Holy crap! Over a hundred reviews! You guys seriously rock, and I cant thank you enough for your continued support. That said, whats this, a second update in February? That's right, Remnant DxD is crossing the bi-monthly update barrier! I still dont have any buffer chapters yet, so it'll be tenuous for the first few months, but I'm confident that I can keep up this pace fairly reliably.
As usual I dont own RWBY or Highschool DxD, and the only gains I get from this are gains in satisfaction from knowing that my story is entertaining people.
The next morning Jaune wakes up to find he is totally immobilized. Ren, rigid and unmoving on top of his right arm, Nora having somehow turned to drape herself over Jaune to glomp Ren in the night. Said shifting having thrown all of the blankets off of the trio. Meaning he has a rather impressive view of her full, lacey pink boyshort clad, ass, as well as what ample bust of hers isn't covered by the matching lacey brassiere. Ren tilts his head ever so slightly, looking extremely uncomfortable "I take it something happened to Nora and I yesterday?"
Jaune nods "This isn't exactly how I had hoped to welcome the first bishop and rook to my peerage, but I'll take it over a funeral."
Ren blinks, and takes a few moments, face mostly unreadable save for the uncomfortable blush. "Does the fact that I'm not feeling any pain mean-"
Jaune starts trying to worm his way free. "Yea, it does, lets get some, uh, distance and decency, then I can explain what happened." It takes both Jaune and Ren working together to disentangle themselves from Nora, who is rather loudly groaning and protesting their efforts. Jaune would normally admonish her and be worried about Pyrrha being woken up. As things stand, he is more worried about being able to wake his heavy sleeping, night-person of a partner and queen up to be part of the conversation.
That point is rendered moot when the fell cry of hundreds of vuvuzelas doing their best to play 'Invincible Girl', and butchering it. A slender hand begins slapping around the table attached to the only lofted bed currently in use before slapping a scroll and silencing the cacophonous alarm clock. After a few more moments the girl who's walk in song had just been butchered, presumably by fans, hops down from her bed clad in her light tan pajama pants and shirt. She then blushes, and closes up the mostly open top so that only the top two buttons aren't fastened and asks "So, Ren and Nora are..."
"Just fine!" the latter of the pair in question quips from her spot affixed to Rens side like a burr. The two of them are under one of the blankets that had been kicked to the side during the night, and judging by the look on Rens face, he isn't certain what to make of his current situation.
Jaune, for his part, is trying to scrub from his brain the fact that he knows Ren is a boxer-brief type of guy now. "Though I would like to know what happened to Nora and I" Ren reiterates as Pyrrha sits in the desk under her bed, and Jaune wraps one of the other loose blankets around himself.
Early morning light trickling through the window, tauntingly reminding Jaune that, aside from having had three of his friends murdered over the last two days, he has also missed his morning workout routine. Then again, his nightly training with Pyrrha could very well be just as beneficial for the maintenance and improvement of his physical strength. Especially if Ren and Nora join in. "Suriel placed a mind altering spell on Sky last night while Pyrrha and I were training. Sky then used a spell to put you and Nora to sleep, and possibly one to hide the magic from being detectable to me as well. When I burnt off the residual effects of the sleep spell I also cleared any other spells that may have been active in the area, and the sleep spell was the most obvious." He pauses to yawn, then continues "Sky killed both of you. The spell had him wait a full five minutes in our dorm to make sure you were dead, and then took him back to his own dorm. Pyrrha and I found out what had happened when the control was lifted and he started to panic."
Pyrrha nods sadly "Jaune reincarnated the two of you, Ren as a bishop and Nora as a rook."
Ren nods "So, what he had planned on if we had agreed to be reincarnated while alive then. What are we going to do about Sky and the rest of CRDL?"
Jaune shrugs "That's up to the survivors. I made a promise to them last weekend, and made good on it last night." The rest of the team shudders at the cold finality of his tone, but he doesn't pay attention to that. Like it or not, killing is as much a part of being a devil as magic and fulfilling contracts. "Lets hit the showers and get some breakfast. Pyrrha cleaned the blood off of the two of you as best she could, but..."
Nora nods "We probably still smell like corpses." The three who had been sleeping in their underwear quickly throw their pajamas on, and, after collecting their own shower supplies, follow Pyrrha. With two teams still only intermittently in their dorms there is no wait to clean up at least. Dressed for the day and feeling increasingly at ease, despite the last few days upheaval and near tragedy, team JNPR is one of many teams lightly bantering and discussing classwork by the time they reach the cafeteria. They pick a table with enough open spots for team RWBY to join them once the normally late, chaotic team makes it to the cafeteria. They don't even realize anything is amiss until Tina, a girl about as tall and energetic as Nora usually is, woodenly stumbles to a halt near their table. Considering that one of her teammates had died less than a week ago, some oddness is to be expected.
Jaune is the first to notice that something may be awry when he realizes that Tinas forest green eyes have fallen angel magic circles where the iris would normally be. In a dull monotone far removed from her usual chipper, nearly rambling tone, she begins to speak. "Lord Suriel would like to commend you on your brutality and efficiency. He reassures you that no traces of Sky Larks remains will be found by the authorities, Jaune Arc. He has chosen this vessel to extend to you an offer of truce for one week beginning after the assembly for all Freshman Teams of Beacon Academy has concluded tomorrow. The purpose of the truce is to allow Lord Suriel to acclimate to his new body, and your teammates their new, abominable nature. Additionally, a cessation of hostilities will ensure that the wizard of this Tower will not become aware the depth, breadth, and nature of our enmity, which is ideal for all parties involved. What is your response?"
Jaune glances around the room, and is horrified to see Sky, or someone who looks very much like him sitting with the rest of his team across the vast room. He hears either Nora or Pyrrha gasp, but doesn't look to see who it had been. Bearing a smirk nothing like the proud, late teens usual expression, he raises his right hand, makes eye contact with Jaune, and offers a creepy, flutter-fingered wave. "What is your response, Jaune Arc?"
He quickly glances at his team, all of whom are pale faced and frightened looking. "I, I accept the truce, until one week from the end of tomorrows assembly, and not a second more. What did Suriel do to you, Tina?"
The petite girl shudders, then, voice still all but dead, answers "Your response has been relayed to Lord Suriel. Wiping memory and severing contact." With a bone wrenching shudder and a shallow gasp, the magic circles fade away to reveal Tinas normal eyes. "Wha- What'm I..." she trails off, frowning and looking confused. "Sorry guys, I forgot what I wanted to talk to you about. Didn't mean to bug you." Tina turns to shuffle away from team JNPR before any of them can reply. All four of them pick at their food in concerned silence until team RWBY prods them back to normality when they join JNPR at the table.
_-*R-DxD*-_
The school day proceeds more or less normally after breakfasts... revelation. Save for team RWBY trying to pry out of them what had them so spooked that is. Deflecting the near constant inquiry is bordering on annoying, but manageable. The quartet had opted to return to their dorm once classes let out for the day and order takeout. Room cast in a warm crimson pall by the setting sun, a pair of mostly empty pizza boxes sitting open on one of the desks, stomachs full, team JNPR are looking to their leader for explanations and instruction once more.
Jaune is sat more or less in the middle of their futon – once again folded up into a couch, legs spread and elbows hooked over the back; with Pyrrha leaning against its left arm facing him, knees hugged to her chest. Ren is leaning against a wall sitting cross-legged on his meditation mat, and Nora is laying in her bed, head and shoulders drooping over the edge so she can see the entire group, albeit upside-down. "So, aside from us having to worry about a fallen angel taking classes with us, we need to get you three properly trained up on what you can do as devils."
"And I am more than a little curios as to how that works." Ren opines calmly, though his face looks more concerned than confrontational.
Jaune nods "A lot of it is instinctual. Concentration, intent and willpower account for the basics." He explains, well, more regurgitates whats Kuisha, Misteeta and Coriana had taught him. "We'll start with teleportation, but before that, I need to cover two things, well, three, technically." He pauses to take a breath "The fact that you are all my friends isn't the only reason I wanted you in my peerage. Aside from Pyrrha having a sacred gear, Nora" she tilts her head to better face him "isn't a pure human. I don't really know what it is, and its something deep in her heritage, but finding out what that is will go a long way to reaching her true potential. Ren" he gestures to the still reclining man as he stands himself "has the sort of arcane potential that would have human magical societies spilling blood and starting feuds that could last generations to recruit into their ranks."
"I'm, I'm not human?" Nora queries the ensuing silence.
Jaune shoots her a reassuring grin "Like I said, its faint, and very old. I barely noticed it when I ran some analytical spells on you and Ren while I was, healing, the two of you last night." He leaves out that it felt both deific and cold, the ginger girl really doesn't need any more of an ego boost. "Now, let me see your left hand." Pensively, Nora holds her left hand out to him. He taps his index and middle fingers to her palm, and a small sigil, consisting of the outermost layer of his summoning circle, the latticework layer and an open space flares to life on her hand in the tarnished silver patina of his magic. At its center rests the twin crescents of House Arc, or, what he hopes will be House Arc, sans all the extra rings, and in each of the outer layers 'eyes' is a highly stylized 'B'. "That's a Lesser Seal, marking you as a member of my peerage, as well as it's vassal status in relation to the Bael Clan. It'll serve as a focus and aid for your own magic, and allow you access to any of my peerages summoning circles, as well as limited access to some Bael Clan circles." He circles the room, Ren and Pyrra both freely offering their left hands when he reaches them.
He motions to his team to join him when he stands on the rug covering the circle etched into their dorms floor. "So, how exactly does this work, Jaune?" Pyrrha asks as she joins the rest of the team and peerage over the circle.
"Normally, you need to focus pretty hard to pick out the right summoning circle that you have access too. When your being summoned to form a pact the active circle tends to be pretty insistent. For simple travel though, it can be kinda rough." He chuckles self deprecatively, remembering more than a few instances of popping up in the Gremory manor, or the wrong room of the Bael during the early months of his training and time as a devil. Rias had been a tease then too.
He watches his team go, mostly, still as they concentrate. Pyrrhas eyes halfway closing, her body not so much relaxing as coiling to spring. Rens eyes do shut all the way posture relaxing as he turns inward and- Pyrrha nearly jumps out of her skin when Ren seems to blink upwards and out of existence, and Nora does let out a startled yelp. Pyrrha quickly regains her composure and focus, and Nora tries to emulate her. After a minute, the gingers tongue is sticking out of her mouth and eyes are screwed shut instead of simply closed. Not long after that, Nora starts fidgeting, and Pyrrha too blinks up and out of existence in a flash of magic. The fidgeting is even worse five minutes later, and her eyes are now crossed instead of shut. With a growl and a stomp, Norra finally blinks out of the dorm room.
Jaune teleports to join his team, who are looking around the Emerald forest, their expressions somewhere between confusion and awe. Jaune is about to congratulate his team on their collective successes, and explain the corpse, when he notices that there is no corpse. He sighs "Well, at least we have a clue as to how Suriel looks like Sky now." His team all turn to look at him, even more confused, so he gestures to where he'd left Skys body "The fallen must have had some way to track Sky, and somehow disposed of his body, probably at the same time he started mimicking him. I'd planned for us to train out here, if we wreck the forest or kill some grimm, no one will complain, and we don't have to worry about prying eyes. I think I'm gonna have to modify the plan now."
Jaune moves to the dias at the edge of the stone platform and takes a knee, his wings manifest and his magic begins to flare, the magic circle quickly shooting out past the small clearing. "Um, what are you doing, Jaune?" Pyrrha queries. Jaune, however, is too focused to be able to respond immediately.
He doesn't know how long he is focused on the spell, but is snapped back to reality when all three of his friends scrolls ping a low aura alert. "Why do I feel... safer, all the sudden?" Nora queries, a slight hint of amazement on her voice.
"And what happened that nearly wiped out your aura?" Ren adds.
Pyrrha, face slightly flushed and looking away from the group, chimes in "It certainly was, beautiful. Like the Aurora Borealis had taken over the ground."
Panting and exhausted, Jaune levers himself to his feet and checks his scroll. Five percent left on his aura. He really had tapped himself out. "I just desecrated the ground in as wide an area I could and as deeply as I could, centered on our summoning circle here. I think I got out about two miles." At the blank looks his team shoots him, he extrapolates. "For devils, this area is a safe haven. Normal people and faunus not aligned with us would feel afraid of, maybe even be unwilling to come near to this stretch of the forest. For angels, fallen or otherwise, this place would be, at the very least, painful to enter, and weaken them."
Pyrrha tilts her head "That still doesn't explain why it almost completely drained you, Jaune."
He shrugs "Normally, multiple devils preferably of at least high class would carry out the ritual. Normally, the killing would happen immediately before the ritual – nearly a day is stretching it. Finally, more killing would be used for so large an area." He pauses "But, we have a need, I'm the only one capable, and I'm not willing to go slaughtering innocents just to shield a summoning circle and get us a bolt-hole if things go wrong."
Ren nods "Then why not... desecrate, a smaller area, instead of leaving yourself so drained?"
"Because strength and area are directly linked. I wanted to be as sure as I can that Suriel and as many of his compatriots as is possible can't get to us here. Additionally, descrating any ground at all makes it as much a beacon to angels as churches and holy sites are to devils. So, ideally, even though Suriel will know we have a base of operations here, there wont be anything he can do about it. And I like our odds against whats left of team Cardinal."
Pyrrha nods, accepting his explanation "You mentioned something about training out here?"
Jaune makes his way over to his teammates on unsteady legs, grabbing a long branch off the ground to lean on as he recovers his strength. "Yea, I'm pretty much useless for practical demonstrations for today, but I can walk the three of you through some basic exercises to get started on figuring out your magic, and how to wield it."
Its slow going, getting his team beyond the most basic skill he had been able to walk them through to get out here, and all three are beyond frustrated by the time the sun is setting. Not that the evening is a complete waste. By the time the quartet teleports back to their dorm both Ren and Nora had manifested, small, magic circles. The sweaty-browed former getting a slight breeze and more humid air near him, and the scowling latter covering some of the grass around her with hoarfrost. His partner, brows tight and pouting, had only been able to get a nebulous feeling of something that should be resting on her biceps, and an unnatural, windless rustling of the grass near her indicating power nearly being grasped, but not much else.
_-*R-DxD*-_
Friday goes much the same as Thursday, sans the fallen angel scaring team JNPR senseless at breakfast and puppeting a classmate. If anything, it goes better, with the professors keeping the day mostly light duty, and not assigning much homework. Professor Goodwitch even goes so far as to have them watching recordings of previous Vytal Tournament championship rounds and theory pieces instead of sparring.
After classes let out, when all of the older students are dispersing to eat, study or train on their own, the freshman form an apprehensive river from the main building to the amphitheater. A subdued murmur fills the massive chamber as the students wait for the Headmaster to take the stage. The lights dim, and everyone goes silent. The headmaster confidently strides onto the stage, cane held collapsed at the small of his back. He takes his place at the front front of the unadorned platform, and without so much as touching or testing the microphone affixed to the podium that had been waiting for him, begins. "Less than two months ago, you were gathered in this very room to commemorate having completed your initiation. It was a day of triumph, of celebration." He pauses, gaze cast out over the small crowd, eyes sad. "I called ninety six names that day, and the entire academy was in audience to stand witness to your success. Today, however, only eighty four of you stand before me, and not all of you stand beside the team which you stood on this very stage with, nor are all of you whole, or even standing."
Many of the wounded students in attendance shift uncomfortably. Ren rests a hand on Noras shoulder, Pyrrha leans into Jaunes side, Yang and Rubys hands find each other... a quick glance around the room shows that all of the still hale and whole teams similarly huddling closer to each other. "I warned you, before initiation, to never hesitate, or you would die. Eight of the aspirants did not listen to me on that day. And even more have fallen since then." A few quiet sobs punctuate what would have been the following silence. Even more students seeking others for comfort.
"So I have gathered this years freshman class to present the same opportunity that has been extended to every class since Beacons inception." He pauses again, gaze weighing heavily on the gathered students. "I offer it to you now, today, because all of you know, on a visceral, personal level what it means to be a huntsman or huntress." Jaune straightens his back, stands a little taller, and his team follows suit. "You all know now that behind the glory, the praise, the excitement and adventure lies a very plain truth." Team RWBY follows JNPRs example, and many of the other still hale and whole teams follow suit, rippling out from where Jaune and his friends stand. "Your lives are likely to be short and violent, and what years you are able to grasp destined to contain far more pain, heartache and hardship than any other culture on our world will ever know or endure."
Many of the students who had been injured or seen friends killed shrink at Ozpins cold appraisal and warning, but the headmaster continues, heedless of their obvious discomfort. "You may have seen a friend maimed or mutilated. Perhaps a comrade fall on the field, never to rise again." Several students begin to openly weep at that, others seeking comfort. Jaune takes care to continue to stand tall and proud, and the other whole teams follow suit. "Some of you have already borne a teammates elder-wood casket into the Valean Heroes Rest, that somber tomb dug into the cliffs overlooking the Emerald Forest. Some of you have lost family, lovers, or someone whom you will never truly know what could have blossomed between the two of you beyond the veil of tragedy and death." Ozpin does pause at that, his steely eyes betraying honest pain and regret at that.
"That said, all of you now truly are able to acknowledge and comprehend the depth of the commitment you make by continuing at this prestigious academy." Ozpin continues after taking a steadying breath. His eyes may have shown pain, but his voice betrays none of it. "I am not saying that no teams survive to graduate as they were at initiation. Nor that no huntsman or huntresses survive to retire, not even that none of you still blessed enough to stand beside those you did after initiation will not retire old, gray and happy together." Ozpin nods at some of the clusters of confident, straight-backed students. "Simply that it is rare, for the price asked of us is as steep as the benefits society offers us for our service are many."
Ozpin pauses, then extends his cane and plants it on the ground, face equal parts stern and caring. "That all said, from the moment of your dismissal this evening, until five o-clock pm a week from today, I implore you to examine your will and dedication to this life. To take the knowledge you have gained over the last two months, and truly consider, if this bitter, painful, glorious and exciting life is truly the one that you are called to." Another pause, this time he focuses on the students still trying to recover from their headmaster having so thoroughly salted their emotional wounds. "If any of you find that the answer is no, that the price asked may be to steep, or the hardships too plentiful, simply come to my office and tell me."
A murmur rises among the students for the first time since the Headmaster had taken to the stage. One he cuts off with a firm voice as he continues to orate. "For this week only, there is no shame in leaving, no dishonor, you will not be judged nor ridiculed. You will be issued a standard civilian identification, and I will personally assist you in enlistment in the Valean Special Police and Recon Department, Valean Auric Commandos, or aid you in finding a job where your unique semblance will best benefit society, or unlocked aura will allow you the safety and strength needed to preform tasks civilians without such could not."
Before the murmur can even think to rise again, Ozpin sucks in a breath of air and continues. "For you can now, for the first time since any of you ever picked up a weapon, or felt the embrace of your aura enveloping you, comprehend what is being asked of you to become a huntsman. Should any speak ill of those who leave during this Week of Contemplation, not only will there be no repercussions for upperclassmen who energetically correct your mindset, professional huntsmen and huntresses are liable to do so as well." Team CRDL, and a few others flinch at that, but do not make a sound. The monster in Skys skin stilling that teams remnants before Ozpins sharp eyes can do so.
"Any who venture to leave after these next seven days, however, will be made to live with the shame and scorn of having betrayed their brothers and sisters in arms lest it be through reasonable retirement, be that for age, injury, or ailment." Ozpin snaps out, voice still calm, but certainly not gentle.
"So I once again implore all eighty four of you brave souls gathered before me; especially those of you whose teams lost members, or whose weapons needed complete re-forging, to contemplate whether the life of a huntsman or huntress is truly your calling in this life." Ozpin continues, voice again gentle. "Teams that lose members to this personal introspection, will have their numbers replenished with second semester Freshman, and Sophomores whom have convalesced from grievous injuries received last year, and the faculty and Kingdom do not believe need to prove themselves again via the trials of Initiation. You are dismissed." At that, much like his speech before initiation, the Headmaster strides from the stage to leave the students to make of his words what they will.
For a few minutes, RWBY and JNPR stand there, letting the other students filter out instead of trying to cut through the crowd. Eventually, Yang breaks the silence. "Eesh, the Headmaster didn't pull any punches, did he?"
Pyrrha nods in agreement, and Weiss replies "He isn't wrong though. Anything less than total commitment to this life, and..." She trails off as the crowd thins enough for the eight friends to start moving towards the exit.
They pass by the remnants of team FSJC, Tina, eyes shrink-wrapped in red huddled into her team leader and boyfrineds side. For his part, Ryse looks lost for what to do. The two new members of the team, a short pale skinned faunus with purple hair, and what looks to be rooster talons from his knees down; and an ochre skinned brunette maybe a head taller than the faunus with her hair in a single, thick braid, are awkwardly trying to start a conversation. They are failing, by the look of it. "I feel kinda sorry for the two new members on that team. Probably going to lose their leader and his partner by the weeks end." Blake observes.
"Why do you think that?" Jaune queries, more than a little confused.
Yang sighs tiredly "Tina had some sort of mental break yesterday. Forgot all of last week happened at all. Apparently they had to show her footage from the Emerald Forests surveillance system for her to believe Flora's dead."
Nora winces "That's, I mean, those two were inseparable since before Signal, from what I heard."
Ren nods as the octet exit the amphitheater and begin walking towards the cafeteria. "Allot of people thought they were romantically involved with how much time they spent together."
Yang shakes her head "Which is kinda stupid if you ask me. Those two set each other up with boyfriends as often as they found their own. There's always idiots who figure time spent together means repressed sexual tension though. By that logic me and Ruby should be getting up to, er..."
"The sort of things you and dad don't want me even learning about until I'm at least forty? Forget about trying anything more than hand-holding or snuggling." Ruby supplies, blinking a little too innocently at her sister as she does so.
Yang almost trips as she spins to glare at her sister and team leader "Who is he, and where does he live so I can-" Blake cuts her partner off by resting a hand on her shoulder and shaking her head.
Pyrrha covers a giggle, before trying to de-escalate the situation further. "You and Ruby probably aren't the best example for the point you're trying to make, considering that you are related." Yang grumbles, but doesn't look like she has any further arguments to make.
Nora giggles "Or horny knuckleheads with their heads in the clouds. Remember all those rumors about what we were supposedly getting up to when we became regular sparring buddies?"
Yang lets out a loud guffaw at that "Oh but if setting them right wasn't fun, wasn't it Nora?" Then, probably remembering why they had started the current conversation in the first place, deflates. "I can't imagine what it must be like to lose someone that close. I guess the headmaster wasn't wrong about what he said in his speech today. This time next month, I might be the last member of team Ruby, not the last letter. A week to bawl my eyes out, then, time to meet my new partner and leader."
Jaune pats his fellow blond on the shoulder after he is jostled to just within arms reach of her by a knot of students headed in the other direction. "Don't worry Yang, none of us are going anywhere."
Pyrrha covers her mouth with her left hand, eyes twinkling "I don't think I could stop being a huntress if I wanted to."
"Yeah, and team Ruby is gonna go the distance too!" The aptly named leader of said team chirps, while thrusting a fist into the air.
A slight blush on her cheeks, Yang squawks out "That's, that's not what I was getting at guys!" A handful of students look up at the group as they make their way to the back of the dinner line, but most students are too used to their antics to react more than that. "Just, you know, what if? Is it right to judge anyone going through something like that when we haven't? Is it cowardice or prudence to back out when no one will think less of you if you do?" The group falls silent at that, whether to order their food or ponder the option open to them for the next seven days is anyone's guess.
Jaune feels his scroll buzz in his pocket, and pulls it out to check who had sent him a message. Sairoarg: "Jaune, I forgot to mention when I stopped by the other day, but everything should be in place that you can start forming more traditional pacts now. Lord Bael has had some of Clan Baels Extra Devils inserting lore and literature into Vales libraries since you were promoted to King. By all estimates, the first summoning could happen any day now. Be ready."
_-*R-DxD*-_
The weekend, for Team JNPR at least, is full of training. Ren spends most of it in a meditative stance, small magic circles flickering in and out of existence as he seeks his innate abilities. Jaune is likewise seated more often than not, though he is studying the tomes Sairoarg had brought him. Nora and Pyrrha, both frustrated by their lack of magical progress, spend their time acclimating to their newly increased physical strength and potential. The wooden training weapons allowing Pyrrha to re-acclimate to foes she cannot rely on her semblance to fight.
Not that Ren and Jaune don't join in the sparring, rather that for most of the weekend it is Nora, with a more and more frequently rime-coated hammer sparring against the Invincible Girl, as opposed to Ren or Jaune. By sunset on Sunday, Ren is able to maintain a respectably sized magic circle for a devil with less than a week as such to his name, and generate a thick fog, reasonably strong wind, or a stream of water and electricity resembling what could be expected from an overpowered shower-head with a few exposed power cords affixed to it. Jaune has a good idea what his friends magic is manifesting as, but is holding his peace until he can be certain.
As for personal progress, Jaune is fairly certain he has a few runic phrases figured out, but still needs to decide on what he will inscribe them on to test them. He also has a good start on a blueprint for a proper base of operations to have built at the heart of his newly desecrated safe zone. Well, dug, not built if he wants to split hairs. However that plan is going to be on hold until he can hire a construction crew from the Underworld to come to Remnant. Of course, nightly grimm hunts to form easy pacts are mixed in with the sparring, study and meditation. A busy weekend, would be an understatement. "Please tell me being a devil isn't all training and hiding in the woods Jaune." Nora groans as the quartet gather on the summoning circle in the rapidly deepening gloom of the Emerald Forests sunset.
Four flashes and they are once again in their dorm room. Pyrrha and Nora both immediately set about getting ready to shower off the sweat and grime the days sparring had left them covered in. "It isn't. Lord Bael has had some of his more trustworthy servants sneaking lore and literature about devils into libraries and onto dustnet forums since I left to start Beacon. Sairoarg told me the other day that his father thinks we will be able to start forming more traditional pacts soon."
Pyrrha looks up from her dresser, pajama top hanging loosely in one hand "That, still sounds like more work, Jaune."
He chuckles, and steps to the side so that Ren can get to his desk. "If you knew anything about the sort of people that are willing to form pacts with devils, you'd know that what we do for 'work' is anything but dull or boring."
Nora pauses by the door, already ready to head out for a shower before settling in to unwind for the rest of the evening. "So, what your saying is that we'll be working with crazy people."
"More... eccentric, than crazy." Jaune counters as he gets his own caddy and a change of clothes ready.
Ren looks up from his desk, his laptop already powered up. "Either crazy or eccentric. Sounds like we'll be working with a lot of huntsmen then." Nora sticks her tongue out at her partner, but before the banter can escalate Pyrrha herds both her and Jaune out of the room to clean up. By the time they get back from their showers, Ren is sitting on the futon, flicking through channels. After he explains that he had just had to polish up his essay for Professor Ports class, they decide to watch a movie before turning in.
About halfway through one of Chrome Nolans Slothman movies, Jaune gets a flash of inspiration. "Gauntlet darts!" he exclaims, having figured out how he can use his runic magic and get around his lack of ranged options in one stroke.
Nora looks up from her spot on the floor, leaned against the futon between Rens legs "Yea Jaune, Slothman has been using those for, like, half the movie now."
He waves his teammates off, mentally going through the basics of the weapon he has in mind, and accepting that he will probably need to talk with Yang and Ruby to get it put together right. Crocea Mors may be both a treasured heirloom and mighty blade in its own right, but his ability to wield it has left him far behind his classmates when it comes to the forging and maintenance of weapons. They finish the movie in more or less companionable silence and turn in for the night.
Monday is, well, Monday. Professor Port implies beringels can't see the color pink. Jaune nearly makes a fool of himself in Ooblecks class when he dozes off, he cant remember what he had been dreaming about, but responding "night vision" after being startled awake by the green haired professor had been the right answer, apparently. Ruby nearly blows up her and Weiss' table during Applied Dust Theory, much to the heiress' consternation. Professor Goodwitch spends a solid fifteen minutes berating Ryse and Verdus so loudly that the groups not under her supervision for the day had been able to hear her. And they returned to their dorm to find an irate looking Rias pacing the length of the room.
Wait, what?
"Umm, hey, Rias. Whats" She turns to glare at him, softens her expression to something more friendly, then shifts back to anger. "umm, whats up?"
Team JNPR file into their room, most of them looking apprehensive and confused, though Jaune has, well, he has a guess as to why they have such an angry and unexpected visitor. "Riser. I'd kill him if I could." The crimson haired devil growls as the door closes.
"Umm, who's Riser?" Nora asks, a slightly wooden grin on her face. "And, well, how did you get here?"
Rias' pacing grinds to a halt, her anger shifting more to sheepishness. "I'm... I'm a, friend of Jaunes. He left his summoning circles open to me" Clearly forcing herself to calm down as she continues to interact with Jaunes team and peerage.
"Hello again." Pyrrha greets her fellow redhead "I take it things aren't getting better with your arranged marriage?"
Rias shakes her head "Considering it hasn't been called off yet, yes. Sorry about barging in like I did Jaune, I just, needed some space." She looks at the rest of the team "Well, aren't you going to properly introduce me? And congratulations on finally getting your peerage started."
Jaune points over his shoulder to Ren "This is Lie Ren, my Bishop as of a few days ago," he then gestures to Nora "And Nora Valkyrie, my rook, reincarnated at the same time." Both Ren and Nora wince slightly at that.
"You said something about an arranged marriage?" Nora queries as she crosses the room to set her books down.
Jaune tosses his jacket at his desk and answers for his friend "Yup. Rias is the younger sister of the current ruler of the Underworld, and second in line of inheritance to the House of Gremory, after her nephew. A few years ago one of the other leading Noble Houses cornered her brother at a gala. Ever since she's been promised to, well..." Jaune trails off, not sure if mentioning Riser will re-anger the calming Rias, or help his friend vent.
"A lecherous, self absorbed, pompous asshole?" She offers, before letting herself bonelessly flop onto their futon. "And he's been getting more insistent about trying to have some sort of formal announcement or celebration now that its only a few years until the planned ceremony. It wouldn't surprise me if he just showed up in my clubroom to force the issue one of these days."
Ren tilts his head, already seated at his desk and pulling homework out of his book bag. "Your clubroom?"
Rias nods "I'm the president of the Occult Research Club at my high school, which is a front for my peerage. The clubroom is our base of operations."
"So, kinda like her just popping into our dorm then?" Nora asks.
Jaune shrugs and takes a seat on the far side of the couch from Rias while his ginger haired rook starts languidly battering at the speedbag she had put up when they moved into the dorm. "Not for much longer. Once the metaphysical distance between Remnant and the Underworld is the same as the Underworld and Earth, I plan to pay for a construction company to put in something more substantial where we have been training in the Emerald Forest. Probably gonna just scrub the circle here once I do that."
"I take it that training spot is right in the middle of the desecrated ground a ways off?" Jaune nods at Rias' guess. "Thats an awfully risky move you made, being that blatant Jaune."
He reaches over to poke her as Pyrrahs head flops over the edge of her bed, her serpent-like crimson ponytail making it halfway to the ground, legs crossed and leaning against the wall, stocking clad feet touching the ceiling. "Theres a rogue fallen angel active in Beacon, and aside from whatever group he is a part of and myself, no other supernatural groups in play on Remnant. It was necessary for our safety and no real risk."
Ren looks up from his spot on his meditation mat "Except for risk to yourself. You could barely walk after making it, and your aura had just started recovering when we came back here after the nights training was done."
Jaune shoots a slightly betrayed look at Ren, before turning back to Rias, who now looks equal parts concerned and upset. "And you're changing the subject Rias. What has Riser been getting up to that has you fleeing to a planet he doesn't even know exists?" Scowling, Rias fishes her phone out of one of her skirts pockets taps the screen a few times then tosses it to Jaune. The contact reads 'Tactless Cad' but Jaune is able to figure out fairly quickly it is Riser going by the tone and word choice of the messages. Of which there is nearly one for every hour in the day, mostly unanswered by Rias. Demands to meet to plan for their wedding. 'Requests' that she join him for a dozen different types of social outings which could only be interpreted as dates were anyone to see them. Threats are as common as corny pick-up lines and attempts at romance.
The deluge goes back for a week and a half, and only seems to be broken when the blond noble is asleep. A few other mystery breaks are there, though, the fact that several of them have clearly post-coital selfies including the devil in question and different members of his peerage ending the lull, it isn't really that much of a mystery why he had stopped harassing his unwilling fiance. Jaune gestures to Pyrrha, and Rias nods, so he tosses her the phone. As Pyrrha goes through the phone, her usual pleasant smile nowhere to be found, Rias prompts "So, Pyrrha, which one of Jaunes pieces are you?"
Face now set in a scowl, Pyrrha tosses the phone to Nora, who catches it effortlessly, her right hand keeping the speedbag going as she scrolls with her left. "I'm Jaunes Queen." Pyrrha answers her fellow crimson haired beauty. "And, for what its worth, I really am sorry that you've been saddled with such an... odious, man."
Before Pyrrha can say any more, Nora levels a hay-maker at her speedbag that has her lofted bed slamming into the wall behind it. "We're helping her, Jaune." Something muffled can be heard through the wall, probably a complaint, but everyone in the room ignores that.
Jaune can feel his mouth twisting into an unhappy frown as he forces himself to relax into the couch. "As much as I want to, I don't think there's anything any of us could do. Rias and I are just a pair of young Kings with incomplete peerages. The rest of you guys haven't even been devils for a week, Lord Phenex is the head of the wealthiest Clan of the Seventy Two pillars with centuries of experience. He wants this as badly as Riser does, best case scenario we might be able to get him to arch an eyebrow if whatever plan we come up with is unorthodox enough."
Ren slides the phone across his desk so Rias can reclaim it when she is ready. "I take it he's more interested in your filial ties than anything?"
Rias nods at the pink eyed young devils question "Lord Phenex? Yes. I'm one of the only pure-blooded devil women near Risers age with similar social status." She reaches over to reclaim her phone and slip it back into her pocket. "For Riser I'd be the crown jewel of his harem, but at the end of the day he's as beholden to Lord Phenex's wishes as I am to my brothers."
While Jaune and Nora share a confused look, Pyrrha lets out a small gasp before lowering herself back to the ground from her bed "Ren, if you're suggesting what I think you are-"
Rias, face hard and eyes fierce cuts the other redhead off "Anything to get away from Riser."
The black haired teen nods "One of our friends is the heiress to the single largest corporation on Remnant. She probably has lawyers on retainer."
Jaune is the next to figure out what Ren had been hinting at. "A Remnantian lawyer who wont know who he's crossing or what he's doing by drafting Articles of Renunciation for a girl being forced into an arranged marriage with a reprehensible asshole."
Pyrrha nods "Add in a decent bribe to a courthouse clerk in the Underworld to fast-track the paperwork to make you an emancipated minor..."
Rias lets out a sigh as her eyes drift shut. "And I have everything I need to go from Rias Gremory, second in the line of succession for the Gremory Clan to just, plain, Rias. It'd work, but I'd rather keep it as a last resort." Team JNPR nod in understanding at Rias' thoughts on the plan. "Lets go, I don't know how long I'll be able to be away from Kuoh town before someone outside my peerage notices."
_-*R-DxD*-_
Ozpin is sitting in his office, enjoying a final cup of hot cocoa, reveling in the comfort of a peaceful academy, being caught up on his clerical work, and uninterrupted plans for holding Salem at bay before heading back to his home when Phanuel strides out of the elevator. He had not planned on meeting with the Fallen Angel, and the set of his old friends face and body posture suggests that he will not enjoy the conversation. His suspicion is all but confirmed when Phanuel angles for the hidden drinks cabinet instead of Ozpins desk. The immortal wizard acquiesces to Phanuels unspoken requests and toggles the switch to reveal the cabinet. The fallen releases his illusion as he fixes himself the same scotch and coffee he had had during their last candid discussion, then makes his way to the chairs opposite Ozpin.
Phanuel does not sit, rather, he begins pacing back and forth in front of Ozpins desk, sipping from his drink intermittently. Inwardly grimacing when he notices Phanuels fu manchu quivering along with the fallen angels agitation. "I take it you have news?"
Phanuel takes a deep breath, a long drink from the glass he had taken from the closet, then sits. "I need another set of eyes at Beacon, and it may be prudent to get a few of my people placed at Signal as well."
No good news then. "And your reasoning, Phanuel?"
"I only have the initial findings from Vale, but I can say with confidence that at least thirteen Fallen Angels active in our home." The fallen rumbles "My sources are confident that none of them are higher than a Lieutenant of the Host, so six winged at worst."
Ozpin nods "Compared to you, a former General with ten wings." not entirely certain what has his old friend so flustered.
Phanuel shakes his head. "We have more, solid, and worrying, intelligence. Namely, that the Winchesters, who have have close ties with the Colt, Remington, Heckler, Walther and Koch families; are also connected to the Myriads representatives in Vale." Those names have Ozpin feeling his centuries. When vale had been a feudal kingdom, those had been some of the most powerful noble houses, and largest obstacles to his efforts to transition the Kingdom to a democratic republic. "The patriarchs of all six families have gathered together on a monthly basis for at least a century."
Ozpin nods, far from happy. "Those families have been fast allies for longer than that. And the mixed lineages make it more a Clan than old alliance." He pauses, takes a drink from his cocoa, then adds "and Cardin will inherit both the estate and title of Lord when Denim passes."
Phanuel nods "Most of my people are rusty, but it isn't that far of a stretch to expect the other fallen to have similar groups answering to them."
Ozpin pinches the bridge of his nose "If memory serves, in the Heavenly Hosts would have a pair of sergeants – four winged angels answering to a single lieutenant; each of whom would have five malakhim, or plain, two winged angels, answering to them." Ozpin pauses "Is this any different with a Myriad?"
Phanuel tilts his cup back and forth at Ozpin, the vessel already drained enough that nothing spills from it. "The angelic organizational structures are the same. The difference being that in a Myriad, each angel is allowed up to a certain number of vassal mortal families. They are also responsible to protect and ensure the success of said families, but a malakhim is allowed half a dozen, and the number increases by four for every order of angel you move up beyond that."
For a few minutes, the only sound in the cavernous office is that of the decorative clockwork ticking away. "If we were to assume a single Lieutenant per Kingdom, Menagerie included, it would take a major crisis to entirely remove their influence from even one kingdom, or we would cause one in doing so. I take it you have insight on the demeanor of the Myriad of Destruction as well?"
"Zealous enough to make the Old Testament seem tame." Phanuel replies plainly. He takes a deep breath "I have additional news, Ozma." Another pause, a sip from his glass. "A few days ago, an area about two miles in diameter was desecrated in the Emerald Forest."
Ozpin feels an eyebrow quirk, and sadness tug at his heart "I had thought Mr. Arc had better intentions than that. I take it you have plans to purify the ground before we bring our wayward devil to task?"
Phanuel shakes his head "I triple checked, no disappearances, nothing pointing to the number of sacrifices that should be needed to taint that large of an area as deeply as he did. And, if I am being truthful, I would only dare trespass on his territory for an emergency, and with as much time to prepare myself as I could afford. Even then doing so would be excruciating for me. White feathers or black, for any angel less powerful than me, that patch of forest is the same as the Holy See would be to a devil."
Ozpin feels, somewhat, less worried and disappointed at that. "Jaune is the first devil we know of to posses an aura, he may have done something new, or something reckless. Still, for things to have escalated to the point where Mr. Arc feels the need for such defenses... I take it you have someone in mind for your extra set of eyes here at Beacon?"
Phanuel nods "One of my best Inquisitor trainers, and one of my only that hasn't gone rusty in the centuries of peace we've known since coming to Remnant."
Ozpin fights to keep a scowl off his face. While he had kept true to his word on not spreading the faith his people departed from, or train humans or faunus to act as mortal servants, Ozpin is not strictly happy that the ability to do so still exists. "Then your new Teachers Assistant will be able to begin as soon as they arrive at Beacon."
Whew, a bit less excitement than the Peerage Arc, I'll admit, but some more pieces need to get moved into place before the showdown with Suriel, especially if its gonna be a satisfying one. Probably gonna have one more chapter before getting into the events of Forever Fall and The Stray, plus more worldbuilding/unification being fit in as and when.
2/27 update: Totally forgot that Ren and Nora already had a conversation with Rias via scroll last chapter. Woops.
Love it? Hate it? Able to see the curvature of space-time and slowly losing your sanity and humanity? Drop a review, I'd love to hear about it!