“Do you think I should wear the jacket or go without?” Jaune asked, holding up the dark blue blazer jacket. He was already dressed in a set of matching trousers and a simple white shirt. “Is it too much?”

Kali looked him up and down critically, eyes narrowed in concentration. “Wear the jacket but leave it unbuttoned. It will give you an approachable look while maintaining a little bit of formality.”

Jaune nodded, shrugging it on and approaching the nearby mirror to take a look. Even in the height of her disappointment for him, his mother had picked out his size perfectly, and everything he had tried on had fit him like a glove. As much as he wouldn’t mind turning up to orientation in a pair of jeans and a basic shirt, his desire to make a good impression won out.

He was in a new city, attending a new school and he would be meeting all new people. Being over dressed was better than being underdressed, so he was trying to find that perfect sweet spot of formal casual.

It had nothing to do with his mother’s word of not embarrassing the family. Nothing at all.

Jaune repeated that to himself under his breath as he found a suitable belt that would match but also be practical. Looping it around his waist, he tightened and latched the buckle before reaching for Crocea Mors. The ancient heirloom of the Arc family was in hand and for a moment, Jaune admired the weapon, safely tucked away in its sheath. It was much heavier than it appeared because the sheath was also a shield, but he had long grown used to how heavy it was. Sighing, he clipped it to his belt.

“You look very dashing,” Kali complimented, and Jaune couldn’t stop the heat from rising to his cheeks. “Though we should do something about your hair.”

Jaune scoffed. “You know it doesn’t like to play along.”

Kali smiled. “It just needs a woman’s touch, that’s all. Now go sit down.”

Walking over to his four poster bed, he sat down, angling the sword so he could. Kali momentarily vanished into his bathroom before returning with some haircare products and a comb.

“Now stay still,” she chided lightly, jokingly, moving closer so she could begin styling his hair.

The maid uniforms were made for practicality rather than any type of titillation and yet Kali made them seem like the prettiest of ball gowns. Having her so close while he was seated placed his eyeline directly opposite her chest, so he tried his best not to stare. She wasn’t the most endowed woman but even with the apron, he could see the outline of her breasts straining against the material. Kali was a rather short woman with a slender figure, though rounded with prominent hips. Her chest was perfectly proportioned to her size, so it was difficult to remain unaffected. It didn’t help that a soft, slightly sweet scent wafted off her body, tickling his nose. It was warm as it filled his lungs with notes of jasmine and vanilla, and a unique spice that Jaune could recall in his earliest memories.

A spice that belonged to her, and her alone.

As her fingers carded through his hair, he allowed his eyes to flutter shut. That only made things worse, heightening his sense of smell and touch, his scalp tingling as her nails gently massaged his head.

“You have such lovely hair, Ma—Jaune,” she was still getting used to this new freedom, and he enjoyed hearing his name on her lips. “It’s so thick. Many girls would be jealous to know that.”

He tried to ignore that shivery feeling in his gut, so much like nerves but something else. Jaune hummed a non-comment, taking a deep breath to steady his heart.

“Do you want any particular style?”

“Do whatever you think is best.”

He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, basking in the comforting feel of her hands in his hair, the comb arranging it in some semblance of order. Long enough for Blake to come looking for them.

The door opened harshly as Blake barged in, “If you don’t hurry up, you’re going to be late…”

She trailed off when she caught sight of them, Jaune opening his eyes. Kali backed away, turning to face her daughter who was eyeing them both suspiciously.

“What’s going on?” she asked bluntly.

“I was doing Jaune’s hair,” Kali said calmly. “What do you think?”

Blake looked at him and rolled her eyes. “Okay, I guess.”

Jaune stood up and smoothed out imaginary wrinkles. “Well, if Blake said I look okay, that’s a big seal of approval,” he joked.

Kali giggled while Blake just looked away, arms crossed.

“The taxi is here,” Blake said quietly.

“Oh, uh – right,” a sudden bout of nerves assaulted him. “I better get going then.”

“We’ll see you off,” Kali said warmly.

They accompanied him out of the house. Kali was composed and didn’t even blink at the curious gaze of the driver, while Blake shuffled awkwardly, jaw clenched and picking at her uniform. Even after all these years, she wasn’t used to the maid clothes his mother forced on them.

“I guess this is it,” he said lamely. “I’ll – uh, see you guys later.”

“Good luck, Jaune,” Kali said, hands clasped together. “I hope everything goes well.”

Jaune waited for Blake to say something but she remained stubbornly silent, looking anywhere but at him. Sighing, he nodded.

“Thanks.”

Kali waved as the car pulled away from the curb. Blake hadn’t bothered to wait, already returning inside. A tiny bit of resentment festered. Couldn’t she just be nice today of all days? Was that too much to ask? But Jaune ignored it, instead focusing on the coming day and not the complicated relationship he had with her.

The airship terminal was busy but not as hectic as the train station had been, and he quickly found the morning transport to Beacon. There were a ton of other prospective students loitering around, all of them armed to the teeth. Many of the weapons he spotted, he couldn’t even name. His mentor had mentioned that many Huntsmen over engineered the hell out of their weapons but he hadn’t really understood what he meant until this moment.

...was that a spear or a sniper rifle? Probably both.

Crocea Mors felt very underwhelming in comparison but Jaune didn’t care. It may just be a simple blade but it was sharp, and more than enough to slay Grimm with.

“Awww, I can’t believe you’re coming to Beacon with me,” a girl with luscious blonde hair squealed, and a full figure that would make models green with envy. She was incredibly attractive with pale skin and vibrant lilac eyes, and an exuberant, attractive personality as she hugged a much smaller girl. “This is now the best day ever times two~!”

“Yang, gerroff me~!” the smaller girl shouted, trying to pry the blonde off her without success. She had short black hair that faded into red hued tips, her skin even paler, her figure more modest. She was also dressed more modestly in a simple black skirt, matching stockings, a red top and a worn leather jacket, while the blonde had gone all out with a pale yellow summer frock that revealed her toned shoulders and delicate collar. “You’re going to smother me!”

“Ohohoh, my little sister is all grown up,” the blonde – Yang – crooned sweetly, tightening her hold and mashing the smaller girl's face into her bosom. “You have no idea how happy I am, Ruby!”

The girl – Ruby – flailed in panic before pinching Yang’s sides aggressively. Yang squawked like a bird and released her, expression filled with shock.

“What was that for?” she demanded.

“I couldn’t breathe, you idiot~!” Ruby shouted.

Jaune wanted to introduce himself but they were both incredibly pretty, and he lost his nerve the longer he hesitated. Finding a nearby bench, he sat down and sighed, feeling a little down. Why couldn’t he just say hi? It’s not like he was unused to pretty women. Ignoring his sisters, Kali and Blake were both very beautiful.

Blake in particular was the type of girl you’d expect to see in some television drama with her exotic eyes and straight black hair, as dark as night. He should be used to talking to attractive girls.

...though maybe Blake wasn’t the best example, considering it was always a toss of the coin on whether she was angry with him or not.

The flight to Beacon was uneventful, though there was a moment where the other passengers grew excited. Apparently there was a celebrity on board but he never spotted anyone so extravagant, so it quickly faded from his mind.

Instead Jaune admired the amazing view from the sky. Vale was very beautiful, built on the coast and on the shores of a lake, a river separating the urban sprawl into three distinct sections. The lake was fed by the cascading waterfalls that flowed down the rock face upon which Beacon sat, overlooking the city like a protector.

The school itself was massive, several stone towers reaching for the heavens, the tallest of which containing the beacon for which the school was named. A green glow emanated from the highest point, visible even in the light of day. Well maintained lawns stretched further beyond, a ring of grass that met the encroaching forests. As they landed on the edge of the cliff, the doors opened up to a long stone lane that passed beneath ornate arches.

Beacon resembled those ancient cathedrals he had read about in books in his father’s study, more so than a Huntsman academy. It was awe inspiring.

Jaune followed everyone else as they began walking towards the school. He saw the blonde in the front with the smaller girl – Yang and Ruby – while just behind them was a girl with short ginger hair that was bouncing around a handsome, calm boy with black hair highlighted with a single pink streak.

“This place looks so cool, Renny,” she spun around on her tippy-toes like a ballerina, arms spread wide. “Do you think they’ll let us climb to the top of that big tower?”

“According to the booklets we received, the Headmistresses office is at the top,” Renny replied with very little emotion, while the girl was practically bursting with it. “So probably not.”

“Boo~!” the ginger haired girl wasn’t impressed.

More airships landed behind them as they approached the school, and it wasn’t long until they entered a large circular courtyard. The center piece was a statue of a man, hands clasped around the hilt of a sword, the tip of the blade buried between his feet. And by his feet, a person was sprawled, subjugated.

A faunus.

The sight made Jaune feel uneasy but no one else batted an eye, admiring the statue as they passed. From what Jaune had read in the information pack, orientation would start in the amphitheater. It didn’t take them long to find the large, enclosed building. It was one of the first they encountered.

The room quickly filled up with new students. There was a bit of a commotion behind him and turning his head, he saw several people pointing their scrolls at a girl with crimson hair and bright green eyes. She was gorgeous, there was no other word necessary to describe her.

She wasn’t the only one garnering attention.

Nearby, there was a girl with white hair pulled back into a classic ponytail and crystal blue eyes, her features sharp, aggressively beautiful. Short with a slender build, Jaune thought she looked like a fairy straight from an old folk tale. People were also snapping pictures of her and he couldn’t blame them.

He felt enamored just looking at her.

Her eyes suddenly met his and he quickly looked away, feeling embarrassed that she’d caught him looking at her. Jaune kept his face forward, staring at the stage and refusing to sneak another peek as his cheeks threatened to melt.

When everyone was gathered, a woman with platinum blonde hair appeared on stage. One look at her told Jaune she was not the type of person to mess with, expression severe as she looked out at the sea of prospective students.

“My name is Glynda Goodwitch,” she began, voice strong and clear. Any chatter died in an instant. “And I am the Headmistress of Beacon Academy. You have chosen this school in pursuit of a higher calling, that of a Huntsman, and it is my duty to ensure that you are ready to walk this path. For the next four years, you will be constantly tested on your aptitude. Any who cannot maintain their grades to an acceptable level will be cut.”

You could hear a pin drop. Jaune swallowed, feeling tense.

She let the tense atmosphere hold for a moment, letting them stew before breaking it by saying, “Now then – I would like to formally welcome you to Beacon Academy, and I hope you will not only survive, but thrive beneath our tutelage.”

The next half an hour was a speech about expectations, their roles as students, the limits of their authority as trainee-Huntsmen, and their expected behavior while representing their school. After the welcoming address was finished, they were then shown around campus. Older students acted as their guides, leading them around to the various classrooms, and points of interest like the library, gym, research facilities, medical facilities, weapon manufacturing and maintenance facilities, training areas and the dormitory.

At various points, they were joined by professors. They went over things like academic expectations, expanding upon what the Headmistress had already set forth, and explained some of the student services they could expect like counseling and career development. Huntsmen were well sought after in many different fields, even things you wouldn’t immediately suspect. There were the obvious ones like law enforcement, city defence, private security, and the military. Then there were the less obvious ones like search and rescue, pilots, ship captains, basically any other job that took you outside of the safety of the kingdom's walls.

Having someone Huntsman trained on hand in those positions was a boon.

They were then shown how to use the online services, and their new scrolls. They were synced to the school network at all times, and monitored things like their aura and health, their growth as fighters, and everything that entailed. They could also access the Beacon database that held things like mission listings, crime reports and more, though those were mostly for the older students, second year and above.

There were also a wide variety of social activities, clubs and organizations on campus. Everything from book clubs to weapons clubs, planned gatherings into the wilds, or maybe just weekly get-togethers at the on campus cafes to talk and make friends.

By the afternoon, Jaune’s mind felt like it was going to rupture from all the information it was taking in. He’d never really put much thought into a specific career beyond Huntsman, so that made his mind swirl a bit from the possibilities. There was no need to choose yet – or at all, there wasn’t anything wrong with being freelance, many Huntsmen did that – but it was something to think about.

After the tour was over, they were shown a place to get a bite to eat.

Jaune was ravenous. He’d skipped out on breakfast so he was starving. One of the eateries served burgers, so he ordered two of them and a large side of fries. Some of the other students had made friends and sat together, getting to know one another but Jaune hadn’t spoken to anyone beyond the professors.

Looking around, he didn’t think that was going to change any time soon.

When his order was ready, he picked an unused table and sat down. It wasn’t until he had one of his burgers lifted to his lips that he realized that the reason the table was unoccupied was because of the person sitting at the next table over.

It was the girl with the crimson hair. The one everyone had been taking pictures of. She sat alone, and all the tables around her were vacant – except the one he was sitting at. Looking around quickly, Jaune noticed that people were now staring at him , pointing and whispering.

Had he done something wrong? Should he move?

The thought had only briefly entered his mind before the chair opposite him was pulled out, and much to his surprise, the crimson haired beauty set her tray down before sitting at his table.

Jaune stared.

“Hello,” she greeted happily. “May I sit here?”

If he was a bit more with it, he may have tried to make a joke about how she was already sitting there but he was so thrown by her appearance but he could only nod dumbly.

“My name is Pyrrha,” she introduced herself, offering a hand. “Pyrrha Nikos.”

Jaune blinked. “Oh – um, Jaune. Jaune Arc.”

He shook her hand, and immediately noticed how firm her grip was.

“Jaune,” she repeated warmly. “Nice to meet you.”

“Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you too,” he smiled awkwardly, clearing his throat. “I’m sorry to ask this but… do you know why everyone is staring at us?”

Pyrrha looked at him for a moment before her entire face lit up, eyes glittering with joy.

“I may  know why,” she said cheekily, leaning forward as if it were some great secret. “But do you really want to know?”

Jaune shrugged. “I guess it isn’t really that important. It’s just a little weird, isn’t it?”

Pyrrha nodded. “It is. Very weird. Aren’t they silly?”

“Silly is one way to put it.”

Pyrrha had ordered some type of chicken wrap, and she took a healthy bite of it before asking, “So, Jaune – are you from Vale? Or did you travel here from somewhere else?”

“No, I’m from a small town in the north,” he replied, taking a bite out of one of his burgers. It was really tasty. “You?”

She shook her head, beaming. “Have you heard of a place called Argus?”

They made small talk as they consumed their meals, exchanging basic information about themselves. At first, Jaune felt a little nervous because of all the staring from other people and how pretty she was, but he quickly became comfortable. Pyrrha was very easy to talk to, her demeanor open, pleasant. He’d only just met her but it almost felt like he was talking to one of his sisters.

“So you’re not staying in the dorms?” she asked, surprised.

“I’ve got a place in the city,” Jaune admitted. “My mom thought it would be better for me to stay there.”

“I thought about renting an apartment in the city,” Pyrrha said, stealing one of his fries. Jaune arched an eyebrow as she grinned, popping it into her mouth. “But I guess I wanted to experience staying on campus, you know? Live the full student lifestyle.”

“I guess if you don’t like it, you can always change your mind.”

“Right? But I think I’ll like it here. Beacon is very beautiful and all the staff have been very helpful.”

When his food was all gone, Jaune leaned back and patted his belly. “That hit the spot.”

Pyrrha giggled, covering her mouth. “You seemed hungry.”

“I missed breakfast so I was pretty starving,” Jaune sighed. “A growing boy needs his food.”

Pyrrha was about to say something back when she paused, her eyes catching sight of something over his shoulder. Before he could turn around to see what it was, a shadow passed over their table.

“Pyrrha Nikos,” a haughty voice said. “Weiss Schnee, a pleasure.”

A slender, pale hand was offered and after a second of hesitation, Pyrrha accepted it.

“Hello,” Pyrrha greeted, smiling. Jaune wasn’t sure but he thought it looked a little strained.

Weiss Schnee was the girl with white hair he’d spotted, the one that was ridiculously pretty. When those ice blue eyes turned to look at him, he tried not to shrink under their scrutiny. If there was one word to describe her, it was intense.

She reminded him a little bit of his mother.

“And who is this?” she asked, a little rudely.

Jaune offered his hand. “Jaune. Jaune Arc.”

A subtle flash of recognition crossed her face. “Arc. That name is familiar to me.”

As if it pained her greatly to do so, she shook his hand. Jaune noticed how soft her skin was, and how warm, before she hastily pulled away.

“So you’ve made friends with Pyrrha, I see,” she eyed him shrewdly. “Networking is important, and I commend you for your haste.”

“She approached me, actually,” Jaune revealed. “She probably thought I looked lonely on my own.”

Weiss eyed Pyrrha. “Is that so?”

Pyrrha nodded. “It is.”

“I see,” Weiss said. “May I sit?”

“Er – sure,” Jaune said.

The conversation after that felt a little tense as Weiss did her best to talk Pyrrha up, the crimson haired girl going along with it. Jaune zoned out a little bit but it quickly became apparent why  Weiss was so interested in her.

“—caught your last fight, of course. It was a masterclass of skill and control. Your opponent never stood a chance.”

Pyrrha’s fake smile was still firmly in place. “I wouldn’t go that far. He was very crafty and experienced. He almost caught me a few times.”

Weiss hummed. “I will take your word for it. You are the more accomplished fighter, after all.”

“I’m missing something,” Jaune spoke up, drawing their attention.

“Her last fight,” Weiss repeated. “The Mistral Regional Tournament final.”

Jaune had no idea what that was.

“Oh. That  fight,” he said unconvincingly.

Weiss stared at him as if he’d grown a second head. “Arc – are you seriously telling me that you have no idea what I’m talking about?”

Pyrrha looked resigned but also a little amused, watching as he tried to come up with some suitable response.

“I know you’re talking about fighting,” he finally settled on. Pyrrha laughed while Weiss rolled her eyes, annoyed.

“You cannot tell me you don’t know who she is,” she gestured at Pyrrha. Jaune shrugged. “Unbelievable. She is a four time winner of the Mistral Regional Tournament, one of the most accomplished fighters ever.”

“Oh.” that certainly explained why everyone was looking at her all the time. Wait a minute, “So you’re that celebrity that people were gossiping about on the airship.”

Jaune felt a little stupid. People had been pointing their scrolls at her and everything.

Weiss shook her head in disbelief, “Where have you been living? Under a rock?”

Her voice was filled with scorn. It made Jaune feel even worse.

“So you’re a pretty big deal,” Jaune said, embarrassed. “Sorry about not noticing.”

Pyrrha shook her head. “It’s fine, Jaune.”

Weiss made a sound of disbelief but remained silent when Pyrrha shot her a cross look.

“Really,” she continued. “I actually prefer it.”

Jaune wasn’t sure if she was just being nice or actually meant it, but decided to believe her.

Weiss wouldn’t stay silent for long. “You surely know who I am, of course.”

Was she famous as well? Jaune panicked before remembering her name. Weiss Schnee. Schnee . As in the Schnee Dust Company. There wasn’t a person alive that didn’t know the name of that company. It was perhaps one of the most important businesses on Remnant, the largest supplier of raw Dust in the entire world. There were other companies that dabbled but none were as successful, wealthy and powerful as the Schnee Dust Company.

Even beyond Dust, they manufactured everything from toothbrushes to coffee mugs to clothes, electronics and even vehicles. They owned wildly popular chain stores like Schneebucks, had their own internet search engine called Schnoogle that dominated the market, were the biggest supplier of faunus labor, and their owner was well known as the richest man in the world.

Jaune’s family was rich. Very rich. Old money, built up over countless generations. Where it all came from, he didn’t know, but their current earnings from the farm were considerable and only added to their wealth.

They didn’t hold a candle to someone like the Schnee’s. They might have been relatively new money, their company rising from the ashes of the Great War, but they far outstripped everyone else in a short amount of time. That’s what happened when you controlled and distributed the most valuable resource on Remnant.

Was she the daughter of the owner? Or a niece? Cousin?

“The Schnee Dust Company, right?” he posed the question, as if it were obvious.

“At least you aren’t completely clueless,” she said.

She was a little mean but Jaune couldn’t take his eyes off her as she shifted the conversation back to Pyrrha. Even when she was being harsh, her voice was pretty, and her appearance was immaculate. There wasn’t a single hair out of place, her clothes spotless, her skin smooth, blemish free.

She looked like a princess.

A Dust princess.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked sharply.

Jaune looked away, forcing the smile off his lips. “Nothing.”

“Hmph~! Well, as I was saying, Pyrrha – we have a runway show coming up, we’d love to have you model some of our newest line. You would look absolutely fabulous.”

“I’d have to speak with my agent, you know how it is,” Pyrrha deflected.

The rest of their time together was spent in a similar fashion. Weiss talked endlessly and Pyrrha listened, speaking when expected. Jaune was practically frozen out but Pyrrha tried her best to include him, for which he was grateful. He didn’t mind sitting on the sidelines, though. He could listen to Weiss talk all day.

He managed to exchange contact information with Pyrrha at the end of the day, and because she didn’t want to be left out, Weiss begrudgingly did the same. Pyrrha was staying on campus so Jaune said his goodbyes before making his way to the landing pads. He was hoping to spend some alone time with Weiss to maybe smooth things over but while she was also staying in the city, she had her own private airship waiting for her.

“Do not abuse my generosity in giving you my details,” she said before they parted. “If you message or call me unnecessarily, I will block you.”

“Er – right,” he managed.

“As long as you understand,” she idly inspected her nails before turning on her heel. “Goodbye.”

Jaune watched her walk away, admiring her graceful movements until the very last moment when she disappeared into her airship, staff hurriedly preparing the ship for take off.

All in all, it was a pretty good day. He’d made a couple of friends, was introduced to his new school, and all of this without making a fool of himself.