Professor Arc

Chapter 45

"Come on," Amber laughed, all frustration forgotten as she looked at the bright lights, banners and musicians playing fancy music. Crowds teemed the streets and Juniper smiled as she watched her youngest have fun for the first time since they'd reached Vale. The other girls were no less enthused, even if Jade and Hazel tried to hide it and pretend they weren't impressed. She knew how to see through her daughters, and their eyes were unnaturally bright as they watched the parade prepare to begin.

They weren't the only ones. The streets were filled and people watched from windows, balconies and the tops of their own cars.

"The crowds aren't my cup of tea," her husband said, one hand on the hilt of his weapon. "But I have to admit, it's impressive. If only they found entertainment in something other than a blood sport."

Juniper patted his arm, aware of his aversion to the life he lived. It was why he'd not trained their son, after all. Neither of them had wanted a life for Jaune where he'd have to risk his life for people who would forget about him the moment the threat was gone. Nicholas was a huntsman, yes, but he held no respect for people who found amusement in watching two fight against one another - even if it was just a friendly spar. It was time spent not helping people who needed it, out in the frontier.

"At least the festival is for peace and co-operation, Nicky. The methods are bad, I agree, but at least the results are positive. That's all that matters, right?"

"Turn my own words against me," Nicholas smiled and gripped her arm, drawing her in for a scorching kiss. Their daughters made loud noises of disgust and despair, but she ignored them as she tangled her fingers in his coarse hair. Even then, he didn't let his guard down. She'd have been frustrated were it not clear he did it to protect them. She'd gotten used to it long ago and now only shook her head with a small smile.

"What do you think Jaune is doing?" she asked as they pulled apart. "He said he was involved in this. Do you think it's something dangerous?"

Nicholas grunted in the negative, half his attention on some young man who started to talk to Lavender. "I'm sure he's safe," he said, "Which is more than can be said for this guy."

"Be nice!"

"I am being nice. He's still breathing, isn't he?"

Juniper sighed and rolled her eyes as Nicholas went to loom imperiously close by in case the teenager tried something he hadn't been invited to. She ignored it, eyes fixed up towards the Amity Colosseum in the sky.

Jaune will be safe, she told herself, It's not like there's anything dangerous for him to even do right now.

What could go wrong?

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He didn't feel airsick. Of all the thoughts that could have crossed his mind, that one was perhaps the least useful, yet also the most surprising. His treacherous stomach was an ever-present companion when his feet left the ground – and yet – here he was, atop Ironwood's grand battleship, and he felt as comfortable as ever. Maybe it was due to the size of it. It dwarfed the Bullheads he'd been used to and so when it swayed gently in the air, the movement felt somehow less. Maybe it was some kind of Atlesian-anti-vomit technology, in which case was it too late to take their offer and teach there?

Or maybe it was just the seriousness of the situation which kept his mind from thinking about it. It was hard to tell. Outside the great window he could see the city of Vale stretch off towards the horizon, and the empty plains beyond the tall walls that ringed it. The view was certainly commanding.

Winter coughed from beside him. She tapped a finger to her left ear and he did the same, the small metallic communications device that rested there coming to life. There was a microphone on their collar too, to let them communicate over distance. Naturally it wasn't for the two of them, since they were right next to one another, but rather to patch them in to the security feed for the opening ceremony itself.