I just got done with my first day of classes. Physics, Calc, and Biochem: The Unholy Trinity.
Oh shit!
Jaune held on with every ounce of his strength. His eyes burning from the rush of air blasting his face. The boy's hair was blown back, flapping against his head as the dragon descended from the skies. With every foot lost, his heart climbed into his throat, and his blood sloshed about within his veins.
The party had tied themselves onto the dragon as best they could. Lashing themselves to anything that could bear their weight and wouldn't peel off at the slightest tug. Then, with themselves secured, Fafnir lifted the wagon and riding lizard into the air. Somehow, the beast managing to carry them and all of their gear while still being able to fly.
Being able to see the world from the perspective of a dragon was both astonishing and terrifying. Few ever get the chance to ascend more than a few hundred feet in their lives. So, Jaune was trying his best to quell the fear of falling to gaze upon the land. The sight of which he found beautiful.
He could see dozens of miles in every direction. The lush fields and verdant forests. Roads and caravans going to and from cities. With the light cast down on everything, it all became a picturesque image that Jaune had only seen in paintings until now. Each and every inch of this picture changing as the dragon hurried to its destination.
The others were equally enjoying this occasion. The only one with any fear painted on their faces was Weiss. The Princess shutting her eyes and burying her face into the scaly hide of the dragon. On the other hand, Port was taking notes, and the rest of the party were taking in the experience with much gusto.
Jaune figured they were going well over one hundred miles per hour. With this speed and lack of obstacles, they crossed Sanus with ease. The dragon dashed past the city of Grosche, bypassing the city-state in mere seconds. Every village and hamlet between here and Vale caught sight of this dragon flying past their homes.
When the party passed over Grosche, he could see people gathering to watch the beast. Many were taking up arms in case of an attack, but many were fascinated by the dragon. The first of its kind they had seen in centuries, and they watched it with a childlike curiosity. Jaune could only imagine what they were thinking.
Wonder what it's gonna be like in Vale...
Leaving southern Sanus behind them, Jaune turned and tied himself in. All there was left between them and Vale were hundreds of miles of open forests. In a few hours, they would be at the border and soon the outskirts of the capital.
...
Entering the vicinity of Vale, those on the roads leading to the city dove for cover. The sight of this massive dragon heading straight to the capital terrifying the poor merchants and pilgrims. Each figuring the presence of an apex predator in their midst was more worrisome than stolen cargo. This same reaction becoming more commonplace as the dragon grew closer to Vale.
As the party flew over the city walls, hundreds of people ran for their lives. Anything in their hands was thrown to the side as people ran for nearby buildings or the local garrison. The guardsmen were quick to run after the dragon, chasing it to its destination, but unable to even match the beast's speed. Several were just content with sounding horns to call for reinforcements.
When the dragon reached the Academy, the beast slowed to a hover over the courtyard. Every student or anybody with a weapon immediately drew their arms and encircled the dragon's shadow. Not a single person moved to attack, however. The archers merely drew back their bows while the swordsmen hid behind their shields.
Fafnir slowly descended before landing on the courtyard's main walkway with a mighty flap of his wings. His landing shook the ground, causing all to compensate lest they fell over. Any dust on the floor was kicked into the air, blinding those on the ground. When it cleared enough to see, everyone began lowering their weapons. The sight of Professor Port and an entourage of fellow students relayed their alignment.
Getting a look at their faces now, any sign of hostility was dropped and replaced with fascination. Everyone here knew what they were looking at. Whether or not it was an actual dragon and not a magical construct created by Cinder didn't matter. Like those in Grosche, their minds were captured with the first look at a live dragon.
The stories of dragons fighting knights from their youth caused such an enchantment. Each and every one of these children was born with these tales told by their families. Already, there were those lining up to at least lay a hand on the beast. None cared for the beast's presence, only choosing to mindlessly gawk at the proud creature. Their many voices drowned each other out, creating a surfeit of discord where nobody could hear themselves think.
From within the crowd, Jaune watched Ren push his way through. The man shoved other students to the side with little care. He'd seen them and was on a mission to be the one to greet the party. Likewise, Jaune leapt from the dragon's back to meet him.
"Ren," Jaune shouted, landing with a running start. The boy crossed the distance to get within reach of his companion. "Where's Ruby?! Is she okay?!"
"She's in the infirmary with Yang and Nora," Ren replied with a shout over the cacophony in the background. "You're going there first, no?!"
"Yes, we need to see her," Weiss added on.
"I'll help with getting the loot brought inside," Ren replied, handing Jaune and Weiss two items wrapped in cloth. "Please give these to Yang and Nora. I was supposed to bring them food..."
"I'll help you with that, Ren," Sun cut in, climbing on top of the wagon. He then turned to Blake and Cinder. "Blake, can you get the staff and Cinder to Professor Ozpin?! We can meet up at the infirmary!"
"Yeah, just watch the stuff; I don't want to lose anything..."
With that, Blake and Cinder made their way through the crowd. Sun and Ren began organising bags of loot. The bag of holding coming in handy for the repeated trips to and from the Academy. With how many dragon bones and artefacts they looted, any assistance was welcomed by the boys.
Then it came to Jaune, Pyrrha, and Weiss. The Spartan still needed assistance with walking, so Jaune took it upon himself to carry her piggy-back style. Weiss led the way as the trio hurried to the infirmary. They each ignored the shower of questions coming their way as they had a single-minded goal.
Getting to Ruby was the most important thing on their mind. Jaune didn't even acknowledge the looks he was getting as Weiss pushed past everyone. Cardin attempting to talk to them was promptly ignored as Weiss brushed him aside. The other members of his circle merely looked on with confusion.
Need to find Ruby... Gotta get someone to look at Pyrrha too.
Jaune wasn't scared so much as anxious. He didn't know the extent of Ruby's injuries. Only what he'd been told by his friends at the underground fortress. So, hearing she was alive only brought him a sliver of relief.
But what if her injuries made it impossible for Ruby to continue as an adventurer? The way that poison affected her, it was a possibility that caused Jaune to begin catastrophising. Making him think the worst could happen to his friend.
Don't think about it, Jaune... Just focus on what you need to!
Crossing the courtyard in a few minutes, they were at the infirmary. Weiss opened whatever doors Jaune needed and cleared any obstructions. As the healers saw them, they recognised Jaune from his prior visits and urged him to follow.
Despite steeling himself, his anxiety began to climb the farther he came. Seeing the Priestess helped to curb this panic, but not enough to stop it entirely. When she gestured for the trio to enter and room adjacent to the hall, Jaune's anxiety shot up to its peak.
Entering the room, Jaune found Yang sitting next to a bed. She appeared unkempt and ragged from the days of worrying over her little sister. Baggy eyes and gaunt cheeks were a prominent feature of her expression. Those lilac eyes devoid of any life didn't look up from the girl lying before her.
Jaune felt his heart skip a beat when he looked at Ruby. She was pale. What little pigment in her skin appeared to be gone. Ruby was white as a sheet. More akin to a fresh corpse than the living. The only reason Jaune knew otherwise was the slight rise and fall of her bandaged chest.
Ruby?
"Mr Arc, please bring Ms Nikos over here so I may examine her," the Priestess asked, drawing him away from his friend.
Looking to the Priestess, she stood next to a bed occupied by Nora. The Berserker was in a similar condition to Ruby. Unusually pale by conventional standards. Though, she was conscious, unlike the Reaper was. The girl giving Jaune a wave as he brought Pyrrha over and laid her next to Nora.
"Nora, what happened?"
"Heh," she weakly snorted, suffering from an obvious bout of anaemia. "Ruby needed blood, and I was the only one around with her type..."
How much did she give?
The amount to put Nora down like this was in the realm of twenty to thirty-five per cent. Any more, and she would have to be given intravenous fluids to keep her alive. She was so cold to the touch that Jaune felt the need to bring her another blanket.
"Does she need anymore," Jaune asked the Priestess in a panicked voice. "I'm a universal donor! I can give you as much as you guys need!"
The Priestess looked up from Pyrrha's abdomen. "No, Mr Arc, we can't take anything from you," she replied, pressing her hands against the Spartan's stomach. "Since you were bitten by a vampire, you may still be a carrier for the pathogen. Someone might contract vampirism if you were to donate."
Fuck...
Jaune reached into his pocket and grabbed the vial of poison he took from the Descendants. If he couldn't help Ruby by giving her blood, then this would do it. Even if the Priestess didn't need it, the poison was still something that could be useful.
"What's this?"
"It's the poison Ruby was given when she was stabbed."
Taking the vial from Jaune's hands, the Priestess stood and walked out of the room without a word. As she left, Jaune and Weiss looked at each other with blank expressions. They each hoped it would tell those in charge of Ruby what was going on with her. Maybe it would help them create a treatment for their friend?
However, as she was gone, all that was left was to talk to Yang. The girl hadn't acknowledged their presence despite the conversation going on behind her. So, Jaune carefully approached Yang and placed a hand on her shoulder. Weiss only stood off to the side in case she was needed.
"Hey, Yang," Jaune whispered in as soft a voice as he could.
The touch got her attention, causing her to turn and look at Jaune. The girl's eyes widened and began filling with tears as she realised the rest of her friends had returned. Then without warning, she leapt up from her seat and wrapped her arms around Jaune. The boy returned the hug and held Yang like this for what felt like an eternity.
I can't imagine what it was like for her...
"Have they said what's wrong with Ruby," Jaune asked, rocking Yang back and forth as he continued the embrace.
The only response he got was a head shake. Yang didn't know or hadn't been informed about her sister's actual state.
"Does your dad know," Jaune asked another question.
"No," Yang replied, muffled by Jaune's chest. "Nobody can get off Patch because of a magic storm..."
Crap... I hope they got someone to tell him...
When Yang finally peeled herself off Jaune, she looked around and saw Pyrrha in her injured state. As the Spartan was passed out when she touched the bed, she couldn't speak to her. However, that didn't stop Yang from shuffling over and grabbing hold of her hand.
"What happened..." Yang asked, beginning to tear up as she feared Pyrrha was in the same state as Ruby.
"We'll tell you later," Jaune replied, moving to bring Yang back over to her sister. Grabbing Yang's shoulders, he gently guided her to Ruby's bed. "She's fine. All Pyrrha needs is some sleep."
I just need you to stay by Ruby...
[Blake]
"Keep quiet and let me do the talking," Blake whispered to the Witch. "I don't know what they're gonna do with you..."
What will they do with you, Cinder?
It's not something they'd considered at the moment. Getting a superpower like Cinder out of those ruins was a priority. At least here, she was in their care and away from those who would use her abilities to harm others. All Blake hoped is that she would be treated fairly. The Assassin figuring she deserved that much after all that's happened to her.
Coming up to the main administrative building, the guards had ushered her and Cinder inside Ozpin's office. The Witch remained farther away from the man while Blake stood just before his desk. Both he and Goodwitch watching the pair with curious expressions. Each making the faunus feel uncomfortable.
Blake didn't like the silence. She just wanted to get to the point of her briefing. Then she could go check on Ruby or help Sun and Ren with the loot. Someone needed to be there to make sure it got from point A to B without any losses. Cinder could do whatever she wanted.
"Well, Ms Belladonna, I see your journey has borne fruit," Professor Ozpin began, glancing down at a document in front of him. "Now, I would like to hear your account of the ruins. Peter will give me his own report later."
Hmm...
Slowly, Blake broke down the series of events that took place in the ruins. Leaving out the burglary in Poncier and Cinder, she began where they fought the wyvern and then goblins. After nearly an hour of oration, Blake finally reached the end of her account. The entire time, Ozpin had not asked a single question. Goodwitch only transcribed her tale.
"I see... so you met Ahasver," Ozpin muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Interesting, I haven't heard any students speak of him in quite some time." The man took a sharp breath and returned to an upright posture. "However, I digress; what have you brought with you? I see you have a broken staff. It's the same one Mr Arc broke?"
"Yeah, it was able to control Grimm, so we wanted to bring it to you," Blake replied, walking to his desk and setting it on the table. "We figured it was too dangerous to sell..."
Blake remembered this from the first dungeon she explored in Vale. Jaune made that point and warned them of it. Luckily, the Church couldn't find it first, or Vale might have had more problems if they turned it against the Kingdom.
Ozpin picked up the staff and ran his hand along the grain. He studied it carefully, using a spell to further examine the magical tool. Blake couldn't feel anything radiating from it. However, Ozpin was detecting something that she couldn't.
"Hmm, it's been disabled," Ozpin sighed, continuing to examine the staff. "I would have had you bring it to me, so we could have done it safely; however, I can't argue with your results. Though, it still contains a remarkable amount of magic." He looked up to Blake. "And you said this black knight took the shrine that would have been attached to the staff?"
"Yes," Blake answered. "Why?"
"In stave forging, the shrine is a magical focus," Goodwitch explained. "The staff is merely a vessel to hold whatever energy it uses. While challenging, one could find another source of magic and apply the shrine. Though, it's something only a few people have ever managed. Staves are generally crafted in such a way that it's impossible to use one without the other. Mages would use this lock and key to disable their staff if needed."
"So, this knight is trying to recreate the staff or keep it out of our hands," Blake concluded, resting a hand on her hip. "How did the Silent King get the staff then?"
"A bargain," Ozpin promptly answered, setting the staff back on his desk. "Or they managed to create it on their own... However, the presence of this demon knight guides us to the former."
"Demon knight," Cinder asked from behind.
"Dread knight, hell knight, black knight," Ozpin listed, curiously looking at the Witch. His eyes only passed over her for an instant before turning back to Blake. "There are many names. However, they are a form of intelligent Grimm."
Blake felt a chill crawl up her spine. The thought of them running into an intelligent Grimm made her freeze in place. Ozpin saw this and knew she understood the meaning. That they encountered a creature with the powers of the Grimm and the mind of a man. Such a creature taking Jaune down with ease. Had he not been focused on taking the shrine, he could have probably done away with everyone but Professor Port.
"This one either took the artefact on his own initiative, or he's serving the patron of the Silent King, come to retrieve a trinket," Ozpin continued. His tone now growing more serious. "Regardless, we know the artefact is in safe hands..."
What does that mean?
Blake wondered what he meant by that. As long as it wasn't in the hands of the Church or Beacon, it may be safe? If that were the case, the demon could probably already control the Grimm with ease. They didn't need an artefact to make it happen. Though Blake pondered what the cost of making such a deal came for the Old Valeans.
"Now, as for your compensation," Goodwitch interrupted, moving the conversation to another tangent. "This staff would be invaluable had it remained intact. Since the only way to use the artefact has been lost, its value has diminished. However, disabling an unimaginably dangerous weapon deserves commendations appropriate and equal in worth to the artefact." She looked over to Ozpin. "So, would choosing items from the vault be sufficient, Professor?"
"Perhaps," Ozpin considered, looking back to Cinder with a curious expression. "However, we may discuss this later. I feel that the entirety of Ms Belladonna's party would like to be a part of this. And I would like to address whoever you've brought along with you." He gestured for Cinder to come forward. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Professor Ozpin. Court Wizard for the Kingdom of Vale and headmaster at this Academy."
"Cinder Fall," Blake replied for the Witch. "We found her in the ruins."
"Hiding or trapped?"
"No, sealed inside a magic crystal..."
Ozpin's eyes narrowed as he pondered that. The man clearly picking up the implications of Blake's words. As he realised it, Ozpin's jaw fell open, and he stood from his chair. The childlike expression of fascination became painted all over his face.
"You're an Old Valean," Ozpin muttered. "I can hardly believe this. I never thought we'd see one in the flesh..." He took a sharp breath and adjusted his posture. "What can you remember? Are you able to tell us anything about your civilisation?"
"N-No," Cinder answered nervously. "I can't remember anything. I just remember waking up when Blake found me..."
Ozpin's face sunk as the words registered in his mind. The hopes of extracting valuable information straight from the source were dashed. Blake noticed that the man clenched his fist tight, trying to keep the anger inside from boiling over. The Assassin could understand his disappointment as a scholar.
"I-I see..."
Suddenly, the tower shook violently as something crashed into it. Behind Ozpin, Fafnir came into view. The massive dragon climbed up the building and peered inside, glaring at the old man with a single eye. His reptilian iris narrowed and focused on those standing in the office, casting a slight glow throughout. It was enough to nearly invoke terror in Blake and obviously surprised the two adults who backed away from the windows.
"It's Fafnir," Cinder said, walking to the window and gesturing for the dragon to back away. The beast heeding her command and flew off to circle the Academy grounds. "He gets anxious if I'm away for too long..."
"That's your pet," Goodwitch asked, observing the beast as it continued to fly around.
"A summon."
"I was wondering where the dragon came from," Ozpin remarked with a snort. "I'd seen you fly in on its back. I really hoped that was a live dragon too." He let out a disappointed sigh and turned back to Cinder. "However, Ms Fall, now that you are here, what are your plans? I'm sure there's nowhere for you to go since your city has been in ruins for thousands of years."
"What are you getting at," Blake inquired, stepping in on Cinder's behalf.
The Assassin didn't want anybody getting any ideas around the Witch. She was still recovering from being sealed in a crystal for thousands of years. The girl had no real defences against those who would seek to manipulate her. As someone who came from a rough background, people sought to do the same for most of her life. So, Blake wasn't having any of it.
"I merely wish to propose something," Ozpin replied, allowing the girl's words to slide off him. "I'm sure Ms Fall is capable of negotiating on her own, especially with the generous terms I will give. However, Ms Belladonna, you may be her council if she wishes to discuss the finer details." Looking back to Cinder, he continued to speak. "Now, Ms Fall, I would give you room and board as base accommodations. Perhaps an allowance every week for you to spend however you wish? From there, you may do whatever your heart desires provided you agree to three things."
"What are they?"
"I would like you to speak with Dr Oobleck twice a week when he's available," Ozpin explained, pushing a small paper in their direction. "Dr Oobleck is our resident psychologist and head alchemist. Perhaps he could be able to drum up something from your lost memories. Second, you and Professor Goodwitch should work together in her classroom. The two of you would provide much to our students, given your affinity for magic. Finally, I want you to wear this."
He removed a small metallic object from inside the table. It was a metal cuff you would wear around your wrist. The piece was made from a darker metal with several runes carved into it. Blake immediately knew it to be enchanted. However, what concerned her was not knowing what had been imbued into the cuff.
It could have been any number of magics. Something to control Cinder's will and make her Vale's lapdog or a tool to track wherever she'd gone. After seeing that scar around Cinder's neck, Blake wasn't trusting anything.
"What is that," Blake demanded, glaring at the two adults. "Don't lie to me, I'll know..."
"It's meant to suppress the powers of a mage," Ozpin explained in a calm and relaxed tone. "We use these on younger magi who have not fully grasped the range of their abilities. Merely a precaution to ensure they don't hurt themselves or others by accident." He put the cuff on his wrist and failed to cast a spell. "Say you regained a memory, Ms Fall. Something that was quite traumatic and uncovered volatile emotions. You could likely lose control for just a moment and unleash your magical power, destroying everything around you. That's the position you could find yourself in if we don't take precautions."
"You would not need to wear it outside of Vale or major settlements," Goodwitch added on. "We could better mitigate the damage if something were to happen in that case."
"Has this happened before," Cinder asked, picking up the cuff.
"Several times," Ozpin revealed. "Each of those children came from backgrounds more adverse than imaginable. If it were not for the quick thinking of their fellow students, we might be sitting in a crater rather than this tower."
Hmmm...
Cinder did not think long about this, sliding the cuff onto her wrist. While Fafnir didn't vanish, she could no longer cast spells. Aside from that, Blake couldn't see any change on the outside. Maybe she would have Jaune or someone else examine it just in case?
"Now, Ms Fall, Professor Goodwitch will show you to your quarters," Ozpin said. "I would like to speak with Ms Belladonna further."
The pair disappeared from the room, leaving only Ozpin and Blake. Between them, a heavy silence grew with neither saying anything for nearly a minute. The air was becoming tense to the point it was palatable.
"Recently, I received word that a warehouse was burnt to the ground, and the goods inside were lost," Ozpin began. "And that a cargo ship was stolen by the individuals contained within..." He paused for a moment before continuing. "While your name wasn't mentioned in connection with this act, the lord was quite furious and blamed a certain party without evidence. He also noted that a blonde young man assaulted his wife in broad daylight, though he could not provide a name. So, while I cannot permit the acts perpetuated, I would prefer if nothing like this reached my ears again. I have already confined Ms Xiao Long to the infirmary for the foreseeable future due to Mr Ren's testimony. So, do you and I have an understanding?"
"Crystal," Blake replied.
"Good, now you may go find your friends," Ozpin continued, handing out another piece of paper to Blake. "And take this with you. It was supposed to be delivered to Mr Arc, but he was not here to receive it. I am also going to count the wyvern and those goblins among your quest quota for this semester. Ms Scarlatina will send you the documents she requires."
It's a letter...
[Jaune]
"Here," Blake said, handing over the slip of paper. "Ozpin told me to give it to you."
"Uhh, thanks..."
Sun and Ren finally joined those in the infirmary. Blake was the last one in. Now, everyone was crowded around the room, waiting on any news for Ruby. It became deathly silent, and only the occasional clearing of one's throat could be heard throughout the last hour. Jaune was beginning to grow stir crazy by now.
Maybe it's from my parents?
This letter had a package come with it. It was a small box wrapped in cloth, from what he could tell. Though, Jaune was not going to open it just yet. He'd figured it was from his parents, but the boy wasn't emotionally prepared to read the contents.
Please let it be something nice... I really don't want to get chewed out like this.
"So, she hasn't woken up yet," Sun asked, sitting on top of the nightstand between the beds. "Did they say when?"
"No, they put her in a coma," Weiss answered, resting in a chair next to Ruby's side. "If they're going to bring her out, then it's not going to be for a while."
Hopefully, it gives her a chance to recover...
Jaune wanted Ruby to wake up and start chirping away, but the clerics and healers knew what they were doing. He had to let them do their job to give Ruby the best possible chance to come back. Jaune only felt helpless just sitting here and waiting.
As Jaune became lost in his thoughts, the door open and the Priestess stepped inside. Everyone turned to her, looking for answers but not asking them yet. She merely walked to the wall opposite the group to speak to everyone at once.
"Okay, I've examined the poison you brought me," she began with a sigh. "Ms Xiao Long, is it all right if I tell all of you, or would like this to remain private?"
"Yeah..."
"I see," she replied, nodding to the blonde. "What appears to have happened is that Ms Rose was given a concoction of several poisons, which confirms what we've known. Cytotoxins, hemotoxins, mycotoxins were what we detected in the solution. Unfortunately, those have extensively damaged her body. Her vascular system, especially, as that was the sight where it entered."
"How bad is it," Pyrrha interrupted.
"Many of her blood vessels and arteries have been weakened to the point of rupture," the Priestess spoke bluntly. "Her heart is so damaged that it's functioning at around twenty per cent right now. That leaves us with few options to treat Ms Rose."
Fuck... No...
Jaune felt his heart sink. He wanted to throw up. His friend could just die on him at any moment right now. He blamed himself for it.
He should have known the Alpha was sneaking up on her.
"Is there anything we can do," Weiss asked, keeping herself composed somehow through all of this.
The others were distraught. Yang couldn't stop crying. Sun's eyes didn't leave the floor. Nora buried her face in Ren's shoulder. Blake had to bite her tongue as to not choke up. Pyrrha only looked at the Priestess with a thousand-yard stare.
"We're going to have to give Ms Rose a heart transplant," the Priestess explained. "The heart is too damaged to be saved. The rest of her vascular system can be repaired in time. However, there are materials we need to gather to perform this operation."
"Like what," Sun asked.
"There are herbs found in one location in the White Mountains," the Priestess replied. "A small grotto near the summit. These are saturated in the kind of magic we require."
"I'll get them," Jaune nearly shouted, shooting up from the chair. "Just point it out on a map!"
Several of the others stood to join him. Despite the time they spent on their quest already, they were prepared to go after those herbs. It didn't matter how exhausted they were. Getting Ruby help was all that they cared for.
"No need, Mr Arc," the Priestess responded, gesturing for everyone to sit down. "Ms Adel and her friends have already been dispatched. They volunteered for this. Coco said she owed you guys one."
What?
"So what now," Ren asked, bearing a storey expression. "Is there anything else we can do?"
"Stay here and support your friend," the Priestess replied. "We already have a heart for Ms Rose. We took it from another student who died during the attack. With our magic, we can implant it, and Ms Rose should be able to recover in a few months."
There's nothing we can do...
...
Several hours had passed since that conversation. The group was allowed to stay in the infirmary, so they spread around the room. Mats provided had enough space for two on each. That left Pyrrha and Yang, Weiss and Jaune, and Blake and Sun, who paired up.
Jaune couldn't sleep no matter what. He just lay awake with an endless stream of thoughts running through his mind. The moment Ruby was stabbed continued playing on a loop. He couldn't stop thinking about it.
He loathed himself for this failure. It beat down on his chest without mercy. Jaune's eyes filled with tears that wouldn't stop flowing.
Why couldn't I stop him?
As he continued beating himself up, Jaune felt something poke his back. A finger that was trying to signal his attention. It prompted him to turn around and face the person.
Rolling over, he found Weiss looking up at him. With his darkvision, Jaune could see streams of tears rolling down her cheeks. The Mage's breathing sputtered with every sob.
Weiss?
There were no words from the Princess. She buried her face in his chest and continued crying without pause. It merely silenced it from being heard by the others.
All Jaune could do was pull her close, wrapping his arms around her like a vine. Maybe it would do something for her.
I wrote this chapter listening to the Halo 3 ODST soundtrack. It's a banger.
So, Yang has been punished for her fuckup. Ren narced on her (Not really.)
But yeah, things are not good here at Beacon. Ruby's alive, but just barely. Coco took the job from Jaune, so he's been left helpless and forced to care for Weiss while he could have done something.
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 Thirty Seven
Strength 81 (+20)
Agility 33 (+7)
Defence 43 (+8)
Perception 47 (+7)
Constitution 78 (+20) + (.25 x 78) = 98
Intelligence 70 (+10)
Charisma 38 (+7)
Willpower 39 (+7)
...
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!
White Hawk
This aethereal hawk shall be forever bound to you. As its master, only you may give direction to this bird of prey. Whether it be scouting the path ahead or distracting your enemies.
...
Purify
This ability can remove impurities from any material, whether they be food, drink, or metals. This renders them in a poison-free, diseaseless, and pure quality with the added benefit of destroying curses.
...
Antimagic field:
Activating this ability will destroy established magical spells within thirty feet. It will only affect spells that have been cast and anchored to a particular area or object, not on your person or beyond your strength. (Wards, latent natural magic, or other ritualistic spells)
...
Dragonslayer:
"That thing was too big to be called a sword. Too big, too thick, too heavy and too rough. It was more like a large hunk of iron."
A blade forged by those whose aim was to slay a dragon. Such a weapon charged with arcane energy to see to that end. Yet, it never fulfilled its original intent; instead, used to slay hordes of demons by heroes of the past. Such a path this blade wandered that it reeks of malice. The screams of a thousand demonic beings imbued it with a hellfire that will scorch the souls of any it wounds.
...
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
Bag of holding:
Magical satchel that connects to a pocket dimension. Can store up to seven-hundred pounds while maintaining the bag's original weight. Items must be able to fit through the bag's opening.
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.
Necklace of the Bulwark
+25% Bonus to Constitution
Morningstar
Magical whip of unknown origins. Is capable of causing explosions when prompted by its user.
The Swan Knight's Ring
"Ah, my beloved dearest swan!
Behold this horn, this sword, this ring, and bestow upon him all three
For the horn shall aid him in his time of need,
and the sword shall deliver unto him victory most fortuitous
But this ring shall serve to remind him of me,
so Gottfried himself may know the name of he who freed you from torment and disgrace!"
Whoever shatters this ring shall be led to what he has lost.
Spells:
Infusion:
This spell grants one the ability to infuse the desired object with materials ordinarily unable to be bonded together. The strength of the unaltered item determines how much of an effect can be added to it.
Be warned that stressing the target with too powerful additives can result in the atomisation of the material and, possibly, a sudden explosive decomposition.
Telekinesis:
Casting this spell allows you to move objects with your mind. Within a visible range, anything you can levitate is dependent on your personal strength and willpower. Once, cast upon, the item is subject to your directions and will perform whatever manoeuvre you are capable of imagining.
Be warned that this spell drains magicka rapidly.