I am dreaming. I am asleep.

  I know this because I can see Mount Olympus in the distance, a peak so massive that its summit is lost in golden clouds. The fields around me are a vibrant emerald green, dotted with ancient olive trees said to be planted by the Goddess of Wisdom herself. Rivers of liquid silver flow down the mountainside, and where the streams touch the earth, wildflowers of impossible beauty bloom—anemones in red and violet, irises kissed with gold, and roses exuding the sweet fragrance of love’s raw essence.

  I need to move. I need to find them.

  No, it’s not that I need to find them; they would find me regardless, even if I didn’t want them to. But when dealing with beings of such incomprehensible power, the least I can do is meet them halfway.

  And so I run, my legs picking up pace over this land I have explored a hundred times yet know nothing of. The paths of Olympus shift and change in ways my human mind cannot fully comprehend, always presenting me with something new, making it abundantly clear that I am not in control of my journey here. My chosen direction is theirs to bend and command.

  Lightning flashes above, and I wonder who will find me today. As my mind settles into this world, becoming anchored to the divine realm, my memories of reality begin to return, and my thoughts start to make sense. Tomorrow is an important day. No—tomorrow is the most important day of my entire life, my one and only chance to make it into Beacon. Whoever I meet tonight will be the one by my side during that challenge. The simple notion makes my blood race.

  The air on Olympus is different—thick with energy, charged with the divine essence of the gods. Each breath I take fills me with a sense of bottomless power, but also a deep longing. I can hear faint echoes of laughter and conversation drifting from the great feast just beyond the veil of clouds. Music, sweet and pure, flows from the summit, the sound of Apollo’s lyre blending seamlessly with the rush of the silver rivers.

  But before I know it, the scene falls behind.

  I now stand in a small, carefully crafted garden, every inch of it filled with ethereal, enchanted beauty—flowers that seem to pulse with life, fruit glistening with impossible colors, and statues frozen in expressions of longing. The air is thick with a sweet, intoxicating perfume that threatens to dull my senses. As I pass one of the statues, it comes to life, shedding its stone shell.

  The voluptuous woman giggles, hiding her smile behind a playful hand. Her pupil-less eyes, two spheres of deep, dark purple, sweep over my body before returning to her own naked form, inviting me to follow.

  I can’t deny the temptation, but I’ve grown used to her games by now.

  “Aphrodite… aren’t we past this already? C’mon.”

  The goddess huffs, almost offended, as her puppet turns back to stone and crumbles to pieces.

  “Why do you have to be so cruel to me, Jaune? Hmm… Such a bad, bad boy…”

  Aphrodite reclines on a stone bench at the end of the garden, stretching luxuriously, each movement emphasizing her every detail. Her hair cascades down her flawless, warm body in shifting waves, transitioning from gold to crimson, to pink, to white, depending on how the light hits it. The immense, divine seductress extends a hand and beckons me closer.

  “To think you’re the only mortal I’ve ever allowed to wield me, to use me so thoroughly and do with me as he pleases…” she whispers through half-lidded eyes, making my soul shiver. “Is it really too much to ask that you fulfill some of my fantasies now and then? I am still a woman, after all. There are needs, cravings, itches that need to be… scratched. If only you would lend me those fingers.”

  It feels as though there’s no blood left in my head, as if I might faint just standing in front of her. Facing Aphrodite is always dangerous, but tonight she seems particularly playful. This is what she understands for “being in a good mood”.

  I chuckle, fighting not to collapse. “We both know that if I tried, I’d never see the light of day again.”

  “Mhmm… True. I do have quite an appetite.” The word drips from her lips like thick honey. “Oh, but let’s stop talking about me, darling…” She sits up suddenly, her slender legs gliding through the air before stretching by my sides. “What can little old me do for a big, strong, girthy… boy like you?”

  My fingers reach for my face as I feel something warm and red start to drip from my noise, not in a cute or perverted manner, she is literally turning my brain into mush. She gives me a playful glance and then leans back a bit, her divine pressure giving way for me to exist within her presence.

  Taking my chance, the only one I’ll have, I slowly start to walk forward. My fingers caress her right leg as I step in between her inviting thighs, which she silently spreads just to slightly.

  Once I’m close enough, I look down into her eyes, her bottomless, vulnerable, predatory eyes. “Aphrodite, lend me your strength.”

  “Fine,” she huffs, clearly disappointed at my resistance. “Let’s show your little Remnant what true power looks like.”

  ?

  Waking up, it’s almost as if it was all a dream.

  “Wakey, wakey, baby. You don’t want to be late, do you?” Aphrodite’s voice echoes in my mind, making sure I remember she’ll be by my side today. “Mhmmm… Or maybe you’d rather stay in bed with me a little longer?”

  If people knew what the voices in my head say to me...

  “I bet they’d be jealous, wouldn’t they?”

  By the time I’m dressed and out of my room, our ship has already landed in Vale. A few dozen students disembark alongside me, though most probably aren’t here for the hunter’s exam. I do my best to guess which ones will be my competition. Soon enough, the participants are separated from the crowd, and I’m a little surprised to notice I’m the only guy among them.

  “May I have your attention, everyone?” the director calls out, standing atop a small platform and commanding our focus. “As you know, Beacon’s entrance exam evolves significantly each year. This time will be no different. You’ll be undertaking a two-part challenge, starting with a straightforward Grimm hunt. There are no specific rules for this section; you’ll rely entirely on your instincts and training. Once everyone is ready, we’ll begin.”

  That’s... one way to do things.

  “Nervous, sweetheart?” Aphrodite teases, as always. “Don’t worry, everyone here is going through their first time, too. I’m sure you’ll find someone who understands... Oh, speaking of that, blonde baddie incoming!”

  “Hey! You look lost enough. Wanna team up?”

  The tall blonde girl in front of me flashes an energetic smile, and I can’t help but notice my eyes drifting down into her ample cleavage.

  Aphrodite, stop that!

  “This isn’t my fault! Those puppies won’t stop looking at me!” she protests before retreating to the back of my mind.

  “Eh… Team up?” I echo, a little dazed.

  If Yang notices my wandering eyes, she doesn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, she looks almost proud.

  “Well... no rules, right?” Yang cracks her knuckles. “Then let’s just grab an easy win by beating everyone else!”

  ?

  In truth, the idea of having a partner sounds pretty good to me. But the plan falls apart almost immediately, as we’re thrown headfirst into the action. Calling upon Aphrodite’s gifts, I feel my strength and agility enhanced beyond recognition. I manage to halt my fall by grabbing a tree trunk, though it creaks and snaps under the pressure, easing my descent.

  “Grrr... I like a strong man,” Aphrodite purrs.

  Aphrodite is, by all means, one of the best picks I could have had for this entrance exam. She’s powerful, reliable, and one of the Olympians I know most intimately, always willing to lend me a hand... though her playful distractions keep me on edge. Blessings from other Olympians might be flashier, but the raw physical power she grants feels comfortably familiar.

  “Careful, baby. Eyes on the way!”

  Suddenly, something small and white crashes into me, and we both tumble to the ground. It takes me a second to realize a girl is on top of me. She’s delicate, refined, elegant like a doll, and her petite frame presses against me, her tight clothing highlighting her slim figure and modest chest—

  Aphrodite!

  The girl slowly regains her senses, her blue eyes narrowing as she pushes herself off me. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Weiss’s angry shout is interrupted as the Grimm that attacked her emerges from the bushes. It’s a hulking, gorilla-like creature, brimming with raw strength. Before Weiss can fully get to her feet, it lunges, ready to crush her.

  Acting on instinct, I dash forward, releasing all of Aphrodite’s power in a single punch. My blow lands squarely on the Grimm’s chest, echoing through the forest with the sound of shattered bones. The beast stumbles back, clutching the gaping hole where its heart should be, before collapsing.

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  Weiss blinks. Once, twice, thrice. Only then does she remember we’re in the middle of a test. “I’m not going to thank you or anything!” And just like that, the short girl gets up and starts running away, hoping to find another powerful grim to defeat.

  I think about following her, but then a notification appears on my scroll.

  Jaune Arc: 40/100 points.

  That’s pretty good!

  “Jaune, go look for that girl,” Aphrodite commands me.

  A part of my mind thinks of questioning her, but this time there’s no amusement on her words, only a dark sense of intrigue and power. Realizing I cannot just talk my way out of this, I do as the woman says and start running behind Weiss. Luckily, the clear sounds of violent battle are enough to guide my steps.

  At the edge of the forest, halfway down a small chasm, Weiss and an elegant girl of fiery red hair are facing a small horde of Grimm, many of them like the one I just defeated. And beyond those, as if hiding behind its minions, I can see a gigantic figure made of a single body and two heads, a single serpent with mouth on both ends, eagerly waiting for the perfect chance to strike once the combat starts to settle.

  It wasn’t looking good for the girls, to say the very least.

  “C’mon, pup, save them,” the goddess suddenly says with a grin. “Take your chance and be a little hero. This time, I won’t even complain about you wasting my potential.”

  “Why?” I ask, a little confused.

  This isn’t the first time she asks me to fight, but never before did Aphrodite ask me to protect someone else. She isn’t exactly a charitable soul, after all, there’s never an action from her without a scheme behind it. But of course, it isn’t like I can just choose not to play either.

  Gathering her power, I feel it materialize as copper wraps itself around my knees and knuckles, then I dive head-on down the steep slope. Trees and shadows pass by before I land heavily on one of the Grimm’s heads, bouncing back into the ground. The girl by my side, the one with the red hair, loses her tempo just for a second to silently process my arrival. Then her mind immediately returns to the battle, trained, disciplined. She’s strong.

  “We must retreat!” Pyrrha screams, fighting off her ragged breaths. “Drag them off the nest, pick them apart!”

  But as if it could understand what we are saying, as soon as we start taking steps back, the giant King Taijitu launches itself forward, both heads looking to take a bite out of us. As Pyrrha and I dodge out of the way, the twin strike falls upon Weiss, who was still busy fighting one of the gorillas, the attack sending both the girl and her opponent rolling into the ground.

  With a surge of divine might, I rush across the field, leaping above the fallen Grimm and reaching the girl in a single burst of speed. Pyrrha doesn’t fall behind, covering our retreat with shots from her rifle, but our opponent is relentless. As we reach the top of the hill, Weiss stumbles back on her feet with a pained grunt and pushes her rapier into the ground, magic sprouting from it to freeze the entire path down, causing most of the Grimm to slip and fall, but the King Taijitu digs its fang onto the ice and presses forward, unwilling to allow our retreat.

  Yet the King Taijitu presses on, sinking its fangs into the ice to pull itself forward, undeterred and determined to keep us from escaping.

  Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, a cacophony of rumbling, explosions, and avian screeches fills the air. Trees snap and fall as something massive tears through the canopy—a giant, feathered shadow. A Nevermore dives at us, narrowly avoiding a crash landing and instead sweeping everyone off their feet. The next thing I know, I’m clinging desperately to its black feathers, my grip the only thing keeping me from plummeting to the ground as the Grimm regains altitude and soars above the chasm.

  “Hey there, partner!” Yang’s voice rises over the wind, her fists crashing into the bird’s enormous beak to keep it from snapping at her. “I could really use a hand right now!”

  Caught on the back of a giant, murderous Grimm, I make a tough call and draw Crocea Mors. I feel a wave of disapproval from Aphrodite, but she holds back her usual taunts, honoring her promise to remain silent. Focusing her power into my blade, I watch as it glows with a vivid pink aura, extending in size and brilliance. With a determined swing, I drive the weapon into the Nevermore’s back, the enchanted blade slicing cleanly through its body like a knife through warm butter.

  The Grimm screeches in pain as one of its massive wings is severed, and we immediately begin to fall. Yang, always quick on her feet, uses the momentum to sprint along the creature’s back, grabbing onto me as we both descend and slowing down our fall with Ember Celica. Holding each other tightly, we crash into the treetops, branches snapping and splintering as they barely cushion our impact into a bearable crash.

  “Hey, handsome,” Yang teases once we land, sprawled across the forest floor. “You wanna let go? Or are you planning on keeping a piece of that?”

  I open my eyes to see her on top of me, my hands locked around her waist, her fierce gaze blazing with a mischievous light. For a moment, we’re frozen there—her knees planted on either side of me, her curves pressed against my grip, which wanders and tightens. The world seems to hold its breath, and a heat floods through me that I have to struggle to ignore.

  “What about the others?!” I manage to say, shaking off the charm.

  Aphrodite’s laughter echoes in my mind. “What? I thought you were eager to play with your little sword.”

  Fighting off the temptation, I firmly release Yang and help us both to our feet, dragging myself out of that intoxicating moment. To my relief, my worries are unwarranted. As we make our way back to the hillside, we find that the Nevermore’s fall has crushed a significant portion of the remaining Grimm, and the King Taijitu seems to have been taken care of as well.

  Yang wraps her arms around my shoulders from behind, leaning in to whisper in my ear, “Maybe next time, I’ll make sure I’m the only girl you’re thinking about.”

  Even as Yang saunters off, Aphrodite's delight throbs within me, her laughter echoing as the first part of the test comes to an end.

  It’s going to be a long day

  ?

  Weiss can feel her heart pounding like a drum. The face of the man who saved her—not once, but twice—is burned into her mind. She recalls his golden hair, the way his skin gleamed with a flawless, almost ethereal radiance, and the knots that twist inside her stomach at the mere memory. Even now, the scent of him, lingering from when he carried her through the forest, makes her breath hitch.

  And she hates it.

  She loathes this inexplicable feeling that has taken her mind hostage and disrupted her carefully honed reasoning, as though she were under a spell. The frustration burns within her, fueling her determination as she finishes adjusting her equipment and tending to her bruises. She steels herself, preparing to face the second part of the entrance exam with renewed strength and focus.

  She refuses to let that brutish, stupid, powerful, knightly—no, annoyingly beautiful—manly stranger rob her of any more moments of clarity. Weiss clenches her fists. She’ll confront whatever this distraction is, head-on. Not because she has any desire to speak to him again or be near him—no, of course not. But because it is the only way to reclaim her composure, to restore her honor as a huntress-in-training.

  She’s determined. And she certainly isn’t thinking about him. Not even a little bit.

  ?

  “Hey!”

  I turn around only to see Weiss Schnee standing there, her petite frame trying to project authority, though her flushed face undermines the effect. Her ice-blue eyes narrow, clearly determined, though something about her expression seems conflicted. “Uh… Can I help you with something?” I manage, scratching the back of my neck.

  Weiss pauses, clenching her small fists. “I… I’ve come here to thank you for your assistance,” she declares, her voice tight with carefully maintained poise. “However, as I’m sure you noticed, I managed quite well on my own afterward. So, I would appreciate it if you refrained from interfering with my actions in the future.” She lifts her chin, trying to maintain an air of dignity.

  “Ha! Look at the little thing; she likes you!” Aphrodite’s voice teases, dripping with mischievous glee.

  “What?” I blurt out in surprise. Realizing my mistake, I quickly try to focus. “S-Sure… Yeah, no problem.”

  Weiss shoots me a weird look, her eyebrows knitting together before she huffs, turning on her heel and marching off, her composure still regal despite the lingering blush on her cheeks.

  Aphrodite isn’t done, though. “And you like her, too!” she cackles. “I’ve been trying to get a rise out of you for ages, and now you’re telling me you have a thing for small, flat, and feisty? Oh, Jaune, you’re too precious.”

  I flush. What do you mean, I like her? We’ve barely even talked!

  “You like her! You like her!” Aphrodite taunts in a sing-song voice before her tone darkens, turning sultry. “Goodness, me… I bet she likes being slapped like bitch. I wonder how she’d look with a fat—”

  “Aphrodite!” I yell before she can finish that sentence.

  Her laughter fades, replaced by an exhausted groan. “Throw me a bone, boy!” she complains, her voice now tinged with frustration. “I can’t keep living in celibacy like this. You’re not a monk! How hard can it be to pull your own weight for once? We’re both thirsty, I’m just honest about it!”

  I can’t help noticing the weird glances I’m getting from the other students around me after my sudden outburst. My face burning, I retreat to a secluded corner, trying to calm down and push Aphrodite’s intrusive thoughts out of my mind. As much as I want to deny it, the goddess might be more right than I’m willing to admit, and the tension is starting to wear me down.

  Luckily, Ozpin’s voice cuts through the tension, announcing the second phase of the exam.

  “Ahem,” he begins, his calm, authoritative voice drawing everyone’s attention. “First of all, congratulations. The first test was designed to weed out anyone unprepared for the challenges you’ll face at Beacon. If you’ve made it this far, consider yourself with one foot already inside the academy.” He pauses, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “However, combating Grimm is only part of the trials ahead. This second test will be quite different. You’ll be facing one another.”

  A collective murmur rises from the students.

  “You may choose your own opponents,” Ozpin continues, “and your results will remain private. Think of this as a training exercise—a chance to push your limits and, hopefully, enjoy yourselves. Do your best, and remember: this is an opportunity to grow. Good luck.”

  A battle against each other? I feel my pulse quicken, both from the adrenaline and a pang of anxiety. There’s little time to worry about Aphrodite’s antics when I need to decide who I’ll face and how to handle this next challenge. I can only hope it’s as simple as he makes it sound.

  But before I can even think about finding an opponent, one finds me.

  “Um… Excuse me?” I turn to see the girl in bronze armor—the one with the fiery red hair—standing before me. “I hope I’m not being presumptuous, but would you mind sparring with me?”

  This girl. There’s something about her I can’t quite put my finger on, but it makes me feel wary. “Why me?” I ask, forcing a smile. “You seem pretty strong. I’m sure you’d have no trouble finding someone else.”

  Pyrrha pauses for a moment, genuinely surprised. “That’s… exactly it,” she says with a soft giggle. “I’d like to face a worthy opponent today, if that’s not too much to ask.”

  She gives a humble bow, and I can’t bring myself to refuse. “Alright, let’s do it. But no promises.”

  As she turns toward the arena, Aphrodite suddenly floods my senses, drawing a deep, involuntary breath. The scent of sand and salt fills my nose, and her voice hisses with barely contained disdain. “Poseidon…” she spits. “Jaune, don’t lower your guard, no matter what. We’ll show them. Oh, we’ll show them.”

  There’s no time to dwell on the icy chill of her anger. Before I can reconsider my choice, Pyrrha and I step onto the battleground. She adopts a firm stance, lance at the ready. As always, I leave my weapon sheathed, relying on Aphrodite’s blessing and the raw physical strength she’s given me. She’s always said that a perfect body needs no weapons.

  Pyrrha glances at me, momentarily confused, but I give her a confident nod. Without hesitation, she charges forward.

  Her strikes are both swift and brutal. Each sweeping thrust of her lance feels like a tidal wave crashing over me. I can barely withstand the advantage her reach provides, and fighting back is next to impossible. Every attempt to counter her is met with her shield, expertly driving me back into range of her weapon. If I try to retreat or sidestep, she punishes me immediately, closing the distance with relentless precision. Desperate for a break, I finally manage to drive my fist into her shield, pushing her back just enough to catch my breath.

  I’m in deep water.

  “Jaune,” Aphrodite purrs, her voice dripping with intensity, “why don’t you show me what you can do? Just this once. I don’t care what you have to do—do not lose.”

  Gritting my teeth, I embrace her words and unleash her full power. Copper armor manifests around my knees, elbows, and knuckles. This time, I also draw Crocea Mors, both sword and shield, letting Aphrodite’s blessing flow through them.

  Pyrrha’s lips curl into a smile as she watches me ready my weapon, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. I answer her unspoken challenge, launching my shield forward with all the strength Aphrodite has gifted me. To my astonishment, Pyrrha mirrors my move perfectly, her shield soaring to meet mine. The two shields collide with a thunderous crash, sending shockwaves through the air.

  I sprint forward, extending my hand to recall my shield. It whips back to me with a flash of power, just as Pyrrha’s shield returns to her grasp. We share a fleeting second of disbelief, our eyes locking in mutual awe, both of us realizing that this battle is unlike any we’ve fought before.

  Then, without missing a beat, we charge at each other, our blades clashing in a burst of sparks that lights up the arena. The force of our clash sends a tremor through my arm, and I feel the raw, fierce power she wields. In that moment, the world around us fades, leaving only the fire of our duel—a fire that surges through my chest and pounds in my heart, a rhythm I’ve never felt before.

  Unable to hold back a smile, I grip my sword with both hands and deliver an earth-shattering blow that takes my own breath away. She blocks it—of course she does—but it hardly matters; the pressure of holding her shield makes her wince. She’s swifter than me, more skilled, her form pristine.

  But Aphrodite’s blessing makes my blood boil, and I know I am stronger.

  Crocea Mors’s blade extends even further as I channel my aura into it. I advance, letting the shield fall and placing my weight on the wide claymore. Pyrrha rolls away, delivering two shots I can only partially block with my weapon before shooting her spear forward. I dodge—I swear I dodge—but it’s as if her weapon curves mid-air, managing to graze my shoulder heavily.

  Before I know it, she’s in my face, landing two kicks on my chest that force me to stumble back, giving her the chance to retreat before I can strike again. She lands on one knee, extending her arm to retrieve her spear. I dodge without looking back, charging at her, ready to deliver another punishing blow. But as I raise my weapon, something heavy slams into the back of my head—my own shield, flying back at me so hard I can barely keep my eyes open.

  In that moment, Aphrodite’s will blazes like wildfire through my veins, and I manage to finish my attack, crashing into her guard with such force it feels like I’m nailing her into the ground.

  And then… nothing.

  I’m left standing over her, both of us panting like animals, but I don’t have the strength to take it any further. I see the recognition in her eyes and let out a ragged laugh, my grip on consciousness slipping as I fall forward.

  ?

  The next time I open my eyes, I’m in a bed. That’s good. I like beds—or at least I think I do. The next thing I notice is her, sitting right beside me.

  She gives me an apologetic smile. “Welcome back,” she murmurs, her eyes almost wet. “I’m… sorry. I didn’t mean to hit your head that hard.”

  It feels like static is crackling between my thoughts.

  “Don’t worry,” I say confidently, attempting a smile. “I’ve had worse.”

  “Really?” she asks, arching a brow.

  “Nope. Not at all. Please don’t do that again.”

  That does manage to make her laugh, which is enough for me.

  “If you’re strong enough for jokes, then maybe I worried too much. I’ll call the nurse on my way out.” She stands, glancing back at me as she reaches the door. “Next time, you can go all-out from the start.”

  She gives me a small wink, and I suddenly find myself breathless.

  “Aphrodite, still there?” I call out, only half-hoping for an answer.

  “You’re lucky I like you, pup. Technically, I can leave as soon as you go to sleep. I don’t have to stick around for the extra hours, especially not after watching you lose.”

  But I’m too dizzy to really listen to anything she’s saying.

  “What… what is this pain in my chest? It feels… good?”

  “For your own good, pup,” she says, her tone void of humor. “I hope it’s hate.”