Chapter 2
Jaune sat impatiently at his desk in his room, the deadline was tomorrow so Areto had cancelled his training sessions with her.
However she had reminded him after hearing his protest to the cancelled training that while he couldn't train his body he could still train his mind.
So there he was sitting in his room reading random combat reports that Areto had giving him early on in his training. Each report was detailing missions or events that occurred in the last hundred years in Arcadia's history.
They were all very interesting but after the first few hours his mind had begun to wonder.
It felt like yesterday when he had made that deal with his father followed by everything else that happened as well. He supposed it was the minds way of passing time when one's busy or in this case anxiously waiting for something, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in!" He called out without turning around from his desk.
"Studying?" The voice of his aunt Lilly asked.
"Yea, I was just going over this mission in Vacuo during the Great War." He said hearing the sound of boots coming closer followed by the squeak of his bed springs.
"Ah yes Captain Dumont's mission to sabotage a southern Mantle Airfield that was preparing to bomb a Faunus refugee camp thinking that it harbored enemy combatants, I remember that." She said as she stood up to glance at the folder and Jaune merely nodded.
"You seem distracted Jaune, is everything alright? Lilly asked and Jaune nodded again, though he had a feeling that she didn't believe him.
"I don't believe you." A small smile touched his lips as he sighed in inevitable resignation.
"Alright, alright you caught me, I'm just worried about tomorrow; dad's test could make or break my future of being a Huntsman. Well, I guess, the pressure is starting to get to me." Jaune could feel Lilly's hand ruffle his hair as she chuckled and a small spark of irritation passed through him.
"Jaune if it took you this long for the pressure to start affecting you then I think you'll be fine, I know I would have started fraying around the edges a long time ago." Jaune shook his head.
"I think you give me too much credit."
"I think you don't give yourself enough." She cut in.
"Look Jaune I know you're nervous but you made it this far which you should be proud of. You've even fight off wolves for someone with no experience." Jaune snorted.
"Yea and looked what happened to me." Jaune pulled down his collar revealing his bandage shoulder; it didn't hurt as bad as it did when he first got it. With the wound he was forced to lighten his training load to only six hours a day, which had also added to his stress about his deadline. Even his leg had yet to fully heal as it still ached every now and then if he didn't stretch.
"I can see in your face that you're freaking out again Jaune but trust me you'll be fine." Lilly said reaching out to grab his hand and hold it. There was a sharp contrast between his warm hands and her cool ones.
"I know I shouldn't worry but I just can't help it but if you insist I'll try." Jaune said looking up to meet her gaze, she smiled.
"That's all I ask Jaune, now why don't I make you a cup of coffee, kay?" Jaune smiled and nodded.
"Sounds good." Lilly stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Jaune spun around to look back at his desk. Not wanting to do anymore reading, he pulled out his scroll, he didn't really use it to call anyone as he didn't really have a lot of friends but he did enjoy watching videos online to pass the time.
Bringing up a streaming app he was surprised to see that apparently Mistral was having some tournament or something.
Tapping the screen the video started to move and Jaune could see that apparently it was already over. A red hair girl held a flower bouquet while she waved with one hand at the crowd as she stood on a raised platform with another girl and guy who stood on lower portions.
For some reason he couldn't help but feel that none of them were actually happy where they were, which didn't really make a lot of sense.
At the same time Jaune couldn't help but feel something about the redhead was familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. Looking down at the stream of comments he could see people talking about how incredible her fighting skill was or her beauty. Which Jaune couldn't help but agree that she indeed was a lovely sight to see.
"Isn't she the girl on Pumpkin Pete's cereal box?" A voice said from behind and Jaune looked over his shoulder to see Mina standing behind him with two white mugs.
"She is?" Jaune asked looking back at her to study her features, as she was now being interviewed so there was a close up on her face.
"I guess you're right." He finally said as he scratched his check.
"Of course I am, anyways, here's your coffee, milk included. Though I still don't understand why you ask for coffee if you like drinking it filled half way with milk." Jaune shrugged before taking a sip.
"I don't like it being too bitter but at the same time I don't like it when it's loaded with sugar. So I've learned that a strong coffee with milk makes for a nice even drink, not too bitter and not too sweet so I'm happy." Mina snorted.
"Whatever Jaune." Jaune ignored her as she left and turned back to his scroll. The interview was over now and the stream was now just two guys talking about the fights. Jaune watched intently as they played a few moments where the winner, whose name he had already forgotten, was able to deflect and avoid blows with apparent ease.
She flipped, block and struck with such precision that it boggled his mind at how well she fought. Not only that but she used her weapon with exquisite skill that it wouldn't surprise Jaune if she had been training with it since she was a small child.
He set his scroll down and leaned back in his chair. Now he had wished he hadn't looked at the stream as it served only to remind him of how inadequate he was as a swordsman, he couldn't even fight off a few wolves.
After a moment he figured some fresh air might clear his head, so he got up, slipping on his shoes and headed downstairs.
His aunt was sitting in one of the arm chairs reading something on her scroll as she sipped a mug, Nessa was watching some cartoon on the television but no one else was in sight.
"Your sisters went to the village to hang out with some friends, Mina also left for work and Areto is running some errands for your father before he gets home tonight." Jaune froze at the last bit.
"Wait, they're coming home tonight?" Lilly didn't look at him but simply hummed. Jaune sighed as he headed towards the front door.
"Where are you going?" Lilly asked looking at him now as he reached for the door handle.
"Out."
"Out where?"
"Just outside, I feel like getting some fresh air."
"Be careful then your leg still isn't fully healed yet." Lilly said as she turned her attention back to her scroll. Jaune stepped outside, the cool air felt refreshing to his exposed skin as he walked down the front yard to the dirt road outside their house. Turning left on the road he walked north towards Avalon village.
Ten Minutes Later…
Avalon was a village located in the Outlands south of the Kingdom of Vale. With a minor population of two and a half thousand people that lived in relative peace. The forest and river surrounding the village territory acted as a natural barrier against minor Grimm forms.
With that peace they have been able to further develop their village and territory. They've been able to set down paved roads, an exterior wall with periodic guards, bridges to connect them south of the river and having well-crafted homes or buildings to live in.
Jaune reached a wooden bridge, off to the right was a small booth with two guys in it watching a small television. Neither of them looked up when Jaune walked past them as their job was only to be on a lookout for Grimm since bandit attacks were a rare if nonexistent thing in these regions close to the Four Kingdoms.
As Jaune crossed the bridge he could see a few older men sitting by the river fishing, there were even a few kids running around. The screaming and yelling of playful children could be heard as they occasionally splashed into the water earning the ire of the older folk that just wanted to fish.
Continuing off the bridge Jaune stepped onto the cobble pathway that led towards the main section of the village.
He could hear the sound of civilization grow louder, the barking of dogs mixed with the chirping of birds as the loud sound of clanking metal of blacksmith shops that echoed along with the raised voices of market vendors selling their goods.
The smell of fresh bread, fatty smoke of meat being cooked and the smoke of open fires drifted to his nose. His stomach rumbled reminding him that the only thing he had to eat so far had been some protein bars and coffee.
"Is that Jaune?" A male voice said nearby and he turned to see three guys each with an accompanying girl. Jaune recognized them as old classmates; he didn't know them any of them very well other than being friends with a girl who he had a deep crush on in High school.
"Hello Curtis." Jaune replied politely, nodding towards the leading teen who had said his name, then continued walking. However the sound of people moving closer to him led him to believe that this wasn't going to be good.
"Hey, is it me or does he look more cut than normal?" A girl pointed out.
"Oh yea, he could hold me at night anytime." Another one said causing the other girls to giggle amongst each other.
"Man Arc, what the heck happened to your leg?" One of the guys asked but Jaune simply shrugged as he kept walking up.
"Just a cut."
"Seriously? Look at the size of that bandage man; did you fall on a buzz saw or something?" The guy asked.
"I don't think he likes us." The third guy noted from behind but Jaune didn't say anything nor did he turn around.
"Maybe, probably has to do with the fact that he finally got a clue about going after Roxanna turned him down again during Prom." Curtis said which brought a chorus of laughter but again Jaune didn't feel like responding as it was kind of true that he didn't want to talk to them about her.
"Say, Jaune, are you heading towards the market? Because that's where we're heading to meet Roxanna so if you wanna join us by all means come along." Curtis appeared in Jaune's peripheral, a sleazy smile on his face.
"I'll even save you a seat." He said before finally backing off with the rest of his friends, Jaune stopped to watch as they went down a different alleyway. He sighed both in relief and annoyance, if they were going to be in the main market where all the good food was then he probably would want to avoid it. As being reminded of how foolish he was in high school didn't sit well with him.
So he went in a different direction, opting instead to just walk around Avalon. Walking around the village Jaune realized that if all goes well that he probably wouldn't see this place for a long time. As far as he was aware of to become a Huntsman he would have to train and study at Beacon for four years.
By the time he figured he would want to explore the Outlands and even the other Kingdoms. So he wouldn't be home for even longer or maybe at all. A small part of him though was kind of glad that he wouldn't return as he had so many mixed memories, some good and some bad.
Especially High School, as everyone in his graduating class knew of his infamous quest to convince the most popular girl there to go out with him. Since the class was less than a hundred people that meant it was easy for people to figure out who he was.
Jaune stopped as he reached a well-constructed wood and stone wall that surround most of the village from the outside along with the river.
Beyond that wall were the Outlands, lands which lay mostly uninhabited since the Ancient Days of Man and Faunus. Out there Nature behaved as it wished though with that uninhabited land a deadly taint is present, the Creatures of Grimm.
The Grimm pushed and gnawed at the bones of civilization yet the Four Kingdoms, Menagerie, and Arcadia were all still able to endure their toxic grip.
Arcadia, Jaune could count on one hand how many times he's been there. Sure each of those trips lasted at least a month where he met many people and visited many places. Yet all that did was just deepen his quest for knowledge about his Kingdom.
A Kingdom which apparently regards him and his sisters as royalty much to his dismay though his father never told him anything, his mother would give information but it always becomes clear that for her, being a ruler was never truly a concern.
His father on the other hand took it as a serious duty that Jaune was surprised that he had their family stay in Avalon especially since he would be away weeks even months at a time. Yet he wanted Jaune to join the Arcadian Military, Jaune rubbed his hair furiously at trying to figure out his father.
Nothing made any sense and nor did he have the whole picture yet he was expected to sit idly by and accepted what his father told him. He knew his father was hiding secrets, state or personal secrets he had no idea whatever it was, he figured it must be important to him to hide it from them.
"Lost in thought eh?" Jaune turned to see an older bald man with a bushy white beard; he wore dirty jeans and a worn flannel jacket.
"Hello Mayor Dumont." Jaune said bowing his head a little in respect but the old man waved it off.
"No need for the formality boy, I'm not that old." Jaune smiled a little.
"And nor am I a boy." Dumont guffawed.
"You'll always be a boy until you've killed something, though judging by those injuries I reckoned you had yourself one heck of a fight with those wolves." Jaune blanched much to the Mayor's amusement.
"Boy you should look at your face." He said as he walked up next to him to look beyond the fence.
"I remember the day you were born, your father was ecstatic to finally have a son, though I reckon he was partially worried about having only daughters. Not because he was worried about what might happen to them but more so what they might do to others since most of your sisters seem to take after your mother. If there's one thing your mother loves almost as much as you kids and your father it's fighting and considering how many times I had to talk with your sister Mina for getting into fights, I think it's safe to say who they take after more." Jaune finally shook himself out of his momentary daze.
"Hold on Mayor, how do you know about my injuries?" The Mayor snorted.
"Why wouldn't I? Your parents often keep me well informed of events occurring with your family and the homeland." Jaune looked around to see if anyone else was there but they were alone either way he stepped closer to the mayor.
"So, wait, you know who we are?" The mayor tilted his head a little confused.
"Why wouldn't I know who my Lord and the royal family?"
"Wait, are you an Arcadian?" Jaune asked and the Mayor nodded.
"Indeed I am, in fact the founding members of Avalon are all Arcadian as well." Jaune was genuinely surprised to hear this. Then the thought occurred to him as he remember the file he read earlier about a Dumont.
Areto must have given him Dumont's father's mission file which if he recalled correctly he ended up getting a medal and a promotion.
"So this is technically an Arcadian Village, seeing how we get most of our support from Arcadia rather than Vale." Dumont frowned slightly.
"Has no one told you this? Not even in the school?" Jaune shook his head, bitterness filling his heart once more.
"No, my parents have deemed it unnecessary to inform me or my sisters of anything. As for school, they never really mentioned it, they went over Arcadian History during the Great War and Faunus Revolution but other than that they vaguely covered that we're independent from the Four Kingdoms." The Mayor hummed as he stroked his beard.
"Well for the schools if I recall correctly it was instituted more than a few decades ago by Alexander that they should gloss over it, as he didn't want people to realize who was amongst them. As for those that already knew, an edict was passed that refrained them was speaking out loud about it. Other than that I can see why the High Lord wished to keep it a secret from you and your younger sisters, this kind of information can get complicated. Especially after your sister Katherine left."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, she is the first born and eldest Arc child as such Alexander had been more open with her. With that openness a whole new view of the world was born, coupled with the fact that she would take the Throne upon his death. I would wager that she felt too much pressure as such decided to become a Huntress. From that point I assumed he decided not to tell you or your younger sisters anything." Jaune rubbed his chin.
"So then, Mina and Sepherina knew all along as well." Dumont put a hand on Jaune's uninjured shoulder.
"Don't hold it against them lad, they're simply doing your father's biding in this matter." Jaune looked at him.
"So this village is technically Arcadian territory, are all the people here Arcadian citizens?" Dumont shook his head.
"Mostly but we do have a number of people that don't originate from Arcadia. You probably don't know this but Avalon didn't start off as a village." Jaune furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Well my father originally was ordered to set up here during the Great War, as a launching point for tactical strikes against Valean military or civilian infrastructure points. However by the time Avalon came up to operational readiness the war was already over. Alexander however gave my father the choice of leaving the service for his actions early on in the war along with one boon; the boon my father asked for was to make Avalon a village. Your father granted it as such my family has been here for decades along with many families that settled here with my parents."
"So my father moved here because Avalon is an Arcadian territory?" Dumont shook his head.
"I don't believe that is the case, I figure he would want you kids to live a simple life instead of the extravagance of being the ruling family of a Kingdom."
"But that doesn't make any sense, we know he's the High Lord and we know that our mother is the leader of the Sisterhood. We know that almost every Arc out there is a high ranking officer or government figure why keep this all a secret?" Dumont nodded, patient as a teacher who was listening to a student voicing a valid complaint.
"Yes this is all true but are you treated any different here?"
"No."
"Do you expect or demand things of people thinking that it's your birth right?" Jaune shook his head.
"No, I know that I have to earn something in order to have it."
"Good, are you expected to help or do anything even if it's some menial job like washing dishes?"
"Yea." The mayor snapped his fingers.
"There, do you see now lad. You've been raised with the knowledge that you're the son of a Kingdom's ruler yet you don't know the extravagances that such a position would normally entail. In fact if memory serves me correctly you're trying to become a Huntsman, a wondering agent that owes no allegiance to anyone but himself. Even now you're walking around with bandages that cover some serious wounds, so trust me lad, your parents succeeded in that regard." Jaune didn't say anything as he looked back out at the forest.
"Tell me Mayor, is there anything else that my father would hide from me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I can't speak for him on this position, in fact I can't speak for anyone on this other than what I know, which isn't a whole lot. Yet I know that there are reasons for that, I may not be a soldier but as Mayor in this Arcadian Village I know that there's more out there than what many people in the Four Kingdoms know, things that I've been sworn to keep secret. At the same time I kind of wish I don't know as even with the information I know makes me scared, So I don't know why Alexander keeps it a secret from you and even the world at large but I know that sometimes ignorance is bliss."
"He's right Jaune." A voice said from behind him and Jaune felt a wave of sheer terror pass down his spine as he turned around, Areto was standing with a pair of filled paper bags in her arms.
"I see you weren't paying attention to your surroundings again Jaune." She remarked as Jaune ran a hand through his hair.
"Well that's because I don't expect you to sneak up on me all the time."
"Maybe you should."
"I rather not have to look over my shoulder for you all the time."
"True but you should look nonetheless."
"Yea that seems a bit excessive."
"Whatever. Anyways Mayor Dumont thank you for keeping this young one's mind busy, I'll take him off your hands." Dumont chuckled.
"It's not a problem Areto, what time should I stop by?" The mayor asked.
"Any time past seven should be fine." Areto said as she bowed her head slightly then looked at Jaune again.
"Come on Jaune." Jaune bowed his head one last time in respect towards the Mayor before following Areto. The two of them didn't say anything as they walked through the village, Jaune looking left and right at the wooden houses, each well maintained while showing obvious signs of life.
Jaune could see children playing while men and women worked or talked amongst each other. He could easily see the friendship and sense of community in their actions they moved about their day heedless of them.
"Do you think you'll miss it here?" Areto asked as they continued walking.
"Avalon?" She nodded.
"I think before I have a chance of missing it I should be able to leave it at first."
"True but let's say that your father does let you go to Beacon, what then?" She pressed.
"Well of course I would miss it at first but I think over time I would be fine, besides it's not like I'm leaving forever. I'm sure I would return to see everyone." Areto hummed a little at that but said nothing. As they finally reached the bridge, Jaune looked towards her.
"So are you going to talk to me about what happened with the Mayor?"
"Nope, that's not my place to discuss such matters in fact I think he gave away a little more than he should have." Jaune frowned, annoyance seeping into his mood.
"Why?" Areto sighed.
"Honestly Jaune I just can't say." Jaune looked away not wanting to push the issue with her, the two of them continued to walk in silence for nearly half a mile before she spoke up again.
"Your father is home by the way." Jaune felt a tingle of anxiety pass down his spine.
"Ah."
"For what it's worth Jaune, no matter what happens I want you to know that I'm proud of you." Jaune looked over her mildly surprised to hear that and smiled at her.
"Thank you Areto, it means a lot." The two of them walked in silence home.
10 Minutes Later…
Jaune opened the front door and held it open for Areto as she was still carrying the bags. Following behind her he closed the front door, looking around he was surprised to see that no one was in the living room.
"Where is everyone?" Jaune asked aloud.
"I'm not sure." Areto replied but at that moment the two of them could hear Arabella's raised voice coming from the kitchen.
"You better make this right Alexander Arc. No! I don't care what your reasons are, had Areto not saved him then he would be dead! OUR SON! Do you get it?!" Jaune blanched at first at hearing that his mother was angry then curiosity took over as he realized that she was talking about him. Glancing up at Areto, she looked at him and grimaced as well.
"Jaune? Are you out there?" Arabella called out then appeared at the entryway of the kitchen. She was wearing a black shirt tucked into grey fatigues and boots. Jaune supposed she had other things on her mind than changing her clothes.
"Jaune! You're home." Arabella said a smile blossoming on her face but it quickly died as she saw his leg in a bandage, the joy that had once been there turned to wrath.
"Did that happen under your tutelage Areto?" Arabella asked looking towards the other woman, Areto bowed her head.
"I'm afraid so Ma'am, his injuries occurred during a training exercise in which I had dropped him into the Outlands telling him to reach home within a week's time. He did well until he ran into a pack of wolves, he defended himself but they proved too much for him to completely beat, Dondorian and his team extracted him in time before anything else happened to him." His mother didn't say anything at first as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before slowly letting it out.
"Injuries, you say? As in there's more than just the one on his leg? Jaune, show me." Jaune pulled down his collar showing the white bandages on his shoulder, Arabella gestured for them to follow her.
Sitting in a chair in the kitchen was his father and aunt who stood in a corner. Arabella grabbed Jaune's wrist, he winced at the strength in her hand as she pulled him forward.
"You want to explain to me why our son already is so heavily injured now as well? I was lead to believe that it was simply an accident but this isn't a accident Alexander these are full blown injuries that could have been fatal for fuck sake. It was bad enough for when the day you made that stupid fucking deal but this is going far enough." His father didn't say anything but Jaune looked at his furious mother.
"Mom, please trust me when I say that I understand that this is serious and you're upset but hurting me wasn't their intent or fault. Those things just happened and I didn't prepare myself for it so I only have myself to blame, so please don't take it out on them." Arabella looked at him, not in confusion or anger but pity.
"Jaune, you don't understand what your father did. It's inexcusable even for him." Jaune looked over at him yet his father still didn't say anything.
"What happened?" Jaune asked but his father wouldn't look him in the eyes, something he's never done before.
"Jaune, do you remember the day you and your father made a deal about you going to Beacon?" Arabella asked and he nodded.
"Do you remember what happened when you went to go with Nessa down to the creek?" Jaune furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"You mean when I got in a fight with those two guys and Areto saved me?" She nodded and that's when it finally clicked.
The sheer chance of two random strangers meeting them out in the creek was tremendously lucky. Their house which is technically a part of Avalon but they was still more than a few miles away from the main section.
So it was surrounded mostly by nature with a few spattering of other family homes but nothing was close by that would make it easy to run into them out in the woods.
"Who were those two?" Jaune asked looking at his father again.
"I did what I had to do to see how truly dedicated to your goal you were." He finally said and Jaune felt his throat constrict.
"Did you really send two people to attack Nessa and the others?" Alexander shook his head.
"No, their instruction was to pick a fight with you I had also said that they didn't need to hold back. I wanted them to show you fear and pain of what could happen in a situation like that but I didn't think they would try pulling a knife on you." Jaune felt a little lightheaded as reached out to steady himself, his mother was instantly by his side supporting him.
"Why?" He asked in a soft voice, Alexander closed his eyes and ran a bandaged hand through his hair.
"I needed to know if you were truly dedicated, I needed to test you."
"Test me!? That's what you wanted to test me with?!" Jaune finally snapped pulling himself away from his mother.
"You hired two thugs to come and scare Nessa and the girls in order to test me?! FOR WHAT!? Did you want to see if I would fight two random people in order to protect my own sisters!? Your daughters! You put them at risk; I don't care what would have happened to me but your dragged them into it!" Alexander didn't say anything and simply sat there, Jaune rubbed his mouth. He was furious but just as quickly as it came, his anger died away, replaced by nothing.
"So is that why Areto arrived so quickly? Did you know about his plan?" Jaune asked turning to address her, she nodded.
"I was the one who hired them; afterwards I armed myself and found you by the creek then waited to see what happened. I would step in if your sisters were in true danger or in the case that did happen if they decided to go too far with it."
"And now you're talking about it." Jaune pointed out.
"Yes but I do so only under the assumption by listening to this conversation which does involve me to a certain extent that I am now allowed to discuss it. Otherwise I wouldn't say anything."
"You wouldn't tell me about this ever?" Areto nodded.
"I would take it to my grave if need be." Jaune sighed.
"As I expect, I can't fault you for that Areto you only did what you were ordered to do." Jaune looked once more at his father; he didn't feel mad as much as he felt disappointed. Everyone was silent until Alexander reached behind him and pulled out a envelope.
"Take this." Alexander said as he held it out towards Jaune. Taking it, he flipped it around and saw an emblem, crossed axes over a laurel wreath. Opening it up, Jaune pulled out a sheet of paper than began to read it, halfway through he could feel his mouth open in surprise, he looked up.
"Is this real?" Alexander nodded.
"What is it?" His mother asked and he looked at her.
"It's an acceptance letter from Beacon." She looked surprised.
"You're in?" She asked and Jaune nodded.
"Do you still want to go? Even after what your father did and how you got injured" She asked.
"With all my heart." He replied instantly. She smiled sadly, cupping his right cheek with one cool hand, she kissed his forehead.
"I suppose I won't be able to talk you out of this. Jaune I want you to know that despite everything I'm proud of you honey and I know you'll do your best there. You'll always have a home here." He smiled.
"Thanks mom." Alexander cleared his throat slightly drawing their attention.
"Actually, we won't be here anymore." Arabella frowned, visibly upset again then realization of what he meant dawned on her face and she nodded. Jaune however like usual didn't understand a thing.
"Wait, what?" Alexander looked towards his son.
"Jaune, I believe one of the reasons why you were able to attain a spot in this year's batch of new Beacon students is because the current Headmaster is aware of who we are." Jaune tilted his head a little.
"So what does that even matter? I could understand you wanting to keep it a secret here to prevent people from being too formal or something but what does that have to do with Beacon? They're not affiliated with the actual Valean Government."
"Actually you're both right and wrong on this matter Jaune. While Beacon doesn't officially have anything to do with Kingdom politics, that doesn't mean that it is invulnerable to those same areas. No doubt someone has leaked the information or seen its contents had already begun to relay it to their superiors about your enrollment." His aunt Lilly spoke up for the first time since Jaune arrived.
"Okay but that doesn't explain why you would have to move." Jaune pointed out and Arabella sighed.
"Jaune. What your father and Aunt are saying is, while Beacon itself may not care for whom you are, the Four Kingdoms will. We're the rightful ruling family of a sovereign Kingdom that for all intents and purposes means that you are a part of said ruling family, making you royalty. A royal member that belongs to a nation that is not on very good terms with the Four Kingdoms. Vale doesn't like our militaristic tendencies as they feel it upsets the balance of the current peace since we didn't downgrade our military after the Great War and Faunus Revolution. While Atlas doesn't like having a Kingdom who has no formal alliances or treaties with any one of the Four Kingdoms and holds a powerful army that could easily challenge their claim as the greatest military on Remnant. Mistral still holds a grudge after what we did to them in the Great War as such they'll always side against us. Vacuo sides with the Valean perspective as they see us as a volatile mixture in Kingdom politics which could easily drag them into another war. Even Menagerie isn't friendly as we didn't open our borders during the Faunus Revolution when hundreds of thousands of Faunus were displaced from their homes in each of the Four Kingdoms in fear of Anti-Faunus attitudes. So if or when word spreads that you came from here, a lot of people from the Four Kingdoms will come sniffing around here and since Avalon also relies on open trade routes with Vale we can't be here as they'll use it as a leverage to bring us to the table to talk."
"Then why not accept their request for a formal talk?" Jaune asked looking at his aunt again.
"It's a little more complicated than that but for a general idea of why we haven't allied ourselves with the Four Kingdoms is because of our fundamental difference in how we see the world. Along with that, the last time we entered a serious political discussion ended up breaking down due to the stipulations that the Kingdoms wanted to impose. Some of those stipulations were dismantling our entire military industry, reducing the Military to less than a tenth of its current strength at the time, exclusive nontaxed mining rights for the Schnee Dust Company to appease Atlas. That part alone with the SDC can cause a number of problems with Arcadia's economy being shifted around to appease just one company. Even Vale requested a stringent oversight committee that we would have to answer to for any military actions that we take." Lilly replied.
"Actually that brings up another question, why does Arcadia have such a, well, militaristic society? I understand that the Grimm are a serious threat and have done more than a little damage over the years to our people. I even suspect that's the reason why you all left a few weeks back to deal with a Grimm threat back in the homeland. However from the way everyone talks or acts, sometimes it feels as if the Creatures of Grimm aren't the ones you're talking about." Jaune said, Lilly exchanged looks with Alexander and Arabella but didn't say anything. Jaune looked to Areto but even she didn't meet his eyes.
"See? This is what I'm talking about, there's always something that gives away the feeling that you're hiding something. I think at this point I deserve to know the truth." Jaune said again, Alexander sighed as he stood up.
"Son, you're right in the fact that you do deserve to know but there are things that make having a conversation difficult to go about. So I have another compromise, if you can make it a year in Beacon then I'll answer any question you have. Deal?" Jaune narrowed his eyes a little.
"It's a deal as long as you don't hire anyone else to beat me." The moment Jaune spoke those words; he kind of regretted it as his father's face darkened like the sky in a raging storm at sea.
"Mind you tongue my son as you may not face some hired thugs next time but maybe your Aunt Sanian, you know how much she enjoys a good fight, in fact maybe I'll be your next opponent." Jaune could feel his body grow cold.
"Be grateful that I put in the time to fill out your paperwork, now go upstairs and wash up for dinner." Jaune could see Lilly brighten up at that.
"What are we having?" She asked as Alexander reached into the paper bags that Areto had set on the counter top and brought out a several wax paper covered items.
"We're having steak with roasted potatoes and string beans. You on the other hand should be catching a flight if I recall correctly." Lilly pouted then turned to Arabella.
"Ara? Can I please stay for dinner? Pretty Please?" Arabella smiled.
"Of course, I don't mind, do you?" Arabella asked as she faced Alexander, a faux smile on her face as it was clear to see that she was still annoyed about earlier.
"Fine." Alexander murmured much to the women's delight. Jaune however had already left to go upstairs, when he opened his door, he wasn't surprised to see his sisters sitting idly in his room.
"Jaune!" Nessa cried out, a smile splitting across her face, her fox ears twitchily happily as she hugged him. She was much more careful about it though as Helena had scolded her for jumping on him too much early into his recovery.
"Is mom still reading dad the Riot Act?" Miriya asked from her spot on Jaune's bed, he shook his head.
"No, I guess she cooled down a little when I got there and talked with him. Even then I wouldn't be surprised if we see dad sleeping on the couch for the next week or so despite this." Jaune held up his Beacon acceptance letter for Claire to stand up from his chair and took it in order to read it. Her look of surprise must have been what Jaune looked like as her mouth and eyes opened wide as she read it.
"So you're leaving?" Claire finally asked as she handed the letter for Helena and Miriya to read.
"Yup, I supposed I'll head out next weekend then stay the night in a hotel before heading to Beacon."
"This is still crazy, you know that right? You're not even fully healed yet." Miriya pointed out, outrage evident in her voice.
"She's got a point Jaune; you're going to a Huntsman Academy. Arguably the most prestigious one in the Four Kingdoms, you'll have a hard time moving let alone fighting Grimm." Helena chimed in, Jaune held up a hand to stop them.
"Look I'm fully aware that it's a Huntsman Academy but I doubt they would have us fight Grimm off the bat. I'm sure they'll want us to adjust to life in the Academy at first, maybe test our skills to see where we're at before having us face off against Grimm." Jaune said as he walked past them to sit in his chair.
"Jaune's got a point; he should be completely healed before they have him go against his first Grimm." Claire mused aloud. Nessa hoped onto the bed and bounced slightly.
"What if they make you skydive into a forest filled with Grimm as like an initiation." Nessa added a thoughtful look on her face. Jaune exchanged looks with his sisters before the four of them started to laugh, Nessa not understanding assumed that they were making fun of her so she crossed her arms in annoyance.
"Nessa don't be upset, we're not laughing at you but no one would do something like that at a school, even one like this." Nessa softened up a little then flashed a toothy smile, or as toothy as she could since her upper front two teeth were still missing.
"Jaune." Miriya said however, her serious demeanor putting a dampener on everyone else's mood, Jaune looked up to meet his sister's eyes.
"Do you promise to write to us every week? To let us know how you're doing in Beacon?" Jaune nodded.
"Nothing to worry about Miriya, I'm sure mom would hunt me down if I didn't write a letter or send some sort of message to all of you."
"I'm serious Jaune; do you promise to keep yourself safe?" Jaune didn't answer immediately at this.
"Promise us that you'll keep yourself safe no matter what." He scratched the back of his head.
"Look I don't think I can promise that but I'll try."
"That's not good enough." Miriya said but Jaune held up a hand to halt her from going on a tirade.
"Look Miriya I know you're upset and worried about me leaving to Beacon and you want me to be safe but I can't promise anything aside from me promising that I'll do my best there. That's all I can say about it." Miriya opened and closed her mouth a few times as if she wanted to say something but she reluctantly nodded.
"I understand." Jaune smiled as Areto opened his door to peer inside.
"Dinner will be ready soon." Claire turned towards Jaune, a sad smile on her face.
"I suppose we should go downstairs, it'll be one of the last dinners we have together for a while." The Arc children stood up and headed downstairs. For the time being they wanted to enjoy their time together for none of them knew what waited in the future. Had they known what waited over the horizon then they might have tried even harder to enjoy their time together.
1 Week Later…
Jaune ran over his checklist of items on his bed that he wanted to bring with him to Beacon. Items such as several pairs of clothes both casual and training orientated. He also had his tooth brush, Scroll, Scroll charger; airsickness medicine along with two dozen recently released editions of X-ray and Vav comics.
Looking near the foot of his bed however was the stark white plates of his armor. Along with that was Crocea Mors in its sheath which Jaune had attached to a black leather belt.
Picking the weapon up, he pulled the sword a few inches out of its sheath to examine the blade. It wasn't the fanciest of weapons that his mother had in her arsenal but it had the most sentiment of being forged as a gift from his dad to her.
Jaune still felt incredible grateful in receiving the weapon but he hoped he could live up to the expectations that were now placed upon him by his family.
"Nervous?" Alexander's voice appeared from the doorway, Jaune shrugged as he sheathed the blade into its scabbard again.
"Is it wrong that I feel like throwing up?" He asked looking towards his father who simply chuckled.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you did, you always did get queasy when you were really nervous, that and when you ride in an aircraft."
"It's not my fault! People are just not meant fly, we don't have wings for a reason!" Jaune defended himself but Alexander simply chuckled as he put a hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"I'm not blaming you son, there's nothing wrong with that. Anyways do you have everything you need?" Alexander asked, Jaune looked down at his bed and nodded.
"Let me just pack everything up then I'll be good to go." Alexander nodded as he bent over a little to pick up the diamond shaped chest plate of Jaune's armor. He wasn't expecting to see his father grasp it with both hands and start twisting it slightly. Even worse Jaune could see the metal plate shifting in his hands which quickly brought up the question of how actually effective this armor was.
"I know what you're thinking and yes, this armor I'm loaning to you isn't that effective as you might think. It should be sufficient to block and absorb the blows of a poorly constructed blunt weapon in the hands of an amateur while it can only stomach a glancing hit from a blade or dedicated bludgeon. Normally I would be able to get you a new suit of armor and weapon in a month or so but we us moving back to Arcadia I'll have to put that off for a while as I'll be busy as High Lord." Jaune nodded.
"I understand dad, there's no need to rush it." Jaune clapped his hands together as he looked at the clock.
"Well I'll pack this up and meet Areto downstairs." Alexander raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Areto?" Jaune nodded slowly.
"Oh, I assumed she's the one that'll accompany me to Vale." Alexander shook his head a smile growing on his own face.
"No Jaune, I'll be coming with you."
"What?"
Twenty Minutes Later…
Jaune stood outside his house with a backpack slung over his shoulder, his armor was strapped to the outside of it while Crocea Mors hung around his waist. His father stood next to him wearing his normal attire of black trousers, black shoes, a blue button up shirt and carried two bags.
"Do you have everything you need?" Arabella asked as she did another inspection of Jaune.
"Yes, I'm fine mom; I've got everything I need." Arabella gave him a small smile which he returned as she patted his cheek.
"I know, I know, please be patient I just want to make sure. My baby boy is going off on his own, soon to be starting his own life, I can't help but fret." She said before finally stepping away then looked over at Alexander.
"Don't worry Arabella I'll make sure he gets there on time." She smiled at him, over the last few days Jaune had seen the two of them start to fix their relationship once more. It had been the first time that his parents ever appeared to have a major problem in their relationship.
Admittedly it was reasonable to be livid if your partner hired a pair of thugs to scare your children and beat up your son.
"Well you two should be heading out now; it's a seven hour flight to Vale and the weather reports suggest it's going to rain." Alexander snorted.
"I wouldn't worry about the rain, when's the last time you've heard a weatherman actually predict the weather." Almost as if nature was listening to him, something splashed on Jaune's cheek, looking up more drops hit his face as it began to rain.
"You just had to say something, didn't you?" Arabella remarked with a grin then proceeded to wave them off as Areto walked out of the house carrying three umbrellas.
She handed two of them to Jaune and Alexander as she held the third one over Arabella. Alexander sighed as he held an umbrella which looked comically small in comparison to him.
"Come on Jaune, its a few miles to the landing field."
Later…
Jaune stood under the metal roof outside the sole building of Avalon's airfield. Inside his father was speaking with the station's attendants about what, he wasn't sure but nor did he care to figure out.
So instead he opted to stand outside till the airship arrived, looking around Jaune could see the outline of Avalon which was slightly obscured by the rainfall. The smell of wet dirt masked the smell of smoke and oil he would have normally smelled near the station.
As there was a mechanic shop out back where the local Bullhead constantly had to going under maintenance. It was funny in a strange way, as it was the village's only means of long distance travel or emergency vehicle in case something happened such as a kid getting lost, which Jaune found to be rather ill planned.
"So the flight should be arriving here in about twenty minutes or so." Alexander said from behind, Jaune turned to see him holding out a steaming paper cup.
"I got you some coffee; help warm you up while we wait." Jaune nodded as he took it and blew it softly to cool it down before sipping. The two of them didn't say anything as they just stood there watching the steady rainfall.
Jaune couldn't help but feel a little awkward about the whole thing. As much as he wanted to break the silence, he just couldn't as he realized that there was a small part of him that still resented his father for what he did.
Though maybe there was a good reason why he did what he did but he wasn't sure. As everyone else generally seemed to think that he knew what he was doing and trusted him in doing so. The only time he's seen anyone disagree so vehemently with him was his mother.
Yet despite the trust people have in Alexander there was also a semblance of fear in everyone when he talks to them about his father and what he hides from him. Whether that fear has to do with his father directly or the secrets his father so closely guards from him, Jaune wasn't sure.
Now though Jaune had gotten a promise from his father to learn what it is that he hides. What untold tales lay behind this imaginary shroud that Jaune saw of his father mentally.
"Jaune?" Something snapped in front of his face and he realized that his father had been snapping his fingers to gain his attention.
"I'm sorry what?" Jaune asked as he shook his head slightly.
"I was asking how you think you'll do without Aura at Beacon." Jaune tilted his head a little in thought.
"Huh, I guess I'll just have a faculty member unlock it." Alexander snorted much to Jaune's annoyance.
"Son, you do realize that if they learn that you didn't have your Aura before arriving then they'll start to suspect who you are if they haven't already figured it out and if suspicion takes root questions will soon follow, questions you can ill afford or are capable of answering. If you do give them all of the information you can or refuse to then they'll most likely eject you from Beacon thus marking you forever with the taint of expulsion from a Huntsman Academy. Which also brings up the possibly of the intelligence agencies of the Four Kingdom coming for you if they smell blood in the water and pick you up before we can. If that were to happen then you'll essentially become a political hostage, a bargaining chip in inter-Kingdom politics." Jaune sighed as he rubbed one eye.
"So I'll just have to find someone who'll unlock my Aura for me if not someone else then I'll unlock it myself and if all else fails then I'll have to make do without Aura." Alexander hummed at this.
"If that's what you feel is necessary, then so be it." Jaune looked up at his father.
"Can I ask a question?" Jaune asked and his father nodded slowly.
"Why don't you have your Aura unlocked?" Alexander didn't show any sign of reaction but Jaune got the feeling that he was thinking.
"I suppose in the simplest way of seeing it, I kept it locked by principle."
"Principle?"
"Indeed, a man who gives up what he holds as principles so readily in exchange for what is deemed as power is not a man who inspires much faith."
"So did the practice of not obtaining Aura in Arcadia start because of you?" Jaune asked but Alexander shook his head.
"I would prefer to believe that others just drew inspiration from my own actions and not so much as blind loyalty in following me in this. I do not fault anyone for having Aura; my own personal misgivings with such power shouldn't be a discouragement for others to pursue what they feel is right for them."
"So who does have Aura in our family?"
"Well your sister Katherine does, she had her Aura unlocked by your Aunt Sanian. Her husband Brin also has his aura unlocked but he doesn't really use it as much as those two. Your Aunt Lilly also has her Aura unlocked but doesn't like letting others know that, why she prefers that I haven't the faintest idea. As for your mother her choice was hers alone to make, if you want to know more you'll have to ask her. As for everyone else it's a different case for all of them, some by choice others not so much beyond that I can't say." Jaune nodded as he listened.
"It feels like I'll never understand what's going on at this point." Jaune sighed a little before his father snorted at that as well.
"I wouldn't be surprised if I were you, sometimes getting an answer does nothing more than plant the seeds to two more questions." Their conversation was cut off when the roaring of engines could be heard and a quad tiltrotor winged aircraft appeared from the north.
Rain stung Jaune's face as the powerful downdraft overtook them; the aircraft hovered overhead before it was gently set down. As the engines slowly started winding down to a standstill, a hatch on the side of the large aircraft opened and several people ran out towards the station with bags or coats over their head.
"Let's go." Alexander said as he picked up his two bags, Jaune followed suit by picking up his own bag and followed his father out into the rain.
"Ticket's please!" A man called out as he emerged in the hatchway, Alexander gave him two tickets and the man let them in.
As Jaune shook the water off his umbrella he looked around the interior of the aircraft. It was mostly wood furnishing and panels with a few metal support beams. Benches lined either side of the craft with a single row in the center.
"I'm going to go ask about the flight time, why don't you find a spot for us to sit." Alexander said, handing his bags to Jaune.
"If you see a spot next to the trash can let me know." Jaune replied as he scanned for the nearest bathroom, spotting it at the far end of the aircraft he made his way over. Setting the stuff down, Jaune sat down with his right shoulder braced against the bulkhead and shifted around so the cool metal touched his back.
Looking around the compartment Jaune could see that this flight wasn't going to have a lot of people. As he could only see five others besides him spread out.
Across from him was an elder couple who both looked to be asleep, to their left was a man in a sharp three piece suit then a woman wearing a black coat that reached down to her knees with a hood drawn over her head.
To Jaune's far left was another man in a grey suit and black trousers that had a black cloak draped over his body as he slept leaning against the bulkhead.
Shrugging Jaune stared at the ceiling as he was filled with anxiety once more, both at having to fly and the fact that he was one step closer to Beacon. He wanted to start laughing and jumping around but even he knew doing that in public would be weird at the moment.
"Ready?" Alexander's voice cut through the daydream that had started to form in Jaune's mind, he nodded a small smile spreading across his face.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
8 Hours Later…
Jaune was being led out by his father from the airship; their flight hadn't been a very smooth one as the rain they took off in turned out to be a severe storm.
The Vale airport was series of large bustling buildings with airships taking off, landing, offloading passengers or going towards a separate row of hangers. The tarmac was wet as they crossed it and make it inside a large three story building, glass doors parted and the noise of the airport became clear.
People were chatting loudly, the smell of food wafted through the air mixed with the sanitary fumes of the products janitors used. Waiting outside the arrival section however was a tall man that caught Jaune's attention.
To be fair he caught a lot of people's attention, mainly women. As he was the epitome of a tall, dark, and handsome, with jet black hair that was slicked back, with a chiseled jaw along with a very well fitting suit.
Jaune already hated him.
Alas faith seemed to have other ideas as the man held a small dry eraser board with their names on it as he held it chest height.
"Zus! How pleasant to see you again, I see the Director is taking this seriously then." Alexander said as they got closer, the man smiled.
"Yes sir, I was surprised at first to hear that you're moving but when I got my mission brief I understood it a lot better." The man said his low baritone voice practically rumbled in Jaune's chest.
"Well then, let's be off." Alexander said gesturing past the man who promptly spun on his heel and headed towards the exit. Jaune and his father both moved quickly to follow him.
"So who is this guy?" Jaune asked glancing up at his father.
"Why are you asking me? He's right there." Jaune pursed his lips, he did have a point.
"Uh, Zus, was it? So, uh, who are you?" The man gave a low chuckled as they stepped outside, people moved in and out of cars that were either there to drop them off or pick them up. One car in particular had another man dressed similar to Zus standing by it, he waved at them.
"Who I am is simple; I'm just an ordinary man that follows orders and listens when I have too." Zus said as he held a car door open for them.
"That doesn't make any sense." Zus smiled as he looked at him.
"Good."
A Few Hours Later…
Jaune stepped out of the hotel bathroom to see two carts laden with plates of food. Alexander and Zus were sitting at a small coffee table laughing over some drinks, or well the table only appeared small next to them.
Without even having to walk over he could smell the alcohol that they were drinking. Zus however looked like he couldn't handle his liquor as well as his father. In truth between the two men they had already finished two whole bottles of whiskey and were well into their third.
"Jaune, pick what you want to eat then get ready to sleep early. You'll have an eventful time tomorrow with the first day of school." Jaune nodded as he picked up a plate with a thick looking steak with a side of mash potatoes and broccoli.
"I tell ye sirrr, thas Aspun guy izz mishy." Zus slurred once last time before his head hit the coffee table, rattling the bottles, Jaune glanced over to see his father knocking back a full glass as if it was water.
"What was he talking about?" Jaune asked but his father just stared at him.
"Hm? Oh, Zus? Nothing important." Alexander remarked casually as he lifted the man's head to look at his face then set it gently back onto the table.
"Okay." Jaune sat in the bed and looked around the room in silence.
"So what's going to happen to our house?" Jaune asked looking at his father.
"Well I gave instructions for our belongings to be sent after we're finished packing up and have already left. As for my forge, anything that can't be taken with us will either be taken apart or donated to the village for their use." Jaune nodded again but he just felt awkward at the lack of conversation as he was unsure of what to say. His father however seemed to be thinking so he probably shouldn't really pester him with questions.
So he simply slipped back down and pulled the covers up to his chin. Excitement and anxiety flooded his stomach at tomorrow but even then he couldn't help but to smile.
He was going to become a Beacon student, to walk and study in the halls of all those that had become heroes in their own rights as they protect the world. Sure he'll have to work three times harder than any student due to his lack of combat skills but he couldn't help but feel that it was the right choice.
Tomorrow was going to be a good day.
The Next Morning…
Jaune was walking next to his father, fiddling with the straps of his armor as they made their way to their terminal where he was to board the flight to take him to Beacon. Zus had stayed in the car, to keep it warm as he called it but Jaune suspected it was really due to the hangover he must have been feeling.
"Nervous?" Alexander asked.
"A little." Jaune lied, he was really nervous to the point that he felt like he was going to throw up already.
"I see." Alexander said mirth clear in his voice and Jaune simply shrugged as he looked around. He could see a tall guy with obvious look of disdain on his face, a buxom blonde girl next to a smaller girl with a red cloak.
There was also a white hair girl that had two men in suits standing to either side of her. Along with that there was a boy and girl who sat next to each other. Jaune felt sorry for the guy since the girl seemed to be talking like a crazy person.
Students, that's what he realized, they were all students like him. Each of them had their own weapon, training and background of trying to become a Huntsman or Huntress.
"So, there's something I need to give you before you go." Alexander said as he shrugged off a backpack and held it out towards him.
"What is it?" Jaune asked as he set his own bag down then took it, as he held it in his hands he realized what it was and was going to say something but Alexander shook his head.
"Keep it; I'm sure you're going to need it at some point." Now Jaune really wanted to throw up.
"Maybe I should have given you a garbage bag." Alexander said with a smile and Jaune elbowed him slightly.
"Thanks." Jaune said after a few moments.
"No problem son, do your best." The two embraced for a few moments before breaking away, Alexander nodded towards the airship.
"I think it's time for you to board." Jaune looked over and could see students walking up the ramp into the airship. Jaune slung the bag over his shoulder and checked to make sure Crocea Mors was still on his belt.
"Wait Jaune, I forgot something." His father called out and he turned out just to see a flash. Blinking a few times to clear his vision Jaune could see that his father was holding a camera.
"Your mother wanted me to take a picture." Jaune sighed as he turned back around and headed into the airship.
It was cool inside and the steady hum or vibration of idling engines could be felt through the floor as Jaune followed the signs to the passenger compartment. Once there he could see that there were no seats and everyone was standing up.
Some on them stood around in newly formed groups talking and making friends with each other. Others were standing by themselves, though Jaune could see the white hair girl from before being led upstairs by one of the crew members.
He made his way over towards the back of the aircraft where he simply stood in a corner. Looking out the large windows he could see the churning of water in the distance. It wasn't long before the sound of the engines started to increase and the flight crew announced that they were leaving to Beacon.
Jaune however could help but think back about the last few months. He thought about his training, his injuries, the anger he had for his father along with the fear of failing him as well and the fear for his life when confronted by the wolves.
If someone told Jaune that was how those months leading up to this point would go down, he would have called them crazy for saying such things. Now he realized that even if he had known that was going to happen back then, he would have stilled stayed on this path.
It was the path of a true hero, his destiny as he liked to think.
Even with what had almost happened with his sisters at the creek he would have done it anyways.
When he confronted the two thugs, who were hired by his father, he felt an incredible feeling of euphoria at doing so. Whether it was the prospect of violence or the glory of doing a noble act at his own expense, he wasn't sure but he knew it felt good.
Which if he had to be honest the more he thought about it, there was one thing that did frighten him.
Not for his safety or what might happen to others but in truth what would happen as result of those things. That in the end he would do nothing but prove them right by dying or failing to live up to the standards that he had preached.
That his failure would serve nothing but evidence to the ugly truth that Huntsmen and Huntresses were mostly just vainglorious thrill seekers more concerned about being the heroes of fairy tales or proving their ideals to be superior.
Now that he was on his way to Beacon he had the chance to prove that he wasn't wrong, that his family were the ones in the wrong the entire time.
Any other thought he would have had was interrupted as his mouth was flooded with saliva and the urge to vomit pushed up to his throat. Clamping his hands over his mouth he looked out the window to see that they were already in the air, crossing over the delta towards Beacon which they could see in the distance.
Another wave of nausea and Jaune leaned his head against the bulkhead as he groaned. That's when he remembered that he had some medicine just for this sort of moment and reached down to open his bag.
Looking down by his foot he didn't see it and that's when it dawned on him that he had forgot his bag, he groaned.
"I hate flying."
Meanwhile…
Alexander was now standing in private lounge where he was watching through the only window looking out at the Vale delta. In the distance he could see the airship with his son get farther and farther away. Inside h
could feel a small part of him twisting in remorse at seeing another child of his going off into the world alone.
Yet, he knew that he was also proud of Jaune. He did was he believed was right even after everything that happened to him both by his hand and by natures.
Just another thing for him to be ashamed of that he had to add to the list that he's been accumulating over the many years. When the time comes for him to pay for what he's done, he'll at least be happy for atoning for what he did to his children.
"Sir." A deep voice said from behind.
"How goes it Zus? Are the assets in place?" Alexander asked but Zus didn't respond straight away.
"They were."
"Were?"
"It seems that there's something of a snag."
"I may be an old warrior Zus but even I know that snags in your line of work means bad things, so what happened?"
"Someone's following our agents already, we don't know who yet but the Director wants us to find out before proceeding with the original plan." Zus explained.
"Any ideas on who is it?"
"Negative, all we know is that they seem to have a semblance."
"So then it might be a Huntsman or Huntress."
"Do you think one of the Kingdom's are already following us?" Alexander shook his head.
"Maybe but we can't be sure yet until we get more information on this. What about the other objectives I asked the Director to look into?" Zus nodded.
"It seems target Gold had a confrontation with target Romeo earlier, there were two additional actors in play. One of which is a young girl that got pushed two years forward on the behest of target Omega. The other actor we have yet to identify but surveyors reported that it whoever they were, they held their own quite easily against target Gold." Alexander hummed.
"What about target Sierra?"
"No data has been collected." Alexander sighed.
"Thank you Zus, I'll get into contact with the Director and see what we can do from here. You're dismissed now."
"Actually, sir, there's one more thing." Zus said and Alexander turned around to look at the man.
Zus was holding onto a very familiar bag. He looked up at him and shrugged before holding it out for him to get a closer look. Alexander lifted up a tag on the side where a name was scrawled on and sighed.
"Damn it Jaune."
I'm Alive!
Yes I know it's been awhile but I had some things to deal with and I was stuck brainstorming for The Lost Son and A Dance of Death so I just couldn't find a way to finish them in time. In fact I cut this chapter in half as I'm rewriting the second half from the ground up.
Now onwards to the story.
I see that there were some, opinions, of the last chapter. Which is good as that's what I wanted to see, knowing what's working and what isn't is important to be brought up sooner than later when damage is already done.
Here you see some of the answers to the questions that have been laid out in front of me. Though be mindful that just because something's answered doesn't mean it's fully explained, as I can give you an yes or no answer but I won't necessarily explain the process of reaching those answers.
Now I shall address a concern or two here as well: If this is a 40k mixed story, shouldn't it be in the crossover section?
Well yes and no as it's not a pure RWBY/40K story but has roots in a number of other ideas. So I feel no need to put it in the specific category as that more or less limits the expectations of elements. I'll give you a hint, one's the pitcher and the other kills kings apparently. The whole purpose isn't to just toss in the other elements but to try and mix it together into a more seamless story, like a quilt, each item is unique but fitted together they make something whole. Though I have no doubt that I could make it completely seamless as I'm not a professional grade writer there will be spots where the fabric gets a little weak in said seams. To summarize, no I won't be shifting this story to the Crossover section of my own volition.
Anyway I still encourage each and every one of you, that reads mine or any other story you find on this site, to leave a review whether it was good or bad. Or even just say what comes to mind when reading as I for one, always enjoy seeing what people who read my stories have to say.
Till Next time!