Life in the Arc household was going on exactly like it always has. Mrs. Arc was making dinner for her and her huge family of eight children not her husband though as he currently was on a mission outside the kingdom of Vale and had no way of coming back home for every dinner with his family. Such is the life of a huntsman unfortunately. She thought as she looked out of the window to see all of her kids playing in the garden.
Little Rouge was playing tag with both Noir and Blanc. The three of them, while still young and not even teenagers yet, were still the oldest of her daughters so no one else currently present in the garden could keep up with them effectively forcing them to play only with each other as it would be both unfair and boring to play tag with others.
Saphron and Bleu on the other hand were watering plants together to pass the time until dinner. Of course they didn't have to as she would've happily done it herself after dinner but it still warmed her heart that they were willing to do it themselves despite their young age.
Her two youngest daughters Vert and Violet unlike their older siblings weren't partaking in any particular activity and were merely sitting on a bench they have in the garden. They might be talking about something but from the angle that she sees them she cannot quite tell. Of course they might as well just sit there in silence enjoying how comfy the bench is.
Than there was Jaune, the only boy among her children, who was apparently talking to one of his imaginary friends again which while not bad on it's own it greatly unnerves her, mostly because whenever he talks with them he always looks so sure they exist and cannot really comprehend that they do not, no matter how she tries to explain to him that. On top of that he thinks that everyone else can see them to and if someone were to tell him that they can't see them he would always react exactly as if he was just betrayed. All of which might not be an issue now but certainly will be later.
Maybe I should take him to a doctor or therapist.Thought Mrs. Arc worried about the future of her only son only to be taken out of her thoughts when the oven beeped to signal that the dish she was making was finally ready.
"Children come home, it's time for dinner!" She shouted after opening the window so that her children would hear her better.
"We're coming!" Responded Rouge, being the one who reacted first.
The shouts were followed by children stopping what they were doing and hurrying back home. They went through the entrance in random order not really caring about etiquette instead trying to get to the dining room as fast as possible."Don't forget to wash your hands before sitting at the table." Reminded Mrs. Arc while laying down plates and cutlery on the table.
"Of course mom." Her children said before going to the kitchen to wash their hands.
After everyone was ready the dinner proceeded as it usually did. Mrs. Arc was calmly eating while observing her children and answering any question they had for her. Rouge was eating energetically trying to finish as fast as possible to go back to having fun, matriarch of the Arc family even had to remind her to slow down a couple of times to make sure that nothing happens to her oldest daughter. Noir and Blanc fortunately were way calmer during dinner so she didn't really need to pay constant attention too them. Saphron was eating quietly only sometimes asking whether she knows when will dad come from mission to which she thankfully knows the answer as they try to always contact each other at least once a day whenever one of them is away from home for longer amounts of time. Her other daughters almost always ask less specific question about things they are currently curious about, which is understandable as they are young and just learning about the world.
"Mom don't you think it's a bit creepy that Jaune always talks to someone that only he can see?" Asked always curious Violet wondering why her brother is a bit different than her other siblings.
"I'm not the only one who can see him it's just you guys who can't!" Denied Jaune trying to defend himself from accusations of being weird.
"Violet don't say it's creepy. Sure having imaginary friends might not be something you do but it's completely normal for others to have them." Answered Mrs. Arc knowing full well that Jaune is defensive when it comes to this topic but also seeing the need to remind Jaune that his friends are just imaginary.
"He is not imaginary! You just can't see him but he is as real as you or me!" Shouted Jaune before storming out of the dining room straight into his room leaving rest of the present family feeling guilty and sad.
...
Couple of hours later...
...
"Why can't they see you Biel?" Jaune asked his friend that apparently only he out of his entire family can see.
Right after the question was asked a young floating man unseeable to almost anyone appeared next to Jaune. Only son of the Arc family always assumed that the floating man who few months ago introduced himself to him as Biel was a huntsman as he wore an attire not too different than what Jaune's father wears whenever he goes on missions. He also gave of this feeling of an experienced yet resign warrior that Jaune has never felt before.
"Well most people in this world cannot see me. To be honest I think that the only person capable of seeing me would be you. After all ordinarily normal human shouldn't be able to see dead people." Answered the dead huntsman that Jaune befriended.
"Is it why Im creepy? Because I can talk to ghosts and am not a normal human?" Asked Jaune downheartedly thinking that he will never be like others.
"Hey kid you aren't creepy, a bit abnormal maybe but definitely not creepy. Besides the world is huge and I'm sure that there have to be many other people who can talk to ghosts like you." Said biel trying to cheer up the only person capable of talking to him that he met.
"Yes you are right, there must be others like me out there. I know, I will go find others like me then together with them I will be able to prove to my family that you guys aren't imaginary and that simply some people just can't see you!" Decided Jaune with a new found optimism and energy.
"That's a good plan for the future kid but now you probably shouldn't think to much about it." Said Biel trying to calm the boy down not knowing that he's already determined on going now.
"No I cannot wait until I'm older, by then they will either forget about guys like you or not believe me at all. I'm going now." Declared Jaune to his invisible friend before starting to pack the things he thought would be a necessity in a long journey from his room. Sure he might not know much about what is necessary to survive without home for a longer periods of time but he definitely knows that if gets lost or finds himself lacking things to survive he could always ask other ghosts and spirits for help so the protests that Biel was currently doing to stop him failed miserably.
After Jaune packed every thing he thought was necessary and listen to all the arguments that Biel decided to use to keep him in his home, he decided to write a letter to inform his family that he will be gone for the next couple of days because he will be looking for other people capable of seeing his family later will be devastated because of this but he doesn't know that of course.
"Are you sure about that kid? You know I won't be coming with you if you go. I like you kid but I still got a family that I look after in this village "Asked floating huntsmen hoping that Jaune would change his mind.
"Of course I'm certain. Please look after my family as well alright Biel?" Replied Jaune asking for a favor from one of his few friend.
"You got it kid. Watch out for yourself and make sure you're always alright okay?" Said the dead huntsman to get a confirmation that at least his friend will be careful.
"Got it. You to old man" Answered Jaune before turning around and going away.
"Ha! I'm already dead being careful right now won't give me a thing." Said Biel while watching Jaune leave.
...
Ten years later...
...
It was an ordinary night in the city of Vale, many people were sleeping but just as many were partying in countless nightclub that existed everywhere in the city. One of the most well known clubs in vale was Junior's club that many people just call club and towards which a certain blond haired shaman with his guardian spirits were going.
The blond haired shaman was obviously Jaune who while not able to find any other living person capable of seeing spirits like him learned that he was a shaman and that soon there will be a tournament that will decide who will be next shaman king. He also changed a lot in appearance becoming rather tall for his age and starting to wear a black hoodie that he cheaply won from a pumpkin pete's contest and blue jeans that he bought with money he got from helping families of ghosts that he found also because of which he stated to carry a wooden staff with him for situations in which he has to fight to get away.
"Are we really going to look for information about a secret tournament that has a first place reward of becoming a god in a nightclub with a information broker?" Asked a spirit of a dead huntress that lately has been following and helping a shaman who is looking for others like him.
"It's not like we've got other places to start looking Summer. Besides supposedly It's a popular place in Vale maybe we might even meet one of your daughter here." Said Jaune while going through the door of the club.
"As if my daughters are little angels they would have never went to such place. Especially not during the night Tai would ground them for their entire life." Scoffed Summer sure of her daughters innocence. Jaune reacted with barely noticeable nod as he was approaching the bar and didn't want to look weird talking to nothing in front of an information broker.
"Hey kid you aren't supposed to bring weapons to this club." Said the information broker, that the spirits from Vale told him about, while pointing at the wooden staff he was carrying.
"It's not really a weapon it's a... walking stick. Yes a walking stick." Uncertainly answered Jaune trying to explain why he has it with him.
"I mean you are not wrong, you use our weapon mostly for walking anyway." Remarked Summer knowing full well that the only one capable of hearing her is Jaune.
"A walking stick. Why would someone so young need a walking stick?" Asked the information broker.
"For walking." Replied Jaune with a deadpan expression wondering why are they even talking about it."Anyway I heard that you know a lot of interesting things and I wouldn't mind if you shared some with me Hei Xiong."
"I see You've done your research kid but if you already know who I am you should know as well that I'm not giving anything for free." Said Hei already thinking on how to make the most amount of money out of the kid that he can.
"What research? We merely asked a random person that was killed by you where we can learn something." Summer reacted while shaking her head.
"Obviously, that's how the world works. Say that's your club right? Then how about I buy you one of the expensive drinks and you answer me three question. Deal?" Suggested Jaune while ignoring Summers remarks hoping to get as many answers as possible.
"You get one question and the drink must be the most expensive." Countered Xiong.
"One question and any of the drinks from more expensive half." Jaune gave another offer.
"Deal." Accepted Hei.
"Barman give your twentieth most expensive drink to your boss I've got a question for him!" Ordered Jaune while sitting down next to Hei so that they can talk more easily.
After barman prepared a drink that didn't actually look that impressive or expensive but more similar to what both Summer and Jaune seen many times being served cheaper on their way to the city of Vale he gave it to Hei.
"So what is it that you want to know kid?" Broker questioned while taking a sip from his drink.
"Simple have you heard of any secret tournaments that have a requirement of being able to see spirits?" Jaune asked hoping to get any useful information in here but not expecting to much.
In response to question Hei merely raised an eyebrow and shook his head clearly not knowing what he was referring to."What are you talking about there are many underground tournaments but nothing that fits the description you've given me."
"I knew we wouldn't find anything here. Let's go look somewhere else." Said Summer who already expected the answer they would get. After getting the answer she was already preparing to leave.
"Wait he might not know about the tournament but maybe there were some sightings of shamans that we can still ask him about." Jaune whispered quietly so that nobody aside from Summer would hear while lightly shaking his head.
"Do we even have enough lien for one more drink? I'm sure he won't allow you to buy a cheap one so even if you buy it we might-" Summer was about to do a long speech with the purpose of dissuading young shaman from trying to get more answers yet she stopped the moment she saw a person who just entered the club"i-i-is that Yang? What is she doing here?! How did Tai allow her to go to a night club without any supervision?!" She continued to voice her displeasure about decisions of her daughter.
"Huh I guess I was right about meeting your daughters here." Said boy after seeing reaction of his guardian spirit.
"What are you talking about kid?" Asked confused Hei while following the gaze of his client to see a young blond woman slowly approaching them.
"Ah sorry, I wasn't talking to you." Answered Jaune while scratching back of his head doing his best to ignore Summer's long tangent about how her daughter is going to be grounded.
"Hey there Junior I heard that you might be able to answer some of my questions." Young huntress said with a smile and a handwave after getting near them."oh and also one strawberry sunrise no ice."
Barman grunted and started preparing her drink.
"What sort of question does she have that she went here to find answers to them?" Asked still aggrieved albeit a bit calmer Summer."Jaune make sure that nothing happens to her alright"
Jaune in response simply nodded.
"Depends on what these questions are and how much are you willing to pay for these answers blondie." Said Hei with a cocky smirk upon seeing which Summer shook her head in disapproval and a bit of pity.
Yang after hearing what Hei had said started with a smile"When it comes to how much I offer a single calm conversation should be enough and if we are talking about first question then it would be 'Why did you called me blondie instead of Sir?'" Only to end up with an angry expression on her face and hand on his groin squeezing it with her strength.
"Ahhh" Junior screamed and all of his goons were tensed and ready for a fight.
"That must hurt." Whispered Jaune more to himself than to anyone else.
"That's my girl show them who's best!" Cheered Summer already forgetting her anger towards Yang.
"Now how about my first real question?" Said Yang before grabbing her scroll from the pocket and showing a picture of a black haired woman to Hei and asking whether he knows anything about her or not.
"I don't know who she is I swear." Answered Junior with a shaking voice only to be squeezed harde by Yang "I swear what?" she threatened.
"I swear Sir." answered Hei.
"Good." Said Yang before releasing him.
"You will pay for it." Threatened Junior while seeing his men surrounding both him and blonde huntress in training.
After hearing that Jaune moved a little back and started getting ready to fight."Summer spirit ball form." he whispered."Got it" Summer replied and turn into little spirit.
"Ohh don't be like that. Why don't we kiss and made up?" Yang offers leaning forward as if to kiss someone.
"Jaune if he so much as touches her you will be getting new spirit to talk to understand?" Declares Summer to exasperation of Jaune.
Fortunately for Hei He didn't become new spirit today as just before their mouths touched he was launched backwards through the bar because of the attack Yang did. Unfortunately for Jaune that meant that now almost the entire nightclub was Yang's and by proxy his enemy.
The moment Jaune saw all the goons react to their boss flying through the bar he immediately performed unity with Summer allowing her to posses his body. Afterwards when they saw Yang fighting against bunch of Junior's man they almost instantaneously jumped in to help her.
"Need a hand?" Summer asked through Jaune's body after they easily used their wooden staff to redirect attack that would have almost hit Yang.
"Both of my hands work fine-" Yang stopped her statement to throw singe goon into a group of them effectively getting rid of them all. "-but help is always appreciated."
They then went into a fighting trance where Yang rushes enemies with her gauntlets and eliminates them before they become a threat and Jaune uses his wooden staff to keep his foes at a perfect distance where he can reach and strike them and they cannot attack him. Complementing each other fighting styles as whenever one of them couldn't stop the enemy the other one is capable of doing that.
"Hey You are actually pretty good" Stated Yang as She ducked under a hit of one of the Hei Xiong's grunt and countered him with a single attack that put him out of the fight."Were you taught by someone?" She asked out of curiosity.
"No I was self taught. Traveled a lot and had to survive somehow." Answered Jaune with a small lie as he disarmed two of his foes with a single spin of his wooden staff to not be forced into long explanation during the fight.
"That's quite impressive, are you here to apply for Beacon academy?" Questioned Yang while charging at another goon again as it would be nice to learn of her new possible classmates.
"Unfortunately, my answer will be no again.I'm in vale for different reason." Jaune replied right after he defeated enemy that was aiming at Yang.
They quickly got rid of every cannon fodder under junior and when they think it's over they saw two girls entering the nightclub from higher floor one of they look almost exactly the same and the only way to truly differentiate them was by looking at their clothes as one of them was clothed in red and the other in white.
"So you take the red one, I take the white one?" Offered Yang before starting the fight against their new enemies.
"Sure, just make sure that you won't loose." Jaune accepted because for him and Summer it didn't really matter which one of them would be their enemy.
"As if some random girl with a claws on her hand could defeat me." Yang bragged before charging at her opponent.
Of course there was more to Yang than simple bragging as she skillfully fought white clothed girl by putting pressure on her with her attacks in such a way that whenever her foe thought that she could counterattack she was always struck by Yang making this fight a rather one sided but lengthy beat down with only one side attacking.
On the other side of the battlefield Jaune who was currently being possessed by Summer out-skilled their opponent in a way softer manner with them merely redirecting opponent attacks to barely miss and countering them with strikes that weren't meant to hurt on their own but rather to make their opponents loose balance and fall to their own defeat.
Even though the girls against whom they were fighting right now were definitely stronger than previous Hei Xiong's mooks the fight still ended quickly. Unfortunately for them in time it took them to deafeat every one Junior maneged to recover and grab his gun that he soon aimed at them. Fortunately for them Jaune was agile enough to get to him and knock him out before he was able to fire from it.
"Wow that was close, though it would've been crazy if he were to fire from that gun right?" Said Yang with a wide smile not noticing the irritation showing on on Jaune's face.
"You. Do you know how irresponsible you've acted just now? What would've your parents thought if you were to return home injured or worse of you were to never return home?" Summer knew that she was acting incorrectly to the current situation and that it must incredibly confusing for her daughter to be scolded by a random teenager she just met but she doesn't care, she saw everything that happened here and she is going to act on it so if Yang thinks that she can just go away before police comes here and not tell anything of this to Tai then she is mistaken because her lecture is going to be hundred times worse.
Thankfully for Yang her long and unexpected lecture by a random boy she didn't know anything about ended prematurely as police came to investigate the many notices they got just now from neighbors. Of course that means that her father will get contacted of what occurred here and that she will probably be punished for that but at least she will know what to expect and it will be from person she knows so all's well that ends well right? Right?