A/N
I started this right after posting the last chapter!
Eat it, poor work ethic! Mobile upload FTW!
Oh, almost forgot!
Do enjoy.
Chapter Seven: Thrive
Cavern, Jaune's Alcove
A tall, cloaked figure stood in the entrance of the rocky structure that Jaune slept in. It was far too dark to see any defining features, but the voice that spoke from the cloak was definitely male. It was also especially condescending.
"You'd think someone would want to be a light sleeper when they sleep in Grimm infested darkness, especially after being here for a month or so. Yet here you are, sleeping like a rock." He said to the sleeping boy.
The voice alone would have been enough to wake Jaune up normally, but he was suffering from an acute overuse of Aura, not that he could tell in his deep slumber. As they say, 'patience is a virtue', so the figure sat down by the pond.
"I've got to say, that last fight was pretty astounding. It isn't a simple thing to fight two Grimm at once, especially the nightwalkers. Glad to see you seem to be doing well, kid. I suppose I'll go before you wake up, I'm rooting for you, boy."
As he stood up to leave, he felt cold steel against his neck and heat crawling up his back. Standing behind him, sword drawn and ready to decapitate, was Jaune. The cloaked man chuckled, raising his hands in a sign of surrender. Jaune spoke up with a slight cough.
"Glad to see I have a fan, although, I don't quite remember anyone else coming down here with me. If you would, please, I have a few questions." He said.
"Well, look who got stealthy. Ask away, I'll answer what I can." The man replied.
"How long have you been here? Are we the only ones down here? How long have you been following me?"
"In order? I do not know, time is a... vague concept here. You, me, and the Grimm are the only living beings down here. I've been following you since you got here, who do you think led you here?"
"Are you a ghost? What weapons do you have on you? Who are you?"
"All very good questions, if a bit strange. I am not a ghost, nor do I believe they are real. I have a dagger in this old cloak, but I fight better without it. You learn quite a few things about fighting the Grimm when you grow up surrounded by them."
Jaune decided to save that information for later. He realized the man was just humoring him by standing still, and Jaune already had a general idea of what the man's semblance was. To be fair, it was a toss up between impervious defense or some way to become intangible. It might have been teleportation, but he was reasonably sure it wasn't. He went to reiterate his last question, but knew the man would just avoid it again.
"One final question, then. Why are you here?"
"To start the next test, of course. Although, I think you might not like this very much." The man replied ominously.
"And why might that be?"
"Well, I plan on making you a killing machine, of course. Grimm killing, that is. I prefer teaching hands on though, so try not to die when we get there."
Jaune felt confident that the man wouldn't be threatening, and lowered his shield after scraping off the goo, allowing the man to spin around. Jaune was a little off put by the man's cheerful attitude, but something he said didn't add up.
"What did you mean by-woah!"
As he began to ask, he was unsuspectedly shoved into... a bag?
"Hey! What the hell!?"
"Shut up, I can't let you see how we're going to get to where we'll be staying. Wouldn't want you to try to run off without supervision!"
With a hop in his step, he marched off to the hidden exit for the cavern, easily lugging the boy in the bag. That's not to say the boy in question was having an easy time of it, having been flipped upside-down when the bag was picked up. He squirmed into a semi-sitting position, and took calming breaths to settle his stomach.
"Any particular reason you think I'd run away?"
"We're going to my house. On the surface."
Well shit. I guess I would be tempted to run, but I doubt I'd make it very far. While the man might not act like it, he was definitely skilled, and that didn't bode well for Jaune's chances at escaping. He did have one last question, though.
"What should I call you?"
"... Seul"
Seul's Cottage
It was an understandably small, undecorated building. It couldn't have more than two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The field behind the building was another story. Shredded wooden posts, some of which were broken in half. Gouges littered all throughout the dirt, most likely from Grimm. Targets resembling swiss cheese hung from poles, which were placed varying distances from what looked like a makeshift wall of dirt and wood. All in all, it was a spartan home surrounded by a veritable war zone.
Dropping the bag holding Jaune onto the ground, Seul walked up to the front door and gave his new student a quick piece of advice.
"Find a safe place before nightfall, beowolves hunt in packs."
And with that, he slammed the door shut, most likely locking it as well. Leaving Jaune outside to fend for himself. The knight glanced around quickly, looking for a place to hide for the night. It was hard for him to keep focused, he just wanted to lean against the trees and enjoy the sunset while he could.
... Oh no, sunset! Realizing he didn't have much time till the Grimm came out, he searched frantically for somewhere safe. Jumping up and climbing a tree would be okay until one of them sniffed him out, which reminded him to ask for a shower asap. Hiding inside of a hollow tree would lead to the same result.
He could try to stand his ground near the training area, but he had no idea how many Grimm were coming. With nowhere to hide, and most of the field being open space, the wreckage of the training area was looking more and more promising. He decided to pile up some of the nearby posts to make a sort-of fort.
Glancing toward the setting sun, Jaune closed his eyes and listened for any out of place sounds, such as a howl, or padded feet running across stone. It was difficult for Jaune to hear anything past the cool wind and creaking wood of his current shelter.
So he rolled backwards out of his shelter.
Which was soon shredded by an Alpha Beowolf.
A/N
I don't mean to get your hopes up with this post, but I couldn't stop myself from writing it!
I'm still seriously considering taking this down to redo it, but it's ultimately up to you guys. :P
Review, if you would please?
