AN: OK! Here we go! Back to more Brave Sir Robinson! In this chapter Jaune learns a few things about the world, the guild set's up to do a run on a dungeon and Ruby! Ruby decides that now is the time to act on an idea and make her own choices in life... no matter the consequences...


Waking up from getting knocked out was never a great feeling, for one your eyes fight to stay shut, two your head feels like it's been hit by an ax and three you feel like you have been run over by a horse. As I struggled to open my eyes I felt like I was in the middle of a hail storm as I moaned.

"Oww… my nose." I groaned as I opened my eyes, I felt something warm and soft on my limbs instantly I knew that I was in some kind of bed but I was-

"Jaune!?"

"Weiss?" I asked forcing my eyes open I knew what my room l was in the guild that much was clear Weiss was at my side sitting on a chair fist clenched into tight balls.

"Jaune!"

"Blake?" I turned as a warm cheek hit my own Blake wrapped her arms around me as I was locked in a rough embrace from my girlfriend as she dug her claws into my flesh.

"AH! Blake!? What's-

"FOOL! You absolute fool! How could you!? What were you thinking about crafting that!?" Weiss shouted seething as I paused.

What did I do? I was one a hill with-

"Ruby!"

" She's ok, but you! Fucking idiot! What the hell is wrong with you!? Why did you craft that rune!?"

"I didn't mean to!"

"That is literally worse! You did a rune that you did not mean to?! What is wrong with you!?" Weiss shook my side her nails clawing into my bare flesh, I was naked from the waist up. I was still dressed in my brown pants, and I had on a thick pair of socks that warmed by lower parts.

I still have all my limbs, so that's good? I thought as I felt Blake narrow her eyes.

"You have a lot to explain what happened to you!?"

"I… I was with Ruby, we had a talk and I…"

"And you?" Weiss raised a brown to me I knew she was worried her face normally so perfect and smooth now had large purple bags under her eyes, she had not slept in some time, and the fact or fault rested solely on my shoulders. I had made the Rune I put myself in danger this was my fault.

Dammit, I need to apologize later on. After I figure out what the hell happened to me.

"Jaune why did you just make a rune? We talked about this! You can not just make Runes!"

"I'm sorry, Weiss. I just… I just did it. I didn't think I just acted and I'm sorry."

"You could have died, I thought that I had lost you," Blake said the fear evident in her voice as she dropped a hand onto mine squeezing it roughly as I gulped.

So smooth. Blakes skin was always soft, like porcelain but gentle and was hot to the touch. I wanted to grip her hand, so I did. Cupping up interlacing our fingers as I gulped.

"I don't know… I'm sorry, please forgive me?"

"Jaune, you can not do this again. Right now Ruby is still beside herself, we were all worried, and now you need to see Ozpin. He wishes to know more about the rune you created for Ruby."

As Weiss spoke, the need on my chest pointed in a hard West direction. The compass was pointing to the door. The needle seemed to be hellbent on pointing and guiding me to whatever was on the other side even if I knew fairly well what or who it was.

Whatever I need is on the other side, whatever I truly desire. As I looked at Blake a dark feeling came to my hand as I gulped, I had noticed that no matter what happens, no matter how hard I tried or thought to try the needle on the compass seemed to be avoiding pointing to the person that I wanted it to point at.

It won't even look at her, why? Knim told me it will only point to what my heart truly desires but I know what I want… I have to know what I want.

"Jaune can you walk? If so we need you to speak to Ozpin he has made it clear that he wants to see you as soon as possible."

"I can walk," I said wincing my body was sore but overall intact. My health was at maximum, and no stats hand changed.

Even if they are lower, they took away my Runes for now so I will need to put them back on to get back in tip-top shape. I thought as I nodded.

"I can walk."

"Well let's get going then."

/ / /

"So Mister Arc tell me how or why did you carve that Rune?" Ozpin asked as he looked me dead in the eye, I gulped once my palms sweating, being in front of the Warlock was not a fun time.

"Jaune you can tell him the truth, you are not in any trouble."

"Of course not Jaune you are in no danger right now I assure you," Ozpin said, smiling gently as I let out a gulp.

"I don't know… I was with Ruby, and then I made the rune then…"

"And then you passed out?" Weiss asked my handler was allowed to come with me anywhere I went. I was technically her responsibility, and as such, she was allowed to follow me into almost any areas.

"Jaune do you know just what you made?" Ozpin asked the smile on his face so full and sickening that it made me feel a bit sick, it was like a child seeing his first ever bit of toffee. Ozpin looked like I had given him another gift from Oum as I gulped.

"No? Sir, what did I make?"

"Jaune you have made what is called a class-specific rune. Do you know what that means?"

"That I made a powerful rune?"

"That is like saying that an inferno is warm or the ocean deep. Jaune a class-specific rune is the ultimate kind of rune that a Blacksmith can make. You have made something truly and honestly unique." Ozpin said, licking his lips, his eyes locked onto me in a predatory glare.

"Sir, I don't' know what you mean."

"Let me explain when a Blacksmith spends enough time around a certain class, they have to spend long amounts of time with them they can unlock an ability to make a class specific rune, a special rune that is only utilized by members of that class."

"So it means that me and Ruby are friends?"

"No Jaune it means more than that. It means you and Ruby share a bond, you and she are closed beyond just friendship. It means that not only does she trusts you, but you are also bonded with her." Glynda said my aunt had a curious look on her face somewhat between a look of regret and confusion as I gulped.

"I'm close to her?"

"You are very close to her. And from what I know that is a good thing. Unlike your other Runes class, specific Runes are limited. You can only craft five of them. One a slot is filled you can not replace it. From now on you can make these Runes for Reapers, you only have four other slots left."

"Only five?"

"Yes. You can only have four more of these Runes in your life. Jaune this is not easy task theses Runes show the apex of your power. They are the peak of any classes power. If a class has these Runes even at the lowest level, they are almost infinitely more powerful than any other member of their class in existence."

"So this is important then…"

"That is a massive understatement. Usually, a Blacksmith of your class will have to be a minimum of a forty-eight in level before they unlock even one trait. They have traveled with a specific class for long enough and now can make Runes to better support them. Usually once a Partisan can make one they settle down in some guild fort and spend the rest of their lives, making that rune for a specific class and become a specialized NPC. The fact that you can make yours so early is… intriguing."

I gulped Ozpin was looking at me like a culture looked at the corpse of a deer. I felt a wave of fear fun down my spine as I swallowed a dry gulp.

"So what does this mean for me? Am I going to be in trouble? Or do I need to go to more classes?"

"What? Not at all! In fact, take the rest of the day off." Ozpin said his voice oddly chipper? He seemed shocked that I thought that I was going to be in trouble. I narrowed my eyes once as I paused.

"The day off, sir? Jaune has classes to attend."

"Missing one day of class will not harm him Weiss, and besides Jaune, you have done more than enough for this school as is feel free to take a break."

/ / /

Shift. Metal flowed as I moved my hands down the sheet. I saw the metal glow, several markings displayed themselves as I nodded. Mold. I carved over the Runes that I had already made making sure to make the specific ones that were asked of me.

Strength, dexterity, perception, Charisma. I thought as I fixed the Runes making sure that they were all in good shape before I smiled. Burn. I finished enchanting as I grinned.

"Finished!" I yelled as I finished this last batch of Runes, making them was becoming second nature, and so far the pay I was receiving for them was beyond that which I would have ever gotten on my own.

"Nice job, kid! Tell Neo to have you give the next order receipt ok?" Roman called out my boss was in the front room, not in the heat of the forge.

The art of crafting may Runes at once often caused a fair amount of heat to come into the area, not to mention when I was called upon to repair weapons. So face I was able to make almost every level one weapon a level two, and I had upgraded all of the guilds to level three as a minimum. Ruby's weapon was now almost a level four or well it was halfway there.

I'm not that good. Yet. I thought as I looked up a pair of mismatched eye brown and green saw me as I yelped. Falling back almost falling out of my chair barely standing up as Neo smirked.

"Neo! Don't do that!" I hissed the smaller woman and yes Neo was a woman, she was older than me by over four years and was literally silent as a grave.

Her passive. Neo had a strange passive that she never told me the name of only that she had the ability to completely nullify the sounds that she made when she moved. If Neo did not want you to hear her coming, you did not hear her coming.

"Neo can you not surprise me like that? Please?" I asked as Neo giggled a soft smirk on her lips she flicked her fingers in a variety of patterns that went over my head.

"What? You didn't cast." I reminded her Neo paused a frown crossed her thing lips before she redid her fingers, this time they glowed red and pink as she began to sign again.

Roman wants you in the front again, take your time he's pleased with your work. Neo's spell forced her words into my mind, her ability to communicate was limited, but with some work, she could literally put her words into your mind.

"Alright I'll do that when I finish this, you still want your Runes?" Neo nodded giggling I had been supplying her with Dexterity and Perception Runes for the last few days I didn't know what Neo's stats were, but she was easily apt at using those two skills over any other. Her body was much lither and flexible than most. She did not seem to be a hulking mass of muscle like Yang, Coco, or Yatsuhashi. But she was toned more or less.

"Alright, I'll give you some more when I finish this order until then you need anything else?" She paused, putting her hand under her chin scrunching up her fancy outfit that seemed to be a form-fitting top that struggled to keep her chest contained.

I blushed looking down to her feet a stylish pair of boots laced up tight made of leather and furs the tips made of steel that I had custom forged myself were better to look at, but it made Neo know that I was avoiding looking at her making her smirk even more extensive.

See something you like?

"No! I mean, yes?"

You are adorable, wipe your face and go see Roman before I tell your girlfriend that you are looking at other women. Neo said teasingly as I turned away as my face burned.

"I'm not!" I called out flustered my cheeks burning red as Neo smirking her mouth, giving a silent laugh as she sauntered out, shaking her hips in a way made to steal my eyes.

Well, she did that well enough…

I groaned picking up a cloth scrubbing my face once, the rough material felt like a wad of raw cotton scraping my cheeks, but I tossed it down rising up before walking out of the forge into the front of the underground room that Roman lived in. Roman actually lived in his underground bunker it apparently had several pages that made out to a bungalow of some type that the fourth year lived in. How he made it this far seemingly alone with no guild or friends besides Neo was a mystery to me.

"Jaune! My favorite Partisan! You look like shit. And you smell worse." Roman said as I rolled my eyes. I walked into the front of the shop. Roman sat behind his desk counting a pile of gold. Counting over them, scratching his head as he narrowed his eyes.

"Eighty-two, eighty-three, eighty-five… ok! I've got it all."

"Counting your money?" I asked, taking the seat opposite him Roman raised a brown like I had insulted his mother.

"What? Never. I always know how much money I have, I'm counting yours, six hundred eighty-two. That's your pay for the week." Roman said, pushing the money towards me, he had the good grace to put it in one big bag that was just asking to be pickpocketed.

"That much? How many people are buying?" I asked, taking the bag as Roman shrugged.

"Look it's dungeon season Jaune people need to bulk up before it's too late," Roman said cracking his knuckles as I cocked my head.

"Dungeon season? The hell is that?" I asked, putting the bag of gold on my lap Roman lit a cigar taking a deep breath and blowing out a cloud of smoke.

"Smoke?"

"Nah."

"Your loss," Roman said, going back to his cigar and sighing. Taking a deep inhale of the smoke before shaking his head.

"Dungeon season is the time of year when the students get all excited. They all want to go into a dungeon and get killed for gold or whatever stupid thing the kids are all itching to get killed over these days. Youth it's wasted on the young I tell you." Roman said puffing his cigar again eyes narrowed to slits, the Thief looking irritated as I slumped back into my chair.

"They want to go into dungeons?"

"Yeah around this time a bunch of Rangers and I do mean a lot of the bastards go out and do a massive scouting operation along the entire Emerald forest and well Vale as a whole, they scout out dungeons and usually find a shit ton of the things. After that? Well, that's when the heroes come in. They get to be all heroic paying the Rangers for their work before going off to kill the easiest if they are smart and nine times out of ten they are not." Roman said with the tone of a mother telling her child not to put a block of steel into his mouth.

"They are often not smart, and instead of going after the easier dungeons they go for the tough ones and that they think will give them better loot and well things don't work out for them really if you get my drift," Roman said blowing another cloud of crimson colored smoke that someone became a tombstone with a skull on it.

"They don't make it, do they? The dungeons are too tough, but they also give you better loot?"

"Oh, they do let me tell you the ten percent of the dumbasses that do by some miracle make it back are almost guaranteed to make it to the third year. The gear that they get is far more beneficial, and if they don't do anything stupid, they are almost guaranteed to graduate."

"That doesn't sound too bad…"

"Yeah but the other ninety percent of them die, leaving only the very skill or more likely the very lucky alive. And the few that pick three reasonable dungeons are often bolstered by the success and tackle a bigger dungeon and well… overconfidence has killed more men than any arrow or spell."

"So it's a trap?"

"No. It's an opportunity, I'm sure your guild is doing something. Knowing that Mage though she will have you all in a nice and comfy level one. She seems the patient type good thing two if you die I lose most of my money."

"I thought we were friends?"

"Friends get you killed Jaune, but we can be close if you like."

I shrugged Roman was always a bit aloof after we started out partnership he dropped the best friend act for a loyal business partner.

"Fine. But I have to go back to the guild hall, Yang wants to take me to town again."

"Oh? Cheating on the misses? Let me tell you from personal experience that never works out." Roman smirked a wry smile on his lips as I rolled my eyes.

"What!? No! I'm just going as a friend!"

"Let me tell you from personal experience that never works out. Going as friend rale ends with staying as friends. Let me say." Roman started rolling his eyes I mimicked him rolling my own.

"I will not cheat on Blake Roman. I won't do that to her, I… I love her…" I said blushing wildly as I gulped loudly, I had never told Blake that I loved her, directly and I wanted to make sure that she was there when I did.

"Roman I will not cheat on Blake."

"I am not saying that you will want to cheat on her."

"I won't."

"You say that now."

"I'll say that then."

"You say this sober. Let me tell you how minds change with ale and mead?" Roman asked taking off his hat waving the smoke away with one arm.

"You think you can be in control for now but when it happens? Let's just say the heat of the moment is very strong."

"I won't be tempted."

"Oh, now that is a lie. A bald face one. But I'll let you work this one out alone. Have fun!"

The man said as I sighed waving goodbye leaving the room with all of my gold as I went to meet my friend and nothing more.

/ / /

I am not a smart person.

"Three more! NOW!" Yang order more drinks this had been going on for an hour, the dungeon season was on, and every other bar or pub we want to was packed with, in the end, we went far downtown to an NPC bar. One that did not take Heroes all the time and had ordered there. Deep in the center of the bar, I sat across from Yang the wooden seats were comfortable enough as the smell of fresh spices of a variety of sauces and the steam from the counter wafting over.

"Yang? Are you sure you can even pay for all of this stuff?" I asked she had ordered six cups of mead and me two, a plethora of meat and fruit and she was just getting started. She had started going in strong ordering mead and meat and showed no signs of stopping even ordering for me. Yang kept ordering the food, and as Roman said the mead was starting to kick into effect.

I feel like I'm going to drown. I thought as I groaned the mead was killing me literally I did not know how anyone could even drink it! How Yang took over four mugs almost at once it soon became apparent that I was going to be in here for the long haul.

I think I'm going to die.

"MORE!" Yang yelled the Brawler was living her life to the max, as she said dungeons season approaching meant that most heroes were very away of how little time they might have left and how most of them were now dealing with the dreaded choice of leveling up rapidly at the risk of their lives or not and risking their lives being under level later on not a good choice for anyone in the mix.

"Now we have a meal!" Yang said downing a leg of lamb as I sighed, I just wanted to go home and get some rest not deal with this. I was just surprised that Yang asked me out twice. The fact that someone this beautiful was even giving me the time of day besides the fact that I was friends with her sister.

Well, at least she is getting full. I hope she doesn't drink so much. The last thing I need is for Weiss to want to murder her more. As I sipped my mead tentatively, I sighed the hops were good for this the mead had honey placed into the mix, giving it a fresh sweet taste as I smiled.

Tasty. I thought downing a quarter of the mug my third of the day as I heard a maid speak next to me.

"Um… sir…. your tab?" The women asked a waif of an NPC called a Matroidee asked me as she-

"Ah, forget the check! Beacon will pick it up! Give us the Hero rate!" Yang said as the NPC bristled once before a harsh smile spilled out.

"As you say, ma'am. We will give you that wish. She said through gritted teeth as I paused.

"Hero rate? The hell is that?" I asked as Yang devoured her meats.

"The Hero rate man! Oh, fuck you were an NPC so you probably don't know but if you want you can always ask for the Hero rate at bars and places! They give you food for free!"

"Free? Really?" The concept of free food for anything but your own neighbors or family was wholly foreign to me. The waitress shook her fingers, gripping her tray that she was carrying. She was an attractive woman, skin pale with a bit of freckles dotting her face. Her hair a fiery red and a smile that seemed forced on her face.

"I see… I wish you two a good meal then."

"More drinks! Two more mead!"

"As you say, hero." She hissed walking away, I felt some kind of vibe from her she seemed pissed. Really pissed…

"Yang? The hell was that?"

"Hell was what?" Yang asked, taking a bite of a drum stick, ripping the flesh from the bone as I frowned.

She cannot eat right, did her mother tell her how?

"That, the waitress looked pissed off when you said the hero rate the hell is that?" I asked, taking another swig of the mead as Yang smirked.

"Ah! You have been an NPC to long!"

"Labor caste."

"What?"

"Please call them Labor caste."

"Eh, you are too sensitive! You got to open up!" Yang said downing her mead cup slamming it down on the table with a heavy thud! Taking time to belch loudly before coughing punching her chest, making it shake as I blushed.

"Ah, that was good. Anyway! The hero rate just says that if a Hero who is in active duty training or not is on a mission or in a town that they have guarded in the past or are guarding now, they can get a meal at any establishment for a price of their choosing."

"What?" I felt my jaw drop as Yang smirked.

"Yup! It means that we can pay whatever we want! Even if that is nothing!" Yang said, laughing loudly, tossing her head back as I felt a strange feeling press into my chest. A knot formed in my gut as I paused. Yang had just said that I never had to pay for food in Vale for the rest of my life!

"You mean I can get free things from any town!?"

"Yup! As long as you have fought for it in the past or present just ask for the hero rate and you can pay the price of your choice!"

"I've never seen a hero use that… even in my own town they just paid the full price whenever they came."

Ah some of us are a bit sappy. They decided to pay full rate when they go, give the Peasant's something to do between tilling the fields or whatever else it is they do." Yang said, shrugging her shoulders as I smiled.

This is amazing! I don't have to pay for anything!? I can just use my rate to get free things!?

"So I never have to pay!?"

"Whoa now! It's not that good I mean I wish it was but nah it's gone some limits. It can only be used for essentials. Like food, water, shelter, etc. The law is meant so that we don't need to worry about our basic needs if we have no money to pay; we can just drop off what we have and still get service. Allows us better maneuverability. You can't just walk up to a house and say mine! Then get the hell out. That would be insane." Yang said, tearing back into her meat as I nodded.

"That makes sense so only food mead?"

"Basically. Anything else you have to pay whatever people are selling for whatever they are selling. And I see that fucking look on your face. Don't get all sappy with me. Np- Labor Caste are scamming us I tell you. No way half of their shit cost so much! Most of its busted anyway." Yang's words felt like barbs piercing me as I frowned.

"Hey, I take pride in what I do Yang-

"No, not you! You are a good one! A former Peasant that actually took care of his betters. I knew a Blacksmith before you, the man didn't even know how to forge right! He fixed my greeves than a week later they had gone down a level and a half! Should have known he was a fraud to cheap." Yang muttered bitterly under her breath I gulped she did have a point There was a lot of less than scrupulous Blacksmith's that overcharged Hero's for gear and then either fled or lied about levels or skill and faced no prosecution.

They can't harm you for services rendered. I remembered the chant my dad told me as a child. While we should do our best in our services to Heros they can not harm us for our job if it is unsatisfactory, the most they could do is request a refund, but that was entirely at our discretion.

"I mean not all Peasants are like that. Some of us are good people-

"Few. Few are most are greedy Lien hoarders that don't know shit about risking their own lives for ungrateful bastards who will never give them a hint of gratitude!" Yang spat a bit on the floor as I felt my eyes narrow at her. Ok some of us might be jerks, but the vast majority of us were good people! My family was great, so was our whole town! There was no way the Labor caste was cheating Heros as a whole!

"And just between you and me? I think that all of them are in on this! Like some kind of conspiracy!" Yang hissed looking down at me as I froze I felt my teeth grind shut as I balled my fist. My eyes flashed red the combination of liquor and being insulted made me growl at Yang as I slammed a fist on the table.

"That's not true! We would never do that!"

"We? Who the fuck is we?" Yang asked not pissed in the least but more indifferent. She looked at me like I just mentioned to the face of a long lost guildmate. Yang looked around left right; her eyes hazy from the mead as she frowned once.

"Jaune? Who the hell is we? We like you and me? What are we going to do?" Yang asked still devouring her meat drowning down her meat in a small fountain of mead as she did.

"What? No! I mean us Labor caste-

Thud! Yang slammed a mug on the table as she let out a low chuckle.

"Jaune you are not a part of that caste anymore you are one of us! You are a Hero now! Stop thinking like you are part of the NPC's ok?"

"I… but I am one."

"You were one. You are thinking of the past man! You moved up in your life!"

"I was born into the Labor."

"And you were elevated from it by fate. Oum saw fit to fight you a raise, and you got it! You are one of us now, man! Come on!" Yang said as we clinked out mugs, the Brawler laughed loudly as I paused.

One of them? I'm one of them, I'm not a Labor Caste anymore… I am a Hero now…

"Here are your drinks." The waitress came back to us, placing down the tray before us. The mead shook as she gulped her cheeks pressed out.

"You have ordered eight mugs of mead, two full chickens and several racks of ribs. What will you be paying?"

"Hmmm… let's see, three gold pieces!" Yang said counting the numbers on one hand as I choked.

"Three!?" Both me and the waitress said at once, that meal alone was worth far more than three hell the mead itself was five! And that was lowballing it!

"Yeah, I said three what about it?" Yang asked, picking her teeth as the waitress looked ready to faint.

"We worked very hard at this meal Hero… we would really appreciate a bit more of a reward for the hard service that we give you." The woman said her voice low but tinged with anger. Yang cocked a lone eye at her and shook her head.

"Reward? Reward for what? Staying behind our weapons all day?"

"I'll pay! Here have some extra." I stopped the argument by paying the waitress twenty Lien flat and eight as a tip. The waitress paused, noticing my class and bowing once. The waitress looked relieved at finally getting money as she smiled warmly as she collected my money.

"Thank you, Jaune. I am glad that not everyone is willing to abuse a system for their own advantages."

The waitress said as Yang rolled her eyes.

"You see that? We risk our lives every day for them, and they say we don't pay enough for food! They should be grateful that have any! If we did not help them, then there would be no place to grow, harvest, or even build!"

"But they do things too! Labor caste makes weapons and food and clothes! They do a lot for Heros!"

"Yeah, but they do not do the necessary things! We fight things, Jaune! Even without all of this, we can hunt! Any Hero can use their weapons to kill animals, and some fruit grows in the wild!" Yang said, ignoring how the crowd was glaring death at us before leaning in to whisper into my ear.

"Besides after I figured out how to grow crops? I don't think there is even a need for them. We can do what they do! And with some practice, we can do better!" Yang hissed her words punched me in the gut like a hit from her greeves. She had a point an excellent point. Until Beacon, I had only heard of Farmers being able to grow food, but now Yang, a Brawler of all classes had been able to grow sunflowers without any other help or magic?

Maybe we are interchangeable? I thought before shaking my head. That little bit of knowledge was kept under wraps from well anyone. I don't know why Yang chose to share with me, but the fact that she was doing what she called multiclassing was probably illegal and very taboo.

We had a caste system for a reason, with the rare exception of Partisans you stuck into your class, and Yang's adventures into the realms of an NPC class of all things were worrying to the extreme.

"Yang, let's just go. Please?" I asked the Brawler was trashed but not so much as to throw up on Weiss when she first went home.

"If you say so. Let's go! Getting tired." Yang said as I bowed to the irritated waitress walking out of the bar with Yang as the two of us walked out into the night a small voice in my head tried to say something about Yang only acting to be my friend that this was all an act that she was playing to get herself preferential equipment from me.
Nah. Yang's not like that. She's a friend. I thought as I smiled helping out the drunken Brawler as we walked off into the night.

/ / /

"Ok! Ok! Well, I know that this will be a bit of a strange request or well announcement but!" I said as I stood in front of the assorted members of the guild halls I gulped I needed to make this speech good! This was our first big quest as a guild, and I really wished I was not standing on a table that looked like it was going to give out underneath me in a moment's notice.

"Will you just get on with it!?" Weiss hissed into my ear as I gulped, I needed to sound good! This speech needed to go well or Weiss was going to me irked.

"OK! So as you all know me and Ruby have found a dungeon!" Ruby's eyes widened her silver eyes sparkling with joy. The reaper had not been seen much in the days since our incident. She had been more quiet than normal as she seemed to avoid me. The loss of contact with her had left an odd hole in my life. I didn't know when I bonded with the little genocidal sociopath but she was worming her way into my heart somehow. The guild was arrayed in front of me waiting for my news. I wonder what their class Runes are? I know what Ruby is but I can only make four more... I can't give them to everyone. I reasoned as my eyes fell to Ruby who was looking anywhere but my direction as I sighed.

I hope that she comes around. I thought before coughing. Maybe this will help?

"Ok! As you know-

"You found a dungeon! Get on with it!"

"Yang!"

"What? He's already said that one."

"OH! Is it broken!? Can we raid it!" The Barbarian inquired, inquired fancy word Velvet liked it.

"Nora, you do not break dungeons you clear them. Ren added as I sighed.

"The dungeon we found is no longer in our realm of acceptance! It has reportedly leveled up to level three! As such, we will no longer be considered an attempt at clearing it." Ruby's cheer died in a moment it felt like I was kicking a puppy. It was true the dungeon had grown in level and was now no longer a safe target for a guild of our level.

"So we don't go to that dungeon, what's so special about that?" The love of my life and sem supportive lover Blake asked as I sighed again wishing she could be nicer.

"We will not be attempting that dungeon but! We will begin to scout with other guilds and embark on a joint mission to clear out a dungeon." I explained somewhat claiming Ruby we were not done with our quest we had just taken a break to find a target that was easier for us to assail.

"Joint? Like with other Heros?" Yang asked as I saw my out.

"Yes, Weiss can explain the finer details, Weiss? Will you?" I asked hoping against hope that Weiss would bail me out. She nodded once as she walked up to take center stage.

"To save your skin yes," Weiss said as we switched places the tiny ex-princess walked up on the table coughing once.

"As you know, we are all in need of leveling. After much talking with Jaune we have accepted officially the mission to hunt Bandit's in Atlas and no Ruby, not the class specifically. Though I do think there will be official Bandits I do not think that we are looking for only Bandits. Now if you would all pay attention, I will demonstrate the two guilds that I am considering bringing in for our mission."

"Hey, you ok?" Blake asked, appearing I didn't see her move, I had my eyes locked onto her as she simply vanished blurring out of reality and appearing at my side. Her fingers interlocking into mine as I smiled. Enjoying the warm feeling of her fingers on mine as I smiled. Weiss had the attention of all of our friends as Blake took the time to check on me.

"Yeah I'm fine I'm just nervous, this is our first dungeon, I'm just glad that we are doing it as a team."

"As opposed to us soloing a dungeon? Jaune we might be a good guild, but we are not that good yet. You barely have us at level three gear, and that's taking most of your free time. Just calm down we can do this." Blake said, flashing me a smile as I nodded.

"Thanks, Blake."

"No problem."

"I'm just worried about Ruby." And just like that her frown let, her cat ears went flat on her head as she scowled. Her hand left mind as she shifted away from me. The relation shop with Blake and Ruby was not on solid ground even from the beginning but the fact that A my compass that only pointed to what my heart would desire the most was hellbent on pointing towards her and her alone refusing to so much as twitch when Blake was around. The fact that I and she had bonded in such a way I could make a specific Rune only for her class.

"Blake?" I asked, hoping that she would be understanding. One look at her scowl was enough for me to know; otherwise, a sigh left my face. One look down at my chest gave it away, my compass was pointing right at Ruby. That thing seemed determined to say that Ruby was what my heart desired even if I never knew why.

Why her? What is it about Ruby that you think that I want? I thought Knim had told me that I the device would only point to what I desired the most but why Ruby? Blake was my girlfriend, and I loved her more than anything. I knew I loved Blake my heart soared and made me want to squeal the moment I looked at her but something was not... I knew I loved her but the needle that I was assured to be right did not want to point at her!

"Her again." Blake hissed under her breath as I sighed, Blake's rocky relationship with Ruby as not a well-kept secret in the guild and even if she was my best friend I had to pick my girlfriend over her. Even if the needle would not show my thoughts I made sure my actions would do so. Actions speak louder than words.

"Blake she's just a friend! Ouch!" An elbow hit my side as Blake got me right between the ribs.

"Ouch!"

"Pay attention."

"Thank you, Blake, some of us are listening!" Weiss hissed as I rolled my eyes.

"Really? You are going to use my partner against me?"

"Nope. I'm going to use you against you." Blake said as Weiss pushed on with her speech as the Mage listed off the potential allies whose names I forgot the plan was still a long way away. We needed some better gear, mainly armor. The Reactive Armor that I was forging was for the time being and after a long discussion with Roman and Weiss an exclusive item. Only our guild, Roman, and Coco since she saved my life a story that did nothing to make Weiss not hate her with a passion.

The idea was that if we showed how valuable the armor was that coupled with rumors would drive up the price which was already impossibly high. Most of the offers I had gotten with Lien would feed a family in my hometown for months with leftovers. But Weiss had advised me to say no. I needed to equip the guild, which brought up even more complications.

As it turned out, some classes had a Strength limit, no matter who you were, you had an eight limit the maximum amount something can weigh before carrying it. Some people like Weiss needed special armor made for Mage's to even consider wearing it. I had to learn a new type of casting and the materials needed to armor the guild were just in short supply at the time.

I would protect them all in the end, but for the moment only Ruby had a semi-full set. Her chest piece was a full corset of Reactive armor, making sure that one of us with the lowest health would not be dying anytime soon.

Or at all if I have a say.

/ / /

"Jaune? Are you there?" Ruby asked as I looked down from my Rune page. The night had fallen and I was busy smiling looking at potential Runes for me to craft as I heard Ruby call for me through the door.

"Yeah what's up?"

"Can I come in? Can we talk for a bit?" Ruby asked as I smiled, turning in my chair as I nodded.

"Yeah sure come in, the door is unlocked." Not that it matters, anyone can just burst down a door here, hell even I can break one in.

"Ok! Coming in!" Ruby said as she walked in the Reaper was still in her plate. It looked like her usual red corset, but the metal in it was clear that and the now slightly thicker leather that Ruby had placed under her clothes to add an extra level of protection from harm.

"Thanks! I really needed to talk to you!" Ruby said as she closed and locked the door with a click!

"Sure, what's up?"

"It's the dungeon!"

"The one that we are going to do?" I asked as Ruby bounced to my bed her chest followed suit as my eyes somehow latched onto her chest. Not as big as Blake but it was growing.

"No, the one we found! They are going to take it away from us Jaune!"

"Take it away? Ruby the dungeon is not going anywhere you know this right?"

"It is! Jaune they are going to let someone else take our dungeon from us!" Ruby said her fist balled there was something in her voice an urgency a call to action that was usually absent from her carefree high pitched tone that sounds like a mocking jay that had been shot.

"Um, Ruby? What does that mean?"

"It means, doesn't that bother you? We found that place shouldn't our guild be the one to clear it?" Ruby said as I shrugged I didn't care who cleared it. Not like I'm going to be in that dungeon. I thought as Ruby looked up hopeful silver eyes shining as I sighed.

"I mean, are you asking if I want to? Then yes I do, but I also know that to attack a dungeon without proper gear training or other prep is damn insane! How would we do it?"

"We would make it work! We would just do it! We are good enough to do this, I know we are!" Ruby said pouting adorably. I sighed, rolling my eyes as I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down Ruby sure we found the place but how the hell are we going to clear a level three dungeon without some serious help?"

"That's it! I found a way!" Ruby looked like she had just found the fountain of youth as I cocked my head at her.

"You found a way? How?"

"The boss! The final Grimm in the dungeon! That boss is known to grow with the dungeon! The longer the dungeon is around-

"The stronger the Grimm inside will be. Yeah, I know that, what about it?" I finished her sentence for her the compass seemed to spurt shaking even louder as it really wanted to shoot out and hit Ruby dead in her neck.

"Well, the boss in the dungeon does not just level with it! Right now the dungeon is in flex! The Grimm are getting stronger and stronger, but for the moment? They are weak!" Ruby looked up at me eyes shining as I gulped I felt the hairs on my skin raise the compass pointing so hard at Ruby that the needle threatened to break out of the class and fly straight into Ruby and pierce her heart.

"You think they are weaker?"

"No! Oobleck told me so!"

"He did when?"

"After class! I know that you and him talk so I went to talk to him! He says that during this time called the waning hour if you attack a leveling dungeon then you can kill the low-level monsters for high yield gear! You can do level one fights for level three rewards!" Ruby looked up at me with anticipation clear in her eyes. I paused I had no idea how that would go, on the one hand, that sounded good but-

"Wait if this was a thing why has nobody done it? Why was it not mentioned in class?" Ruby paused the wind left her sails as she gulped! My eyes fell as I sensed a but coming that I was not going to like.

"AH! Well… about that… it's not that easy… you see if…"

"If…"

"Ruby…" I said as Ruby looked like one of my younger siblings that had just taken an extra toffee and was trying to hide it behind her back.

"Ruby spit it out."

"It's just they heal!"

"What?"

"The Grimm! They are leveling up as we speak! It's a slow process, but it can just happen! We can be fighting a Grimm, and suddenly they get bigger stronger, and Grimm that we have killed will instantly respawn as newer higher leveled versions of the ones we had already killed!" There we go it was a death box.

"So we could be fighting Grimm barely surviving then all of a sudden they just level up and now have full health and our even tougher than what we could have been barely beating?"

"Y… yes... That can happen."

"Ruby that is a serious thing. What if we got into a fight we were almost losing as is then the Grimm come back stronger than before? How do you want to deal with that?"

"We won't have to! It takes at least three days for this to occur! Until then, it is sporadic! The Grimm inside the dungeon will level up at random, not in any order and the best part! The boss will level up last! No matter what happens, the boss will only level up after all of the Grimm have! And if the boss id damage he will not get his own health back!"

"So the boss is the only one that we can guarantee to be on a lower level?"

"Well… if the boss does level up its power will get more, but the health stays. So it won't heal."

"Ruby that is still insanely dangerous. What if we are killed? Ruby, you barely have the health to take one hit! And-

"But the Rune! The minor Rune of reaping! If we use that we can beat them!"

"Ruby, that is one Rune even if I made more of them do you think that this can work?" I asked I knew that Ruby would see reason she had to. This was a mission that we really should not take part in. She was going to see-

"I think that we can do it! Our guild is strong! We are strong! You just have to make Weiss see that!" Ruby said her eyes shining with hope as I rolled mine, I hated having to be the bad guy, but it looked like I was going to have to be one for this.

"Ruby. No. I can't tell Weiss."

"But why not!?"

"Because if I tell Weiss about this, then she will get pissed. Ruby this is a dangerous thing! We can't just attack a dungeon in this waning hour, even if the whole guild wanted to come they would want to prepare that would take days at best-

"We don't have days! The dungeon leveled up a day ago! And the school sent a group of third years to clear out all the Grimm in the surrounding area! Right now, no Grimm is surrounding the dungeon! If we attack now, we have a clean shot right at them!"

"Ruby! Even if that is true!"

"It is!"

"How do you know!? How do you know that the dungeon is clear to infiltrate and that no one else is even there right now!?"

"Because I do!"

"How?"

"I just do ok!? I know that no one will take it before it levels up! I know that there is a clear path into the, but we need to go now! If we do not go now, our chance is lost!"

"Ruby what if we die!? If I die then Weiss is dead! I can't just risk her life or yours!"

"So you won't let me die? Is that what you mean?"

"Of course not! You are my best friend!" I said as I felt it my charm of revealing on my wrist began to glow, it was a faint hum not to the point of pain, but that meant…

Ruby is casting a spell on me? Or is trying to deceive and manipulate me?

"Jaune you need to come with me! If you come with me now, I guarantee you that we can do this! Bring the guild! Wake them up!"

"Ruby if we bring the guild there will be a meeting! We will have a debate first before we do anything!"

"Then, don't wake them up! Just wake Weiss, and we can convince her together!"

"She won't budge! You know this!" The amulet glowed hotter whatever spell Ruby was trying to casting was getting strong as she gulped.

"Jaune you are my friend, my best friend you said that you would never let me die, right?"

"Of course-

"Say it."

"Say what?"

"Say it! Tell me that you will never let me die!"

"I will never let you die."

"Say that you will protect me from harm!" Ruby why are you-

"Just say it!"

"Ok! OK! I'll protect you from harm!" Ruby was really being frantic her eyes looked wide and panicked she seemed desperate to take on this dungeon I had no idea why but-

"You will always be at my side!"

"What?" This one seemed different just as desperate but Ruby seemed scared? Like she was worried about what my answer would be.

"If you can help if you will fight by me and watch my back!"

"Ok? I'll watch you back you have my sword and shield but why are you-

"Jaune I need to do this dungeon soon. I need your help with it."

"Why didn't you bring this up at the meeting!? You were awfully silent!"

"I couldn't talk their!"

"Why not?! Weiss would have listened to you-

"I already asked her! She said no and warned me not to tell you!"

"Then, why are you!?"

"Because I need your help! You are my friend! Please help me!" Ruby asked as I groaned she was making this very difficult! I just wanted to help her out but-

"Jaune. You gave me your word to stand by me."

"I did-

"And you follow your word?"

"I do. A man can only be judged by his word, why?" I asked an inkling of guild beginning to run up my spine I felt like I was going to regret what was about to happen as Ruby took a deep breath.

"Jaune that dungeon is going to fall, it is going to fall by our hands, not someone else's!"

"Why? What is your obsession-

"Because it just is! Listen to me! Please! Just help me." Ruby said walking to the window recently installed and upgraded by Velvet opening it to the cool night breeze. Taking a leg and putting it on the window as I felt the bottom of my heart start to sink.

"Ruby? What are you-

"I am going out to raid that dungeon," Ruby said as If elt my jaw hit the floor.

"What!?"

"I am going to the dungeon either come with me and honor your word or do not either way."

"Ruby wait! Please-

Ruby vanished in a blur of roses blurring down the walls into the front of the house then disappearing further down waving at me-

"Ruby!" I yelled as I groaned this was going too far!

I have to talk her down! I hissed as I gripped my blade and shield, I grabbed my weapons and only some of the Runes not even bothering to grip most of my Runes only taking a Rune of Strength with me, leaping out of the window the amulet on my arm glowing bright orange as I jumped out landing on the grass. I rolled once before sprinting after Ruby hoping to make her see reason but prepared to fight if need be, she will see reason I know she will I can get her back home and calm before anyone else wakes up. I thought as I jumped out of my window rolled thrice and chased her into the night...


AN: ALright! Jaune and Ruby are about to go out for a midnight run on a dungeon! The two are about to see what it's like in the field and we will learn just what Ruby's strange obsession is with this dungeon and why she is so determined. The next part will be Jaune and Ruby deep in a dungeon as they go out to face a boss alone in the Waning hour. Stay tuned to find out what happens next! The next thing I got coming is either Hunter or Bust, Dragonslayer or Reverse! Either of them but we will see! Until next time thanks for reading and untill then have some stats.


Stats

Name Jaune Arc

Level 32

Health 160/160

Strength 53 +8 Rune

Charisma 9

Intelligence 12

Perception 19

Constitution 40

Dexterity 16+1

Intelligence 11

Wisdom 9

Lien2,227

MP NA

Skills.

Stroke the fire. Creates heat to conduct Blacksmithing warning only your hands are immune to said heat.

Armorsmithing level four. You can create armor for almost all people once you have the material.

Rune smithing. You can mow create moderate Runes of any type.

Blunt force. Your attacks with strength based weapons will now scale up to .75

Metallurgy. You can now forge any object that you can imagine of with metal. Requires resources.

Armorsmithing level 4. You can now make suits of armor custom tailored to your own design.

Reactive Plating level 1. Ability to create a type of special armor that is not only much stronger than normal will block the first attack that would harm the wearer, no matter how powerful the attack is. This armor cannot be repaired or maintained, any damage done to it is permanent and can not be altered.

New Skill unlocked. Class Runes Smithing.

Rune's unlocked 1/5
Due to your familiarity with certain classes, you may now create Rune's specifically made for that class.

Minor Rune of Reaping. When the Rune of Reaping is applied all enemies afflicted with it must pay the crimson tithe before they can begin to heal. A Rune for the weapon of a Reaper. When this blade deals damage any cut made by this weapon that draws even a drop of blood, will force the victim human or not to exsanguinate a total of .9 percent of their total, not current blood volume.

If the target attempts to heal the wound before that amount of blood has been lost the effects of the healing no matter how strong will be reversed damaging them and the wound will continue to worsen. This effect stacks and any other cut that draws blood will force the targeted to exsanguinate the given amount before it can be healed.

Common spells.

Passive Guts. Ignores all but debilitating attacks to your person.

Passive Hardy. Most poisons are less effective, you get sick fare less often and you will take a small amount of reduced damage from all attacks.

Passive Cold dead hands. Your weapon will never be forced from your hands. So long as you do not willingly let go the only way you can be disarmed is through magical means or if your hands are amputated.

Passive Thick skulled. Due to your lack of Intelligence and high Strength, any attempts to charm, hex, seduce, trick, or curse you takes double the effort on the aggressor and all effects are halved. You lack the Intelligence to allow these abilities to fully manifest. You also will take slightly reduced damage from magic attacks.

Curses.

Know no fear. You will know no fear, you will never run from a fight out of fear and will not let your decisions be ruled by fear as long as you are of sound mental health.

Items.

Amulet of Revelation. Informs you when you are being hexed, cursed or charmed. Does not stop said abilities but will lessen effects.

Compass. A cursed compass of demonic origin points you where you need to go.

Charm of Constitution plus five Constitution

Demonic sigil. Allowing you to communicate with denizens of the twelfth plane of torment and more.

Unknown script. A strange script on the hilt of your weapon what it means is unknown it appears to be demonic in origin...

Cursed plate. No step back. If applied you will not run from the first enemy you see, your first motion is always towards danger no matter how severe said danger.