Jacen strode toward the window where Skipper had positioned himself to recharge.
Lucky for Jacen, he installed a solar charging function on Skipper, which substituted the standard plug-in system.
However, it tended to be a bit slower, but it still provided Skipper with a means to charge whenever on low power.
Loud snoring made him turn toward the sleeping form of Rowan.
He was lying on his back without a shirt; Jacen could see how pronounced his muscles were, as well as the number of scars Rowan himself had.
His tail twitched slightly, though Jacen was careful not to wake him.
Not so much because he'd out-drunk Yang, who once again, despite Jacen's efforts, went overboard and had to drag her back to her room.
Instead, Rowan had stated that one of his oaths, known as a Geas, was that he was not to be woken up by anyone and that he must awaken on his own.
Others included abstaining from eating dog meat and to never refuse hospitality.
Jacen turned his gaze to the collection of trophies that Rowan had on display on his side of the room.
Tournament championships and a collection of trophies from various Grimm that he'd won.
Claws of Beowolves, Ursa, and tusks from a Boarbatusk show that Rowan had experience in fighting Grimm, though it was clear from the fight with the Elder Death Stalker that Rowan still had room for improvement.
Then Jacen turned his attention to the sash that Rowan typically wore.
Looking at it, he received an echo through the Force that spoke of its importance.
He was about to lay a hand on it when a knife flew inches away from his hand.
"No one touches the Green Sash that hasn't earned it," Rowan's voice showed warning.
With a breath, Jacen lowered his hand and turned toward Rowan, "As I recall, anyone wanting to become a member of the Hounds of Cú had to undergo harrowing trials and then undergo a final test of worth," Jacen said thoughtfully.
"Exactly," Rowan said, leaping out of bed, grabbed the sash along with his uniform, and then made ready to change in the bathroom.
As Jacen's gaze wandered around the room, it eventually landed on a framed photograph that caught his attention. The image featured a younger version of Rowan, who appeared to be around 12 or 13 years old. In the photo, Rowan was wearing a sash, which seemed to be his signature accessory, and he looked incredibly proud and dignified. However, what truly stood out to Jacen was the presence of an older woman who stood next to Rowan, her fiery red hair flowing down her back. She wore a headpiece that resembled a tiara, and her chest was adorned with a sash that matched the one Rowan was wearing. She also wore a matching skirt or kilt, which added to her regal appearance. The photograph captured the essence of a significant moment, and Jacen couldn't help but wonder what the story behind it was.
The woman had the makings of a great warrior with well-defined muscles and a few scars on her arm.
A resemblance between Rowan and the woman could be seen, but before Jacen could grasp it, Rowan had finished changing into his Beacon school uniform, with his sash over his shoulder.
"I hate wearin' this," Rowan said, quickly adjusting his sash.
"I presume you mean the uniform that the first years have to wear?" Jacen asked; though he meant it rhetorically, Rowan felt obligated to answer regardless.
"It's so restricting," Rowan said.
"For Cú's sake, I'd better not die in battle wearin' this."
Jacen indicated the photo, "Who's that with you in the picture?" He asked.
Rowan seemed to pause as he regarded the photo, "Rowena," he eventually said.
For a second, Jacen thought he sensed a ripple of sadness from Rowan, but it was quickly replaced by a strong competitive spirit, "Hope yer ready for our first class together. Let's do a bit of sport out of it," he declared.
"In what way?" Jacen asked.
"I've seen ya fight. Let's see how well ya do in a classroom," Rowan said.
Jacen grinned inwardly, Jacen remembered how long he spent in the Jedi Archives studying in preparation for when he finally became a Padawan.
"I'll take that bet," Jacen said.
"So, while I'm grateful for how ya saved my arse yesterday, don't expect outcomes like that to be commonplace," Rowan said.
"As I told Fangs, you just can't save everyone."
"Besides, if I am to die, it will be while standing on my own two feet. And it will be the result of my having fought an epic battle worthy of a member of the Hounds of Cú," Rowan said, grinning confidently. He wrapped his fist across his chest where his heart was.
Jacen had earned Rowan's respect during their duel, but Jacen had a sinking feeling about how some of Rowan's honorable mannerisms reminded him of those his friend Maru possessed.
"Ya alright?" Rowan asked, "Ya look like you've seen a Giest."
Jacen shook his head to clear his mind. Returning to Rowan he said, "I'm fine," though Jacen certainly didn't feel like it.
Something he'd seen through the Force told him that something would happen today that would have a significant impact.
"Ya know," Rowan said after a moment had passed.
"Normally the Hounds of Cú don't accept outside help. However, we make exceptions for warriors of a similar caliber to ourselves."
Jacen found solace in the fact that Rowan didn't take offense to his act of saving his life. From Jacen's conversation with Gray, he learned that the Hounds of Cú did not appreciate inexperienced people who tried to help them. In fact, such individuals would earn their contempt. The Emerald Hounds saw inexperience as a deterrent rather than an asset.
The sound of Skipper powering on issuing an urgent tone.
Rowan glared at Skipper, "What's yer robot sayin'?" He asked.
Jacen's eyes widened, "Dank Farrik!" Jacen rushed to his closet and took his uniform out.
"We have about thirty minutes before our first classes," Jacen said, shutting the door to the bathroom to change.
Rowan was looking forward to seeing how the young Jedi warrior would perform in the classroom environment. Although Rowan was grateful for Jacen saving his life and getting him his revenge on the Death Stalker, he couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of envy.
Although Rowena's test was not just a simple weekend excursion into downtown Vale, Jacen appeared to have undergone an experience similar to those who had lived through the Great War or military personnel who had been involved in numerous harrowing operations.
In order to learn about Jacen's clan, he went to the library, but found no information about a group called Jedi in any medium.
Before he went to bed the following night, he committed himself to studying Jacen in person in the same way he'd been observing Pyrrha Nikkos.
During the course of his ascent to becoming a renowned tournament champion, he never encountered a worthy adversary who could match his skills in combat. Even when he was on the brink of defeat, he masterfully executed his unique and unconventional fighting style that very few were able to defend against, thereby securing his victories time and again.
Yet it seemed like Jacen could block, redirect, or even dodge his every attack, and then there was that surge of telekinetic power that knocked him through those trees and into the cliff wall.
If these Jedi had such power, why wasn't there any mention of them appearing throughout the Great War? How could such a group not exist when Jacen himself did?
Come to think of it, hadn't he overheard Jacen and that history nerd mentioning that he was probably the last of his kind?
That was perhaps the one thing that Rowan could sympathize with.
The Hounds of Cú were once highly respected for their services. However, after the war ended and the King of Vale passed away, their role was forgotten by many people. The Faunus Uprising further worsened the situation as the King, who had advocated for equal rights between humans and Faunus, was depicted as a senile old man. This portrayal ruined the credibility of the Emerald Hounds, reducing them to petty thugs.
At the age of 15, he became the only remaining member who adhered to the old code, following the guidance of his mentor Rowena, who had also passed away.
Composing himself, he followed Jacen as he got everyone else rallied up and ready.
The classes were more informative than the collection of lectures Ozpin had put into Skipper's memory banks, which Jacen studied.
For first-year students, the general curriculum includes subjects such as History, Grimm Studies, Huntsmen Economics, Weaponry, and Combat.
At first glance, Jacen felt he was back in the Jedi Temple studying to become a Jedi.
At least he could focus if the air wasn't thick with tension.
Ruby's team seemed to be in disarray. Yang was still recovering from her hangover, Blake wasn't particularly talkative, and Ruby herself was struggling to cope with the pressure of being in an important role while also being the most stressed out of the team.
Weiss, still as cold as Hoth, made it her mission to upstage Ruby.
As the day continued, he noticed Ruby was becoming more timid under Weiss's derision.
Jacen's team, though a bit rough, had a bit of cohesion, though Rowan often tried to make a competition, which, normally, Jacen would accept, having been in a friendly competition between himself and his friend Maru.
However, Jacen was becoming more frustrated with how Weiss seemed to belittle Ruby at every possible opportunity. This, combined with Rowan stating that Ruby simply wasn't likely to make the cut, was pushing Jacen's patience to the edge. He prayed to the Force that it wouldn't end in violence.
One of the last classes of the day was with Professor Peter Port, whom he'd heard was a bit long-winded and prone to exaggerating his tales of how he conquered various Grimm.
However, Jacen also had the sickening feeling that things were about to come to a head.
"The Beowolf was no match for my tenacity," Professor Port's voice was filled with pride as he recounted an exaggerated story about how, as a young boy, he'd actually fought and killed an Alpha Beowolf.
About mid-age with bushy eyebrows and an equally bushy mustache coupled with a portly body type, Jacen found him mildly enduring, even if he was a bit long-winded.
Throughout the story, he motioned at a pair of large fangs, which undoubtedly came from the beowolf, as mentioned earlier.
Jacen's face betrayed a hint of sadness as he thought about the unfortunate fact that the Grimm did not leave behind any skeletons after they died. He knew that many big game hunters across the galaxy would be disappointed as they could not collect the skins of the Ursa as rugs or mount the head of a Nevermore over a roaring hearth, unlike their trophies from Reek horns to an entire stuffed Rancor.
"In the end, I eventually triumphed and collected its enormous fangs as my trophies," Professor Port finished, indicating the fangs.
Rowan seemed to think along the same line Jacen did about how it seemed the professor was stretching the truth in his story.
He heard laughter further down, and he turned to see Ruby, clearly not as captivated by Professor Port's story, drawing a rather poor version of the Professor, he heard Ruby imitating Port's voice, which actually made Weiss laugh a bit.
Even Jacen couldn't hide a laugh, though the Professor took it in stride.
"I suppose if you're bored, you'd be willing to show us how a huntress in training fights, Miss Rose," Professor Port said, making Ruby's earlier humor drop to uncertainty.
While Jacen knew that being a leader fighting against bad people or monsters came with a lot of pressure, which would break people, Ruby felt taught as a wire.
Jacen reached through the Force, and the scene began to mute with the individuals appearing luminous.
After awakening his aura, Yang gained a new level of awareness through the Force related to auras.
Given that an aura reflects one's emotional and mental state, it is manifested in the soul.
Jacen marveled at the fact that everyone's aura also had a unique color.
In Ruby's case, it was as red as her cape and hood, but it was clear from how her aura felt that she wasn't well-balanced.
She was stressed over how she became the leader because of that crazy maneuver she came up with in taking out the Nevermore.
Jacen tried to talk with her between classes, but she was too wrapped up in her uncertainty.
She'd said she didn't want to be seen as unique, but at the same time, she also had a desire to become a great huntress like her mother.
Yet now, she was coming to understand that the path toward that goal would be more difficult than she thought.
Ruby looked back at where she'd been sitting beside Weiss, then looked at the shaking cage in front of her.
She just wanted to prove that she was as capable a huntress as her mother, but now she had doubts about even that.
She glanced at Jacen, who seemed worried, before turning toward the cage with Crescent Rose ready in its scythe configuration.
She shook her head to get focused, "I'm ready," she said.
With a quick motion, Professor Port opened the cage, and a Boarbatusk burst out toward Ruby.
She used her weapon to knock it back, and while she should have been able to kill it, her mind was filled with too much uncertainty.
In that moment of hesitation, the Boarbatusk stomped its hove on the ground and then charged at her, knocking her weapon out of her hands.
She struggled to get up, and she looked over at the gathered students.
Yang had a look of concern on her face, and even Blake seemed worried about how this was going.
The sound of snorting brought her back to the Boarbatusk, which was getting ready for another charge.
After fighting a giant, Nevermore, was she really going to get killed by a smaller Grimm before she could truly prove herself?
Just before the Boarbatusk charged, the sound of a snap-hiss activation followed by a distinct humming noise that changed pitch.
Ruby used her semblance to escape just as Jacen's lightsaber flew past her and cleaved the Boarbatusk in half.
Finally, it arched up and toward Jacen's awaiting hand, then watched him deactivate the blade and rush toward her with Yang coming beside her.
"You alright, Ruby?" Yang asked out of concern.
Ruby was virtually on the verge of tears as Yang embraced her and Jacen examined her for any injuries.
She looked toward where Weiss was sitting, and her eyes were narrowed with disappointment.
How is it you became the leader rather than me? That was what Ruby saw in that look.
Jacen stayed beside Ruby and Yang until they stood up to lead Ruby back to her seat.
Off to the side, he heard Rowan let out a disappointed sound.
Was this son of a kath hound actually expecting Ruby to fail like this?
Jacen's anger was escalating dangerously due to Weiss's belligerence and Rowan implying that Ruby didn't belong there.
He could show Rowan what happens when a Jedi gives in to their anger, but that would never do.
As he'd sensed, today's class had been a critical point.
The last class of the day was tournament battles under Professor Glynda Goodwitch.
During this class, Glynda went over the system for tournament-style duels.
She didn't need to explain much for anyone already familiar with tournaments they'd either witnessed or, in the case of Pyrrha and Rowan, actively participated.
After she finished explaining, she cleared her throat.
"Each student will step onto the dueling ring," she said.
"During these matches, refer to your scroll if you're aura drops below the red zone."
It might have just been the mounting stress, frustration, and a desire to give vent to his ire that's been building up, but somehow Jacen found himself stepping toward the ring, and then he turned to face the crowd.
It was time to blow off a bit of steam and he knew only one person who could give him a good fight while also being an object to blow off steam.
"I choose Rowan Conall as my opponent," Jacen said, his voice controlled but noticeably firm.
Rowan seemed taken aback at first, but then his face took on one of excitement.
"A rematch already?" Rowan asked.
"Happy to oblige."
When Rowan stood before him, he closed his eyes to reach through the Force to center himself and tune out any unnecessary distractions.
When Jacen opened his eyes, he regarded Rowan with something matching contempt.
Part of Jacen didn't like taking this action but given how hard Ruby seemed to be struggling, just being here was frustrating him.
Rowan might not have been as mean about it as Weiss had been, but Rowan seemed to share the thought that Ruby shouldn't be at Beacon.
"Whenever yer ready," Rowan said, removing Gae Bulg from its scabbard and then switching it to its spear configuration.
Jacen's only response was to activate his lightsaber, getting into his standard Ataru-ready form.
"Ah, still usin' that fancy Jedi combat?" Rowan said, getting into his ready stance.
When Glynda gave the okay, Rowan and Jacen began their duel.
As was similar in their other battle, Rowan came at him with his strength enhanced, with Jacen bringing his lightsaber to bear.
The room was filled with the sound of Jacen's lightsaber clashing against Rowan's weapon.
"I'm sorry to tell you," Rowan said as he delivered blows, "I thought your sister was amazing when she took down that Nevermore, but she's just not cut out for leadership." The only other sound was the sound of Jacen's lightsaber clashing with the electrical current on Rowan's weapon.
"Children don't last long in the world of Huntsmen and Huntresses," he added.
For a moment, Jacen wanted to express that he and Ruby weren't siblings, but in this particular instant, he was doing what he felt a sibling would do.
Jacen brought his lightsaber down then, rather than the blade locking with Rowan's weapon, quickly deactivated then reactivated the blade, slashing across Rowan's chest, though his aura ensured that there wasn't a lightsaber wound there.
Rowan flipped backward and showed Jacen a curious look, "That was rather unorthodox of ya, lad," he said.
"I'd hope you wouldn't be so hot-tempered as to turn this into a personal grudge match."
Jacen didn't respond to the statement but simply pressed on with his lightsaber combat.
"It's bad enough that Weiss is giving Ruby grief over becoming a leader, you have to go writing her off as just some child," Jacen said.
Rowan's lip curled in distaste, "The inexperienced should never step foot onto the battlefield if they aren't ready," he said, blocking another of Jacen's strikes.
"Inexperience disgraces what it means to be a warrior."
"Meanwhile, you disgrace the Hounds of Cú even further," Jacen snapped.
The moment the words left Jacen's mouth, he regretted it. It was a direct blow to Rowan's pride, and he'd just said something insulting.
Rowan now looked at Jacen with clear anger on his face.
"You know, for all your Jedi tricks, I have to wonder why there aren't more like you," Rowan aimed his spear at Jacen.
Jacen stood poised, his lightsaber at the ready, but his expression was guarded. "Choose your next words carefully," Jacen's voice had a cold resonance to it, but Rowan didn't hear it. Despite knowing what Rowan was about to say, Jacen was not eager to hear it spoken aloud.
Since the end of the war, Jacen felt that familiar feeling bubbling dangerously close to the surface. If Rowan wasn't careful with his next words, Jacen knew that feeling would manifest in an ugly way.
"Perhaps, if you were better, your kind might not be extinct."
That did it!
As Rowan prepared to strike, Jacen reached out his hand and hooked his fingers into claws.
At that instant, Rowan stopped and raised his hands to his throat, but Jacen lifted his arm, and as he did, Rowan was lifted into the air; then Jacen brought his hand down, sending Rowan crashing to the floor.
Before Rowan could recover, Jacen had his lightsaber at Rowan's neck.
Inwardly, he reveled in the feeling of shock that Rowan felt.
An irresistible urge seemed to possess his mind and body, dark, violent, and cold as space, then Jacen stopped when he noticed the crowd looking at him with faces filled with anything from surprise to shock.
His eyes caught the sight of Yang looking at him with an expression of shock bordering on horror.
Somehow, that snapped Jacen out of his trance, and he took several steps back before he began trembling slightly.
Jacen was filled with anger towards Rowan and Weiss, who had been hindering Ruby's dream. He was also hurt by Rowan's comment about his inability to save the Jedi, which was a direct insult to Jacen's failure to prevent his master's death during the execution of Order 66, or to save his friend Maru during the Fall of Taris, it nearly consumed him to the point he had used the Force to strangle Rowan and almost take off his head.
Jacen, once again, felt the power of the dark side and was on the brink of killing someone.
Even if Rowan had brought it down on himself, it would be something Jacen could never undo.
"Mr. Horne?" Glynda's voice asked in concern.
Jacen didn't even risk a glance when he ran for the back door.
Gray stood silent for a moment after Jacen's dramatic exit.
H-he's like me, he thought.
He turned to see that Yang had gotten over her apparent shock and had run after him, though not before casting an angry look at Rowan, and then she went out the same door.
Jacen's droid, Skipper, was close beside Yang when they left the room.
"It's like, he wasn't in control of himself," Rouge said thoughtfully.
Gray saw Jacen demonstrating acts of nobility and selflessness.
Whatever Rowan said to inspire such wrath in Jacen had to have been something Jacen took very personally.
Gray nodded in Rouge's direction, "We should at least find out what's going on," Gray said.
Rouge raised an eyebrow, "You think it's wise to listen in on a private conversation?"
Gray nodded, "We're still a team, Rouge," he answered as they made their way via a different route.
END