Hope y'all will enjoy the ch. Don't forget to REVIEW so I can become a better writer for y'all.
Jaune spent the first week after the attack from Grey taking it slow around the area. Covering his tracks everywhere he went and keeping a constant eye out for any more of the Branwen Tribe. He came across no one from the tribe during that time as he waited for them to show up. Placing numerous traps all over the area he fought Grey as he kept putting distance between himself and the destroyed town where they had fought. He made sure to go slow but he still pushed himself to go at least a mile a day. Pushed on by pure adrenaline fueling him the whole time.
Not that he couldn't have gone farther but at the moment he didn't want to risk it. Showing that he had left the area in a hurry would give the idea to any tracker from the tribe or otherwise that he was hurt. Leaving calmly and controlled with no trace left the impression that he had come out far more on top than he had. Information is power after all, even on the frontier.
During those first nights and days following his killing of Grey the sky was clear. Blue as blue could be with nary a cloud in sight along with clear weather the whole time. A perfect combination to hunt him down if they so wished. No rain to wash away his scent, snow to hide his tracks, or even the heat of Vacuo to dissuade persuers.
Instead of wallowing in his bad luck on those first days he sat down and took his time. Bringing out his map and plotting out the course he would take to the nearest settlement out of the current territory of the Branwen Tribe. Even with the favorable weather if he was smart enough and destroyed or disguised his footprints and traces of him he should be fine. The nearest scout shouldn't find Grey's body for some time.
Regardless for Jaune once that first week for over he began to move more freely and relatively quickly. Making a couple pit stops at some small settlements to get some extra supplies and a magazine of ammo for his AK and pistol. Something he paid for over the last two months by doing a quick grimm exterminations around the settlements he stayed in with the most recent one happening today.
None of the Grimm were Alpha's or anything that he had to worry about. The only reason the settlement was even offering the job was because they were barely a year old and wanted constant exterminations for at least a few years. Jaune agreed to the reasoning and killed the grimm. Amounting to a pack of creeps that he took on straight up not bothering to really think through a plan of attack.
Something that was out of character for Jaune but in his mind he needed to start pushing himself more. Not using so much brains and more being able to actually fight. Almost entirely because if his plans failed and had to fight on the disadvantage, he wanted to be ready. Relying on plans to win the day was good and all but he recognized that not everything would go his way. The fight with Grey had shown him this, in which he knew got extremely lucky to walk out of there alive.
As he went ahead with his no plan charge on the Creeps he was surprised at how well the fight went for him. The pack of 12 creeps were reasonably well coordinated for their grimm species and put up a good fight but just didn't stack up. He had fought harder monsters and even with numbers the Creeps were just too weak and didn't need to take his time with them to lure someone in. Just ran into the middle of the pack and slaughtered them with his sword and shield. Using both his ax and pistol during the fight to kill other Creeps when his sword had been lodged in another.
Jaune finding out that he had quite the affinity for his sword and shield combo during this extermination and during the week had spent traveling to the town. The combination just felt natural in his hands even though he had only been using the shield for about half a year and the combo only half that. Thinking on that now for the time he had been traveling since Aedon and he parted ways he was probably closing in on his birthday; if he hadn't passed the date already.
After the pack of Creeps he killed, he did have quite the time hunting down a Slinx in the forest. The monster wasn't young so it did present a challenge but wasn't quite an Alpha yet otherwise Jaune would've gone straight back to the settlement and requested an fully qualified hunter. Slinx alphas were rare and annoyingly smart as their whole demeaner was ambush predators, already smart beasts, and they got smarter as they aged. Getting a significant boost when they fully become Alpha's.
There had been some speculation by hunters Jaune had eavesdropped on and Aedon that Alpha Slinx's were just as smart as an Elder of other Grimm types. The horror stories of Slinx Alpha's and their Elders reinforced this. Since the Slinx wasn't either the chase boiled down to a game of cat and mouse. One that turned out to be a draw between the two of them.
Which is where Jaune could be seen falling out of a tree with his shield deployed while the Slinx was clawing at said shield and trying to get to him. As they fell the slinx was forcefully pulled back from Jaune about halfway down the tree being violently pulled back and slammed into the tree by a wire wrapped around its back leg. Landing on his back and the air violently exploded from his lungs Jaune gasped and pulled out his AK taking aim at the dangling slinx.
As he pulled the trigger his heartrate going crazy as it tried to compensate for the lack of oxygen and the flailing of the captured slinx he missed four of his five shots. The last one nailing the slinx in the side as the beast pulled itself up and slashed the wire letting the beast free. Falling down the tree the beast used the claws in it's paws to grab onto the tree and propel itself at Jaune.
The young man barely able to drop his AK before swinging his shield in front of him. Getting lucky on the swing of his shield as the tip caught the slinx in the chin of its opened jaw. Ripping the lower portion of the jaw off but not killing the beast outright. Enraged at the actions of the lucky hunter the slinx propelled itself recklessly at Jaune. Swiping at every opening and using whatever it could to kill him.
The onslaught of reckless attacks pushed Jaune back as he was barely able to block the attacks before tripping over the root of the tree. Falling backwards the slinx jumped onto his shield as he still kept the heirloom in front of him. Swiping at his head as the slinx used its superior weight to push down on the young man. Jaune for all of this though simply held his shield in place as he reached for the knight at his side. Mecha shifting into a pistol the moment he had the weapon in hand and unloading the half mag he still had into the slinx's belly.
Although far smarter than the average grimm and relatively quicker once the element of surprise was taken from a regular slinx, they weren't nearly as dangerous. The only reason Jaune was being pushed back and subsequently onto his butt was the sheer ferocity of the attacks unable to get an opening to push back against the beast. As he knew while slinx's were smarter and quicker, they were glass cannons. Not very tough to deal with if you can hit them, until they became Alpha's.
With that fight finished Jaune packed up his gear, took pictures of the dissolving grimm and began looking for any other signs of Grimm in the area. Spending an extra two days in the wilds surrounding the settlement before heading back and reporting that the area seemed clear of all Grimm. The townsfolk promptly thanked him, paid him and gave him a roof for a night. Their kindness with the promised pay and housing having him mark the town down for him to come back to.
As for taking the pictures of the dissolving grimm he did that as more of an insurance policy. It wasn't unheard of for some towns either not paying outright or trying to not pay the amount agreed upon. Having pictures of the defeated grimm mitigated that risk as hunter guilds wouldn't do business with towns that didn't honor contracts. A cutthroat but equal way to do business, kept everyone honest including hunters.
Once he woke up the next morning after not sleeping in the dirt or in a tree he purchased an extra magazine for his AK and pistol. With the ones he got as added payment from the job he did for the town he now had two full magazine each with an extra quarter one for the AK. Once he finished his purchase there, he went on his way to the next town.
Called Karachi was one of the biggest settlements in Mistral as it was relatively close to the border of Vacuo. Made for plenty of foot traffic in the area and good trade even though Vacuo didn't have much in the way of trade. Mistral was always willing to do business with Vacuo though and half of that business went directly through Karachi. The alcohol of Vacuo being their biggest seller.
The trip to Karachi would take Jaune a couple days of travel if he had walked all the way there. He didn't have to though as a stroke of luck a trader's caravan heading along the same road he was and came up from behind. Waving them down the lead cart pulled over next to Jaune on the side of the road halting the procession.
"You guys going to Karachi?"
"That we are lad," the man said as he played his salt and pepper beard that covered his face. A farmers hat on top of his head
"Mind if I hitch a ride sir?"
"Can you pay for the ride young man?" Jaune didn't want to use his money and would've wanted to hold onto as much of it as he could to shop and get supplies to cross the desert after Karachi.
Jaune exposed his weapons and stood as tall as his body could allow. Trying to make himself as intimidating as possible.
"I can help provide protection. As you can see, I'm well-armed and armored and have plenty of both grimm and bandit contracts under my belt," I spoke to the man seeing movement out of the corner of my eye but kept my focus on the man. The movement was from another part of the caravan. Probably just another driver and nothing to worry about.
"Sorry laddie, we-"
"It's good Manny. I'll vouch for the kid," I heard the voice and turned to look at the newcomer and thank them before I recognized them. Instantly pointing my finger at the man.
"Baldie!" I exclaimed earning a sigh from the man and a smile from the now named 'Manny'. He was the one who had showed Aedon's group a picture of him holding his baby complete with the bald head. Well, more like buzzed haircut but Jaune was going to take advantage of this and call him bald. He had been the first one to leave the group before Jaune and Aedon had gone their separate ways. It had been almost a full year since Jaune had seen him even if Jaune felt a little weird not seeing the man behind his helmet.
"It's a buzzcutt kid. Come on, I'll get you set up and tell you your schedule," he beckoned Jaune to follow him which he did without complaint. The caravan starting up quickly as he followed 'baldie'.
"So, what's my schedule?" Jaune asked as soon as 'baldie' jumped up onto one of the trucks with Jaune following right behind him.
"You got the next shift. About 7pm to midnight; we aren't stopping in the area, so we'll be pushing through all night."
"Branwen tribe right?" Jaune asked getting a nod from 'baldie'.
"They were last spotted a good 50 miles east of here but that was a week ago and I'm not willing to chance it when we have the numbers and ability to go through the night… Name's Kaliburn by the way kid, so you don't keep calling me 'baldie' in your head. Don't use my full name though, just call me Kal."
"Okay. Thanks Kal, for picking me up here and helping while you were with Aedon," Kal shrugged off the thanks.
"Think nothing of it kid. You helped us do jobs we normally wouldn't have been able to do as subtly, the slaver job being a big one. Still not a fan of you faking being a slave but it worked out. What are you doing all the way out here anyways?"
"I'm planning on heading through Vacuo. See the oasis and then probably head to Meangerie. Got a favor from the Fang and want to check out the island," he raised his eyebrow at me.
"How did you get an in with the Fang?"
"Helped during the riots in Mistral city," Kal nodded at that.
"Be careful around them Jaune. That was just the start, they've escalated a lot in recent months. They're full-blown terrorists now," Jaune just sighed at the new information.
"Fantastic… How did that situation dissolve in the city anyways?"
"Riots died out after about three weeks following a massive grimm attack on the city. The fact it took three weeks is incredible in my mind but is what it is. Everyone on both sides got pardons by the government and a few new laws were implemented for the miners and working class. There's the usual loopholes in the laws the companies are abusing but things are marginally better now."
"That's good at least. Best that could be hoped for with how corrupt Mistral is. Speaking of which, what are you doing here?" Jaune asked the man as he took a swig of the water he pulled from his pack. The caravan in full swing now travelling the road.
"Besides the obvious?" he stated looking at me and I gave him a deadpan stare making the man chuckle. "I told Lizzie I would visit with my family when I got the chance and the job of protecting the Caravan to Karachi seemed a good enough opportunity."
"Who's Lizzie?" Jaune asked Kal.
"Oh yeah, you didn't know any of our names. Lizzie is the shark faunus who looked you over after your first kill. She just had her first kid a couple months ago and wanted me to visit and say high. I am the kids godfather after all."
"Didn't know you two got along that well?"
"There's a lot you don't know about us Jaune. Though that's mostly our fault with almost always using our helmets to communicate and not actually letting you hear our voices. As for me and Lizzie though we were on the same team out of Shade Academy in Vacuo. Mission went wrong not long after we graduated and Aedon picked us up afterwards. Shared trauma binds people better than you would ever guess."
"I… see."
"Life happens kid, we can't protect or save everyone but that doesn't mean we can't damn well try. That's why Lizze and I didn't give up on being Hunters; because we knew we could still help people. Now, enough of that. Go to the back of the cart and lie down until your shift. My wife and kid won't bother you."
Silently nodding to Kal Jaune headed into the cart and found the bed in the corner. A tall woman with blue hair, kind and soft features on her face, and shining blue eyes with a toddler nestled in her arms who looked at him with big curious eyes. She looked exactly what you would expect a loving mother to look like. It was weird for Jaune to see her as she instantly brought up the distant and buried memories of his own mother. Sharply turning away from the woman, he went to the bed and lied down passing out quickly.
Jaune woke up so someone shaking his shoulder. Opening opened his eyes he saw Kal standing over him. Nodding to him Jaune got up and he just pointed to the front of the cart. Guess watch was literally just sitting in the front of the cart and looking for anything suspicious. Not the best way to do things Jaune thought but there was no way he was the only hunter level individual on watch. Plus, they were on the move and not making camp. No reason to waste energy running around an already moving caravan.
The night was silent for them as the Caravan moved along. The rays of the moon in full blast as it was in full moon state. No way any raider would chance a caravan headed for Karachi on a night like this. Grimm, on the other hand, might but if any groups were big enough to actually cause problems, others would have found them by now.
With those thoughts Jaune kept a close eye on their surroundings and kept his AK on his lap at all times. He would simply wait and see if anything wanted to make a move on the caravan. As midnight rolled around though and the moon was high in the sky nothing had happened until another man Jaune did not recognize came up to the cart and took the seat next to Jaune. When he did, he gestured for Jaune to get some sleep. Jaune did so going back into the car and propping himself up against the wall of the cart and fell asleep.
He was woken up again with the moon still out but low in the sky. The first rays of the sun peeking out over the horizon as Kal shook his shoulder. Offering Jaune a hand up he took the hand and together they sat on the front of the cart. Watching their surroundings but by now they were out of the woods, literally. Open plains with very few hills around them giving them a sightline for miles. Even Karachi was visible in the distance but still a good few hours off in the caravan.
"What should I expect out of Karachi?" Jaune asked filling in for the silence that had descended upon them.
"I'm sure Lizzie would be willing to house you. Her husband is pretty well off so their house is big. As for the city itself just watch your wallet. Pickpockets are everywhere."
"How about jobs? I'm looking to get supplies to cross the desert and that is not going to be cheap," Kal nodded along to Jaune's reasoning.
"What's the highest rated contract you've completed since you were with us?"
"A couple B ranks by myself. Just straight Grimm exterminations with packs and Alpha's. Usually took me about a week for each one whittling them down before killing the Alpha's. Couple bandit groups as well that I took care of that were B rank."
"Well, you did a couple A ranks with us so you should get a decent pick for jobs. The guild there knows Lizzie and I too so we can put in a good word. If you're looking for any big pay days though don't bother with anything above B rank without a team. No point in wasting all that time hunting in the wilds when you can split the money and do it in a day or two."
"Anything consistent I could do?"
"The guild will have some jobs like that within the city but exactly what they'll be, I don't know. Varies from place to place and time to time; been a couple years since I've been to Karachi."
"I've been curious about the ranking system for jobs but haven't been able to read up on them, you mind?" Jaune asked getting a negative shake from Kal. Jaune usually just picked jobs he felt comfortable doing and never really paid much attention to the ranking system.
"There's a variety of factors but it usually amounts to the type of grimm, how many there are, Alpha, Elder, what have you. As for bandits or rogue huntsmen it depends on their reputation and everything they've done. For example, a small pack of Ursa with a singular Alpha will be B rank. A large group of Ursa still with a singular Alpha will be A rank. As for the actual system a B rank means that if you are a B rank huntsmen you should be able to complete the job by yourself within a day. That's not to say you can't accomplish a mission ranked above you with patience and experience.
Now, that being said like you would expect there is a rather massive jump in difficulty once you go from B to A rank. Same with A to S, S to SS, and SS to SSS. If I had to explain it for B rank to A rank A ranks are at least 2.5 times hard and it only doubles from there. Five for A to S, 10 for S to SS, and 20 times for SS to SSS. I've only ever done one SS mission and it was with Aedon before you when we hunted an Elder Slinx. Most scared for my life I've ever been to be honest. Was only supposed to be one Elder Slinx and turned out to be three, should've been an SSS ranked mission with dozens of SSS ranked hunters on it. Instead, it was just us four."
"How'd you kill them?" Kal snorted at Jaune's question.
"We didn't. Aedon did and I still haven't figured how he did it. Those things hunted us for days playing with us and one night Aedon puts all of us in cave, barely conscious and all of us injured, and just walks off. Comes back an hour later with his helmet torn open, a bloody face, a broken arm, sprained ankle but a smile on his face. Picture of the decaying bodies and everything."
"Fuck."
"You're telling me kid. I've never even heard of anyone taking on a singular Elder type of any grimm alone but Aedon fought three after days of being hunted. And walked away both alive and victorious."
"That is something that has been in the back of my mind since we split. I haven't been able to find anything on Aedon. No guild or net has anything on him."
"That bothered me for years too kid but don't think too much into it. He's a good man, always treated us right, paid us extremely well, and put us first every time. Plus, every big-name hunter knows him. Peter Port, Glynda Goodwitch, Qrow Branwen, Lionhart, Theodore Crew, and Kernel Burke to name a few. All SS or SSS ranked hunters with Lionhart and Theodore being headmasters. Whoever Aedon really is people high above our paygrade know exactly who he is. Hell, I heard he had a fling with Goodwitch at one point. That alone makes him a legend in my mind."
"Why that of all things?" Jaune asked knowing those names Kal had just listed off but not what they looked like. Kal, looked at Jaune and raised an eyebrow before looking at the distance between them and Karachi and pulled out his Scroll. Interfacing into an App for known hunters, their listings and ranks and pulled up Glynda Goodwitch. Current assistant Headmaster of Beacon Academy and a SSS ranked hunter. He then showed the picture on her profile to Jaune.
"Okay… Yeah, I understand," Kal couldn't help himself and chuckled at Jaune's delivery of his sentence.
"He never confirmed or denied it when asked so the rest of us just assumed it to be true. Either way, we should be pulling up to the entrance to Karachi within the hour. You want me to let Lizzie know you're with us?"
"That would be appreciated in case she needs to do a bit of extra preparing," Jaune responded.
"Got it. Just remember, when you're in the city protect your wallet," Jaune nodded his head and that was the end of the conversation as he leaned back in the cart and waited.
Within the hour they were at the gate of Karachi and didn't have to wait long for entrance as the lead cart showed their credentials and they were let in. Kal having to go with the rest of the caravan while he gave his wife, child and Jaune over to a large man with black hair. Greeting said man with familiarity which his wife shared. Cluing Jaune into that this was Lizzie's husband. How the man looked Jaune couldn't tell what the man did for a living.
He was in shape and had sharp angular features and green eyes that seemed to analyze everything around him. His hands calloused over but an intelligence to the eyes far beyond what you would expect of a blue collar worker. When Kal left his wife and Jaune with the man, the man greeted the wife with a kind smile and quick hug before stepping over to Jaune.
"I heard you travelled with my Lizzie for a couple years," he spoke well with someone who definitely had a higher education.
"I did sir. She was kind to me," the man smiled down at Jaune before leaning forward and over to Jaune almost conspiratorially.
"I thank you for that. I could never get her to think of settling down and having a family until five years ago when I assume you came along."
"You're welcome?" Jaune answered unsure of exactly what he was supposed to say. The man just smiled and backed off.
"My name's Bazarr young man. Come, let us get you all to my home," and with that the man turned around and began walking away. Almost swatting Jaune across the face as a cat like tail protruded from the man's back.
Jaune followed the man but the words of Kal kept ringing in his mind. His hand always on his wallet just in case anything was going to happen in their trip to Lizzie's house. From the entrance to the city the walk was only about 10 minutes to the near center of the city. The house was in the middle of a couple buildings that looked like hospitals or clinics at the very least. The house was a good two stories as well and about 100 feet wide.
Really showing off the man's wealth. That said the house wasn't showing off the wealth in a 'look at me, I'm better' way but in a 'I'm here because I'm important' way. Wasn't that big of a difference between the two to Jaune but the respect that others showed Bazarr as they walked showed that difference. Whatever this man did he had earned the respect and the obvious money because he was needed here.
Entering the house without fanfare they were greeted by Lizzie and two maids. In Lizzie's hands was a small bundle of a child that's head was poking out looking at the new arrivals. Her smile widening as she saw me and walked forward. Going to her toes to give Bazarr a kiss before handing him the babe.
"Cy! It's so good to see you!" she smiled out as she gave Kal's wife a hug being mindful of the toddler in the woman's arms. Before gently taking the toddler and holding them in her arms. "Oh, she is just a cutie. What's her name?"
"Viri," Cy answered in a gentle like voice. Lizzie smiled at the answer before gently putting the child down and walking over to Jaune. Stopping in front of him she pulled him into a hug, one that he did not resist to return.
"Good to see you alive kid. You've grown since I last saw you," she whispered into his ear before pulling back.
"It's been almost a year now. Of course I have," Jaune answered giving a small smile to Lizze. Her smile brightened before she reached out and ruffled his hair before pulling away out of reach.
"Let's get you all some lunch. Kal should be here by the time the food is ready. Honey, would you mind showing Jaune his room. I'll be talking with Cy," Bazarr nodded before gesturing for Jaune to follow him. Jaune did so without argument.
Going straight to the left from the entrance, down the hall and finally on the right. The room wasn't that big but the bed looked amazing to Jaune. Definitely higher quality than any of the Inn's he's stayed in for the past couple years. Setting his pack and gear on the ground he cleared his voice once before Bazarr could leave.
"Excuse me sir, but what exactly do you do?" Bazaar answered immediately.
"I'm a surgeon. My semblance, which I discovered while working the mines when I was younger, allows me to analyze the body of someone so I can tell exactly what's wrong. Doesn't work for diseases but it does for poisons. Works great when you have to patch people up, especially hunters who are always thankful. Hell, Karachi has the highest hunter population outside of the major cities in the entire world."
"No wonder this place seems so prosperous. I thought it would've been the trade from Vacuo."
"You aren't wrong there young man but I do play a significant role in keeping the hunters alive and they keep the trade protected. It's all symbiotic," with that said Bazarr left Jaune alone in his room. Which he discovered quickly had a shower. A shower with hot water, a luxury extremely rare in the frontier. He spent almost a half hour in the shower.
After his shower Jaune spent the rest of the day with Lizze, Kal and their families. Catching up with the two former group members and learning new things about them. Though he would be a liar if he said that the story of how Lizzie met Bazarr didn't make him smile. How, she had been with Aedon's group and injured in Karachi and they brought her to Bazarr who patched her up. She wasn't even out of the hospital before she was demanding a date with the man.
A story that brough a bunch of embarrassment to the woman and laughter to everyone else. Though to see them look at each other Jaune knew that, although extremely bold, she had made the right call. They were hopelessly in love and their child was the perfect blend of both their features. With Lizzie's sparkling emerald eyes and Bazarr's hair. How he would grow up and who he would take after more we wouldn't know until years from now.
After their lunch Jaune and the others spent the rest of the day just relaxing in the home. Though Bazarr did have to leave sometime after dinner because a hunter had been injured and needed a surgeon. Though he had spent most of the time entertaining everyone, leaving a good impression with Jaune.
The next day Jaune got in his gear but with only his sword, shield and pistol before heading to the hunter's guild. Upon getting there he showed the note that both Lizzie and Kal had written and signed to the receptionist. A fact that got a raised eyebrow and look of not being believed before the woman grabbed her scroll and made a call. A minute later while she had been talking she nodded her head telling Jaune that he had access to all jobs B and below if he was alone. Only A ranks if he had a team.
He forgoes both those options and instead chose a mild D rank mission within the city as more of a warmup. The point of the job was to find whoever was causing the multitude of pickpotetings across the city. Something that found himself around the central hub of the city watching from up top on one of the buildings. Only a second story building but high enough that wouldn't have someone looking up.
He watched the comings and goings of people the whole time as he waited for something to happen. It was hard to tell at this height with all the people who exactly was doing the pickpocketing but he wasn't betting on that. The fact that this was a job in the guild meant that someone or a group were doing this consistently. Enough that the same people in the area to many times would be an indicator of what was going on.
He was there for the whole first day and saw nothing before calling it quits as the sun went down and went back to Lizzie's house. The next morning he went to the same spot and waited, watching all the comings and goings of people. Around mid-day he started to notice something strange with a couple of people who moved in ways that did not make sense.
Moving out of the way of people that weren't there. Opening their sides to be robbed, like they were moving around someone that wasn't there. However, no one was there either way until the very end of the day. Someone, a pretty brown skinned girl with bright green hair walked down the street and robbed six people blind. They practically let the girl, maybe a year or two older than Jaune, rob all of them. Like they couldn't see her at all.
That realization made him widen his eyes. The girl was using an illusionary semblance to mess with people and allow her rob them. Deciding not to intervene yet he watched the girl from the rooftops and followed her as she went around the central hub of the city for about an hour. Continuing to rob people and sometimes only taking a couple credits from their wallets before walking back around and putting the wallets back on the people she robbed.
When she was finally done she walked away and made her way to the local hotel. Walking inside a couple minutes after her Jaune went to the receptionist and immediately put the contract on the table in front of the man who was around 20ish years old. He took one look at the contract before looking back at Jaune.
"How can I help you?"
"The woman who just came in a couple minutes ago. What's her room number."
"122."
"Thank you. Are you able to lock the windows," the young man nodded. It was a feature in some Inns and hotels in the frontier towns in case of a grimm attack. "Do it."
Jaune left and went straight to the room. Knocking on the door he waited patiently for the door to open. The moment the door cracked open Jaune slammed into the door knocking whoever was behind the door back onto their ass. Not bothering to look around or at the woman he dove onto her and straddled her putting his pistol against her face.
Her blood red eyes staring up at him in both anger and desperation. Her face, actually very pretty, sneered at him. None of that helped by the rather revealing clothing she was wearing. Jaune was not one to judge or be swayed by a pretty face as they had been all over the frontier who were pretty women. Raven Brawnwen coming to mind there but that did not stop him from admiring the woman below him.
"Well, got you," Jaune spoke aloud as he pulled out the scroll in the woman's pants that he could feel with his leg before calling the guild. "Jaune here, I took the D rank contract yesterd…" only as he spoke the scroll and the woman below him dissolved. Just then the door behind him slammed open and closed within a moment.
The next moment he was up and sprinting through the door following the streak of green that was the girl's hair. Running out the main entrance of the place he stopped and started looking around. There was still a bit of foot traffic at the moment and the girl had completely disappeared into the crowd.
Taking a moment to compose himself he remembered that the mission was only a D rank. Barely paying enough for the absolute minimum supplies he would need to cross the desert. Yet, the sneering look of the admittedly pretty girl remained in his mind. The mission wasn't life or death but succeeding would give him the satisfaction of seeing her sneering face one more time.
"Oh, it is on," the smile on his face was involuntary but he couldn't remember the last time he had been fooled. He was looking forward to the hunt.
"Hello Glynda," a voice spoke to the Assistant Headmisstress of Beacon Academy as she was walking down the road of her hometown, Naretik. Located near the border of Mistral in Vale. The town was well off in all terms and had a decent hunter population along with direct access to the Sareen River. A fact that made it prosperous for it's access to large quantities of fish that the town exported to Vale.
Spinning on the toes of her heels to look at who had addressed her, she had recognized the voice the moment they had spoken. She had to be sure though as it had been almost a decade since she had heard them. A time when she was happier and had heard the voice on their bed as he congratulated her on being the youngest Assistant Headmisstress in Beacon's history. Only to disappear the next day with no note, message or even a 'fuck you'. Nothing.
She saw Aedon standing there with a new scar on his face to add to the two that had been there the last time she saw him. Took her all of a look to recognize the scar as coming from a Slinx's claw. His hair was recently cut and his beard trimmed to, she could tell that he at least took the time to be presentable. The fact that his clothes looked good on him showed that as well.
Regardless after taking him in briefly, she walked up to the man her heels giving her two inches on him. She stood in front of him for a moment before slapping him with an aura infused palm across the face. His head snapping to the side upon impact with his aura absorbing the blow. He didn't react otherwise besides a small nod before turning his head back to her.
"Yeah, I deserved that."
"You deserved more," Glynda sneered at him as she leaned towards him. The whispers of the other townsfolk who were witnessing were heard by both of them. Knowing she couldn't continue this in public she looked at Aedon trying to keep all her emotions in check. "Follow me."
They walked in a tense silence for a few minutes before stopping in front of a modest one-story house. Well kept and in good repair she opened the door allowing Aedon to follow her into the house. The house she had grown up in and now owned with the death of her father four years ago. Leaving Aedon in the living room she grabbed the liquor in her cabinet and two glasses. Going back to the room she sat in the single chair with Aedon on the couch and poured their glasses before staring him down.
"Speak," she tried to take the edge out of her voice but failed spectacularly. Aedon took it all in stride understanding why she was currently in the mood she was in.
"Oz has told you everything he knows about me no doubt. How old I am, who I am, what I do, and… what I've done, what I was," he got a short nod from Glynda at his words. "He would've used you to get to me. Either through your cooperation or blackmail and trust me he would've done it and he probably hasn't told you the full picture either."
"He told me far more than you ever did which was nothing," she spoke harshly as she took a swig of her liquor. Her thoughts and emotions in a spiral after finally seeing Aedon once again.
"I only tell those I marry Glynda and… I didn't want you in that position. Choosing me or the man who would blackmail, control and use you. Cause if you said no to him he would ruin you. Everything you worked for, everything you accomplished would mean nothing to him and he would tear you down and I couldn't do that to you."
"But you could leave me and say nothing! No note, no message, not a fuck you. nothing!" she spoke to him in a cold sharp voice as if she was unaffected but her face betrayed her. Her eyes watering and the quivering of her lips showing Aedon just how close she was to breaking down. Aedon didn't look away though but felt the full brunt of the shame in his chest. The ugly feeling reeling inside him. "I loved you."
She broke and released a sob as the tears began to free fall down her face. She tried to stop the cracks from showing by down her glass hoping to numb herself. The alcohol didn't work.
Aedon finally looked away as Glynda released a choked sob. Pouring another glass of liquor as her hands shook as tears fell down her face. Slamming the drink back to try again and numb herself to the world but it didn't work. Trying to pour herself another one she couldn't steady the bottle as it shook in her hand. Then Aedon's hand covered hers as he took the bottle and poured her another as tears started to freely fall down her face.
"I'm sorry," that was really all he could say.
He could look at her but he couldn't look her in the eyes, he just couldn't. The shame and anger at his own actions prevented him from doing so.
"Seven years and 139 days late for that," she retorted, shakily taking a sip of her drink. Taking pleasure in the fact Aedon's face showed shock that she knew the exact days. She always remembered, that's why seeing him again hurt so much.
"I… I should go," he gently put his glass down and walked out of the house leaving a still crying Glynda Goodwitch behind. Stopping a few feet outside the door he sighed and looked up towards the cloudy sky as the clouds rolled and rummbled above him. Taking the time to examine the clouds for a few minutes to distract himself but then the first drop of rain splashed against his cheek.
"Yeah… Fuck you too," he took a step forward inteding to pass the property line of the house but felt the familiar sensation of Glynda's aura wash over him; a subtle warning from her not to go any farther. Turning around he looked at the woman who stood in her doorway staring at Aedon with a drink still in her hand, glasses off and bloodshot eyes.
Slamming the drink back she slowly set the glass on the ground before pointing her finger at Aedon. He felt her power wash over him but did not resist her. Fighting her, even if he could find it in his heart to do so, would have far to much collateral damage without using his semblance. She was too powerful.
He glided through the air towards her and through the door as she shut it. Only then did he notice that she was still crying as tears were running down her face. The moment he was inside the house and the doors closed though he was released from her grip. Pushing him against the wall and slapping him across the face. He made no attempt to defend himself.
"You don't get to just come back here and leave me," she choked out. "Not again!" she screamed. Fresh and hard tears running down her face as she grabbed his shirt with both her hands bunching up his shirt in her palms. Crying harder she leaned forward and put her head on his shoulder.
"Not until," choked sobbing, "you tell me everything!" she barely got the words out as she was barely holding herself from collapsing into a sobbing mess. Seeing the man who had taken her heart breaking her normal measured and controlled demeaner.
Slowly, measuring every movement, Aedon moved his left hand to where her chin was. Gently, lovingly, he placed his palm on her chin and lifted so that they were eye to eye. The bloodshot and tearfilled eyes of Glynda renewed the shame in his chest. Her lips quivering as even he could tell she was barely holding herself together. The sheer emotion she was displaying and the shame roaring in Aedon's chest at doing this to a woman he loved forcing tears into his eyes as well.
"Okay," the word was barely a whisper.
Hope y'all enjoyed. Reviews/PMs on how I did with this last bit would be much appreciated. I felt good about it while writing but I'd like some commentation from y'all to help me address how to get better writing those types of scenes.
Beyond that there was a decent bit of exposition and world building in here.