"Leave it all to me" he said, and yet from what she'd seen so far she wasn't impressed.
Jaune bounced off the floor and slid to a stop a few feet away from his attacker. "Ow" the boy quite literally said from his spot on the ground before standing back up on his feet with a determined look in his eye. He lowered his stance as their master moved in for a follow-up attack, only for Jaune to dive between the elder man's legs to dodge the blow.
Alec spun on his heel and delivered a kick to Jaunes back with enough force to send the boy flying. "Do you even know what you ask of me" their master growled "your asking me to help you ditch class for a wild goose hunt". The blonde hit the ground, rolled over and dug his fingers into the dirt while falling into what Vernal would call a wild animals stance...or a super hero pose. That's what it looked like to her but it worked well enough, and then Jaune was off again rushing forward likme last time.
The difference this time was that the blonde seemed even more serious then before. When Jaune was in striking distance he threw two jabs, one with each fist that were easily blocked before jumping forward and bringing his left leg around for a wheel kick. Alec saw the kick and blocked it with his left arm before pushing the blondes left leg upward causing Jaune to do an impromptu backflip. While the blonde was airborne and unable to maneuver, Alec brought both his hands back to his side before stepping forward strongly while thrusting both his palms forward and delivering a double palm strike to Jaunes rib cage.
The blondes face twisted in pain as he was blasted away from his master. Alec stood up straight a second after Jaune hit the floor and slid to a stop, "tell me what brought this sudden fascination with Vernals passed on". Jaune wiped the spittle from his mouth and stood up to face his master once more, "It's the one thing vernal desires the most and why she's working so hard to get stronger" the blonde explained.
"And let me guess you think if you fulfill her desire that'll make her more loyal to you".
Vernals eye's widened cause she never thought of that possibility before. Would Jaune really do something so manipulative to her? The answer to that question was immediately answered when she thought back on how the boy she grew up with was like. Jaune glared at his master, "I'd never do something like that to her, but if you want to know why it's because it would give Vernal more of a reason to stay alive so she could go back to them if she wanted".
The brunette already knew Jaune wouldn't do something like that to her, and to see how much he cared about her that he'd be willing to do this for her despite the possibility that she could abandon them when she found her family. It made her face hot and her heart beat even quicker then before.
Alec let out a sigh "I should have know that your answer would be something stupid like that". Jaune frowned at his masters harsh words. "Fine, but just this once": Alec concluded. The two children were left shocked until Alec ordered them to get their stuff together and to drag Cinder to the bullhead if she refused. Jaune and Vernal agreed quickly and took off to complete their tasks, leaving Alec alone in the hall.
"So how much of that did you hear my queen"?
Salem materialized from a shadow within a small crevice by the closest door. "I heard it all" she answered calmly "Jaune means well but not all stories have a fairy tale ending I'm afraid".
"I could just tell them what I've uncovered on your orders".
Salem shook her head, "they must see the truth first hand, it's the only way to truly bond Vernal to our cause".
Alec bowed slightly "if that is your wish then I'll see it done".
uh oh, what exactly does Salem and Alec know about Vernals passed that they want them to see? Ah the mystery of someones passed is always fun to write. And Look at little Vernal crushing on our blonde hero.