Not Even Aura can Heal All Wounds
By wildstraydog
Beta: Super Saiyan Cyndaquil
Chapter Eight: Limits
There's only a couple of chapters left for Blake's Mistake, and in hindsight, it's strange. The reception of this story has been incredible, and I want to take a moment to thank all of you for supporting me! I read every review believe or it not, and all of your follows are not unappreciated! Chapter two of Indecisive Soul is also up, and there'll be one more trial chapter until I decide if I will continue it. Let me know what you think in reviews for that story.
I have put up a few more story ideas on my profile page that you can look over, so let me know in messages or even reviews how they stand. There is one in particular I'm really fond of writing involving Blake and Jaune, but I digress. Coming up with ideas of what sort of weapon this alternate universe Jaune should use has been interesting. Please read and review, their always loved like they were my own children!
The natural reaction that Weiss should have displayed when Winter finally recognized who Jaune was, would be revulsion. Instead, Weiss remained calm, utilizing her patience to think her way out of the situation. The cold stare her elder sister directed at Jaune unnerved her, and any cheerfulness the two were sharing vanished. Winter stood from her chair and approached Jaune in an elegant stride, tilting her head in amusement as she looked him over like a fresh cadet in the military. The worried expression on Jaune's face was perpetuated by the sweat glistening off his neck. A slight hum exited her sister's mouth, and she turned to look at her for an explanation.
"You never told me an Arc was here." Winter flatly stated, her white brows furrowed. Weiss tensed up, mulling over a possible explanation.
"I don't go to Beacon Ma'am," Jaune intervened with a nervous stutter. "I'm a transfer student from the Vale Medical Preparatory School." Winter turned her direction back at Jaune, somehow impressed by his interruption. She folded her arms, strands of snow white hair falling behind her ears – Winter's lips curved into a smile.
"Interesting... Mr. Arc never spoke of his son – so why are you visiting Weiss?" Winter questioned him immediately, her smile replaced with an inquisitive frown. She watched as Jaune's eyes glanced in her direction, seeking an answer on how to respond to her overbearing sister.
Weiss opened her mouth to respond, but Jaune cut her off. "It was my fault that Weiss became injured... my inexperience resulted in her trying to protect me from an Ursa." She remained agape at his boldness to lie – what reason did he have to cover for her blatant miscalculation of her aura? Maybe she was protecting Jaune, but she should have been more aware of her surroundings. It was her fault she frivolously used her glyphs without accounting for the previous battle.
She didn't understand.
"A medical student in-training then? How interesting," Winter remarked. She turned back toward the bed, her heels clicking across the tile floor until she sat back down in the plastic chair. "Are you here to apologize?" Winter questioned, gracefully crossing her legs to make herself comfortable.
"Yes...," Jaune replied, averting his gaze back at the floor. Weiss released a tired sigh and looked at her sister, the judging look she was so familiar with plastered on her face. She made a fist underneath the linen sheets, her manicured nails digging into her pale skin.
"I accept your apology Jaune," Weiss blurted out, her sister's eyes narrowing at her sudden outburst. She kept her emotions in check, hoping that Winter wouldn't read past her brief façade – she was like an open book when they were alone. "However, I would like some privacy." He nodded, slightly bowing in Winter's direction as he made for the door.
"It was nice meeting you Jaune," Winter slyly called out. As the door shut, Weiss let out another sigh of relief, the previous tension now bereft in the room.
Weiss pulled on the hospital gown's collar, her neck clammy from the sweat. The brief exchange made her a wreck, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. Jaune successfully just made her life that much more complicated thanks to his little appearance. Once her Father learned of Jaune's presence at Beacon academy, her family affairs would become troublesome. How was she to explain all of this? Winter would think it uncouth of her to be rescued by a mere civilian. She apprehensively glanced at Winter who maintained her placid expression, her tiny chin cupped in her hands. There was no telling what she was thinking – maybe some form of punishment?
"So, the disowned son of the Arc family has become a medical student." Her sister mused aloud, gazing at Weiss with a mischievous grin.
She cleared her throat before speaking, "Trust me, I was surprised as you were." Weiss grumbled in annoyance, ready for Winter to berate her - She was used to the scolding her older sister employed throughout the years.
"You have no reason to fret dear sister," Winter answered with a stifled giggle. She rose from her seat and approached the left side of the infirmary bed, her light blue eyes softening as a bright smile formed on her lips. "I have no intention of letting our Father know about Jaune." A massive sensation of relief passed through her body
"Thank you... I don't know what might have happened if Father knew – just the mention of him associating with me could ruin my standing at the Schnee household." Yes, she was selfish in her line of thinking, and Weiss could see the disappointment evident in Winter's eyes.
"It was very admirable for Mr. Arc to cover for you." Her sister chuckled. Weiss propelled herself forward onto the bed, clutching the sheets tightly.
"So you knew!?"
"Of course I knew," Winter curtly replied, "Do I appear a fool? Weiss, I don't think less of you just because you were assisted on the battlefield. Medics have aided me countless times." She blushed at her poor attempt to trick her sister. Winter's light chuckle reverberated throughout the room, and she folded her arms with a huff. This was her punishment for letting Jaune take the blame.
"How is... he doing?" Frost Schnee, CEO and board member of the Schnee Dust Company – and her father. Their correspondence ended last semester when she began classes, a retaliatory act of his for her not attending Mantle Academy. She actually enjoyed not writing monthly reports on her status, the act of tedious homework enough to occupy her time. Winter however, still kept in touch with the man.
"Father is doing fine, he asks about you all the time."
She found it hard to believe that he was genuinely worried about her – more likely asking if she was healthy and doing well in school. Weiss was his treasured heiress, the future of the Schnee Dust Company, and nothing more. How laughable was it that she couldn't even remember the last time he praised her? The paternal relationship was a sick joke, a masquerade of emotions that he only displayed in the public eye. Winter knew this, yet she continued to love him – Weiss never could, not for stealing her freedom.
"You can relay to him, that I am doing well, and at the top of my class..."
A calm sigh was released by Winter. "He loves you, Father... just has an issue of properly expressing it." Weiss heard the same excuse a thousand times. The stalwart of a man never showed an ounce of compassion, leaving the maids and tutors to nurture her. Winter insisted it was caused by their late Mother's untimely demise.
"How long will you be in Vale?"
"I have to leave in an hour – please get some rest for my sake... if not for our Father's. Winter corrected her posture and left the side of her bed, heading for the door. The rapier attached to her waist rattled with every careful step, and as she turned the door knob, she craned her neck to look back.
"I love you, Weiss."
The click of the door signaled Winter's departure, and already she felt a little solemn. Weiss was astonished that her Sister decided to keep quiet about Jaune, fully expecting her to report the entire ordeal to her Father. She relaxed back into the bed, glancing at the crutches she was about to practice with – working her body seemed a tedious chore. She sat up with a grunt and pulled the crutches over to her, forcing herself off the bed. She balanced on the tiles beneath the tips, and walked forward, the motion foreign compared to her usual confident stride. Her clothes were placed on a shelf in the corner of the room, deciding to practice her first steps there.
Her journey to the shelf was haphazard, cursing at every delayed footfall. When she reached the metal surface, she flung the clothes onto her shoulder and walked across the room to her bed. Weiss stripped herself of the sweaty gown, a smirk overtaking her expression as she slipped back into the bolero jacket and skirt. The simple act of changing made her comfortable again, an awareness of how much she missed being out in the halls of the academy – Weiss wanted to be assign homework, to meld back into the mundane act of school life. For one last time she looked at the plain white door, contemplating on how she would deal with Jaune Arc. Her Sister described him as admirable... perhaps he truly was, but that didn't change their circumstances. He was a friend she could never have.
What an awkward meeting, Jaune thought as he made his way through the halls to find Blake. His first agenda was to find Blake so they could meet with Ruby about constructing a weapon for him. The concept itself was beyond him, only having practiced with a simple sword and shield when forced to by his Father. The multitude of combinations a weapon was capable of alone, boggled his mind – look no further then Ruby's sniper rifle scythe, Crescent Rose. How a little girl handled such a weapon also mystified him. Her teacher must have been impressive. Jaune never even shot a gun before. He looked down at his puny hands, mostly clean from avoiding a life of hard labor and training. He was definitely envious of his friends.
RWBY's dorm room was the source of shouting and cheer, the door slamming open as Ruby flew out in a bundle of roses that fluttered to the ground. She massaged her head with a chuckle, and Yang revealed herself from the room with a cocky smile plastered on her beautiful features. Yang let out a maniacal laugh and pointed at Ruby, shaking with energy. "That's what you get for spilling milk on the game system!" His shoulders slumped at the proclamation, expecting something more detrimental from the sisters.
"It was an accident, I swear!" Ruby pleaded with puppy dog eyes, her eyelashes flapping. Jaune had to admit it was really adorable.
Yang let out a huff, flipping a lock of blonde hair in a show of disagreement. "Ruby, what I have told you about drinking milk so close to the system – this is like, the fourth time this has happened!" The exuberant smile on Ruby's childlike expression faded, replaced with an upturned frown as she lowered her head like a scolded pet.
"S-sorry Yang... it's my fault." Yang cooed at her apology, tackling the girl into a bearlike hug. Ruby complained as the brawler ruffled her black and reddish tresses – truly they were sisters, even if not related by blood.
"Am I... interrupting?" both sisters shot confused and embarrassed looks in his direction, Ruby detaching herself from Yang's grip with a blush. Jaune was fond of the affection Yang showed toward Ruby, always wishing in some world that he could be treated by his elder sisters in a similar manner.
"Nope," Ruby blurted, attempting to change the subject, "I'm glad to see you up and about Jaune, I was really worried about you." Jaune's gaze dropped, realizing how much torment he must have put the others through.
"I'm sorry about that Ruby, it won't happen again – I promise." Her silver irises lit up, embracing Jaune's waist. He could feel his uniform becoming soaked by the tears the little girl shed. What a jerk he was, causing Ruby to cry over his wellbeing.
"Is Blake here by chance?" Jaune peeked over Ruby's shoulder to glimpse inside their dorm, earning a raised brow from Yang. A playful smirk took hold of the blonde's lips, and her eyes narrowed at Jaune.
"Oh? You and Blake have been rendezvousing a lot lately," Yang teased, earning a mild red hue on Jaune's pale cheeks. He vigorously shook his head in denial, looking to Ruby for some chance of escape.
"Enough with your jokes Yang." Blake's monotone voice called from behind the corner. Jaune turned to see Blake with a disinterested expression, gliding across the hall towards Yang, her partner chuckling at his reaction. He let out a sigh of relief and glanced down at Ruby.
"Actually, I was looking for Ruby also." Her face perked in curiosity, pointing a finger at her chest, eyes blinking rapidly. "Why were you looking for me?" Jaune gulped, the weight of his recent decision bearing down on his shoulders... a change had to occur for innocent lives to be spared.
"Ruby," Jaune's voice croaked from anxiety, "I... I want to make a weapon to defend myself." He expected a surprise gasp, or a witty comment from Yang, but instead he was only met with an eerie silence.
"Uh oh," Yang whispered under her breath. Ruby's mouth remained agape, a wide smile forming on the little reaper. Her frail hands began to shake, eyes shimmering in excitement as her aura pooled together. Jaune swore the building was shaking from the pent up energy that Ruby was about to unleash on her unsuspecting friends.
A low squeak sounded from Ruby, and she puckered her lips. "Oh. My. Gosh...," she muttered, clapping her hands together. "I will definitely help you make a weapon Jaune – I have to find my notebook, there's so many designs in there, what type of weapon were you thinking, something long-ranged maybe!?" Ruby sputtered in an incomprehensible speed. Jaune swore he was missing something about this interaction, his face twisted in blatant confusion – he looked to Yang for an answer.
"Probably should have warned you when we met, but Ruby is a super nerd when it comes to weapons." Yang explained in a chuckle. That would explain her uncontrollable spasm of utterances about different combinations and Dust cartridges.
Blake approached the energetic girl and placed her hands on Ruby's shoulders, calming her instantly. "Slow down, Jaune's new to this sort of process." Ruby nodded, mumbling an apology to everyone.
"I also plan on training... but I'll need everyone's help," Jaune spoke up, surprised at his own resounding voice of certainty. Blake smiled, assuring him to continue. "If you're all willing, I could really use some advice." Yang slapped him on the back in response, a laugh echoing in the halls. She flashed a thumbs up and winked, all but confirming her involvement, while Ruby pumped her fist in the air.
"Before we create a weapon for you, I suggest we try a few different styles before settling on anything final. Any suggestions Jaune?" Blake was right about experimenting a little, his knowledge in combat was very restricted to what his Father presented to him at an early age.
The idea of what weapon would be comfortable in his palms never came to mind. While a traditional sword could work, he was eager to try something else. There were so many different types of weapons out there, a variety of manufacturers and blacksmiths in Vale and Remnant responsible for their creation. Going through all of them would take weeks, and he was short on time – who knew when another mission would be assigned? There was also the factor of when their tenure at Beacon ended... the teachers never disclosed how long the stay would be. As if sensing his trepidation, a sudden warmth emerged on his shoulder, turning to see Ruby with an enthusiastic smile.
"To be honest, I'm willing to try them all – I've never fired a gun before... a rifle makes me intrigued though. Does Beacon have any weapons in storage to use for practice in the arena?" Blake looked over at Ruby and Yang, her knowledge about Beacon's facilities limited.
"Absolutely," Ruby chirped, "They have all sorts of stand-ins for students to practice with. There's also a forge at Beacon that I've been to multiple times!" He found the prospects exciting, finally getting a chance to make a difference against the Grimm besides his medical knowledge.
"Jaune...," a reluctant feminine voiced called out. They all looked down the hall to see team PNRN approaching, a look of joy on their faces that was lacking the past week. Pyrrha Nikos appeared livelier, her face vacant of any tears.
"Oh, Pyrrha, how are you feeling?" according to what everyone said, she experienced a state of misery equal to his, blaming herself for the death of Tawny. He brushed past Ruby's small frame and looked into Pyrrha's eyes, noticing the slight dark shade under her lids.
"Much better, but Jaune I need to-" He gripped Pyrrha's surprisingly toned shoulder, flashing a reassured smile that she didn't need to finish her apology. No, he wouldn't let her even attempt to say those two words – none of this was any of their faults.
"You don't have to apologize, Pyrrha," Jaune quickly stated, peeking over her shoulder to look at the rest of her team. "None of you have to – what happened to Tawny... the only ones to blame are the Grimm." Pyrrha sported a look of confusion, a lone tear sliding down her tinted cheeks.
"Then lets kiss and make-up!" Nora suggested to the chagrin of everyone. Jaune couldn't contain his chuckle, everyone joining in a brief laugh. This was what he wanted... for everything to be normal, to have a family that he could rely on. Jaune let go of Pyrrha and turned back around to face Ruby.
"Let's not waste any time," Jaune said, "We can invite Pyrrha and the others to the arena – maybe they will have some tips to help me?" Having a four time champion like Pyrrha Nikos would definitely be worthwhile.
"Why are you heading to the arena?" Nebula asked, one eyebrow raised as a spark of curiosity rushed across her face. He didn't know much about the other three members of team PNRN, only that Ren and Nora were close friends, and that Nebula was really girly. The others liked to tease her about Cardin Winchester, though he yet to meet the boy.
"Jaune wants us to train him, and Ruby's gonna help him make a weapon." Yang commented with a smirk. Nebula remarked with an excited gasp, while Nora sounded off on the millions of weapons that Jaune could try out.
"We would love to help," Pyrrha added, "I'm sure Nebula and I can train you in basic combat and footwork. Have you ever fought before?" Jaune wanted to answer, but he shook his head, not wanting to relive the memories of his Father brutally knocking him into mud with fresh bruises.
"Eh, I'm sure some of my techniques could aid you," Nebula cunningly said, shooting a quick wink in his direction. Nebula was mysterious to him, but she was quite beautiful – not in the same enigmatic way that Blake was, or the pristine visage of Weiss Schnee.
Any thoughts of sadness or regret was now gone from Jaune, the laughter and smiles of his friends warming his heart to the brim. Tawny's face was still clearly visible in the distance, as if her ghost was watching the aftermath – but she wasn't in agony like he originally imagined, a peaceful aura surrounding her. Amid the discussions on how to improve his stamina and coordination, Jaune took Weiss' absence into observation, disappointed that the heiress could not join them in the revelry. He used to be jealous of the attention that his elder Sisters received, but if he had to experience a life of solitude, then he was glad that his Father kicked him to the curb.
Blake noticed his far off daze, surprising him that she noticed. With everyone occupied in the group, she displayed a rare smile – Jaune blushed, wishing he could always glimpse at such beauty. Fantasies would get him nowhere, and he needed to focus on the training ahead, coming up with a possible list of weapons he wanted to try. A spear came to mind, but he was mostly interested in fiddling around with different types of swords.
He had a long day ahead of him.
Ozpin was having a rough week. An assortment of problems that ranged from having to sort out papers and deal with the families of the decease, to arguing with the Vale council about the recent deaths, and his inability to prevent them. But none of that prepared him for the call he received from Jaune Arc's father – Ares Arc, the current head of the Arc family and one of the strongest Huntsman in Remnant. He spoke with the warrior several times throughout the year, discussing potential candidates for Beacon he recommended, or about the future enrollment of his younger daughters. Today however, the stoic individual inquired about Jaune, the disowned son of the Arc family. Ozpin was privy to the agony Jaune went through, often hearing tales from Glynda that his Mother relayed.
Ares appearance changed over the years, the young characteristics replaced by sharper contour edges. Short messy dark blonde hair was swept to the right, in contrast to his light blue eyes that were usually held by much kinder individuals. A noticeable jagged scar on his nose took away from the wrinkles around his cheeks, and to most he appeared as a composed gentleman - but Ozpin knew his true nature. Ares was man blinded by his pride in the Arc lineage, relying only on brute strength to make his points valid. Sure he would use diplomacy when necessary, but Ares Arc was known to get his way, thanks in part to his many connections with noble families such as the Schnee.
So why did Mr. Arc care about his son that he threw away like some unwanted trash? "How long has it been Mr. Arc... over a year now?" he took a sip of his coffee, treasuring the rich flavor of brewed chocolate and nuts.
"That would be a correct assumption – so let me ask again, what is my son doing at Beacon academy?" Ares responded in a gruff tone. The question was baseless of course, Ozpin knew he just wanted confirmation.
"I'm sure you didn't have to call me for such information," Ozpin wryly remarked, setting down his mug onto the desk. He glanced at Glynda who had her arms folded with an irate expression, her vehemence for Ares widely known. "Why the sudden curiosity about your son?"
A grunt escaped from Ares cracked lips, eyes narrowing at Ozpin's joking manner. "I've known that my son has been playing doctor in Vale – but now I hear he's part of the team of medics assigned to the academy. How is he finding the life of a profession he can never become?" Glynda stepped forward before Ozpin could respond, a menacing glare planted on her face.
"Such concern now," Glynda lost control of her emotions, showing a rare form of anger many had not seen. "You discard Jaune like some old toy, yet you call us to feign distress? Mr. Arc is doing quite well for himself!" Ares perturbed expression twisted in arrogance, puzzled by her defiance.
"And why do you care so much, Goodwitch?" Ares drawled, his intense stare focused on the professor - Ozpin found Glynda's unbreakable resolve applauding.
"Because I am his legal guardian now." The usually unruffled man winced at the statement, a grumble sounding on the screen above Ozpin's desk.
Jaune Arc, was now under the care of Professor Glynda Goodwitch, officially as of last week. When Jaune was disowned by his family and entered the Vale Medical Preparatory school, his Mother had immediately contacted Glynda, one of her closest friends – She begged for the woman to adopt Jaune and become his legal guardian. Glynda was hesitant at first, unsure of the implications that could result of such a responsible, but soon Ozpin saw her judgment sway. He was sure the final nail in the coffin was the death of his teammate during their patrol mission... Glynda informed him the next day that she was up to the task, willing to assist Jaune in whatever way possible.
A low chuckle erupted from Ares, turning his attention back at Ozpin. "How comical... you can have him – raise him to be the second-rate man that he's meant to become." Glynda let out a snarl, turning her back on Jaune's father and exiting Ozpin's personal office.
"You always had a way of upsetting others." Ozpin commented.
"I do not care about the opinions of the common masses." Not a surprising answer from the privileged man. Ares used to be much kinder and reasonable, but the fame changed him, molding him into an uncaring shadow of himself. Ozpin could no longer call Ares Arc a friend.
"So Mr. Arc," Ozpin casually said, hoping to change the subject, "Why did you really call me? I know you didn't waste your time just to talk about your son." Regardless of his opinion, Ares only called him when an important matter needed discussion. Despite his crass nature, he was an intelligent man, showing brilliant tactics on the battlefield.
"Local scouts have spotted Grimm amassing near the borders of Vale and Mistral – requests for reinforcements and military personnel have already been called. We don't know when the incursion might occur, perhaps weeks or even months, but General Ironwood wanted me to inform you." The news was more dreadful then he originally imagined... yet why would the Grimm coordinate such an attack? They never worked in tandem with such pre-planned actions.
"Are they mostly low-class Grimm?" Hundreds of Beowulfs and assorted Grimm wouldn't be much of an issue for most professional Huntsman and Huntresses. Death Stalkers and Goliaths were more of a problem, especially when considering their age. His students weren't ready for such carnage.
"I'm afraid Goliaths and Beringels have been spotted among the herds. Scientists and military leaders are trying to figure out the cause as we speak... I don't think I need to tell you how serious this is." Ozpin lifted his mug and titled it back, the warm coffee relaxing his nerves. Were they, behind this little operation?
"Thank you for informing me of this development, Mr. Arc, I'll advise my allies of the situation." Ares nodded, cutting off the screen without a proper goodbye. The news he presented however was grave... such an army of Grimm had not been seen for many years, especially in two kingdoms at once. He would have to cut off Qrow's investigation early and have him return to Beacon immediately. Ozpin's only hope was that his students would not have to be involved – they were far too young to be thrust into a battle they were not prepared for.
The headmaster glanced over at the table in the corner of his office, the scent of freshly brewed coffee alluring him. The upcoming days and the threat of the Vytal festival being canceled only further drove his addition to the nectar. Jaune would be informed soon about Glynda's status as his new caretaker – hopefully the boy would take the news as something positive given his past week. Ozpin typed at his keyboard and brought up a screen that monitored life signs of a subject kept deep within the vault of Beacon Academy.
"Your slumber will end soon... Amber."
Another thud on the mats of the training arena echoed throughout the stadium-like room. Blake took account of Jaune's improper footwork during his brief spar with Nebula, his swings with the wooden sword erratic and clumsy. There was a lot of work that needed to be done... but she was willing to help, confident that he could improve. Ruby cheered from the sidelines as Jaune tried against Pyrrha, the champion offering him advice on how to grip the hilt of a sword. She glanced over at the rack close to the doors, numerous weapons from different kingdoms on display for students to practice with. Blake even spotted a decorated ball and chain.
A particular weapon finally caught her eye, leaning on the edge of the rack, its blade reflecting off the overhead lights. While the edge was dull for safety reasons, its curvature was obvious enough. The katana, as it was known in Mistralian lands; forged by ancient warriors hundreds of years ago to fight off the Grimm. Katanas, were known for their durability and precision, becoming one of the most lethal blades if used by a properly trained Huntsman. She was quite familiar with the weapon... Adam used one. Blake walked over to the rack and picked it up, gauging the weight of the handle.
"Jaune," she called out, gaining his attention from the ground. "I want you to try this." Blake threw the katana at Jaune, who clumsily dropped his shield in the process – he examined it like a child receiving a new toy.
"What's this?" he questioned, twisting the hilt with a flick of his wrist, a questioning look on his face. Blake was about to answer until she saw Jaune reach for the wooden shield on the arena floor.
"You won't need that shield – it's a katana, a single-edged blade that was made common by eastern islanders. Notice the long handle?" Jaune looked down, gripping the leaner grooved handle with both hands.
"Are you sure I can use this?" Jaune asked with a hint of uncertainty in his wide blue eyes. Of course she wasn't sure, but Blake thought it would be easier to eliminate the different types of swords before moving on to another weapon. Ruby and the others looked on in anticipation, eager to see the blond boy make his attempt.
"Pyrrha, can you come up here?" The redheaded warrior stood up from the stands and nodded, an excited smile complimenting her innocent expression. She was glad to see Pyrrha full of energy again, her bright green eyes shimmering with renewed vigor – she must have been eager to fight again after being absent for days from the arena.
"Jaune, I'm going to have you practice deflecting a few swings from Pyrrha." He looked to understand, acknowledging her comment with a slow motion. She could notice the sweat on his forehead, his pale complexion hued with a bright shade of red from exhaustion. Blake was a little perplexed by Jaune's current state, the bruise on his right arm from being knocked to the ground more visible.
Then she realized... Jaune had never unlocked his aura. That would be something to bring up later when the others weren't around.
"Okay Jaune," Pyrrha started in a teaching-like tone, "I'll start with a basic thrust and overhead strike – look for my hand movements to predict which attack I'll be using." She was a natural, not that surprising coming from such an experienced fighter however.
"Go Pyrrha, break all of his bones!" Nora shouted.
"That would be far too violent for a friendly spar," Ren replied in his calm voice, leaning back into the seat near the front of the arena.
"Oh, that's right, well... go Jaune and Pyrrha, only mildly hurt each other!" a sigh left the composed boy, and he focused on the forthcoming spar. Blake would describe it more as a tutorial on basic defensive stances – Jaune wasn't capable of handling Pyrrha for more than two or three minutes at most. The Grimm wouldn't show the same mercy.
Pyrrha took a step back and spread her legs, bending her knees to lean forward. She held out her shield, raising Milo above her head. Jaune stood there with a wide-eyed gaze, the katana lowered toward the middle of his chest – he was still nervous, his posture lacking. Pyrrha thrust her spear at Jaune with the speed of a bullet, but to her surprise Jaune swung the blade to the right, deflecting her attack. With a smile, she riposted and brought down Milo in another successive blow, only to see Jaune stop the attempted strike, the dull blade vibrating as he tried to hold her back.
An echo rang out into the arena as Pyrrha broke away from Jaune, giggling in surprise. "Jaune, that was..."
"Excellent," Blake finished, closing her mouth, "I thought you told us that you never received any training before?" the reflexes he displayed were quick and precise, and the strength behind it was no joke.
"Uh, I haven't, I just did as you told me." Jaune humbly answered with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. She was impressed, he showed great potential, though he still required a lot of training.
"How does the blade feel?"
Jaune took a second to look at the sword. "I like it... somehow it feels natural in my hand, like an extension of myself." They would still need to try some other weapons, but they might have gotten lucky and found Jaune's weapon of choice. Still, Blake wished it could have been something else, the katana too much of a reminder of her old lover.
"So this is where you guys are?" Sun announced from the corner of the arena, Neptune following from behind with a suave grin. Sun's face brightened up when he caught her eyes, his tail waving behind him.
"What are you guys up to – how's Weiss doing, I haven't seen her since yesterday." Neptune asked, dropping his act of confidence that he exuded when the heiress was around. Blake's comprehension for Weiss' attraction to the blue-haired Mistralian was beyond her, though she could admit, he seemed like an okay person. Who was she judge?
"Oh, just helping train Jaune, what about you guys?" Yang asked.
"You know us, prowling the school, making trouble – we actually looked for you guys today, but nobody knew where you were." Sun approached her from the side, waving with an enthusiastic smile, pristine teeth showing to compliment his handsome features.
"Weiss is supposed to be released today, but right now we're just helping Jaune – he and I visited a teacher earlier." Blake answered, earning a look of confusion on Sun's face as he darted his eyes onto the fellow blonde.
"Oh, that's cool I guess..."
A clacking of heels on the arena floor alerted Blake to another guest. She turned to see Professor Goodwitch entering the room with a bemused expression, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose. The professor must have heard of their visit to Professor Peach – she would prefer not to have another load of homework thrust upon her. The silence in the arena built up enough tension for a knife to cut through, and the regal professor directed her attention onto Jaune. The fierce stare she usually carried to intimidate the students was gone, replaced by a look of concern on her feminine features.
"I see that you're all busy." No one answered, afraid to be admonished.
"We're helping Jaune train!" Ruby piped up, a hint of surprise in Glynda's demure expression.
"May I borrow Jaune for a few minutes?" he nodded, dropping the katana onto the matted floor. Blake wanted to follow, but she could tell by Goodwitch's tone that it was a serious private matter.
"I'll be right back guys, so prepare another lesson for me." She watched as Jaune followed Goodwitch out of the arena, her curiosity getting the better of her – why did the professor look so worried?
Hopefully nothing terrible, they all had enough stress.
The monotony of walking through the halls with the crutches took a toll on Weiss' psyche. Her patience was beginning to wear thin – she would have much preferred using a wheelchair if walking was to become an hour long process. At least she knew where to go – Yang sent her a message on her scroll that they were all in the arena, though she was mute on any more details. Weiss recognized the steps leading down to the main floor, releasing a sigh as she imagined using the crutches on a set of stairs. She would have a personal wheelchair by the end of the day.
At least she would be able to walk again in less than week, so the turmoil of being gimp was only temporary. Weiss arrived at the stairs and grabbed hold of the railing, tossing the crutches onto the bottom steps. She slid down the rail and gently placed her good foot down, careful not to apply too much pressure to the bandaged one.
"Over here Jaune," the voice of Professor Goodwitch said, catching her immediate attention. She hobbled across the hall and leaned against the wall.
What was she doing... how improper was it to eavesdrop?
Before announcing herself so that she could walk into the arena without hearing anything important, Weiss hesitated, a part of her wanting to hear the conversation. In hindsight, it made her feel dreadful, stooping to the act of invading another person's privacy to feed her curiosity. But... she wanted to know more about Jaune's current standing in the Arc family, especially when Winter did not seem all that concerned of them mingling.
"I apologize for stealing you from your friends." Glynda voiced, her authoritative tone missing. The professor was acting strange, almost coddling Jaune... he looked equally confused as Weiss did.
"It's alright... is something wrong Professor Goodwitch?" The blonde woman released a sigh, pulling out a document from her back pocket. She handed it over to Jaune who examined it in confusion, leveling the crease down the middle.
"I don't know how to categorize this news Jaune, but as of last Monday, I am now your legal guardian. Your official name is now Jaune Goodwitch – however I won't announce this in class, and will continue using the moniker Arc to avoid any embarrassment or unwanted questions." Weiss caught her gasp, almost reacting to the news. She watched as Jaune stood there, not flinching at all from the announcement.
"So he finally did it huh..." Jaune snorted in disbelief.
"I'm sorry Jaune," Glynda placed a reaffirming hand on his slumped shoulders. "You're Mother asked me to do this... she wanted you to be happy." He chuckled, wiping his right eye of a few visible tears.
That was the fate of being disowned? Weiss shuddered at the thought of her Father disposing of her like trash. Without the Schnee name... Weiss would remain a sad little girl weighed down by her loneliness. She looked upon Jaune in sorrow, the need to comfort him surfacing from some unknown instinct – she was the only one who knew what he was going through. Yet she couldn't, her cowardice of suffering the same fate as him driving her to remain hidden.
She was pathetic.