That evening, all the students were crowded into classrooms and provided with sleeping bags. The moonlit sky could be seen through the windows, as quiet conversation took place.
Students shared their fears and aspirations underneath the shattered moon, all except for one particular pair. Inside an empty classroom, two young people participated in an impromptu training camp.
Azraq's gray hair shone silver in the moonlight as he circled Jaune, struggling in a shield stance, while slapping in any corrections. His khopesh was held in its leather cover as Azraq slowly explained the basics of wielding a shield.
"Now then, Crocea Mors is different from my Romulus. My shield belongs to a category called round shields, while yours is a Heater shield. As such, despite both being shields, they work very differently."
Azraq notices Jaune's shield dropping and quickly smacks him atop the head, "And that is what happens when you lower your shield. A heater shield is used in what's called a boxing stance, with the shield held close to the body with the top corner protecting the head and the bottom corner protecting the upper leg."
Azraq then stops in front of Jaune as he finishes his explanation. He lowers his Khopesh, making Jaune flinch before letting out a sigh of relief, "This is meant for small, quick movements to block attacks with the top corners. For now, focus on keeping this stance. It's better to focus on not dying before trying to hit back."
Jaune chuckles, voice heavy with exhaustion, before asking Azraq a question, "Thanks for helping me, Azraq. I feel like I could take on an Ursa now! But I'm a little curious now, how do you know so much? Is this something they teach at Combat schools?"
Azraq turns his back to Jaune as he hears this question, his voice even as he hides his grim face, "I'm afraid I wouldn't know, the school I attended wasn't exactly…normal. As for how I know about your shield despite using a different one, the person who taught me preferred a heater shield, though he tended to use his own…creatively."
Images of a red-haired man slamming the sharp point of his shield into an opponent are conjured in his mind before he shakes them away.
Jaune nods in confusion, perhaps noticing Azraq's hesitance, he changes the subject, "Sooo, about that Aura thingy, is it really so bad that I don't have that?"
Azraq then refocuses on Jaune as he begins explaining the reason he'd called him there tonight, "Aura is the manifestation of the soul. It serves as an all-around enhancement to a hunter's capabilities; without it, we would be completely outclassed by the Grimm."
Azraq takes a deep breath as he turns back to face Jaune, his voice serious as he continues, "It is most commonly used in two ways, the first is as a means of defense. When aura is summoned after awakening, it prevents any injury from affecting the user until the aura is depleted."
As he speaks, Azraq summons his own aura, a silvery wave of energy that coats his hand. As he turns his hand over, the energy bristles as if alive, sharp points emerging from the swirling light. "The other use it sees is fuel for an ability known as a semblance, a typically unique superpower that can be unlocked after manifesting aura. For you, the defense it provides is now crucial to your survival. Without aura, a single Beowulf will tear you in half, shield or not."
Jaune stands mesmerized as he watches the energy, his eyes gleaming with the desire for strength. His body shaking with the possibility of proving to himself, and to everyone, that Jaune deserves to be a hunter. He forces his eyes away before asking the crucial question, "So how do I get this aura?"
Azraq closes his hand into a fist, the energy disappearing as quickly as it appeared, "I'm afraid this next part is rather unpleasant. From what I know, there are two methods for awakening aura, one is done by yourself, either through great trauma or years of training, the other is someone else awakening it for you."
Azraq then begins cracking his knuckles as he smiles menacingly, shark-like teeth on full display, "Obviously, the way we're going is someone else awakening it for you, but the problem lies in the only way I know how."
Jaune visibly shivers before loudly gulping as his eyes lock in on Azraq's fists.
Azraq places his hand on Jaune's shoulder, gripping it to ensure he doesn't lose contact before announcing, "I am now going to force a sharp torrent of aura into you. Now that you're exhausted, it should be more apparent. You are going to feel an aura inside of you. Push it out of your body. Until you do so, I will continue. Now then, get ready, I've been told this hurts."
A blazing silver erupts from Azraq's hand as he begins to chant, "For it is in despair that we embrace bravery. Through this, we become a tenacious and blazing light in a sea of perpetual darkness…"
Half a second passes before Jaune collapses to the floor, his mouth shut tight as veins bulge on his temple. He begins spasming on the floor as he fights the endless torment that Azraq's aura is subjecting him to.
Azraq crouches down beside Jaune, keeping a close eye to make sure his friend doesn't hurt himself before continuing to chant.
Meanwhile, Jaune can barely think, his conscious mind overwhelmed by pain the likes of which he's never felt before. He can feel himself losing oxygen, fast. His mind slowly begins shutting down as he desperately attempts to push the intruding energy out of his body.
He quickly gathers his strength before making a push, but it remains inert, continuing to stab everything it comes in contact with. Jaune can feel it, feel the aura, but the problem is he can't do anything about it.
With every failure to move it, Jaune begins to doubt, to doubt he can awaken his aura, to doubt he can be a hunter, to doubt he can prove his parents wrong. After all, what was he thinking? 'No training. No aura. No ability to do what a hunter needs to do.'
He's practically here just to serve himself to the Grimm on a platter! Maybe he should just give up. 'Jaune Arc isn't meant to be a hunter, isn't that what his parents always told him?' His eyes begin to droop as unconsciousness begins to take hold, his will to resist draining fast, his dreams slowly shattering along with it.
'NO!' Jaune's eyes shoot open, sheer determination breaking through the fog of sleep. 'I came all the way here! I lied, I cheated, all for just one chance.'
'One opportunity to become what I've been told my whole life I could never be. I'm not giving up now, I'm not giving up ever. And even if I do get swallowed by a Grimm, I'll make sure he chokes on my bones!!!'
"...Infinite in power yet haunted by the past, I release your soul, and by my will, set you free." The moment Azraq finishes chanting, a brilliant yellow erupts from Jaune, instantly blasting out the silvery light into the air. It slowly spreads from his heart, surrounding his body in an ethereal layer of gold.
Azraq steps away as a weary smile grows across his face. He shakily stands back up before offering Jaune a hand, "Congrats, Jaune, you did it."
"I…did it. I awakened my aura!" Jaune looks at his body in disbelief, a gleaming grin on his face as he nearly bursts from excitement. He takes Azraq's hands and stands, "I did it, Azraq! I can be a hunter!"
"Indeed, you did, and you have the potential to be crazy strong too. What a ridiculous amount of aura." Azraq puts a hand to his chin as he analyses the intensity of the golden glow. "Now then, try to bring it back into your body."
Jaune closes his eyes and concentrates, the yellow layer receding back into his body. He opens his eyes wide in amazement, "Whoa! So this is aura…Azraq, truly, thank you. I don't know what I would've done without your help."
Azraq smiles before smacking Jaune's back, "No worries, glad to help a friend. Besides, I have a funny feeling you would've seduced some poor girl into awakening it for you."
Jaune grins back before confidently proclaiming, "Haha, you're right. My dad said all a guy needs is confidence, so surely someone has to be swayed by my hunter charm."
Azraq chuckles, already imagining how much trouble that mentality will bring Jaune. He mentally ponders, 'Should I warn him? Nah, that sounds funny.' Out loud, he says instead, "Well then, Jaune, I'm calling it for the night, you should too."
"I think I'm going to practice for a little while longer, wanna make sure I don't forget all that stuff you taught me."
"Alright then, goodnight, Jaune."
"G'night Azraq."
Azraq turns on his heel and exits the classroom; the sounds of Jaune's enthusiastic training disappear as the door closes behind him. He suddenly feels the hairs on the back of his neck spring up, as his nose twitches and he detects someone watching him from around a corner of the hallway.
Azraq continues walking as if he hasn't noticed, before suddenly turning to look back. The figure reacts quickly, ducking away before running as footsteps disappear in the distance. All Azraq managed to catch was a vibrant red.
He shrugs and continues walking back to his sleeping bag.