
"Or else what? You're going to do what you did to that douchebag to me?"
"No don't worry... I only do that to those I might seriously hurt."
"What was that anyway?" Asked Ruby.
He shrugged her question off.
"Something to do with my Semblance."
They recognized his lack of wanting to pursue any further for what it was and went back to finish their breakfast.
When everyone was done they headed to their morning classes.
Later in the morning, in Doctor Oobleck's class.
Jaune was sat in class listening to the speedy professor while he wrote attentively anything interesting and/or of note.
'Still though, that's one unforseen blessing of my cultivation that I sure as heck couldn't have ever imagined. To be able to follow what that man is saying... If the guys back in my ancient life heard of this I wonder how'd they react...'
The good doctor was lecturing the class about the Faunus Revolution, a subject that somewhat interested Jaune. However that is something that wasn't the case of everyone.
For a few seats behind him and up a few rows, Cardin was occupied to study something else, Jaune himself. And according to his look he was quite the subject of attention. Or contempt.
'Sigh… I wonder what I can do to make him behave besides using my abilities...' Shaking his head he merely continued to write down what Doctor Oobleck talked about.
Despite his talking speed, the professor was quite the good orator, he managed to make something like history a captivating subject.
'This world's history his interesting and not boring that's for sure, though what I'd like to really know is the origin of the Grimm. I don't understand how creatures such as these could have emerged into the common biosphere. At least if only they dropped something after dying... Can't even get any Beast Core from them! I've got the feeling I'll have to make do without any kind of cultivation boost in this world. That's going… To suck. Huh? What's he doing again this fool...'
Through his Spiritual Sense Jaune could see Cardin had ripped a page from his notebook and had started to roll it into a ball, his glare was especially focused on Jaune himself, and it was clear he hadn't the best intentions.
'Wait, he's really serious? Sigh, that guy will never learn... And in the middle of a class with the teacher having a clear view?'
Cardin stayed put until Doctor Oobleck turned around toward the board to write.
'Ah, of course. That makes sense...'
While the professor was busy writing down his lesson, Cardin flung his paper ball at the back of Jaune's head.
Now, while Jaune could have easily dodged the cheap shot by tilting his head either to the left or right, he felt slightly spiteful, he might have thousands of years of memories he was still in the body of a seventeen year old young man, so he felt he was entitled to some immature payback.
So with some applications of Telekinesis he sent the ball right where it came from.
'Boom headshot and back to sender. If this was a video game I'm sure I'd have achievements.'
The would-be back shooter wasn't expecting his paper ball to come right to him in such a speed that it made quite the loud smack on his forehead. This sound along with his gasp of surprise was music to Jaune's ears. Luckily no one else had seen anything.
It was at that moment the doctor had asked a question to the class and took Cardin's gasp as an invitation to speak.
"Mr. Winchester! Finally contributing to class! This is excellent! Excellent! What is the answer?"
"Answer to what?" He carelessly asked back as he rubbed his forehead.
At this the doctor had a clear frown behind his cup of coffee as he took a sip.
"I see that you're not paying attention to class Mr. Winchester, I advise you to start from now on. As I said, can you tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces at the Battle at Fort Castle?"
"Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal than a soldier." He smirked which made Doctor Oobleck shake his head in disappointment.
"You're not the most open-minded of individuals, are you, Cardin?" Pyrrha suddenly said.
"What? You got a problem?" He barked.
"No, I have the answer! It's night vision. Many Faunus are known to have nearly-perfect sight in the dark." Which made him growl.
'Is that guy sure is not part dog Faunus? That sure would explain a lot...' Jaune thought. Then he blinked and took an hand to his chin. 'I hope that's not racist to think that...'
What followed after that was a speech from Blake with a barely concealed barb at Cardin at the end, which both made him react in aggression and won him additional readings with the doctor after class.
As they walked out and headed to the next class Jaune reflected on this one.
'Overall this class went well...'
Later the same day, in the evening.
As Jaune busied himself cultivating at his spot to reach the next ranks of the Core Formation, back at the dorms his team discussed about him.
"How come Jaune gets home so late?" Nora asked as she jumped on her bed.
"I've been asking myself this question for a couple of days now." Ren said.
"Maybe he's practicing his Semblance?" Pyrrha hypothesized.
"But why he's been so secret about it? When we have team trainings he never does much besides coming up with strategies and when we actually spar he never uses his Semblance much... I've yet to even get a hit on him so much he is quick!"
"Maybe he is so difficult to touch because of he uses his Semblance?"
"But what is his Semblance!?" She asked while doing a flip. "One time he's untouchable, one time he's able to throw knives without looking!"
"Maybe it's extrasensory perception?" Hypothesized Pyrrha again.
"It could work." Ren nodded.
"But then what about his fight against Cardin?" Nora asked.
"What about it?" Pyrrha asked back.
"You know at the end?" She started as she landed sitting on her bed. "That thing he did with only his sword."
"It could be explained with an extrasensory perception Semblance and a clever use of Aura. He is a natural with it after all."
This made the three of them sit in silence for a moment until Pyrrha shook herself up.
"It's no use trying to come up with explanations about him, without him, and especially behind his back. I have a feeling he will tell us when he will want to." She said.
This got nods of approval from the rest of Team JNPR, even from Jaune who, even from afar, heard their conversation through his Spiritual Sense and listened in on them the moment his name was mentioned.
It wasn't necessarily from a lack of trust, or even a blatant sign of paranoia, but as his memories of Xiao Long taught him, it's never wrong to be careful of what is being said in one's back. He remembered too many lives being forfeited from a word or two being said, and even whole countries set ablaze in rivers of blood.
Actually as he thought about it, it might be possible that his past life's memories made him a slight bit paranoid. But as he tried to convince himself, that was a healthy amount of paranoia.
It might also be possible that he haven't really managed to convince himself...
The next day, at the Forever Fall Forest.
"Yes, students," began Professor Goodwitch, "the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so."
The students stopped walking around wondering at the forest's beauty at her words and focused on her.
"Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at 4 o'clock. Have fun!"
At that the teams went their separate ways, Team JNPR had chosen a spot a little far of the meeting point.
They had begun to gather the sap in peace. The moment Nora had tasted her jar, she instantly began to down the couples Ren had already tapped. When she reached the end of her jar she handed it over to Ren who proceeded to fill it and exchanged the one he already had filled. Upon hearing gulping noses he turned and discovered Nora in the midst of finishing to down the jar. As she realized she was caught literally red handed and mouthed, she awkwardly laughed with a hand behind her head. Ren just smiled and shook his head in good humor. It'll all happened under the eyes of Pyrrha and Jaune who happily laughed at the sight.
This blissful moment would have kept going on if it weren't for one thing.
And it's name was yet again Cardin Winchester.
'Huh, now that's funny, it seems that according to my Spiritual Sense I originally was allergic to the sap. Luckily my reforged body can now handle it. But it sure would have been embarrassing if I'd stayed a simple mortal... Hmm? Team CRDL? What am I hearing?'
He focused his Spiritual Sense on them.
"That's the girl. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she's so smart, and the partner of that untouchable freak. Alright, boys..." Through his sense Jaune saw they had pulled out a buzzing cardboard box with a large "W" written on its sides. "Last night, I managed to acquire an entire box of Rapier Wasps, and now, we're gonna put them to work."
'So he knows he can't reach me so then he's going after those I care about... Big mistake...'
Cardin produced a sap of jar with a sadistic grin.
"Now, according to one of the essays I copied from Dove last week, these nasty things loooove sweets." He saw they had an eye on Pyrrha, she was seen finishing her sap collection, he was himself a few meters besides her acting as if nothing was wrong. "I'm thinking it's time we teach her and him a thing or two."
'And I think it's time I properly teach you to stop messing around like the fool you are.'
"H-huh Cardin..?" Called out Dove, one of Cardin's teammate.
"What?" He answered gruffly, visibly he was unhappy someone cut in on his fun.
"A-are y-you sure that's a g-good i-idea? I-I mean, Arc isn't going to be happy d-don't y-you think..?"
'Oh..? At least one of them is smart enough to not challenge natural selection...'
"You think I care about him!? What, you think I'm scared of him or something!?"
"N-no o-of course not."
"That's what I thought..." He growled. Then he looked at his teammates. "Be ready to unleash the wasps."
"Yes Cardin." They intoned like perfect drones.
'Their funeral.'
Jaune was about to use his Telekinesis to burst the jar on Cardin and rip the wasp box open but stopped mid-thought.
'What am I doing... I was literally about to sic wasps on one of my classmates, just because they're douchebags... Not only would it mean that I'm willing to stoop to their levels, and isn't that a most disgusting thought, but that wouldn't make me much happy... Xiao Long's memories must have more effects on my personality than I thought. Using the Killing Intent so willy-nilly, especially on just a simple jerk like Cardin, and now this... Sigh... I guess I should just catch the jar in mid-air and spook them off. Let's see... Oh yes, that. I wonder how good am I with Sound Manipulation..."
Sound Manipulation is another ability of the Spiritual Sense.
As he focused his mental power he waited for Cardin to throw the jar and while using Telekinesis to hold it in mid-air, he used Sound Manipulation to replicate the voice of a certain professor.
"Students what are you doing?" Said the severe voice of Professor Glynda Goodwitch coming from behind some bushes.
"Shit drop the box and scram!"
At that Team CRDL ran away deeper into the woods, dropping the box that froze still right before hitting the ground.
'Eh, eh... Now that's what I call a prank, Nora would be proud. Note to myself, deal with the wasps before going home.'
After this little incident, things went quiet and peaceful again.
After collecting enough sap, plus some more on the side for Nora, Team JNPR regrouped with Team RWBY.
The two teams were socializing when a roar was suddenly heard coming from deeper into the forest.
"Did you guys hear that?" Asked Ruby.
'Please don't tell me...' Thought Jaune exasperated.
It turned out his hunch was right. For coming out of the woods were the three members of Team CRDL, minus their team leader.
"Ursa! Ursa!" Cried Russel as he ran blindly, which made him end up colliding with Yang.
"What?!" She exclaimed picking up by his front. "Where?" She asked.
Russel hadn't quitte yet registered the fact he wasn't earthbound anymore and kept running in the air while flailing pointlessly, but he eventually managed to point at the direction they came running and screaming from.
"Back there! It's got Cardin!"
'Ah shit... That's where I made them run to with my prank...'
"I suppose we have to rescue him..." Evenly said Ren.
"You betcha!" Began Ruby. "Yang! You and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch!" Yang nodded and after having unceremoniously dropped Russel, she and her partner were off.
'Great, if I knew thats how it would have worked out I'd have contented myself by siccing the wasps on them, would have saved me the trouble...' "Sigh... Nora, Ren, go with them there could be more around."
The two nodded and followed the girls, the rest of them headed toward Team CRDL's leader.
On their way Jaune had realized something.
'Ah damn it, by the time we arrive he could be already dead, and I guess it is my responsibility... Sigh, how troublesome...' He reasoned. "I'm going on ahead." He then said to the girls.
"Wha- Jaune wait-!" Too late, in a burst of speed greatly surpassing anything Ruby could have reached, Semblance or not, he was already long gone.
"Since when is he so fast!" Exclaimed Weiss surprised.
Pyrrha and Ruby asked themselves the same question.
As soon as he left the girls, he activated his Spiritual Sense, good news it instantly pinpointed Cardin's position. Bad news he indeed wasn't alone.
'One Ursa? That's all? No, I can see its sleuth a distance away, this one must have strayed from the group, I've got to hurry before they join it.' Pooring Aura into his legs his running speed increased tremendously. 'Woo-hoo! There comes the game changer I talked about! Aura is such a cheat ability!'
Indeed, now that he had added Aura with his Internal Energy his speed doubled. He managed to join Cardin in less than a minute.
And just in time as the Grimm was about to send a paw at Cardin who had fell down as he tried to defend himself, but fortunately for him Jaune intercepted the strike with his shield. He barely felt it without any energy enhancing him.
"Are you okay?" He asked while protecting Cardin as he watched the Grimm trying to get some leverage on his shield.
"A-arc..? What are you doing here?"
"What does it looks like? Saving your life."
"But why..!? I'm..."
"A bully doubled of a fool yes, yes..."
Feeling the sudden spike in negativity, the Ursa roared and lunged to bite off Jaune's head. With a well placed punch in its snout the Ursa was sent back a few meters dazed.
"But you're also a classmate and a Huntsman-in-training, even if at times I wonder how you have made it to Beacon with your character." The Grimm regained its bearing and tried for another paw strike, only to get bashed by Jaune's shield and to be sent flying on its back when Jaune gave it a flying kick in its torso. He briefly turned toward Cardin who looked at him in wonder. "But also because it's the right thing to do and were our places to be swapped I'd hope you'd do the same."
He walked to the Ursa, put one foot on its torso to prevent it from getting up and in one strike perforated its skull through its brain with Crocea Mors.
The Grimm barely shivered before going slack. Its body crumbling to dust and evaporating in the air.
Jaune looked back at Cardin who still looked at him in shock. Though when Jaune started to walk back to him he visibly started to become nervous.
"Still, that doesn't mean that I like your attitude, Mr. Wasp," this made Cardin flinch, "but I can forgive as things never happened." Cardin relaxed slightly. "So I'll say it once and never again, stop." He took a threatening step, with the grace of a predator. "Messing." Another. "With." Another one. "My." Almost over. "Friends." The last step, right before him, as his eyes glowed with energy. "Got it?" He asked with a nice smile.
"Y-yes…" Cardin gulped.
"Fantastic!" Brightly said Jaune, all traces of his former mood gone, he took his hand toward Cardin. "Can you stand?" Not trusting himself to speak, the humbled young man just nodded his head and took the offered hand and Jaune helped him get on his feet.
"Well now let's go back to the rest of the class. You can come out girls! Shows over!" Said Jaune surprising Cardin.
A rustling sound came from the bushes leading from where Jaune came to, and from it exited Pyrrha, Ruby and Weiss, the three of them sporting a blush.
"You knew we were there?" Asked Pyrrha.
"Yep, from the point where I sent the Grimm on its back."
Ruby squeaked at this and the girls' blushes intensified.
"So…" Started Weiss. "Did you hear?"
A few moments ago, as Jaune dealt with the Grimm...
The girls managed to arrive when Jaune was holding the Ursa down.
"Woah... He's much stronger than he looks!" Ruby exclaimed whispered.
"I'd say..." Weiss imputed. "To be able to hold down an elder Grimm, an Ursa at that, is impressive..."
Pyrrha had a look of pride on her face. "Your doing it, Jaune, you're living your dream..." She murmured low enough the two other girls couldn't understand.
"You said something Pyrrha?" Weiss asked.
"No, no, nothing." She shook her head.
"Look!" Exclaimed Ruby as Jaune finished the Grimm. "It went in like a hot knife through butter, and it doesn't even look like he exerted himself!"
The girls were contemplating this thought when Jaune started to head towards Cardin.
Ruby gulped when she saw how Jaune's eyes looked. The three of them had one similar thought that went along the lines of finding him attractive.
"...You don't think he's going to hurt him, right?" She finally asked.
"Ahem..." Weiss cleared her throat. "No, I don't believe that goof would go to such lengths."
"I believe in him." Simply said Pyrrha.
And as it turned out she was right, because Jaune simply sent a warning and then proceeded to help Cardin to stand up. The girls sent smiles at each other. Smiles that turned into blushes after discovering they were caught spying on him.
In the present.
"Hear what?" He mysteriously smiled.
"Never mind." Weiss said trying to change subjects.
"Alright, this goof shall not pry any further." He said surprising the girls.
"You..!" Tried Weiss.
"Yes?" He answered innocently.
Wouldn't want to admit on her spying Weiss let the matter go.
"No... It's nothing." She managed to say with what little of the pride she could save.
Pyrrha admired the fact she could manage to save appearances this well, though in her opinion Ruby's whistling was maybe too much on the nose.
"Hum..." The four of them turned to Cardin as he tried to not flinch at the sudden attention. "Maybe we should go, now?" He asked with a clear nervous tilt in voice as he looked around them.
Jaune nodded.
"He's right, there could be more around and I'd sincerely like to not face more them."
"But you took down that one like it was nothing!" Exclaimed Ruby. Jaune just shrugged it off.
"All the same."
"I agree, let's move out. I believe we had enough excitement for today." Inputted Pyrrha.
Jaune, Weiss and Cardin nodded.
"Alright, you three girls will guard our front," they nodded in affirmative, "Cardin, as you are low on Aura, you will stay in the middle while I guard our backs." He also nervously and eagerly nodded. 'It'll also allow me to act freely...'
So they did as he said and started their trek back to the others.
Jaune took the opportunity they all faced away from him to let go of his sword, and with Telekinesis controlled Crocea Mors to the rest of the Ursai. The sword moved like a homing missile through the trees and between the brambles, until it found the sleuth of Grimm.
It only took a moment for the sword, imbued with Qi, to peirce through the heads of the whole group of Grimm. Its work done it returned to Jaune's sides soundlessly, everyone being oblivious to it.
A while later, back at Beacon.
The return to the others went without any hitch, and besides a stern talking to from a worried professor and a proud acknowledgement from the same Huntress, the journey back to Beacon was uneventful. Now back at the academy everyone went back to their own rooms to unwind and rest for the rest of the evening.
All except Jaune who went back to do the, almost literal, eternal journey through cultivation.
And to his great pleasure, this evening Jaune managed to rise to the Rank 2 Early-stage of the Core Formation Stage.
A/N:
Hello again~!
New chapter, more progress and yet again another divergence from the canon. What do you people think?
Personally I had great fun writing this chapter. Especially the Forever Fall Forest, not gonna lie I'm very much proud of this part. Should I be?
Oh, by the way, for those wondering, a sleuth is a group of bears. Like a pack of wolves, a pride of lions, etc, etc... It's crazy the things you learn when you write something, the amount of research I do for ICH is not what I had anticipated. Though I suppose it only shows that I'm invested, and it's funny too..! Learning stuff makes my day. Geek enough..?
Anyhow! Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
Just a heads up though, the next one might not be as good than its predecessors... To be honest if I could do a time skip between this chapter and the one after the next with a convenient bit of magical/godly hand-waving I would... But no other ways about it, it'll have to do. I just don't want to stay stuck with it, I'm already a bit ahead after it and those chapters I'm very much excited about and looking forward to publish.
You might ask yourself, what is up with the next one? Well the answer is simple enough, I'm not inspired by it, if not outright having a sad but well known case of writers block.
Oh, don't worry, as I said I did manage to get past it, it's just that it might not be as satisfactory than what I've written so far. I'll actually have to do a lot of recycling which I'm not so much happy about...
But more on this in the next one.
For now what I'm concerned about is this chapter. So please, fire reviews and criticisms away!
Though, now that I think about it, if anyone doesn't mind getting spoiled and is willing to offer some advice about how to go about it without having to retcon everything I wrote after the cursed 4, as I nicknamed it in my head, I'd be interested to hear any advice. Thanks in advance.
Fyr out!
