Here's another chapter of Forged Destiny, where to my amusement many people reviewed on "Stroke the Forge" rather than "Stoke the Forge". I think Jaune's Class might have been confused, because clearly he's some kind of seduction-based class. Rawr!

I've been getting the occasional drawing of things from Forged Destiny, which is super great to see! Normally I only have one cover art, but I thought to spice that up a little bit by rotating them every now and then for this fic. That kind of means that depending on when you read this, the name below and the image used might be unrelated, but that's unavoidable. Just consider the credit as "The person who drew the image that was used on the time this chapter was released."


Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Pachumaster (PatricioTorre)

Chapter 11


It was on our way to one of Oobleck's lessons that I asked Ren more about what Coco had said. She'd paid the four thousand lien in full, leaving me to distribute it between the others – bar Blake, who was as impossible as ever to find. Whether she was hiding or just didn't appear in the same places we did, I wasn't sure. I just hoped to catch her after the lesson. But as to this `boosting` that Coco had offered, Ren kept his voice low.

"I wouldn't mention that out loud," he warned. "I don't think there's anything wrong with accepting it, in fact I think that most people would, but that doesn't mean it's an accepted thing."

"What do you mean?" I asked, walking alongside him. As far as I was concerned anything that could help me level up faster was better, and Coco had promised it would be an easy way to gain some Exp. Some might have called me selfish, and maybe they were right, but the biggest motivator for this was the way I'd let everyone down in the Dungeon. If I could get stronger then it would mean next time I could fight with more confidence. I wouldn't have to see Ruby nearly killed or Blake tossed aside like a ragdoll or Pyrrha standing alone against a monster eight times her height.

That could only be a good thing, right?

"It's not that there's anything wrong with it," Pyrrha said, walking alongside us, "Anytime that someone desires to get stronger, it's a good thing. I certainly don't see anything wrong with you accepting this."

"Same here," Nora said, giving me a cheeky grin. "You earned it anyway. You got us so much lien!"

"Nora," Ren warned, "That's for rent. Not pancakes."

Pyrrha and I shared a little laugh as the Barbarian sulked, sticking her tongue out at Ren's back. "Thanks guys," I said, "But I still don't actually know what boosting is."

"Ah, I forgot about you growing up with NPC's," Pyrrha said, missing the twitch on my face at the term. "Boosting is… well, it's pretty much the act of someone a higher level boosting the hunting success of someone at a lower one. If you imagine on a regular day you might be able to kill fifty Grimm before needing a rest." Pyrrha apparently failed to notice the shock on all three of our faces. She really was incredible if that was how many she could take on her own - even if she meant the smaller variety. "Then boosting is better because someone who is ten, twenty or maybe even thirty levels higher might be able to kill two hundred Grimm in that time. You get to share half of the Exp, which means it's like you killed a hundred in the same timeframe. A booster basically helps you hunt better and faster than you otherwise could."

"They might also take you to a more dangerous area," Nora added, making a growling gesture and holding her hands out like claws. "That way you can get Exp from Grimm you wouldn't even be able to fight normally."

"That too," the redheaded Champion agreed, "But it would be more dangerous."

So that was what Coco had planned for me? It sounded dangerous, much like Pyrrha had said, but I had to trust the Archer knew what she was doing. It wasn't like she would be leading me into a trap or something. She probably knew more about this than we did. There was just one question, however. "If it's so good then why do people think poorly of it?"

"Think of it like this," the Monk explained. "Heroes are traditional people, and some really stick to the old ways and grandiose airs we used to have. A Hero's level is also important since it represents how strong they are. There are some people who believe boosting is cheating, that it's a way to gain Exp through no merit of your own. It's an advantage that not everyone has, and thus a lazy option, something to be derided."

"Are they right?"

"I don't think so," Ren said, making me relax. "There's no arguing that you managed to earn it from her. The bow was something we won clearing a Dungeon, so it's not without merit. And I didn't expect we'd get four thousand from that bow, let alone that you'd have the Charisma to haggle for more. I guess it pays to be a Knight."

"Yeah, heh, it sure does..."

"As such, it's not like you are just buying boosts because you're lazy. This Archer needs the bow and this is the only way she can pay you, it's practically a bonus for you having such a high Charisma. I don't see anything wrong there." Pyrrha and Nora nodded to show they agreed, helping to alleviate some of my guilt.

"But not everyone will agree?" I finished, watching as Ren nodded. "Does the method really matter that much? Aren't we all working together against the Grimm?" It's not like we were in competition with one another, at least not outside Miss Goodwitch's sparring rings.

"We are," Pyrrha said, "No matter what people say, we're all on the same side and should remember that. But the sad truth is that many people don't. Some like to lord their levels or accomplishments over others, some like to be seen as the `best` even though that shouldn't ever matter. None of us are going to think less of you for this, certainly not me. But Ren is right when he advises discretion… you might as well not invite criticism by drawing attention."

"Got it." I'd take their advice. They hadn't steered me wrong so far and I trusted them like I would my own family. Any further conversation was cut off as we approached the classroom, stepping through the archway and into a round room with seats on raised platforms, sloping up towards the back wall. Many of them were already filled, though it wasn't hard to spot Ruby waving towards us, having saved some seats next to her, Weiss and Yang. "Thanks Ruby," I said, sitting down just in time for the Alchemist, Oobleck, to enter the room. The class went silent.

"Very good to see you all here for today's Hero Theory class," the energetic man said, slamming some papers down onto his desk and abandoning them all in one gesture. "I hope you've all had time to settle into Beacon and make use of our facilities. I've been asked to remind you that the end of the month is approaching and so you will need to gather lien in order to purchase further amenities. I hope you have all been busy."

We had, though I couldn't say the same about other people. Ren and I were still a little below what we needed for rooms of our own, so we would need to do a little more hunting. It was close, though… I was optimistic we could make it. With Blake's lien on my belt, I knew we could – but that was something I wasn't willing to do. Maybe she has some advice on how to earn more though… she did say she already managed to get her own private room.

Not even a shared one, but a room all to herself. Those would cost around three thousand a month depending on what extras she had. There was a reason it was cheaper for Ren and I to share one. I glanced around the classroom as the teacher continued to warn everyone. It took a minute or two but eventually I was able to find her, sat in a corner at the rear, hidden in shadows. She didn't look lonely, even though no one else was nearby. It felt like she was at home in the shadows, golden eyes peering out.

Straight into mine. She'd somehow noticed she was being watched, her attention flicking instantly onto me. Whoops, I cursed, glancing away and hoping she didn't think I was some kind of weirdo.

"Today class," Oobleck continued, "We will be discussing a core part of Hero Theory – and your very lives. That is our Statistics and how our Class affects them. While many of you may feel you know this already, I cannot stress how important this is."

My elbows hit the table as I leaned forward. This was new information, especially to someone like me and I had to know more. My stats were a mess, or so I assumed, but with nothing to compare them to, I just wasn't sure.

"While the natural laws that govern our bodies are still mostly unknown, research and correlation has allowed us to notice patterns and make educated theories in regards to how our Statistics and Classes interact." The man turned to the board behind him, dipping a hand into a leather pouch by his side and drawing out some sparkling dust. The class made appreciative sounds as it floated in the air, controlled by the man's will to create a diagram on the board. It was some kind of spell. That was all we'd been able to figure out. Port, the Cavalier, could do no such thing and had to write his things out in chalk.

The dust settled on the board, depicting an image of a blank-faced man stood in a neutral position. Next to him certain words formed. The abbreviations for each of the Statistics we knew like the backs of our hands.

"When it comes to our Stats, everyone knows that upon earning enough Exp and levelling up we are awarded increases in each of our core Statistics. What you will also have noticed is that certain Stats improve at different rates. Perhaps you earn more Agility and Dexterity than you do Intellect and Wisdom, perhaps it is the other way around. This, as far as we are able to tell, is dependent entirely upon your Class – and the types of tasks you are expected to do in your life."

Like my high Strength. It was perfect for striking iron and handling a heavy forge for long periods of time. On the other hand, my Dexterity was low because in theory I didn't need to worry about inert metal dodging.

"The most famous scale we have in use for this is called the Atlas Scale, which was developed and created in Atlas by one of their premier Magister Institutes." The Alchemist turned to the board once more, flicking a hand and causing dust to arrange in the word `Mage` above the figures head. "This scale uses a grading system to assign potential Stat gains based on the Class of the recipient. I'll remind you that this is not perfect, nor set in stone. Individual results may vary, yet they have been noted to almost always follow this scale. The Mage one is quite well known, as such."

Another flick of his hand and more letters appeared, this time beside the individual Stat markers.

Str: D

Con: C

Dex: B

Agi: C

Int: A

Wis: A

Cha: B

Res: D

"These letters," Oobleck continued, "Represent nothing more than the likely potential of seeing higher returns on a level up. There's no hard numbers assigned to them, and one person going from level twenty to twenty-one may report different specific figures to a colleague. However, it is almost unheard of for a Mage gaining a level to, for instance, earn more Dexterity than Intellect. A Stat with a rating of `A` will almost always be higher than a Stat with a rating of `B`, even if individual gains on a level do not reflect that."

There were mumbled whispers amongst the class, but the man pushed on, "Similarly, the Atlas Scale allows us to make a generalised estimate on the Stat layout of a Mage, namely that their highest Stats will be in Intellect and Wisdom. They use Intellect to increase the power and effect of their spells, while Wisdom allows them to cast spells and abilities more without tiring – and also to resist magical damage in return. This is a rather obvious example since they are spell casters, but when it comes to other Classes, the results can be more difficult to quantify." The man hummed, one hand beneath his chin as he looked about the room, "Is anyone willing to volunteer their own Class as an example?"

Our own-? No one immediately offered, which had me looking around the classroom in surprise. Most had their hands firmly down, trying not to draw attention. I noticed Ruby beside me, flinching back into her seat as though afraid she might be picked.

"No one?" Oobleck sighed dramatically, "If there are no volunteers than I shall have to select someone." The teacher's eyes seemed to rove over them, and as they passed over us – and paused – I felt Ruby stiffen. A sigh escaped me… this was going to suck.

"I'll volunteer." I called out, holding my hand in the air.

"Ah, Mr Arc," the teacher said, smiling towards me. "Thank you for your contribution. Let us take the Class of Knight as an example, a prime representation of a melee-oriented Hero Class." He turned to the board once more, slashing a hand across his body and causing the existing words to vanish. The others might not have wanted their Class dissected, but for me it was a different matter. I wasn't a Knight at all but if I wanted to pretend to be one then I had to know what everyone expected. Blake had already commented more than once on how I was unusual for a Knight.

At the time that hadn't frightened me nearly as much as it ought to have.

"The Knight is a melee combatant and also a leader-based Class," Oobleck said, "Found primarily on the front-lines and often in the damage and off-tank role, their Stats reflect the tasks they're most commonly needed for." The diagram was completed, revealing the Class I was supposed to be.

Str: B

Con: A

Dex: B

Agi: C

Int: C

Wis: D

Cha: A

Res: D

"As you can all see, the Knight is suited towards his role of damage due to his relatively solid Strength and Dexterity scores, while tanking will always be an option thanks to their Constitution. Their lower Agility makes dodging a difficult task, which is often offset by Knights wearing heavier armour, as Mr Arc does. Because the weight makes sudden movements difficult, the low Agility goes mostly ignored. Their speciality, however, lays in Charisma – and is the reason why many Knights are considered to be good leaders, diplomats and speakers." Oobleck chuckled for a moment, "I'm sure many of you have heard old tales of Knights rallying villages of NPC's to fight off Grimm hordes, and this Charisma is often the reason. They are able to inspire confidence and strength in others, enough to turn the tide of battle, some say."

I only heard half of what he said; my hands too busy sketching down the scores into my notepad. With Pyrrha and Ren nearby I didn't dare write my own down next to them but it wasn't hard to work it out in my head. I didn't have a choice in my Class… I was a Blacksmith and the amulet changed that to look like Knight only. It didn't come with options… even so, it seemed like the difference between what I was and what I was pretending to be was larger than I'd thought.

My Strength and Constitution are okay, but the rest of my Stats are completely out of line. My Dexterity is a joke, easily a D stat, while my Charisma is low too. In theory that would only get worse over time. It was a simplification but if D stats gained one per level and A got four, then that would mean I'd end up behind forty or so Dexterity every ten levels… as my level got higher, that would get worse. Forty behind at ten, eighty at twenty, one hundred and twenty at level thirty…

The effects would become more and more pronounced as time went on.

"Sir," I called, interrupting the man as he went into some detail about the date at which the Atlas Scale had been founded.

"Mr Arc, if you have a question please raise your hand. Still, what is it?"

"Sorry, it's just… that final statistic," I pointed at the board to show what I meant. "You've talked about the others and what they do, but you never mention that one."

Strength affected your power, how strong you were and what you could achieve with physical strength. Constitution affected stamina and health – or Aura. It also worked towards resisting physical ailments and shrugging off damage. Dexterity and Agility were simplified as hitting and dodging respectively, though there was a little more to it. Intellect and Wisdom were all about spells, or for those who didn't use them – abilities and Skills. They made them stronger, last longer or affect a wider area… or with Wisdom, how often you could use them before becoming exhausted. Charisma was obvious too, at least in terms of inspiring people, chatting, diplomacy and getting better deals. But he never seemed to talk about-

"Resilience," the Alchemist replied. "The final Stat is Resilience. The reason I do not talk about it, Mr Arc, is because little is known about it. Almost all Hero Classes have it as a D or C at best, meaning we lack understanding. For the most part it is considered an NPC Stat. It's not uncommon for them to have high scores in it, but as to what effect it has… I'm afraid there is no concrete answer."

A Labour Caste Stat… Nobody seemed to notice as I collapsed into my seat, face slack. It was… it was just a useless thing then, the very Stat that I seemed to score so highly in, probably one of my A Stats, and it had no use?

"So it's a dump stat?" Someone called out, earning a few laughs from the crowded students.

"Mr Winchester," the teacher sighed, "Please hold your hand up should you wish to contribute your opinion to the class. As I said, the role of Resilience is unknown, but no Statistic can truly be called worthless."

"Why not?" The Warrior thumped his desk with a gauntleted fist. "You already said no Heroes have any of it, most of us have it as a C Stat at best, so it's clearly not used in combat or anything. It's a dump stat."

"Just because Resilience is useless to us, does not mean it is to anyone else. Clearly, Mr Winchester, as the NPC Caste make extensive use of Resilience, it has value within their daily tasks."

"Useless then," Cardin smirked, "Just like NPC's." My hand clenched into a fist beneath the table, but the shaking only got worse when others began to laugh as well. They all thought the same… of course they did, I'd always known that. We were the lowest part of the Caste system, nothing more than peons.

"They're not useless!" a small voice shouted, and to my surprise it came from beside me. Ruby Rose was stood up, small hands planted on the wooden desk as she leaned forward. "The Labour Caste aren't useless," she repeated, silver eyes flashing angrily, "If it wasn't for them we'd have no food to eat, no houses to live in and no walls to protect us against the Grimm!"

"Then let them fight with us," The Warrior laughed, "Why are we expected to fight and die while they hide in their hovels?"

"That's our responsibility," Ruby shouted back. "That's how we repay them!"

"That's utter bul-"

"Miss Rose is correct," Oobleck seemed relieved by the interruption, clapping his hands together to draw attention back to him and away from Cardin. Ruby was shaking as she fell back into her seat, eyes wide at what she'd just done.

"Thank you," I whispered, though I wasn't sure Ruby even heard it. I wanted to hug her, to shout out my support, but instead it was all I could do to whisper my gratitude.

"The NPC Caste are not useless," Oobleck continued, "They are responsible for many of the good things we have in life, from our amenities to the tools we use, right down to – as Miss Rose pointed out – the houses we live in and the food we eat. Our relationship with them is symbiotic. We protect them from the Grimm, and whatever other threat comes their way, and they in return provide for us. This is how it has been for centuries, and how it will continue as well. They can fight, Mr Winchester, and many are out there who have been forced to fight and kill Grimm in self-defence. Even the lowliest Baker has a Strength and Dexterity score. They can swing a knife if needed… it is just that we are the ones who specialise in combat. In a peaceful era it would be we who would find ourselves without work."

"Feh." Cardin spat, sitting back down and crossing his arms over his breastplate. It was clear he didn't share that view, and from the mutterings of other people, they were the same. My body was shaking, and it wasn't until Pyrrha's hand touched my shoulder, a tiny touch to show her support, that I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.

It was normal. It wasn't worth getting worked up over. This was just how things were…

"Back onto Resilience," the teacher tried valiantly to bring the lesson back on track, "Some theorise that it offers some kind of mental resilience. That is the best I can suggest. We know from research done in… let's call them darker times, that it offers no physical defences. It might be that Resilience is what allows NPC's to perform repetitive tasks all day without becoming bored or dispirited. Some say that's what makes them so good at their jobs, what allows a person to bake bread every day of their life without complaint. It might also have something to do with what they craft and how. I'm afraid I cannot offer more. Is that answer enough, Mr Arc?"

"Yes sir," I managed. It wasn't enough, not for me and not for the situation I was in. But it would have to be. No one cared about how or why the Labour Caste did what they did. It just wasn't as important to the safety of the Kingdoms as making sure the Hero Caste could protect their borders against the Grimm.

I had a lot to think about.

/-/

I wasn't to get that time, as the bell in one of the nearby towers tolled loudly, signalling the end of the lesson. There had been more to it than that, the teacher discussing the responsibilities of Heroes; to defend the land against Grimm but also to represent the integrity of their Kingdoms. Most noticeable was the Heroes Treaty, which prevented Hero Classes from fighting in wars between the Kingdoms.

It had been an interesting topic, but not one I'd been fully able to pay attention to. The weakness in my Class, the very fabric of who I was, just wasn't going to stand up to what other Heroes could achieve. I was comparable now, although even saying that felt arrogant, but as everyone else levelled up – myself included – the gaps between us would only grow. I'd continue to gain in my Resilience, which was useless… along with my decent Wisdom to better allow me to cast Forging Abilities all day long.

Everyone else would be getting stronger in the ways that really mattered, their ability to fight and defend themselves. They would get better at dodging and taking hits, while I'd never truly get better at dishing them out. Sure, my Strength was high – clearly an A stat and one that would be fantastic forever. But that did that matter if I was never able to properly connect with people?

Pyrrha noticed my mood, asking me time and time again if I was alright. I tried to smile for her each time, offering what little excuses I could. It seemed doubtful that she truly accepted my excuse of fatigue.

"You should ignore what Cardin said," she whispered to me as we made to leave, "I know you grew up among NPC's but you're not one of them. Not all of us consider them worthless, either. It's our honour to protect them."

"Thanks Pyr," I said, more for the sentiment than the words. I didn't want it to be someone's honour to consider me in need. She didn't mean it like that, though. She meant well. I could tell.

It would get better. My mood was shot, my confidence at its lowest – but at the same time it didn't matter. I'd come too far to give up now and finding out that my Class was against me wasn't going to change that. They'd said I couldn't become a Hero in the first place, yet here I was!

This wouldn't stop me…

It was just a setback. Nothing more.

"Where are you going?" Pyrrha asked when I made to leave. I looked back to her, noticing the thinly veiled concern in her eyes. Taking out my coin purse I gave it a little shake.

"I've got to give Blake her share of the bow profits." Pyrrha seemed to calm down on hearing that, smiling and nodding her support.

"I'll wait for you." she offered, leaning against a wall.

That wasn't necessary but I knew better than to argue, especially since – as always – Blake was making her way towards the exit with speed. With a quick nod to Pyrrha I was off, weaving between students who cursed when I failed and bumped into them, getting closer to my quarry.

"Blake!" She turned when I called her name, not at all seeming surprised to see me. Part of me felt if she expected me it would have been nice had she waited, but then asking her that was probably too much.

She nodded a greeting, but nothing more. From anyone else that might have intimidated me but for some reason I was able to just write it off for her. It was just Blake being Blake.

"The bow sold," I said quickly, noticing the crowd behind us and taking her arm in mine, dragging her aside. The last time I'd tried that she'd reacted with a knife, but thankfully she seemed willing to trust me a little more now.

"How much?" she asked. Ah – words!

"Four thousand," I delved into my bags, drawing forth some for her. "It was sold privately to someone so it wasn't on the auction. Here's your share."

"This is seven hundred," she counted, looking at me. I scratched the back of my head, blushing a little. How was I supposed to admit my mistake?

"Well I… I kind of forgot about the money I owed you before." She cocked her head to the side, ears twitching in confusion. Could she hear out of both of those? Part of me wanted to ask if I could touch them.

"Before?"

"From the Beowolf," I said – still no recognition. "The one in the First Quest, back before Beacon?" Her eyes widened, realisation dawning as she nodded and took the money, storing it somewhere I couldn't see.

"Thank you, Jaune."

"You don't have to thank me," I laughed, "It's yours. You earned it by helping us. Can I ask you something, though?" The last bit was blurted out as she turned to leave, but luckily she paused, nodding in response. "You've already got enough lien to get your own room, right?"

"That's right."

"How did you get so much in so short a time?"

It must have been the wrong question, that or I'd somehow said it wrong. Where her face had once held polite indifference, now it flashed with irritation, anger and something else… something like disappointment.

"I didn't steal it," she sighed, "I earned it hunting Grimm. If you'll excuse me, I have to go."

"Blake, wai-" I made to grab her arm, only for the Assassin to twist out of the way, yellow eyes glaring balefully at me. "I didn't mean it like that," I near enough shouted, "I just wanted to know if you knew any good spots to hunt."

She stopped before leaving entirely, her back to me.

"Ren and I are still a little behind on what we need," I pushed on, hoping she would listen. "I didn't mean to suggest you were doing anything wrong. Whatever I said, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Her shoulders seemed tense still, but I knew better than to approach. "You didn't… I… You are strange for a Knight. I should have remembered that. I should not have assumed otherwise." What assumption, that I thought she had stolen the money?

"Has someone been accusing you of theft?"

"I do have to go," she said, ignoring the question entirely, "Thank you for bringing the lien for me, Jaune. I appreciate it."

Damn it, damn it, and now she was leaving again. I'd done something wrong, brought up bad memories or something – but I didn't want to leave it at that if I could help it. Rushing up to grab her though, that would be a bad idea, even if I had the best of intentions. In the end, I stood there doing nothing as she left.

Only for her to pause.

"Tomorrow," she whispered, voice barely audible. "If you still need places to hunt… I can mark one or two on a map for you during lunch. If you will meet me in the library…"

"I will!" I shouted back, smiling, "I'll be there. You're a real friend, Blake."

There was no response, though coming from here, I supposed that was normal. It was enough to lift my spirits as I caught back up with the others, finding Ruby and Pyrrha chatting idly back at the classroom.

"Did it go well?" Pyrrha asked, noticing my expression.

"She accepted the money and thanked me," I nodded back, "So I guess it went as well as it could." There was no need to mention our little issue, not when I'd hopefully managed to sort it out myself. Still, she had been incredibly angry when I'd mentioned her earning lien… were people really accusing her of that?

"Did you ask her to sit with us in future?" Ruby bumped an elbow into my ribs, grinning up at me. My eyes widened as I remembered that, what I'd meant to ask her. Ruby must have noticed it. "Jaune," she whined loudly, "You were supposed to ask her!"

"Sorry, I forgot…" Or rather, I'd been distracted. "But hey, she offered to tell me some of her hunting spots tomorrow, so I can ask her then."

"That's generous of her," Pyrrha said, "There are many who would hide such information."

"Blake's not like that," I defended the girl. It sounded like she needed it.

"Well don't forget to ask her to sit with us," Ruby said, apparently not at all in a forgiving mood as she poked my ribs. Maybe it was meant to be intimidating but her face, not to mention how much it tickled, had me laughing instead.

"I won't forget," I promised, edging away from her finger. "Why don't you ask her anyway? It's not like she speaks a different language."

"I would," Ruby rolled her eyes, "If I could ever see or find her! She's an Assassin, Jaune. I can't find her, even when I'm trying."

"Really?" Sure, she was fast and quick to leave a room once class was over, but she'd never been particularly difficult to find. "I've never had any trouble spotting her." Ruby seemed to pout at that. Okay, maybe that hadn't come out as kind as I'd meant it to.

"An Assassin is seen only when they allow themselves to be seen." Pyrrha said, eyes meeting mine. "Come, we should get to our next class. I think Port has another… story… for us."

/-/

A cry was torn from my throat as the Boarba slammed into me, crashing aside my shield and sending me soaring through the air. My back hit the ground a few seconds later, rolling across the grass as I fought for breath. My eyes looked up just in time to see it charging towards me, and for me to notice that I'd dropped my sword and shield. It was just to the left, close enough that I crawled frantically for it, rolling onto my back as I grabbed it and taking a weak, kneeling position against the monster about to crush me.

"Cute," a voice sounded, as something whistled over my shoulder. The Boarba took the arrow in its left eye, forelegs collapsing as its momentum carried made it crash face-first into the ground, carving through grass and dirt as it came to rest before me, dead.

Crocea Mors hit the ground a second later, followed by my hands as sweat poured from my head, breath coming out in harsh pants. "Was that…" a quick fight for breath, "really necessary?"

"Well I could have let it kill you," Coco Adel said, striding from the nearby bushes with a wide grin on her face, and the bow we'd found in hand. "But that would be more trouble than it's worth. Besides, you should have a little more stamina. We've only been doing this for three hours."

She seemed unbothered by my glare, likely because I was still panting like a dog. Three hours in which I'd been stuck fighting for my life against Grimm so far above me that it was all I could do to survive. She had just sat on the low bough of a tree, picking them off when I lured them near, her expression almost bored.

"You can kill these things with one shot," I wheezed, "Why am I the one running around?"

"I can kill them easily," Coco nodded, "But then you wouldn't get any Exp from that. Besides, I have to pick and choose what to boost you on. These are just Boarbas. They're like the baby cousin of the Elder Grimm Boarbatusk, but ten-times less scary. If I took you to where my friends and I normally hunt, then you'd be dead in an instant. That would be bad not only for me but also the Guild." She patted her purple tabard with one hand, drawing my eyes.

Knowing what it was, I'd kept my eye out all day, noticing more than a few people wearing similar things. The purple one with golden weave was definitely the most common, though people wore it in different ways. I'd seen some wear it as a full tabard, from their necks down to their feet, while others had it as a tunic, covering only a breastplate and tucked into their belts. Coco wore it on her right hip, where it trailed down the side of her like a one-legged skirt. Her boast of the Mercenary's Guild being the largest appeared to be true.

"Sheesh, you're really out of it," she sighed, flicking some hair back from her face. "We can take a breather if you need it that bad. You nearly reached your next level?"

I concentrated a little, closing my eyes as I considered it. I was close, very close. It was amazing to think I'd started the day at only a little into Level sixteen, but now I was nearly seventeen. This boosting, for all the pain it induced, was a powerful thing.

And why shouldn't it be? Coco had dragged me out to an area with Grimm far above my level, only to make me catch their attention one at a time, defending as I lured them back to her tree, only for her to kill them on my behalf. Normally killing such opponents would have been just about impossible for me, or at least it would have required four or more people my level. Now, with the Exp split between just two, I was earning far more than I could normally.

"How common is this boosting?" I asked as Coco threw a water skin towards me. I upended it back, hacking suddenly as the acrid taste of foul booze entered my mouth.

"You might want to be careful with that," the girl grinned, clearly enjoying my struggles.

"I thought alcohol was banned from Beacon." Gods but it was strong, the kind of strong that could only come from drink made by an amateur and not someone who knew what they were doing. It tasted like the kind of drink someone would call `rotgut` or some other terrible name.

"It is," Coco shrugged, taking it back and drinking a little herself. "But just because something is banned doesn't mean it isn't commonplace. Boosting's kind of the same, though not quite so illegal."

"I've heard it's frowned upon…"

"Probably by some of the same people who come us, skulking under hoods and asking for confidentiality with their boosting. There's a lot of hypocrisy in this school… well, in everywhere, really." She leaned back on a log, kicking her legs up to rest against a tree. "Boosting is common enough to have an entire guild dedicated to it. That's basically what we are."

"The Mercenary's Guild?" I asked.

"It's a simplification," she shrugged, "but close enough. You ever need something doing or want to hire extra muscle for a Dungeon, then chances are you'll be coming to us. People ask us for boosting, escort, help with homework, just about anything you can think of, so long as you can pay. Beacon runs on lien, after all. You remember the rules I gave you for this one?"

I nodded, recalling the rules she'd set out before we left Beacon. "All loot goes to you, lien and items, you have the right to end the session if you believe my health is in danger and it's for five hundred lien per hour."

"That's right," Coco nodded, "We've got a little time left and this bow is sweet stuff, so I figure I'll get you your level, but normally we're pretty strict about the timing."

"Thank you."

"Heh, no problem. As for the lien and loot, we're bringing you to an area you would have no hope of farming normally, so it doesn't make sense for you to get a share. What's more, it would defeat the point of boosting if something dropped that actually made it a net profit for you."

"I understand." I nodded. It did make sense, especially considering this was something she was doing as a service for me. In this case, it was for the two thousand she couldn't cover on the bow, but in any other situation it would have been me having to pay her. Not much had dropped anyway, less than five hundred if my guess was on point. Right now the Exp I could gain was more important, especially since it would mean I wouldn't let the others down the next time we fought. I would be stronger, and better able to tank for Ruby and the other glass cannons.

If only I could afford something like this on a more regular basis… gaining near-enough a level in under four hours was pretty huge. I'd gained two in the Dungeon, but that had been over a day and a half, not to mention it had nearly cost our lives. This was an afternoon with a person who could instantly kill anything that threatened me.

Two thousand lien isn't a joke though… I'm not sure I'd be able to earn enough to pay for rent and that. It was a shame. It sounded like Boosting would only really be of much use at the lower levels, after which it would become too expensive. Right now I was able to get close to a level in under four hours, but the time it took would grow exponentially as I gained levels. It might take six hours for the next, eight after that… until it became far too expensive to ever consider doing. Unless… was there some other way for me to earn lien relatively quickly?

"Hey Coco," the girl perked up as I addressed her, cocking her head towards me. "You get work because you're in the Mercenary's Guild, right?"

"That's the reason I joined, yeah. Any higher year can probably offer you boosting if the money's right, but we have strict rules and a Guild reputation to uphold. People trust us more because they know if something goes wrong the Guild will cover your losses, then tear it out of our hide. It's protection for both us and the client."

Which would mean more people were willing to go to the guild, making it more profitable for them.

"How would I go about joining something like that?"

"Join the Merc's Guild?" Coco grinned, "Sorry Jaune, we only take people from the third and fourth year – and only then the stronger ones." My face fell, "It's nothing personal, we just have to make sure the people we have can actually carry the younger years if they have to. If we had someone who wasn't strong enough then it might mean some people who come to us end up getting killed. It's not worth the risk."

I nodded, slumping a little but understanding. It was a silly idea anyway. I wasn't strong enough to handle myself in most situations, so I definitely wasn't going to find anyone weaker who would need my help.

"It'll get easier as you get older," the girl clapped me on the shoulder. "The first year's the hardest at Beacon, trust me. Next year you'll probably be able to boost some newbies; though don't let me catch you undercutting us, eh?"

"Does that mean there are other Guilds, then?" I asked. "Are there any others you know of that I could join now to try and earn some lien?"

"There's plenty of Guilds in Beacon… most are just formed by friends and such, little social guilds that exist only for themselves. Those aren't for any purpose other than as a pride thing, but the bigger ones can actually get a Guildhall." Coco caught my interested expression, explaining with a little laugh. "A Guildhall is like your own house, but for the Guild as a group. They can be pretty expensive, depending on the size, but it lets the Guild stay together. We have one of the largest in Beacon, looks like a castle. It's where people go if they need to request work from us."

I wracked my brain to try and recall that, but we'd all been so focused on lessons, food and farming lien that we hadn't explored a good portion of Beacon yet. Maybe I should suggest to the others that we do that… it sounded like there was a lot more to the school than lessons and lectures.

"There's a few other Guilds who do services," Coco went on, "If you need help with homework or anything knowledge based then there's `The Keepers` who focus on knowledge, secrets and that kind of thing. You won't be joining them unless you're seriously into books or gossip though. Other than that, there's a few others too, `Ravenguard` are kind of like us but less skilled, they focus on renting members out to help you clear Dungeons – for a cut of the loot, there's also a combat guild which holds arena fights. You don't really join to earn money but you can gamble on it if that's your kind of thing." Her disgusted expression made it clear what she thought of that. "Also, the black-market guilds who smuggle stuff into Beacon for you, like that booze you threw down your throat. That came from the Red Axe Guild. Those Guilds are… pretty unofficial, but handy nonetheless."

"This is a lot more complicated than I expected…" All these Guilds within Beacon and I'd just assumed I would be attending lessons and making friends for the rest of my time here.

"It's not that bad," Coco laughed. "I'd say about half the people in Beacon aren't even in a Guild. You can probably go through the academy without ever worrying about it. I'm just giving you the lowdown since you asked. Look," she leaned forward, suddenly serious, "The only thing you need to really remember is that there are good guilds, like us, then there's some… less savoury types too. You should be careful of ones that are more interested in what's in your pockets than actually helping you out."

I nodded, even if her explanation wasn't something I fully understood. It seemed a bit hypocritical for someone from a guild of mercenaries to criticise others for being interested in lien. She was only helping me in the first place because she wanted the bow we'd found.

"Come on," Coco grinned, standing up suddenly. "A few more of the Grimm have started to spawn. Let's see if we can't get you that level, eh?"

With a groan I pushed myself up, ready to start the torture all over again.

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"Congratulations," Coco grinned, what must have been an hour or more later. The Archer had stayed true to her word, letting me have a little longer than we'd really agreed on. Hands on my knees, coughing and hacking into the grass, I'd earned a full level.

Progress had never felt so nauseous before.

"Let's see here," Coco walked past my hunched form, rummaging around in the grass. "That makes five hundred or so for me from today. Not great, not bad either. Hm, an item?" She jogged off a little bit, my tired eyes following her as she knelt down to pick something up. With a hand on the grass to support myself, I was able to stagger onto my feet and after her.

"Anything good?" I asked, only half-interested. It wasn't going to be mine after all, as per the agreement we'd made.

"Trash," Coco scoffed, holding up a weapon of some kind for me to see. It looked like a mace, a metal haft with a flanged head devoid of ornamentation. "Guess I'm due a trip to Vale to vendor it off."

"Why Vale?" I asked, panting heavily. "Wouldn't it be easier to sell it on the Beacon Auction House?"

"If it were something anyone would buy," she sighed. She threw it at me, my eyes widening as I caught it reflexively. It… calling it a good weapon would have been unkind, mostly to any good weapons out there. It was basic, which was about all that could be said of it. It would do its job but not with any great grace or strength. "Something like that," Coco went on, "No one would even look at it twice. You've got to remember that this is an Auction House that only Heroes are going to use. Sell a high-end bow," she hefted her new one up for emphasis, "and people are going to be interested. Sell a rake and no one's going to care."

And sadly, while this wasn't a rake, it certainly wasn't what I'd call a weapon either. This was maybe something a member of the Labour Caste would carry around for their own protection, a weapon that would do some damage in a pinch, but wasn't expected to hold up against a real opponent. "What are you going to do with it then?" I asked, handing it back over.

"The only thing I can. I'll head into Vale this weekend, try and find some vendor who wants to buy it. Maybe I can find someone who wants a crappy weapon, or maybe someone will break it down and make it into something better." Into something better…? "Either way," she sighed, "I'll be lucky to get a hundred lien for it."

"Hey," I chimed, a spark of an idea forming within my mind, "Would you sell it to me for that?"


More world-building here, along with the progression of Jaune as we move into the next arc of the story… as always, some things remain hidden or unexplained. This is an academy for Heroes, after all. It's not for the Labour Caste.

And Jaune has an idea, of sorts. I'm sure some of you can see what that might be. Just to answer a quick question, which I know I don't normally do, but in this case it won't be answered for ages otherwise – and the thing in question has been revealed.

Jaune's Passive is not immunity to heat or fire. It is only immunity to heat and fire caused by HIS forging. So if he lights a fire to use it for forging, then it doesn't hurt him. Similarly if he picks up a molten weapon with his bare hands, he's okay. But if he was forging with his hands and someone threw a fireball at his back – he is in trouble. He would take damage from the fireball, but if he then fell into his forge, THAT would not hurt him - but only that. The world works on logic not specifically our own after all, so it knows what fire is caused by his forging and what isn't.

I've included below his stats again for the new level, but I've also included the Atlas Scale ranking system for it (won't be in future stat pages) – though remember, as Oobleck said, it is an `accepted scale` and not exact fact. So yes, it IS possible for other stats to grow in ways considered unusual. Also it's not a flat "3 for A, 2 for B, etc…" Sometimes it can fluctuate, as you'll see here.


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Jaune Arc

Level 17 (+1)

Blacksmith

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Str: 36 (+3) (A)

Con: 33 (+2) (B)

Dex: 12 (+0) (D)

Agi: 16 (+1) (C)

Int: 20 (+0) (C)

Wis: 23 (+2) (B)

Cha: 10 (+0) (D)

Res: 33 (+4) (A)

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Passive Skill

-Fire from the Forge-

Immunity to heat, flames and associated damage caused from his forging process.

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Known Active Skills

-Stoke the Forge-

Generate intense heat in the hand for a short period of time, capable of super-heating metal to forging temperatures without the use of a forge.

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Next Chapter: 12th December

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur