The Blades of Phoenix

Chapter 10

Cardin Winchester, with his weapon 'The Executioner' perched on his shoulder and Jaune with Crocea Mors drawn leaning on his weapon as if exhausted in the spotlight shining on the Beacon Academy Auditorium stage.

He looks at Cardin, who laughs at him tiredness and Jaune gathers his strength to charge forward and swing his blade at Cardin, only making him to jump out of the way. Jaune looks back with surprise look as Cardin's weapon sends Jaune's shield and Jaune itself flying back. Now only armed with his sword, Jaune try to continued his attack, but its blocked by the mace's hilt. Their weapons locked, Cardin forces himself up towering over the struggling Jaune.

Cardin:"This is the part where you lose."

Jaune:"Over my dead-"

Jaune is cut short as Cardin knees him in the gut making Jaune drop his sword and fall to the ground in pain. Cardin raises his mace and is about to slam it down on a worried Jaune just when the buzzer rings. The lights come back on and Glynda voice cause him to stop.

Glynda:"Cardin, that's enough! *he relents and walkks away as Glynda comes to the stage with tapping her tablet* Students, as you can see Mr. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament styled duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle and that the official may call the match."

Jaune still lays on the floor in defeat and Pyrrha looks sad. Glynda turns her head to look at Jaune as he pulls out a smaller tablet with his low blinking stats and that of his entire team.

Glynda:"Mr. Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your scroll during combat. Gauging your Aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack or when it is better to move or to a more...Defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowolf now, would we?"

Cardin:"Speak for yourself..."

Glynda:"Remember everyone, the Vytal Festival is only a few months away! It won't be long before students from other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!"

The bell rings, and students start leaving while Pyrrha continues to frown sadly. Jaune, still sitting on the floor, hangs his head in shame.

Nora Valkyrie, with her turquoise eyes she tells an unbelievable story to her...Audience...

Nora:"So! There we were, in the middle of the night..."

Ren:"It was day."

Nora:"We were surrounded by Ursai.."

Ren:"They were Beowolves."

Nora:"Dozens of them!"

Ren:"Two of 'em."

Nora:"But they were no match...And in the end, Ren and I took them down and made a boatload of Lien selling Ursa skin rugs!"

Ren:"*sigh*She's been having this recurring dream for nearly a month now."

Seele:"Wow...That's really an amazing story *don't know what to react*."

Pyrrha:"*looking at her leader* Jaune? Are you okay?"

Jaune:"*snaps out of it, turn back toward them* Huh? Oh, yeah! Why?"

Ruby:"It's just that you seem a little...not okay..."

Jaune:"Guys, I'm fine. Seriously! Look!*thumb up while laughing nervously*."

His attention is focused on the members of Team CRDL, standing around a girl with brown rabbit ears jutting from her hair as Cardin laughs at her and Sky Lark holds up his head in mock interpretation of her unusual 'features'.