Chapter 259 - Story 22 Bloody Evolution Chapter 15

"Ladies, why don't you go secure our room. I imagine that this meeting with Miss Crownguard will be a quick one." I spoke with Prinz and New Jersey sharing a look before New Jersey spoke.

"Alrighty, Prinz you take the cuties back to our rooms to make sure no one steals our room haha."

My lips twitched as Prinz mockingly saluted and said. "Aye aye. Alright Alice, Velvet, let's get moving." 

Then I raised an eyebrow as she waved down Nora who was holding Ren's head in her arms with her talking with Nora before all four ladies in left me and New Jersey alone as I went across the hall to Meeting Room B.

"What you think I am in danger New Jersey?" I asked in confusion.

To which New Jersey gave me a solemn frown before saying honestly. "The fact that everyone is allowed to carry their weapons on them openly says a lot about their attitude for violence between people... To say nothing of Headmaster executing half a dozen people for cowardice and sabotage." 

"You think the nobles not wanting to be resurrected as slave undead is sabotage?" 

And New Jersey actually laughed as she laid her hand on her large breast over her heart and said with humor. "Jake, my admiral... I am literally a resurrected ship you soul bound into a human shape with a bunch of oversized patriotic guns stapled to my form." 

There was a pause as I digested that and shrugged... As that was true enough.

Either way, with some time to myself I relaxed and began the process of creating another Wisdom Cube so I could make the next ship girl. Hopefully within the next couple if not three weeks. Maybe even sooner if I manage to get my magic pool unlocked.

"Anywho, so any thoughts on what magical school you want to study?" New Jersey asked curiously.

I gave a hum of thought and mentally looked back at the mentions of schools of magic open to taking more students and answered. "My semblance is so heavily skewed towards production it's not even funny. Although my semblance has a fuck load of combat adjacent use. It's not like I can directly use my semblance in combat."

Well... Besides manifesting a large chunk of a boat in the middle of the air and dropping it on some poor bastard.

Beyond that, however, all my semblance use was the production of naval-themed things even if said things could be stupidly powerful like the Wisdom Cubes I could use in making Shipgirls.

So I needed to either tie into that theme and enhance my semblance as much as I could. For example, going into necromancy to have automatons piloting and controlling the machines I create so I could offload the mental weight of running guns and such to the undead. 

Or enhance the things I manifest, even other magical stuff with runic, thaumaturgy, and ritual magic.

On the other hand. I go the completely opposite direction, in taking on something like Elemental magic or Sorcery to have a magic more based on pure offense... Ain't no way in hell I would refuse to learn the secrets to Chronomancy for sure.

Being able to stop time and manifest one of my things outside of the timeline and then come back in with the object in like a turret or a vehicle would be stupidly useful to say the least.

Either way, I responded with an amused smile. "We shall see. I keeping my options open." 

And with that New Jersey just took up a position behind me with her rocking back and forth on her high heels as she hummed a quiet unobtrusive ditty to herself as I closed my eyes and threw my consciousness outwards to get away from the memory of the those other teens and young adults squirming after Ozpin seemingly punched their hearts out of their chests.

In particular, I realized I could still... Even if it took some mental strength. I could still mentally connect with the manifested ship I had out in the Emerald Forrest. And as I looked through the camera's of the ship I blinked as I saw people were... All fucking over my ship.

"Fucking excuse me? What are you all doing aboard my ship?" I demanded over the intercom systems.

I realized the people on my ship were huntsmen in their mid-twenties or something. Probably being low class huntsmen as they were protecting a couple dozen engineers who were clearly going over my technology.

"Oh, shit the kid is still connected to this place?" One of the huntsmen spoke before his eyes focused on the camera's and he spoke out. "Hey Jake, Ozpin told us to come to secure your site as an outpost to be used in keeping the Emerald Forrest clear of upper-class common Grimm." 

I electronically blinked at that information before I mentally shrugged as what the hell was I going to say about that? 'Fuck Ozpin this massive metal instellation is mine muahaha! I shall never walk here again probably but I will never let someone use all the stockpiled ammo and weapons forever!'

Yeah no. I wasn't a fucking idiot, to say nothing of how Ozpin praised me for making the installation to herd, control, and eradicate Grimm.

So with all that in mind I said. "I have tablets in the control tower that controls the guns installed on the ship. The ship so long as its not destroyed in the center will not have power issues so long as you guys don't try to power Vale or something... I will try to restock the ammo stores like once every night before I go to sleep."

I paused wondering if there was anything else before I remembered the laser defense system and I said. "Also! The laser defense system on the bridge. It registers humans and shuts off when you walk around it as you may know. It will not turn off for faunus, undead, or anything that isn't a pure human walking into the sensory field of the lasers." 

I heard one of the engineers puff up and my lips twitched as I saw she was a blue-haired woman who... Wasn't unusual for this world but it was funny as she remarked flatly. "Racist laser fields... How am I not surprised?"

I was silent for a long moment hearing that... And then I drawled out through the intercom. "Alright, anyway connecting to the ship from Beacon takes some concentration. So don't fuck anything up as I need to focus hard to reach the ship and won't feel if a horde or something comes up to the ship." 

With that, I made the intercoms loudly crackle as though telling everyone I was hanging up on their asses.

And the huntsmen shared a look before the leading one said. "Well, you heard him. Get up to the control room in the tower to get those tablets. We need to see what we are working with."

Seeing them not like... Setting a nuke into the ship to destroy it or whatever, I shrugged and mentally pulled back to myself with New Jersey remarking.

"Your eyes were glowing through your eyelids... You good?" 

I gave an awkward cough and said. "Yeah, yeah. I was just synching up with my ship fortress back in the Emerald Forest to see if I could. And I can actually."

There was a pause before New Jersey chuckled and said. "Wait haha. What happens if you connect several ships together or something like how you fused the ship into the gorge's central platform tower thing? Could that make it easier for you to connect if the ships are connected together to draw more of your mind to it?" 

I tilted my head to the side in thought with my shoulders jumping as I felt New Jersey gently cup the side of my head and tilt it back upright as I said. "Maybe... I will need to give it a try later on."

We remained silent with New Jersey's hands moving to my shoulders to give me a gentle shoulder massage that weren't covered via the straps that held up the majority of the weight of my autocannons.

But a couple of minutes later her hands paused and I pointed my arm to the side with the autocannon humming to life as I glared at a pair of glowing red eyes that formed in a dark corner of the room. 

"Why don't you come out of the shadows? Its to be frank, rather creepy." I said bluntly and my face twitched as from out of said corner came... Not one but two figures with each red glowing eye split into two with Calia, the Necromancy and dark magic master along with her disciple striding out of the shadows.

"I apologize if I unnerved you Mr, Bariss. Shadow travel can be a bit unsettling for those first seeing it." Calia spoke with her voice being a gentle caressing velvet to my ears.

Which I hated... The more comfortable, beautiful, and welcoming she portrayed herself. The more I was unnerved by her.

Not even Ozpin's power-filled gaze before he killed a dozen people put me as on edge as Calia's regal smile she wore.

"And... This is your retainer New Jersey I suppose?" Calia spoke as her glowing eyes in the soft lightning room locked onto New Jersey behind me.

The Shipgirl however remained silent though with how she manifested her rigging when I pointed and activated my gun. I knew she was in combat focus as she eyed Calia coldly from behind me.

So I gently folded my hands on the table in front of me as I spoke. "Yes... This is my guardian and friend New Jersey. May I assume the lady standing behind you is your apprentice?" 

To which Calia's eyes snapped down to mine and she eyed me before she shifted and spoke enigmatically. "Indeed, she is my apprentice Ferid Gallowstone. She has decided to approach me for tutoring rather than her progenitor in the Lich Lord of the Royal Family."

I raised an eyebrow wondering what that was about. But instead, Calia elegantly stepped forward and I stilled as darkness surrounded her form and from behind her formed a throne of bones that she settled into. With her apprentice, Ferid silently sitting on one of the thick arm's of the throne with a lazy smile crossing her face.

"So Jake, if you don't mind me using your first name. I am curious, have you considered what your plans were for your magical education." Calia spoke with a welcoming if not gentle tone.

I remained silent for a long moment before I spoke slowly. "I indeed have some idea's of what I want Miss Calia."

She gave me a knowing gaze before she looked to the side at Ferid and spoke. "Necromancy... Is the manipulation of souls. Whether it be giving a corpse a whiff of a soul's essence to give it life again. Binding souls to their bodies so they may not truly die. Or even becoming immortal in the binding of a user's soul to an external object or source of power." 

Her eyes snapped back to mine as she spoke and her voice carried a smokey huskiness to it. "You already are a necromancer by any definition Jake. You have summoned and or created false life in your personified ship constructs that have their own modified souls."

Those glowing eyes filled my gaze completely as her voice was a whisper in my ears. "Jake, I can teach you every form of magic you desire... I can give you the power to bottle death, to deliver it to your enemies, and keep it from your friends and family. And I can summon the souls of past Master's to deliver their secrets for you to learn." 

But Calia's whispers into my ears as I was shaking my head clear of her glowing eyes that filled my mind was sharply interrupted as the door to the meeting room exploded... It literally exploded off its hinges and shot into the opposite wall with a mighty crashing noise followed by licks of solid-looking flames.

And from the gaping hole of molten metal in the hinges strode in Luxanna Crownsguard with her form glowing with holy light with little squeals and screechs ringing out as... Things in the shadows and darkness of the room screeched as they climbed into Calia's pitch-black dress.

"Well, that was uncouth." Calia drawled out as I watched as another woman... One I very much recognized strode in behind Lux with her hands glowing with flames and her dress glowed with fiery runes that glowed in warning of several prepared spells.

But Lux wasn't having any of Calia's sass as she calmly stood at the end of the table and stated. "I made it clear I wished to approach him to become my apprentice first. I even called him out just after the ceremony... Where do you get off in approaching him using Hypnotic Soul Ensuring Gaze to take him as your student?"

To which Calia merely smiled gently and spoke calmly. "Oh? Was that so? I was busy dealing with the remains of the six... Examples that the Headmaster created. I must have missed that." 

Then Calia's voice darkened with the shadows in the room returning as she spoke coldly. "As for the magic I used... It was to see the truth within his heart. Did he want the power I offered? Was he so weak of mind that he would let his soul be ensnared by my casual gaze?"

There was a silence before Calia finished flatly. "After all. There are many who have methods of controlling others. Illusions, mind control, soul ensnarement, potions." 

Lux coughed hearing potions with Calia snorting and her gaze snapped to mine as she said dryly. "Oh yes indeed young man. I would be very careful of what you eat and drink. People are going to want you under their control, want your seed to see if your semblance will breed true. And of course some... Will just want you dead." 

I took a deep breath as I remembered all to clearly Calia's questions that were prodding my own opinions. Not her telling me to do anything over even to accept something as fact.

If anything... I appreciated her doing that. As of now, I had something of an idea of what supernatural mind control felt like.

But I stood up and took a deep breath as I felt New Jersey stand beside me. "Lady Calia... With my semblance of mass-producing weapons, I honestly believe you could bring me a great deal of power. Having flesh golems and zombies with some level of intelligence controlling my weapons to great effect to say of nothing else." 

I shook my head and said honestly. "But frankly... I admit this with no shame. But you scare the fuck out of me. Your smile makes me shiver with more fear than Ozpin flexing his power and killing those six people. So I am going to politely refuse your no doubt amazing and powerful knowledge."

The entire time I was speaking Calia's relaxed seductive appearance finally cracked as her disciple had to cover her mouth with an elegant loose sleeve as Calia's mouth opened a bit in shock at my honest words.

Calia closed her eyes and visibly reset before she shook her head with a husky chuckle escaping her. Then she stood up with her disciple Ferid standing up with a slight hop from the throne of bones that made her breasts bounce.

"Well, Jake." She paused as she visibly chewed on the words before she continued. "I hope that you can overcome your fears, as working together we could do great things I am sure. Now I can see where I am unwanted, so Ferid come it is time to part." 

The elfin-eared beauty gave me an almost smirk before she waved with her finally speaking up. "Yes... Though Jake, I will say that we shall meet again all too soon haha." 

And with that, both Ferid and Calia were swallowed up in a wave of shadows leaving me alone with Luxanna Crownguard... And the person who was also bugging the fuck out of me.

As I could easily recognize who it was.

It was literally Cinder Fall, standing behind Lux with her glowing runes in her dress fading away as she audibly sighed with relief at Calia and Ferid leaving.

Long black luscious hair falling down her back in a wave, and she was wearing a very form-fitting red dress that had golden runes sewn into the dress with her golden eyes gazing at me with a raised eyebrow before she looked back to Lux who coughed.

"Ahem! Soooo Jake well that was unpleasant haha... Anywho so whatcha think Jake, wanna be my apprentice? You can be friends with my apprentice Cinder here?" She offered awkwardly as fuck honestly.

I shared a look with New Jersey whose visage screamed. 'Fuck no! She is a complete goober!' 

I raised an eyebrow as though to tell her. 'And you are a complete goober as well. I saw you eating chicken wings. You had more sauce on your face than what was on the wings somehow.'

"Ahem... Leaving me hanging here." Lux whispered and I looked back over and my lips twitched as she had a small blush on her face.

I coughed and said honestly. "Uhh... So what do you think you can best teach me? I am a blank canvas when it comes to actual magic besides my semblance." 

Lux clapped her hands together excitedly as Cinder rolled her eyes and leaned against the table with her arms pushing up her large breasts... But I noticed her golden eyes scanning every shadow in the room warily.

"Oooh! I am at least a master in literally every form of elemental magic school there is besides Spatial and Chronomancy! Cryomancy, Pyromancy, Hydromancy, Geomancy, Photomancy, Sonimancy, Ferromancy... I can do it all haha!" 

As she said that though. I knew very well that the schools of magic were far... Far more expressive and powerful then merely just their base element. As Cryomancy was the manipulation of the concept of ice and cold.

A sage of Cryomancy of which there was one in Atlas actually... Could freeze time in a large area beyond even what Ozpin could do casually without actually using Chronomancy himself.

Imagine fighting a fucker that 'Freezes' your momentum so you are stuck in unable to move, or even accumulate the power to undo the 'freezing' he applies to your mana pool.

That was just one example. 

For Lux for her age to be a Master at all those different elemental schools of magic? That was incredible.

Though... I couldn't help but wonder if she could have become a Sage if she stayed with a single element or school of magic. 

Either way! I didn't make Lux wait to answer as I answered with total honesty. "I am a blank slate for magic. And for someone with such diversity of knowledge, you would be the perfect teacher. So I would be honored to enter your tutelage." I finished more formally and bowed my head towards Luxanna.

With Lux clapping her hands together with a cheer as she said. "Wonderful! Now Jake, you just call me Teacher in front of other teachers, staff, and other students. But when it's just us and our retainers you can just call me Lux." 

Lux then turned to Cinder with a wide grin as she said almost smugly. "See! I told you he would accept." 

A chuckle escaped Cinder before she looked at me and said dryly. "And you stepped directly into the political land mine collection. Welcome to the big leagues Jake Bariss." 

I woodenly turned to Lux and asked dryly. "How bad is it... What did you drag me into?" 

Lux kicked her foot across the ground and refused to look me in the eye as she muttered. "The second princess wants me in her Peerage. She wants to compete against the first prince who has my older brother in his Peerage." 

I brushed my hand across my face... Then I literally screamed into my hand before I slammed my hand onto the meeting room table.

The room was silent at my outburst.

While my expression... Utterly smooth and without emotion.

Finally after an awkward silence, I broke it by saying plainly. "I see... Well in that case, that doesn't matter as I don't plan on joining the Vale Royal Families Peerage system. Anyway, how will my learning go about? What do I need to do?" 

I was very obviously trying to switch the subject. As fucking about with the royal family which was filled with A-rank huntsmen and great Generals was a damned horrible idea.

Lux blinked at my change of subject before she froze and awkwardly chuckled and said. "Ah! Well, if you are a complete novice. Then we need to get you a good catalyst that will fit to the school of magic you want to learn, besides that... Hmm, Cinder do you think you could help Jake open up his mana pool over the next few days."

My teacher then looked away from the annoyed-looking Cinder who didn't look interested in helping me do such a task. And then she refocused on me and said. "Whelp most importantly, do you know what school of magic you want to learn? Or maybe just test and see if it fits you?" 

After doing research and learning my mana pool would be tainted and need to be refined later on to make my mana pool neutral again to cast magic for different schools of magic. I knew that I needed to choose my first school of magic to truly devote myself towards carefully.

So after a moment of thought, I answered in the thing that was most fitting. As even my sponsor had told me that I had an insane water affinity. "I would like to learn Hydromancy. My semblance is the manifestation of 'Naval' themed things so it just makes sense if I learn water magic." 

I saw Cinder raise an eyebrow at my words before shrugging as Lux put a finger to her lips and said. "Hydromancy... There have only been a couple of hydromancy sages in all of recorded history due to humanity being blocked from the sea due to the amount of ocean Grimm."

She visibly stalled before admitting honestly. "I am an accredited master of Hydromancy for sure. But I am nowhere near the level of Grandmaster of Hydromancy, are you sure you want to stick with that?" 

I nodded firmly as I said. "I have plenty of methods to defend myself and hold an area. I want magic to shore up the shortcomings of my semblance in not having active offensive measures." 

I then gave a chuckle and said. "Plus... I had a bit of an evil thought. What if I indeed became a Master or Grandmaster of Hydromancy and was able to make a giant pool of water roll through the countryside where my manifested ships could float along in those pools of water.

At my words Lux tilted her head to the side as she imagined such a scenario and then a peal of laughter escaped her that made my heart flutter with how beautiful her laughter honestly was and the pure joy she radiated.

"Oh my, I can already imagine such a scene... Actually, I myself could set up such a spell." She spoke more to herself before she grinned and asked. "Would you be interested in seeing how effective your summoned ships would be on such a rolling lake?" 

I firmly nodded with New Jersey saying aloud. "That would be very nice. As it would allow me to manifest my actual body if the pool was big enough." 

There was a pause before I coughed and said. "Speaking of manifesting things... I do have an issue Lux, I can manifest. A lot of very useful and powerful things. But I don't have anywhere to put them." 

Lux didn't even blink as she said casually. "Oh, thats understandable Jake. Under my tower, I have a massive access tunnel leading to the base of Beacon Mountain where I practiced my volcanic, and earth magic. I can unseal the tunnel and you can use it for whatever you need." 

'Well that was easy...' I thought before I said with a wry expression. "I appreciate it. But will the tunnel... Be big enough as the tank, drill I made is a good representative of the size of things I can make with a bit of time to work." 

"Ooooh. Nope it shoudn't be an issue as the tunnel is already a hundred and fifty meters tall as I spent months making the support pillars and roof into solid steel as I practised and reached Master tier alchemist! So it should have plenty of room haha!" Lux announced proudly making New Jersey cough at the sheer size of the damned tunnel she made.

I myself cleared my throat and said. "Well... That will certainly do it, to say the least. Thank you for opening it up to me." 

To my thanks, Lux just nodded as though her workspace was to be expected and then she said. "Alright! Jake come with me. We are going to my stores to pick you out a water-based catalyst that you can use to cast your magic through. Then I will leave you in Cinder's hands to get your mana pool unlocked. I sadly am going to be busy with my own responsibilities with the new term starting." 

I nodded in understanding and I followed Lux and Cinder with New Jersey walking behind me. However I made sure to send a mass message to Velvet, Alice, and Prinz that I was with Luxanna Crownsguard. And going to get something from her stores and I would explain when I got back to our dorm room.

-

As Lux led me out of the assembly area of Beacon I realized very quickly how fucking massive the school/fortress was Lux spoke proudly. "Beacon! Home to thousands of Huntsmen of Vale, it has several of its own farms built inside of the mountain and weather mages make it rain every weekend to ensure we have plenty of fresh water."

"The pure Elemental branch of magical study here in Beacon doesn't get between the Holy/Light branches of magic that are... Squabbling with the dark schools of magic." Cinder spoke with a bland tone with her look behind her as she added.

"As teacher's disciple. You will also need to keep any biases you may have for certain types of magic to yourself... Unless said magic is being used on you without your consent obviously." 

I shrugged and said with total honesty. "So long as the magic is being used to kill Grimm, and isn't like... Sacrificing babies or something. I won't judge upon the magic." 

And with that, we just kept walking for a minute until Lux casually asked. "So, New Jersey. Are you interested in learning magic as well if you can?" 

To which New Jersey chuckled aloud and replied in a hearty voice. "Sure! If I am not busy watching my Admiral and making sure he doesn't get in trouble haha." 

I gave New Jersey a look behind and groused. "Oi, I am not stupid. I stay nice and comfortable in the back line blowing up monsters with heavy munitions thank you very much!" I finished primly making New Jersey do the proper and mature thing in response.

And by that. I mean she just childishly stuck her tongue out at me as Lux chuckled and then called out. "Ok Jake, that over there is your new home!" 

I blinked as Lux pointed at one of the large towers that were connected to the various walls running through the forest of Beacon as the massive campus used the differing walls as buffering zones to hold back Grimm Tides.

And the tower was clearly part of the magical faction and as was along with Lux's reputation of being open to all types of elemental magic, it didn't scream one school of magic effects like of the other towers did.

Looking at Calia's or the Necromancy tower for example... A tower made using a massive Grimm dragon's spine and skull as a frame wasn't subtle in the slightest.

But Lux's tower was made out of a light pearly marble with bands of bronze metal running across its ledges and outcroppings a trim. With the tower seemingly looking to be about... Maybe nine or ten stories tall with many windows looking like they could lead to their own floors.

"So as student's, I only have you and Cinder so far as I only have been teaching at Beacon for a couple of semesters now. And frankly, I am still finding my niche in teaching people magic." Lux spoke honestly 

With Cinder speaking next. "She is a genius, so if you have any difficulties... Make sure you say you have an issue as Teacher is automatically going to assume you have the same disgusting talent she had." Cinder finished with dry amusement as Lux coughed and looked at her disciple with betrayal.

"Cinder... How could you!" She whispered in betrayal to which Cinder just shrugged and said plainly. 

"I respect you greatly teacher... But your semblance of mental partitions gives you an insane cheat when it comes to learning magic. Not so much teaching magic as you are used to having a dozen independent minds and thought processes to control your magic to an insane degree." 

I cleared my throat and said. "Well, I will make sure to say if I have any issues. So do you need to key me into the tower or anything?" 

At me getting back on topic Lux nodded firmly and said. "Yes Jake come here. New Jersey. I am not taking you as my student so do not follow us any further lest the wards think you are hostile. We will only be gone for like five minutes at most to get Jake's catalyst." 

New Jersey frowned at the order while I... I honestly wondered if Lux was trying to spring a trap on me.

Before I remembered how much of a goober she had been and I shook the thought aside and said. "Alright, New Jersey please wait for me. I will be back in five to ten minutes... If I am not, level the tower." I finished 'jokingly'

Lux then brought me along with Cinder up the stairs leading into her tower and I shivered feeling Lux's mana cover my from lightly just as rough mana inspected my form. But Lux's mana seemingly acting as a shield let us reach the large door leading into the tower with Lux saying.

"Alrighty, here ya go. Knick your finger to make it bleed and then put the bloodied finger onto the gem on the right side of the main center gem." 

Taking the small... Extremely small-sized rasor from Lux's offered hand. I went to lower my aura to do so but Lux added. "Nope, it's Aurablight. It cuts through aura." 

I blinked upon hearing that... And I carefully cut my finger with the apparently aura-cutting tiny razor blade with myself hissing as I felt it parting my skin and even my fucking soul in my aura. 

"Yeah... Getting touched with Aurablight is really nasty. It's a death sentence for a civilian and any faunus to own or even be caught with." Lux said frankly.

"The hell is Aurablight." I said as I pressed my finger onto the exact gem Lux pointed out and not the obviously other trapped enchanted gems with the wards leaving my form alone.

There was a pause before Lux said coldly. "Aurablight is the bones made from Apocalypse grade Grimm."

I tilted my head to the side, as honestly, it was very hard getting concrete information on the grades of Grimm, which was something... Kept out of the civilian side of things which was another reason I was at Beacon. 

I needed access to the information of this world.

"Alrighty! Now that you are keyed into the tower, as a resident. You are free to live here if desire along with having the staff serving you in all things reasonable. Hmm beyond that, I will also give you a dozen passes to allow your retainers to also live in the staff quarters just above us."

And so Lux burst into an explanation on how the store room was just below the main lobby, and the staff's rooms, kitchens, etc was just above us. While above the staff area was Lux's personal library which was open to me only. And then above the library was magical laboratories and research rooms.

"And the top level is my personal room for myself. You both aren't allowed in there though as it is just my personal room. But the floor below it has several rooms available to claim, just don't sneak into Cinder's room if you care to keep your hair haha." Lux joked.

With Cinder giving me a cool look and saying flatly. "If he breaks into my room, some burnt eyebrows are going to be the least of his worries."

I shrugged and said plainly. "I am not so foolish to break into a ladies' room... We are all adults and have our own desire for privacy."

With that Lux brought us down a ramp leading us to the storage area, and once we were in there. I blinked at seeing it was a massive warehouse with Lux proudly announcing. "All of my collection of magical ingredients are time-locked to preserve their magical energies. As well as being sorted by their elemental, or magical school of alignment. So come on, the Hydromancy treasures are over here." 

She brought us over to the water-aligned treasures and I blinked as the so-called treasures... Looked nothing magical at all honestly!

A sea conch sitting in a glass-lined case. A bundle of seaweed frozen in the air within a glass cylinder. The complete skeleton of some random smaller fish. It wasn't a glowing mire of powerful objects it just looked like random rubbish.

But Lux just chuckled as she spoke. "I know haha. A catalyst although powerful in the right hands, their powers normally don't display themselves so openly thankfully... If they did, the more powerful Grimm would eat them all the more commonly and become a much worse issue."

She turned around with a hum escaping her as she spoke. "So I am assuming you wish to be a combat focused Hydromancer correct? As I doubt you plan to stay at Beacon being a simple magical researcher."

"Correct." I said firmly.

Her eyes glowed slightly before she shrugged and said. "In that case... I would suggest either this Beach in a Bottle. Or the Weight of the Sea." 

She had pointed out two bottles with one of them being a larger vial that had sand inside it, while the other one. Just looked like a normal vial filled with pitch-black liquid.

"What's the difference between the two?" I asked curiously.

Lux looked back to me and said. "The Beach in a Bottle when you are casting water magic through it will add a sandblasting feature to water spells that are moving fast. While the Weight of the Sea, will have all your water attacks hit with far more force due to the water acting as though it has the pressure of exactly one hundred and fifty-eight meters below the sea. Which is where it was collected actually."

 I blinked at hearing that. And after a moment... I imagined sending powerful streams at Grimm and I thought about which would be worse. A stream of muddy water that would sand Grimm's flesh and bones off. Or just more force in the stream of water?

After a moment I said. "I think the Beach in a Bottle would be better."

Lux nodded and then she took the bottle and I blinked as she summoned a thumb-sized blue gem that she then pushed together against the magical catalyst and with both items glowing they seemingly snapped together with the blue gem having a watery glow within it that had tiny specs appearing within the gem randomly.

"There you go. The catalysed gem will act as your beginning spell-casting device until your taint solidifies into a solid catalyst you will replace this with until it comes to making your permanent catalyst as a Sage... But that is a good ways off in the future haha." Lux finished with a wry grin.

I nodded and said formally. "Thank you for this gift teacher."

"Guh! Jake don't get all formal, its weird... Anyway, I have a lot of stuff to do for my master's with the new semester starting. So here are the passes for your retainers Jake, and Cinder please escort Jake back to the residential building and set up a mana pool opening ritual you want to do with him."

With that Lux quickly handed me a stack of metal lined marble slates the size of my pointer fingers before she seemingly transformed into a pillar of light that shoot out at blinding speed out of the storage area.

Leaving just me and Cinder alone...

"Haaa... Just like teacher. She didn't even open my own mana pool when she took me as her student." Cinder complained with a wry smile before she lost the smile and looked at me seriously.

"Now Jake, I am your fellow disciple under Luxanna Crownsguard... We do not know one another, but I will say this straight and simple." 

Cinder stepped closer and her golden eyes peirced mine as she said calmly and with no discussion in her voice. "Lux is our teacher... She has done much to make my life better, so I won't brook any disrespect towards her. But if you need help, come to me, I will help you as much as I am able so long as your needs aren't at fault of a foolish action."

I raised an eyebrow at how blunt she was. 

And in turn... I nodded as her words were fair and she was offering her help so long as I didn't do something explicitly fucking stupid. "I will strive to bring our teacher only accolades and fame for teaching me. Not bring her any additional troubles."

With that Cinder closed her eyes before exhaling in confirmation before she turned on her heel with those high heels clicking on the marble floor as she spoke. "Come, I will escort you to the residential building... That bitch Ferid is obviously looking for trouble." 

My lips twitched at the actual outburst of annoyance and... Negative emotions from Cinder on Ferid. And with how Salem was dead, I knew Cinder wasn't a traitor to humanity or whatever... So I asked obviously. 

"What's Ferid's deal anyway? Is she your opposite in being Lady Calia's apprentice?" 

There was silence as Cinder kept quiet as we walked outside the store room and through the tower until we reached outside. Then she paused outside the tower while still inside the wards where she spoke.

"Ferid... Is a monster. She believes herself an artist who crafts her undead and toys into admittedly beautiful forms. But she has a fascination with taking Flesh Automatons and making them into overwhelmingly beautiful forms that are then filled with illusion magic to make them mess with people's minds."

Cinder stared listlessly into the distance for a moment before she broke the silence speaking coldly. "Only the Royal Family can legally make Flesh Automatons out of people who are declared traitors to humanity's survival in very strong bandits, and people who make pacts with Titan and Apocalypse grade Grimm for power." 

The ebony-haired beauty took a deep breath before she continued. "Ferid brought two dozen high-grade Flesh Automatons into the school with her. And the first thing she did entering this school was have her automatons enter the student body and begin making friendships and more... Much deeper relationships."

My face twisted in disgust as I realized what that meant. Flesh Automatons were technically classed as Undead despite the body being alive due to the fact that their soul was utterly chained away within their body and having no control over their body besides in how they interrupted their operating rules and orders.

"Did you?" I slowly asked with Cinder shuddering and saying coldly.

"No. No, I did not get intimate with a Flesh Automaton, though a closer friend you could say of mine did... And she was so ashamed of herself that she has since fled the campus. She was Lux's first student actually." 

I was silent for a long moment before I spoke slowly. "No one could tell what they were?" 

As being zombies basically, they still had a lot of tells obviously. But Cinder's face twisted into a grimace before she said. "No... Ferid is a monster, but an artist all the same. She twisted her automatons into becoming so beautiful that along with the illusions and admittedly phenomenal mental programming that not even Lady Goodwitch was able to recognize them until it was announced." 

After that, Cinder took a deep breath and said. "Lux is also a Grandmaster of Holy energy being a worshipper of the God of Light... So with that incident, Lux's staunch neutral magical bias has a bit of a hole in it due to Calia and by extension Ferid." 

She shook her head and said flatly. "This discussion is over and you shouldn't repeat any of it in an area that isn't heavily warded... A number of people are quite upset over it. Including several noble families who raised hell over their daughters being deflowered by what is registered as a zombie." 

I gave a slight hum with the thought of why was Ferid not facing any consequences coming to mind. Before I was reminded of her status as Calia's student... And whatever connection she had with the royal families Lich Lord. The Sage-level Necromancer who protected the Royal Bloodline.

Either way Cinder said flatly. "So although Calia has a code, of ethics in her school of magic. Ferid is a monster who delights in showing off her 'works of art' Now lets get you home. I can see your New Jersey all but bouncing like an attention-starved puppy." Cinder finished with a drawl in her voice.

And looking over at New Jersey as we walked out of the wards... I could literally see stars in her eyes as she excitedly waved at me, excited for my return.

So by definition, Cinder wasn't wrong.

"So what kind of Catalyst did you get?" New Jersey asked and I explained the Beach in a Bottle I got with that topic lasting until we got to the residential side of Beacon's ground where Cinder spoke.

"Meet me at Lux's tower tommorrow at 7 P.M. We will work at locating and opening your mana pool for casting magic. Also, pay attention to your scrolls as the general Huntsmen classes you lot have been assigned to will be hitting your scrolls sometime tonight." 

I nodded in understanding and said. "Thank you for the escort Cinder. I should be fine here now." 

Cinder gave me a searching look before she took in the surroundings and said slowly. "Watch the shadows Jake... They are not so empty as you may think." 

And with that Cinder turned on her heels and strode off back towards Lux's tower.

I gave a quick glance around. And although I coudn't see anything... I could definetly feel a sense of hibby jibbies from the feeling of being watched. So I exhaled and said. "Alright New Jersey, lets go see what has happened with Prinz and the rest." 

New Jersey and I walked past many other students, many being researchers and fellow students most obviously being of upper years as most people of my year were probably getting to know their room mates.

Then after a couple minutes of walking and looking around, we found our assigned dormitory that actually had four seperate bedrooms and a couple bathrooms so we could have some more space.

Walking into the room after scanning my scroll on the sensor I saw Nora was staring with deep seriousness into the equally deadly seriousness of Velvet... As they were both play chess of all things.

"We are back!" New Jersey called out in a sing song voice that had Nora and Velvet jump in place.

"My stuff is all here alreadly." I noted idly at my couple of sports bags I had my extra clothes in at a door that someone had obviously moved. So with that, I looked to Nora and taking a deep breath I said quickly. "So! Where is Ren, I made a promise and I am ready to pay up with a full aura haha." 

Nora's eyes widened with glee as she shouted. "One second! I was letting him watch tv on my scroll, I will be right back!" 

But as I watched Nora's perky behind bouncing in the tight short shorts she was wearing as she bounced away... I had a thought strike me.

'What if the reason Calia and Ferid were so interested in me. Was Ren's soul binding to his head and technically resurrection?' I mused as Cinder already explained how much of a fanatical artist Ferid was about her necromancy.

Who was to say she didn't so dearly want to properly resurrect the dead with their souls just bound within her grasp so she could do her process of making them as beautiful and perfect as possible while still keeping their souls buried deep within?

But my thoughts cut off as from the room that my stuff was placed inside, Prinz Eugen came out of the room with her wearing one of my dress shirts and a pair of undershorts with her yawning. "Welcome back darling. What happened with Miss Crownsguard?"

Seeing Velvet, and Alice following Nora who was holding Ren's head jar in her hands. I gave a wry smile and quickly summarized the events of what had happened with my meeting with Calia and her disciple. The minature confrontation Lux and Calia had, before I agreed to become Lux's disciple and how I was given a Catalyst I could use for when I began my magical studies.

Anyway, after my quick explanation, I took a deep breath and said. "Enough on that topic though. Ren, it's time for you to get a new... Social body at least. I can make you a war body later on when I get some space." 

Ren gave a small nod and he said formally. "I will certainly appreciate any help you can give Jake... Living in a jar isn't exactly my preferred state of being." He finished with a wry smile.

I nodded and then I threw my mind into the collected knowledge I had. Of things that could suit him.

And honestly, I had a few thoughts in place, but for a body for social situations and just needing to get around. I had one good idea that would allow Ren to fit in with a normal... Humanish life.

My form glowed with gentle but bright blue light as I delved into my semblance and began to manifest Ren's new body.

 A modified Scout body from Nier Automata, with the head simply removed to allow Ren's head to be attached via some wires going to his neural cap on the stump of his neck.

However, I could manifest YoRHA android bodies due to their nature as a 'Space Naval' outfit. It was hard on my aura, and even if for say. I manifest 2B for example... It would only have her base programming and not any of her memories so it wouldn't exactly be her.

'But... On the other hand, maybe making some Operator Units to operate my war machines would be smart? Though that sounds like drama with how people would want the secrets of the androids I could make.' I thought as I realized that producing androids en-mass would need to wait until I myself had the protection of a noble rank.

Not to mention how once again. The androids wouldn't have the memories and mental conditioning beyond the bare minimum to serve my goals.

Either way, in but a couple minutes Ren had a new body clad in a sailor outfit with the neck being a mess of twisted wires and attachments.

"Alright Ren, with this your head can leave your tank most of the day. But you will need to insert your head back into the tank to take back in the rejuvenation chemicals when it is time for you to sleep and rest." I explained.

Ren gave a slight hum before saying frankly. "For someone else that could be an issue. But I can put my own mind into a stupor with my semblance and make it easy for me to fall asleep even if its just my head back in this jar." 

I nodded and then said. "Alright, I programmed the body to pull your head out of your jar, and then put it on the neck slot, and then with some commands you will have access to. You will be able to order the body to remove your head and put it back in your jar when the day is over."

The remote connection between the scout body and the control plate on his neck came to life with the scout body twitching as it came to life and everyone made noises at seeing the headless body, reaching into the tank to pick Ren's head up.

And then stick Ren's head with the metal control plate attaching to the neck plate on the scout's body making it look like Ren was just wearing a particularly odd metal collar around his neck.

'Wait... With that metal collar, it kinda reminds me of the collars faunus wear.' I mused before banishing the awkward thought as I knew Ren could just wear a scarf or something.

Then Ren's new body shook as Ren shook his head clear of the rejuvenation chemicals that dripped from his black hair. "Well, how does it feel?" I asked curiously.

Ren held up his android hands and I saw them flex and close into fists before he took a long breath and said with a wry smile. "I am shorter then I was... But I can feel my hands even if I feel the metal within my new body. The oils, pistons, and the battery within my chest." 

I tilted my head the side as Ren blinked and I was surprised as from his open hand came Ren's dull grey aura that matched his cold emotion-wrecked soul that had been wrecked via overuse of his semblance over the years.

"My aura... Is seeped into this body? It's like the Black Box within the chest is acting as a second store of Aura that is filling up with my aura and will be able to produce its own."

'Dafuck... Did I accidentally give Ren an actual new body with his head not needing to get put into the rejuvenation vats.'

As should his soul completely transfer over to the YoRHa Black Box's that typically housed the souls of YoRHa androids. Then that meant I could just move his soul into a completely new YoRHa body.

With that though. I coughed and said. "Well, that's great to hear. And its good to see your control plate has synched up with the new body."

"Rennie can walk again whoohoo!" Nora screamed loudly as she picked me and Ren up and tried to spin us around.

Keyword on try as Ren's new body weighed a nice lovely three hundred and fifty pounds which meant her spin was off-kilter as fuck due to the uneven weight distribution.

So after getting my feet back on the ground, I told Nora and Ren that seeing as Ren has literally lost his weapons in the Emerald Forest... And I certainly wasn't going to go get them nor was he.

I was going to make him a body purely based on large-scale warfare I had in mind after Ren matter of fact accepted being another one of my Retainers while still working to become a huntsman as well. Just under my aegis.

See I had a number of options in mind for smaller-scale mechs and such that Ren could control. But there were several issues with many larger-scale mechanical bodies. 

First, the weight they would put on his mind with the connectors possibly literally boiling his brain if he can't control the mech right.

So many mech anime and other sources weren't fucking around when they say how mechs often choose their pilots quite literally. So that left a lot of the more magical, eldritch, or alien mechs that Ren could have possibly piloted.

So the goal was for Ren to have a war body that was A, very durable. B, very physically powerful. And C, in Nora's words. Have the boom so no Grimm can get close to him.

With Ren himself saying he liked Storm Flower, his oversized blade-covered auto pistols due to how they could fill a large area with bullets so he could maneuver to kill Grimm via his mastery of martial arts.

So I thought... Why not laser weapons that with a large series of batteries strapped to his back? He basically just wouldn't run out of ammo? 

Or more specifically, I first considered a Warhammer Dreadnought for him. Nixed that thought due to how maneuverable they were. Then I thought more on the lesser mechs of Gundamn and Armored Core.

And I swiftly realized that they would be a complete bitch to make on my aura, and would need a lot of resources to keep it in top shape.

So I decided on a happy medium. In the Riptide Battlesuit of the Tau army of 40k. They had powerful laser and energy weapons I could let Ren abuse simply by having him have a more powerful battery.

And by design Tau battlesuits were made to be very modular so different weapons, and accessories could be added at his leisure... Plus the suit had anti-gravity technology so it could fly.

However, the anti-gravity bit would definitely make it more costly in terms of aura. But fuck it. I needed some more laser Dhakka in my life.

"Alright, you should be good with the body you have now for general things. And I will make the next body to be used in more heavy of warfare when I get my mana pool unlocked and can use it to speed up the process." 

Ren nodded in understanding with him saying. "I am perfectly content in waiting for however long is needed. Now if you will excuse me, I wish to do some yoga to stretch out and test this body if you all don't mind?" 

I waved him off with Nora looking between me and him as he walked back over to an exercise mat that was clearly Velvet and Alices with how it was hot pink. And began stretching on it to test his body.

And then Nora turned back to me and gave me a back-popping hug with her whispering tightly. "Thank you so much! Thank you so much Jake!"

I gave her a firm pat on her back. With my own back popping one more time with her squeezing my back again. Before she bit her lower lip as she stepped back. "Ok, buster you... You just wait, Nora Valkyrie pays her debts mark my words!"

And unbidden my mind went back to the 'blowjob' she gave me back at my fortress and as she saw my expression turn she flushed with her mouth opening and closing before shutting with a click as she seemingly mentally blue screened unable to say anything.

"Jake by the way. The latest disciple of Glynda Goodwitch, Morgan Arc came over left her contact details here. She said that 'With our shared disciple lineage we should take care of one another if we need any help." Alice spoke making finger quotations around the words that Morgan spoke.

Making me raise an eyebrow and asked slowly. "What? I am just a new student, do you think she has an ultieor motive or something?" 

To which Alice said bluntly. "Yes, yes I do. Maybe she doesn't want not something bad. But it was odd how she came here before we even got your text about becoming Lady Crownsguard's disciple." 

'Yeah... That is a bit weird.' I thought with a sigh as I realized becoming Lux's disciple was likely going to be more trouble than it intially appeared.

But I wasn't going to back out so quickly. And I gave Alice a nod of appreciation for her warning and said. "I will keep that in mind Alice thank you. But I should still share contact information due to the shared disciple lineage we have anyway. Now Prinz has anything else of note happened while I was gone?" 

There was a pause before Prinz said without any emotion. "A couple of young heirs of some lesser noble families came to... Test Alice and Velvet to see how loyal they were to you who isn't actually a noble. I had to send them off and I imagine their egos were quite bruised." 

I was silent for a moment before I spoke with a tired exhale. "Well, shit... Right, did they announce their lineage or the family they belonged to? Something along the lines of, I am the young master of so and so? And to offend me is to court death?" 

Velvet coughed and said with confusion. "What? No, thats a Mistral thing. They are the ones obsessed with becoming Sages via martial arts and alchemy. While having an insane culture about personal pride." 

But Prinz with only a small twitch of her lips to signal her amusement said. "Unfortunately no they did not 'announce' themselves. Though to be fair they are easily recognizable due to them both being rather fat and being researchers and not actual Huntsmen students." 

To that, I shrugged and said. "Well, that's something. Though the lesser rats will likely keep away when they find out I am Lux's apprentice. As to mess with me too much would be spitting in the Crownsguard family's face." 

But with that, Prinz handed me over the embossed and fucking gilded business card that had Morgan Arc's scroll I.D on it so I could call or text her and likewise. 

Then just as I was entering Morgan's information into my scroll. Said scroll loudly buzzed with a large message being directed to me.

[Student Registry and Mandatory Huntsmen Learning.]

[Jake Bariss/ No nobility rank.]

[Currently 5 retainers/servants = Nora Valkyrie, Prinz Eugen, New Jersey, Alice Scarlatina, Velvet Scarlatina.]

[Disciple of Duke Families Luxanna Crownsguard]

[Jake Bariss is currently enrolled in four mandatory classes this semester.]

[Grimm Studies. 8.AM-9.AM

 Huntsmen and Nobility Law. 10.AM-10;30.AM

 Human/Faunus Suppression/Eradication Training. 11.AM-11;30.AM

 Combat Training/Semblance Training/Magical Combat. 12.PM - 2 PM]

After reading my mandatory classes. I literally only had one thing to say. "What the actual fuck is Human/Faunus suppression? And why does it need to be a class?" 

To which Velvet spoke through a clear grimace. "Bandit, and traitor eradication. It's not too uncommon for someone to get their aura unlocked, find their semblance and think they are some A-rank wonder at the very least and run off to make their own fiefdom." 

I gave Velvet a look at that as I could easily be seen as such a figure with my overly useful 'semblance' that everyone thought I had.

But either way, she continued. "It's not like illegal for people to try to make their own settlements. The issue when the people those arrogant people round up and leave Vale and its safety. That they quickly learn that they don't have farmers, don't have a supply line. And will quickly turn to banditry."

I pulled a hand across my face as Alice added in. "Grandpa used to talk about it when he was in the army... Before the Faunus Rebellion, its even more common now with faunus's trying and failing to leave Vale and not being cut out for living in the wilds and out of Duke and Earl ranked noble settlements." 

An exhale escaped me as I realized I was perfect walking war crime with how I could launch missiles and mortars into places where bandits were and such.

But beyond that I shook my head and said. "Fine, you girls also have classes right? Even as my retainers?" 

To which Prinz Eugen spoke up. "Yes, me and New Jersey have the same class at the same time due to being your retainer and also studying to be our own huntsmen... Velvet and Alice do not have those classes though."

"Correct, instead Velvet and I will be busy working in the magical research department. Myself working in the enchanting department and Velvet with her photographic memory semblance will be studying Runic Magic." Alice spoke.

While Nora also said she was on the huntsmen track... While Ren? He seemed to be in kinda limbo right now.

Which made sense what with him literally being a talking head in a damned jar.

Either way, I was glad to hear Alice and Velvet would be busy as well doing something that would help me in the future when I created my own noble house. Though honestly, I was surprised they were allowed into such lessons at all with them being faunus? 

"Anyway. I am going to order some early dinner to be sent over here, you guys message me what you guys want. I am going to get changed into some more comfortable clothes." I spoke as I took my bags into the room that had been clearly assigned to me.

The bedroom had two queen-sized beds and two long tables for research or school work with two chairs to each table while having a couple of metal shelving units for the residents of the room to put up their stuff.

After I put away my clothes and such and got changed the door opened with Prinz Eugen walking in as my Scroll began beeping with the messages of what people wanted.

Prinz strode over and I gave a light chuckle as Prinz walked behind me and pulled me onto her lap as we fell onto the bed that was behind me. "So this Luxanna. Do you think its worth getting involved with the politics at her level." 

The Iron Blood Shipgirl's arms were tightly wrapped around my stomach and chest as she leaned her head against my back and as I looked between New Jersey who was in front of me and attempting to see Prinz behind me. 

I answered honestly. "Luxanna is jack of all trades... Master of many basically. She is honestly one of the best teachers I could land especially with how I wanted to pick up Hydromancy to help my Admiral Essence." 

"Hmm... Still, it can be a double-edged sword." Prinz said and I could only shrug as it was true.

New Jersey came over and plopped herself down as well on my bed just laying down across it with a huff of relief leaving her as I used the Beacon app on my Scroll to order all the food my entourage wanted.

And... I realized that Lux had added to my inner school balance a good deal of funds in order to support any magical research I needed to do. And... [Make sure you get yourself a nice higher-end combat outfit.] Was tagged at the end of the notice of the large payment into my account.

So with that, I just relaxed against Prinz with her moving her head and body so I could properly lay down on the bed with New Jersey giggling as I just shamelessly laid my head on her stomach.

"We got classes early tomorrow, so we should probably get too sleep early. God knows how tired our bodies still are from the initiation." I muttered calmly as I patted Prinz's head who was laying her head on my chest.

-

The next morning things were... A rushing mess to say the least, five people needing to use the showers even if we had two of them took time especially with how Alice and Velvet had long hair, and their faunus features needed special care.

Thankfully I was able to take a quick shower with Prinz and even though seeing her naked was... Just awesome obviously. I was in too much of a rush to do show my appreciation even though I knew Prinz noticed my appreciation.

As I was right. We all slept through our first alarm and by the time Prinz woke up with the second alarm we only had an hour to get ready instead of the two-plus hours I wanted us up and ready by then for.

Well, us Huntsmen studying would be going for the major classes. Ren, Velvet, and Alice had their own lessons planned out apparently.

So it was Nora, Prinz, New Jersey, and myself going for the full mandatory lessons.

After grabbing a quick bite to eat for breakfast to get our minds going. We entered the Grimm Studies classroom.

As we came into the classroom I had to do a doubletake at seeing the room was a massive long hallway with a large arena pit built into the floor at the end of the massive hallway. And lining the massive hallway that was like two football fields long, were dozens... Probably a few hundred exhibits of what looked like Grimm.

"They... Are so lifelike." I muttered as I took in the Grimm statues... No the deeper I looked, I frowned as I realized the joints had points of movement. These weren't statues, they were puppets.

"It honestly feels weird with them not snarling and trying to tear us apart." New Jersey joked as I noticed more of my fellow students streaming in and also looking at the puppets with trepidation.

I shook my head and said. "Come on, let's go get some good seats. I am interested in seeing what kind of teacher will be teaching us about Grimm." 

The four of us quickly took our seats with more people streaming into the classroom, where I saw Yang Xiao-Long, Ruby Rose, and Pyrrha Nikos taking their seats as well. Though Yang did give us a nice wave.

Then I saw Weiss and Jingliu come into the classroom last of all with Weiss making a beeline towards me, and my lips twitched as Weiss literally waved her hands to add a matching bench made out of ice next to my seat for the two to sit in.

"Can you manifest something to cover this?" Weiss asked curiously and my lips twitched as I delved into my naval knowledge and then with a wave of my hands, I manifested some treated seal pelts that fell onto the ice bench.

'That ice is going to melt and make a mess.' I thought with my lips twitching as Jingliu sorted the pelts onto the chair to make them fit and Weiss daintily sat on the ice bench.

"You know... I could have just manifested a chair or bench for you." I said with a wry smile.

To which Weiss raised an eyebrow imperiously before she said primly. "Indeed you could have. But instead of having you seemingly bow and scrape to earn the right to sit beside me, I manifested my own seat, you made it more comfortable and thus to everyone else. It looks like we are cooperating together. Just like during our exodus in the initiation to extraction." 

I peered around and beside the bench directly behind and in front of me I could hear Weiss with the hundred-odd students in the lesson making a loud din of noise even with quiet conversation.

And I noticed she was right as people we looking at me with an introspective light in terms of the people who descended from nobility.

But with that, I looked back to Weiss and spoke. "So, did you come to make conversation? Or did you have something you wanted to combine our efforts upon Lady Schnee." 

Once again. Weiss Schnee was of a royal bloodline. I had no idea why she was here in Vale. Especially when their semblance basically made them inborn Master-tier Runic and Thaumaturgy users.

But I was still going to be respectful if besides not wanting to get the ire of a royal when a couple extra words would cost me nothing.

Weiss gave me and inspection look, taking in my appearance and then she looked upon New Jersey and Prinz Eugen who were on my right side as she was sitting on my left.

She after doing her little inspection said clearly. "You as a commoner probably don't know the rites of huntsmen, but next weekend we will be having our first Class Trial. I want you for my team of ten."

I blinked hearing that. And seeing Nora shrug at knowing it either I looked back to Weiss and said plainly. "I indeed am ignorant of the Class Trial, could you explain it to me?" 

To which Weiss took a breath with a small smile crossing her face and she spoke patiently. "Vale's Huntsmen Trials are based on leading large amounts of Grimm towards a killing zone, and its student's jobs are to either corral the Grimm or if they have the capabilities, take part in the slaughter to mass eradicate Grimm from areas of interest." 

I raised an eyebrow at hearing that and after a moment I spoke. "Hmm... And you want to work together on this? I am not against it as I can always manifest a large fortification as I did before."

And hearing me Weiss smiled with a light entering her eyes as she spoke slowly. "Correct Jake Bariss, As you set up a central fortification, I will create a negative pressure zone surrounding it to make all flying Grimm come to the ground and block large distant attacks. While your inner fortifications will deal with the Grimm that will be drawn to our area."

While her plan was plan was rather sound honestly. I had one bit to niggled at my mind. "How do you plan to lead the Grimm to our area... And beyond just improving our chances of survival and efficiency, what else do you get out of this?" 

Jingliu instead spoke up in a slow husky voice. "My lady wants the honor of Hero of Light. The team that kills the most Grimm during their first Trial will be taken into the God of Light's church and they will be blessed via the God of Light, allowing their weapons and semblances to match high-tier Grimm's domains much more effectively."

'Holy shit that's fucking huge... Why haven't I heard about this before?' I wondered as I clearly remembered my sponsor saying how although, the Brother god of Light didn't punish humanity after he accidentally killed his brother during their fight.

He certainly wasn't actively helping humanity. Which was countered by the whole Church of Light and Holy Magic in general.

So something was obviously fucky.

"I mean... I accept your offer, Lady Schnee." I finished as I wasn't going to spit in the face of Weiss's offer. If anything I was going to ask Cinder and Lux about this so-called blessing of the Light god and what it meant.

Weiss gave a small smile before she exhaled and said formally. "Good! Now as Lady Luxanna Crownsguard's disciple. I am saying here and now that you Jake Bariss may speak to me without honorifics. Lady Luxanna is after all someone who is titled the Sage before Sages." 

My lips twisted as I knew it was partly a joke but still respectful as no one else currently had nearly as many accredited levels of Mastery as Lux did in all forms of Elemental magic. And likewise, she was still a Grandmaster in Holy and Light magic respectively. 

Under her breath, I heard New Jersey coughing into her arm. "Thirsty snowflake!"

But Weiss... Thank fucking god, didn't seem to understand New Jersey's horrible allergies and I quickly said. "Then I thank you for the offer Weiss."

And before we could continue, I saw in the back of the classroom past the large pit arena in the floor where a large curtain was. The curtain pulled back and I blinked as a woman with light blue hair done up in ring tails walked out of the back room.

But... As I took in the woman I realized and remembered a couple of things as I watched her moving. First, I recognized her as part of Calia's dark magic group that were behind her during the welcoming ceremony.

Secondly, her walking... Was just weird, it was both stilted in some movements, and in some they were supernaturally smooth with her legs seemingly stretching and twisting too far.

But I couldn't see her legs with or anything with how they were clad in pantyhose while she wore a long ornate dress that covered much of her rather petite form.

She held up both of her hands up to chest level and I frowned as I saw spectral threads shoot off from her hands that zoomed over our heads and past students to attach themselves to a couple of the Grimm puppets in the back behind the class.

"The Grimm, the unending tide of Darkness from the land of death. Tell me, what happens when a Grimm dies?" She asked.

The class remained silent before she smiled and said. "All Grimm, no matter their age, magical power, or accumulated intelligence from the amalgamation of souls they devour escape the fate of having their slain essence mystically return to the Dark Continent." 

Still, everyone kept quiet, as everyone was looking between our teacher and the Ursa Major, the larger more armored bear variant of Grimm. And the large Alpha Beowulf she was also controlling.

"Now, my name is Gwen Altross, sometimes known to the wider world as The Marionette, A-ranked Huntress at your service." Gwen finished with a slight bow with the Grimm likewise bowing in the same motion while I saw Weiss next to me shiver at the sight.

"In this class, you will be learning what the many variants of currently known Grimm are. And with my wealth of experience, I will pilot the Grimm puppets I have made to simulate allowing you to fight more... interesting Grimm such as one's who have succeeded in eating their first ten souls and evolving." 

She then walked over to the marker board and began writing on it. And as she was writing, she was also speaking. "There are two factors to Grimm evolutions. Resulting in three classifications of Grimm."

"First is their age, which can easily be told from a combination of a Grimm's size, their armor thickness, and the way if other Grimm of the same race will be visibly following that Grimm." She didn't even seem to take a breath as she continued without stop.

"Grimm come in the following stages, first Baby Grimm which are almost always found via their birth of greater Grimm like that Dreamwalker Grimm you all faced in Initiation, second is adolescent Grimm which are the most common." 

Even as she was speaking and outlining I watched as she quickly began drawing up outlines of what quick artful depictions of Beowulfs with each level being visibly bigger and more details.

"Next is the adults/matured Grimm which have their armor fully set in their bodies. They still don't have developed any intelligence and it is noted that for a baby Grimm depending on the race it can take up to a maximum of five years for a baby Grimm to reach the adult stage."

Her voice became more serious as she swirled and made a circle around a Beowulf that was a good thirty percent bigger than the previous adult variant. "Alpha, and other leading class Grimm take much longer to grow into their power and general instinctive intelligence. But they don't die nearly as often as they know they have seemingly endless bodies of their own races to throw at humanity."

"Omega, King, Disaster, Transcendent." Each rank of these Grimm takes even faster evolving Grimm like Beowulfs and Creeps up to three hundred years. Supposedly from the information we have taken from traitors who served Disaster and Transcendant Grimm, they took at least a thousand years to mature even with the many souls they consume over the years helping their growth." 

Gwen finally seemed to take a breath, allowing us to catch up in taking notes before she spoke. "A Grimm's age is a major contributing factor to their danger level in their physical power and to an extent their general intelligence. But that is not the most important factor."

She wrote the word 'SOULS' in all capitals with a cold expression crossing her face as she spoke. "The Grimm, whether they eat humans, faunus, huntsmen, or civilians. It doesn't matter, if they consumed more than fifty percent of a sentient being's mass they will have devoured the target's soul into their body essentially. And their soul will be used in time as the Grimm get older to enact corrupted magic and even miracles if the devoured was blessed with holy magic."

The room was filled with whispers before Gwen spoke up. "Indeed, it's kept quiet, but the souls of the fallen within higher-leveled Grimm are... Alive, in a way. They are forced to provide their memories, mockeries, and shards of their own semblances, and in time when the Grimm become near Transcendent level, the most powerful soul within the Grimm will become the catalyst to become the core of the Grimm's newborn personality. And to act as their catalyst as they become the match of Humanity's Sages." 

I shivered at the thought of being devoured by a Grimm and then over the course of thousands of years be corrupted into becoming a Grimm's Sage Catalyst or whatever.

Gwen gave us a moment to take all that in before she spoke. "And all those souls are distilled power, and often... All too often those Transcendant and a few Disaster tier Grimm will share their powers with humans, and faunus who want to watch the world burn. People scorned those who want to destroy all life in the world by implanting some of the souls they had devoured and corrupted into the traitors they take in."

She smiled mirthlessly as she said. "Not that those traitors are able to do anything in Vale. The Holy Church is... Exceedingly skilled and motivated in hunting all those who are touched by the Grimm in such a way." 

Gwen coughed and then her blue and red heterochromia eyes slid over my form before she looked elsewhere and said. "Still, such Grimm are uncommon. And are often times prone to infighting as they raid smaller settlements for easier to collect souls as they know the dozen Sages within Vale can and will set aside their differences to tear them apart." 

With that I watched the large Alpha Beowulf lower a paw towards Gwen which she jumped into and I watched as the Beowulf puppet raised her up in the air with Gwen speaking. "Now! I have given you all plenty to research already later. So how about we have someone take to the field? This Beowulf is Alpha tier, and has two simulated semblances from the souls it has devoured." 

And Gwen's eye's snapped to my form with her smile coming out entirely too wide... Inhumanly wide with teeth that were now seemingly sharpened into points.

"Ah Mr, Bariss. The Headmaster heaped a good deal of praise upon you. Why don't you face this challenge show the classroom the power to earn an apprenticeship with Lady Crownsguard." 

My face darkened as I realized what was happening.

Fucking Calia or maybe even Ferid had gone to the other teachers in the dark magic bloc of the school and were going to single me out.

I stood up knowing it wasn't a request as to refuse would at the very least make me out to be a coward. To say nothing of how she invoked my teacher's name and said if I refused I would make Lux look like she had bad taste in choosing me for a disciple.

I frowned slightly as I realized I also left my arm cannons behind as I didn't expect Grimm Studies to have us actually facing Grimm puppets of all things.

"And let this be a lesson for you all as well. Just because in a mission something or in an official statement. You should be prepared for all eventualities. As look, Jake didn't even bring a weapon to this class!" Gwen spoke sternly as though the damned class wasn't clearly marked as an academic class.

I popped my neck to the side with my hands filling my pockets as Gwen dropped to the ground as her Beowulf puppet shot forward into the arena as I entered it as well

"Now Jake, your job is to destroy my puppet. And, my job... Is to bring your aura down to red, or down to twenty percent." Gwen spoke with a smile and my lips twitched as I knew in combat training/sparring it was only to yellow of forty-five percent in order to account for certain powerful blows that could do a lot more damage to aura like hitting someone in the neck or head.

'Meaning... She wants to have fun kicking my ass.' I thought with a sigh before I looked up at the ceiling lights as though looking for the secrets to the universe. While in reality... I was already using my semblance to manifest something beneath my feet as the arena was a good thirty meters wide in all directions.

"Are you ready Jake?" Gwen asked sportingly.

I tilted my head to the side as I looked directly at my teacher with a smile crossing my face as she left me plenty of time to manifest what I had wanted in the sand beneath my feet and with that I bent over and pulled a sheathed sword out of the sand with my aura having dropped by thirty percent after manifesting the magical Azur Lane Module enhancement sword.

See Azur Lane had these wonderful enchanted weapons that were clearly in my naval theme... The main issue was most of them were add-ons to the abilities certain ship girls had. Not actual weapons.

But the 'Fabulous Fioretto' belonging to Zara was a beautiful if not simple thin European straight sword. 

"Yes, I am ready Miss Altross." I spoke calmly as I drew the sword with a soft noise from its sheath with the sheath fading into mist as I leaned into my Admiral Essence in inheriting the knowledge on how to use this enchanted sword.

The teacher's face held in a barely concealed twitch before she snapped her fingers and a roar all to real escaped from the Beowulf.

I held up a hand as it dipped low and its front legs helped its back legs as it sprinted across the arena towards me and my second plan came to play as its feet slammed into the sand and a powerful explosion rang out as I held up an arm to block the sand that exploded towards me.

'Fuck you. I put anti-tank mines throughout the sand!' I thought with a smirk as I saw Gwen actually scowl... But then I noticed something.

The fucking puppet was completely unharmed after being blown up by an anti-tank mine that was made to blast through a literal meter of assorted metal and parts.

And then it hit me. The puppet was protected and being controlled via Gwen's magic and by extension her own aura. Which meant I needed to break her aura in order to truly damage her puppets truly.

"Fucking shameless!" I cursed out loud. This was fucking bullshit!

So with how shameless she was going to be. I decided I should just say fuck it. My I waved my hand and drained another fifteen percent of my aura... But I didn't summon an enchanted weapon to fuck around with.

No I went straight back to my roots and summoned the anti-air machine guns in the Phalanx's in a row of three and I saw Gwen's eyes widen as she seemingly remembered what they were.

But before she could say something as her Beowulf dashed at an insane speed to the side... The Anti-Air machine guns were built to track and attempt to shoot down missiles and jets.

The roar of armor-piercing 20MM rounds damn near deafened the class for sure with how the massive classroom was indoors and with each Phalanx shooting at their max speed of 75 rounds per second... That meant with three Phalanx's there were two hundred and twenty-five rounds per second hitting that piece of shit puppet!

So the fact that it could survive, for what was, in reality, five whole seconds as what looked like an earth shield surrounded it from the 'simulated semblance' the Grimm was supposed to have. That was impressive.

But by the sixth and up to the tenth second... Gwen's puppet was a pile of scrap that my Phalanx's further tore apart as they switched to explosive rounds leaving not a single intact piece of Gwen's puppet in decent condition.

And finally, I held up a hand as though to say stop with the roar of the anti-air machine guns abruptly stopping and with a calm even expression I met Gwen Altross's empty expression and spoke. "This was an enlightening lesson, I will make sure to share with my teacher later tonight. But I think I dealt with your puppet in a sufficient manner so excuse me as I take back my seat."

With that I slightly tipped my head to her in 'respect' before turning my back to her and returning back to my seat... But in reality and everyone else's view. My manifested Phanlanx's were still aimed near Gwen in case she attacked me from behind.

And I could see through my Phalanx's camera's in my mind's eye that a cold smile crossed her face before she huffed and spoke up. "See how Jake destroyed the Grimm? It was definitely overkill by any metric but just as a lion hunts even a rabbit with its full strength. You should take every Grimm seriously as you can never know if it is a monster in disguise that has eaten dozens of souls."

I took back my seat as Gwen continued talking about Beowulfs in particular and how they were one of the most pack-oriented Grimm there were. While also having a notoriously short growth stage from Baby to Alpha level compared to very slowly aging Grimm like Goliath Grimm which were Grimm Elephants basically.

"Hmm, so why is Miss Altross trying to suppress you?" Weiss asked curiously.

I chewed on my thoughts before I answered. "Lady Calia tried to take me as her disciple while testing me with illusion magic. In the meantime, while I was in the meeting room, my teacher called me."

"My Teacher broke into the room stopping Calia's request and I politely denied her tutorship. If anything I believe Ferid, Lady Calia's disciple is the one who pushed Miss Altross to try to make me look incompetent." 

There was a pause before Weiss said with a huff of amusement. "I see... You are already being pulled into the Great Game."

That was the end of the conversation as class continued with myself making a mental effort and I smiled as I broke down the anti-air guns into motes of light.

Which... Although it didn't give me back the aura I spent back. It still allowed me to deny people the right to fuck with the stuff that I summoned into the world.

Then Prinz next to me leaned into my ear to whisper. "You may need to stay behind in the next class. Learning how to get your own noble rank so fewer people are willing to mess with you is becoming more important." 

I slowly nodded before I felt Prinz lick my ear making me jump slightly as she giggled and then whispered into my ear hotly. "Of course... You could always just skip straight to the top if you marry Lux, or that little snowflake sitting next to you."

And with that Prinz pulled back with an even smile like she didn't suggest anything so spicy as the class continued while I mentally screamed at the crazy shipgirl.

With that, the class continued without incident with the exception of0 Miss Altross bringing another puppet in a Ursa Minor that she had a random wizard classmate fight that I didn't know. With the wizard student getting his ass rag dolled and mauled as the damned bear Grimm had a speed semblance from the 'simulated semblances' it had from the souls it supposedly devoured.

Honestly, the whole scene just reminded me of the movie Cocaine Bear from my previous life with how the clearly overwhelmed wizard was brutalized into a crying mess via the fucking speedster Ursa Minor that was could run faster than my eyes could track without aura-enhancing my body.