Ch. 51 Forest of blood

Ruby was glued to the window of their transport. Instead of curiosity however, what she felt was horror. Much of Vale looked so normal, and then they approached the exclusion zone border.

The streets were filled with makeshift barricades, meant to slow Grimm down before they got to the newly erected walls. The walls themselves were a mix of prefab sections and cinder blocks and were already showing signs of wear and repairs. The buildings directly behind the walls now sported a variety of mounted weapons. Some Ruby recognised as the same turrets as the ones mounted on the walls around Vale.

The square in the commercial district still had remnants of the train that exploded, and though the tunnel has been collapsed only days after the breach, the crater from the explosion hasn't been filled in yet.

"This is horrible…"

"...was a lot worse. While a few others and I ran around Beacon trying to thin the numbers of Grimm, those in Vale were fighting for every inch of residential they could take back. Now they have the wall set up, and it seems anything east of it is a writeoff until Beacon is reclaimed…"

"But it isn't going to be…" the sadness in her voice was palpable.

"There aren't any plans right now, but I trust Goodwitch wont let that be the case forever. She is the acting headmistress right now and I don't see the council appointing anyone else. She'll get the school back eventually."

Jaune spoke with a reassuring smile, though it wasn't difficult to tell that he was trying to reassure himself almost as much as he was reassuring Ruby.

"Guess we can't do much more than focus on our mission right now."

=O=O=O=

Once they entered the Forever Fall Forest the search for the ruins of the Amity colosseum began in earnest. The area to be searched was vast and so the search group split up.

The original plan consisted of locating the ruins from the air above, but the strange properties of the forest seemed to cover Amity in red foliage far quicker than expected. While the rough location was known, without the use of Atlas's bigger ships it remained difficult to pinpoint.

Of course Atlassian warships weren't something that grew on trees, nor was the kingdom of Vale particularly keen on having them anywhere near its airspace. Especially not after some of the Atlesian knights went rogue in the city during the Fall of Beacon and one of the ships going rogue, causing a general distrust in Atlas and its tech.

Jaune and Ruby formed one of the teams, mostly on account of being volunteers rather than a part of the personnel sent from Atlas.

"You know, this kind of reminds me of the initiation."

Said Ruby as they continued to make their way through the increasingly overgrown forest.

"Not the school trip here? How so?"

"Walking through a forest in search of ruins in order to find… well not a relic, that seems disrespectful to Penny."

Jaune stopped for a moment to let Ruby past a bent branch before speaking.

"No, I see what you mean now. And I don't think she would be too offended, last of all when it's coming from you. She always seemed rather self aware about being… How did you put it back then? Nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts?"

"But no less a real girl."

Ruby smiled at the reminder of better times. Back when she confronted Penny about her insecurities and became fast friends with her.

"Exactly. Plus if we're right in our theory, we can make sure to awaken as much of her as we can."

"But what if she's not the same anymore…"

"Ruby, she won't be the same. No one is after that night. Think of it like a scar or a lost limb. Would you expect Weiss to be exactly the same after losing such a large part of herself?"

"I mean no, but it would still be Weiss."

"And Penny will still be Penny."

"If we can find her."

"We will, I have a good feeling about this direction."

"Jaune… that's going towards the centre of the forest, are you sure this is the right way?"

"As I said, I have a feeling."

"We haven't encountered any Grimm for a while now… do you think it has something to do with this feeling?"

"Maybe… It's just a feeling. But with everything that's been happening recently I'm inclined to trust in my instincts."

"Ok. I trust you Jaune."

"Thank you. Honestly it means a lot right now."

They walked for a while through the red undergrowth. Jaune knew he was now walking away from where Amity was supposed to be, but his hunch got ever stronger as their surroundings began to change.

The further they went the less the colour seemed to be that of autumn leaves. It gained a crimson, blood like quality. It was overall stranger and stranger. The blood red plantlife seemed unpassable at a glance but when they got close it seemed to almost part out of their way.

They walked in silence, alert and listening for any movement. But there was none, as if even the leaves no longer moved in the wind.

Then suddenly the foliage parted to reveal a clearing. It was no bigger than the one on Patch near Ruby's home, but in the middle of this one there stood a great scarlet tree.

"Grata. Ego sum Keel, sed illi me vocant Arbor Sanguinis."

Jaune of course understood the greeting in ancient Valean. He'd been studying it for a while even before Beacon and doctor Oobleck's seminars helped a lot. Ruby however was more than a bit lost.

"What did he say?" she whispered to Jaune.

"He greeted us and introduced himself as Keel or as others call him the Blood Tree…Salve, ego sum Iaune et haec uxor mea est Ruby."

Jaune greeted the Blood Tree back and introduced them. The tree seemed amicable for now and Jaune had no doubt that it was the tree that he could feel ever since entering the forest. The atmosphere around it was calm, strangely so even and Jaune had no doubt that it was deliberate.

"Venisti loqui? Vel Magus te misit ad me iterum interrogandum?"

"He asks if we've come to talk or if the wizard sent us to ask questions again."

"What wizard?"

"I don't know. Should I ask?"

"He wants to talk right? Maybe we'll get some answers for once?"

"Nescimus magum quem loqueris. Visne de illo nobis dicere?"

"Fortasse tempus tituli eum spoliavit. Alia caro, sed anima infinita. Per saecula nunc in turri sua mansit."

"Maybe time has robbed him of his title. Another flesh but infinite soul. For centuries now he has remained in his tower."

"There is only one tower around here that has been here for that long."

"Beacon? Do you think he's talking about the headmaster?"

"Who else?"

"But what does he mean with 'infinite soul?'"

"I don't know… Yang mentioned something about fairytales, but…"

"Let's talk some more. Maybe we'll understand then. Ehm… Turris, quam loqueris, nuper cecidit. Dominus suus in ruina mortuus est."

"Mortuus non diu manet, nam similis est mei. Maledicta immortalitate."

"He won't stay dead for long, for he is like me. Cursed with immortality… wait if he is talking about Ozpin then."

"Then the headmaster is immortal."

"But that's… how?"

"Don't ask me! Actually, ask him." whisper yelled Ruby.

"Right. Um… Quomodo maledictio tua facta est?"

"Maledictus sum a Diis. Corruperunt dominium meum et fecerunt me in id quod hodie vides. Poena certandi cum eis. Animus artificialis in magnae virtutis res inclusus creando."

It took Jaune a second to understand and translate. He could hear the sorrow, maybe even regret.

"I am cursed by the Gods. They corrupted my domain and made me into what you see today. A punishment for competing with them. By creating an artificial soul within an item of great power."

"Isn't that like Penny?"

"Maybe, but I don't think her soul is entirely artificial. Actually maybe he can help us find her."

"Maybe… But be careful. We don't know what he'll want in return."

"Well we have time, Atlas troops will only leave tomorrow evening regardless. I want to know more about what's going on with the gods and Ozpin."

"I… yeah. Just be careful. He seems friendly for now, but I don't want to see what he can do when angry."

"Locutus es de mago. Quid de ili indicas nobis?"

"Magus occultum suum servat. Ille interrogat, nulli respondet. Nihil illi respondeo, nam aequalem illum non arbitror."

"The wizard keeps his secrets. He asks questions and answers none. I do not respond, for I don't consider him my equal… Uhm…Si magus non est tuus aequalis, cur responde meis interrogationibus? Parem me tuam censes?"

Jaune couldn't help but ask… after all why bother answering his questions if the immortal wizard wasn't worth it.

"Non es meus aequalis. Sed gradus in rectum tuum tulisti. In tuo surgunt Diis munere nullae."

"You are not my equal. But you took a step in the right direction. The gods have no role in your rise. Quem gradum feci?" Jaune was pulled into the conversation, no longer seeking help from Ruby. There was more to this and it had something to do with him.

"Tuus puer. Imo. Telum quod utrumque animarum vestrarum fert."

Jaune froze. He was unable to even translate the sentence.

"Jaune? What did he say?"

"He compared Lunatum Cor Rosa to our child. Said it carries both our souls."

"Lunatum Cor Rosa? Este hoc nomen?"

"Sic. Id nomen eius."

"Bonum nomen. Nomina portare potestatem."

"A good name. Names carry power. Dic nobis plura de te et quid diis fecerunt tibi."

"Sicut fui vobi, ipsimus artificis. Mox nactus ditionem meam. Sanguis est qui fluit per omne vivendum."

"I was a master craftsman like you. Soon I got my domain. Blood, that which flows through all living things. Dic nobis plura de tuum ditione."

"Sanguis vitam portat. Quamdiu una res est quae sanguin, EGO PERSEVERO. Sed Diis creata arbor qui sanguin, meam ditionem corrupere."

Jaune was shaken from the flow of the dialogue by the loud exclamation. It was by far the loudest the immortal before him had spoken to them thus far and the woods echoed his words.

"Blood carries life. So long as a single thing bleeds, I remain. But the gods created a tree that bleeds. To corrupt my domain…" Jaune stopped for a moment, thinking about the meaning of what he was translating to Ruby.

"Actually the word he's using could also mean power or sovereignty. Does that mean that the gods didn't curse him with immortality? Was he already immortal?"

"Maybe. But that's kinda unimportant. This one seems to be rooted here, Ozpin on the other hand…" Ruby was uneasy about the whole situation, but so far the tree man… thing before them was forthcoming enough.

"Right… Quid de mago? Ille ditione habet?"

"Ditione eius ex eius maeledictione radicatur. Est infinitus, enim est Infiniti Hominis."

"His domain is rooted in his curse. It is infinity for he is the infinite man… What the actual fuck is that even supposed to mean!"

"Jaune…"

Ruby tried to placate him, but Jaune was less than pleased by this whole conversation. The man Jaune respected as a huntsman that has fallen in the line of duty was apparently immortal. He knew this because a talking tree told him. Oh and the tree was also immortal and told Jaune that he already took a step to become his equal. Did that mean that Jaune would be immortal too? But what of Ruby.

Without her immortality would truly be a curse for Jaune. But he couldn't just abandon his path now could he…?

"Quid de opus tua? Ille qui deii iratos?"

"Corona de Ruptor Fati. Potentia de videre possibilia futura et eam rem facere. Sicut puer erat mihi, et dii abduxerunt eam a me. Irrupiti eam ad serviendum proposito suo. Cave ne idem tibi contigerit."

"Ego non faciant quod."

Jaune's face hardened. He didn't translate the last bit to Ruby. He didn't want to burden her with the threat of the gods. But Jaune was determined. He would not let these things come to pass. No god nor immortal would take anything from his family. And when the time came, he too would die. Either joining Ruby in death, or waiting for her to join him. He would not stand for an eternity of separation.

"What did he say?"

"His creation is the Crown of the Fate Breaker. It can see possible futures and make them a reality. The gods took it from him."

Ruby could tell he was leaving something out, but didn't speak out. Instead she steered the conversation away from whatever remained unsaid.

"Why don't you ask him about Penny."

"Ok, um…Amici reliquias quaerimus. Illa est metallum anima repletum. Illa est alicubi in hac silva est."

"Nihil neglogo in hac silva. Amicus tuus dispersus est. Volo auxi lio esse, sur ego mercedem requirere."

"He says he will help for a price. Sanguis e venis?"

"Etiam."

=O=O=O=

Author's note:

This chapter is something different. I dare say I've only made small changes to cannon. The master of Foreverfall is different, new, and foreshadowed back during the trip with Beacon. It is a look into how magic works in this world, and the nature of the Brother Gods. But more in due time.

As for the Latin in this chapter. It is written as is on purpose. What I wanted to convey is how Ruby would see the conversation, in a sense only understanding one side of it. Let me know if it's too annoying, so I can potentially fix the issues in the future. As for the language itself, I am self taught so there are probably going to be mistakes in my Latin. It's not a problem when it's Jaune speaking as he isn't necessarily an expert on using the language, but it can be a bit jarring when its a character's main means of communication. Guess what I want to say is sorry in advance for any mistakes I do make.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and are looking forward to the next chapter:Ch.52 Amity found