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Chapter 16 A Want of Wishes
The cool soft air of the Hunter's Dream caressed his thankfully clean hair as he appeared upon the cobbled path. He took a moment to breathe in the clear air and let his senses rejoice at its stark contrast to the atmosphere of the damnable sewer. He stood there, breathing, uncaring for his appearance as it was pleasant to immerse himself in peace, if only for a few moments.
But moments pass.
With a sigh, he rolled his shoulders and strode towards his preferred company within the Dream. He paused at a respectable but close distance, giving the Doll a polite bow. He received one, in turn, the Doll's pristine features regarding him with the usual courtesy and acknowledgment she always did.
"Welcome home, good Hunter. What is it you desire?" she greeted gently, rising back up and forcing Jaune to look up to meet her eye.
"Greetings Doll, I have returned seeking guidance, my hunt has been… difficult, and I seek aid in how best to move forward." Jaune's response was earnest if unpleasant to give. He had no desire to appear incapable, but things needed to change.
After numerous deaths from simply making his way to the Great Bridge, only to suffer several more trying to beat the monstrous Cleric Beast, he was all too sure that he had improved. But despite his accomplishments, despite the strength bestowed upon him via the Blood Echoes and his burgeoning talent as a Hunter, he still perished over and over again.
His last saw him bleed out in waters befouled by all manner of fetid sludge and rot that he felt enter his body through his mangled corpse. But, in truth, it wasn't even a death worthy of note and in a way, that made it worse. Another tally added to the pages, another haunting memory, another forgotten life.
Ignorant of Jaune's internal reflection, the Doll seemed to give some thought to Jaune's inquiry, her head tilting as she looked him over for a moment. When she spoke, it was with a query, "did you speak with Gehrman?"
"Gehrman? No, I did not; I barely even see the ol- *ahem*… I rarely encounter Gehrman. And besides, his idea of aid is merely him barking at me to resume the hunt, not the most helpful advice." Jaune explained, catching his frustration at the last moment to not put on a poor showing in front of the Doll.
The Doll blinked at his response, her head turning to look back at the dream's sole building before she spoke again. "He was a Hunter long, long ago."
Jaune was flabbergasted by this; the old man did not give one the impression of a Hunter, let alone one who was proficient in any way. In truth, Jaune thought very little of the man, his general mannerisms, and their first encounter painting the wheelchair-bound man in a poor light.
Since their first meeting, Jaune had thought the man was some craven pervert for his comments on the Doll. Comments that now seemed even fouler given the Doll's consciousness and kind demeanour. "Truly?" Jaune questioned, struggling to digest the idea.
The Doll's head bobbed in confirmation, "but now he serves only to advise them. He is obscure, unseen in the dreaming world. Still, he stays here, in this dream. Such is his purpose."
Jaune had come seeking advice, and the Doll was all too forthcoming with her suggestion, which left Jaune with an inconsequential sour disposition. Although indeed her words did have merit, the rude old man did proclaim himself 'friend' and the Hunter's Helper.
His… 'gruff' personality aside.
"I see… thank you. I will make good on your wisdom and pursue Gehrman for the answers I seek," Jaune proclaimed, bowing his head to the Doll.
"Very well, good Hunter," the Doll nodded.
Jaune remembering how the Doll had looked towards the building headed inside the old structure, his head on a swivel to spot the dreary old man. But he was nowhere to be found; Jaune even poked his head out the other door, spotting no sign of the old man. Finally, with a frustrated grunt, Jaune threw his form into the wooden seat next to the door, jostling the kettle and cups on the table.
"Damnable helper, here I am! Come perform your duty!" Jaune groused, his frustrations again bleeding through. Then, with a sigh, he reached for the kettle, his fingers finding the container cool to the touch dashing his hopes for a warm brew. "… Naturally."
Letting his head rest on the table, he was forced to take stock of his situation. Truthfully he was appeased because he had a direction for his hunt, and only his ineptitude stalled him. But, on the other hand, he had not had much luck in the sewers and encountering new breeds of enemies had thrown him for a loop.
"Maddened animals, crazed Yharnos, diseased residents, monstrous beasts and even the abominable Cleric Beast… but now I am to fear corpses that spring to life as well as gargantuan rats. What the hell is going on?" Jaune asked, speaking into the wood of the table he sat at, his reflection stirring his thoughts to the mysterious stones in his pocket.
Pulling them out of his attire, he laid them on the table and unwrapped the cloth he had bound them in. The strange stones were of a most peculiar design. They were almost beautiful, but their origins made him hesitant to describe them as such. He had encountered the helical formations in two separate ways; the first was in areas painted in dried blood. The small shard seemed almost to be growing from the epicentre of such locations.
The other was within fallen corpses, where the structure grew from severe, most likely lethal, wounds.
Their shape and location of origin were indeed curious enough, but both paled when Jaune thought about how he started to notice them, how he had begun to be drawn to them as if his eyes could not help but take note of their presence. They seemed to have a pull that would not be denied. An attraction that was so akin to…
… To something else.
"I just wish I knew what you were," Jaune whispered, intently inspecting the beautiful, grim shards. Then, finally, his eye focused on the helical spiral that seemed so delicate, but he knew it was actually of sturdy make.
"They're Blood Stones."
"Bloody hell!" Jaune hollered, leaping from his seat, his weapon drawn as he readied himself to attack.
Spotting Gehrman did not make him lower his weapon.
With his heart thundering in his chest and a notable itch in his wrist demanding he unfurl his Saw Cleaver, Jaune could not help but bare his teeth at the stealthy old man. "I should brain you! Have you no thoughts in your skull, sneaking up on me like that!" Jaune condemned, getting no response from the old man's sagging, uncaring features.
"The shards are called Blood Stones; they form in Coldblood," Gehrman continued, uncaring for Jaune's threats.
"What?" Jaune hissed.
Gehrman gave a frustrated huff as he reached out with an old wrinkled hand and lifted one of the stone shards aloft. "After death, a substance in the Blood hardens… one of the results of this phenomenon is Blood Stone." Gehrman lectured, waving the small shard around as if to try and captivate the still-riled Jaune.
"… One of?" Jaune mumbled.
"Aye, the Stones are that which does not crystalise, but these little beauties are still quite the treasure… come over here," Gehrman uttered in his usual grumbling manner, grabbing the other shards before wheeling himself over with great effort to the workbench. Jaune followed cautiously behind his weapon, now at his side but still in his grip.
"Place your weapon on the bench Hunter," Gehrman ordered.
"It's Jaune, and why?"
"Hmm? Do you not recall what I said when we first met Hunter? This workshop is where Hunters enhance their weapons and flesh with blood. You have already strengthened your body. Now I will teach you how to do so to your arms." Gehrman groused, already pulling over to himself tools both mundane and, at best esoteric.
"Truly?" Jaune grunted, surprised by the older man's willingness to provide help, given his habit of being outright impossible to find or not talking.
Or asleep.
A hissing laughter slipped from betwixt Gehrman's smirking lips, "come now, we are friends. Now watch closely. A Hunter should know how to tend to their tools."
Jaune decided to keep silent after German's statement about their relationship instead of watching the process Gehrman performed to 'enhance' his Saw Cleaver. Despite not having a high opinion of the gruff old man's character, Jaune could speak no slights against the man's craft skills. Gehrman moved comfortably, making it appear as if his work was as simple and instinctual as breathing.
Truthfully a lot of what the old man did went right over Jaune's head, but he watched on all the same, trying to ingest as much as he could.
"Now… for the last part, you are already aware of the Blood Echoes, correct?" Gehrman enquired jovially, turning to Jaune.
"… I am," Jaune answered, taken aback for a moment by the older man's liveliness. His very visage seemed younger with the fresh enthusiasm present in his features.
"Good, then this next part shall make sense. Just as you would channel the echoes into the Doll, so must you do the same with your weapon. Invigorate the materials to fortify the Saw Cleaver with greater strength." Gehrman instructed, tapping one of his long bony fingers against the hinge of the Saw Cleaver.
Jaune gave the man a side-on look but did not stall, bringing his hand over the weapon and closing his eyes to pull upon the pool of gathered strength he could sense in his person. With his eyes closed, he had no idea whether or not it worked, but Gehrman's pleased grumble was enough to reassure him.
"Ahh, there… Its teeth ought to have a bit more bite now… go ahead… give it a swing, feel its new strength!" Gehrman encouraged the old man, almost seeming more alive as he wheeled himself back from the bench.
Jaune, eager to ensure that the old man's tampering hadn't upset his weapon, was quick to hold it aloft. He checked it over, unfurling and swinging it, and much to his amazement, he could feel something. Of course, it was absurd, but on some base, instinctual level, he knew this weapon was more robust, sharper, deadlier.
"Incredible…" Jaune mumbled.
"Haha, such are the talents of the Hunter's Workshop," Gehrman boasted, pleased with himself.
"How is this possible?" Jaune asked, utterly bewildered.
"Blood," was Gehrman's curt reply. "Now, as you have enhanced your weapon, you can return to the hunt, yes?" Gehrman pried, tapping his cane on the floor.
"… Yes, this was exactly what I was looking for… is there a tome in here that could provide me with further knowledge should I need to do this again and you are not present?" Jaune enquired, his eyes drifting to the many stacks of books about the workshop.
Gehrman's wrinkled face seemed to scrunch up momentarily, his silence dragging on as he remained still. Until he once more opened his eyes and jabbed his cane at a pile of books off to the right adjacent to the fireplace. "Near the top of the pile, green cover. That should get you started. However, I would advise you to gather more materials first to practice what it preaches." And with that, Gehrman wheeled himself off, away from Jaune and back out into the quiet of the dream.
Jaune noted Gehrman's advice and grabbed the book the man was talking about, finding it quickly and angling the cover so the fire light could illuminate its title. "Huh…' The Student's Introductory Manual to the Metallurgical Blood Arts. A Beginners Treatise on Practical Blood Alchemy.'… The title is a bit short?" Jaune sarcastically snarked.
Opening the book revealed that the first page was torn out and that the table of contents was also damaged, with a strip off the top of the page being torn out as well. Noting the damage, Jaune flicked on until he came across the first proper page of the book.
"Oh… that's a lot…" he uttered softly, noting the absolute bombardment of information on the first page. Hoping the book just came on strong, he flipped through a few more pages but found that the parts not coated in thick paragraphs were covered in diagrams that befuddled and confused.
"…Right… well, Gehrman suggested I get more materials before I practice," Jaune shrugged, closing the book and placing it atop the workbench. His eyes gave it one last hesitant glance as he dreaded the immense studying in his future.
Then he noticed some more damage to the book. The author's name was stricken as if someone had taken a blade and purposefully etched it out. Humming to himself, Jaune noted that it might be beneficial to look into the book later, but for now, the hunt beckoned.
Exiting the building, he descended the stairs towards the Awakening Headstones, his mind already filled with thoughts of his new objective to find more shards and locate a path out of central Yharnam and, more importantly, the horrid sewers.
"Good Hunter!"
Jaune was abruptly halted by the Doll's call, who sounded quite enthused by her standards. His head automatically whipped to the tiny, raised garden wall where she usually sat, but he found her absent. Instead, his eyes located her standing next to a curious sight indeed. It was like a bird bath, but it appeared to have far too much depth to be practical for any avian save, maybe a duck or some other waterfowl.
Curious to see what could cause the Doll to be so excitable, Jaune hurried over, noting that the Doll's gaze was locked onto the peculiar birdbath. As he got closer, he observed a familiar mist pooling out of the stone basin and familiar pale limbs reaching outward. By the time he came to stand before her, the 'Little Ones' were out in mass.
And they had items.
In their grasps were bottles, vials and even a small knife. The little ones groaned excitedly, brandishing their objects as if to show them off boldly. Jaune also noted that a few seemed to be eagerly looking about as if they were just excited to see the world. A pair were even gently caressing the hand of the Doll, their tiny fingers dragging along her own as they looked up at her gleefully.
It was… sweet.
"Ah, good Hunter, the little ones have a gift for you," the Doll excitedly announced, much to Jaune's surprise. Her voice was still gentle, but there was an energy to her that had Jaune smiling as he felt the tension leave his body.
"Oh, what is it?" Jaune asked warmly, getting caught up in his companion's enthusiasm. Jaune noted that the Doll had one of her hands behind her back, hidden beneath her warm-looking cloak, his surprise most likely concealed. His mind was already pondering what it could be, but his thoughts would not have long to contemplate.
Smoothly the Doll brought her arms out from behind her back and presented Jaune with a pile of folded clothes. Atop of which sat a very familiar-looking hat.
Jaune felt his eyes widen as he beheld the gift, his eyes noting the colour and make of the clothing and realising just what the Doll was presenting him with. "Wait, is that… no, how?" Jaune uttered, reaching out to prod at the clothes, his fingers finding the familiar feel of the heavy leathers and fabrics he had encountered in the sewer, those of the fallen Hunters attire.
"The little ones can serve in more ways than just delivering messages, and they are quite eager to please a Hunter such as yourself," the Doll explained, passing the folded clothes to Jaune.
"I-I see!" Jaune excitedly exclaimed, beaming at the Doll before he turned to the Messengers in the bath. "Thank you very much, little ones. This is a gracious gift!" The small, excited groans and exuberant waves let Jaune know his message was well received.
Even the Doll seemed caught up in things, clapping her hands politely, her head tilted ever so askew. It was, in fact, a very charming sight.
With all the celebrations going on, Jaune found his eyes drifting to the Blood Vial one of the little ones held. His stocks were diminished entirely, and having another for his journey back to the waking world would serve him well. Tucking the precious new clothes under his arm, Jaune found himself leaning forward, his eyes locked on the messenger holding the bottle, its singular visible eye widening at the attention.
"While I am very grateful for your gift, little ones, I find myself lacking Blood Vials presently… could I, perchance, ask you to part with that one there?" Jaune asked respectfully, not wanting to upset the little blue-tinged beings.
In response to his query, the Messengers began to groan in excitement once more, their hands held out in a peculiar… but somewhat familiar manner.
"They desire to trade with you, dear Hunter," the Doll explained.
"Trade? I do not have much in my possession at the moment…." Jaune worriedly admitted.
"Do not fret. The little ones are inhabitants of the dream; you can barter with the Echoes of Blood that you draw from the fallen," the Doll placated one of her hands, coming to pat one of the Messengers gently.
"Truly…" Jaune exclaimed quietly, deciding it was worth a shot and presenting his hand like he usually did with the Doll. In an instant, he felt a small portion of the potent potential power within be drawn out by the little ones who excitedly squirmed about before presenting the Blood Vial he desired.
"Such sweet little ones," the Doll seemed to coo.
"Ahh, my thanks, this will serve… me well," Jaune finished lamely as he beheld the cluster of little ones eagerly holding out Blood Vials. A soft chuckle from the Doll made him aware that his expression was most likely awash with surprise.
"The Little Ones are eager, are they not?" The Doll intoned, "I shall leave you all to conduct your business. Come find me if you have need of me, dear Hunter."
As the Doll departed, Jaune was struck with a sudden bout of inspiration, lowering himself down until he was at eye level with the cluster of excited Messengers Jaune spoke in a low voice brimming with devilish curiosity, "what else do you guys have to offer?"
In a flurry of mist and skinny reaching limbs, a bevy of other items were pulled from the bath below, some of such size that it required several Messengers to hold the items aloft. Jaune was left speechless.
…
"…Huh… now… isn't that something," Jaune admired, grinning in amazement.
YVYVYVYVY
"Jade… Jade, sweetie, it's time to get up," Hella whispered, rousing her daughter into the waking pre-dawn world. A groggy slurry of almost words slipped from the barely awake girl as she brought her head out from beneath her pillows, her eyes mere slits in the gloom of her room.
"Wa time his hit…" the girl slurred.
"Time to see your brother off," Hella informed, admiring how her daughter's face scrunched up cutely as her brain battled with confusion.
"Jaune… where go?" Jade rambled, blinking her eyes as she became increasingly awake by the second.
"Today is when your brother leaves for his camping trip, sweetheart. You girls all wanted to be awake to see him off, so quickly get up, get some shoes on, and head out to the yard with Saph," Hella instructed, turning on her daughter's bedside lamp now that she was awake enough.
"Oh… OH! Right!" Jade exploded into motion, dashing about to find her slippers before darting out to the yard, watching her mother enter Sky's room, no doubt waking her as well. Jade didn't waste any time bolting downstairs, noting that many lights were on and that the sky outside was still bleak as the sun had yet to breach the horizon.
"Over here, Jade," Saphron called out, the older Arc girl dressed and looking far more awake than she had any right to. Jade remembered then that Saph usually woke up relatively early as she had to for her club training.
Or she used to anyway.
"Morning, sis," Jade spoke as she fought a yawn. "What are you doing over here?" Jade asked, referring to how Saph was positioned at the base of the veranda stairs.
"Mum said to wait here so you guys would know where to stand," Saph answered with a shrug.
"Why?" Jade asked, confused by the strange command.
"No clue, but seeing how worked up mum is, I don't really wanna cause her more trouble, so if she says stand here well, my feet will remain planted." Saph explained, shrugging as she took a sip from a thermos Jade had just now noticed.
"Can I have a sip?" She asked, eyeing the beverage eagerly.
"No," Saph shot down immediately.
"Wha- Why not?" Jade pried her lips, frowning.
"Because it's coffee," Saph answered truthfully.
"I can handle coffee," Jade argued back petulantly.
"This is mum's coffee," Saph explained, her brow quirking as she held the thermos under Jade's nose, letting the young Arc smell the powerful stink of the caffeinated tar their mother drank.
"Eww!" Jade whined, moving her face away from the scent of 'wake the hell up' as their father called it.
"What's eww?" A very drowsy Scarlett enquired, walking out to meet her sisters while holding a half-asleep Sky's hand, all but guiding the girl whose eyes were still closed.
"Mum's wake-up juice," Saph answered.
"Nice! Gimme," Scarlett cheered, nicking the thermos and taking a massive swig of the stuff, winking at a horrified Saph as she did.
"How in the-"
"Let's just say when you can't sleep, coffee can become a horrible best friend, a real enabler," Scarlett chuckled.
"Must be if it encourages you to drink it when it's not yours…." Hella chimed in, walking out with the twins both awake and lively in her arms.
"You brought the twins?" Scarlett asked, tossing the thermos onto a chair on the veranda.
"They were already awake, so they might as well see their big brother off. Also, don't think I will forget you drinking my coffee." Hella warned, giving her eldest a very unimpressed look.
"Jaune!" Saph greeted loudly, dragging everyone's attention to the Veranda where Jaune stood, ready.
"Good morning," Jaune greeted warmly, walking down the stairs, his bare feet crunching in the grass as he walked over to the gathered woman and began hugging them all. When he reached his mother, instead of embracing her, he settled for presenting a kiss to both her and the twin's cheeks, snorting as the infants clung to his long hair as he tried to pull away.
"Umm, Jaune, buddy, bro of mine, ain'tcha a little underdressed for a long camping trip? Like, where are your bags and things?" Scarlett pointed out, drawing her sister's attention to the fact that Jaune was clothed very lightly.
"Ahh, it's part of the ritual," Jaune explained, waving off their concerns.
"Ritual?" More than one of the girls questioned allowed.
"They don't know?" Jaune asked, looking towards his mother, his expression confused.
"Not all the details, just that you will be out camping for a while," Hella supplied, shifting the very active twins in her arms. Then, just as the girls were about to say something, the back door opened again, and all were silenced by the sight of a very serious-looking Cloud.
The man wore trousers that might have been made of some kind of animal hide, but it was hard to tell as they were hidden beneath a long ceremonial coat. It was majestic. It was long even on his father descending to just above his heel. It was sleeveless, revealing their father's massive arms and was open on the front showing off his heavy-set torso, large bulging muscles concealed under thick scared flesh.
Jaune could see the fabric of the coat was dyed a deep blue that was in stark contrast to his father's blonde hair. It had a woven leather edge that ran around the whole item giving it a thick border that almost seemed to capture the fabric's colour. Along it were silver knot designs that crafted patterns along the thing dancing about and capturing the onlooker's gaze.
Finally though not part of his attire, was the paint that marked his skin; across his face, which was already unusually bearded, were bold blue lines that ran across his skin in bold straight lines and sharp 90-degree turns. They were also visible on his arms and exposed chest tracing along his body like blue mechanical-looking veins.
Also of note was what he held in his possession. In his right hand was Hallowed Hrunting, and in his left was a rolled-up bundle, sealed with thick leather straps and ornate buckles that he had tucked under his arm.
"Damn, Dad, cool digs. You gonna go raiding later or something?" Scarlett piped up, a cheeky grin on her face. Her father shot her a matching smirk and a wink before turning serious again, his eyes resting on his family.
"It's time," he announced, his voice commanding as he walked to the veranda's edge, his demeanour enforcing a silence over the family. "Girls, you are going to need to be quiet for this next part, all right, so no speaking until I say so," Cloud instructed, his voice stern but gentle as he stepped onto the grass, the dew of the morning clinging to the skin of his bare feet.
"Hella, you remember what to say?" Cloud asked, looking to his wife, who gave him a quick nod.
"Good… right, let's begin," Cloud whispered, shooting a furtive glance to the west.
YVYVYVYVY
"Jaune, son of clan Arc, step forward," Cloud ordered, slamming his weapon into the ground, the colossal blade sinking quickly into the soil.
Jaune taking a breath, walked forward, pausing only as he reached arm's length from his father, his eyes watching his sire with intense admiration. "Kneel, child," Cloud instructed, already taking a knee, the two Arc men sinking together.
Silence ruled in the early morning for a moment before Cloud moved again, carefully placing his mysterious rolled bundle on the lawn before him. "This day, you have chosen to undertake the rite of passage known as 'The First Quest' of your own volition. What say you?"
"Yes, chief," Jaune agreed, bowing.
"During this quest, you will be forced to survive by your own merit in the wilds of these lands. You will be challenged, you will suffer, and you may even die… knowing this, what say you?" Cloud asked, his voice harsh as he laid out the facts even as the rest of the family began to shuffle restlessly.
"I am ready," Jaune replied, mettle in his voice.
Upon hearing Jaune's confirmation, Cloud's bearded face shifted, his stern façade disappeared, and the man was overcome with purpose. He unrolled the bundle in a sweeping motion, revealing it to be a pack of some sort littered with materials.
On the four corners, he placed tiny used candles, the wicks spitting to life as they were ignited by Cloud grinding Fire Dust between his fingers. Next, he pulled out a small brass bowl and began to draw from the pouches of the pack powders and other substances, mixing them as he started to speak in the ancestral tongue of their family.
"We Arc do not take our name from a spirit, god or beast. We are not the first to grace our homeland's ice fields, nor are we those blessed with great destiny. No… Arcs draw their name from the very doors of heaven, we who enter under its colourful frame, through storm and calamity, to sail on clear seas. We are the fury after the tempest, those heralded by the thunder and the lightning. When all others fall, we stand. No matter the storm, WE RISE!" Cloud finished explosively, setting the contents of the pot alight, the fire exploding in a flash of rainbow sparks before settling into an orange flicker that Cloud quickly blew out.
"Wha-"
"Shh," Hella hissed quickly, silencing one of her daughters as she watched intently.
"I, Cloud Silver Arc, Head of Clan Arc, ask of you, child, who are you to take upon this trial?" Cloud spoke in Mæli, causing a few of the girls to fidget, confused by the foreign language.
"I, Jaune Adamant Arc, am the one who seeks the chance to prove his merit," Jaune replied, his eyes not leaving his fathers for even a moment.
"Do any come forth to grant you a boon?" Cloud asked the scripted question, his eyes darting to Hella, who stepped forward, recognising the particular phrase in her cue.
"I, Hellebore Arc, formerly Kutsuki, would grant my child a boon," Hellebore spoke slowly, making sure she pronounced the words correctly.
"Your name is heard, your desire felt, and you are not found wanting. You will have your chance, child of my clan," Cloud continued his Mæli flowing with rehearsed ease. With that said, Cloud again shifted his focus to the small bowl in his hands from which smoke drifted lazily. Then, with no warning, Cloud returned his arm to Hrunting and raked his wrist down the razor edge of the blades. Those who were unprepared gasped in shock at Cloud's swift actions but were again hushed by Hella.
His wound bled red swiftly, but just as quickly, the laceration began to seal and mend almost instantaneously, a faint glow flaring as his potent Aura worked its magic. Ignoring the startled gasps of their audience, he worked swiftly, the blood he shed going into the small bowl that he quickly stirred with his finger.
"Lean forward, child of my clan," Cloud ordered, holding out his finger coated in the purple paste. Jaune did so willingly that the mere idea of being shy around such a minuscule amount of blood not even coming to his mind. "With this, you are marked, tested, burdened with trial and tasked with adversity… So may you be challenged and overcome."
"I will," Jaune answered, his words technically off script but felt correct to say all the same. Then, as Cloud finished applying the paint to his son's face, the two men rose as one, and so did they relax as the ceremonious part finished.
"How do you feel?" Cloud asked in common, a hand resting on his son's shoulder.
"Ready," Jaune answered adamantly.
"Umm, can we talk now?" Scarlett asked, looking entirely out of her depth, only to be answered by a strict hush from her mother, who handed her and Saphron the twins. Then, with her arms free, Hella moved swiftly to her son, taking advantage of the fact that she was still taller than him to kiss his sunny hair.
"Sunshine… the laws of the rite state that a child may receive one boon from each parent. From your father, he has granted you the boon of apparel, the clothes on your back as well as a cloak and shoes to protect you from the elements," Hella spoke, moving to the Veranda where said items were waiting to be gifted.
Jaune turned slightly, paying his father a nod and a quick thankyou before again giving his mother the entirety of his attention. Hella smiled as she was, for a moment, reminded of just how different her son's eyes looked compared to his other siblings. All of them shared their fathers looks, a curious twist of nature, all of them blonde with blue eyes. But Jaunes were still somehow different; looking at them captured Hella and reminded her of the seas surrounding her homeland.
The blue of the sea at the edge of the horizon, ever distant and oh-so captivating.
As she handed her son the additional items, Hella let her hands rest on her son's wrists, holding her boy close. Then, with a calming breath, she did her best to speak steadily, "My son… my boy, you grow far too quickly… not fair."
With a demure smile, Jaune leaned into his mother and apologised so only she would hear, earning a shaking head from his mother. "Now, none of that… you sill child. My boon is unlike your father's; it is not something one can benefit from instantly… nor will it immediately alleviate your burdens."
Hella wandered over to the table, grabbing up a tiny paper bag from which a little green shoot could be seen to be growing. Then, marching over to her son, she pressed the gift to his chest, her hands running down his bare arms, the sleeveless top he was wearing, one she had bought for him herself. "In my homeland, bamboo has long been one of the most useful resources many had to hand. It is used as food, fuel, building material, clothes and even medicine…."
Cupping her son's cheek, careful not to smear the marks his father had carefully traced onto his flesh Hella pressed a kiss to his head. "This boon I give to you, my son, this particular species is rather infamous in Mistral, being amongst the fastest growing of all bamboo… take it, tend to it, nurture it and let it do the same to you."
Jaune embraced his mother, letting one hand hold her close while the other gently took the paper bag filled with soil from his mother. "Thank you, Mother. With this, my trial shall be hardly even a challenge. I may even return fat and lazy," Jaune joked, earning a smile from his mother.
As their embrace ended, Cloud spoke again, "the boons have been granted and accepted. May you find aid in their utility. Now a final act of ceremony, while not strictly necessary, I feel it would be a disservice to leave you uninformed about whom your Judge is to be." When Cloud spoke to his son, a curious Jaune picking up an undertone of something in his words.
'Bitterness perhaps?' Jaune contemplated.
"Oi, front and centre!" Cloud barked loudly. Jaune's primed ears heard a responding exert of effort before a figure landed a few metres from the gathered arcs.
Jaune's eyes immediately locked onto the weapons hanging from their hips, the two war picks dangling off a thick belt that held baggy camo pants aloft. Beneath that were heavy-set boots, scuffed and well-worn, her pants tucked into the stout, armoured footwear. Her midriff was exposed, revealing a pair of heavily defined abdominal muscles covered in a lattice of scars. The top she wore covered her chest and nothing more, the clothing extending over her breasts to hook around her neck, keeping her shoulders and arms exposed for all to see. What her top did not cover was also scarred, with traces of burns visible on patchy skin.
Her arms, also extremely muscular, were not spared either. Instead, her left arm seemed to have similar scars to the ones on her abdomen, while her right carried the claw marks more often seen on Huntsman. The Huntress was beaming, a mischief-riddled smile stretching from ear to ear under a button nose. Her eyes were blood red and filled with playful energy dancing amongst the gathered blondes and a wide-eyed Hella.
After a moment of silence, the newcomer spoke up, her voice dripping in a dangerously playful tone as she looked at Jaune intently. "So this must be the sisc- OOF!"
Whatever she was going to say was summarily cut off as Cloud planted his foot in her gut and sent the woman soaring into the tree line, his face flushed red as he bellowed, "I warned your Orr!"
"WORTH IT!"
Cloud gave a pitying sigh as he addressed Jaune, "best say your goodbyes. I need to go have a few words with your Judge."
"Yes, Father," Jaune agreed, turning to his family and stuffing his new bamboo shoot into his deep pocket before stepping up to his sisters. Scarlett, whether because she was the most awake or the most used to the strangeness of their family, spoke first.
"So… you wanna maybe fill us in on what all that was?" she asked, gently bouncing the twin in her arms.
"I have no idea. I know Ms Orr is a Huntsman like father, but-"
"Oh no, I know what that was about. I meant the face paint and the other language and stuff," Scarlett clarified.
"Oh, that was Dad humouring me. I wanted the rite to be as authentic as possible, so we decided to go through all the little intricacies," Jaune explained, gesturing to his face, pulling his new shoes on, happy to see they fit perfectly.
"Rite?... I thought you were just going camping," Saphron added, shifting her baby sister about as they tried to climb over her shoulder.
"No, I have decided to undertake an ancient rite of passage that has been in our family since we were still northerners. It is called the 'The First Quest' and was taken by our ancestors and many others to become full-fledged members of their respective tribes and clans." Jaune explained, reaching out to squeeze baby Lapis and Lazuli's little pudgy baby hands.
"Cool, so it's like what a family tradition or something for men or…."
"Nope, it's unisex," Jaune replied, still playing with his baby sisters.
"So why do you have to do it, but we didn't," Scarlett jumped in.
"Oh, I don't have to. I want to," Jaune calmly iterated, pacifying his sister.
"We'll all right then as long as your sure, baby bro," Scarlett shrugged. "So how long will you be out living it up caveman style? Or I guess Marauder style. A Week?"
"Three months," Jaune answered, stepping back from his youngest sisters, who cooed at him as he did so.
"Wh-what?" Jade spoke softly, expression horrified.
"That's so long!" Sky shouted, her eyes forming tears.
Jaune looked at these reactions and knelt before the two upset girls, "it will pass in a blur. You will not even notice I am gone between school and helping out with the twins like the big girls you are."
"Yes, we will!" Sky sobbed, throwing herself at her older brother and clinging to him as she buried her face in his ribs. Jade did the same but with only quiet sobs accompanying her, latching onto his person.
"They aren't exactly wrong little bro; that's a long time to be out camping. Are you sure it's safe? Are you taking any weapons, or I guess that's why Orr is going with you, huh." Saphron voiced, gesturing to the woman already up and joking with their flustered father despite being booted several yards.
"Do not worry for me, sister. If I need a weapon, I will make one. Also, with Ms Orr, I doubt any Grimm will get close to me… the real challenge will be getting food and shelter… oh, and water, but it is going to rain in a few days, so shelter first," Jaune spoke, squeezing his younger sisters before rising back up to his full towering height.
"Find… you don't have a tent…." Scarlett quietly uttered, realisation dawning on her.
"No I do not," Jaune confirmed.
Scarlett looked ready to object to this entire thing, but before she could get a word out, Saphron stepped forward, pulling Jaune into her side, letting her head rest on her younger brother's clavicle. "This sounds dangerous… please stay safe, brother," she requested, all while baby Lazuli did her best to tug on her brother's lips.
"I will return; you needn't worry, sister," Jaune comforted, his words slightly garbled by baby fingers.
"Of course, you will," Scarlett reinforced, smiling bravely and joining the impromptu group hug. "But do me a favour and don't grow, ok? I like being the tallest," Scarlett instructed, a mock glare on her face.
"I don't think I have any say on how my body grows, sister," Jaune shrugged.
"Jerk, I ask for one thing…." Scarlett teased, kissing her brother on the cheek, "fine, I will settle for no serious injuries. Stick to splinters."
"I will do my best," Jaune snorted, humour lacing his words. Before too long, He felt Jade and Sky hug him from behind, all the siblings embracing for what would be the last time for a while.
"Jaune," his father called out, drawing the boy's attention away from his sisters. His father was pointing towards the west, where the sun's golden rays were beginning to inject colour into the early morning sky. "It's time."
Jaune gave his father a nod and gave his siblings a final, lasting squeeze before pulling away, much to the girl's disappointment. "I love you all. Please take care of each other while I am gone," Jaune uttered, his eyes somewhat damp.
"We will," Saphron spoke, determination present in her words as she gave her brother a firm nod.
"We promise," Jade reaffirmed, the other girls nodding as well, except the twins, who were gurgling happily.
With a bittersweet smile, Jaune turned about wrapping his new cloak around his waist, pausing only to kiss his mother on the cheek, receiving one to the crown of his head in return, along with a heartfelt farewell.
Reaching his father and Orr, Jaune had set a look of determination and focus on his face, already eager to be on his way. He was ready. His father, however, was not, and before Jaune could so much as get out a 'hello', he found himself scooped up and crushed in a bear hug. "I know I have already said it a lot, but I am gonna miss ya, kiddo," Cloud grunted as he squeezed the life out of his son.
"I… Know… Dad…" Jaune got out as his father pushed his ribs in.
"Uhh, Arc, your kid is turning blue," Orr hurriedly interjected, poking the man rather rapidly in his side.
"Ah, he is fine, his mother treats him far rougher, and he hasn't broken yet," Cloud argued but released Jaune all the same.
Orr was forced to be silent at this, her mind reasoning it was probably best not to give her opinion on the matter while Hella was so close by. "Cool… so this is him…" Orr mumbled, changing the topic and giving her boss's son a once over, noting that he was definitely related to Cloud by appearance alone.
"Yep, it been a while since you last ran into each other, as I understand it," Cloud noted.
"Not true I remember her from the trial. She was at the back of the room who screamed obscenities and had to be asked to leave," Jaune pointed out.
Orr let out an audible gasp as her face lit up, "you remember me!"
"Oh yeah… I forgot about that," Cloud mumbled, shooting the shorter woman a scowl.
"Haha! This is gonna be great, so got any questions, or should we get on our way?" Orr enthusiastically enquired, slapping Jaune on the back in a comradely fashion.
"I have no questions, but I would like to thank you for agreeing to be my officiator for the ritual. This means a lot to me," Jaune said, giving the older woman a small smile.
"Nah, don't mention it. See, not only am I getting paid, but I get to hang out with the most badass kid in all of Reach. I can't wait to see if you are as awesome as everyone says," Orr enthused.
"Mmm, just remember the rules, Orr. Take care of him but don't help him," Cloud ordered.
"Psh, don't fret. I got this; you and the lovely Hella have nothing to worry about," Orr encouraged, her hands patting at her war picks.
"Hmm, right… I suppose it's time for you to head off then. Jaune… be smart, be safe, and come back, understood?" Cloud listed off, hunching over to look his son in the eye.
"Yes, Father, and thank you again for letting me do this," Jaune nodded, bumping into his father with his shoulder.
Cloud seemed to mull something over briefly before replying, "…you are welcome, and I hope you find what you are looking for, my son."
With his goodbyes said, Jaune, with only the clothes on his back and the Bamboo sprout in his pocket, left his home to head out into the wilds of Remnant.
YVYVYVYVY
Hella prowled up beside her husband. Her lover stared off into the woods behind their house, despite Jaune having long since stopped being visible. With a sigh, Hella slumped heavily into her man's side, knowing he could take it. She knew this would happen, "you were the one who green-lit this in the first place."
"I know," Cloud replied glumly.
"So why are you moping?" Hella teased, twisting about to look her towering husband in the eye.
Cloud, for his part, just slumped, not answering Hella as he tried to avoid eye contact with his victorious wife. But despite his efforts, he could practically feel Hella's stare piercing through the back of his head. "I don't want our hang-outs to stop to stop," Cloud admitted sourly.
Hella could not stop the whisp-like giggle that slipped from her lips, "aww, my poor baby… you know you can still spend time together when he returns, right?"
"But what if he doesn't want to, he is a teenager now. What if he becomes all reclusive and bipolar like other teenagers," Cloud complained, giving his wife a pitiful look.
Hearing that her husband was somewhat distressed, Hella reached out and pulled his scruffy face down to her level, gently kissing him.
"Gross!" One of their daughters hollered to accompanying giggles.
"Honey, he was already reclusive, and as for bipolar… well, somehow, I don't see that being an issue," Hella admitted letting her fingers scratch through her husband's beard. Factually Hella knew that Jaune might change thanks to the horrors of puberty, but at the same time, she couldn't see her mature little man changing that much.
"Mmm… you are handling this really well," Cloud observed.
"I am just that talented, but I will need some comforting later," Hella hinted, giving her husband another kiss, a little fierier than the last.
"Eww!" was shouted with more girlish laughter.
"I think our daughters believe themselves to be comedians," Hella muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Indeed, well, let's get them fed and out our hair," Cloud chuckled, walking towards the house, Hella hugging his arm as she strode alongside him.
"Hey, about the beard…." Hella suddenly commented, her eyes looking up towards her husband.
"Oh, you like it?" Cloud flirted.
"I do, but…." Hella continued drawing out the last word until they were with her two eldest children. Then, swiftly she retrieved the twins from them before again leaning into her husband's side and finishing her sentence. "I think you should shave it so I can have my favourite seat back."
Their reactions were perfect.
"Oh, gods, my ears!" Saphron shrieked, falling to her knees and clutching her head.
"Why would you say that in front of your children!" Scarlett bellowed, gagging.
"You guys are disgusting!" The two hollered in tandem.
Jade and Sky looked on, confused, not close enough or old enough to understand what Hella said. Meanwhile, Cloud and Hella walked back into their house, the laughter ringing out bold harmony to the tortured cries of their traumatised children.
But even with all the merriment, Hella found her smile fading as her thoughts turned to her son out in the wilds.
"Stay safe Jaune…"
YVYVYVYVY
As a settlement, Reach boasted the highest elevation in all of Vale, its position on the plateau granting it immersible defensive properties that had only been added to over the many years people had lived there. The downside of its greater elevation was the difficulty securing trade and travel, a significant issue in the days of old that kept Reach a relatively small settlement.
Back then, the primary way to access Reach was an old mountain trail that has long since fallen out of favour for more secure routes and air travel. Now caravans that desired entry into Reach utilised a combination of freight elevators and cargo cranes to enter Reach. It was slower, but the security it provided against both Grimm and bandits could not be denied.
But that was only the case for caravans that hauled large amounts of Cargo across the land. When smaller parties needed to enter and exit Reach, they used the Cages. The Cages were the name given to the robust mechanical lifts once used in the mine shafts that harvested Dust and ore about Reach and were repurposed as entry points.
Jaune stood before one such elevator with Orr, the old machinery built into the cliff wall, a beaconing entrance to the world outside Reach. In Jaune's opinion, it was very plain looking, steel bars running down a shoot to the Grimm-infested world below with a Cage constructed out of metal bars in the middle.
Reaching the caged elevator, Jaune turned to Orr, his unspoken question obvious to the Huntress, who marched over to a keypad. Without preamble, she leaned in, punched a large button and waited as the sound of static broke the quiet of the morning. Finally, after a brief moment, a voice came through, "This is the Huntsman Guild of Reach HQ. Please identify yourself."
"Oi, it's me; I'm heading out," Orr barked into the receiver.
"Do you have a name 'me'," the voice returned.
"Oh fuck you! You think I don't know your voice Shell; I posted that I would be leaving via this point over a week ago. Now open the fucking cage, or so help me, I will march back into town just to force-feed you your teeth!" Orr bellowed into the receiver.
"Lovely as always to hear from you, Orr; try not to die," the voice came back slathered in sarcasm.
"Jump up your own ass and die, Shell," Orr growled before taking her hand off the button.
In a proper showing of his personal growth, Jaune snarked, "friend of yours?"
A loud metallic clang was heard, signalling the cage was unlocked, allowing Orr to wrench it open. "Give a piece of shit some power, and they think they're fucking kings," Orr snapped, entering the elevator.
"He did not seem pleasant… I prefer Tami," Jaune commented, also entering the elevator.
"Yeah, me too… she has the cutest little ass," Orr noted, slamming and locking the door before putting in a key code and pressing down.
Jaune decided to enjoy the ride silently.
YVYVYVYVY
The trial rules dictated that the individual undertaking it must travel for at least two days. This ensured that said person was sufficiently far from civilisation to not impede the challenge. However, this was only the minimum; the one undertaking the ritual could choose to be nomadic for the entire duration as long as they did not come too close to an inhabited area.
So when the elevator reached the bottom, Jaune wasted no time stepping off, his eyes wide as he beheld the wilds of Remnant with genuine wonder. The lush forest before him was beautiful, the air down here was fresh, and already he could hear birds and insects, the ruckus or Reach left on the plateau above.
Even the forest behind his house felt lacking compared to this.
"Heh, many people wouldn't smile at seeing a Grimm-infested forest for the first time," Orr commented.
"I am an unusual person," Jaune replied.
"Is that so? Well, from here on out, buddy, you are flying solo. I will be nearby, but short of a Grimm or imminent death, I won't get involved, so if you are about to die, shout really, really loudly." Orr instructed, pulling out her Scroll and tapping a few things before she slid it back into a large pack attached to her belt.
"Yes, ma'am," Jaune accepted, eager to be on his way.
"Right… off we go then!" Orr cheered, using her enhanced speed to launch into the woods, effortlessly disappearing into the foliage.
Jaune, for his part, took off at a far more measured pace, his mind already running through the many things he needed to get done, one of his hands resting on the bamboo his mother had given him. He had a busy few months ahead of him, but despite that, he felt a rush of happiness threatens to overtake him.
"I… am an Arc," Jaune mumbled, letting himself disappear into the wilds, his sight set on the unmade road ahead as he began his undertaking.
He let his feet pick up speed, the undergrowth disappearing before the rapidly growing rhythm of his pounding feet. "I am Jaune Arc!"
He entered a mad dash, his blood beginning to stir in earnest, his heart drumming out a primal song of rushing energy and thrumming madness. "I am AWAKE!"
He was flying now, each step a lunge, the ground disappearing beneath his feet in a blur as he weaved about foliage and moved quickly in the wild woods he now traversed. Had he the ears for it, he would have heard the shocked exclamation of Orr as she promptly moved, easily keeping pace by the grace of her Huntsman abilities alone.
But his ears were too focused on the blood that sang in them, his breath consuming the untamed air in ravenous gulps, his muscles alive with power wrought by blood and an ecstatic madness. So, he spared his precious oxygen only to speak in the tongue of the city he so cursed and was forever cursed by.
He spoke in a hissing whisper, "Behold, a Hunter free of cursed dreams."
A.N.
Greetings.
I will keep it short.
Jaune is off into the wilds and will soon be forced to come to terms with some things he has been putting off for far too long. So expect many looks into his time in Yharnam and hopefully a fun examination of his survival skills in the wilds of Remnant.
Might also be some world-building stuff here or there, and I kind of like taking pauses to look into the activities of other characters, so that might happen as well.
Also, I was initially contemplating having a member of the main cast escort Jaune for this, but then the time frame of things came up, and I realised that might have certain ramifications. So I apologise for the saturation of OCs if that is something that bothers you.
Anyway.
Remember, if you find yourself really, really, really liking my writing and want to show some financial support, I'm AceReaper on Pat re on, the same icon as my FF account.
Also, you can find the next chapter already posted there if you wanna jump on ahead.
I will leave it here for you all.
I hope you continue to enjoy my work.
Eat fruit.
And as always.
Until next time.