Onto the official Jaundice events. I even speculated on having CRDL get expelled due to what they do to Jaune (and by extension what they planned to do to Pyrrha), but then that would lead me to having to find/create a new team for Penny and Ciel to fight in the doubles round. You get to stay all the way through Volume 3, CRDL...
It's been a few weeks since the first day of the school year. We enter in on Goodwitch's combat class, where this time, it's Jaune versus Cardin. Cardin hasn't exactly been happy since his utter beatdown from Hedge, and ever since then, he's been sending glares to the hedgehog Faunus, hoping one day he would be able to get his revenge. Glynda has expected this type of reaction, so she's prevented Cardin from challenging Hedge, but others still have the ability to do so.
Hedge and Goodwitch have been watching both fighters' stances and mannerisms as they fight, but both of them can't help but notice the major gap between the two.
Hedge: "Is it just me, or are you seeing what I'm seeing, Professor?"
Goodwitch: "That depends. Would it have something to do with Mr. Arc's inadequate fighting mannerisms?"
Hedge: "Right on the money. I'll be honest, I'm tempted to stop the match now."
Glynda: "Don't worry. You won't have to wait long." Hedge glances at her to see what she was referring to, but then he notices her gaze is on the aura readers above them. Jaune's aura was getting close to the red, and he instantly knew the outcome of the fight.
Hedge: "I see."
The match continued on, ending with Cardin about to deliver an over head strike down onto a grounded Jaune, but he is saved by the buzzer, as his aura had dropped down to the red after Cardin kneed him in the gut.
Hedge: "You want me to deliver the info?"
Goodwitch: "No need. I'll take care of that." Hedge just nods in acceptance. While Goodwitch walked forward to address both fighters and the class, Hedge looked down at Jaune. He noticed how distraught he was, almost as if something was wrong with him.
Hedge: "This is going to be a long semester."
The scene changes to Hedge eating in the cafeteria a few tables away from Team RWBY and JNPR, talking about how Jaune had been bullied by Cardin. He overhears Team CRDL bullying a Faunus girl by pulling on her rabbit ears. She screams out for Cardin to let go of her ears, prompting Hedge to stand up, walk over, and poke him on the shoulder.
Hedge: "I wouldn't be doing that if I were you, Cardin."
He lets go of the girl's ears and she runs off. Cardin gets up and turns around to meet Hedge.
Cardin: "What do you want punk?"
Hedge: "How 'bout pick on someone closer to your own size?" Hedge standing 5'10" to Cardin's 6'6".
Cardin laughs, "What are you going to do about…" He starts to swing his left fist at Hedge's face, but Hedge grabs it with his right hand. A smile emerges on his face.
Hedge: "This." Hedge spins Cardin by his left arm and slams him into the table, getting some food all over the bully. Everyone starts laughing at him, with Team RWBY and JNPR speechless. Hedge speaks to the rest of Team CRDL, "Pick up your leader and get out of here, unless you want the same outcome as him..." However, he makes a fist towards them while yellow sparks flow around it, essentially threatening the boys. "Or I could do much worse." The boys pick up Cardin and they leave the cafeteria, Cardin looking back and seeing Hedge talk to both Jaune and the bunny Faunus, whom they learn she's a second-year student named Velvet Scarlentina. "Just because he's a bully, doesn't mean you let him walk over you. The next time he gets under your skin, you teach him who's boss." He looks at Team RWBY first, "Girls," then to Jaune and his team. "JNPR. Enjoy your food." He too then leaves the cafeteria.
However, Jaune was not able to draw enough courage to stop Cardin from bullying him. In fact, after what Hedge had done to him, after both of his beatdowns, Cardin was even more of a bully to Jaune than what he originally planned to be. In Professor ("DOCTOR!") Oobleck's class, which had Weiss, Blake, Team JNPR, and Velvet were in, they were talking about the Faunus War, where Oobleck had asked if anyone had been subjugated or discriminated on because of their Faunus traits. Velvet, along with a few other Faunus in the class, had raised her hand. Cardin even made a jab that an animal was much easier to be trained than a soldier, which both Pyrrha and Blake had both provided the correct answer as to what bonus trait the Faunus have (being night vision), and Blake mentioning that the General who lead an attack on the Faunus had lost because he wasn't paying attention in class, which angered Cardin even more. Jaune laughed at Cardin, but he was sleeping in the class, so Professor Oobleck had them both stay after class to give them extra readings. Pyrrha was waiting for Jaune outside the classroom as Cardin knocks him to the ground.
Over the next few days, Cardin has Jaune doing things for him, as he learned while listening to Pyrrha and Jaune's conversation that same night the readings were assigned that Jaune cheated his way into Beacon. Pyrrha comes to talk with Hedge during one of the nights. She finds him meditating out on the roof of the dorm.
Pyrrha: "Hey, Hedge?"
Hedge: "Pyrrha Nikos. To what do I owe the honor of the top student of Sanctum Academy to join me here this evening?"
Pyrrha hesitates a bit, but still responds, "It's Jaune."
Hedge opens his eyes. "Jaune? What about him?"