The view from the tree wasn't half bad, all things considered. Being stuck there gave me a unique vantage point of the forest. The canopy stretched endlessly, but it wasn't as dense as I'd feared. Navigating through it might not be the nightmare I'd imagined.

As I scanned the area, my eyes landed on a familiar figure. Weiss Schnee. She moved gracefully through the woods, her white outfit standing out against the greens and browns. I opened my mouth to call out to her, but just as I raised my hand, she stopped, turned sharply on her heel, and walked the other way.

I sighed, slumping slightly against the tree. Did she see me and decide to avoid me? I thought bitterly. Or maybe she'd forgotten something and was going back for it. I clung to the second idea, though a nagging voice in the back of my head told me I was fooling myself.

Before I could dwell too much on it, the spear pinning me to the tree started to tremble. At first, it was a gentle vibration, and I stared at it, dumbfounded. Then it yanked free with startling speed and flew away, leaving me with nothing to hold me up.

Gravity took over, and I plummeted.

"Ahhhhhh—oomph!" I hit the ground hard, knocking the air out of my lungs. For a moment, I lay there groaning, waiting to assess whether I was broken into pieces. Thankfully, aside from a few bruises, I was in one piece. I pushed myself up slowly, wincing. Could've been worse.

"Jaune! Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

The voice was soft, warm, and carried a note of genuine concern. I looked up to see Pyrrha Nikos standing a few feet away, her red ponytail swaying slightly, her gold-and-red spear back in her hands.

I blinked, trying to collect myself. "So... I owe my rescue to you?"

Pyrrha smiled sheepishly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Kind of. I really am sorry about the fall. I should have pulled you down more gently."

I stared at her for a moment, stunned by her sincerity. She didn't just save me—she was apologizing because she thought she hadn't done it well enough. Who does that?

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"It's not a big deal," I said, managing a weak smile. "Besides, if you hadn't helped, my landing probably would've been a lot worse. So... thanks."

Her smile brightened, but then she tilted her head slightly, her expression curious. "May I ask you something, Jaune?"

"Uh, sure," I said hesitantly, dusting myself off.

She stepped closer, holding my gaze. "Why didn't you use your Aura?"

Her question hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart sank. Why didn't I use my Aura? Because I couldn't. Because, for all my training and all the tutorials I'd devoured, I hadn't managed to awaken it. I didn't know how to tell her that without sounding like a complete failure.

I hesitated, scrambling for an answer. Lying wasn't something I liked doing, but I'd been resorting to it more and more lately. "Uh, yeah... I've been having this... blockage. I don't know what's going on, but I'm hoping it'll pass soon."

Pyrrha studied me for a moment, and I felt a bead of sweat roll down my temple. Finally, she nodded, her expression softening. "A blockage? That makes sense. With all the stress we're under, it's no wonder. Maybe I can help?"

"Help?" I echoed, unsure what she meant.

"Here." She extended her hands toward me. "Take my hands."

I hesitated, then reached out, our hands clasping. Her grip was firm but reassuring. I glanced down, confused, but before I could ask, she explained, "Just relax. Don't overthink it. I'm going to try to guide your Aura, okay?"

I nodded, though I wasn't sure what she was doing. I watched as she closed her eyes and furrowed her brow, focusing intensely. At first, nothing happened. Then, I felt it—a strange tingling sensation in my hands that spread up my arms and through my body. It was warm, almost comforting, like standing in sunlight after a cold day.

I closed my eyes, letting the feeling wash over me. When I opened them again, I gasped. Pyrrha was surrounded by golden flames, though they didn't burn. They flickered and danced, radiating a soothing warmth. I looked down at my own hands, startled to see them glowing with a soft light.

"Whoa," I whispered.

"Focus," Pyrrha said gently. "Breathe deeply and try to calm your mind."

I followed her instructions, taking slow, steady breaths. Gradually, the light faded, and the warmth subsided. I looked up at her, still in awe.

"Good job, Jaune," she said with a proud smile. "Everything went well. How do you feel?"

I hesitated, still processing what had just happened. Finally, I managed, "Different... but better. Thanks."

Pyrrha beamed. "You're welcome."