The proclamation is barely registered before things start moving - rushing in a frenetic pace. He's brought to the front, to smile at painfully-bright cameras, and when that's done - he's swarmed by his fellow initiates - classmates, now.

Dumb shock and slight suspicion gives way to something brighter and more wholesome as he catches sight of Jeanne - looking shocked but so genuinely happy that he can't help but smile back. She's onto him as soon as he rejoins the group, a blur of gold crashing into his arms.

He's swarmed again - this time by his peers, their awe, their jealousy. It all feels so foreign to him - he used to be the bottom of the barrel, the one that nobody liked, now people look at him with hope. It's...strange, and he adores the weight of expectation on his shoulders as much as he despises it.

Their well-wishes and cloaked-jealousies suddenly stop, then - and he looks behind him, to where their gazes are now locked. It's the headmaster, Ms. Goodwitch at his side - looking slightly frazzled. Her gaze is locked onto him, a barely-noticeable frown of befuddlement on her face. Jaune's fellows straighten their postures, looking upwards and doing their best to seem like the protectors of humanity that they're training to be.

It's almost as if Ozpin doesn't see them. His eyes are locked onto Jaune, the staccato beat of his ever-present cane growing ever louder to the boy's ears. The sound is ominous somehow, and the gleam in the man's eyes even more so. Jaune rocks on the balls of his feet, torn between being weary and being grateful.

"Mr. Arc?"

"Yes, headmaster?" He responds, almost immediately, hating the fact that Jeanne separates herself from him for the sake propriety.

"I'd like to speak with you, now."

Not entirely unexpected - considering the man himself has taken him as an apprentice, but the fact that such an important figure would be talking with him did nothing to lessen the sudden feeling of being dropped tingling in his stomach. He nods, in spite of the sudden bout of nervousness - and follows the man as he descends from the platform. Leaving Ms. Goodwitch behind with the rest of the students. Jaune sends what he hopes is a relieving smile at a visibly concerned Jeanne on the way out.

Once again, the crowd does not seem to be reacting all that blatantly to Ozpin - the first time, he had been too wrought with his perceived failure to really question it, but now…

It had to be a Semblance of sorts. One that probably extended to him, he muses, as he notices the lack of reaction of anybody as he passes by them - he's not exactly sure how to feel about that, being under one of the headmaster's abilities. He supposes that he should be grateful of the protection (Brothers know that he wasn't really sure about how to deal with his new-found popularity) but it keeps him on guard, the realization.

After all, if the ability could be benevolent - then doesn't reason suggest that it could be the exact opposite, as well?

Regardless of his conflict regarding the headmaster's actions and intent, they soon reach the entrance of the auditorium - the sudden headmaster's stop startles him a little, the man raises a brow as Jaune impulsively gropes at his waist for a sword that isn't there, an embarrassed and mumbled apology is what he gets.

Ozpin smiles. Jaune has a feeling that the man doesn't do it often - which makes the gesture all the weirder.

"Jumpy, are you?" The huntsman in training is already apologizing, before Ozpin continues speaking. "Don't be sorry, it's a good trait - keeps one alive."

Ozpin's smile gains a tinge of melancholy at that, just a sad little downturn around the edges of his lips. Jaune wonders, a little bemused, a little frustrated - if the man's every move is intended to confuse.

And then before Jaune can further explore that line of thought - Ozpin nods towards him and keeps walking in a random direction. The grass is green, the sky blue and tinged with little specks of warm orange. The Sun is already well past its arc (heh) and the pre-evening chill is pleasant.

He pauses on a step, doing nothing but breathing as he takes in how beautifully the arches and columns of the academy meshes with the immaculate gardens. The sight sends tingles of content writing across the surface of his skin - deeper still, reaching the lethargy he feels in his bones and turning them into something that is on the whole, more active. The desire to do something productive sparks inside him, but he stamps it down - for the moment.

He falls into step with Ozpin, head craning this way and that with lazy movements as they take a pleasant walk around campus.

"We're heading for my office." Ozpin says, answering the unasked question in the air. The headmasters nods towards a particularly tall spire - Beacon Tower - the structure is just behind the main school building. Straight, like an arrow, with only the pointed end and the crisp green glow that inspired the name of the academy, visible even in the evening light.

There are people periodically entering and exiting the building, but as along with the structure being the headmaster's office, it's also the location of the kingdom's CCT. Of course people would be wanting to contact any friends or family through there.

Regardless, there's a lot of people coming and going from the building proper. Thankfully, it's not such a large amount that they would need to waddle through, but there's definitely enough people for Jaune to be more comfortable with.

Ozpin continues on, and as Jaune expects, nobody recognizes him. He goes through the entrance without fuss, and the Jaune follows.

First impressions? As glamorous as the rest of the campus. Of course, the place isn't completely pristine - its open to the public, after all. But it's far and away from being even remotely filthy. There's a lift that takes people from the bottom floor and to the computers hooked up to the CCT.

Ozpin ignores it, and heads to a place someway behind a secretarial desk, the receptionist on duty, surprisingly enough, recognizes Ozpin's presence, giving the headmaster a nod of acknowledgement as he goes past here. She must not be under the effects of his Semblance. Returning it, the headmaster heads deeper into a corridor behind the her, Jaune following close by.

There are doors on both sides of the corridor, all marked with signs that inform the reader that only employees can enter. At the very end of the unadorned corridor is an elevator shaft. They get inside, and Jaune sees that there's only one button. An upwards facing arrow.

Ozpin presses it, and then they wait.

It's...not exactly awkward, per se. But the silence is definitely somewhat uncomfortable, at least for Jaune. He opens his mouth - to say something, anything really. But then closes it shut with a dull 'click', thinking better of it.

They spend a few seconds in silence like that - with Jaune looking at the ground, as if in askance. And Ozpin looking straight at the door, with that same half-smile to his lips. The only sound present is the annoyingly catchy elevator music.

It is with relief in his chest, that they finally exit the elevator. He's glad to leave the infernal elevator music behind at least.

Jaune looks around surreptitiously - raising a brow at the shifting gears twirling around inexorably on the ceiling. They cast ever-shifting shadows on the floor, shadows that even now, move hypnotically. Tearing his eyes from the sight, he surveys the rest of the room with interest. There's a sort of easy elegance in this place, modernism merging with classic Valean style.

As a native, he can sort of appreciate it. Though he's never been a history buff.

While Jaune's been examining the room, Ozpin's walked towards what seems to be his desk. It looks vaguely mechanical, and slightly strange. Like a strangely shaped scroll with legs. Jaune imagines that one could use it similarly to a scroll. The headmaster takes a seat behind the comfy looking chair behind the desk, made in a similar style.

"Don't mind the decor." Ozpin smiles. "I'm told I have eccentric tastes."

"No." Jaune shakes his head, waving off the man's apology. "It's fine."

The headmaster reclines in his chair, posture surprisingly lackadaisical, peering at him over his spectacles.

"Regardless." Ozpin smiles. "I don't think you're very interested in hearing about my taste in decor. You have questions, I presume?"

Jaune can't say that the prospect of having said questions answered doesn't interest him - but hadn't he been called here for a reason?

At his look, Ozpin waves a hand. "What I had in mind can wait, clarifying some things to you is the least I can do. You're my apprentice now, after all."

And isn't that the crux of the whole matter? Apprentice. He's the apprentice of the headmaster of Beacon - quite a step up from being a no-name nobody, he thinks. Jaune inclines his head, lips thinning.

"Alright," he says, slowly, as he peers at the man in front of him carefully. "Why me?"

Ozpin hums, as if considering the question.

"The Alpha...do you know what you did to it? Or rather, what you used to beat it?"

At Jaune's immediate shake of the head, Ozpin nods - expecting nothing else really.

"Now, how did you feel when wielding the power you used?"

Now - that's an uncomfortable question if there ever was one. What exactly is he supposed to say to that? 'Oh yeah, I felt like I could rip somebody's limbs off and enjoy it' didn't seem like a very wise thing to say.

"Savage." Is what he decides on. At Ozpin's interested expression - he elaborates. "Powerful. Unstoppable. I know it's a dangerous thing to feel, especially when you're fighting for your life, but - I - I think I enjoyed it."

The room is silent for a second - and Jaune tries to assure himself with the fact that the headmaster is unlikely to strip his apprenticeship with him after going as far as to announce it in public, not for something as relatively small as this. But for all of his self-assurance, he still shifts his weight uneasily. Left foot. Right foot. And back again.

Ozpin's hand is on his chin, and his eyes are half-lidded. The man looks most lethargic at that, and for a second - Jaune is afraid that the man is going to fall asleep in a sudden bout of narcolepsy. And then suddenly he's not.

Posture straightening, Ozpin's instantly at attention, nodding his head to an unvoiced thought.

"I see." He mutters to himself. "That narrows things down by a fair bit - but there's still quite a lot of options…"

"Sir?" Jaune queries, curiosity piqued.

At the sound of his voice, Ozpin seems to remember himself.

"Just some half-formed assumptions." He says. "Nothing to concern yourself over."

Jaune nods his head hesitantly.

"Good," Ozpin says, leaning forward, apparently deciding the small matter settled. His fingers interlock, palms lightly touching as he visibly considers his next word. "That ability that you have, it is not a Semblance, no?"

Jaune almost hesitates in agreeing. It seems ludicrous, even now - because if not a Semblance, a byproduct of soul - of Aura, then what else? It's borderline fantastical, a new power not gained from a Semblance, but some other, undefinable and undiscovered source. And that's...that might be groundbreaking.

In the end, Jaune nods, fingers reflexively clenching.

"I was out of Aura," he says. "There's no way it could've been a Semblance."

There is no surprise in the man's eyes, but something else - something that has his lips twitching upwards in that same uncharacteristic cheer - that foreign joy.

"Yes." Ozpin nods. "Magic does not tend to sap at the soul."

AN

Apologies for the uneventful chapter. It was mainly a way for me to get back into the swing of things after the short break I took. Later chapters are far more likely to have things of more substance.

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