Professor Arc

Chapter 2: Doomsday Approaches

"Wow, it sure pays to be a teacher." Jaune mumbled to himself as he looked around his new quarters, which were adjoined to his small office. The Headmaster had apparently thought that since he was a support teacher who might be called into any role on short notice, that it made sense to have his office and living quarters connected. Jaune had been quick to agree, knowing that if the man had claimed that new teachers wore pumpkins on their heads, he probably would have done it so as not to appear suspicious.

He just hadn't expected it to be so spacious! He had a decent sized bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, along with a kitchen-living room combination separated by a counter with two stools pulled up against it. The living area consisted of little more than a couch with a low laying coffee table and a decent-sized television, but it was still much more than he was used to at home. What's more, the fridge and cupboards were well stocked with a variety of meats and food.

It was almost enough to distract him from what today actually was. Today was to be his first official day of employment, and what was worse, the students were expected to arrive for within the next eight hours or so... though thankfully the mysterious initiation was not until the following day. Miss Goodwitch had been quick to assure him that the initiation would take the entire day, and that any teaching that might be required was still a good two days away. Still though...

Where was the training he had been promised!?

Idly his eyes fell on a small card that sat perched on the coffee table where he had laid it earlier, and the guilt that came along with it hit him like a mallet.

Congratulations on your new job! It was filled with kind and loving words, not only from his mother and father - who had been shocked but ecstatic that he had landed such a good job. But also from his sisters who pretty much had expected him to be a bum all his life. Such faith, and yet probably rightfully deserved.

We're so proud of you! He could remember the look on his mother's face as he told her what had happened. Oh, he'd made some alterations to the tale. As far as they knew he was going to be teaching at a combat school teaching younger teenagers, but the gist of the job had been the same. So maybe the lie wasn't that bad?

"Who am I kidding, I'm going straight to Hell."

Still his parents had been supportive and helpful, and had even taken him out shopping for supplies as a gift to him. Hence the new coat he was wearing that crossed over his breast-plated chest and swept down to the back of his knees. It wasn't a fashion statement though... one of the concerns that Jaune had given to his parents was that the fourteen year old students he was going to be teaching wouldn't give him full respect since he was so young. His mother had suggested dressing to make himself look older, and just not mentioning his age to any of them.

So he knew where he got the lying from anyway.

Either way she had chosen the dark blue coat because it apparently accentuated his height, and also hid his chest and arms from view. She said most people would just see the sword and shield, along with the coat and armour - and assume him to be a lot more buff than he actually was beneath it all. He'd taken the obvious dig in stride and agreed with the decision. He couldn't say he felt, or looked, any older - but maybe it would work on other people.

"Mr Arc, may I come in?" A recognisable female voice asked from outside the doors to his quarters. Jaune quickly walked over and opened it to reveal the stern face of Glynda Goodwitch.

"Ah. Good morning Miss Goodwitch, come in." He beckoned with his arm, stepping back to let her into the room. He tried not to pay attention to the way her green eyes quickly snapped left and right to inspect the room, before settling on himself once more.