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A/N: Just give you a heads up. This Chapter may go dark. You've been warned.
CHAPTER 11: PAST STILL LINGERS
After Jaune's dance with Raven and receiving a call from Watts saying that he has something for Jaune, under the pretence of his mother. Jaune continues to walk the castle's hallways; it occurs that Watts kept his armour after the meeting, with the Seers following him and carrying his armour. From the direction they went, they didn't return his armour. Did Mom ask Watts to do some repairs? Jaune will admit a few dents and scratches from his past battles in the armour. But never have the time as they were minor and hardly even noticed if you looked closely enough.
He made it to Watts's lab and opened the large double doors without haste. Intense humid air rushes out of the entry into Jaune's exposed face, and he looks away with an arm up to shield himself from the hot air. As soon as the air ceased, Jaune slowly opened his eyes and saw Watts in front of a computer, typing rapidly with a large black etched stone sarcophagus in the middle of the lab.
"Watts?" Jaune called out
"Oh, My Prince. You're just in time." He turns with a smile toward Jaune.
"So, what is it that you want to show me? And where's my armour?" Jaune crosses his arms while seeing mechanical components lowering themselves with different tools in each arm, either scanning or etching the sarcophagus. This made Jaune curious about the casket in the middle of the lab, with great attention to the lab's equipment focus on it.
"Oh, your armour? It's inside the mould." He smiles, pointing to the casket now mould.
"Mould?" Jaune questions till he remembers the humid air hitting him by the door.
"Oh, I see. You're using my armour as a template to make the mould, right…." He reassures himself, trying not to overreact, of believing Watts is modifying his armour without his consc-.
"Oh no, my Prince. Your armour is smelted and is inside the mould waiting to cool." He smiles, and Jaune's world shatters and is filled with rage.
Then, almost instantaneous at the next moment, Watts was grabbed hold by his coat being pushed with the sound of broken glass, lab equipment tumbles, tables flipping, and paper scattered. Watts's found himself pinned to the wall, raised from the floor, barely feeling the floor. Now in the face with an enrage Grimm Prince, revealing his bleach skin and hair. Jaune's eyes are inflamed in a rage of red irises, clench enraged teeth, and his aura inflame. From Watts's point of view, his face with a monster, no, an embodiment of death.
"Watts…" his voice snarls of venom and death as his aura of black oozes out of his clothes and flows to a thick black fog floor. With a touch or breath of his smog of ill will be the person's last breathe. Watts shakes in fear and dread, unsure how to respond to the Prince. Comparing the time when Salem threaten him in the past and now. When Salem threatens, it's like facing an angry Ursa, wanting to kill instantly. But compared to Jaune, he's a new breed of Grimm, worse of all, an ancient and intelligent one. The type who would take his time with his prey with torture. Long enough till he either gets bored and kills him or, worse, cripple him and leave him in Grimm infested area and let nature take its course.
"…Chose your next words carefully. Else it'll be your last…." Jaune threatens while he slowly tightens his grip around Watts's throat. Choking, struggling to breathe, he can feel the nails digging through his skin and slowly into his neck.
"What gave you the right to smelt my armour?" he snarls. It isn't just a metal suit, though it may have a historical value of the past wars and was forged by the first female smith, Gitte Brigg, that made said armour. From what Jaune learned from his studies that the female smith made his armour became a favourite weapon of all Remnant. Although the only crowning that Remnant manages to find is only her prize swords, which were used in historical moments by heroes or generals during the war. The last auction sword was sold over a million lien to Jacques Schnee.
When Jaune look over which sword could possibly be sold for over a million lien. When he found out which sword it was, he was appalled and disgusted, but it was fitting to be in Jacques's hands. He heard about the said man from Watts, besides being the CEO of the largest dust company in the Remnant. He also mistreated the Fuanus and monopolized their rights, such as low pay and unsafe work environment and cost more lives than Grimm attacks on Atlas. And unable to fight back for their rights, which also fuels the White Fang's fire of targeting SDC transports and members of their staff and families.
This reminds Jaune of the previous owner of that sword or, in this case, the original wielder of the blade, Servitus Rex. Jaune didn't know the wielder's name nor care. Jaune knows that man had a reputation of slavery for both Fuanus and man in the past. To him, it doesn't matter who the enslaved person is as long there's coin involved, and thus was given a title after his sword, Servitus Rex. He became a well influential member of the high authority of Remnant, close to a member of the Council. And worse of all, during the Fuanus's Rights Revolution, he was not only a supporter of Humans, such as food and supplies. But supplying them slave troops, which most were Fuanus, were treated worse during the war. Such as used as "meat shields", they call them. It was both cowardice, dishonourable and disgusting act. Yet effective in winning the battle.
Yet ironically, it was also Rex's downfall. A small squad trained Fuanus troops disguised as the prisoners and infiltrated Rex's fortress. Disabling the security, freeing prisoners, and opening the gates to let the main Fuanus forces attack and destroy the fortress. But left Rex alive to face his crimes to the very prisoners he tortured and treated. Though Jaune wasn't involved in that campaign, he does hear rumours within his ranks that Rex was sentenced by the same enslaved people he sold, afflicted, and mistreated before and during the war for seventeen days. The method of torture was varied and not concrete as Jaune doesn't care nor have an interest in suffering. Gossip spread that each victim cut a piece off of Rex by the very sword that he prizes and named after. And said Justice was served.
Although Remnant did find evidence that Gitte made armour in the past but only in parts, unable to find a complete set. And it does not only have historical value and connection to Gitte Brigg's craft, but it also has sentimental value. Jaune has been with it and survived all these years in Remnant, but it was also designed and commissioned by Salem herself. And he knew that she spent tireless days and nights on the armour's design. Every time he puts his suit on, he always believes that Salem will always be with him till the end. In a phycological sense, it's not only an attack on the Prince but also on the Queen of Grimm
"It-It was under the Queen's order…She-she insisted on modifying your armour…." Watts chokes while sweating bullets of fear while slowly seeing black spots in his vision.
"What!?" In shock, Jaune's intent ceased. Watts found himself on the floor on all four, gasping deep breaths with a cough of the pain in his neck. Realizing his mistake, Jaune quickly helps Watts's up like helping an elderly man.
"Watts, I'm so sorry…." Jaune voices concern, which this act of emotion is a surprise for Watts; he never expected that from a Prince of Grimm. In all his years of service with Salem, he never once saw the day where a Grimm royal showed human compassion or concern. Jaune is really wasn't what he was expecting; then again, after experiencing his wrath, he might reconsider that thought.
"Please do not worry, my Prince. I should have told you earlier. But when you were focused on your study, the Queen insisted on leaving you be." Watts explained as he stood up, patting dust off himself. While watching Jaune tidy the lab or workshop up, picking up the papers and other equipment that fell onto the floor.
"I see…mom must've forgotten to tell me, or maybe a surprise perhaps?" Jaune guesses while he lifts the knock over the table and stands it right up. This surprised Watts with what he had just heard. Did Jaune just casually call their Queen "mom"?
But he shook it off and moved on to the main point of this meeting.
"So, what did mom want you to do with my armour?" Jaune asked as he lifted a large, heavy electronic microscope gently placed it on the table. He looked through the scope to check if it was damaged, and thankfully it is still functional.
"Yes, but before I explain. May I ask what do you know of your armour?" Watts asked curiously, which surprised the young Prince and came into deep thought of the origin of his armour. And far as Jaune could remember, it was still the same armour given to him by his brother.
"Well, for starters, my armour never used to look like that. It used to look like my brother's."
"if I remember correctly, your brother's armour is White with gold accents."
"Yeah, mom, commission our armour to look identical since we're twins. It was during her "twin phase", I would like to call it." As Jaune's voice embarrassed, he remembered his mother buying and making identical clothing for her enjoyment. But he didn't mind or complain back then; this became an excellent strategic advantage of confusing the enemy.
"than if the armour is originally white with gold accents. Then how did it turn to black with red accents? And I know it's not painted since paint doesn't possess living cells." He stated this caught Jaune's attention when Watts said living cells.
"Wait, what? Cells? What are you talking about?" he asks, confused as Watts approaches another table with a gauntlet under another bulky advanced microscope. A sigh of relief seeing one of his gauntlets wasn't smelted along with the rest of his armour.
"It's better if you see for yourself, my Prince" Watts directed Jaune's attention to look through the microscope. He rested his eyes on the scope and expected to see metallic cell grains like he saw in the textbooks he read in the study. But instead, surprising Jaune in both denial and shock. He sees cell structure, not just normal cells like in texts; these are Grimm cells. The cells are transparent to light showing different tones of black in other parts of the cell. But one part of the cell stands out from the rest; there was a large pale red nucleus. Yet they look...dead, dull in colour and station.
"Shouldn't the cells be disintegrating? This puts more question of my armour than I originally thought." Jaune thought
"as you can see, those are Grimm cells. Dormant but can be active at a moment's notice, whether it's friend or foe." As Arthur frowns while clenching his arm to remind him of an old wound, Jaune notices and stares at Watts's with an expression for answers. Arthur is reluctant to respond, but Jaune stares, waiting for him to explain; he sighs and averts his eyes to avoid eye contact.
"Remember our first session back at the library, where you left your armour..." Jaune nods in response.
"Well...I was tempted to try on your armour. As you may already know, and it's no secret, I'm a fan of your legend. So when I tried to wear the gauntlet..." he pauses while slowly pulling up his sleeve, revealing large scars around his elbow and upper arm. It looks like bite marks around the elbow, like Arthur's arm up to his elbow was inside a Grimm's mouth while it claws its way into his upper arm.
"as soon I put the gauntlet, it came alive and began attacking me. Like it's devouring my arm, I would've lost my arm if it wasn't for the Queen. Even worse, I might need a robotic arm like that fool Ironwood." He smirks at the end like it's a joke.
"Anyway, it behaves like a normal Grimm; it even obeyed your mother. To her surprise never seen a Grimm like that. So she Ordered me to study it and find out its origins. When you're not using it."
"and this is where you needed my assistance?" Jaune asks while Watts nods.
"Yes, I would like you to recollect the moment when your armour turned. Was it caused by possession of Geist Grimm?" he asks, intrigued, while Jaune tries to think back.
"I know for certain, my armour was black with red accents during my time as the Grimm Knight. So, logically it was before… meaning...after...my lost..." he slaps his forehead, realizing how stupid he was for not noticing.
"My Prince?" Jaune took a seat in distress; Watts knew that he had just gone into dark territory.
"I remember..." He whispers.
"It was after the loss of my brother and sisters. I wondered in the forest, in great rage and hate, I attracted nearly Grimm in the forest to me, like moths to a flame, and I killed them all in a blind rage." Jaune leans back against the chair with his head hung over the chair with a maniacal chuckle while covering his eyes with his hand.
"I lost track of time and days of slaughtering Grimm. It's was literally a blood bath, every cut and slice I made Grimm blood spray into my armour and staining my sword..." he combed his hair back, changing his usual messy hairstyle to a clean comb back style, looking like a different person, which frightens Arthur.
"During that time, I think I slay almost every species of Grimm in the book. Even an Ancient rank Megoliath Grimm." Jaune pondered in lax while surprised by Watts of what he just heard, fully knowing that Jaune isn't boasting of his strength and skills.
"Wa-wa-wait!? An Ancient rank Megoliath!?" he shouts in shock and surprise and immediately grabs hold of Jaune's Shoulders, which surprise the young Prince.
"My Prince! I must know!? How did you slay such a Grimm! Leave no detail behind!?" he insisted in determination while giving Jaune a demanding look.
"An Ancient rank Megoliath, are known to grow to a size of a mountain! And their flesh and armour were known to be difficult to penetrate by standard weapons! Only a small army of Atlas can take down Ancient rank Megoliath, and that's only one!" He finally stopped shouting, taking deep breaths and waiting for Jaune's response.
Jaune sighs while scratching at his head, forever regretting mentioning the Megoliath. Now embarrassed of this outcome of seeing an elderly man staring at him in awe, it was disturbing, to say at least. It is like a child listening intently to a story of an elderly wise man, but in Jaune's case, their roles are reserved between him and Watts. He needs to get out of this awkward situation, and he refuses to tell Watts the detail of how he defeated the Megoliath.
"Best to give Watts the cause of death instead of the details. That's an experience that I don't want to relive." Jaune shakes his head, removing that thought and giving Watts his rebuttal.
"I got the Megoliath to impale its head through a tree. And thanks to its death, it spilled enough blood to make a shallow Grimm pool by accident. Then I pass out." Jaune hunchs forward with his hair falling back while remembering that blood bath forgetting the number of days past and sleepless nights.
He kept on fighting till the final strike of the last Grimm. His sword barely hanging by a finger, and his arms dangle heavy with the weight of his armour and the shield he carries. He remembers shining in white with gold accents; his armour becomes completely unrecognizable. His armour is stained in dry blood, covered in dents and cracks, it's barely fastened onto his body, hanging very loosely, and he thinks one of the dents have punched his lung. Making it harder for him to turn or breathe, realizing he didn't feel the pain caused by the adrenaline pumping through his veins during the fight. And no surprise, he can see a trail of blood flowing out from the significant dent on the right side of his chest. He even notices he lost one of his boots, a shoulder guard, and his helmet split open; it no longer protects his face but hangs around his neck like a collar. His fingers could no longer hold on to the sword and shield with no strength left. His body swayed to one side with the weight of his armour leaning its weight down. Yet, with Jaune's pride, he firms his stance. He refuses to fall, letting his sword and shield fall into the shallow Grimm pools he stands on. His breath rasped, begging for oxygen to breathe.
He looked up at the sky and noticed the dark sky was slowly brightening; Jaune turned to the rising sun, slowly seeing his first sunrise. But only for the sun's ray hit upon his skin as he falls on the shallow puddle of Grimm's blood, laying on his back, looking at the sky slowly brighten a new day. At first, he thought if he was going to die, the last thing Jaune would remember was Grimm. He would instantly regret that his previous thought of dying would be something he hated. But with this view of the beautiful sky with drifting clouds, Jaune wouldn't mind if he died after seeing such a view of being at peace and already forgetting why he was in a rage. While watching the beautiful morning sky, his conscience slowly fades into the darkness in peace and a smile across his face.
"Then what happened after that?" Watts asks as Jaune closes his eyes; remembering his last moment, still lying in the shallow Grimm pool, he hears steps approaching him. Slowly opening his eyes, he assumed it might be the alone Grimm that Jaune missed. By the sound of the steps, it might be a creeper or a Beowulf on its hind legs. With his pride as a knight and his heart as a warrior, he refuses to die by the Grimm. He wishes to die in peace. Slowly reaching out to his sword, with his fingers dragging his hand across the muddy beds of the Grimm pool. While struggling to open his eyes and turn his head to the source. The sunrise was so bright that he tried to focus his eyes, but his heart was at ease. It wasn't a Grimm, the silhouette is in the shape of a woman, but it is not his mother. He couldn't see her face that day, but it was the day when he met her that forever changed him and walked the path he had chosen till today.
Jaune opens his eyes with a gentle smile, thinking about her. His heart aches when he remembers her. Her hair shines like stars in the night sky, her touch eases his wounds, and her eyes match him, calming his troubled mind. He will never forget her as long as he lives, but at the same time, Jaune is saddened that his force promised to move on and live for her sake, which he abided.
"The Grimm Knight was born. And let us leave it at that." Jaune stood and approached the mould casing, while Watts followed behind and didn't question the Prince further.
"So is it done yet? I'm kinda excited to try on my new armour." Jaune smiles excitedly while Watts pulls out a small remote and presents it to the Prince.
"care to do the honours, my Prince?" Watts smirk as Jaune picks up the remote, points it to the mechanical arms waiting hanging above the casing and press the button for the arms to commence operation.
The mechanical arms slowly lower themselves, with different tools in each head with various operations. One was shot out a red thin line point laser with precision cutting through the mould with ease to a silhouette torso of the armour. Another one was a drill, drilling holes into the mould. Beneath it was a mini jackhammer chiselling bit by bit off the mould. Next to it was projecting a red line grid mapping the mould guiding the arms. Above them were a small fan blowing dust and debris of the mould with a small vacuum next to the fan, sucking the said dust and debris. And finally, a hammer standing idle.
The anticipation was getting to Jaune with excitement and nervousness about his new armour. As Watts notices Jaune's forefinger scratching his bicep repetitively, the area turns red. A significant mould block finally fell, revealing a small part of the first plate of his new armour, Jaune scratching as his arm was almost to bleed. However, Jaune's anticipation now turns to confusion. By judging the exposed plate from his perspective, it's small, and he is unsure what piece of armour it belongs to. But Jaune decided to keep it to himself and trust Watts's judgment. Jaune forgot to ask Watts a crucial detail.
"Watts, what modification did you do to my armour?" Jaune asks curiously as Watts smirks and is a bit smug, if Jaune would be honest. Emerald told him that Watts loved to boast a lot, especially when impressing his superiors.
"I'm glad you ask, my Prince; your mother requested that your armour is in need to adapt to modern times. I gave your armour the ability to mecha-shift for quick deployment if the Grimm Knight is needed and collapse to be hidden in disguise."
This caught Jaune's attention. His new armour could be deployed at a moment's notice and collapse to be hidden with ease. This would save him a lot of time and trouble putting on his armour; it usually takes him almost an hour to suit up, half an hour if he had help.
'THUNK'
The sound of the hammer slamming into the mould caught Jaune's attention, and he saw cracks surrounding the entire mould. And in an instant, the whole mould crumbles to the ground, leaving Jaune's new armour hanging on the frame, except it isn't what he expected as armour.
It looks like vertebrae plated armour with shoulder blade plates, but it still has the same colour scheme as his original armour. But for some reason, what caught Jaune's attention was the multiple appendages like the legs of a centipede, yet for some reason, it's moving like it's crawling like it's alive and towards Jaune apparently.
"Hmm…fascinating. It seems to be more active than usual. Perhaps compressing the armour into a more compact form force the cells to bond, making it more active?" Watts ponders the new armour's behaviour while pinching his chin and noticing Jaune approaching the vertebrae.
He stood before it and removed his shirt while still facing the now alive Grimm vertebrae.
"Release the locks, Watts." Jaune orders as Watts approaches his computer, pressing a few keys until he presses enter and the sound of metal locks releases. The Grimm vertebrae then screech and leap towards Jaune, unphased and standing tall as it lands on Jaune and begins scurrying along Jaune's body. It finally arrived above his spine and slowly embedded its multiple appendage legs into his skin and spine while Jaune endured the pain. Gritting his teeth, falling into his hand, holding in both the pain and his screams till finally, the pain subsided. He stood up and flexed his back in for impartments, and to his surprise, it was very fluid.
"Amazing, it's a symbiote. A Grimm Symbiote."
"A symbiote?" Jaune ask
"An organism bonding with another. I believe we made a discovery of a new Grimm Species." Watts explains excitedly while Jaune doesn't see or match Watts's enthusiasm.
"I see…well, I'll let you decide on a name. Since you did most of the work," Jaune said nonchalantly and decided to do some more stretches to see how flexible and nimble it was, and to his surprise, it felt like it wasn't there, to begin with.
"Thank you, my Prince. And I already thought of the perfect name. Armatus," Watts suggest with a smile while monitoring the vertebrae Grimm at a safe distance.
"Armatus…I like that." He smiles and turns to the vertebrae.
"You hear that. From this day forward. Your name will be Armatus." At the moment, almost for an instant, the vertebrae expand and form metal around Jaune's body. Then the metal forms into his old armour, except it is closer to a complete suit of armour with the added lower frame jaw with overlapping fangs on the helmet to imitate a mouth. It even rolls a tattered fur cape like his old one out from his shoulders. Not an exposed limb, shown, and to Jaune's surprise, including Watts, it's more fluid in motion. Not limiting or preventing his movements as he flexed his fingers and limbs.
He walks around the area and throws a few punches and kicks, fighting an imaginary opponent to test its limit. And to his surprise, it feels like he's not wearing metal, like the material is more fabric in nature. As he reached for his helmet as he was about to take it off, the helmet mechanically retracted back into the vertebrae revealing his face in surprise, even Watts, at how Prince did it.
"Wait, what? How did…." Jaune pauses and ponders, thinking of his helmet back on. And in a split second, his helmet redeploys back on, surprising both Watts.
"amazing, it reacted through my thoughts. Armour off." Like the helmet, the whole armour retracted back to the vertebrae. A smile brought to the Prince's face, and he thought of another command to see the limits of his orders of his new Grimm as he raised his left arm shouts.
"left arm!" as it follows, his entire left arm is enclosed by the Grimm armour. He laughs excitedly, shifting his armour in different areas, testing the deployment time to its limits. As Watt smiles, amused seeing the young Prince's excitement, he carefully studies the armour's behaviour and is still fascinated by the Armatus Grimm. He still hasn't figured out how the Grimm is alive after smelting the armour into its new form. But these were instructions by the Queen when she gave him the task of making a new mould that could fit a person's spine. This confused the former Atlas scientist, but he didn't question the Queen and followed her orders. Then told him to smelt Jaune's armour and use the mould. At first, he is both relieved and concerned about the armour due to his previous experience. It almost literally chewed his arm off. Then a voice calls out, snapping Watts's attention back into reality and turning his head towards the source, and to his displeased surprise, it's Cinder.
"If your done playing around, Jaune. We have a schedule to keep." She teased while Leaning against the door, smirking seductively towards the Prince, with her long hair tassel over her left eye as Jaune paused and stared at Cinder.
"Cinder, apologies. Got a bit excited about my new armour. What do you think?" he grabs hold of the cape to dramatically cast it out of the air, both intimately and powerful. That Cinder's heart almost skipped a beat of such a display of power. She quickly composed herself without both Jaune and Watts noticing. She walks towards Jaune and glides her finger across Jaune's breastplates up to his helmet seductively. While her finger glides across the armour, she notices the metal is warm to the touch and wasn't sure if she was imagining it or feeling a pulse on the armour, it's not cold of steel like standard armour.
"Interesting look. You look more like an alpha compared to your previous armour." Cinder smiles while Watts scoffs at Cinder's apparent attempt at flirting with the Prince. It was so obviously painful to watch, without even knowing her end game or the point of her attempt. He crunches his brow and pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh of annoyance. The Prince's voice calls out, snapping Watts's attention to the Prince.
"I'm assuming you're here to tell me that arrangments have been made?" as the helmet retracts, revealing his face of sliver hair, bleach skin, black eyes and red irises. Snapping Cinder's attention back to a professional manner as she stood straight and lightly coughed to her hand.
"Ye-yes…all arrangements have been made. Just be sure you check in on time, and your mother has called for you." She replies professionally, which surprise Watts with the sudden change of behaviour. Jaune smiles sinisterly towards Cinder while trembling in fear before Jaune; she looks down on the floor, unsure what to do, till Jaune's finger gently tilts Cinder's head to look at Jaune.
"Thank you. Watts, I apologize, but I have to leave this mess to you." The armour reverts back into the spine as the Prince's colour of his appearance returns to before.
"No need to apologize, my Prince." As he sees, Jaune nods while leaving the lab, with Cinder following suit.
On their way to Jaune's room to further discuss their plans to ensure they won't collide, compromising the other parties. As they turn to the corner, a loud crushing 'thoom' sound comes from Jaune's room. They stop whatever they're doing and immediately rushes to his room as they slam the doors open, ready for a fight. But what they face is an issue that his mother always warned him that will always and guaranteed will happen when having subordinates. Disagreements.
"I WILL SKIN YOU ALIVE TO MAKE LEATHER! AND I'LL USE YOUR FUR AS MY CAPE!"
"I WILL MAUL YOUR SKIN! MAIM YOUR LIMBS AND PISS ON YOUR GRAVE!"
It was Raven and Fenrir, swords locked but more like a lock between a blade and rows of razor-sharp teeth. The room is a disaster, a warzone. Every piece of furniture is flipped or wholly destroyed. Books and charts are torn or shredded into pieces beyond recognition. Feathers gently rain in the room by the pillows that were either sliced or torn earlier during their fight. They were both oblivious of Jaune's and Cinder's presence in the room. Their focus and attention were on each other, intending to kill the other, holding on to their threats. Raven pushes her blade against the giant wolf's maw and tries to get her sword out of Fenrir's jaw. But, with the strength of the wolf's jaw locking, clamping down on the blade wanting to shatter it, no matter how hard she tries biting down on the sword, it never cracks or fragments.
While they continue fighting for dominance over each other, Fenrir swings her head away, carrying the blade with Raven in tow, hoping that she will let go. But it only used her as a wrecking ball, destroying the room even further, but thanks to the new leather armour she was wearing, she didn't feel pain. It was like being hit by a pillow from a pillow fight with her former teammate for, Raven, but still holding her blade strong, refusing to let go. Both Jaune and Cinder stare in shock and disappointment at such a scene. Jaune couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose and groan and turned to Cinder.
"Cinder, from your experience. How do you…well." he pauses and points out to Cinder the destruction of his room. This scenario reminds Cinder of the constant bickering argument between her subordinates Emerald and Merc just by watching the fight. But in this case, it is more of a death battle between combatants than bickering between comrades.
"Honestly…from my experiences. I assert my dominance and decide on a suitable punishment." She flatly states, which surprise Jaune. Personal, he was never found to have servents in the past. Most of the time, he never was fond nor cared of titles such as 'My Lord', 'Prince' and worst of all 'Master'. He's a man of equal, not a man of servitude, not even on the battlefield during the war. They're his brothers and sisters of war, always think about his soldiers more, other than his own. But how will he see the situation unfold before him, seeing Fenrir and Raven collide out of the bathroom, bursting the main water pipes, water slowly flooding his room, and still oblivious? Still focusing on the opponent to kill took the last straw for Jaune's patients. He sighs, knowing this is going to be a long night.
On the night of the tower of Beacon Academy, you expect everyone to be asleep, but an old man, not by his looks but by his mind, seats behind his table. He was in a dark suit and a green scarf around his neck, thin glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. Even though it's in the middle of the night, he rarely sleeps; he would either stroll around in the empty hallways of his school or stay cope up in his office working. Yet instead of working, before him on the holographic screen, he sees a knight in black armour with red accents. Armour he recognizes too well; he doubts it's a copy. He continues to watch the video, instantly replying over and over. Carefully study the knight's movement, behaviour, speech pattern, everything. Ensuring that identity isn't the one he fears only confirms his suspicion no matter how many times he watches. As he forces to the conclusion that he feared, his eyes scrunch, his hands grip tightly on his mug slowly crack. Both in rage and dismay that the impossible happen. To Ozpin, he ensured it was impossible. After all, it was his most significant but never his proudest. A failure of every parent's nightmare and greatest shame…to kill their own son.
And at that moment, the grip of his mug became too great as it shatters, spilling its contain and fragment on Ozpin's hand. The pain on his hand stings, memories of that day brought back to him to see as clear as day. It was one of the final moments of the Faunus war. The allies were at their last leg due to his position to his shame. A battlefield he knows too well, even Beacon's resident historian Dr Obleck knows the legend too well.
The Battle of Calamann or also known as the Mountain of Corpses.
During the Faunus Right Revolution, one word pops into his mind chaos. Screams of Freedom and change for the Faunus, while the humans' cries of hate and control. Salem had no part or interest in the war, but not for Jaune, as he too wanted change for the Faunus with reason to join them. To hunt down Ozmas, as he had his hand in the war on the human faction. He can't remember how Jaune served the Faunus during the war, but it was enough for a legend to be born, the Fallen Avian. The last of his people, haunted by humans for sport and jealously. Of man's cruelty, he raised and fought back, became a symbol of hope and freedom, and inspired his fellows' brothers and sisters to raise with him and speak out for freedom.
But sometimes legends can be altered and changed then the original to inspire the future generation. Because, in reality, the Avian was Jaune. Initially, he did pose and join the Faunus to find Ozma, but over time he came close to his ally and partner, Catherine Belladonna, a cat Faunus. Showing him the importance of this war, equality and rights, something his sister would be happy to see if they win the war. The last time he saw her was before his battle with Ozma.
Catherine was assigned to lead her forces that would end the war if successful, while Jaune hold the human reinforcements in the Battle of Camlann or to everyone else known as the Mountain of Corpses.
It was suicide for the Faunus with their troops clearly out-number. Yet Ozpin can still remember Jaune's speech to his men, which everyone in Remnant knows today.
"Today, we fight not only for our lives. But we fight for the future. The enemy may be twice are size and twice are armaments. My Brothers. I won't lie to you. We are the last line from oppression to freedom; we hold this line. So our allies can end this war; we cannot fall! If we fall, are battles, are sacrifices, and the sacrifices of our fallen! Will mean nothing to anyone!" He pulls his sword and raises it in the air.
"So, I ask of you, my Friends! My Family! Raise your arms! As this day forth, we'll be remembered not as nameless warriors. But as true heroes!" He leads the army to raise their weapons in a union, roar at the top of their lungs, and follow their leader, their hero….their hope.
On the day the battle started, Jaune lost track of time or the number of humans he killed. Bodies littered the grounds with their flesh and blood. The fighting continued without one or the other backing down. The spot where the place was named "the mountain of corpses". He sees a man standing on top of said mountain, armour etched in ornamental patterns, wielding an ornate brown staff with metal details of a floral design, and adorned with an emerald gem dripping in blood from his last kill.
It wasn't hard for Jaune to find him in his new carnation, seeing the men Jaune called Father standing on a mountain of corpses of both Human and Faunus while he stared down at the man he calls his son.
"Was it worth it!? Is this what you wanted? Is this what your Gods ask of you?" Jaune shouts, pointing his sword towards him. But Ozpin refuses to respond but watch in both pain and horror of seeing what his son has become. To the Faunus, they see him as a hero, but to his very eyes. He sees a broken spirit of hate and rage and a shadow of despair looming over Jaune. And knows entirely well it was his own fault, the failure of a Father who continuously damaged and hurt his own flesh and blood. His greatest mistake, his greatest failure, his greatest…regret.
And seeing his son's face enraging, Ozpin couldn't help but pity Jaune and himself. Responsible for making Jaune the way he is, he became an entity of vengeance, a crime that a father genuinely deserve. With haste, he charges into Ozma in a roar of hate. They clash for hours upon hours. They fought till they were the only ones left standing, their respected armies fallen and nothing left to hold Jaune back for answers. Answers to why he destroyed their family? Why did he obey the Brothers when they abandoned humanity? Why did he have to involve his daughters?
"Why!? Why!? After everything you have done! You still serve those gods! Trying to kill my mother, your love!" Jaune shouts bitterly towards Ozma while giving him a blank expression like he doesn't care or listen. If Ozpin was honest, he was afraid of his own creation for the first time, unsure how to respond to him. His son…
"Was everything a lie!? Mom is still grieving for her children after all these years, my siblings! Was their death planned as you wanted!? Did you ever love them!?" he demands just as their weapons lock, trying to overpower the other, while Ozma creases his brow and struggles but remains silent.
'I still love them! It wasn't supposed to happen! I was trying to protect your sister from your mother, to be used for control.' That's what he could have said but again too afraid to tell him. As his doubt and regret still weigh heavy on his shoulders
"Answer me, Ozma!?" seeingJaune's eyes burning with rage towards him, Ozmas becomes more and more afraid of what he's seeing. He wasn't seeing his son anymore; what he saw was a blight monster, and he was the one who created him.
"I never wanted this..." he swung his staff away, carrying Jaune's sword leaving him open as Ozpin quickly pulled out a lance from a dead comrade and promptly thrust it into Jaune's chest and out of his back, piercing his armour.
"I never wanted any of this for you. I'm so sorry, son..." was Ozma's last thought as he watched his son fall among the fallen with a sad and regretful expression of losing another family. Shutting his eye to look away and holding in the guilt, the greatest sin any father committed was killing his son with his own hands. As he wept in his self-pity, a firm hand gripped his arm tightly, opened his eyes in shock, saw his son with a horrid expression of hate, and embraced Ozma into his arms. Surprising the older man, but to receive a sword thrust, dig deeply into Ozma's abdomen and through his back.
"if I'm going down...I'm taking you with me..." he gasps as he stares at Ozma, then leans closer to his ear.
"Oh, before I go, Ozma...here's my parting gift. When mother learns of my demise, she'll be now free of her wrath. To scorn humanity of her Wrathe. And have vengeance to the gods, for taking everything she loves…and it was all thanks to you." he whispers to his father's ear, shocking him to the core of what he hearing. Knowing Jaune isn't lying, seeing smile sinisterly towards Ozpin, a smile he'll never forget.
"So congratulations are in order. You have doomed humanity that you swore to protect. So tell me, father…" he smiles mockingly at him.
"Was it worth it…?"
With the last of Jaune's strength of the embedded blade in Ozma, he drags it out of his hip. A mortal wound still standing and watches Jaune fall with the same sinister smile plastered mockingly to Ozma, ear to ear, as he falls with the lance still in his chest with the other remains. With adrenaline still rushing into his veins, he slowly falls to his knees. Finally, it broke him when he shed tears with a howl of pain and loss, cursing himself and the gods that he sacrificed his family for them. His cries echo the silent, eerie wasteland of the battlefield. As far and wide as he could see, he was the only one who remained. He will never call this battle a victory.
As he continued to stare at his hands coated in the blood of his son, he couldn't stop the tears from flowing to his hand. It was until he heard a sound and turned his direction and saw Grimm, feasting on the remains of both human and Faunus. Feeling his strength slowly weakening, he shook his head and assessed the situation. He doesn't want his body to be part of the mass grave if he dies, especially his son.
'He doesn't deserve this.' as he pulls the lance out of Jaune's chest and covers up the wound, he carries his son in his arms and down to the mountain of corpses. As he walked down the hill, his son's last word still echoed in his mind, and he finally understood what Jaune meant. Jaune was holding Salem back from vengeance, both him and humanity. And know carrying in his arms the final seal of Salem's wrath, the only one with a conscience and reason to ease Salem's fury. And now dead in his arms, more lives will be lost because of him.
When he finally arrives at the foot of the hill, the Grimm has already come and begun feasting on more remains of the dead. Not wanting to stay on their menu, Ozpin struggles to carry Jaune and limps his way to a nearby forest. Refusing to let them be eaten by the Grimm, especially Jaune. He deserved to be rest with his family. Yet without a horse or a form of transport, his vision slowly blurs, and his strength slowly fades.
Until his body could no longer move, he fell to the ground and dropped Jaune as he rolled away. With little strength left, he weakly crawls to his son to see him one last time before he reincarnates again. Just as he is about to reach for his son, a boot stomps on Ozma's wrist, shattering it completely. Gritting his teeth, he looked up, it was a wolf Faunus soldier with his tail out of his back, and he wasn't alone when another voice called out.
"Jaune!"
Cat Faunus Catherine Belladonna as she kneels beside Jaune's body and carry Jaune's head close to her chest, trying to wake him up or respond. If she's here, then that means the war is over. Faunus won their freedom, and Ozmas couldn't help but smile.
"Jaune, Please open your eyes!?" she cries, but no response as tears flow down her face and land on Jaune's. Knowing the bitter truth, Catherine couldn't help but mourn her friend, her love, resting her head on his chest. Continue to cry upon his chest. Lifts her head looking at Jaune, then kiss deeply on Jaune's lips and rests her forehead against his with her final words to him.
"Thank you…Thank you, Jaune…. Your Sacrifice and the others will be held as heroes" more tears flow as she stares at his now peaceful and lifeless body.
"Goodbye, Jaune…Have sweet dreams." She carries him off the ground and walks away from the area till her wolf companion calls out to her.
"what about this one?" he asks as she stops and looks over her shoulder; you would expect to see her eyes fill with hate towards a human. But no, but she stared at him with pity but looked away.
"leave him. He's at death's door. We have more important matters to attend to." She walks away with her companion in tow while Ozma watches them leave. Yet he was content that Jaune would be in safe hands with them and let the veil of darkness consume him.
The ring of his scroll snaps him back to reality, and he sees the caller's name on the screen while the video of the knight continues playing in the background. He answers the phone of his scout, hoping he has the answer that would ease his worries.
"Qrow, did you find it?" he asked straight to the point.
"Yeah, I found it. To think the hidden tomb of the Fallen Avian is real and in the Hall of Heroes, here in Menagerie." Qrow replies with his voice with excitement and nervousness while he walks down a flight of stairs after discovering a lever that opens the hidden stairwell.
The Hall of Heroes is a catacomb of all the fallen Faunus during the battle of Calamann in Menagerie. After the war, the remaining Faunus gather their fallen on the battlefield of Calamann, seeing the death and carnage of what they face for their allies to achieve victory. In their honour, the Catacomb was constructed with respected tombs, a plaque with their names, and their families' consent. Their story spread throughout Remnant and was given the Hall of Heroes's honoured title.
The Hall of Heroes became Menagerie's first national monument. It became a protected Monument before becoming a tourist destination and an educational memorial, but one is missing the Legendary Fallen Avian. Many scholars and historians search far and wide on the outskirts of Remnant to find the Legendary Tomb of the Fallen Avian. There were multiple theories on the subject. Some say they cremated his remains to prevent the humans from seeking revenge and taking his wings as their trophies. Others say he was buried in an isolated location where only a tiny number of the Menagerie Council knew its sacred site. Even well-known and wealthy historians beg the Menagerie Council to excavate the Hall of Heroes. Believing that the Fallen Avian's tomb is hidden within the tomb and immediately the Council rejects that claim and proposal, no matter how much they paid.
Ironically, the historians weren't wrong. There is a hidden tomb in the Hall of Heroes; however, only a small number of the surviving decedents of the Faunus War knows its location and secret to enter the tomb.
"Man, Bart will have a field day when he sees this." Qrow jest but to only hear Ozpin's serious tone of authority.
"Qrow, you mustn't speak about this to anyone or even be discovered. If the Faunus of Menagerie either finds you or the tomb. It will be chaos."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, Ozzy. But what I don't get is how the Fallen Avian is connected to our Grimm Knight situation?"Qrow asked nonchalantly while Ozpin hesitated.
"Oz?"
"It's the armour."
"what about it? I admit it does look badass and intimidating. Fitting for his name." Qrow smiles while still walking down the stairs and looks over at the edge to see nothing but darkness. Before entering the hidden tomb, he uses an open flame torch he found by the entrance and lit it.
"…"
"Ozpin?" Qrow soon became concerned about the old wizard, all his time helping Ozpin. The wizard had never been this quiet or concerned before, except Salem, but this is different. It's more worrying.
"That armour belongs to the Fallen Avian…" he states, immediately pausing Qrow on the spot of what he just heard. The Grimm Knight, who saved both him and team CVFY, is a grave robber. Worse of all, he's wearing it out for everyone to see. Especially in front of the Faunus community, if they find out or worse, if members of the White Fang did, their activity would escalate even further.
"Shit…"
"Exactly. If any of the surviving decedents of the Faunus war recognize that armour. There's no telling what would happen, especially if they're members of the White Fang. So I don't need to tell you to hurry."
"On it." Realizing the situation, Qrow throws the torch over the stairwell, letting it fall to the bottom, while Qrow leaps over the stair rails and follows the torch below. As the torch finally lands at the base, Qrow lands in a superhero landing like those hero movies he watches with nieces.
"nail it", he whispers as he picks up the torch and waves it in front of him, checking the surrounding area and seeing a three fork path and returning the scroll back to his ear.
"Oz, I'm here. What's next?"
"take the middle path and don't veer away off course. There will be rooms trying to attract your attention like treasures, weapons, booze….women…." as soon as Ozpin mention that last part, Qrow pause for a moment and hesitate to ask.
"Wait, What?"
"It shouldn't be no secret to you, Qrow, that magic still exists. After all, you recently experienced magic." As Qrow remembers telling Ozpin what happened, especially the part of the wooden carving given to him by the Grimm knight, switch places before it moults into light. Which caught Ozpin's attention and asked more questions regarding its detail. Qrow described the item in question, to the best of his ability, despite being under alcohol. He even manages to draw a very crude picture yet still viable to recognize. Which gave Ozpin a sudden shudder and eyes wide open the size of saucers, a rare occurrence for both Glynda and Qrow to witness. Which led Qrow to his current predicament of breaking and entering a national monument and maybe tomb raiding. Which would spark a war with Vale.
"Each room will tempt you with your deepest desires, don't enter. They're booby-trapped with the intent to kill." As Qrow follows Ozpin's warnings while walking down the large open hallway with rows of doors aligning the walls, some are wide open to see inside.
Curiosity got the best of Qrow, but he did remember not to enter from Ozpin's warnings as he passed by, yet he was right on the point of Ozpin's guess. Each of these rooms is filled with Ozpin's caution. The first room was literally filled with treasure like gold, jewels that could set him up for life. The next room was an armoury filled with weapons that his nieces Ruby would spend an entire day admiring. The arsenal was tempting to take one as a souvenir for Ruby but kept moving. But in the third room, he pauses and watches something that he both dreaded and dreamed of seeing into reality.
A room with a large bed in the centre of the two of the most desired with the most beautiful women of Beacon Academy's faculty in front of it. Wearing very erotic underwear barely covered anything. One of them took the lead, her blonde hair let loose, her glasses tossed aside, her bust large that any guy wouldn't deny to at least feel such heaven if they can survive her cold dexterity. Her deep dark emerald eyes solely locked into lust, hunger for her partner's warmth and flesh. In no doubt, in Qrow's mind, that woman is Glynda Goodwitch. The other woman with her hair matched her name of peach-coloured hair with the hips that any guy would stare at for days was the Professor of Dust of Beacon, Celestia Peach.
Glynda pulls Peach's hair back, tilting her head to face the taller woman, while the blond teacher kisses deeply into Peach's mouth in her lust while her other hand grips tightly into Peach's ass that her nails dig deeply. Peach moans in pleasure during the kiss.
"I'm going to call you back, Oz…."
"Qrow? Qrow! Don't go into that room! Qro-" Ozpin shouts out to Qrow as he hangs up his scroll. He then aimed his scroll at the two women and began recording. While giving out a sly grin at what he's witnessing, he knows that there's no way these two women would do such, so he will enjoy the moment. As he continues recording his scroll, a third woman arrive in the room covered in a white cloak. Qrow had a sense of familiarity with her like he knew or met her. She pulls down her hood, revealing herself to be someone that Qrow is all too familiar with; it's uncanny she is practically identical to a certain red reaper.
"Summer…" his voice whispers in shock as she unlatches her white cape off her shoulders, as it falls to the floor, revealing herself in the same erotic underwear. Aware of Qrow's stares, she couldn't help but smile seductively as she slowly crawled onto the bed, both erotic and provocative. She lies temptingly, reaching out her arm to Qrow and waving her finger to him innocently, tempting him.
"Qrow. I'm so lonely. Would you join me?" she says innocently and seductively.
Qrow's breath rasps, his heart pounds louder and harder had ever before, he has trouble breathing. His senses slowly dull; hearing a high pitched tone, he falls to his knees and sweats bullets. Guilt slowly built up in his mind wanting to let it out, his head began to feel excruciating pain. He quickly reaches for his flask from his back pocket, hoping the booze might numb the pain. Just before he uncaps his flask, he notices his hands are shaking. He can't stop no matter how hard he tries.
He guzzles the entire content of the flask, but it isn't enough, and he immediately empties his pockets for more booze. As he searches for his drink, pulling everything out of his pockets, his wallet, receipts, a half-eaten protein bar and some loose change. But then he pulls out something that he always kept to his person and never thought a cold reminder calms him. A photo of his team, team STRQ with dried stain glass and drops on the old photo. Reminding him of the bitter, cold truth. His breath calms, and his heart ease; he clicks his tongue with a cruel smirk, shaking his head and picking everything back in his pocket. Remembering what Ozpin told him that everything he'll see is an illusion intended to kill intruders.
He stares at the scene for a moment at the two women still making out but gives a long cold stare toward Summer. Still tempting him to come over, she slowly glided her hands down along her body down to her panties, hooked her thumbs on the strap, and kept pulling it down. But her thighs clamp together to prevent the front of the panties from revealing beneath the piece of fabric.
Qrow immediately pulled out his Harbinger in its shotgun variant and aimed it at Summer, but neither the women in the room were concerned nor noticed the weapon pointing at them. Hate, rage and anger fill up within Qrow, of how dare this illusion tarnish his image of Summer. He knows dame well that Summer is too timid and doesn't dare to wear or do anything that…intimate. She would pass out beyond embarrassment if she was forced to wear that type of underwear. His sister Raven is sure as hell won't be bothered by it, let alone walk around in it. She was why he stayed to become a huntsman, unlike her sister, who abandoned Yang for the Tribe.
He's tempted to pull the trigger, hoping to destroy the illusion by letting him vent his rage and frustration. Yet no matter how hard he wanted to pull the trigger, he couldn't do as he withdrew Harbinger and holstered it back to his back. He stares at Summer for a moment while the illusion continues tempting him.
"It's good to see you, Shortstack." He smiles at it like seeing an old friend or maybe….
He sighs and walks away and head to his destination and call back Ozpin, resting the scroll on his ear, hearing the scroll ringing waiting for Ozpin till-
"QROW!? ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" Qrow whims while pulling his scroll away, avoiding going deaf from Ozpin.
"Yea…sorry about that, Oz….I got. Distracted…" Qrow pauses but shakes it off and continues following the hallway until he arrives, but a large white marble door tower takes the entire wall with etched carvings. It's very detailed, and Qrow hates to admit it is beautiful, and just by looking at the carving, it seems like there's a story being it. At the top of the door were two figures standing on the clouds, stretching their arms like they had been pushing someone. Clear that they represent the two brother gods of light and darkness. As he follows down to the middle of the door, he sees an angel descending with rays of light shining down from the clouds, yet his wings look like it slowly blackening. And at the very bottom of the door was Faunus of different characters reaching up to the angel.
"It is alright, Qrow. Hearing your voice means you overcame desire. Anyway, where are you now?" Ozpin sighed in relief and in a calm tone.
"Right in front of a large decorative marble door."
"Good, your right in front of the tomb."
"So, how do you open it? Is there a secret lever? A puzzle I need to solve? A riddle? Oh, gods, please don't tell me I need to answer a riddle! I'm not drunk enough to do riddles."
"Qrow, it's a door. You just push it open."
"oh…" as he pushes the door open
"shut up…."
"Hey, I didn't say anything, Qrow."
The door opens, Qrow sees a tomb of the Fallen Avian in white marble and decorated with a carving statue of the said knight lying on top of the grave with a sword at hand. He sees a painted mural on the ceiling, telling another Avian story. From the base above, Qrow sees what looks like his on the ground in his armour. Next looks like he's talking to his other Faunaus breatharian, then leads a charge to a small group of an army facing the enemy. At the end of the tell, he sees the Avian's silhouette on his knees with a lance through his chest, on top of the mountain of bodies, both Fanuas and humans. Qrow couldn't help but feel awe-inspired by The Avian's tale, now wanting to tell his nieces the story of the Fallen Avian. But mainly to Ruby as she'll enjoy the story even more than Yang. Qrow shook it off and approached the side of the tomb.
"Alright, I'm in. Now, what? Should I expect any traps when I open the grave?"
"No, there shouldn't be. Just confirm the body," Ozpin states
"Got it." Qrow places his scroll on the lid, drop the torch on the ground and pushes the heavy top halfway enough to see the entire content, but it's too dark to see. He picks up the torch and shines it above the grave to expect a naked body. But instead, his eyes widen in shock and horror as he slowly picks up his scroll.
"Oz, we got a problem…."
"What is it? Is the body okay?" Ozpin asked concern, which Qrow noticed and was surprised to hear Oz concern, especially over a corpse, but he didn't question it.
"better to see for yourself. I'm sending a photo…."
Ozpin waited for Qrows photo, nervous and fearing for the worse as his scroll vibrated with a message from Qrow. He almost gasps with shock and horror as he opens the message and views the image. The gave is empty; a hole was dug from underneath to take the body or, worse, eaten by a Grimm. While Ozpin is shocked at what he sees with a grim conclusion, Qrow investigates the grave and notices the walls are covered in thin scratches. So it's either the Fallen Avian was mistaken to be dead and buried alive, or a Grimm raided the tomb. But thanks to his many years as a full-licences huntsman knows what type of Grimm did this.
"By the looks of it. It looks like a pack of Centinel Grimm burrows through here and either took or ate the remains…" he pauses for a moment and realizes there were no signs of the Centinel Grimm consuming the corpses. Usually, Centinels use their acid to liquefy their prey before consuming, as they don't have giant mouths to eat their game and instead drink in their pack. But everyone in Renment knows that Grimm eats humanity; they never leave one go to waste, especially a corpse. Only one person can stop the Grimm from consuming or controlling them, as Qrow hesitates to ask.
"O-Oz, you don't think that she-" by the time Qrow finishes asking the question, Ozpin interrupts him severely, authoritatively.
"Qrow, return to Beacon immediately. Leave no trace behind that you were there. The situation is grim. I need all hands on deck!"
With the sound of his tone, Qrow didn't Question it and knew when Ozpin was this authoritative, the situation was dire, which always involved the Queen.
"Got it. I'll be back within a week." Qrow hangs up the scroll leaving Ozpin alone to his own thoughts till he hears the roar from the video of the Grimm Knight, yet the face is still censored.
Ozpin refuses to agree to his deduction, but the evidence still points to the same conclusion: after over centuries of reincarnation for the first time. He always thought he was numb to all negative emotions, consistently the stoic expression he masked to the public. But now, he feels afraid and in a rage toward himself and the one responsible. As the scroll screen on his hand cracked, in an instant, he stood and threw his scroll across the office, shattering it in impact.
Then slamming his hands on his table, with cracks on the surface, he breaths intensely as he watches the feed before him, seeing the fight between Raven and the Grimm Knight showing his prowess and might. He grits his teeth as he cries, looking down at his table. And for the first time, tears drop down his face.
"Salem…what have you've done to our son!"
Omake:
In the halls of Evernight castle, a loud maniacal chuckle echoes in the court halls. The laughter leads to the kitchen and people's surprise or disbelief at what people would see before them. Mercury Black is Cooking? or Baking in this case? Looking over the kitchen, seeing mixing bowels scatter, various ingredients of baked goods spread everywhere. Wide-open cookbook pages are covered in powder and wet dough that now dry and harden. Kitchen appliances are like a mixing machine. And the stove still burning on a small pot, black smoke emits from the small saucepan. And at the very edge seeing Mercury using a stone mortar and pestle, pounding an unknown substance into a fine powder and added to his mixing bowl before pouring the chocolate batter into the baking tray and sliding it into the oven to bake.
Mercury kneels down, giddy with excitement watching his creation bake till cook and immediately takes it out and makes proper preparation. Cut it to size and present it neatly on a plate. He grins as he laughs maniacally while rubbing his hands together with achievement.
"Mwahaha! My hash brownies are complete. This will get back at Em for throwing that box at my face! How do I get this to Em without being too obvious." Mercury thinks of a moment for an idea, trying to remember the last time he saw Em.
"If I recall correctly, Em should be helping Prince Charming in the library under Cinder's orders." Then he got it and quickly wrote down a note similar to Cinder's handwriting that Em would recognize.
"This should do it", he smiles as he rushes out of the kitchen at top speed, but only returns and brings out a sift with icing sugar a lightly sprinkle on top of the brownies, then rushes out of the kitchen. Coincidently, Salem enters the kitchen and sees its state in great shock and rage that more veins appear on her cheek, and she is enveloped in a ghastly aura.
"When I find out who did this! They would eat from a straw!?"
Mercury peeks his head out of the door at the library, looking around as he sees a clear path to the study table. He quietly rushes to the table while hearing chatter in the distance and assuming it is Em and Jaune. He quietly places the plate on the table with a folded note with Emerald's name on it and hides behind one of the bookshelves with a clear view of the brownies.
Emerald returned to the table with a stack of books at hand, placed the books by the table's side, and noticed the paper with her name. She unfolds the paper, and it's from Cinder. She read the letter like she was talking right before her, imagining her in a seductive voice.
"Emmy,
My dear, I made dessert, please enjoy them, my love.
Love
Cinder"
Emerald's face flushes red, matching her eyes, while she carries the paper close to her chest with her breath rasping with excitement. She stares at the plate of brownies, tempted and excited by the sweet chocolaty taste of freshly baked sugary treats. Temptation took over her mind. Her hand slowly approached the tasty treat while Mercury watched in anticipation. She was lost in thought till Jaune called out to her snapping herself back to reality, pulling her hand away from the tasty treat.
"Emerald?"
"Jaune!" she turns, surprised to see the Prince with his own stack of books, while Merc groans, annoyed.
"What'd you got over there?" he tilts his head, pointing behind Emerald. She turns and sees the brownies quickly pulls out the plate for Jaune.
"Oh, um. Cinder made these for us. I thought we might have a break and enjoy them…together." She blushes at the end, embarrassed. Jaune didn't reply, gave her a stoic expression, and approached her. Placing the stacks of books by her side, took one of the treats and ate the entire brownie in one bite while Merc's eyes widened in shock. Jaune chews, moving the now chewed up brownie in his mouth of the taste of flavour and consistency. He frowned due to the taste of the bitterness of the treat, which Emerald noticed as he swallowed the content.
"Ugh, too bitter. I think Cinder added too much cocoa."
"I could head to the kitchen to get some milk?"
"Good idea. I'll wait for you till you come back." He smiles as Emerald leaves the library, leaving the Prince to his own devices, till he suddenly feels light-headed and sits on his chair.
"oh boy, this is not going to be good." Merc cringed as he continued to watch Jaune at a distance.
Enjoying the peace and quiet of Watts's break in his lab, with a cup of tea on the one hand while reading a book on the other. He swivels his cup to cool while taking a whiff of the tea's fragrant aroma. Believing to be at the right temperature to drink, he inches the cup slowly to his lips till suddenly his door slam open, startling him dropping his tea on his lap.
"Gaaahhh!" he screams in pain as he falls along with his chair and turns to the perpetrator
"Emerald! If you have some business with me, wait till my break is over! And if Cinder sent you!? You can tell her to wait like everyone else!" he yells
"Eh? No! I'm not here for Cinder! It's Jaune! Something happened to him!" she replies with concern which caught Watts's attention, and seeing her expression, she isn't lying and seeing this is serious. He can guess why Emerald went to him instead of the others or Salem. He quickly stood up, ignoring the pain and the stain in his groin area, while picking up a bag on his way out and following Emerald to the library.
As they arrive and enter the library, Watts becomes wide-eyed at the shock of what's his seeing of the Prince. He quickly approached the Prince, immediately took a stethoscope from his bag, and put on the earbuds to listen. At the same time, the other end was placed on Jaune's chest, and he immediately noticed the heat overwhelming the Prince and the rising heart rate. Jaune is shirtless, sweating non-stop, has bloodshot eyes and rocking back and forth in a fetal position.
"Emerald, what happen to him?" questions with a stern look towards the girl.
"I-I don't know! I just left to get some drinks. And when I got back, I saw him like this!" she explained with a concerned look to Jaune. Knowing his not going to get anything from Emerald, he might ask Jaune himself. If he wants to know what happened to him and rather not face or tell Salem of what's wrong with him, Watts might as well ask.
"My Prince, are you alright?"
"I'm dead! I think dead! Oh, times go by really, really slow, and my heart's beating backwards!" Jaune replies in a panicked tone, as that comment took both Watts and Emerald by surprise.
"What makes you think your heart beating backwards?"
"Well, usually it goes gob-bop, and now it goes bop-gob!"
"Are you have other symptoms?"
"Ahhh, I can see sounds, I can hear colours. I forgot how to shit!" in that instance, Watts pretty much have the diagnosis of the Prince's condition.
"Jaune, have you taken any illegal substances?" giving the Prince a blank stare.
"No! I just ate a brownie, but that has nothing to with my emergency!"
"And what's your emergency?"
"I measure my butt crack three times, and it's longer each time." Then he gasps deeply in shock.
"I'm splitting into two people…" then noticed the brownies on the table.
"Oh, there's like seventeen more brownies on that plate. I going to finish them off and call you back." As he reaches for the brownies, Watts immediately stop him and drag him out of the library. To his surprise, he would've expected to be thrown to the other side of the library. Since Jaune is under the influence of narcotics, he must've guessed that his motor function must've diminished to a level for Watts to have control.
"Emerald! Call in the seers and prepare a cold bath! If we don't cool him down, he will have brain damage!" with the seriousness of the tone of Watts's voice, Emerald didn't argue and nodded and rushed ahead of Watts.
Just as Watts drags Jaune out of the library and the close is clear, Mercury Laughs his lungs out at what he just witnessed.
"Hahaha! Holy crap! Those things were more potent than I thought! Oh man, I can't wait to cook for the next batch to give to Em. This is going to be hilarious!"
Then suddenly, a shadow overwhelmed him with dread, feeling a sinister cold chill down his spine, and he slowly hesitantly looked over his shoulder, hoping to be Cinder. But to his fear and luck, he was dead wrong.
"So…it was you left the kitchen in such a poor state. I sure hope you'll enjoy eating your meals through a straw for a week." Salem threatens while engulfed in a dark aura with a sinister smile.
"Oh, son of a Bi-"
A/N: HOLY DUST! That was deep. It needed to lighten the mood with the Omake. Now I'm sure you're wondering why I went for this approach. A friend pointed out that I should explore other characters in this fanfic like I did for Raven in the Battle of Springvale. Instead, solely focus mainly on Jaune. As always thanks for your support and pls follow, like and review needed some constructive criticism to know if im in the right path. and for the Omake im going to do a different aprroach to broad my creativity and if you have any omake idea feel free to post in on the review might help to get some inspiration and of course you'll be credited. stay tune