(A/N Sup nerds)
"… wow I should've made a torch" Jaune scratched his cheek as he gazed into inky blackness "I am inside a mountain after all… no windows here" Jaune cautiously closed the door and began to find either a very long stick, oil, and some kindling and rope to make a torch… or just find one immediately on a place holder in one of the halls... "Guess I can cross 'treasure hunter' as a potential fall back if being a hunter falls through"
After a finding some kindling to start a small fire, he lit the torch and held it on his shield arm, he once more slowly pushed the doors open now being able to at least see what was in front of him. A large open room with pillars along the sides with some broken or have massive cracks on them.
And at the center a throne of sorts, raised above the ground with steps leading to it, Jaune saw some sort of tattered linin cloth on it and approached. Only when he was a few feet in front of the throne did he realize it was a skeleton.
"May lady Yvanna guide you" Jaune gave a small prayer and was about to turn away, when he noticed the skeleton clutching a book… he debated whether or not to take a peek and have some understanding of what this place is but he doubted he could understand what the language is.
But he felt a pull, like a moth to a flame, 'please forgive me, I'm not a grave robber I promise' he deliberated for a few more seconds before taking a deep sigh. He approached the skeleton and gently lifted the skeletal hand and took the book.
It was bound in cobalt blue colored leather and stitched with gold threads, on the cover is a familiar double crescent but white. He slowly opened the book and saw the first page "Tome of the gallant lady Morgana, sister to the king, and arch-sorceress… wait sorceress? As in, those people that cast spells?"
"Yes, I am a fine magic caster if I say so myself"
"Cool! Wait how did I understand- "Jaune froze he slowly turned to his right and saw a transparent visage of a beautiful blond haired white eyed woman wearing a purple robe and a pointy hat.
"…"
"…"
"Well as the book says I am-"
"GHOST!" Jaune wailed, his screech was so high pitch that people would have mistaken him for the typical damsel.
Jaune quickly set the book down on the ground and knelt until his forehead touched the ground "Please oh merciful spirit, have mercy on my soul! I did not intend to wake you from your ageless slumber please I shall return the book from where it was taken so you may rest once more!"
The ghost continued to watch Jaune grovel and plead at a perceived insult, she just chuckles at the youth. After a considerable amount of time, she asked "I'm not a shade little one, I am a spirit yes but not a malefic one" Jaune looked up and the spirit can see the runny nose and tears pouring down his face.
The spirit visible shivered at the look Jaune was giving, it was like a dog left out in the rain shivering "Now, now! It's alright I forgive you! Please stop crying, in fact, I want to thank you! I've been sealed in my book for so long I was starting to go insane"
Jaune sniffed and look at her "R-really?"
'Dear lady Yvanna! How can a man look so pitiful!' the spirit can only think
"Y-yes little one, you saved me from my prison for that you are my hero"
Jaune visible brighten and looked happy he could help "Y-your welcome! Um- c-can I ask who you are again? M-my names Jaune by the way"
The spirit chuckled 'he's so much like big brother, show him he helped and his all smiles' "Well, Jaune, like the book said, my names Morgana"
It took a few seconds for Jaune to realize what she meant and was shocked and pointed at the book still on the ground "You mean that-"
"Yes"
"That you are- "
"Yes"
"But how?"
"Magic"
Jaune looked at her and was about to call bullshit but then he remembered the sword, the Pegasi and, oh right, he was talking to a damn spectral image of a beautiful woman that looks scarily like one of his siters, and being the goof that he is.
"You look too similar to one of my elder sisters"
Morgana looked confused "I'm not one of your sisters, but then again…" Morgana floated nearer as she eyed Jaune.
"Hmm… the face is a bit chubby, but the eyes…"
Jaune tilted his head back a bit awkwardly looking at Morgana, "umm…"
Morgana then backed off, seemingly finding what she was looking for, "Well then, Jaune… can I ask how you managed to get into this place? I'm sure what remains of the barrier is still intact" she mumbled the last part.
"Oh… well, there was this Grimm festival and I got separated from my team" Morgana tilted her head in confusion, then she yelled.
"You have festivals dedicated to Grimm?! What the fuck happened after I was sealed!"
Jaune seeing the frantic and downright menacing look Morgana was giving him he quickly added context "No, no! I mean its what we call when Grimm migrate!"
Morgana looked at him in in suspicion and after a tense few seconds she sighed "You could have just said that from the beginning, I was sealed in the book for a very long time it's not like I would know that people would call a Grimm migration a damn festival"
Jaune chuckled nervously rubbing his neck "yeah… sorry about that…"
"it's alright, it's alright, so what happened next?"
"Well, we were in a fort when that happened, tens of thousands of Grimm were making their way to us and a call for evacuation was announced as there was just too many. But transportation wasn't going to arrive until much later, but we didn't have the much time so the captain of the fort and a dozen or so others volunteered to hold the Grimm off, but that wasn't enough so I convinced one of the people there to cause an avalanche- "
"Hold up, you caused an avalanche so you guys have a chance to survive?" Jaune nodded "Dang kid, that takes a lot of luck to survive"
Jaune rubbed his head sheepishly
"Go on then Jaune"
"Well, the avalanche came, nearly buried me in a couple feet of snow but thanks to that we bought enough time for rescue to arrive and get us all out of there…"
"But?" Morgana urged
"Well, once we got in the transport a rouge Grimm tore through it and was about to drag one of my… peers, with it, but I pushed her away and I and the Grimm fell, when I got up the Grimm that dragged me was there as well, injured but ready to maul my face, I have no weapon and no one to help…"
Jaune clenched his fist
"So, I ran, I ran until I felt my lungs burn and my legs creak like an old chair, I manage to find a cave and that's where I found this place, I went deeper in the cave"
Morgana nodded and through the whole story Morgana picked up a few things "You're frustrated I take it? running away I mean" 'is he one of those 'Running is a coward's tactic' type?' Morgana thought
Jaune shook his head "No, its not that, I know it was the right move, I have no weapon, my aura was broken and I didn't even know what my semblance is." Jaune grit hie teeth "I'm frustrated because I most certainly caused someone I care about to cry, she's just like that, caring for a failure like me"
Jaune closed his eyes "She was one of the few people that trusted me, have my back and saw my potential, not even my own family thought I would make a good hunter, then again I don't blame them" Jaune gave a hallow laugh.
"I was born weak, and that's not just a figure of speech, I was literally born with a weak constitution. Mom was ill when she had me and my twin, doctor even said the chances of us dying was high, but when the day we were born came only I was knocking on deaths door" Tears ran down Jaunes faces as he let out the pent-up emotions he was bottling up since the day he ran away from home.
"They tried their damnest to save me, but Dad said I died 10 minutes after my first breath, I was a corpse for 2 hours. Then a miracle happened, my heart started to beat, Dad and the doctors where so flabbergasted they didn't know what to do or if what they were seeing was real, I was pronounced dead for two hours after all" This time Jaune laughed genuinely
"Da-Dad even said I had to cry at them to get their asses moving. I died but I survived, and my parents and older siblings thanked Lady Yvanna for her miracle, and then came 14 years of being treated like glass, I can't go to school, I can't even step foot outside of the house, I had no friends and the only things I could do was video games, reading and occasionally helping mom with cooking and cleaning. I was a cannery with a clipped wing unable to fly and stuck in a gilded cage for most of my life"
Jaune sat down his emotions thinning out and he started to calm down "It was only when I was 15, I started to get better, I could move more, do more, and my family was ecstatic I was getting better. I was happy, but when my dad asked me what I want to do once my body fully recovered and I said I wanted to be a hunter…"
Jaune shivered at the memory
"I have never seen dad so angry, so… infuriated in my life, I never brought it up again after that. I tried to do something else, I tried to pursue something other than being a huntsman… but every time I felt… hollow. Like being a huntsman was the only path I could take. 6 months before the entrance exam of the huntsmen school I wanted to attend I started to train, I had no one to guide me, no one I could turn to for tips. I only had the movements and the daily practice my dad and two of my elder sister's do as upkeep so their body and skills doesn't wane."
Jaune pulled his legs close to his chest
"I went to beacon, passed initiation, became a leader for my team, met and became friends with wonderful and quirky people, I felt like I was finally content, that I was well and truly happy" Jaune laughed bitterly "But faith just doesn't like me being happy I suppose, in a span of a week, the people I called friends and teammates turned on me, my peers saw me as a waste of space and that there were other people more deserving of my spot in beacon. That, because I forged my transcripts and got in, I robbed someone of their spot"
Jaune buried his head in between his knees "And they were right, I guess, you can't expect someone that was sickly almost all the time, have 6 months of training, doesn't have Aura unlocked during initiation and have a relic for a weapon do well."
Jaune then looked up and met Morgana's eyes
"But even though I was like that, even though I was scorned, I never really felt like was alone, Ruby, team CYFV, and the teachers in beacon had my back. Its because of them I have the will to power to walk through the halls of Beacon and not let the jeers and insults tie me down-
-So, I am frustrated, frustrated by my lack of skill, the gap between me and the rest of my peers, I want to get stronger so I can give back the trust they have for me, the potential they saw, one I am still blind to see, I want to have the power to protect the people I care about, and, a small part of me also wants to stick it to the idiots and hypocrites that kept saying I should quit my dream"
There was silence before Morgana clapped, her smile was wide and here silver eyes shone like the full moon "Marvelous, truly marvelous! the strength of your will, of your soul! Its nearly as strong as my brother! You faced what the world throws at you and you threw it back! They may have struck and chipped at you but never have they broken you!"
Morgana then floated higher in the air, fire suddenly appeared on the torches as if brought to life, the splendor of the throne room was laid bare for Jaune to see. "Jaune Arc, do you want to get stronger? Do you want to have the power to protect the people you hold dear?" Morgana smirked at the wide-eyed boy "Do you want to have the power to stick it to the people who said you can't?" the book near Jaune started to stir.
Jaune was frozen in place as he looked at the visage of the woman, she looked more physical, he could see her skin becoming more and more tangible, the air around her was like a tornado and her, the eye, then he processed what she said.
Images of him being beat down during spars, Cardin laughing at him along with the rest of his peers, even his team laughed, all but one, her silver eyes looked at him in concern, her gaze held kindness and a promise to help him, not out of pity but because they were friends and friends helped each other. Those pure silver eyes looked at him not in scorn nor malice but genuine care.
He wanted to protect that look, those eyes, he wanted to prove to her, to prove that her trust in him is correct that he was strong, and above all to prove it to himself.
that he can stand by her side
Jaune looked at Morgana, his eyes blazed with determination, the embers becoming a roaring inferno that cannot be quenched "I accept, help me become strong, help me achieve my dream, to protect and bring people hope"
Morgana's grin was predatory as she floated down to Jaune's level and held her hand for him to shake her moon-colored eyes shone white like flames of a fireplace "then shake my hand Jaune Arc, descendant of my elder brother the 25th King of Camlann, accept and I shall show you,
your inheritance"
Jaune didn't hesitate and shook Morgana's hand
A light that was once snuffed out radiated once more, its luster and luminesce spread throughout the planet. The light that Yvanna gifted to the line of Arduin, and passed down to the line of Arc's was unlocked. In forgotten bastions and vaults, relics stirred, singing as their master and owner are once more amongst the common folk.
And just as suddenly the light died, the relics became quiet once more.
And yet all felt it
most would shrug it off and continue with their day, but to some, the true players of the world felt it and was stunned.
(…)
In the highest tower in the kingdom of Vale, a white-haired man stared at his scroll, face contorted in regret of his own failure "forgive me old friend, I failed in protecting one of your descendants" he said in a quiet office, his only company are the ticking of clocks.
Then he felt it, a feeling that he has long thought has vanished in the world
Magic
And a massive amount of it "What- how is this possible!?" He stood up.
Soon the doors were opened quickly as a woman with blond hair speed through "Ozpin what is it!?"
Ozpin looked at her "Glynda, call for them"
Glynda looked confused "'Them' sir?"
"The headmasters and mistresses of each of the hunter academies, Qrow, and every person that knows about her" Ozpin's face was hard and unwavering "I'll personally find Raven and forcefully make her attend this little gathering of ours" he turned and walked out of the office
Glynda looked stunned at the face Ozpin was making, far from the aloof and calm demeanor she has come to associate with him. She watched him leave and was at a lost on what to do, it was just too sudden 'what the fuck?' was her only thought
(…)
In a dark tower surrounded by pools of black ooze in a realm non dare tread, sat on a simple stone throne Salem opened her dark eyes, a sneer made its way to her face "WATTS! CALL BACK EVERYONE!" she roared as the tower shook and a wave of malice radiated outwards.
The Grimm all around the world felt their mistress's anger and howled.
scaring the shit out of everyone
from the smallest of settlements to the floating city of Atlas itself the wails of Grimm were heard, it caused unrest and fear among the populace of remnant, already people and hunters prepared for what they thought was a Grimm invasion, but weeks passed then months, and nothing happened.
(…)
In an island, populated entirely by faunus, underneath its mountain something awoke, its reptilian blue and gold eye peered across a dark cavern. It gave a huff and closed its eye once more, seemingly waiting.
(…)
Back with Jaune he opened his eyes and saw the woman in front of him, she was tangible as he can feel the warmth of her hand, the softness. But he also felt something else, something that was unlocked in the depths of his soul.
"Wha- What was that?!" Jaune cried out letting go of Morgana's hand
"That Jaune, was me reawakening your dragon core, the gift that Lady Yvanna gave to our line to combat the idiocy the brother gods unleashed onto the world. It is how we can perform magic and the reason why Arduin and now the Arc's have such monstrous Aura reserves, we have the soul of a dragon"
Jaune was dumbfounded at the reasoning and did what he could, he accepted and went about to ask another question.
"Wait you called me Arc, but I never told you my surname"
Morgana rubbed the back of her head a bit, an action familiar to Jaune, and the Arcs in general "Sorry about that, you see I had to make sure you're not some thief that somehow got into the sanctuary, so I used a bit of suggestion magic so I can get you talking, but…"
Jaune sighed "You got more than you asked for"
Morgana chuckled nervously "Yeah… that was a bit much to be honest, I just wanted to know your true intentions here not get your sad as heck story"
"Its… alright- wait, what did you mean by 'descendant of my elder brother the 25th King of Camlann'?"
"It means what it means, your one of elder brother and by extension my, descendants"
"…"
"…"
"Do I call you grandma?"
*whack*
Jaune was then punted across the room hitting the skeleton and breaking the throne
"DON'T YOU DARE YOUNG MAN! I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE CALLED A GRANDMA! DO YOU NOT SEE MY CURVES?!"
Jaune groaningly got up and yelled as he was looking at a skull, its hollow eyes gazing at him, he got up and saw the throne and bones broken, he then pointed at Morgana "YOU BROKE THE THRONE! AND YOUR OWN BONES!"
That seemed to get Morgana out of her feminine rage as she looked at Jaune and the throne in horror "OH NO! WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
"ME?! WOMAN YOU PUNCHED ME!"
"THEN DON'T CALL A FAIR MAIDEN A GRANDMA!"
"MAIDEN?! MORE LIKE A BRAWLER!"
The two continued to bicker for a few more minutes… are all Arcs this goofy?
After the… shenanigans… of ancestor and descendant they came to a library of sorts, years of non-use seem not to bother this part of the castle, the bookshelves and the books themselves still looked to be in pristine condition.
Jaune walked up to one of the books and took it reads "The bestiary of the world's creatures by Newt Scamander [1]" Jaune flipped to a new page showcasing a menagerie of artistic drawings of beast and creatures he has never seen before.
"Ohh, that's a classic, one of the most popular books during my time, old Newt may be a bit eccentric but he sure knows his stuff" Morgana came up to him holding or in this case floating a few books around her.
"Do these things really exist?"
Morgana gave a sad smile "They did, once upon a time ago… now there are few of them remaining, this place is one of the few places they can thrive"
Jaune was hesitant to asked but he wanted to know more about his family, suddenly being told he is a descendant of a king and that his Family dates back a lot longer then 200 years ago was a curve ball he didn't expect to find when he got out of that cave.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Morgana nodded "that's why we are here, this isn't an ordinary library" Morgana then waved her hand as sparks of purple Aura flew in all directions. The ground beneath Jaune suddenly broke and reformed, they were in the sky over looking the castle, but it looked more pristine, well kept and most of all there were people milling about.
"I may have been sealed in the book, but I can still perceived time passing, I wasn't kidding when I told you I might have gone insane, I was stuck in my own tome for nearly 10,000 years" Morgana said
Jaune took in a breath at that, 'how can someone remain as sane as she is for 10,000 years?!'
"This is the time before my own actually, the library has the history of all of Camlann, from the 1st king to my elder brother the 25th. The scene you are seeing is the rule of the 19th king of Camlann, King Arthur, Lumen the castle we are currently seeing and the one you are right now, isn't actually the capital, that place is on an island, but back to the story"
The scene changed and they were back in the throne room, with multiple people milling and conversing about something, on the throne was a Feminine looking man with blond hair done in a bun, green emerald eyes wearing shining armor with an old styled dress, made from old-fashioned blue cloth, underneath, on his head is a golden crown with eighth golden spikes pointing upwards. [2]
On his side was a man with red, wind-swept hair wearing black body armor which consisted of a black tight and sleeveless shirt with silver accents that it was tight so one can see the lean but muscular body, he also had a red coat, which were actually two separate sleeves connected by a metal plate at the back which covered his arms and was cut off showing his upper torso and midriff, and had a separate red open skirt which ended above his shins with the top fashioned and tied with a knot, covered by a silver metal plate. [3]
"Jaune those two right there are King Arthur 'Pendragon' Arduin and his most trusted right hand Shiro 'Archer' Emiya, the two of them are one of the most powerful figures in our kingdom's history" Morgana was then adorned with a deep red blush.
"Aunt Morg, what is it?" Jaune asked the two agreed at calling each other aunt and nephew
"To most of the common folk of the kingdom Arthur is King, and Shiro is his second" Morgana reiterated
Jaune nodded "Yeah you already said that"
Morgana then coughed "Yes that is the story everyone knows… but to close relatives the two are Queen Arturia and her husband Shiro Emiya…"
Jaune was silent as he looked at Morgana, then back to Shiro and sabe- (A/N *Ehem*) Arturia then back to Morgana "Your serious… how? why? Why, hide the fact?"
Morgana then had a dreamy look "Oh it was so romantic! Arturia was born in a time when women weren't looked favorably in positions of leadership, but king Uther, the 18th king died and left his only heir Arturia, the arch-mage Merlin, foreseeing a calamity and the world needing Arturia took her and gave her to be fostered by a group of knights loyal to king Uther while he was left as regent-
-Arturia spent most of her childhood in a village squiring for her adoptive brother sir Kay, she dedicated herself to the art of swordsmanship and horse riding, as she was told of her role and was given ample time and training to fulfil them. She was supposed to be the perfect king, the staunched and just king, but a lonely one."
Morgana then smiled dreamily "That is until one day when she was out in a field she came across her destined love, Shiro Emiya, he was laying on a field sleeping when Arturia poke him with her wooden sword, the rest as they say was history. They became close, Shiro being one of the first to pledge his loyalty to Arturia, then later his love-
-Shiro gave Arturia the last thing she needed to be a great king, heart, Shiro became Arturia's heart and thus showed her how to treat her subjects, there were bumps in the road for the two, but it only reforged their bond ever stronger"
"Woah…" Jaune said
Morgana nodded "yeah, it was so romantic! I should give you the full 4 books on their story inside one of the vaults, you'll love it!"
Jaune chuckled at the enthusiasm of his aunt "Sure, sure maybe later Aunt Morg"
Morgana agreed and went back viewing alongside Jaune.
"My people!" Arturia voiced, causing the chatter in the room to become silent "It has come to our attention that the Shunem Dynasty, Owahan Kingdom, Amenem Empire, Covia Kingdom, Criggogary Kingdom, Okhittapis Dynasty, Vrucekya Empire, Phofosian Empire and the Ukaeggugary Kingdom has started to mobilize their armies-
But it is not in preparation for a large-scale war… it is something just if not graver… these Kingdoms, Dynasties and Empires have come together and formed a great alliance"
People in the throne room started to converse loudly
"This is a travesty!"
"We must do the same! This alliance will shift the power balance of the world!"
"Has our military been mobilized?"
"We must gather our vassals!"
"My king what shall we do?"
"SILENCE" a wave of blue Aura drowned out the voices of the nobles and officials in the room. All looked to Shiro, his Aura coming off him in waves, his steel gray eyes locked on to every person in the room "Let the king speak, before you start to scheme" he said coldly
None of the gathered people voiced their objection, this is 'Archer' the greatest warrior in the kingdom all knew of his exploits, and none wish for it to be repeated anywhere near them.
Arturia nodded at Shiro "Now that I have you attention, as I said these nations has come together to form the largest allied force in history, but they are not pointing their swords, bows and staffs on other nations, nay, their enemies are their patrons…
They wish to make war with the gods"
Silence reign once more, none dared to make a sound, such pretentiousness to wage war with the gods… the nobles and officials of Camlann may be corrupt, but even they can see this can only lead to the destruction of the offending nations.
And the death of millions
"M-My King, S-surely the report rang false, after all, to fight the gods are to fight disasters on par with elder dragons! No nations could be dumb enough to actively pursue conflict!" one of the nobles argued, he was soon joined by other nobles and officials.
Arturia held her hand up to silence the nobles once more "I understand your concern lord Mandalos, but the reports are the truth, I am afraid that a disaster is looming over Camlann, one that I intend to be ready for"
Arturia stood from her throne "I give a royal decree! Strengthen the frontier, gather as much talent and skilled warriors, mages, scholars, farmers, craftsmen, inventors, anyone that shows promise and help them as much as you all can, dark times are looming over us, I fear I may even have to seal the Capital"
Once more people became noisy, but one voiced stood out, a noble, but one of the minor ones, he asked one question that silenced the entire hall. "Who is leading this alliance my king?"
Arturia gave their identity, one that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the hall "The one leading the alliance is the daughter of the great house of mages, house Melkor[4], her name is known throughout the land, the mad bride…
Salem Melkor"
The scene then shifted and Jaune and Morgana are back in the library, Jaune was silent as he digested what he saw, what he learned "W-what happened next?" Jaune asked Morgana.
But she shook her head "Maybe some other time" She then placed the books she was floating on a conjured table "you said you want to become strong, well start by reading these books, and don't slack off, I still have to repair and refurbish this old castle back to what it once was… and believe me despite my power the time to fix every nook and cranny of this place will take a while… so remember our promise"
Jaune nodded "I do"
(…)
Flashback
"No"
"What!? Why! I already feel powerful, you already gave me the power I want to protect the people I care about!" Jaune argued, irritated at what Morgana said.
"It's still a no Jaune, I may have reawakened your dragon core but you still have no idea how to use it" Morgana relied
"Then you can come with me!" Morgana shook her head
"Sorry Jaune, but now that I am free, I need to do my duty and watch over Lumen, do you not see the dust bunnies here? I can hide in one of the piles! Like you Jaune I have a duty, a purpose, and that purpose is see Lumen, the Bastion of Camlann fixed and ready to use"
Jaune looked at Her
Morgana sighed "Ok how about this, once I'm done fixing Lumen, I give you permission of leave, but during that time you train, you practice and you learn. Having the power and actually knowing how to use it are two completely different things"
"… Can I at least send out a message to my love ones that I'm alive?"
Morgana looked conflicted "You can't… sorry Jaune" Before Jaune could yell again Morgana lifted her hand to let her continue "I'm not doing all this out of malice Jaune, but because of what unlocking your Core entails"
Seeing the questioning look Morgana continued "you see Jaune, having magic return in such a bombastic way like reawakening catches the eyes of people, most are harmless, but some aren't, and because of that she will be on the lookout for abnormalities, and the only reason she hasn't laid sieged on Lumen again is because of the barrier surrounding the sanctuary. It blocks magic, and hides this place from everyone"
"So, if I go out, I'd be hunted down?"
Morgana nodded "I know this isn't ideal, and that having the people you love think your dead is gut-wrenching but, if you train hard enough you can mask your magic so you can leave this place, and maybe, grow stronger once you step out of here"
It took Jaune a few minutes to decide, but he gave her his answer "I want you to train me, help me like you said" Morgana just smiled and nodded
"don't forget to promise Jaune~" She voiced
"Yes, I give you my word, and an arc never goes back on his word"
End of flashback
(…)
Jaune laid on a simple wool bed, he looked at the grey ceiling, the cool breeze of the night making his room chilly but not uncomfortable. He reached out with his hand and spoke "Soon, guys, I'll be with you all as soon as I can, just wait a bit longer…" his eyes started to grow heavy, before it closed and his breathing became even. But just before he fully closed his eyes, he let out one last word "…Ruby"
(…)
In a hotel in a town few miles outside of the city of Vale, laid a girl, her eyes red and puffy, from crying. Her silver eyes gazed at the shattered moon right outside her window, she felt cold, lonely, and most of all her heart is hurting. Just two days ago, someone important to her was lost, she didn't think he was dead, dead means his gone forever.
There was a knock on her door "Ruby?" again there was a knock on the door "Come on sis, you need to eat, I have cookies and milk for you, warm, and fresh just you like it"
Ruby didn't answer, there was a sigh at the other side and the placing of a plate on the floor "I left them outside, you need to eat ruby…"
Shuffling on the other side started to grow quiet until the footsteps were silenced.
It took a few more minutes before Ruby got up and started to walk to the door and got her plate of cookies and a glass of milk, they weren't warm anymore.
She silently ate, she ate and ate until her tears returned anew, dropping on the cookies like rainfall.
"…Why? Why him, he only wanted to do good, he only wanted to help, to protect people… so why was he the one that had to suffer? Why did it have to be Jaune…" Ruby sniffed and her plate of cookies was long forgotten on the floor "It's not fair…"
Memories of her time with him resurfaced
Flashback
"Hey Jaune! Can you help me with strategy class again? Professor Lelouch [5] said I needed more 'variety' in my tactics, but I can't understand what he meant" Ruby rose walked up to Jaune, her ever present smile mirrored by Jaune.
"Well rubes, Professor Lelouch meant for example that in a team you need to mix and match not only your teammates but also your weapons to throw off your opponents" Ruby looked at Jaune scandalized
"NO! Crescent rose is mine!" Ruby unfurled her weapon and hugged it like her child "I won't let yang get her hands all over them! Never!"
Jaune chuckled "It's only an example rubes, what you essentially kept saying in your assignments is 'ran up at them full speed and hope your team can follow up' that isn't a good strategy to fall on constantly you guys rely on your individual strengths a bit too much, sure being strong individually is good, but as huntsmen and huntresses we are usually paired up in teams"
Ruby nodded at the explanation and Jaune continued as they stared to walk.
"Now I'll give you a scenario and I want you to give me your honest plan, you and your team are assigned to infiltrate a white fang hold out, they have guns, a lot of guns and about 4 people with their auras unlocked, my question is… how do you go about completing the mission?"
Ruby took her time to come up with an answer "well first off you didn't tell me how many white fang there are, only the people with their aura unlocked, so I'll have Blake infiltrate first, as she was the most stealthy out of us. After that once we have their numbers, I'll have yang go through first because she can tank the most hit out of all of us, then Weiss will be our support and me and Blake will run interference"
Jaune nodded then asked "what about the four with Aura?"
Ruby went silent and then continued "Weiss can use her semblance to distract and buy me and Blake some more time to knock out the rest of the non-aura powered grunts, then the four of us can take them on" Ruby looked at Jaune, nervously
Jaune waited for a few seconds before replying "It isn't a terrible plan, Blake can certainly do her part of the plan, and Yang being the team tank soaking up damage and dealing it back twice as hard is a good way to divert attention, and with Weiss's glyphs acting as support tools I can see you and Blake taking out the grunts before the 4 Aura awakened back up arrives" Ruby smiled at the compliment then Jaune held up his hand
"But it was standard, text book even. What I would have done was have Blake cut the power" Ruby looked at Jaune confused.
"Wait, aren't faunus good in the dark? Like they can see better then us, if you do that then Blake is the only one that can see properly, you'd be eliminating the combat prowess of three of us" at that Jaune nodded so Ruby asked again "so why cut the power?"
At this Jaune gave a smile "true no lights mean nothing to a faunus, but here's the deal, they still have to adjust to the sudden darkness, and Weiss can create powerful flares with her semblance mixed with dust, once I let the faunus adjust I would then break in and have Weiss flare her semblance, a flashbang that would temporary blind all surrounding faunus, and with Weiss providing light and Blake not having to adjust too much the grunts are far easier to knockout"
"And because were practically fresh and have almost no chip in our aura then the four fang members with aura are a lot easier to handle!" Ruby finished looking at jaune in awe "That's awesome! I never would have thought of using the faunus's weakness against them!"
Jaune chuckled "Most wouldn't, after all we have a general in the past stupid enough to attack an army of faunus at night, and because of that one simple mistake a cult surrounding fightin a faunus in the dark becomes near impossible for humans to do, so I'd use that against them"
"Woah! Your really good in planning Jaune" Jaune blushed at the praise and started to rub the back of his head.
"Heh, thanks ruby"
They arrived in the library, finding somewhere to sit the duo continued to discuss about their assignment for the leader only class.
"Hey Jaune, can I ask you a question?"
"You already did"
Ruby puffed her cheek and said "Please don't joke like that, bad jokes are Yang's thing"
Jaune chuckled "Sorry, sorry, I just can't resist, so about the question?"
"Well… how are you so good in strategy? I mean, I saw your grades in class, its higher than most of your other classes, especially combat"
Jaune cringed but answered "I… wasn't always this healthy ruby, when I was a kid, I was sickly, I can't even go outside to play like most kids"
Ruby looked in horror "That's terrible! I can't imagine not being able to go to a gun's store"
Jaune nodded "Yeah, it was the worst, I can't strain my body to much or else I get sick, so I passed the time playing games, it was mostly strategy, like chess and remnant: the game" Jaune then chuckled at a memory.
"What is it?" Ruby asked
"Well… I became so good at Chess and Remnant: the game that the family collectively agreed to not play against me. Ever" Ruby chuckled as that
"So that's why your so good, you have years of practice! So, what happened after? You clearly became better cause you're here" Jaune winced this time Ruby caught it "Jaune?"
Jaune looked at Ruby, her silver eyes looking at him in concert, he opened and closed his mouth, seemingly debating telling Ruby about something.
"Ruby… can you keep a secret?" With a nodded Jaune told Ruby everything
The library became silent, well more silent then usual, it was nearing curfew so there wasn't anyone in the library at the moment, only two leaders, two friends, one spilling his secrets and the other listening quietly.
"Do… Do you hate me?" when Ruby didn't reply Jaune sighed and was about to get up and go wallow in his bed for potentially ruining his friendship with Ruby.
But he was pulled down and he felt a pair of delicate arms wrapped around his neck, soft hair tickling his nose, it smelled like freshly picked rosses and baked cookies. The warmth of another's body pressed up against his caused his face to heat up like an oven, his ears turning red. Jaune was speechless, before he heard her voice, sweet and understanding whispering in his ear.
"It's ok, I understand, I know what it's like to be told I can't"
Jaune felt something bubble in his chest, he wrapped his own arms around Ruby's small waist, pressing her deeper in his chest. This caused the young reaper to blushed as red as her name's sake, but the silent shudder and whimper made her forget.
Flashback end
Ruby looked out, the shattered moon mirroring her own heart, a question she never got to ask her best friend 'would you have said yes?' she wondered. As she laid once more on her bed, and slept, drowning in memories of her and Jaune
(…)
"Wake up slacker!"
"AHH!"
*Thump*
Jaune fell on his bed, startled by the loud sound, he looked up balefully at the perpetrator, instead of robes he saw her wear yesterday, Morgana wore a blue dress that showed off her bosom and her legs delectably, those long lean legs and perked up breast would have driven any sane man to a lustful stupor.
But Jaune Arc was anything but lustful, he was more annoyed at being woken up so loudly "What the heck aunt morg!"
Morgana rolled her eyes "Stop complaining, you blond noddle, you have a long day ahead of you, go to the throne room after you freshen up, I managed to fix the castle's plumbing yesterday, no way in hell I wouldn't get my warm soak after ten millennia"
With that she left, leaving a disgruntled teen in her wake "wait there was plumbing 10,000 years ago?"
True enough Jaune found a fully functioning bathroom, complete with a toilet "What the fuck?"
After a few minutes taking a shower and getting clothed, he wore a linen shirt and some brown pants nothing too fancy, and made his way to the throne room. Once he opened the door the place was completely different from the last time he was there, it looked more like the throne room in their viewing yesterday.
"Good morning my dearest Nephew!"
"I'm your only Nephew"
"Wrong! Your dad is also my nephew"
Jaune was about to retort but stopped 'huh, she's right' shaking his thoughts away he asked "So what's the agenda for today Aunt Morg?"
Morgana smiled "Well, today you are going to go out to the forest and practice your Aura manipulation, like magic Aura comes from the soul can you tell me what the difference is?"
Jaune nodded and recalled the book he was reading yesterday "Aura is the manifestation of the soul, while Magic is the Physical and spiritual energy merged together to perform acts in the material world"
Morgana nodded "Having a grasp of your soul, your aura, leads to better control of your magic, and because you have a monstrous amount of both you will need a lot of practice, so take these"
She then tossed Jaune a pair of bracelets "Those are restrictor armbands, they do what it says, they restrict the output of your Aura and magic, letting you control them much easier, once you have a grasp on how to control your Aura, you can remove them and start controlling your full reserves"
Jaune nodded "Thanks Aunt Morg, I already read up on Aura control from one of the books you gave me yesterday" she nodded and Jaune left waving at her as he went.
Now back in the forest Jaune traveled a bit further, munching on some jerky his aunt gave him, looking for a spot with a lot of flowers Jaune saw a good patched and sat Infront of a white rose that hasn't bloomed yet.
Breathing In deep Jaune placed two hands on either side of the flower, closing his eyes he searched that wellspring inside of him, willing it to resurface, his hands glowed white and he opened his eyes. Jaune squinted and noticed nothing was happening, his aura was just sitting on top of his skin, not moving at all.
Jaune breathed in deep once more, and tried to move his aura away from him and into the flower. It was harder than he thought. After 30 more minutes of nothing, he sighed and laid down on the meadow "Guess that's why the book said it takes decades to master, this is so damn hard!" Jaune gazed at the blue sky, how peaceful it is.
Soon every thing that happened to him came rushing back in once more, safe to say he only just got around reorganizing the insanity he got himself into, this entire year was nothing but a series of unexpected occurrence.
Faking his transcripts and actually being accepted, then passing initiation by the skin of his teeth, being assigned as a leader over the champion of Mistral or even his more cool-headed teammate, Nora as a leader is just asking for property damage.
Getting genuine friends, having fun with them, it was just all so surreal to him, then it all came crashing down Jaune sighed and closed his eyes yearning for sleep to take him.
(…)
He was once more viewing the battle, this time he was watching someone, he wore long half red and half black sleeves with red parts that partially cover the top of his hands, a thick red and black ribbon-like belt, black pants with red leaf-like markings and jaggered ends and red sandals with red flower-like bobbles on the top of the straps. [6]
He was weaponless, not because he gave up the defense of the castle, no, quite the opposite. The man struck like a hammer, denting and breaking the thick hides and bone armor of any Grimm that came into striking distance. The man continued to fight, continued to battle hordes upon hordes of Grimm, all cut down with a single strike.
Even when the Grimm broke the walls, flooded the streets, and mauled and ate his comrades, the man never faltered, he kicked, punched, and even headbutted anything that has more black than necessary was eradicated.
He was alone now
Fighting an endless tide of darkness, bloody and near unconscious, one eye closed three claw marks ran through them, one of his arms were even dangling on his side like it was meat on a hook, a thin line of sinew and muscle. Around him lay the bloody corpses, torn out limbs, headless bodies, on poor soul even had his entire lower body ripped in the most painful way imaginable.
And yet the man fought
His eyes held a resolve Jaune has never seen in anyone, part the people he keeps seeing in his dreams, A king, an Archer, and now a martial artist. Brave souls unyielding and unmovable pillars of utter courage against an inexhaustible enemy, how can he compare?
Finally, the man was overwhelmed, but not before standing atop a mountain of Grimm limbs and corpses, he did not scream, he did not beg for mercy, he only smiled as he looked beyond the walls, a searing white light that reached out into the sky. The man gave a soft chuckle, and spoke, in a rasp and strained voice.
"I'm not just a sword"
(…)
Opening his eyes Jaune saw the sun peak, meaning its already afternoon, he sat up and looked at the bud of the rose he wants to bloom. He closed his eyes 'Aura is the manifestation of our Soul; our soul is who we are' Jaune thought of the phrase he read in the library in Lumen.
Jaune breathed in and out, deep and constant, once more a white glow was emitted by his hands, but this time Jaune searched deeper, far deeper into his subconscious, he searched and searched, until he found it, his reason, his wish,
His resolve
The thing he wants more, above all else, to prove he was deserving, to prove he has what it takes, to prove that the trust his real friends gave him was not misplaced. To get stronger, to find out more about his heritage, to finally leave the sanctuary and to be with Ruby again.
The change was instant
Far from the white glow his aura was colored previously, this time it is tinted a shade of yellow, a mosaic of yellow and white, forming and congregating and being funneled into the little flower that has yet to bloom. Jaune opened his eyes and was delighted at the sight, 'Progress!' he thought, but just as soon the light dimed and his white Aura returned, no tint of yellow in sight.
Jaune sighed but the massive grin on his face tells that he was proud of his accomplishment, now he just has to practice… a lot…
"Ugh"
Up in one of the nearly fixed towers of Lumen, Morgana was gazing at a crystal blue ball, a soft smile played across her lips and she shook her head then looked behind her, a pile of books laid sprawl all over the table, there was the books she gave Jaune to read yesterday, and there were some that she didn't.
She looked back at the crystal ball and laughed "What a monster, to do something that would have taken any normal person decades to accomplish he does in an afternoon! Truly, our family is just a group of people you shouldn't use logic on…"
Morgana turned away from the crystal ball and began to walk, she came to a room, one of many in the castle, but this one was a bit special as on a raised alter laid a pelt of an animal, what it is no one knows. "Soon, once he grows stronger you will have a partner" apart from Morgana as she laid her hand on top of it, runes and symbols started to appear on the alter.
She left the room sealing it behind her, she looked to her left a pristine and clean hallway, then to her right a dilapidated cracked and damp hallway, Morgana grumbled and began waving her hands, fixing and restoring the Hallway to what it once was. "I'm not a janitor dang it!" she cried, knowing that she was probably the only high-ranking person to have to do clean up and fixing things when they break.
(…)
"ACHOO!" Glynda Goodwitch sneezed as she was preparing the arrival of the headmasters and mistresses of each of the other 3 academies, she was setting up the table and making sure everything was in order. "Why do I feel elated?" she voiced out loud but shook her head, the council was set to arrive later tonight, she has a lot of work to be done.
(…)
A week, that's how long Jaune has been in the sanctuary, that is how long he has spent reading and practicing his Aura control by trying to make a rose bloom early. It was wake up eat breakfast that miraculously set itself up on the diner table, talk to his aunt about the deeper Arc history. Overall, his week was productive to say the least, already he felt his aura come to him more naturally than before.
It was also stained with a golden color permanently.
But at the back of his head there was this nagging feeling, like something was missing in his routine. And Jaune knew what the missing piece was. So, he went about searching for his aunt in the now semi fixed halls of Lumen, it was still far away from where it was once upon a time, but from what Jaune can tell much to his dismay the castle would be fully fixed in a years' time.
It wasn't a long time but still, a lot of things could happen in a year, are Ruby and the others safe? Was his family, safe? He was racked with guilt knowing Ruby and his family were grieving over his supposed death. His family because well, there his family and Ruby because she was Ruby, sweet and kind Ruby.
Jaune shook his head 'stop, you can think about this once your out of here' he thought as he rounded a corner and saw his aunt fixing another hallway 'how many hallways are there here?!'
"Aunt morg?" he called; his aunt looked up from her work to him.
"Hm? Jaune dear what is it?"
"Well… it's already been a week, I read all the books you gave me"
"Mhmm"
"And I practice my Aura control every afternoon"
"Yes?"
"Well, I kinda want to add swordsmanship and… what was it called? Aura Construction?"
Morgan hummed at the request "Well, I don't see why not, manifest your Aura for me"
Jaune did what he was told and under a second his hand was glowing white-yellow, Morgana looked pleased at the sight "Good, you have enough control to start Aura construction" Morgana dismissed the numerous floating chunks around her "Good thing I fixed the training field first, come on, I'll teach you"
A few minutes later they were on an open room with tiled floor and four massive pillars at the center "Ok Jaune I want you to try doing this" Morgana opened her palm and her Aura began to push out, it was slow probably to let Jaune see better on what she was doing.
The Aura in her palm twisted and turned, like clay her Aura began to form a long sword, simple in look but pumped with power, Jaune looked in awe at the sight "This… is the most basic form of Aura construction there is, making tools the likeness of any blacksmith can forge from axes to swords"
She then dismissed the sword "Jaune I want you to have perfect knowledge on what you are trying to construct with your aura, that was the reason I had you read book, upon book with the most detailed descriptions I can find. There are two key things in making a perfect aura construct, one is aura manipulation, having a mastery on how your aura flows from one end of your body to the other will make the actual construction of the process much easier. The second is imagination, your creativity is the limit, anything you can think off, can be manifested by your aura"
She held her hand up to stop Jaune from geeking out "I'm not finished, like I said you need to have a clear image on what you want, to the tenth of an inch clear, to truly bring out a construct, its why so few get far in this skill, the human brain can only handle so much details before it is forgotten, and the time it takes to think of a new one in an active battle is too long for any one to do, they would rather pick up a sharp rock"
Jaune gulp, it sounded complicated "So, first step is making a circle"
Jaune looked at Morgana like she grew a second head "huh?"
Morgana rolled her eyes "like making a drawing Jaune, you simplify what you want to draw then add the details after"
"ohh, ok, so were training my imagination?"
Morgana nodded "In a sense, it's more like visualization but in essence your right"
"Cool…"
"Now sit and meditate, and don't stand up until you have at least the form of a circle, ok?"
Jaune began to do just that, willing his aura to surface, he started to try and form it into a sphere, but he found it hard to do so. Minutes pass, then hours, but there was no improvement, only that his aura was flowing out of him but not forming.
"Gah! Dang it, ok Jaune just calm down, clear your head and think then form…" he tried again but was stopped when Morgana flicked his forehead.
"Ow, what was tat for?"
"You were overthinking it Jaune, what is aura?"
Jaune looked confused but answered "Aura is the manifestation of our souls; it is us in the truest sense"
"So why the heck are you forcing your aura? it's you, so why force yourself?"
Jaune opened his mouth to say something but shut it, he mulled over the words his aunt said and smacked his forehead with his hands. 'I still have a long way to go' he took a deep breath and began to practice again, but this time he was more in tune, more relaxed, he directed not forced his aura to act the way he wants.
Soon above his hand formed a small but perfect sphere of golden-white light He opened his eyes and grinned at Morgana though because of that he lost focus and the sphere dissipated into the air.
Jaune groaned but Morgana smiled "Nice, you managed to form your first construct, now we have to focus on retention and concentration"
Jaune beamed at the praise as Morgana spent the remainder of the day training him to form a simple sword
(…)
In his office Ozpin sighed, stress of the week was finally catching up to him, he looked outside seeing at the returning huntsmen and huntresses both professionals and students to vale and beacon respectably.
They all just finished wiping out the Grimm festival and due to that another festival was delayed the Vytal festival. It was actually delayed by a number of factors; one was Ozpin and what he reviled to his inner circle.
Flashback
In a room used for important discussions concerning all of remnant, Ozpin and his circle sat, the atmosphere of the room is tense and suffocating. These people here, in this room are some of the most powerful and influential people in remnant, the headmasters and mistresses of the hunter academies, titans of industry and military, from all four kingdoms, and even a certain bandit leader was forced to partake.
It's not hard to tell she was one of the reasons the room was tense
"Oz" voice general James Ironwood, both headmaster and general of Atlas "I can I ask why this scum is sitting here with us?"
"I agree Oz, Ray is the odd one out here" Qrow, brother to said bandit leader asked, taking a swig of his flask.
"It is rather simple, we need everyone that has a connection to me and Salem here, that includes a maiden"
Raven, who was sitting rather relaxed enjoying the fear and hesitation from the people around her suddenly tensed and her hand half way from unsheathing her sword. The other people in the room either backed away in fear or readied their weapons.
But Ozpin held up his hand "Peace, we are not here to fight amongst us, no, we are here to discuss about an event that I fear would throw all of remnant into chaos"
There was a lull, a silence, Raven and Ozpin's own people looked at him questioningly
"Ozpin, you can't be serious! Are you letting a piece of scum like her hold on to a power like a maidens?!" Ironwood roared, slamming his prosthetic on the table, cracking it. "I will not stand for it if you are willing!" James pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Raven, Qrow, Glynda, and the others who have weapons on hand pointed it towards raven, who already unsheathed her weapon.
But before conflict could break out a pressure none have ever felt washed over the room, the civilians who doesn't have aura feinted, but the others only sweated. They all looked at Ozpin, never before had they seen him this… intimidating, his eyes shone like a small furnace, his aura was pulsing out of him like a tidal wave of death.
Then he spoke
"Children, it is best for you all to sit and hear what I have to say…" it was low but powerful, his tone held an unspoken promise 'distract me again, and I'll have to act'
Everyone gulped, well the ones still conscious, and sat back down, the pressure vanished instantly, causing the ones that fainted to wake up and look around confused.
"Earlier today I felt a power I long though have left in this world, a power that I have only witnessed during the age of magic and gods, something has awoken, a power of a dragon has reemerged"
There was silence, but none dared to voice how ridiculous Ozpin sounded because they knew Ozpin to never joke, and well, they are one of the few that knew of the Queen so a dragon isn't that far out to believe.
"I have only felt a dragons magic 5 times in all my lives, and all of it was during the Age of Gods nearly 12,000 years ago"
People chocked; they have forgotten just how old Ozpin is.
"The first time I have ever felt the power of a Dragon was when I was still a boy, when I was still Ozma, then all the other times was under the service of a great king, and an even greater kingdom for 2 lifetimes"
Ozpin closed his eyes, reminiscing, he opened them again and the people around can see the nostalgia, the joy, sorrow, happiness, and sadness. This threw people out for a loop; the ever calm and restrained Ozpin was laying his emotions bare for them to see.
"My second life was under the great King Alexander "Iskandir" Arduin 21st king of the Kingdom of Camlann, the most powerful nation of the past, present and maybe the future"
Once more people were bugged eyed at the revelation, some of the more patriotic felt insulted that a kingdom thousands of years old was said to be greater than their own, non-more so James Ironwood. Ozpin then continued.
"The Arduins are a family gifted by the gods, they hold within them souls of a dragon, passed down to generation after generation. It was given to them by the mother goddess of the nature, Lady Yvanna"
"Wait" Doctor Oobleck a history professor for beacon "Oz, slow down, you're laying it on us a bit too fast, Alexander? Camlann? What and who are they? I have never read or seen any text regarding any of them in the books I have read or this Lady Yvanna"
Ozpin seemed to realize this and apologies "Ah, forgive me Doctor, I was lost in memory"
Oobleck shook his head "It is fine headmaster"
"A bit more context then, the kingdom of Camlann, is, to be frank, the greatest nation to have ever exist, they already had artificial intelligence in the form of their Aura golems, in a time the most advance weapon another nation can have has been a catapult. They were so dominant that if not for magic Camlann would have been the sole ruling nation on the planet. A fireball spell is just as effective casted by another mage to a Camlannian one"
Once more everyone was speechless, and now everyone was thinking if Ozpin really is kidding, it was just absurd.
"Magic was one of the sole pillars that prevented Camlann from conquering other nations, the other was their patron, Yvanna, who forbade them, as the other nations had gods and goddesses that served as their guardians as well, and invading them would cause their deity to act, and in turn cause Yvanna to act, in short, if Camlann strikes, then the world would be plunged in a war where even the divines are fighting, such a war will destroy remnant"
Silence, all of this was just too much for some of them
"You said was, and had, past tense, putting aside that the brother gods aren't the only divine beings, can I ask how? if the gods were so involved how and why did they leave? What even caused them to abandon our world?" This time it was the headmistress if Shade that asked
"It is actually quite simple, it is story you all knew well, a woman who rallied humanity to defy the gods, a woman that convinced that humanity can usurped their protectors, a woman, that was once the beloved by the brother gods. Salem"
One person stood up "You mean to tell me remnant is in this state because of one power hungry bicth?!"
"Peace council man, I am not done, Salem did rally the other human kingdoms, but not all of them, Camlann for example simply stayed within their borders, watching as the kingdoms that backed Salem was annihilated by the power of the brother gods, though they did last for a few years thanks to their magic" Ozpin then slumped on his chair "They along with their patrons were cast into oblivion"
"Though Salem and her cohorts were beaten, the brother gods were not satiated, their anger over the betrayal of humanity bleed into the ones that didn't" Ozpin paused, then continued "so the brother gods waged war over all of humanity, the God of darkness created the Grimm, the God of light the Nephilim. And together they razed the other kingdoms and killed the other gods and goddesses"
"Y-You mean to tell me that- "
Ozpin cut off the person "Yes, what you all knew about the brother gods are a heaping pile of horse dung, that they are two immature children whose tantrum led to the destruction of most of remnant and the death of a pantheon"
Everyone gaped at Ozpin, he was acting too out of charter for them, it was too much, however, they had to listen.
"It was only thanks to the line of Arduin they were stopped and fractured"
James asked "fractured?" dreading the answer
Ozpin paused, debating about something, then he spoke "The four relics, the crown of choice, the sword of destruction, the staff of creation and the lantern of knowledge. These four relics that are securely hidden in the vaults of the four academies, they were not the gifts of the god of light to humanity, rather…
They are the god of light"
Once more people can't speak, this was too much, yes, they often complained that Ozpin was too secretive, that he holds a lot of mysteries close to his chest.
Now they know why
Revelations like these causes people to change, for better, or for worse, secrets that they all wanted, now laid bare before them, and they do not know how to respond.
Ozpin continued "The Arduins with their dragon souls casted the brother gods out of their realm, the god of light was fragmented, sentenced to forever be left in unconsciousness within the four relics. The god of darkness however was utterly annihilated, leaving only a pool of blackness behind"
Ozpin sighed "Humanity won against the brother gods, but at a terrible cost, Camlann was the only kingdom that came out relatively fine, but the others were in ruin, and, that was when Salem did the highest and most terrible taboos, she bathed in the blood of the god of darkness, she gained his power and control over the Grimm and reignited the war"
Clenching his fist tight Ozpin continued "She razed the already beleaguered and tired kingdoms, leaving only Camlann and some sparsely populated settlements. This time, she was met with the most resistance, and yet Camlann would fall as well, they may have been the ones that defeated the brother gods, but at a terrible cost, their patron, Lady Yvanna gave her essence to power the ruling Arduin at the time, the 23rd king, Gilgamesh [7] 'god slayer' Arduin to deal the final blow"
"She sacrificed herself" Glynda pointed out, Ozpin nodded.
"With their patron dead Camlann was only left with the dragon souls of the royal family to contend against Salem, who has the full power of the God of Darkness"
"WHAT!?" James yelled "You mean to tell me, she did not just gain some of the power of the god of darkness but all of it?!"
Raven scoffed "See? this shadow war between your circle against her is pointless, she'll win in the end, and there's nothing any of us can do"
Others also seem to believe Raven, even Qrow was shocked at the revelations, however, Ozpin shook his head "Salem indeed defeated the kingdom of Camlann, but she did not kill the Arduins, they still live, where and who they are I will never say, but I will say this,
King Antalos 'Dragon scale' Arduin was the only man she feared"
Shocked, a common theme in todays meeting was evident in the face of everyone "King Antalos was the final king of Camlann, the 25th, I served him as the scholar of the royal academy" Ozpin smiled "He was, without a shadow of doubt, the greatest king Camlann has ever known, the compassion of king Julius, the power of King Gilgames and the regality of King Arthur, he was the greates friend anyone can ask for"
The sheer emotion Ozpin was putting fort for this one man made everyone want to know more about him.
"He dueled Salem alone, they clashed over the plains of the great bastion, some would say the second capital, Lumen, the shinning beacon of the Kingdom of Camlann. There their two armies fought, one is an endless tide of malice and hunger, the other a stalwart wall of men and women whose courage, honor loyalty knows no bounds for 24 days and nights the defenders of Lumen and the Grimm of Salem fought, and at the 24th day Antalos fell, dealing a blow to Salem so great she was reduced to 1/10th of her original power to this day she has not healed"
Ozpin then looked grim "Until now"
Dread filled the hearts of the people in the room, They were scared and the feeling of hopelessness filled them, but Ozpin, Ozpin looked like the opposite "If magic has truly reemerged, then the Arduins inheritance will as well, they will awaken the Dragon within their souls, and with this, the hope of Remnant against Salem"
Ozpin looked at the assembled council "I ask you all, will you let darkness and evil rein over remnant?" Ozpin's Aura flared "Or will you all die in a battle for the world?"
Flashback end
(…)
Gazing at the people of Vale Ozpin dialed a number on his scroll, it rang for a couple of times, before someone answered "Uncle Ozpin?" the voice asked
Ozpin smiled "Hello Jeanne, can I talk to your father?"
"Yes, hold on"
There was shuffling on the other end before a deep voice called "Ozpin? What do I owe this call? Is Jaune doing alright?"
Ozpin cringed, he knew there was no easy way to say it, it was better to rip the bandage off as quickly and painless as possible.
"…"
"…"
But damn is it hard
"…Roland… Jaune fell in battle"
…
…
"WHAT!?"
(A/N you like? I bended the original RWBY cannon story so far, its leaning over the table
[1] Newt Scamander – JK Rowling's fantastical beast and where to find them
[2] Arturia Pendragon – Fate
[3] Emiya Shir – Fate
[4] Melkor – Tolkein Silmalirion
[5] Lelouch Vi Britannia – Code Geass
[6] Shichika Yasuri- Katanagatari
[7] Gilgamesh – Fate)