Jaune returned to the group with a somber expression, his steps heavy as he approached the others gathered in the shade of a tree. Ruby perked up at the sight of him, but her excitement quickly faded as she caught sight of his expression.

Jaune told them what he learned from the Headmaster.

"So, it's a bust, huh?" Ruby groaned, slumping back against the tree. "Ugh, to think Yang's mom would actually be here, and we're still stuck."

"Well, if your uncle and Yang's mom are already involved, that should be enough to keep things under control… at least for now," Weiss said, her tone steady but with a hint of doubt.

Ruby sighed. "Maybe, but it doesn't really stop me from worrying. What if something goes wrong? What if they need backup?"

"It does lessen some of our immediate concerns," Ren said, his calm voice carrying a tinge of unease. "But it also makes the situation more troubling. If they're hesitating to act, that means the stakes are even higher than we imagined."

Weiss crossed her arms and nodded in agreement. "They'd go as far as holding their own people hostage. It's unacceptable. But it also shows just how fragile this situation is."

Pyrrha's emerald eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful. "It makes any action against them even riskier. They know Blake won't leave, and Yang will try to support her. Any outside intervention might escalate things and endanger lives."

Nora groaned dramatically, clutching her head. "All this thinking is giving me a headache. I need sugar to get my brain working!"

Weiss shot her a warning glare. "Nora, this is serious. Any reckless action now could result in a disaster. Air and sea routes are impossible to use without drawing attention, and sneaking in would be just as dangerous. If we're discovered, the blood of countless innocents could be on our hands."

"I know," Ruby muttered, her voice small but determined. "I just hate sitting here, doing nothing. Yang's mom's Semblance lets her teleport, right? Maybe we can use that to get to them directly."

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Ruby, think this through. Blake is stubborn as a mule. She won't leave Menagerie easily. And Yang? She wouldn't abandon Blake."

"Isn't Yang being there already considered outside intervention?" Nora asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

Ren tilted his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps, but it's also a warning to the other kingdoms. The fact that Yang is there could be used as leverage. Even if she's not captured, she's a hostage in the eyes of White Fang leaders."

Ruby's frustration bubbled over. "But Yang isn't even a faunus! She's just a student! This whole thing is ridiculous!"

"She might be," Weiss said, her voice softening, "but she's also a student of Beacon Academy. That makes her presence significant enough to justify caution. And there's another factor to consider." Weiss hesitated, biting her lip before continuing. "While I was in Atlas, I… looked into Blake's background."

The group fell silent, their attention fixed on Weiss.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

Weiss exhaled deeply, then said, "Blake… is kinda like the princess of Menagerie."

"What?!" Nora's jaw dropped. "Blakey is a princess?!"

"That explains her stubbornness and bull-headed way of doing things," Ren mused, stroking his chin like a sage.

Weiss nodded. "Her ties to Menagerie's leadership make her more than just a student. And Yang's association with her makes her a valuable piece in this game. That's why we need to be cautious."

Ruby's face twisted with conflict. "So… we just do nothing?"

Weiss placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "For now, yes. As much as I hate to admit it, this isn't something we can fix on our own. I want to help Yang and Blake as much as you do, but we'd only make things worse if we rushed in blindly. We have to trust the professionals."

Ruby looked down, her silver eyes clouded. "But… what if they can't do it? What if they need us?"

Weiss's voice softened further. "Isn't your uncle one of the strongest Huntsmen out there?"

Ruby hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, he is."

"Then trust him," Weiss said, her tone firm yet kind. "And from what Jaune told us, Yang's mom is no pushover, either."

All eyes turned to Jaune, who had been quiet until now. He nodded, his expression serious. "She's strong. If we hadn't caught her off guard when we first met, it would've been a tough fight."

"See?" Weiss said, turning back to Ruby. "They'll be fine. But yes, it's frustrating not being able to do anything."

Nora broke the tension with her usual cheer. "Aww, Weiss Cream, you're so sweet it's hurting my teeth!"

Weiss whipped around, her cheeks burning. "I am not sweet!"

Nora grinned mischievously as Pyrrha covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

Ruby stood abruptly, determination flashing in her silver eyes. "Fine! If we're just going to sit here, then I'm gonna find Uncle Qrow and bug him until he saves Blake and Yang!"

Before anyone could respond, Ruby vanished in a flurry of rose petals, leaving the group stunned.

Weiss sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose again. "Let's just hope she doesn't make things worse."

With Ruby rushing off and Weiss following after her, Jaune had declined Ren's invitation to join them in the cafeteria. Instead, he wandered to an isolated section of the dockside cliffs, far away from the chatter of students or the watchful eyes of the teachers. It wasn't like he had a solution. Not yet, at least.

"Menagerie," he muttered to himself, staring out at the Vale skyline in the distance.

He knew what Ruby felt. If it had been him in their place, if Pyrrha or Nora or Ren were trapped somewhere. He would be pacing, anxious, searching for answers just like her. And unlike the others, Jaune had options. Well, almost.

If he'd been to Menagerie before, things would have been simpler. The words his master had taught him, those strange phrases that let him travel across great distances, only worked when he had a solid connection to the place. A pathway already formed in his mind.

"It's not a place you go," Jaune whispered, tilting his head toward the sky. "It is a place, you know."

But Menagerie? Jaune had never been there. He couldn't just appear in a place he'd never set foot in. Jaune hadn't spread his roots there yet — hadn't defined it. He sighed and ran a hand through his blonde hair, fingers brushing against the white streaks that had appeared after years of training.

If I can't get there, I'll just have to get close and get any information I can.

With his mind made up, Jaune whispered the words again, letting them flow with the ease of habit. "It's not a place you go, it is a place you know."

Multicolored leaves swirled around him, falling from nowhere, wrapping him in a warm embrace of shimmering light. And just like that, Jaune vanished from the cliffs.

When the leaves settled, Jaune found himself in a narrow alley. Tall buildings towered on either side of him, their ornate architecture casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The sounds of Haven City surrounded him were familiar — vendors calling to customers, carts creaking under the weight of goods, and the hum of airships drifting overhead. In the distance, the towering form of Haven Academy loomed over the bustling layered city.

Jaune blended into the crowd, tugging his hood up to obscure his face. It was a habit he'd picked up while traveling with his master. Outside of the kingdoms, they'd often move quietly through settlements, gathering information, helping where they could, but never drawing attention to themselves. Jaune mimicked his master's ways, walking with purpose while his ears tuned into snippets of conversation.

People whispered about everything. From trade routes, Huntsmen contracts, and vague rumors of trouble in Menagerie. He approached a few merchants and travelers, asking subtle questions, piecing together fragmented information about the Grimm that had swarmed the seas and skies around the continent. Every lead confirmed the same thing — no one could get in or out of Menagerie.

After hours of roaming and listening, Jaune finally left the city, his boots scuffing against the dirt roads that led to the outskirts. He reached a quiet spot outside the walls, where the wilderness began to take over again. With a soft whistle, Jaune called for his companion.

Juniper emerged from the treeline, her golden antlers glinting in the fading sunlight. The Jackalope padded toward him, nuzzling his shoulder affectionately.

"Hey, girl," Jaune murmured, stroking the soft fur behind her ears. "We're moving again. I need your help."

Juniper seemed to understand, lowering herself so Jaune could climb onto her back. With a practiced motion, he swung himself up, gripping her sides as they moved. The ride across the Mistral countryside was peaceful, with Juniper making the travel easy. His mind so focused he didn't seemed to have noticed two nights have passed.

Eventually, during the day, Jaune stopped near a coastline, where the vast Southern Sea of Anima stretched endlessly toward the horizon. Boats lay moored along the beach, surrounded by small camps of travelers and faunus sailors. Jaune dismounted, landing softly on the sand.

As he approached one of the camps, a group of faunus stood up abruptly, weapons drawn. Their wary eyes fixated on him as he approached, but Jaune held his hands up in a placating gesture.

"I'm not here to fight," Jaune said, letting his golden aura shimmer faintly to show his intentions. "I just want to ask you something."

The tension in the air eased slightly, and one of the faunus lowered his weapon. "What do you want, Huntsman?"

"Why are you camped here? Why not set sail?"

The faunus exchanged glances before answering. "Menagerie's seas and skies are swarming with Grimm. These aren't normal ones either. They're… different. Covered in strange crystals, glowing with something unnatural."

Jaune frowned. "Crystals?"

The sailor nodded and pointed toward the wreckage of airships scattered along the beach. "Any attempt to cross has ended in disaster. Until the Grimm clear out, no one's getting in or out of Menagerie. We're stuck here."

Jaune thanked them for the information and turned back toward the wilderness. He murmured the words again.

"It's not a place you go, it is a place you know."

And vanished in a flurry of multi-colored leaves.

Back at Beacon, Jaune found himself in the Emerald Forest, scaling the cliffs with practiced ease. His body moved on instinct, muscles coiling and releasing as he leapt upward, grabbing hold of rocks and roots to pull himself higher. With one last effort, he reached the top and vaulted over the edge, landing softly on the grass.

Two figures stood nearby, their hair catching in the wind. A bright crimson and a stark white. Pyrrha and Weiss turned to face him, arms crossed and curiosity in their eyes.

"Well, well," Weiss said, arching a brow. "Look who's finally shown himself."

Jaune dusted himself off, then smirked. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt your date."

Weiss's face turned bright red. "W-What!? Don't be ridiculous!" she sputtered, her hands flailing as she tried to recover.

Pyrrha, ever composed, simply raised an eyebrow, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "Jaune… what exactly are you doing? Where were you?"

Jaune waved a hand casually. "Training."

Weiss narrowed her eyes. "Training? You didn't tell anyone where you were at all! Arc, you just disappeared for two frickin days! Do you have any idea how irresponsible that is? Not telling everyone where you just up and vanished."

"Really? Two days? I haven't noticed the time really," Jaune shrugged, his smile friendly but pointed. "Sorry, I kinda forgot the part where I had to report my every move. It's okay, though. It's really none of your business."

The air grew thick for a moment as Weiss's face twisted in a mix of irritation and disbelief. Pyrrha's lips pressed into a thin line, though there was a glint in her eye that Jaune recognized far too well.

Jaune didn't understand what he said was wrong. Sure, his sense of time was a bit confused, but that wasn't something to be concerned about, right?

"Is that so?" Pyrrha said sweetly, though the tone sent a chill down his spine.

Jaune turned to face her, realizing too late what he'd just stepped into. Pyrrha tilted her head slightly, a dangerous smile playing on her lips. "Well, since you're training, I wouldn't mind a little mock fight. Would you?"

Weiss smirked, drawing Myrtenaster with a flourish. "I've been hoping for the chance to exchange swords with Team JNPR's fearless leader. I'll make it quick."

Jaune's eyes darted between the two of them as they advanced, the dangerous gleam in their eyes making his heart race. He laughed nervously, drawing Crocea Mors and holding it at the ready. "Oh, come on, guys… let's not do anything too crazy, alright? I admit I was a bit annoyed… but—"

Pyrrha didn't answer. Her shield slid onto her arm as Milo shifted to spear form, the polished blade glinting in the sunlight. Weiss took up her stance beside her, Myrtenaster already primed.

Jaune blinked, a bead of sweat forming at his temple as he noticed the dangerous energy surrounding both of them. "Wait, wait… this isn't necessary, is it?"

"Oh, it's very necessary," Pyrrha said sweetly, though her fingers were already flexing around her spear.

"Ready when you are," Weiss added, her tone deceptively polite.

Jaune swallowed hard, slowly tightening his grip on Crocea Mors. "Uh… alright, but go easy on me, okay?"

The girls didn't answer. Weiss lunged first, her rapier gleaming in the sunlight, while Pyrrha circled to his side, a dangerous smile playing on her lips. Jaune let out a nervous laugh as he parried Weiss's strike and deflected Pyrrha's spear with his shield.

"I get the feeling you two are mad at me!" Jaune shouted, ducking under a swipe. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Oh, not at all!" Pyrrha chimed, though her shield nearly knocked Jaune off his feet. "It's not like you worried everyone or anything like that!"

"We just want to see how skilled you, Mr. Arc!" Weiss added, her strikes quick and relentless.

Jaune groaned internally as the sparring continued. This, he thought, is what I get for opening my mouth carelessly.