Emerald felt a little sick. The meeting had gone as Cinder predicted. Roman was full of bluff and bluster until Cinder put on a display. The two that had come with him would maybe survive; Emerald thought. Roman instantly capitulated, and with that promises of meeting quotas and deadlines were made.
Back at the base as it was, Emerald moved to the couch and sat down. Once again she pulled out one of her toys and began to roll it between her fingers. He wondered as she manipulated a token featuring a cartoon bunny; if she could finding something more adult to use. Something more akin to the one she had from her mother.
She had only used that token once. She had been desperate at the age of eleven, with a gaggle of boys looking to use her; she tossed it to the floor. It had been a massacre only ending when she scooped up the coin, with a tear streaked face screaming "Stop!" The survivors spread the word and she was never bothered again in such a manner.
"Emerald! Put that away and come here." snapped Cinder. "We need to over the next stage. You need to show me you know your part."
Standing she put it away and approached the table Cinder and Mercury were standing at.
"So the festival shall be arriving in a couple of months. The delegates from the other schools before then. We are to be representing Haven. Do we have the uniforms?"
"We do." replied Emerald.
"Whose to be our fourth?" asked Mercury.
"That will be finalized in due time, but we do have a prospect." Cinder smiled. "How goes the operations in Mount Glenn?"
"They're moving ahead. Almost ahead of schedule, but until Roman catches up with the dust we're requiring we'll end up at a stand still soon." Replied Mercury.
"Well that problem has be rectified."
"I hope so." commented Emerald.
"And why would that be my dear?"
"Because I don't want to be roped in to robbing dust stores, to fix his mistakes." she replied.
"For that matter neither do I." added Mercury.
"That is worry neither of you need to have. You two are much more than a means to an end."
/=/
Glynda Goodwitch was having a slight issue. She had received a slew of requests, and one petition to of people not willing to spar with Jaune. Regardless of the reason behind the request she new the true reasons. His overwhelming power. No one's come up with a way to counter it. She always thought someone would have tried rushing him, but apparently that was being dismissed by the lower tiered students as not a viable option. With all her top tiers already having matches planned by her, that left him out of the rotation. Deciding that it was for the best, she brought him aside and informed him that his next match wouldn't be for another three days.
So it wouldn't be Jaune's turn for a couple of days; Professor Goodwitch had told him. So instead he watched and planned. He was still at the lower end of the combat board; but with his match against Weiss he knew Professor Goodwitch would have to challenge him with his next spar. So he watched and planned., and came to an unavoidable resolution. He need to be faster. The top tiers all moved with blinding speed. Starting their matches with haste in a whirl of motion. Physically Jaune knew he couldn't match it. Though he had some tricks yet to be revealed, namely blink and deflect; he still need something more. His summons where his main weapon, and for that matter defense.
The sigil wasn't the issue, that was instant. No the issue was the speed at which he activated his cards, and the time it took for them to become a reality.
"What are you thinking about?" Pyrrha whispered as she leaned in as the second match of the day drew to a close.
"I need to get faster."
"That will come in time. You just need to train more."
"Not physically, I meant with my summons."
"Oh." Pyrrha responded. "How to you plan to do that?"
"I need to train more."
"You know I'm always willing to help, Ren and Nora are too."
"I'll need it, but we'll need also work it into our current extra training."
At the end of class Glynda announced who should be ready to see action for the next day. Not matches, just a general role call on who will be in action so they could be ready. Jaune's name was not called. He'd have a day with the Headmaster tomorrow.
/=/
That night after supper was spent in the weight room. Ren and Pyrrha also joined him. As bubbly as Nora was, when it came to strength training she was a drill Sargent. She pushed Jaune to alternate between light weights, and then heavy. Saying it was to stretch and shock his system. That it would promote muscle growth and mass. That it would increase his strength and tone his body.
Towards the end of the nearly hour long session Jaune was aching places he didn't know could ache. With how Pyr and Ren looked he assumed the same about them. They hadn't been free Nora's attention. Both were put to the task as Jaune was; abet with heavier poundage.
With it over the team made it back to the dorm. Even sore Jaune felt overall good. As he waited his turn for the shower; he remembered that tomorrow night there was nothing scheduled; as in extra work. It was the day after that he and Pyr would be at the indoor track. Maybe that was the day he could use for his plan. He'd have to speak to his friends tomorrow about it.
/=/
It was lunch time and after another day of using his orbs in an attempt to light up the training room. He was ready to put his next extracurricular training plan into effect. With team RWBY having decided to eat out in the gardens because of the beautiful day; that left JNPR alone.
"I have an idea," Jaune spoke between bites of his sandwich, "it some extra extra training I think I should do."
"So what's this idea fearless leader? More weights?" Nora asked.
"No not more weights; Pyr remember in combat class yesterday when I said I need to be faster?"
"I do. You want to be faster with your summons if I remember."
"I do."
"So how do you propose to do that, and how could we be of help?" asked Ren as he set down his own sandwich in order to concentrate on the conversation.
"I need you guys to attack me."
"Excuse me?"
"You want us to do what?"
"Oh Jaune; why?"
"Just hear me out. It takes me too much time from when I select my summons to when it activates. I have to cut that down, and the only way I can think of how to do that is to try and summon while being attacked."
"We could hurt you if you're unable to do it before we get close." Pyrrha cautioned.
"If we chose to even get close. We all have ranged options." commented Ren.
"I can handle ranged." Jaune stated flatly, "What I'm not ready for is someone pushing me or rushing me."
"We could still . . ."
"No weapons." the three of the looked at him funny. "It'll be like a game of tag. If you touch me before I can cast a summons then I lose. If I cast the summons first I win."
"But you summons have the ability to attack. IF you get one off then we'll be unarmed." Ren pointed out.
"Not all my summons attack. Like this one for instance." with a move of his right ahnd he produced a card, and laid it upon the table between them. "Bone and Bronze. It is an entirely defensive card."
"Okay so how should this work?" asked Pyrrha slowly getting behind the idea.
"We use the training ring. You attack while I have to draw and cast my summons."
"So you wont have the card in hand?" asked Nora.
"No I wont."
"That puts you at even more of a disadvantage." Ren once again pointed out.
"This needs to be as close to what I'll face in combat class as it can be." countered Jaune, "I don't have my card out when I hit the ring, so I shouldn't have it out during this exercise."
"Well that could be a change you make to even your odds. Go in with your card selected."
"I choose my card depending on what I see across the ring. A Heavy melee guy like Cardin I'd use Bone and Bronze or Heavenly Defender. A faster guy I'd use Cerberus; and if I become a hunter I can't walk around with a card always drawn. I need to be able to complete all the steps quickly and efficiently as possible."
"I understand Jaune, and you're asking for our help; it just we have concerns."
"I get that Pyr, and I'm trying to ease them."
"Well I for one think for starters you need to get your card to the sigil faster. Letting it float up looks fancy and . . ." Ren was commenting
"Cool." Interjected Nora.
"And cool." Ren gave Nora a look which she totally ignored. "It however is slow, painfully slow. So I think that would be a good place to start."
"Good idea. I can try something different tonight; "Jaune paused taking a quick look at each member of his team in return, "if you're all willing to help."
"We are, but just something else to consider Jaune," Ren spoke up again, "If we do this we'll have inside knowledge about how you plan to counter people like us. We'd be at an advantage if we ever faced you."
"Seeing as Goodwitch has yet to pair off any team members against team members I doubt it will be a problem; but just in case I still have some trick up my sleeve. This is all about my summoning speed, nothing else."
"Okay then." Ren responded.
"I'll help." Nora chipped in.
"We'll all help." Pyrrha added.
/=/
History class flew by, and he was glad he was recording the lecture. For its entirety he was thinking of ways to speed up his summons. To get his card to the sigil as fast as possibly. He knew he could try out some of his ideas tonight, and he would have a session with the Headmaster tomorrow; perhaps he could ask for some advice that way, and of course there was his mom. But he wanted that option as his last resort. This was a problem he needed to work out on his own.
During his free period he separated from his team and went down to reserve one of the training rooms. However that had become an issue. As all three had been reserved by other teams. Apparently it would seem that the approach of the Vital Festival in a couple months had some teams eager for advanced preparations. So checking the list he found a slot in three days time. It would have to do. He broke the news to his team at supper.
"You'll have a match before then. What will you do?" asked Pyrrha.
"I still have a session with the Headmaster so maybe he can offer some advice? He seems knowledgeable about the subject."
"I hope so, cause it is without a doubt you'll most likely be placed against someone like Ruby, Yang or Blake." commented Ren. "If not one of those three."
"Could always be a rematch." Nora added.
"She's right you could end up facing Weiss again." Pyrrha confirmed.
"I wont know until it is announced so there is no reason to worry about it now."
"You have a point." agreed Pyrrha.
With that they settled in for their supper with RWBY joining them shortly after. The conversation quickly turned to classes, Port's latest story, and if anyone understood a word that Oobleck had uttered. Ruby and Jaune both spoke up on they had recorded it, just like the have been. Offering to send a copy to anyone who wanted one. Before devolving from there into the going ons around Beacon followed by the latest rumors from Vale.
/=/
"I was looking for advice." Jaune stated as he entered the training room.
"About what?"
"About my summons. How to speed them up to be specific."
"I see. What have you come up with so far?" Ozpin asked as he took a seat on the beachers,a nd motioned for Jaune to do the same.
"Maybe slapping the card up, or flicking it so it reached the sigil quicker."
"Those would be viable options, but there are others."
"Like?"
"Have you thought about moving your sigil?"
"No. Is that possible?"
"That I can not be positive on, but I can make the assumption it is."
"Why say that."
"As I can't actual summon I can't say for certain if such a thing is possible, but I can assume it is, from what I know."
"Can you explain?"
"Okay, do you know what your sigil is?"
"It is a mental construct made physical, that allows the talisman to be projected into the real world."
"Very good. Now as a mental construct one can come to the assumption that it can be moved. You only have to choose where it should appear."
"I get it."
"Good, so answer me this. Why does the sigil always appear over your right shoulder/"
"That was were it always appeared, when mom was teaching me. It was where hers appeared."
"So it sounds like it your creation of the sigil is based on example and habit. So why do you think your mother made her construct in that manner."
"Well it made it easier for me to see what she was doing."
"Exactly. It was a teaching aid. It was purposefully designed so that you could see and follow her demonstrations and examples."
"So I've been doing it wrong, using her method?"
"No you've been doing what you've been taught, and because you've never had reason to adapt it, there has been no issues with the current construction. Let me ask you this." Ozpin paused and waited for a nod from Jaune to continue, "Why the sudden need to adjust what has been working for you?"
"I'll have a spar coming up soon, and it'll be against a top tier opponent. Summons are my main weapon and my main defense. I need to activate them faster. What I'm doing now takes too long."
"Ah so it is as I've said. You have a reason to want to adapt, what you know to a new situation."
"I can see your point."
"So let's try something simple. Create your sigil, but have it over your left shoulder. Let's call it a test of proof."
"Test of proof?"
"Yes, it will either prove that the sigil can be moved, or it will prove it can't. A test of proof."
Jaune closed his eyes for a moment focusing on the Headmaster's words, and than on his wanted outcome. Opening his eyes he summon his sigil with his mind set on having it form over his left shoulder.
"It worked. Proof positive that the sigil can be moved."
Jaune glance over his left shoulder and did in fact see the blue sigil sitting there just where he had pictured it.
"So now that we've shown that it can be moved, we need to work on your ability to have it appear where you want with out the delay of thinking about it."
"Like how out of habit it was always over my right shoulder. I never really thought about it, it was just there when I needed it."
"Habit is a good way of putting it. So let's for today instead of doing the light exercise work on changing your habit with your sigil, shall we." Ozpin stood up and moved to the center of the room. He waited for Jaune to follow, before continuing. "So first you need to decided were should this positon be."
"Somewhere closer to my right hand."
"Does it have to be your right hand?"
"That's how I draw my cards using my right."
"Fair enough. So let's try again, like before focus on where you want the sigil to appear. Don't worry about speed for now, just on making it appear where you desire it."
Jaune nodded and taking a deep breath focused.
/=/
"You were called to be ready for tomorrow." Pyrrha informed his as they made their way to supper.
"I figured I would be."
"So do you have a plan?" Ren asked
"Fearless leader always has a plan. Right fearless leader?" Nora added.
"I worked a couple things with the Headmaster, and while I still want to do that training with you guys, I might have it covered for tomorrow."
"Might?"
"I can skip summoning and go full mage."
"You mean just use your spells."
"Exactly."
"Would that work?" asked Pyrrha, "I mean it looks like you still have to concentrate to activate them, against someone like say Ruby you'd be hard pressed to even target her."
"I have things that might work."
"Might?"
"Yes might. I've never had to combat non-magic users before." Jaune stated, "This is not like the drills my mom put me through. I didn't even have to move in those. It was all about absorbing or redirecting the attacking energies. Here . . ."
"Not the same principal." Pyrrha interjected.
"Exactly, so I'm playing it by ear. I have things that might and should work. I also have some tricks I know will work. Problem is who I'm going to be facing. That'll determine what I'll use."
Supper was a light affair as JNPR and RWBY once again went over the days events, and the stories happenings of Beacon's upper class-men. Once everyone separated Jaune returned to the dorm alone. Stretching out on his bed after divesting himself of his gear; he pulled out his scroll. He knew what he wanted to do to thank his team mates for all their help. Now he just needed to get the materials needed to do it.
/=/
Combat class found Jaune and his team nervously awaiting his turn in the training ring. The second match was just drawing to a close. The combatants so even balanced in terms of weapons, style and skill that it came down to whose aura level was higher than the other's when the time limit expired. As Professor Goodwitch declared the winner and gave her critique Jaune replayed his most obvious choice in dealing with a match where he wouldn't be using a summons.
"Jaune Arc and . . ."
"I challenge!" shouted Cardin Winchester as he stood from his seat.
"Mister Winchester if you don't . . ."
"I have the right. I'm suppose to spar today. He is still with in my tier so I am allowed to if he accepts challenge him to a match." Cardin spoke cutting Professor Goodwitch off for a second time.
No one in class saw this coming, least of all Cardin's own team. Students began whispering among themselves as Cardin moved to the aisle and waited for Professor Goodwitch's response.
"Very well Mister Winchester." Glynda turned towards Jaune who despite the disturbance had made it to the ring. "Do you accept this challenge Mister Arc."
"I accept."
"Very well." Glynda looked over the class her stern start stopping the rush of whispers. "Next match Jaune Arc and Cardin Winchester. Will you both attend to the ring."
With Jaune already in the training ring, everyone waited as Cardin made his way down. Picking up his mace he stepped into the ring. There was none of the swagger and false bravado from their previous encounter. No Cardin was walking with purpose. Jaune could easily read his intentions. He wanted payback.
"If you are both ready. Start!"
Jaune was going to do this match like he told his friends with no summons. So he waited. If he listened he could have heard the whispers going around the room about what he was doing. Cardin said nothing and just closed rapidly winding up his mace for a massive strike. The mace cratered the floor as it impacted., but Jaune was not there. The whispers grew louder as Jaune had suddenly moved to the far side of the ring behind Cardin.
"Water Lance." Jaune shouted sending forth a stream of compacted water at Cardin's chest. Cardin with agility belying his size rolled with the hit. Allowing the very attack to spin him out of harms way. As soon as he recovered he charged again.
"Stop running Jauney-boy!" Cardin shouted as once again Jaune appeared on the far side of the ring as Cardin's blow was about to strike him.
"Stone Wave." The earth rose up before him and rushed forward cresting like a wave hitting a sandy beach. Cardin slammed the explosive head of his mace against the obstacle parting it around him. Jaune had to think. This was harder than he thought it would be. His plan had been to force his opponent out of the ring to earn his victory. To avoid a strike and retaliate. Twice now his plan had failed.
Cardin stalked forward his mace chambered and ready. He was willing to bet that jaune was using some sort of speed semblance to get around him, but he had a plan for that. Adjusting his grip he set himself to put everything he had into a sideways swing. It didn't work. As Cardin swung Jaune vanished once again. The attack threw Cardin off balance and Jaune saw his chance.
"Ice Gale." A blast of arctic cold air rushed around the ring centered on Jaune. Cardin shielded his face as pebble sized shards of ice smashed into him. Off balance and buffeted by the wind Cardin stumbled, his feet slipping on the quickly icing over floor. Slamming his mace down to help give him a purchase, to give him something to pull on to reset his balance.
Silence had fallen over the class. They were watching something they'd only ever seen in movie CGI effects. Jaune watched as Cardin was making slow progress. He raced through his mind for something else to use, something to push him just over the edge. He need something fast and easy. As the length of this fight was taking its toll on his energy reserves. If hadn't been all his recent extra training he felt he would have been spent by now.
"Knock." The class never heard the little ding that sounded off Cardin's paldron. He didn't even hear it, but what he felt was the little tap. A little shove, just enough to push his already precarious balance over the edge. Slipping he lost his footing, and then the grip on his mace. Pushed and pelted by the wind and ice he rolled. Rolled right out of the ring.
"Winner Jaune Arc."
As it was announced Jaune let his spell dissipate. Professor Goodwitch moved forward and after both students were before her, she gave her review and suggestions. For Jaune she spoke about him to better himself in anticipating his opponent's strengths. For Cardin she spoke on his anger control. There were several other smaller points she made, after which she dismissed them both.
Jaune and Cardin both return to their teams. Jaune sat down heavily. He was tired. The match had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit. It was obvious to him he'd need to train harder. Even though Jaune wouldn't know it Pyrrha could see that he was spent. She made a mental note to focus on his stamina more than anything else. She even considered approaching Professor Goodwitch or Headmaster Ozpin about how to help him do, what he called his mental exercises.
"What was that? I never seen anybody move so fast." Ruby whispered into her first Beacon friend's ear.
"I didn't really move."
"How is that possible?" Yang asked as she like the other members of team RWBY and JNPR wanted to understand what they had just saw.
"What was that Jaune?" asked Pyrrha.
"It was me trying to go full mage." was his reply.
The fourth match was just starting as everyone leaned away to give Jaune some space; but also to avoid Professor Goodwitch from catching them not paying attention. Jaune knew he'd have to explain what he did. Every time he did something new it happened. Right now he was just happy to not have to do it, and sit there regaining some of his strength.
/=/
"So what was that Jaune?" asked Ruby for the second time since they had sat down for lunch. "I mean one second you're standing before Cardin and the next you're on the other side of the ring. So how'd you move so fast?"
"I didn't really move." he replied.
"Jaune we saw it." Blake spoke up, "You moved."
"No I blinked."
"You what now?" asked Yang.
"I blinked."
"And what is that suppose to mean?" asked Weiss.
"DO I really have to explain it?"
"Yes." everyone replied in unison.
"Fine. Hand me that napkin and a pencil."
Ruby pulled a pencil from his stuff as Nora slid a napkin over to him. As they watched he unfolded it once, drew a circle and then placed two dots on either side of the drawing.
"I didn't really move. Like I said I Blinked." he pointed to the napkin. "That's a combat ring. This first dot is where I am, the second where I want to be. What's the fastest way between those points?"
"Straight ahead." commented Ren.
"Yes, but there is a faster way."
"How is there anything faster than directly point to point." Weiss offered.
"Exactly." Jaune replied as he lifted the napkin folded it and then pushed the pencil through both dots. "When I blink I fold space and appear in an instant. I really don't move aside from turning around."
"Wait what?" asked Yang.
"So could you go from her ot Haven and back in a second?" Ruby asked, not following anything Jaune had explained but just excited about someone else who could move super fast.
"No."
"What's the range of this ability?" asked Ren.
"About twenty meters, and as long as I can see it."
"So you could just pop to like the end of this table without any effort?" Pyrrha asked.
"It takes effort. Take a lot of effort."
"That is why you're so tired right now. Isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"You hadn't planned on having to use it that many times were you?"
"No I was confident I would only need to do it once, but that didn't work out."
"SO how many more times do you think you could have done it?" asked Blake.
"Once, maybe twice."
"And what would have happened after that?" Blake continued.
"I would have lost."
"Because Cardin would have gotten to you." commented Nora.
"No you would have collapsed, right Jaune?" Pyrrha inquired.
"Right." he replied.
"So what you have done against someone like me Jaune?" asked Blake ignoring her meal. "I ended up sparing against a lower tier, so if Cardin hadn't actually challenged you; it is possible we would have had to face off. So was what you did with Cardin what you planned to do against someone like me?"
"Or for that matter Ruby or myself?" Yang interjected.
"Would you have tried the same thing?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah."
"So you would have tried to out move us just on the off chance that one of you spells would give you a ring out? Not much a plan Jaune."
"That was a little harsh don't you think Blake?"
"No, she's right. It's like when Weiss tried to take me on summons versus summons."
"I was outclassed." Weiss admitted.
"Don't outclass yourself Jaune." Blake commented.
"So I just start to win, and you are telling me to stop trying to win?" Jaune's voice rose slightly.
"No Jaune."
"Then what is it? You say I'm outclassed by you, Yang, Ruby and Pyrrha. Probably even Ren, Nora and Weiss. So what am I suppose to do, give it up?"
"No Jaune, you're only outclassed if you try and spar like a hunter."
"Er what?" Jaune was confused by Blake's statement.
"Don't spar like you think a hunter should. Your first two matches, and even the one with Weiss you didn't out move anyone, you out played them with overwhelming power and guile. Don't try and face us on our ground Jaune. Make us face you on yours."
"I'm confused what just happened?" Ruby asked sitting down and poking at her lunch with her fork.
"I think Blake just gave Jaune advice?" replied Yang who also dropped to her seat.
"Blake's right Jaune." Pyrrha spoke softly her hand landing gently on his shoulder. "We'll help you with your training to get stronger, just remember what you strengths are, and use them."
"But against you guys they'd be too slow."
"What your summons?" Weiss asked.
"What else would I be talking about?" Jaune countered.
"We already agree to help you find a way to speed them up. You even said the Headmaster was helping." offered Pyrrha, "And no one said not to use blink, or whatever other tricks you have. Just they are tools like our weapons. Use them all and I'll bet you'd be a match for any of us."
Jaune thought on Pyrrha's and in fact all of their words. A smile crossed his once dour face. With a flick of his wrist he brought forth a single card. Before anyone could ask to look at it he flicked his wrist again and made it vanish. He could do it. He would do it.