CHAPTER 14! I GOT NOT JOKES FOR THIS ONE!

REVIEWS:

Side-Man: Nah, but they are going to use portals to visit.

Zathol: Wearing a hard helmet No shit are harem dynamics harder to build! One wrong step and it all can come crashing down! Luckily, I got my helmet. Furthermore, that BIG THING is going to take a while longer. Issues arise.

Also, to all Guest reviewers, I won't be answering reviews posted by Ya'll unless they are good ones and I will only answer the reviews from the chapter before this one. Since this is chapter 14, I am only answering revs posted on chapter 13.


A total of two months have passed since Jaune left his previous home and started to live on the other side of Ansel with the demon girls; Pandemonica, Modeus, Cerberus, Malina, Zdrada, Justice, Lucifer, Judgement, and Beelzebub. Oh, and the angel, Azazel. It is truly a unique experience, living with each of them and getting to know them better. Judgement's training regime had him wish he was never born, though, but that only at the beginning. He was starting to see results now. He was even capable of actually finishing! Well, granted, Judge was now letting him use his semblance at times since she admitted he had to train that as well, and she was right.

Turns out he can use his amplification part of his semblance whenever he wants, making himself more durable, stronger, faster, and he could even heal faster as well! However, his Aura still drained itself, meaning he couldn't exactly use it forever. But back in Hell it was pretty much active all the time because of the other side of it, but he could barely use it. And by that, of course, he couldn't use it at all. He understood why as well; because he was himself. His confidence wasn't the best, even after improving with the girls, and he still acted a bit awkward around them at times. All in all, in order to get that adrenaline fire pumping he needed a good reason for it.

One he had yet to find. Damn it, Leo, couldn't you leave him with some pointers?

However, his training, while improving his CQC skills, left Crocea Mors to gather dust. Literally. He needed someone that could teach him how to use it, and Monica actually came up with the idea for it. First, he dialed Ignium using the method he left, writing 666 on a mirror, watching the objects wiggle before the image changed to show the Emperor of Hell. Originally, Jaune would've preferred Ignium to be teaching him, Lucifer having told him about his skills once, but the demon was quick to shoot him down, stating that his style never included a shield. He was an adaptable fighter, so that explained how when he transferred his skills Jaune was able to use the shield as well.

But yeah, Jaune needed a new teacher, and Ignium had the perfect person in mind. They had and quoting from the demon himself, 'been screaming like a bitch taking it up the ass for a few centuries now, asking for a break. Well, now we have a reason to give him one.' The boy felt odd hearing that comparison, but then Monica told him the demons in Hell might exact some more...sexual torture in nature, regardless of gender.

Note to self, try not to get in Hell...Or at least find a way to escape torture.

The next day after that talk, a portal opened up in the yard and out walked a person Jaune didn't recognize in the least. Healing magic was obviously used on him, that much was seen, and he was allowed rest from the torture before being sent here, hence the need to wait an entire day, which is one week down in Hell. The person introduced themselves to Jaune politely, having a slight accent to him. Jaune replied with equal politeness, and the man shot his head up hearing his last name.

"Are you really from the House of Arc?" The stranger asked, his armor proving to be no issue as he moved. Jaune nodded to him, the man showing a nostalgic smile. He then went to tell him about times when he fought with some of his ancestors during the many wars of their time. The name of the stranger was Hugues de Payens, a founder of a long-dead order named the templars and their first Grandmaster. But he told Jaune he could call him simply Payns as a means of respect to his name.

He did ask why Jaune was not with his family, to which he told Payns everything that happened after coming out of Hell. They say that the man's fury was great would be an understatement. Payns stated that he never heard of a bigger injustice since his death. Which was quite a long time ago. Hearing of such betrayal, however, and seeing Jaune willing to make a name for himself as his own man, inspired him to train the boy more. He didn't waste time either, prompting the boy to get Crocea Mors. He was surprised to see its sheath turn into a shield, but Monica was quick to explain that weapons came a long way since his time and that even now Crocea Mors could be seen as an old classic. But the old Grandmaster simply smiled.

He and Jaune trained well into the evening, with the lights from the house providing light for them. Payns was not like Judgement, he would not let Jaune stop the training just because the sun had set, but even trained him well into the night with the moon shining down on them. Payns moved swiftly on the battlefield, his shield acting as both a defense and offense and his sword flying through the air like a silver haze. Jaune was no match for him, that was obvious, but he didn't give up.

Payns even challenged him to use his semblance. It was not an unheard thing during his time for people to have semblances, but it was rarer for people to use them freely. Jaune's body glowed as he began to recover during their training, but as Payns smirked he activated his own semblance; Valiant Spirit.

Payns was covered by a crimson Aura, and he buried his feet into the ground. When Jaune's first hit came he blocked it, then he blocked again, then again, and again. He was standing steadfast, valiantly protecting. He missed his semblance, not being able to use it in Hell as a mere spirit. The more Jaune hit him, the sturdier his defense became, his shield becoming stronger and stronger with each strike. His body was also growing stronger, but only to protect. That was the nature of his semblance, unlocked during his battles. He never falters. Granted, he had to remain still for it to work, not daring to abandon a small zone around him. Protecting it to the end. It paid off as Jaune's semblance eventually ran out and he fell on the ground, burying his sword into the soil.

Payns deactivated his semblance and helped him up, shaking his hand. "That was a fine spar, young lad. Although untrained and sloppy, you have spirit. You have potential. Your father, I spit on his face, was wasting your potential. My, had I had a son like you back in the day I would have been proud of him. Very much so."

Jaune smiled a bit awkwardly hearing the comment, but he felt pride swell in him at the praise. "Thanks." He replied, to which Payns nodded.

"Now, shall we go inside your abode? I reckon you are tired and your spouses are sure to help reinvigorate you back to full health!" He said, then he and Jaune went back inside. Although Jaune didn't know what a spouse was, he just assumed it was a good thing.

After that night, for a few weeks, he had been training with Payns non-stop, stopping only when he said to stop. And the old man liked to work Jaune to the bone even more than Judgement, who, at Monica's logical suggestion, agreed to make a schedule to split the sword training and physical one. His hands hurt him plenty, with calluses forming. Aura could only do so much, after all. But he knew this was a sign that his hard work was paying off.

He felt Crocea Mors become lighter in his palm each time he trained with it and watched as Payns became more and more serious with him while training, a look of pride and satisfaction on his face after each session in which he saw Jaune panting and barely moving. Driving him to the limits, then watching him go past them. It reminded him of the fights he had back with the other Knights. But looking up above at the broken moon, he realized each time how far those times were now. Most of them were with him in Hell, others up in the Heavens. So many decisions taken back in the day for what he believed in, but now? So many of them tasted awash. So many regrets piled up in his soul.

He shed a tear as he watched the moon, then he looked back down at his pupil. He was given a chance to pass on some of the teachings of the Templars onto this boy, whose ancestor he once knew as well. He didn't recall their name, but he remembered how they fought side by side. The fire in that man, and the honesty in his eyes, and the kindness in his heart made him a natural leader. He refused the chair of the Grandmaster, granting it to him, but to this day he wonders where that man went. And when looking at himself, he wonders where the one he once was wandered off to as well.

But for now, as much as nostalgia was eating him, he had to focus on this boy. He was given a task, and on his honor left he was going to bring it to fruition. As the girls watched Jaune train day by day with him, they all saw the fire within his soul. Lucifer especially showed a warm smile seeing him train hard, alongside Beelzebub when the girls would take a snack outside to watch, other girls sometimes joining in as well.

But alas, there was only so much he could teach Jaune.

Three, nearly four months even after he left his house when the snow was starting to fall on the ground. Payns gave Jaune one last sparring session before he had to return to his eternal punishment. Then, standing before the portal to Hell, was Ryan waiting to take Payns back to Hell. The man looked back at Jaune, who wanted to accompany him to the portal. The boy grew up well in the time he knew him, riding himself of most baby fat he had on him and developing a good set of muscles good for both sword and shield and fist fighting. A well-balanced warrior.

"It was a pleasure to train you, young Arc," Payns said, extending his hand to offer Jaune a shake, one Jaune took without hesitation.

"Same, Sir Hugues de Payens. It was a pleasure and honor training under you." Jaune replied back, using a polite and proper vocabulary that he picked up thanks to his teacher. "Are you sure you do not wish for me to speak with Ignium?" He asked, looking at his teacher. "Maybe he can lessen up your punishment, or have you turned to a demon to be excused from it. Or-"

"Jaune." Payns cut him off, a sense of pride and sadness strangely mixed in his voice. "Please. I already told you. We, all of us who are in Hell, are there for a reason. Although some of us admit to their sins and regret them, we still sinned and deserve the punishment. But remember what I told you."

Jaune looked down for a second, then he spoke. "Walk forward, no matter if you are walking through Hell itself, walk forward." He then chuckled. "Pretty ironic considering I already did that"

Payns snorted as well. "No need to tell me. Goodbye, young Arc."

"Goodbye, Payns." Jaune said and began to walk back to the house, Payns turning towards the portal to return to his torment. However, before stepping in, he took one last glance towards Jaune as he walked and his eyes widened slightly as he saw him walk away. For a moment there, for the briefest of moments, he thought he saw him. The Arc he fought with so many years ago. A tear strolled down his face as he walked back into Hell, looking up as the screams of agony filled his ears, seemingly addressing no one, but at the same time, addressing the one person who made the biggest impression on him. 'He is like you, old friend. So much alike."

Ryan almost felt bad for him, but duty is a duty. Payns was sent back to his eternal torment without any benefit this time. But this time? As the demons were tormenting him, he kept a proud smile on his lips. It was like his regrets all washed away, seeing the light at the end of his long and difficult tunnel. Had he never landed in here, he would've never met that boy...That thought sooted his pain.


"He has yet to take a semblance with Origin…"

"Give him some time, ok?" A female voice echoed over the male one. "He doesn't have anyone to take one from."

"Not that he wants to" Another one chimed in.

"It has already been one season, the winter is falling, and he has yet to use Origin." Another, more vivid voice said. "The boy is young, too young, and inexperienced. Why Artorious gave him Origin is beyond me, damn that Forsaken."

"I am sure he had his reason." Another, older, yet familiar voice said. "Please be patient, everyone. He will not disappoint. He will prove worthy of this power"

"How do you know?"

"Because I was there when he first dreamed of being a Hero...I might be seen as worthy to be here, but I do not consider myself worthy. I failed him…"

"I failed my own grandson"


Jaune jolted awake in his bed, waking up from that strange dream. It was strange, and he couldn't place his finger on it no matter how hard he tried. It was like he was there, but not at the same time. He didn't have a body, just a presence. And the voices? They were all foreign to him except for one. But he shrugged it off as him just being homesick or something, or just missing his grandfather. He died when Jaune was only 10, the boy missing him dearly since.

He looked around his room to make sure everything was in place and that the barrier was set. Tomorrow the girls were going on a rampage again, he was tracking it this time. He looked at the clock, seeing that it was three in the morning. He still had at least three hours before the chaos began so he decided to go down and grab some food and grab Azazel while he was at it in order to spare her from the chaos. Placing a hand on the sheets below him he noticed how soaked they were in sweat. His sweat. His pajamas and body were soaked all over in fact and the smell was unbearable.

Did that dream really affect him this much?

Shaking his head, Jaune decided to take a shower after getting both the food and Azazel, so he walked down the stairs, silently, into the kitchen, grabbing some food and taking it back to his room before going down one of the halls to Azazel's room and knocking on it. "Azazel?" He whispered, hoping that the angel was awake. He heard shuffling inside her room, then he watched as the door opened to reveal the sleepy angel, her halo illuminating the hall a bit.

"Yes?" She asked in a tired voice, rubbing her eyes a bit. "What is it, Jaune?"

"Come on, let's go to my room before the others wake up. Today is a...Day" Azazel looked at him for a moment before what he said clicked into her head and she hurried up to get her notebook and pen, then she followed him up into his room, closing the steel doors behind them. "Wait here. I need to take a shower"

"Alright." She yawned. "I might fall asleep again before you come out of the bathroom, though," She said, then Jaune went into the bathroom to shower himself, getting rid of his sweat-soaked clothing and turning on the shower. He let the water wash away the smell, but he kept wondering what that dream was. It was so vivid, even now he can remember what the voices said. They were talking about Origin and how he didn't take a semblance yet, even questioning his worth with it...What was going on? He closed the shower after he finished and walked to the mirror to look at himself. His hair had grown out a bit, having to set it aside to look at himself well. He also noticed how much his body developed. His muscles were bigger and more obvious now and his chest showed clear development. It wasn't what you'd call carved in stone, but he now had a six-pack he could take pride in.

He decided to let his hair grow out a bit, but he underestimated the speed of his hair's growth. He didn't want to really cut it, so he decided to see if he could arrange it into a small ponytail at the back, which he could. It wasn't that long, but he figured it'd grow out with time. Then, after getting himself a pair of shorts and a black tank top from the bathroom closet he set up - in case any of the girls, namely Modeus, tried to ambush him when he came out of the bathroom.

He came out of the bathroom to see Azazel soundly asleep on the sponge chair, snoring softly. He found her sleepy face cute, and he felt bad having a girl sleep on the chair, so he picked her up bridal style and placed her on his bed while he took the chair, but something grabbed his wrist. "Don't go…" She whispered, but Jaune looked back to see her still asleep. Sleep talking? Regardless, he took Azazel's hand off his wrist and kneeled down at her.

"I won't," He said before planting a kiss on her forehead, watching her softly smile in her sleep. He then traced his steps to the sponge chair and collapsed into it, letting sleep overtake him. That dream had him scared straight, but he knew he couldn't let himself get defeated by it. It was nothing but a dream, nothing was real. He had to remember that.


Jumping once again a week or so, the girls were busy helping Jaune decorate the house. "Higher, Beel!" Jaune shouted from below to Beelzebub, the demoness flying up on fly wings to hang up some Christmas lights. Jaune was dressed in a white winter jacket with golden fur at the collar, his pumpkin Pete's sweater underneath to offer more warmth to his body. Good thing the material was rather stretchy to fit his newly built muscles.

"Here?" Beelzebub asked placing the lights on the house, the last of them thankfully. She was dressed in a long winter coat that was red in color with black fur at the collar. She was the one to get everyone those winter clothes, making them herself. Explains similar designs.

"Yes, perfect!" Jaune shouted, then watched as Beel descended down, putting her wings away. "Flying sure seems useful" He commented as he went to Beel, watching her chuckle.

"Oh, it is just another perk of being me, I guess" She replied. "Shall we head inside? The other girls must be waiting for us." Jaune nodded, then the two went inside the house. The Christmas lights will be turned on later, for now, they had to get the other details ready.

Stepping inside the house he immediately picked up the sweet aroma of the sweets being cooked in the kitchen and both of them went there, seeing Lucifer, Judgement, and Pandemonica working in the kitchen. "What took you so long?" Lucy asked, looking back at them. She was wearing her apron and handling the kitchen while Judgement and Pandemonica were helping out. "You sure have nerve, having me do the cooking while you spend time with the fly"

"Oh, what is it, Lucy? Jealous?" Beel teased, making Lucy scoff with a slight blush.

"As if!" She replied, trying to not give herself away. It only worked on the dense Jaune, not the other girls. "Are you here to join the efforts in the kitchen?"

"As much as I'd like to, I have to check on the others as well. Mind waiting for me a bit longer?" He asked.

"Sure, that is no issue. What about you two?" Lucifer turned to Judgement and Pandemonica, the former giving a shrug.

Judge changed her outfit once winter came around since it became too cold for even her. Currently, she was dressed in a red Christmas sweater along with a pair of pants, to Jaune's relief and, strangely, chagrin. Monica kept most of her outfit, that being her skirt, but she too got on something more festive in the form of a simple jacket and shirt with festive decorations. "I see no issue with it. JUST MAKE SURE TO HOLD TO YOUR PROMISE!" Judgement said, making sure to add the last part with her trademark screaming.

"Judgement, please, I think we are past the whole shouting phase already, don't you agree?" Monica said, pressing her glasses up her nose. "But she is right, Jaune, you better return here as promised. Lucifer might know how to make the sweet parts of the Christmas dinner, but she is not as skilled in the other departments."

"Who said I wasn't?!" Lucifer chimed in, feeling a hit at her pride from Monica's statement. "I can make a dinner delicious enough to leave everyone in this house wishing for more until next year!"

"Last time when you tried to cook something other than sweets you ended up burning nearly all of the food" Monica pointed out, making Lucifer flinch and blush. That was true. "So I think I speak for everyone when I say we do not want you trying again"

"F-fine!"

Jaune chuckled at the antics of the girls. In the beginning, he might have been acting a bit awkward, but as time went on he was starting to build his confidence. Or rather said, Judgement and Justice helped him build confidence. He owned Judgement for training him and Justice for being a good person to hang out with. Blind as she might be, her optimism and how she doesn't let it get to her are inspiring. Leaving Beelzebub in the kitchen, Jaune went up the stairs to Azazel's room where she and Zdrada were in charge of the inside decorations. He saw them as he walked in, admitting that the girls did a good job, but he wanted to know if they needed anything else.

He arrived at Azazel's door, then he knocked. "Come in!" Azazel cheerfully replied from the other side of the door, allowing Jaune to come inside her room. It was just as he remembered, the walls being painted a pristine, heavenly white with a bed situated in the corner of the room where the angel slept. Jaune once took a seat on it, and he can confirm that it was a bed out of this world. The room had a closet where Azazel kept her clothes and other stuff and a few drawers as well, but she didn't have a TV or PC, instead preferring a desk and a lot, and I mean a lot, of books about the human realm and Hell to research. Usually, her room was pretty messy with a bunch of papers and pens lying around, but today it has been tidied up by the angel for the occasion that is, in her words, 'the birthday of the Lord's son'

He looked in the center of the room to see Azazel trying to untangle some Christmas lights to hang around her own room whilst Zdrada was smoking on her bed. He wished she'd not smoke and instead help Azazel, but he knew by this point that trying to make her do something else other than smoke is pretty hard. Heck, he got her to help out with Christmas decoration, but he is willing to bet she mostly watched as Azazel did the work. "How are you girls doing?" He asked.

"We are doing great!" Azazel cheered, looking up at him from the floor. She too had a new winter get-up consisting of a sweater and furry jacket to keep her warm, the pants being mostly unchanged on her. Her clothing was the opposite colors, as expected, from the other girls.

"Yeah, no need to worry, Big J!" Zdrada commented from the side, blowing some smoke out before watching it being taken away by Beel's enchantments. She learned not to get mad about it much since she could smoke inside again now. Her clothing was pretty simple, only wearing a winter jacket over a thinner black shirt that hangs loosely around her neckline, offering a clear view of her collarbone. Her usual jeans and, on her feet, a pair of winter boots. "We got everything done and we are ready to celebrate the birthday of that dirtbag"

"Zdrada!" Azazel called out.

"Oh please, I am a demon, what did you expect?" She replied to Azazel, standing up. "You'll need a good fucking miracle to get me not to do that, and I am afraid it was already wasted with me helping to decorate the place."

"I guess she has a point, Azazel" Jaune replied awkwardly. "Either way, it's not like we have to worry about getting smitted. Pretty sure it would've happened already seeing as nine demons are living in this household"

"I guess that is true...Still, you can never be too cautious!" She cheered. "I also need to observe how everyone acts during this time! Back in heaven, the celebration of the Lord's son is a big parade! But here it seems so much smaller in scale! And I never once saw how demons celebrate it!"

"Meh. We usually just do our own thing and spit whenever someone says his name or mentions the day" Zdrada dryly replied. "What about you, Big J? How do you usually spend it?"

"Well, I'd usually spend it similarly to here; helping around to set everything up, cooking in the kitchen with my...family...Then at the end, we all gather together and enjoy another year in which we are together and enjoy the cooked food, and…" A tear streams down his face. "I'm sorry, I need to go!" He storms out of the room, running to his own. Azazel looks back at Zdrada, the demon girl looking confused, and not in a good way.

"Was it something I said?" She asked, to which Azazel, having a connection to Jaune thanks to being his guardian angel, replies.

"No...he just misses his family"

As Jaune hurried up the stairs to his room to try and get a grip there he ended up stumbling upon Modeus looking through his room. "Oh, Jaune, I wasn't-" However, his face had the demon worry about something else than looking for his underwear. "Are you ok?" She asks, going to him. Modeus was dressed in a large sweater that stretched down to her hips and down a bit more until it reached her thighs, the rest of her legs being covered by black stockings and shoes.

Jaune, for his part, didn't expect Modeus to be in his room, but right now he didn't mind. "I...I don't know, Modeus." He said and took a seat on his bed, the demon girl sitting next to him. Modeus has proven to be a good person to talk to when it comes to emotions, and her little 'research' about romance has done some good for her overall attitude as she learned to understand human emotions better. Bad part? She has an easier time holding hands now, meaning he had a harder time getting her off him when she got lusty.

"Jaune, I might be able to read only lustful thoughts, but I can see something is bothering you. Please tell me" She asked, looking at him. He sighed, deciding that keeping everything in was not a good idea.

"I miss my family, Modeus. My sisters and mother must be worried sick about me and wondering where I disappeared to and I doubt the household itself is holding well this year. I just...I cannot forgive that man yet, and even for the sake of my mother and sisters, I do not wish to return to that house. But at the same time? I guess you could say I am lusting for the chance to return there…" He replied, throwing a bit of a pun in as well. At times, lust can be associated with desire, and right now he desires to be with the rest of his blood family. Modeus, hearing him, feels bad for him and leans to him, hugging him from the side.

"It's ok, Jaune. I understand" She replied. "Truth is, I was always lonely in my cave as well, but my family, my father and many siblings whom he sired, did use to visit at times. I miss them too now, but do you know why I can handle it?" He looked at her, her heart-shaped eyes staring at him. "Because this place is more of a family than they have always been to me. Sure, we fight and sometimes disagree on things, but isn't that what all families do?"

Jaune reflects a bit on her words, finding meaning in them. It is true. Those girls are basically his family now, aren't they? I mean, a Harem is basically having them all as wives, so that must have been a given. Guess that makes Shade his brother-in-law and Ignium some sort of father-in-law, or something like that. Granted, Ryan and Behemoth can be seen as a family too. Ryan as some kind of older brother and Behemoth as an uncle. It was a strange feeling, having such a, literally, demonic family. But he still yearned for his real family. "Hey, Modeus? Mind if you tell the girls I will be going into Ansel for a while? I haven't been there in months and I want to see how the village is doing."

"Sure Jaune" She replied, then she stands up. "How long are you going to be gone?"

Jaune got up as well. "If I am not back by midnight, tell Lucy she can run amok trying to find me and that Zdrada can burn down the forest." Modeus giggled hearing him. The last part was obviously meant as a joke.

"Sure." She smiled at him. "Good luck" She left the room with a slight sway in her hips to empathize with her sweater-covered curves. Heh. Still the lustful, trying to seduce him even now. Jaune inhaled deeply, checking his tail. He decided to let his hair grow out and simply tie it up in a ponytail. It became a bit of a nervous habit to make it tighter whenever he felt nervous or was about to do something that made him nervous.

Jaune closed his jacket and descended down the stairs, just in time to see Cerberus, Justice, and Malina return inside the house, all of them in their winter clothing. All of the Cerberus had identical winter cloaks running down their bodies to their knees with woven-in gloves. Malina's winter jacket was accompanied by a neckcloth that was dark-green and red in color and Justice was wearing a sweater while her jacket was mainly hanging on her shoulders. That was her style, so why change it?

Justice, however, did smell him. "What up, Jaune? Ready for Christmas?" She asked, smiling widely at him.

"Y-yeah. I am just going out to get some air, going on a walk into Ansel and back." He answered, then Cerberus popped up.

"Can we come as well, Alpha?! Can we? Can we?" They all asked in unison, excitedly wiggling their tails around him.

"Sorry, Cerbi, but I need to go alone," Jaune replied.

"Why do you want to return to that shitty village anyway? I mean, you have business there?" Malina asked.

"You could say that. Anyway, I better go before it gets dark. See ya" He said before heading out, walking to the door and grabbing Crocea Mors from its spot he left it, hanging it on his hip. He then opened the door, letting the winter air hit him. It was a cloudy day, likely to snow later, and there was already a good amount of snow laid down on the ground. The sound of the snow under his boots was heard with each step he took. He closed his winter jacket all the way up, covering his neck as well. He walked until he reached the edge of Beel's barrier.

Ever since arriving at this home, he hasn't stepped out of it. He knows that the Grimm creatures are out there, and he is likely to face one on his way to Ansel, but he didn't put up with all of that training for nothing. No, he didn't work so hard to be a coward now. The boy who stepped on those grounds was now stepping out a man. He walked down the path he recalled towards Ansel, then, as the first snowflakes started to fall on the bare branches, he arrived back in the village.

He couldn't help but smile seeing the lively preparations for the holidays, with the people running around and the children playing in the snow. He remembered how he and his own sisters used to play as well, even last year's snow fight. He chuckled at the thought. He did look in the mirror, noticing how much he changed. He was slightly taller and had more muscles thanks to his training, and his new hairstyle did make him look like a completely new person. Yet, the village never changed. Always cheerful and lively, with the houses decorated with the prettiest of lights.

He walked towards the market area, watching some people give him strange looks. He expected it. Ansel is not that big of a village and he did change, so they might be wondering who he was. He didn't expect anyone to recognize him, really-"

"Jaune?" And yet, he was proven wrong. Turning around, he came face to face with an elderly man in his late 50's. The man was an old, retired Huntsman who moved into Ansel when he was four and sometimes took care of him and his sisters. During his career, and the reason it ended, he had lost a leg which he had replaced with a cheap prosthetic. He was a bit shorter than Jaune, with a scruffy beard and bags under his eyes. His skin was of a darker shade of brown and he wore glasses on his nose, along with him wearing brown pants and a thick, winter coat that went down to his knees alongside a cane to help him walk. The man looked at the boy in disbelief. "Oh my Dust, is that you?"

"Mister Colt?" Jaune mused, turning around to look at the man who then sprinted at him and hugged him tightly.

"It is you!" The now named mister Colt said again as he hugged Jaune, then he took distance, looking at him. "Look at you, my boy! You have grown! I can feel the muscle underneath your clothing and I must say I like the new hairstyle! Have you been actually training?"

Jaune chuckled, holding on to his arms to help support the elder. He smiled at him, liking the sound of a known voice. "Yes, I have. I must say, it has been a rough couple of months, but I got myself some muscles and actual sword skills."

"You did? Well, would you give this old man a spar sometimes?" He asked jokingly, punching Jaune lightly in the chest.

Jaune chuckled. "Sure, if you can keep you, old-timer." Colt scoffed hearing him call him 'old' and hit Jaune in the shin using his cane, the boy yelping at the contact. But Colt confirmed something.

"I see you have an Aura now as well!" He pointed out. "And also, do not go calling me old! I still have enough youth in me to put you in your place, boy, understand?"

"Y-yes, sir!" Jaune replied quickly, then both of them cracked a smile, breaking into a laugh. "For real. It is really good to see you again. How have things been?"

"Jaune, my boy, things have been going well for this old man," Colt replied, but then he sighed. "But I cannot say the same about your family."

Jaune was worried hearing all of that. "What about them? Are they ok? Did something happen?"

"Yes and no. You see, shortly after you vanished, your sisters didn't exactly keep quiet about what your father tried doing to you. The entire village was awestruck! Nicholas never seemed like the type of man to do something like this - sealing the Aura of his own child! Let alone for such a petty reason!" Colt said, a hint of anger visible in his voice. "What respect he had among the people vanished and there were even some Huntsmen who talked about arresting him. But alas, your mother's big heart had us all stop from doing something rash"

"My mother?" Jaune echoed. "How is she doing?"

Colt spit on the ground. "Not good, my boy. Not good. It's like she has gone on auto-pilot or something! She barely utters a word to anyone, only doing her shopping then going back home to do her chores. I once visited the house and all she did while I was there was staring at an old picture with you and all your sisters...And do not call me by name if she wasn't fighting back tears."

Guilt began to pool inside of Jaune hearing the state his mother ended up in. He knew things might have taken a bad turn, but he never thought I'd be this bad. "What about my sisters? Are they ok?"

"They are a little better than your mother, yes. Coral actually returned from Haven a week after you went away to help her family"

"What?! What about Haven?! She wanted to be a Huntress - surely she cannot just leave!" Jaune replied.

"Of course not! However, this itself could count as a family emergency, and if I remember Lionhart well enough, then he would allow something like this" Colt explained, placing both hands on his cane. "I talked with her, you know. She is mighty pissed at your father...I assume you are too." Jaune's eyes told him everything he needed to know and how he looked down instead at him at the mention of that man. "My point exactly. Sapphire, Alice, and Coral have been the only ones to keep the house together and going since! They did call me a few times to have a chat and maybe ease things, but...Your younger sisters, Jade, Lapis, and Silva are feeling the absence of their big brother, Jaune."

"I know...I miss them too" Jaune replied his fist tight. Colt noticed this. The boy was conflicted between what his father did and the feelings he has for the rest of his family. But there was another issue at hand, something Colt noticed all too well.

"Jaune, be honest...You are still living around Ansel, are you not?" Jaune tensed at that question and tried to avoid looking at Mister Colt. But the older Huntsman had his tricks. "Hey, look alive!" He snapped his fingers, making Jaune look at him as he finally made contact with Jaune's eyes, then used something he hasn't used in a long time; his semblance. Colt's semblance could allow him to force someone to answer a question when asked by making eye contact. Good for interrogations. And to get certain kids to say who ate the last cookie.

"Yes, in a wooden house north of here, through the woods. Can't miss it" Jaune replied against his will, then he covered his mouth. "Mister Colt!"

"Sorry for that, sonny, but it was a needed thing." He apologized. "But good to know you are good. I assume you are walking through Ansel now because you miss the place, am I right?" He asked again, and Jaune, knowing that answering it better than being forced to answer, decided to stop resisting.

"Yes, and I miss them. I miss them dearly." He confessed. "But I cannot return because of that man...That sperm donor tried doing something I can never forgive and because of that I will not return there!" Hearing Jaune talk like that about his father had the older man stunned. Not even referring to Nicholas as his own father anymore? Is the wound that deep? "But I do not hate my mother and sisters! If I could, I would take them with me, but I cannot."

"Why?" Colt asked again, then he recalled something he heard the other day. There was a new face in the village, a lady with white hair going around. She was new, and when he asked her once where she lived...Wait. "Jaune, are you living with a certain white-haired woman?" He asked, then watched Jaune's breathing hitch. He forgot Beelzebub did the shopping in Ansel and took human disguise. She must have exchanged some words with the locals.

"Yes, she is the landlady of the house I live in." He replied, telling Colt a half-truth. Technically, being the one to build the house, Beel did technically own it. "There are others as well, good people I live with. I cannot really pay since I do not have money, so I offered some other services instead."

"My goodness, boy, are you sleeping with her?" Colt asked.

"What?! No!" Jaune strongly denied it. "I cook, clean, and even take care of the Grimm from time to time! There is someone there who was willing to train me!" He said, dropping truths and lies mixed together. Heh. Living with so many demons rubbed off on him, didn't it? "You know me, Mister Colt, I would never do something like that!"

"Really? A shame, she was nice" He replied with a hint of disappointment that confused Jaune. Was this old geezer hoping Jaune was SLEEPING with BEEL? Granted, such thoughts did cross his mind before, but…

Damn it, Modeus...Damn it, hormones.

"Regardless if I may or might not be a virgin anymore," Jaune said, trying to change the subject back. "My family - more precisely, that...man."

"A mess," Colt said. "An absolute, miserable mess. Since everyone turned on him, your father has been spending a ridiculous amount of time on the Grimm around Ansel, specifically around your house. He has been coming to the bar as well." He sighed, looking up at the sky as the snow fell on the ground, and as a result of him looking up, his face. "I saw men being destroyed like this before, but this? This is new even to me. I am not saying your father deserves any sympathy for what he has done - Not at all! Nor do I believe he should be forgiven! But that is up to you, boy"

"Yeah, I guess…" Jaune replied, then he checked his ponytail again to make it tighter. "But I guess I cannot exactly call everyone to have Christmas dinner at my new place either. Place is packed." And full of demon girls which he was not ready to reveal. "But...Mister Colt, can you do me a favor? There are still a few hours until I have to go back"

"For you? Anything."


Sapphire Arc never found life to be easy in the first place, but after the incident with her brother and father? Things went from bad to worse in just a split moment. She saw how her own father was about to seal Jaune's Aura, paralyzed by shock, then she felt her heart skip a beat when her brother started to glow and kicked their father over his own chair. To say that stunned her would be an understatement. Her own brother, doing that, and what followed, had her scared. Scared of Jaune. Never in her life had she seen such anger in his eyes, the betrayal...Everything because of that man.

When he took Crocea Mors, ready to strike down their own flesh and blood, she thought he might just go through with it. The way Crocea Mors glowed as well...When she told Coral, the older sister theorized Jaune might have used his semblance at the time. It was not unheard of that people got their semblance and Aura on the same day, just very rare. Then everything just...happened. She remembers screaming from the top of her lungs at him, at her own father, then she watched as...She couldn't even recall the event without feeling her heart tighten.

Guilt. She could've stopped that if she acted, but she was too afraid and shocked. She froze and now her only brother was gone. None of them heard a word from Jaune in months and she, along with Alice and Coral, had to keep the house together. It was even more depressing as Christmas was drawing near. Normally, Saphron would have visited and stayed with her wife and son over the holidays, but with what happened - Coral having called her to explain everything, she doubted she was going to come over.

Less she risked little Adrian having his Aura sealed.

Their mother turned into a robot, more or less, and their father, eaten away by his guilt as he should be, turned into a mess. Everything was a mess! But she had to be strong for the younger ones. Jade, Lapis, and Silva needed their older sisters now more than ever. But truth be told? None of them were Jaune. An older brother is different from a sister. They all missed him so much.

She was currently in the kitchen, preparing dinner alongside Alice. Coral was watching over the younger ones while their mother was looking at that picture again. "This is the first Christmas without him...It feels hollow," Alice said, grabbing her sister's attention. "I mean, Saphron is not here either and we had holidays without her before, but she usually called at least. But without Jaune? We haven't heard from him in so long...It makes everything around hollow"

Sapphire hesitated for a second to reply, the sound of the fire from the fireplace and the children playing is the only sound for a second before she replied. "I guess-" It was then that the door opened suddenly.

"Coral! Sapphire! Alice! Anyone!" Colt shouted, walking inside the house as if he saw a ghost, Coral immediately running to him.

"Mister Colt?! What is it?!" She asked, seeing the older man out of breath and supporting himself with his cane. Damn, he really did grow old, didn't he?

"It's...him," He said, vaguely. "I saw him, I swear I did!"

"Saw who?" Coral asked, the other sisters peering over to see what was the commotion about. Even the mother looked over as the sound drew her attention.

"Jaune...I saw him in the forest!" He finished, making every single person there widen their eyes at his words. Mister Colt was no liar, they knew that, and he was a close family friend. But this? This sounded far fetched.

"Mister Colt, are you feeling well?" Alice asked as she walked close to him. "Have you been taking your meds?"

"Don't act as if I am made of glass, missy! I was a huntsman once!" Colt replied, waving his hand to dismiss Alice. "No, I know what I saw! I saw your brother in the forest!"

"How?" Coral asked. "Jaune left Ansel! Why would he stick around, especially since-" Her words cut by Colt hitting the floor with his cane.

"I. Saw. Him" He repeated again, making sure to get his point across. Looking up, he saw all of them, especially the mother, react. He had to give it to Jaune, he knew how to get their attention. "He is in the forest. He never left Ansel...He has been hiding and training! He has been fighting against the Grimm since!"

"Impossible!" Alice shouted, taking a step back. "That sounds ridiculous! Jaune couldn't have survived this long in the forest, it's just...It doesn't make sense!"

"That is what I thought too! I thought I was going senile...Until I talked to him. I saw him up close, his body bloodied and battered from the fighting…" he faked a shake of his hands. "The boy I used to read stories to is gone...Replaced by a man."

"Where?"

Everyone looked at the voice that echoed, seeing their own mother walking to Colt, then sprinting at him and grabbing his shoulders, shaking him. "Where?! Tell me!"

"Up north! In the woods!" Colt replied, then Juliet let him go, looking around quickly and picking up her jacket.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Alice asked, looking at her mother. But then Coral began getting her clothes on as well, along with her weapon. "You too, Coral?"

"Mister Colt never lied to us before, Alice!" Coral replied, getting her boots on. "If what he is saying is true, and he is out there, I need to help him! Get the little ones as well!" She said, but then the door was opened, their mother walking out in the winter. "Damn it, Mom! Wait up!" Coral sprinted after her.

"Hurry!" Colt shouted, then he helped the younger girls get their winter jackets on and run off to meet their brother. He sat in the doorway, watching them run off his cane in hand and closing the door, a sly smile on his face. "Jaune, you are one sly kid…"


Juliet Arc had never run like this in her life, not even when she heard about some merchant selling Atlesian jewelry in the market! But now? When it was about her own son? Her own child? A mother cannot simply walk in such a situation, but run and run until she arrived at the destination where her child was. Their house was long since behind her, her daughter's following as quickly as they could as well.

"Mom! Wait up!" Sapphire called out, running behind her. Coral and Alice were shortly behind with the younger sisters not long behind them as well. The youngest was being carried by Coral on her back as they ran, hoping to arrive there soon. The sun was starting to set and the snow was falling on the ground in big snowflakes.

The group eventually stopped as they reached a small clearing in the woods, in the direction Colt told them, and saw something in the ground. Crocea Mors, the shield of it dug into the snow with the sword resting against it. Juliet took small steps towards it, picking up the shield with her hands. It was well polished, and the sword was clean as well. Something was not right, but she didn't care.

If Crocea Mors was there, where was Jaune? He left with the sword and shield, so where was he? She looked around quickly. "Jaune!" She shouted, putting the shield down, the other girls simply watching. Mister Colt didn't lie, he truly saw Jaune! If the shield was there, then he wasn't far either. Right?

Where was he? "Jaune!" His mother called out again, small tears running down her face. "Please, Jaune, say something! Shout back!" She pleaded, hoping for a sign. "Please! I'm sorry for what happened! I am sorry I couldn't stop your father from…" She choked on her words for a second. "For trying to seal your Aura! Please! I am sorry!" Coral and the others were saddened to see their mother like this, aimlessly searching for her son.

"Mom?" Coral stepped forth, grabbing her mother's shoulder. Alice stepped forward as well, grabbing Crocea Mors and placing the blade back in its sheath. "If only his weapon is left, then…" Coral had a hard time saying it, but she knew it might be the case. Usually, when only a weapon is found, it means the Huntsman...was no more. Taken by the Grimm.

"No!" Juliet shouted. "Your brother is alive! I know it!" She turned around once more, ready to shout again. However, that was when the sound of a step was heard on the side. All of the girls turned around, seeing a man walk out from the forest. They saw its winter jacket, and the fur on its collar, but the hood was drawn over their head, hiding their face from them. He walked until he was visible to them.

Coral, however, put her guard up. Walking forward and getting her weapon, a pair of dual swords, out to meet him. "Who are you?" She asked, eyeing the stranger. It was then that the stranger lifted his head a bit and pointed at Crocea Mors, a smile under his hood. Coral, for her part, was confused, until the stranger lifted their head more, revealing a certain pair of blue eyes.

Juliet's eyes widened as she saw him, and the others couldn't believe it either. "Catch!" Alice shouted, throwing Crocea Mors at him, and Jaune, for his part, caught it well enough.

"Thanks, sis." He said, putting Crocea Mors back on his hip and taking off his hood. "Hi, guys. It has been a while-OOF!" Again, not a chance to finish as he was tackled to the ground by his family. "Ow…" He whined, then he looked down to see his mother and sisters all cry on his chest. He put on a weak smile. "It's alright. I am not hurt or anything."

His mother was sobbing and crying the most, even after they got up she wouldn't let go. She was afraid she'd lose him again. "Mom," Jaune called out to her, making her look up at his face. He saw how red her eyes were from crying and shedding tears, and he could feel her shaking. "It's me. No need to be afraid. I am fine." He said, then she hugged him tighter.

"My baby boy…" She muttered, the others allowing their mother to have Jaune for herself for now. She needed this the most. "I'm so sorry...I just...I didn't"

"It's ok. I am not mad at you. I am not mad at any of you" He said, addressing his entire family. "I know none of you ever wished something like this to happen, and frankly, neither did I. I never knew that he might've done something like this...Had I did, I would've kept my Aura a secret."

"How are you-" Then Sapphire noticed how he looked. "BIG BRO, YOU GREW!" She shouted, then everyone took a second look at him. He put on a goofy smile as they looked over him, and his mother took a moment to better check what she was feeling under his jacket. At first, she dismissed it as some other pieces of clothing, but now she can clearly discern the muscles he had! Alongside that he was taller, and, to her utter shock, had a tail! "How, when, since when?!"

"Big Bro got strong!" Jade cheered.

Jaune chuckled hearing Jade say that then he let go of his mother, allowing for Jade to run to him and jump in his arms. Before he might have stumbled when she did that, but now he had no troubles. Even Lapis did the same, and he was able to hold them both in his arms without much issue. He did have an issue when Lapis, in her curiosity, pulled his ponytail. "Ow!" He whined aloud, then chuckled. "It's real, girls. I let my hair grow a little"

"Look at you!" Coral said, looking him over. "Damn, little brother, you hauled ass!"

"Coral, watch your language!" Alice said, covering Silva's ears. However, she had to say it as well. "How did you grow this strong, Jaune? I mean, you barely got your Aura a few months ago"

"And my semblance." He added, further shocking them. If he was to make sure they didn't worry, he had to drop as much as he could without revealing certain details. "I can amplify the strength of my Aura, making me effectively stronger, more durable, and I even heal faster"

"That's...one hell of a semblance," Coral said, taking a small step back. It explained Jaune's glow back then as well along with the power he showed. "But...Even so, how did you survive for so long? I mean, were you hiding somewhere in Ansel? Or did you return to spend Christmas with us?" She asked, then everyone turned to Jaune once again, hopeful looks in their eyes. But the way his eyes looked down swiftly killed that hope. "You are not coming back…"

"Sorry, but I am not" He confirmed with regret in his voice, putting his sisters down. "I cannot return to that house yet. Even coming here in the open is a risk that he might find me." There was no need to ask who Jaune was referring to, they all knew. "I am not ready to face him yet. No, I first want to prove him wrong."

"Jaune?" Juliet chimed, noticing the tone her son was having.

"I want to prove him wrong and spit in his face." He continued, his sisters and mother widening their eyes at the words coming from his mouth. "I will make it to Beacon and I will succeed in becoming a Huntsman - one greater than he ever hopes to be!" His aura flared for a moment as the emotions surged within him. Aura Overdrive's emotion-released side, right...Cannot control it well, fully tied to the emotional state. All of them stared in awe at his declaration, then he turned to his mother. "I cannot forgive him - I won't forgive him! Heck! Right now I cannot even bear to look at him! I had Mister Colt get you all here so we wouldn't need to worry about him."

"Jaune…" Juliet muttered, looking down. "Why did you call us here, then-" However, her words were interrupted as a snowball hit her in the face. The guilty one? Her own son. "What?"

Jaune was preparing another one in his hands. "The reason I called you all here was not just to talk. I wanted to let you all know I was fine, and, well, spend some quality wintertime with you all" He played with the snowball in his hand. "This one's for you, Saph!"

"Wait, Jaune!" Sapphire dodged, the snowball instead hitting Jade. The younger Arc pouted, then she made a snowball herself.

"Take this big bro!" She threw hers at Jaune, who dodged and threw another one at her. Allowing for a laugh to escape his lips.

Before long the entire family joined in the madness, throwing balls of snow at each other and enjoying the day. Laughter filled the forest as balls of snow flew about, the giggling of young children echoed, and even the Arc Matriarch threw in some of her own mischiefs with the snow. Everything while a certain demonic duo was watching.

"This is so beautiful," Beelzebub said, hiding behind a tree with Lucifer.

"I must agree...He looks...happy." She said, watching Jaune dodge another ball of snow with a smile on his face. "Beel?"

"Yes, Lucy?"

"Do you think he is happy with us as well?"

"Hmm" Beel pondered for a few moments. "Hard to say. This is Jaune's family we are talking about. As much as we might try to be close to him, to even act as another family, there is no replacing his real one." She looked back at the scene. "All we can do is try to be there for him. He has a big, kind heart. Even us, demons, started to develop sweet spots for him."

Lucifer scoffed. "As if"

"Don't try to lie, Lucy, I know the looks you keep giving him." Beel retorted, making Lucifer blush. "Granted, I'd be lying if I said I didn't begin to feel the same as well. Monica, Malina, Zdrada, Cerberus, Justice, Judgement, Modeus, and even the angel, Azazel, have been warming up to him. But that can be as much of a good thing as it is a bad thing."

"How so?"

"Because by living with us he is getting accustomed to living with and almost like demons. I think and fear he might forget he is human. Small interactions like those can help, but we need a deeper bond to make sure he doesn't...You know."

"Turn into a fourth generation? I thought the angel was preventing it" Lucifer said.

"She is, but only as long as he is not bedding any of us," Beel said. "This is A HAREM after all. That is unavoidable. And you know full well what happens when a human gives their chastity to a demon, Lucifer. A secret we hid from him.:"

"They become a fourth-generation demon bound to the demon whom they slept with…" Lucifer said, looking down. Truth be told, she never intended to tell him so she could truly make him a slave at first. But now? If it meant him turning against them, no longer being the kind human he is? She didn't know...She didn't want it. She didn't want that to happen. "But what can we do? He is not going to simply sleep with some random harlot we bring him! He is too pure for that!"

"Honestly Lucifer?" Beel sighed. "I do not know either…"


Nerdy: BRUH THIS IS ONE LONG ASS CHAPTER.

You stole my line! But yeah, this is a long chapter mainly cuz my muse was blowing through the roof.

BTW, due to Nerdy's insistence, we now have a Discord server! Here is the invite:

/aw5ZNvH37B