Sound of sword and mace crash before the sword user was knock back by a powerful blow from the mace user who is laughing at his opponent impending defeat.

"Come on Jaune you can do it." Ruby growl but it's more than plain to see from aura level that the fight is not in Jaune favor.

With a defiant roar Jaune charge his opponent, Cardin Winchester. but was easily dodged. Cardin quickly strike him with his mace which struck Jaune shield, send the shield and its bearer flying. Now arm with only his sword Jaune roar and attack. This time his attack was block by Cardin weapon hilt.

'Not a wise decision.' Sevatar thought as the leader of team JNPR try to overpower his counterpart of team CRDL but Cardin knee him in the gut make him fall to the ground. The Mace wielder move to finish his foe but the buzzer rings signal the end of the match.

"Cardin, that's enough!" Glynda sharp voice cause him to step back before she turn to explain to other student about aura level in a tournament-styled duel. She then turn to the down leader next "Mr. Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your scroll during combat. Gauging your aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it is better to move to a more... defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowolf, now, would we?"

Jaune lift his scroll which show his aura is flashing red level along with his teammates green level aura. Cardin chuckle at his opponent expense. Glynda turn to the rest of student again. "Remember, everyone, the Vytal Festival is only a few months away! It won't be long before students from the other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!"

Sevatar glances at his side to see Ruby, Yang, and Weiss all acting excited by the incoming tournament which he doesn't share their excitement and Pyrrha frown sadly at her partner. Then the bell ring and students start leaving. Sevatar stood up and cast his glance to Jaune, who still sit on the floor, and ponder what Ozpin see in him.


At cafeteria.

"So! There we were, in the middle of the night..." Nora begun her tale from her dream which mostly ignored by the rest of her friends except Yang and Ren, who is correcting her story.

"Jaune? Are you okay?" Pyrrha question cause the distraught leader to snap out of his stupor.

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Why?" Jaune answer and found himself to be central of his team and team RWBYS focus.

"It's just that you seem a little... not okay..." Ruby tries to explain his condition but can't find a right word about it.

"Guys, I'm fine. Seriously! Look!" Jaune tries to assure his friend to no anvil, everyone can see through his facade.

"Jaune, Cardin's been picking on you since the first week of school." Pyrrha argue.

"Who? Cardin Winchester? Nah... He just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes!" Jaune shot her argument down and wave like nothing wrong. A sentiment not share by other.

"He's a bully." Ruby state a matter of fact. A fact that Sevatar doesn't understand why Jaune tries to deny.

"Oh, please! Name one time he's 'bullied' me."

"I can name many." Sevatar mumble with other nod in agreement.

"Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask." Pyrrha tries to offer her help to her partner but he turn her down.

Nora suddenly come with a brilliance idea. "We'll break his legs!"

"Already broke his arm. Is that count?" Sevatar mutter but everyone turn to stare on him "What?"

"Broke his arm? As in literally?" Weiss ask in disbelieve tone. He nods. "When did that happen?!"

"Two weeks ago. After combat class."

"The one you fought his teammate, Dove, right?" Yang recall the event. After their duel and Sevatar declared the victor. Dove try to attack him from behind with result in a thunderous crash when Sevatar kick him straight to the wall. His aura flare and he collapsed on the floor unconscious.

"You should hold back Sev. I heard you crack his skull." Jaune tries to lighten the mood.

"If I didn't hold back. His brain would paint the wall now." Sevatar shot back. "After that Cardin come after me looking for a fight and I end up broke his arm."

"A bit too much but he probably deserve it." Weiss mumble. Other nod while some express their doubt but no one voice it out except...

"Oh! We can't fall behind! I'm gonna break his leg now!" Nora shout as Ren tries his hardest to hold his partner back.

"Guys, really, it's fine!" Jaune said as he get up and try to calm his friends down "Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me. He's a jerk to everyone."

Team RWBYS and JNPR turn to see Cardin and his team bully a Faunus not far from their table.

"Atrocious. I can't stand people like him." Pyrrha comment disapprovingly at team CDRL' leader attitude.

"He's not the only one." Blake adds.

"It must be hard to be a Faunus." Yang comment. Sevatar glance at his black hair teammate.

"We should get ready for our next class." Ren said as he drag his partner out to stop her from carry her treat.

"So the next class is Professor Oobleck, right?" Ruby asks as she pick the last of her cookie into her mouth.

"Ruby, it's been weeks now. You should remember your schedule by now." Weiss child her partner.

"I just ask for certain." Ruby grumble.

For Sevatar, that a relieve for at least history class was less boring than Grimm study one.


After history class about Faunus Rights Revolution, or commonly known as Faunus War. Team RWBYS go straight to their dorm to change their attire to their casual outfit and to do some team activity together to strengthen their bond as they agree. Unfortunately, they can't agree on what to do.

"Ruby. We need to study and finish our dust project." Weiss spoke first.

"But that will be days before deadline and the Vytal Festival is approaching. We should prepare ourself now." Ruby argue back.

"That are several months. We have plenty of time for that but the project is more urgent."

"You just want to show how good you are about dust, don't you?" Yang interrupted and frankly, Sevatar suspect that too.

"No I just don't want to rush ourselves when the we're at the deadline."

"Study sound nice." Blake add quietly. For some reason she got fire up after lesson about Faunus war. Yang was agape by her partner betrayal.

Honestly Sevatar has no problem with study or combat practice either so he sit down on his bed, watching the girls argue among themselves. With nothing to do he pick up his textbook and begun to review what he study today. He read for sometime until he notice the girls are silent. He look up and see they are staring at him. "Are you decide yet?"

"Well we are even vote so you gonna decide what we will do together." Ruby explain which make him sigh.

"Why don't we just separate and do whatever we want?"

"Sev! We are team now and we will get no where good as a team if we not start working on our teamwork now." Weiss said in a lecture tone and behind her other girls nod in agreement.

"How about study?" Sevatar said to gauge their reaction. Weiss and Blake nod with approval but Ruby and Yang glare at him angrily. "Or sparing..." Same reaction.. from opposite couples. Yeah, it amaze him how they seem one mind over one thing then argue about other. He has never been a team player before and now he need to choose something about teamwork that will not cost him his head.

Sevatar sigh and pick a coin from his jacket. "Head we study. Tail we do some practice." The girls stare at him for a moment before reluctantly nod so he flips the coin. The coin flew in the air before he catch it and place it on the back of his hand. "Head. We study."

Ruby and Yang groan in disapproval. They begin gather books need for their study and head to group study room in the library. As he suspect Weiss did really boast her knowledge about dust but luckily she limit herself to sufferable level. Sevatar has lived outside the kingdom wall almost his entire life and often short of supply dust thus most of his knowledge come from scavenging and self taught which is not much compare to what was teaching in combat school.

Thank to Weiss vast knowledge of dust they manage to finish their dust project in short time. They spend the rest of their study discuss about Faunus war and its consequence until the sun set that they return to their dorm.

"Sev. Where are you going?" Ruby ask when she see her teammate walking out of their room.

"Walking." Sevatar answer and close the door behind him. The corridor was empty except him and a red hair girl lead her partner up to the rooftop. Deciding it's none of his business he walk down and exit the dorm.


Sevatar walk alone to the front yard, feeling cold breeze through his skin and enjoying the night sincere view. Not many people stay out this late and he appreciate the silence of the night. However it's not stay that way long when he hear foot steps toward him.

"Should I suspect you for being out here alone? Mr. Burnwood." A voice from behind do nothing to startle him. Sevatar turn to see Ozpin walk straight at him, a mug of coffee in hand as alway.

"I don't realize there is any curfew professor." Sevatar answer with a calm tone, no emotion can detect on his face or in his voice.

"Oh there are not anything like that." The headmaster chuckle, not offend by his student sarcastic answer. "But consider your record, should I be worry?"

"Yet you still accept me to your school. Why?"

"For that, I am curious to. Why would you join my school?" Ozpin asks back, using his question against him. "You passed the entrance exam with exceptional score. In fact I dare say that in term of skill and experience you can surpass even the graduate huntsmen . Even so you join my school, why?"

Sevatar stay silence for a long moment, carefully consider his reason for joining Beacon. Yeah, he asked himself too why did he join Beacon? Is it because it is the best option? Or because he doesn't like his previous life? But one thing is certain, joining Beacon is a big changing point in his life. "Maybe because I need new beginning."

"And did you found it here?"

"It's too soon to consider."Sevatar shrug. He has lived in beacon for little than a month. They are some instance that this is seem right but they are also the moments he regret his decision too.

"Well, I believe thing is going well with your team, isn't it?"

"For the most part, yes."

"And I have heard you settle the matter between your team leader and her partner. You did an impressive job as a meditator." Ozpin comment. Sevatar just huff at his complement for he never consider diplomat to be his strong suit. "What about the other? Did you get along well with them?"

"Mostly." Sevatar offer a short answer but then something come to his mind "Jaune."

"What wrong with mr. Arc?"

"You tell me, professor. You did not only accept him but also make him a leader of his team. Why?"

"Well, he pass his initiation, isn't he?"

"That doesn't explain why you make him a team leader."

"It's simple, because he has potential to be."

"Forgive me if I can't see his potential as you do and beside, his potential is a waste if he did not use it."

"On that we could agree." Ozpin nod but Sevatar doubt he really mean what he said. "But let me ask you this. You make it clear you disagree with me in case of Mr. Arc potential but what about your team? You have no problem with Miss Rose being a leader at all? Or any complain about you deserve that position too?"

"You said I am additional member, didn't you? Why would you choose a temporary over a permanent one? And you know my record. I doubt I am a type of leader you like." Sevatar pause to observe the headmaster reaction. To his credit, he remain unfazed and nigh impossible to read, just sound "um-hm" to show he acknowledge what he heard. "And I thought Ruby is the most suit for that role. Weiss is a spoil child, Blake is mostly kept to herself while Yang is too hothead and too reckless. Sure, Ruby has flaws but who doesn't. Her is the easiest to tolerate and fix. And she is the most convinced to the huntsmen cause. That why you choose her, aren't you?"

"Could not say I agree with you all but you have a fair point." Ozpin answer with a satisfied nod but what he said next surprise him "So do you interest for a job, Mr. Burnwood?"

"I'm not that desperate." Sevatar cross his arm. Since Beacon did not charge any tuition fee he can live for many months with his saving or even a year if he is careful about it but Ozpin smiling face say that he expect this answer. So he sigh and gesture for the headmaster to speak.

"It's nothing much. Just bring Mr. Arc potential to fruition."

"You ask me to train him?" That is totally unexpected for him and his surprise face must be funny to make the older man chuckle.

"No need to be that surprise. And yes, I ask you to train him. We can make an agreement about your reward. Think you can do that?"

"Why should I?" That ridiculous and he made it clear with a scorn on his face. He? A trainer? Why would he do that? If Jaune is that bad why accept him in the first place? Why not just kick him to some combat school instead of toughen him up afterward? It's none of his business to fix other incompetency that doesn't even concern him in the first place and even with the promise that he will get paid for it didn't make it sound more appealing to him. "His potential wound not save him in battle no matter how great it is."

"That is where you're wrong Mr. Burnwood." Ozpin said casually ,ignore his student curious glare. "Here is a school not a battlefield. It's a place where you study, learn and improve. And like you, It's could be a place for a new start. Why would not give him a chance?"

"Not everyone deserve that chance. If he doesn't show any redeem quality, I'd say let him die. No point in follow a foolish leader to a foolish death." At this point he decide to end this conversation by walking back to his dorm but he can still hear the headmaster voice behind him.

"In case you change your mind, you know where to find me."


On his way to his room, Sevatar tries to shake his conversation with Ozpin out of his head with no succeed and almost clash with Pyrrha who just walk down from rooftop with sorrow face. "What's wrong?"

"Oh sorry Sev. It's nothing." Pyrrha smile at him but like before the initiation, it look force and hollow. Sevatar mentally debate either he should press the issue or not. Finally he decide to have a word with her in hope of distract him from his conversation with Ozpin.

"I saw you went to the rooftop with Jaune. What happen?"

"Oh we just had a little chat and he just want to take some air alone so I get down first"

"Have anyone told you are a bad liar Pyrrha?" Sevatar said bluntly and her face fell "You went up with Jaune and a happy smile and now you go down alone with an upset face. Anyone could tell that something is going on."

"We actually talk." Pyrrha begin but struggle to find a word to describe it without make Jaune seem bad. "let just say we disagree on something."

"Let me guess you offer to train him but he turn you down." Sevatar make a speculate and judge from her expression, he is right.

"H..how could you know?" Pyrrha stumble out which he just shrug.

"Is that hard to guess? You see his skill. And someone like you would not left him like that for long. And how would you do that other than train him yourself?" Sevatar explain and her face fell again.

"What would you do if you were in my place?" Pyrrha asks as her face laden with sorrow and worry.

"Whatever it take to make him understand. I won't be drag down because of his stupid pride." Sevatar said without doubt or hesitation but that just make her frown even deeper.

"You don't seem to like him much." Pyrrha note.

"I don't." He nod to confirm her doubt.

"Why? What did he do to you to hate him?"

"I said I don't like him not hate him." Sevatar corrects her but she didn't seem convinced. "It's nothing personal. Just because... his incompetence."

"Anyone can improve Sev. He maybe weak now doesn't mean he will be that way forever."

"True. But that doesn't excuse him for cheat his way here or to sit idly while you offer to help him."

"How could you know he cheat?" Pyrrha gasps, surprised, and that all confirmation he need.

"So he really cheat." Sevatar state plainly and Pyrrha seem to realize her mistake. "It's not hard to guess. Again just look at his skill, he didn't even know about aura. In fact I am surprised that didn't ring any bell to you. The only way he could apply here is he is some prodigal bastard or he cheat his way here."

"What're you going to do now?" Pyrrha asks carefully consider his dangerous knowledge about her partner secret.

"Nothing. It's none of my business to stop someone so eager to die."

"How he's so eager to die!?" Pyrrha almost scream but mange to keep her voice low enough to not awake entire dorm.

"A man who venture to dangerous territory without proper skill or protection is a dead man. You should already know that grimm will not show any mercy to him or any of us."

"That why we have friends and partner to help each other."

"And did he accept your help?" Sevatar asks back, knowing this argument will not go anywhere.

Pyrrha open her mouth to protest but struggle to find any word to argue. Sevatar cross his arm and await for her answer silently. Finally she let out a resign sigh. "What would you have me do?"

"I've already told you. Make him understand whether he need to be stronger if he don't want to die out there and I doubt losing a partner will do you any good or make him quit if he is that hopeless."

"He is not that hopeless and I don't want to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do." Pyrrha still tries to defense her partner and that is begin to grate on his nerve. He know she choose to study here and tries her hardest to cling to these friendship for some reason unknown to him but he know how this will end. It either she manages to convince Jaune to accept her help and become stronger under her guidance (Sevatar doubt he can be better on his own) or he continues his arrogant pride and ending as a corpse on battlefield or just be forced out of beacon if he lucky.

"Then I hope you prepare for his inevitable funeral then." Sevatar voice is dead cold. If she don't do anything to fix the problem then it's better to prepare for what will certainly come.

"And what will happen after that?" Her voice drastically change like she is trying to suppress her emotion. Rage was intense in her eyes like he has never seen before and her fist tremble with the same rage.

"According to the school law you will continue study alone until you find a new partner." That is what every huntsmen in training know but not really pay attention since there are a low chance the students will suffer any casualty during their four years in academy but there is still a possibility so in this case she would be immediately pair with only first year who doesn't have partner i.e. him and she seem to know it too.

"And that new partner gonna be you?" Her eyes narrow dangerously at him.

"Technically, yes." It's not like he is not happy to have a strong partner but he never be a team player before and frankly he is quite happy of his lone wolf status so it would be a lie if he said he want her as his partner.

"So that is you plan!? Take my partner away so you can get his place! You are all the same! Come to me only for my reputation!" Pyrrha suddenly outburst caught him off guard and after venting it off she seem to realize what she just said. "Sev, I.."

"Not sound bad to me." He cut her off, turn back and walk straight to his room, leave her alone in the hallway.