Hello everyone! Here is chapter 6! I know it was owed Wednesday, but I took a day off writing to spend Halloween with friends. Seeing as it is my new years. Hope you all like this chapter and find it enjoyable. It's on the shorter end for my writings, but paced rather well and full of things to decipher. Leave reviews! I love reading them!
…..
When Jaune opened his eyes, he was greeted with the sight of a reddish glow through skin. With one hand he gently reached up and gripped the offending limb that was obscuring his eyesight. Moving it away he found it was Vernal's hand. Limply draped over his head as she lightly shifted beside him. Eventually sounds could be heard outside the tent. Sounds of people jeering at one another and the clattering of pans and utensils. Jaune shifted to sit up, having to draw his leg out from under one of Vernal's. His foot was slightly numb, but whether that was he cutting off the blood, or the cold of wherever they were, he didn't know. Turning to the side, and placing his socked feet on the dirt floor, Jaune glanced backwards over his shoulder.
Vernal had opened her eyes, he found out quickly as they landed on his back, before shifting to meet his gaze.
"Mornin'…" She said, grogginess flooding her voice.
"Jaune."
"Right, sorry. Forgot." Vernal yawned before pushing past him to stand and walk towards the chest.
Jaune caught the shirt and shoes tossed his way, and stood facing away from Vernal as they both dressed out of sight of the other. He felt annoyed that she could so easily forget his name. Her boss had kidnapped him last night for Monty's sake! Least she could do was be human enough to know his name wasn't 'dude'.
"Alright, let's go to Raven. Best not to keep her waiting." Vernal spoke, slapping his arm lightly and walking out of the tent.
Jaune followed suit with his wits slowly coming to him from the slinking haze of sleep. He squinted his eyes as the sun blinded him for a second. After they readjusted, he took a look around him. The bandit camp he stood in was… Ramshackle at best. It had several rings of tents branching out from different distances to a center tent. He guessed it was Raven's, from how Vernal began to lead him towards it. It was easily three times the size of the rest, with smoke funneling out from a gap in the ceiling. He supposes Raven got her own heating stove. Whereas everyone else slept like he and Vernal had, in the cold. His eyes glanced to the side to an open-front tent with several wooden tables set up in front of a cooking spit. A couple individuals were spooning some kind of stew into bowls and cups.
"Breakfast is first come, first serve. Besides Raven, she gets hers made an hour early from the good stuff. Luckily, we'll be eating with her today." Vernal explained as she stepped up to the doorway of Raven's tent.
Vernal rapped lightly on the center-pole before speaking out loud enough for Raven to hear them from inside.
"Chief. I brought the guy. Can we enter?" Vernal asked with a respectful tone.
Jaune waited with his current warden before his original captor spoke from within. Her voice was full of authority and richness.
"Enter, leave your shoes at the door." Raven's voice came through.
They both entered one after the other. Jaune took in the sights as his hands worked his nice shoes off his feet. Raven had a large assembly of nicer items here. A desk made of some dark hardwood, along with ample writing supplies and maps. Her cot was so large and supported he could call it a bed without batting an eye over the terminology. Many rugs and carpets of varying degree covered the ground, providing a surface that they could walk on barefooted if they liked without getting their feet dirty. In the exact center of the tent was a low sitting round table, and four cushions arranged around it to provide seating. On the table were three plates, empty at the moment. A large platter with a metal cover implied a meal retaining heat before it was ready to be served.
"I trust he behaved." Raven queried Vernal as they approached.
Jaune took his chance to search subtly with his eyes for his belongings. Eventually finding them sat at the edge of Raven's bed, haphazardly dropped on the carpeted floor. He pulled his eyes back to the table as he sat down across from Raven, calmly taking a deep breath to steady his heart. He didn't like the situation he had been put in at all. He had no way of fighting out if it came to that. Raven was dangerous. More dangerous than he knew how to handle. So all he could do now was stay calm, and play along till he knew more.
"Yeah he was fine. Didn't raise a ruckus or do anything stupid." Vernal replied as she set her elbows on the table and leaned her chin into her palms.
Raven's gaze landed on Jaune and the neutral expression she wore changed. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of a satisfied smile tugged at her lips. Jaune gripped the bottom edge of his un-tucked shirt and held her stare.
"I told you I'd explain things. No need for the captive act. Relax and eat." Raven told Jaune after they broke off eye contact.
"Act?" Jaune fired back before he could stop himself.
"Yeah. I don't see a gun to your head, ease up." Raven scoffed.
"You kidnapped me and disarmed me. What would you call yourself in my shoes?" Jaune asked, keeping his cool while spooning stew and boiled potatoes onto his plate.
"A kid who will walk out of here without trouble. If they behave."
Jaune pressed his lips together, forming a distressed line. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to think he wasn't here for some twisted reason. But this woman abandoned her family. She was a bandit and a murderer. He just couldn't let his guard down. She could be trying to use him for something. His thoughts plagued him in silence as the three of them ate without conversation. The food was good, if a little bland. The only sound that could be heard as they ate was the gentle crackling of wood in the small iron wood stove off to their side, providing heat to the tent.
"What was the last question you asked before we came here?" Raven asked Jaune as she leaned forward and rested her arm on the edge of the table.
"I wanted to know what you meant by 'dark magic'." Jaune said, his arms crossing instinctively.
"Exactly that. Magic, that comes from dark or evil places of the soul. From hatred, spite, jealousy, and all that jazz." Raven responded. "But I'm guessing you meant you want to know about how it's used, where it comes from, and who uses it to make Variant Grimm."
"Wait, he knows about magic?" Vernal asked, her eyes widening.
"He's about to." Raven started. "Tell me Jaune…What's your favorite Fairy-Tale?"
…..
Yang couldn't get ahold of her Dad. He wasn't picking up his phone and neither was her Uncle. Strange behavior, sure, but not world ending. She sighed and put her scroll back into her pocket before turning back to the stage. The large gathering hall hadn't changed at all since day one. It was still overly grand, with a large semi-circle stage, and no chairs for the audience. Headmaster Ozpin stood at the center of the stage in front of a mic-stand. He cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Students of Beacon. Your valiant efforts here at this great school have not gone unnoticed. Before we begin the break, I wish to share some words of wisdom with all of you." The headmaster began, his calculative gaze shifting over the crowd. "There are many things in life that haunt us. Humanity is prone to fear and reluctance. Some great minds have even gone so far as to say that fear is our base emotion. That it is what defines us. I, however, think that it is far from the truth. I believe that it is not our fears that define us. But rather, what we do while afraid. I think each and every one of you is capable of doing great things in spite of your fears. It is a standard among Huntsmen and Huntresses to rise above the terror and chaos that is the world. If only to provide hope to those frozen by it. When you relax over the break, keep in mind that you are not only training to be warriors here at Beacon. You are training to be men and women that banish fear from the hearts of those you protect…."
The crowd gently applauded as Ozpin shuffled off the stage with his cane and mug. Professor Goodwitch then stepped up and announced that the return deadline would be three hours before classes in one week's time. With a snap of her crop, the doors to the hall flew open. She then dismissed them and marched with purpose after Ozpin. Other teachers made their way down to either end of the stage and made for their own exits. Yang stood and waited, a smile on her face, for her team. Eventually they all said their goodbyes to their fellow classmates before making their way back to Yang.
"So our first semester at Beacon comes to a close." Weiss said matter-of-factly.
"Yes! We totally kicked butt!" Yang laughed out, grabbing Ruby around the neck and giving her a nuggie.
"Yang! Stop!" Ruby's muffled voice rang out.
"I only hope that your father doesn't get displeased at us all showing up unannounced." Blake stated as Yang let her younger sister go.
"He totally won't," Yang said quickly. "I know we couldn't get ahold of him but it'll be fine!"
"Yeah! Dad is totally chill. He'll love meeting you guys!" Ruby said, bouncing on her heels.
"Well, our bullhead leaves in half an hour, we should go grab our bags, to be early." Weiss suggested.
"Seconded Partner! Can't keep wasting our precious time now can we?" Ruby shouted with excitement as she sped away with her semblance.
Yang just laughed at her sister's antics and slapped her partner's arm to signal Blake before jogging after Ruby. They eventually caught up after going past the several yards and decorated pathways between buildings. Ruby was waiting at their dorm, door open, with several colored bags and luggage containers. Her smile was wide and excited.
"Rubes, we can get our own bags you know." Yang led with it as she grabbed up her three items.
"I know but I was already here so…" Ruby's words petered out as the door across from them opened.
"Oh. Hey guys!" Nora exclaimed as she hoisted a single pink duffle bag onto her shoulder. "Heading out?"
"Hey Nora, yes we are. Going to Patch to stay with Ruby and Yang's dad." Blake answered, knowing she was the only one who wouldn't make this awkward.
Yang felt shitty. The relationship between the two teams was a little strained lately. With Pyrrha snapping at Yang almost every time they talked. Yang rising to the challenge every time didn't help either.
"Oh that's awesome! Renny and I are going to Vale to stay with Professor Goodwitch!" Nora exclaimed like it was just another tuesday.
Yang could almost swear she heard crickets in the silence that fell over them all in the hallway. Then Ren slid from the doorway with his own black bag, and filled the silence with his quiet voice.
"We don't have other places to be. Pyrrha offered to give us a place to stay in Argus but her mother didn't have the space. So we were gonna stay here but Professor Goodwitch offered for us to spend the week with her. To catch us up on things we may have missed due to being a member short." Ren explained. "Among other reasons."
"Like?" Weiss asked, one eyebrow raised and posture reeking of confusion.
"Me and Ren don't have families. So we think Professor Goodwitch feels bad and wants to make us feel seen or whatever." Nora said with a kind smile and a roll of her eyes like Weiss was silly for asking.
Yang saw through it though. She saw the light tensing of Ren's hands on the strap of his bag. She read the gentle waver in Nora's voice. And the dull nature of both their eyes when mention of their orphanhood came up. It was a look she had seen before. In her Uncle Qrow. It was extremely rare that he ever spoke of his parents. But Yang remembers the same look in his eyes.
"That's really nice of her. I think it's gonna be fun for you two." Yang spoke, giving Nora a big hug, pulling the smaller girl into the air and squeezing her.
Nora melted in her grip, laughing and blowing a raspberry into Yang's ear to get her to drop her. They both giggled about things and very little else was said as the two outside classmates made their way to the bullhead docks.
"That went well." Ruby chirped.
"They're alright. I have a feeling nothing will ever keep them down for long." Yang replied as she double checked her belongings.
"Excuse me." A voice came from Yang's left.
Yang winced, but looked up into Pyrrha's eyes. The redhead was standing in the door to her dorm and had a very neutral expression. Her eyes were leveled at Yang with no emotion behind them. Just a blank stare that spoke of nothing at all.
"I was hoping we could… Talk. If that would be ok with you?" Pyrrha asked, her eyes glancing to all of Yang's teammates.
Yang saw the Ice Queen stiffen, and Blake began to move slightly like she was going to intervene.
"I think that is a good idea. We should talk. Your room or mine?" Yang said quickly, before her team could cause trouble by trying to defend her.
"Um… Mine I suppose."
"Alright, give me a minute guys, I'll be back." Yang instructed her team with a meaningful gaze.
Yang watched them all accept the situation and return to checking over their things. Then she entered Pyrrha's dorm and closed the door behind her. As it was the first time she had been in the room, she glanced around to take it in. It was much more put together than her own dorm. With evenly spaced beds, arranged so that everyone had an equal cut of space. Dressers smartly placed. And little to no decorations. Pretty spartan, but felt lived in.
"So…" Yang threw out there, hoping Pyrrha led them off.
"I wanted to clear the air." Pyrrha began. "I talked to Professor Oobleck recently and he called me out for our constant fights and bickering. He listened to my side of things and pointed out how pathetic I was being towards the whole ordeal. So I wanted to apologize, and offer you your chance to explain your side, or get out your frustrations."
Yang felt her weight settle backwards slightly, and her eyes widened. Yikes, she had no idea that this was going that direction. Shit, how was she even going to do this.
"I-I uh… I'm sorry too. I didn't think through some of the things I said. They came out way wrong. I completely understand how we kept misunderstanding each other. I'm not mad anymore. I just think we both didn't do enough to make this water under the bridge. We both just ran from it because it was easier to bicker and glare at each other across the classroom. So I'm sorry. Maybe now we can make up for things when we come back from break. Put this all behind us." Yang replied, sticking her hand out to Pyrrha.
"I think I'd like that." Pyrrha smiled, and shook Yang's hand.
"Cool beans. Totally gonna land a hit on you next semester though, so don't think I won't go all out in combat class now that we've buried the hatchet." Yang joked, with a smirk.
"Oh is that so? It seems I'll have to keep up my practice so I'm not a disappointing opponent next time." Pyrrha smirked right back.
"Looking forward to it. Next semester is gonna be one to remember. I can feel it." Yang finished with a wave as she exited the room.
Her gut was rarely wrong.
…
Jaune sat back against the table, his legs sprawled out before him as Raven finished her last tale and subsequent truth bomb of a real world explanation. At first, Jaune had listened and truly thought the woman had gone nutty. Spewing about immortals, gods, and magic women called maidens. But when she had Vernal demonstrate some of that exact magic for him, and showed him ancient scrolls from top secret vaults of Ozpin's he couldn't deny it any more. It was real. Magic, honest to goodness magic existed. His mind almost unraveled further when Raven demonstrated her ability to turn into a bird and back. He felt mystified, scared, and enlightened all at once. To think all of this had been going on for all of known history, but had been kept under wraps by an elite circle of secretive powerhouses within the government and Huntsman community was insane.
But everything Raven showed him just made sense. The proof she had, the exact reasonings she used, and the logic he held, led to only one conclusion. He hadn't been accepted into a world of secret law-enforcement by Ozpin. He had been drafted into an eternal war between an immortal wizard and his arch-rival, the Queen of the Grimm. And Qrow and Tai had been training him for exactly that without telling him. He had been unknowingly made into an agent for the war on not terrorism or criminality, but the literal embodiment of evil and hatred to the human race. It was a wild pill to swallow.
"So… You said her name was Salem right?" Jaune asked.
"Yes." Raven clarified.
"And she can create new types of Grimm, including the Variants made from humans?"
"She can command them all too. Even see through their eyes using a Grimm called a Seer." Raven explained once again.
"Right. And she has human agents to do her bidding. Just like Ozpin does. So half the war is finding them and stopping them from advancing Salem's goals." Jaune said, more to solidify it for himself rather than seek clarification from Raven.
"Yes." Raven responded anyway.
"And you fought on Ozpin's side for several years alongside Qrow, Summer, and others?" Jaune asked.
"I did." Raven nodded.
"Then… Why?" Jaune asked, his eyes staring at his hands in his lap.
"Why did I leave?" Raven scoffed. "I'm guessing you're wondering that aren't you?"
"I mean… Tai is a good man. He's the kind of dad I wish any kid would have. And your daughter…" Jaune led on before Raven cut him off.
"My reasons are my own brat." Raven snapped. "You couldn't possibly understand. But maybe, if you keep being a part of this stupid endless war, you might find out exactly why I left."
"You can deflect all you want. But I'm not you. I don't care that it's a war that's never been won. I don't care that there hasn't been any major progress for either side in hundreds of years. I don't care. Because I'm not there to win. I'm not becoming a Huntsman for a happy ever after. I'm doing this because I want to protect people. From dangers they can't face alone. If that costs me my life, then so be it. I'm not running away. I can see where that gets people." Jaune spoke with fire burning in his chest.
He saw Raven shrink for a fraction of a second before slamming one leg upwards in anger. The table launched to the side and crashed into the bed as Raven lunged into Jaune's space. Her fingers gripped around Jaune's collar and hoisted him up and off the ground. Raven pushed him back till she had him bent near double backwards over the desk, opposing hand raised back in a fist. Jaune threw his Aura forward and shielded his face with his arms. Seconds passed before he opened his eyes and looked at her from between his arms.
Raven was breathing heavily, her eyes wild with fury and mixed emotions. Her fist hung still in the cocked back position. A single tear ran down her cheek as she bared her teeth like a cornered animal.
"You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about." Raven hissed, slowly relaxing her grip and lowering her other hand.
"Then tell me." Jaune said, keeping his Aura up and his arms in a protective position.
"I'm like you. But worse in every way. If Tai is scared you'll bring Variants down on villages and the city, then he'd be terrified to even have me step foot in Patch. There is just too much at stake. I had to leave. He is too weak, they are all too weak. They would all die and I would have to watch. It was better this way." Raven spoke, turning to sit back down on the edge of her bed.
A long moment spanned between spoken words.
"So instead of asking your people what they thought, you just abandoned them. Ran away?" Jaune asked, his brows furrowed and his displeasure clear.
"You wouldn't understand. Of course you can't. You're just a kid who's in too deep to see that the hole he's been pushed into doesn't have a ladder out. I'm done explaining. I just had to make sure my idiot brother wasn't signing someone else up to die for something they didn't understand. If you wanna throw your life away by choice, knowing what you know now, then power to ya kid. Just don't say I didn't warn you." Raven finished, strapping her sword onto her waist and throwing Jaune's belongings to him roughly.
"So that's it? No ultimatums or demands? You're just gonna send me back?" Jaune asked, staring down at his stuff.
"Having second thoughts?" Raven asked mockingly with a roll of her eyes.
"No. I just expected worse I guess."
"I'm stricken, really." Raven drawled sarcastically.
"Actually, can I return him in a bit? I'd like to chat with him about something." Vernal spoke up.
Jaune and Raven both cocked their heads to the young Maiden.
"Fucking teenagers. You have fifteen minutes." Raven spat, with a shake of her head and a disappointed wave of her hand.
Jaune followed Vernal from the tent and walked behind her back towards the girl's tent.
"Oi Vernal! You finally got yourself a man?" A scarred woman jeered from the side.
Vernal simply responded by holding up her middle finger without looking away from her path. Jaune sighed, hating the implication. Once they were back in Vernal's tent she sat on her cot and rubbed her eyes with one hand.
"What's this about?" Jaune asked while hurriedly strapping his equipment on and arranging his weapons securely in their standard locations.
"You probably can tell she isn't telling you the entire truth. You seem smart enough to watch that closely." Vernal stated.
"She's Raven Branwen. I guessed she'd lie at some point or bend the truth. Everything I've heard kinda puts that in the front of my mind." Jaune replied.
"Ok, well I'm not allowed to tell you anything she didn't already say. But I stole you away to warn you. Whatever you do, do not, and I mean do not cross Raven down the line. You know the stakes of everything now. The reality of this shit. And I know Raven. She can and will kill you if you step on the wrong toes. What she did here was try and deny Ozpin another soldier. Pretty much out of spite."
"That's… Petty." Jaune scoffed lightly.
"She's not perfect. Hell, everyone here is pretty far from perfect. But we also can't fight our nature. Trust me… I've tried." Vernal spoke, a small bit of defeatism leaking forth.
"Bull." Jaune shook his head. "You're fighting your 'nature' right now. You are a bandit, probably a killer. And a servant to an even worse woman. But still, you draw me away, a complete stranger, and warn me. Sounds a lot like compassion to me."
Vernal smiled a little, shaking her head and breathing out in short, almost laugh-like bursts.
"I guess you could look at it that way." Vernal said, standing. "Not gonna lie Goldy, in a strange way it was nice to have you around. A normal person with normal morals was a… nice change of pace."
"You weren't all too horrible yourself Vernal. Could maybe afford to be less of a sarcastic jerk, but you weren't horrible." Jaune said, chuckling and extending a hand.
"Tell you what. We see each other again, maybe we get a drink and catch up. Gonna miss that sense of shame." Vernal spoke, her hand clasping Jaune's in a spartan handshake, her shoulder pushing into his upper ribs as she slapped his back with her free hand.
Jaune did the same, before withdrawing and nodding to Vernal. Then he realized something. There was something in his hand. Glancing down Jaune saw a folded piece of paper in his grip. He almost asked what she had given him but Vernal shook her head and jerked her head towards the tent entrance. Jaune understood and nodded, shoving the paper into his back pocket before speaking.
"I'll not miss you trying to steal the covers all night. But sure, we'll get a drink next time. See you when I see you Vernal." Jaune spoke normally, turning and walking out of the tent.
Sure enough, when he exited he noticed a figure making its way around the other edge of the tent. Someone had been listening in. Probably trying to get dirt on Vernal in order to get a higher status in the tribe. Jaune kept one hand resting on the pommel of Crocea Mors as he hurriedly made his way back to Raven's tent. He felt many pairs of eyes on him. Not to mention he saw several bandits stop what they were doing when he walked back by without an escort. Jaune's eyes spotted several people lazily brandishing knives and older firearms. They were each and every one of them probably weighing their options for mugging him. They all went back to their activities when he walked up to the entrance of Raven's tent, most likely realizing he was her 'guest'.
When Jaune entered the tent, he found Raven waiting. One hand on her sword hilt, foot tapping with impatience.
"That was quick. She must not like you that much after all." Raven stated before preparing her blade.
"Had some critiques on bed etiquette." Jaune drawled with anger and sarcasm.
"Just get ready, twerp. I'm only opening it for a second. Any longer and the receiving party might yank my ass in too." Raven ordered.
"I would say this was nice, but I'd be lying." Jaune said honestly, preparing himself to leap through a portal.
"Fuck off and die." Raven snapped before slashing a portal into the air.
"Gladly." Jaune spat out as he dived into the portal.
Colors shifted and swirled, Jaune felt his stomach leap into his throat and his head throbbed for a second before he landed on his hands and feet on a solid surface. Shaking his head to clear his mind. His vision took in hardwood flooring beneath his fingers. Light bouncing off the polished surface. Glancing up by craning his neck he came to scramble to his feet at the person he stood before.
"Professor! Ma'am. Um… I can explain?" Jaune began, rubbing the back of his neck.
Glynda Goodwitch was staring at him, behind the bar of her kitchen, dressed in a casual blouse and jeans. A sandwich was halfway to her open mouth, frozen in place. Her eyes stared behind him where the portal must have been, then darted to him, and back again. One of her eyes twitched with confusion and rage. Then she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and setting the sandwich down on her plate.
"I told Ozpin you would be trouble. I told him but no, he assured me you were not going to be like Qrow, or Summer. But here you are. Dropped off in my personal residence by a very wanted and disgraced Huntress. So, yes Mr. Arc. I do so hope you can explain." The Deputy Headmistress hissed out with frustration.
"Professor? Who's over?" A bubbly female voice asked from the hallway as a new figure entered the kitchen.
Jaune saw her enter, followed by a guy around his height with black hair and mistralian clothes. The girl was shorter than him by a margin and had orange hair and a wide smile. She glanced between Goodwitch and Jaune and bounced on her feet idly while waiting for an answer.
"Ms. Nora Valkyrie, Mr. Lie Ren. This is Jaune Arc, Huntsman Apprentice. He is just about to explain some serious information to me. If you would wait back in the den I will be with you to go over Valean history in a short while." The Professor spoke with authority, but a measure of compassion too.
"Nice to meet you Jauney! Being an Apprentice sounds really cool!" Nora exclaimed.
"Nice to meet you. Let's go Nora." Ren spoke kindly before gently dragging Nora back into the hallway by her arm.
"So. How about we start from the beginning. Leave nothing out." Glynda ordered.
"Ok, so I had this dream, and Qrow took me out into the forest to beat him up so his sister Raven would show up…" Jaune began rapidly.
"Monty give me strength." Glynda cursed as she sat on a bar stool beside the center aisle of the kitchen and attempted not to scream at the top of her lungs as Jaune told her everything.
Why did she always have to find out about stupid things after they were already over? Why couldn't she ever know about it and put a stop to it before the idiots complicated her life further than it needed to be? Ah that's right, because she was the only damn adult she knew.
…..