The mess hall was already alive with chatter and people when they arrived.
Not lively in the way it usually was with laughter or the clatter of trays and idle banter echoing off the high ceilings, but alive in the way a gathering before a storm felt alive. Noise without warmth and motion without ease. The wide space was packed shoulder to shoulder with operatives filtering in from every corridor, their presence forming a shifting mosaic of uniforms, training gear, and active Rune frames that hummed faintly with restrained power.
The mess hall was different from the cafeteria, usually meant for sponsor events that Ozpin held once in while for dignitaries that visited and the like. Jaune personally had only been in here once, during his orientation.
Jaune slowed unconsciously as he stepped inside.
There were so many of them.
Some wore the familiar training outfits, and others were clad in full LUCID uniforms, dark and sharply tailored, insignias catching the overhead lights. Awakened operatives stood out even more, their Rune frames glowing with lines tracing along their arms, backs, or spines like dormant circuitry waiting for a command.
Jaune recognized faces everywhere he looked.
Cardin Winchester stood near the left wall with his team, arms crossed, his expression was muted into something more restrained. His teammates, Russel and Dove flanked him, quieter than Jaune had ever seen them, while Sky scanned the room with restless eyes. They noticed Jaune eventually. Cardin's gaze lingered for a moment before he looked away.
Further in, an older team leaned casually against a pillar, though their posture betrayed readiness more than relaxation. Coco Adel stood at their center, sunglasses pushed up onto her head instead of worn, her expression sharp and calculating. Velvet hovered nearby while Fox and Yatsuhashi stood like statues, silent and attentive.
Older Beacon students. When school started next, they'd be in their third year of high school. They were also very powerful field operatives.
And then there were the professors and senior operatives.
Ozpin stood near the raised stage at the front of the hall, hands folded behind his back, his posture straight and composed. Glynda Goodwitch stood at his side, arms crossed, her expression carved from discipline and ice. Professor Port was there as well, mustache bristling as he murmured something to Oobleck, who nodded rapidly, coffee cup in hand even now. Counselor Vex stood slightly apart, her chocolate colored hair cascading over one shoulder, her gaze scanning the room with quiet intensity.
Jaune's eyes widened slightly as he noticed someone else.
The... beacon lunch lady?
She stood near the back, apron replaced with a LUCID jacket, arms folded and expression calm, almost serene. For a moment, Jaune wondered if he was imagining things, but no, there she was, unmistakable.
So she was part of LUCID too.
The thought made his world feel just a little stranger.
"Wow," Ruby muttered under her breath. "That's… everyone."
"And then some," Weiss added quietly.
More operatives and even various researchers poured in from the side entrances, the room steadily growing denser. Conversations rippled through the crowd, hushed but urgent. Words like casualties and silence drifted past in fragments, never spoken too loudly and never finished.
Then Jaune recognized two people who almost stumbled in late.
"Did we miss anything?"
Mocha nearly tripped over her own feet as she entered, Oscar following close behind, his expression slightly apologetic. Mocha looked disheveled in the way only she could manage, coat half buttoned, hair slightly wild, eyes bright with curiosity rather than concern.
Pyrrha turned at once. "Mocha, where have you been?"
Mocha waved a hand dismissively. "Occult club had a trip. Asked me to join in. Maurice said he found a genuine grimoire in a shop so me and Jenna went to go see."
Jaune suppressed a smile. Of course.
Mocha had changed recently. Not just in demeanor, but in presence. Since her Rank 1 advancement, her presence felt heavier, more anchored and stronger, like reality bent just a little differently around her. After various testing phases, Mocha had finally settled on using Pixel as her rune. It was an odd one that could do... many interesting effects, and even among awakened it had raised more than a few eyebrows.
Oscar stepped forward, relief crossing his face as he spotted familiar people. He bumped fists with Jaune first, then Ren, the gesture easy and unspoken.
"What's going on?" Oscar asked. "This place is packed."
Ren raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as ever. "You haven't heard?"
Oscar blinked. "Heard what?"
"About Belmont?" Ren asked quietly.
Oscar shook his head. "No, sorry I've been busy. Mom and dad were looking to get me to a different school rather than Beacon High. It was a whole hassle. That's why I've been leaving early these past few days."
Ren studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Well, then I suppose Ozpin's speech may come as a shock to you."
Oscar frowned slightly, confusion flickering across his features, but he did not press. He simply looked toward the stage, attention shifting instinctively to where it belonged.
Jaune felt a pang of slight guilt twist in his chest.
He hadn't told Mocha or Oscar anything.
Not about his father, the Sleeper or anything about the ultimatum hanging over his life like a ticking clock.
There would be time, he told himself.
Later.
After this.
The gag order meant nothing now. Whatever Ozpin was about to say was undoubtedly going to shatter the silence officially, whether the truth followed or not. Once the statement was out, everything would shift again.
Soon, the flow of incoming operatives slowed, then stopped entirely.
The doors sealed.
The ambient lights dimmed just slightly.
A hush rolled through the mess hall, conversations tapering off one by one until only the low hum of whispers and ventilation remained. Hundreds of eyes turned toward the stage as Ozpin stepped forward.
He stood alone now, the professors forming a quiet line behind him.
Jaune felt his heartbeat pick up.
This was it.
The truth, or at least the version of it they were allowed to hear, was about to be spoken aloud.
When Ozpin spoke, his voice carried without effort.
"I will not waste your time with pleasantries," he said. "What brings us together today is a matter of loss, danger, and truth."
He allowed the silence to stretch, letting the room settle beneath the weight of his words.
"Approximately two days ago, the LUCID branch operating in and out of Belmont City was destroyed."
The statement struck the mess hall like a physical force.
Whispers rippled through the crowd despite the fact that most already knew, or at least suspected. Hearing it spoken aloud made it real in a way rumors never could. Jaune felt Ruby tense beside him. Yang's jaw set hard.
"All operatives stationed at Belmont," Ozpin continued, "were killed in the line of duty."
The air tightened. Some operatives lowered their eyes. Others stared straight ahead, faces drawn and rigid.
"They were not lost to a Nightmare Zone surge," Ozpin said. "Nor to a Rank Three Grimm. Belmont fell as the result of a coordinated assault. A deliberate act of violence carried out by a previously unknown terrorist organization."
His gaze swept slowly across the hall.
"This group calls itself Sleepless."
The name passed through the crowd in hushed echoes. Jaune felt it settle in his chest like a familiar shadow.
"Sleepless is not a splinter faction of any known criminal syndicate," Ozpin continued. "Nor are they a conventional organization. They are a cult. Structured, disciplined, and ideologically driven. They are united by a singular objective."
He paused, measured and deliberate.
"The awakening and liberation of an entity they refer to as the Sleeper."
Ozpin straightened slightly.
"Many of you are familiar with the established Rank system. Rank Zero through Rank Three. A structure that has guided our understanding of awakened capability for centuries."
He inhaled slowly.
"The Sleeper does not fit within that structure."
A ripple of unease moved through the hall.
"Based on our current assessments," Ozpin said, "we have reason to believe that the Sleeper exists beyond Rank Three limitations. Its influence, abilities, and existential footprint exceed anything ever documented."
He did not raise his voice when he delivered the implication.
"It may be the first true Rank Four being."
Shock rippled through even the most disciplined operatives. Veterans shifted uneasily. Younger members stiffened.
"Understand this," Ozpin said firmly. "Rank Four is not a simple escalation of power. It represents a fundamental departure from the constraints that govern awakened existence as we know it. Time, causality, probability, and perception become negotiable."
Jaune swallowed.
"There is little we truly understand about the Sleeper," Ozpin continued. "However, evidence suggests it predates much of what we consider foundational to the Dream Realm itself. There is reason to believe it is tied to the origin of Grimm."
The silence grew heavier.
"According to our intelligence," Ozpin said, "the Sleeper is hostile to all life."
No one spoke.
"We are unsure as to why this creature is even asleep in the first place, however, the cult known as Sleepless appears to believe that awakening this entity will result in transcendence. That humanity must be returned to the Sleeper's embrace in order to evolve."
His lips pressed thin.
"They are wrong."
The word carried finality.
"What occurred in Belmont," Ozpin said, "was not random violence. The operatives stationed there were not merely casualties. They were obstacles removed."
The silence returned, thicker than before.
"In response," Ozpin said, "LUCID has initiated full inter Kingdom cooperation. Vale is working directly with Atlas, Vacuo, Mistral, and Menagerie. Intelligence is being shared. Joint task forces are being assembled. Sleepless will be hunted across every Kingdom, every Dream Layer, and every shadowed corridor they believe can hide them."
Jaune noticed the way Ozpin's wording remained precise. No proper names, timelines or mention of internal compromises.
"Operations within the Dream Realm will change," Ozpin said. "You will possibly encounter greater resistance from grimm. and smarter enemies. Even... human conflict, is now unavoidable."
His gaze hardened.
"Assume that any engagement involving Sleepless carries the risk of permanent loss."
A few operatives shifted uncomfortably. Others straightened.
"From this point forward," Ozpin continued, "no operative will enter the Dream Realm alone unless explicitly authorized. Team cohesion, layered rune support, and redundancy protocols will be mandatory."
He gestured subtly behind him, where the professors stood.
"Training regimens will be updated. Psychological evaluations will increase in frequency. Those deemed unfit for front line operations will be reassigned without exception."
Jaune caught it then. The careful phrasing. The absence of certain truths.
Ozpin did not mention artificial awakenings.
He didn't speak of the involvement of Dragon gang and what had truly occurred in Belmont. The reason that everyone in there died in the first place. Arias, his daughter, Perpetuity, the true history of the dream realm...
Ozpin was telling them enough to prepare but not enough to understand.
"The loss of Belmont will not be ignored," Ozpin said quietly. "Those operatives stood their ground against an enemy that should not yet exist. They bought us time. Time we intend to use."
He inclined his head slightly.
"They will be honored."
A moment passed.
"I will not lie to you," Ozpin said. "The coming months will be dangerous. The Dream Realm will push back and Sleepless will possibly adapt to our tactics. And the Sleeper, whatever it truly is, will not remain dormantly asleep forever."
His gaze swept the room once more.
"But LUCID was not founded on comfort. It was founded on responsibility."
He straightened.
"You are here because you were forced to stand between the waking world and what lurks beyond it. That responsibility has not changed."
A final pause.
"If you have doubts," Ozpin said evenly, "now is the time to voice them. If you have fear, acknowledge it. But do not allow either to paralyze you."
His eyes seemed to linger for just a fraction of a second in Jaune's direction. Or perhaps Jaune imagined it.
"Sleepless believes the world must end in order to be reborn," Ozpin said. "We will prove them wrong."
The lights brightened slightly.
"This gathering is dismissed," Ozpin concluded. "Further briefings will follow. Stay vigilant."
He stepped back.
Applause did not come. Instead, the room remained silent for several heartbeats before the low hum of conversation slowly returned.
Jaune exhaled through his nose.
Ozpin had told them about the Sleeper.
But not about the truth behind it. Not about the key information. Not about how close the nightmare truly was.
The mess hall slowly emptied in the wake of Ozpin's speech, the great weight of it lingering like smoke after a fire had burned out. Conversations remained hushed, shoulders tense, eyes distant. Jaune walked with the others toward the LUCID cafeteria, the change in scenery doing little to lift the heaviness pressing down on him.
The cafeteria was warmer, brighter, and familiar in a way the mess hall had not been. Steam curled from food stations. Trays clattered softly. The smell of cooked meat, bread, and spices filled the air. Normally it would have been comforting.
Today it felt surreal.
They moved through the line together, each of them going through the motions. Ruby piled her tray high out of habit, though she barely seemed aware of what she was grabbing. Yang opted for protein heavy plates without comment. Weiss chose neatly portioned meals, and Blake took something light and unassuming. Ren and Nora followed suit, though Nora's enthusiasm was subdued.
Jaune himself only grabbed food mostly by muscle memory, his thoughts still tangled in Ozpin's words and the many things he had not said.
They found an empty table tucked into a quieter corner of the cafeteria and sat down together. The hum of other operatives talking nearby created a soft cover of noise, enough to grant them a sliver of privacy without isolation.
For a while, no one spoke.
Forks moved. Cups were lifted. Someone exhaled slowly. The silence stretched, heavy but not uncomfortable, as if each of them were carefully turning Ozpin's speech over in their minds, examining it from every angle.
Finally, Pyrrha broke the quiet.
"There was a lot left unsaid," she murmured, her voice low enough that only their table could hear. "Very deliberately so."
Jaune looked up from his tray and met her gaze. He nodded once.
"Yes," he said quietly. "There was."
Weiss frowned slightly, folding her hands together on the table. "It was obvious. The way he framed it. Sleepless, the Sleeper, Belmont. He gave enough to prepare people for danger, but not enough to truly explain it."
Blake inclined her head in agreement. "Information control," she said softly. "Well, it was... a necessary one, maybe."
"It had to be done," Jaune said. "If Ozpin had told everyone the full truth, panic would have spread a lot faster."
Ruby tilted her head. "You mean the God part."
Jaune let out a slow breath. "Yeah. That part."
Yang leaned back slightly in her chair, arms crossed. "People barely keep it together knowing Rank Threes exist. Telling them that the Dream Realm is literally being dreamed into existence by something that powerful, and half of them would either freeze up or lose their minds."
"And the other half," Weiss added grimly, "might decide that worshipping it is the safest option."
Jaune nodded. "Exactly. Humans are… irrationally stupid under the right circumstances. Fear and awe do terrible things to judgment."
Blake's golden eyes flicked toward the rest of the cafeteria, where operatives sat in clusters, talking quietly, tension visible in their posture. "Sleepless would probably gain recruits overnight if the truth got out," she said. "Despair makes people desperate."
Pyrrha lowered her gaze to her plate. "So that's why Ozpin chose the lesser evil. I still cannot in good conscience agree to it, however."
"Me neither, but... well what can we do?" Jaune said.
Weiss tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully. "So LUCID is officially at war now?" she asked. "No more shadows or pretending it's just isolated incidents?"
Yang gave a humorless chuckle. "Yep. Terrorist cult worshipping a nightmare god. That's definitely war."
Weiss glanced at Jaune. "Do you think Sleepless has a Rank Three among them?"
The table went still. Everybody turned to him.
At the same time, Oscar blinked in confusion, glancing between faces. Mocha tilted her head, eyes bright but uncertain.
"Wait," Oscar said. "What are you all talking about?"
Mocha frowned slightly, then shrugged. "I mean… I kind of get what you guys are saying but im definitely missing a lot of context here... at least some of it."
Jaune closed his eyes briefly and facepalmed, rubbing his forehead with his palm.
"Right," he muttered. "I completely forgot. I probably should have filled you two in earlier, but we didn't have time."
He straightened, lowering his hand. "Short version, very short version mostly because I'm kind of tired of explaining it."
He spent a short while summarizing what they had learned. Sleepless. The Sleeper. Belmont. His father. The ultimatum. Just enough to give context.
Oscar's face drained of color as the words sank in. His mouth opened slightly, then closed. "That's… that's insane," he whispered. "That's actually happening?"
Mocha, on the other hand, leaned forward, eyes practically sparkling. "So it's real," she said, excitement creeping into her voice despite herself. "I knew there was something off about that thing when I summoned it"
Jaune shot her a look. "Mocha."
She coughed lightly. "Right. Serious. Terrifying. Apocalyptic. Got it!"
Jaune exhaled and turned back to Weiss. "As for your question. Yes. I think it's very likely that Sleepless has a Rank Three."
Weiss's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"When we fought the Flesh monster Sleepless guy," Jaune said, "he said something along the lines of all team leaders knowing each other. That implies structure, coordination and command."
Ren nodded slowly. "Which would require someone at the top."
"Exactly," Jaune said. "A cult like that doesn't function without centralized authority. Someone powerful enough to keep the others in line."
Yang grimaced. "So a Rank Three calling the shots."
"Very likely," Jaune agreed. "There are only eight Rank Threes in the world right now. Each of them is positioned strategically across the kingdoms. To deter Rank Three Grimm, and each other."
Weiss nodded. "They're basically living nuclear weapons. If Sleepless has one, it changes everything."
Silence settled again, heavier than before.
Weiss folded her arms. "But... If that's true, then this war is far more dangerous than Ozpin's letting on."
"Well obviously," Jaune responded sarcastically. "But what's he supposed to say? Hey guys, everyone below rank 3 is going to die?"
Weiss scowled at that.
Yang reached over and gave Jaune's back a firm pat. "Then we'll just have to get stronger," she said. "All of us."
Ruby nodded vigorously. "Yeah. No shortcuts or slacking."
Ren inclined his head. "Preparation is the only rational response."
Nora cracked her knuckles. "I vote we break the cult leader's knees!"
Jaune huffed a small laugh despite himself. "That's one approach."
He sighed, the weight of everything pressing down on him again. "I need to get stronger," he said. "Fast."
Yang squeezed his shoulder. "We all do. Sleepless can't be allowed to wake that thing."
Jaune nodded.
For a moment, they ate in silence again, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The cafeteria noise faded into the background, a distant hum.
Then Jaune spoke again.
"I think... I've decided something," he said.
Everyone looked at him.
"I'm going to imbue my teleport rune," Jaune said. "And get rid of it."
Ruby nearly dropped her fork. "...are you sure?"
Weiss blinked. "Get rid of it?"
Yang frowned. "You're serious?"
Jaune nodded slowly. "Teleportation is useful. Incredibly useful, but... it doesn't synchronize well with my weakness rune. If I want a chance at beating my dad, I need to go above and beyond, and create another rune that can further debuff my enemies in a certain way."
Blake studied him. "So... you're sacrificing versatility for specialization?"
"Yes," Jaune sighed. "My sword skills and my weakness rune. That's where my strength lies. Teleportation is powerful, but it's holding me back from fully committing to the path of power."
Ren nodded thoughtfully. "A difficult decision. But a logical one."
Mocha grinned. "That's hardcore."
Oscar still looked slightly stunned, but he managed a small nod. "Well... I suppose if anyone could make that kind of call… it's you."
Jaune looked down at his hands, then back up at his friends.
"I can't afford to be half prepared," he said quietly. "Not anymore. Not when I have the time to do it right."
The tension at the table lingered for a few seconds longer, like a held breath that refused to release.
Then Nora slammed both hands on the table.
"So," she said brightly, eyes locking onto Jaune, the shift in tone abrupt enough to give everyone whiplash. "Your dad's still… you know. Out there. Doing nightmare god cult stuff, right?"
Jaune blinked. "Uh. Yes. Unfortunately."
"And that means," Nora continued, leaning forward with theatrical seriousness, "you have the house to yourself?"
Jaune paused.
"…Yes?"
Nora squinted at him like she was inspecting a puzzle piece that refused to fit. "So you're living alone?"
Jaune's brows knit together. "I mean. Technically, yes. My dad kind of kidnapped my entire family. So, since they're gone, it's just me."
Ren and Nora slowly turned their heads toward each other.
They simply exchanged a look.
It was the kind of look forged through years of shared chaos, silent conversations conducted entirely through eye contact and mutual understanding.
Jaune watched them, unease creeping in. "Why are you two staring at each other like that?"
Ren turned back to Jaune, calm as ever. "Jaune," he said politely, "would you be opposed to having roommates?"
Jaune stared.
"…Roommates?"
.
.
AN: Volume 3 end!
I'll be going on a break for about a week and go back to regular chapters.
10 advanced chapters of Volume 4 are available on patreon