Here we go

Cover Art: GWBrex

Chapter 51

The Grimm had been nipping at their hull ever since they left Mistral, but the shoals of monstrous fish and angry serpents thinned out as they cut from the coast and out into deeper ocean. It was a paradox since the deeper water meant access to larger Grimm, but then there was more water for them to hide in, so it balanced out. The Grimm had been drawn to Mistral too, and once they were away from it the pressure began to ease.

That left the sailors feeling a little less afraid, though they still weren't exactly optimistic. Many lived in Mistral and the news of what happened had spread. At first, everyone had taken the attitude that at least they'd achieved true freedom, but that was scant comfort and it didn't last long. A silence permeated the Seaspear now, and Neptune had gone as far as to grant them longer rests just to avoid a mutiny. Everyone was upset, grieving, and that could explode into anger at the slightest provocation. It was also why, except when she needed to be of use against the Grimm, Weiss Schnee remained in her quarters with her brother. It was better that way.

Ren and Ruby were practicing with their aura when Jaune stepped into the cabin. Ren's face turned his way, eyes covered by his blindfold. He smiled. "I sensed you coming."

"I'm not surprised," said Jaune. He'd been using magic to clear away the lingering Grimm, and it was practically dripping from him. To Ren, his body must have been illuminated in emerald green light. "How goes it? Getting a hang of controlling your aura?"

"Somewhat," said Ren. He flexed his hand and Jaune could see the faint light around his fist. It flickered for a moment and then faded. "I can push it to an area but keeping it there is difficult. It keeps wanting to flood back into my body."

"Thinking of it like water is a good analogy. Or blood. Ozma says it's just a matter of practice, though. Good control is needed before either of you can try any real magic."

"That's fine. Just being able to do this, and to see again – in a sense – is enough. I can be patient." Ren chuckled. "Ruby, I'm not so sure about."

"I can be patient!" cried the smaller girl. Ren bit back a smile and Jaune couldn't help but laugh. "I can be! It's just boring. Push this, hold it there, control your aura. Where's the magic? Where's the big spells and cool explosions?"

"Inside your arm if you lack control. You could blow it clean off."

Ruby pouted but did listen; she usually did. It was strange how Taiyang was fine with him – or Ozma – teaching her to control and use her aura but wasn't fine with the Church. He didn't think someone married to a Chosen would want to work with the Dark Lord, but maybe it was as simple as that he didn't demand Taiyang give up his daughter while the church would.

All those chosen from Ansel never came back, and never saw their families again. He'd never been sure if that was a rule of the church, some kind of "love only for the goddess" thing, or if it wasn't just those children growing apart from their families and finding a greater purpose. Whatever it was, he saw no reason to break up Ruby and Taiyang, nor Ren and Nora. He didn't expect loyalty or devotion either, though Ozma had demanded the latter from Ren.

"What are we going to do on Menagerie?" asked Ruby.

Jaune hummed, breaking out his reverie. "Hm? We're going to settle there."

"I know that. I mean after. What's the long plan? Are you going to set up a school for using aura? Are we going to become like Chosen and hunt down Grimm? What'll our jobs be?"

It was a good question. He'd thought she was asking what his plans for world domination were, to which he had none, but she really meant the ultimate career paths after Menagerie was rebuilt. Blake and Adam had mentioned the idea of him teaching children who unlocked their aura, but he had to wonder what parent would willingly entrust their child to the Dark Lord. Taiyang for one, but he was a former bandit. Not exactly normal as parents went.

"I guess hunting Grimm wouldn't be a bad idea," said Jaune. "By the time Menagerie is built up you and Ren should be competent with your aura and some magic as well. Ren should even be able to use it to see again. In a sense. We can protect Menagerie."

"We're to become your Chosen?" asked Ren.

"Nothing so official. I'm not building an army. Call yourself whatever you like."

"Disciplines?" offered Ruby. "Acolytes?"

"Preferably something without religious connotation. I'm trying not to come across like I'm building an army or a cult."

A bang came at the door, followed by a head of black hair and feline ears. "Hey. We're coming up on the fleet now. You might want to grab the Relic and get up here. They're going to want to see you in particular."

/-/

The White Fang fleet was not how he envisioned it. In his head he'd imagined lots of ships like the Seaspear – maybe a little bigger, like the galleon that chased them off from Vale – but nothing too unusual. Instead, it was a veritable flotilla of hulking square vessels that hung low in the water, and which looked as manoeuvrable as a wheelbarrow in an outhouse. Sleek, they were not. Swift, they almost certainly weren't. Huge decks spread out easily twelve times as wide as the Seaspear, while the lead vessel must have been at least twenty times its size in total.

It had to be that wide to keep itself afloat in the water with what Jaune assumed were hundreds of people on board. This wasn't a ship with a crew after all, but more of an ark carrying civilians, many of whom wouldn't know much about sailing. Surrounding that vessel were many more, at least a hundred, with those being various sizes more typical for ships. Big ones, small ones, quick ones, fishing vessels. He counted four of the bigger ships, and those lay side by side in the water, connected by what appeared to be wooden bridges or ramps.

"It's like a town," said Ruby, awed. "It's like a town on the water."

"It wasn't always like this," said Blake. "Faunus settled all over the kingdoms when Menagerie fell, but a lot of us held hope of returning one day. The White Fang was a nomadic group, but once we saw the chance to get the Relic of Knowledge we knew this would be our chance. Sienna commissioned the arks and the fleet was assembled. Some of those ships carry nothing but barrels of grain, vegetables, and food for our new home. Others are stacked high with construction material. The largest arks are filled with people."

"How many in total?" asked Jaune.

"A little under 7,000."

A staggering number. Though not, he realised, an unusually high one. The Dark Lord had led armies of greater size in the past, and the city of Vale had over 100,000 people living there. To someone living in a tiny village of under a hundred people, however, it was a lot. And especially to all be on the water on ships. They must have been going through their food at an incredible rate, and every day waiting must have felt like an eternity. But they had waited, and patiently at that, and now Adam and Blake were returning with their reward.

"Sienna is going to want to meet you," said Blake. "You shouldn't worry about this going poorly when you've brought the Relic. If anything, she'll want to make a big deal of it and thank you all. I expect there will be a celebration."

"Attacking Jaune on a wooden ship would be a stupid idea anyway," said Ruby.

"True." Blake chuckled. "But that won't happen. Sienna knew who you were before we were dispatched. A lot of us might be faithful to the Goddess, but we're White Fang first. We've dreamed of Menagerie for so long. If you can grant us that then we'll accept you."

"I just hope I can grant it."

"Well, it's not you, is it? If the Relic of Knowledge says it's literally impossible to reach Menagerie then we have the other question we bought off Raven. That's to ask for where we can settle and make a new home."

"And if that's impossible as well?"

"Then this is a cruel, cruel world. Let's not assume that before we've even tried."

Their ship wasn't challenged as they sailed close, but then the White Fang didn't really have any enemies who might attack it – and a single pirate vessel wasn't going to approach this absolute armada with any ill intent. Adam stood on the captain's deck beside Neptune and pointed him on where to steer the vessel, while Blake whistled and shouted to some people on the ship to their right. Ropes were cast over and the Seaspear was lashed to another vessel that, itself, was lashed to the central ark.

A wooden rope ladder some four people wide had already been cast down the side and was acting as an impromptu way up onto the biggest ship. The one they were now bobbing alongside had become something of a footstep up. The climb wasn't long but it was arduous. Adam and Blake led, with Jaune and Ruby behind and the rest behind that. Nora was helping Ren up, with the blind man explaining patiently that he could still climb a ladder, eyesight or not. When they reached the top, they came up onto a truly massive deck that could have easily fit Ansel in it five times over.

Tents and cabins dotted the surface of it, and rows upon rows of fishermen sat on the edges, talking as they cast their lines. Children played in one section, while a small market had parked up in another and was doing business. Faunus shouted of fresh fish and spice, while others haggled, and a small band played for an appreciative audience.

"It really is like its own town," said Jaune. Ruby hummed her agreement. It wasn't hard to imagine this being what Menagerie would look like. They weren't all faunus, either. He counted some humans among the masses, a minority for sure, but present. Some might have been spouses of faunus, close friends, or those with few odds in life looking for a new start.

"We try and keep people moving and active for morale," explained Adam. "The central ark is sort of a community centre while the others are more used for sleeping and living on. We run schools here, along with a hospital, market, theatre and other things. We're not really involved in all that. Blake and I are more…"

"Military," finished Blake. "In a way. We don't have a military but we obviously need people to protect everyone else and take care of odd jobs."

"Like chasing a Dark Lord across the known world," joked Adam. "Or competing in grand tournaments against the best Vale has to offer. It's unusual work, but it keeps things interesting."

"I'm looking forward to simpler work on Menagerie," said Blake.

Jaune was looking forward to it too. Just being able to live a normal life free from being hunted by Salem, and free from expectation. Yes, he'd likely go mad at some point. He imagined that was why Ozma wasn't fighting this. But at least he could live his life on his own terms.

They were brought toward a larger building on the stern of the ship, above which lay the captain's wheel. The building was large, square, and contained a huge hall on the inside. It was bigger than several houses stuck together, and inside lay long tables and doorways leading off to several different rooms. A woman stood in the entranceway, her dark skin cut by black lines that might have been birthmarks or tattoos. Orange ears striped with black poked up from black hair.

"Sienna Khan," said Blake, nodding respectfully. "We didn't expect you to welcome us back."

"News spreads fast and I had to see with my own eyes if it were true," said Sienna. He remembered her from Vale, and she him if the look she was giving him was any sign. "I see you found him alive and well. Does he have…?" She trailed off, and Jaune took the initiative to sweep his cloak back and let her see the Relic. Her breath caught. "And the questions…?"

"Two remain," said Jaune, watching her shudder in an odd combination of bliss and relief. She must have been terrified of the consequences of gathering all these people in one place only to find out the Relic had been used. Furious faunus might have torn her to shreds. "And I'm prepared to give them to the White Fang in exchange for some concessions Adam and Blake negotiated with me."

"Of course. Let's talk over some food. You're all welcome. Adam, Blake, you've done well – very well. The White Fang owes much to you. I'll ask you to stay, however. The dealings involve you both."

A table was set aside for them and fresh, warm food was swiftly brought out, along with a barrel of fine red wine and several goblets. Most of the crew of the Seaspear had stayed down below along with the Schnee siblings, but Neptune and Sun had come up with them and were all seated. Sienna listened as Adam and Blake told of their adventures in Mistral, and of the deal made with Jaune. As it went on, the tension seemed to leave Sienna.

"That's all? Home and housing for you and yours on Menagerie is more than acceptable. We'll always welcome more hands to help in the rebuilding. And yours might be especially useful if there are Grimm to deal with."

"We also thought he might teach any aura-capable children among our own," said Adam.

"That might be a difficult ask for those faithful to the goddess but we can make it optional for everyone. I notice you said children, though. Surely you meant girls."

"There's been a bit of a development on that front," said Blake. "He claims men can learn to wield aura as well, and I've seen his student use it." She pointed, and Ren chuckled and made his hand light up. Not a great showing, but enough given that it should have been impossible for two men to have aura if the Church's doctrines were correct. "According to him, the Church claims only the Dark Lord can use it as a method of making it easier to identify him. Apparently, most men and women could learn if they were taught."

"Most?" asked Sienna. "Even, say, us?"

"It would take time," said Jaune, relaying Ozma's words. "But yes. In time, you could learn to use aura. It's easier for people who are younger and active. I think Blake and Adam would find it easier than someone in their forties for instance."

"Imagine it," said Adam, smiling wildly. "Menagerie protected by scores of men and women capable of fighting on the level of Chosen. Never would it fall again. We could hold against all comers and protect our home for the rest of eternity."

"I am imagining it, and yet it sounds too good to be true." Sienna closed her eyes in thought. "The two of you have a good rapport with them. Will you take them as your students? If you can teach them – and if I can show them as examples to the others – then more would be inclined to trust their children to your care."

A test, then. In all truth he didn't want any children assigned to his care so it wasn't like he was inspired to fight for this, but it wasn't about that. It was about being valuable to Menagerie, and the more valuable he was, the more freedom he'd have. They wouldn't think of giving him up to Salem if he was instructing their young.

"Teaching four is not so different from teaching two," said Ozma. "The choice is yours but it will take us little extra time. They can be taught at the same time as Ren and Ruby. And the Valkyrie child, if she finally musters the courage to ask."

If she did. He wasn't sure she would. Nora was no coward, but she was holding herself as a protector of sorts to Ren, and he wasn't sure she'd agree until she was absolutely certain Ren wasn't in any danger.

"I'll agree to those terms if Blake and Adam do." The duo nodded without hesitation. "And I'm fine to hold the lessons in a public place if that helps calm people down. What of the Relic? You need it to get through some rapids or so I hear. Are we doing that now?"

"Tomorrow night," answered Sienna. "A lot of people have put their faith in me and I want to prove their trust deserved. If we summon it now then many won't believe it happened. I'll have the news spread, and we shall make the summons while everyone watches. Let them all see and hear with their own eyes and ears that Menagerie will belong to us again." She smiled, then. "It also won't hurt for them to know we have a safe route through the treacherous waters. Morale will be bad enough already as we get close, and the last thing we need is people staging a mutiny because they have second thoughts."

"Until then," said Sienna, clapping her hands. "I invite you all to enjoy the hospitality of our flagship vessel. You're free to go where you wish. I hope you'll use this time to interact with and meet people. After all, they'll soon be your neighbours."

/-/

It was generous to give them free reign of the ships and yet there wasn't much they could do with it. Blake and Adam introduced them to some of their friends – Ilia, Yuma, Trifa, and more faunus that Jaune lost track of. He even met her parents, a fisherman's couple with a huge father rippling with muscle and a smaller woman who seemed to have him wrapped around her fingers. For the most part, however, the faunus were living nervously on the water and slowly beginning to wonder if Sienna and the White Fang hadn't tricked them into a dying and lost crusade. They weren't rebellious, but they were worried, and that worry had them going about their lives without much time or patience for strangers.

It looked like they'd arrived just in time, then. Another month of this and the faunus might have lost their nerve.

The news about the Relic was spread and a sense of palatable excitement grew the next day. The nearby ships had their decks filled, and families gathered early for a chance at front row seats to the spectacle they were promised would come. Sienna seemed determined to wait for nightfall to come, and when it did she stepped out onto the deck in an ornate grey, white, and black robe. Jaune followed, a little weirded out at all the attention, but she'd explained he would need to be seen to forestall any complaints later. If people knew he was responsible for getting them to Menagerie then they'd be much more willing to accept him.

Sienna walked to a raised platform and spoke out loudly. "Brothers and sisters! Today is the day we reclaim our homeland." Silenced, awed in places, nervous in others. "For decades the island of Menagerie has laid beyond barriers made all but impassable to our sailors. The secrets of the ways in and out of Menagerie have been lost with our ancestors. No longer! Due to the hard work our allies, of human friends who wish to settle with us, we have rightfully laid claim to the Goddess' Relic of Knowledge."

Sienna motioned, and Jaune stepped forward to hold out the Relic to her. As small as it was to those watching it still had presence – a strange, ethereal glow that shone brightly in the darkness. Sienna had chosen the time of day well.

"Two questions we may ask of it," she announced. "Two answers that will be granted regardless of difficulty or mystery. Tonight, we discover our route to our homeland. Tonight, we begin our new lives." Sienna touched the Relic. He had explained to her how to use it based on Ozma's knowledge. "Come forth! Come forth, Jinn, the Spiri of Knowledge!"

Smoke burst from the relic and coalesced in the air. People gasped and murmured in wonder. This was the first tangible proof they had of Sienna's promises. Everything before could have been a trick, but this… this was magic. This was real. Jaune watched as the familiar blue figure, seemingly existing of glowing light, materialised in the air. He caught Sienna's own gasp as she laid eyes upon Jinn, and the awed silence of all the families watching.

Jinn floated in the air and looked slowly about her. As the spirit of knowledge she likely knew where she was, who they were, and even what they wanted to ask her, but whether it was a rule or a custom she simply smiled and floated a little higher so that all could see her.

"Freely has the relic been given," said Jinn. "And so you may ask your questions, Sienna Khan, of the White Fang. Choose your words wisely, however. I am bound to answer what is asked and no more."

That was something Sienna had prepared for.

"Oh, great spirit," she said. "Deliver unto us the truth of a route we might use to reach Menagerie safely from our current position, navigating around the dangerous obstacles in our path in such a way as to reach the mainland safely and in one piece."

Jinn chuckled. "Wisely asked. Very well. An answer of directions would avail you none, and you demand a full route. Have you a map prepared?"

Several faunus came forward carrying a large table between them. On that was a huge map of waterways and islands, along with a pot of ink and several quills. Blake was there as well, carrying a quill and ready to act as scribe. She froze when Jinn reached for her, and almost fainted when the spirit gently took the quill from her hand, floated down to the table, and dipped it into the pot of ink.

The father's tip scratched quietly over parchment for what felt like the longest time. Dotted lines, new landmarks, new swirling depictions of whirlpools – they appeared across the map. Even if Sienna had not asked for them specifically, Jinn had to provide anything that might be required for them to follow her route. If the route required them to "go east when you see a specific island" then they had to know where the island was. If the route required them to "travel carefully between two whirlpools" then they had to know where those whirlpools were.

It took time, and the route was alarming in both how wild and circuitous it was, and with how many obstacles lay in their way. Jagged rocks, strong currents, perilous shallows and more. Looking at how bizarre the route Jinn inked down was it was no wonder so many had failed before. There were likely more correct routes, as they'd only asked for one and that was what Jinn gave, but he had to assume this was one of the easiest. Jinn didn't seem the type to lead them astray for her own amusement, and Ozma concurred with the thought in his head.

"Jinn has ever been an ally of humanity. If this is the route she gives you then this is the safest and most reasonable route. The shifting of tectonic plates and the cracking of the world has created much madness, I see. Perhaps this was caused by the dust."

Dust?

"Nothing you need worry about. Something eons ago."

Jinn finished by drawling the island of Menagerie, and then dotting a line to it and drawing a swift X on their landing spot. Sienna breathed out a huge sigh of relief, and he realised it was because there was a route at all. There had always been the chance Jinn would just say it was impossible.

"Your route is set," said Jinn, laying the feather down. "The path to Menagerie lays open to you, and my work has been done. You have one question that remains, but I know you are not prepared to ask it yet. Until you have need of me again, Sienna Khan." The spirit turned to Jaune and smiled. "And you, Jaune Arc. Fare the well and good luck. Knowledge is not forbidden if it is already known deep inside, and you know that she will not give up so easily. You seek solace but you are also sought, and so wherever you go, she will find you in time."

Jinn twisted in the air and vanished into particles of blue light, back into the Relic of Knowledge. Sienna stood, staring at the map, and a cough from Blake was needed to remind her of what had to be done. Sienna stiffened, nodded, and then turned to the stunned onlookers and raised her hand high.

"Menagerie is ours!" roared the woman. "Our homeland is returned. Rest. Prepare. Tomorrow, we begin our journey home!"

The cheers were deafening.

Can't recommend Bocchi the Rock enough btw. Best anime I've seen in years.

Next Chapter: 12th February

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