Amplify (A RWBY Story)

Many days have passed since the first day at Beacon. The relationship between Ruby and Weiss improved. Ryder was glad that it worked out in the end. Meanwhile, he had been training himself so he could get stronger. He'd mainly been focusing on his Semblance, trying to figure out how to improve it. So far, he's made some decent progress. He figured out how to activate it at will and keep it up for longer periods of time. It wasn't by much as he still needs to figure out his Semblance's weaknesses. His bond with Kairos is still non-existent. He was right about the whole Vegeta Vibes as Kairos is kind of competitive. While he wants a friendly relationship with his teammate, he's not sure that will happen. Currently, he was in the arena aka Auditorium and was currently watching Jaune fight Cardin. It was Combat Class which was being taught by Professor Glynda Goodwitch. Jaune wasn't fairing well against Cardin. 

Jaune was being beaten by Cardin badly. Ryder felt bad for Jaune but suspected that Jaune didn't have much combat experience. It was the only logical explanation he could come up with. Jaune was clearly the loser of this match so Ryder looked at the others to see their reactions. He mainly focused on two reactions, Kairos and Pyrrha. Pyrrha looked at Jaune with a worried look while Kairos seemed irritated. Either at Jaune's failure or at Cardin. Why Cardin? Well Cardin is a huge bully and a major jerk to everyone. He's also weak in comparison to Team RWBY, the other members of Team JNPR, Kairos and hell even Ryder. Team CRDL is really just a joke to most. As Jaune is on the ground, Cardin prepares his mace to smash Jaune but thankfully the Blonde Swordsman is saved by the bell. Or well, by the teacher. 

"Cardin, that's enough!" Glynda declares, sternly. 

Cardin relents and steps back as Glynda comes in between him and Jaune who is still sitting on the floor of the stage. Glynda held a tablet styled Scroll in her hand and was tapping a few buttons before she addressed the audience that was watching this duel. 

"Students, as you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament style duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle and that the official may call the match." Glynda explains. 

Jaune pulled out his scroll and looked at it as he sat on the floor in defeat. His stats showed his aura was in the red. Meanwhile, Pyrrha looked sad. 

"Mr. Arc. It's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your Scroll during combat. Gauging your Aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it is better to move to a more... defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a Beowolf now, would we?" Glynda said, finishing her lecture to Jaune. 

"Speak for yourself." Cardin mumbles. 

Glynda doesn't hear this comment. She then turns her attention to the audience who were either sitting or standing. What she said next gave everyone different reactions. 

"Remember everyone. The Vytal Festival is only a few months away. It won't be long before students from the other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing. Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!" Glynda explains. 

Everyone had different reactions to this news. Yang was punching the air with anticipation, Weiss was shaking her fists with an excited smile and Ruby was shaking her entire body with enthusiastic energy with a soft squealing sound coming from her. Eventually, the bell rings and students start leaving. But while everyone left, Ryder stopped and turned to Pyrrha who looked sad as her gaze fell onto Jaune. But then he noticed Kairos's gaze on Jaune. 

"What is it?" Ryder asks. 

"there's something off with Jaune." Kairos said. 

"That being?" Ryder asks, once more. 

"Not sure, if I'm being honest." Kairos said, looking at Ryder. 

[Sometime later, Cafeteria] 

Team RWBY and JNPR sat together at a table. Ryder and Kairos joined them. Ryder sat with them because they're his friends while Kairos did it only because he could tolerate them. Not that he saw them as friends. Kairos is very closed off and anti-social, Ryder noticed this as the weeks passed. Nora was currently telling a story that Ren had to correct every five seconds. 

"So, there we were, in the middle of the night..." Nora said. 

"It was daytime." Ren corrected. 

Nora looked over at Blake and Yang. Everyone had different views on this story. Blake was too occupied with her book, Yang listened intently to the story, Ruby and Pyrrha listened politely while Weiss ignored it and filed her nails. Jaune was off in his own world as he picked at his food. Ryder listened to this story but held in chuckles every time Ren corrected Nora. Kairos just didn't care and focused on eating. The way he ate showed that he was very elegant in almost everything he did. 

"We were surrounded by Ursai." Nora said. 

"They were Beowolves." 

"Dozens of them!" Nora said, raising her voice while standing up. 

"Two of them." Ren corrected, once more. 

Ruby and Pyrrha take notice of Jaune and look at him with concern, noticing his odd behavior. 

"But they were no match... and in the end, Ren and I took them down and made a boatload of Lien selling Ursa Skin rugs!" Nora said, finishing her story with a proud smile. 

Ryder raised an eyebrow at that last part. Grimm turn to ash and dust then they die. So how in the world could you skin an Ursa? Ren sighs. 

"She's been having this recurring dream for nearly a month now." Ren explained. 

Pyrrha's attention was focused on Jaune. 

"Jaune? Are you okay?" she asks. 

Jaune snaps out of the trance he was in and turns towards her and everyone else. 

"Huh? Oh yeah! Why?" Jaune asks. 

"It's just, you don't seem okay... like at all." Ryder said. 

"Guys, I'm fine. Seriously, look." Jaune said before holding up two thumbs. 

He gave a nervous laugh as well as everyone just stared at him. Kairos looked over. 

"You're a terrible liar." Kairos comments. 

Everyone's attention is then gathered to the sound of laughter. They all look over to a table where a girl with bunny ears is seen with Team CRDL around her. Cardin laughs while Sky holds up his hands to his head in a mocking interpretation of her unusual features. Ryder glared at them while Kairos just looked on. The group returned their focus to Jaune. 

"Jaune, Cardin's been picking on you since the first week of school." Pyrrha said. 

"Who? Cardin Winchester? Nah... He just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes." Jaune downplays. 

"He's a bully." Ruby comments. 

Jaune scoffs at that. 

"Oh, please! Name one time he's 'bullied' me." Jaune said. 

Ryder brings up his fingers and counts. 

"Well, he knocked your books out of your hands while on your way to class, got you stuck in a doorway with your shield and let's not forget the crown jewel." Ryder said, putting emphasis on crown jewel. 

"That being?" Jaune asks. 

"He put you in a rocket propelled locker and shot you out of the school!" Kairos said quickly, his irritation evident. "Which I was stuck with prying you out. By the way." 

"Yeah, what he said." Ryder said. 

Jaune tried to laugh it off. 

"I didn't land that far from the school!" Jaune said. 

"Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask." Pyrrha said, offering her help. 

"Ooooh!" Nora gets up from the table with a grin. "We'll break his legs!" 

"Guys it's fine! Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me. He's a jerk to everyone." Jaune said. 

The laughter from before grows mixed with cries of pain from the rabbit girl. They all look over and see Cardin tugging on her bunny ear. Ryder's eyes widen. 

"Ow! That hurts!" the girl said, having a British accent. "Please stop." she pleas. 

Cardin continues to laugh as he turns to his buddies. 

"i told you it was real!" Cardin said. 

"What a freak!" Russel said. 

A slam is heard as the group turns to Kairos who smashed his fist on the table. He stands up and turned around to face Team CRDL. He aims his hand and uses his Semblance to grab Cardin. The violet energy surrounds Cardin who is lifted up into the air. Cardin is surprised and lets go of the girls ear. 

"W-woah, what the heck?" Cardin asked. 

Kairos then slammed him onto the floor. Causing Cardin's aura to flicker. Ryder winces at this. Kairos storms over and stomps his foot on Cardin's chest. 

"You even think about doing that again in my presence, I will break every bone in your pathetic body." Kairos threatens. "Am I clear?" 

Cardin chuckles. 

"Or what?" Cardin asks. 

Kairos puts pressure on Cardin's chest and a cracking sound is heard while Kairos's gaze never breaks. Cardin shouts in pain. Kairos was about to break his ribs. 

"Okay, Okay!" Cardin pleas. 

"Get out of my sight!" Kairos ordered, harshly. 

He gets his foot off Cardin and he and the rest of team CRDL rush off and leave the cafeteria. Kairos sighs as he calms down. He then walked over to the girl who was holding her ear in pain while she sat on the floor. Kairos held his hand out to her. She hesitated but grabbed his hand and he pulled her up off the ground. 

"They should get the message to never do that again." Kairos assures. 

"Thank you." She said. 

"You're welcome." Kairos said. 

Ryder was honestly surprised. He'd never seen this side of Kairos before. Perhaps there was more to Kairos then he previously thought.