Sorry for the long wait. Here's another chapter of DESPAIR REMNANTS!
Rowan Citrian: I hope you do get the epic battle, but you might have to wait just a little longer. I believe some stuff needs to happen.
Echoclonet: Might have to wait a tiny bit longer good sir.
Scarese: Yes sir. I hope I don't disappoint.
Forthose8675309: Why thank you, I hope I can continue to do them justice.
Janed12000: Such is the life of a Hunter of the Night.
Axxcel: I honestly didn't even plan that. I just thought it would be interesting to see what was going to happen.
Mr. Malfunction: Why thank you, I hope you enjoy the chapter.
VGBlackwing: Okay the hear heartbeats part does in fact sound interesting. But I just think it more that Venatores has a great understanding of people because of his teacher training him to fight, specifically, people. Once again, he is the truest of bro's.
Tsun: Thank you very much.
Abciluvpie: There are a lot of ways this can go bad.
Redpodjellybeans: OH YEAH! Also is your name a reference to Red Hot Chili Peppers?
Etain: So much blood… and AWESOMENESS!
Je'dail: Oh trust me, it's coming. Also, stop with the puns, they are in fact painful.
Gold crown dragon: PRAISE IT!
Neema AIry: Well here you go Neema. Hope you didn't miss it to much.
Randomperson: Oh, you'll see.
Throwing the Shade: Well here you go shade, also love the Sonic fanart you have. Sadly us Sonic fans still have to wait for a good game, huh. :(
LockeBelmont: The Archer thing is probably the weirdest part of Fate. Which is saying something considering all the crossdressing spirits we tend to get in it. I certainly hope he does, I wrote my ass off for that dialogue.
Darkuz: So much blood.
Guest: Ten/ten review.
Boiji: There are more Cliffhangers to come.
Guest: You know what they say, if it lasts longer than five hours, call a doctor. Also yeah, that was a pretty good burn.
Raven Armata: The problem is, in my mind, if you aren't prepared for it you might go permanently insane.
Yeet yo Azz: Probably, we will just have to see.
Student: Hey man, what's up. Sorry it took so long, but stuff been happening. You actually have come up with rather interesting ideas, sadly I already had something in mind. Anyways, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and I hope you enjoy this one to.
Remastered Hype: Don't worry, I shall make you happy with another chapter
Rnji: That makes sense. Yes, I myself have to wonder.
Eugene DC flores: That's actually a pretty good idea. I'd recommend some stuff from Dragon Force for Mors and Berserk Ost for Venatores.
Omega13: He is the broiest of bros and it won't be a battle… it will be a HUNT!
Guestman52: Well here is some of my great work for you. Sadly, that spark might be the spark of hatred.
Guest: Why thank you.
Guest: Thank you very much, I'll be sure to keep it up.
Rubydragon123: Oh, definitely, but I have a different idea for the exam.
Guest: As funny as that might be, I had to go for the more dramatic option.
Frosty Boi: It would, but I have already planned it out in some… different areas.
Guest: Why thank you I hope you continue to enjoy them, as I continue.
Guest: It is quite all right. I have zero control of what you think. But, I must tell you, I don't wish to write something along those lines. They are at most going to have a bond of brothers. Much like the knights of old.
Lyagon: It really is like that, I love the analogy. As for our heroes, that will have to wait a while longer, until they grow accustomed to the world.
Eugene DC Flores; I'm pretty sure they are not a couple, but he is about to kick some serious ass.
Rockyses: I would say no.
Proiu: Who knows. Right now Blake is in a very unstable moment. Also, thank you very much. Hope you enjoy this chapter to.
Guest: Here is the update you requested.
Guest: I believe insight as a means to see what lies beyond this singular plane of existence. He can see spirits, judging from the Weeping Widows of Cainhurst. But the souls share the same body. So he can't really see it.
Wom 1: This is true. It is also the main reason why Mors was even with Yang during that bout. He was intentionally keeping it hidden, holding himself back while doing so.
GamenoLife: Apologies for the long wait. College and stuff. Nevertheless, here is a chapter for you GNL. Hope you enjoy it.
Young1iv: They kind of do really.
Arrogant Comprehender: I think you might be mixed up.
Chapter 14
A Well Laid Plan…
Jaune
It had only been a couple of days, but a single truth was apparent.
I had never, truly, knew what stress and/or fear was. Not until this very week.
Doctor Ooblecks class, while very difficult, was nowhere close to the amount of stress I was currently feeling. It felt like the very sky was trying to push him into the ground.
The Deathstalker? To what I was feeling now, it might as well have been a Draggrimm.
Even the sword, now pointed at my throat, seemed like a minor inconvenience to me. The girl wielding it giving me the only thing that could, at the moment, pierce my stress.
Very intense worry.
"I think," She spoke up, trying to put on a happy face. Though, it was pretty obvious that it was entirely false. Her hand reaching out to me in a friendly way to help me out. "That is enough for today."
My hand unconsciously reached up, my partner pulling me up onto my feet within the arena we currently sat in. A false smile gracing my lips, my mind anywhere but there. Always returning to that one thing. That one simple sentence.
Win, or Ozpin will know your secret.
For the past four days, this was all I could even think about. Sometimes it would stay there looming over my head, while other times it just popped out. Quickly vanishing like the wind before I can even fully grasp it.
It was annoying, but at least it was a constant reminder to train for the battle to come.
Not that it would do much good, considering who I would be fighting.
"Jaune," Her voice spoke up, followed quickly by a touch on my shoulder. I turned my head quickly seeing my partner with here worry still in her eyes. "is something wrong?"
It should have been easy, telling her that I was being threatened. Threatened with what only could be expulsion.
The problem is, she would start to ask what he would have been expelled for.
He could barely handle her worry… How could he handle her disappointment?
"No, just… nerves." He spoke, not really lying considering the amount of stress he was accumulating.
She frowned in response to that, something that, somehow, filled him with more stress.
"It's three days away Jaune," Pyhrra spoke, a warm smile spreading across her face. A smile that almost spread warmth across his body. "and he's up against all of us. There's nothing to be nervous about."
I was jealous of how sure she was, the Champion who had won a hundred battles.
Yet, here I was merely the inexperienced Jaune.
"I know!" I spoke up, not having the courage or will to look into her eyes. Something that hurt her more than me."I-its just…"
"Than stop worrying…" Pyrrha spoke her voice soft and comforting, like a gentle fall breeze. Her hand reaching to my own shoulder, trying her best to be supportive. Her usual smile on her face. "we'll beat him."
He was sure she was confident in doing so. Even he was confident, that if she ever had to, she could beat nearly anyone who challenged her.
The problem was that he had a similar confidence in Mors.
Pyhrra was a Champion, who had never met an equal. She had never fought someone who was her equal… How did he expect her to fight someone, who even the teachers considered better?
Mors… was just too powerful just to go against him with just brute force alone. Therefore, there was only one thing left to do…
He had to make a plan against him.
He had pushing it off for awhile, only so he was prepared for the history final, but he couldn't anymore. The battle against Mors wasn't just another battle.
This was the battle that decided the future of my dream career. The battle that kept him with people he could actually consider friends.
Even if I had to lie to them, for just awhile longer. A false smile, one that appeared genuine, stretching across my lips.
"Hey Pyrrha," I spoke up, catching her attention. Her bright green eyes grew even brighter. Just from my false smile alone. "Thanks."
It almost felt bad, watching her give a real bright smile. One seemed to make her look even prettier. But this was my own problem… I couldn't have them fix it for me.
Somehow, the knife in my stomach twisted even further. But, the smile on my face was still present.
"It's what partners are for, Jaune." She spoke, the arm that was on my shoulder slowly retracting back to the position by her side. For some reason, a bit of pink dusting her cheeks.
Sadly, the sweet moment between two partners had to be interrupted. The scroll in my pocket starting to buzz, causing me to nearly jump up from my position.
It appears I forgot about the alarm that was set to end practice.
Thankfully, it made a pretty good excuse to get to work. Even if it made my gut feel like it was filled with maggots. I lifted my scroll out of my pocket, looking at it with mscales surprise and recognition.
"Oh cra-," I spoke up looking at the scroll with a small form of recognition. A lie already at the very tip of my tongue. "hey do you know where Nora is? She's been having trouble studying recently and was asking for my help."
It wasn't truly a lie either. Since the beginning of the school year, it was apparent that Nora would need help in school.
It wasn't because she was dumb, in fact she was actually pretty smart. Problem was, she had a low attention span when it came to anything not combat related.
Predictably, History and Grimm studies wasn't her strongest suit.
"O-Oh…" Phyrra stuttered out, still looking a bit shocked. Before shifting back to her usual smile. "I think she went with Ren to the Arena."
That sounded like her alright. Despite Nora's boisterous comments about not being together, the two have almost never left the others side. Almost to the point where random strangers comment on how cute they were.
"Thanks again." I spoke up, trying to stick to the way I usually act. "See you at the dorm."
Before she could speak again, possibly making the feeling of maggots in my stomach grow, I turned to the exit. My pace slightly faster than it usually was, hoping as if it looked like I was trying to find Nora.
Instead I would find the only person I knew, who could give an insight into Mors' weakness.
My first pick would have been Venatores, but whatever battle was going on between him and Blake was still going strong.
And, as messed up as it sounded, I didn't want to seem as if I picked a 'side'. Especially with how paranoid Blake was acting. I wouldn't be surprised if she was looking through his window to get info.
So, I had to figure out the next best thing.
The weakness of Mors' weapon and armor.
And there was only one person who knew that much about weapons.
"A greatsword?" My first friend spoke, her silver eyes looking up from the book on her table.
I expected her to be in a lot of places really, some of them including Vale at some form of Smithy. However, as odd as it sounded, I didn't expect her to be here.
The Beacon Library. A place filled with the smell of musty old books and, despite it being a school, old people.
It was a place he didn't like to visit very often. Reading wasn't his strongest suit, especially when it was a boring recount of a hundred year war.
"Yeah," I spoke up, trying to remain quiet as possible. Especially since this was a library and Ruby happened to be sitting with ten other people. Oddly enough, none of them being her teammates, but who was I to judge. "I need to know some things about it and you were the only one I could turn to."
While Ruby Rose was only a scythe wielder, she was also happened to be a weapon nut. She even created the thing herself, with little to no help from my understanding.
It was also the fact that, she practically drooled all over Mors' sword. Even seeming to know what sort of blade it could be.
If anyone knew about his greatsword, it would be her.
Though… It was pretty weird seeing her glow at the mere mention of a weapon. Even now she appeared to be excited to talk about the oversized sword.
"Wait, don't tell me you…" She spoke up, her eyes growing with her usual innocent joy. Almost like little sparkles of light that seemed to brighten the room.
It also happened to deafen it.
"ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE YOUR SWORD INTO A GREATSWORD!" She screamed out, my hands barely reacting fast enough to cover my own ears from the apparent bomb. She even jumped out of her seat looking at me in a way a dog was about to get a treat.
Even now, I still wondered how this girl could possibly be the one who took out the Nevermore. Even becoming the leader of her own team even.
It still made more sense than a liar though.
Sadly, the adorable expression on her face was removed. As the people reminded her of where she currently was
"SHHHH!" The ten people at her table spoke up, each of them quieting the excitable leader.
Ruby, in all her awkwardness, had the decency to blush to her fellow students. A hand already raising, in a silent apology
Then she turned to me, her face still just as bright as her namesake. "S-sorry." A hand already fidgeting with her hair.
I just looked at her, a small smile gracing my lips. "It's fine," I spoke up my, my hands shifting into my pockets. "I should have explained it better."
"I need to know what the strengths and weaknesses of a greatsword are," I continued to speak, Ruby slowly getting back into her seat. Eyes fidgeting every now and then towards the others in apology. "for my battle midterm."
All Ruby gave was a quiet 'oh' before quickly turning to me in her seat. A serious look, that only served to make her look like a child playing a ceo.
"I forgot you're supposed to fight Mors." Ruby spoke up, looking at the book she had put to the side. Her focus slightly intense than what I was used to seeing. "I've been doing something similar for our fight against Venatores."
My brows rose into a shocked expression, looking around the area. Was she spying on Venatoresor something.
I looked around the area, searching for his silver blue hair. But, if he was here, he certainly didn't let himself be known.
So I turned my eyes back to Ruby, her eyes still focused on the title of the book in front of her.
"How exactly?" I asked, my eyes still shifting around the library. Still, Ruby looked me directly in my eyes, pulling an open book towards her.
"Well," she spoke, still fidgeting with the open book in her grasp. The title still invisible to his gaze."I found this and I've just been looking it over."
With those words spoken, she turned it over, the bright yellow of the cover the first thing that caught his attention. The rest contrasted against the deep black of the lower half. The center of it holding the title of the book.
He wanted to be impressed, he really did. But the moment he read the first two words, he couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. Even to the point of reading the title out loud for all to hear.
"'The Basics of Hunting Game and Grimm'..." My voice coming out in a subdued tone. One that reeked of disappointment. "Really?"
I was expecting something far more concrete. I wasn't expecting a 'Twelve easy step to beating Venatores Luna.' But I was expecting something far less… Childish.
"I remember him mentioning something about a 'hunt' before." Ruby began, her focus now fully on the book within her hands. Her eyes still strangely serious. "Even now, he refers to himself as a Hunter not a Huntsman. So, I got to researching, and found out that most of his experience might come from common hunting practices. So, I found this really old, kinda disturbing book about actual accounts of Faunus Refugees being hunted during the war. But, since I can't read that for longer than ten minutes without feeling sick, I decided to read more on the hunters side of things."
Huh… That actually made a lot of sense to him. It wouldn't make the tsunami that was, Venatores any easier to fight against. Well, they at least had a way to understand his attack patterns.
Yet, my curiosity was still not satisfied. "Anything useful so far?"
"Just a simple three steps." The silvered eyed girl spoke, appearing to almost be nervous at the mere mention of something useful.
That didn't sway my curiosity. In fact, it made it grow in every way. "What are they?"
She only hesitated for a second, before holding up three of her fingers. Than spoke only three words, each of them followed by her fingers falling at each word.
"Locate. Cripple… Subdue."
The atmosphere grew a little cold at those simple, yet gruesome, steps of hunting. Even the people that were at her table shifted uncomfortably at the words she spoke.
But, he at least knew that she was on the right track. After all, that sounded like something Venatores would say in a lesson.
That didn't stop me from letting out a surprised. "Woah..."
"Yeah," Ruby began, a hand absently twirling a stray strand of hair. "I said the same thing."
I absently shook my head, trying to shake the random thoughts that twisted in my mind. Hoping to get back to the reason I came here.
"So, any advice?" I spoke up quietly. Looking around the room once again.
"Oh, right." She said, a hand making its way to her chin. "Well… for one you'll have to focus on the weight of the sword."
"The weight?" I asked, not exactly understanding.
"Yeah." She spoke up, her childish excitement showing on her face as she talked about the weapon. "A weapon that big has to be stable so the balance, usually has to remain even around the whole thing. Meaning the hilt and guard have to counter the blade's weight or give it a bigger leverage, like a Zweihander. I even asked him about it, and he told me it wasn't top heavy, so it's a very balanced sword. Disrupt it, and you'll most likely disrupt his attack."
Disrupt the weight to disrupt the attack? It was something Phyrra did on a regular basis with her opponents. Make the sword lighter or heavier so that he or she misses. She could even do it on armor if she wanted to.
The problem with that, was she never faced Mors Ignis.
Everyone knew, at the very moment he lifted that barbell, that Mors Ignis was not ordinary. He lifted something that, even someone with a strength based Semblance would find difficult.
So, I doubt that it would truly help in the long run.
Besides… Mors seemed to have a habit of swinging his sword at least fifty miles per hour at someone. I didn't think Phyrra had enough time to redirect it.
Ruby continued her speech, pushing his current thoughts to the side. Her attitude still strangely focused from what he knew of the girl. "Another thing is that it isn't really a skill based weapon, meaning that he'll focus more on brute strength and finishing of the enemy as fast as possible."
That was kind of obvious, especially the way he fought Yang. Although, Nora and Phyrra would probably be the best against the two of them. Knowing about Nora's already insane strength, plus her Semblance, might just tip the tide.
"Oh, and most of the time they'd want even footing in battle." Ruby spoke up, catching my attention once again. Seemingly distracted inside her own well of weapon knowledge yet still attentive in her own right. "So, your less likely to find them in any place that could cause them to slip, or get the blade stuck easily if they could avoid it. Like the swamps or a desert."
Huh?
"W-why would the desert be a problem?" I spoke failing to keep my voice even. My thoughts whirling a mile a minute at that admission.
"The sand, mostly." She spoke up, not even batting an eye at my stutter. "When it comes to weapons, especially larger ones, the sand isn't stable, making you more likely to slip. Even just the tiniest displacement, usually leads to you missing or losing most, if not all, of the strength behind your swing."
That… didn't make sense then. Mors said that our fight was going to be in the desert, one close to Vacuo. Did I mishear it maybe?
No, that doesn't make sense either. Did that mean he was looking down on us? Maybe he thinks he already won, and wishes to give himself a challenge? No, the very least he's an honorable person when it comes to challenges.
Then why is it he's giving you a handicap.
"Jaune?" Ruby spoke up again, waving her hand in my face causing me to flinch. Once again, throwing me out of my depressing thought process. "Are you overthinking things again?"
"No," I lied, backing away from her waving at me. The voice within my head still speaking of the possible lies that Mors' could have spewed. "Just… making sure I remember everything. Thanks Ruby, couldn't have done it without you."
Ruby smiled, one that was filled with her usual strand of joy. One that was way too innocent for someone in her teenage years. Already giving a short wave, grabbing the book at her side. "No problem, I hope you beat him!"
Same here.
I didn't know how, but I had ended up on the roof. The cold stone on his back, as he looked up to the sky above them.
He liked the stars… He never really knew why, but he really did like them. Even now, as the stress of the battle to come tried to consume him, the stars seemed to calm him right down.
Of course, they were dim compared to the ones he grew up with. One's above a village in some stray countryside where he grew up with his siblings. But, they still accomplished there usual job.
It cleared his thoughts, at least to the point that he could think of a plan. Though, honestly speaking, he didn't have much of anything to be able to create a plan.
All he really had was what he already knew. Have Phyrra make Mors heavier to give them a fighting chance. Keep Nora and her in the front, as me and Ren didn't really have the skill or firepower to bust through Mors' armor.
That's all he really had, plus a small understanding of how to survive a desert biome.
But it wouldn't help.
They couldn't beat him. They could match him for a few moments of time, but they couldn't beat him.
Ren didn't have the necessary skill or power to do so. And, in what amounted to an open plain, stealth would be useless.
Nora was strong, stronger than anyone on her team. And, so long as they had Electricity Dust, they could only make her stronger.
But, was she stronger than Mors? He honestly didn't think think so.
Then there was his partner. The skilled Phyrra Nikos, the Champion. Someone who had never lost a fight, and has become world famous because of it.
But, once again, she had never once faced Mors Ignis.
He, however, fought them both. He was the only one who had any knowledge of this.
He could only say this, however… When he was fighting each of them. The only one who had ever made him feel scared, was there opponent tomorrow.
It wasn't anything obvious, at first, but whenever he had fought Mors something within him grew terrified. Something that made him want to just run away, tail between his legs.
Phyrra didn't feel like that. She felt like a person, someone who could teach him as an equal.
Mors… Mors felt ancient, like Ozpin. Someone who felt out of place, even among the best of the best.
How could they beat something that felt like it didn't belong with other Huntsman? Something that, by itself, felt like it was made for something… More?
And here he laid… The weakest link of his team. The one who would probably fail them tomorrow.
Great… Not even the stars are helping me anymore. He sighed, ready to get up from his resting spot, hopefully to at least get a good night's sleep.
"The stars look beautiful tonight." A voice spoke right next to me, almost like a whisper into my ear.
As it nearly made me jump from my skin in terror. Something in the back of my head telling me to get more perceptive.
I turned my head, seeing my very own partner, looking up at the stars with me. Looking as if she was about to go to bed. She had even let her hair down, which came down like a red waterfall. Though some of the hairs seemed to curl on the way down.
Honestly, she looked better this way. Though, I understand why she kept it up. Especially after many, many, people grabbed long hair to use as an advantage.
If only they didn't try it on Yang.
Her pajamas, however, were what really caught his attention. It wasn't anything much, just a simple pair of biker shorts and a tank top, but it showed a lot more...skin than what he was used to with her.
Needless to say it flustered him enough to look an opposite direction. Even muttering a responses of. "Y-yeah." Continuing to look at the stars in question.
Then, it was quiet. Not the peaceful kind, but the one that put stupid ideas into your head. Ones that only lead to more idiotic questions that continued to ramble on for what felt like hours.
Needless to say, he wanted to hand brushing his hair nervously, he asked the first thing that came to mind. "When did yo-"
"A minute ago." My partner interrupted, cutting me off in a manner that I was not used to. It even made me turn my head back around to her. Her face set to what I could only consider bland. "You weren't at the dorm and it was nearly ten o'clock. I got worried and found you up here. Just staring at the stars."
It was off putting, to say the least. Seeing what he could only consider, the nice girl that he knew seem almost… Angry.
"Oh… S-sorry." I spoke up, still looking at her in a bewildered manner. Reaching for my own scroll to see if she was right. Quickly remembering that I had left it next to my bed. "I didn't know the time."
Phyrra sighed, her eyes still boring into the night sky. Almost as if she had expected the answer.
It made me feel uneasy.
"R-right…" he spoke up, already starting to rise from the area we were in. "We should probably get some sleep. Ports midterm starts tomorrow after all."
After finishing that, I quickly turned around. My pace faster than it usually was, as I tried to escape the oppressive atmosphere
"Who is he?" She spoke up, causing me to freeze at the very frame of the door. My head slowly turning to look at her. A feeling close to horror in my chest.
She was just standing there. The night making it so I couldn't even see her face.
It was only then, did I process what she said.
"Umm… I don't understand." I spoke up, actively confused about who she was saying.
All she did was hold out her scroll, the face of it turned off. Her eyes still shadowed by the night sky as to what I could only assume, she looked at me.
Then she spoke only four words. Words that only seemed to make the oppressive atmosphere feel like the gravity in the area doubled.
"The one Blackmailing you."
The way she spoke those words reeked of disappointment. Even still I couldn't see her eyes, but I could imagine the kindness within them extinguished by hate.
I don't know how I did it, but I made my way to the scroll. I turned it on, reading the message that was laid out for all to read.
Only realizing now that it was my scroll.
"Remember Jaune, lose and your secret gets out."
Of course… He had to remind me at the worst possible moment.
I looked up to my partners face. The light from the scroll now allowing me to see her.
Strangely enough… They weren't filled with the intense hate that I imagined.
It was worse. The way her face was set into a gentle frown, her eyes looking watery and puffy. I dare even say confused.
She was worried.
He hated worry… For some reason, to him at least, it looked like pity.
"What secret is he talking about Jaune." My partner spoke up, her voice still hard, but almost soft. If anything, it was almost worse than the yelling he thought he was going to get.
"I-it isn't that impo-" He tried to say, grabbing the scroll from her hand. Sadly, that was met with obvious resistance.
She pulled the scroll away, putting out of arm's reach from me. "Clearly it is, if it's making you act this way."
"I'm acting perfectly normal." I spoke up, trying to reach for my scroll. A panicked expression no doubt on my face as I did so.
Phyrra merely it her hand to my chest. Which, because of my rather lanky form and her training, kept me at bay.
It was at this point that she started to look angry. Her eyes holding a sort of fire in them, that kinda scared me.
But, it was better than her knowing I was a fraud. As I continued to try and obtain my scroll from her.
"Normal!" She spoke up, almost to the point of her yelling. Her arm still rigid despite my attempts to push her to the side. "Lying to your teammates isn't normal, Jaune."
That single sentence stopped me. It was almost like she physically punched me.
No… The punch would have been better.
"I asked Nora how your 'study session' went today." She spoke up, looking at me with her usually kind eyes. Ones that were now filled with anger and worry. I could barely even look at her. "She didn't even know what I was talking about."
"Tha-" I spoke up, her raised hand stopping me from even talking as she continued.
"So I asked Ren about it, because I thought Nora might've just forgotten to go to the session. He said you haven't talked to either of them for four days."
"Then I come back to the dorm, at ten in the afternoon, past curfew and see that you weren't there. But your scroll was, and it had this message on the front."
"So, what secret Jaune. And why…" Her tone quickly shifting back to the one filled with worry and disappointment. "Why didn't you ask for our help. We're partners… We're supposed to help each other."
"And I can't help you, if you don't tell me what's going on."
He was fully turned around at this point, not even looking at the Champion. All he could think about was the disappointment that was filling him like water. A icy water that traveled through his veins.
No matter what he did… It always seemed to end in failure. He even tried to lie to her…
What did Mors say about her… Something that seemed forever ago.
"And you're lucky to have such a person by your side. For there is no more powerful Ember than someone who shows you are special, not only with words, but with actions."
The water in his veins slowly turning to ice. Cracking and expanding as it made its way to his heart.
Yet here he was, pushing her away.
He lied enough to her as is… Maybe it was time to tell her the truth…
"I wanted to be able…" I started hesitantly, my hands shaking quietly. I merely balled them up in to fists, continuing. "To do something on my own for once. That's why I lied to you guys."
I still didn't turn around. Not knowing if it was out of cowardice or some other factor.
"Jaune…." She tried to speak up, but went back to being quiet. Something which I took as a sign to continue.
"You guys pick up the slack enough for me as it is." My arms extending to the side with a lack of effort. Almost uncaring in a way as I looked up into the night sky. Hoping that the stars could calm me as they once did. "Ren helps me study, you help me with my sword skills, heh, even Nora keeps Cardin and other bullies away from me. I thought… I thought it was about time to bring things to the table."
The roof was quiet. Nothing made a sound as the night continued on. Even the breath of my partner seemed silent, as if she couldn't breathe in the night air.
"It's alright to be a bit farther behind than everyone else." She spoke, her voice still calming, as it spoke through the quiet night. Still, I didn't turn around. "You don't have to feel that your holding us back. Whatever this guy has on you, you can trust me. I'm not going to tell anyone if it really is that serious to you…"
Even now, she tried to be nice to him. The first partner she ever had, lying right to her face as he went to go do something. All because he didn't feel up to par, of the people who actually trained all their lives.
Would she feel different, if she knew how far the lies went?
"I …" My lips moved on their own. Trying to form the words that I never wanted to hear. Words filled with truth, to the only people that cared about me. Words that I feared would make the people that have come to know me, despise my existence. The existence of the man who took the easy path.
Then, like a sudden gust of wind… it came out.
"I'm not supposed to be here."
The response was almost laughably fast. It was as if she knew what I was going to say, but not the meaning behind them.
"Of course you are,"j The sound of footsteps echoing across the roof of the area. Probably coming closer so I could be comforted. "you've trained like the rest of u-"
"No…" I interrupted, my body turning to her. Be it courage, or knowing that I had owed her that much, I still didn't know. "On paper, I have…"
I met her eyes, seeing the large amounts of confusion still filling her features. The moonlight reflecting off her eyes in a way that made it look like the very sky was drilling into my soul. "I faked my transcripts to get into Beacon."
I closed my eyes at that point. I had no knowledge of what she would do, say or act. But, from my experiences with my seven sisters, I didn't want to see what was about to happen. Anger from them ranged from thrown books, punches, or loud scream in my ear.
Not sure if that was because they were related to our grandfather, or just them being… quirky.
Needless to say, I was silently shocked when I didn't feel a punch. Or have my ears filled with the scream of a loud Banshee like cry.
Instead, all I got was the question. "Why?"
I opened my eyes, seeing the girl in front of me. She was no doubt angry, but it was subdued. Like she was merely waiting for the answer to her question, before she started to flip out.
"Because… I was a failure." I started, looking at her eyes. Just from those four words, the anger seemed to suside. But… she needed to know everything. "Growing up, I always wanted to be a huntsman. I even took my grandfather's old sword at points, training in the forest at the back of our house."
"One day, Dad found me and, unknown to me at the time, watched me do so."
"When I was done and saw him, I expected him to praise me…" A small, pitiful laugh escaped my lips. Remembering that day, as the man who looked nearly identical as I did now looked down at me.
He wasn't smiling though… he was sad.
"All I got, was him telling me to give up while I still could." That seemed to gain a reaction from my partner. Who looked at me as if she was a Beowulf about to be bulldozed by a Crusher. "That there are enough people in the world that can do it better than I can."
"I couldn't believe it. My dad, one of the nicest guys I knew, who supported all of my sisters in what they did, even told me to always have confidence in my actions, told me I wasn't good enough." I spoke, my arms crossing over my chest as I remembered. Followed by a shake of my head as I did so.
"It hurt…" That was the least it did… Even now, I could still feel my confidence, my self-esteem, be shot repeatedly through the head. Every single time I happened to remember his face.
I wasn't mad at him… I know that he was just trying to keep me from a job that would kill me in the long run.
That didn't stop the pain from seeping into me.
"So, for the next few years, I just… Did whatever my Dad told me. I went to school, did everything that needed to be done. Feeling like a piece of shit all the while."
"Then, just last year…" I spoke, the memories still vivid in my head. A small smile creeping up onto my face, despite the circumstances. " I saw one of those posters. You know, the ones that almost look like a call to action."
"I felt that it was a sign. A sign to fulfill my dream."
"So… I took the Arc family sword, falsified my transcripts… And the next thing I know, I'm here."
"And now, because I did that, if I don't succeed in this test, whoever's on the other end of my scroll… is gonna tell Ozpin." I spoke up, looking at her eyes. Ones that were once again filled with worry. It was almost sickening how much worry was filling her eyes.
It almost hurt, to tell her the worst bit of the news.
"You guys… all the work you put into me, will be for nothing. And… and without a leader, Ozpin will have to hold you guys back a year until he can find someone to replace me."
What was once worry, was now surprise. Her eyebrows almost disappearing into her hair, as she took a surprising step back.
"What?!" She exclaimed, the first bit of yelling that came out of this entire conversation. Which, in retrospect, came as a pretty big shock to me.
I shook my head, forcing myself to get back into topic.
"I looked up what happens if the leader of a team is expelled." I spoke up, looking down at the floor of the roof. Seeing the plain floor on the ground, which helped me calm down even further, oddly. "Apparently, since being the leader is part of the curriculum, if you don't have one, you can't pass."
"That's…" She tried to speak, still reeling from the new information that I had just given to her. So much so that I decided to help her finish her sentence.
"Ridiculous." I spoke up, causing her to turn her attention back to me. My hands making their way into the pockets of my pants. "Yeah, I know. But, apparently, It's supposed to help create a seperate force and well working team in the case that not a single Huntsman or Huntress can take on themselves. Without a leader, it would be deemed, a lack of experience following orders when we're out on the field, which can't happen. It's especially strict in Vacco and Atlas, but they rarely have problems with that here or at Mistral."
It was almost shocking how many teams were held back in Atlas, just because the leader wasn't doing as well as the rest of them. The General seemed to be strict like that, especially to those he called student.
Atlas had fewer teachers, and more drill sergeants. He was shaking in his boots just imagining what would have happened if he had gone to Atlas instead of Beacon.
"I-it's fine…" Phyrra spoke up, mostly sounding like she was reassuring herself rather than me. I didn't mind though, she just realized her entire year at Beacon was at jeopardy after all. "All we have to do is beat Mors. The three of us have been trained to fight others for almost all our lives."
Once again, that doubting voice appeared in his head. The one that compared the three of them to the knight that he had gotten to know.
'
Mors was still winning by a landslide.
"But none have you ever trained to fight him." I spoke up, once more looking down at the ground. "You guys are good… really good. But you…" I then stopped, looking back to the stars above me.
"I… what?" She spoke up, taking another step closer. Looking at me straight into my eyes.
Remembering, that I still hadn't told her about my training.
"A-a week before you asked me to train…" I spoke up looking at the ground and back. "Mors found me training, and taught me how to use my shield. I've been taking lessons from him, and you at the same time."
Pyrrha didn't seem to care. But the hand making its way to the bridge of her nose told me she was fighting off a headache.
Thankfully her voice was still calm. "Well, that's not the worst secret you could be keeping from me."
I merely saw that as a sign to continue.
"I've been fighting him since then, trying to parry his attacks for hours every other day. T-that fight with Yang…. If he were using a sword, I don't think it would have been as evenly matched. He is a nice guy, everyone knows that, but… but even holding back, he fights like some… some demonic knight from a story book. And, worst of all, I-if I can't come up with a plan to stop him, to beat him, I'd… I'd ..."
God I felt like shit. Not only was I admitting yet another lie, but I was now whining like a child. True I was whining about having to fight the equivalent of a huntsman, but whining was whining.
"Then you'll be an incredible asset to the fight."
Huh...
"W-What?" I spoke up, looking at Pyrrha who had grown a small smile. Maybe I just misheard what she said, but she sounded like she said that I would have been… Useful.
"You've trained with him…" She spoke again, her smile grew even wider. Why it did however was still a mystery to me. "You've had more experience fighting him than any person in this school, including Venatores! You know his habits, ticks, and even his fighting style!"
I have? All I have ever done against Mors was accidentally hitting his shoulder with my shield. True I have gotten better at dodging him, but that didn't translate well into hitting.
"B-but," I spoke up, a reason that it wouldn't work already at the tip of my tongue. "he's been going easy on me the entire time."
"You can't craft a tower without a solid foundation." She spoke up as if she already knew that I was going to say that. The smile on her face becoming more subdued. "The basics that he learned long ago is what made him who he is today."
"The basics that he's been teaching you."
In the back of his head, he could see where she was going. Everything she said meaning something to him in the long run. He had even remembered Mors story about when he was just getting started. About how he kept getting up until he finally did it.
But he wasn't Mors. He still hadn't been able to do the parry that the knight was teaching him. He was far too fast and powerful while using a sword he wasn't comfortable with.
What could he do with a sword that he trained for nearly all his life with.
Even now, an excuse was on the verge of escaping his lungs. "Bu-"
Two slender arms grabbed his shoulders. Both of them so powerful that they forced him to look at her with a small amount of fear in his veins.
After all, this was the anger I was expecting when I told her my secret.
"Jaune!" She yelled out, which in the back of my head I acknowledged as the first time she even yelled at me during the entire time we were up here. "Stop doubting yourself! Even I couldn't fight everyone in the tournament without a grasp of how they fight. I had to work my ass off questioning and researching how all of my opponents would fight! I had to watch them train against dummy's for weeks, trying to figure out how long they could last, and beat them at that game. It was only until after I won my third tournament that I could finally relax and focus on my studies to actually qualify to be in Beacon!"
I remained silent, absently noting my jaw hanging out as I gaped at the champion before me. The one who I had always assumed was born lucky, was now telling me that she had actually worked for it.
I didn't know when it happened, but I always assumed that Pyrrha Nikos was gifted. Gifted to the point that everything combat and school related was handed to her on a silver platter. It wasn't to say that she was snooty or self centered. It had always just appeared in his mind, whenever he heard what people called her.
The Untouchable Queen. A title given to her after so many flawless battles within the ring.
It was only now that I was beginning to realize how much she earned it.
"Without even knowing it," She continued, a firm look still apparent on her face. Still trying to console me. "you've been doing exactly what I've done to win! Whatever plan you come up with, I trust you to bring us to victory!"
"I believe in you."
Those four words sent a warm shock through my spine. A very similar spark that had gone through me when Mors had started to train me.
Whole hearted belief in me.
I could barely say that about my own father, yet here was someone else. Looking at me with firm eyes that conveyed the message that she had just spoken to me.
"Y-you…" I spoke up, my stutter still there. Looking at her directly in her eyes, and her mine. "Really trust me…?"
A dark part of my mind thought she was joking with me. That any second now, she would jump back and yell out a cruel 'No'.
But, reality turned out to be much kinder than what I thought it would become. The light of the shattered moon above making her smile look almost angelic in a way.
"I've trusted you," She spoke up, beginning to let go of my shoulders. The areas she held previously being left to the cold. Not that I minded of course. "the very moment you helped take charge with Ruby during initiation."
"A slip of paper isn't going to change that."
He smiled at the kind words, how couldn't he. The person he believed would resent him came out making him feel better than he had felt this past week.
"I've been a pretty sucky leader this past week." I spoke up, my hand reaching to the side of my head, a low sad chuckle escaping my lips.
"Yep…" A small smile on my partners face as well. Not even trying to lie to his face. "But, considering the circumstances, I'll give you some leeway."
With that, the girl walked right by him. A small smile still on her face as she, for what he could assume, tried to go to her room. Her steps even and barely even making a sound as she made there way to the door. All he could do was follow her with his eyes, the smile ever growing on ;his face.
And to think… for all that she had done for him, he could only be able to say one thing.
"Thanks." He spoke up, causing his partner to stop in her tracks, and turned her head to look at him again in the eyes. Her lips parting to speak once again.
"That's what partners are for."
Somehow… Those words calmed him down far better than the stars.
The Day of the Midterm.
This was definitely the worst midterm exam that I have ever been a part of.
It all started when I woke up, ready to get up, get prepared for the day ahead of us. My eyes were blurry, filled with sleep, as I went to grab my neck, which felt stiff and sore. With my other hand, I rubbed my eyes, forcing to wake up…
As bright blue eyes were staring right into my eye sockets.
"GOOD MORNING SLEEPY HEAD!"
"AUUUUUUGHHHHHHHH!" I screamed like a protagonist in a cheesy horror movie, as I felt my head bash into the ceiling. That wasn't all though, as the world seemed to veer suddenly to the left. I could hear someone shout out a loud 'what the fuck!' As the world attempted to steady itself.
"Nora!" I heard two people shout, as a giggle seemed to permeate the air.
I looked around, full on panic mode, as I tried to grab for my sword. Something restricted me though, before I could do anything reckless. It took me awhile to realize I was on a Bullhead, and that it was actually my team around me.
Of course, I was curious as to what I was doing here, and what exactly happened. It wasn't long before Pyrrha calmed me down, and explained everything.
Turns out, I had fallen asleep at the library doing some last minute studying on how to survive any trip through the desert, taking notes on what needed to be prepared. Apparently, I was so tired, Ren had to but all of my armor on for me, and Phyrra took that list I had made to prepare for everything. They let me sleep in the Bullhead, getting enough rest to last the midterm.
And, of course, I had woken up at the 'perfect' time, as they literally dropped us in the middle of the desert.
Two and a half hours later, I was still spitting the sand out of my mouth, as everything seemed to blur together due to the heat and my own exhaustion.
I took the time to stop and look around, searching for the knight that was to be my opponent. Yet, just like the past few miles, all I saw was more of the same thing.
Sand, sand, dune of sand, and a cactus.
I sighed, taking a sip from the warm water bottle at my side, feeling it literally sweat out of me not even a second later. I was tempted to wipe the sweat off of my brow, but resisted, trying to have the sweat cool me down as much as possible.
This was a brutal test.
Somehow, we were supposed to find Mors in this, and get the relic from him. But I could barely stand, as I was the only one on our team actually wearing a sweatshirt! The sand wasn't helping either, as every attempt to steady my footing was met with the loose shifting sands, trying to trip me. It took all the more energy to steady my walking.
I never knew that it could be so tortures to take a step.
Though, I wasn't the only one who was suffering from the incredible heat of the sun. Even if Ren and I were the hottest out of our four member group, it was actually Phyrra who was having the worst time.
I watch as for what must've been the hundredth time, Phyrra almost fell backwards, as her heels sunk into the sand. No doubt, she was tempted to remove the devilish footwear, but the very touch of the sand was enough to blister our skin.
Even the usually bubbly hammer wielder of the team seemed to act less like her usual self. Her entire body seeming to droop from the desert sands. He honestly wasn't even sure if her drooping was from the heat, or just the sheer boredom of the desert sands.
"Jeez!" Nora spoke up, her voice unusually loud her arms raised above her head, in her usual exaggerated boredom. He didn't really care though, considering he still couldn't see anyone around the hot desert area. "It's so hot, that the sand is like…" She then suddenly stopped, her gaze now entirely focused on the floor below her. Her previous droopy nature being replaced by some form of intrigue. Right before deciding to kneel down.
"Glass?" She spoke up, touching something at the very base of her feet.
Despite his tiredness, both from a sleepless night and being in the hot sun for hours, I ran up to the excitable girl. Though it had nothing to do with our mission, it may be the first new thing we've seen for miles. It was too tempting to resist, even if it was just Nora trying to distract herself.
Strangely enough, it was not Nora being… well Nora.
A three-foot-wide circle of opaque glass laid in front of her, solid and thick. Barely even noticeable with the sand covering almost the entirety of it. Only bits and pieces of it were even visible, as sand scraped across the surface, scratching it beyond repair. It was a miracle that Nora had even seen the piece of glass, and stranger to wonder why it was out here.
"It happens sometimes in the desert," Pyrrha spoke up, looking with me and Nora at the strange bit of glass. "The sun gets so hot that the sand melts, cooling overnight into glass. It's rare, but it happens."
Despite her words, something felt extremely… off with this sheet. Something… familiar.
I reached out towards the glass, putting as much pressure on it as I could. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't budge, as if it were stuck in place.
And, if I looked hard enough through the glass, I was certain that I could see… something in it.
"I don't think glass like this can be created without fire," Ren told everyone, as he too was curious and suspicious of the large piece of glass before us. "The glass would be thinner, and much more brittle without temperatures that, even in this desert, are impossible."
Fire… fire….
Something moved within the glass, as I took a large step away from it.
Like the one Mors used against…!
"MOVE!" I shouted to everyone, running away from the glass at a breakneck speed. My team could only stare at me…
As a hand came from under the glass, shattering it and grabbing Nora's leg.
Before she could even react, the arm swung her around, bashing her into the soft sand and anyone close to it. Ren and Pyrrha jumped back, the rest of the thick glass shattered with ease.
Revealing our opponent, holding our ally hostage, with his humongous sword on the ground at his side.
"Let the duel…" He began, as a plume of fire came to life within his hand, creating a heat beyond what the sun could create. All before slamming it into the ground.
The area around us seemed to boil, as the sand began to melt and harden into glass. Pyrrha, Ren, and I all jumped to one of the many sandy dunes, escaping the incredible display of heat.
But, it worked to the knight's favor, as an entire section of the desert turned to glass…
As all we could do was stare in shock, as he picked up his weapon, and finished his words.
"Commence."
Apologies for the half assed ending. I had originally crafted this within Mors point of view, even started the other chapters with Ven's… But I realized that with the ton of Mors and Ven POV's, that we have rarely gotten to see how they had affected the characters personally. So I got the idea of making this in the team members point of view. So that forced me to practically rewrite a couple of chapters.
By that point, it had become three months since I had updated, and College is starting back up.
Needless to say, I needed a chapter out NOW! Reviews motivate me to do my best, but getting chapters done helps me write better.
Still, the other chapters might still take a while, since most of them are going through a rewrite and the start of college is upon me.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and hope to see you next time on….
Despair Remnants!