The cultist struggled as the authorities grabbed him, his defiant shouts drowned by the chaos around him. Glynda Goodwitch, with her trademark precision and efficiency, cleared the landing area using her Semblance. The smooth operation belied the tense anticipation that filled the air. It took nearly two hours for the airship to finally appear on the horizon. Glynda had expected a team of experienced Huntsmen to step off the ship, but instead, she found herself face-to-face with Beacon's most notorious and troublesome team: Team STRQ, her juniors.

Summer Rose, the team leader, stepped forward with a warm smile. "Aww, I was really hoping you'd teach, Glynda."

"It's not like you'd be my students by then," Glynda said.

Glynda sighed and rubbed her forehead in annoyance. Summer's smile was infectious, but it didn't make the situation any less exasperating. The Branwen siblings, Qrow and Raven, scanned the ruins with their sharp red eyes, while Taiyang Xiao Long accompanied Summer, his presence solid and reassuring. Summer's gaze lingered on Jaune Arc, who stood beside Glynda, his helmet obscuring his face.

"Jaune, this is Summer Rose, Taiyang Xiao Long, and those two idiots over there are Qrow and Raven Branwen," Glynda introduced, her voice laced with a mix of irritation and familiarity.

Qrow grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Sup. This your boyfriend?"

Glynda glared at him. "This is Jaune Arc… my partner at the moment."

Jaune extended a hand, his polite demeanor contrasting with the tense atmosphere. "Hello. It's nice to meet you."

Raven's glare met Glynda's, a silent challenge passing between them. Glynda matched it before letting out a resigned sigh.

"So, what brings Team STRQ to this place?" Glynda asked, her tone curt and business-like.

Summer's cheerfulness was undimmed. "Oz tells us you needed reinforcements. We were around the area, so we thought of helping out. Seems like you don't need it."

Glynda's lips tightened. "Oz trusts you guys a lot. Tsk, I guess this was expected. Well, we just cleaned up here. Or does Oz want something else?"

Summer hesitated, her usual confidence wavering. "Oz… wants the artifacts."

Glynda's response was immediate and dismissive. "Then take them. I don't need them."

Raven's suspicion was palpable. "That easy?"

Qrow chimed in, clearly expecting more resistance. "I was expecting some lecturing."

Glynda's tone turned cold. "I'm not working for Oz… this was an accident."

Summer's relief was visible. "Thank you. Tai, can you take them?"

Glynda pointed at the remnants of the artifacts, most of them shattered during the fight. Taiyang secured them quickly, his movements efficient and practiced. Summer turned back to Glynda, her smile returning.

"Thank you for cooperating, Glynda. So, uh, are you going to continue hunting?" Summer asked, her curiosity piqued.

Glynda shrugged. "We're traveling at the moment. All of this is coincidence."

Summer's confusion was evident. "I really thought you'd teach in Beacon."

Glynda's eyes softened slightly. "I did too, Sum. But life is unpredictable and sometimes you don't know when your path will take a turn."

Qrow's gaze shifted between Jaune and Glynda, a knowing grin spreading across his face. Glynda glared at him, but he laughed it off, unfazed.

Raven's voice broke through the tension. "Seems like a good fight. Want to spar, Glynda?"

Glynda's response was unnervingly eager. "Do you want to?"

Raven's instincts screamed at her to back off. There was something wild in Glynda's eyes that the prim and proper woman never used to have. It was unsettling.

Summer, sensing the growing tension, interjected. "So, what's next for you two?"

Glynda's response was pragmatic. "We need to get off Vale and follow the lead."

She brought up her scroll and passed Summer a list. "I'm sure Oz would want you guys to take care of this. Oz will inform you of the rest and we'll head to Mistral to see if things there are the same."

Raven's voice was grumpy, her suspicion clear. "I thought you didn't want to be part of Oz's mission any longer."

Glynda's eyes hardened. "Yeah. But it doesn't mean we can turn a blind eye to these things. We're Huntsmen."

Summer sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Well, Oz said you'd do this, so he told us to lend you an airship."

Glynda glanced at the bullhead, her expression thoughtful. "No wonder you guys didn't portal to me."

Raven's response was blunt. "I didn't feel you were in danger."

Glynda's smile was faint but genuine. "Which reminds me… you really do care."

Raven stuttered, trying to make an excuse, but Glynda's smile remained. It was a rare sight, one that left Team STRQ momentarily speechless. Glynda's serious attitude, coupled with a surprisingly relaxed tone, was a stark contrast to the disciplinarian they knew.

"You should go now," Glynda said, her voice gentle but firm.

Summer nodded. "Okay, we'll portal to you if things come up!"

Glynda watched as her juniors prepared to leave, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions. "Be safe, my juniors."

As Team STRQ departed into the portal, Raven opened, the ruins fell into an eerie silence. Glynda turned to Jaune, her expression softening. "We should get moving, too."

Jaune nodded. His eyes remained on the portal that Raven opened. "Where to next?"

Glynda's gaze turned towards the horizon, her eyes filled with determination. "Mistral. We have a lot of work to do."

Jaune followed her, his steps perfectly in sync with hers. "So, those students are your juniors?"

"Yeah," she replied with a nod. "They should be nearing their third year at Beacon now. They can be quite cute… but don't let that fool you. They're strong and have become quite famous."

"Is that so?"

"You do realize we're famous, right?"

"Wait, we are?" Jaune asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Glynda tapped her scroll, revealing an article with headlines such as 'Team Arcwitch Defeats Grimm and Saves Citizens.' Recently, there was coverage of their heroic defense of Sumire, but there was no mention of their efforts against the cult, which remained concealed from the public eye.

"Wouldn't this be bad for us?"

"Don't like the team name?" Glynda grinned.

"No, I mean, we'd been grabbing the throat of the cult. We'd be in their crosshair."

"We're already are in their crosshairs. I doubt they won't piece together what really happened. But for now, all they should know is that Team Arcwitch is hunting like Huntsmen do."

"Is that why you let them take the artifact?" Jaune guessed.

"It's best if they don't get to see that on us," Glynda shifted her stance and covertly leaned on Jaune. She then tapped on Jaune's helmet. "Why are you wearing that now?"

"Nothing. Just felt like it," Jaune said.

"Silly."

Glynda then entered the airship alongside Jaune, the two sitting comfortably next to each other. Jaune finally removed his helmet.

The airship hummed softly as it ascended, leaving the remnants of their recent battle behind. Glynda and Jaune sat in the passenger compartment while looking at the ruins one last time.

Jaune broke the silence. "So, what's our next move?"

Glynda glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "We head to Mistral. There have been reports of similar cultist activities there and we know by what we gathered from their scroll. We need to investigate and capture them."

Jaune nodded, his resolve clear. "Understood. I'll be ready."

Glynda allowed herself a small, bitter smile. "I'm sorry that our travels become this. "

Jaune's eyes met hers. "It's not a problem, Glynda."

They settled into a comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts.

Mistral's skyline came into view as the airship descended. The city was a blend of ancient architecture and modern buildings, a testament to its rich history and vibrant culture.

Glynda and Jaune disembarked, their senses immediately assaulted by the bustling sounds and sights of the city. They made their way through the crowded streets, heading towards their contact's location.

As they walked, Glynda briefed Jaune on their mission. "Our contact here is Professor Lionheart. He's the headmaster of Haven Academy. We'll need to get his intel and plan our next steps."

Jaune listened intently, absorbing every detail. "Got it. Do we know where the cultists might be hiding?"

Glynda shook her head. "Not yet. All we have is the list, so we'll cross-examined with Lionheart's information. That's why we're meeting Lionheart and I bet Oz is already making sure to contact us. He should have more information for us."

They arrived at Haven Academy, the grand building towering over them. Inside, they were greeted by Professor Lionheart, a man with a nervous demeanor but a keen intellect.

"Goodwitch, Arc, welcome," Lionheart said, his voice tinged with relief. "I'm glad you're here."

Glynda nodded curtly. "Let's get to it. What do you have for us?"

Lionheart led them to his office, where maps and documents were spread across his desk. He explained the situation, detailing the cultists' movements and suspected hideouts.

"They've been moving around a lot, but we believe their main base is on the outskirts of the city," Lionheart said, pointing to a location on the map. "It's heavily guarded, so you'll need to be careful."

Glynda studied the map, her mind already forming a plan. "We'll scout the area first and gather more information. Then we'll figure out the best way to approach."

Jaune nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan."

Lionheart looked at them with a mix of hope and concern. "Be careful. These cultists are dangerous."

Glynda's eyes hardened. "We will be. Thank you for your help."

As they left Lionheart's office, Glynda turned to Jaune. "Let's get some rest and then start our reconnaissance. We need to be at our best for this."

Jaune agreed, and they made their way to their quarters.

"So that's what Ruby's mom looked like?" Jaune muttered as he stood alone, the weight of the day's events pressing down on his shoulders. He leaned against the railing of the balcony overlooking the bustling streets of Mistral. The city lights twinkled like stars, but they did little to lift his spirits. His thoughts drifted back to the encounter with Team STRQ.

He remembered how young Qrow and Raven looked, their sharp red eyes scanning the ruins with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Qrow's carefree attitude and Raven's stern demeanor were still there, but there was an undeniable youthfulness in them. It was hard to reconcile these younger versions with the seasoned warriors he knew from his own time.

Jaune felt a pang of disgust as he recalled the meeting with Professor Lionheart. The man's nervous demeanor and the way he fidgeted left a sour taste in Jaune's mouth. In his time, Lionheart was a traitor, a pawn of Salem. But here, he was still just a man, possibly not yet corrupted. Jaune clung to that hope, but his instincts screamed at him to be cautious.

His thoughts shifted to Summer Rose. Her bright smile and silver eyes were a mirror image of Ruby. The resemblance was uncanny, right down to the white cape that flowed behind her. Summer's bubbly and positive nature reminded him so much of Ruby, it was almost painful. He wondered if she, too, would face the same tragic fate.

Then there was Glynda Goodwitch. Despite being on the move, she remained the prim and proper huntress he had always known. Her sense of duty and obligation was unwavering. Jaune admired her for it. She was the woman who stood as a sentinel over Vale, no matter how many Grimm attacked it. Her strength and resolve were unshakable, and he respected her immensely.

Jaune reflected on how Glynda managed to hold herself together. Her poise and grace under pressure were something to behold. He had seen her in the heat of battle, commanding with authority and precision. She was a beacon of hope and strength, and Jaune couldn't help but feel a deep respect for his combat instructor.

But that respect was tainted by a sense of self-loathing. Jaune hated himself for the way he had acted, for the reckless abandon he had shown. He remembered the look on Glynda's face when she saw him skewered by an Ancient Grimm. The pain and fear in her eyes haunted him. He had let her down, shown her a side of himself that he wished he could forget.

Despite everything, Jaune couldn't deny how he felt about Glynda of this time. She was lovely, young, and pleasant in a way that was terrifyingly charming that was so contrast to what he knew. He found himself drawn to her, captivated by her strength and beauty. It was a dangerous feeling, one that he tried to keep in check. But it was hard when every interaction with her only deepened his admiration.

Jaune knew he had to be careful. His feelings for Glynda were a distraction he couldn't afford. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder if there was a need to suppress them entirely. She was his partner, his combat instructor, and his friend. Their bond was growing stronger with each passing day, and he couldn't ignore the possibility that there might be something more.

Fear gnawed at him. The fear of how things were going, of the path he was on. He shouldn't exist at this time, in this place, and yet he couldn't bring himself to give up. A part of him wanted to fade away, to escape the burden of his existence. But when he saw the look in Glynda's eyes, the determination and trust she placed in him, he knew he couldn't.

His thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions and doubts. Jaune cursed himself for his weaknesses, for allowing himself to be so vulnerable. He clenched his fists, anger and frustration bubbling up inside him. He had to be stronger, for Glynda, for his friends, and for himself. He couldn't afford to be careless… and suicidal.

The night air was cool against his skin, a stark contrast to the turmoil within him. Jaune took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. He had a mission to complete, cultists to track down, and a world to protect. There was no room for self-doubt or hesitation.

He looked out over the city, his resolve hardening. No matter what happened, he would fight. He would stand by Glynda's side and do whatever it took to keep her safe. His feelings for her were complex and confusing, but they also gave him strength.