I do not own RWBY
In the Forests of Sanus
Jaune Arc was a young lad. A lad filled with dreams. Like his parents, Jaune dreamed of being a hero. A hero whose tale would be told throughout the ages that would come. Of course, no hero was without hardship and hardship hit him upside the head in spades. Betrayal. Abandonment. Death. All tried to beat the hero down into the ground and almost succeeded until he was pulled out. Thus, Jaune began his long road of training. Training to become more powerful. And what sort of training was the young lad doing? Well…
"WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME!?" Jaune said as he ran. A massive Nevermore chased after Jaune, screeching in fury.
"I'm sorry!" Jaune yelled back.
The Nevermore screeched once more before firing an onslaught of feathers at Jaune. Jaune was barely able to dodge as he rolled out of the way. The Nevermore landed in front of Jaune, shaking the ground slightly and made its way to him. It let out a series of angered chirps and clicks as it advanced on him.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know that was your chick! And besides, he came to me on his own!" Jaune protested.
The Nevermore paused, looking at Jaune intently.
"Look, I was looking for a place to take a nap and I didn't know it was your nest. And your kid just came in out of nowhere and started sleeping on my chest! I didn't even know he was there until Nyx started barking and you came back," Jaune said.
The Nevermore tilted its head and looked at Jaune. It let loose a series of chirps and clicks, causing a vein to pop on Jaune's head.
"Hey! I'll have you know that I'm great with children!" Jaune said.
The Nevermore huffed and began to walk away, presumably to go hunt.
"Hey! At least let me stay at your nest!" Jaune said.
The Nevermore chirped before taking off, sending a blast of wind towards Jaune.
"Is that a yes!?" Jaune asked. "You know what… I'm just going to sleep there again."
He reached down and looked for his weapons only to find… nothing. He sighed.
"Brothers dammit! I left Sol and Luna back at the nest with Nyx while I ran," Jaune said. "So much for my morning."
It had been three days since Jaune had arrived here at the massive Grimm Watering Hole as he had taken to calling it. Several species of Grimm loved congregating in this small area. The area was a large patch of land with trees everywhere. A large spire stood in the middle of the grounds, towering over all of the trees. If he had to guess, the spire was at least one-hundred and seventy-five feet tall and was man-made, judging from the steepness. The Nevermores made their nests at the top of the spire and getting there involved Jaune using his aura wings. Yes, after several attempts, Jaune was finally able to fly. Of course, fear and death were good motivators. Scaling a structure that steep and that high proved to be a difficult task. Jaune doubted that anyone back at Beacon could climb something this tall without using their weapons or semblance.
Other than improving with his semblance (he refused to call it something else), Jaune had also improved his Grimm powers. Jaune was now capable of fully understanding what the Grimm were saying to him and could talk back as well. Jaune fondly remembered how his meditation and concentration of his powers allowed him to hear Grimm's voices.
"Peace. If my power is like a semblance, I just have to look deep within me," Jaune said as he sat cross-legged in the middle of the forest floor. Nyx lay down next to him, whining and nudging his knee.
"Not now, Nyx. I'm trying to concentrate," Jaune said.
Nyx kept nudging his knee and whining. Jaune tried his best to ignore her and clear his mind but all that came in were her incessant whines. Semblances were a manifestation of the soul and if what Winter said was right, perhaps Jaune could discover more about this ability by meditating. At least, that's what he read in a book once. But Nyx's attempts of getting his attention were making things difficult for him.
I wish I could understand what she's saying. Most of the things I get are 'I want food' or something, Jaune thought as he concentrated.
Though it would be cool to be able to understand Grimm, Jaune thought. As his train of thought continued along, his body shimmered violet for a few seconds before fading away.
"MASTER!"
Jaune's eyes snapped open when he heard someone's voice. It sounded like it belonged to a girl. A young girl about a year younger than Ruby. Jaune turned around and began to frantically look for the source of the voice.
"Master! Down here!"
Jaune looked down and saw Nyx tilting her head and barking. However, to Jaune, what he heard was not barking but…
"Master, I'm hungry! Can we get some food now?" Nyx asked.
Jaune did the only logical thing a person in his situation would have done. He fainted.
Jaune cringed at the memory. He admitted that he could have handled that better and to be frank, he was still getting used to it but being able to understand Grimm was a first true step in Jaune's opinion. As his Grimm communication abilities developed, he barely made any progress in the control department. He remembered when he tried controlling a Goliath just yesterday.
"Okay, Nyx, nice and quiet. We don't want to startle them," Jaune said, creeping through the shrubbery.
"I don't understand why we're being so quiet, Master," Nyx said, yawning. Jaune sighed. Master. Ever since he was able to hear
"Shh. Haven't you heard? Goliaths are scared of something smaller than they are. That's what one of my teachers told me," Jaune said, remembering one of Port's stories.
"My mother told me that Goliaths will attack anything that makes them mad so she said I should never sneak up on one," Nyx said.
"Yeah… wait, Grimm can have children?" Jaune asked.
"Yes, we can, Master. Grimm aren't like what most humans think. Grimm can reproduce and are also born from Pools of Darkness," Nyx said.
"Pools of Darkness?" Jaune asked.
"It's a story but some of the older Grimm swear they exist. The Pools of Darkness are the wellspring of the Grimm. Grimm come from its black tar all the time. Or that's what the others say," Nyx said.
"Pools of Darkness, huh," Jaune said.
"There's one!" Nyx said, lifting her paw towards a massive Goliath heading their way. Goliaths were Grimm who took the form of mammoths, possessing black fur, tusks, and a long trunk.
Jaune kept his hand on Eclipse just in case it attacked and walked out of the bushes.
"Hey!" Jaune said, catching the Goliath's attention.
The Goliath huffed and returned to what it was doing. Scooping water into its trunk and drinking.
"How do I do this? How did I do that on the basilisk last time?" Jaune said, placing his hand on his chin. He thrust his hand forward and closed his eyes, concentrating on the Goliath as hard as he could. He remembered wanting the Basilisk to stop. Want. That was the key. He had to make them want it to. He had to make them obey. He wanted them to follow.
To follow their master.
Jaune's eyes opened, revealing a violet flame dancing within his blue eyes.
"Go and knock over that tree," Jaune said.
The Goliath's eyes flashed violet and Jaune smiled.
"Nyx, look I did it!"
No response.
"Nyx?" Jaune looked down and saw Nyx was gone. He heard slamming against a tree and saw Nyx, in her adult form, slashing relentlessly. Her eyes were covered in a violet light. He heard trumpets roaring and saw the other Goliath around him with the same coloration in their eyes, attacking trees as well.
"Wait… I wanted only that Goliath to attack a tree, not every Grimm around me," Jaune said. He retracted his power, relinquishing his hold on the Grimm. The Grimm stopped and looked around before going on their business, not even caring to find out what happened.
Jaune sighed and began walking back towards the spire.
"Well, that was a failure but at least something happened," Jaune said.
"Master wait!" Nyx said, running after Jaune.
"Hmm, I wish there were an easier way to learn this. I can't have been the only one," Jaune said as he flew up to the highest point in the spire. It was where the Nevermore made their home and where Jaune decided to sleep since he would be safe from any potential threats such as those bandits he came across.
"Master! You've returned!" Nyx said, wagging her tail. She bounded over to Jaune and ran in circles around him.
"Hey, girl," Jaune said, squatting. Nyx jumped into his arms and began licking his cheek, making Jaune chuckle. He ruffled her fur before walking over to where he had made his temporary home.
"Did you get any food after the Nevermore chased you out?" Nyx asked.
"No, but I did get some water. Don't worry Nyx. We're only here for another night," Jaune said. He walked over to his pack filled with the supplies that Isla gave him before he left. He pulled out a small can filled with canned meat. Forming an aura blade with his finger, Jaune cut a slice of meat off.
Shaping his aura tendril into a sharp spear, Jaune stuck it through the meat.
"Oh, forgot to make a fire. Good thing Isla gave me fire dust," Jaune said as he placed red crystals in a small pile in front of him. He gathered a pile of sticks, some of them taken from the Nevermore nest, placed them atop the crystals, and lit the fire.
"Mhhm!" Jaune said, biting into the meat. "Nothing like a full day of training to make food taste better."
Jaune ripped off a chunk of meat and tossed it to Nyx. Nyx jumped up and caught it.
"Master, I have no idea where you got this full day of training from. All you did was run from a mother Nevermore all day," Nyx said.
"Hey, it was evasion training," Jaune said, taking out a large portion of the meat from the can and giving it to Nyx.
"Whatever Master," Nyx said.
Jaune looked out of the Nevermore den, admiring the stars in the sky. His gaze shifted to the shattered Moon and lingered there for a few moments. Stargazing was always Jaune's hobby and his favorite thing to do when he couldn't sleep. When he was younger, his and Alice's room was located on the third floor of their tavern and on nights when they were too hyper to sleep, Jaune and Alice would climb out of their window and onto the roof of their tavern and just sit back and watch the stars.
Watching them always made Jaune feel small. Worthless. He often wondered if the Gods knew what they were doing when they placed Man, Faunus, and Grimm on the same world. Was it entertaining for them to watch three races try and destroy each other in some sick cosmic battle royale?
"Master?" Nyx asked, wondering why Jaune was staring at the sky.
"Huh? Sorry, I got lost in thought there for a second," Jaune said, coming down from his almost existential crisis.
"I think you need sleep, Master," Nyx said, laying down next to Jaune's leg. Jaune smiled and began stroking her fur softly. He looked at the stars again. This time, a string of different thoughts ran through his head.
"I hope that you're doing okay, Pyrrha. Alice," Jaune said. He smiled softly before closing his eyes, with nothing more than the light of the ever distant moon to keep the boy and his grimm companion company.
Jaune found himself, sitting on a throne. A bleak wasteland was all that there was before him. Massive crystals decorated the land and rivers of black tar-like energy flowed from his throne. Dark clouds covered the sky, raining bolts of lightning onto the land.
"Brother, I wish to speak with you," a voice said.
Jaune looked up and saw a woman with long flowing blonde hair, reaching down just past her waist. She wore shimmering white robes that accentuated her beautiful figure. She was neither busty nor flat. A perfect in-between. Her voice was alluring like a siren, capable of making men fall to their knees and beg for her attention. The eyes which Jaune mistook for amethysts shone slightly in the light.
Any man would have fallen head over heels in love at the sight of this woman. But not Jaune. To Jaune, this woman had a strong connection to him but he couldn't figure out what that connection was.
"What is it?" Jaune said.
"I was wondering why our Sister locked herself away in her room earlier," she asked.
"I have no clue. But I believe it involves that human female who visited her realm," Jaune said.
"Human female? Was it another offer to bear her child? Wait… is she still keeping up that male guise of hers?" she asked.
"I'm afraid that Sister has already reached a point of no return," Jaune said.
"Let's ask her!" she said.
"Israfil, wait!" Jaune said, attempting to run after her. However, he paused. Israfil? That was the name of a Goddess.
Israfil spread a pair of beautiful, lustrous, rainbow-colored butterfly wings. She beat her wings, blasting a gust of wind into Jaune's face.
"Damnit!" Jaune said, spreading a pair of violet draconic wings and following her.
The path to their sister was a long and winding one and in Jaune's opinion was rather beautiful if not a bit too bright. A mass of islands flew past Jaune, making him believe one thing about this.
This is Anima, Jaune thought as he flew past an island.
But there was one thing Jaune noticed about his surroundings that made him reconsider his train of thought. He had no sense of what was above or what was below. There was no left and there was no right. Everywhere he looked. There was only a colorful sea of emptiness stretching in all directions and possibly beyond infinity itself.
"Come on! Or I'll tell your girlfriend that her lover is losing his ground!" she said as she flew faster.
"Hey!" Jaune said, flying after her. He easily caught up, leveling out right next to Israfil.
"So, is she still sore about that entire thing that went down on Earth," Israfil asked, not looking at him.
"She is. I guess having the very things she loved betray her is taking a heavy toll," Jaune said.
"I loved them too. But… what you did. What they did, what she did," Israfil said.
"I don't know... all I know is that she feels guilty about it," Jaune said, not sure where the words were coming from.
"Hmm," Israfil said. "We're here."
Jaune wouldn't be lying if he didn't think that this place he was in was the brightest place in the entire world. A massive island, that from the air, looked like how large Sanus appears on the world map. The island was devoid of large structures and large plant life. Just a small house next to a large clear lake with a large maple tree in the middle.
The two landed in front of the cabin. Israfil skipped over to the door and began knocking.
"Mikael!" Israfil said.
"Leave me alone," a voice said from the other side.
"I brought Sammy!" Israfil said. Jaune quirked an eyebrow. Was she referring to him?
"Mikael! Open the damn door!" Jaune said, banging his fist on it.
"Sammy…?"
Jaune's heart clenched. She sounded so weak. So guilty. So unsure of herself. Why did he feel so bad for her?
They heard clicking before the door slowly opened. Jaune's eyes widened upon seeing who it was. There was a woman, slightly shorter than he was. She had long, sunkissed blonde hair. It was tied in a braid with a blue ribbon hanging at the end. There was a white ribbon tied around her head and her bangs framed her face. She wore golden robes decorated with shimmering stars that glistened every time she fidgeted with her robe.
"Sammy…," she said, her golden eyes dimming. Jaune noticed that every star in the sky dimmed significantly as her mood dropped.
"Mii," Jaune said.
"Did I mess up? Was I a bad mother?" Mii asked.
"Mii," Jaune looked at her with pity. A stream of iridescent tears fell from her face.
"Why? Why did they do that? I loved them. I still love them. We gave them everything. Nourishment. Affection. Our guidance. And they took that. The gift you gave them. They took that and tried to kill us," Mii said.
"Mii, you're not a bad mother," Jaune said.
"THEN WHY!?" she screamed.
Israfil and Jaune took a step back as the entire world shook. A golden aura surrounded her, incinerating the grass around them.
"WHY!? WHY DID THAT WOMAN HAVE TO-!" the aura died down and she fell to her knees sobbing. "I shouldn't have done it… I should've brought him back. Maybe… maybe she wouldn't have gone to you and I wouldn't have had to…"
Jaune remained silent and instead opted to wrap his arms around the sobbing woman. She hugged him tightly and began crying into his robes
"Sister, you weren't a horrible mother anymore than I was a horrible father. We created them together and we both share equal blame as to what happened," Jaune said.
However, as his mouth said those words, all Jaune felt was confusion. What did they mean? Did they do something to their children? Who was this woman? Why did she look so much like? So much like…
"Alice," Jaune said.
The woman looked up at him, her face confused.
"Who's Alice?" she asked
Jaune's eyes snapped open and he sat up. A cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he frantically looked around. He was still in the cave. A sharp pain shot through his skull as he gripped his temples in pain. His vision blurred as he fought through the pain that made its way from his skull and began to course through his body. He could barely breathe as his lungs, as well as his other organs, felt like they were being stabbed with a million Crocea Mors and shot at by the entirety of Beacon's Student Body and Staff.
As Jaune spent three agonizing minutes curled up on the cave floor, visions of his dream assaulted his mind over and over again.
Israfil.
Mii.
Woman.
The pain eventually subsided into manageable throbs. Jaune sat up and leaned against the wall, inhaling copious amounts of air. His chest heaved up and down as his vision eventually began to clear and that's when he noticed he wasn't alone.
"Isla?" Jaune said, rubbing his eyes.
"Hello, Jaune," Isla said as she tended to the fire.
Jaune looked and saw the Nevermore had returned to her nest but this time, she was cowering in the corner, hiding her chick behind her.
"How did you…?"
"Get here?" Isla finished for him. She pointed behind her and a massive pair of iridescent butterfly wings erupted from her back. He recognized them. After all, he had just seen them in his dream. The woman before him was without a doubt her.
"You're… You're…," Jaune said, pointing at her with a shaky hand.
"I am. But of course, you knew that from your dream. continue to call me Isla. It's what I go by when I'm not being… you know," Isla said.
"Am I being punished?" Jaune asked. "Have I committed a sin? I try my best to follow all your doctrines! So does my family! We even go to Church every Sunday and I know that I fall asleep while the priest is delivering his sermon and there was that one time I-!"
"Jaune," Isla said. "I'm not here to smite you. I'm just here to talk."
"Is this about my Grimm powers?" Jaune asked.
"That… and what your plans are for the future," Isla said.
"My plans?" Jaune asked her.
"Hmm, what do you want to do?" Isla asked.
"I want to be a hero," Jaune said. "To save people."
"Hmm, a simple answer I would expect from someone training to be a Huntsman. But as a person, what do you want to do? I want to know what Jaune Arc the person wants and not Jaune Arc, the Huntsman" Isla said.
"I want… I just want to make other people happy. To keep the ones I love safe. Like anyone else really. Maybe after achieving my dream of being a huntsman, I was originally going to settle down with Weiss but she kept turning me down," Jaune said.
"Hmm, love is a fickle thing," Isla said.
"Yeah, but she's not the one," Jaune said.
"Oh, I see," Isla said. "Venison?"
"Thanks," Jaune said, taking the meat.
"Continue," Isla said.
"There's this girl. Pyrrha. She has the best shade of hair. As red as the autumn leaves. Her eyes are as green as emeralds and they do this thing where they shine whenever she smiles or laughs. And I feel this yearning for her. This time that I'm away from her tears me apart… wait a second, why am I telling you all this?" Jaune said.
"I have no clue," Isla said.
"But you're a…," Jaune began.
"I know. I just wanted to hear it from your mouth. So you want a peaceful life with this girl but tell me honestly. Do you really expect man and faunus to accept you?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Jaune said.
"Your powers are dangerous and they're still developing. You've barely scratched the surface of what you're truly capable of," Isla said. "You possess the power to wipe out humanity and faunuskind at the tip of your fingers. Do you expect governments to just sit back and let you run free? And then, there are people out there who would be willing to do anything to get you on their side. People who would be willing to manipulate you or force you to fight for them."
"Is this to discourage me from using or growing my power?" Jaune asked.
"Merely a warning. To prepare you for what's to come," Isla said.
"Isla," Jaune said.
"Hmm," the woman turned to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Why did you come to Remnant?" Jaune asked.
"Because it was time. I felt that it was time. Also, I was never one to spend all my time in my realm. Being here among you is far more enjoyable than being up there with the rest of them," Isla said.
"Is something going to happen?" Jaune asked.
"You could say that," Isla said. "Which brings me to my next question."
Jaune looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to ask.
"What do you plan to do when you get back?" Isla asked.
"Oh, get back where?" Jaune asked.
"To Beacon of course," Isla said.
"I… I don't think I'll go back," Jaune said.
"Why not?" Isla asked.
"Because… I don't belong there. Everyone there is amazing and deserves to be there. Meanwhile, here I am, some random country boy whose parents run a bar just sneaks in and everything's supposed to be fine? It wasn't. I just wasn't worthy enough," Jaune said.
"Worthiness is a subjective term. While combat skill is desirable in your profession, heart is just as much a factor as skill. You wouldn't want a huntsman whose sole focus is fame and glory. Such a mentality is bound to get someone killed as well as endanger others," Isla said.
"No," Jaune replied.
"So no more talk of you not being worthy. Your reasons for joining are pure and genuine. It's admirable to want to help people but it's also wise to know that you can't save everyone," Isla said.
"I know," Jaune said, remembering his encounter with Adam. He often wondered if he should have just let the cave-in crush the Faunus instead of saving him just like Adam left Jaune to be almost killed by the basilisk.
"And what of your friends?" Isla asked.
"My friends?" Jaune asked.
"I see that you're conflicted on how to feel about them," Isla said.
"I don't know how to feel about them. On one hand, I understand how they feel but on the other, I feel hurt that one incident could drive them to feel that way about me," Jaune said.
A gunshot was heard, ringing throughout the forest. Isla and Jaune turned their heads to the opening of the cave.
"It seems we have company," Isla said.
"It's probably bandits," Jaune said, grabbing Sol and Luna.
"Come," Isla said. She spread her wings and flew out of the cave. Jaune summoned his aura wings and followed after her.
Jaune was right. It was them. The same bandits that tried to ambush him a few days prior. His fists shook in anger. One of the bandits had shot and killed a passenger while the others were holding a female down to the ground. Another bandit held who Jaune assumed to be her child back as the little boy struggled to break free.
"Disgusting," Isla said. She turned to Jaune. "What will you do?"
"I'm going to stop them," Jaune said.
He dove towards the forest floor, gripping Sol and Luna tightly. His vision went red when the bandit with brown hair's hands began to roam around the woman's body.
"Hey!" Jaune roared.
The bandits stopped and looked up. Jaune slammed the butt of Luna into the bandit's face, smashing his nose and sending him flying into the tree.
"Are you alright?" Jaune asked.
"My child!" the woman said.
"Let him go!" Jaune demanded.
"It's that kid," one of the bandits said.
"Get him!" the other bandit said.
"Run," Jaune told the woman. "I promise that I'll save your kid!"
The woman nodded and ran away as Jaune intercepted the bandit's blade. Jaune kicked him in the stomach and sent him flying into a tree.
"Don't move or I'll shoot the kid!" the bandit said, pressing the barrel of his gun to the child's head.
Jaune froze and glared at the bandit.
"Put your weapon down!" the bandit said.
Jaune didn't move.
"Do it fucktard or the kid gets it!" the bandit said.
"Okay, okay… just don't hurt him," Jaune said as he lowered Sol and Luna to the ground. "It's gonna be okay kid."
"Get him!" the bandit said. Jaune was tackled to the ground by one of the bandits. The bandit on top of Jaune pulled his head up as the bandit holding the child hostage walked over to him.
"Hey kid. Long time no see," the bandit said, smiling a gap-toothed grin.
"Fuck you," Jaune said.
"That's not ever… NICE!" the bandit said, kicking Jaune in the face.
"Let him go. You have me," Jaune said.
"Oh, I would have done that if you didn't just fucking insult me," the bandit said.
"Are you that petty to kill a child over an insult!?" Jaune screamed.
"I've killed for less," the bandit said. He pushed the kid to his knees and placed the barrel of his gun to the back of the kid's head.
"Now, tell him everything's going to be okay," the bandit said.
Jaune gritted his teeth and glared at the bandit.
"Well?" the bandit said, grinning.
"It… it's going to be okay, kid! You're going to be okay!" Jaune said, trying to reassure him.
The kid began to cry as the bandits began laughing. Jaune glared at the bandit, a violet glow burning faintly in his eyes. The bandit grinned and cocked his pistol Just as he was about to pull the trigger, something happened.
Jaune and the other bandits' eyes widened as he exploded in a bloody shower of gore. Pieces of his bones, flesh, and organs flew everywhere, staining the dirt crimson.
Taking advantage of their disbelief, Jaune elbowed the guy on top of him and grabbed Sol and Luna. He grabbed the child and began to run.
"He's getting away!" one of the bandits said.
"He just made Azul fucking explode!" another said.
"Kid" Jaune said as he carried him. "Can you run?"
The kid nodded fearfully in his arms.
Jaune stopped and put him down. He transformed Sol and Luna into Eclipse and readied himself.
"Go! I'll hold them off! RUN!"
The little boy nodded fearfully and ran off into the forest.
"Kill him!"
Jaune raised his sword and parried one of the bandit's attacks. He brought the flat of his blade up and slapped the bandit into a tree.
Sensing another attack from behind, Jaune formed an aura arm and intercepted it, grabbing the bandit by the arm and throwing him against a tree.
Jaune dodged as another bandit swiped at him with a large pistol-knife hybrid. Jaune raised Eclipse to deflect another swipe before kicking him in the stomach and slashing Eclipse at him, slicing through his aura like butter.
Jaune formed several aura fists and threw them at the bandit knocking him unconscious.
A force slammed Jaune into a tree. He groaned and looked up, seeing a bandit with his fists encased in rocks.
His semblance? Jaune thought as he formed an aura barrier to block his attacks. His eyes widened when the attacks broke through. The man punched Jaune in the face before grabbing his throat.
"That's a nifty semblance you got there," the bandit said. "We underestimated you the other day but now. Now we got you."
The bandit pulled out a knife.
Jaune choked as he tried beating on the rock fists with no effect. The bandit laughed and brought the knife to stab Jaune in the gut.
Jaune's eyes flashed violet as he grabbed the man's armored hand and vaporized it. The man's eyes widened as he took a step back. Jaune fell to the ground, coughing.
"AHHHHH!"
Jaune looked up and saw a bloody stump where the man's arm was.
"YOU BASTARD!" the man said, running at Jaune with the knife raised, his adrenaline kicking in and numbing his pain.
Jaune's hands fumbled for a weapon and grabbed one of the bandit's pistol knives. As the one-armed bandit brought the knife down, Jaune thrust the blade into the bandit's chest, piercing the last of his aura and burying it deep in his heart.
The bandit looked at him in horror before he stumbled back and dropped his knife. He collapsed, falling on his back.
Jaune sat there with wide eyes, breathing heavily and looking at what he had done. His vision swam as he felt bile rise to his mouth. He ran to the nearest bush and began to vomit his stomach contents.
"I'm a monster…," Jaune said, falling to his knees and clutching his head.
"Jaune!" Isla landed behind him and saw the carnage.
"Isla… I killed him!" Jaune said.
"Jaune…," Isla said, kneeling next to him.
"I killed him. I killed him. I'm a monster," Jaune said, looking at his bloodstained hands.
"Jaune, you're not a monster," Isla said. "You were just defending yourself. And look on the bright side, after you allowed the kid and his mother to escape, I brought them to the town."
Jaune didn't listen, choosing instead to start scratching at his hands to get rid of the blood.
"Jaune, stop," Isla said, grabbing his hands. Her eyes glowed violet before sending calming pulses of energy into his body.
Jaune looked at her with guilt and remorse filling his eyes.
"Jaune, you were defending yourself. There was nothing else you could've done to stop him from killing you other than taking his life," Isla said.
"You're not a monster," she reassured him.
Jaune shook his head, the bandit's dying expression etched into his brain.
Isla looked at him sadly before hugging him tightly. Jaune couldn't hold it in and began crying into her chest.
"This is the sad reality of the path you took," Isla said, as she rubbed soothing circles on his back. "You'll be forced to take lives in order to protect people."
"Isn't there another way?" Jaune asked.
"I'm afraid not…," Isla said, pulling out. "You took this path. You'll have to be prepared to take more lives in order to keep people safe. From what I have observed, being a Huntsman is not just about slaying Grimm… but slaying people as well."
"I just… I just wish there was another way," Jaune said, wiping his eyes.
"I'm sorry Jaune but there isn't," Isla said.
"How do I get over this?" Jaune asked.
"I don't know," Isla said. "I don't think of death in the same way as you do. Or at least as you do now but… perhaps your friend, Maria, can help you."
Jaune nodded as he sat, keeping his knees pressed against his chest. Isla sat next to him, watching him.
"Isla," Jaune said. "Why did you ask me about what I thought of my friends?"
"Because of what's to come for you. And for Remnant," Isla said.
Alright, so the first question you all might have is why? Why did I have Jaune know Israfil's identity early on? Israfil was created in this story for the sole purpose of being Jaune's guide when it comes to his powers. You can already tell that she knows more than she lets on about what Jaune can really do. She won't be joining Jaune, Maria, and Mae but she will be popping in and out of his dreams to continue to help him grow. Now, what was Israfil's warning? What is in store for Remnant! Find out next time on D'Arc Is Not Evil!
Anyone figure out why the story is called that? Also, have a pleasant quarantine. Remember to stay inside!