The training grounds were alive with the sound of clashing steel and the faint echo of distant laughter. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting streaks of sunlight across the polished floor. The space was expansive, with targets, sparring rings, and equipment scattered around, but Weiss Schnee's focus was firmly fixed on the two figures in the center of the room.
She had begrudgingly followed Ruby Rose into the grounds, not particularly keen on watching the antics of others when she could be training herself. But what she found was far from what she expected. Team JNPR was there, though only two members were in the midst of an intense spar. On the sidelines, Nora Valkyrie sat cross-legged on the floor, munching on a snack, while Lie Ren leaned casually against a wall, his arms crossed as he observed the fight with a faint smile.
Weiss had seen Pyrrha Nikos fight before. The Invincible Girl. The reigning champion of Mistral's tournament circuit. No one could touch her. And yet now, in the middle of combat, Pyrrha looked... happy. There was an undeniable joy in her movements, a fluidity that spoke of someone reveling in the challenge rather than enduring it.
Her opponent was Jaune Arc, and Weiss found herself staring longer than she intended. Strange, she thought. He's nothing like I imagined. Jaune carried himself with a peculiar blend of confidence and humility. His movements were sharp, controlled, and deliberate, more reminiscent of a soldier or knight than the bumbling first-year Weiss had initially expected him to be. His posture spoke of training — years of it and his maturity was evident in every calculated step.
Self-righteous, but not naïve, Weiss mused. Assertive, capable, and surprisingly... handsome? She caught herself, shaking the thought away. His white streaked hair and composed demeanor made him stand out in a sea of new students, but that didn't mean she'd dwell on it. What really intrigued her was how Team JNPR operated.
Between Pyrrha's exceptional talent as a fighter, Jaune's leadership and unorthodox abilities, Ren's precision, and Nora's sheer force, they were formidable. Together, they were a perfect storm — a team that could overwhelm opponents with power and coordination. Weiss silently mulled over strategies that could exploit weaknesses, though she wasn't sure if any would work.
Ruby's sudden exclamation snapped Weiss out of her thoughts.
"Whoa!" Ruby's silver eyes were wide with wonder.
Weiss followed her gaze back to the sparring ring. Pyrrha's spear, Milo, glinted in the light as she thrust it toward Jaune, who bobbed and weaved with precision. His sword, Crocea Mors, was held firmly in both hands, the blade moving fluidly to deflect each strike.
Pyrrha grinned as she pivoted on her heel, spinning her spear in a wide arc. The movement was calculated, smooth, and too fast. She released her shield, Akoúo̱, sending it hurtling toward Jaune like a discus.
Jaune parried the flying shield with the flat of his blade, the clang of metal reverberating through the room. In the same motion, he stepped forward, thrusting his sword toward Pyrrha. She ducked under his attack, retrieving her shield with a deft motion and pivoting into a kick aimed at Jaune's side.
Jaune blocked the kick with his sword, using the flat edge to absorb the impact. Sparks flew as Pyrrha countered with a thrust, which Jaune parried again. Their exchange grew faster, more intense. Each strike, block, and counter was delivered with precision and power, the sparring partners locked in a dance of steel and skill.
Weiss's breath caught. They're incredible, she thought.
"Are they always this intense?" Weiss asked aloud, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
Nora grinned, not taking her eyes off the fight. "Yup! I think Pyrrha enjoys it more than Jaune does, though."
Ren nodded in agreement. "Jaune has awakened her fighting spirit."
Back in the ring, Pyrrha twirled her spear like a circular saw, the motion creating a blur of red as she pressed Jaune's defenses. But Jaune stood firm, his shield-arm raised to deflect the relentless onslaught.
"Not bad, as always, partner," Pyrrha said, her voice carrying over the clash of their weapons.
Jaune smirked, his pale gold aura faintly tinged with blue as it shimmered around him. "Going easy on me by not using your Semblance?"
"Are you sure I'm not?" Pyrrha teased, her grin widening.
"I'm sure," Jaune replied, his confidence unwavering.
Pyrrha's shield ricocheted off the ground, the ceiling, and then back toward Jaune's back. He spun, catching it between his hands before hurling it back to Pyrrha, who snagged it effortlessly.
Jaune took the opportunity to retrieve Crocea Mors with a smooth cartwheel, his aura crackling faintly as he landed.
The tempo of their sparring quickened, each movement precise and deliberate. Pyrrha's strikes grew sharper, more probing, while Jaune adapted seamlessly, switching between a two-handed stance and a sword-and-shield stance to match her varied attacks.
Weiss realized her hands were gripping the railing tightly. The fight was mesmerizing, a clash with the intention of pushing each other to their limits.
"They're so good!" Ruby exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels. Stars seemed to sparkle in her eyes as she watched the duel unfold.
Weiss couldn't help but agree. Too good, she thought, a pang of jealousy stirring within her.
Jaune feinted left, forcing Pyrrha to sidestep, only to pivot into a spinning back-kick aimed at her midsection. Pyrrha barely dodged, her grin never faltering.
With a burst of energy, she threw her shield again. This time, it bounced unpredictably off walls and the floor before zeroing in on Jaune. He caught it mid-air, this time with one hand, and using the momentum to hurl it back.
Their movements blurred together, an intricate dance of attack and defense that seemed less like sparring and more like an art form.
When Pyrrha's shield finally returned to her, Jaune raised Crocea Mors high, infusing it with his aura. The blade gleamed gold, the energy humming faintly as he charged.
Pyrrha met his charge head-on, their weapons colliding with a crackling sound that filled the air. Sparks flew from the impact, the sheer force of their clash shaking the floor beneath them.
For a brief moment, their faces were inches apart, their eyes locked. Pyrrha's emerald gaze gleamed with excitement, while Jaune's blue eyes held a calm determination.
"Not bad," Pyrrha said, her voice low but playful.
"Likewise," Jaune replied with a smirk.
Their weapons broke apart, and the two spun away from each other, standing at the ready. Both were breathing heavily now, but neither showed any sign of backing down.
On the sidelines, Weiss and Ruby watched in awestruck silence.
Incredible, Weiss thought, her earlier frustrations forgotten in the face of such raw talent and skill. For the first time, she felt a pang of admiration — not just for Pyrrha, but for Jaune as well.
Ruby, meanwhile, had her hands clasped together, her eyes sparkling. "They're so cool…" she murmured, barely able to contain her excitement.
The clash of weapons echoed through the training grounds as Jaune charged forward, his shield leading the way. The force of his impact met Pyrrha's defense with a resounding clang, their auras flaring as they locked briefly in place. Pyrrha broke away, her movements precise as she thrust her spear, Milo, toward Jaune in quick succession.
Jaune moved fluidly, using Crocea Mors to parry the attacks, each deflection sparking as steel met steel. Pyrrha suddenly stepped back, slamming her shield, Akoúo̱, to the floor. It ricocheted upward toward Jaune's head, but he ducked under it with practiced ease. Pyrrha didn't stop as her spear shifted mid-motion, transforming into a rifle. With a cool, calculating motion, she fired a series of shots at Jaune.
The glowing bullets streaked toward him, but Jaune's sword moved like a blur, deflecting each shot with the flat edge of his blade. The rifle's sharp cracks reverberated in the air, matched by the swift hum of Jaune's counterattack. Infusing his sword with aura, he unleashed a crescent-shaped slash, the glowing wave of energy hurtling toward Pyrrha.
Pyrrha spun her shield into place, blocking the first wave before meeting the second with her own aura-infused strike. The two attacks collided, dissipating in a burst of light and sending a ripple of force through the room.
"Someone's been practicing," Pyrrha teased, a grin tugging at her lips.
Jaune matched her expression, his stance relaxed but ready. "You're the one going easy on me," he countered, his voice laced with humor.
Weiss watched intently, noting the way Jaune's aura glowed faintly as he took a brief, controlled breath. Aura Amp, she thought. His Semblance not only allowed him to enhance the abilities of others but to heal himself and replenish his aura with astonishing speed. If given even a moment to recover, Jaune could outlast nearly anyone on the battlefield.
Pyrrha, however, wasn't about to let him rest. She darted forward in a burst of speed, her spear reverting to its melee form. She launched a seamless combo of precise slashes, spear thrusts, and rapid close-range rifle shots that forced Jaune into a defensive dance.
Jaune dodged most of the attacks, weaving and sidestepping with incredible precision. But as Pyrrha thrust the butt of her rifle toward him, she fired point-blank. Jaune barely avoided the shot, the force brushing past him as he spun away.
Pyrrha grinned, shifting her strategy. Using her Semblance, she extended her polarity to hold Jaune in place. His sword arm wavered, and for a moment, it seemed she had him.
But Jaune's aura flared brightly, creating a sudden shockwave that rippled outward. The energy disrupted Pyrrha's concentration, stunning her momentarily. He followed up with a decisive strike, forcing her to block and recover her footing.
Their weapons clashed again, locking them into close combat. Their faces were inches apart, beads of sweat glistening on their brows. Pyrrha's emerald eyes gleamed with challenge, while Jaune's cool blue gaze was steady and unwavering. Sparks flew as their blades ground against each other, neither willing to yield.
Weiss gulped, her throat dry. Her eyes darted to the glistening sweat trailing down Pyrrha's neck, then to Jaune's tense, muscular frame. She barely noticed the heated flush creeping up her cheeks until a sidelong glance caught her attention.
Nora was staring at her with a knowing grin, one eyebrow arched mischievously. Her expression seemed to say, Greedy much?
Weiss coughed, tearing her gaze away and pretending to be fascinated by the far corner of the training ground.
"Did I miss anything?" Ruby asked excitedly, returning from fiddling with her weapon.
"No," Weiss replied stiffly, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the floor.
She missed Jaune and Pyrrha breaking their stalemate and moving into another exchange of quick slashes and thrusts. The air was alive with motion as they pushed each other, both combatants grinning despite their labored breathing.
Suddenly, the sparring session came to an abrupt halt.
"Enough!" Glynda Goodwitch's authoritative voice rang out as she strode into the training grounds.
Both Jaune and Pyrrha stepped back immediately, lowering their weapons. Glynda's eyes scanned the room, noting the gouges and scorch marks on the walls and floor. With a wave of her riding crop, her Semblance activated, telekinetically repairing the damaged training ground.
"An impressive display," Glynda said, her tone neutral but firm. "But try not to destroy the facilities next time."
"Apologies, Professor," Pyrrha said, straightening and sheathing Milo.
"Sorry," Jaune echoed, lowering his head slightly in respect.
Glynda turned her attention to Jaune. "Mr. Arc, Headmaster Ozpin wishes to see you in his office. Please don't keep him waiting."
Jaune nodded, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "Understood."
As Glynda left, Pyrrha smirked and glanced at Jaune. "Not bad, partner."
Jaune chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You weren't so bad yourself."
He reached for a towel and began wiping the sweat from his face and neck. Pyrrha did the same, the exertion of their spar clear in their damp hair and flushed faces.
Weiss found herself staring again, her gaze flitting between Jaune's broad shoulders and Pyrrha's toned arms. Both of them radiated strength and discipline in a way that was… distracting.
A sharp nudge to her side snapped Weiss out of her thoughts.
"See something you like, Ice Queen?" Nora teased, her grin widening as Weiss stammered.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Weiss hissed, her face burning as she turned away sharply.
Nora simply laughed, exchanging a knowing look with Ren, who merely shook his head in mild amusement.
Jaune slung Crocea Mors over his shoulder, giving Pyrrha a quick nod before heading toward the door.
"Good spar," he said over his shoulder.
"Anytime," Pyrrha replied with a smile, watching him leave.
As the door closed behind him, Weiss couldn't help but steal another glance at Pyrrha, who stood tall and composed, her muscles still taut from the intense session.
"Greedy and wanting like a princess indeed," Nora muttered under her breath, earning a sharp glare from Weiss.
Ruby, oblivious to the exchange, was busy reenacting the fight with exaggerated sound effects, much to Pyrrha's amusement.
The training ground began to settle, but the lingering energy from the sparring match left an impression on everyone. For Weiss, it was a moment she wouldn't soon forget — though she'd never admit it aloud considering where she was staring at.