So I'll be doing this new thing where at the beginning of each chapter, I'll respond to any reviews I've gotten. That way, people actually know that I've accepted their feedback, and you all feel more involved.
I'll do this for EVERY review, no matter how long it takes me, and that, is a promise.
Twilight rasengan: pretty much, yeah, but I'll be adding a few twists of my own.
Silent soviet: I'm taking what I consider to be a pretty good direction for this story. You'll have to read and find out though. XD
Curious viewer: Yeah. In my opinion, it's a pretty easy choice. I'd make the same choice if my family was killed. As for his Aura, it's not really spoilers if I tell you he doesn't have it anymore, I figure, that's what will make this story different. Take Jaune's biggest strength away from him, add some stuff of my own, and see where it goes. About the Arc's and the Xiao longs being neighbours, that was more of a 'why not' decision. Kind of spontaneous.
Guest #1: thanks for your kind words. Yang x Jaune is indeed a possibility, but I will leave it in my readers hand on who he will be paired with. There is in fact, a poll of my profile, for who Jaune should be paired with. Check it out and cast your vote.
Guest #2: I've added your suggestion to the poll. It's the bottom choice, and it's called 'All of the above'
Guest #3: If you mean specifically a story where Jaune doesn't have his aura, I suggest Hero of the everyman. It's pretty good.
Guest#4: I think you're pretty right with that idea. I'll take it into consideration. Even if She doesn't win, I will probably use it, so thanks :)
I'd like to thank Dragonknight556, ObsTyr, ShadowDeath01, Tronop04, mthauptli, kreeft123xx, Natethefirst, Lookatroll, Phil-The-Psychic-Guy(great name XD), Shinaos, Silent Soviet, The American Wolf, ThePathOfPaths, 'Twilight rasengan, Curious viewer, Vulcan2312, Breeze753, mcfuzz98, sir master inquisitor, sjones236, Dragonhunters, Mahilder, Zimbolical, Awesome2008, thomasmyers1997, and sdoniczx for following and/or favouriting this story(a few did both{Thanks}).It means a lot to me.
Chapter 2 -So my intentions are known
The days that followed were the hardest. Adjusting to the fact that his family was alive and none the worst for the wear was difficult. Erasing the images of their cold bodies was even harder.
Jaune decided to keep quiet about everything that had happened. How could he tell them what he had seen, and what he had done to bring them back?
No, it was better this way.
Even at 8 years old, he understood that.
"Jaune, It's time to wake up" He jumped at the sound of his mother's voice.
"Ok mum" he called out, his voice too hoarse for someone his age.
Pushing the covers back and standing up, Jaune changed out of his PJ's and into regular clothes.
He walked from his room to the kitchen.
He knew he no longer had a soul, but honestly, he didn't feel any different. Thoughts swirled through his head as he grabbed breakfast out of the pantry and began to make himself cereal.
"Jaune, your father wants to see you as soon as you're done with breakfast. He's out the back."
His mother called out from an unknown part of the house. "Your sisters also said goodbye. They'll be home from school in the afternoon"
"Ok, I'll be finished soon" he called back to her. He scarfed his food, not wanting to keep his father waiting. Standing up, he slowly began to plod along to the backyard, his shoulders hunched as if he was carrying the weight of the world.
Pushing open the back door, Jaune ambled out into the space behind the house.
Looking around, he couldn't see his father, and decided to wait until he arrived.
Several minutes later, and his father still hadn't shown up, and as Jaune contemplated going back inside, he heard a noise behind him.
Jaune turned around, and jumped back in fright as a wooden sword impaled itself in the ground, where he had been standing a few moments beforehand.
"Well done son" a voice boomed out. Jason Arc casually jumped off the roof of the house and landed a few feet from him. On his back was a foreign wood object.
Jason Arc was, by all definitions, a warrior. He was well built, and boasted strength and speed of a master of combat. He was a warrior, forged in the heat of countless battles.
With all that said, How was he killed?
"You have quick reflexes." He continued. "That's good. That means you should be able to fight fast."
He reached behind his back and grabbed the wooden object, proceeding to jam it into the ground.
It was a training dummy.
"Today we start your training as a knight. You'll learn specially from me for the next four years."
"Ok son, I want you to grab this here sword and hit the dummy with it." His father instructed. "Give it everything you've got. Show me what you're made of."
Jaune looked doubtfully at his father, and then at the wooden, before reaching down and pulling it out of the ground.
Hefting it, he swung it as hard as he could at the dummy.
A solid whack echoed out over the backyard, and Jaune dropped the sword, clutching his aching hand.
"Again son, and this time, bend your knees a little bit, a keep your centre of balance." He father instructed. "You have to use your entire body in the strike, not just your arms."
Jaune sighed.
This was going to be a long four years.
4 Years later(forgive me reader, for I have sinned)
"I don't know Yang. I don't seem to be getting any better at fighting." A 12 year old Jaune said as he lay back on the grassy hill. "I think my father is ashamed of me"
"Don't say that" Yang scolded. "You know that's not true." She sat down beside him.
The hill they were on overlooked the town and their school. The island of Patch was a remarkably beautiful place. The sun shone practically all the time. The trees were green and were bearing fruit. They had a clear view of their houses. Birds flew through the sky, and insects hummed In the trees.
It was perfect for everyone.
Everyone but one.
Time had not made him forget what had happened that day. He doubted anything could make him forget. That was probably a good thing, if he was honest with himself. The images burned into his mind never allowed him to lose sight of what he meant to become.
"What am I missing here? Surely it's something?" Jaune complained.
"Have you had your Aura unlocked?" Yang asked.
"Not to my knowledge." Jaune said. "What's Aura?"
"Oh? You don't know?" Jaune shook his head, his bangs hiding his eyes. "You should really start paying attention in class."
"I know." Jaune admitted. "I'm just trying to find ways to make myself stronger, but it doesn't seem to be working. Anyway, what's this Aura stuff?"
"Aura is the manifestation of our soul. It bears our burdens and shields our hearts." Yang Answered.
"That's the textbook definition anyway. I'm not entirely sure what all that means."
At this point, Jaune fell silent. He knew immediately that if Aura was the missing ingredient for what was needed to make him a better fighter, he had no chance.
"Don't be so down. It's your birthday tomorrow. You should be happy." Yang said.
"I know, I know." Jaune rolled his eyes. "Let's get going. I want to be home before dark. My dad said he had a surprise for me."
"Then let's get going slowpoke" She taunted.
"You're on. First person to the house boundaries wins" Jaune challenged.
"I…win" Jaune panted.
"No….fair" Yang panted back. "You…..shouldn't…..Be…. allowed….to do…..Parkour "
"Too…..Bad" Jaune retaliated.
"You…..Suck" Yang finished.
They stumbled past Yang's house and split off as they passed the gate, Yang going inside and Jaune continuing down the road.
The walk back to more time than he would have liked, but he cleared it fairly quickly, alternating between running and jogging. His stamina was about the only thing that had improved over the last four years.
He approached the house and ran around the back, choosing to enter through the back door rather than the front.
Pushing open the door, he called out. "Mum, Dad, I'm home"
"Stay out the back son, I'll be right out." His dad called from somewhere inside the house.
"Ok" Jaune yelled back, stepping backwards before running up the wall and settling down on the roof.
A few minutes later, his father walked out with an object wrapped up in black cloth.
"Jaune" he yelled. "Where are you?" he looked in every direction, except for up.
"Right here" Jaune said, jumping down and landing next to his dad with a thump.
If he was anyone else, Jaune's Father would have jumped, but his hunter training had made him practically immune to jump scares.
"Good, you're here" he said. "I know your birthday is tomorrow, but it's an Arc tradition to give this to the eldest son the night before their 12th birthday."
He unwrapped the black cloth to reveal a white sword with a gold hilt and blue hand. The blade was contained in an intricate white sheath, and looked incredibly well cared for.
"This is Crocea Mors, the Sword your Great Grandfather used in the war." His father explained. "it's yours now."
Jaune speechlessly accepted the sword as it was handed to him. It was light enough to be handled with ease, but heavy enough to be able to gain some power in a swing, and it was perfectly balanced.
"Dad…I … Thanks" Jaune stammered.
"Don't sweat it kiddo" His father ruffled his hair. "It was rightfully yours anyway."
"I can do something else for you though."
"What" Jaune questioned.
"I need you to close your eyes and concentrate." His father instructed him. "I'm going to unlock your Aura"
Immediately, Jaune began to panic.
Gripping his shoulders tightly, His father began to speak in an unfamiliar language.
"Sous la force du soleil, je l'appelle.
Grâce à la puissance de la lune, je fais signe.
Je appelle à ton âme, et de le dissocier.
Avec mes mots, je gratuites Votre Aura, et avec mon épée, je te protégerai.
Alors dis-je, Jason, le septième Arc"
As the final part of the passage began, something began to happen.
A dark crimson energy began to race up his father's arms, and the moment he finished speaking, it flared and he was sent flying away, landing a good 30ft away in a patch of shrubbery, Clearly unconscious.
Horrified, Jaune did the only thing he could think of.
He ran.
Turning on his heal, he snatched up Crocea Mors and ran inside.
Grabbing his backpack from the rack in the front room, he ran to the pantry an began to throw in food, before running upstairs and tossing in clothes.
Once he was done, he sprinted past his mother who had just emerged from her room.
"Jaune, honey, wait" she called desperately. "What's wrong"
But by the time she was finished speaking, he was out the door and long gone.
Damnit, why did I have to take so long writing this chapter.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Shepherd of Fire, and in case you were wondering, here is the translation for the passage that Jason Arc says, here it is.
Under the might of the sun, I call.
With the power of the moon, I beckon.
I summon to your soul, and unbind it.
With my words I free your Aura, and with my sword, i protect you.
So say I, Jason, the seventh Arc
There you go.
Also, there is a poll available on my profile with pairings in this story. I figure it's best to start early, so I can start working on the pairing early on.
Anyway, thankyou for reading, and if you enjoyed reading this, please let me know in a review, or show your support by following/Favouriting. It means the world to me.
Thanks once again.
Cya.
-3rdDegreeBurns
