As predicted, the next morning revealed Caelum acting as unfettered and infallible as ever. Deciding not to press for answers on yesterday's oddity, the four spent their morning as usual, silently eating breakfast while sparsely talking over recent news and curriculum.

It was when Caelum was scrolling through articles on recent crime in Vale that he noticed a figure standing opposite his seat. With torpid interest, he looked up and saw bright emerald eyes, dark crimson hair, and a golden head ornament.

"Good morning~" her voice cooed. The girl received a slow, suspicious glance in response to her earnest gaze as Caelum looked her over and then off to the side where her team stood by.

A blonde boy, bubbly ginger, and introverted oriental boy. All classmates of he and his team. Slowly, Caelum chewed and swallowed as he greeted them. "Ms. Nikos, Valkyrie. Mr. Arc and Lie. Is there something you need?"

With a dazzling smile, she tilted her head and politely asked "May we sit with you today?"

Caelum looked over to his team on his right, Raiden shrugged, wondering what the harm could be as Lukas and Niel seemed indifferent. Seeing their trays in hand, Caelum raised an open palm. "By all means."

The four members of team JNPR sat across from CRLN and began eating. Curious glances were raised from them as Caelum, Lukas, and Niel paid more attention to their food than their guests. Raiden, poor with socializing, gave a nervous glance and looked to either side wondering why his teammates remained silent. His eyes drifted over Niel and Lukas who were eating in silence as Caelum ate with his fork and kept a loose grip on his knife.

Pyhra cleared her throat slightly, receiving no response as she began to speak. "I'm sorry if we're bothering you but we had a question to ask if you'd oblige us?"

Caelum looked up from his plate. "And what would that be?"

"Well, we are close with team RWBY and noticed they were slightly upset after an extracurricular match with you."

Raiden tensed slightly as he had a guess where this was going. Glancing to Caelum he noticed his partner's grip on his knife tighten ever so slightly. He could even hear Lukas and Niel slow down on eating as they listened. Looking across he saw Nora Valkyrie give a displeased look.

"And we noticed Yang had a large bruise around her neck, something that Ruby barely told us of."

"And you're question?" asked Caelum.

"Pardon?"

"You're question. What is it?" Caelum repeated as Mr. Lie and Ms. Valkyrie leered over the table at him.

The tension at the table was thick, unannounced to those passing by in the cafeteria as both sides seemed prepared for a scrap in a scene that was all too reminiscent of a prison fight. The slow crunch of Niel eating an apple broke the silence as Pyhra laughed nervously. "Oh, apologies I meant to ask if it was true that you were the cause of her injury?"

Cautious of her prodigious combat abilities, Caelum kept his hand atop the knife but was not willing to initiate a fight, if that is what they sought. He relaxed his grip just enough to seem passive yet still be able to throw it. With indifference he replied. "Yes. I was the one who injured her."

The blunt answer caught the team off guard. Caelum sipped his drink as Pyhra sought an explanation but was interrupted by Jaune. "Why would you do that to her?" he demanded.

Caelum's apathetic expression turned to the blonde leader as his mouth opened. Raiden interjected knowing the next words would spark debate. "T-the match got a bit heated is all. A slight escalation of the moment."

Pyhra seemed to recognize the attempt and did the same to calm Jaune's sense of righteousness. "Now Jaune, Ruby did say that he didn't do it out of malice and that he gave good advice to them afterward. Even Weiss was supportive of him.

Nora then spoke up. "Ruby never said it was unintentional though."

"And that he didn't even apologize" continued Jaune.

"Both are true" answered Caelum earning further glares. Raiden kicked himself at not expecting the reply as team JNPR seemed to deliberate amongst themselves with knowing glances.

"We're sorry" apologized Pyhra. "We aren't seeking conflict. We just want to make sure our friends are okay and understand why they were hurt."

"And that they aren't being targeted" finished Ren.

"Like with Mr. Arc in the first semester?" asked Caelum blandly.

More narrowed eyes followed as Lukas snickered into a hand and Raiden shrunk inwards.

"Jaune seemed to have had enough and stood suddenly with an indignant tone. "Hey! This isn't about that, we-!"

"He just talks like that! He doesn't mean anything by it!" shouted Raiden standing as well. A few eyes drifted to the two boys who meekly sat down to avoid the stares of strangers as the environment around them resumed moving.

An awkward silence had taken the table as Caelum finished chewing. "I can imagine why you're here and why Mr. Arc is suddenly so brave. If you want your answers why not spar with us as well?"

"Come again?" asked Pyhra as her teammate's eyes widened in surprise.

"Spar with us this afternoon. "We'll have a room reserved and we'll face off. If my answers don't satisfy you then you can take your frustrations out in a spar.

A suspicious glance came from Ren who turned to Pyhra and Jaune as Nora clasped a fist in a hand with an excited look. Worried, Pyhra looked to Jaune who cautiously asked. "Why so suddenly?"

Caelum shrugged a shoulder. "Talking won't get far with you. This way both teams will be satisfied. I have been curious as to how we would perform against each other for some time anywho."

"What about sparring class?"

"With Goodwitch scrutinizing everything? We have more productive training by ourselves."

"How do we know you won't pull the same dirty moves you did with Yang?" asked Ren.

"Different circumstances" answered Caelum. "I have been putting my team through intense training lately, so if you'd be so kind, we'd like to informally request a match."

Caelum's cold gaze laid upon Jaune who hesitated. Turning to his team he saw excitement from Nora to his left and suspicion from Ren behind her. To his right, worry from Pyhra whose expression told she had faith in his decision.

"You clearly came here for some reason didn't you?" asked Caelum. "If not please don't waste our time again. Our teams are not close enough for such pleasantry."

The taunt worked and JNPR hadn't even realized. "Fine! We'll see you at the training halls! We'll get our answers as to why you hurt our friends!"

"We'll look forward to it" replied Caelum calmly. Placing down his utensils. Standing, his team followed, collecting their plates.

Team JNPR watched with confusion as the four walked away and began chatting with each other. Each member seemed dissatisfied with the interaction aside from Nora who began murmuring of her plan to shatter some legs.

Lukas wrapped a hand around Raiden's head as he chuckled. Nice try Gorm, but ya gotta think fast if you're gonna keep ol' Caelum leashed."

As Raiden deflated at his failure and the worrying match, Niel posed a thought. "Was it wise to pick a fight? They may be an average team on paper but Ms. Nikos is the top student. I don't think any of us could take her one on one. Then there is Ms. Valkyrie."

"True. We may very well get our asses kicked" conceded Caelum to the surprise of his team. Placing his tray on the conveyor to be cleaned he turned to his team. "Even so, we can't afford to get sloppy or stagnate. As I've said I'm curious how we'll perform and without faculty observation, they won't gain any insight into our fighting styles therefore lowering any chances to be caught out on our assignments."

Lukas nodded along. "Alright, but we better start planning 'cause I am not facing Nikos."

"I have a rough plan, just give me some time" replied Caelum as they went to their first class of the day.

The hours ticked by as classes and meals came and went. Soon both teams CRLN and JNPR met each other at the front hall of the training grounds. All eight were dressed in their combat apparel with holstered weapons. Without a word, Caelum took the lead and led them to the front of one reserved training arena. Presenting his scroll the terminal lit green and accepted their attendance, unlocking the shielded doors and shutting behind them.

"We'll start in five minutes, stretch, talk, eat, do whatever you want but be ready as soon as the times up. A buzzer I've programmed through the school's app will sound once it is," advised Caelum.

"Wait, what?" asked Jaune.

"Isn't that a bit sudden? Asked Pyhra.

As his team walked to one side of the arena, well acquainted with this rule set, Caelum turned to them with half-lidded eyes. Isn't combat like that naturally? Real combat that is."

Pyhra's eyes widened as his words were clearly intended for her tournament-related past. In her defense, Jaune raised his shielded arm in front of her. "Fine with us, Let's get ready guys."

Caelum walked away without another word. The first few minutes were spent in discussion for both teams. Backs turned and voices low, it was admirably similar to how cautious both teams were being of the other with the exception of stretching. Neither knowing if the other could hear their words via semblance both commanders spoke with brevity. Caelum in fact did advise Niel to listen for anything interesting with his senses yet nothing came up, unfortunately.

With two minutes left, team JNPR pulled their weapons and began readying themselves, Nora notably swinging her war hammer around like a bat with ease. It wasn't until the last ten or so seconds that team CRLN did the same. Ever cautious, they wished to keep their intentions and actions secret till the last second.

With haste, the boys were in their stances and the buzzer sounded. Pyhra was the first off her position and into the fray with frightening speed. Ren followed behind with Nora slowly coming up. Jaune had been in his prepped stance so long his muscles had tensed and delayed his initial burst, giving him a slow start.

All of team CRLN however stayed even with each other, having just settled in and advancing as one. The clashes were imminent. Confident, Pyhra waited for anyone to approach her first and so Caelum took to her with a powerful thrust from his bayonet. The blade missed her breast by a millimeter as she replied with a downward strike from her pommel.

Caelum avoided it only to then be forced to parry her shield bash. Without hesitation the two engaged again as the rest came to blows. A loud clang of steel erupted as Nora and Lukas swung their weapons with all their might, the metal reverberating as the recoil sent them reeling back before coming in again. The two began creating a cacophony of steel akin to the sound of thunder.

Ren had intercepted Niel with a kick to the head which was softened as he rolled with the strike. The two then began a frantic melee with their Akimbo weapons. The last to engage was Jaune Arc, seeking an opponent on the battlefield with his sword and shield at the ready he hadn't noticed Raiden come in from the blindspot low on his shield's side.

It was as a hefty hammerhead came down on him that he blocked and thrust in retaliation. Raiden placed one foot back and using the momentum from the length of his halberd, swung the spike on the rear of his shaft upwards. The pointed tip swung up with enough force to bash Arc's sword away.

With his spike past his guard, Raiden thrust with a reverse grip, narrowly missing Arc's head before swinging it to the side and striking him atop the temple. Arc was sent spinning to the side as Raiden pursued, his eyes alert and focused, his breathing even. His training brought out the next instinctual movement as he pressured his opponent without relenting.

What followed next was nearly two minutes of close and mid-range combat between the two. Jaune showed his improvement since the school year started, unfortunately, Raiden had been pressed and refined through much more severe training. Even with the handicap of not using his railgun, Raiden was handily shearing chunks of Jaune's aura off to little loss of his own.

Tired and sore, Arc sought an opening and charged with his shield ahead. Raiden stepped back and half-staffed his halberd as he brought it down, locking the hammerhead behind Arc's shield and nearly driving the spearhead into his skull via his own momentum.

Jaune quickly skidded to a halt as Raiden used the momentum to rip his shield down, with his grip in a half hold, quickly brought the heavy-headed weapon back up. With the flat face of the axehead, a loud crack reverberated as Jaune's nose caught the blow and sent him to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Raiden stared at his defeated opponent, blood and adrenaline pumping in a euphoric way unlike any of the other life-risking ventures he had partook in. The feeling was short-lived as a loud rip of gunfire from none other than Caelum's MG drew his attention. A melee incomparable to his was unfolding between Pyhra and his leader.

Yet as he watched, he could tell that Caelum was being pushed back as his strikes kept missing by a hair's breadth and Nikos would land more on growing occasion. Taking a breath to steady his nerves, Raiden prepared to join his partner.

From Jaune's defeat to his preparation to fight again was a mere moment. In it, Raiden had not noticed Nora shout from afar.

"Jaune!" In an instant, a grenade landed near him disorientating him and suddenly its owner was upon him with an overhead swing. Instinctually his aura activated and a small electric field arose and briefly shocked the girl. With a realization of fear that lasted a moment, Raiden saw that it hadn't slowed the girl instead her eyes seemed to glow as she brought the hammer down upon him.

Barely able to raise his halberd in defense, Raiden took the hit head-on to his detriment. The shock depleted his aura and sent him rolling away. As her body recoiled at the sudden exertion of a charged strike, two figures appeared behind her in a near instant.

Lukas had chased her down as Niel chased Ren away before backtracking and leaving the thin boy cursing as he realized Niel was targeting Nora. The bubbly ginger was able to block Lukas' bat with the shaft of her hammer, this left her exposed however as Niel landed a harsh kick to her side. As Nora flew away with a wince of pain and Lukas in tow, Niel drew Ren away again before he could intervene.

Regarding Niel facing Ren, it was an unbalanced fight. Niel had again surprised his opponent with his unusual speed, strength, and reflexes. Their initial engagement left Ren with a hefty blow to aura and the ensuing cat and mouse had only brought him to being winded.

Familiar with this sequence of events and having forced his opponent to exert himself in a vain effort to spare Nora from a harsh ambush, Niel now assaulted him without relent. The two exchanged kicks and jabs in a masterful show of practiced martial arts, both showing separate forms and landing strikes against the other,

In a fight of stamina, however, Ren was surprised to discover he would not last. Relying on his strongest ability, he attempted to break line of sight with Niel and seek a critical strike, an opportunity to turn the tides. The larger boy tracked his movement with frightful accuracy as Ren attempted once more, and again, and again.

His focus on finding this opportunity distracted the lithe boy from his exhaustion. His steps slowed, and his counters began to miss. It was here he sidestepped a strike from Niel's gun blade. In that fraction of a second, Ren caught a wide opening to strike Niel at the nape of his neck. Swinging his bladed pistols down like a dagger, the wind was suddenly struck from his lungs as Niel kicked backward, striking Ren in his sternum.

Ren knew he had fallen for a feint and retreated with a backflip. Landing onto one knee he struggled to defend the slashes and stabs from Niel without air in his chest before he finally faltered. The brass knuckles of Niel's gun blades caught Rens's chin, stunning him as a .400 Nitro round struck his chest and depleted the last of his aura.

As Ren and Niel had left to conclude their bout, Lukas and Nora were engaged in a sloppy melee, There was no technique, nor refinement, only brute strength. Even though it wasn't Lukas' strong suit, his stubbornness refused to yield as he parried a blow from Nora's hammer that left his arms rattling.

Despite being at a disadvantage, Lukas was still talking to her, confusing and riling the ginger up as she proceeded to attack. Stubborn, Lukas wasn't a fool and could tell the difference in strength yet his pride didn't wish to wait for aid and so attempted once more to utilize his semblance in combat.

He continued chiding the girl along as their weapons clashed, Nora was reluctant to respond other than to state her annoyance at his insistent talk. His voice seemed to take hold of her focus and she soon lost awareness of her team as even Ren was defeated.

Lukas knew his semblance had taken effect, the unusual and often tricky trigger to it had clicked.

'Aren't you tired?'

'Don't you just want this to end?'

'That hammers gotta be heavy.'

'Why even fight?'

'It's a waste of time, right? You could be having fun instead.'

Each question and suggestion held a slight effect that Lukas could feel in their spar. Her steps were becoming sluggish, her strikes slower and lighter. Soon her senses began to dull as her aura flickered, a light pink glow around her body. As it dimmed, she shook her head trying to regain herself, knowing something was wrong.

Lukas took his chance, lunging in with a forward thrust the tip of his bat struck her forehead. Discombobulated, Nora received another strike to her temple as Lukas used the inertia to rotate it above his head and strike her temple in quick succession.

Stunningly, Nora maintained consciousness and swung out in retaliation. Lukas barely parried the hammerhead yet the sleek shape of his bat allowed it to slide by and strike his shoulder. Taking the immense blow, He wielded his bat in one hand and pressed a small button as he spun it to build momentum.

At the end of the spin, a small port opened and a discharge of dust ignited, speeding the bat as it descended atop Nora's skull knocking her out cold and leaving Lukas to curse quietly at his bruised shoulder which felt damn near dislocated.

It was a brief respite as with Raiden, the sound of intense combat drew Lukas and Niel's eyes.

When Raiden had been indisposed and the other team members of CRLN occupied, Caelum's grueling melee with Nikos dragged on.

-Chapter End-