Blake looked at Arthur, her jaw tight. A strange, old power around him made her feel uneasy and careful. She shivered.
"He sounds... interesting," she mumbled, her voice softer. She watched Arthur, who was calmly watching the excited students. His calm way just made the strange pressure she felt stronger.
"He is!" Ruby said, her eyes bright. "He's super smart too! He talked about 'aura' and 'semblance,' and it sounded really hard but also really cool! Do you know about aura and semblance, Blake?"
Blake nodded slowly.
"Yes. They're very important for Huntsmen and Huntresses. Aura is like a part of your soul, a shield. Your Semblance is a special power from your aura, often showing your personality."
Ruby's mouth fell open.
"Wow! So, if I have a Semblance, will I have magic powers like Professor Stark too?"
Blake paused, looking at Arthur again. The heavy feeling grew stronger for a moment.
"Not exactly 'magic' like you might think, but strong anyway. Everyone's Semblance is different."
"Mine's super speed!" Ruby burst out, very excited. "What's yours?"
Blake waited a moment. "It's... private. Maybe I'll show you sometime."
Just then, Yang walked over, a playful look in her eyes.
"Looks like you two are getting along! Good job, Rubes. See, Professor Stark isn't the only one who can make friends."
She winked at Blake.
"So, you like history, huh? Any good stories about big fights or huge explosions?"
Blake nodded a little to Yang's question, still looking at Arthur often, a slight worry in her eyes. "Some," she said quietly, closing her book.
"But maybe not as explosive as you hope."
Meanwhile, Jaune, who had put his few things down, came to the group, looking a bit confused.
"So... we just pick a spot and sleep, right? No assigned rooms yet?"
Arthur, noticing the talk had changed, joined them.
"That's right, Jaune. For tonight, you can sleep anywhere. Tomorrow, teams will be set, and then you'll have permanent rooms."
He then looked at Blake. "It's good to see Ruby making new friends, Miss...?"
"Blake," she said, giving a small, polite nod, her gaze steady but not showing anything when she met his.
"Blake Belladonna. It's a pleasure, Professor Stark."
Ruby, bouncing, clapped her hands.
"Okay, so we need to find a good spot! Somewhere awesome! And then we can talk about Professor Stark's Professor stuff! Like what kind of fighting he teaches!"
Yang chuckled.
"Sounds like a plan, little sis. Just try not to wake everyone up with your 'awesome' sleeping arrangements."
She then looked at Arthur, truly curious.
"So, Professor, any hints on what kind of fighting you'll teach? Or is that top secret until class starts?"
Arthur's smile stayed calm, a hint of fun in his eyes as he saw Yang's direct question and Ruby's endless energy.
He quickly looked at Blake, noticing her quiet watch, and then at Jaune, who still looked a bit overwhelmed.
"Well," Arthur began, his voice calm and thoughtful, "You'll find out what's in my lessons later."
He paused, changing his stance a little, leaning forward slightly, which got their attention without being too much.
"However, I can tell you this: I'll focus on understanding the hidden parts of fighting and surviving. Not just using Aura and Dust, but the deeper ways the world works. How to see dangers you don't immediately notice, how to deal with unusual situations, and maybe most importantly, how to understand your own being."
He let that thought hang in the air for a moment, his gaze going over each of them, staying a bit longer on Blake, who seemed to get a bit stiff under his gaze, and then on Weiss, who was still pretending to be very interested in the floor but was clearly listening closely.
"It will be a class that challenges what you think you know, not just your body's abilities,"
Arthur finished, a faint, interesting smile on his lips.
"Think of it as... making your senses and thinking skills better, as much as a fighting lesson."
Ruby's eyes were practically shining.
"Like... super senses? And being really smart about fighting? That's even cooler than just magic!"
Yang chuckled, nudging Ruby.
"Sounds like you're going to be even more trouble, Rubes."
She then looked back at Arthur, a thoughtful look replacing her usual playful smirk.
"So, more about... reading the battlefield? Understanding enemy weaknesses better?"
Arthur nodded.
"Exactly, among other things. The world of Remnant is full of hidden dangers and chances. My goal is to give you the tools to handle both, more than a simple fight practice would teach."
Jaune, who had been listening with a mix of confusion and growing interest, finally spoke up.
"So, like... learning how to not get surprised? Or how to find secret weak spots in monsters?"
"Those are certainly parts of it, Jaune,"
Arthur confirmed, his tone encouraging.
"Think of it as learning the language of the world, rather than just yelling commands at it."
Blake, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke, her voice still soft but with a new sense of curiosity.
"And this... 'language'... does it involve anything more than what normal Huntsman training covers?"
Arthur's gaze met hers, and for a short moment, Blake felt that strange, old pressure get stronger, as if he was looking not just at her, but through her, into something much deeper.
"Significantly beyond, Miss Belladonna," he replied, his voice still calm, but with a deep understanding underneath.
"There are forces at work, and skills to be learned, that are mostly ignored by common understanding."
Weiss, unable to keep pretending she wasn't interested, finally looked up, her blue eyes sharp and smart.
"Are you saying there's some kind of... secret knowledge that only you have, Professor Stark? What exactly are these 'forces' you speak of?"
Her tone was doubtful, but the intensity of her gaze showed a true desire for answers.
Arthur just smiled, tilting his head slightly.
"Not secret knowledge, Miss Schnee, but perhaps forgotten knowledge. As for the forces... you will learn soon enough. For now, let us focus on finding a comfortable spot to rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day, and you'll need all your energy."
The group, with Blake now joining them hesitantly, started to look for a good place to sleep in the busy hall. Ruby, still full of questions, kept bothering Arthur about what 'super senses' he would teach, while Yang joked with Jaune about needing 'Professor Stark's secret anti-sick methods.'
Weiss, meanwhile, walked a little ahead, still holding her suitcase, but she was clearly listening to every word Arthur said, her earlier embarrassment now replaced by a strong, almost endless curiosity about her new, mysterious professor.
Blake, quiet as always, kept her distance but continued to watch Arthur with a mix of worry and growing interest.
The feeling of ancient power around him hadn't lessened, and it both made her nervous and drew her in.
As the night went on, the large hall slowly became quiet. The excited talk of students slowly faded, replaced by the soft sounds of restless sleep.
Each of them, in their own way, was thinking about what had happened that day, and the unexpected arrival of Professor Arthur Leywin Stark.
For some, it was an exciting new beginning; for others, a confusing puzzle.
But one thing was clear: Beacon Academy, and their own journeys, had just begun.