"Ooph!" Jaune's sweating, hot skin met the cold tile floor of the arena. All around him he heard the gasps of the crowd around him. The sound of his sword rasping against the ceramic got closer and closer, till stopping just shy of leaving his vision.

"Pick it up!" The ginger boy called cockily. Jaune didn't. "You're supposed to be a big deal. That was pathetic."

Jaune stood up quietly. Eating dirt in front of the whole class IS pathetic. Jaune resisted the urge to give in to the taunt. His opponent was cocky and that would be his downfall, not Jaune's. He had been nervous before now he was angry but Jaune's anger was quiet and measured unlike it had been with the general.

He left the sword right where it laid on the floor. He knew the basics of swordplay, that much was true. But Jaune lacked the combat experience to wield it with confidence. Jaune however knew how to throw a mean punch, if how he mangled the general's metallic arm is anything to go by.

As soon the boy saw Jaune calmly walking towards him his smirk grew. He gave a disaffectionate, dramatic shrug and stood perfectly still and relaxed. 'Good' he thinks he goading Jaune but it was Jaune who had right where he wanted him, against the glass border.

For a moment… Jaune's step were the sound sound that could be heard. That's when the ginger boy sprung to action. He swung in a wide arc using his whole body probably trying to knock Jaune to the floor again maybe to mutter some other inane brag.

Not this time though.

Jaune's brilliant white flare engulfing both him and majority of the stage. The mace was caught in Jaune's hands robbing his opponent of his momentum. But he wasn't done, not by a long shot, he pulled at the heavy weapon with all his might causing the surprised boy gripping its hilt to stumble forward towards Jaune, where a brilliant white aura powered fist waited for him.

The resulting bang was familiar, an Aura explosion though significantly smaller and Jaune didn't he cracked any glass this time. The buzzard called the match. Jaune turned back and strutt to pick up his sword. His opponent's face lied in a pool of his snot and blood. His nose had to be broken but he seemed to still be awaken given how he was getting up.

"Let it be known now, class, that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer." Called their teacher,Glynda Goodwitch called. Professor Goodwitch was an older woman, blonder hair and greens, She was a beautiful woman that carried herself with the no nonsense gait of strict disciplinarian.

"In the future, mister Arc, refrain from using such attacks in a friendly I would have stopped it as some people aura levels vary and not everyone here can withstand such an attack." Jaune nodded and she went on just in time for Cardin to lift himself off of the floor fully but still holding his nose. "And you mister Winchester, you would well to not play directly into your opponent's hands… remember to practise dodging. Class dismissed."

The last statement sounded more like a quip. The audience gave a light chuckled much to the dismay of the boy, still bleeding from his nose. Jaune shot him an apologetic glance but it was not well received at all. If looks could kill Jaune would be dead, but the thoroughly humble ginger boy said nothing turned to walk away.

Without another word Jaune's struts out into the bleachers taking a seat next to Ruby.

"You won your first spar!" Ruby called out happily.

"Yeah, unlike somebody!" Jaune said with a coy smile.

"Hey! In my defense that girl was really strong." Ruby said defensively. Jaune broke in laughter as the girl weakly punched his shoulder. It was their third day in beacon academy and Jaune dare say they've fallen into a comfortable routine. While beacon was in itself new, the structure of school life was something Jaune was used to and he didn't know how much he missed it. It was a welcome respite from how busy his life had been, be it the test, or the ship, or even the wedding fiasco.

"At least I didn't get knocked on my butt…" Ruby bring hard up to her face.

"Eh. Fair point." Jaune said to Ruby's surprised.

"Why aren't you embarrassed?" Ruby asked rather annoyed.

"I have seven sister, I am immune to embarrassment." He bragged.

"R-really?!" Ruby asked. 'Not really' he wanted to say but he decided to let Ruby believe what she wanted. Instead of answering Jaune shot a cocky smirk to the pouting Ruby then got up to gather his things and change in preparation for their next class.

Ruby and Jaune's walk was quiet. Most students must have made their to their classrooms already. So they made their way through most empty hallways at a brisk pace most in silence. Jaune enjoyed the silence, it wasn't the wasn't the same awkward pauses that permeated their first few interactions, but instead a quiet understanding of one another.

Jaune walked quietly while Ruby hummed and skipped at his side at his side.

"You're pretty chipper today." Jaune said look to Ruby. "Excited for history?" he joked. History was Ruby's worst subject. Jaune knew this of course.

"No, I guess things have did, it's starting to feel… normal."

"What is?"

"You, Beacon.. This whole situation." Ruby said her smile not missing a beat. "Now that things have calmed down I enjoy it."

"Well as long as we aren't starting any more riots." he said, Ruby giggled.

Just before the bell, Jaune and Ruby made to Doctor Ooblecks classroom. The doctor was a peculiar man. He spoke fast and moved even faster. His hair was the color of licken and growing moss and it sprout widly and unkempt. He wore black slacks and dress shirt, on of his sleeves was rolled up to the elbow while the other seems to have come undone hours ago. The two teens sat down without greeting anyone.

While they populous of the school had gotten used to Jaune and Ruby's presence, they hadn't really made any friends. What can Jaune and Ruby say for themselves? Coming to school fresh off of a international political incident didn't leave the best impression. The classes were actually pretty empty, they hadn't seen a full classroom since they got to beacon. Whatever student there were had clearly define friends groups. Making friends in such an environment was hard, but to be honest Jaune hadn't cared to notice till now.

"Ruby?"

"Yes, Jaune?"

"What do you think of the other student?"

"What do you mean?They're Okay, I guess…"

"Don't you think… I dunno we should be making friends?" He asked, Ruby gave him a look as if she hadn't.

"Why?" She said sounding rather defensive "We're friends aren't we?"

He wanted to argue that they were more than friends but he stopped himself.

"Yes, but don't you think we should get to know the other student, you know, socialize."

"I don't need to socialize, I've got you." Ruby said petulantly.

"I just think its a good idea to open up a little before people start thinking we're weird." Jaune said.

"Doesn't matter what they think…"

"You wouldn't want them to hate us would you?" He said.

"Well cardin already hates you…" Ruby said with a snort.

"All the more reason to get allies…" Jaune said.

"Fine…" Ruby groans. "...but no girls."

"Ahem, class is in session." Called the bespectacled doctor said as the last few student's sat down. He quickly launched into his lesson. The man truly never missed a beat, and his lesson were dense. With him Jaune and Ruby covered decades of history in single sittings. Ruby and Jaune simply couldn't afford to idle or chat in this the doctor's class. So Ruby and Jaune dedicated themselves to class, the former more reluctantly than the latter for the next half hour our so. They tried their best to keep up with the fast talking doctor.

Around what felt like halfway through the class a scroll call interrupted the doctor. The call was over quickly, the man spoke as quickly on the phone as he did to the class. What was strange wasn't that but the fact that Doctor Oobleck stop seemingly giving the class a break halfway through his breakdown of the mining settlement that would become Vale in the future. The otherwise energetic Doctor was eerily still for a couple of minutes and said nothing.

Then the door creaked open and their previous class' teacher, professor Goodwitch, ushered in a young man. He was in his beacon uniform and there was something about him that different. Despite it barely being a week since Jaune met the young man in the test facility he could tell there was a change about Lie Ren. Maybe it was that he wasn't in distress anymore, or maybe it was the fact that he was more comfortable with the idea of being a huntsman. He carried himself with a quiet air of confidence, and an almost eerie calmness.

"My name's Lie Ren." He introduced himself. "Nice to meet you…" He took a seat not far from Jaune's own.

"Well, class, since we have a new student how about do something different for the rest of...well class." The Doctor amused himself with play on words.

"Mister Ren. You are first generation are you not?"

"What?"

"I am sorry!" The man got uncomfortably to close to the boy. "You are not aware of the culture of huntsmen! I should have been more considerate."

"N-no! It's fine." Ren leaning back lest he kiss the older man.

"Very well then, when huntsmen ask each other about generations, it refers to family. Whether you're the first huntsman in your family or you are following your parent's footsteps." The man said returning to his post at the front of the room. "Most student's here come from huntsmen families…"

"Ok."

"This must be a drastic change for you… but rest assured beacon is prepared for students joining mid semester and you will tutored till you are in the same level as our regulars."

"Uh, Doctor?"

"Yes Lie Ren?"

"Umm...are you a huntsman?"

"Why Of Course! Why? can I not be a doctor and a huntsman?" The an made a point of activating his bright aura creating a sphere of it around his hand.

"No I-" Ren made to say but was stopped by the energetic doctor.

"Terribly sorry! I have once again forgotten you are yet used to our world as huntsmen."

"Its ok…"

"The huntsman caste, which in all technicality isn't really a caste at all, might seem like just soldier, but we serve a number of critical roles. Graduate's from beacon become either military officers or freelance specialists and can take a number of extra role such as combat medics, army engineers and even instructors such a yours truly."

"I see…"

"Not only that once you complete your service, the state will fully fund you retirement!" The Doctor said taking a sip of his mug. "Not a bad deal if I may say so myself."

"So how about we discuss the structure of the army for the remainder of class." The man said.

When class dismissed, they were done for the felt a tap on his shoulder, Jaune turned to see the young man he'd met in mystral the day of the test. Long black hair and magenta eyes looked to him with relief.

"Ren? You're attending beacon?" Jaune gave the young man a smile. He was in his beacon uniform and there was something about him that different. Despite it barely being a week since Jaune met the young man in the test facility he could tell there was a change about Lie Ren. Maybe it was that he wasn't in distress anymore, or maybe it was the fact that he was more comfortable with the idea of being a huntsman. He carried himself with a quiet air of confidence, and an almost eerie calmness.

"Yes, I had actually started bootcamp in a place not far away from here… Then when my semblance manifested itself I was given the chance to come here or go to Haven…."

"But why not go to Haven? It's closer to home." Jaune asked.

"I was actually told Beacon, and Vale is more lenient with it's huntsmen…" Ren said.

"Ahem…" Jaune heard the girl next to him say.

"Ren, this is Ruby… my… fiance?" Jaune half stated, half asked.

"Hi, Im Ruby, Jaune's fiance." She stated.

"I know, Jaune… everyone knows…" Ren said rather darkly.

"I figured as much…" Jaune said.

"You've been out of the loop?" Ren asked and Jaune immediately worried. "Everyone knows what happened at the lunar amphitheater, it's sparked protest and violence."

"H-how bad is it?" asked.

"There were protests and a lot of arrests, I was station in a mystralean post on a small island… They day it happened soldiers walked from their post. I can only imagine it was worse here in Vale." Ren said.

"Did you see the city, Ren?"

"I was taken straight here when I got to Vale."

Jaune and Ruby shared a worried look. Their first outing might have caused more damage than either of them ever anticipated. Jaune thought to his family, what would his father have had he seen Jaune in peril during the wedding? he might have been arrested had he done anything rash, Jaune worried.

"There's gonna be a press conference at the end of the week." Jaune said.

"Yeah hopefully we can , I dunno, find a way to stop the violence…" Ruby said just a Jaune finished. Neither of them wanted this. They weren't selfish. They knew that the biggest benefactor for Vale and it's instability was the grimm. No good could come of this. Blood would be shed for this. If it hadn't been already been shed already, then the grimm would guarantee it.

"I hope so too…" Ren said still as composed as he had been. "Anyways it's good to see you're ok Jaune. I've got remedials…"

"Okay. Don't be a stranger Ren." Jaune said as he waved the man goodbye.

Jaune and Ruby waved goodbye to young man. And head to their room being done with their studies for the day. Jaune worried for his family, tore through his belongings in search of his still missing scroll.

"Are you worried… about your family?"

"Of Course I am Ruby!" Jaune said with exasperation in his voice. When immediately felt bad, when he saw Ruby flinch at his tone. "Sorry…"

"It's okay…"

"It's just hope they didn't do anything rash." Jaune said.

"It'll be alright Jaune." Ruby said as put a hand on his shoulder.

"I sure hope so…" Jaune said putting a hand over his forehead.

That night Jaune dreamt of the hill in the backyard. That same hill where he and his sister played. Except that there were no white dressed girls running around, only him under the tree and the overpowering sunlight. From there he could see the back door of the house, the door was wide open and the windows were broken.

Just as panic begun to fill, he awoke, sweating. Staring into the darkness of the room he shared with Ruby. Suddenly he was hyper aware that he was thousands of miles from home. He spared one look to the ruby who was still snoring. It might have been better if Ruby and Jaune just split, he could go back to mistral where surely the mystral council would find him a wife and a cushy job, he wouldn't be fulfilled but he would be near his family.

But where would that leave Ruby? Jaune knew Ozpin would find her somebody even if it wasn't him and the next man might not be someone she get can get along with. 'Hell, Ozpin is desperate' and so who knows what type of man he would choose for Ruby. The only criteria seemed to be a wide aura pool. His mind immediately went to Cardin and he scowled there was no way he would leave Ruby in such a situation. Beside he did like Ruby, maybe not romantically, not yet, but they had a lot in common and seem to want the same things.

But that's not all to consider. There are plenty of other people involved. Jaune shuddered to think what would happen to civilians in places were their huntsman walked away. Protests were well and good but the grimm don't care whether we're fighting amongst ourselves or not. It was especially egregious when those sworn to protect shirked their civic duty. But how could Jaune stopped any of it? He was just a kid not even a huntsman yet.

In the end Jaune reached no answers. He threw his head into his pillow and closed his eyes. Once the sweat from his forehead dried he drifted off to dreamless sleep with the promise to tackle this conundrum again tomorrow.

Apologies if this chapter reads a little disjointed I honestly wrote out the entirety of the first week at beacon but I ended cutting a lot of filler out and splitting the rest in two. We have Ren back and since he is isn't familiar with huntsmen culture we have an excuse to explain huntsman concepts to the reader, hurray!