One thing that Jaune noted about Clover's fighting was definitely his weapon of choice. It was a fishing pole. The blonde knight had thought he had seen crazy weapons especially when Ruby had used a large scythe that also doubles as a gun. He genuinely thought that he had seen the craziest thing. This one was on similar but in a different direction. Other than the obvious fact that it was a huntsman's weapon and thus would be of higher quality than most, the string that it was attached to also served as some kind of whip-like weapon, causing Jaune's sense of distance to go rather wild and unstable. Sometimes, Clover's weapon reached too far when he thought it was safe, other times it was too close only to entangle him when Jaune closed the distance.
The other, more obvious thing, was the experience that the man had over him. It is to be expected really as he was much older than he was and was clearly had both experience and training under his belt. Jaune couldn't even use any youthful energy to match as Clover wasn't that old. He was learning just how wide the gap was between those in training and the professionals.
As opposed to Winter, Clover was much more methodical in how he maneuvered his weapon. In one exchange, Jaune had to deal with the fishing hook on one side and the rest of the pole on the other. It didn't matter which he would have chosen as he somehow always found himself in a terrible condition. Actually, it felt closer that his opponent kept getting lucky whichever way he chose to attack.
Expectedly, Jaune lost this fight. One's aura could only take so many repeated falls from strings somehow tying up his feet and causing him to stumble. Still, he did manage to bring Clover's own reserves close to yellow. It wasn't quite there but if he had more time, that green most definitely would have been a yellow. That is what he tells himself anyway. If he just squinted a little, maybe Jaune could see that it was a yellow-green. It counts.
It wasn't a close match. He could never say that even if he tried. It was hard to be frustrated especially when one faced an opponent who is not only more experienced but also had more training than he did. Clover was a good enough opponent as he extended out a hand to help him back up.
"Winter taught you a lot," Clover said. "Definitely seeing the footwork there. Swordsmanship may not be exactly the same but I can see the influence there."
"Thank you," replied Jaune.
"Still, you need to work on managing distance. Be it Grimm or other huntsmen, managing your distance is a must for any fighter. Especially since you don't have a ranged option."
Jaune took those words to heart. While he was not hurt by it, he has heard that before. Anybody engaging in any sort of fight would have to manage distance and reach. It was something that he had felt personally during this fight. It was probably why Winter had asked Clover specifically for this matchup. The change in range would force him to adapt to their playing field and Jaune needs a plan to deal with that and turn it into his advantage.
"Huh, that's neat," said Clover as if he had just noticed something. Pointing at the hilt of Jaune's sword, he continued. "Your sword use Dust or something?"
Jaune looked at the sword. Strangely enough, the gemstone on it was glowing a faint light. It lasted only for a moment before it faded. "That's weird," he said. "Never did that before."
Clover asked Jaune if the sword was his own. When he shook his head, Clover shrugged. "Oh right, sword belonged to someone else didn't it? Probably something about the previous owner, then. Without the last guy, we'll never for sure."
The two of them then exited the stage. Winter was in another room, watching the feed of the fight. She was waiting for them after they had finished. She appeared to be in deep contemplation. "We'll need to work on your ability to close and control distance." Already, she was thinking on how to better improve his skills. He'll take that, it was something that he needed to do anyway.
The rest of his day was spent in training his condition. With the added bonus of equipment, Jaune's body had a much more fitted form of training in addition to his usual. It allowed him to have a much more rounded body that calisthenics could not target as well. As for his rooms, he was lucky enough to be staying among the visitor's dorms of Atlas Academy. It was usually the one that is reserved for exchange students on those occasions that Atlas was playing host to the Vytal Festival. Since Atlas Academy proved itself to be the most useful training institution for any huntsmen, such accommodations have been made if ever they weren't playing host. It also helped that these visiting huntsmen and huntresses would provide a different fighting experience for any student wishing to continue their training. It wasn't as consistent but it was certainly welcome.
The other thing that is to be expected here is the CCT. It was situated in a different section so that civilians wouldn't be intimidated nor would they bother any students during class. It was late morning by now and his team would be in class. Instead, he sent them a message stating where he was and what he is currently doing.
It took a good few minutes to reply as it turns out, they were in one of Anne Greene's stealth class. He wondered if Pyrrha's scroll was on silent as that would definitely have been a problem if it went off during that class. It is usually split into two: one doing the stealth and one trying to detect the hidden individual. He struggled in those more than he did combat class.
The next day was a day of rest. It was mostly for his body while he trains his mind. While aura could heal his aching muscles allowing most people to keep going for much longer periods of time, the rest was so that he could focus on the other faculties of being a huntsman. Simulations of varied difficulty meant to stimulate the more tactical side of huntsmen and huntresses were being honed here as well. From experience, it was something that was meant for team leaders. The difference here was that Atlas had more advanced technology and thus allowed for much greater effect. Similar to those classes he had in Beacon, he was put against other team leaders as they have their battle of wits. The fact that these simulations are similar to games are definitely a bonus as this is something he could definitely excel on.
Other than that, there was aura. From sensing to redirecting it to the other parts of his body, Jaune's large reserves were being trained while also hopefully finding what his Semblance could be. They haven't found it yet which frustrates him a little.
"Pay no mind to what your Semblance could be," instructed Winter. "While Semblances are powerful abilities, it wouldn't do you well to rely on it. At that point, it is no longer another tool to be used but a crutch that will cripple you."
As such, the basics of his foundation needed to be as solid as they can be. Fighting skills and aura control were what every huntsman and huntress would use whenever and wherever they go. He was also taught hand-to-hand techniques in the event that he gets disarmed.
Speaking of hand-to-hand combat, two days after that break, for he needed to be fully rested, he was again in a sparring match. This time his opponent was Elm Ederne, also of the Ace-Ops, same as Clover. She hits hard and has a quite a good reach. Jaune considered himself a relatively tall person relative to his peers. The keyword there is peers. Elm was obviously not among his peers and it definitely showed. Her height easily gave her an advantage in reach and she hits hard. Being a trained specialist also meant that she knew where she was hitting. While Jaune wasn't one to assume, there might be a difference in weight classes that was also at play here.
"Keep your hands up, rookie!" said she. She was enjoying their match, it seems. "Keep your other hand up when you throw a punch." To emphasize that point, she delivered a painful counter to his jab for he left himself open when he lowered his other hand. Jaune thought Winter was the type to not coddle him, apparently he was wrong.
He managed to get a few hits in and was even doing better as the fight went on. Developing his own tactics and managing to find his way to close that distance. The tactical mind wasn't just for team attacks but it was also meant to be used in individual fights. In the end, while Elm still won out, Jaune was able to put up a descent performance, bringing her reserves down to the yellow before his was on red. The blonde knight even managed to stay in the ring there. To be fair, neither of them really moved much and it was definitely a close-ranged fight that would have become a slug fest.
"You need to move," said Winter. Whether she as frustrated or not, he could not tell. Her expression had been neutral."You have an entire arena to use at your disposal. Understood?"
"Yes, teacher," he replied.
Apparently, there were other members of the Ace-Ops. Jaune only had experience, combat-wise, with two of them. At the moment, they were on their off days as they had finished their missions and were currently on some kind of break that soldiers get. Still, some of them are part of the staff as part-time because of this. Three others whom Jaune learned the names of: Marrow Amin, Harriet Bree and Vine Zeki.
He never had much chance in sparring with them but that didn't stop them from giving their thoughts once in a while. Jaune suspected that the reason their even in the audience was because their team member was in a spar. The exchange in lien between them whenever he would start another bout in his sparring matches was proof enough that it was entertainment if nothing else.
His sword occasionally glowed every now and then. This time he noticed it but there was nothing much he could do. At first, he thought that it had something to do with aura but since it fluctuates usually at night, when he is at rest, that notion had to be dismissed. It did nothing to him after he went through a medical examination and every weapon craftsman and blacksmith only looked at him funny when he tried asking about this sort of thing. They usually said that he must be reading too many fantasy stories. It would have been nice if he could control when that glow happens.
It doesn't seem to do much other than glow, though. He stared hard at the hilt. The glow was absent now and he wasn't sure exactly when at night it occurs only that it does. Maybe it always did this but since his sword was often kept in storage, be it the black case it came with or the Atlas lockers that he was currently using, and he just never noticed it until now.
Jaune laid his head on the bed of his large dorm. It was a dorm initially meant for teams as evidenced by the fact that he was in the bottom bunk. The other three were empty. All that freedom of space reminded him of the lesser amount he had back in Beacon. He missed that. That awkward first few days when they weren't sure who is to go to the showers for or how they would change clothes when the others were in the room. He had been more focused on being a huntsman that he didn't have much time to think about it, often exhausted from whatever grueling training Winter had prepared for him. They were still grueling but his body is adjusting, getting better at the demands that training had.
I wonder if I'll be doing another mission, soon? He thought. The last mission he went to was honestly lighter than the training he had at the time. There was merit in that, having training be harsher than actual combat. Best to push one's limits while safe in training than do so out in the field when nothing is as certain as it can be.
Then, Jaune's scroll rang. It was a message from Beacon. He smiled and had a chat with his team before going to sleep.
AN: Finally finished my hours for my internship. Felt like I've been doing it for longer than it actually was.