Yatsuhashi was a better fighter, no question. He was faster and stronger, and he knew how to take a punch. But his Aura was finite, and it was already low from the cage fight and using his Semblance. Knowing Yatsuhashi’s Semblance, Jax was careful not to let his opponent touch him.

When Jax was done playing with his opponent, he whistled and his guards moved in. Yatsuhashi turned to fight them, but one of them was his classmate Umber, who once again immobilized him with a look. She was Jax’s favorite recruit.

“Thank you, Umber.” Jax strode forward and stood in front of Yatsuhashi, careful not to break his eye contact with Umber. “Last chance. Join me. Fight for Vacuo. And if you won’t do that, fight to save your friends’ lives.”

“What do you mean?” Yatsuhashi mumbled through frozen lips.

“If you join me, I’ll spare them. I’ll give them the same choice I’m offering you. They can become a part of my army, or I can force them into service. It would be a shame to break up Team CFVY—again.” Jax smiled.

“N-no,” Yatsuhashi said.

Jax sighed. He reached out and put a hand on Yatsuhashi’s head. He felt the young man tremble beneath his touch. Even frozen by Umber’s Stone Gaze, he was struggling to regain control.

“You will obey me as your king and commit yourself completely to the service of Vacuo,” Jax commanded.

The boy’s mind was slippery—after a few moments he began to think maybe he couldn’t link to it after all—but eventually he felt it engage. Jax felt his constant headache worsen; it was always a dull ache in the background, but the pain spiked when he exerted his control over someone. It was a terrible burden maintaining his control over all those other minds. If he was under too much strain and stress, those links weakened and he had to reestablish them with touch—just as Gill had to strengthen her bond with other Auras.

When Yatsuhashi stopped struggling under his touch, Jax pulled his hand away and stepped back.

“Let him go, Umber.”

She raised her glasses, cutting off her control over Yatsuhashi and releasing him to Jax.

“Kneel, Yatsuhashi,” Jax demanded.

The young man lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head.

“Look up at your master. Do you promise to follow my orders, to fight for your crown and kingdom, to give up your own life if necessary?”

Yatsuhashi lifted his head. “I do.”

Jax raised his hands. “Then rise. Welcome to the Crown’s army.”

Jax strode back to his throne, suddenly tired. Almost half of his army had joined his cause voluntarily, or for the promised financial reward of ruling Vacuo, but the other half fought his control almost daily.

“Call Gill,” he told Umber.

- RWBY: Before the Dawn, Chapter 15