The next day I was awoken to the feeling of big soft boobies in my face as New Jersey had seemingly climbed into my bed and I being a man... Nothing more than a mere man, had of course welcomed her into my arms without even waking up.
And now I woke up to the heavenly feeling of the Black Dragon wrapped around me with my face buried into her very ample tits with her arms wrapped around me and her legs tangled around my own.
"Bwbblw." I mumbled into New Jersey's sweater pillows and the American battleship giggled as she tightened her grip around me and mumbled.
"No honey... Chocolate or whipped cream only. One at a time." She whispered at the end as a soft snore rang out from her.
"Truly. The strongest ship of America's Navy shows her power and elegance." I heard Prinz saying teasingly from across the other bed that was in the room.
There was an audible popping noise as my head popped out of New Jersey's tits and arms before I was able to groan out. "Morning to you as well Prinz."
After getting myself dressed amidst New Jersey and Prinz taking themselves a quick shower and getting ready in my bathroom I went through my messages and such as I looked at the lessons scheduled for today.
First was Grimm Studies, then Huntsmen, Nobility and Law. Then there was Human/Faunus Suppression/Eradication Training, and finally Combat Training/Semblance Training/Magical Combat as the last lesson of the day.
Then after those classes, I had magical lessons with Lux, and then I had to work on the Ghost Ship project with the big titty goth girl Jean.
So I still had a good busy day ahead of myself.
When everyone was up and ready after we had a quick breakfast we headed to our separate classes with the combat-aligned members of my retinue following me closely as New Jersey and Prinz Eugen didn't take Weiss's spying on me kindly.
I took a seat for Grimm Studies next to Yang with Prinz taking the seat behind and above me in the raised seating, while New Jersey took my other side as I already shared that I wanted to have Weiss somewhat to myself when she went to retrieve the information she wanted.
Much better for me to have Weiss more alone like in the dueling squares than in a full classroom like this one in any case.
"So how was the combat training class?" Yang asked with a bright smile and I realized she must have been in Udry's unarmed class instead of Fiora and Kharisma's armed classes that I was in.
"Yeah, it went well enough. How is Udry as a teacher?" I asked curiously.
And Yang's face became pinched as she laughed awkwardly and then shook her head. "He is something else... I think he honestly forgets how he is a fucking sage and we mortals aren't immune to harm like his ass is. Reminds me of my dad's style of training though."
"And how is your dad actually... I mean what with how Ruby tried to kill you in the middle of the commoner's dorm hallway?" I asked frankly.
And Yang's face became truly awkward as she brushed a hand across her face as she said in embarrassment. "He is celebrating me leaving the house for extended amounts of time by bringing his hookups home... Which was why Ruby was probably so mad as Summer popped in to say high only to find Dad folding fucking a pair of triplets he seduced."
I gave Yang a long look before I asked bluntly. "Does Taiyang Xiao-Long have a death wish? Or why doesn't he just marry Summer or another woman to put a stop to-"
I was stopped as Yang with a firm face held up a hand and said calmly. "Dude I get it... I have had this conversation a million times Jake. But my dad has a life goal of literally having one thousand bastard children and already... He has hit double digits of percentage in that life goal."
'Holy shit... Yang isn't fucking lying at all.' I thought as I stared at her astounded and Nora summed up my thoughts as she said from the next seat over on my other side. "Damn girl... How many diapers have you changed already haha!?"
And Yang's face twitched in horror as she imagined being responsible for changing countless babies's diapers and such.
But any further conversation was cut off as a soft cough broke out and I saw on the edge of the alley for our seat's row was Weiss shadowed by her retainer Jingliu who spoke simply. "Jake if you wouldn't mind. I would like to speak with you after class privately about the Class Trial. If you have conferred with your teacher about it?"
I kept my emotions to myself as I gave a nod and thankfully our teacher Gwen entered the classroom just in time making Weiss go find her own seat as the lesson started.
And this time I didn't get called down to be made an example out of as Gwen lectured to us in particular about siege-breaking Grimm in Creeps, Bile Spewers, Chargers, Nightcrawlers and other Grimm species that were focused on getting through or over fortifications.
Then a mage student was called up to fight a Bilespewer Grimm which was a Grimm that had the body of a spider with eight legs but instead of a spider front end, it was built more like a beetle or something with a long protruding mouth that allowed it to spew congealed superheated acid that could melt through steel without issue.
Then another student this one a melee fighter, got pulled into fighting a Nightcrawler which was a Grimm that totally was a spider in fact.
And it's special ability was its optical camouflage that allowed it to slowly crawl past motion detectors as the micro hairs on its body had the effect of breaking apart the lasers used in motion detection technology apparently.
However the teacher just showed off the spider's ability as its ability wasn't that useful in a direct fight. In either case, the melee student unlike the mage student previously was graciously allowed to fight the Grimm without getting drowned in sticky soda like the mage was.
'I wonder if Gwen isn't targeting me because I can and will destroy her puppets without remorse. Plus Calia and Ferid now want to be on my good side with Ferid wanting her own ghost ship.' I wondered.
The rest of the class went without incident with me and Yang talking a bit though not in-depth. And once class was over I got ready for what was to come with Weiss as I left the classroom and went into an empty classroom that was next door where we wouldn't be disturbed and with only New Jersey and Prinz Eugen at my heels.
Where I took a seat at a table with my hands laid across the table with a chair left open for Weiss directly in front of me at the other end of the table.
With New Jersey and Prinz Eugen standing behind me with their rigging ready to be summoned at a moment's notice.
Weiss herself walked in a bit behind me and seeing me already sitting at the table she raised an eyebrow and said calmly. "Well, I would almost say you were ready for this meeting if anything."
I gave a mirthless smile at that which I said bluntly. "Afraid I expected this conversation later today frankly."
And Weiss gave me an analytical look before she smiled softly and took the seat with Jingliu standing at attention behind her with her hand as usual at rest at her sides but ready to draw her greatsword to defend her mistress.
"So, I assume you will be going along with the Class Trial?" Weiss asked bluntly.
I nodded and then I waved my hands towards her slightly as I said. "Correct, I talked to my master, along with my senior in Cinder Fall. And they advised me it was likely to my best interest in doing so."
Weiss was silent for a moment before she smiled and I watched coldly as she took my hand into a handshake as she spoke. "Good! I am glad to heearrrrrr-" She slurred before her face locked up and her arm shot backward as a loud crackle of flames crackled to life between our hands.
Jingliu's face hardened with her greatsword of ice manifesting into her hands but she paused as a dozen cannons spawned into existence and pointed at her and threatened complete annihilation as I calmly pulled my hand back.
"So Weiss Schnee... So much for the vaunted pride of a royal, really... Putting a spying glyph on another student, the disciple of a Duke ranked house Grandmaster, where said student would be closely watched by said Grandmaster when he was building his magical core... What were you even thinking?" I asked incredulously at her honest stupidity the more I thought about it.
Weiss's face curdled like she tasted something sour and Jingliu herself looked at the back of her mistress's head where she said flatly. "Wow... That really is dumb when he puts it like that."
I leaned back in my chair with my arms folding across my chest and I just stared into Weiss's eyes for a long minute as the room went painfully silent.
Until I broke the silence and asked plainly. "Well, how are you going to make this right? I obviously don't want to work with you during the Class Trial now."
Her blue eyes tightened on me as I put a hand across my chin and I tilted my head to the side and spoke. "Ahh... Thats what it was about. You wanted to hear what me and my master would talk about in terms of the Class Trial, well in either case..." I drew off.
Weiss visibly took a deep breath and she said slowly. "I... I understand, I can try to find another team then with the trust between us broken."
I remained silent for a moment as I gazed at Weiss and I myself considered things. Did I want to hold a grudge with Weiss over her stupid as-hell move. Or should I let bygones be bygones in order to use her talents along with Jingliu as a fighter?
As her being a royal was something to consider as I wanted to win the Class Trial, her going to another team was a team I had to consider a rival to my own ambitions.
And it's not like I could sabotage another team during the Class Trial besides stealing their Grimm kills.
So it was in my best interest to keep Weiss on my team simply to prevent her from being the leading factor of another team possibly winning.
That is to say if there weren't other mages and warriors who themselves had mass grimm slaying abilities like Ruby's Silver Eyes.
There was a pause before I said bluntly. "I said... What will you do to make it right. I did not ask for an apology for being a failure and getting caught so you could skulk away."
Weiss's face twitched at my crass way of speaking and she glared at me with the room becoming freezing cold as her ice magic leaked out of her.
But I didn't react to her mana release.
I just stared her right in the eye as I sat primly in my chair.
Weiss took a deep breath and her right cheek sunk in before she said frankly. "You don't care for an apology so what do you want then? Some Dust? Magical Reagents? Money? I don't know what you want frankly."
"It's simple... During the Class Trial, you will wear a maid outfit."
Weiss's face became bright red as she gaped at me as Jingliu actually laughed out loud as she could seemingly imagine Weiss's expression far better than I could.
"How... How dare you! I am a Schnee! A royal born of Atlas and lady of tens of thousands who waited on my every desire!" She snarled at me with her blue eyes glowing in magical warning.
But I instead leaned in and said with a cold smile. "My name is Jake Bariss... Commoner, slave to none, and lord to those who rely on me. I will see you in a maid outfit next week or I am afraid there will be two more open spots on my team."
There was a pause as Weiss seethed in her chair. She was malding with each moment she breathed and just to finish things off I added. "The Atlas Royal running off to Vale, to Beacon who couldn't get first place against a commoner. That will be mighty embarrassing won't it?"
At that, Jingliu's amusement ended as she gazed at me coldly and said calmly. "That will be enough Jake, do not torment my lady."
And I hummed before I nodded and said to the retainer. "Very well. In either case... I have said my piece. I am not your enemy Weiss Schnee nor even a rival. Even now I can help you in much but either way, I have said my demand for peace between us."
I stood up and prepared to leave but Weiss's low voice cut me off. "You ask me to abandon my pride... The last thing I have to assuage this grievance?"
To which I looked down at Weiss who wasn't even looking at me and I said more softly. "What pride? Your royal pride? Your royalty was left behind in Atlas, and even then you still bleed the same red blood I do. So yes I am asking you to shame yourself publicly to earn my forgiveness Weiss Schnee."
With that, I turned my back on the royal and Jingliu with New Jersey and Prinz Eugen following me as I headed off to my next damned class in Huntsmen and Nobility Law which was strictly an ethics and schoolwork class.
Which was taught by an older man and it was the hardest class so far... As it was truly a chore to stay awake in the class as fucking law and ethics of all things were discussed by a monotone-speaking old man.
And so after the lovely lesson on how civilians normally worked themselves up into a knight position through the military. I headed on towards my second least favorite damned class in Human/Faunus Suppression/Eradication Training.
With Mr Kharisma standing promptly already at his podium waiting for us to file in and once class started the lights dimmed slightly as he handled a remote and he spoke aloud. "Today will be an academic day after yesterday's lab exercise in getting the untainted among you blooded." He spoke.
A projector screen lit up and he continued to speak. "One of humanities and Faunus kinds biggest issues of today beyond Abominations and the Grimm themselves, are of bandits."
Soft whispers broke out in the class with Mr Kharisma's voice raising as he silenced the whispers. "Yes! Normally a civilian who decides to take up some kind of trash weapon and attacks a resource convoy leaving Vale or one of its surrounding towns will just die to the Grimm in the wilderness."
The teacher gazed at the students before he said coldly. "But what if they have a semblance that makes them all but invisible to the Grimm? What if they have the patience to just dig up the dirt-impacted roads to make a hole for the trucks to fall into? Or just sets up a daisy chain of dust crystals to explode violently?"
The teacher shook his head as he continued. "It's not uncommon in any case as people outside the walls of Vale live a much harsher life and are willing to do much to see their own walled-in towns prosper to say nothing of keeping the loot for themselves."
A student raised up a hand and called out. "Sir, why don't we use mages with divination or information-gather magic to root out the bandits?"
The teacher gave a wry smile and took a breath before saying. "The fact that you ask is plenty of evidence that you yourself don't use such magics. No, the Grimm themselves with their dark magical aura taint magical signatures and area's that don't have other magical signatures or active aura pushing through them. It's how the Grimm seemingly teleports across continents into an area that has so many Grimm that more Grimm just seemingly spawn from the tainted area."
'Well, that makes a bit more sense.' I mused as the dark continent was its own solitary landmass with any previous land bridges connected to the hellhole being destroyed long ago by the great Sages.
I raised my own hand as I asked. "How often do bandits attack actually?"
Mr. Kharisma seeing my pointed question swiftly answered. "Vale typically gets three hundred to four hundred and fifty major cargo shipments each day from the surrounding towns and noble dominions. And each day there are typically a dozen bandit attacks that make attempts at stealing the convoy or at least making off with part of the cargo."
"Hence why as Huntsmen, besides just Grimm eradication. Much of your time will be spent escorting convoys between the major towns and Vale as the resources from the towns are the lifeblood of Vale as with its large population and limited space within the walls.... There isn't any room to be farming obviously." He finished dryly.
I knew what he also meant. Vale with its massive population was a burning beacon to the Grimm's gaze and thus for the most part the tides of Grimm were rushing toward Vale instead of running toward the less defended towns.
And so the lesson continued with the teacher explaining how small teams of Huntsmen if not entire retinues depending on the size of the cargo load being sent would be assigned to protect the cargo loads.
With class ending this time without blood on my hands quite literally I was able to enjoy my lunch much more easily with my group coming back together to discuss things and after a bit I got locked into a conversation with Yang who was talking about the unarmed combat instructor Udry who she was becoming the apprentice of.
"Yeah. it kinda sucks I won't be able to take part in this year's combat trial with how Udry wants me to go camping with him and the rest of the apprentices... But eh, probably for the best honestly. Ruby may try to pull some shit." She said with a shrug.
I raised an eyebrow and asked curiously. "You guys are just going... Camping?" I asked dryly.
And Yang grinned and said shamelessly. "Not just camping you know! Udry is an old-school Druid, so there will be a punch of drugs and drug-filled alcohol that will get us apprentices in touch with our most primal selves. Its a good way to take your semblance as far as it can in unarmed combat as the mind just focuses on madly smashing shit haha!"
My lips twisted at the thought of a bunch of strung-out teenagers and young adults doing drugs in the forest to go punch Grimm to fucking death... But Udry was a literal Sage.
He has comprehended the way of punching shit so hard and good that he became literally immortal. And if getting high in the forest was part of that who the hell was I say to anything about it. I certainly wasn't a sage after all.
Either way, Yang continued on. "Oh and by the way Jake. You need to get some one-on-one time with Fiora to get a real martial art. Sure swinging that magic sword around is good and all, but you need an actual foundation to find your ki and begin training in that way."
I gave Yang a gimlet glare as I stated flatly. "I literally just got to Beacon and began magic lessons and plan on making a giant magical ghost battleship for the Class Trial. I am afraid I quite literally don't have the time for that honestly."
"Pshhh! Come on Jake! You got like three or four hours after lessons and your extra crap to relax. Put an extra hour into sword lessons with Fiora if she will take you up on it!" Nora called out excitedly.
I gave the damned ginger a glare for the thought of stealing more of my already very short free time to relax before I sighed and said. "Alright... After today's lessons with Fiora, I will ask if she has free time to teach me and help me find a water-aligned sword martial art."
Yang laughed and my face was smushed into big soft titties as she drew me in for a damned noogie of all things as she said teasingly. "Good! You can be a spell caster all you want, but when baddies get up your face. You need a good way to beat their asses haha!"
And just to prove her words she showed how helpless I was when she squeezed me good making my neck burn in warning at the pressure she was putting on me before she let go of me.
Shaking my head clear of that I said flatly. "Yes well, I typically have canons between me and any weirdos who want to put their grubby mitts on me."
With New Jersey pitching in helpfully. "I don't know Jake... Do you want me to get between you and Yang giving you another motorboat session?"
Yang actually flushed at New Jersey's words with myself saying shamelessly and making her give me the cutest glare. "You know what... Yang is an exception to a bit of a struggle snuggle."
With Nora and Alice chuckling at my words as Velvet and Ren rolled their eyes.
Changing the subject however, I reengaged Velvet and Alice as we began talking about making spectral cannons that could fit onto the ghost ship I was planning and the conversation stretched out until our lunch was done and we split up with myself heading to my last official class of the day in Combat Training/Semblance Training/Magical Combat.