The faint hum of Jaune's glowing hands filled the air as he sat in a hidden room somewhere deep within Beacon Academy. The room was dimly lit, with soft light emanating from the glow of aura swirling around his fingertips. Across from him, Amber reclined slightly, her expression a mix of weariness and quiet relief as Jaune continued to channel his aura into her. Like her soul was being patched up by Jaune slowly.

Amber broke the silence first. "Do you ever run out of aura?"

Jaune glanced up briefly, his blue eyes meeting hers before returning to his work. "I do… eventually. But I can usually take it back."

Amber tilted her head, studying him intently. "Take it back? How does that even work?"

Jaune smiled faintly. "It's part of my Semblance. I can give and take aura, heal others, or even boost them. It's… efficient."

Amber let out a soft chuckle, her voice warm and tinged with gratitude. "Efficient? That's an understatement. I feel like I've been given a second chance, thanks to you."

Jaune shook his head, his tone gentle. "I'm just glad to hear you're doing better."

Amber's gaze lingered on his face, her eyes tracing the sharp line of his jaw, the white streaks that stood out against his blonde hair, and the intensity of his focus. There was something steady and reassuring about him, a quiet strength that felt both grounding and comforting.

"They must have dragged you entirely to this side of things," Amber said suddenly, her voice contemplative. "You must be surprised, learning that fairy tales are real."

Jaune paused, his hands still glowing as he continued his work. His lips twitched slightly as he replied, "On the contrary… I already knew. This isn't my first time meeting people from fairy tales."

The admission slipped out before he could stop himself. Jaune stiffened, his eyes darting at Amber, who raised a curious brow at his words.

"I, uh…" he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, his glow faltering momentarily. "I wasn't supposed to say that. Can you keep it quiet?"

Amber's lips curved into a teasing smile, though her gaze was kind. "Your secret's safe with me, Jaune. I promise."

Jaune sighed in relief. "Thanks." He quickly refocused, letting the golden glow of his aura intensify as he steadied his hands.

Amber studied him again, her voice soft and reflective. "Your soul… it feels warm. Like a warm embrace. Like sitting under a tree on a perfect day. It's… very kind."

Jaune's expression softened at her words, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. "I appreciate that. If you ever need help… if you want to get away from all this, just say so. I'll help you."

Amber's eyes widened slightly. "Get away? I thought you were with Ozpin."

Jaune shook his head, his gaze distant. "I'm… undecided."

"Undecided?" Amber tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.

"I think Headmaster Ozpin has good intentions," Jaune admitted. "But the way he uses people like chess pieces… for the 'greater good.' It doesn't always mean it's good for the people involved. No one should be forced to do anything, just because they deemed it necessary. The individual comes first."

Amber giggled lightly, a sound that brought a bit of life back to her tired features. "You sure know how to comfort a girl."

Jaune chuckled. "Not my strongest skill, but I try."

The glow around his hands finally dimmed as he pulled them away. Amber's eyes flickered brightly, a faint blaze of her maiden powers momentarily igniting in her eyes before settling back into a calm shimmer.

"All done," Jaune said, standing and brushing his hands against his pants. "Take care, alright? And if you ever need anything… call me."

Amber nodded, her expression sincere. "Thank you, Jaune."

As Jaune turned to leave, Amber watched him go, a thoughtful look lingering on her face. When the door shut softly behind him, she allowed herself a moment to exhale deeply, feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

Jaune stepped into the corridor, immediately greeted by the sight of three figures waiting for him. Headmaster Ozpin, Glynda Goodwitch, and General James Ironwood. Their imposing presence cast a heavy shadow over the quiet space.

Ozpin's steady gaze met Jaune's as he asked, "Is it done?"

Jaune nodded. "It is."

"Then I'll start asking who attacked her, Ozpin. And good work, Student Arc," General Ironwood said, entering the room.

Glynda motioned for him to follow her, her usual no-nonsense demeanor leading the way as they exited the hidden building. Jaune matched her pace, his hands slipping into his pockets as they walked.

As they moved through the quiet halls of Beacon, Glynda's voice broke the silence. "Team JNPR will have an assignment soon. I will be personally supervising it."

Jaune glanced at her and nodded. "Understood."

Glynda continued, her tone softer but still firm. "You've proven yourself to be a capable leader, Arc. Team JNPR has exceeded expectations. Though I do wish your team would stay out of trouble."

A faint smile tugged at Jaune's lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I can't promise that, Professor."

Glynda sighed, her expression exasperated. "It's not your place yet, Jaune. You're still students."

Jaune's brows furrowed slightly. "If it's not our place to protect people, then whose is it?"

Glynda's lips pressed into a thin line, choosing to ignore his challenge. Instead, she shifted the subject. "Enjoy the festival for a while, Mr. Arc. You've earned it."

Jaune said nothing, his expression unreadable as they reached the courtyard. The bustling activity of Beacon's preparations for the festival loomed ahead, the cheerful atmosphere contrasting with the weight in his chest.

As Glynda turned to leave, Jaune lingered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the bustling campus. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the faint sound of laughter and music. He exhaled deeply, squaring his shoulders as he turned and began walking back toward the dorms.

As Jaune adjusted his uniform as he walked through the dimly lit pathways of Beacon Academy. The air was cool and crisp. He'd intended to head straight back to the dorms after his meeting with Amber, but a familiar, sing-song voice broke through the quiet.

"Jaune! Hey, Jaune!"

He turned just in time to see Nora struggling with a precarious stack of books, her energetic strides making the teetering pile wobble dangerously.

"Nora?" Jaune called out, rushing forward as the topmost book slid free. He caught it just before it hit the ground.

"Thanks!" Nora grinned at him, completely unfazed by her near disaster. "Wouldn't want to damage these bad boys. Ren would have my head!"

Jaune smirked as he balanced the book back on top of her stack. "And where exactly did you get all these? Are you starting a library?"

"Oh, these?" Nora shifted the pile slightly. "Ren borrowed them earlier to study for some weird class thing, but then I saw them sitting around and figured, Nora, you're the responsible teammate who should return these to the library!" She stood taller, her tone mockingly noble. "Plus, I didn't have anything else to do."

Jaune chuckled, adjusting the weight of the books she handed him. "Well, you've got your responsible teammate act down, but I don't think responsible teammates drop books all over the place. The librarian would punish Ren… you know?"

"Touché!" Nora stuck out her tongue and resumed her bounce-like walk, her usual energy radiating through every step. "So, Jaune, you'll never guess the dream I had last night."

"Knowing you? It probably involved pancakes."

"Nope! Not this time, Mister!" Nora said with a mischievous grin. "It was about Glynda Goodwitch scolding me. Something about breaking the cafeteria tables again. No idea what that's about, by the way."

"I'm sure you don't," Jaune said dryly, earning a giggle from Nora.

"But wait, it gets better!" Nora said, her voice rising with excitement. "So Glynda's yelling at me, and then, boom! The floor opens up, and I'm riding this giant robot! It fires ketchup and meatballs at everything! There's chaos, there's food everywhere, and I'm just there screaming, 'This is the best day ever!'"

Jaune burst out laughing. "That… is quite possibly the strangest dream I've ever heard. Ketchup and meatballs? Really?"

"What can I say? I have refined tastes," Nora said, flipping her hair dramatically before grinning at him.

Her grin faded slightly, though, as a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Hey, Jaune?"

He glanced at her, surprised by the sudden seriousness in her tone. "Yeah?"

Nora slowed her pace, adjusting the books in her arms. "I was really worried when you and Ren went after those thugs. I mean, it was kickass, sure, but… I couldn't help but think, What if something happened to you guys?"

Jaune stopped in his tracks, his expression softening. "Nora—"

"I mean it," she interrupted, turning to face him. Her usual playful demeanor was replaced with something earnest, almost vulnerable. "Ren and I… we're orphans. We've seen what it's like to lose people, Jaune. That's why we came here. To become Huntsmen. To protect people, yeah, but also to protect each other. And when I saw you guys just… running off like that in the broadcast, I couldn't stop thinking, What if I lost you guys?"

Jaune's throat tightened at her words. He hadn't considered how his actions might have affected the others… especially Nora of all people, who masked so much of her true self behind her bubbly exterior.

"I'm sorry, Nora," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to worry you. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you. To any of us. Not as long as I'm still breathing."

Nora frowned and poked him hard in the chest. "Don't say that! You're not allowed to die for us, Jaune. That's not how this works. We're a team, okay? We fight together to the bitter end. We're family, you know?"

Jaune blinked, taken aback by the force of her words. Then he smiled, a soft, genuine smile. "Yeah, we are, aren't we?"

Nora's face turned slightly pink, and she huffed. "Okay, maybe that sounded a little cheesy, but I don't care. It's the truth."

"Cheesy or not, it means a lot to me," Jaune said. Then, with a teasing glint in his eye, he added, "Although I didn't expect you to get all sentimental on me, Nora. I thought that was Pyrrha's job."

Nora's embarrassment deepened, but she grinned mischievously. "Oh, Pyrrha's got her own ways of being sentimental. Though I'm pretty sure she wouldn't call you a brother."

Jaune tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"

Nora stopped walking and gave him a look. One of those long, comically exasperated stares that seemed to scream, You dense, oblivious fool. She wiggled her arms and sighed dramatically. "Jaune… you really have no idea, do you?"

"No idea about what?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.

"About Pyrrha, you dork!" Nora threw her hands up. "How can you do everything you did at the dance and then turn around and act like this?"

Jaune frowned, racking his brain for some clue as to what she meant. "I… don't get it. What did I do?"

Nora shook her head, clearly trying to rein in her frustration. "Never mind," she said, waving him off. "Just… think about it, okay?"

Jaune stared at her for a moment, still baffled, but decided not to press further. Instead, he adjusted the books in his arms and smiled. "Alright, fine. I'll think about it. But only after I make sure these books make it back to the library in one piece."

Nora rolled her eyes, but smiled back. "Deal. Now hurry up, fearless leader. We've got books to deliver!"

The two of them resumed their walk, the their earlier conversation fading as Nora launched into another of her wild, nonsensical stories.