Residuum

Blood 1.3

ii

Jaune knew he was an excellent tracker, something that even Qrow had reluctantly admitted. There were a lot of skills he had forged for himself over the years and when his red-eyed mentor had began teaching him, they had talked about Jaune's strengths outside of his blood.

He could tell Pyrrha wasn't anywhere near experienced as him but she knew exactly where she was going even better than he did and he wasn't sure how. She wasn't directly aware of the things around them, small details he had noticed like oddly displaced branches or missing vegetation. However, she seemed to know where North was and he struggled to come up with an explanation.

"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, noticing him being unusually quiet, "What's wro- oh you have a scratch on your cheek."

He blinked, not having noticed any sort of sting. Bringing his hand up and touching his face, he noticed the blood he caught on his bandage.

"Why don't you activate your aura?" she asked, "It should take care of a small scratch like that."

"Oh, I haven't unlocked it yet," he replied, making her look at him incredulously.

"Did nobody unlock it for you? Here, I can do it," she said, as she stopped walking and stepped in front of him. Jaune backed away, holding up his hands to stay her.

"Actually, it was my decision," he explained.

"I don't understand," she said, "Why don't you want your aura unlocked?"

"It's a bit of a story," he said, overlooking her disbelief, "Qrow told me a little bit about how people used to unlock their aura by themselves. He called it a 'rite of passage' in his family that both he and his sister went through. He offered to unlock mine actually, but he sounded… I dunno, a little more serious about it than usual. He said some people believed in something like a higher meaning about when or how it's unlocked instead of having it done as soon as you can."

"I've read about that. The old ways," Pyrrha said quietly, "There were many people that used to believe in a higher power, that our souls have meaning beyond the physical realm and to unlock our aura was a matter of great significance. It is no longer a widespread belief however, due to the necessity of aura in our fight against the Grimm. Is Qrow a spiritual man?"

"Ha!" Jaune barked out a sharp laugh, "He said it's all some crackpot tradition that his family forced on him and his sister when they were in training themselves. He kept talking about how much he wished someone just unlocked his aura instead of going through all that."

"But you believe in it?" she asked, her tone now thoughtful instead of dubious. He shook his head.

"Not explicitly, no," Jaune said. He wasn't sure what he believed in, not after going through eight years of solitude. It was a nice thought however, that things had meaning. He felt perhaps it might give his life more purpose, that he hadn't suffered for nothing.

"I doubt that Qrow actually believes his family's traditions, if he ever did," he said, "I don't think he lost all of his faith though, at least not about how his aura was unlocked. He didn't tell me the story but I get the feeling it means something to him. He saved me, he taught me and got me here. If he thinks there was meaning in it, then as his student I thought maybe I could respect him by finding that kind of meaning for myself. Maybe I'm just being stupid."

"Not at all," Pyrrha said, giving him a gentle smile, "I think it's very admirable, Jaune. There is nothing wrong in having hope, no matter where you find it. It may not have been practical to leave one's aura unlocked, which is why the belief has mostly died out in the first place, but if something gives us strength of will, it should never be mocked."

"However, I think you're wrong to wait so long," she said, quiet yet fierce, "Your aura is your soul, your very essence wielded to protect you from harm. There may be meaning in unlocking it, but to deny it is to do yourself a disservice. Please, allow me to unlock it."

Jaune sighed, knowing she made a solid point. Perhaps it was just pure stubbornness on his part. It wasn't as though he held a devout belief in the matter, and Qrow didn't seem like the person that would really care if Jaune decided to change his mind.

Glynda had already tried twice, and now Pyrrha? He wanted to say no again, but he saw the earnestness in her eyes and his obstinacy ebbed away.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. Pyrrha placed one hand on his chest, the other the side of his head. Jaune met her intentful gaze, he could see she was searching for something in his eyes.

"Typically, there are multiple ways to unlock someone's aura. As a part of my training, I learned quite a bit about aura as well what can be said to unlock it," Pyrrha explained, "Do you mind if I choose one I find fitting?"

"I'll leave it to you."

"Close your eyes and concentrate," Pyrrha said, closing her own. She activated her own aura and Jaune felt something tug at him from within.

"Indomitable is our spirit, unyielding is our resolve. Only with hope everlasting and brilliant light do we ascend above all. Through bonds enduring and eternal, I release your soul."

Jaune would never forget this moment. He had felt Pyrrha's aura but now also his own. Something ignited within him, something that had always been within reach but never in hand. It was both soothing and turbulent, it felt so… right. He couldn't believe he had waited so long for this.

"Thank you," Jaune said, his voice hoarse. Pyrrha smiled knowingly at him.

"Your aura is very beautiful Jaune," she told him, "I felt its strength. Indomitable spirit indeed."

"Very manly, you mean," Jaune corrected her.

Pyrrha laughed, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before taking off, intent on continuing their test. Jaune stared at her as she walked away. He felt something warm in his chest, a feeling that he had long forgotten. It was similar to the feeling he had in his limited interactions with Glynda, and the rare moments with Qrow while they had travelled together.

Companionship.

It was addicting. Jaune hoped that Pyrrha would be the first of many friends. He hoped Ozpin would be able to find his family. He wanted more.

The partners ventured further, taking their time as they conversed and got to know each other a little bit better. Soon enough they came across the temple, seeing a few of their classmates standing there. Jaune was able to make out both Yang and Ruby, but he also saw another girl there he didn't know by name. The bow-wearing girl he had seen yesterday stood near Yang, pointing up at the sky. Jaune followed her gaze, seeing none other than the girl Pyrrha had been with earlier today, Weiss, falling to the ground.

"Uhh, Pyrrha," he said, pointing at the falling girl himself, "Isn't that your friend?"

Pyrrha dashed forward with surprising speed, making a giant leap as she caught the white-haired girl before she hit the ground. Jaune ran after her albeit at a slower speed.

"Are you okay, Weiss?" he heard his partner ask the girl.

"I'm fine, thank you for catching me, Pyrrha," the girl said, "Say, I don't suppose you need a partner do you?"

"Hey!" Ruby yelped, but Weiss ignored her. Pyrrha watched the byplay, slightly puzzled.

"I'm afraid I'm taken," she said, waving her hand at Jaune who had just arrived.

"I told you to jump," the younger girl said told Weiss.

"It was a crazy idea in the first place," she responded, "And it's still up there. That Nevermore is going to come back for us!"

"We'll be okay and- oh hey Jaune!" Ruby said, "I'm glad you made it!"

"Hello Ruby, Yang," Jaune greeted, "Hi, uh, Weiss."

The girl still seemed mad at him as she deliberately looked away from him. Yang stepped forward dragging the final girl forward with her.

"This is my partner, Blake," she said, "Isn't this great? We're probably the strongest group in the year, all girls!"

"Well, actually," Pyrrha spoke up, "Jaune is a-"

"Hey Jaune, what's that weapon?" Ruby interrupted, "It looks familiar."

Jaune withdrew his weapon, showing it off to the girl. He looked curiously at the sisters as they eyed it with surprise and… recognition?

"This is my weapon, Reaper," Jaune said, waving it around a bit, "Why, what's up?"

"Where did you get that?" Yang said, her voice suddenly fierce, her gauntlets clicking into place as she moved aggressively towards him. Ruby also withdrew her own weapon which opened into a giant red scythe.

"Wh-whoa, what, what's wrong?" Jaune asked, backing up as he felt threatened. He saw Pyrrha go stiff, her hands on her own weapons.

"That's not your weapon," Ruby said, just as intensely as her sister, "It's Uncle Qrow's! Where did you get it?"

"Qrow's your uncle?" Jaune blinked, surprised. He had mentioned he had two nieces but the blond hadn't expected to really run into them.

"You know Qrow?"

"Yeah, he's my…" Jaune trailed off, suddenly realizing this was his opportunity to get back at the man. It might be a little dishonest, but if the girls really knew their uncle, then they would understand. He cast a glance at Pyrrha, hoping she wouldn't spoil it.

"He didn't mention me?" Jaune asked them, inflecting a bit of hurt into his voice.

"What do you mean?" Yang asked, relaxing slightly.

"He's… Qrow's my dad," Jaune said, slightly entertained as they looked at him in shock, "My name is Jaune Branwen."

"You're… what!?" Ruby squealed, "Uncle Qrow's married!?"

"No," Jaune said, giving her a weird look, "He, uh, he abandoned me and my mom when I was born. He found me recently and gave me Reaper to make up for it."

Yang inspected him closely, looking him up and down. Nearby, Pyrrha gave him a look that was part disapproval and part amusement but she didn't refute him.

"You don't look like him," the blonde said suspiciously.

"I took after my mom, apparently," Jaune said, "Though I don't really remember her."

"Then… I guess that makes you my cousin!" Yang said, apparently convinced as she looked at him happily, "Another girl in the family!"

"Ooh, I can't wait to beat up Qrow next time we see him!" Ruby exclaimed, holding her fist out in front of her.

"Wait Yang, you're mistaken. Jaune is a-" Pyrrha tried again only to be interrupted again.

"The Nevermore's back!" Blake said, pointing at the giant Grimm flying at them from the distance. The bird cawed, it's screech reverberating all the way over. Jaune did not envy whoever would end up fighting that thing, but he knew it wouldn't be him.

"It's okay," Ruby spoke up, "There's only one Nevermore and there are six of us. We'll be fine."

"COWABUNGA!"

A giant scorpion-like Grimm crashed through the trees, an orange-haired girl and a boy dressed in green riding on it's back. Everybody stared at the sight incredulously, almost forgetting about the Nevermore that was getting ever closer.

Weiss sighed despondently, throwing Ruby a displeased look.

"Why do I get the feeling this is going to be an everyday thing with you?"

Notes: So there are some things in this chapter that clearly demonstrate things that are not really explored in canon RWBY. The concept of faith or religion is basically never mentioned even once in RWBY, so I thought it would be something to add a little bit of flavor to Qrow's background and to Remnant. In this particular case, you'll see that Qrow's family practices a kind of militaristic non-theistic type of faith. Get strong, but do it on your own. You want aura, learn to unlock it yourself, etc...

As for the unlocking of aura, the only time we see it in canon is when Pyrrha unlocks Jaune's. But they don't talk too much about it, so I think it's reasonably possible that a person can unlock their aura on their own. From the way I wrote it (in both this chapter and back when Glynda talked about it in her conversation with Jaune), to unlock one's aura requires a sense of self-enlightenment. It's obviously obsolete since nobody can wait around to 'find' themselves when the Grimm are attacking every day, thus the belief has mostly died out. But Qrow did apparently practice it (or was forced to practice it at any rate) in his youth, thus Jaune tried to do it as well to show his loyalty to his mentor.

The phrasing that Pyrrha uses here is significant to the story. I'll let you try to work it out for yourselves, but if you want, you can leave me your thoughts in a review.

Qrow's comment about Raven being Jaune's mother was an offbeat joke more than anything, and either way Jaune wasn't around to hear it. And finally, we now realize that Jaune has no idea that Yang and Ruby are the nieces that Qrow must have told him about.

Thanks, and do leave a review!

knuckz