I don't own anything.

Pyrrha Nikos POV

Rolling over in bed, I stuck one arm out from under the blankets, wincing at the cold that assaulted my arm. Growing up in southern Mistral, I was used to hot and muggy summers and a temperate fall season. As much as I was enjoying Vale, the autumn in Sanus was something I hadn't gotten used to yet. It was cold and windy all day long, but the nights were by far the worst. I'd taken to wrapping myself in my blankets, but that brought its own set of problems with it.

I fumbled around in the dark, reaching for the glass of water I had left out on my nightstand. It took a moment, and I almost knocked it onto the floor once, but soon I had my prize in hand. I was disappointed, though, when I brought it to my lips, only to realize that the glass was empty.

I resisted the urge to groan, and contemplated just going back to sleep for a moment. On the one hand, I could stay nice and warm. On the other, if I didn't drink some water now, I'd have horrible cottonmouth tomorrow, and that would suck.

'Okay, you can do this. 5… 4… 3… 2… NOW!'

I shoved the blankets off of me and resisted the urge to shiver as the cold swept over my body. Quickly, I grabbed my scroll off of my nightstand too, and turned on the flashlight. It took a moment to find my slippers, as I'd apparently kicked one of them over to Jaune's bed while I'd been taking them off the night before. Now fully ready to go and quench my thirst, I turned, towards the door.

'Wait. Where's Jaune?'

Long red locks slapped me in the face with how fast my head snapped back to Jaune's bed. It was empty. Not only was it empty, but it was completely undisturbed, as if the boy hadn't even touched it since he'd last made it. Could I have missed him leaving? Possible. But where would he have gone? Was he in the kitchens too? Maybe grabbing a glass of water himself, or even a midnight snack.

I let out a little breath that I hadn't even realized I was holding. Yeah, that was probably it. Chances are I'll even walk past him on my way down. Scroll in one hand and glass in the other, I quietly made my way from the room.

The halls of Beacon academy were beautiful, and it was even more so at night. The light of the broken moon filtered in through the large windows that gave a good view of the school's grounds that were a vibrant green in at the start of autumn with the dropping temperatures. Inside, white and light gray interior complemented the green and gold school banners that were hung at regular intervals throughout the school.

As I got closer and closer to the kitchens, though, I became less and less enamored by the décor. Not because it was less beautiful here, but because worry began creeping back into my mind. I hadn't seen Jaune yet. Would he still be in the kitchen?

"Only one way to find out." I whispered to myself as I pushed the doors open. The lights in the kitchen were off, and when I turned then on, I was still alone. There was no sleeping Jaune Arc sleeping at one of the tables, his head buried in his late-night snack. Opening my scroll, I was in such a hurry that I somehow managed to enter the wrong combination twice.

The third time was the charm, though, and I quickly went to my chat with Jaune. It was relatively empty, not because we hadn't talked much, but mostly because we saw each other for most of the day that there was little reason to call or text. For a moment, I contemplated simply sending a text, but a call would go much quicker. After a moment's hesitation, I pressed the call button.

"… Hi this is Jaune, I can't pick up right now. Leave a message after the beep…"

In one of the cupboards, the cutlery began rattling and I took a deep breath to calm myself. After a moment, my semblance deactivated, and I forced myself down into one of the chairs by a lone table. He'd be okay. He had to be okay.

I ducked beneath a set of bone-white claws and slid Crocea Mors up in between the bone plates on the Beowolf's shoulder, taking the offending limb straight off at the joint. It didn't get a reprieve as I rammed the edge of my shield into its muzzle with a mighty crack, taking more than a couple of teeth with it. A quick slash of Crocea Mors finished it off, leaving it to dissolve into motes of dark Dust.

+ 1239 DUST

I took a moment to look around the clearing, just in case there were any more Grimm lurking nearby. In comparison to the forest around Ansel, even far from the village, the Emerald Forest was virtually teeming with monsters. While an abundance of Grimm would usually be a problem, for Jaune it was a blessing. The more Grimm around for him to kill, the faster he could grow.

Jaune Arc

Level: 33 - 34

HP: 100/100

AP: 364/400

Vigor: 10

Mind: 20

Endurance: 16

Strength: 22

Dexterity: 14 - 15

Intelligence: 10

Dust: 14379 - 374

When I realized that I had enough Dust for another level, I couldn't help the grin that split my face in two. As I confirmed my choice, I felt that glorious thrill of strength run along my spine, and I resisted the urge to shiver. Slowly, I let out a breath as the feeling left me and stretched, noticeably more flexible than I had before.

That was something that I'd noticed since I began diversifying my attributes. Some of them did more than one thing. Endurance, for example, governed how long I could keep going, whether that meant running or fighting or even just walking before I got tired. But having more Endurance also meant any bursts of intense activity could be done for longer.

Dexterity was much the same. Sure, a higher Dexterity score let me run and move faster, but it also worked on my reflexes, hand-eye coordination and flexibility. It was probably the most versatile attribute I had, along with Mind, and I felt like an idiot for having ignored it for so long. To be fair, though, putting all those points in Strength at the start had allowed me to actually deal damage to enemies far above my… weight class, so to speak.

Now though, I couldn't ignore it any longer. Since I fought with a sword and shield, the most important attributes were Strength, Endurance, Dexterity and Mind. Mind had very little to do with sword fighting, but aura not only kept me alive, but let me cast 'spells' like Chitin Shield, and while it might not be as flashy as I'd imagined a supposed spell would have been, it was a godsend.

So, for now, that meant divvying up the levels between those stats to even them out a little more. Sure, I would hit harder if I just focused on Strength, but if I can't hit anything, none of that Strength is going to matter. If I wanted to become an effective fighter, I needed to balance out my build a little more.

A growl from the underbrush snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked forward again.

Ursa Major

Level 39

The sound wasn't coming from the underbrush itself, it was the sound of the underbrush being crushed under almost 2000 pounds of black flesh and white bone armor. It was huge, about the same size as the Ursa I had fought with Blake in the Forever Fall. I was fighting it on my own now, but I was also a hell of a lot stronger.

It roared as it charged me, red eyes glinting in the moonlight. It was like a wall of sound slamming into me, but I ignored it. Bending my knees, I activated Chitin Shield. A black layer of something appeared over the top of Crocea Mors' sheath. It wasn't a second too soon, as a paw the size of a dinner plate slammed down onto it. I didn't even budge.

The victory was short-lived, though, as I had to step back, lest it smack me in my unprotected side with its other paw. As it swung through empty air, Crocea Mors swept out, scoring a hit on an unprotected patch of flesh near its knee. Looking at its health bar, it hadn't done much, but then we were only just beginning.

The next time it charged me, I didn't block. Instead, I twisted, slamming my shield into the incoming limb. The Ursa had the undeniable weight advantage, and most likely an advantage in pure strength as well. A parry like that should have never worked, but then again, I wasn't playing fair. Chitin Shield nullified a large part of the blow's impact, and I was more than strong enough to do the rest.

With the Grimm off balance, I stabbed forward with my sword. The hit didn't land in its throat like I had hoped, but instead skittered off the armor on its shoulder. I did drag it across the exposed flesh on its neck on the way back, but it was a weak hit. Before it could recover, I rammed my shield into its face, rattling it long enough for me to make some space. I had no desire to get pinned under something that heavy, so I couldn't realistically stay that close for long.

And then the dance began again. Exchanges were quick, dirty and vicious things. Both the Grimm and I trying to inflict a maximum amount of damage every time we met each other. It tried its best to crush me, and it had learned to avoid my shield. I on the other hand, stayed reactive. Taking advantage of the openings it left when it gave into its aggression and ruthlessly punishing it.

Having been too slow to really hit anything before, it was how I'd learned to fight by trial and error. I wasn't fast enough to just blitz the Grimm, not without potentially taking fatal damage. Instead, I could rely on a good defense with a shield and high aura reserves to leverage my strength on counterattacks. It had worked for me so far, and it still seemed to work just fine.

When the Ursa's health bar dropped to around 10%, it desperately tried to switch gears. It bit down onto my shield instead of trying to slam it aside and tried to tear it away from me. I didn't really have much of a choice but to let go, though in doing so, the Grimm rocked back. It had expected me to resist, and since I could take its blows without issue, it had assumed that I was as strong as it was. It was almost funny, that some of the first intelligent action I had seen a Grimm take was so obviously wrong, not because it was stupid, but because it was overestimating me.

With the bear trying to regain its balance, my shield still in its jaws, I lunged. Crocea Mors stabbed in between the two large bone plates on its chest, running it through.

ENEMY FELLED

+13028

"Bravo!"

I whirled, sword flashing out at the unexpected sound, realizing too late that it was a person. I needn't have worried, though. Before I even knew what had happened, Crocea Mors bounced off of a solid metal surface before something heavy slammed into the cross-guard, tearing the weapon from my hands.

"Haha, you should be more careful my boy! You wouldn't want to attack an ally, now, would you?"

Professor Peter Port was stood in front of me, wearing his signature burgundy suit and green cavalry boots. In his hands, he held his weapon, a double-bladed battleaxe, the handle doubling as a blunderbuss that was sure to pack a punch.

"I'm sorry sir, you startled me." The man's moustache twitched in response, a little smile breaking out over his face. The free hand he had used to disarm me simply waved me off.

"That's quite alright my boy. In future, do pay more attention to your surroundings. A Grimm might not have announced itself as I did." Even as he gave me some advice, the professor's voice boomed through the forest. The man simply stood there as he did so, completely uncaring of what Grimm he might attract.

"Yes sir." I said, bending down to grab Crocea Mors and turning to find my shield. The Ursa had already dissolved, so it was around here somewhere. A glint caught my eye, and I moved over to it as Port began talking again.

"So, what brings you here at this time of night, my boy? If you are looking for a scenic route for a walk, this forest is perhaps a bit dangerous."

"Ah, nothing like that sir. I'm training."

"Training? At this time of night? My boy, I feel as if I must tell you that proper rest is just as important for your growth as working is." He told me, and for the first time, the professor's voice lost some of its pomp.

"I, uh, I don't actually need to sleep sir. You se-"

"Don't need to, or can't?" The man interrupted me, his thick, bushy eyebrows drawing together in a mighty frown.

"Uhm, both, I guess." Port just stared at me, urging me to elaborate. "I don't need to sleep to survive, but I can. Or I used to, anyways. Lately, I've found it difficult to actually fall asleep, but-"

"But since you don't need to you don't see that as a problem." The man interrupted again, and I couldn't help but nod. He'd hit the nail on the head. Port hummed as he began walking between the trees, and I followed. I don't know why I did it, but it just felt natural.

"Uh sir, why are you out here anyways?" I broke the silence first.

"Part of my duties as the Grimm Studies professor. Throughout the year I come and cull the population of Grimm to a safe level." He explained, but the last bit caught me off guard.

"Safe level?"

"The Emerald Forest is a dangerous place, my boy. It wouldn't do to have hopeful students perish during initiation or exercises in the forest, so I am tasked with putting down any Grimm that might prove too much for the students to deal with."

"But then, the Deathstalker?"

"A mistake!" The man boomed, and for the first time I felt that he was genuinely angry. "Deathstalkers are not native to Vale, and I had not expected there to be any here. I hadn't searched the caverns and caves in the area. Rest assured there will not be another like it!" Port's expression was thunderous, he genuinely thought it was a failure on his part that we'd had to face that strong a Grimm in our initiation,

For a while, all was quiet as we continued our stroll through the forest. When we neared the cliffs of Beacon, the professor turned to me.

"My boy, I must say that I admire your dedication to improving yourself, but I must ask that you do not come here at night again." When he saw that I was going to protest, he held up a hand. "It is admirable, Mr. Arc, to want to better yourself. But the forest is a dangerous place, doubly so at night. This late, there is precious little in the way of a safety net. I cannot, in good conscience allow you to risk your life in this way." The man told me, putting his hand on my shoulder as he did so.

"I can't, sir." I looked up from the grass to meet his eyes, and the man looked confused.

"Can't what, my boy?"

"I can't stop coming here. It's, it's part of my semblance… If I could just train like everyone else, I would. But I can't. The only way for me to grow is to kill Grimm."

Port's eyebrows pulled together even further, deepening his frown. The man mulled it over for a moment before he spoke again.

"I will not pretend to understand, my boy. Because I do not. What I do understand, is that this means a lot to you. I… I may have a solution. What I do want, is to know why you think it acceptable to risk your life in this way. Even if killing Grimm is the only way for you, you could do so during the day, when help is readily available. So, I will ask why, or I will forbid you from coming here again." Instead of the booming, almost bombastic tone I had gotten used to from Port, he spoke softly.

"I…" I took a moment to center myself. To really think about why I did what I did. "I heard your conversation with Weiss, sir." I told him, before he could interrupt, I continued. "It's not about her, not really. I was doing this before the two of you talked, after all. It's…"

I took a deep breath. "People don't believe in me sir. It's not just Weiss, but my family as well. You've had some of my sisters as students here." I said, and the professor nodded along. "And they're good, really, really good. And I wasn't. When I trained as a kid, it didn't matter how much effort I put it, I never got any better. More skilled, sure, but never stronger or faster. Everyone noticed, and they tried to stop me from becoming a Huntsman. I want to prove them wrong, sir. That's why I'm here. I want to be a Huntsman, to be a team leader, to be someone people can rely on and trust."

It felt good to finally get it off my chest without anger clouding my thoughts. When I told Jade, I had been so angry, so hurt that I could barely express myself. With Port, though, a man who knew nothing about the situation, who had no stake in it. It was easier, somehow. It felt like a weight had been taken off of my shoulders.

I was broken from my thoughts when Port's other hand landed on my other shoulder, and he stared right into my eyes.

"Mr. Arc, I think it's admirable that you would go to such lengths to improve yourself. What I can't agree with is you needlessly risking your life." He said, but continued on before I could interrupt. "I do not mean to say that it is needless for you to train. Never that. It is, however, needless for you to be in such danger to do so. To be here without anyone knowing, without the possibility of aid coming to the rescue. That is what I cannot accept."

"Tomorrow, Mr. Arc, you will come to my office, and I will give you a beacon. If you are here, and in peril, activate it. It will alert me immediately, and I will come. This is not a toy, my boy, but something that can save your life one day. If you abuse it, I will take it back and ban you from the forest." The man finished gravely.

Wide-eyed, I nodded so fast that I'm surprised I didn't give myself whiplash. "Yes sir, thank you sir!"

"Then off you go, Mr. Arc." He patted me on the shoulder. I turned to the school, and started walking back up, but before I was too far, Port said one last thing.

"Mr. Arc! You said, just now, that no one believes in you. I must disagree. I believe in you. And I think that if you care to look, I will not be the only one. With motivation like that, how could we not my boy." I froze, but the sound of Port's laughter got further and further away as he walked back into the Emerald Forest.

As I moved towards the school, the thousand-watt smile that lit up my face could have powered Beacon for the whole year.

A/N: Sorry for the late update, had a busy day, and I got stuck in traffic for a long while that I could have used to do some writing. Anyways, I wanted to thank you guys for all the support. Only a little over a month in, and already over 500 follows and even over 70 reviews. I just want to thank you guys so much for all the support and feedback. I feel like it's really helped me improve as a writer.

I always thought Port was an underused character with him literally being the person who teaches them about the Grimm. Anyways, what do you guys think? If you have any feedback or questions, don't hesitate to leave a review or send me a PM.

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