Key #2 – I am Thou, Thou art I.

Ruby and Jaune stood stupefied in the alleyway, gawking at the gargantuan tree that stood on their supposed school ground while said building nowhere to be found.

"Where the hell are we?" Jaune muttered, whipping his head around in confusion, "the street, signs, even potholes are all the same, but where's the school—and why its snowy all of a sudden!" the street was covered with snow, the air was notably cold now—colder than earlier, the two now just noticed that their breath were visible.

Ruby shook her head, 'I don't know either, but wherever we are; we're definitely not in Vale that we knew.' The tree was a dead giveaway, tree that big was just impossible—it is as big as skyscraper and as tall as Tokyo tower (possibly taller). The most notable part of the tree were three huge roots that sprouted to three different directions.

As they gawk at the tree, a sense of serenity and calm started to overtook them, it was an unfamiliar sense of beckoning nostalgia, inviting them closer to the tree.

Jaune gulped, "should we investigate it?"

Ruby slowly nodded, 'there's that bird in town, maybe we can hide under those roots. until whatever happened over…' Jaune looks uneased by the decision but didn't voice any complain, they then rushed over to the tree with Ruby leading and Jaune keeping guard of their behind—pipe in hand. when they got closer, they noticed something in front of the tree; an oak door—It was framed in marble, intricate floral pattern decorating its pristine white surface.

"what's a door doing here?" Jaune wondered aloud, he approached the door and peeked behind it, "there's nothing behind it—literally just a framed door." he then grabbed its handle, he tried to twisted it open but it was locked.

"Maybe it's a magic door?" Ruby muttered to herself, which Jaune heard and rose an eyebrow at her. Ruby pouts, her cheek dusted red.

Frowning, Ruby looked around… but there was nothing around them but giant roots.

"We should-"Jaune said before he suddenly cut off, his face turning horrified, staring behind her. Ruby turned around. From cracks on the ground caused by the roots, black liquids oozes out.

From it, blue masks with frowning face appeared, they then separated and curled into balls before floating up. they suddenly gained color, red and black stripes all over its oval body. They turned around and revealing their huge mouth and tongue.

Ruby took a step back from the sight, Jaune followed suit, "the hell are those?!" the blonde cried while placing himself in front of Ruby and pointing his makeshift weapon towards the creatures.

The creatures licked their lips and slowly approach the two.

'What should we do!?' Ruby cried in her mind, 'w-whatever they are, they must be dangerous!' she assessed when she looked at their huge mouth. 'Am-am I going to die here…?' Dread consumed her mind as she hid behind Jaune.

One of the creatures lunged at the two with its mouth opened wide. "Watch out!" Jaune screamed and pushed Ruby away, the silver eyed girl fell to the ground. Jaune jumped away, but the creature proven faster and bodied him, sending him flying towards one of the roots "Gah!" the pipe was dropped to the ground.

The creature then floats toward Jaune, its brethren followed behind. Ruby pushed herself up, her eyes went wide "Jaune!"

'it's all my fault, I know it is!' Ruby was unable to look away, unable to stop the creatures' march, 'I should've refused, if I refused then Jaune won't be hurt. It's my fault, all of the bad things around me… all because of me…'

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice spoke to her, "are you just going to gawk?" the voice was definitely female, it sounds eerily similar to her own but at the same time different, "that boy has saved your life, he has shown you kindness... and yet are you going to simply watched he become meal for these abominations?"

"What can I do…" Ruby looked down to the dirt, "I'm powerless, I can't do anything without ruining something… my parents, my life, now Jaune…" tears formed in her eyes.

"…. You are a coward" the voice taunted, "a useless coward who refused to face your problems. always running away…" Ruby didn't argue, deep down she knew that it was the truth… "but…. the question still stands, are you simply going to watch? Are you still going to be a coward—spineless girl who can't stand for herself… for others?"

Does she wanted to be a coward…. Of course not! She wanted to change, she wanted to be helpful, for her mother, for everyone, for herself…

The voice chuckled, "...being lied to, alienated, pushed around, quite tiring wasn't it? Then let us take the first step of our journey…." her chest suddenly flared with pain, Ruby gasped as she clutched her heart, trying to subdue the unbearable pain

"I am Thou, Thou art I… Thou who had lost thine path in brambles of life, open thine heart and let it guide thee in thine journey!" a key suddenly appeared above her face. it was a silver lever lock key etched with intricate carving, its bow shaped like mask and its bit numeral '0' with diagonal line crossing in the middle. Ruby grabs the key and do the first thing came to her head.

And stabbed it into her chest.

"Arg-!" blood started to oozing out and drenched her uniform in red. It hurts, it hurts so bad, but the moment she embedded the key to her chest, the pain slowly numbing. A manic smile found its way to her face, she looked up, the creatures suddenly stopped their march and rushed towards Ruby.

But Ruby didn't pay them any mind, she just muttered as she twist her key "Per…. So…. Na…." with a resounding click, blood on her uniform blaze into life, it turned into brilliant blue flame and engulfed her body.

"Ruby!" but the girl ignored Jaune's distraught scream.

The girl slowly stood up and the flames moves before floating above her, its shape slowly became humanoid. Ruby swung her hand in sweeping motion and the flame died down, revealing a new figure floating behind.

It was a female donning red cloak and hood, white dress and black long boots. Her face was covered by her hood, only showing the lower part of her face and strands of golden hair on the side of her face. she sat in relaxed position, cross-legged on a scythe with wooden handle.

"we're going home. aid me, Red Hood!" Ruby shouted and the figure above her jumped of her scythe and wield it.

"Thrash them to your heart content, lets pave our way to victory." Red Hood encourage Ruby, filling her with newfound sense of vigor.

Ruby nodded and commanded, "Red Hood, cut them to pieces!" the persona dashed towards their enemies and swung her scythe in an arc, killing two of them. the creatures' corpse instantly dissolved into black ooze before it even touched the ground. 'Interesting…' Ruby glanced at it before turned back to the remaining creatures.

The creatures instantly rushed towards Red Hood, the Persona weaved and dodge, but she was only able to dodged one while the other rammed into her gut. Ruby flinched back as she felt her head pounds. 'so what damaged her, damage me…' Ruby nursed her head as she made her way to Jaune. "Jaune, are you okay?" she asked the boy.

"I-I'm okay, just a scratch" Jaune said while holding his left arm, "how about you? why are you flinched when that thing hit that… woman" Ruby helped him up, the boy slowly stands up while holding the root behind him as support.

"I'm okay, just a bit sore"

Back with Red Hood, she dodged few other attacks and kicked one of them, sending it hurling towards its friend. The persona then returned to Ruby's side, placing herself between them and the stunned creatures.

"Who-what is she?" Jaune asked Ruby.

"My Persona." The girl answered simply.

"Per…sona?" Ruby nodded, "what's that?"

"To be honest, I don't know… but I'm sure it'll help us out of this place."

The creatures recovered and floating once more, they opened their maw and rushed towards the teenagers. Jaune firmed his stand, ready to dodge at moment notice. Ruby glanced between the two, thinking. 'If I use slash, I will only hit one of them and the other will attack us. Red Hood is a tad bit slower than them, she won't able to save us in time. What to do?' as she racked her brain for plan, a certain word suddenly emerged to the forefront of her mind, "…Kouha." She uttered.

Red Hood raised her hand—a ball of light suddenly formed upon the tip of her finger, she pointed her finger at the creatures, the ball instantly split into two before shooting towards them. the light successfully hit the creatures, killing them instantly.

Ruby released a sigh, "that's the last of them…" Red Hood twirled her scythe and faded away, the silver key reappeared in Ruby's hand. all of a sudden, Ruby felt extremely exhausted, she almost fell forward, but Jaune caught her before she kissed the ground.

"Whoa! You okay there?" he asked her, Ruby nodded.

"I'm alright… just… exhausted…" she said between breath. She looked down at her hand, 'a key….' She then turned forward towards the door, 'might as well try…'." Hey Jaune, I wanna try something…" she raised her key.

Jaune looks confused for a bit, Ruby tilts her head towards the door and he immediately knew," O-oh, okay…" he then hoisted her arm to his shoulder, he grunted as they walked towards the door, "man, for someone small, you are heavy-ouch!" his comment gained a smack from Ruby.

Once the two arrived in front of the door, Ruby inserted her key to the keyhole. She took a long deep breath and slowly twisted the key, feeling a slight resistant but it wasn't too strong. Finally, the door was unlocked with a resounding click.

Ruby sighed in relief, "thank god, let's go... Jaune?" she turned to see Jaune was looking somewhere, his eyes squinted, expression unreadable. She shook him gently, "Jaune"

"Wha- oh, what is it?" Jaune jolted, Ruby didn't say anything, she tilts her head and pushed the door open.

"let's go." She said simply and entered the door with Jaune in tow.

"Where the hell are we now?"

"I don't know, but its warmer than earlier."

"There might be something…. Aha!"

With a click, the lights above blinked before it finally lights up the room. "Uh… where are we, Jaune?" Ruby asked while looking around them.

The room were dotted with dusty shelves filled with equally dusty things. there were windows, but were curtained. faint light peeking out of ventilations above the windows, but due to what looks like filters, it wasn't enough to light the room.

"Oh, I think we're in the old shed behind the school. Been here few times." He then turned around and looking at their exit; an oak door on the wall, it was slightly opened and they could see a glimpse of the roots.

"Better lock the door, with that bird and creatures around that place is dangerous." Ruby moved to lock the door, Jaune looked away with pensive expression.

"Yeah, you're right…" he sighed, Jaune then heard beeping noises from his wrist, "oh, shit Its 06:00 PM, lets jet the hell out of here!"

The two then ran out of the shed.

It was already dark when Ruby arrived home, "I'm home!" but there was no answer, her phone then ringed, she fished it out and read the new message. She sighed, 'mom will be home late…' she then yawned, 'man, I'm spent. I'll skip dinner tonight, don't wanna sleep on my food.'

She cleaned herself and went to bed. It didn't take long for Ruby to fell asleep.

Ruby found herself once again in the velvet room, but instead of laying on the bed, she was sitting on a chair instead.

"Welcome back, dear guest… ah, it seems you have awakened your power." Walton greeted.

"Power… you mean my Persona?" Ruby asked, Walton nodded.

"Indeed. Your new power; Persona, is a power manifested from your psyche, a mask oneself wear to face hardships of life. But it was not the only one, it seems you are a wildcard too"

"Wild…Card?

Igor gestured to the table where a single card with blue border was laid. it has a silhouette of a person and a dog on their tail.

Igor then explained, "Your arcana; The Fool, represented by the number 0. The number itself symbolizes many things such as; such as emptiness, innocence, and most of all—infinite potential. A talent that will prove useful in your future endeavor… but for now, please take this…" a key suddenly materialized with a gleam of light above the table, it then landed gently upon Ruby's hand, "this is key to access this room, from this moment on you are officially an honored guest of the Velvet Room. that is all for now… until we meet again…"

Ruby's gaze grew heavy and slowly she awaken from her sleep.

Saturday, 5/4/2019.

Ruby was surprised that she was able to sleep, the memory of the corpse was still fresh in her mind, but when she didn't get reminded or actively thinking about it her mind will just wander elsewhere. When she opened the classroom door, she was greeted by the sight of Jaune being poked by Yang.

"Dude you, ok? You're a mess…" Yang noted Jaune disheveled hair, bags under his eyes and overall moody aura.

"I-I'm fine… just haven't got any wink last night…" he said with a yawn. Yang's expression scrunched up slightly, not buying his excuse. She was about to say something, but Jaune finally noticed Ruby and went straight to her. "Hey, meet me at rooftop later." He whispered before returning to his seat.

Ruby didn't know what Jaune wanted, but by looking at his state it was something important.

As soon as the school bell rang, Jaune immediately went to the rooftop, Ruby noted that his movement was brisk and hasty. She decided to bring her lunch with her to the meeting. When she arrived at the rooftop, she saw Jaune sitting on a desk by the wall his back leaning on said wall, his expression was unreadable, eyes on the ground, unfocused. Ruby was a bit concerned by the sight, he called his name softly, making sure she didn't startle him.

Jaune looks up, "good, you're here." He stood up from his sit, opting to lean on it instead.

"Jaune, are you okay?" Ruby asked.

"don't worry, I'm okay. Just a bit sleep deprived." Jaune waved off with a weak smile. Ruby wanted to press… but she nodded instead, Ruby didn't know Jaune much yet, she didn't want for him to lashed out on her. "How about you? since we saw…. You know."

Ruby shook her head, "I'm good." She then sat on a vacant seat near Jaune, placing her meal on her lap.

Jaune chuckled, "Jeez, you're a strong girl. Usually, people will be shaken when they saw human corpse. especially at that condition." Ruby too wonders why she seems unbothered by it… maybe one of few problems she unknowingly had. Speaking of which…

"Are you losing sleep because of that?"

"No—I mean not entirely. but there's something that has been on my mind since yesterday." Jaune took a deep breath and crossed his arms, "Hey, Ruby… there's something I wanted to ask."

Ruby tilted her head, looking at Jaune. The boy saw it as a sign to continue, "I want to go back to that place."

"What?!" Ruby was stunned by the request, "why, that place is dangerous Jaune, you saw it didn't you?"

Jaune raised his hands placatingly, "I know, I know but hear me out! There's something I wanted to check, it won't be long, I promised." He promised, "we're going there for 5 – 10 minutes top. Then we get the hell out."

"But what about those things, those black masked creatures—and also the bird!"

"You got that Persona thing with you right? I'm sure it'll be alright. I mean you kicked their asses yesterday with your lightshow. About the bird, we can dodge it like yesterday, I know back alley in this town like the back of my hand!"

Ruby frowned, "but…"

scratching his head, Jaune sighed, "look, I know it is dangerous there, but there is something I want to check, it'll be just a moment, I swear."

"What is it you wanted to know so bad?"

"I can't say yet, I'll tell you once I'm sure but this is very important to me, please." Ruby was taken aback by his plea, just what is it he wanted to see?

Ruby nodded slowly after a brief silence, "alright, but only for a bit…"

"Yes! Thank you, Rubes. I swear I'll tell you about it after we get there." Jaune said with new vigor… suddenly his stomach rumbled. "o-oh, sorry about that! I skipped breakfast and went straight to school this morning." He blushed with wry grin.

Ruby shook her head, her eyes then landed on her meal, she then remembered. 'Mom always cook a bit much. I think I can share with Jaune.' She was hesitant, but in the end able to gather a bit of courage to offer it to Jaune. The boy was delighted. The two spent the remaining lunchtime chatting about other things.

Ruby returned to class feeling a bit braver.

Class had ended and Jaune told Ruby to wait for him at the old shed, he planned to took a little detour home to get something. Ruby was strolling pass the 1st year hallway when a familiar voice called her. "Ruby!" she turned around and saw Yang approaching her.

"Oh, Yang. What's up?"

"Nothing much, where are you heading?" Yang asked her.

"O-oh, u-um, I… had a bit free time before return home, so I decided to walk around school. You know, new student thing! Hehehe…" Ruby tried her best to lied.

"….Right." Yang drawled, clearly unconvinced, but she didn't press the matter, "say Ruby, you speak to Jaune during lunch, right?"

"y-yeah, what about it?"

"Did he said anything about why he looked like a zombie today?"

"No." the answer came quick… too quick, she then added, "he just said he was sleep deprived."

"I see…" Yang's expression was a bit scrunched, Ruby felt small on her scrutinizing gaze. She sighed, "whatever, I get it, it was private matter… talk to ya later." She said and walked off. Ruby felt bad about lying to her, but she can't just spill their plan, after all it was Jaune's. not hers.

Ruby waited in front of the shed, it didn't take long for Jaune to returned, he's now holding a guitar case. "Sorry for the wait. Let's go inside, then."

"Wait, before we go…" Ruby then told him about her encounter with Yang.

"o-oh…" Jaune looked down to the ground, biting his bottom lip, "I guess you did the right call to not tell her. Yang… is a bit brash, she often chooses to use her muscle than thinking stuff over… but she's a good person."

Ruby frowned a bit, "do you think she'll follow us there?"

"Doubt it. I passed by her when I run back here, she probably on her way to her bike club." Jaune sighed and shook his head, "well, what are we waiting for? Let's go." With a nod, Ruby led him inside the shed which was still unlocked.

She questioned it to Jaune, but he just shrugged, "staff rarely walked pass this part of school. Beside it's a bit of a normalcy that this building was left open—it's not like there's anything here to steal anyway."

She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad. Regardless, the two found their way to the oak door at the very end of the shed. Ruby was about to put in her key, but Jaune stopped her. "Wait, before we go, take this." He opened his guitar case and passed her… a golf club?

"I got it from my sis' attic, probably my dad's, but it's not like that he'll be using it anymore. Oh yeah, I got some bandages too for emergency!"

Ruby nodded and thanked him. she then opened the door and the two walked inside.

"we're under the tree." Ruby noted as she glances around her surroundings, 'glad to know that it didn't lead us somewhere random.' she can only shivers when imagining such scenario. She then noticed Jaune looking around, muttering something under his breath. She called for him… but it seems like he didn't hear it.

Ruby approached him, putting her hand on his shoulder, "you okay, Jaune?" she asked the boy.

Jaune jolted a bit and turned around, "o-oh, I'm okay. It's just… where was it…" he muttered the last part. he then walked away, Ruby following behind him. Jaune was still looking around, it made Ruby quite uneasy.

"So… What are we looking for?" she decided to asked. It might be easier for him if she helped.

"Huh, it was… um…" Jaune looks a bit anxious, biting his lip lightly, "it was a scarf…"

"a scarf?" what a scarf doing in this place, why Jaune searching for it?

Jaune nodded, "yeah, a purple scarf with flower patterns." He described.

"Okay…. So why are you looking for it? better yet, how did it end up here?"

Jaune face scrunched, "I… don't know either. As for why… it belongs to someone special to my sister. She went missing few years ago."

A scarf belongs to missing person, why did it end up here? Ruby frowned a bit, "are you sure this is the one?"

Jaune was hesitant but he gave a nod, "I'm sure of it—my gut feeling told me so. But—" he suddenly stopped, something caught his attention, "there it is!"

Jaune suddenly bolted away, leaving Ruby behind, "Wait Jaune!" she then ran to catch up with the boy.

Jaune stopped before wire fences not too far from the tree. Ruby arrived by his side and saw what caught his attention; a torn purple scarf stuck on the fence—and just like he described it has flower patterns on it. Jaune gulped and untied the scarf, he then inspected it closely, his expression darkens as he did so. "there's no doubt about it, this is it. it has their initial on it."

Ruby took a step closer and noticed 'S & T' embroiled inside a heart. "Jaune…" Ruby muttered as she noticed how worn and dirty it was, as if it was here for a long time.

"she's here, she got to be here…" Jaune muttered before he ran towards the town.

Ruby's eyes widened, "Jaune!" she shouted his named but he ignored her still running away. "Dang it!" Ruby clicked her tongue and chase after him while drawing her golf club.

Jaune ran and ran, his gut feeling leading him to his destination. Thoughts in his mind ran faster than his sprint, imagining scenarios after scenarios of what her sister's girlfriend, Terra possibly endured. His run stopped before the perfect copy of his house. His fist clenched and he walked closer to the house.

The house was a simple two-story house painted in red. The house was surrounded by small wooden fences, a lone birch tree sat near the edge of the property with a tire hanging on its branch. As he got closer, he noted how perfect the replica was, from the tiniest scratch on the mailbox to the crack on a pavement near the tree. The only difference was; the place was hauntingly empty. Not one sound come from inside the house, not even the ever chirping of Saffron's pet bird.

Ruby arrived not long after, spotting Jaune standing before the door. "Jaune, what's the big idea?! you promised we're not going to town!" she stomped towards him and grabs his shoulder, "let's go back, before that bird saw us."

Despite Ruby's warning, Jaune didn't budged. He kept his gaze forward, his body tense, breath ragged. "She must be here. For so long my sister thought she ran away from home because of their fight. For years she blamed herself because of it. the guilt gnaws on her to this day."

"Jaune…"

"But it turns out that Terra never left, she was here—in this town all along. Trapped and alone." He clenched his jaw and reached the door knob. he opened it and entered the house without a word. Ruby gazed at Jaune's retreating back, with a firm expression she tightened her grip on her weapon and followed.

It didn't take long for them to find the answer. for in the living room laid a woman with tan skin, wearing a police uniform. she was inside of some sort of clear cocoon with black veins, said veins were connected to a filament protruding from the ceiling. Her expression was serene and calm, as if she was sleeping.

"Terra!" Jaune shouted and dashed towards the woman. He tried to pull open the cocoon but it didn't budge, he even ran to the kitchen to grab a knife but its blade was proven no match against the surprisingly soft membrane of the cocoon. On his wits end, he turned to Ruby. "Ruby, use that Persona thing!"

Ruby was briefly taken aback by the desperation in his voice before she nodded and used her Persona to cut the cocoon open. Surprisingly, Red Hood's scythe was able to rip the cocoon open.

Jaune then caught the unconscious Terra before she hits the floor, he then checked her pulse, he sighed in relief when he felt it. "Terra, hey Terra, wake up!" he called the woman. But she didn't wake up. upon closer look, she noted that her chestnut hair haven't grown even a tiny bit.

Ignoring the growing pit in his stomach, Jaune propped Terra to his back.

"Come on Rubes, let's get the hell out of here." Ruby nodded and lead the way out, but the moment they walked out of the house they were greeted by black slimes emerging from the ground, blocking their way.

"Shit!" Jaune cursed. Ruby placed herself between him and the three slimes, weapon at the ready.

"Keep Terra safe, I'll handle them. come, Red Hood!" Ruby flicked her key. Red hood appeared above Ruby with a twirl. "Kouha!" Ruby ordered while pointing at an approaching monster, said creature staggered when Red Hood's light spell collided with it, "One more, Kouha!" Ruby then ordered again, attacking the remaining monsters until all of them are defeated. Sensing new surge of power in her, Ruby smirked.

"Whoa, that's total badass!" Jaune cried in awe, "I'm sure we'll get out of here in no time"

Ruby scratched her cheek sheepishly, "T-thanks!" The two then continued their trek. Monsters kept appearing and blocking their path, but thanks to Ruby's Persona they were able to reach the tree safely… until now.

The teenagers were running towards under the tree, when suddenly from above the tree a screeching sound echoed, it was both beastly and distorted.

The sheer volume of the scream forces the two to stop in their track. "What was that!?" Jaune exclaimed as he looks around frantically. Ruby did the same. She then spotted a dark blur running down the tree.

The blur suddenly jumped off the tree bark and landed before the two. the ground shook as it did so, almost make the two buckles down. The force behind the landing kicked up clouds of dust, blinding their vision momentarily. When the dust settled down, the two was able to see what blocked their path.

A giant black quadrupedal creature with bone plates and spikes all over its body, flaring red eyes that burns with beastly fury, and curled tail covered with barbed wires and spike-like bones. It snarls at them, showing its jagged bucky teeth with saliva dripping from it.

"w-what the hell…" Jaune muttered with fright at the mere sight of the dark beast.

The beast growled as it prepared to pounce. Ruby placed herself in front of Jaune, "Jaune, look for a place to hide." She ordered and called upon her Persona. "Red Hood, Kouha!" Jaune didn't have to be told twice, as much as he wanted to help, he got unconscious Terra on his back.

Red Hood twirled her scythe and shoots the beast with its light spell… but it didn't even flinch. "What!?" Ruby cried in surprise, "it resisted!"

The creature growled at her and pounced. Ruby rolled to her side, successfully evading the attack. but the creature didn't let up, it immediately run towards her and swiped its claws. Without time to dodge Ruby summoned her Persona in front of her as a shield. The sharp claws strike true, Ruby was startled when pain suddenly strikes her head. "Gah!" she was thrown aside by the beast.

Ruby pushed herself up, scratches and bruise now marred her skin. She then stood up with aid from the golf club she's holding. The beast screamed and turned to her, it then opened its maw and shooting out a bolt of lightning!

Ruby was shocked by it that she wasn't able to dodge in time. "AARGH!" she cried in pain as electricity run through her body. Ruby was down to her knees but her muscles were spasming, refused to move.

"RUBY!" Jaune screamed in vain from his hiding spot behind the giant roots as he watched his friend being attacked by what seemingly a demonic giant squirrel. He was about to run to her side, but he remembered the unconscious Terra by his side.

He turned back and forth between Ruby who being approached by the beast slowly and Terra who was unresponsive and defenseless. "w-what should I do, what should I do!?" he frantically clawed his hair.

In one side his friend was about to be mauled by a monster, while the other his sister-in-law was completely defenseless.

"God damn it, god damn it!" He punched the ground in frustration. Tears start to pool in his eyes.

A glint from his side made him flinched. He turn to it and saw Terra's unmoving hand hung slightly, resting on her police badge that was mirroring the faint sunlight of this unknown world. Is… is this a sign? "Terra…"

He then glances back to Ruby who was still on her knees gasping as he locked eyes with the beast. He turned back to Terra and rested her hand to her lap, "that's right, you would definitely jump to help her despite how powerless you are, because that is what's right" Jaune muttered. He then picked Terra's baton from her hip and stood up.

"I'll be right back." he said with one last glance at Terra before run towards the battle.

"Hey Jackass!" he screamed and threw a rock to the beast. It didn't as much as flinch, but it turned towards Jaune. "Yeah, that's right, why don't you pick a fight with a man, huh!?"

"Jaune, go away, that thing is out of our league. Get Terra away from here, she needs medical attention!"

Doubt flashed on his visage, but only for a brief moment, for It was then replaced by determination. "No, not while you're being mauled by this thing. I had enough of being useless, always in the sideline while everyone around me running around achieving their goals." Jaune denied Ruby's request, pointing his baton shakily at the beast, "I might don't have a persona or whatnot, but like hell I would sit on my ass while my friend being thrown around! I'm done being bystander, I'm done being an extra god damnit!" Jaune screamed with conviction

"Are thou truly wish thus?" a voice boomed in his head.

a burning sensation suddenly flaring in his chest, as if there was a raging inferno inside. Jaune clutched his chest, futilely trying to subdue the pain.

"Ye who was blind with fog of apathy, cradled by illusion of grandeur. Are thou wishes to end this farce, even though thou aware of the unfairness of world?" the voice asked again. Jaune can feel it—even though his pain was unbearable, he recognized this voice… it was his own.

"Yes, I'm tired of being useless. I will fight—even though I'll die trying!"

The voice laughed boisterously before continuing, "Very well, let us bound our contract."

In an instant the pain intensified tenfold, Jaune dropped his baton and clutches his chest with his two hands… but despite the intense pain, he refused to kneel.

"I am thou, thou art I… rise from thine throne of ignorance and comfort, walk the path of strive. let us ascend to new height!"

Jaune's leg shook, but he refused to buckle down. He released his clutch and stood firm despite the flaring agony. With gritted teeth, he answered, "I hear ya…" he snapped his head forward, his iris turned molten gold. A brass key floats before him.

"Come to me… Jack!"

To be continued

AN: I was torn between naming Ruby's persona Blanchette (Red Riding Hood's name iirc) or Red Hood. But I settled with Red Hood, since it sounds like Ruby's persona was DC's Red Hood—a vigilante, kinda fits her fondness to the Phantom Thieves.

Persona stats:

Name: Red Hood.

Arcana: Fool

Spells: Slash, Kouha, Sukukaja, Patra, Dia.

Weakness: Dark, Fire.

Element: Light (Null).

Description: the protagonist of the story Red Riding Hood. A girl who went to visit her grandmother but then met with a big bad wolf. There are many versions of this fairy tale with different endings.