Beta: No one, Ashann was too busy
Chapter 2: The deal with a Wizard and meeting new faces
The last month of preparation for school is important for any school. A school for the world's future defenders is just as essential. If not more, considering it is filled with hormonal teenagers that could break a door with ease. So being the Vice-Headmistress didn't make it any less stressful.
The minor incident last night between two citizens only ruined her night. Yes, she still went drinking, but it had a sour aftertaste. So with one last check in the mirror to see if anything on her person was out of place. She stepped out of her private dorm with a tablet in hand to greet the day. With even and measured steps, she went to her first task of the day, reporting to the Headmaster. After reaching the clockwork tower named the Emerald Tower, Glynda Goodwitch was up on her way to the top floor on the elevator.
Looking down at her tablet, she stepped out of the lift after the ding. "Good morning, Headmaster; I trust everything went well-" her words died in her mouth when she looked up to see a young male sitting across from the man in question. "Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you had a meeting. Let me step out not to disturb you."
"Actually, I was waiting for you to join us, Professor Goodwitch. There is someone I would like you to meet," the Headmaster said and then pointed to the young man. "This is Jaune Arc, and starting today, he will be joining our staff."
The boy in question stood up nervously and greeted the Goodwitch. "Um, hi, it's nice to meet you. I hope we can get together." He put his hand forward for a handshake.
Glynda returned the gesture. "Likewise, I hope you find your employment enjoyable while you're here. It won't be easy. If you don't mind me asking, what will you do, young man?" She said with a measuring glaze from over her glasses.
"Oh, I'll be your assistant. I'll help you in any way I can. I hope I can learn a lot from you, Professor," he said with nervousness that Glynda fully understood. The boy was facing his future boss. Now that she got a good look at him, he didn't look much. He didn't look ready for the job with his sneakers, torn jeans, and cartoonish hoodie.
He looked like a civilian compared to her formal work attire and cape. While yes, Huntsmen attire didn't have specifics on what you could and couldn't wear as long you are decent. Not in her long career has Glynda Goodwitch ever come across such a normal-looking Huntsman or young-looking, for that matter. A civilian is what she would call him. So the next question came as easy as breathing or fighting.
"Excuse me, Mister Arc. I hope you don't mind me asking a few personal questions?"
"I don't," he replied hesitantly.
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Do you have any combat and or administration experience?" She asked with her measuring gaze, solely focused on him.
"Uh," he looked away, "no," he said with noticeable embarrassment.
"Do you have your Aura unlocked?" She asked with a stern gaze that could stop a herd of Grimm in their tracks.
Jaune turned to her with a questioning gaze. "What's Aura?"
With that, Glynda stopped all of her thinking at that question. The boy standing in front of her doesn't even know what Aura is, the most basic of all Huntsmen's knowledge. Without it, humanity wouldn't be able to fight the Grimm as they do. Maybe they could find another way to beat them back, but the path would definitely be messier. A lot more dead. So with practice ease, she turned to her boss.
"Sir, I don't think this is a good idea. Everyone at this school has Aura and, at the very least, knows how to protect themselves. While we need more help, we don't have the funding for more staff. The staff may be able to control themselves, but the students are a different story," she said, never dropping her visage.
"You're correct, Glynda, but I made a proposal to Mister Arc. For his assistance to you and the staff, we will train him to become a Huntsman. Now I am a fair man and won't say you have to join in on the training. Neither does anyone else, but then only I will be training him."
'... then only I will be training him.' Ozpin's words rang through her head like church bells. If he were the only person training Mister Arc, that would mean even more work for her. As well, what does he mean by training him? Effectively he backed Glynda Goodwitch into a corner, and the only way to get out was to meet his rules.
"Besides," Ozpin said, pulling her out of her thoughts, "considering what this young man did last night makes me think he'll do whatever he can to become a Huntsman. He might even try to cheat into one of the Huntsmen Academies. Think about the lives he could endanger if he did."
That made Jaune flinch, but Glynda didn't notice as she turned to the subject of discussion. Her stern gaze dropped the room's temperature by a couple of degrees, and she looked down on the boy. Now that she got a better look, he looked like the young man stabbed last night. "What were you thinking? You could've gotten hurt much, far worse than a wound to the shoulder. You're lucky anyone saw you that night."
Jaune shrank into his chair and started to scratch the back of his head. "Someone was in trouble. They were getting mugged, so I had to help," he mumbled, not meeting her eyes.
"You could've gone to the bar that is known to have Huntsmen inside. At the same time, it is admirable that you took it upon yourself to help; you must think before acting. What you did is how Huntsmen get killed in combat," Glynda said in an academic tone that was all too easy to slip into. "If you're so eager to help people and by the Brothers forbid you try to do that again. I will train you as well," she said, fixing her glasses.
"Really?" Jaune said as if he was a puppy told about getting a treat.
"Yes, but we need to get you a new set of clothes. Your hoodie, jeans, sneakers, and whatever else you have will not fly for someone working for the most prestigious academy on Remeant. I'm guessing you don't have much in the way of money?"
"No," he looked down again.
"Don't worry about that, you two," the Headmaster cut in with a knowing smirk, "any expenses you need, Mister Arc is, covered in the contract by my wallet."
"Wait, seriously, I can't thank you enough, Headmaster," Jaune said as he turned back to the man.
"You didn't look over the contact?" She rubbed her temples for the coming mirage. "While I understand that this must be a huge moment for you. Please keep in mind those same actions can get you fired. And I am sure that is still a genuine possibility for him?"
"Of course it is. All the rules and regulations of the staff still apply to Mister Arc," Ozpin said.
"Please, call me Jaune. Mister Arc is my father," Jaune added.
"Only if you will call me Ozpin when the students aren't around, and I will do the same," Ozpin replied. "Now then, we will get everything sorted for you. Go and explore the school. After all, this will be your new home for the foreseeable future."
Jaune nodded to both of them as he walked to the elevator. When the doors finally closed, Glynda spoke. "Why are you doing this? With Amber injured and half her powers being stolen, he might be working for her."
"Oh, I assure you he is not. I know his father personally, and he is an Arc."
"Being a part of a family of heroes hardly means anything, and what about his father? People change. We both know that Ozpin."
"People do change. I am evidence of that, and so are you. But his father is one person that won't change that drastically. As well, why would she send someone so undertrained? She is many things, but a fool she is not."
"I respect you, Ozpin, but wouldn't that," she pointed to the elevator, "make you the fool?"
Ozpin then proceeded to stand up and looked off into the distance from the windowed office. "I believe that investing time into Mister Arc will not only bring about a strong Huntsmen that will inspire the future generations. I also believe that we will inspire him to teach," he turned to Glynda with eyes full of determination.
"We both know how many Huntsmen go on to teach the next generation. As well the schools devoted to teaching such. So, with Mister Arc, the future will be more secure. A man who is willing to teach those with enough conviction."
Glynda only sighed and rubbed her temples to alleviate her migraine. "Fine, but answer this last question. Why doesn't he know anything about the Huntsmen world besides we fight Grimm?"
"I'm not sure, but from what I know about his father. He likely did everything in his power to stop his son from learning anything about Huntsmen. Having to send your sons and daughters to fight gets to a family. Especially when not all of them don't make it back."
Glynda laid her tablet across the desk for him to see. "Alright, well, I have your briefing right here. Mostly it's about the increase in Dust robberies and the council wanting Huntsmen to patrol the streets in response to said robberies. If this keeps up, paying for the Vital Festival will be impossible."
The Headmaster sat in his chair and hummed in agreement. It was strange, to say the least; it was always Dust and never money. As well, Roman Torchwick was responsible for all of it. He was known for pulling off grandiose crimes and staking his claim, but petty theft. Someone had to be backing him if he wasn't making any money. Unfortunately, doing anything but speculate is all they could do.
It infuriated Glynda to no end, but it was true. From the monumental planning of a worldwide event, the school starting, and finding the culprit of Amber's attacker. Their hands were full, and they couldn't pick up anything else. At best, she could patrol the city until the school year started, then someone else would take her spot, hopefully. Well, that was a fleeting hope.
"At least everything in school seems to be in order—nothing we have to worry about on that end. Thank you, Glynda. Now, why don't you go find our new staff member and get to know him," Ozpin said while moving his focus to the computer built into his desk.
"You're welcome, Headmaster," Glynda said, then proceeded to leave.
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Huge was the only world Jaune had for the school. Well, he had plenty of other words for it as well but was throwing up while flying up to it. To think the boy was trying to get into this school through less than legal means. Then the Headmaster of the very place gave him an offer to become a Huntsman still.
Jaune was never the kind to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what he did was strange. The idea of him knowing whether or not his transcripts were a fake flew out the window. He knew, and yet he offered him a job here. Who in their right mind does that? Maybe what he said in the hospital was true. I'm an investment for the future. Is that what every student in this school is as well?
Okay, maybe I've been reading too many comics. "I'm here now, so I'm gonna make this time of my life even if it wasn't how I planned. Now, where am I?" Jaune asked to the air. Surrounding him was seemed to be countless buildings. Probably dorms for the students and visiting people.
"Excuse me, but what are you doing here?" A voice called out to Jaune. It was a man in a half-tucked button-down white shirt and loose yellow tie. His hair was sage green, and the sun's glare covered his large circular glasses.
"Uh," he started, "I'm a-a new hi-hire to Beacon, so I-I wa-was just taking a look around, and you are?"
He fixed his glasses, and the glare disappeared. "Oh well, good afternoon to you then, young man. I'm Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck; I teach History. Please call me Doctor, Doctor Oobleck, Bartholomew, or Bart," he produced a hand, and Jaune took it. "Now, what is your name?" He said while studying the boy.
I know they're all Huntsmen, but why does it feel like they're all measuring me up? "I'm Jaune Arc, and I'll be helping you and the rest of the staff. Please just call me Jaune," he said with all the confidence he could muster.
"Truly?" Bartholomew looked at Jaune as an impossibility. The historian then took his hand and almost wrenched it out of its socket and shoved it up and down, making him wince in pain. "Oh, it's so great to have some help around here. Here let me show you around." And thus, the green bespectacled man dragged the seventeen-year-old around the academy.
He answered any and all questions Jaune had about the place. From the teacher's lounge rules to what his fellow colleagues are like. Wow. It is the one thought that came to Jaune. He was just trying to become a defender of humanity, and now here he is doing that, but in the most unexpected way he thought possible. Doesn't one need to become an accomplished Huntsmen to even work here as a teacher? Then one of the most accomplished Huntsmen took pity on him so that he wouldn't die stupidly in some forest fighting creatures of darkness.
Now that he thought about it, he didn't really know anything about being a Huntsmen. You would think that someone who lived in a family of heroes would know? But he didn't know anything besides that they fight Grimm with weapons, and the weapon he brought with him had been doing that for generations. The duo came to a statue in the central courtyard, and Bartholomew walked around it, but Jaune stopped.
In front of the boy was a statue of two hooded figures. It was a man holding his sword triumphantly and a woman leaning her ax, staring off into the distance. Below the rock they stood upon was a werewolf-like monster with bone armor, cowering. Then to pull it all together, there was a quote from someone Jaune wouldn't be surprised to see. 'For we are the light that beats back the dark. As long as there is a soul, there will always be warmth in the darkness. In honor and virtue we will fight until the last hunt.' - Arthur Arc.
The man could be anyone, the woman could be anyone, but those words belonged to his great grandfather. In honor and virtue… I wonder what he would think of my first attempt at getting here. Then what about now? I mean, I'm here now, but honor? Virtue? What a jo-
"Jaune, are you alright?" asked Bartholomew with a hand on his uninjured shoulder.
"Yeah, just admiring the statute," he said, gesturing to the piece.
For a moment, a concerned look scanned his face for any falsehoods. He turned to sculpture, whether he found none or just chose not to press the subject. For a few moments, they stood there in silence. Nothing but the birds could be heard and the occasional Bullhead in the distance. Then a boisterous voice cut through the air.
"Barty, good to see you. Who is this young man with you? Is he a prospective student here a bit early?" They both turn to see a portly man with graying hair and a full mustache. A double-breasted burgundy suit adored his person with olive boots. Compared to the staff members he had seen so far, Jaune wouldn't be surprised if the lunch ladies dressed like pirates.
"Actually, Peter, this young man will be an assistant to the staff. I believe Ozpin will explain to us more, but without further adieu. I introduce Jaune Arc and this energetic man is Peter Port. A veteran Huntsman that teaches Grimm Studies," he said as he pointed to the respective people.
Jaune held out his left hand - learning from his previous mistake - and spoke, "I hope I can learn a lot from you while I'm here."
Peter took it and shook with more force than Bartholomew and probably did dislocate his arm. "We're happy to have you abroad, young man. I know young Glynda will be happy to hear that. Truly we put too much on her plate." Both men looked down in shame and fear. What could make two Huntsmen this terrified only scared Jaune.
"Oh, I've heard the news. I was the first one to know. Nice to know I don't have to introduce him to you two, but he is here under special circumstances. An email will be sent to everyone about Mister Arc's special tenure here." The males all turned to see a stern-faced Glynda looking them up and down. "If you all are done, I have to discuss with Mister Arc and show him to his housing."
"Ah yes, I was just passing by; I'll see you around, Mister Arc. I have some things to double-check," Peter said in a hurried tone.
"Me as well. Have a good evening, Jaune, Glynda," Bartholomew said equally hurriedly.
"Oh, just call me Jaune, Professor Port," Jaune replied.
Peter turned his head one last time and shouted back. "If only you'll call me Peter m'boy!"
A few seconds of awkward silence passed between the two until Jaune spoke, "They seem nice, but I think Peter dislocated my left arm."
"Can you move it?" She said snappily, and Jaune only nodded in reply. "Then you didn't, but we might as well unlock your Aura now. Students come in two weeks, and if there was an accident between you and them. Then it would be another problem I have to deal with, and that is not why you are here. Hold still, relax, and don't say a word."
Glynda put one hand on the side of his head and began, "For it is passing, we become foundations," Glynda started to glow a light magenta, and Jaune began to glow pure white, "Through this, we teach others to shoulder the burden and to protect all. Infinite in distance and unbounded by death. I release your soul, and by my hand, I will guide thee."
The first two things Jaune noticed were that his shoulder seemed to be healed, and Glynda seemed a little winded. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"I am fine," she said tersely. "Your Aura reserves are quite large. At least you have something going for you," she said while readjusting herself. "That is Aura; it protects us, strengthens us, and gives us abilities called a Semblance. Now come along, we don't have all day, and we still have to find you some proper work attire." With that, she walked in the direction of the staff dorms.
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"But what's wrong with my hoodie?" Jaune asked for what seemed to be the tenth time. Admittedly out of all the things that she and her new apprentice would come to cross wasn't what she expected. She thought it would be the training regimen he was bound to have, her expected mountain of criticism about his fighting, or even the amount of work he was expected to take on. His choice of attire wasn't what she expected.
"Because a Pumpkin Pete hoodie isn't appropriate for someone working at our academy," she retorted.
"But Huntsmen wear whatever they want, and the rules say that teaching staff is to wear their Huntsmen attire," he replied matter of factly.
"That is true, but you are not teaching staff. You are a student at worst and a secretary at best."
"Hang on a second." Jaune then proceeded to pull out his scroll and went through it for a minute or two. Finally, his face lighted up, and he showed his scroll to Glynda.
On closer inspection, it was the contract of his employment. Specifically, one line said he was - in fact - part of the teaching staff with limited access. So his Huntsmen attire could be a hoodie and jeans. However, the hoodie with a cartoonish rabbit on the front would not fly.
Glynda sighed, "Why are you so insistent about keeping the hoodie?"
"Because my sister's helped get it for me. We sent in like 50 box tops just to even enter. Then the winner was randomly chosen, so I won't part with it. Plus, it's comfy," he replied with more backbone than she thought was possible.
Glynda sighed again and muttered, "It's like dealing with Peter, and the Grimm he catches."
"What did you say?" He replied.
"If you want to wear a hoodie as your Huntsmen's clothing, fine, but you will not be wearing that hoodie. We will get you one."
Jaune sighed but nodded, then relaxed in the chair in Glynda's office. It was of adequate size, considering it doubled as her bedroom in the connecting room next to it. As well, it had a bookshelf that spaned her entire left wall. Shifting through the papers on her desk, she pulled out his new schedule. "Since classes begin at 9:00 a.m. I expect you to be in the teacher's lounge no later than 7:10 a.m. Do we have an understanding?"
Jaune seemed to slump at the mention of getting up so early. The boy must not have been a morning person; not like that, it matter. Glynda still found this idea too idiotic she would be busier with having to train the boy. Then there were his untested skills in administration, which will probably be hell. If he was like any of the other students at Beacon Academy. She wasn't above firing the boy and denying him his dream.
Cruel as that might be, she was already used to being overworked. Thinking about it, that might be bad. She didn't give it any more thought after the next section of their meeting came up. "Now, we will have you take a physical exam to see what we are working with and go from there. As well, what about your gear? Is this all you have?" She said, now looking over an overview of his 'Huntsmen gear.'
It was pitiful, really, a few pieces of armor that protected his chest and shoulders plus his family sword and shield that doubled as a sheath. To think that he tried becoming a Huntsman with just that was insane in some capacity the longer she thought about it. Almost all Huntsmen's weapons had some firearm combined with the weapons form. If not that they were able to compensate with an alternative. Did he buy the armor at a pawn shop or discount shop?
"Well have to get something different. It would be a failure on our part if we didn't get you a ranged option. As well, this armor isn't necessary considering you have Arura."
He didn't seem to like that idea. "What if I get more or different armor?" Glynda raised an eyebrow. "I mean, yeah, I have Arura now that is definitely stronger than anything that can be made, but what if it runs out." She wasn't convinced, and he noticed. "Plus, it can help in my strength training, considering I have to get stronger."
Now that was an idea she could get behind. It would help in that aspect and cut their time strength training, even if it would be negligible. "That's fine, but remember this is coming out of your allowance provided directly from the Headmaster." Jaune nodded in agreement, and she continued, "Now, there won't be much to do besides starting your training considering our time frame. With all that out of the way, welcome to Beacon, Mister Arc."
AN: Another chapter is done, and another one is set to be made. What did you guys think of Glynda's Aura Chant? Would those two words be capitalized? English is my second language; dumbass is my first. But anyway, I think the chant represents the character and what using your soul means to them. For Pyrrha, it was all about being a paragon.
Facing the bad and protecting those who look up to her. So if those words mean anything, that is for you all to figure out. It's my characterization of Glynda Goodwitch. God, I hope this goes well. Also, I'm setting this up as if you do not know RWBY, even if any and all who read this would be familiar with the show.
As well I'm having trouble deciding Jaune's day by day outfit. Any suggestions would be wonderful because I feel like Glynda being the Disciplinarian she is wouldn't let a cartoonish hoodie fly.
Spoilers for anyone who doesn't know RWBY. This section is a little rant and I hope I can get a discussion going, but fuckin, Sembalances as a power system is cool as all hell. It's a reception of representation of a person's personality. So I think you can tell what a person is all about through that or a part of them. Like Adam got this thing about channeling damage into an object and giving it back, and it's similar for Yang, but they are two different people, so the results are different. For stories, this is amazing that are character focused.
If the person is simple, they might have strong yet simple semblance, like Jaune in the show or Ruby. Really you don't see a lot of complex ones or any different ones. But what they did with Ruby by splitting her into sections shows a person can't just be summed up into something wholly singular. Well, that's how I see it.
As well this might happen but what if a Semblance could evolve with a person. Like as they become a different person. Or what if you groom a person from an early age until they get a semblance that was intended by the groomer. We kinda saw the same thing with Cinder's backstory. She wasn't groomed but, her situation led her to have such an ability.
Right well, I'll try to get the next chapter out faster but eh. I hope the amount of content was enough for the month long wait. The time limit will be a month from now if that's reassuring. Also someone asked how I listen to these and it's simple. has an app on the Google Play Store, but I don't know if it's on the Apple store.
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Next Chapter: June 20th