Note. After reading a review suggesting anything other than italics I realized they were right and decided to take their suggestion for this chapter. In this chapter Any time R'lyehian is spoken they will be inside of [brackets] So thank you for the suggestion, Arrow. R'lyehian is not gone entirely it will pop up when I feel like it's better used in the context and doesn't destroy the pacing.
Jaune let out a sigh as he slumped onto the pile of books in front of him. His first week at Beacon academy had come and gone. Team Silver still regarded him as an outsider, well most of the team. Blake seemed to always be on edge whenever he was near. He didn't miss the glares that she snuck in when she thought no one was looking or the way her body would tense up if she didn't realize he was approaching. Ren and Nora, while they still hadn't exchanged much words, the two seemed to be acutely aware of him and took strides to include him when they could. Nora had even taken it a step further on the third day, when she barged into the academy library and loudly proclaimed that he was drafted into the pancake wars. He rolled his eyes at the memory, a faint smile crossing his lips. His mood soured instantly as he tugged at his collar.
He despised the uniform he had been forced to wear. Ozpin had given special treatment in allowing him to keep his underclothes to hide his scars. For that he was slightly thankful for.
"I see you still haven't taken to the new uniform." Jaune looked up to see Weiss Schnee, the heiress smiling politely. "Do you mind if I join you? I know that we won't get in each other's way." He didn't respond but instead began moving his stacks of books on the table to give the girl some room.
The pair fell into a calm silence as they settled back into their studies. The academy library had become Jaune's second room. Every ounce of free time he had was spent in trying to figure out his father's cryptic message. As if fairytales were a good hint at all. With a groan of annoyance, he closed the thick leather bound book in front of him. As he reached for the next one, he noticed a slender hand already there. His gaze follows the hand to finally land on Weiss.
"I didn't take you for a person who enjoyed these kinds of readings." Her voice held no judgment, but that could have been trained out of her, he supposed.
"I'm not. It was a request actually… my father wanted me to brush up on them. However, it's proving difficult to find any meaning when I don't have a foundation to start from." No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the frustration out of his voice. Weiss smiled at him.
"You are a strange man, Jaune Arc. However, you are also well mannered, so I suppose it evens out. In regards to your task, why not try asking your father for a hint?" Jaune shook his head.
He had tried, every day he would visit the dream. But Nicholas was nowhere to be found most times. The times he was able to see his father; all he got was a shell of the man, as if his father wasn't fully there.
"I can't, he's dead." Jaune said solemnly. Weiss stared at him in horror.
"I"m so sorry Jaune I didn…" Jaune held up a hand.
"It's fine. I've had more time than you can imagine to deal with the death of my family." Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose as the girl before him held a hand to her mouth.
[The last thing I need is the pity of a lesser blood.] He mumbled the words, even though he knew Weiss wouldn't understand. Weiss looked away, as she regained her composure.
"I am sorry, but you have us now. Silver, we can't replace what you lost and that's not what we were meant for. However, everyone on team Silver is here for you." Weiss patted his hand before turning back to her studies.
Not everyone, he thought as he caught a glimpse of amber orbs peaking through a shelf, not far off from their table.
The pair continued to work in silence, as the evening continued to burn by. Before long, Weiss stood, causing Jaune to break his focus on reading.
"Come on, we can't stay here all day. If I go back to the dorm without you, Nora will probably just rush over to pull you back. The girl is convinced that, if she didn't remind you to eat or drink, you would forget." Weiss laughed as she began helping him replace the books.
[She's not wrong, I really don't need to eat or drink much so long as I'm not starving for blood.] Weiss stared at him as if he had grown a second head.
"One of these days Arc, I'm going to force you to teach me whatever it is you speak." Jaune offered her a shrug as he set about returning the books.
"Oh and one more thing, if it's fairy tales you're looking into, then I think maybe Pyrrha could help. She was talking about this really popular one that her mother loved… food for thought now let's get moving." Weiss didn't glance back as she marched out of the library. Jaune cast one look back at the bookshelf tucked away in the corner, before following her out.
Not long after, a shadow peeled itself from the bookshelf, Blake clenched her fist as she replayed it in her head, she was sure of it, they had made eye contact… had he known she had been following this whole time?
Jaune sat in his bed. He didn't need to sleep and had grown tired of visiting the dream and gaining nothing of importance. As he lay there thinking over the past week, something stirred in the back of his mind, it slithered and wretched, as it infested more and more of him.
Jaune sat up as he heard the toll of bells. Drawn to the sound, unable to move his body of his own will. Swiftly and silently, he slipped out of the bunk room and out onto the balcony. With no preamble, he scrambled atop the roof of the building. His gaze landed on Beacon tower. Or where the tower was supposed to be standing.
Jaune stared in awe, at the giant clocktower before him. The sheer size of it staggering. He looked over the intricate gears and machinery sticking out from odd angles, as if the tower itself was ever shifting and transforming. Jaune fell to his knees, as his blood began to burn. Clutching at his chest, he let out a pained hiss, as he started up at the clocktower. Something stirred around the clock tower, something incomprehensible. Thousands of inky black hands reached out from the ground below clawing at the air and at the tower itself. Jaune gripped at his head and forced himself to continue looking; he had to burn every image into his mind. The sky around the clock tower parted, to reveal a mirror world, just beyond. Jaune blinked, as he tried to peek past the hazy mist that clouded him from viewing too deeply into the mirror.
[Remain wary of the frailty of men. Their wills are weak, minds young. Were it not for fear, death would go unlamented. Seek the Vile blood. Let us pray, let us wish... to partake in communion, let us partake in communion... and feast upon the flesh of the first Vile blood. The Dread Queen. The one who sings to all Grimm. The mother of rot.]
Jaune turned his head following the voice. No longer was he atop the dorm roof. Dragging himself to his feet, he took in the scene before him. A woman stood before a group of hooded figures all bowed in reverence. A woman of unparalleled beauty, marred only by the inky black veins of Grimm rot. Her eyes blazed with the fury of the sun. Specks of inky black stars shone through the blazing amber inferno. Ragged strips of cloth clung to her body, showing off her figure in its entirety. Jaune stood transfixed, as the woman continued chanting a prayer in his natural tongue. But the words didn't reach his ears, as the scene before him began to bleed at the edges. Jaune turned his back on the woman staring at the clocktower. As the sky opened up, Jaune felt his knees buckle, as millions of eyes stared through the opening. Just as the breach was about to spill over, the clocktower struck midnight. The bells began to toll, rising in pitch and tempo until the final strike sent a pulse of blinding light outwards in all directions. Jaune had no time to react as he was struck by the wave of light, sending him hurtling across the roof.
Blake lightly jumped up the roof after Jaune. She was sure something was wrong, she had seen the glazed look in his eyes as he made his way out the door. Silently, she peered over the lip of the edge. Jaune lay hunched over gripping his chest staring at Beacon tower. Blake felt the blood drain from her face, as she jumped atop the roof. He made no reaction to her presence. Her focus however, was on the black veins that popped out around his eyes, she was sure he was even aware that he was crying Grimm blood. She had to tell someone, she had to alert the school, someone… anyone! Just as she was about to move, Jaune stood and turned looking past her. His gaze landed deep into the mountains in the distance. In mere moments, Jaune's body went flying as if struck by an Ursa. Blake, unsure of what to do, approached the downed man cautiously. Cursing herself, for not grabbing Gambol Shroud. Just before she reached him, a cough caused her to jump.
Ozpin stood on the roof. A smile on his face.
"It would be best if you returned to bed and rested Ms. Belladonna." Blake opened her mouth to argue, but a raised eyebrow stopped her.
"Right." She nodded as began to make her way back inside.
"Oh and Ms. Belladonna, do keep this to yourself. I am sure you have questions. There is no better or more fit person to answer them than Mr. Arc himself, when you get the chance." Blake gritted her teeth as she buried the rising tirade of questions.
Double upload? I do hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. as always leave a review to share your thoughts and opinions.