At last, I have finally updated... alright, let's begin.
...- A Place To Call Home -...
Jaune Arc couldn't believe it.
Aside from the fact that the hundred-pound white horse below him gave no heed to his comfort (He was literally swaying back and forth as he rode), he couldn't help but let out a wild grin as he felt the tough breeze of the high momentum ride greeting his entire physique whilst surrendering himself to the warm bask of sunlight throughout the whole ordeal. It was exhilarating in ways that made him remember the joys of the outside world.
Furthermore, after experiencing the brunt of sleepless nights plagued by the shadows of the abominations back when he had yet to discover the Bastion this strangely feels like the positive version of how he was flung across the forest of Beacon back in the initiation.
"Having fun, kid?" Jaune heard Kelly stated as their unit consisting of him, the white-fang operative, Nora, Cardin, and Raven herself slowly halted to what seems to be a rocky terrain that lay before them beneath the shades of the great green forest. The trees were tall. Very. If he was paranoid enough, he would have concluded that the intimidating growth that the trees present themselves to him were another product of the abomination's arrival. But alas, Raven and the rest gave no concerned looks so the alarm bells within him didn't rang.
"Y-yeah." Jaune managed to pant out. The rush of the ride slowly leaving his body as he then followed the motion of the others in the process of getting down. Thankfully, he didn't need Nora's assistance on that one. Feeling the weight of the blade behind him announcing its metallic resonance towards his back, he shrugged the feeling of unfamiliarity in terms of weapon position since he's usually used to having Crocea Mors being place on his side hip. There was no scabbard. But there was a convenient strap for a weapon like his blade from his leather chest piece, at the very least.
"You okay?" He heard a voice – Nora's – that caused him to straighten his back.
"Just a little winded." He replied.
"You did well."
I did?
"He did?" Jaune heard Kelly remarked. Nora, in turn, rolled her eyes and assured Jaune that, while he still needs to focus on improving his form and adjusting his grip to one that suited him, his horse riding skills was enough to enable him to rode his steed to an acceptable trek without him falling his ass off. All in all, the news itself elated him. They have been riding since they left the Bastion on the morning and it was satisfying to know that the times where he did fell mid-ride in the beginning was slowly turning into a thing of the past. Hopefully.
"But simply being good enough is not enough." Jaune blinked as he turned his head to Cardin Winchester in the process of grabbing the rein of his horse, a formidable and sturdy black hide beast (that Jaune intentionally avoided initiating a staring contest with) calmly and continued elaborating," Remember, Jaune, the things out here are worse than grimm. Hence you have to be more than enough, to survive."
"I… I see." He replied back.
"Even then," Cardin continued," As long as you keep your training up, you will do fine. I'm sure of it." His fellow Beacon student ended as Jaune felt an armored gauntlet touching his shoulders before he saw Cardin walking off to the crouching form of Raven Branwen in her black hooded cloak. Not a moment later, they were having a conversation. It was probably about their route through the forest and back to the main party. From the looks of Raven's face, they weren't lost but he knew that time wasn't on their side at the moment. After all, Night was approaching.
"Jaune." He heard Nora say as he heard the sound of her footstep, loud like the days they spent on Beacon and equally cautious from how Jaune saw her carry herself nowadays, halting besides him. Their white fang operative, Kelly, wandered off their sights as Jaune saw Kelly's form (and the rough stench of alcohol) disappearing deep inside the lush trees. Preliminary scouting, must've been, from what Jaune could deduce from his exposure to the scout faction back when he did his jobs at the Bastion. However, from the sudden silence that came from Nora herself, Jaune knew that she noticed his gaze and the person he was currently staring at.
"What changed him?" Jaune asked, eyeing the animated form of Cardin talking to Raven. Afterwards, he then heard a soft sigh right beside him.
"We all lost someone, Jaune." Nora answered, voice quiet.
"His team?" He guessed.
"Everyone."
Oh…
It seemed that his former tormentor shared something in common with him now. They both lost their family. Destroyed when the apocalypse started and the abominations came. Hell, even Jaune isn't sure that his sisters are even alive. Hopefully they are. However, since he woke up at the Bastion, the world suddenly feels a lot more depressing rather than empty because everyone he met lost something that they once cherished and there wasn't a day that goes by where Jaune wish that he could re-live what life was back then before the Harbingers, abominations, and the now cruel world that they were forced to live on.
Even still…
"Why isn't he more… I don't know… angrier?" Jaune queried, puzzled.
"Cardin found a purpose to keep going. His faction, the Iron Hides? They gave him that." Nora Valkyrie replied as he absorbed the notion. It makes sense. Jaune's purpose is to find his sisters and he was lucky enough that he has a purpose in the first place. Brother gods above, what would he do if his sisters died alongside his parents when the horde ambushed them months ago?
"Nora?"
"Yes, Jaune?"
"… which faction do you think I could join- "
They were interrupted as Raven suddenly called them for a meeting.
"Later."
"Okay."
"Jaune." Someone whispered.
He was about to bolt straight up from his sleeping position but a hand clasping his mouth stopped him from doing so. Panicking. Jaune was about to retaliate when he caught sight of a familiar blonde hair, tired blue eyes, and a younger version of his own mother – Saphron, his eldest sister – shook her head sharply at him and the notion soon came after his bewildered state when he saw his mother guarding the front door of the apartment building they were on while the rest of his sisters take charge on the windows between.
"Dad?" Jaune asked, voice low, as he inquired the missing member of the family. Fearing the worst, he was about to grab his own weapon, a rusty pipe that he grabbed earlier while they were on the process of scavenging for supplies, when Saphron suddenly gripped his shoulders tightly and gave him a cold glare.
"I could help!" Jaune hissed. Anger and desperation trailing his tone while he mustered himself to do so quietly unless he brings whatever nightmares that roam outside their apartment to descend upon them. However, their commotion did not go unnoticed by the rest of the Arc family as he saw his own mother carrying what seems to be the civilian-grade shotgun that they managed to scavenged last week from another town as she motioned for his other sister – Coral – to address them.
"Guys. What the fuck are you doing?" Coral whispered, her calm façade nowhere to be seen as the same fear that was plastered on his face was there in hers as well.
"Jaune's planning to go outside and get himself killed!" Saphron replied back.
"B-but Dad!" He tried to reason.
"Is a huntsman." Saphron answered. When Jaune was about to open his mouth, his older sister continued with," A real huntsman."
He knew they were right." But still…"
"Jaune." Coral interjected as he then looked at her in the hopes of someone at least giving him the comfort of support. But it appears his younger sister was on Saphron's side when she shook her head lightly- causing Jaune to drop his stance and stared ahead at the windows featuring the grim darkness of the careless night.
They have survived for what seems to be four months in the apocalypse now. Out of all his sisters, his relationship with Coral only grew as they both find a kindled presence with each other as the black sheep of the family. There were contacts with other survivors in the last few months. Mostly traders but almost all were focused on surviving and keeping themselves alive. They were bandits and desperate people willing to harm them for their supplies as well. But his huntsman father stopped them to the point where Jaune and his family weren't surprised that they were the ones taking the defeated bandit's supplies instead. Now, that he's gone? He wasn't sure. He is, in essence, a sheep trembling in fear at the wolves outside while the shepherd was nowhere to be seen.
"I hate this." Jaune concluded.
"I know." Coral nodded before she paused and gave him a serious look," Just to remind you that if Dad won't be back within 10 minutes…"
"We'll proceed to plan B." Saphron supplied. Her face grim and posture ready just as his heart sank.
"And leave Dad to die?" Jaune uttered out.
"Yes." Coral confirmed, face also set in stone.
"It's not fair…" He found himself whispering.
"Jaune." This time it was Saphron that spoke. Gaining his attention as he tried his best to bring the fact that his eldest sister is only doing this so that they could have a chance to survive outside rather than staying here and gamble their lives on a disadvantageous position for a desperate fight that they could avoid. His eldest sister continued," Dad already taught us what we will do in case situation like this arrives. Focus." A second pass, and she spoke again, albeit this time at a lower tone that only Jaune and Coral could hear." Take care of her, okay?" Saphron nudged her head towards their mother," Promise me this."
"I can't leave you behind too!" Jaune responded, quietly.
"It's okay." Coral whispered as he felt his hand being clasped by his younger sister." It's going to be okay. Nothing bad will happen. Everything will be fine." It was a lie. What she said. Nonetheless, Jaune hated the fact that he was desperate enough to comfort himself towards that fact. As if the tears streaming down his face isn't enough in this cold cruel world.
"I- I hate this." Jaune seethed, hate and frustration covered up by pained gasps.
"Me too, Jaune. Me too." Coral responded.
He said nothing as he felt the touch of his younger sister's embrace, followed by a supporting hand from Saphron.
He cried that night.
Even when his father came back.
He cried and cried.
Because the world has gone mad.
"Jaune." Someone woke him up.
His eyes opened. He saw a short orange hair greeting his vision before his time spent training with Raven snapped him out from his groggy state and he slowly got up and surveyed his surroundings. It was dark and night has arrived. Howls of depravity announced their presence outside the perimeter of their small camping site. A dark cave illuminated by the soft embers of campfire. Jaune Arc was already grasping his blade when a body launched out of the dark forest before him and landed a few feet away from the entrance of their base.
A ghoul. It cannot be mistaken. It was definitely a ghoul. And Jaune Arc tensed as the seemingly dead body twitched and then convulsed like a disturbing visage of a sick man experiencing a seizure. He noticed Cardin was there as well with them. Looking brave and undaunted by the macabre display before them. His mace was readily in his hand as Nora prepared her hammer in accordance. Jaune watched his two teammates before he rose up and begun his stance.
The most disturbing part of seeing a ghoul abomination to Jaune wasn't the fact that their sheer numbers could take down even a formidable huntsman, nor it is their seemingly unlimited stamina when hunting down their prey as Jaune noticed when the horde befall upon the Bastion, but the deranged laughter and the ramblings of a madman that persists until a ghoul is dead. Jaune lost count on how many nightmares he was forced to experience from his last moments with his father. The feeling of listening to unhinged laughter echoing the dark woods outside his family's camp while hordes upon hordes descended upon his huntsman father… It was an absolute nightmare. The ghoul that was currently in front of Jaune, even if it's the only one, was enough to invoke memories that Jaune preferred to be buried.
"Where are they?" Jaune asked.
"Raven is out there somewhere, probably fighting." Nora answered." While Kelly…"
"Scouted ahead earlier. Haven't come back." Cardin supplied as Jaune turned his head sharply to him. In which, Cardin only gave him a confident smirk and said," Don't worry. That old man is experienced enough to held his own, even in a night like this."
The conversation died right there when the ghoul found their scent and started sprinted after them in wild abandon. Jaune braced himself. However, it didn't matter because as soon as the abomination reached the entrance of their cave, it was instantly thrown back via Cardin's mace. His fellow beacon student didn't stop his retaliation as Jaune witness Cardin went after the rolling ghoul and immediately stomped his own armored black boot on the ghoul's chest – stopping the abomination from getting up – and Jaune watched as Cardin raised his own weapon and swiftly brought it down directly on the ghoul's head. The last thing that Jaune saw the ghoul did was a final twitch, then silence as Cardin stood atop a defeated foe.
"Don't bring your blade down yet, Jaune," He heard Nora begun from his side as he saw her raising her own weapon – Magnhild, he recognized, but noted the darker texture of the black paint and the numerous battle scars that was illuminated by the torches inside. All in all, Magnhild look older and bitter from his perspective. The owner herself, as Jaune noted the grim visage and absence of the usual pre-battle banter, wasn't that much different than her own weapon.
"When there's one ghoul, there's always more." Nora stated, and, rightly after, the distant howls and mad laughter outside became louder and closer as Jaune took an involuntary gulp. The action didn't go unnoticed as his teammate's eyes grew softer." It's okay, Jaune. You can stay inside the cave; Cardin and I can handle the group on our own. There's no horde from these woods. Scouted a few days earlier by the Scouts and confirmed by Kelly himself earlier. So, Jaune- "
"No." Jaune interrupted. "I can help."
He saw her paused for a moment. Then she gave him a nod as he readied his blade to face down the incoming ghouls.
He was scared.
That was certain.
But not so much that he'll be a sheep this time
Besides, Jaune has to find his sisters and he would be damn if he died here.
"Stay alive. Please. I'm coming." He whispered, then he charged towards the abominations.
...- A Place To Call Home -...
Next chapter will be uploaded on Mar. 27 (Next monday)
Hey. Sorry for the late update. I was terribly busy with college applications and exams thereafter... Anyhow, only have a few more busy schedules left before I'm finally free and can focus on schoolwork and writing by next, next, week. So expect that I would be back on track with my usual writing schedules when I published the next chapter for this fic.
Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter, bit more family reminiscent moment for Jaune here, but this chapter serves to portray the fact that Jaune made significant progress with his training and can deal with the resulting implications afterwards. Will it get easier for him since he now has a certain combat proficiency? Fuck no. Things will be tougher in accordance and Jaune has to overcome them throughout the whole journey in recovering his missing sisters.
Leave a review if you desire (I appreciate it) but no pressure if otherwise. Criticisms are always welcome. Hope you enjoy your day and stay safe you lots.