Here we go folks. I hope you enjoy. Please don't forget to REVIEW. I really want to get better as a writer. All Reviews are welcome.
Jaune was no stranger to pain. Physical or otherwise was an old friend to him, having been there his entire life. So, to wake up in pain was nothing new to him but the sand that filled his mouth was. Pushing himself up from the ground and shaking his head from the sand that had been in his hair floated down across his vision. More sand doing so when he began spitting to get the sand out of his mouth.
Growling at the abominable sand that now clung to him, he looked up at the dispassionate eyes of Theodore Crew. His sword drawn while a few feet from Jaune and looking down at him. Not in a condescending way but literally just looking down at Jaune. Taking a few steps forwards the man held out a hand to Jaune who took the offered hand before being hoisted up by Crew.
Once he was up Crew gave Jaune a small smile and patted his shoulders. Jaune returned the smile as each turned from each other and took a few paces before once again facing each other. With them squared off Crew gave a small nod before Jaune exploded into motion. Shooting forward with his sword held in one hand and sheath held in the other.
The two had been sparring for some time now as the sun was beginning to come down but neither were fatigued. Even after the long weeks they had been together with the end of the month close, neither found themselves beginning to tire. The old one enjoyed teaching someone one on one again while the younger enjoyed the fight and the teaching he was receiving. Even if now knew the different tastes of sand now.
Throughout the time Jaune never once showing off his shield to the man. Not because he thought Crew would be a threat in the future but to have trump card towards the end of their time together. The other reason behind this being that Crew always went through their spars in three stages. Each stage increasing in difficulty and with each subsequent spar as Jaune improved.
Exchanging blows as the first stage ended along with the quick and fast strikes from Crew which forced Jaune to block the flurry Crew disengaged before entering the second stage. This stage consisting of heavy-handed blows that Jaune was forced to either dodge or deflect. Being far too strong for him to even have a hope of properly blocking.
The force of each attack even as he deflected and dodged forced Jaune on the backfoot. Forcing him to become agile and take any opportunity he could to get inside Theodore's guard. An accomplishment easier said than done as even in a spar Theodore allowed nothing easy for Jaune. Making him adapt, play dirty, use his clothes to blind Theodore, hide his weapons before a strike with his body and movements. Anything and everything were used as he forced Jaune fight him with every dirty trick he had.
Kicking downwards Jaune's foot kicked up a cloud of sand in between the two of them as their swords were locked. Disengaging from the sword lock, he dropped to a knee. Spinning as he did so. Blindy swiping with his sheathe as he grabbed some with his sword laden hand and sprung back up. His head poking just above the sand cloud as he swung his sword. Releasing the sand he had picked up in the same motion. Crew's eyes widening at the action before putting his sword in the way of Jaune's as he kept his eyes open.
The sand from Jaune's hand splashing against and into Theodore's eyes. Almost completely blinding him as his eyes instantly became bloodshot but he kept his eyes on Jaune's sword. For the first time since they began their training activating his semblance, more out of instinct than anything else. Regardless activating his semblance allowed him to adjust his block as Jaune switched direction with his attack as he diverted the strike from the man's side to his legs.
Blocking the attack, he violently pulled the sword upwards with his own. Raising his sword after diverting Jaune's he made to bring the sword down on his head. Jaune raising his sheath in response to Crew's attack. The man sighing internally as he believed his attack would break right through Jaune's guard but brought the sword down regardless.
Never expecting the sheath to expand at the last moment with enough violence and force to ping his sword back upwards leaving him completely open. His eyes widening as he saw the symbol on the shield and the implications behind it. Never seeing the pommel of Jaune's sword landing across his temple forcing him to stumble backwards.
Seeing this as his best chance he was ever going to get on the man Jaune pressed the attack. Using his shield just as much offensively with the pointed edges as he did defensively. Even with all the momentum on his side however, he couldn't bridge the gap in true skill between the two of them. Especially once Theodore entered the third stage for the spar, combining the first two stages into the last one.
The end result being Jaune on his back with Theodore's sword under his chin. Theodore sporting a shining and swelling eye already as Jaune breathed hard on the ground. Pulling the sword away Theodore gave a big smile to Jaune before outstretching his hand to him. Taking the hand Jaune was pulled up and they walked over to the oasis only a 100 or so feet from them. Each of them grabbing some water that they had brought along with small dried rations.
"Where'd you get that shield?" Theodore asked as he took a sip of his water. Jaune's eyes darting to the sheathe no slung on his belt.
"Aedon gave it to me before we went our separate ways," Theodore hummed at the information and contemplated telling Jaune what the symbol meant. Both for Jaune himself, his future, and the kids' family. He decided against telling him however as he owed Jaune nothing now. The training he was giving him more than enough to pay off his debt to Jaune. Though he decided to not let him know nothing.
"Jaune, never show your shield to anyone unless you either trust them implicitly or plan on killing them. Having that in your back pocket to throw off an opponent will save your life in the future," Jaune narrowed his eyes minutely on the man. His instincts telling him that the man was hiding something from him but chose not to pursue. He didn't know what the cost be after all.
"That's enough for today though. Tomorrow will be our last day together," he got a nod from Jaune before continuing. "I'm going to spend the whole day going over Aura Manipulation with you. How to push Aura through your weapons specifically."
"You can do that?" Jaune only thought that you could push Aura through your body, not your weapons. Though, to him, the process did make sense as if you could do one, you should be able to do the other.
"The process is a lot harder as you have to push the Aura out of your body and into something else. The concept is mostly the same but there are other intricacies we'll cover tomorrow."
Jaune nodded his head finishing his ration and water in silence. When he was done Theodore was finished as well and both ran back to the town they had been staying in. Going their separate ways the moment they entered with Theodore heading to the bar and Jaune straight to his hotel room; already paid for by Theodore.
Closing the door behind him Jaune undressed before taking a quick shower. A little extra time in said shower to make sure all the sand was gone. When done he sat on his bed in his underwear looking at the symbol on his unfurled shield. Examining the two golden crescents on the white shield inquisitive. He wasn't well versed in history. Never actually getting a formal education but if Theodore recognized the symbol, they had to mean something.
More than likely involving an important family somewhere. Stretching his memory, he remembered that even Aedon seemed surprised when the shield expanded for him. The question that burned in Jaune's mind though was 'why'?" Why was this simple symbol so surprising and important to two of the strongest hunters in the world.
A question that boiled down to something that was becoming increasingly frustrating to him. He was, quite simply, lacking enough information to make a solid guess for the question in front of him. Made all the worse because he had both Theodore and Aedon hadn't told him the meaning behind the symbol on his shield. A fact that had to mean it was important enough to keep hidden from him so others can't know. Guess he'd just have to figure this out on his own.
While going to a library was certainly an option for him there wasn't one in the town. With the closest town being one being smaller than the current one he was in. He reasonably had no idea where in Vacuo, a place not renowned for its literature, where to find a decent library besides the capital city. Not exactly a place that he wanted to go but at this point if he wanted answers going there was his only option.
Mostly for the fact the city was closer than trekking back across the desert to Karachi. An endeavor that held far more problems than he was willing to admit. While going to the main city of Vacuo would only take three days by foot, four if he took his time. From there, if he was able to find decent work, he should be able to charter a flight to the coast and get a boat to Menagerie. With the money he still had from killing the bandits and the little he saved in Karachi that was best option he saw.
Still, getting to the capital and finding a decent library brought out the biggest problem. One born of his absolute lack of a formal education. Jaune read about as well a child barely out of the toddler years. If not for Aedon and his groups mild attempts to help teach him to read, he doubted he'd be able to read at all. After all, learning to read while in the frontier and parts of the grimm lands is an incredibly low priority. This past month with his scroll was the most he learned to read since then.
Sighing and shaking his head Jaune collapsed his shield and walked out of his room down to the bar. Ordering some food, he took the stew back to his room. Eating quietly before pulling out his scroll and beginning to read. One of the few stories that Lizzie had loaded onto his scroll before gifting him the scroll. A, in his opinion, nonsensical story about some place called the Ever After.
"Okay Jaune, tell me what you know about Aura manipulation," Theodore demanded of Jaune as they sat a few feet from each other on the edge of the oasis' water where they trained. The sun shining off the water of the oasis as it rose in the air.
"It's about pushing Aura through certain parts of your body. Usually to increase the power of a strike or reinforce a particular part of your body that's about to be hit. Always at the cost of taking away protection from other areas of your body. That or actual usage of your aura," when Jaune finished Theodore was nodding his head.
"Good. You got the main gist," Theodore pulled out his sword and held the hilt in his hand with the blade pointed upwards. "Like I told you yesterday though there is more to Aura manipulation. I can imbue Aura into my sword and many others can as well. The process is hard to grasp. Costly to your aura, and disastrous if done wrong. However, doing so successfully will grant you something that can be incredibly deadly."
"How hard are we talking here sir?"
"Hard enough that there is no way in all the hells that I will let you attempt it today. Quite frankly, if we had spent the whole month, on this I still wouldn't have let you attempt this," Theodore's sword then began to glow a low humming blue. The color of Theodore's aura. Even a few feet from the sword Jaune could feel the power the sword and Aura now held.
"So, I'm assuming then if done wrong would result in death?"
"Most definitely. I will be giving you some readings for your scroll to work yourself up to being able to do this. Those readings being notes from both myself and Aedon but do not rush this Jaune. This took me half a year working with Aedon to even be able to push my Aura into a knife both safely and without passing out due to Aura exhaustion."
"The bigger the weapon the harder the process then?" Theodore nodded his head at Jaune's question. "Is it possible to push Aura outside your body then?"
"Yes but it's even harder than pushing your Aura through a weapon and far more prone to killing you. Pushing Aura through your weapons is extremely costly to your Aura which is why so few people even attempt this. You need big if not massive reserves to pull this off without death. That's not even touching the fact that Aura outside of your body is even harder on your reserves and incredibly volatile outside of your body."
Theodore held up a finger and a small blue flame appeared at the tip of his finger. To prove a point Theodore pointed to the side, away from the oasis, and shot the small flame of aura. When the flame landed around 50 feet from them and went off like a grenade. The resulting boom having Jaune widen his eyes in surprise.
"How long did that take you to do safely?" Jaune asked. The possible applications of using his Aura like that running through his mind at a fast pace. That was just as a flame, what if you made Aura spin in your hand, point it like a knife, flow like water. The possibilities were endless but as he had just seen volatile and deadly if done wrong.
"Years. I learned the process was possible when I was 24 and didn't pull it off for almost six years. Even then it almost cost me my arm and life. Took me another two years to actually do it safely," Jaune's eyes were wide at the implication Theodore taking eight years to do something like this safely. Jaune had a long way to go before even considering attempting that.
"Do you know anyone else who can do that?" Jaune asked gesturing in the direction Theodore had sent his aura.
"Aedon and Peter Port. If anyone else has accomplished that in recent years I wouldn't know but those two are the only ones beside myself I know able to do so," Jaune recognized Peter's name from both Kal telling him the name over two months ago and the hunter registry he had checked a week ago. The man having been recently demoted to SS status instead of SSS as he had adopted a semi-retired status. Automatically lowering him a level.
"Enough questions for now. Let's begin this," Theodore continued.
They did indeed spend the whole day discussing the theory of pushing Aura through their weapons. Only taking a break for their lunch in the town before heading back to the small oasis. The whole process and the theory behind the whole process was completely fascinating to Jaune. He couldn't wait to be able to try but his more rational side did win out telling him he was nowhere near ready to try. Even recognizing that though didn't stop him from coming up with certain attacks and gameplans once he was able.
He even had a few rudimentary plans for when he figured out how to push Aura outside of his body. Again, he knew the plans were far in the future from being used but that didn't stop him from making them. The possibilities were too numerous not to have at least some ideas on what he would be able to do with all that power.
Even the possibilities for the types of attacks he could perform with his Aura were running around in his head. The possibilities were nigh endless only stopping when his imagination stopped. Or even through his sword, would he be able to push Aura out of his sword, ax or knife? Push Aura into his bullets? So many possibilities he would need to experiment with in the future. Taking notes of all the thoughts he had during their lunch break onto his scroll for future use.
After their lunch break the theory that Theodore talked about was still there but he was more hands on. Showing multiple ways to push his Aura through his sword and what proper application of said Aura could do in certain situations. Everything from cutting a tree simply by touching said tree with an Aura infused sword to stabbing an Aura infused sword into the ground completely disrupting the ground around them for ten feet. The possibilities became far more endless after getting some actual examples. Even more curious to what would happen if he put dust into the equation. A question he had to ask.
"What about dust? Could dust be used in conjunction with your Aura in these situations?" he asked after Theodore had just finished showing the result of piercing the ground with an Aura infused sword. The man in question stopping dead before his eyes shot to Jaune.
"It can be but I'll let it be said that I could not do so. Neither could Port or Aedon on their lonesome. Aura and Dust on their own are volatile enough but combined even more so. Especially if you are focused on pushing your Aura through your weapon. If you wish to used Dust with Aura attacks I can only say have someone else wield the Dust. Pushing Aura through it will make the Dust explode. Doing so while using an Aura technique could be disastrous."
"Have you ever tried?" Theodore shook his head.
"Can't say that I have but it takes concentration to push Aura through your weapons or outwards. Pushing Aura through Dust at the same time would take a special kind of mind able to focus on multiple things of high class at once. Even then the attempt would be dangerous. Not to mention actually applying it to combat. Better to have a partner," Theodore finished and got back to showing the and talking about the certain abilities of Aura infused weapons.
That still did not stop Jaune from taking a few notes on combining Aura and Dust. With the warning from Theodore he regulated the ideas to the far backburner but still kept them around. Simply for the fact that if he was able to get this to work the damage he could do would be insane. With enough Dust and some decent planning he could take on a horde the size of the one that had destroyed his home by himself. Well, that's one of his plans outline at least and with the plan he honestly didn't know if he would survive. That depended on his Aura levels at the time of implementing the plan.
As a side not taking notes on what Theodore has told him over the past month had helped him get better at reading. Writing as well but not so much as he was doing so on a screen and not with pen and paper. Regardless it was helping him but he still wasn't the best. The many misspelled words his scroll would either correct or just underline in red being glaring evidence of that. Still, he was improving even if the process was as slow as a snail.
"Do you have any more questions before we depart from each other?" Theodore asked as the two of them walked back to the town. The day being over as the sun was barely showing over the edge of the world. Theodore would be departing for parts unknown after this though probably back to his school. Jaune, more than likely following to the capital.
"Just one," Theodore gestured for Jaune to go on with his hand. "What about taking Aura from someone or pushing Aura into them?" Theodore sucking in a breath at Jaune's question but not loud enough for Jaune to notice as he quickly recomposed himself.
"As for pushing Aura into someone I've heard that is how some healing semblances work but have never seen those in the act to say anything on them. As for physically taking Aura from someone I've never heard that the act was possible. The implications of doing something like that are not ones I particularly want to think about to be honest."
"Why?" Jaune couldn't help himself from asking.
"Aura is the manifestation of the soul Jaune… Taking Aura from someone would be the same as taking their soul away from them. Then there's what would happen to you after you took their soul. Would you take some of their attributes, get a stronger Aura, or would they be damned in the afterlife? Far too much that we just don't know and that's not even taking account that no one knows how to do so," his lie passing through Jaune's eyes with ease.
"Oh, okay," Jaune was a bit dejected as some of his possible plans were thrown out the window. Well, not thrown out the window but pushed as far back as they could possibly go. They were still eventual options once he reached that stage. Who knew his mind seemed to ask, maybe he could even take the residual Aura from the world around him if was good enough.
Though the thought of absorbing all the wildlife in the area made him shudder. If it was between him and them, he would do so without a thought but there were hundreds of 'what ifs' with that. Theodore's words on the possibility of absorbing pieces of their soul, the thought made him shudder. A rabbit's natural libido and a snake's poisonous nature coming to mind immediately.
That was the end of their conversation however and going back to the town they stayed for the night. Neither speaking any further on anything as they each went their separate ways for the night. The next morning found Jaune waking up far before dawn. A nagging at his instincts as he got dressed in his armor and walked out of the inn.
Going to the walls of the town he looked out and saw almost nothing to catch his attention. What did catch his attention though was far off in the distance. A massive wall of sand was travelling through the air towards the town. Another sandstorm but that wouldn't be his problem as he had enough money to buy a ticket to the capital. Hoping that Theodore's ride would be willing to take him as well if he paid for a ticket.
Leaving his place on the wall he went back to the Inn. When he got there, he saw Theodore talking into his scroll with obvious frustration and instantly knew what was going on. Pencil pushers were saying that the storm was too close for a bullhead to come and pick Theodore up. Even with the distance from the capital if a bullhead left now, or hours ago as they should've, they'd still have enough time to get here for a pickup and leave. With enough gas to make it back or at least get close enough that gas isn't much of a problem. Bullheads have been known to refuel other bullheads while in the air.
"Storm calling off your exfil?" Jaune asked as he walked up to the man.
"Yes," was Theodore's curt reply.
"Meal at the Inn. My treat," Theodore sighed before nodding his head. They walked for a few paces before Jaune stopped and asked. "Does this count as you owing me per Vacuo customs?"
"If you're looking for repayment in the form of a meal later it would," Theodore ground out as cast a side eye at Jaune.
"How about a ticket on a bullhead," that got Theodore to stop as he looked back at Jaune.
"You looking to go to the Capital then I assume?" all he got was a nod from Jaune. "That'll work."
Theodore was somewhat pleased that Jaune was beginning to grasp Vacuoan concepts as well as he was. Though the young man had a long way to go in Theodore's eyes. If Jaune hadn't used his small favor for a ticket Theodore would've been obligated to treat Jaune to a meal. A meal in which he would have picked anything at any place in the world as long as Theodore was present. A lesson that he was going to teach Jaune the moment they got to the Inn.
"I'll take the stew, large please. Two loaves of bread, some fried and salted desert snails, and your best wine. Thank you," the bartender at the Inn took one look at Theodore before looking to Jaune. A Jaune who's eyes were narrowed in anger at Theodore at what had happened. Before laughing heartily, taking a full two minutes of laughing before he composed himself.
"An wha you having yung man," the man spoke in mildly broken speech. His few missing teeth making his speech different than most in the country.
"Water and half a loaf of bread," Jaune ground out earning a few more chuckles, this time from both Theodore and the bartender. When the bartender went to fulfill their orders Jaune turned his head sharply to Theodore. "I will get you back for that."
"Good luck Jaune. I once said that we make a Vacuoan out of you but you have a long way to go," Theodore chuckled before grabbing his wine that had just been set in front of him and took a drink.
"No refills," Jaune ground out. Theodore held his hands up in surrender but couldn't hid his chuckle.
Aedon was lounging around Glynda's house in relaxation. He had spent the last couple days helping around the town mostly because he was bored. He didn't want to go on any missions at the moment in case Glynda came back for a surprise visit but couldn't stay inactive. His whole mindset just wouldn't allow that.
From literally mowing lawns to delivering some food from certain places to houses. Aedon did literally everything that was handed to him and was giving him a reputation around the town. The civilians always gave him smiles and thankful looks whenever he did anything. The lower ranked hunters did the same but the higher ranked ones held him at arms length.
There were only two S ranked hunters in the town and a singular SS ranked hunter. Each of them kept him at arms lengths as they knew of his reputation if not the man himself. Aedon was known as a complete enigma to everyone in the Hunter trade once they reached the S rank. Those below them had no idea about the man as he was both a hidden and open secret upon the Hunter community. One gate kept by the S class rank.
Even with that being true no one besides an incredibly select few knew the truth about Aedon. Most of them being dead and forgotten and those who weren't lived in legends. Those that didn't belong to either of those categories belonged to three people. All three now knowing the full story.
Aedon got up from his spot on the couch watching a mystery movie Glynda had to make himself a sandwich. Mystery movies weren't Aedon's favorite but did enjoy them from time to time preferring comedy's but Glynda loved mystery movies. As he was finishing up making his sandwich there was a knock on the door. Not deigning to say anything he spent another minute finishing his sandwich before he went to the door. Another knock occurring as he was just a mere few feet from the door. Opening the door, he was greeted to the thick stench of alcohol, unwashed clothes, a haphazard beard, disheveled black hair all belonging to one man. A man with a drunken sway as he stood. Where most others would've slammed the door in face or asked if he was lost. Aedon just narrowed his eyes at Qrow.
"Qrow," Aedon spoke taking a bite out of his sandwich. Qrow may have been an SSS ranked hunter and only one rank below Glynda but to fight Aedon would cause far too much damage for Qrow to risk anything in a town. He'd have done so outside of the town which meant he was here to talk and not fight; at least that's what Aedon believed.
Though even with his drunken sway Aedon could see his free hand twitching near his weapons handle. Qrow's glassy drunken eyes disappearing as he zeroed in on Aedon even as he kept the sway and his slightly hunched form. A disarming act as he raised his flask to Aedon and gave a lopsided smile. All an act to make someone lower their guard.
"Aedon," the man spoke as he took a swig from his trusty flask; his eyes never once leaving Aedon. He tried to put the flask back to his pouch before Aedon snagged the flask from his hand and took a swig himself before handing said flask back.
"What can I do for you?" Aedon asked as he already had a mild idea. Qrow wouldn't have shown up to Glynda's house if he didn't know they were together. Even if Aedon was under the guise that he was looking over the house as she was gone. Very few people in the world beyond SS class would've bought that excuse but Glynda was the only SSS ranked hunter in 400 square miles. Reaching all the way to Patch.
"May I," the man was unusually polite for what Aedon knew of the man but did step aside for the man to step inside. As Qrow went to one of the chairs in the room Aedon went to take another bite of his sandwich. Only for both the ham and turkey in his sandwich fall out and onto the ground. Putting ham, turkey, and mustard on the ground.
"You're cleaning that up," Aedon stated with clear annoyance in his voice as he knew full well what Qrow's semblance was. The man in question nodded his head before getting up and going to kitchen and grabbing the paper towels and picking up the mess on the floor. Aedon taking the time to savor the bread and tomatoes he still held in his hand.
"You know I ain't your maid," Qrow shot at him as he cleaned up the food on the ground.
"And yet you're cleaning. Which is your mistake and don't try and deny it," Qrow shrugged his shoulders as he finished picking up the food on the ground. "Ya know why I'm here don'cha. Not every day you make a move on the living. Let alone on anyone in Oz's inner circle."
"Fuck you for saying I'm a necrophiliac Q-"
"I don't know what that means."
"I know Qrow which is why I said it so shut up. You never were good at anything beyond following orders," Aedon allowed a small smile as he looked at Qrow.
"I grew up in a bandit tribe. Following order isn't exactly what I do," the man said smugly as he took a drink from his flask.
"And yet you gave that all up to follow the orders of an old, deluded, and nonsensical o-"
"I don't know what that means!" Qrow almost shouted which elicited another sigh from Aedon.
"I know Qrow… which is why I said the word you imbecile… Why don't we try and be serious. It'll take us a lot shorter time to get through this and actually to what we want to talk about," Qrow took a couple seconds to answer but eventually did by nodding his head.
"Let's cut to the chase then as you said," Qrow stated as he fished out his flask and took another drink suddenly getting deathly serious as his eyes hardened on Aedon. "Glynda."
"Yes," Aedon's eyes narrowed on Qrow as he rested his hands on the hilt of his weapon. Qrow feeling the tension rise between the two of them.
"I'm surprised she came back to you. Or that she would even consider you worth her time," Qrow snarked at the man eliciting a nod from the man.
"I was the one to come back and now she knows everything… All my misdeeds, mistakes, triumphs, failures, successes… everything," a heavy silence fell between the two men. A fight that neither wanted brewing in the tension between them. Qrow because he knew he was outmatched in almost every category and Aedon because Qrow's semblance was far too powerful to truly fight against. Their fight would end with the result of a flip a coin because of Qrow's semblance and Aedon's higher abilities. After all, you can never account for Bad Luck no matter how powerful you are.
"Everything? Seriously?" Qrow couldn't help but ask surprised at what Aedon had said. No one had ever been told everything about Aedon according to Ozpin. Glynda was a veritable gold mine in his head now. The moment that thought crossed his mind through Aedon zeroed in on him. With a stare that seemingly pierced through Qrow's soul.
"Everything Qrow. Everything about me and everything about Oz and Salem. Every dirty secret I know, every act I perpetrated, every act Oz allowed to happen or facilitated, all of Salem's dirty tricks she's pulled, and all three of our full histories. I would suggest you think long and hard about whether or not you want to know all that as well," Qrow was dead silent as he took in Aedon's words.
"Well shit, you actually care for her," Qrow said as he slumped in his seat, arms going limp as they hung over the arms of the chair. Recovering from his shock moments later by taking a good gulp of his flask.
"I made a mistake last time. Let my fear get the better of me. Not again," Aedon stated before reaching out his hand to Qrow making a grabbing motion. Qrow obliged and tossed him his flask, Aedon taking a sip before tossing it back to the man.
"But really, everything?" Qrow's voice was still a bit hollow
"She doesn't know my semblance. That was the only thing I didn't tell her and agreed to not know it."
"Thought ya said you told her everything. That's not everything," his protest was weak between them and both knew it.
"The people who get to know my semblance have never lived past two minutes after finding out and is currently the only thing keeping both Salem and Oz from wasting resources on attacking me," the 'and those I love' went unsaid between them.
"I gotcha old man," Qrow snarked as he raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I won't pry."
"Goodye Qrow," Aedon answered staring at Qrow and the man got the message. He was no longer welcome.
And that was that between the two. Qrow quickly left the house intent on getting to Ozpin. Whatever Aedon told Glynda Qrow didn't care but Ozpin needed to know what was going on. He told himself he should've gone a week ago when he first saw them but he needed to confirm. That they actually were back together and not just a one off thing.
Now, he just hoped Ozpin would have an idea on how to confront Glynda about this. He needed a drink… a stop at the liquor store to top off his flask was needed. Maybe get some extra to stock up on.
"Nicholas," he knew that voice and the person it belonged to as they stepped out from behind the tree in front of him as he walked. His sword instantly in hand as he looked at Raven Branwen. He didn't fancy his chances here in the forest but if he could force the fight into open ground, he had a good chance at winning. At least in his mind that is; he might not be what he once was over a decade ago but knew how Raven fought and her semblance. Plus, in terms of Aura pools his far outclassed hers.
"Hello Raven. What can I do for you?"
"Why are you in my territory?" she got a snort from Nicholas.
"Not for you if you're wondering. I'm looking for my son. From what I know, he passed through here a few months ago," he got a raised eyebrow from the woman at his words but he saw in her eyes realization light up before being ruthlessly put down. It was too late however as he saw the realization. "What do you know Raven?"
"About three months ago a kid came out of nowhere. Smart, resourceful, and fierce. Blond, blue eyes and now that I see you again looked like a mini you. Even managed to kill one of my men before leaving."
"Do you know where he is?" Nicholas' eyes narrowed at Raven. Not liking where she was going with her words. He did not like the possibility of Raven knowing things about his son and if he killed one of her men, he wouldn't put it past her forcefully recruiting Jaune.
"He left my territory heading for Karachi. Beyond that I don't know," Nicholas recognized the name of the town she said. Right on the border of Vacuo and Mistral and the home to one of Aedon's group. He'll head there.
"Thank you for the information, Raven. You were a lot more cooperative than I ever expected you to be," she narrowed her eyes at his backhanded compliment but said nothing before slicing the air to the left creating a portal and stepping through leaving Nicholas alone.
"Bitch… At least I have a heading now."
Kinda starting to get into the meat of everything but we ain't there yet. Hope y'all have enjoyed the story so far.