The Bullhead hummed softly as it neared the landing platform at Beacon, nearly evening by the time they arrived. Jaune leaned back against his seat, exhaling a long breath as the ship slowing down soothed his nerves, he really needed to get off this thing quick. The mission had been a success—mostly—if you ignore the part where they had all nearly become possessed puppets of a freakishly disgusting cave dwelling Grimm.

"Man, that was something else..." Yang muttered, stretching her arms as the Bullhead hummed its way down. The setting sun cast long shadows across the cabin, painting everything in hues of orange and purple. Next to her, Weiss silently cleaned the lingering dirt off of Myrtenaster.

Blake, who had been quietly reading a book, looked up and nodded in agreement. "It really was unlike any Grimm we've faced before, we're lucky we managed to walk away in one piece."

"Yeah," Ruby agreed, leaning back in her seat with a tired sigh as she cracked a weak smile. "But at least we killed it and got those trackers set up. The professors are gonna be thrilled!"

Weiss gave her a side glance, "I am afraid Professor Goodwitch won't share that sentiment, let's hope none of that encounter was caught on camera."

Across the aisle, Nora fidgeted in her seat, barely able to contain her energy. "I still can't believe I missed out on fighting that creepy floaty crawly thing! It looked like it could pack a punch! Next time, I'm taking it down first!"

Ren, who sat beside her, gave her a gentle but firm look. "Nora, after that, we can only hope there won't be a next time."

Nora pouted, but then her face brightened. "Okay, okay. But if there is a next time, we fight it together, right Renny?"

Ren sighed but offered a small smile. "We'll see."

Jaune sat silently, watching his teammates. He'd been strangely quiet since the fight ended, a nagging unease gnawing at him. "That fight sure did take a lot out of us," He finally broke that silence, turning to Pyrrah. "I still don't understand what that thing was... It's tendrils were doing a number on my shield, if it wasn't for the gloves I'd have burned myself from how hot it got."

"Hm, It was a good thing Ren took care of it, I dread to think about would have happened if we hadn't acted quick. We better report this to the professors." Pyrrah replied, before she gave him a look, noticing his previous silence and the way his hand absently traced the hilt of Crocea Mors, a habit he often had when something was bothering him.

"I'm sure Professor Port will have a field day with this." he mumbled, forcing a smile. "Just never do it when I'm in the same room."

Pyrrha gave him a simple smile and brushed off her observations, she trusted Jaune to confide in her when he was ready. "Well, a hot shower and a good night's sleep are in order just in case it can't be helped."

"You said it, Pyrrah! Dibs on first shower!" Nora exclaimed, already halfway out of her seat as the Bullhead touched down on the Beacon landing platform.

"Not so fast!" Jaune called out, grabbing her arm before she could bolt. "We're going to have a long talk about what happened today when we get back, but Nora, from now on there will be no more running off, we will walk slowly and quietly together and there's no buts!"

Nora's face fell slightly at his stern expression. "Oh, okay… right. Sorry, Jaune."

"Not just me."

Nora's mouth fell open for a moment, before she timidly turned to the others on the bullhead. "I'm sorry... everyone."

"Much better. All I ask is that when I give you an order you listen to it, you're my friends, my teammates, but most of all you're my responsibility as a leader and that means I need to keep you guys safe whichever way I can. I... I know the last couple of weeks haven't been exactly fun but out there, it's different." he said, before giving her a reassuring smile. "Look Nora, just try to be more careful and keep that in mind next time, okay?"

"Okay." she mumbled.

"Thank you."

Jaune placed a hand on her shoulder, before she looked up, her features brightened up again.

"You are still walking back to the dorms with us."

She deflated again. "Aww."

Ruby watched the exchange with wide eyes. "Whew, I didn't know Jaune could be that intense, glad that's not me," Ruby softly tapped Weiss's side with her elbow as she whispered.

Beside her, Weiss raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "I can't believe I'm saying this but Arc is setting a better example as a leader right now, you were practically leading the charge toward that cave without a care in the world for danger, at least he seems to have grasped that concept." the heiress turned her eyes to the blonde and watched him for a few moments as he chatted with the hyperactive redhead. "I suppose there is a head on his shoulders after all..."

Ruby's cheeks flushed pink. "I know, I know! But come on, it was shiny! And mysterious! How could I resist?"

Weiss just shook her head, though a faint hint of amusement touched her lips, moments later they all got off the bullhead.

"Alright, team! Mission is officially over, let's head back to the dorm and—" Ruby began enthusiastically, only to be cut off by a stern voice.

"Just where do you think you're all going?"

Weiss flinched at the abrupt and sharp tone, frowning as she suddenly noticed Professor Glynda Goodwitch standing at the edge of the platform, arms crossed and her gaze fixed on them with a chilling intensity. Team RWBY and JNPR froze, their cheerful expressions melting away as they realized they were in trouble.

"Professor Goodwitch!" Ruby squeaked, her eyes widening. "We were just, um—"

"About to dismiss a near-death experience as 'all part of the job'? Then relax? Unwind? After recklessly charging into a dangerous situation without proper authorization?" Glynda's voice was sharp, clipped, and laced with an icy displeasure that sent shivers down their spines. "Three of you practically threw yourselves at that Grimm, while the rest simply stood around. Do I need to remind you that recklessness is not a virtue in a Huntress, Miss Rose?"

Yang and Nora exchanged sheepish glances, while Ruby fidgeted under Glynda's unwavering stare, Weiss taking a step behind the rest with a complicated look, an arm crossed over her chest and gripping her elbow in a small gesture of guilt.

"We were just trying to investigate," Yang protested weakly. "That light we saw was super weird. We thought maybe—"

"You thought maybe you'd stumble across a treasure trove of Dust while blindly ignoring basic protocol?" Glynda's voice remained controlled, but her eyes narrowed. "Did it occur to any of you to, perhaps, inform someone before rushing into a potentially lethal situation? Professor Port? Doctor Oobleck?"

"It all happened so fast," Ruby mumbled, shrinking under the weight of Glynda's gaze.

Weiss inhaled sharply then stepped forward, her chin held high. "With all due respect, Professor Goodwitch, we were all caught off guard. But we did manage to neutralize the threat, and no one was seriously injured."

Glynda's gaze softened slightly, but only slightly. "True, Miss Schnee. However, your success this time does not excuse the blatant disregard for procedure and safety. That kind of impulsiveness will get you killed in the field, and I won't tolerate it from any of my students."

"We understand, Professor," She replied, her voice was calm and steady. "We'll be more careful next time."

Glynda nodded curtly. "See that you are. Now, all of you, get yourselves cleaned up and get some rest. We'll discuss this incident further tomorrow. Dismissed."

With that, she turned and walked away, her heels clicking against the stone floor. Team RWBY and JNPR let out a collective sigh of relief.

"That went well," Yang muttered dryly.

"She's not wrong, you know, that fight could have gone either way." Blake said, her voice quiet but firm.

"Yeah, yeah, you live and you learn..." Yang grumbled, already starting toward the dorms as she rolled her shoulders. "But first things first—shower time! Dibs!"

"Excuse me? You think you get the first shower?" Weiss narrowed her eyes at Yang. "After all the dirt and filth we've been through, I deserve it more."

"Deserve it? What, is there a point system I'm missing here, Ice Queen? Pretty sure I was the one dragging Grimm around by their necks." Yang retorted, a playful smirk on her face.

Weiss huffed, crossing her arms tighter. "As if brute strength should determine shower priority. I prefer efficiency. You'll probably use up all the hot water washing that mane of yours. I'm surprised you don't need a map to find your scalp underneath all of that."

"You're just jealous you can't look as good as this. Don't worry, your 'wash and go' routine's safe."

"How dare you?! I'll have you know—" Weiss began indignantly, but before she could launch into a full-blown tirade, Blake interjected.

"You both know Ruby's probably going to beat you to it with her semblance, right?"

"Wha—no way!" Yang and Weiss' eyes widened in unison, turning to see Ruby already taking a small step forward, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"I mean, I could definitely use it…" she said, clearly considering making a run for it.

"Don't you dare!" Yang and Weiss lunged dramatically toward her, but it was too late. Ruby was already laughing, sidestepping them and sprinting towards the dorms. "Ruby!"

Team RWBY darted out, Yang trying to catch Ruby while Blake followed at a more leisurely pace, amusement flickering in her amber eyes. Weiss stormed off after them, muttering about "undisciplined teammates" and "efficiency."

Left behind, Team JNPR watched their friends disappear into the distance. Pyrrha chuckled softly. "It seems like some things never change, good to see they're in high spirits."

Shaking his head, Jaune suddenly sighed. "Well, I'm beat. Think I'm gonna claim the first shower back at the dorm."

The moment the words left his mouth, a blur of pink and orange shot past him, leaving a faint breeze in its wake. Jaune yelped, caught completely off guard as the force of Nora's sudden departure spun him around like a top. He staggered, arms flailing, barely managing to stay upright.

"Whoops! Sorry, fearless leader!" Nora's voice called out, already halfway down the path, her hammer bouncing on her back as she sprinted toward the dorms. "But Showers wait for no one!"

"Should've known better than to try and stop her," Pyrrha said, her lips curving into a wry smile. "Some battles are just not worth fighting. Pick and choose, Jaune, pick and choose."

Ren reached out a steadying hand, chuckling. "Easy there."

"I think we need to put her on a leash." Jaune muttered, his voice weak as the dizziness threatened to send him tumbling. He swallowed hard, leaning on Ren's shoulder for support. "Also think I'm gonna throw up..."

"You learn to live with it," Ren said with a faint smile, before he paused, his eyes narrowing worriedly. "What did you just say?"

Pyrrah's brows shot up in worry, Jaune's face looking very green. "Oh, he doesn't look very well."

Ren suddenly felt very regretful for being a supportive friend.

"Jau!—"

"Bleeeghhh!"

With JNPR and RWBY heading back to their respective dorm rooms, a sense of calm settled over them. Jaune felt a weight lifting off his shoulders as they entered, the gentle patter of rain outside falling outside the window. Ren walking in close behind, shooting him dirty glares for being the second victim to get the Arc special on their shoes, but in Jaune's defense, Ren really should've known better.

Nora emerged from the bathroom, humming a cheerful tune as she towel-dried her vibrant orange hair. "Ahhh, that hit the spot!" she exclaimed, tossing the towel onto her bed before flopping down with a contented sigh. "Who's up next?"

"I believe it's my turn, thanks to Jaune." Ren said, grabbing his toiletries and heading for the bathroom before Nora could even suggest a round of post-shower pillow fights.

"Suit yourself!" Nora replied, before she flopped onto her bed, kicking her legs up excitedly.

Pyrrha smiled softly, sitting down on the edge of her own bed. "It's nice to be back, isn't it?"

"The best!" Nora replied as Jaune nodded, then took off his armor and left it beside his bed.

He sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought. The encounter with the Grimm, the way it had controlled their friends, it had been… intense. They'd worked well together, each covering the others' backs, their training and teamwork shining through. He was proud of how they'd handled the situation, even against their own friends. But the memory of those blank, red eyes still sent shivers down his spine. Pyrrah even said they talked back in that state, in their creepy zombie-like voices, that alone was enough to give him nightmares.

Ren emerged from the bathroom minutes later, and Pyrrah was quick to dart inside. The boy excused himself to get his shoes properly cleaned, while Nora simply sat against the headboard of her bed in a T-shirt and shorts, headphones on and a video playing on her scroll. As he waited, Jaune found his thoughts drifting back to that cave, to the moments when they'd been separated, and to that strange dizziness when the Grimm had wrapped its tendrils around him. It had passed quickly, but the memory still bothered him.

He could still recall that feeling vividly, it was unlike everything he had experienced before... The lightheadedness, his vision dimming and going all wonky, it was possibly the most disoriented he's ever felt, had it not been for Pyrrah he would have most likely ended up in a similar state to Ren and RWBY, he shuddered thinking about that. One thing was for certain, it was now his responsibility as leader to drill it into Nora's head not to walk into ominous looking caves, no matter how shiny they may appear at first glance, but he had a feeling it was a lesson already learned by now.

He contemplated that for a second, before he glanced at Nora's direction, finding her mindlessly giggling at a video of a spinning monkey on her scroll, caught in a trance as her toes curled in excitement. No, he definitely still needed to do that. But he'll give her a break for now, there was always time for reprimanding later, and frankly, he was too tired right now. Still, to think there were possibly more Grimm like that lurking around Remnant, he could only feel sorry and a bit horrified at the fates of those who were less fortunate than they had been today. It was at least a good thing they had taken care of it, or who knew the countless souls it would have went on to harm.

The redhead emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, and Jaune, after grabbing his own toiletries, quickly followed suit as he walked past a freshly dressed Pyrrah in her pajamas. He stood under the hot spray of the shower, letting the water wash away the grime and tension of the mission. It was only then, as he started to relax, that a dull ache throbbed at the back of his head. He frowned, pressing his fingers against his temples.

Must be all the stress, he thought, dismissing it as quickly as it had come. Between that freaky Grimm, the training, and finals coming up… no wonder he had a headache. He finished his shower quickly then dried up and got into his onesie.

As Jaune stepped outside, the rest of Team JNPR was already winding down for the night. Nora was sprawled on her bed, fast asleep. Ren sat on the edge of the bed next to her, sipping a cup of tea as he watched the rain patter against the windowpane. Pyrrha being the closest to him by the table, glanced up from the textbook she was reading.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"Much better," Jaune replied, though he wasn't entirely sure if he meant it. He sat on the edge of his bed, towel-drying his hair. "I'm pooped, I think I'm gonna sleep like a log tonight."

He glanced at the opposite bed towards Nora, then back at Ren. "Wow, she's out cold. Didn't think anything could knock her out this early."

Ren nodded. "That fight with Yang must have taken more out of her than she let on. Even with the Grimm controlling her, Yang still packs a punch."

"True," Jaune agreed, remembering the force of Yang's blows during their sparring sessions. He shuddered. "Definitely wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of those punches, even if she is my friend."

"It was a tough mission," Pyrrha said, looking up from her textbook. "We all did well, though. Team work makes the dream work, right?"

"Always," Ren said, raising his cup in a mock toast.

Jaune grinned, "You said it," His face fell, as he suddenly recalled. "I think we should really work on our exit strategies... I still don't know how we managed to lose that Beringel."

Ren shook his head and stood up, stretching his arms. "I'm going to make another pot of tea. Anyone else want some?"

Jaune shook his head. "I'm good, thanks. Think I'm gonna crash soon."

He glanced over at Pyrrha, who had returned to her studies. He groaned. "Ugh, you're already studying? Finals aren't for another week!"

"Better to be prepared than panicked," Pyrrha replied, not looking up from her textbook. "Especially with everything else that's been going on."

Jaune sighed, knowing she was right. But the thought of studying, after the day they'd had, was exhausting. He flopped back onto his bed, pulling out his scroll and scrolling through videos, hoping to find something mindless enough to distract him from the looming pressure of exams right around the corner.

Soon enough, the dorm room grew quiet. Ren finished his tea and joined Nora, who was still snoring softly. Pyrrha eventually closed her textbook, a tired but satisfied smile on her face. She turned off the desk lamp, plunging the room into darkness except for the faint glow of Jaune's scroll. He tossed and turned, sleep eluding him. He closed his eyes, but the unsettling images of the Grimm, and the distorted faces of his friends, flashed through his mind, chasing away any chance of rest. With a frustrated sigh, he sat up. He glanced at the window towards the shattered moon, the rain had stopped, leaving a peaceful silence in its wake.

But the silence, instead of calming him, only amplified the unease gnawing at him.

He looked around and found the others fast asleep, with nothing to do, he sighed in defeat before pulling out his scroll to read some of his comics.

"A fascinating specimen, wouldn't you say, Oobleck?" Professor Port boomed, as they reviewed the aerial footage of the fight and that made Weiss think it was no surprise that Professor Goodwitch had reprimanded them. "To encounter a Grimm with such potent mental manipulation abilities… it's a rare opportunity for study, indeed! Not to mention, that was remarkable teamwork, to coordinate so effectively against such a foe… quite impressive, especially considering the target was your own teammates."

"Remarkable indeed," Oobleck agreed, his voice a rapid-fire torrent of words. "Its morphology, its adaptive tactics, the sheer potency of it… it warrants further investigation, without a doubt! One dreads to think what else it could be capable of that we haven't had the opportunity to observe, you've all done well, very well." He spoke, before taking a sip of coffee.

"But surely, Professors," Weiss interjected, her tone laced with a touch of disapproval, "recklessly charging into a potentially dangerous situation without proper reconnaissance is hardly something to be commended, wouldn't you agree? Especially when the team leader—" she glanced pointedly at Ruby, who pouted in return. "—should be setting a better example."

Jaune raised a brow at that, they must have had an argument back in their dorm room yesterday.

"Ah, Miss Schnee, always the voice of reason," Port chuckled, "But a Huntress's life is not always about meticulous planning. Sometimes, it's about instinct, courage, and the willingness to act when others hesitate. And I must say, Team JNPR displayed remarkable bravery and teamwork in neutralizing the threat, overall you've all done a magnificent job, your grades will certainly reflect your efforts!"

Jaune glanced at the time, they were here for nearly thirty minutes going over yesterday's mission and he was bored out of his mind. Glancing to the side, he could definitely see Yang and Ruby as well as Nora were on the same boat. Damn it, this was just what he was afraid was going to happen.

"Well, I'm glad we took care of it," Jaune said, trying to sound confident despite the fatigue gnawing at him, hoping to rush through this and find an out. He'd managed a few hours of sleep, but the lingering fatigue and the dull ache in his head wouldn't let go, he even took a pill this morning. He stifled a yawn, Pyrrha and Weiss, who were both looking at him with perceptive eyes, had taken notice. He quickly shifted his weight, forcing a casual smile. "So, uh, are we done here?" he asked, his voice a bit rougher than usual.

The professors, still deep in their discussion about Grimm classifications, barely registered his comment. Perfect, Jaune thought, stifling a yawn. Maybe he can sneak out for a quick power nap before Goodwitch's class, all he needed was to make it the next few hours, then he could finally crash again. The two professors dismissed them after he and Ruby handed in their mission report. (which was mostly written by Pyrrah thanks to him oversleeping.)

"Well, that was… eventful," Blake said, her voice laced with a hint of understatement.

Team RWBY and JNPR stepped out into the courtyard, as Jaune looked back over his shoulders. "Combat class next, right?" He asked, just to make sure he didn't get his time table mixed up again.

"Eyuup!" Ruby replied enthusiastically.

"Great," Jaune said, forcing a grin as he followed his team out of the classroom.

He felt a wave of dizziness as he walked, and he stumbled slightly, catching himself on the wall before anyone noticed. Just need some coffee, he thought, rubbing his temples. Lots of coffee.

Besides, what were the chances he'd get picked to fight twice in the same week?

He was done for.

"Arc, Belladonna, you're up next," Goodwitch announced, her voice crisp and authoritative. "Standard sparring rules. No lethal force."

Her voice cut through the air. "Begin."

Blake was the first to move, her form a blur as she darted to the side, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Jaune barely had time to react, raising his shield just in time to block the sharp clang of her sword against the metal. The force of her strike reverberated up his arm, causing him to stumble back a step, his heart racing. He tried to counter with a wide slash, but Blake easily danced out of range, her movements fluid and effortless.

He frowned, from the first clang of steel, it was clear that something was off. Blake moved with a fluidity and speed that seemed nearly impossible to match. He gritted his teeth and blocked a flurry of thrusts and slashes, now finding himself constantly on the defensive, parrying as he best as he could. His own movements felt sluggish, his reactions delayed as if his body were moving through molasses, she was tearing into him good.

"Come on, Jaune, focus," he muttered under his breath, trying to steel his nerves. He knew this wasn't going to be easy—Blake had already proven herself a capable fighter on several occasions, while he was only beginning to learn the basics under Pyrrha's patient instruction. He checked his Aura and felt shocked, already at 89%.

Blake circled him, eyes never leaving his. There was no malice in her gaze, only cold calculation, as if she were assessing every flaw in his defense. She moved in again, quick and precise, her sword a flicker of steel. Jaune raised his shield once more, managing to block the blow, but Blake twisted, and struck with the blunt side of her sheath, catching him off guard and knocking him off balance.

He staggered back, shield raised but footing uneven. Blake pressed the advantage, her strikes coming faster, more confidently. Jaune was forced to retreat, each clash of steel pushing him further toward the edge of the platform. His sword felt heavy, unwieldy in comparison to her rapid, graceful movements. She was barely breaking a sweat.

"You're too slow," Blake remarked, her voice low but not unkind, more like an observation. "If you don't move faster, you'll never land a hit."

Jaune gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling up inside him. She was right, of course. Summoning his resolve, he lunged forward with a desperate thrust. It wasn't elegant, and it certainly wasn't fast, but it was powerful. Blake sidestepped it effortlessly, as though she could predict his every move, but Jaune had anticipated that. He twisted his body at the last second, using his shield to swing in the opposite direction.

The edge of his shield clipped her side, and Blake hissed in surprise, her eyes narrowing. It wasn't a serious hit, but it was enough to knock her off her rhythm for just a moment. Jaune pressed the attack, striking again with his sword, this time forcing her to retreat.

His confidence surged. He was doing it—he was pushing her back!

But even as he advanced, there was a nagging voice in the back of his mind, reminding him that Blake wasn't using her full potential. She hadn't drawn the gun component of Gambol Shroud, and the ribbon that could transform the blade into a more versatile weapon remained wrapped around the hilt. She was holding back.

Blake's eyes flashed with renewed focus. In an instant, she ducked beneath his slash, and struck him in the face with her foot as she cartwheeled by his side. Jaune stumbled backwards in the same direction as her, with Blake stomping the back of his knee, forcing him down. In a moment of desperation, he swung Crocea Mors, twisting his upper-body around, but she flipped backwards into the air effortlessly, creating distance between them with a single graceful leap.

Jaune, caught off guard by the sudden space, stumbled on his feet to adjust, his sword hand knuckle pressing against the floor as he pushed against it to stand up, his balance once again faltering as he quickly realized she was about to use it, hurrying to bring the shield back up.

Blake wasted no time. She lashed out with the rope while still in the air, the blade snapping forward like a whip. Jaune raised his shield, but it coiled around it, yanking his arm wide open. Before he could react, Blake moved in with lightning speed, delivering a sharp kick to his chest. The air rushed out of Jaune's lungs as he crashed to the ground backwards, shield clattering out of his hand.

The pain in his ribs was sharp, but not unbearable. He rolled to his feet sluggishly, gasping for breath. His shield lay several feet away, but he didn't have time to retrieve it—not with Blake already closing in again. He raised Crocea Mors in both hands.

He was freaking dying here.

Blake's strikes were faster now, more aggressive. Without his shield, Jaune was forced to rely entirely on his sword to parry her blows, and it was clear he was outmatched. She was relentless, her sword weaving through the air with deadly precision. Parrying Gambol shroud was met with a kick somewhere along the torso or the head, and blocking those only meant Gambol shroud would tear into his Aura more and more, either way, it was a losing battle and Jaune made that painful realization early on.

Desperate, Jaune took a risk. As Blake moved in for another strike, he dropped low, sweeping his leg in an attempt to trip her. For a split second, it looked like it might work—Blake's footing wavered, her balance disrupted. But then she reacted with impossible speed, flipping over his leg in a fluid motion and landing right on top of him, her feet painfully pressing against his thigh and shoulder.

His eyes widened, as she suddenly grappled and flipped him forward harshly on his back, restraining him with her limbs wrapped tightly around his torso. Before Jaune could even struggle his way out of her grasp, he felt the cold steel of Gambol Shroud's blade resting lightly against his neck.

"Yield," Blake said softly.

Jaune froze, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, he considered trying something, anything, to turn the tide—but the truth was, he was outmatched. Blake had been in control for the majority of the fight, and even when he had come close to gaining the upper hand, her experience had trumped his every move.

"I… give up," he muttered, lowering his sword.

"Winner, Blake Belladonna!"

Blake withdrew her blade, stepping back with the same quiet grace she'd shown throughout the fight. Jaune slumped, exhaustion catching up to him as the adrenaline began to wear off. A faint smile playing on Blake's lips. "You're getting better, Jaune. Your reflexes are improving, You've been doing better than usual today."

His eyes widened slightly, inwardly feeling confused at that. "Oh... Hehe... you've noticed?"

"Hard not to," Blake shrugged, offering a hand.

Jaune took her hand, pulling himself to his feet, staring at her, bewildered. Improving? He'd never felt so slow, so clumsy, in his life. He'd been completely outclassed, dominated from start to finish.

"Uh, thanks, Blake," he mumbled, his voice hoarse. "I… guess I got lucky? You, uh… didn't even use half of what Gambol Shroud can do, did you?"

"I didn't need to."

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, I see..."

Blake didn't press further, though her eyes lingered on him for a moment before she moved on. Jaune dusted himself off, trying not to let the frustration get to him. But the more he looked at Blake's back as they made their way back to the stands, the more that the issue nagged at him. What the hell was even that? He knew he wasn't about to become some legendary badass Huntsman overnight, but he barely touched her in that match. He frowned, was the gap between them really that big? How long would he really need to catch up?

"Would the next fighters please enter the stage." Goodwitch called out behind him, prompting them to vacate as she called for the next bout.

He paused in the middle of the way between the stands and the platform behind him, caught in a trance as he fell deeper into his thoughts, the students walking past him to the stage.

She was fast, faster than he could keep up with, and worst of all she held back. She darted around, not even needing to use her semblance to outmaneuver him at every turn. He was constantly on the defensive, struggling to keep up, steadily growing more and more frustrated with his performance, and she simply danced around him and forced him to yield on the ground. If that was an actual fight, he'd be dead ten times over.

Even then that wasn't nearly the biggest issue here.

Jaune couldn't help but frown at what she had said, what the hell did she freaking mean he did better than usual today?! And what improvement?! That was awful! Not only was he extra sluggish, but his footing was terrible and his handling of Crocea Mors was even worse! The fight barely even lasted five minutes for crying out loud! Was she praising him for holding out that long?

It's the lack of sleep, he told himself, desperately trying to find a rational explanation for his sudden clumsiness. He's been pushing himself too hard, the stress was just bound to catch up eventually. He was now going crazy and imagining things, that had to be it.

"Jaune!"

He blinked, startled by the sound of his name. Ruby was waving to him from the stands, her silver eyes bright with excitement.

"You did great out there!" she called out, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the other students.

He blinked twice, mouth hanging open, even... Ruby?

Glynda Goodwitch cleared her throat, her gaze sharp. "Mr. Arc, if you would be so kind as to return to the stands for the next match to begin."

Jaune was startled by that, forcing a sheepish smile as he made his way back up the steps, "Nice fight, Jaune!" Nora greeted him as he reached their section of the stands. "You really had Blake on the ropes there for a second!"

'I seriously didn't." He thought to himself.

Pyrrha gave him a warm smile. "That's right, but there can always be room for improvement. We'll grab the recording of the match for later so we can go over it during our next training session."

Jaune stared at them, a strange mix of confusion and frustration swirling within him. Their praise felt… off. Unearned. He knew he hadn't fought well, not even close. It was like they were congratulating him for simply participating, for showing up. As the next match began, Jaune sank back into his seat, his mind racing. The disorientation, the fatigue, their undeserved praise.

What the hell was happening today?

The next day was even worse, barely being able to sleep again, only managing four and a half hours. Jaune woke up feeling like crap. His limbs were heavy, his head felt foggy, and he had a dull ache at the base of his neck. He sat up with a groan, rubbing his eyes.

"Alright, what the hell dude..." He whined as he sat on the edge of the bed.

The door to the bathroom click open, Jaune looked up as Ren walked out in his school uniform. "Morning, Jaune."

"Morning... where are the others?"

"They said they were heading to the cafeteria first, they didn't want to wake you up." Ren informed, before Jaune hummed back in acknowledgement and made his way to the bathroom, as Ren made his way out as well.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. They went through their usual routine—breakfast, then classes a little later. Jaune tried his best to stay focused, but his mind kept wandering. Combat class came next, thankfully this time he wasn't picked. For the past couple of weeks, he had been on a bit of a streak. But Blake ruthlessly ending it left him feeling pretty bummed out. Still, it was only natural, one shouldn't expect to stay at the top of their game forever, he was bound to lose a fight eventually, especially since he wasn't even that strong to begin with.

You win some, you lose a lot more, but that's the way it goes for someone like him, setting high expectations for something like this wasn't the move.

It was on the third day that he realized something. After going through the motions again, training, attending classes, eating together with RWBY and his team, it was now hard to ignore. At first, he had brushed it off as stress from the mission—Beacon had been intense, but manageable—but now, after three days of constant headaches, sleepless nights, and nausea that came in waves, he couldn't ignore the signs anymore. Something was wrong with him.

The worst part? He was the only one who seemed affected.

Yang, Nora, Blake, Ruby, Ren, Weiss, and even Pyrrha—they all appeared fine. They'd talked about the mission in passing, laughed about the craziness of it... and moved on. But Jaune… he hadn't moved on, couldn't. The more time he spent with his teammates and friends, the more isolated it made him feel. And then came the million Lien question, why him? Why only him? That gnawed at him like a splinter that wouldn't budge. That stupid Grimm had done something to him back inside those caves.

It wasn't like he was the only one exposed to the creature. Everyone had been caught up in that fight, hell, the RWBY girls were under it's control for like fifteen minutes or something, it was hard to tell the time. And yet here he was suffering all alone, the rest blissfully unaware or so he thought. None of them were affected by this. Not Yang, Not Blake, Not Ruby, Not Weiss, not anyone from his team.

An unlikely answer came to mind, but an answer nonetheless, and it did hurt to admit.

Maybe it was because he was weak, the weakest even.

Jaune clenched his fists at the thought. It made too much sense, didn't it? Out of everyone there, he was the weakest. Yang's punches could crack bone. Blake moved like a blur. Weiss was the definition of elegance and refinement. Nora wielded her hammer like it weighed nothing. Ren was agile and strong. Ruby's skills with her scythe were deadly, even if her punches felt like feathers. And Pyrrha… Pyrrha was practically invincible, as per the name. Compared to them, Jaune was just Jaune—a liability. Why wouldn't the Grimm have singled him out? He was the easiest prey, the one least able to fend it off.

He was the weakest link, the easiest to have something's teeth sunken into. A walking, talking, bleeding punching bag.

It was no surprise that CRDL had picked on him the most, it was easy, like swiping candy from a child, only that child could probably hold on to said candy a lot better than he could his sword and shield. The words hung in his mind, heavy and suffocating. Up until two months ago, he could barely hold Crocea Mors properly in an academy where your life and the lives of those around you depended on it. Now, he was supposed to be training to protect people? To save lives? The idea felt like a cruel joke sometimes. Every sparring session, every class, was a reminder of how far behind he was, could he really be blamed for thinking this way?

Well, he couldn't be, he was Jaune Arc after all.

The others must have noticed by now that something wasn't quite right with him, and they'd surely bombard him with questions about his well being just like before. Precious baby Arc would shatter into a million pieces otherwise, wouldn't he? His brows knitted into a deep frown, hating the thought of him being coddled to this extent by his friends, there was a reason he had a sword and a set of armor that didn't belong to him, a reason why he didn't write back home even though he ought to.

Or maybe they haven't, either way, they'd be sure to notice soon enough. The past couple of days had been so torturous he didn't even bother to flirt with Weiss a single time. His anger washed away and melted into hurt, she'd actually love if that remained unchanged, now that he thought about it. Why does he even bother anyway? Why does he bother to do any of this—

Jaune paused in the middle of Beacon's garden on his way back to the dorms, eyes wide. "What the hell was all of that about?" He frowned, reviewing his previous train of thought.

Jaune took a deep breath, the crisp evening air filling his lungs. Enough is enough, he thought, straightening his posture and squaring his shoulders. He was Jaune Arc damn it, Huntsman in training, fearless leader of Team JNPR, future hero, and he wasn't going to let a few bad sparring matches and a sleepless night or two get him down. He'd faced tougher challenges than this, and he'd overcome them. He always did. So where did he get off thinking of himself this way? Madness.

Besides, maybe his friends and teammates were right. Maybe he was improving, even if it didn't feel like it. Maybe he was just being too hard on himself. And the fatigue? Probably just stress. Finals were coming up, after all. A little anxiety was normal. Still, the nagging headache and the lingering disorientation… those weren't normal. And those began after that Grimm had caught him.

Just in case, he thought, better safe than sorry.

He turned and headed towards the infirmary, a sense of purpose replacing the unease that had been weighing him down. He'd get checked out, maybe get some advice, and then he'd be back to his old self in no time.

The infirmary was quiet, the only sounds the gentle hum of medical equipment and the rustle of papers as the nurse on duty updated patient files. He explained his symptoms – the fatigue, the headaches, the occasional dizziness – and the nurse, a kind-faced woman with warm brown eyes, listened patiently. She ran a series of tests, checking his vitals, his aura levels, even running a scan for any signs of lingering Grimm effects.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally smiled. "Well, Mr. Arc, I'm happy to report that all your tests came back normal. Your aura levels are strong, there are no signs of any Grimm toxins, and your physical health is excellent."

Jaune blinked, a mixture of relief and confusion swirling within him. "So… there's nothing wrong with me?"

"Physically, no," the nurse replied. "But you do seem a bit… stressed. Are you getting enough sleep? Eating properly?"

Jaune hesitated. He'd been avoiding Pyrrha's concerned questions about his sleep, and the thought of admitting his struggles, even to a nurse, felt strangely vulnerable.

"Yeah, sure," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. "Just… finals week, you know? A little anxiety."

The nurse nodded sympathetically. "I understand. But try to get some rest, Mr. Arc. Lack of sleep can exacerbate stress and make it harder to focus. And if the symptoms persist, come back and see me. We can discuss some stress management techniques."

"Thanks," Jaune said, a small smile tugging at his lips. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he left the infirmary. Maybe it really was just stress. Maybe he just needed to relax, get some sleep, and everything would be back to normal.

As he walked back towards the dorms, the last of the sun felt warm on his face as it began it's descent below the horizon. Maybe it was a placebo, but he did genuinely feel better than before, what the hell were all those thoughts earlier about anyway? Absurd, that's what it was. Like hell he'd let anything knock him down like that!

He reached the door to his dorm room, his hand hovering over the doorknob. He was about to push it open when he heard voices from inside – the familiar chatter of Team RWBY. He paused, curiosity piqued. He really shouldn't... but for some reason he couldn't help it, and so he pressed his ear against the door. It would only be for a few seconds after all, what's the harm? He shook his head, no, he shouldn't invade their privacy like this. He stepped away and walked back to opposite door and was about to push it open to greet his team when Yang's booming laughter cut through the air, followed by Ruby's signature giggle.

"Oh man, you should have seen his face!" Yang crowed just loud enough for him to hear through the door, rooting him in place. "He looked like he was gonna pass out right there on the platform."

"I know, right?" Ruby chimed in, her voice laced with amusement. "It was like watching a baby sloth trying to fight a ninja. Poor Jaune, he never stood a chance."

"He looked so confused when I complimented his effort, it was hard to hold the laughter inside." Blake added, her tone sounding amused.

Jaune's hand froze on the doorknob. A cold knot of unease tightened in his stomach, as he stiffly came back near their door.

"Frankly, I don't know what Pyrrah sees in him," Weiss's voice, sharp and clipped, cut through the laughter. "It is laughable to think he would even call that improvement, I'd be surprised if he even manages to scrape by on the finals."

"He's just… enthusiastic?" Ruby offered, her voice hesitant, as if even she didn't quite believe her own words.

"Enthusiastic?" Weiss scoffed. "He's delusional. He thinks he can become a Huntsman with sheer willpower and a mediocre sword. It's almost… pathetic."

"Aw, come on, Weiss, even if it's the equivalent of multiplying by zero he's still trying," Yang said, though her tone lacked its usual warmth. "Besides, who doesn't love a good underdog story? Vomit Boy might surprise us all yet."

A wave of nausea washed over Jaune, the nickname stung like a slap in the face this time around. It was a little endearing before but hearing it now, laced with mockery, made his stomach churn.

Ruby giggled. "That's so mean, Yang!"

"Hey, I'm just saying, he's got a knack for making an ass of himself." Yang chuckled. "Remember that time he hurled after trying Nora's protein shake?"

"Ugh, don't remind me," Blake said, her voice laced with a chilling disinterest. "The smell lingered for days."

"I just… I don't understand," Ruby said, her voice uncharacteristically subdued. "I mean, he's been training so hard, but he just… doesn't seem to be getting any better, if anything he's gotten worse yesterday."

"Some people just aren't cut out for this life," Weiss said, her tone sharp. "He should do everyone a favor and drop out before he gets himself seriously hurt, he did get into this academy through dishonest means after all." She shuddered. "And please, Ruby, tell me you've convinced him to finally give up on that ridiculous crush. I can't handle another one of his awkward attempts at flirting."

Jaune's breath caught in his throat. A sharp, icy pain stabbed at his heart, the casual cruelty of her words echoing in his ears. He'd never outright confessed his feelings to Weiss, but she'd always seemed aware of them, her reactions ranging from dismissive annoyance to outright disdain. But this… this was a level of coldness he hadn't expected.

"He's not that bad," Yang said, though her voice lacked its usual boisterous energy. "I mean, he's got heart. And… well, he's good for a laugh."

"He's a liability, with nothing between the ears," Weiss countered, her tone brooking no argument. "He's going to get himself or someone else killed. Mark my words. I'm not sure what makes him think he can protect his own team when we have to bail him out of trouble time and time again."

"Maybe we should change the subject," Blake interjected, her voice quiet but firm. "I'd rather focus on the upcoming finals than to think about Jaune all night."

"No complaints here." Weiss replied.

The knot in Jaune's stomach tightened, and he stepped back, a cold emptiness spreading through his chest. They were laughing at him, mocking him, reducing him to a joke. He'd thought they were his friends. He'd trained with them, fought alongside them, risked his life for them. And this… this was how they saw him? A clumsy, pathetic weakling who couldn't even hold his own in a sparring match?

He stumbled back, his legs feeling like lead. He needed to get away, to escape their laughter, their ridicule. He turned and walked away, his head spinning, his heart aching with a confusion and hurt that he couldn't quite comprehend.

chapter end.

Wow, that was uhhhh, heavy stuff huh? Anyway thanks for reading!

Adult Shallot: Please stop spoiling the story, I was genuinely surprised you got the first part of this chapter right on the money with that review lmao.

JazzAndFunk: Thanks a lot, appreciate it!

Guest#2: (It feels unexplained how a grimm can easily control aura users) I think you are forgetting there is Two grimm types (which I've named in chapter 1) that can control and posses aura users, the first being chill, and the other is Nightmare from ice Queendom that traps aura users in a (you guessed it) nightmare. I don't know what kind of explanation you'd want from me this early given that the whole point is that they have zero clue what that Grimm is.

Guest#3: I would say you're very close, that it is a parasite type of Grimm. However I have no idea what shadow fog from mist crypt is lmao.

GreenEyesOrigamiDragon: That is an honest to god mistake on my part haha, I used the Latin word for the plural of Ursa but thank you for pointing that out!

Crazycarzom: Thanks, hope you'll enjoy this one all the same. And yes, as you've seen just now, he will indeed regret it!

Hiyuusha: This particular story was planned out from start to finish, including most interactions, some choices of words etc... but! I don't doubt that even though it's pre-written, there will be moments where I'll just decide to scrap something and go based on vibes and intuition, that's happened a lot in the past with other stories.

Guest#5/JJbert: Thank you!

Anyway some of you may be surprised at how quickly things are moving, some of you may be at the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next but I can already imagine a majority of you will be confused, and that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. In the upcoming chapters, maybe you'll start to piece together what's happening to Jaune, and maybe not. That said, I do hope you've enjoyed reading so far, and I'll see you next week as usual! (My upload schedule isn't fixed, but a new chapter should be out every weekend.)