Hey guys! RGQC here, with another chapter for you to enjoy, and I have nothing to tell you all yet. So, with that out of the way, off to address a comment before we start again!
Yolo27th: I will return to making content on it after the next update of Unexpected Incarnate.
As with all my other stories, I do not own RWBY, only my OCs in this story. RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth.
After another month and so, Jade found himself back in the training field with his father to oversee the training of the local Menagerie Militia. Except this time, his father has been talking to the Menagerie Guards. And according to his father, the Menagerie Guards are the local enforcement organisation that acts as Menagerie's police force to maintain peace.
And at the moment, Jade's father was talking to two members who are Saber Rodentia and some guy called Rolf. And from what the Cat Faunus could tell, Saber's a gerbil Faunus with short dark brown hair alongside blue eyes, while the other Faunus is Rolf, a silver-haired Faunus with wolf ears and a large horizontal scar over his nose alongside amber eyes.
He is scary…
Apparently, they were looking for recruits to join their ranks and figured out they could see Jade's father since he was in charge of training some locals to fight.
For now, at least.
When he was supposed to be sleeping, Jade heard his parent talk about leaving Menagerie in a couple of years. Something about finding a better place for him to grow up and visiting his grandparents. Come to think about it. He never met his grandparents at all. And apparently, they had plans to see them in a Faunus-friendly settlement in the continent of Anima.
Anyway, that's a thing to worry about in the future. As of right now, Jade hid behind his father's legs, could only peek at the corner and watch him talk it out with the Menagerie Guard's captain and his second.
"I see…" Melo hummed as he rubbed his chin. "Do you have any requirements if they wish to join the Menagerie Guards? I'm sure some of those who are part of the Militia are willing to join." The Grayson Patriarch asked as Saber and Rolf glanced at each other before the captain chose to speak.
"Well, besides the need for discipline and the ability to use a weapon effectively, they must be able to handle stressful situations." The captain of the Menagerie Guard frowned. "I've noted that some of our men don't fare well when things go out of control, and their spirit wavered in a fight, especially if they were fighting against the occasional Grimm packs. So, I was hoping you may know how to resolve it."
Nodding his head, Rolf chose to speak. "We've asked the Belladonnas if they had any suggestions, but they say they did not and referred us to you, saying that you're previously a Huntsman."
Jade could only blink his eyes as the cat Faunus could tell that his father was in deep thought. Perhaps he could help? "Uhm… Scuse me, sir?" Jade mumbled as the adults turned their eyes towards the child cat Faunus. "Perhaps… I could help out?"
"Oh?" Melo mumbled with interest as to what his son had to say as he gently rubbed his son's head. "Do you have an idea to want to suggest, Jade? Let us hear it." Yet, the idea that a child wants to offer his opinion seemed ludicrous to the Menagerie Guards, which the Grayson patriarch noted.
"Ok! I was thinking of a 6 to 9-month-long training curriculum consisting of all recruits learning police defence tactics, undergoing physical training, go through lessons in criminal law. This is where they will learn to understand the criminal laws in Menagerie, be able to identify criminal offences and develop leadership skills to act independently if necessary. I think… that's how it should be…"
The little Cat Faunus could only scratch his cat ears as they flickered while all three adults stared at the child. Who grew more worked up from the silent looks he got from all three of them staring at him with awe. In fact, only when Jade hid behind his father's legs did it snap them out of their stunned state.
Melo suddenly laughed heartily as he bent down before swooping his son into his arms. "That's my boy! Not a bad idea if we were to think about it! How did you come up with it? That's surprisingly thought out coming from you." Jade's father then asked as he held his son in his arms and glanced to the side, his cheeks red from embarrassment.
"I… got bored and read books, Daddy." Jade answered before he subtly glanced to the side. "But honestly, I do not know where that came from… it just happened, and my mind just wanna let loose… I don't even know what half of them even mean!"
"Or you're just that intelligent boy!" Melo smiled before he placed his son back on the floor, coughing into his hand and returning his attention to the Menagerie Guards watching him silently.
"My apologies for my actions. What do you think of my son's proposal? It is surprisingly detailed yet simple, yeah?" Melo then asked as Saber and Rolf glanced at each other for a second before the captain of the Menagerie Guard brought his hand to his chin.
"It could work… and be adapted accordingly if we implement it correctly." A smirk soon grew on the captain's face. "It appears we will be busy in the next few weeks if we were to try and implement your son's idea. But I must seek approval from the Belladonnas." Saber continued smiling as Rolf took a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled some notes with a pencil.
"Melo, your son's got a good head on his shoulders. Perhaps he's even a prodigy of this generation. Who knows what he could be once he grows older." Saber smiled as he knelt before the little cat Faunus and patted his head. "Watch over him, I feel his story will not end in Menagerie, and he will become something greater if he has someone to guide his path."
"You know I will, Saber. Take care." Jade's father smiled as Saber stood up, and with that, the Menagerie Captain and his second took their leave as Jade waved goodbye at them.
Once the Menagerie Guards couldn't be seen amongst the crowdy streets, Jade's father spoke as he kneeled to his son's height. "You know, I'm still surprised you managed to come up with that son. Either way, I'm proud of you, kid. Now, let us return to what we did before they came to us."
Jade's ears perked up as he gave his dad a nod and a smile. "Ok, Daddy!"
And so, both father and son resumed their duty to oversee the training of the Militia, all as things were smooth sailing for the rest of the day.
The next day, Jade found himself back in his friend's home again and in her library, reading a book on baking for reasons beyond him. But, as crazy as it sounds, Jade felt a sense of familiarity as he held a simple book on how to bake cookies, pastries and cakes. It is like an irritating itch that won't leave, no matter how hard you scratch it.
The more he stares at the book, the more he wants to understand how or why he feels familiar with a simple cookbook. And with no other way of addressing this itch, Jade delves into the cookbook as there wasn't much to do anyways. And besides, it might be nice to learn how to make things himself.
Perhaps some cookies he had seen Aunt Kali make for Blake and him to snack on if hungry. Yes… that sounds like a great idea! And even more so, he understands what g means, which is grams!
And so, Jade began to read the cookbook before he heard the footsteps of his friend walking while holding her study book. "There you are." Jade's ears perked up as he placed the cookbook down to see his friend looking frustrated.
"Need something I can help Blake?" The boy cat Faunus could only ask as his friend sat next to him before opening her homework booklet her mom recently gave to her to do.
"How am I supposed to do this?" Blake could only ask as she pointed at fractions in her booklet. She doesn't understand how her friend can do all these papers without issue. In a way, she envies his ability to understand such confusing topics in maths. But it's not so bad when he can lend a hand and explain.
"Oh, fractions! Yeah, that one can get confusing if you don't get it, but I'm sure it can click for you eventually. So, Lemme, me go through this with you on this topic, and I am sure I can help you understand it." Jade smiled as he placed his book away to help his needy friend in maths.
And it took at least two hours of personal tutoring from Jade, but eventually, Blake managed to get the hang of the new topic her mother gave her to try to solve by herself. And proud of her achievement and thankful for her friend's help, Blake suddenly jumped and hugged him tightly, who seemed almost stunned at his friend's sudden action.
Even more so when his cheeks blushed a shade of pink as he slowly reciprocated it.
"Thank you!" Blake could only cry out happily as her best friend could only stammer as he patted her back gently.
"Y-Yeah… Glad to be of s-service and happy to help. A-anything for you."
"Nuh, huh!" The daughter of the Belladonna's smiled as she broke her hug only to see her friend's blushed cheeks as his eyes seemed to shoot everywhere, almost as if he was too embarrassed to look at her. Even more so were his ears twitching at a swift pace. On the other hand, Blake could only tilt her head in confusion.
Why was he acting this way? Mummy says you should hug them to express your thankfulness to a friend, so why is her friend acting this way? Unknown to her, Jade was having a mental meltdown in his head. To think his friend would so brazenly hug him suddenly, and he didn't have time to react!
And sure, it made him feel warm and fuzzy inside, but her sudden touch suddenly made him extremely confused, and he didn't even know why he was confused to begin with! Quick! He needs something to distract his thoughts from all this mess!
Uhm! Ah! Book!
"Blake wanna go bake cookies?" Jade spouted out to change the topic, which Blake noticed but chose to drop the subject since even she didn't know what was going on with him right at the moment.
"Cookies? You can bake them?" Blake tilted her head as her ears twitched while her friend brought the cookbook onto his lap.
"I see mummy cook, and it seems simple enough, and I was thinking of making cookies, which seems simple enough. Perhaps we can get Aunt Kali to teach us something we could learn!" Jade smiled while his friend paused for a moment to think, and with a smile and nod, Blake agreed.
"Sure! I saw mummy in the hall just now. Let us go!" Blake smiled as she got onto her feet before she and her friend left the library to find her mother. And so, the two children walked off until they stumbled across a female rabbit Faunus Menagerie Guard watching over a pathway.
Without any hesitation, both children greeted and waved at the guard before she awkwardly waved back to the children walking by her. And soon, they eventually stumbled upon Kali happily humming in the kitchen as her daughter and her friend heard her cutting up vegetables as fruits were on the kitchen counter.
"Hi, mummy!" Blake happily called out, skipping over to her mother's side while Jade followed her behind with a baking cookbook. As for Kali, upon hearing her daughter calling out to her, the Belladonna matriarch paused what she was doing and turned to see her little kitten's friend following closely behind with a baking cookbook in hand.
Does he wish to learn how to try and bake something?
"Jade wants to try baking cookies! Can we try to make some with your help?" Kali's adorable kitten asks with stars in her eyes. Blake had the same look every time cookies were made. And from her friend's face, Kali could tell he looked determined to try making some cookies as he held the cookbook close to his chest.
"Yeah. What Blake said. I want to try making cookies." The cat Faunus spoke up as he held the book up.
The Belladonna matriarch could only find their enthusiasm adorable and was tempted to give in to their cuteness and teach them how to bake cookies. But two things need to be done before she allows them to try their hands at baking.
"Of course, dear." Kali smiled as Blake's eyes widened with joy before she continued. "But have you done today's homework yet?" Blake simply nodded her head with a simile still plastered on her face. She must want to have some cookies if she were to get it done this quickly.
"Yea! I was working on the questions you gave me earlier. The one on fractions!" Blake then points her hand at her friend, who calmly nods his head. "And I did it by myself! Jade only told me the methods and left the rest for me to solve myself."
Kali could only give a thankful smile to her daughter's friend. "Thank you, Jade, for helping my daughter. And for not helping her cheat on her behalf, I'm aware of how intelligent you are for your age." However, Jade looked bashful as he glanced to the side and refused to look her in the eyes, his cheeks slightly red, which Kali noticed and wondered what could cause such a mature kitten to act like this.
Did something happen between the both of them earlier?
"U-Uh, y-yeah. My pleasure Aunt Kali…" Jade noticeably shuddered, much to Kali's curiosity. So now she must know what happened between the both of them. But she'll let it off for now as she needs to focus and cut her vegetables for dinner tonight.
With a giggle, Kali turned her attention to her daughter, waiting patiently for her response. And with a smile, she addressed her adorable kitten. "You can use the kitchen in a moment. Mummy first needs the kitchen to prepare dinner. Then you may bake your cookies." Blake's eyes went wide with sheer excitement as she hugged her mother's leg.
"Thank you!" And with that, Blake ran out of the kitchen with Jade following after her, still with the cookbook at hand. Speaking of which, where did he get that from? She wasn't aware that they had a cookbook in their library.
Shaking her head with a smile, Kali brought herself back as she resumed cutting vegetables.
Jade POV
To my Blake and Aunt Kali's surprise, I have decent skills when it comes to baking. I'm unsure how or why I had it to begin with, but adding and mixing ingredients felt familiar to me, and I instinctively knew what to do next. As if… I had done that before. But, then again, the same could be said about much about me.
I still don't get how I seem to know more than I should at this age.
Besides that, Blake and I had our cookies with Aunt Kali watching over us and by the time it was time for me to go home, I had a bag full of cookies to take home with me. And, of course, Mum and Dad were surprised that I had cookies with me and asked where I got them from.
When I mentioned that I made them at Blake's home with her help, my parents were ecstatic about my ability to bake cookies. I don't get it. Why are they so happy that I made cookies? I wonder. Well… that was when I learned later that in their eyes, I was considered 'old' enough to help with the house chores when neither of them was at home, which was a mind-numbing experience for me.
I couldn't really argue or protest since they were still my parents, and I had to listen to them, but I still did what I could. Of course, that meant I had less time to hang out with Blake, and she was understandably upset that I had less time with her. I also agree, she was fun to be around, and I liked her company.
Anyway, I began keeping a personal diary with all my notes and things I knew without context. It's still in its early phase, but I am still curious about why I am the way I am. Everyone sees me as a prodigy and mature for my age, but I have to get it somewhere, right?
And with that, I spent much of my time in the library trying desperately to find something. Just something that could explain my abnormal condition. Yet I was left with no answers, much to my disappointment and annoyance.
Nevertheless, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years.
And soon, two years later and upon my eighth birthday, which we had at Blake's home, my father decided it was time for our little training, mostly physical exercises, to ramp up, as he puts it. And now, I would officially join his training in the local Militia. And that means I was given a wooden sword to call my own to train with!
Though my father said he wouldn't hold back for my sake, that phrase alone made me worry about what I would go through. And speaking of Militia, my idea which I came up for… what's his name again? Oh right! Saber, that's his name!
Now all he needs is for his sword to shoot out beams.
…
Yeah, I still don't know what that thought was all about.
I'm getting distracted.
The idea I suggested years back to Saber has begun to bear fruit despite the earlier setbacks. It wasn't perfect, as the Menagerie Guards were not literate. I'm not saying that they can't read or write. It is just that that's all they knew was limited, which can be said for most of the inhabitants staying in the place we call home.
Education's not a priority here due to its village-like organisation. Most take on jobs that don't need it, like farmers, fishermen, merchants or labourers, and only those with potential can attend schools to take on jobs that need it, like administrators or doctors. So, my suggestion alone would make the requirements to join the Menagerie Guards even higher than most essential jobs.
Nevertheless, despite the stumble that happened and with the approval of Belladonnas over my suggestion, Saber and his guards slowly adopted my idea after asking me for more details. Which I should not know, but it became second nature to me. The point is, because of my actions, the Menagerie Guards became more efficient at keeping the peace and dealing with criminals that lurk in the shadows of Kuo Kuana.
And as a result, they became more respected by everyone, from what I could tell.
Anyways Blake and I have grown more, and now I surpassed her height! By an inch! And Blake's been wearing more dress apparel, and I couldn't help teasing how she's trying to act all grown up. And then Blake would shoot back at me with her teasing of how I was trying to be a man by joining my dad in his training session. It was fun moment for us until our parents caught us teasing each other that one time and it became their turn to tease us that we were flirting with each other.
Which we are not, I mind you!
I'll tell you it was all fun and games between best friends!
But after enough embarrassing moments between Blake and I, Dad's training was… harsh to say. Whenever he knocked me down or I lost my grip on my wooden sword, he told me to get up and continue without rest. And we did this for hours straight. It was tiring, and Mother was increasingly worried at how exhausted I looked at the end of the day after my spar alongside several scratches or bruises on me.
The issue nearly escalated into another argument over my health and safety, but Father managed to talk her into relenting for my sake, as he puts it. Nevertheless, it was… exhilarating to train under my Dad, feeling the adrenaline flowing in my veins, and there was also gossip about me suddenly training under my father.
They were interesting. The most common one we heard was how my Father trained me to be a Huntsman like him. But it was more along the lines of learning how to fight to protect myself, and my parents have insisted that the path of a Huntsman was not for me. But neither of them ever bothered to give a reason despite my questions.
Despite all that, I asked why I was practising with only a single sword. Father pointed out that I would not learn how to wield twin swords as he did as a Huntsman, and his reasoning was due to my lack of ability to wield a sword. And according to him, wielding two swords requires more skills to use them effectively and, overall, is impractical to use in the first place.
And the only reason he has two of them as one acts as an emergency should he lose one of them. Which I find strange, but I suppose it is the main reason he taught everyone how to use a sword or spear with shields. Not once did I see him train someone how to duel-wield in my time watching from the side.
And right now, it was in the afternoon after school when I met my father at his training field, ready for my next lesson with him. I won't lie, a part of me dreaded getting my butt whooped again, but Father said it takes strength to keep going. But it takes even more power to fall from failure before getting back up and continuing.
I… think I understand his words.
"There you are, my kitten," I heard my dad calling me affectionately while my cheeks could only blush momentarily. I hate it when they call me that affectionate name in the open. It's pretty embarrassing. "I was wondering whether you planned to come for today's practice. Anyways do you have any homework you need to clear today?"
I shook my head in response. So today, my teacher didn't give any of us any homework along the lines that we deserved it after the majority of us passed our tests recently. So yeah. "No, Daddy. No homework for today." I said as I got a nod from my father as he hummed.
"Is that so? Good, I was planning to push things up a bit." My father explained as he retrieved his and my wooden sword we used to practice while my ears twitched. I watched as he tossed a wooden sword at me while, at the same time, I barely managed to grab it without it falling out of my hand.
"What are we going to work on, Daddy?" I asked as my father twirled his wooden sword before pointing it at me.
"Well, I want to see how much you've grown since our last serious spar. You learn fast, but your stamina could use some work. It is only fitting that if we are to survive outside of
Kuo Kuana, you must be able to keep fighting for minutes without rest. With or without Aura." My Father explained as I nodded before I tilted my head when a question popped into my head.
"Then… why don't you unlock my aura? Wouldn't doing that allow me to last longer in a fight?"
I then asked as my father hummed to my question. "True. But Aura is something I don't wish to touch on yet. You are not ready for it, and I doubt your mother will be happy to hear that I unlocked your aura." My father explained as he got into his stance.
Knowing the time of talk has passed, I simply nod my head before getting into my stance. And then, I charged and swung my sword, which Dad noticed quickly, parrying it with ease before he riposted and swung his sword at me. But I saw it coming as I ducked and dodged my father's strike on me.
Due to my young age and short stature compared to my father, I had to learn that I could not tank any of his blows, and I had to use my size to my advantage and dodge any incoming attacks my father threw at me if I were to stand a chance against him. Even then, I know he's holding back for my sake which I'm thankful for.
As I ran behind my Father and swung for his back, he simply raised his over his back and absorbed my strike as he chuckled. "Going straight for my back, smart. But don't hesitate now." That was the only warning I got before he suddenly locked my sword and forced it out of my hand with his still in his hand.
"As I said before, son, ensure you have a good grip on your weapon and never let it go from your hand. It can mean the difference between life and death." He explained as I murmured.
"Ok… I'm still not good at this, am I?" Yet, it appears my father didn't see it that way as he knelt and patted my head.
"Everyone starts weak and becomes better with time. So don't worry about that kid." My father smiled before turning towards my sword, not too far away from us. "Come. Let's continue."
"Ok. I can do this!" I smiled as I got into my stance, as my father looked proud of me.
"Now's that more like it!"
And we are done with this chapter! Nothing much I can say except things will get more eventually. There's some foreshadowing of what's to come and a bit of expansion in terms of life in Menagerie.
But other than that, If you enjoy this story and wish to show your support for more in the future, do Follow and Favourite this story. And while you're at it, leave a review about what you think, as that will let me know that you want to see more content from me!
With that, I'll see you all in the next chapter!
RGQC out!