Students were residing in the Beacon Academy workshop, either doing maintenance on their weapons, building their weapons, or upgrading them altogether.
But for Jaune Arc, garbed with his workshop attire and goggles put on, he had his tools around the work bench, doing another round of maintenance on his jetpack while figuring out how he can improve on the prototype that's in front of him.
Not only that, but the blonde also decided to take on Ruby's advice to install weapons on his jetpack for more offensive capabilities aside from adding some additional features like a parachute, though he may need some help to put in some ranged weapons for the jetpack without affecting its performance.
Especially if he decides to include some safety protocols from his previous test run a few days ago.
At least things were quiet for the blonde until he felt his throat started to feel dry that the young man decided to get out of the work bench and walked towards a nearby water stall that was placed near the entrance of the workshop.
However, as he was drinking some cups of water to refresh himself, Jaune can see the entrance door being opened, revealing to be his redheaded teammate in her Beacon Academy uniform.
"Hey Pyrrha, what's up?" The young man greeted, a small smile coming to his face.
"Nothing too much," The young woman nodded. "I had to catch up on my studies from Professor Port's class."
"Yeah . . . couldn't blame you for that," the blonde replied, the two knowing that Professor Peter Port tended to blab his mouth nonstop despite being a veteran Hunter and their teacher at that. "Where's Nora and Ren by the way?"
"They both went to Vale together for some supplies," Pyrrha explained. "Though it might be an excuse to be 'Together together' more."
"Well . . . I can understand that" Jaune nod slowly. "I just can't believe Nora and Ren are actually getting married to be honest."
"I had those same thoughts as well to be frank," the redhead can't help but agree to that statement. "I just hope things go smoothly between them, Jaune."
"I hope so too Pyrrha,"
"Anyway, if you're not too busy, are you able to do some combat lessons with me?" the young woman felt she needed to change topics.
"Sure, doesn't hurt," Jaune nodded, much to his teammate's relief. "Just give me a couple of minutes to pack up around the workshop."
"No problem."
Once Jaune managed to clean up his work bench alongside putting his jetpack within one of the workshop's lockers for safe keeping, he and Pyrrha felt they can do some practice around the outdoor training area for some fresh air for a change.
Said training area is remotely empty as the once clear skies start to gather some clouds to block parts of the light blue color despite the sun popping out.
Both leader and his teammate were both clad in their Hunter Attires as they brought their respective weapons with them alongside a few large containers of water in case the two need to rehydrate themselves.
"You got everything prepped up?" Pyrrha asked as she glances at her team leader.
"Of course," said leader nods as he puts the few containers of water near the training field.
"Are the Scrolls ready to indicate if we're low on Aura?"
Jaune pulled out his Scroll that shows the app with the health bars that shows how much Aura they have left. "Of course."
"And we have protective sheaths for our weapons alongside rubber bullets just to prevent unnecessary injuries?" The young man wanted to feel certain before doing their training session.
"Of course," His redheaded teammate replied sheepishly, knowing they both don't need to hurt each other while training despite Aura being able to protect them.
"Great," The blonde nods as they both enter the training arena, before pulling out his sword and shield combo called Crocea Mors into his hands. "Are you ready Pyrrha?"
"Very well then," the redhead pulls out her sword called Milo and her round shield called Akouo before point the sword in front of the blonde. "I want to see how much you improved during our training sessions, Jaune."
Pyrrha continued to point Milo forward, expecting the blonde to make a move as he readies his sword and shield combo side to side.
Everything was motionless, until the two cautiously walk forward, their respective weapons being held side to side before moving side to side, waiting for the other to make a move.
Without warning, both charged forward with their swords drawn out, preparing to make a strike when their blades clashed with each other before moving back briefly until they resume their strikes, the two trying to land hits on each other without taking damage as their metal weapons keep clashing with each other.
This lasted a few minutes as they moved around the training field when Jaune knocked Pyrrha's sword off her hand with his shield before land several hits on her.
He would have gone a little further when the redhead used the flat part of Akouo as a battering ram as it connects to Jaune's armored chest before using her Polarity Semblance to briefly push him back.
The blonde felt he was moved back from an unknown force for a moment when the young woman used her Polarity to retrieve Milo back into her hand when she goes to her combat stance.
Polarity, Jaune groaned internally as he recalled his teammate's Semblance. I better find a way to counteract her Semblance, and fast.
The young man pointed his shield forward while he moved his sword next to it as a spear when he charges it towards the redhead.
Though Pyrrha quickly used her Polarity lightly to prevent her team leader from landing a hit on the redhead, the blonde tightens his grip on Crocea Mors as he moved fast enough to sidestepped her before releasing the momentum from the forced pull to knock his teammate to the side before redirecting his sword to land a fierce hit towards her.
The redhead stumbles to the ground, not anticipating that move the young man did until she quickly throws Akouo towards Jaune, who respond by blocking her attack with his shield.
However, the young woman used her Polarity to start redirecting her shield all around the blonde, forcing him to block alongside counter a dozen shields strikes.
Not only that, as Jaune felt bullets connecting to his chest is when he realizes that his teammate is using Milo in its rifle mode as she moves closer towards him to land potshots until she reverts it back to its sword form to fight up close.
As if the fight up close wasn't bad enough, Pyrrha use both her weapons more effectively, using the shield as protection or as a frisbee as she tries to land consecutive strikes towards her team leader without warning as she charges him with her sword in its spear configuration.
Though he was used to dealing with sword strikes, attacks from her spear forced the blonde to go on the defensive as he tries to block her spear attacks using his shield all the while dealing with the shield circling around to land potshots at every corner.
Now trapped in this predicament, the blonde was forced to use his quick thinking as the shield head directly besides him until Jaune brings his sword with all his might and redirected it towards the charging redhead, who gets knocked straight to the floor as the shield gets sent up to the air.
At least before she uses her Polarity to grab the blonde's shield to zip towards him until the young woman used a front kick to knock the shield out of the blonde's hand and into the ground.
The young man tries to reach for his shield part of Crocea Mors when it gets dragged towards Pyrrha's by her Semblance until she has it in her hand before putting it behind her back.
"If you want to reclaim your shield, you have to beat me first," Pyrrha smirked as she uses Polarity to retrieve Akouo back into her hands before adjusting her combat position akin to a spartan. "So, show me how much you learn, Jaune Arc."
"Bring it on, Pyrrha," The blonde tightens his sword with both hands, ready to fight with only the sword part of Crocea Mors left in use.
The redhead responds by going charging forwards as she launches several spear strikes towards the young man, who respond by blocking her attacks despite getting several hits while moving back.
Until all the sudden, Jaune sidestepped diagonally as Pyrrha continues her charge with her spear strikes while facing towards her, before landing a front kick to the side part of Akouo hard enough to make the redhead lose her grip briefly, giving him time to land a hit on his teammate.
In response to that hit, the redhead shuffles away from him briefly before throwing Akouo directly towards the blonde, who decides to knock the shield out of the way before engaging the redhead in a sword-to-spear duel.
Metal continues to collide against each other as both fighters try to land blows on the other, all the while dodging, blocking, and counterstriking whatever attacks the opponent does.
Even still, this proved to be working against Jaune as despite contending with Milo's various spear strikes and Akouo constant hits due to Pyrrha's Polarity despite his efforts to hold the line with only his sword is making the spar even tougher against his teammate who is more verse in combat.
Especially since said teammate is known back in Mistral to be the Invincible Champion, which could become true if the blonde knight fails to even defeat her in a spar.
Desperation, combined with the fear of losing and his Aura reaching to the red zone began to affect his mental state when the blonde admitted that, despite dealing with threats like this wasn't even new to begin with, he refused to yield to his opponents.
He's an Arc, and the young man cannot risk being defeated like this under any circumstances.
When the shield attempts to land a hit behind Jaune's back, the blonde felt an unusual sensation of danger coming behind him when starts dodging Akouo that was reeling towards him, far longer than he or Pyrrha can anticipate.
The redhead had no time but to catch her shield and threw it towards Jaune like a frisbee . . .
. . . until he manages to pull his hand out to catch the shield straight to his gloved hands without even flinching before pulling the shield behind his back.
Unbeknownst to both, a faint golden yellow glow starts emanating all around the blonde before he points his sword towards the redhead.
"If you want your shield back, then you better beat me to it," Jaune stated as he prepares the sword part of Crocea Mors with both hands.
"Alright then," Pyrrha twirls Milo for a bit before going to her combat stance, her spear now reverted to its sword form. "Bring it."
The moment felt quiet between the two before they charge into battle as they clashed their swords together in a sword-to-sword combat.
Every blow, every block, every dodge, and every counter are met in kind as the two constantly try landing hits on each other without taking blows themselves.
While the young woman was more skilled in combat with Milo, the young man's relentless attacks and counters managed to put her on edge as she tries to keep up with his sword strikes.
To make matters worse, the strange glow around the blonde is making her combat strategy more difficult as she keeps taking hits no matter what she does.
As Pyrrha jumps back from Jaune's sword swipe, she quickly turns Milo into its spear form, infuses it with Polarity, and throws it to land a precise hit on Jaune.
But to her shock and horror, the blonde quickly catches the spear before using it combined with his sword to land a double blow on the redhead, the golden yellow glow now emitting from Milo as well.
With the ringing sound indicating that Pyrrha's Aura was at the red zone, the two quickly lowered their guard as they know the match ends in Jaune's favor as the faint glow finally faded away.
"Nice match, Jaune," The young woman complimented. "Your skills are improving."
"Well, thanks," The young man nodded as he gives Milo back to Pyrrha before doing the same for Akouo. "At least my skills had improved since the last match."
"Not only that, I think your Semblance is about to be active," The redhead added as she gives the shield part of Crocea Mors back to her team leader.
"Are you serious?" The blonde's blue eyes start to widen in shock. "I'm gaining my own Semblance."
"I think so, especially since you gotten persistent in combat thanks to that faint glow of yours."
"Well . . . thanks, I guess," Jaune shrugged his head as he reclaims his shield before reverting the two weapons to its sword and sheath form. "Though I'm going to need some practice how to activate it properly, alongside any limitations I could face."
"Why?"
"Because I felt pain coursing to my body for some reason," The blonde felt sore all over his body without warning as he starts to lie on the training arena, groaning in pain.
"I think you need to rest for a bit before we can go further, Jaune." The redhead stated.
"I guess you're right, Pyrrha," The young man nodded. "Especially since I need a few drinks."
The afternoon sky starts to change to a different color as the sun starts to slow set down near the Emerald Forest.
In between them was Jaune and Pyrrha, the two sitting together near the cliffs as they drank a few containers of water while carrying their weapons as they enjoyed the silence, especially since the former is slowly recovering from the soreness episode from before.
Though the atmosphere was quiet for the most part, both the leader and his teammate from JNPR couldn't help but enjoy the view up high from the same forest that brought them together during the Initiation.
"Your training has been improving, Jaune," the young woman replied as she drank her container of water, admiring the view despite breaking the silence. "Especially since your Semblance is starting to become active during our sparring match. With further training and practice alongside combined proper handling of your Semblance, and you might be able to catch up with the rest of us. Or maybe surpass us if you're that dedicated."
"Yeah, I get that," The leader of Team JNPR shrugs his head, his hand holding his container of water. "Though I should thank you for being a great tutor, Pyrrha."
Said redhead couldn't help but giggle. "Jaune, you really make me blush, don't you?"
"What, I was being honest about it, Pyrrha," the blonde had to clarify what he was talking about. "I know we're both teammates just trying to help each other out, that's all."
"I know," Pyrrha gave the young man a coy smirk. "Especially when Nora and Ren are around, right?"
"Can we change topics, please?" The young man tried to keep his blush from being visible.
"Sure," The young woman didn't mind the suggestion one bit.
Things were silent between for a moment until . . .
"Any plans after we graduate from Beacon Academy?" Jaune wondered.
"I'm not sure about that, why?"
"Because I don't know what the future holds for us afterwards, assuming if we're not dealing with any crazy events within the school year." The young man felt unsure for some reason as he said this.
"Well, I did want to pursue a Huntress career to help people, but I also want to help inspire others to be strong despite the threat the Grimm can pose." Pyrrha explained.
"Me, I just want to become a hero like my great grandfather," Jaune replied. "Especially since I want to help protect my family as well."
"I couldn't blame you for that, Jaune." The redhead nodded.
"Yeah, of course," The blonde couldn't help but agree when the two notice the sun was slowly about to set. "Want to head back to our dorm room, Pyrrha?"
"Sure," the young woman nodded as the two got onto their feet and start walking away from the Emerald Forest the two unconsciously sticking close to each other as they travelled to Beacon Academy.
But as they were about to continue to walk further, a panting sound can be heard behind them as the person was catching a breath when . . .
"Jaune, there you are," an eerily familiar voice echoed behind him. "I been looking everywhere for you."
A voice that he vowed to never want to hear from again as he and Pyrrha turn around to witness who that voice was coming from.
Behind them was nothing more than a young woman with fair skin that almost seem pale, seemingly vibrant bluish-green eyes, bright red hair that reaches to her waist, and appeared to have a . . . womanly figure, alongside what appears to be a small smile on her gentle face.
Not only that, but the other redhead also has a long white sleeve dress shirt underneath a red capelet that have black trimmings and black vest, a black mid-thigh skirt, and long silky black socks underneath her black oxford-like shoes.
To the Mistralian next to the blonde, the mysterious redhead appeared to be a nice and friendly young woman with a surprisingly healthy body to boot as well.
Far healthier than Pyrrha could admit internally.
However, as she looks at her team leader besides her, said teammate couldn't help but notice his once easygoing features start to darken as he gave a bitter frown to the young woman in front of them.
"You again," Jaune seemed to glare at the young woman that's in front of them. "But how?"
The redhead in front of him didn't drop her smile one bit. "I had been researching on where you went for a while now, so I decided to pay a visit, my beloved Knight."
Said Knight barely restrained himself from whipping the sword of Crocea Mors out of its shield sheath. "You came at a very wrong time, Scarlett."
"Wait, who are you?" Pyrrha asked the new redhead in front of them, wondering who this mysterious woman really is and her connection to her blonde friend.
"It's Simple," the other redheaded woman answered without hesitation, her tone soft yet affable. "My name is Scarlett Fairbairn, Jaune Arc's girlfriend."
"SAY WHAT!" the Mistralian shouted.