A team too LARJ

by Johno 343

This is a story about a team of four students at Beacon Academy and their adventures. Life at beacon is about to get interesting. With RWBY and JNPR along for the ride, it's certainly isn't going to be normal. Their past, growth and trials will shape these characters to become great hunters/tresses. This is the story of team LARJ.

6. Chapter 6

Yo everyone, this is another chapter done by Bugdevil! Please enjoy the chapter!

Arc 2: First Steps. Chapter 6: A day

Antonio's Day:

Beacon Academy - Team AKJA's room

Today we take a look at a mysterious place. A place that was kept out of the picture until now. Enter team AKJA's room.

A sturdy wall build out of various furniture and other articles divides the room into two separate parts. One is the girl's side with two comfy beds and dressers as well as the room's only window. This side takes up ninety percent of the room's space. Coincidentally the door as well as the bathroom are located in this space as well.

The boy's side on the other hand is small, cramped and dark. There is one bed and one barely dangling hammock. Due to the inability to enter or leave without passing the girl's territory the inhabitants have to be in constant negotiation with their female neighbors. Particularly with the grand oppressor Jasna. Antonio managed to convince her time and time again and it could be said that no other person could have kept Kirk from starving and rotting in the corner at this point.

The mere title of 'leader' had no power when it came to such serious questions.

It was morning now. Antonio awakened and slowly rose from his bed. He had been sleeping in perfect posture the whole night. He didn't seem to be a person to twist and turn much in his sleep to begin with, but this went way beyond that. Even so he was not stiff or hurting anywhere.

Antonio's crystal blue eyes scanned the space around him for something. He found it soon, a clock. The numbers told him that it was still very early morning. Before 6 o'clock.

'I never perceived myself as an early riser.' he smiled wryly and stood up slowly. In truth he had thought it was much later already. There was no light coming through the dividing wall even in the middle of noon, so it's hard to tell what time it was based on that.

It was too early to prepare for lessons. Antonio combed through his brown hair with his hand and rubbed his eyes. "I'll just wash my face..." he mumbled and walked towards the wall. He passed Kirk's hammock on the way. The small turquoise haired boy was snoring quietly. In his left hand he held a camera as if it was his teddy that he couldn't sleep without.

Antonio sighed and turned around, but something white caught his attention. It was of a silky texture and hanging from the hammock. He got a little closer and looked at it with a questioning stare. First he had thought it was some unfortunate girl's panties again. Another of 'the phantom's' treasures. But instead...

"Bandages?" Antonio cupped his chin with his hand. It looked like this guy had been hurt more than expected. He would have to talk to Jasna about this later. That girl certainly was a handful.

Kirk's snoring was peaceful. So he didn't seem to be in pain at least. Antonio grabbed the bandage and pushed it back under Kirk's blanket. The last thing he would need was to trip over that bandage. Under the blanket he felt Kirk's heaving chest and rough clothing. So the injury was around his torso.

Antonio was not well versed in medicine or anatomy, so he could only hope that the nurse at the infirmary allowed the little guy to continue his school-life without interruption. Kirk seemed to be the kind of person to push himself for trivialities.

The brown haired teen left his teammate to his dreams and walked back to the wall. His mind was circling around something. 'It felt off.'

With experienced movements he created a hole in the barricade and entered the open fields of female domination. One quick look told him that Jasna was as relaxed as always. Her snoring was loud and she had already catapulted the blanket to who-knows-where, so one could see her revealing her belly between her two piece pajamas. Even now she was wearing that long thin red scarf. When someone asked her about it she would say it's a memento. At least when she was in a good mood and the questioner was a cute girl.

Contemplating his old friend's carefree behavior Antonio reached the bathroom. The door was shut. Extending his hand he pushed the knob and opened the door silently.

The world stopped moving for a second.

"Oh." He should have seen this coming. The other bed had been awfully flat now that he thought about it.

In front of him standing at the sink was none other than Alexandra. She was facing the mirror with both hands raised towards her face. Her long black hair was hanging down loosely and she was wearing her normal red sleeveless top. Apparently she was also sleeping with it. But all that aside not even Antonio could help but look lower. Alexandra was not wearing pants or a skirt.

Now that was not surprising. Many people slept without pants, some are said to sleep naked even and with Jasna around Alexandra really had no reason to fear a guy getting close to her at night.

Antonio nodded to his logical conclusions.

Alexandra had noticed him by now. The reflection in the mirror showed an expression of shock. Her shoulders started shivering.

"You..." her voice was almost inaudible.

"I assure you I have not seen anything." Antonio tried to defuse the situation, but to no avail. Alexandra spun around and in a matter of seconds she had pulled him deeper inside the bathroom and locked the door behind them.

With a perfectly executed arm-lock she cut off Antonio's breath.

"You did see it right!?" she asked him furiously, but her voice was still low enough to not be heard outside.

"Hmmrgh..." Antonio answered eloquently.

"Tch. Listen I will release your neck now, but if you try to call the others I will break your spine." Her voice betrayed no sign of her joking. Antonio nodded cooperatively. She slowly released him, but with another movement she was pushing him to the ground, sitting on his back and holding his arms.

"There is no reason to treat me like a criminal. It was only a really fleeting look. I already forgot about them again." That was not true at all, but it wouldn't hurt to show goodwill.

"Eh?" She didn't seem to understand what he was getting at. Antonio couldn't see her expression, but her body suddenly went stiff. "You saw them!? Forget about those! Right now you pervert!" her voice was breaking and even without looking at her face Antonio could tell that she was blushing.

"Like I said..." he was sweating. But now he had more than enough evidence. "So you were not talking about your... undergarments then. Also you don't want me to call the others and I do recall seeing something unusual in the mirror's reflection." It was obvious that he had stumbled over something important here.

"..." Alexandra stayed quiet for a bit. "What have you seen?"

"They were blue." he said openly. Again Alexandra was gripping his arms tighter.

"You are not talking about my...?"

"No. Those were black if I have seen correctly-OUCH!" she twisted his arm in an unnatural way. "S-sorry." Bad move.

"So what does that tell you?" The question seemed to be really important. The girl on his back was apparently readying herself.

"Nothing." Antonio finally replied. "Maybe you just have a different sense of aesthetics?" His words rang shallow.

"I don't believe you. You are always oddly informed about everyone here. It's unlikely that you don't know what it means." Her voice was cold. "Are you working for them? You are here to report me to them aren't you?" Her nails were digging into his arm.

"...I do know. The signs were a little too obvious miss 'Wilfred'. I can only imagine who you mean by 'them', but one thing is undeniable. I am not here to report you to anyone." He tried to put as much reassurance in those words as possible. He was telling the truth after all.

After a while she released him from the arm-hold and stood up. Antonio rubbed his back.

'She is heavier than expected.'

"I am not!" she kicked him. After sinking to the ground holding his hurting leg, Antonio tried to think quieter. Even his thoughts were not safe from this woman.

"I will believe you for now." She was standing behind him. The last thing he would do now was to turn around and risk a fist to the face. "Don't talk to anyone about this."

"Of cour-"

"Or I will kill you." She was not joking. The well dressed man coughed and nodded. His back was freezing.

"So you do this every morning?"

"You don't have to know."

"It would be easier to avoid another encounter like this if I knew."

"..." Alex crossed her arms. "Not always. Just stay away from the bathroom around this time."

"Fine." that was not very informative, but at least he knew when to be cautious. "Where are you hiding the bottles?"

"I have my places." Her words were brief and unyielding.

"I see." Of course she wouldn't be using them as frequently.

"And now leave. I don't like to have you around." She pushed him to the door. The brown-haired leader of AKJA complied. Before leaving he cleared his throat one more time and said this.

"This is just my opinion, but blue eyes fit you much better." While leaving the bathroom he caught a glimpse of her face. Her eyes were narrowed. One was red and... the other was blue. The girl was biting her lips in displeasure.

'She is more worried than she lets on.' The door closed behind him. He returned to the peaceful atmosphere and the sound of Jasna's snoring.

"Black, huh? Interesting."

The sound of a fist hitting the wooden door made him shut up.

Beacon Academy - Dormitory Hallways

A few hours later team AKJA had returned to their normal state of... not being much of a team.

Antonio and Jasna were walking ahead while Kirk was nowhere to be seen. Alexandra was staring daggers into Antonio's back today. If this continued he would probably get a stiff neck.

"What's wrong Alex? You look really angry for some reason." Jasna turned around to talk to her. Alex averted her red eyes.

"It's nothing..."

"Sure hope so. I don't wanna see your cute face distort like that!" she laid her arm around the black haired girl's shoulders. Obviously Alex wasn't too thrilled by this, but she tried to keep calm.

'If even Jasna noticed that something was off it must have been too obvious... is what she is thinking.' Antonio deduced.

Luckily (for Alex) something very distracting was taking place not too far away. A familiar bunch of people had also left for classes. As they left their newly combined room they made a ruckus like always.

"Aren't they lively again today." Antonio smirked.

"Hey isn't that Yang? What was she doing in their room Anto?" Jasna cocked her head.

"I have no idea, dear Jasna."

They walked over to the group that was chatting loudly. In the middle was quite the eccentric sight. Sure enough the blonde beauty Yang was the focus of attention. Or rather what she was doing.

"Let's go to our room. You will carry all of their bags as well! Hehehe." Yang was grinning widely. She had regained her cheerfulness apparently. And anyone could see why.

"That's fine..."

"What was that?"

"I mean... as you wish... Yang."

"Eh? I believe I told you what to call me. Repeat it now!"

The one being commanded was... Juge Velmón. Visibly shaken by embarrassment and hurt pride he was carrying at least 7 school bags. And a suit-case. And Yang.

"As you wish... m-ma-... mas-... Is this really necessary?!"

"You wanted to apologize Jugey ~" Lucy was floating next to them with a happy smile.

"Never ever break a promise!" Nora agreed.

"Damn it... fine! As you wish master!" Being urged on by the audience he managed to yell out those words.

"I do feel a little bad for him." Riza said with a sigh. Ren nodded.

"Ahahahaha!" Jasna started laughing uncontrollably. "You ahaha of all people the high and mighty one has to play servant." she was wiping the tears from her face.

"How did this happen, if I may ask?" Antonio walked next to Phyrra and Jaune.

"She waited for him inside our room. He promised to do anything she asked to make up for yesterday." Jaune explained.

"And this is what she wanted. Servant for an unspecified time."

"Unspecified?" Antonio smiled.

"Yep."

They reached team RWBY's room. Yang kicked the door open yelling 'morning'. Ruby fell out of bed in confusion. Apparently she wasn't fully awake yet.

"A-attack!? Save the cookies!"

"What is this ruckus? There is no need to yell so early in the morning." Weiss got angry at Yang. She was already wearing her uniform opposed to her small team leader.

"Haha don't be so reserved. I am here to collect your stuff."

"Evacuate the choco and hazelnut types first!" Ruby was rolling around in her blanket.

"Our... stuff?" Blake was sitting on her bed reading a book as usual. She easily ignored Ruby's screams while holding her down with her legs.

"Let me introduce my personal servant to you now. Team, this is Juge. Juge, this is the team."

They stared at the young heir with confusion.

"What?" Weiss was the first to snap out of it.

While they were having fun Antonio watched from afar. The chemistry in team RWBY was exceptional. Even between the different teams it was as if they were already comrades for a long time. His team on the other hand was still very split. The situation was not very favorable.

"They are funny, right?" Phyrra was standing next to him. Her expression was friendly. Antonio mustered her. The red pony-tail was well tended and her school uniform looked brand new as if it had never been worn before.

"Mr. Velmón has my sympathy." He gave her a perfect smile.

"I think this is an opportunity for him rather than a punishment."

"Ho? How so?" he tilted his head slightly.

"He is a good guy, but a little too reserved. I can tell that he is under a lot of pressure." They watched as Juge had to carry two more bags between his teeth, because his arms were full. "Much like Jaune."

"Jaune Arc." Antonio looked at the blonde who was laughing. "He is under the pressure of being a leader too."

"Indeed. And recently he is being bullied."

"I didn't know about that. By who?" He looked surprised.

"Cardin Winchester." Alexandra appeared behind him... or had been standing behind him all along. He tried to blend out her watchful eyes as good as possible. "And his team of course. They have been doing all kinds of things to him."

"Those gentlemen don't learn it seems." Antonio had noticed their bullying of the Velvet girl and other weaker students too.

"They are scum. But at least they are easy to figure out. Someone just has to shut them up with... more aggressive means." Alex seemed disinterested. Antonio did notice the jab at him though.

"Let's break his legs." Suddenly Nora appeared next to them.

"Huh... but you were just... what?" Alex looked confused. Nora had just been in the middle of the spectacle, but now she was here.

"We shouldn't go that far..." The brown-haired teen shook his hands calmingly.

"I think... Jaune has to do it himself. We can help him, but only if he lets us." Phyrra looked troubled. Those words hung heavy over them.

...

A few minutes later they were walking over the campus towards the first lecture.

"Where the heck is that pervert anyway?" Jasna was looking mostly disinterested as she threw the question into the open.

"Kirk is probably somewhere close by."

"Not that one... the pie throwing idiot." She folded her arms behind her head.

Now that she said it... Antonio looked around. The situation between Yang and Juge had distracted him from the fact that one member of LARJ was missing.

Weiss jerked at the question. Her expression went distant.

"Aka left." Lucy said. Her face wasn't as relaxed as usual.

"What do you mean?" Instead of explaining Lucy handed him a letter. Antonio opened it and Jasna as well as Ruby and Blake were leaning over his shoulder to read. Weiss purposely looked away.

[To everyone,

My hammer was banned by Ozpin. They said I can't stay at Beacon unless I get a new weapon...

I have to go to a certain place. Don't ask for me. I will not return until I have done what is necessary.

Akashi Mayhiro]

After carefully checking the letter from all angles to make sure it hadn't any extra text Antonio passed it to Ruby.

"So he is gone for now." He put one finger to his forehead. "But he seems to have a goal. He spoke of returning, so I believe this is not the end."

"Yeah." Lucy's unfocused blue eyes looked through him. "Aka wants to be the best in Beacon, so he has to return ~" Finally her smile returned.

"That idiot! He could at least have talked to us. Just leaving a letter... what was he thinking?" Riza was looking more angry than sad. Her tail was whipping back and forth.

"Well I'm not gonna miss him." Jasna shrugged. "Though I still have two or three things I want to tell him. He better get a replacement for that stupid hammer or it won't even be fun." She cracked her knuckles under her gauntlets.

"That's her way of saying that she wants him to come back." Antonio translated with a smile.

"What are you blabbering Anto?!" without much ado she punched his arm. The pain was excruciating.

"Haha... You want to fight him with his new weapon, don't you?" He calmed her down while rubbing his arm.

"Absolutely. It's not cool to punch weak piglets, but if it was an Urson you could at least call it a challenge."

"I can't follow her logic at all." Riza looked at Antonio. He shrugged.

"That's so sad." Ruby looked genuinely depressed.

"I am sure he will return."

"I mean... that hammer was like his brother. When you build a weapon you pour all your soul into it. My Crescent Rose is like my own child." Ruby pulled out her weapon and rubbed it softly.

"Aha... haha..." The others laughed awkwardly.

'I totally forgot that she was such a weapon freak.'

Weiss was the only one who kept quiet. She was walking between the two groups. Antonio looked after her. The young heiress back looked slouched. There was more to the story.

Beacon Academy - Lecture Hall

The day passed by rather fast. There had been a lot of interesting developments in lectures due to Juge Velmón's current dilemma. Yang was enjoying every bit of it.

They had finally reached professor Mayhiro's lecture. Antonio tried to stay neutral at all times, but he could not dismiss the fact that he was rather disliking Ms. Mayhiro. It was of course not because of her weird way of teaching or the fact that she always looked like she just fell out of bed.

Rather...

"Okay sym-bangs. Tell us the 3rd step."

Or...

"Look at that. Someone actually got it right. Take notes sym-bangs."

Even...

"I'm tired. Continue the lecture for me sym-bangs..."

For some reason or another this professor had an unnatural focus on him. He always tried not to stand out too much in lessons, but it was almost impossible in this case. Even if he did his best to reduce his presence, it somehow always ended up with her pointing at him.

And why was she only addressing him by that nickname? After the first two weeks she should have at least gotten his name! Why the focus on his hair-style anyway? Even when he purposely altered his hair before the lecture she kept calling him sym-bangs as if it was some kind of summoning call.

It was times like these that Antonio actually envied Kirk a little. Something that he never expected to think in his life. Being a phantom would have been nice right now.

Today they had yet another unconventional lesson. Rather than teaching them herself she made the students come up with their own questions and answers. They were put into groups and got the vague mission to 'discuss relevant topics'.

"I think she is depressed that Akashi left." Riza said seriously.

"Dunno. Aren't we always chilling in her lectures?" Jasna was balancing her note-book on a pencil.

"She can't even muster enough interest to talk to us today..."

"She has dark circles under her eyes." Ren added.

Their group just like all the others was obviously not talking about tactics against Grimm. Antonio was writing down some random schematics just in case professor Mayhiro actually managed to remember her job.

"Well she has some serious brother issues, but good for us." Jasna added another layer to her balance act.

"Please don't talk about a professor like that dear Jasna." Antonio reflexively corrected her.

"But you hate her, Anto."

"That is not true. I don't hate anyone in this world." He smiled friendly. "Her and my perception and thinking just differ a lot."

"Whatever you say." Jasna was now balancing her whole bag on one pencil tip.

"I don't believe you." Suddenly Riza interjected. Her stare was intense.

"Pardon?"

"There is no person in this world who doesn't hate someone or at least something." The faunus girl's eyes were capturing his every movement. Her reaction was sudden, but not fully unexpected. Antonio had listened to her talk with Juge Velmón on the roof after all.

"Fair enough." He smiled. "If I had to name one thing... well I dislike strawberries."

Ren twitched for a second. Did he like strawberries?

"That's not what I meant and you know it." The blonde girl was not giving up today. "Dislikes in food are not the same. I am talking about real hatred." Her eyes were flashing with some invisible fire. Antonio could feel a small shiver down his spine. Possibly a deep animalistic instinct.

"I fear there is no such thing in my life." He answered dryly. For some reason he missed his smile. His hands were busy scribbling down more paragraphs.

"You are bottling it up... it will someday burst out you know?"

Antonio started to get irritated a little. Usually he was unfazed by this degree of pressure, but she was somehow piercing his mind with her words. This girl... she had an unnatural hatred for Grimm. It was connected to her past. But why was she so adamant about others having the same problems?

'Is she trying to find similarities?' He kept looking at the note-book while contemplating that thought. His eyes were not seeing any letters though.

"Your expression went cold. Could it be I was right? Are you-"

"Alright!" Suddenly Jasna released a loud cheer. "This must be some kind of record. Now that I think about it this looks just like the blue vest guy this morning. One small thing carrying all of that weight." Her smile was bright. "Look Riza! Ain't I awesome?" Jasna was balancing all of her stuff plus Riza's and Ren's bag on the pencil by now.

The blonde girl was a little ruffled by the sudden change of topic. Antonio could see that she wasn't done talking yet. Jasna threw the pile of utensils into the air and caught them separately. She then handed Riza and Ren their stuff and laid an arm around the fox girl.

"You know what I hate the most? Talking about boring things." Her wild hair was giving her the look of a lion shaking it's mane. "So... what are your measurements anyway?"

"HUH?" Riza was now fully shaken up. The girls started another loud conversation. Ren was meditating... or something. Apparently he was used to noisy girls too.

Antonio Chessa was staring at his old friend from a different angle.

'She did it on purpose.' There was no mistake. Jasna may not be the most sensitive person in Beacon, but she was not totally clueless either. Her consideration was giving Antonio a warm feeling.

But what Riza said would not disappear because of this. She hit some sore spot. He would have to evaluate this later.

...

The lecture ended with a small surprise. Professor Mayhiro managed to address her students. She scratched her hair that was hanging down to her waist.

"Just for those of you who have a shitty long term memory. The survival test is tomorrow. Get to the track field around 8 o' clock. Whoever comes late has to clean up. That's all." and with those words her battery was empty again.

"That's going to be so cool." Yang was stretching her arms in anticipation.

"..." Juge had lost any will to talk it seemed.

"What exactly do they mean by 'survival'?" Jaune wondered. His face looked rather white. "Will we be thrown into the Emerald Forest again?"

"I doubt they would repeat the initiation. It will have to be actual survival skills." Blake explained.

"Actual survival? So fighting Grimm is just a distraction?"

"Just break your way through the problems." Nora gave him a thumbs up.

"I want to see her break her way through hunger or sickness..." Alexandra commented from the back.

"For some strange reason I think she would actually mange to do just that." Antonio chuckled.

They walked outside to todays special assignment. There were a lot of those.

They would be carried over to Forever Fall by airship today. The red forest was a beautiful part of Vale, but also dangerous. They would gather red sap for the assignment and then return.

On their way towards the dorms they split up. Everyone had something to do to prepare. Antonio was going for the bench on the green next to the dorms. He was tired and had to think about some things. Jasna waved and yelled.

"I gotta write a letter before we leave. See ya Anto!"

"Understood." Antonio waved after her with a smile and leaned back on the bench. Jasna was always writing these letters. He was not sure to whom she send them. It was not his style to check the letter's address and look it up. That would have made him look like a stalker or something.

The two of them had been together for a long time, but Jasna still had her own little secrets. That was somewhat vexing, though he didn't know why he felt that way.

Vexing... that reminded him of the faunus girl's eyes. Riza Inari was a beauty, but all he could see was a dangerous person that can't connect to people. Ms. Lucy Stripes was somewhat of a relief to that state it seemed. 'What would she do if something happened to Lucy?'

In the end her words were not true. He didn't hate anything in this world. That's right... he was taught to rationalize, never let emotions mess up one's demeanor. His parents were strict in that regard.

Suddenly the brown haired teen was interrupted in his musings. A old man with gray hair and a mustache rivaling that of professor Port had been sitting down next to him.

"!?" How did Antonio not notice him? The shock he felt could not be hidden immediately.

"Hahaha sorry for startling you boy." The man laughed with his deep voice, resembling the sounds of a rusty grinder. He was sitting quite relaxedly having put one leg over the other and leaning his arms over the backrest. His eyes were almost narrow enough to be slits. All in all he seemed rough, but friendly.

"No, it was nothing." Antonio regained his composure and adjusted his hair. "My name is Antonio Chessa. Who have I the pleasure of meeting?"

"No need to be so formal hahaha!" The man laughed again. "Name's Valkin. I am just visiting this here Academy for a bit. Ozpin is quite demanding." The aged man was pointing up in a direction that had to be the headmaster's office.

'He knows Ozpin personally.' So he was no ordinary old man.

"I know what ya thinking, but I am just some old man who happens to know Ozpin from long ago." He replied to Antonio's thoughts. This was the second time someone read his mind today...

"I see. So why are you visiting the facilities? Do you have a relative who attends here?" It was a normal question, but Valkin reacted surprisingly deprecating.

"What, do I look like some grandpa to you? Like I had a grandson?! Stop spouting gibberish boy!" He rubbed his beard in apparent displeasure.

"I didn't want to insult you, but it was a very normal assumption." Antonio kept calm. For a second the man seemed about to lash out, but then his face returned to being amused.

"Heh. You have more backbone than I thought, boy." With those words some kind of weight had been lifted. Antonio hadn't even noticed it, but there had been a lot of pressure in the air. He could feel cold sweat running down his back.

'What a terrifying presence.' No doubt this man was a strong veteran.

"Not everyone could just keep talking calmly like that." He returned his gaze to the woods. "To answer yer question... I am a certified weapon smith. Ozpin asked my company a favor and I thought to myself 'why not visit Beacon again?' It's been a long time."

Only now did Antonio notice the giant bag filled with clunky things. It must have been weapon parts. That bag was enormous.

"This generation looks quite promising." Valkin added. "I met a faunus girl today who was very determined. The look in them eyes was reminding me of my old comrades."

Comrades? Weapon smith... Valkin. Slowly a picture formed in the well dressed teen's mind. But it couldn't be... That legendary man was rumored to be 3 heads taller than even huge soldiers and as muscular as a bodybuilder. His body should be full of scars and his eyes could pierce a person's mind just by glancing at them.

Or at least that's what the people said. Of course that had to be glorifications. Still... this old man didn't look anything like a seasoned warrior.

"I don't wish to be rude, but... are you perhaps that famous Ernst Valkin?"

"Hohoho. Looks like I was found out." He didn't seem to mind at all.

"So it is true?"

"Do I hear doubt there? Don't blame ya, boy." Valkin stroked his mustache. "But I'm not gonna lie. I am Ernst Valkin of Vulcanus forges." He pointed at a small token on his revers. It was a stylized lightning bolt hitting an anvil.

'Vulcanus Quality Forges Inc.' Of course Antonio recognized that name. They were some of the most famous weapon smiths in Vale. But they were very picky about their clients and would only rarely ever build weapons anymore. They were strong in the maintenance market, as far as he knew.

"So it's really you. It's an honor to meet such a legendary hunter such as yourself." Antonio bowed his head.

"Look up boy, or you might not see the enemy comin'." Antonio looked up in confusion and was suddenly hit by a finger-flick. It hit his forehead quite strongly. He held the hurting place with both hands while exhaling between his teeth. "Hahaha, that's what you get for bowing to someone ya barely know." Valkin looked quite amused. His raspy laugh was ringing in Antonio's ears.

"Is that right...?" He laughed along the old man to hide his annoyance.

"Look. I reckon you have been told a lot of stupid stuff about me, but in the end I am just a weapon smith. My huntin' days are over." He grinned at Anto. "You students have to protect the next generation, just like I did back in the day. My only job is to make it a lil' easier for y'all." The old man stood up dusting off his black jacket and trousers.

The wind was blowing through his shoulder long gray hair.

"Come by the school store when you need somethin' fixed." With these words he left the teen behind.

Antonio stared after him. "Hm?" Those words... did they imply that Valkin would stay here?

Also he said it as if he was certain that Antonio would have to fix his weapon soon. A scary advertisement.

Forever Fall - Sap tree valley

Forever Fall was well known for its beauty, that was only rivaled by it's own unilateralism. Red trees, red grass, brownish-red earth and even the sky was red around this time of day.

"I am seeing red." Jasna exclaimed in the middle of this red spiral wearing a red scarf to boot.

"No surprise there." Antonio commented without looking up from his glass. It was filled with red sap from red trees.

"That's not what I meant Anto." She punched his arm. Only miraculous coincidences prevented the sap from falling down in a big arc. One of those coincidences was that Jasna wasn't wearing her gauntlets. The second was that Antonio was holding the glass with his left hand. The same hand he was using to carry his map and compass. Usually one would expect to split those things on both hands evenly, but Antonio had just been retrieving the plug from the tree's new sap hole.

"What did you mean then, dear Jasna?" the brown-haired teen was suppressing any kind of painful sound. Even without gauntlet Jasna's fist was a force to be reckoned with.

"Don't you think it's bullshit that we are the only ones who had to go out here by themselves?" Indeed Antonio believed it to be bullshit, but he would not phrase it so crudely. Also he wouldn't agree to Jasna's true reason. "I mean now I am stuck with you. All the cute girls are with those pigs!"

'As expected.' He tilted his head.

"It's not as bad as you might think. We can at least enjoy the silence of this beautiful forest. Just listen to nature and rejoice." Even he thought that was a stretch in the name of optimism.

Jasna went quiet and crossed her arms. Her eyes were closed.

'Is she actually listening to the sounds of nature?'

The quietness was pierced by the sounds of something big and deathly roaring in the distance. The cracking of falling trees accompanied it. Not much later the voices of screaming much smaller beings could be heard too. First they went higher and higher in octaves until the voices suddenly stopped.

"You are right." Jasna was grinning wildly. "Leave it to nature to brighten my mood." She bumped her fists together.

...

A few minutes later Antonio was walking through the red landscape by himself. He had already given up on catching up to Jasna. That girl was like a snowball rolling down a snow mountain. With each second she got more momentum and got equally more terrifying.

Going by the compass and map they should not be too far away from the others anymore. They were supposed to go along the rear to warn everybody of something troublesome that may approach from behind. On that mission they got seriously side-tracked and left the group farther than sighting distance.

"In the end it looks like the real trouble was up ahead." Antonio simply smiled at the irony of the situation.

After a few more minutes the boy reached a rock and after climbing it he saw something odd in the distance. Three pairs of shimmering armor and outfits buried in leafs and earth.

He cautiously approached them and to his surprise he stumbled on some familiar faces. These were the three less important members of team CRDL.

"Excuse me gentlemen, what might have happened to you?" He asked them politely about their circumstances. Going by the deformed armor of Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark it was rather obvious what happened, but it didn't hurt him to ask them about it.

Russel Thrush was slowly opening his eyelids. "Rghn." was his well put report.

"Pardon my inadequacy, but 'Rghn' seems to be beyond my understanding of the human language." Antonio took his sweet time to approach them. Those wounds couldn't be that severe, or they wouldn't be breathing anymore, right?

"Urhm... sahh..." The talking green mohawk tried to form words.

"Oh are you perhaps trying to say you were attacked by an Ursa?" The brown-haired boy asked happily.

Mohawk nodded more or less vigorously. At least the hair was swinging up and down.

"That's terrible. How could some beast bully such fine human beings? Its cruelty knows no bounds." Antonio crouched down next to the three stooges. His words sounded sincere, but there was a small stinger in them. "Tell good friend. Where did it go? For some reason I can't imagine the beast would leave its prey alone, even if it would be much wiser, because the victim has strong friends." Even mohawk had caught his drift now.

"Heeh... lp?"

"Sorry, but first I will have to save the rest of the group from the beast. I hope you understand." He waved them goodbye and followed the Ursa's footsteps. "You should act like good little bunnies and dig a hole to hide."

He made it obvious that he was not in a hurry to get help.

...

After a short time he had reached the end of the footsteps. What he saw here was not the described Ursa. It was a whole group of Ursi. They surrounded a little orange something with two blood red lines swirling around it.

The orange ball was surprisingly tenacious even under constant attack of the white masked giant bear creatures' claws. With agile movements it dodged the first claw, was then jumping on the beast's arm and kicking of to reach the next creature's mask.

"HAAAH!" With an acceptable war cry the person sliced through the Ursa's neck creating a rift in the body which then proceeded to explode. Carried by the force of the explosion the warrior kicked one of the smaller Ursi's jaw and made it stumble backwards getting in the way of two more. With a somersault the huntress flipped back to the ground.

"Next!" She was moving her fingers in a taunting gesture.

"Looks like you have the situation under control dear Jasna." Antonio was spinning his umbrella in relaxation.

"Huh? Anto!" She was apparently distracted by his sudden appearance as she lost her stance for a second. One of the Ursi used that moment of weakness to attack her with a series of slashes from its white bone claws. "Woah!" Jasna barely managed to dodge the first attack, but the second hit her gauntlet and the third send her flying.

Antonio ran in the flight path and caught the smaller huntress in mid-air. As they landed he already felt the repercussions of being hit by Jasna directly. These were executed in form of a punch to his face.

"Let go idiot! You distracted me to play hero so I would fall for you! Admit it now and your punishment will only be half as painful."

"It is already pretty painful admitted or not." He was lying on the leaf filled ground and rubbing his jaw. "But I can assure you that I was not planning that far ahead when I saved you from crashing into a tree."

Their little back and forth was poorly timed though as the Ursi didn't magically drop dead. Quite the opposite; two of them were already about to hit Jasna again and another was jumping over his fallen comrade to elevate himself into a jump attack.

With unknown synchronization the two hunters where working together. Jasna rolled to the side to dodge the first slash and with a spinning attack she cut off the Grimm's hand below the bone protection. It's painful roar was accompanied by shaking and thus hitting its fellow Ursa in the side.

While that took place Antonio had immediately pointed his umbrella at the incoming descending Ursa. The beast slowed down mid-fall. It came as a surprise to the Grimm, but not to Antonio. It was his doing after all. By increasing the friction in front of him he slowed down the fall immensely, giving him more than enough time to aim. With three shots, meaning nine bullets, he nailed all of the beast's vital spots. When it finally fell down it hit the already hurt Ursa on the back and buried it under before disappearing into flames.

Jasna meanwhile had exchanged blows with the other Grimm. The Ursa's strength should have been highly above hers, but she somehow managed to deflect the claws time and time again with her own gauntlet's blades. Her speed was almost even. After a slower attack she managed to hook into the claws of the Grimm and twist her blades around making the beast's wrist crack. It then tried to tackle her, but she punched at it's mask in point blank range and an explosion shattered the creature's face completely.

"Heh. We still work like a well oiled mechanical clock." Jasna spoke rare words of praise.

"Not a bad analogy." Antonio agreed.

Their little victory quotes were harshly interrupted by a flying tree. This flying tree was particularly unexpected, because it came from behind. Before Antonio could say anything it grazed Jasna's shoulder and send her flying again. Other objects of nature followed.

"Jasna are you okay?" Antonio dodged more rocks and other projectiles while keeping an eye on the smarter Ursa in the back.

The huntress was getting up, but her shoulder wasn't looking good. It had bend in an unhealthy angle.

"This much is nothing... You should better watch out for more flying bullshit." Her voice wasn't shaky, but Antonio could tell she was in pain. "They won't get another lucky hit in."

"I believe you are the lucky one, for only getting your shoulder damaged." The brown haired umbrella wielder corrected her and moved ahead. He hoped to distract the Grimm from the barely moving Jasna. Also he had to shorten the distance.

The Ursa roared loudly and threw another tree at Antonio. It waited for the impact , but when the tree hit the ground and the blown up earth settled down it lost all sight of the human. Turning its head left and right to look for the prey it suddenly noticed a shadow from above.

Antonio had reduced the friction around his body to increase his jumping distance and landed on a tree. With swift movements he closed in on his opponent and pushed a button on the umbrella's handle. The tip turned into a spear blade and the skin became more resilient and tighter. This was appropriately called spear mode.

The hunter jumped off the tree and towards the Grimm's protected head. Spear first he wanted to stab into the beast, but the Ursa noticed him a little too early and swung its deadly claws at him.

Antonio moved his left arm in a circling motion and the Ursa's arm seemingly slowed down. In reality it was just meeting tougher resistance than normal empty air would allow. But to Antonio's surprise the beast managed to push through anyway.

'The friction was too weak...' He braced for impact managed to only be scratched over the chest as he rammed his spiral spearhead deep into the Ursa's mask. They both hit a tree and collapsed. Antonio rolled over the red grass getting his clothes full of dirt.

After the world stopped spinning he spat out some leafs.

"Not one of my most graceful stunts." He admitted to nobody in particular.

After a few moments passed Jasna appeared by his side.

"Looks like you still can't die so easily." She mumbled. Apparently she was still embarrassed by her blunder.

Antonio nodded while adjusting his tattered shirt and vest. Small red marks were running across his chest.

"Are you badly hurt...?" Her voice was now concerned.

"Nothing a needle and a threat cannot fix." He said jokingly. She glared at him. "I meant the vest of course. These scratches only need some band-aids." He raised his hands in a placatory fashion.

"Let's return to the others. I want to hear some praise and maybe get promised half the land and the mayor's daughter as a reward." she made a smug face and started drooling a little.

"At least one of these things seems possible hahaha." He laughed at her funny face as they walked back to the others.

...

When they returned to the other students and miss Goodwitch they were welcomed by shocked faces. After some explaining (Jasna may have exaggerated the size, amount and kind of enemies a little) they managed to calm the students down.

"I see. You have performed well. But next time..." She pointed her staff at them. "Do not engage the Grimm. Inform us instead and leave the fighting to me as planned." Her voice was strict, but not reprimanding. "Mr. Chessa seems to be fine, but Ms. Zora needs medical attention soon. Coincidentally everyone has finished their assignment already. We can return to the ship now everyone." Her last words were aimed at all students around them. With quick steps she lead the way.

Phyrra and Juge approached them first.

"So you fought a bunch of Ursi and Nevermore only by yourselves. I am impressed." The young Velmón nodded in admiration.

"About those Nevermore..." Antonio interjected, but Jasna used her good arm to punch his side.

"What about them?"

"They... argh... where quite small actually." Somehow he managed to find a compromise with Jasna's fist and his bad conscience. "And it was only one at best."

"At best?" Now Phyrra was looking at him doubtfully.

"Anyway! Let's forget about that boring stuff. What happened to you guys? Didn't any of you notice the Grimm nearby?" The short-haired girl forcefully changed the topic.

"It's amazing actually. Jaune killed his first Grimm today." Phyrra clapped in her hands.

"He was really cool. The sword was swinging like Swooosh ka-ching! And the Ursa's head fell off." Ruby drew a mental picture.

Jasna looked at her baffled and then scanned the area for the blonde goof ball. He was standing a distance away talking to Riza and Lucy. The young hunter looked extremely happy and confident.

"You are joking right?"

"Even better he saved Cardin from the Ursa too. His bullying will stop now."

"Aw, but I wanted to break his legs!" Nora was looking a little dejected.

"That's out of the question." Alexandra sighed.

Antonio stopped at their words. Something about Cardin and Ursa... he was forgetting something.

"Ah." He exclaimed. "I forgot about the bunnies."

"Huh?" Everyone's expression showed confusion.

Beacon Academy - Team AKJA's dorm room

In the end the medical staff decided that putting some bandages around Antonio's torso would be easier than plastering the red lines with dozens of band-aids. Now he probably resembled Kirk in looks if they took off their shirts.

"That reminds me..." He was sitting on a chair on the girl's side. Today Jasna was very generous towards him, maybe because he helped her out, maybe because she needed someone to distract her from the pain in her shoulder after it had been adjusted. Now the scarf wearing tomboy looked up from her magazine.

"What is it?"

"I know that Kirk has... dubious hobbies and that he offended both of you in various ways, but I don't think that justifies hurting him to such an extend." He scolded her.

"The hell are you on about?" Her face showed dismay at the mention of the smallest member of the team. "I didn't punch his guts since the hammer idiot ran away."

"That might be true, but you must have hurt him quite badly back then. He is still wearing the bandages."

"I don't recall doin' that much damage to him. Certainly wasn't me." She denied it flat out. Antonio knew that she wasn't lying. If she really broke his ribs or something she would most likely brag about it.

Then it must have been the other two...

"Don't even look at me. If it had been my doing he would have two big holes inside his skull." Alexandra huffed and returned to her homework. It was scary that she was not even joking.

'In that case Weiss?' But as far as he remembered the heiress had been dead set on Akashi. Yang on the other hand was focused on the pitiable Juge who was still facing the consequences of his mishap.

The mystery of Kirk's wounds would not be solved this way it seemed. He would ask the guy when he returned from whatever he was doing right now.

Until then he would relax and continue reading his book. Blake had recommended it to him.

The sun went down peacefully and ended the long day.

Riza's day:

Beacon Academy - Team LARJ/JNPR's room

The sounds of barely contained anger and apologetic answers woke Riza from her slumber. It was not the best thing to wake up to, but she had experienced worse. She opened her tired eyes and turned slightly to the left. Her clock said it was barely five in the morning...

For a few seconds she considered to stand up. Her body was extremely sluggish and the blanket was so warm. Her bushy tail was hanging off the bed too.

The problems could surely wait for another two hours, no?

As her eyes closed again she drifted into the warmth of the blanket.

"Come here!" An unidentified force suddenly thought it to be appropriate to pull Riza out of her comfy bed and throw her into the core of the problem.

"I-wha-yes?" Her eyes flew open and she hurriedly checked her surroundings. Someone was laying an arm around her and pointing ahead. In front of her was... Juge. He was in a sorry state and kind of incapacitated right now. That was due to the bed and other furniture being placed on his back.

Riza turned her head and saw that Yang was the one close to her.

"Riza tell him!" She urged her on. But Riza had not the slightest idea what this admittedly unique girl asked of her.

"Sorry... what?" The faunus girl rubbed her eyes. It was too early to be drawn into social interactions. Even fully awake she was barely keeping up with the others.

"Tell him how hard it is to take care of this long beautiful hair." Yang was holding one of Riza's loose strands of hair in her hand.

The events of yesterday slowly came back to her. Right. The reason Yang was here in the first place is her revenge on Juge. Some people might have considered the burying of a person under all kinds of furniture as sufficient, but to each their own. Juge was at least conscious, as he was looking up to them.

"I uh..." It was true that it took a lot of time and effort to maintain her long blonde hair. Hair of this length tended to get split ends, caught up in all kinds of things and was hard to comb after a long shower with only the right types of shampoo. Riza had seriously considered cutting it several times, because long hair could be a serious problem in fights too, but in the end she didn't have the heart to do it.

Getting gravy into this delicate balance was the same as throwing a tornado into a cornfield.

"She is right. It's not easy." Riza experimentally used a scolding tone. Maybe that would please the golden girl.

"Clearly an understatement! I've been in the shower for 2 hours." The lilac eyes were serious.

"Like... I said..." Juge was straining his voice under the heavy load. "It was an accident... and I am sorry... about it."

"Sorry isn't going to cut it."

Riza sighed. "Please forgive him Yang. Juge is not the greatest person, but he is honest. If he says that it was an accident then it was. I don't see how this is going to make it better." Again she rubbed her tired eyes. Waking her up for something like this definitely was making things worse for her.

"How can I make up for it...?" Juge sounded more exhausted than sorry, but he wasn't backing away from the problem like Akashi, Jaune and Kirk did. Seeing how it turned out made her question who was wiser though.

Yang let go of Riza and crossed her arms. Tilting her head in thought she glanced through the room. The faintest rays of a sunrise were slowly creeping through the window. After spotting something in the girl's part of the double room she sprinted back and forth to show them something. Her grin was wide.

"Become my servant!"

"HUH?" Riza and Juge exhaled in unison.

Yang was pointing at the magazine she was holding in her hands. It was an ad for butler services.

...

A few hours and lots of nerves later the deal had finally been made. A contract one might say. Juge was now officially (in a very broad sense of the word) under Yang's command.

"Jugey are you two timing me ~?" Lucy who had awoken in the meanwhile was asking curiously.

"Please don't put it like that leader..." Juge rubbed his temples.

"Don't worry you can have him for your purposes whenever you want Lucy." Yang patted Lucy's head.

'They are already treating him like their personal slave...' Riza's smile was stiff and her eyes twitched.

"I don't know whether I should be envious or not." Jaune commented. He was wearing his... special pajamas.

"You can be my servant too lover-boy." Yang snickered.

"Don't do it Jaune." Phyrra went between them and shook her head.

"You are acting like his mother." Yang and Lucy laughed.

Ren laid one hand on Juge's shoulder to show his sympathy. "It's a heavy burden." Juge nodded.

"Hehe. My first command is..." She spun her finger. "You will call me master from now on!"

"W-what?!" Juge looked devastated.

"Isn't that natural?" Nora appeared. "A butler is always bowing down and saying 'How can I serve you today master?' " She made a butler pose and mimicked a deep and obedient voice.

Juge's facial expression clearly got tense. Was it hurting his pride or...?

While the new servant and master duo made a scene, Riza entered the bathroom. There was no point in watching that mess. After taking a hot shower to rub off all the tension and tiredness from her body she dressed in her school uniform and left the bathroom again.

It seemed like Juge had finally given in. He was blushing somewhat, though the fox girl was not sure if it was out of embarrassment or anger.

From the corner of her eyes she noticed Lucy looking at a piece of paper.

"What are you reading?" She asked her to distract herself from the idiocy taking place behind her. Lucy was sitting on Akashi's bed. "Akashi is still not back? Did he sleep at Ozpin's office or what?" She pursed her lips.

"No..." Lucy looked up. Her eyes were tinged in sadness. Now Riza was alarmed. She headed over to her friend and sat down.

"Can you show me?" Her voice was as soft as she could manage. The red-head nodded and handed her the paper or rather the letter. It was short but serious.

"He left..." Riza was surprised. Akashi never seemed like somebody who would just run away when facing a problem. After what Weiss said he was a little shaken, but when she saw him last yesterday he seemed to enjoy himself. The boys were fooling around and it didn't seem like that would change.

It was too sudden.

"His hammer was banned... ~" Lucy tried to find a good explanation.

"But why did he leave? He could just make a new one!" The longer she thought about it the angrier she got. Sadness wouldn't come, but she was definitely angry at Akashi. How could he just leave them behind? Weren't they a team? Lucy didn't deserve such a poor team.

Lucy... Riza tentatively stretched out her arm to pull Lucy to her. It was a soft and awkward hug.

"It's fine Riza... Aka will return ~" Her voice was unsure. Maybe she was comforting herself, maybe she believed in him. Riza nodded anyway.

The others soon noticed the bad mood and asked what was up. When they read the letter the reactions differed a lot.

"He wouldn't run away, right?" Yang stayed neutral.

"He must have a good reason!" Jaune defended his friend.

"I bet he gets his ancient family heirloom dragon canon to blow up the school for revenge ~" Nora was quick in inventing her own narrative.

Ren and Phyrra said that they didn't know Akashi well enough to understand.

Only Juge kept quiet. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be thinking.

"What do you think?" Riza asked the boy in the blue vest. The young heir looked up and groaned.

"It's nothing."

"Tell us now lackey. That's a command from your master." Yang said smiling. Juge looked at her with barely hidden annoyance.

"Akashi... I view him as a rival. I know he will return. And he will be stronger. That's what I believe... no, I know it."

"That's quite trusty of you."

Now Juge managed a small smirk. "If he doesn't return it would be too easy to become Beacon's number one student."

"My servant sure has guts! What would you do if I commanded you to make me the number one?" Her laugh was almost sadistic.

Juge started sweating.

"Oh boy." Riza shook her head and headed for the door. On her way she noticed Jaune was sitting at his table writing on something. She approached him with interest and looked over his shoulder.

"What are you writing?"

"A-aaah!" Jaune jerked away from her with a small yelp. Hadn't he noticed her? "Oh hi Riza. Th-this?" he took the paper away. "Just the homework for Oobleck."

"Hm." Riza mustered the blonde boy. He was shaky and avoiding eye-contact. "Didn't you do it yesterday evening already?" She pointed out. Jaune gulped. He seriously made it hard not to be suspicious of him.

"No that was something different. You must have mixed it up!" He smiled forcefully.

Riza stared at him doubtfully, but then decided to leave it be. "Fine. My mistake. You really shouldn't do your homework right before classes though." With those scolding words she let him be. His body visibly relaxed.

A bit later most of the teams got ready and walked out the door.

"Wait I have another idea." Yang gave Juge a mischievous grin. "You'll carry everyone's bags." With that said she took everybody's school bags and pressed them into Juge's hands. "Mine is still in RWBY's room. Let's go everyone." She jumped onto Juge's back to be carried as well. The boy in blue was barely able to hold out. His legs got wobbly.

Lucy and Nora were obviously amused by this turn of events as they were flocking around the two. Riza sighed and walked out next to Jaune and Phyrra.

Out in the hallway they met team AKJA or at least most of them. The little camera holding guy was not to be seen, but he usually hid somewhere close by.

Jasna was laughing her lungs out at the new butler in training.

"I do feel kind of bad for him." Riza said to Antonio who was smirking. Juge was her teammate and he wasn't a bad guy. She wasn't sure whether Yang was going too far or if he was too nice.

Their next stop was team RWBY's room and they were drawn in yet another commotion. After throwing Ruby out of bed and introducing the new asset to her team Yang got her school uniform and bag. They all left the room together.

...

They were walking over campus when Jasna and Antonio noticed the missing Akashi. Lucy showed them the letter that he had left behind.

"That idiot! He could at least have talked to us. Just leaving a letter... what was he thinking?" She was still not sure why it made her so angry. But if she listened to her heart... it was probably because Lucy had to suffer. She couldn't stand to see her friend sad.

What Riza didn't notice was the white-haired girl in front of her tensing up.

The faunus girl played with her Ryuyari in staff mode while thinking about the situation.

"...huh?" When she looked up she saw a silhouette near the Academy's portal. The shape of a person. At the entrance to the academy... could it be?

"Where are you going Riza ~?" Lucy yelled after her.

"Don't worry about it, just go to professor Port's lecture." She waved the red-head while running towards the other side of campus. Nobody else had noticed the person, so it must have been her good faunus eyes.

After almost sprinting over the whole grass field she slowed down a little. The person hadn't moved an inch since she first spotted them. They were in a barely visible angle behind one of the supports.

The gate was wide open and nothing obstructed them. Riza caught her breath and advanced more cautiously. That wasn't Akashi.

With small steps she went around the corner and looked carefully.

"Sneaking up on me, are ya?" A voice close to her ear made Riza's hair stand up and she turned around swinging her weapon on instinct.

Clang!

The person had deflected the attack with the hilt of a weapon... that was pointing out of a huge bag. When she looked up she saw that her opponent was just an old man. He didn't seem surprised or even angry.

"Hohoho is that any way to greet a guest of this academy lil' lady?" His laugh sounded like someone grinded two rusty knifes against each other. Grey hair was swinging in the morning breeze.

"S-sorry sir!" Riza apologized instinctively. Thinking about it she had almost killed an elderly person. Was she too trigger happy?

Again the old man laughed. "It's fine. I like that spunk you youngsters have around here. Ozpin is doing a good job if ya'll can still attack someone who snuck up on ya without a second thought."

Then it dawned on Riza. Of course! He had snuck up on her from behind, so her reaction was legitimated.

"Though I have only returned the favor." He winked. Apparently he thought she was sneaking up on him first.

"I'm really sorry. It seems I had you mixed up with someone... or maybe that was just wishful thinking in the first place." She felt a bit down.

"Dat so? See many senior citizens around here? Family?" He looked amused.

"No the person I was thinking about is my age. And I don't have a grandfather anymore that I could mix you up with."

"Are ya saying I could be your grandfather?! Do I look like a grandfather to you!?" The man suddenly glared at her and got furious.

Riza was confused. She didn't know many human elders, but she thought this man was around that age... He knew Ozpin. Was he perhaps the headmaster's age?

The aura coming from the old man was intimidating and it seemed like he could strike her down in anger at any time.

"So what if you did? Is it a bad thing?" She pressed out these words while returning his glare. If he wanted to snap at her for no reason she could as well bare her fangs back at him.

For a moment she felt like he would attack her... but then he calmed down. The pressure vanished and he smiled friendly again.

"That depends." He said with a shrug. "What's yer name lil' lady?"

'What was that? And now he wants to exchange pleasantries?!'

"Riza Inari." She said in a low voice while staying on guard. The man showed signs of recognition.

"From the Inari family. Good people." He scratched his mustache. "Sad what happened to them." He added and his voice sounded genuinely sympathetic.

Riza stayed quiet.

"Name's Valkin by the way. Ernst Valkin. Retired hunter and not so much retired weapon smith." The man called Valkin changed the topic tactfully. "I visit this here academy 'cause Ozpin asked me a favor. Taking a look at some hammer or whatnot."

Those words made the fox girl look up.

"A hammer? Maybe a gravity hammer?" She closed in on him.

"Correct. So ya know about it."

"It belongs to a friend." She explained to him.

"The same guy you mixed me up with, huh?" He was smart. Riza nodded.

"Well from what I can tell he build somethin' quite dangerous there. The only other person I know who builds that kinda stuff is Alexis Mayhiro. A good huntress, but a little careless."

That was a surprise. So Akashi build the weapon after his sister's example.

"Mind escorting this old man to the shop?" He asked her with one eye closed.

"Uh sure. Please follow me." Riza went ahead and he followed her. What did he want at the school's shop?

"Setting up tent. This'll be my base of operation for the next few days."

"So you want to stay at the academy?" Maybe his company wanted to set foot in this academy and that's his real reason for being here. Ozpin would see through such an act immediately.

They walked through the wet grass until they reached a door to the main building. After walking along some hallways they finally reached the school store.

"This is Beacon's school store. They only open after ten o' clock." The store was closed indeed. They sold all kinds of school articles that students would need additionally to a small assortment of overpriced snacks and drinks. There were rumors that for the right sum of money the store would also sell 'special items'. What that meant was not entirely clear.

"Hohoho there is more than enough room for my purposes!" He exclaimed while throwing the bag down. It made sounds of clashing metal. "Thanks lil' lady. You better hurry to yer lecture now. If they didn't change the regulations since my youth, lectures should start around this time."

"I forgot!" Riza got really nervous. There were only ten minutes left before lectures started and she was all the way on the other side of the academy. She started running like the wind and hastily said her farewells.

Valkin was just laughing behind her.

Beacon Academy - Lecture Hall

Riza managed to make it in time, but she was so exhausted that she missed most of professor Port's lecture. At least she was not alone with this state, as Jaune was sleeping like a log at her side. Now that Akashi was gone he apparently thought she would be a good substitute cushion to sleep on.

"Seriously..." The blonde boy was leaning his head on her shoulder while she was laying her head on the ledge. When he started drooling on her she got annoyed. "Stop it." She pushed him over to the other side where he leaned on Nora.

"Haha!" Nora pushed him back to her with a bright laugh.

"Wha-?" Riza was surprised, but then she pushed Jaune over to the orange haired girl again.

"Counter!" Nora exclaimed and pushed Jaune against her even harder.

They continued this action for a while until Riza was too tired to continue. How deep was Jaune's sleep anyway? Any normal person would have awoken already.

Riza decided to just ignore him and relaxed her tired head. In that moment she noticed some different pressure, this time on her tail.

"Lucy!" Her friend had been laying her head on her tail this whole time. The headphones were over her ears secluding the girl from the outside world.

It turns out that Riza was a really good living cushion...

...

After the lecture ended the teams gathered their things.

"Wow it looks like my servant here is actually pretty smart." Yang said impressed.

"Really ~?" Lucy looked well rested now, which made Riza feel all the more tired.

"Yeah. I looked through his bag and found the test results from yesterday. Akashi may be a smart guy, but carrier boy here isn't far off. 97, that's pretty good." Yang snickered.

"Woah!" Ruby looked impressed too.

"That's because I actually studied for the test." Juge took the praise without much reaction. "Also do you want me to just ignore that you went through my bag without asking...?"

"I am sure we can put your talent to good use." Yang simply ignored his comments.

Riza looked at her own test results. A 76. Her grades were always mediocre all the way back since Signal. This felt pretty good.

"You guys are all so smart." Jasna put her arms behind her head. "I didn't pass." She didn't look remorseful in the least. It was just a surprise mock test, so there was no reason to fret, but...

"Didn't you just draw a few pictures on your sheet and put 'Francis Drake' in your name box, dear Jasna?" Antonio scratched his cheek.

"Oh right." Jasna grinned. "You on the other hand played good student again." with a swift move she pulled out his test sheet. "A whopping 95. You are such a try-hard."

"Much like Mr. Velmón over here I just study a little bit every day."

"Neeeerd!" Jasna playfully teased him.

One after another everyone compared their scores. The overall result was quite good.

'Could it be...?' Something started to dawn on her.

"Could it be that this test was pretty easy?" Jaune said what she was thinking. He had not passed by the way.

"I think so too." Blake agreed with him.

"..." Weiss face looked grim. This time Riza noticed it. That girl was probably thinking that she got mad at Akashi for something trivial now. The fox girl felt not much sympathy. Weiss behavior yesterday was not okay.

Ruby on the other hand looked like she felt bad for her teammate. She put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay Weiss. I am sure Akashi got over it." At those words Weiss shook the smaller girl's hand off and turned around.

"No he didn't." She seemed absolutely certain.

"On to the next lesson. I have an idea." Yang tried to change the mood by pushing the bags on Juge again and marching on.

"Yay!" Nora cheered and walked behind them as if it was some kind of parade.

...

Oobleck's lesson went down something like this.

"So can anyone tell me how the Beryllium war ended? Oh Mr. Velmón!"

"It ended with a draw between the two nations and a peace treaty."

"Marvelous! You are correct."

"Professor..."

"Yes?"

"Yang told me the answer."

"What? Uhm... that's not good." Oobleck looked confused.

A few minutes later.

"So what where the last words he uttered before his death? Ah Mr. Velmón again?"

"'Death creeps close. The forces should retreat... for my soul has already lost its battle.'"

"A meaningful quote indeed. Splendid."

"Yang... also told me this answer." Juge said. His face was a mask.

"Well why isn't Ms. Long speaking for herself?"

"I... begged her to tell me the answer so I could get extra credit."

"I fear that you are not going very smart at it then, Mr. Velmón. Please think of your own answers next time."

And then.

"About 200.000 troops." Yang answered another question with a smile.

"Right on the mark Ms. Long. It seems my lessons weren't passing through your ears after all. Take note Mr. Arc and Mr. Winchester."

Cardin snorted.

While Oobleck continued Riza finally looked over to the pair. It was obvious how things turned out this way.

"You are pretty good servant ~" Yang seemed delighted. "But you should call me master not Yang."

"..." Juge didn't respond to that.

After the lesson ended The groups mixed up. Ruby walked over to her sister and looked somewhat angry.

"You have to stop this sis."

"You are ruining his reputation now." Blake looked up from her book.

Yang looked like she was in thought.

"He's a tough guy and I am almost done." In the end she wouldn't let him off the hook just yet.

"How are you hanging in there?" Riza walked next to the new manservant in the blue vest.

"I am fine. This punishment is lighter than what I am used to." His voice was not revealing if he was serious or not.

"You have a problem with calling her master. Is that because you are embarrassed?" Her eyes shifted from his face to the others. Nobody was listening in on them.

Juge closed his eyes for a bit. "I have only one master. My father who trained and taught me. Elevating Yang to the same position feels wrong." He showed a rare moment of weakness. But then he straightened himself up. "It would be an insult for Yang if I put her on the same level as that slave driver anyway." He winked.

Riza couldn't suppress a chuckle. So he was not broken yet.

Beacon Academy - Dining hall

As always the dining hall was filled with the majority of Beacon's students. On hot days like this some people felt the need to take their lunch outside and eat on the grass or under the trees, but that was still an exception. The semester had just really started, so most people where still getting used to the facilities. Despite their looks, the benches were actually comfy too.

"Have you heard? Trevor's spear was stolen."

"Are you sure he didn't just break it again?"

"Come on that was only once!"

"What's with that line up today?!"

As always the conversations around the hall were loud and intertwined into a huge cacophony of noise.

"Today we have that assignment in the Forever Fall forest." Phyrra looked at her time table.

"That's a cool name." Jaune was sipping on his juice can.

"It's a place infested with Grimm."

Jaune spat out his drink.

"Ew! Control yourself buffoon." Weiss was hit in the face. This was the first time she reacted to anything today.

"S-sorry." Jaune apologized and searched for a handkerchief, but Blake was faster. With elegance she handed her one.

"Thanks." Weiss rubbed herself dry.

"I can't wait!" Ruby was apparently psyched about the idea.

Riza felt her blood boiling. "Yes... me either."

"What does red sap taste like ~?" Lucy interjected the conversation.

"I am not quite sure, but you should probably not eat it." Phyrra smiled amusedly.

"The red sap of Forever Fall can be used as an ingredient for many things." Now Juge shared his knowledge. "It is a perfect sweetener for black tea among other things."

"Are you good at making tea?" Yang asked him curiously.

"I think I am quite decent. Tea is the best refreshment after a long training session."

"Now you got me curious. Make me some tea!" Yang demanded. Juge looked at her with surprise. And then he smiled.

"I will ask the cafeteria staff if they would lend me their can and filters then." He stood up and advanced towards the kitchen.

A few minutes later he returned with hot water and a kettle as well as a filter and some tea leaves.

"They didn't have the quality leaves that I am familiar with, but this should be enough for a demonstration." He set it all up and then slowly stirred the leaves and made adjustments. All the while he explained some of the details.

Yang looked interested and listened to his explanation nodding every now and then.

'He looks so happy.' Riza noticed the total change of Juge's expressions. From neutral or annoyed to happy and excited. This must have meant a lot to him. And Yang looked like she finally understood something. Her smile was tinged with a drop of guilt.

"Here you go." Juge poured her a cup and handed it to her. "Let it cool down for a bit and then drink when it is just between too hot and lukewarm. That's the moment where it will taste best."

Yang blew the steam away and waited a moment before sipping on it. "Pretty good." She said. "But it's really bitter."

"If we had some of the red sap I could probably improve the taste for you." Juge cupped his chin thinking.

"Let's get some extra sap then and have a tea-party later ~" This suggestion came from Lucy.

"Great idea." Riza agreed.

"I want some of that tea as well." Ren said with an unusual glint in his eyes.

"Maybe..." Juge looked at everyone. "Maybe we should do that after the survival test to relax everybody."

"I will bring cookies!" Ruby joined in.

And that was how they decided on a tea-party for the next day.

Beacon Academy - Lecture Hall

Professor Mayhiro's lesson was the last of the day before the special assignment. They were put into groups to talk about "relevant topics" as she put it.

"I think she is depressed that Akashi left." Riza said seriously.

"Dunno. Aren't we always chilling in her lectures?" Jasna was balancing her note-book on a pencil.

"She can't even muster enough interest to talk to us today..."

"She has dark circles under her eyes." Ren added.

Their group just like all the others was obviously not talking about tactics against Grimm. Riza didn't think it would make any difference, so she just leaned back and started some chit-chat.

"Well she has some serious brother issues, but good for us." Jasna added another layer to her balance act.

"Please don't talk about a professor like that dear Jasna." The brown-haired boy corrected her immediately.

'He is doing it subconsciously at this point.' Riza was impressed. Antonio acted as if he was Jasna's keeper.

"But you hate her, Anto."

"That is not true. I don't hate anyone in this world." He smiled friendly. "Her and my perception and thinking just differ a lot."

"Whatever you say." Jasna was now balancing her whole bag on one pencil tip.

"I don't believe you." Suddenly Riza interjected. Her stare was intense.

"Pardon?"

"There is no person in this world who doesn't hate someone or at least something." She didn't dislike Antonio, but there was always something fake about him. He was repressing his emotions and put up a front. Or that was at least how Riza perceived it. And he was always nice. Always friendly. How could he be so composed? Everybody had something or someone that made them mad. A man like Antonio shouldn't exist...

"Fair enough." He smiled. "If I had to name one thing... well I dislike strawberries."

"That's not what I meant and you know it." She wouldn't let him off the hook today. "Dislikes in food are not the same. I am talking about real hatred." The fox girl could feel her body getting hotter and her eyes feeling dry.

"I fear there is no such thing in my life." He answered dryly. He had stopped smiling. His hands were busy scribbling down more paragraphs.

"You are bottling it up... it will someday burst out you know?" Of course she was speaking from experience. His reaction was ascertaining her.

"Your expression went cold. Could it be I was right? Are you-"

"Alright!" Suddenly Jasna released a loud cheer. "This must be some kind of record. Now that I think about it this looks just like the blue vest guy this morning. One small thing carrying all of that weight." Her smile was bright. "Look Riza! Ain't I awesome?" Jasna was balancing all of her stuff plus Riza's and Ren's bag on the pencil by now.

Riza was surprised by that sudden outburst next to her. She was so focused on pressing out Antonio that she had forgotten about the girl with the red scarf.

Jasna threw the pile of utensils into the air and caught them separately. She then handed Riza and Ren their stuff and laid an arm around the fox girl.

"You know what I hate the most? Talking about boring things." Her wild hair was giving her the look of a lion shaking its mane. "So... what are your measurements anyway?"

"HUH?" Riza was now fully shaken up. She could never tell if Jasna was joking or not. That wasn't a topic people normally talked about, right? They never did so at Signal... though she was never close enough to anyone to be fully sure of that.

"Come on we are both girls. I'll tell you mine too."

"But I don't want to know-" The grip got tighter.

"That's so cruel of you ~" Contrary to her words she was smiling lewdly. "Yours are all that matter anyway."

Riza felt a shiver down her spine. This was the look of a predator. Not normal! Totally abnormal. It's not like she hadn't suspected it, but Jasna really was...

And then she let go.

"Ah what a shame. I wouldn't want to scare you. I was just envious of your great figure." Jasna shrugged and leaned back again.

That was definitely not envy, but something else in her eyes... but Riza stayed quiet, happy that she got out of that grip.

Her words rang through the faunus' head. That was the first time someone ever complimented her like this. She forcefully suppressed a blush. Jasna had been doing that since the first day here. It made her heart throb.

'Calm down! This is just unnatural.' Even while scolding herself she couldn't bring herself to look up.

...

As the lecture ended they were informed about the survival test on the next day again. It was important. Riza tried to gain some distance from her group. On the way out she noticed that Juge was looking exhausted again. Jaune stayed behind for some reason.

When they all left she watched Antonio sit down on a bench and Jasna going back to the dorms. Was this the right time to press him out again?

"Carry me!" With that demand a huge weight was suddenly placed on Riza's back.

"...you really have to exercise more Lucy." Her resigned voice was belying her smile.

"I am carried by the support of my people ~"

"Right now you are only carried by me though. Your responsibility is a heavy burden."

"Waah, Riza said I am fat ~"

"What? No! You are... very light."

"Like a feather ~?"

"I wouldn't go that far..." They chatted while Riza carried Lucy towards the dorm. Without noticing she had already gotten used to Lucy's selfish demands.

...

The duo reached the dorms and entered team LARJ's room.

"Okay you can let go now." Riza said exhaustedly.

"Aw. Your back was so warm ~" Lucy said some weird things sometimes.

"Maybe... but now it feels stiff. Just like my shoulders." She rubbed said body parts.

"Isn't that because Riza has such a good figure?"

"Huh?" Riza jerked up. That was the second time someone said it today. And it was a girl again. "Don't be silly. You are the one with the good body. Slender is better. Definitely."

They changed into their casual clothes and walked out of the dorm.

When they reached the exit the duo ran across a familiar figure. Lucy brightened up.

"Velveeeet ~" The red-head waved the faunus girl at the end of the hallway. The bunny-ears stiffened up as the brown-haired girl turned around.

"Oh." she sighed. "H-hello Lucy. Riza." For some reason she seemed depressed.

"What's up?" the blonde immediately noticed the heavy air around the fellow student. She didn't hang around Velvet much, but she knew that the girl was always troubled. "Bullying?" She asked while cracking her knuckles.

"N-no!" Her arms made a denying pose. "N-not directly..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It... uhm... is nothing."

"Here ~" Lucy gave her a pocky. Velvet looked unsure for a second. Then she tenderly took one and nibbled on it.

"Please you can tell us your worries. We can't help unless you trust us." If it was connected to her heritage Riza could definitely relate. Velvet stayed quiet for what seemed to be forever. Then she slowly mumbled something.

"My team... they hate me."

"What? Why?" That came as a shock. "Is it because..."

"N-no I don't think it's because I am a faunus." She shook her head. "It's because... I am useless." She looked down at her feet.

"That can't be true! Nobody is useless." The fox girl immediately rejected the idea.

"B-but my weapon was destroyed in the Initiation... and I always mess up in lectures..." Her hazelnut eyes looked sad.

"You are not the only one who is bad in lectures. Just look at Jaune, Jasna and Lucy. Kirk is even treated as absent when he is present sometimes." The little jab at her friend got unnoticed. Or at least the red-head didn't care.

"...but..." Velvet looked like she was about to cry.

"Your team should be ashamed. First they left you behind at the Initiation and now they fault you for it." Riza tapped her foot in annoyance. "Can you show me your weapon?"

"S-sure..." Velvet pulled out a assortment of metal pieces.

"It's really broken ~"

"Absolutely." Both of them could see that it was beyond repair.

A wind breeze shook the girl's hair. Just like this morning...

Or was it really impossible?

"Come with me!" She grabbed Velvet's small hand and started walking.

"E-eh?! Where are we going?" The rabbit-girl looked confused.

"To visit the elderly."

Beacon Academy - School store/Weapon smith

Since she escorted Valkin here this morning a lot had changed. For one the shop-keeper looked severely vexed. He had now to share his space with this weird old man. All the students were pulled towards the new spectacle, so he had to always move from the counter and leave room for Valkin. The old man was not impolite or anything... but something about his aura made the clerk stay away and not chew him out.

"Beacon store. How may I help you?" Now his voice sounded kind of listless.

"We are here for Mr. Valkin."

"Again? What a surprise." The clerk's voice turned toxic. "Here's his bell. Just push it." The man walked to the back and sulked on his chair.

Riza pursed her lips at that frosty welcome, but then she pushed the bell.

"Coming ~" In a strange mix of rust and keenness Valkin sang his words. He appeared at the counter with a smile on his rough face. When he recognized his customer he smiled revealing all his white teeth. "Hohoho if it isn't lil' lady Riza."

"Hello..." His attitude was a little uncomfortable to her, so she backed away.

"So who's got a weapon problem?" Thankfully he went straight to business. Then he noticed the two other guests. "Who might yer beautiful friends be?"

"This is Lucy and that's Velvet. She is the one who needs your services." Riza pushed Velvet to the front and whispered some encouraging words.

"G'day Velvet. How can I help ya?"

"U-uhm my weapon... is ... broken..." Her eyes started spinning. Apparently Valkin's presence was very intimidating to her. Like a rabbit facing a lion.

"Alright. Show it to this old man and I reckon that it will be repaired soon." His confidence was baffling. Velvet handed him the pieces of her former weapon.

Valkin's facial expression stayed calm. He analyzed the metal and the mechanics and pulled out a magnifying glass to aid his vision. He then cleared his throat.

"I can't repair it." He finally determined.

"No way! What's with all your confidence from before!?" Riza got angry and slapped the counter.

"I-it's okay Riza... I didn't think it could be repaired..."

"Hey hey, ladies don't misunderstand." Valkin made a calming hand gesture. "I can't repair it. But I can rebuild it. Optimized and improved in every way." He smiled widely.

Velvet and Lucy exhaled and started smiling.

"Say so from the start!" Riza pulled Valkin's ear over the counter.

"Owowow 'am sorry! I just wanted to add some drama!" The old man played along and kept apologizing.

"When will you be done?"

"Next wee- Aaaagh, I meant tomorrow!"

"Good." Riza let go of the now red ear and turned around. "Thanks for your help." She said with a satisfied expression and urged the others to follow him.

"Thank you for patronage ~" Valkin yelled after them.

The shop-keeper in the back looked scared. That little girl just handled the scary veteran like he was her little brother or something.

"What're ya lookin' at?" The gray haired man stared back at him.

"Eeeeeek!" The clerk hid behind a barrel.

Forever Fall - Sap tree valley

Forever Fall was a beautiful forest, albeit a little red. Or only red. A bull would go mad around here in mere seconds.

"Ah I love the breeze of the wind." Riza sighed in delight. Nature was great. And the possibility to kill a few Grimm made her even happier.

"You seem awfully cheerful." Blake next to her seemed suspicious of her.

"Aren't you happy too? It's so refreshing and a nice change from the stuffed lecture halls." She avoided Blake's gaze and pretended to look for suitable trees.

"... I guess." Blake nodded and then tapped her fellow faunus' shoulder. She pointed at a thick tree.

While the two of them went over to retrieve the red sap Yang yelled around.

"Don't forget to take extra for the tea-party."

That was the third time she reminded them.

"Why is she so giddy about that party?" Alexandra wiped some sweat from her face. Apparently she wasn't used to the humid afternoon air.

"Maybe she really liked Juge's tea?" Riza shrugged and watched as the sap slowly dripped into the glass.

Alexandra didn't look convinced as she climbed up the tree.

"What are you doing?"

"I remember to have read somewhere that the sap flows much easier the higher you go."

"That's weird. The sap has to flow all the way up, wouldn't it be thinner up there?" Blake said doubtfully.

"I am not-KYAA!" Suddenly Alexandra slipped and fell down on the other two. Their human meat pile made quiet the interesting picture. Also someone else made a picture of it.

"Gold." A wild Kirk appeared. His angle was as always perfect.

"Youuuuuu!" Alexandra's head heated up in anger. She was about to explode. With a fast move she took the sap and threw it at the pervert.

He dodged, but the shattering glass sprayed sap on him.

"Oh-oh." Kirk gulped.

"Nice hit." Riza said below Alexandra. "But could you please leave my face...?"

Alex jumped up immediately.

Kirk was very pale.

"What's wrong?"

Juge appeared and then stepped back. "Kirk! Is that... the tree sap?"

Kirk nodded.

"Run! There is a river close by. Maybe you can still make it." Juge pointed at the direction of the supposed river and Kirk jumped up the trees like a ninja.

"River?" The girls were confused.

"Didn't you know? The tree sap attracts those highly dangerous bees." A loud buzzing sound from somewhere underlined his words.

"Oops." Alex looked at the place where Kirk disappeared. "Well... he is fast."

...

"Where's Jaune?" Phyrra looked around. He had been missing for some time now.

"Wasn't he in the scouting group ahead?" Ruby put one finger on her cheek trying to remember.

The sound of screams made them turn around.

Most of team CRDL was running their way.

"Ursa! A really big one!" mohawk yelled while running as fast as he could. Yang grabbed him.

"Where?"

"Over there! It's with Cardin."

"Jaune!" Phyrra exclaimed.

Riza had been close by and followed Phyrra, Ruby and Weiss towards the fight.

Jaune was fighting the Ursa by himself! She grabbed her spear, but Phyrra stopped them.

"Wait..." They watched as the fight played out. Jaune was fighting fiercely, but the Ursa got a fews strong hits in.

Riza bit her lip, but then Phyrra raised her hand and Jaune performed a perfect block counter that resulted in the Ursa's head sailing through the air.

"Uh... what?" Ruby was amazed, but also confused.

"How did you...?" Weiss was just as bewildered.

"Well... Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs... and my semblance is polarity."

"You can control poles." Ruby looked impressed.

"No you dunce. It means she has control over magnetism." Weiss looked a little more like herself when she corrected Ruby.

"Magnets are cool too."

"That's amazing." Riza nodded.

"Where are you going?" They asked as Phyrra turned around.

Phyrra suggested that they would keep quiet about the whole ordeal. They watched as Jaune helped Cardin up. The others couldn't hear their words, but Riza's ears were better.

Jaune just said this "Don't mess with my team... my friends! Ever. Again. Got it?" He glared at Cardin and walked away.

"You can say cool things sometimes Jaune..." Riza smiled warmly.

Beacon Academy - Team LARJ's room

The incomplete team was relaxing after the events of the day. Juge who had finally been released (for the time being) was meditating in his corner. Lucy was listening to music while looking out the window.

Team JNPR was currently at the medical wing to get their leader checked up.

"I envy them. Their leader is getting more reliable by the day..." She sighed and looked at the bubbly Lucy.

"We have time. We are taking our first steps down the road of professional hunters. There is no need to grow up immediately." Those words came as a surprise by the always serious Juge.

"That's new coming from you."

"Don't say that! I am too young to be always grumpy. There is a tea-party waiting for me after all." That was probably the funniest thing he had ever said, and it was completely unintentional. Riza snickered.

He was right. There was still lots of time. The serious days would come soon enough. These times would feel like a dream then.

The evening passed with a light breeze from outside and Lucy's humming.

Jaune's day:

Beacon Academy - Team JNPR/LARJ's room

Jaune was involved in the events of that morning as well, but his focus was on something entirely else. Juge's predicament seemed fairly trivial compared to his.

He was working on Cardin's homework additionally to his own. Messages came in every day now with 'requests' from his good 'friend' Cardin.

Riza was suddenly appearing behind him and asking questions.

"Oh hi Riza. Th-this?" he took the paper away. "Just the homework for Oobleck."

She was doubting him and for a good reason.

"No that was something different. You must have mixed it up!" He smiled forcefully.

To his eternal relief she let it be and left him. With all his concentration he managed to finish the sheet in time and hurried out together with the others.

Beacon Academy - Lecture hall

Jaune was thinking through all of Oobleck's lecture. He barely noticed the shenanigans going on close to him. Akashi had left without a word. Only a letter was left. That dude was his friend and it hurt him a lot that he was gone. He should trust him to come back, but it still wasn't easy.

Kirk was also nowhere to be seen...

After the lecture he and Cardin went to Oobleck.

"So have you done your special homework, gentlemen?" The green-haired professor asked them with a strict voice.

"Of course we did. Right Jauney-boy?" Cardin slapped him on the back. Jaune almost fell over and barely kept the sheets in his hands.

"Y-yeah."

"We even worked together. Jaune needed a lot of help." Cardin continued to talk.

Jaune handed Oobleck the homework and the professor looked pleased.

"Good, good. This academy appreciates teamwork. I am proud of you young men. Hopefully you will pay more attention in my classes from now on." He sipped his coffee.

"But of course." Cardin grinned and winked at Jaune. He could already guess what that was supposed to mean.

...

In professor Mayhiro's 'lecture' he could finally relax. That was also due to his group. Juge, Yang and Ruby.

"You can do it servant." Yang was leaning back.

"..." Juge complied and started writing down 'relevant stuff'.

"Can I help?" Ruby tried to be nice, but Yang shook her hand.

"Leave it be, sis. You wouldn't be much help anyway."

"Hey that's mean!"

"Aw I didn't want to hurt your feelings ~" Yang came towards her and hugged her (to death).

"A-air.. I give... I give...!" The small girl was tapping her hand like they did in pro-wrestling.

Jaune laughed. It was really better when the professor wasn't expecting anything from them.

"Did you all notice." Ruby was returning to live after being released. "Weiss is acting weird."

"More than usual you mean."

"Really?" Jaune hadn't noticed. He was mainly keeping a distance to Weiss, because of his always failed attempts to get closer.

"She is probably feeling guilty about Akashi." Juge commented.

"How do you know?" Ruby looked sad.

"She did go off on him right before he left. It would be weird if she didn't think it was also her fault."

"She got it wrong then. I don't think Akashi would leave because of that." Jaune voiced his opinion.

"Yes preach the truth!" Ruby exclaimed. "We have to make Weiss cheer up too."

"The tea-party could make her take her mind off things."

"That would be great."

...

When everyone left he stayed behind to talk to professor Mayhiro. Akashi had told him that he had spoken to her before he left. She was supposed to help him get stronger.

The professor was looking as tired and immovable as before.

"P-professor?"

"What is it? The lesson is over." She was leaning on her desk.

"It's me... Jaune Arc. Future hero. At your service." He made a cool pose. Or at least something that he thought to be a cool pose.

"Ah." her reaction was weak. "You are Akky's friend." After a few seconds she got up. "I was supposed to train you, right?"

"Yes. That would be why I am here." He was sweating. Was she really up to it?

"Heh." Suddenly a smile appeared on her face. "Hehehehe. Training is it?" She cracked her neck and stretched a little. Her glasses reflected the light.

Jaune gulped.

"Let's have some fun then."

And thus started his brutal training under the demon instructor.

Forever Fall - Sap tree valley

Cardin and the rest of team CRDL were around him. They had volunteered to be the scouts ahead. But for a different reason than Ms. Goodwitch thought.

"Our little friend Jaune here has managed to collect a whole box full of rapier wasps. And now we are going to use them."

"For what?" Jaune asked nervously. Catching these monsters was a real challenge and he got stung at least a dozen times. They were malicious little things.

"For revenge." Cardin said and punched the ground. His glare was focused on a certain red-head girl.

"Phyrra?" Jaune followed his gaze and understood what was going to happen.

"These little beasts just love sweets. So if we throw the sap at her they will come after her." Cardin and the other stood up. "And you will be the one to do it!" He pushed the extra glass of sap onto Jaune.

"What?" Jaune looked crestfallen.

"If you don't I am going to tell Ms. Goodwitch your secret and you will leave Beacon in the first air-ship tomorrow." Cardin snarled.

The blonde boy gulped and took the sap. He was looking at the distracted Phyrra downhill. She was unaware of the crisis behind her. A glance from the side revealed that she was smiling...

Jaune remembered his talk with Ruby yesterday. He had confessed his uselessness to her and that he was being blackmailed by Cardin, but she encouraged him. She knew what it meant to be a leader.

And Phyrra... all these weeks she had supported him despite his obvious inadequacy. Her presence was what made him feel like he could keep going. And what was he doing now? Why was he even considering to hurt her? If he was expelled from the academy... wouldn't that be better than hurting a teammate?

His grip around the glass got tighter.

"No."

"What did you say?" Cardin sounded angry.

"I said... no!" He turned around and threw the sap at Cardin instead.

The four bullies looked at him with smiles.

"Now you've done it, Jauney-boy."

Jaune laughed nervously and stepped back a few inches. His foot accidentally hit the box of wasps and they rolled down the hill, which would probably not improve their mood. The others didn't take notice of it though and later those creatures would release their wrath on a wholly different criminal just a few meters away. The chase towards the close by river was an interesting sight to behold.

But for Jaune his decision was of much more direct consequences. Team CRDL showed them the so called 'tough love' among men as an overly optimistic person would have put it. Someone who preferred realism would probably go with 'beating him up senseless'. Definitions.

After only a few dozen presents of well placed pain something finally gave Jaune a second to breath. That something was big, black and had claws as sharp as razors.

Team CRDL decided that no was the right time to practice their escape strategy. It was a well executed 'run-for-your-life-while-screamin-at-the-top-of-your-lungs-to-possibly-attract-more-enemies' maneuver.

Cardin wasn't fast enough to follow his team's plan and a wild Ursa took care of his weapon as well. Pinned to the ground he had to admit that this was probably not a good turn of events.

Jaune saw the scene unfold in front of his eyes. Should he help Cardin? Could he help him?

He remembered his training lesson from today. Ms. Mayhiro was a demonic instructor, but even after only one lesson he felt much stronger. At least he could dodge a few fast punches now.

'Now or never.' He psyched himself up and pulled out his sword and shield. In the last moment he blocked the impeding claw of death aimed at Cardin with his shield. The force behind the Ursa's attack was tremendous. Cardin behind him gasped and robbed backwards.

Jaune experimentally slashed at the giant Grimm and to his satisfaction he could feel his blade cutting into the flesh. So it could be hurt.

The Ursa roared in annoyance and punched Jaune away. He stood up again and attacked some more even jumping over the beast's claws. He got a few more hits in before taking one himself.

Looking at his aura display it looked rather bad. Red.

No, now was not the time to worry! He had to beat this thing. To prove it to himself.

"HAAAAAH!" He yelled while running towards the masked creature.

The Ursa roared in return and slashed at him with frightening force.

The claw would definitely hit him.

But then he felt a strength in his arm. It was almost as if it moved on it's own. The shield interjected the claw's trajectory and deflected the attack.

'NOW!'

Jaune yelled again and cut above him in a big arc. The feeling of something hard being sliced and the image of a head dropping flashed by his senses and then the Ursa was defeated.

Jaune was breathing heavily, but he felt satisfied.

Cardin looked up and he seemed confused and also intimidated. Jaune reached his hand out and pulled him up.

Jaune just said this "Don't mess with my team... my friends! Ever. Again. Got it?" He glared at Cardin and walked away.

...

Later he told everyone about his fight and there was some pride in his words.

"You really can do it when you put your heart to it." Riza looked happy for him.

"They grow up so fast ~ Kinda like bamboo." Lucy looked impressed.

"I don't think that analogy fits here..."

"Professor Mayhiro's lesson totally helped me."

"You were training with her?" Riza looked doubtful.

"She is really scary, but her advice helped me. It felt like I could dodge twice as faster after that training!"

"What kind of training was that...?"

"Jaune's speed stats have quadrupled ~"

"This isn't a RPG!"

While the three of them talked about the events of today, Antonio and Jasna returned from their mission. Professor Goodwitch was a little tired, because all her students including Jaune fought the Grimm by themselves instead of leaving it to her like she planned.

"Well then you are now ready for the survival test tomorrow, right?" Riza slapped him on his back encouragingly, but Jaune only dropped to the ground. "EEH?"

Phyrra came over immediately and looked at her team's aura display. "He has almost no aura left. I think that almost killed him."

"Whaaaaaat?!"

"Riza is scarier than an Ursa ~"

"Remind me to never make this girl angry." Ren commented.

"That's enough you guys!" Riza yelled out to the sky.

Jaune was sleeping on the ground peacefully.

Beacon Academy - Medical wing

Team JNPR gathered around the sick bed of Jaune Arc. He was not sick though. The injuries were light, because of his aura protection, so he mainly rested to cover his exhaustion.

"Guys... I am sorry for being away so much lately. That will change from today onwards." Jaune mumbled under his bed sheet.

"Welcome back." Phyrra said smiling.

"Oookay boss, leader, chief, big bro, overlord ~" Nora was singing all the synonyms for leader she could come up with.

"That's not right Nora." Ren corrected her. Then he nodded at Jaune to show his support.

"So boss ~ Should we break that big boy's legs?" The orange-haired girl was taking imaginative swings in the air.

"That's not necessary. I am sure Cardin won't be a problem anymore... maybe." Jaune laughed faintly.

For the first time in a while they felt like a real team.