": "speaking,"

': 'thinking,'

I: past/ flash back

Ch 4

"Jaune Arc... a fine name, it's strong." The General said in an even tone, though the young Arc felt slightly uncomfortable under his gaze. There's something to be said about a man that could exude such authority with such a calm expression. He made several mental notes not to upset the guy considering how easily he crushed his own soldiers face.

"Thanks," his nerves getting the better of his speech. While the conversation was beginning to be a bit more amicable, he didn't want to drop his guard. " I can see you don't trust me, understandable considering the circumstances." Uttered the old man, still curiously eyeing the boy.

"Tell me boy, what do you know about this place? What do they say about our home in the outside world?"

"Not much, Its inhospitable, uninhabited and basically considered Grimm territory." This was common knowledge for even a country bumpkin like him.

Well... Not anymore. Seeing is believing.

Cocking his head to the side like some confused animal, the General blankly starred at Jaune. "Truly...? Thats it? Hmm, I feel... insulted." He shook head slowly as if he was trying to visually convey his disapproval of the boys answer. "There was a time when we led the world in innovation, to slight us in such a way... how ugly."

The young Arc would've sympathized with him, if he fully believed his words.

"What!? Woah woah hang on, that's impossible! Atlas has always been at the forefront of most of humanities technological advancements!" He huffed at the Lord apparent, unable to accept what was said to him.

Just then, the old General let out a thunderous roar of laughter. Shocking Jaune even more than his unbelievable words. "Atlas? Where have I heard that fro- Oh you meant Mantle! So they managed to make that city of opulence and buffoonery float eh...first thing they've done for themselves it seems. Most of what they had before our... decline was copied from us. Imitation is a form of flattery, after all." He said with a small smile creasing the edge of his lips.

The boy was floored after that.

"How... J-just how!?" Nearly shouting, the young Arc was in need of answers. Sensing the frustration, The General held up a hand in a placating manner before speaking.

"Calm down, Young Arc. I have no intention of hiding the information you seek. Though, after having a good look at you, Im sure you would prefer some actual food at the moment. We have an outpost half of a mile from here and our Kingdom, only a handful of miles from that. You are welcome to accompany me as I wish to continue our talk." All of which was said with the same smile smile upon his visage.

Jaune wanted to protest, however his stomach grew tired of the lies and growled loudly.

Grrrrrrrrrrhrhhhrrrrrrrr~...*

"..."

"..."

"... Well then, lets get moving. Wouldn't want to anger your belly anymore huh?" The old General laughed as he motioned to Jaune to follow him.

The young lad sighed in resignation and began walking. 'Well at least I get to eat.'

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The walk to the outpost was shorter than expected. Neither of the two spoke during the short excursion, though honestly Jaune was full of questions. His mind was still coming to terms with the fact that he was not only on the unnamed continent but he wasn't alone here as so many history books had said. In fact, if the General was right an entire Kingdom was here, how the hell does that get ignored? He could see why Slade was upset when he answered his question.

What kind of Kingdom was it, were they advanced? Regressed? His sudden need of information was palpable, helping to keep his mind distracted and away from his innermost thoughts. Though as the lilac white leaves fluttered around him, his mind would race back to the start all the same.

He didn't like thinking about his life before landing here anymore, it had grown too painful for him. Though he was wholly determined to reach his friends and team again, he still worried over his own ability to protect them. Would they even feel the same after being essentially abandoned by him? Sure, they didn't know the circumstances but with all that time passing them by, would it even matter?

He didn't even know if Pyrrha was alive and the longer he dwelled on the subject, the more upset and disappointed with himself he would feel.

Quite the horrendous feedback loop.

He was suddenly shaken from his thoughts as the Old General held out a hand to stop the lad and their walk.

"We've arrived."

As Jaune looked forward, his eyes widened.

Before him, he was greeted with the sight of two looming stone towers. Aged and withered by time, they stood parallel to one another, both at an intimidating height.

The lands around them were covered with small, windowed cabins and seemingly prefabricated squared buildings. Soldiers spilled out to and fro from the towers and cabins, many of which were dealing with strange miniature, floating, diamond-shaped machines. These floating diamond structures each seemed have beams of lights streaming from their upper and lower ends. Each machine pulsing with white, glowing, engraved lines.

'That's definitely technology so either they must not be too far off from the rest of the world or... they're more advanced than the rest of us.' The would-be Huntsman surmised after a quick once over of the area. It's safe to assume that the boy had no idea what the machines were for or how they were operated.

Not paying much attention to his immediate surroundings, he didn't realize how the General was looking at him. As he turned to acknowledge him, he noticed in his hands were two plates of what looked like grilled fish with onions and rice. Both of which were covered in a sauce with a heavenly aroma. "The meal as promised, our cook is quite talented even with our short supply of vegetables today so make sure to clear that plate."

Producing two spoons from underneath the plate, he gave one to Jaune. He didn't have to tell the boy twice as the Arc son dug into the plate ravenously. He took a moment to savor the fish, perfectly seasoned and seared. He had to stop himself from getting emotional. It had been a too long since he had a real home cooked meal.

"You must be a strategist," he said, openly relaying his thoughts to the boy. The young Arc was thrown off by the statement, nearly choking on a stray piece of fish. Sure, he was a strategist and a damn good one if his team's acceptance into beacon was anything to reference. The fact that he was being so bluntly called out for it was jarring.

"Uh... thanks, why do you say that?" He somewhat nervously replied to General, unsure of where the conversation would go now.

"Besides the fact that I've seen you fight, looking at you taking in and calmly assessing everything around you makes me believe that you are quite the strategist."

The young Arc quietly contemplated his words, it had been some time since he'd received a complement. Another mental note was made to constantly work to improve his strategic mind. If there was one thing that had Jaune learned from being out here, its that there is always room for improvement.

Pushing aside his musings, he had an urge to have a recent question of his answered. "If you've been watching me since I got here, why haven't haven't you reached out before, I've could've died out there-,"

Cutting him off in the same manner he'd stopped his Initiates, "Yet here you are, alive and stronger for it. You were as clumsy as a newborn in the beginning with poor stance and only your wit to save you, but now you've all but mastered this section of the forest."

The young Arc had to admit he was right, while he clearly hadn't explored all of the lilac woods, his neck of it was clearly locked down.

"The Grimm in these woods now run from you instead of towards you and you've managed to somewhat fix that gods awful fighting style on your own. All of it, you managed to do within eight months. You should have more pride in your abilities, Arc.

Jaune stared at the man oddly, 'that didn't answer my question...' What was this man getting at with all the compliments and good words?

"Why are you saying all of this? You hardly even know me," The boy questioned.

"Indeed, but I know potential when I see it so allow me to make you... an offer." Once again staring directly into Jaune's eyes, he spoke with the same even tone he had earlier in the day. Tilting his head in confusion this time, Jaune didn't respond but paid close attention to the man.

"Train under my tutelage, Join my army. Temporarily, of course. I don't know how long your time may be here, but I know you seek strength. That much I can tell just by looking at you, I can give you that strength. I can give you weapons as well as knowledge. All I ask is that you assist my cause."

"Your cause? Which Is?" Jaune stared at the General incredulously.

"The eradication of the All elder Grimm outside of our Kingdom" Speaking with complete conviction, the General gave Jaune a meaningful look. The old mans face held a fair amount of emotion to them. Expectation perhaps?

Truthfully, it wasn't a bad deal. Real training experience was always a plus and although his mind was near constantly preoccupied with thoughts of returning to his team, there was simply no way that was happening currently. At least here he could learn more and take advantage of the idea of getting a new weapon for himself.

Being here made him think about his family as well, holding Crocea Mors was far more bittersweet to him. Lost halfway across the world, the thought of losing or being unable to return the heirloom bothered him at times. So much so that he'd told himself that once he was able to afford or make a new weapon for himself, then he would send Crocea home.

With his mind settling on the idea, he had one request. "I Want to know everything there is to know about this place."

"Then I will tell you, As I said before I have no intention of lying or hiding anything from you. Contrary to popular opinion this continent had a name once, the only name we use to refer to it."

General Granite looked to the sky in remembrance and nostalgia.

"Nidhogg... and within these lands our Kingdom, Laguna stood tall."

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117 years ago

On the southern coast of Nidhogg, the now unnamed continent, a beautiful woman with shimmering, violet eyes watches the sun rise from the cracks of an unnaturally eerie dark sky. The faint growls and roars of Grimm drawing ever closer to her location. Hair flowing in the wind, long midnight black curls catch the breeze around her as her sleeveless long black gown gently sways behind her. A single tear adorns her cheek, a solemn smile visible on her face.

To her left, a thinly robed woman otherwise known as The Great Seer. She was born with a semblance that allowed her varied length, precognitive visions for as long as her Aura held out. Tears streaming down her face as she knew of what awaited the woman, her Empress. She knew of the sacrifice she would soon make, the only way to ensure the survival of their people and ways.

This was Morganna Laguna, Last Empress of the kingdom of Laguna.

She was always quite the reclusive individual but never let it be said that she didn't love her people with all her heart. Her ideas and contributions have kept the Kingdom well Taken care of and her people adored her for it.

In the days of her rule, Laguna was an open Kingdom, known the world over for its green-barked, lilac-white forests and black charred landscapes. While the continent was known for being near inhospitable and a natural home for the Grimm, the Natives of this land braved these challenges and trials anyway. The secret of their success; Aura.

While common use of Aura was... common, thirty years before she took the throne, Laguna scholars and researchers stumbled upon the concept of Ambient Aura. That idea that Aura was not just in everything but was all around us, waiting to be tapped into. From then onward, Lagunian advancements skyrocketed. Levitating platforms and moving floors to Aura powered weaponry and grandiose Airships, Laguna thrived. Even babies were beginning to be born with naturally unlocked Auras. Laguna looked to be the next step for the rest of Remnant.

Or at least it should have been.

While Laguna was expanding, the Grimm took notice and with the Lagunian people lulled into a sense of security by the marked decline of Grimm attacks. The Elder Grimm, far older and sentient than the young and dumb, blind rage fueled commonplace Beowolf set out for the sole purpose of destruction.

Elder Grimm, smart as they are understood that they couldn't just storm the walls of said Kingdom for risk of being completely slaughtered. So they consolidated their broods and slowly spread them though-out the forests and charred mountains around the Kingdom over the years... waiting and biding their time for the right opportunity.

That opportunity came in the form, of an attempted coup during a holiday.

A man from Vale had came to Laguna under the guise of a merchant. He later attempted to stab the Empress in a still unexplained fit of rage. The man was easily disposed of by the much younger Slade Granite, but not before he'd managed to cut her left hip. While it wasn't a fatal wound, when the news hit the people, all hell broke loose. The people who loved their Empress dearly were appalled, though it was their great anger that became most of their undoing.

No one knew exactly who it was that tried to kill Morganna, but the failed attempt unleashed a momentary wave of negativity from the people of the kingdom. Hearts full of sadness and rage at the other kingdoms who dared to try and kill their Empress were felt across the land. Unfortunately Grimm love rage too and when the elder Grimm felt the surge of negativity, they knew the time had come.

The clouds darkened as hundreds of Nevermore and griffon alike overcame the Kingdoms airspace. Circling the city, hungrily awaiting the feast below while satisfying themselves with airship appetizers. The skies burned and screamed in dark skies spotted with shades of red.

From forests, hillsides and Mountains, Beowolves, Ursas, and Boarbatusks of Various shapes and sizes spilled over lands of the kingdom. Bounding over walls and defenses with frightening grace.

From cracks, crevasses and caves, Taijitu writhed through rock earth to the surface. Creeps and Death-stalkers crawled from their holes gnawing at the air in unadulterated rage and perverse joy in the ruin they would bring.

The Elder Grimm simply watched was their horde set out to complete their great ambition.

The attack was so gruesome, two thirds of the Kingdom was without a doubt dead or devoured within a night. When the other kingdoms caught wind of the event, they made a point to stay away from Nidhogg entirely. Pulling out all aid and fearing the same seemingly abrupt ends, they cut all contact with Laguna deeming it a lost kingdom.

Entrusted to lead and protect the survivors of the City, young Slade Granite was determined to save as many lives as he was physically able. Cleaving through Grimm with his Claymore, he lead as many as could from the innermost depths of Laguna.

And the Empress?

She awaited the Grimm at the Coast, having long since made her oracle friend save herself, her final plan set in motion.

You see, the Empress had very unique Semblance. Transmutation. She could convert just about everything into just about anything and when Grimm Army came for her life, she intended to give it to them.

Morganna Laguna, the Last Empress of Laguna. Loved her people so dearly that she gave of herself, mind, body, soul and aura to tame the dark. In giving up her entire being to her creation, she merged her aura with the dark essence of the Grimm. When it was all said and done the Grimm were no more. All that remained, was a floating, stationary, black Sphere. The remains of their Empress, sealed to the base of the black orb and just as dark as it.

A calm washed over the kingdom, and the people could feel the Empress all around them. She embraced them all once more and her voice was heard within their hearts.

'I am with you.'

'I am your boon, their darkness is now ours.'

'Those who hear my cries, shall be the Harbingers of my boon, my bond to thee'

'Tame the night within your hearts and the dark will never be thine enemy again.'

The elder Grimm, having ultimately failed in the complete and utter conquest simply left the broken Kingdom to return to their slumber. Knowing that none could currently challenge their might, they would wait for another Kingdom or Individual worth devouring to pique their interests.

And for the first time, The Kingdom of Laguna was quiet.

Authors Words

Hey, chapter 4 coming at ya. I hope you guys like the OC's and Laguna so far.