As soon as Jaune's head hit the pillow, he was out like a light and slept like the dead. It had been a long day filled with fighting and meeting new people, so it wasn't a surprise that he felt pretty exhausted by the end of it. But he wasn't someone that stayed down for long and by the early hours of the morning, as the sun was only just beginning its ascent above the distant horizon, he was up and getting dressed, doing his best to keep quiet so he didn't disturb his teammates.

He was largely a creature of habit and back home, he woke at the crack of dawn every morning. It was a habit instilled by his teacher, the Huntsman that had trained him, and even though he was now hundreds of miles from home, his teachings were still fresh on his mind.

A strong body was a strong foundation. Without a strong foundation, you cannot grow to your full potential. Like a building, if it did not have a solid base, it would topple over in the first gust of wind or minor earth shake.

It was a lesson Jaune took to heart.

Pulling on his shoes, he crept over to the door, shooting one final look at his team. Nora was sprawled haphazardly, legs tangled in her blanket with a pillow cradled against her chest. Blake was snuggled up like a little human burrito, wrapped in her blanket up to her chin. Weiss looked the most natural, asleep on her back, soft breaths escaping her as her chest rose and fell.

This was his team for the next four years, and he was their leader. He wasn't about to let them down.

A fine mist hung in the air as he left the dorms. The air was crisp, the chill of night lingering. Rubbing his hands together, Jaune blew into them to regain some feeling in his fingers before stretching his limbs, warming up. Birdsong surrounded him as he began his jog, his feet carrying him across campus. While he'd walked around the school and checked out many of the main areas, Beacon was huge. Feet pounding against the stone walkway, he sped up until he reached a good speed, and let his legs take him where they will.

Despite the early hour, he wasn't the only person awake. As he ran, Jaune sighted other students getting in early morning workouts, second years, third years, fourth years. Jogging as he was, or stretching out. A group of girls – five in total – had some mats laid out and were doing yoga, their limber body's stretching into different poses as he passed them by. A pair of guys were doing sprinting drills, dropping down to their hands and executing a series of push ups before springing back up and sprinting back the way they came.

Anywhere else, this may have been an odd appearance but this was a Huntsman Academy. Keeping your body in tiptop shape was just as important as the classes they were about to take, and it was up to the students to look after themselves and build up their strength, speed and flexibility, among other things.

But a Huntsman Academy was much more than just learning to fight the creatures of Grimm.

Huntsmen were a valuable commodity in any line of work. While most people thought about Grimm slaying as their primary form of employment, that just wasn't the reality. While it was an important part of their skill set, it wasn't the only job they could fulfill. Law enforcement was a large recruiter of Huntsmen, not just those that graduated from one of the Big Four schools, either. If you'd attended a preparatory school or even just had your aura unlocked and had basic training, they were always on the lookout for strong individuals to fill their ranks. Private security, bodyguard agencies, the city guard – all looking for Huntsmen.

But they weren't the only ones.

Couriers, pilots, tutors, surveyors, miners, sea captains, even academic pursuits like archaeology, geology and more – anything and everything, really. Remnant was dangerous. If a job took you outside of the walls of a kingdom, having a Huntsman on hand was a boon and they were paid handsomely for it.

Because of this, a Huntsman Academy taught you much more than just how to swing a sword. You had your mandatory classes, of course – Combat Class, Grimm Studies, Dust Usage, Survival and Navigation, Weapon Crafting and Upkeep, Stealth and Security – things that all Huntsmen needed but then you had what people would call the mundane subjects; Math, Language, History, Science and all of their subclasses like chemistry, physics, calculus and more. They did their best to create a well rounded warrior, equipped to join any professional they should choose.

Or so the Beacon Academy brochure claimed.

They couldn't cover everything, of course. If you wanted to become a doctor, you still needed to attend medical school. If you wished to be a lawyer, then law school was a must. But if you were a graduate of Beacon, Haven, Shade or Atlas, it opened certain doors that would otherwise be closed to most.

Jaune didn't have such lofty ambitions. He wished to be a Huntsman so he could protect people. Be they from Grimm or people, it didn't matter. Growing up on stories of his great-great grandfather, it had always been his dream but after the attack on his village as a child, and the unlocking of his aura and semblance, it became more than that.

A burning drive. To be the shield that protects. So no family need know the loss of a loved one, not if he could help it.

And ultimately, selfishly, to keep his family safe.

The screams of his sister's were burned into his memory, not something he would ever forget. They were so fresh in his mind, even all these years later that he had to remind himself constantly that they were all safe and well. The Grimm had been stopped.

But it pushed him to improve, the perfect motivation.

Jaune ran until his legs burned from the effort, his lungs and throat stung and his heart pounded in his chest. He was drenched in sweat, his shirt sticking to his chest and back as he completed one final lap of the school. The sun was higher in the sky now, casting a luminous glow around the towering spires, long shadows being driven away as day approached.

He made his way back to the dorm, panting as he jogged up the stairs and didn't stop until he made it to his door. Swiping his scroll, he stepped inside – and recoiled as Nora practically leapt at him, face inches from his own.

"Morning~!" she chirped, beaming.

"Uh – hey, morning," he replied.

She looked him up and down, nose wrinkling as she gave him a sniff.

"Phew! You stink," Nora leaned away, waving her hand back and forth. "Have you been training?"

Jaune scowled good naturedly. "I just went for a run – and I don't stink."

"Nah uh – you reek," she complained, pulling an exaggerated face.

"This is the scent of a hard working man," he countered, pushing by her. He noticed that Blake and Weiss were still in bed. He checked the time. He was a little surprised that Nora of the three was the first one awake. "Think I'll get in trouble if I take the first shower?"

Nora snorted. "I think it would be a relief."

Only the first day and he was already breaking the rules Weiss laid out.

Collecting his uniform, Jaune entered the bathroom and had a quick but thorough shower, vigorously scrubbing his body and hair before toweling off and getting dressed. Eyeing his hair, he tried his best to make it neat and tidy but as usual, it refused all attempts at being tamed. As soon as it dried, it went where it wanted.

Jaune sighed.

It was worth a shot.

"That's much better," Nora grinned cheekily. "My turn~!"

Weiss jerked up in her bed when Nora slammed the bathroom door shut, blinking blearily. "Wha…?"

"Morning," Jaune greeted, dumping his dirty clothes in the hamper. He needed to buy some extra clothes quickly or he'd run out of clean wear in no time. "I know I'm meant to go last but everyone was asleep and I was covered in sweat."

Weiss stared at him dumbly, her ordinarily pristine hair a mess. Even half asleep and unkempt, she was still as gorgeous as could be.

"Huh?"

"I've already showered," he explained further, trying not to smile.

Was it possible that Weiss wasn't a morning person? That was… kinda cute, he thought. He'd only known her a day but she struck him as a very upright, straight forward person who liked to present only the best side of herself. Knowing that such an admirable girl had trouble getting out of bed was a treat.

It took a moment for his words to click, her brow furrowing.

"You've already…" she rubbed at her eyes, a massive yawn escaping her mouth. "Oh. Um. Okay."

She looked adorable.

Behind her, Jaune saw Blake begin to rouse, her bow a little lopsided as she sat up, stretching. Her yukata had loosened in the night, a wide expanse of creamy, soft skin revealed as the shoulder drooped down her arm. A little too far, Jaune quickly averting his eyes as he caught the swell of her breasts.

"Right, well – see you guys at breakfast?" he said quickly, rushing over to the door.

He didn't wait for a reply, making a hasty retreat. That was a close one.

Living with three pretty girls was going to be a challenge.

When he arrived at the dining hall, there were a number of other students already eating. Staff were setting food out on a buffet table; everything from bacon and eggs, pancakes and waffles, sausages, hash browns, toast, a fully stocked salad bar, endless fruit from apples to oranges to bananas, a varied selection of cereal with large jugs of chilled milk and more. They had everything he could ever want.

Jaune glanced up and down the long table, undecided.

"Move it," a gruff voice said from behind, and then Jaune felt someone strong shove him in the back. Jaune stumbled forward a few steps before regaining his balance, turning to see that large guy from the airship and initiation.

Jaune was sure Professor Goodwitch had called him Cardin.

He shoved aside another person, a girl with long bunny ears and brown hair before shoveling piles of bacon and eggs onto his plate. The faunus girl almost fell over but managed to catch herself on the table, her expression timid.

"Are you okay?" Jaune asked as Cardin continued down the table, grabbing a handful of toast and throwing it on his tray.

She looked at him, giving him a nervous smile. Despite her wary expression, it did little to diminish her attractive looks. Pale skinned, her eyes were like warm chocolate, her hair combed perfectly straight. Bangs hung down across her eyes, almost like a shield. She was short but her ears made her appear much taller than she actually was, standing straight up from her head. "Ah – Yeah, I'm fine. I just…"

"Some people can be jerks, huh?"

Her eyes darted between Jaune and Cardin's retreating back.

"Yeah."

"I'm Jaune, by the way," he offered, holding out a hand. "Jaune Arc."

She hesitated for a brief instant before taking his hand. "Velvet Scarlatina. I'm in my second year."

Strangers were friends you hadn't met yet, isn't that what his mother liked to say?

"I'm a first year," he said. "Though that was probably obvious."

They shared some small talk as they grabbed some plates and began filling them with food. Jaune went with toast and peanut butter, an apple and a bowl of cereal; some mixture of oats and nuts. Velvet made up a salad, and also grabbed an apple, and an orange.

"Any tips for a first year?" he asked as he scanned the room. A flash of crimson caught his eye, and on the far side of the hall, he spotted Pyrrha sitting with Ren.

"Professor Port can be a little weird but he knows his stuff," Velvet said. "Doctor Oobleck can be really hard to understand, so make sure to pay attention. Don't mess with Professor Goodwitch."

Yeah, Jaune had figured out that last one just by looking at her.

"What about the Headmaster," he asked. "He seemed a bit… off."

Velvet nodded. "I haven't really spoken to him very often but a lot of the older students say he is really eccentric."

"He must be pretty strong, though, right? Since he is Headmaster."

Velvet shrugged. "I would assume so, but I've never seen him fight. Professor Goodwitch really respects him, though. A lot."

She suddenly perked up, turning. "My team just arrived. Um – it was nice meeting you, Jaune."

"Ah, yeah – it was nice meeting you too," he said as she scurried away. Jaune watched her leave, wondering how she'd known her team had arrived when they'd been facing the other way.

Maybe she had heard them? She did have pretty big ears.

Jaune filed that away in his mind as he made his way over to the far side of the room, nodding as Ren spotted him first.

"Hey Ren," he greeted. "Hey Pyrrha. Mind if I sit with you guys?"

"Please," Ren said, patting the table. Slipping in next to Pyrrha, he shot her smile, one she returned.

"How's everything?" he asked, taking a bite out of his toast. It crunched loudly, the peanut butter smooth and silky. "Looking forward to classes?"

"Good," Pyrrha said. "We're just waiting for our schedules to come through on our scrolls. I must admit, I am rather excited."

Almost as if she'd spoken it into existence, their scrolls pinged at that very moment. Pulling out the device, Jaune opened it up and glanced through it, seeing his timetable laid out neatly.

After breakfast, they had three classes and then lunch at twelve-thirty, followed by three more classes, and then an hour dedicated to self-study or sparring. Dinner was served at six and lasted until midnight, mostly for the older students who went on missions and often returned late.

There were six periods but sometimes you had a double class, meaning you might only have five or four separate classes in a day. Their first class of the day was Grimm Studies, a double, followed by Math. After lunch, he had History, Dust Usage, and then finished up with Combat Class.

Jaune was confident in his Math skills, and in his Grimm knowledge – at least, he was when dealing with the Grimm in and around his hometown and the wider Vale region. History was never his greatest subject, though – and Dust? Well, he knew how to activate it and not much else. Jaune knew that some people could do incredible things with Dust, magical things but he didn't have the first clue on how to do anything like that.

And then Combat Class – he was fairly confident in his abilities, but he had seen how skilled the others had been. Ruby's incredible speed, Yang and Nora's outlandish strength, Pyrrha's supreme skill. Against Grimm, Jaune had no doubts about about how well he could handle himself – but against other human opponents? Jaune hadn't really fought against anyone other than his teacher. His village wasn't exactly a hotbed of viable sparring partners.

He was lacking in experience on that front.

And apparently Pyrrha was some big shot, four time champion? He'd have to give it his all and be at his very best if he was to go against someone like her.

"How has Nora been?" Ren asked, picking at his oatmeal. It was difficult to tell since Ren's voice was even, his face expressionless but Jaune thought he detected a hint of worry.

"She's been great," Jaune said warmly. "She should be here soon, she was just getting in the shower when I left."

Ren nodded slowly. "And she hasn't been… too much?"

He was worried. Nora had said that she'd been planning to team up with her friend and Jaune doubted it had been any different for Ren. They were close, that was more than apparent to him – and Nora was certainly a personality that could ruffle a few feathers if they couldn't handle someone that feely touched, spoke their mind about anything and everything and was a little silly.

But Jaune was more than used to things like that. Eight children in a single house was chaos personified.

Jaune shook his head. "Nah, she's been cool. It's only been a day but she's been getting along well with Blake and Weiss," they were both more serious sorts, and yet they didn't appear too offended by Nora's antics. "You guys were trying to team up, right? She mentioned it."

Ren nodded. "We were – but our trajectories were far apart, and I practically ran into Pyrrha as soon as I landed."

"Nora said she was making sloth calls," Jaune informed him. "But I don't know if that is how a sloth is meant to sound. It sounded more like a bird than anything but I've never seen a sloth before, let alone heard one."

That got a grin out of him, Ren chuckling softly. "I don't think that is how sloths sound either."

"So you two basically landed together?" Jaune looked at Pyrrha. "How'd you guys end up with that Hydra chasing you?"

Pyrrha grimaced. "That was my fault. I led us into a cave which connected to a series of tunnels. We ended up on the other side of the ravine and encountered that Grimm nesting within the greater ruins. I did not expect such a powerful creature so close to Beacon."

That was a little surprising. You'd think being so close to a Huntsman academy, most of the older, more dangerous Grimm would have been exterminated long ago. Vale was known for its safety especially because of its prime location, the mountains and shallow waters making it difficult for the creatures of darkness to come through any other way than the valley where Jaune had arrived.

That Hydra had obviously been there for a long time, though.

"It's not your fault. I agreed with your course of action," Ren countered. "Before I could use my semblance to sneak by it, it noticed us and began its chase. Thankfully we didn't have to run very far for help."

"Well, you guys fought well – especially you," Jaune nodded at Pyrrha. "I don't know how you were doing that thing with your javelin but it was really impressive. I guess that's why you're a four time champion, huh?"

Jaune missed the subtle way her face tensed because Nora chose that moment to glomp him from behind, almost mashing his face into his bowl of cereal.

"My leader~!" she crooned, balancing a tray precariously in one hand as she squirmed against his back. Two very large, soft somethings rubbed against him, her uniform jacket still clearly unbuttoned. "You found Renny~!"

"I did," he managed to get out before she eased up, skipping around the table to sit next to her childhood friend. "Are Weiss and Blake coming?"

Nora rolled her eyes as plopped down, setting her breakfast tray in front of her. It was piled high with bacon and eggs. "They were arguing again when I left. About something stupid."

Jaune felt his mood dampen.

Whatever the deal was between those two, they needed to sort it out. They were partners and teammates, and one day they would be going on dangerous missions together. But Jaune had a feeling that this was something that was going to carry on for a while yet.

"Hiya~!" a familiar, young voice chirped and then Ruby appeared, beaming as she slipped into the chair next to him. A stack of pancakes threatened to topple over, and the carton of milk she'd selected did so, landing on its side.

"Morning," he said, giving her a smile.

"Yo, sis – wait up," Yang trailed behind, grinning widely as she spotted everyone. "Hey, the whole gang is here."

"Almost," Jaune corrected.

Yang sat down next to her sister, thumping her tray on the table. Like Ruby, she'd gone for pancakes but she'd also grabbed some fruit.

"I thought Ice Queen would be here, bright and early. She seems like the dorky teacher's pet type."

Nora laughed. "She does, doesn't she?"

He really hoped Weiss never heard them speaking like this about her because he knew she wouldn't take it very well. He wasn't sure but Weiss Schnee seemed like the type of girl that could hold onto a grudge for a very long time, even if it was something as small as this.

"Don't be so mean, Yang," Ruby pouted.

Yang scoffed. "Have you forgotten that she yelled at you for nearly thirty minutes over an accident? Anyone could have bumped into her dumb suitcases. Should she really be transporting Dust that way?"

Ruby pouted harder, her face beyond cute. Ruby had the type of cheeks that made you want to reach out and pinch them. "Even so – it was my fault, right?"

"Bah," Yang waved her hand. "You're way too nice."

Weiss and Blake turned up together, and not in a good mood. The latter stormed around the table and sat down, her broiled salmon almost sliding off her plate as she slammed it down in a huff. Weiss eyed the table critically before choosing to sit beside Pyrrha, giving the crimson haired girl a wide smile.

"Good morning, Pyrrha," she greeted.

Pyrrha eyed her warily. "Um – good morning."

Weiss had chosen a fruit salad, and a coffee. She appeared much more awake now, washed and groomed, her sidetail set perfectly in place. Jaune also noticed that half of her coffee was already gone.

Caffeine was her friend, then. Jaune made a note of that. It may save him in the future.

Blake glared at her partner across the table but Weiss completely ignored her, popping a grape into her mouth.

Breakfast was a lot more awkward after that.

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