AN: Hey everyone, I almost didn't post this because, honestly, life is a lot, and I am sorry to say that there won't be another chapter for The Knight and The Witch this month. I'm on a break with my gf, family stuff, and so on. I haven't made another chapter beyond the one I had lined up for this month. Don't overwork yourself. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 10: Vanishing Pains
Ozpin sat in his office typing away at emails for the Council of Vale. The dust robberies were at the top of the list of things they wanted to discuss, and Ozpin had to deal with them. While he would emit that Roman was a threat too strong for the police, he already had his hands tied with the school.
That included Amber, finding the person who attacked Amber, and the fact that the Grimm have been moving too close to Vale. "She's plotting something, and beyond killing a maiden, I have no approximation of what she could be planning. However," Ozpin also looked over more reports about White Fang stealing dust. "I can't seem to understand what she is plotting."
The elevator door dinged open, bringing Ozpin out of his musings. Jaune Arc's tired look gave the old hunter a bemused feeling. "Is something wrong, Jaune?" The apprentice mumbled something under his breath and then seated himself in a chair before Ozpin's desk. "Long night, I assume?" The only response Jaune got was a nod, and if Ozpin didn't know better. That was Jaune just nodding off to sleep. "Here," Ozpin said as he passed Jaune a mug of coffee made for the young man.
He took it with gusto as he ignored the burning sensation of the brown liquid flowing down his throat. Like a sunflower, he shot in his seat and looked at Ozpin with tired eyes. "Thanks, Ozpin. I kept waking up to alarm clocks in the middle of the night."
"Clocks? Why were alarm clocks going off in the middle of the night?" Jaune just shrugged, with no clue about the culprit. "Well, I'll have Glynda check the cameras to see who is responsible. Now, let's get to the postponed lesson."
"Oh yeah, Professor Goodwitch taught me the basic categories of semblances, and that aura can't grow," Jaune said through sips.
"Did she now?" Ozpin chuckled. "She's always doing too much. Actually, you both have the same dilemma." Ozpin chuckled as Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "Well, we shall dive more into Aura and Semblances in general. Semblances, however, are something that Bart is in charge of and will guide. Now, aura gives us Huntsmen our ability to fight the Grimm. While it gives us strength, it does more than just that." Ozpin got from his chair, and with aid from his cane, he reached the digital chalkboard off to the side.
"It can," he pulled a piece of chalk from his pocket. It glowed a sage green, "strengthen objects or, " It glowed more brightly until the piece of chalk exploded into powder, "destroy anything with enough Aura." Jaune coughed and waved away the dust coming his way. A green light shone through the old teacher's fingers of the small dust cloud.
The young man had to take two glances to believe it himself, but a small ball of green floated in the Headmaster's hand. Ozpin weaved the sphere between his fingers several times, and on the seventh pass, it faded like the Grimm. "Wow," was all Jaune could say in the display of Ozpin's skill.
Ozpin chuckled at the young Arc's mysticism. Seeing people's wonder at different Aura techniques was always entertaining for the old Headmaster. It was one of the few things that could get a laugh out of him. The faint laughter of children played in the back of his mind, but he refocused on the present. The past would have to stay dead if Ozpin wanted to mold Jaune into the perfect project.
"Now, everything you just saw, Jaune was one of the many Aura techniques anyone can learn," Ozpin picked up a piece of chalk and began writing the techniques on the board. "While they might vary in difficulty for each person, they can generally be listed as such in difficulty." Chalk danced, and a list slowly formed. The board revealed its contents to the young man as his teacher moved from the board and the list of techniques listed as such. "These are just some of them."
Strengthen object's qualities (Low) Basic
Strengthen their person (Low) Basic
Transfer of a person's aura (Low) Basic
Create projectile arcs of aura (Mid)
Passively protect yourself (Mid)
Sensing the amount of aura of a person through contact (Mid)
Making things explode by pushing aura into something (Mid)
Warm the user in cold climates (Mid)
Enhance the senses (Mid)
Extension of a weapon's edge (Mid-High)
Identify the color of another's aura by sensing it (Mid-High)
Sensing the amount of aura of a person by slight skin contact (Mid-High)
Sensing/seeing other's aura almost immediately without touching (High)
Aura Oscillation (High)
Aura System (High)
Creation of a projectile (near-high end)
Creation of a barrier encompassing the caster (near-high end)
Glyphs (Extreme High End)
Full Soul Release or All Soul (Extreme High End)
"Woah," Jaune said, stunned. "I could learn all of these? And what's up with that last one having two names? Oh, what about extreme heat, Ozpin? Does this mean people have color in their souls? Like how I flash yellowish white when I'm hit."
A faint smile graced Ozpin's face at Jaune's enthusiasm. "Well, yes, people have color to their souls. No, we can't protect ourselves from the extreme heat. The last one is to simply shorten it, and you can learn all of them, but it would be hard even for someone like Miss Rose, who started training at 7."
"Oh," Jaune simply said.
"But I think you can achieve it all. You have a talent for Aura, and I think that is because of your lineage. A quick history lesson if you will, but Aura has protected us and affected the physical form as well." Jaune hesitated in his seat before leaning into what might seem like a secret. "The changes on the body in one person are usually small and gradual. It is so small, in fact, that it can't really be seen. However, eventually, in life's history, the notices became apparent. Hair having two tones or even hair colors that shouldn't be possible. Uncommon eye colors and, for some, to make Aura flow throughout the body as natural as blood. Now, those changes have become a part of our day-to-day, but you'll learn more about them with Bart."
Jaune scribbled what he could and saw a cup held out for him. Jaune took it with caution and curiosity. "Uh, what is this for?" The question was left hanging in the air as Ozpin sipped his coffee. A satisfied 'ah' was birthed from his lips, and then he went back for another long sip. The final drops of coffee disappeared down his throat, and the first 'ah' gained a brother.
Ozpin pulled up a chair and sat next to Jaune. "While you seem to be getting protecting finely. Your control of things beyond your person hasn't been so lucky. You can't send your clothes to the tailor in the field afterward. So, in this exercise, I want you to focus on strengthening the cup in your hand and smash it into mine."
Jaune nodded and then stared at the cup. It slowly began to glow a faint light, but it faded from view. He gasped for air and then scrunched his eyebrows to keep the energy flowing into the cup. It glowed again but lost its shine as soon as it gained the light. Jaune's breaths were heavy and labored as he tried to empower the cup.
"Jaune, you're trying too hard."
"I'm just trying what I can." He grunted and flexed his muscles, thinking the soul energy would follow suit.
"Give it a name," Ozpin said. A comment that seemed insignificant to the young hunter. Why would he give a name to a cup of all things? It was just a cup. He probably wouldn't see it ever again. Jaune looked to Ozpin for an answer, but he just sat there with a knowing smirk. What was different from this cup and his weapons? They would always and easily take his Aura. Ideas formed about metal that used Aura as fuel and gave them magical properties spun in his head.
None of them made sense, however; Corcea Mors, at the end of the day, was just a sword and shield. A weapon that has been in some legends and, more importantly, has been reforged because it can break. A fact given to him thanks to his father's stories. The comment of giving it a name sat there unabashedly on top of his head.
What was so important about a name anyway? Now that he thought about every huntsman he knew gave a name to their weapon. Even Peter's safety hazard of a weapon has a name. Does it make it easier? Could it be, or is it some soul mumbo jumbo? Jaune sighed and just looked at the cup. "Okay, X-Ray, work with me."
Jaune pushed his aura into the cup, and it glowed his soul's color, but when it faded. He could feel his Aura flow into it and flow back. The cup's body was being filled with new Aura every few seconds. The energy moved like cool water beneath his skin and returned to him warm. He looked to Ozpin excitedly, but the loop halted, and he felt it closed off. "Awe, I just had it."
A small laugh escaped Ozpin, and Jaune replied with his sad ocean blues. Ozpin coughed into his fist, "Apologies, I wasn't laughing at you, Jaune. Your excitement is just amusing. But that is why we give names. While it gets easier as you become more proficient, giving a name to an object helps you connect with it. Escapally, if the young hunter has given it an important name to them. They become a part of you, allowing the soul to flow freely. The hunter's weapon is a representation of them and their pride. A weapon can also reassure your charge because there is a hunter to protect them and their first partner as well."
Jaune stared starry-eyed at Ozpin. He dared to hope that he could be someone as great and amazing as the man in front of him. To be able to say a few words to inspire others just like he did to him. "Now, do you want to try the exercise again?" Ozpin questioned.
"Yeah!"
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Jaune wrote down his final answer to Peter and Bart's homework with a happy smile. "While guns are easy, Grimm does not care and will do anything they can to destroy their prey. That is another reason why melee weapons are still present today." He threw down his hand and stretched out any cramp he could shake out.
The rest of his body followed suit as he stretched himself like a cat in his chair. A relaxed sigh left his lips, and he looked at his handiwork. The paperwork from Thumbelina was finalized and ready for Glynda's approval. In comparison, all his homework from the different teachers was finished as well. Ever since Jaune joined the staff, he had been running around like a chicken, trying not to get his head cut off.
However, living in the country has taught him one thing, and working at Beacon has taught him another. One, chickens can still run around without a head, and two, Professor Goodwitch would turn him into one to keep him going. Jaune rose from his chair to stretch more of his body and moved around the office he was given.
"I was getting that exercise with Ozpin, but moving all of this Aura is still hard. But I'm getting a handle on it." Tears started to form in his eyes, and Jaune did his best to hold it back. A knock from the door pulled him from his musings, and as he opened it, his team was there to greet him. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Hello, Jaune," Pyrrha said politely.
"Hey, Jauney," Nora cheerfully yelled.
"Hey," Ren said simply. "We were wondering if you wanted to train with us?"
"More like Renny was wondering if you wanted to." Nora got close to Jaune and loudly whispered, "I think he likes you."
Jaune looked at Ren and then at Nora. "Can you tell him I don't like guys? I don't think his heart can take it." She giggled and nodded. With a bounce and a skip, she went back to her best friend.
With a stren face and a strong hand, Nora looked Ren in the eyes. "Renny, he doesn't like men."
Ren's impassive face showed no hint of emotion, and he simply said, "I think I'll manage." He turned to Jaune, "So, training?"
"Yeah, just don't beat me up too much."
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Jaune stood as a bulwark when a training bot slammed its fist into his shield. Pyrrha took the opening and pierced through the head. When she withdrew her sword, Jaune pushed the hunk of metal into other automatons charging his teammates. Only one robot fell to Jaune's attempt to delay the enemies. "Thanks, Jaune!" Nora shouted as she slammed her war hammer into the downed robot.
Ren sliced through the bots that jumped his partner, and Pyrrha covered anything he missed. Jaune took a ready stance as a robot charged him with a staff. He went for a slice from his lower right, but the machine parried it with the bottom half and stuck with the upper half. Jaune raised his shield, but it was knocked away. It struck him multiple times in the chest, and Jaune fell on his rear end.
The staff was raised for an overhead strike, but Jaune kicked the legs from under his opponent. With a roll to the side, Jaune grasped his sword and stabbed into the neck of the machine. A pair of training bots marched forward, and the first took aim at the distracted huntsman in training. The rubber rounds bounced off Pyrrha's shield, and the second was charging with a training sword. "Great job, Jaune," called his team leader.
His eyes danced to his shield, but he looked at the rushing robot and Pyrrha aiming at the offending automaton. He rushed forward to the sword-wielding opponent with all his might and took a blow to his chest. Jaune pushed through it and stabbed into the chest of his target. "Next time, you should do your best to avoid unnecessary hits but nice execution."
"Heh, thanks Pyrrha. I just wish I had more arms to handle all of them." Jaune wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the carnage of the team exercise. Destroyed robots littered the arena, and as an assortment of machines came out to clean the battlefield, the rest of his team approached him.
"Next time, Jaune-Jaune, use more strength and look where you're throwing your enemy. That way, you can stun more enemies with their allies' lifeless corpses," Nora said with a creepy amount of enthusiasm.
"You did a decent job with your Aura control. You're picking it up more quickly than I thought," Ren added. "If you keep it up, you just might be able to take a blow from Nora without losing focus."
Jaune thought for a second and thought to himself. "Well, I just might be able to now because Peter hits like a car accident." Nora grew a devilish smile and cocked back a fist to strike. Ren stepped in front of Nora with placating hands while Pyrrha held back the hammer wielder with a bit of strain.
"Awe, but I want to see how strong I am against the best teacher in the school," Nora said with a sad smile. "Well, it's not like Ren would be a good human shield anyway."
"Yes, I wouldn't be, so please put me down, Jaune," Ren asked as he was held in the air by his hips by the surprising strength of their fourth teammate.
"Sorry, Ren." Jaune rubbed the back of his head as shouting could be heard from behind them. Two Huntresses-in-training threw veiled verbal lashings at each other.
"I told you they were done," Ruby said, irritated.
"But you always need to ask before entering. A leader should present themself with a bit of grace." Yang clicked her tongue. "We're sorry to break up your training, Team Prawn, but we reserved the next time slot." Weiss walked forward to meet them in the middle with a hand extended.
"Oh, we're sorry." Pyrrha met her in the middle and took her hand. "We were just coming together and discussing what could be improved." Out of nowhere, Ruby bummed into Weiss, which made her stumble out of Pyrrha's grasp.
"It's okay, Team Prawn Jam," Ruby added, rapidly shaking her fellow leader's hand. "Thinking of what you can do better after team training is important."
"Well," Weiss dusted off her combat skirt as she rose, "the team leader should also organize team training. Which is something I'm sure Pyrrha did for her team." She topped her patronizing lash with a smile.
"Well," Pyrrha said, but Ruby created a rebuttal.
"Maybe I would've done it if you didn't just keep on walking on my leader toes."
"Leader toes? I knew you were a child." Jaune wanted to cut in, but his teammates pulled him back before Weiss could cut him down.
"I'm not a child. I got here by my skills, just like you."
"You being here implies you're a child."
"So, what does that make you?" Blake said from behind her book. It was supposed to be something said in her head, but Blake was too distracted by her book to focus on everything else. Shouting erupted from the gaggle of teenagers as Team Prawn Jam made their way out.
"We should've said or done something."
"But it's their issues. If they can't figure them out, how would they survive in the field," Ren countered.
"Yeah," Jaune said dejectedly.
"I'm sure they'll figure it out. After all, you have been helping Ruby Jauney. It should be easy for Ruby to reel Weiss into her cuteness." Nora skipped into the girl's locker room with Pyrrha as she laughed with the rest of her teammates.
After a quick shower, they said their goodbyes, and Jaune was returning to his office when someone ran into him. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you there." He looked up from his scroll to see Cardin once again. "Hey, uh, Cardin, how are you doing?" Jaune said with a hint of fear.
"Oh, not much. What about you, Jauney boy? Messing with people's hard work?" Cardin said as he looked down.
"What, no, I said I was going to give them to Professor Oobleck. I wasn't going to mess with any of your papers." Jaune took a step back and halfway turned his body to bolt.
"Good," Cardin said with snark. He walked past Jaune and smacked him so hard his head hit the wall. "Oh, get up. Huntsmen-in-training should be able to take hits like that and keep on walking." He laughed as Jaune's head swam and rose to shaky feet. Through Jaune's hair, he could see people overlapping on Cardin's visage.
He finally made it to his feet and looked anywhere but Cardin. "I-I'm sorry E-E-Ethan. I didn't mean to get in your way."
"Who the hell is Ethan?" Like a whip, Cardin's mind came up with something cruel. "You better not let the professors catch you saying that shit, or who knows, they might just let you go." Jaune shook with fear as Cardin walked away with a cruel smirk. His Aura healed the damage the bully did to his body. Within the hour, there wouldn't even be a mark left.
AN: If you like what I make and want to see more, find me on Youtube, Twitch, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook at Dragoo_Fire. The links are on the profile page.
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Next Chapter: March 17th