S. 1202/1/3 - Morning

To say Jaune was freaking out right now would be an understatement. The one thing offering him a semblance of comfort was the presence of Crocea Mors in his grip, instilling a sense of safety.

Capua Sky Bandits. He had been saved by bandits. That was all well and good - no, it really wasn't - but, what he really took issue with is what they wanted from him.

His face drained of color if that were even possible, and his expression became pinched with a look of discomfort. He felt a wave of panic start to rise within himself as he processed what he had heard.

"You guys…want me to join you?!"

His motion sickness was officially the last thing he could think of right now - this was insane! He was grateful to them for having saved him, but being a bandit was the antithesis of what he left home for!

Josette responded with a sarcastic eye roll, her anger bubbling to the surface.

"Well, aren't you just a bundle of joy?"

Her eyes seemed to pierce through him as if she was trying to get a better understanding of who he was.

"And what else would you have us do? We used some pretty expensive treatment on you,"

She jabbed her finger straight at him, her body language aggressive as she moved closer towards him, "So, work it off!"

Jaune really didn't have a response for that. If anything, all he really wished was that she'd get out of his personal space before the shock wore off, and he'd start getting -

Oh, too late, he was motion sick again.

Jaune's face visibly turned green as he braced himself for the inevitable. He raised a hand to his mouth, almost as if trying to physically block what was coming, but he knew it was too late for that.

Thankfully, Josette took the sign - she quickly stepped back, as far back as she possibly could. At the very least, she was out of range.

Her expression shifted to one of disgust and horror as she observed the green that was spreading across his face.

"Ugh, you look like you're about to puke."

'Oh really?! How observant of you, I never noticed!'

Jaune felt his stomach tense up and was unable to respond, not because he had nothing to say, but because of the overwhelming nausea he was experiencing.

'Oh god, please — please tell me they have motion sickness pills on this ship.'

They, in fact, did not have motion sickness pills on the ship.

-

S. 1202/1/3 - Afternoon

Their talk resumed in the Afternoon after Kyle landed the Bobcat in a clearing. Jaune was visibly doing better, and he was now fully out of bed.

As he stood, he could finally take in his state properly. Considering he was mauled by a Beowolf just a couple of days ago, Jaune was in surprisingly good shape.

'Whatever treatment they used on me must've been an absolute miracle worker.'

Because not only was he in good shape - Jaune actually felt stronger than he'd been before. Not to some ridiculous extent or anything, but he felt as if he operated with a strength he shouldn't yet have.

He'd chalked it up to feeling stronger now that he'd survived a Beowolf - even if it wasn't quite so accurate to say that.

In any case, the Capua siblings were there to talk with him once more.

This time, it was Don who spoke first.

"Why don't you tell us your name? It's going to be important for us to know the name of our own."

"I-I'm Jaune Arc, but do I have to join your Bandit group? Surely there's some other way for me to pay you back, right?"

Don contemplated the thought for a second, before completely rejecting the idea.

"It doesn't seem like you can. You don't have any Mira on you - we already checked - and the only thing of real value on you is your sword."

Jaune's face soured. If there was anything of value to him that he couldn't just give away, it was his sword. Crocea Mors held the weight of his family's history, and it was going to be the sword he'd use to become a hero.

'Or it should've been.' he thought bitterly to himself.

"Giving away my sword really isn't an option for me, though."

Don nodded, having already figured this. He'd discussed with Kyle and Josette whether they could just take it off him, but with the way he'd gripped that sword in his while unconscious told them all they needed to know about his willingness.

"We figured. That's why this is your only option to pay us back. I don't think you know any way to make enough Mira to pay us back - and this way, you'd only have to accompany us for a few jobs."

As reluctant as Jaune was to admit it, it did seem like the only option he had - save for dying, or something.

Resignation washed over Jaune's face.

"I've got a few questions to ask, first."

"Ask away."

"What is Mira, exactly?"

What followed was a lengthy questioning session - which cultivated in Jaune finding out he was on some continent he'd never heard of called Zemuria, Mira was the currency they used here - and, airships were not called Bullheads over here.

Seeing as they were his only source of information, and that really, he didn't actually have a choice - Jaune accepted.

"...Fine."

The Capua trio were all wearing contented grins, and Don even let out a hearty chuckle.

"That's good to hear! Welcome to the Capua Sky Bandits, Jaune!"

He was definitely going to regret this.

-

S. 1202/1/4 - Morning

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," Josette called, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

"We've got work to do."

Startled from his slumber, Jaune groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes. His messy bedhead added to his disoriented appearance.

However, rather than being annoyed or flustered, Jaune seemed unfazed by Josette's antics. Half-asleep, a smirk tugged at his lips. He knew exactly how to respond to this. He'd been in this situation hundreds of times over seventeen years. He'd never let his sisters win - never.

"Oh, good morning, Princess," Jaune retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Here to take command of the commoners? Just give me a second, I'd rather die than be under your command."

Josette's eyes narrowed playfully, her smirk transforming into a grin. She had expected Jaune to react with frustration or annoyance, but his snarky comeback caught her off guard. It was a welcome surprise, igniting a mischievous spark within her.

"You've got some nerve, Jaune," she shot back, feigning offense.

"Just because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed doesn't mean you can take it out on me."

Still half-asleep, Jaune effortlessly continued.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was taking it out on you. You're just so naturally irritating that it just...happened."

Don stepped forward, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. He cleared his throat, effectively interrupting the banter.

"Alright, you two. Let's save the friendly sparring for later, shall we?" Don said, a glint in his eyes.

"We have a busy day ahead, and I'd hate to see you wear each other out before we even leave. We're assigning people today."

Josette and Jaune shared a momentary glance, their playful grins fading as they realized they might have taken their banter a bit too far.

Kyle, ever the observant, chimed in with a raised eyebrow and a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"You two seem strangely close for a pair of strangers who have only known each other for a few days."

Josette and Jaune exchanged a brief look, a subtle shift in their expressions. For Josette, it was nice to have somebody her age to joke with - that was all.

For Jaune, he'd realized exactly what he was just doing. He- he was bantering with bandits. He was having fun with criminals. How could he?

Josette shrugged nonchalantly, her tone lightening.

"Well, what can I say? Some people just click, even if it's through snarky remarks and insults."

Jaune couldn't - no, he wouldn't accept that.

It was all Jaune could do to fight the part of him that had started warming up to the Capua.

-

S. 1202/1/5 - Morning

A couple days had passed since he'd ended up joining these bandits, and things have been...strange.

He'd been handed a bandit uniform of his own - a guy named Aaron had handed it to him the day before. He still wore his combat belt above it, so he could carry Crocea with him, but that was about all that was different.

For all the horror stories told about bandits, these guys just seemed different. Not much, mind you - they still steal, and destroy.

But, from what he'd seen, from the way they treated each other, and all the other bandits, they didn't seem like such bad guys.

That didn't make Jaune any happier about where he'd ended up though.

He was meant to join Kyle for something this month, though. Something about a 'small, easy job', or something.

All he knew was that it meant that, while Josette and Don would take the bulk of their bandits - he'd be with Kyle, apparently heading to Gull Seaside Way, he'd said.

Jaune knew it was about time to head out, so he started heading to the Bobcat. The mere thought of it reminded him of his motion sickness.

'...I'm already regretting this.'

-

S. 1202/1/7 - Morning

They'd arrived at Gull Seaside Way.

Jaune personally saw no way they could dock the Bobcat, but Kyle thought differently.

While Jaune stood next to him, he pointed to a fenced off section, where there was a little bit of a beach left.

"We'll be docking there. It's not ideal, but I know I can do it. We're going to be going along this way," he gestured to the left of the area they'd dock, "The two of us'll be robbing whoever passes us by, as long as they aren't Bracers."

Jaune looked bewildered, confusion written all over his face.

"What are Bracers?"

Kyle's mouth hung agape as he turned to stare at Jaune in disbelief. He hadn't expected this, and the surprise was written plain across his face.

"I can understand not knowing Mira - but, how in the world don't you know what Bracers are?"

"I've just never heard about them. Is it really so strange?"

"Yeah. They're pretty well-known. Anyway, Bracers are specialists meant to keep civilians safe. Most of em' are really good at fighting, so we best not fight any we find."

'So...they're like Huntsmen? If only they'd found me...'

Jaune shook his head - thinking like that was useless. He had to do well with what he was given. This was the hand he was dealt, he'd just have to make the most of it.

Though he didn't quite know how to make the most of being a bandit.

"Jaune, we'll be docking soon - get ready."

Jaune took a deep breath before making his way to an empty seat, dreading the thought of having to sit through the bumpy ride. His stomach was in knots and all he could do was grip onto the armrests tightly, hoping that he would make it out.

-

S. 1202/1/7 - Afternoon

They'd been waiting for a couple of hours without any luck. Nobody had really come through the path, and all they had luck at finding was empty chests.

Their first bit of action was when actual monsters ended up attacking them.

"It's only a couple of Crocodark's, so we should be able to take them. Jaune - take point, I'll support you."

Jaune stood there in disbelief.

"You're telling me to fight those?!"

Kyle rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with annoyance.

"They're nothing serious - you'll be fine. They're slow, but strong. Just don't get hit. Either way, draw your sword, they're attacking us."

Jaune took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Though apprehensive, he unsheathed Crocea Mors and positioned himself in front of Kyle. He questioned how he could be of any support, but he couldn't just stand idly by and let himself or Kyle be harmed.

As the first Crocodark lunged forward for a bite, Jaune's reflexes kicked in, and he effortlessly sidestepped the attack. His movements were fluid, and the slow pace of the creature made it seem like child's play to avoid. He smirked to himself, thinking,

'Okay, I can definitely do this!'

The second Crocodark followed suit, attempting to snap its jaws shut on Jaune. However, his agility allowed him to dance out of harm's way once again. It felt like a dance, a deadly one, where Jaune effortlessly glided around the creatures' strikes. It was weird. He'd never moved this fast before, and if he'd looked down, he'd see a faint, white energy spreading over his legs.

But as the battle continued, Jaune's lackluster swordsmanship became apparent. Each swing and thrust he made lacked the precision and force to deliver a killing blow. His strikes barely grazed the creatures' tough scales, causing minimal damage.

Frustration began to well up inside him. He knew he needed to do more, to prove himself capable. And then, it happened. A surge of unfamiliar energy coursed through his body, and his blade seemed to become weightless in his hands.

With newfound speed and strength, Jaune struck at the first Crocodark with a swift and powerful slash. To his surprise, his blade sliced through the creature with ease, leaving a deep gash. The sensation was exhilarating, but it was short-lived. His first significant blow - and the Crocodark lay unmoving. One more strike, and it should be dead.

In the midst of his triumph, Jaune failed to notice the second Crocodark lunging towards him from the side. Its powerful jaws clamped down on his arm, teeth sinking into his flesh. Pain shot through his body, and he winced, realizing his lapse in focus.

His momentary distraction cost him dearly, leaving him vulnerable to the second Crocodark's attack.

The Crocodark bit his left arm, and the pain was agonizing. Or, at least, he'd figured it should've been agonizing.

But, he felt nothing but an impact against his arm as he stabbed the Crocodark that held onto it with it's teeth. The Crocodark died as soon as his blade was fully through it, and it's bite on his arm loosened until it flopped off of him.

Strange - it was really strange. He stared at his left arm, where there should've been a wound. Where there should've been agonizing pain.

Instead of pain and blood, as he'd expected, Jaune found a white forcefield spreading over his arm.

'What...?'

Distracted, Jaune hadn't noticed the first Crocodark nearing him again.

From afar, Kyle watched intrigued.

'The white energy - it was there again. It healed him last time, and strengthened and protected him this time. How interesting...'

Kyle pulls out a small, circular object from his pocket, and chucks it at the injured Crocodark approaching Jaune. A small, localized explosion occurs, finishing off the Crocodark and greatly startling Jaune.

Anger twisted Jaune's features, transforming his face into a mask of fury. His pupils narrowed, as he stared directly at Kyle.

"Did you just throw a bomb in my direction?!"

Kyle exhaled slowly, a look of nonchalance crossing his face as he shrugged.

"I knew what I was doing."

"You did! You threw a bomb in my direction!"

"That was support. That was me supporting you."

"How is throwing a bomb in my direction supporting me?!"

Kyle sighed - this was gonna take a while.

-

S. 1202/1/7 Evening

It was approaching night, and both felt the need to leave soon. Nobody had come through the way for the entire day, so they figured no one would go through the path at night.

They'd started heading back to where their ship was docked, Jaune still grumbling about the bomb, and Kyle tired of listening to Jaune.

As they were heading back, though, they'd noticed someone - a girl, holding a bag wearing some casual clothes.

Jaune was content to just walk past her, she didn't seem like she'd have anything of worth - but Kyle loathed the idea of staying out here for an entire day without winning anything.

So it was when they were directly in front of each other that Kyle withdrew his sword, pressed the tip to the girl's chest and demanded that she surrender her bag. She was stunned into a moment of immobility–her body frozen in shock and her mind unable to comprehend what was happening.

Her heart raced as terror filled her veins; he seemed unwilling to move without getting what he wanted. Realizing that she had no choice, she reluctantly handed him the bag filled with her belongings.

Kyle let her go once she'd handed him her bag

Jaune looked to Kyle in horror, "What the fuck are you doing?!"

"I told you earlier, we'd rob anyone who we came across."

"She didn't like she had anything worth taking!"

"What part of anyone did you not understand?"

Jaune felt a chill run down his spine as the realization of what he had done set in. He was going to rob people, he was- he might even have to kill people- he-

Kyle was one of the people he'd thought he could get closer to.

Oh god, he was going to be sick.

-

S. 1202/1/8 - Morning

They'd boarded the Bobcat and left not long after; they didn't want to run into any Bracers should they come looking. It's been hours since, and Jaune still hadn't fully come to terms with his earlier realization.

He knew he was a bandit right now - he'd agreed to it to pay the Capua siblings back, but not once had he considered the idea he'd be involved in such situations.

They'd found a young woman alone at night, they'd put a sword to her chest, and then they'd taken her belongings.

She had done nothing to deserve it, but they took advantage of her just the same. An innocent, young woman was suddenly targeted by a group of criminals, likely on her way home from that day's errands.

Jaune felt like he was nothing more than a lowly piece of trash, his worth diminished to almost nothing. He left home to become a hero and look at him now. Not a few days have passed, and he's a bandit robbing innocents.

"This isn't what I wanted," he whispered to himself, his voice heavy with regret. The realization hit him hard, an overwhelming sense of disappointment in himself.

They had found a young woman alone at night, her vulnerable figure illuminated by the pale moonlight. In an instant, fear had etched itself upon her face as Kyle cornered her, brandishing his weapon with malicious intent. He recalled the cold, steel edge of the sword pressed against her chest.

What would his ancestors think, gazing down upon him right now? Would they be disappointed or appalled? What would they think of him?

He stole Crocea Mors, he left home without letting anyone in his entire family his plans - he left home, with the selfish naivete of a boy who didn't know his place.

Now, here he was. Here he sat, on a foreign continent, in a bandit group that had no qualms about threatening the innocent - that had no problems with robbing them of their possessions and their sense of security.

'I wish this was all a bad dream...'

-

S. 1202/1/13 - Afternoon

A few days had passed since they'd robbed that young woman, and Kyle had checked the contents of her bag. He'd called it a great haul, and held up a school uniform. There were a few good gems, and a generous su m of Mira stashed in the bag, but he was really focused on the uniform.

Kyle, of course, figured they could have Josette use it to infiltrate towns more openly - gather some good information, find out where the quality stuff would be.

Jaune just looked at him weirdly. A man his age getting excited over a school uniform he'd stolen?

'How creepy.'

In any case, Kyle had said they were picking up Don and Josette today to tally their winnings - see if what they'd got could cover them for the time being.

The good news for Jaune, was that he'd finally started getting used to flying. He still felt that same churning in his stomach, and he still felt sick - but, he was a lot better. He'd probably handle being on the airship with no problem soon!

As he thought of how much his tolerance for airships had improved, Jaune felt the ship begin to descend and immediately regretted tempting fate. His stomach began to churn more strongly, and he simply prayed it'd be over soon.

The Bobcat descended upon a clearing, and a side opened up and a ramp descended to allow Don and the bandits with him to board. They all came in holding various bags - probably stolen off innocents. Probably stolen from people who were just trying to live their lives.

Jaune couldn't bear to think of what more they might've stolen.