I just spilled water all over my desk!
A big ass spider crawled out from fucking nowhere and in the panic. I knocked over my water bottle! So yeah, great.
But onto more important stuff!
Jaune has given up on his feelings for Weiss! And the feeling of heartbreak has taken over. A concept I'm not used to, because you cannot get your heart broken if you don't ever have a relationship. *Cries inside.*
So, this chapter wraps everything up for Act One. The Noonwraith hunt, Jaune getting his Passive and Class. All setting up the next act for when I move forward, in two weeks.
I'll have a new story out by the end of this week. And I'll have To Those Who Survived The Fall and The Lengths We Must Go To updated next week.
From now on I'll update everything in rotation, so every two weeks we'll be getting a new chapter for all of my big fics. And Beacon's Number One... I'll get to you eventually.
If nothing else! It's been a while since I've written anything that was not answers to a test or notes. So I may be a bit rusty. Please be gentle until I can scrape it all off. Meaning, don't be a dick.
...
New Ability
Plot Armour
The MC and his companions are invincible in all instances where certain death is likely. All other less important characters will bite the dust but our main characters will come out largely unscathed.
...
Jaune's eyes cracked open as the faint sunlight graced the entrance of the cave. The heat from the still-burning fire radiated from where his feet were. Darkness nevertheless cloaked the land as the sun had yet to climb over the horizon.
He reached out to the ceiling of the cave. The aches and pains of yesterday's march through rough Valish terrain left his body stiff. Not to mention the cold that seeped into his bones from last night's monsoon. Coupled, it left Jaune in an awkward predicament. Go back to bed, or tough it out and let his Constitution do the work?
I have to get Weiss and Ruby up anyways?
Jaune made his choice and attempted to sit up. His left arm was feeling slightly numb like he had slept on it or maybe it had frozen off, and he was left with a stump of necrotising flesh?
He attempted to pull at the limb to stretch it out and get the blood flowing again. Pins and needles were a bitch, and one had to usually shake the affected area or wait for it to go away. However, something else was attached to the arm.
Jaune looked over.
GODDAMMIT...
A certain Heiress was using his arm as a pillow, wrapped it around it quite tightly like a snake around a mouse. Her head was pressed against his lower arm. Right below the elbow where there was a nice and hard mass of muscle acting as her headrest.
Weiss was drooling like a child, luckily it was not coating his shirt or elbow but pooling on the floor. She appeared to be very comfortable, laying there as well. In any other situation, Jaune would have loved to have had a girl using his arm as a pillow. Cuddling in a bed? Or perhaps laying out on the forest floor and having a deep conversation as they gazed at the stars like some sort of naive romantics?
But this was the girl who he used to have a crush on. The first girl he earnestly sought to be with. The one he had given up on the previous night. The same one that left him with a hollow feeling for nearly an entire day.
And Jaune was still trying his damnedest to push those feelings down. He needed them gone and needed to have a clear head. Not a pit in his stomach or what felt like a rope being twisted whenever he saw her anymore.
Weiss grabbing his arm, however, may have well and truly been accidental. She's too introverted to be this forward. Unless Jaune was missing something.
Jaune tugged at this arm again. He got some leeway, but Weiss came with it. She tightened up her grip as well. Surprising how she had an iron grip and was this small. Both size and muscle wise.
"Weiss, get up," Jaune spoke up, quietly, as to not wake Ruby if she were still sleeping. He looked over to confirm that she was still on her side of the fire. However, she had up and vanished.
Jaune would need to go looking for her after this.
"Weiss, you can let go of my arm now," he spoke up, with more force. Speaking with his chest and not his throat this time. Not as afraid of waking up any innocent bystanders.
That seemed to get her to stir from her sleep. She blinked once and then mumbled something. Two opal eyes looked around to get a feel for what was going on. Until she realised who she was attached to.
With a yelp, Weiss released Jaune's arm and clambered to her feet. Staring at Jaune like she was about to rip his head off and shit down his neck. Heavy breaths, angry breaths left her puffing nostrils. Her chest heaved up and down as she glared daggers at the boy.
"Y-You pervert," she hissed, angrily, pointing with her index finger. "What were you doing?! Answer me!"
Of course, I should have expected her to be pissed about this! Who wouldn't be, really? Jaune suddenly realised his arm may have been down where her chest was.
Waking up and finding you are sleeping in a precarious and rather compromising position with a boy who you had not known for very long, and reacting like this was understandable. Especially the anger. That was what Jaune was afraid of right now. Very afraid.
Jaune stood up. "I'm the pervert," he asked in earnest. His voice lacking any characteristic emotions. "You were the one sleeping on me." He explained it in a way that would blow the accusation back onto her.
Having siblings who liked to argue trained him for this.
"I-I was not," she immediately denied it, her anger faltering momentarily. "You had to have put your arm there! Y-You were trying to touch me!" Weiss' cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red.
"Yeah, I was trying to touch you," he sarcastically replied. "I was still in the same spot where I fell asleep! You were the one who came over and tried to cuddle. I was trying to get my arm back from you!"
Weiss opened her mouth and tried to offer a riposte. But nothing came out except a huff of air from an attempt to string a sentence together. Her cheeks surprisingly found a way to burn even brighter than they were before. A sputter finally came as she turned away from him.
I think I broke her...
"Dummy," she whispered, quietly enough for Jaune to not hear her clearly.
"What was that," Jaune asked for clarification.
She whipped around, more composed and missing the blush on her cheeks. Weiss took several steps to close the distance between them.
"We. Do. Not. Speak of this. Ever!" She snarled, poking him in the chest. With that, she turned around and started looking through her bags.
Well, that's over...
Jaune was relieved it didn't end up going any farther. Luckily for him, Charisma and dumb luck won the day. Or the morning perhaps since they still had wraiths to do battle with.
Ruby came back finally. Stretching her arms over her head as she entered the cave. The pose she was holding and the fact she was wearing a tank-top instead of her corset and normal shirt revealed her figure.
Her muscles flexed as she leaned to the side, exposing striations on the smooth pale skin. The shirt did little to contain her ample bust size as her arms pulled the mounds of flesh upwards. Her stretching pulled her shirt up as well unveiling the six-pack she was packing.
Jaune realised he was checking his friend out and turned away. This was something else he didn't want to add onto the current torment he was going through. All he needed to do was keep it together until they got back to Beacon. Then he could wallow in his angst-filled hormonally induced depression.
"Did something happen," Ruby asked, nonchalantly, letting out another grunt and then a pop from one of her joints.
"No," Weiss and Jaune answered at the same time. Sharing a glance with each other before getting to work.
Great job, Jaune. Just... A great job!
Jaune looked around for his gear. He had stripped out of some of it before falling asleep. Preferable, because sleeping on two swords just does wonders for the lumbar region. However, he was still wearing the clothes he had on last night. They were dryish so they would be fine. Nothing like the blistering Valish summer heat and the humidity that never allows you to dry out to squeeze every last drop of moisture out of those clothes.
Suddenly a scream, more like a screech, drew Jaune out from his thoughts. He whipped around to find Weiss running away from something and then preceding to use Jaune as her meat shield.
"What's going on," he asked in a panic, unsheathing Crocea Mors in a flash of silver. He could feel both of Weiss' hands on his back as she hid behind him. Ruby had grabbed Crescent Rose, cocking the scythe back ready to lunge.
"What is that," she replied, pointing to the satchel sitting among the pile of bags. A light glow came from the open flap. Actually, a whole assortment of different glowing colours radiated from within.
Jaune took a step forward to grab the satchel. Readjusting the flap to get a better look at what was inside. It was his supply of Dust crystals that he kept with him out in the field.
What is she going on about?
"It's just Dust Weiss," he answered her, holding up the bag. "I keep some on me in case I need it for something."
However, what it could be used for other than enchanting was a mystery. Jaune had done some research, but everything about Dust was related to just that, enchanting.
"It's just Dust," she repeated the previous statement, albeit with a little more bewilderment. "Do you realise how dangerous Dust is?!"
"Not really," Jaune gave an honest answer, quickly glancing at Ruby. The Reaper offered a confused look as she shrugged her shoulders.
"You're such an idiot," she hissed, grabbing the bag from his hands. "The amount of Dust you have in here is enough to turn everything around us for the next hundred yards into a glassed crater!"
Jaune's jaw hung open as those words left her mouth. He really didn't know how explosive those crystals really were. And if he had known that previously, there would have been no way in hell to get him to carry so many Dust crystals all at once.
"Dust is merely magicka condensed and then solidified into a crystal lattice," Weiss continued to explain. "As with specific molecules or elements. Introducing some form of stress to the lattice or another molecule can cause a reaction and sudden release of energy! In summary, a massive explosion, even with a small amount of the stuff!" She waved her free hand around as she lectured the other adventurers. "Which is why Dust is rarely carted around without special precautions to ensure there are no accidents. Meaning, we don't carry it around in the bottom of a satchel!"
"In my defence..." Jaune began, holding up a hand. "...I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't," Weiss snarled back, setting the Dust far away from the three. "Now get out so I can change!"
...
Jaune leaned against the wall as he waited for Ruby and Weiss to hurry up. They were in there for about ten minutes so far. Something he had expected since his sisters never seemed to be in a hurry to get ready. Regardless of what was going on or what they were tasked with.
As he grew more impatient, Weiss followed by Ruby exited the cave in their usual garb. Both girls were still obviously feeling the effects of yesterday's trek as did Jaune. Eyes had bags under them. Ruby pulled at the straps of her backpack. Weiss walked as though her feet had blisters on them.
Finally...
"So can I have my bag back," Jaune asked, reaching out for the satchel. The bag in question was thrown over Weiss' shoulder. One hand firmly placed on the pouch itself.
"No," she denied his request, retrieving the map from her new satchel. "I would rather have someone who knows how to handle Dust carry it around. Think of it as taking some of the weight off you as well as keeping all three of us alive." She started walking off in the direction of the fort.
"Alright," Jaune acquiesced, following the Heiress with Ruby in front of him. "But can I ask why the Dust is safer with you. I haven't had any problems with it."
The fact that Jaune was usually performing daring feats quite regularly was evidence to that. Or he was just not doing anything dangerous enough to have the ten or so Dust crystals explode on him. Which would have been disastrous regardless of where they decided to suddenly turn him into a blonde stain on the wall.
"We wrapped them in a blanket so they wouldn't get banged around," Ruby spoke up, turning around to face him. "Merchants do the same thing with eggs, but they use straw."
"It will do for now," Weiss added on. "But we will need to bring them out once we reach the fort. Dust crystals have a use beyond enchanting."
"Like what," Ruby asked, curiously.
"On Solitas, some of our artisans use Dust for various commercial purposes," Weiss explained, continuing to scan the map and leading the group. "Preserving food using Ice Dust, baking, starting fires, even mixing it with paint to obtain various effects. However, the Atlas mages developed a remarkable use for Dust in our mining industry."
"Bombs," Jaune blurted out.
"More like controlled explosives," Weiss corrected, mumbling something else as she examined the map. "The Atlas mining industry is what funds our economy, and supplements our agricultural trade with Vale. As you may know, Solitas is largely barren tundra for most of the year except for our bio-domes."
"What's a bio-dome," Ruby asked another question.
"Bio-domes, are," Weiss continued before pausing to find her words. "Like wards, but on a massive scale. Large enough to surround a city or a suitable plot of land for miles. And are a great feat of magical engineering as they control the climate and allow us to grow grains and raise certain livestock in areas where it was previously not possible. However, bio-domes are incredibly expensive to construct, which is why we rely on our mining industry for trade with Vale." She took a pause. "That's where Dust comes in. We use it for blasting to expose metal veins. Which is why Vale has access to some of the rarest and finest ores on the planet."
Jaune snorted.
"Is something funny," Weiss asked, shooting a glance back at Jaune. Her cheeks held a slight blush as she continued to stare at him.
"It kind of sounds like a sales pitch for Atlas," Jaune explained, his voice lacking any characteristic tone. "I'm guessing you had to memorise all that stuff along with court etiquette."
"Unfortunately yes," Weiss answered him. "Having to sit in on trade negotiations is a part of my duties as First Princess along with maintaining an air of authority everywhere I went in public."
"That has to suck," Ruby exhaled. "Acting all stuck up everyday! I'll just stick with my Crescent Rose; thank you very much!" She whipped that thing out and cuddled it like a small puppy.
I can't imagine it either... I mean having to wear a doublet all day long. Those things chafe. Or so I'm told.
"It is not as bad as you think it may be," Weiss countered. "The "Game," as we nobles call it is an art form all in itself. The Mantlese and Atlesians have mastered the Game. Thus we have become master diplomats and negotiators on the international scale. Only held back by our nation's isolated position and resource shortages."
"But what are we supposed to use Dust for at the fort," Ruby asked jumping to another tangent.
"Oh," Weiss uttered. "Yes, I had completely forgotten about that! I apologise for rambling." She paused and turned to her party members. "We can use Fire Dust shavings to ignite the pyre."
"I thought you said it would explode if you handled it too roughly," Jaune pointed out a hole in Weiss' argument.
"When you're jostling a box of them around like a buffoon, yes they will explode," Weiss replied. "We merely need to use a knife, that you have, and lightly scrape the crystal to obtain some shavings. Then you may simply snap your fingers, and any powdered Dust will react as a friction-sensitive explosive with little risk to your body."
Jaune let out a long exhale. "Fine, but if I lose a finger, you will never hear the end of it..."
...
It reached the latter part of the morning, before noon. The sun was high in the sky and baring down on the party. Ruby and Weiss both shed their outer layers settling on their shirt or lighter mage attire. Jaune kept his clothes on as he needed them for protection and he was used to this weather.
"So this is the place," Ruby commented on the structure before them. The Reaper leaned on her scythe as the group stared at the fortress.
It was an older stone motte and bailey style castle. The entirety of the fort was surrounded by a stone palisade that was in extreme disrepair. Any structures within the fort were dilapidated beyond saving. It was the perfect place for monsters, bandits, or spirits to hide out in.
Jaune swallowed the mouthful a mouthful of bread. "Yeah, we just need to find the graveyard and any of the workers. The wood from these houses will make a good pyre too."
"You will be handling the bodies," Weiss hesitantly asked. Jaune was the only one wearing gloves, so it only made sense.
"Sure, if you two want to set up the pyre," Jaune replied, digging in his bag. "We should rub our blades in salt before going in too. No wraiths should appear before noon, but once we move the bodies and light the pyre, all hell will break loose."
"You've fought wraiths before," Weiss wondered, grabbing a handful of salt and coating her blade.
"Once," he answered. "A farmer was working in his field and got attacked by a noonwraith. I just happened to be there and saved him from it."
Jaune's first noonwraith was a low-level one too. Maybe three or four. But it was merely a wandering spirit that was not tied to any specific location. So banishing it was quite simple, unlike the situation the party was presented with now.
"Anything not in bestiaries that we need to know about," Weiss asked.
"Nope..."
"Good, let's get started," Ruby chirped as she started heading towards the fort. Jaune and Weiss followed. All gripped their weapons tightly in the event of a random attack.
Coming up to the gate of the fortress, a putrid smell emanated from within. The distinct smell of decay. Rotting eggs or the scent one would find on old carrion.
Jaune shrugged it off having already been used to some of the worst smells imaginable. Weiss and Ruby, however, not so much. Both girls tied rags around their mouths to shield them from the smell. Jaune followed suit for an entirely different reason.
While the myth that corpses spread disease like the plague is false. Getting any blood or bodily fluids in your mouth is rather unpleasant and should be avoided. Although the risk of contracting bloodborne infections can still remain along with several other diseases if the person was previously infected with said pathogens. So precautions to prevent any contamination would be essential.
Which made sense as to why Weiss had asked for Jaune to handle the bodies. Just another day of doing the dirty work.
"That smell," Ruby groaned, her eyes tearing up at how awful it was.
"I know," Weiss concurred, holding up an arm to stifle the stench.
Pushing the gate open revealed the remnants of a small village hidden inside the walls. In the centre, the body of a young man lay in the open. A crow nibbled at the flesh, flying off as it caught sight of more humans.
"Well we found one of them," Jaune mentioned, examining the body. Weiss kneeled down next to him, scanning the putrefying corpse. "Currently in the putrefaction stage of decay. Two weeks maybe?" Jaune examined his wounds. "Burns. And claw marks?" He grabbed the dead man's arm to get a closer look.
The deep grooves in the man's arm looked as though someone dragged a dagger across his flesh. Three cuts in what seemed like an attempt to defend himself by using his arm to block an attack. However, what killed him was a knick to an artery on his upper forearm. The burns incapacitated the man, and he bled out on the floor.
Weiss jotted something down in a notebook.
"What are you writing, Weiss," Ruby asked, looking over the Heiress' shoulder.
"I'm making a note of this man's features," she replied, finishing her note. "Once we build the pyre, it will be easier for Sir Samson to remove the bodies if I make detailed notes of who went where."
"Oh, that's nice," Ruby said, stepping away from the body.
Jaune stood up and faced Ruby. "You don't seem to be bothered by this," he mentioned to the Reaper.
Or she's just good at hiding it...
"I am, kind of," she replied, scratching the back of her head. "I wish I was here to help him. But now I want to find that wraith and make sure it can't hurt anybody else!"
"I see," Jaune mumbled to himself.
Ruby was the one he expected to be in this for just being a hero. So far, she was meeting his expectations. But what about the others?
"We should keep looking," he urged, setting the bags next to the central well. "There are four more bodies we have to look for. And we have a few hours before noonwraiths can appear."
Wraiths frequently don't appear until dusk. As to why that is; happens to be up for debate. Some speculate that the spirit realm and the present reality blend together where the spirit can then appear. But one can still summon a spirit at any time.
"This place is creepy," Ruby commented, taking a look at their surroundings. Watching for anything to potentially jump out at them.
"Yeah," Jaune agreed immediately.
This place was actually quite disturbing. Luckily it wasn't night, or the village would be downright terrifying to walk around in. The dark corners, lack of any people, and the knowledge that there could be a ghost running around here served to amplify the feeling.
Jaune scanned the muddy ground for any footprints, new or old. Any definite signs may have been washed away by rain. But there was a slide mark in the mud. Not from the first man they found, but from another.
"They were running away from something," Ruby spoke up from Jaune's side, pointing to another mark. "You can see how the mud was kicked up by one of them."
"Yeah..."
The three heroes continued to follow a patchwork of two-week-old tracks. It must have rained before the first group had come through here or there wouldn't have been any signs of them. However, two sets of prints led to a building.
It seemed to be an old trader's home. At least that's what the sign said. The lettering was mostly illegible. A door out front seemed to have been blown inward by some force.
Inside, the bodies of two men on the far side of the room. Both were in the same state of decay as the first. However, not as bad due to them being inside. The elements were not able to get to them, but there were signs of animal feeding.
Jaune kneeled down to examine the first man. He was laying on his stomach with a deep wound on his upper back. A blow to his back from Wraith claws? Or something from the door when it was blown open.
There were splinters of wood everywhere. So that may have been the cause of death. Same went for the other man. A large piece of timber was staked through his heart.
Whatever did this had some sort of magic. Powerful enough to blow an oak wood door apart. But had claws of some kind as well. Noonwraiths were capable of both.
It's not a powerful one. Maybe level twenty to twenty-five? The other wraiths are going to be around level eleven.
"They tried to hide," Ruby said, pointing at an overturned chair and table. "But whatever chased them got through their barricade."
She's right...
"I think it was pretty stupid of them to hide," Weiss irritatedly replied. "If they had kept running to the front gate, neither of them would have been killed."
"Yeah," Jaune agreed, twirling a piece of the door between his fingers. "But they were scared. You can't think clearly when you're afraid for your life. So, putting something solid between what was chasing them must have been the only thing that came to mind."
"You have a point..."
Jaune grabbed the body that was closer to the door. His trousers, although soiled and covered in mud, were mostly clean and free from blood. His legs had yet to take on any rot either. But the feeling of dragging a corpse to a pyre did not sit right with him.
...
After setting the bodies of the workers on the funeral pyre, Jaune and company set off to look for the corpse the noonwraith was tied to. Their newest destination was the graveyard behind the nearby church. If not there, then the old keep was next.
The church was in the same dilapidated shape as the rest of the town. Any roofing caved in some time ago, and with it, the bell tower. The surrounding trees mirrored the already creepy landscape as they had no leaves despite it being the beginning of summer.
All there needed to be was a low hanging mist and more crows to finish the atmosphere. Which was fitting for a chapel belonging to the Church of the One.
"The corners of the graveyard should be the first place to look," Weiss began. "Normally outlaws and low-status people are buried there."
"Should we worry about any undead," Ruby asked. "We had problems with an old cemetery on Patch. Yang and I used to go there to farm for levels when zombies would crawl out of their graves."
"I'm not sure," Weiss replied, cupping her chin. "This village has only been abandoned for a short time. Only a few years, but the practice of burning the dead or dismembering them would have been around before that. The priest who cared for this parish would have blessed the grounds before burying anybody here too."
"If they blessed the grounds," Jaune countered, with slight disbelief.
He wouldn't put it past a priest from the Church to forgo a precaution to prevent the dead from coming back to life. They would be more concerned with spreading their cult's message through the town, performing inquisitions, unnecessary exorcisms, or burning magic users at the stake. Or anybody for that matter, be it someone who someone accused of being a witch, an alchemist, or a homosexual.
Good riddance...
Jaune really wanted to toss a Fire Dust crystal through the window. Anything to remove The Church's stench from his country.
The group spread out and began combing the graveyard. It was not a large plot, but enough to need a division of labour to cover more ground. Every grave needed to be looked over for a sign of disturbance. The newer, the better.
Jaune came to the edge of the grave plot. A few large graves belonged there, including a mausoleum belonging to what seemed to be an old family. However, everything looked to be grown over.
No recently dug up graves here...
"Jaune, Weiss..." Someone called out to the two. The blonde turned to see Ruby waving at the knight.
She found something... It was quick, at least.
Jaune trotted over to where Ruby was. She was standing near the palisade in the shade of a dead oak tree. In front of her, however, was an open grave. A shallow one at that. Inside, the desiccated corpse of a young woman.
...
Weiss handed Jaune a large Fire Dust crystal. The shimmering red glow from the magic contained within proved intimidating knowing that this crystal could cause the sudden loss of his hand. But, they needed to start a fire.
"Ok, I'm going to light the pyre," Jaune warned, looking at both Weiss and Ruby. "The wraiths are going to appear as soon as the bodies begin to burn."
The body they had found belonged to what seemed to be a victim of torture. Ligature marks on her wrists from shackles. Deep cuts on her back and arms from a whip or a carving knife. Luckily, Jaune shielded Weiss and Ruby from seeing those.
A simple order to head back to the pyre was enough to get them away from this. Nobody other than Jaune needed to know. And now he was here to send the spirits off, finally.
His knife scraped a corner on the Dust crystal. The sharp edge of his kukri was enough to shave off a gram or two of the magical powder.
That seems like it should be enough...
Jaune kneeled down in front of the pyre, setting the small pile of Dust on some tinder. With the back end of his knife, he applied enough force to set the Fire Dust off. A massive plume of flame erupted sending him reeling lest he burned his eyebrows off.
"Get ready," Ruby ordered her comrades, handing Jaune's sword back to him.
As the flames grew and began to overtake the bodies. A shimmering miasma appeared on the other side of the fire, nearest to the keep. Before long, several wraiths stepped out of the mist.
Each had its own distinct features. A blonde male with a rotting complexion, wielding a straight sword. Two with holes in their bodies, carrying daggers. One with long sharp nails. Another carrying an axe. And finally, the ghostly figure of a rotting woman, tongue dangling out from half of a jaw, a white dress hanging off her body in shambles.
In a blur, one of the wraiths charged the group. Swiping at Jaune's chest. Three claws found their mark on his breastplate, skittering across the steel. None making so much as a scratch on the hard steel.
Jaune stepped back, gripping his sword loosely in both hands. Spinning on his heel in a quick pirouette. His sword cleaving through the upper half of the Wraith, eliciting a pained yell from the ghost. The silver burning the ghostly body with a bubbling hiss.
Ruby came in from the side and severed the head from the Wraith. The form merely collapsing into a puddle of ectoplasm and a crystalline substance.
That's one...
"Weiss, cast a spell, wall them in," Jaune ordered turning to the incoming spirits. They needed to control the battlefield before thing got out of hand. Being outnumbered two to one put them at a disadvantage. And Jaune didn't want to worry about getting surrounded.
The Mage nodded, muttering something before burying the tip of her sword into the ground. Suddenly two massive ice walls erupted from the soil, boxing the wraiths in. The thick blue walls of ice left only two sides open, the stairs leading to the keep and the three heroes on the other side.
Two more approached. The sword wielder and axeman. Both hurling themselves towards Weiss and Ruby.
The Mage cast a flurry of ice shards. Each of the razor-sharp edges finding their home in the ghosts. The blue ice burning the wraiths and rendering them immobile.
Ruby flew in as a red whirlwind cutting both of them down. Her scythe cutting through cleanly as it passed through one and then the other.
Two. Three...
At the same time, Jaune focused his attention on the noonwraith. The swirling mass of rotting flesh and white cloth prepared to launch a spell at him. Jaune ran forward to close the distance between them. Ira Rubrum in hand.
A ball of white light condensed in the Noonwraith's right palm. With a flick of the wrist, it accelerated at the knight. He barely managed to dodge it as the searing heat from the magic passed by. A massive explosion followed as it blew the wall apart behind him.
Longinuslanze Testament...
Jaune cast his second ability. The first time he was ever going to use it. As it materialised in his hand, he felt like he knew how it was supposed to be used. It wasn't as if someone told him how to use it. It was like he always knew how to wield this weapon.
Only a few feet away from the quickly backpedalling noonwraith. The Longinuslanze Testament finally came into view.
It was composed of a long shaft with its golden metal twisted into an intricate spiral. Just below the blade, a crossguard emanated from within, having been forged as a single piece. The holy blade itself was almost two feet long. More of a sword than a spearhead. Its golden sheen marred with blood-red runes from an unknown language. Nearly half of the blade was wrapped with similarly reddened silk, which bore these same markings.
Jaune cocked back his right arm and launched it towards the Noonwraith. The spear sailing in a way for someone to mistake it for a feat performed by a master. Finding its mark in the centre of the ghost's chest. Pinning it to the wall behind her.
The magic inside the weapon preceded to burn the Noonwraith as it let out an inhuman howl. A shriek so bloodcurdling Jaune had to cover his ears with his hands. Prompting another attack from his opponents.
Another wraith carrying daggers launched itself at Jaune. One swipe was dodged as he backpedalled. The next sliced right through the centre of his breastplate like butter.
Shit... Jaune cursed to himself. He was lucky it didn't go any deeper and into the flesh. Actually not even grazing his skin.
This is what the description meant when it said armour was rendered useless.
Jaune stumbled back, but not before he jammed his sword through the Wraith's lower jaw. The tip of his sword jutting through the upper skull of the ghost. Its body dissolving around the silver, boiling the ectoplasm running down his blade.
Four...
He turned to see Weiss and Ruby finishing off the last of the wraiths. Weiss stabbed it several times through the heart with her rapier. Ruby doing the same from the other side with a single thrust.
Five...
"You guys ok," he asked. Both nodded before suddenly turning to the keep. Jaune looked to see what was happening.
The Noonwraith pulled itself off of the lance. Floating through the handle and coming out at the blunt end. A wound on her chest closed as it turned into a light mist.
They watched as this mist scaled the stairs leading to the castle. A door at the top opened and slammed shut.
"Let's go after it," Ruby excitedly asserted, running up the stairs. Jaune and Weiss followed.
...
Jaune stopped to catch his breath when he reached the summit. Scaling nearly one hundred steps in armour was hard enough. Running made it even more exhausting.
He turned to see Weiss, who was faring no better. The Mage's red face and sweaty brow were evidence to suggest her own stamina were suffering. A girl with little conditioning, unlike Ruby, would have a hard time keeping up if this fight went on any longer.
"It's going to be a tight fit inside," Jaune warned his companions, reaching for the door. "We need to be careful and find the Noonwraith quickly before it can disappear." He reached into one of the pouches on his side. "Ruby, use these silver flakes on her. It will keep it from turning invisible again."
"Got it..."
Jaune pushed the door open. The steel-trimmed hatch creaked as it gave way to the hunters. Inside, the dark hall before them was filled with overturned furniture. The smell of rotting wood and what smelled like ozone permeated the air.
Propping the door open, Jaune took the first few steps inside. Weiss standing just behind him with a spell in hand. Ruby stood in the far back, waiting for the time to strike.
Weiss cast a candlelight spell to illuminate the darkness. The small wisp fluttered about as it followed its master. Its rays of light allowed Jaune to see a large dining table in front of them, along with what seemed to be a throne on the far side of the room.
"Ow," Ruby cried out as she tripped over something. The wooden chair she ran into fell over, emitting a loud knock as the backrest hit the ground. "Sorry."
"You dunce," Weiss sharply whispered. "You just gave up any element of surprise we had!"
As Weiss berated the Reaper, a sudden gust of wind blew in from the other end of the room. The door slamming shut behind the group, trapping them inside the keep. Everyone turned to face the hatch in a panic.
Fuck... This is bad.
Jaune took several steps back with Weiss right on his tail. The girl grabbing his shirt in an attempt to hide behind him.
"What do we do," Ruby nervously asked, taking Crescent Rose in hand.
Before anyone could answer, a bright light appeared behind them, opposite of the door. Soon after, an inhuman wail followed by a growl. Jaune turned to see the Noonwraith rising out of the floor. The ghostly figure bobbing side to side as it glared at the heroes.
The Wraith shrieked loudly, causing the Hunters to jump. As they reeled from the scream, another flare erupted from just below the ghost's feet. The green flash hung low on the ground, coating everything in a thick miasma.
As the miasma spread, phantom limbs jutted from beneath the ground, grabbing at everything they could. One reached for Weiss' leg, but Jaune sliced it off before it could make the grab. Another grasped at Ruby's legs and was summarily cut off.
Longinuslanze Testament...
Jaune cast his lance once again. It materialised for a moment but fizzled out. A cloud of electricity floated in the space. Disappearing into the nothingness before him.
Shit... FUCK! I can't cast it anymore!
"Ruby," he shouted to the Reaper. "The silver!"
They were out of options and needed to fall back to tried and true methods. Silver.
"On it," she shouted back, bolting towards the Noonwraith. Dodging any of the phantom limbs grasping at her legs. A thick trail of rose petals followed in her stead.
She ran up the side of a wall. Bouncing off of it and sailing across the room over the Noonwraith. A shower of silver flakes coming down coating the ghost in a thin layer of metal. Each shaving hissing as it touched the ectoplasm, burning holes in the Wraith like hot sparks on cloth.
The Wraith let out a squeal of pain. Thrashing as the silver burned her body. Jaune followed this attack up with Arclight to amplify the effects of the silver, burning away the phantom limbs at the same time.
Weiss cast a series of ice spears. Each frozen spike piercing and tearing off pieces of undead flesh with every barrage. Bolting forward, she cocked back her rapier to make a lunge towards the Noonwraith.
Jaune rushed at the same time holding his blade in the Ox Guard. Both hunters spearing and pinning the Noonwraith. Silver and salt scorching the already damaged body. Inching it ever closer to a final death.
Ruby flew past in a blur. Swinging her scythe in a wide arc, she struck at the Noonwraith. A silver flash severing the head of the cursed undead.
The Wraith's body finally decomposing and turning into ash. It fell to the floor in a puddle of ectoplasm like the rest. Along with a small crystal hitting the floor and rolling towards Jaune.
As the battle ended, another rush of Exp slammed into Jaune. Propelling him to level eighteen and a quarter. Satisfying his cravings for more power, only for the moment.
Weiss slumped down onto a wall. "Finally, it's over," she grumbled. Exhaustion beginning to take over.
It is...
Jaune looked around the room. As he turned his head to where Ruby went, he saw the girl limping towards him. Holding herself up with her scythe as a makeshift crutch.
"Shit," he cursed, running over to Ruby. "What happened?!"
"I twisted my ankle," she winced, obviously in pain. "Bad landing. Tripped over something."
"Here," he said, offering Ruby his shoulder. "Let's get you outside."
...
Jaune set Ruby down on the stairs outside the keep. The girl pulled her boot off to expose the affected limb. An ankle beginning to swell was the most visible sign of damage, but who knew what was going on beneath the skin?
"This should be a quick fix," Jaune said, casting his healing spell. Both hands channelling the magic into the foot.
"That tickles," Ruby giggled, squirming as the magic did its work. Her reaction to his healing magic, having quite a different effect on this girl as it did with Weiss.
"I noticed..."
Thank god she didn't react like Weiss!
Once finished, Jaune wrapped the ankle in a bandage. Something to at least keep it splinted until they could get it looked at. His magic could only do much, and Jaune was no doctor by any means.
"You're really good at that," she complimented his skill. "My ankle doesn't hurt anymore." Jaune lifted the girl onto her feet.
Weiss came out of the keep a moment later. She carried a set of vials on her person. A white liquid filled the small glasses to the brim.
As the Mage approached the two heroes, her face grew more concerned. "Jaune," she began, looking down at the boy. "Your chest..."
He looked down at the sliced open breastplate. Remembering now that deep score remained there. "I'm fine!"
"Are you sure," she asked, with more emphasis.
"Yes," he answered, seriously this time. "Besides, I have you to stitch me up!" His response elicited a slight blush from the girl. Jaune attributed what he said to be equivalent to a compliment.
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Dunce..."
Ruby slipped her boot back on. "Why not use your healing spell," she asked. "I mean if you were injured. It would make sense."
"Can't," Jaune answered, shrugging his shoulders. "Every time I try to cast Healing on myself, it shocks me."
It hurts like hell too.
"Jeez, your Passive sucks," she innocently stated.
As those words left Ruby's mouth, Weiss perked up. The look on her face was one of realisation. She almost seemed giddy. If words could be used to accurately describe it.
"Ruby," Weiss muttered. "What did you say?!"
"Jaune's Passive sucks," she repeated herself. "His Passive won't let him cast spells on himself."
"THAT'S IT," she shouted excitedly. Turning to the Reaper and grabbing her shoulders. "Ruby, that might have been the smartest thing you ever said!" Weiss turned away. "How did I miss it? It was right underneath our noses the whole time!"
Jaune and Ruby watched as Weiss ranted. The girl pacing back and forth with no regard for appearances. It was funny in its own sort of way. And slightly disturbing to see the usually stuck up and composed Heiress turn into a somewhat normal person. Or mad genius.
Jaune leaned down to Ruby. "Do you know what she's going on about?" Because she had lost him at this point.
"I'm not sure either," she voiced her own confusion.
Weiss turned to face the two heroes. "I'm talking about Jaune's Passive you dunces! It deals with something related to his magical aptitude! You remember when I explained how you learned a shield spell so quickly. Then the healing spell!"
"Yeah," he mouthed, cupping his chin. "But how would that explain why none of my other spells work?"
"There must be a limit to what spells you can use," she proposed. "The same goes for casting anything on yourself."
"That's right..."
A Passive related to greater magical proficiency. But limited in what you could do with it? I can't cast anything on myself. And I can't use offensive magic that harms others.
Passive:
Another label, similar to what Jaune could see when he examined weapons and armour appeared in his head.
Magister's Lament
Your Passive is a double-edged sword. While you may proficiently cast magic beyond the limits of your Willpower. It is limited in other instances. Not being able to cast harmful, offensive magic or any magic on yourself.
It's like a pacifist's Passive...
Jaune's mind began racing for any other conclusions he could draw from this. While not an overpowered Passive, it was something that would give him an edge where needed. Shielding spells and greater versions of his own healing magic.
More suited to healers actually. Jaune's Passive. A mediocre spellcaster with something like this could very well be more useful working at a hospital. But Jaune was not a healer, but a knight.
A Paladin...
A sound came crashing through his skull. What sounded like someone smacking an anvil with a hammer next to Jaune's head. He barely managed to conceal the pain of this headache from the others.
Class: Paladin
"Gather 'round, Paladins!"
"There is a difference between the other classes and us! When those Knights and Chevaliers fled at first sight of monsters! You were the ones to take their place! You walked right up to those monsters and wrapped your hands around those fucker's necks! And you did not stop there! Killing everything in your way until there was nothing left!"
"That is the difference between them and us. Those bastards who were too busy keeping themselves in food and wool can keep all the glory and fame for themselves! Boasting about their deeds as if they sacrificed something!"
"We fight to keep the people safe! To keep the Drowners out of the latrines and Goblins from ploughing our milkmaids! Knowing that no other class has our virtue! Our dedication to our craft!"
"Jaune, are you ok," Ruby asked, waving her hand out in front of him.
Jaune shook his head. "Yeah, I'm fine," he answered. "Just thinking about something." He stood up all the way. "We should get back to Westburg. Collect our gold."
"We should also collect loot from the Wraiths," Weiss added on. "The ectoplasm can be used in potions. And the crystals they drop are valuable."
[Westburg]
Jaune stepped, more like fell out of the portal. Ruby and Weiss followed as they ended up in the middle of Westburg. The dozen or so people around them were startled by their sudden entrance. Many of them were downright afraid of the heroes.
"I hate portals," Jaune complained, shaking off the tingling feeling he got from using them.
"They're preferable over walking," Weiss replied, taking a few steps forward. On the third step, her legs seemed to give out.
"Oh shit," Jaune cursed as he bolted over to the Mage. Catching her in his arms. "You all right."
"Yes," she groaned. "Magicka exhaustion. I just need a minute." She looked around and saw where she was at the moment. A fierce blush overtook her cheeks. "And let me go!" Weiss shook Jaune off of her. Ruby coming in to take his place.
"I'll go talk to Samson," Jaune said, rubbing the back of his head, looking to Ruby. "Go take her to get some food and water. I'll catch up to you guys at the inn."
...
"A demon," Samson uttered. "Fuck!"
"A ghoul," Jaune explained. "Lone one as well. Normally travels in packs. Has a fondness for human flesh." Or so the historians say. "I wanted to let you know there was one in the area."
Samson sat back down in his chair. Toying with the large mace sitting atop of the wooden table in front of him. He seemed to consider alternatives. Stroking his beard at the same time.
"What is it going to cost me to get that taken care of," he asked himself, looking up at Jaune. "I presume the Noonwraith is gone?!"
"The Wraiths are gone," Jaune answered, pulling out a small opal-coloured crystal. "This is the proof."
"I see..." He began digging for something under his desk.
"And Sir," Jaune continued. "Any demon contracts are the responsibility of the Kingdom. If you write a petition to Professor Ozpin, I will take it to him."
Any and all demons are under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom. Meaning, they don't want some noble to try hiring a group of teenagers to do it. They needed a professional hero, a Knight, Chevalier, or any experienced hero would take on the contract immediately. Primarily due to how much they pay out.
"Goodman," Samson said, setting a coin purse on the table. "If ye would wait around for a spit I could have a letter drawn up for ye. And here's the gold with a little something extra for bringing the Grimm to my attention."
"Thank you, Sir..."
[Beacon: Ozpin's Office]
Jaune stood before the older man as he read through the letter. Professor Goodwitch stood near the entrance and watched the boy like a hawk. A slight trickle of sweat came down his brow as he stood at the centre of attention. Jaune did his best to shrug the feeling off.
"Thank you for bringing this letter to me, Mr Arc," Ozpin said, setting the letter down in front of him. He looked over to Goodwitch. "Glynda, could you give us a moment."
The older woman nodded and stepped out.
"I see you've found your Passive," Ozpin began, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, Professor," Jaune answered. "I also found something else out. I'm a Paladin."
"I know," Ozpin gave a curt reply. "I'm assuming a loud noise rang out inside your head. One that was quite painful."
"Yes..." That headache still remained, just barely.
"I see," he mumbled. "We call that phenomenon, 'Earning Your Class.' Or as Knights and Chevaliers call it, earning their, 'Knighthood.'"
"So what does this mean for me," Jaune asked. "Don't Paladins go to another school?"
"You have the option, yes," Ozpin replied. "But, given you have established a stable relationship with Ms Schnee and Ms Rose. I think your choice is going to be obvious."
"Yeah," Jaune rubbed the back of his head. He really didn't want to abandon his friends for another school if he could help it. "I'm not some 'Chosen One' am I? Riding in on a steed to save the day." That was a worrying proposition, especially since a Paladin saved the world less than a century ago.
"I would actually recommend a Gryphon," Ozpin replied in jest. "And no, I think it is improbable that any person we know now is your, 'Chosen One.' While Paladins have performed incredible feats in the past. Not all of them are heroes or even healers. Actually, members of your class are uncommon. Numbering less than five thousand worldwide."
"Really," Jaune wondered.
"Yes," Ozpin continued. "Many Paladins come from a wide range of backgrounds. Thieves, sailors, hunters such as your self, and even others who call themselves Knights. Many Paladins never truly earn their class. In fact, at this moment, you are the only Paladin attending my Academy."
"Well, no pressure," Jaune joked, letting out a nervous chuckle. "But what's next for me?"
"That is to be largely left up to you," Ozpin explained. "You will continue attending this academy and will continue training under myself and Professor Goodwitch. So long as you keep performing in an exemplary manner. I think you will have no trouble graduating from my academy." He opened a drawer from his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper. "Professor Goodwitch and I will also give you a list of methods to improve your studies as well as your magical abilities. I hope to see your progress at the end of the year, Mr Arc."
"Thank you, Professor," Jaune said, taking the sheet from the man. Before turning around, he paused. "One more thing, Professor. Recently, I've begun having headaches and a craving for Exp."
"Hmm, I see," Ozpin said, cupping his chin. "You started out in my academy, at level ten, yes? And you've nearly doubled your level since then."
"Yes," Jaune answered. "I'm level Eighteen now."
"You would not be the first to have this affliction, Mr Arc," Ozpin explained. "You are merely adjusting to your new strengths. One could say you're adapting to a new body. Like an insect that is moulting. It is not always a clean process. Doubling your level in such a short amount of time is going to have physiological effects as well. In many students, once they have some time, it will go away, but do not hesitate to visit the infirmary if you have problems." He turned his chair to face Vale. "If nothing else, you are dismissed, Mr Arc."
"Yes, Sir..." Jaune turned and made his exit.
Fucking finally, I'm done. I can go back to playing God of War now.
And if you're wondering why I put the quote with the Paladin Class. It's something I would expect an RPG like this to do. Something to sort of explain the character of the class. And if you don't like it. Then deal with it.
Class: Paladin
"Gather 'round, Paladins!"
"There is a difference between the other classes and us! When those Knights and Chevaliers fled at first sight of monsters! You were the ones to take their place! You walked right up to those monsters and wrapped your hands around those fucker's necks! And you did not stop there! Killing everything in your way until there was nothing left!"
"That is the difference between them and us. Those bastards who were too busy keeping themselves in food and wool can keep all the glory and fame for themselves! Boasting about their deeds as if they sacrificed something!"
"We fight to keep the people safe! To keep the Drowners out of the latrines and Goblins from ploughing our milkmaids! Knowing that no other class has our virtue! Our dedication to our craft!"
Level Eighteen
Strength 34 (+1)
Agility 18 (+1)
Defence 24 (+1)
Perception 28 (+1)
Constitution 34 (+1)
Intelligence 42 (+2)
Charisma 22 (+1)
Willpower 15 (+1)
...
Abilities
Arclight
A high-intensity explosion of light, equivalent to that of the sun. Burns the flesh of undead and magical entities. Momentarily blinds living and non-magical entities. Sudden magical intensity can cause affected to flee regardless of status.
Active Debuff:
Turn and Face The Sun!
Longinuslanze Testament
A most unholy weapon. Forged by our lord to answer to only one master. He who has the will to dominate such a blade.
It shall sunder any armour. It shall never miss its mark. It shall grow with your own strength. Its holy light searing all who stand to oppose it.
In turn, you shall become vulnerable to attacks whilst wielding this unholy relic. It shall challenge your mastery by forcing you to fight at your full strength.
Active Debuff:
Turn and Face The Sun!
...
Passive: Magister's Lament
Your Passive is a double-edged sword. While you may proficiently cast magic beyond the limits of your Willpower. It is limited in other instances. Not being able to cast harmful offensive magic or any magic on yourself.
...
Miscellaneous Knowledge/Buffs/etc.
Monster Slayer
Spent years studying the various monsters of Remnant. Knows the different species and taxonomy of each known creature. Understands the weaknesses of most known monsters.
Armour and Weapons Smith
Worked a forge for his entire life. Jaune is able to judge the composition of metals, and know the condition of his weapons and armour.
...
Gear:
Jaune's Breastplate
Level Seventeen
Materials: 2% Silicon, 0.60% Carbon, Remainder is Steel and Leather
Minimum Stat Requirements:
Strength: 32
Agility: 16
Defence: 22
Constitution: 30
Eagle's Armour
Level Twenty Eight
Materials: Unknown Alloy Ratio of Enchanted Steel and Corundom, Carbon Steel, and Leather
Minimum Stat Requirements:
Strength: 57
Agility: 25
Defence: 30
Constitution: 39
Buffs:
This specific alloy of steel and corundom is less dense than normal steel while just as hard. It has a strength to weight ratio similar to menachanite allowing the user to build a thicker armour without sacrificing for weight.
This armour was also specially built for you. The measurements fit your body exactly, allowing it to be worn as a second skin granting a tremendous degree of flexibility.
Crocea Mors
Level Seventeen
Materials: 0.50% Carbon, 0.60% Manganese, The Remainder of the Materials are Steel, and Leather
Strength: 34
Agility: 15
Perception: 26