Jaune sat at attention, his hands resting on his lap as he listened to Winter Schnee's briefing. The room was dim, the light from the screen casting an eerie glow over the faces of everyone present. It was strange to be on this side of things. Before, he had always been a soldier — doing what the CO told, following orders without question. Now, as a Huntsman, things were different. He wasn't just following orders; he was expected to lead, to think, to protect others in ways that went beyond the battlefield.
Winter Schnee's voice was sharp and precise, cutting through the hum of the projector. She was calm but commanding, her every word measured. Jaune couldn't help but admire her professionalism. There was no doubt she was in charge, and everyone in the room felt it.
"First Lieutenant Arc," Winter's voice snapped Jaune back to the present, "you'll be working with the teams directly on this one. Your expertise in handling missions with military precision will be of great use."
Jaune stood, snapping to attention. "Yes, ma'am," he replied, giving her a crisp salute. His posture was impeccable, his uniform pressed and immaculate. It was a stark contrast to the chaos that usually surrounded huntsman missions. The military discipline had been ingrained in him after countless missions, both in the wastelands of Vacuo and the frigid tundras of Solitas.
Winter offered a rare smile, albeit small. "I've read your service record, Lieutenant. Quite intense, I must say. Your time with Steel Squadron... it's impressive. Sweeping Vale's Grimm after that mess in Beacon."
Jaune blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. He was used to thinking of himself as just another cog in the machine. "I was fortunate, ma'am. Unfortunate, too, to be caught in continuous missions. I didn't do anything others wouldn't have done."
Winter shook her head slightly. "You shouldn't diminish your accomplishments, Lieutenant Arc. What you and your team did matters. Every victory, every life saved, it all matters."
Jaune felt a swell of pride, mixed with a sense of loss. The memory of his fallen comrades lingered like a weight he could never quite shake. "Thank you, ma'am," he said, nodding.
Winter saluted him, her movements as crisp and calculated as her words, and then moved on. Jaune took a breath and tried to refocus. It wasn't often that someone of Winter Schnee's rank gave praise. It felt good, but also a little strange. He wasn't used to being noticed outside of combat, especially not like this.
As Winter Schnee moved away, Weiss approached him with a curious expression. "What did you do to impress Winter?" she asked, her voice holding a hint of playful suspicion.
Jaune shrugged. "I'm not sure, Miss Schnee. I didn't think I did anything special."
Weiss Schnee raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but decided not to push it. "Winter doesn't give out compliments lightly, you know. Whatever you did, it must've been impressive."
Jaune offered her a small smile before the conversation ended, and they turned their attention back to the briefing. They soon boarded a Manta, flying toward the abandoned SDC mine where their mission awaited.
The wind howled outside, throwing snow against the windows of the aircraft as it sped through the frozen wasteland. Jaune glanced around at the rest of the team — Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang were huddled together, chatting casually despite the gravity of their mission. Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren sat nearby, with Pyrrha studying the map with quiet intensity.
He was struck by how different things were between him and them. For Team RWBY and Team PNR, this was just another mission. They were eager, even excited, to face whatever challenge awaited them. But Jaune couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
They had barely listened to the details. When Winter explained the nuances of the mission — how they'd have to navigate the labyrinthine tunnels, how the Geist had killed multiple Huntsmen — they had nodded, but their focus was elsewhere. Jaune, on the other hand, had taken meticulous notes, making sure he understood every aspect of the operation.
The Geist they were hunting was no ordinary Grimm. It was old, intelligent, and extremely dangerous. It had already taken lives, and if they weren't careful, it would take more. Jaune's military training had taught him to respect his enemy, no matter how powerful or how weak. He'd seen what overconfidence could do, and he didn't want that to happen here.
As the Manta descended toward the mine, the snowy landscape became clearer. The remnants of the SDC's operations were still visible—abandoned equipment, half-buried in snow, and the mine's yawning entrance, a dark mouth leading into the unknown.
"Everyone ready?" Ruby asked, her silver eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Yang grinned, cracking her knuckles. Blake and Weiss both nodded, their expressions more measured but equally determined.
Pyrrha glanced at Jaune, offering him a reassuring smile.
Jaune nodded at that, but kept his thoughts to himself. He wasn't worried about them being reckless; he knew they were capable. But the Grimm didn't care about capabilities. The Grimm would exploit any mistake, any moment of hesitation. And in a labyrinth like the one they were about to enter, mistakes could be fatal.
As the doors of the Manta opened, a gust of freezing wind blasted them, carrying with it the scent of dust and something far more sinister. The Geist was in there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for them to make the first move.
The team disembarked, and Jaune felt the familiar weight of his weapons as he prepared for the task ahead. The mine loomed before them, dark and foreboding. Somewhere in its depths, the Geist waited, ready to strike. It was underground, so he couldn't rely on his Paladin here.
They moved in, the crunch of snow beneath their boots the only sound for miles. The cold bit at their skin, but they pressed on. They had a mission to complete, and for Jaune, failure was not an option.
Inside the mine, the air was damp and thick with the smell of dust and decay. The tunnels stretched out in every direction, some wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side, others so narrow that they had to move single file. It was a maze, and Jaune knew that the Geist could be anywhere, watching them from the shadows.
"Stay sharp," Jaune said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. It was more for him than for them. "We don't know where it's hiding."
Ruby nodded though, her silver eyes scanning the walls as they moved deeper into the mine. Weiss had her weapon at the ready, her stance poised and graceful as ever. Yang and Blake flanked them, their weapons glowing faintly in the dim light.
Pyrrha took point, her shield raised, and her spear held in a steady grip. Ren and Nora moved behind her, their expressions serious and focused.
The further they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. It wasn't just the darkness or the cold; it was the sense that something was watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Jaune's heart pounded in his chest as they reached a fork in the tunnel.
"We'll have to split up to cover more ground," Pyrrha said, her voice calm but tinged with unease. "Ren, Nora, you go left. Ruby, Blake, take the right tunnel. Jaune and I will go straight ahead."
Jaune glanced at Pyrrha. As they moved deeper into the mine, the tunnels grew narrower and more treacherous. The ground was uneven, littered with debris from the abandoned mining operation. Every step felt like a gamble, as if the earth could give way beneath them at any moment.
"How do you think this Geist is going to react when we corner it?" Pyrrha asked quietly, her voice echoing slightly in the confined space.
Jaune shook his head. "It's smart. It's survived this long by retreating when things get tough. But if we corner it, it's going to fight back hard."
Pyrrha nodded, her green eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "Then we'll just have to make sure it doesn't have a chance to escape again."
They pressed on in silence, every muscle tense, every sense heightened. The air grew colder, and the oppressive feeling of being watched intensified. Jaune's grip tightened on his weapon as they entered a larger chamber.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled, and Jaune's heart leaped into his throat. The Geist was close. He could feel it.
And then, from the shadows, it emerged. The Geist was massive, its body formed from the very rocks and debris of the mine. Its eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence, and it moved with a grace that belied its size.
Without hesitation, Pyrrha and Jaune sprang into action. Pyrrha's spear struck first, her aura flaring as she drove it toward the creature. The Geist roared, its stone-armored body deflecting the blow with a deafening crash.
Jaune moved to flank the creature, firing precise shots at its weak points, trying to break through the rock-hard exterior. But the Geist was relentless, retaliating with crushing force.
Pyrrha, standing beside Jaune, extended her hand and used her Semblance— polarity to manipulate the metal beams overhead. They tore free from their fastenings, flying toward the Geist like javelins. The creature roared and retreated deeper into the labyrinthine mine.
As the clash echoed through the tunnels, Jaune heard updates from the rest of the team through his comms. Centinels were hideous, insect-like Grimm had surfaced, attacking in swarms.
As The Geist slipped into the darkness, vanishing from sight. It's retreating," she muttered, her eyes narrowing in determination.
"We need to regroup, Ma'am," Jaune said, his voice firm. "We can't let it pick us off one by one."
They moved quickly, navigating the winding tunnels until they rejoined Team RWBY, Ren, and Nora. Weiss was wiping snow off a large piece of metal, revealing the unmistakable logo of the Schnee Dust Company. She frowned, her eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and anger.
"This place... It's like a tomb," Weiss murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ruby shivered as she rejoined the group. "It's freezing in here!" she exclaimed, rubbing her arms for warmth.
Weiss nodded grimly. "Without heating or Aura protection, the cold of Solitas can kill you in hours. We need to be quick."
Blake glanced back at the entrance, her expression thoughtful. "I suddenly don't feel as bad about leaving Oscar behind."
Ahead, Ren and Nora were cautiously checking the next tunnel. The silence was unnerving, but it was broken by a sudden hiss. A Centinel lunged at Yang from a side crevice, its fanged mouth wide open. Yang reacted instinctively, blasting the creature with Ember Celica, her gauntlet-mounted shotguns. The Grimm staggered, its head reeling, but before it could attack again, Yang leaped forward, attaching a series of small explosive devices to its carapace.
"Yang!" Ruby called out as more Centinels crawled out of the walls, surrounding them.
Yang grinned, stepping back just as her devices beeped rapidly and detonated, reducing the Centinel to nothing more than green goo. "Disgusting," she muttered, wiping her hands.
Weiss, with her blade poised, flicked her wrist and sent a shard of ice through another Centinel, impaling it against the tunnel wall. Blake and Ruby moved with fluid precision, their weapons slicing and firing with deadly accuracy as they dispatched more Grimm.
Jaune, seeing Grimm approach, stepped forward. He fired rounds from Crocea Mors, the dust rounds charged with his Aura, punching through the weaker Grimm with ease. When two Centinels converged on him fast, he switched to sword and shield, crouched low, bracing himself, and with a swift, powerful motion, he cut them down, the blade of his sword gleaming in the dim light of the mine.
"Keep pushing forward!" Ruby shouted as she zoomed past him in a blur of red rose petals, her scythe cutting through the Grimm like they were nothing.
Yang launched herself into the fray, her fists blazing as she punched a Centinel so hard its exoskeleton shattered. Weiss twirled Myrtenaster, casting glyphs that froze the advancing Grimm, while Blake leaped between walls, her blades flashing in the darkness.
Jaune remained focused on protecting Pyrrha's flank as she called upon her Semblance once more, lifting broken pieces of metal and sending them hurtling toward the remaining Grimm. They fought like a well-oiled machine, each member of the team moving in sync with the others, their training and instincts sharp.
Once the last of the Centinels were defeated, they pressed on, descending deeper into the mine. The tunnels led them to a massive, open chamber filled with veins of Dust and enormous crystals that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. The mine cart rails and stone arches that lined the chamber gave the impression of a forgotten city buried deep beneath the earth.
Jaune wiped the snow from his brow, the air around him growing colder as they approached the heart of the mine. The oppressive silence was broken by a low, rumbling growl. Everyone's attention snapped upward as they saw the Geist clinging to the ceiling, its enormous, rock-covered form looming above them.
The Grimm dropped from its perch, crashing into the ground with the force of an avalanche. Stone shattered beneath its weight, and the team barely had time to react as it let out a bone-chilling roar. Dust crystals embedded in its body glowed with an eerie light, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"Everyone, get ready!" Ruby called, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Jaune's heart pounded in his chest as he braced his stance, raising his shield. Pyrrha flanked him, her spear at the ready. The Geist was massive, its body shifting and reforming as it absorbed more of the surrounding Dust. It moved with an unnatural speed, lunging at the group with claws made of stone and metal.
"We need to hit it hard, together!" Pyrrha shouted as she blocked a swipe from the creature's massive arm, sparks flying from the impact.
Jaune nodded, focusing his Aura into Crocea Mors as he charged forward. He slashed at the creature's arm, his blade cutting deep into the stone. The Geist recoiled, and Jaune used the opening to strike again, this time aiming for the crystals embedded in its chest. But before he could land the blow, the Grimm retaliated, knocking him back with a sweep of its tail.
He hit the ground hard, his Aura flaring to absorb the impact. Pyrrha moved quickly, pulling him to his feet as the rest of the team engaged the creature.
Yang rushed forward, her fists glowing with energy. She dodged the Geist's attacks, landing punch after punch on its legs, but the creature shrugged off the blows. Blake darted around the battlefield, striking at its weak points with precision. Weiss cast a series of glyphs beneath the Geist, freezing its legs in place for a brief moment.
"Now!" Ruby shouted, using her Semblance to zip behind the Grimm. She swung Crescent Rose with all her strength, severing one of the Geist's arms in a shower of stone and Dust.
Jaune, regaining his footing, saw his chance. He sprinted toward the creature, his Aura pulsing as he channeled everything he had into his sword and hit it.
The Geist screeched, its stone-like exterior cracking as Jaune's blade sank deeper. The massive Grimm recoiled in pain, but it wasn't down yet. The energy pulsing from the Dust crystals embedded in its body flared brightly, causing the entire chamber to shake. Debris rained down from the ceiling as the creature tried to regenerate its wounds, absorbing more of the Dust around it.
Pyrrha saw the opportunity and wasted no time. With a fierce look of concentration, she extended her hand once more. Her Semblance took hold of the surrounding metal beams and support structures, yanking them free from the walls and ceiling. The jagged metal spears shot toward the Geist, piercing through its limbs and torso, pinning it to the ground like a butterfly to a board.
"Pinning it down!" Pyrrha shouted, her voice carrying over the sound of the crumbling mine.
Jaune backed off, pulling his sword free from the creature's chest. He braced himself, raising his shield, while Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang moved in closer, preparing for the final strike. The Grimm struggled, its body convulsing violently as it tried to break free, but the metal beams held firm, sparking and groaning under the pressure.
Nora Valkyrie, seeing the perfect opening, grinned wildly. "My turn!" she shouted with gleeful anticipation. She quickly detached a small device from her belt — a portable lightning dust generator. Nora slammed the device against her chest, activating it. A surge of electricity coursed through her body, amplifying her Semblance to its full potential.
Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she readied Magnhild, her massive hammer. "Let's smash this thing!" she yelled, before launching herself high into the air with an electrified leap.
Jaune instinctively raised his shield, taking cover just as Nora came crashing down on the Geist with all her might. The impact was cataclysmic — Magnhild struck the Grimm's head with the force of a thunderstorm, sending shockwaves through the entire chamber.
The Geist's body convulsed one last time as the electricity from Nora's strike coursed through it, crackling and burning the Dust crystals embedded in its body. The light in its eyes dimmed, and its ear-piercing screech faded into nothingness as its rocky form disintegrated into ash, leaving only the shattered remains of the Dust crystals behind.
The dust settled, and the chamber grew quiet once more.
"That was... awesome!" Nora Valkyrie cheered, her hammer resting triumphantly on her shoulder.
Jaune lowered his shield, exhaling with relief. He quickly tapped the comms device on his wrist, signaling Atlas control. "This is Lieutenant Arc. The mine is clear. Geist has been neutralized," he reported, his voice steady but tinged with exhaustion.
"Good work, Lieutenant," came the calm voice of the Atlas control officer. "Prepare for extraction. Airships are inbound."
Jaune nodded to himself and cut the connection. He glanced around at Team RWBY and PNR, who were catching their breath after the intense battle. Despite the exhaustion on their faces, there was a sense of accomplishment in the air.
Pyrrha approached him, wiping a bit of dust from her armor. "Well done, Lieutenant," she said, giving him a small but sincere smile. "It seems you can fight on foot indeed.."
Jaune shook his head, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I was just doing my job, Ma'am. You're the one who pinned it down and gave Ms. Valkyrie the opening."
Pyrrha chuckled softly. "It was a team effort, like always."
Yang walked over, still grinning from ear to ear. "I'd say we did alright, don't you think so, Mr. Serious?" she teased, nudging Jaune with her elbow.
Jaune nodded. "You did well, Miss."
Yang replied with a wink, amused by how formal he was.
Ruby, who had been standing nearby, giggled at the exchange. "You were great, Jaune. Not bad."
Weiss, still brushing the dust from her jacket, added, "It's true. You're sturdy at least. Your aura didn't down even after a hit like that."
It was odd to Jaune hearing all of this. Back then, he was just a kid trying to fit in, desperately pretending to be something he wasn't. Now, here he was — an actual Huntsman, standing among some of the most capable warriors in the world. He'd thought that he'd be in Vacuo for a while and yet here he was doing Huntsmen missions. It was a strange. If anything, sudden.
"Thanks, Ma'am," Jaune said quietly, appreciating the words more than he let on.
As they waited for the Mantas to arrive, the team gathered their gear and made their way back toward the entrance of the mine. The snow had picked up outside, swirling in the cold Solitas wind.
Pyrrha walked alongside Jaune, her breath visible in the cold air. "I know this isn't easy for you," she said softly, keeping her voice low enough so the others wouldn't hear. "But you've been doing great, Lieutenant. I just wanted you to know that."
Jaune glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. He wasn't used to this kind of praise, especially from someone like Pyrrha. "Thanks," he replied, his voice a bit hoarse. "I'm just trying to do my part. You know, make sure I don't let anyone down."
"You won't," Pyrrha said, her expression soft but determined. "We're lucky to have you with us."
The sound of approaching Mantas cut the conversation short. The airships began to descend, their powerful engines humming softly in the cold Solitas air. Jaune watched as the familiar sight of Atlas airships hovered overhead, their landing ramps extending slowly. Snow swirled around as the crew started prepping the dust mine.
Before Jaune could process everything that had just happened, a larger airship bearing the Schnee Dust Company logo descended onto a nearby landing pad. The sight of it immediately tensed Weiss Schnee, her sharp gaze narrowing at the family emblem. Jaune noticed her change in posture, her back straightening, jaw clenched.
"That's… my father's ship," Weiss muttered under her breath, her voice filled with frustration.
As the ramp extended, revealing Jacques Schnee, the man himself stormed down from the airship with an expression that matched Weiss' own feelings — a mixture of frustration and anger. His footsteps echoed loudly against the cold metal surface of the ramp as he strode toward them, his eyes locked on General Ironwood, who stood waiting with his arms crossed, flanked by Qrow Branwen and the rest of Team RWBY.
"General Ironwood!" Jacques barked, his voice dripping with contempt. "I demand to know why you've been making unauthorized access to one of my facilities!"
The tension in the air was palpable, and even Jaune, who stood further back with Pyrrha, Nora, Ren, and the others, could feel the weight of the confrontation. He observed silently, his eyes shifting between Ironwood's stoic stance and Jacques' furious glare.
Ironwood met Jacques' gaze calmly. "We had reason to believe there was a threat within your mines, Jacques. A Grimm presence that could have endangered all of Mantle and Atlas if left unchecked."
Jacques scoffed, his hands gesturing wildly. "A Grimm threat? In my mines? And you took it upon yourself to investigate without so much as informing me?" His gaze shifted toward his daughter, and Jaune noticed the sneer that crossed Jacques' face. "I see you've also managed to drag my daughter into your reckless endeavors."
Weiss stepped forward, her voice cold and defiant. "You mean our mission to protect Atlas and Mantle? Yes, father, I'm helping protect the people of this kingdom — something you've neglected for far too long."
Her words hit Jacques like a hammer, and his sneer faded into a tight-lipped frown. "Weiss, you don't understand the gravity of this situation — your mother's condition has been deteriorating. While you're out here playing Huntress, your family is falling apart."
At that, Team RWBY, especially Ruby and Yang, shifted closer to Weiss, their postures protective. Blake stood quietly but attentively, her eyes locked on Jacques as if ready to jump in if necessary.
Weiss took a deep breath, steeling herself before looking her father in the eye. "They are my family now," she said firmly, gesturing to Team RWBY and Team PNR. "And as for mother… I'm well aware of her situation. But this kingdom needs me. I'm doing what's right, even if you refuse to see it."
Jaune raised a brow. He didn't know anything about all of this, but it's not hard to imagine that she was standing up to the man who had controlled her life for so long, the man who had tried to mold her into something she refused to be.
Jacques' face twisted into a scowl as he turned on his heel, storming back toward his airship without another word. The ship's engines roared to life as it lifted off the platform, carrying him away.
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Ruby, Blake, and Yang watched Weiss with concern, while she exhaled deeply, letting her confident facade drop for just a moment. Jaune could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight of everything she had been carrying on her shoulders.
Before anyone could offer words of comfort, the sound of a truck pulling up to the platform broke the silence. Jaune glanced over, seeing Winter Schnee stepping out from the passenger side, her face stoic as ever.
Weiss turned to her sister, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Oh, now you show up, Winter. You just missed father."
Winter raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't say I missed him," she replied dryly.
But before the mood could shift further, a blur of movement from the sky caught Jaune's attention. Penny Polendina came crashing down from the air, landing on one knee before springing up with her usual enthusiasm.
"Congratulations on your mission's success!" Penny Polendina cheered, throwing her arms into the air in celebration.
Jaune took a step back, but Penny Polendina's infectious energy seems to have broken the tension from the encounter with Jacques Schnee. Ruby and the others smiled as well, welcoming Penny into the fold.
Despite the outward joy and relief that surrounded him, Jaune found himself standing apart from the group, lingering near the back. Their moment of camaraderie felt distant to him, almost surreal. He glanced at his reflection on the polished surface of a nearby transport, seeing his Atlesian uniform and the weight of his new role. He was still trying to reconcile who he had become — no longer the boy who fumbled through Beacon, no longer the unsure, lost soldier hating the sands in Vacuo.
He was a Huntsman now, a protector, a guardian.
But even in the midst of this realization, Jaune couldn't shake the inner struggle that gnawed at him. While everyone celebrated their victory. He still felt like an awkward kid trying to find his place in a group that had been through the worse. A group that might as well be holding the fate of Remnant on their shoulders.
As the group started to make their way toward the waiting airships, Jaune stayed behind a moment longer, watching them go. His thoughts lingered on the battles fought and the ones yet to come. Atlas was facing more than just the threat of Grimm — there were forces at work within the kingdom itself, and Jaune couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning.
A cold wind swept through the platform, ruffling his hair and sending a chill down his spine. He adjusted his grip on his sword, Crocea Mors, feeling the weight of the weapon in his hand. It was comforting, in a way — a reminder that no matter how confusing things became, he at least had a role to play.
With one last glance at the departing airships, Jaune turned and followed the others.
Jaune sat on a desk, still wearing his uniform, and began writing his report. It had become second nature by now, a habit ingrained into him from his time in Ironwood Company and Steel Squadron. Every detail of the mission had to be accounted for — the engagement with the enemy, the fight against the Centinels, and the final clearing of the mine. He wrote about how the team had handled themselves, how they operated with efficiency and power. But there were moments that concerned him, things that, had they gone wrong, could have turned the mission into a disaster.
He made sure to mention how close Pyrrha Nikos had come to causing a cave-in when she used her Semblance to manipulate the beams supporting the mine, and how Nora Valkyrie's hammer strike, though effective, could've easily triggered a collapse. Jaune finished the report, reviewed it for errors, and made his way to Winter Schnee's office. General Ironwood was preoccupied with a meeting involving engineers and scientists, so it was Specialist Winter Schnee who was holding down the fort today.
Upon reaching her office, Jaune handed the report to Winter, standing straight as she glanced over it. Her icy blue eyes scanned the document quickly, but thoroughly. Jaune could tell she was pleased with the detail. It seems Specialist Schnee appreciated thoroughness and precision.
Winter Schnee looked up from the report, her expression thoughtful. "This is well done, Lieutenant Arc," she said, her voice carrying the usual crispness. "However, I have to ask — what does it feel like to operate on missions alongside Huntsmen, compared to your time in your time in the army?"
Jaune took a moment to consider her question before answering. "It's… different," he admitted. "In the Company, everything was regimented, structured. We operated as a unit, following orders and working together in a way that was drilled into us. But with Huntsmen… well, it seems more like they do things based on what they think is right at the moment. There's less structure, less coordination, and more individual decision-making." He hesitated before adding, "It's effective, but it's also… worrying at times."
Specialist Schnee raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Worrying how, Lieutenant?"
Jaune nodded, glad she had asked. "During the mission, for instance. When Miss Nikos started pulling the support beams with her Semblance, it could've easily caused the mine to collapse on us. Miss Xiao Long's use of explosives, while appropriate in dealing with the Grimm, was risky in such a confined space. And Miss Nora Valkyrie's hammer blow — while it certainly finished off the Geist — might have triggered a cave-in."
Specialist Schnee's lips curled into a small grin. "Yes, that sounds like Valean Huntsmen. Direct and straight to the point, even if it's not the most cautious approach."
Jaune nodded, relieved that she understood his concern. "It's not that they don't know what they're doing," he clarified. "They're incredibly strong and capable fighters, but I couldn't help but worry about the potential consequences of their methods."
Specialist Schnee closed the report and placed it on her desk. "That's exactly the challenge with Huntsmen from Vale, and to some extent, Huntsmen in general," she said, her tone softening slightly. "They are trained to rely on their individual strength, to act based on their own judgment rather than following strict orders. It can lead to brilliant results, but it also comes with risks."
Jaune crossed his arms, his brow furrowing. "It's just… different. I'm used to working as a cohesive unit, where every action is planned and accounted for. It feels strange not to be able to rely on that same structure."
Winter Schnee gave him a thoughtful look, and then her expression shifted slightly—there was a glint of pride in her eyes. "Lieutenant, you shouldn't diminish your experience as a soldier," she said. "In fact, it's disrespectful to yourself and to those you fought with in Ironwood Company. You have valuable experience that most Huntsmen don't, and that's something you should never take for granted."
Jaune blinked in surprise. Specialist Schnee's words hit him harder than he expected. He had been feeling like he didn't belong among the Huntsmen — like he was just a soldier playing catch - up with their raw strength and incredible Semblances. But here was Specialist Schnee telling him that his experience mattered. That it wasn't just about raw power, but about discipline, strategy, and structure.
"I… I guess I never really thought about it that way," Jaune admitted, his voice quieter now.
Specialist Schnee smiled — just a small, rare smile, but one that conveyed more than words. "You've survived things most people wouldn't, Arc. That's not luck. That's skill, discipline, and experience. The way you handle yourself in the field, the way you analyze situations — that's the mark of a soldier, and that's valuable in itself. You don't need to fight like a Huntsman to make a difference. Fight as you wished."
Jaune nodded slowly, her words sinking in. "Thank you, Specialist Schnee."
Winter Schnee stood from her desk, straightening her posture. "You've been trained well, Lieutenant. And don't let anyone — least of all yourself — convince you otherwise." She stepped around the desk and offered him a firm handshake. "You've earned your place here."
Jaune shook her hand, feeling a newfound sense of pride and determination.
As he turned to leave, Winter's voice followed him. "But you know, you really can't take the soldier out of you, even after becoming a Huntsman."
Jaune paused at the door, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Maybe not, Ma'am," he said, nodding his head in respect before heading out.
As he walked through the corridors of Atlas Academy, Jaune felt lighter than he had in a long time. Winter Schnee's words echoed in his mind, reassuring him that he wasn't out of place here — that his experience, his training, and his instincts still had value. Even if the Huntsmen fought differently, even if they acted on their own without the structure he was used to, it didn't mean his own way of doing things was wrong.
In fact, it might just be what they needed.