Early morning outside Beacon Dorms
The morning air carried a faint chill, the kind that made you want to shove your hands into your pockets and walk a little faster. Hyunwoo had been planning to head toward the training grounds when he spotted two familiar figures on a bench near the courtyard — Ruby and Jaune.
From a distance, Ruby was leaning forward, her hands moving animatedly, while Jaune sat hunched over, staring at the ground.
Hyunwoo walked up quietly, catching Jaune's voice mid-sentence.
"...Maybe I'm just not cut out for this. Leaders are supposed to inspire, to protect... but lately, I feel like I'm just dragging everyone down."
Ruby shook her head firmly. "That's not true. Sure, maybe you made mistakes before — maybe even when you first got here — but you're not the same guy you were on day one. You have a team now. And whether you think you're ready or not, their lives are in your hands."
Hyunwoo stopped beside them, resting his spear lightly against his shoulder. "She's right, you know."
Jaune looked up. "Hyunwoo? How much of that did you hear?"
Hyunwoo shrugged. "Enough to know you're overthinking this." He sat on the edge of the bench. "Nobody's perfect from the start. Leadership's not about never messing up — it's about making sure your team keeps moving forward, even when you're tired, scared, or unsure. If you can keep doing that, you're already doing better than most."
Ruby grinned. "See? Even Hyunwoo agrees!"
Hyunwoo smirked faintly at her. "Yeah, and you make a good argument too."
That drew a small laugh out of Jaune. "...Alright. I'll try. No more sulking."
"Good," Hyunwoo said, standing. "You'll need the energy — Forever Fall isn't exactly a walk in the park."
Ruby hopped up from the bench. "Then we'd better be ready!"
As the three of them headed toward the main hall, Hyunwoo caught Ruby still talking excitedly about the trip, her words spilling out faster than Jaune could keep up. It made him smile — if anything could keep Jaune's spirits up, it was having Ruby and Hyunwoo around.
Ruby yawned and stretched as she stood. "Well... I'm gonna grab a few more minutes of sleep before class. Don't forget, Forever Fall trip later!"
Hyunwoo gave a faint nod, watching her bounce off toward the dorms. Jaune stayed behind, shoulders slumped.
"You good?" Hyunwoo asked.
"Yeah... just thinking."
Hyunwoo gave him a look but didn't push. "Alright. Don't get lost in your head too long." With that, he walked off toward the training grounds.
Jaune sat in silence for a few moments before his Scroll buzzed. He pulled it out, already feeling a knot in his stomach when he saw the sender: Cardin Winchester.
The voice message played with Cardin's smug tone bleeding through every word.
"Hey, Arc. Change of plans. Besides that Dust project you're doing for me, you're also gonna go out and grab some Rapier Wasps. Don't care how you do it, just make it happen. Oh — and don't screw it up."
Jaune's thumb hovered over the delete button, but he knew it wouldn't change anything. Cardin always found a way to push him around.
⸻
[Later – Forever Fall Forest]
Afternoon sunlight filtered through a canopy of deep crimson leaves. The forest floor was blanketed in a sea of red, the air warm with the faintly sweet scent of sap.
Glynda Goodwitch stood before the gathered students — Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Team NOVA and Team CRDL. "Today's assignment is simple. On Professor Peach's behalf, each of you will collect a jar of Red Sap from these trees. Handle the jars with care; the sap is sticky and will stain clothing permanently."
Most students murmured in awe at the scenery. Yang tilted her head back, letting a leaf drift into her palm. "Gotta admit, this place is gorgeous."
Ruby was already halfway to the nearest tree, pulling Weiss along while Blake trailed behind, shaking her head.
Glynda's sharp gaze swept over the group. "Remember — one jar per student."
Behind her, Cardin leaned close to Jaune. "You heard her. That's one jar per student... but you're gonna get me six. One for me, one for each guy on my team... and one special jar." His eyes flicked toward Pyrrha, who was speaking with Ren. "She's gonna regret showing me up in class."
Jaune stiffened. "...What are you planning?"
Cardin smirked. "Nothing much. Just gonna make things... exciting. Sweet sap all over her, then we let the Rapier Wasps you're bringing go. Maybe we even drag your new buddy Hyunwoo into it, just to see what he's made of."
Jaune's gut sank. "You're insane. That's dangerous."
"That's your problem," Cardin said, shoving a few extra empty jars into Jaune's hands. "Now get to work, leader."
From a few trees away, Hyunwoo was busy filling his own jar but had glanced back more than once. Something about the way Cardin was talking to Jaune — low voice, smug grin — made his instincts itch.
He tightened the lid on his jar, eyes narrowing slightly. ...Something's not right here.
Hyunwoo screwed the lid on his jar, the thick red liquid glinting in the dappled sunlight. The forest smelled warm and sweet, almost like candy, but he didn't let himself relax too much — something about Cardin's hushed exchange with Jaune still nagged at him.
A familiar voice called out, "Yo, Hyunwoo! Over here!"
He turned to see Team NOVA scattered around a nearby cluster of trees. Jaemin was waving like they were at a festival instead of on a school assignment, Jiwon was quietly working on his own jar, and Jisoo was crouched, examining the sap's texture with a curious tilt of her head.
"You took your time getting here," Jaemin teased as Hyunwoo approached. "What, did the trees on your side refuse to give you sap?"
Hyunwoo smirked faintly. "Maybe they just liked me too much to let go."
"Pfft, smooth," Jaemin chuckled, elbowing Jiwon. "See? Even the trees like him more than you."
Jiwon didn't look up from sealing his jar. "The trees don't have favorites."
"Don't crush my fun, bro," Jaemin sighed.
Jisoo glanced up at Hyunwoo. "You seem distracted. Something on your mind?"
Hyunwoo's gaze flicked toward where Cardin and Jaune were — Cardin leaning on a tree while Jaune filled jar after jar with a stiff posture. "...Just keeping an eye on things. Something about that guy doesn't sit right."
"Which guy?" Jaemin asked, though his tone already hinted he knew the answer.
"Cardin," Hyunwoo said flatly. "Feels like he's up to something. And it's not gonna be harmless."
Jiwon finally looked over. "...We're not getting involved in other teams' messes, are we?"
"Not unless I have to," Hyunwoo replied, his tone calm but edged with certainty.
Jaemin grinned, clearly intrigued. "Oh, now I'm hoping he does try something. Watching you ruin his day would be worth the trip."
Hyunwoo shook his head, but there was the faintest twitch of a smile. "Just focus on your jars."
As they went back to collecting sap, Hyunwoo's eyes lingered on Cardin's group.
His jar was half-full when he spotted Jaune standing apart from the others, Cardin's gang closing in. He didn't need to hear the words to know what was happening — he'd seen this before.
Volume 1... Forever Fall... Cardin tries to use Jaune to get Pyrrha hurt... and then the Ursa shows up.
Hyunwoo's lips pressed into a thin line. So this is that day.
He glanced at Jiwon, who was quietly filling his jar.
"Something's about to happen," Hyunwoo murmured.
"What?"
"Let's just say... I know how this plays out." His eyes stayed fixed on Jaune, who was gripping the jar like it was a live grenade.
A moment later, Jaune's voice cut through the air:
"No. I'm not doing it. I won't hurt Pyrrha. I won't hurt Hyunwoo."
Hyunwoo's brows lifted slightly. Good. That's the Jaune I remember.
The jar shattered against Cardin's armor. Sap dripped down in sticky rivulets.
Hyunwoo exhaled slowly. And here comes the beating.
Sure enough, CRDL pounced on Jaune, fists flying.
Jaemin leaned toward Hyunwoo, smirking despite the tension. "You're just gonna stand there and watch?"
Hyunwoo's tone stayed even. "If I jump in now, Jaune doesn't get his turning point. Trust me."
The golden flash came right on cue — Jaune's Aura surging, wounds sealing. Cardin reeled back, clutching his hand in pain.
Then, from the treeline, the guttural roar echoed.
Hyunwoo didn't even flinch. "And that would be the Ursa."
The massive Grimm crashed into the clearing, eyes locked on Cardin. CRDL scattered, Cardin left stumbling backward.
Jaune hesitated, caught between fight and flight.
Hyunwoo's voice reached him — calm, but carrying weight.
"Your move, Arc. Decide what kind of leader you're gonna be."
Hyunwoo had been shadowing Jaune ever since CRDL ran off. He kept just far enough back not to interfere — this was still Jaune's fight — but close enough to step in if things went bad.
When the Ursa Major swiped Cardin into the dirt, Hyunwoo saw Jaune's hesitation melt into resolve. The blond stepped forward, shield up, putting himself between the Grimm and his tormentor.
Hyunwoo smirked faintly. Good. That's the Jaune I wanted to see.
Weiss, Ruby, and Pyrrha arrived just in time to see Jaune clash with the beast. Weiss's hand twitched toward her rapier, but Pyrrha's voice was firm.
"Wait. Let him handle it."
Hyunwoo took a half-step forward, arms crossed. "She's right. This is his moment."
Jaune's strikes were clumsy, but his guard was unshakable. Twice the Ursa knocked him down, and twice he scrambled back to his feet.
Then Hyunwoo noticed something — Jaune's stance was slipping, fatigue showing in his swings. He glanced at the Scroll's Aura meter glowing red.
He's got one more good exchange in him... maybe less.
Both charged — Jaune with his sword raised, the Ursa with claws outstretched. Hyunwoo's instincts screamed at him to move, but Pyrrha acted first, her Semblance pulling Jaune's shield up just in time.
The impact rang out. Jaune steadied, teeth gritted, and drove his blade upward in a clean arc, severing the Ursa's head.
Hyunwoo exhaled, letting his hand fall away from the knife at his belt. Didn't need me after all.
Cardin lay stunned in the dirt. While Ruby turned to Pyrrha.
"What was that? How did you—"
"My Semblance," Pyrrha explained, brushing stray sap from her armor. "Well, Ruby has her speed, Weiss has her glyphs... and Hyunwoo has Copy. My Semblance is polarity."
Ruby blinked. "Whoa, you can control poles—"
Weiss groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "No, you dunce! It means she has control over magnetism!"
Ruby leaned toward Hyunwoo and whispered, still impressed, "Magnets are cool, too..."
Hyunwoo smirked, keeping his eyes on Jaune. "They are. But seeing him pull that off? Cooler."
Weiss crossed her arms. "We should tell Glynda what happened."
"No," Pyrrha shook her head. "Let Jaune have this. He earned it."
Hyunwoo gave Jaune a nod — small, but approving.
"You did good, Arc. Don't waste it."