Warning: This chapter contains brief mentions of nudity that can and will make many uncomfortable. Do be warned.
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"Do you think Jaune is angry?" Ruby whispered to Weiss. Her partner gave her the flattest look imaginable. The unsaid 'are you stupid?' hanging in the air as Weiss rolled her eyes, choosing to strap Myrtenaster to her belt instead of dignifying her with an answer. Ruby quickly following suit and strapping Crecent Rose back where she belonged.
Stepping out of the changing room, Jaune and Violet waiting for them a bit further down. Jaune having Violet in his arms, whispering gently into her ear. A soft earl of laughter ringing through the corridor. Soft cooing from a group of girls that walked past them, smiling softly as they took in the sight. A handful of scrolls were not so subtly pointed at them.
Spotting them out from the corner of his eye, Jaune looked up at them as they came closer. His usual soft smile plastered over his face. "Finally ready? Then let's head to the range. You took so long we were about to head over first." Jaune said, acting as if the earlier little dispacle never had happened.
But Ruby wasn't blind to the hollowness in his eyes. Their usual lustre and warmth nowhere to be found. His smile seemed forced, plastered on just to give Violet comfort. Cracking slightly at the edges, making it come off as sharp, large canines that demanded attention, and a row of white teeth that looked straight out from a toothpaste ad. However, even for as unsettling his slime were, it wasn't that which stood out the most for Ruby.
No, it was the way he held himself.
Jaune was a big man. He was tall, and ever since he had begun packing on muscles, he had only filled out even more. The spindly boy he had been on the first day but a distant memory. But, even if Jaune was big, he was never intimidating. He wasn't a bully like Cardin who liked to throw his weight around. And even if Jaune was softspoken at times, he wasn't a gentle giant like their upperclassman Yatsuhashi, who came of a bit like a monk. Acting completely unaffected by the turmoil of others around him.
Jaune was big, but Jaune was also warm. Carrying himself with a kindness that make him approachable, even if he came of as a bit of a dork at times. With his head in the clouds, or in his journal, most of the time.
Jaune's warmth were nowhere in sight now as Ruby almost had to jog just to keep pace with him. His large stride's filled with purpose.
Throwing a quick look over her shoulder, Ruby slowed down, allowing her partner to catch up with her. Jaune neither noticing nor caring. Walking with angry determination.
"Jaune is really out of it, huh." Ruby said absentmindedly when Weiss caught up. Trying to make small talk. Not seeing any harm in taking it slower, allowing Jaune some time to collect himself.
"You don't say." Weiss rolled her eyes, huffing indignantly, her cheeks a rosy colour. Weiss was the physically weakest member of the team, and that was a known fact. Ruby knew it, Yang knew it, Blake knew it. Even Weiss knew it. Her endurance having fallen to the side in her quest to master her semblance in conjuration with dust. Making her a powerful but frail glass cannon.
"I almost thought he was going to take a page out of Yang's book. I'm not saying he would be in the wrong to do it, but it would only serve to hammer home the narrative Nebula was selling. Especially with what she was insinuating." Weiss added with a frown.
"Did Nebula insinuate anything? I thought she apologised?" Ruby couldn't help but ask. She had of course seen Violet shying away from the girl from Vacuo. But Violet shied away from everyone. However given the look Weiss sent her, she couldn't help but feel that she had missed something.
"You really are a sweet summer's child, aren't you?" Weiss sighed, doing that little headshake she always did when she was disappointed in something.
"My mother's name was Summer, so yes? I think so?" Ruby asked a tad bit confused. "But I don't think it was that you meant. I did notice she called Violet an 'it'. But wasn't that because she didn't know how to properly refer to her? Violet is after all the first 'manifestation' from a semblance with a soul of her own. It isn't as if it's too farfetched to imagine that some can be put off of by what it means."
"Ruby. She fully meant to call Violet an it, because she sees Violet as an it." Weiss answered plainly, scrunching her nose in disgust.
"Huh?" Was the only sound that escaped Ruby. Not understanding how someone could say something so cruel to someone as kind as Violet.
"She also not so subtly hinted at Jaune taking advantage of Violet, since she is following him around everywhere."
"Jaune would never." Ruby hissed at her partner. Confusion replaced by bubbling righteous indignation. About to just turn on the spot and give the violet haired bitch a piece of her mind.
"I know. Jaune adores Violet. He would never hurt her." Weiss agreed, putting a stopper on her anger for only a second. "But other student's don't know Jaune as we do. There is a reason she said it in the hallway of all places. Before the day is over, there will be rumours about Jaune. And after his… spar, if it even can be called that, against Yang. Most of our classmates don't see him in a favourable light, their minds already made up."
"Then we just have to show Jaune our support." Ruby declared with a nod. Belly full of anger, but they were nearing the range, so she had ample time to work trough it in a healthy way. "Show him that we don't believe in the rumours."
"Good. This isn't a situation where we can just 'Yang' it." A shiver raced through Weiss. Her face scrunching up as if she had tasted something foul. Before Ruby even had the chance for a clever remark, Weiss stopped her with a chilling glare. "Now, before you open your mouth and say something that we will both regret. I want you to know I have contacts. And I'm sure Crescent Rose would give a nifty little pile of lien from the scrapyard."
"You wouldn't dare." Ruby hissed, protectively turning to protect her baby from the evil ice princess.
"Try me." Weiss relied back with a twinkle in her eyes, that made Ruby unsure about if she was just joking, or if Weiss would actively follow trough with her treat.
With her piece said, Weiss pushed open the doors to the range. Instantly the familiar sounds of rounds being fired rang out. Fromm 9mm and .44 rounds, to 5.56's and other riffle rounds, that all came together in a symphony that made her feel just at home.
Thunder cracked through the air, momentarily dwarfing all other shot's before it was washed away.
"What was that?" Weiss turned to her somewhat shakily.
"That was Mortem, all right." Ruby mumbled under her breath, taking Weiss's hand and dragging her towards where Jaune and Violet stood. Not letting the image off Jaune at the docks faze her. She had mostly gotten over it. Her father being the best dad in the world and meeting with her and letting her work trough it with him instead of forcing her to go to therapy. Having mentioned something about 'somethings just stayed with you.'
Like always, Jaune and Violet wasn't paying attention to the world outside their little bubble. Not noticing how some of the others at the range started doubling their fire rate, almost as if it was some unseen competitions.
"Now, this is a bit of a 'do as I say, and not as I do' scenario." Jaune explained softly to Violet. Holstering his revolver again.
'Mortem Ignis isn't as much a revolver as it is a hand cannon'. Ruby thought to herself. She loved it like another daughter. Being her dearly beloved Crescent Rose's sibling and all. Even what Jaune had done to the revolver, making it seem as if fire was trapped withing the wooden handle, really helped sell the name. But she could admit to her view of the weapon had been tainted since the docks. The trapped fires always looked menacing, almost like trapped screams. But she knew it was just her mind playing tricks. Her trauma making itself known.
Jaune noticed them, gave them a little nod, before going back to instructing Violet. Softly moving her fingers so she held into the old timely pistol with a secure two-handed grip. Kicking her feet slightly to check that she stood steadily.
"I know you have shot before. But the basics are the basics for a reason. But say, when you can pass the ranges third difficulty grade, then you can start to freely experiment. Because then you will have a solid foundation of experience to lean on." Jaune continued lecturing, holding out his hand for Violet go give him the pistol. Pouting she gave it, and Jaune breached it open, checking if it was loaded. Nodding to himself and closing the breach.
Laying the pistol on the shoot's stalls table divider. Fishing out a large paper cartridge and placing it beside the gun. Taking a step back, he gave Violet a little smile. "I will give you one of my rounds, but after that you will need to fire your own."
"Are you really sure you should have Violet fire the same rounds your use?" Ruby couldn't help but ask. Looking worriedly as Violet breached the pistol and loaded a round in before snapping it shut. Falling into proper shooting form.
"It's fine, she has shot before." Jaune replied to her. Giving Violet a thumbs up when she looked back at them.
With a bright smile, Violet turned back to the range. Lifting her pistol and pulling the trigger. An echoey bang rang out, a large puff of smoke following the bullet out. It was louder than most smaller calibres, but nowhere close to larger rounds such at .44's and .45's. And nowhere close to the thunder Mortem unleashed. Making her wonder just what Jaune had in his cartridges for them to make so much noise.
"Well done." Jaune called out as they looked at Violet's target. A golf ball sized hole just gazing by the outline's head. "Again. We will shoot until you either are out of rounds, or until you feel satisfied enough. So twenty rounds at most. Make the most out of them."
"Her rounds?" Weiss asked, looking up from range manual on her scroll.
"Yes. Her rounds." Jaune replied. Only humming when Violet popped the breach open. "Bullets are a resource, there are only so many you can feasibly bring with you. So I have made it abundantly clear that her bullet's are hers to do what she wishes with. She can cut them open to see what's inside, do with them what she wants honestly, even fire them as she is now. But she won't get another twenty until Friday. However, if she doesn't use them, she will have whatever bullet's are left plus her new surplus. Hopefully that will teach her not to be too wasteful with them. Could you imagine wasting twenty bullets on fodder enemies, leaving you empty when the real threat comes?"
"Inventory management is an important, but not often taught part of huntress and huntsman training that often goes overlooked." Weiss hummed with a nod. Going back to familiarising herself with all the settings and obstacles the range could produce. Probably not as advanced as they had at Atlas, but still top of the line.
"We are doing the difficulty grades for our bet, I take it?" She asked after a little while, getting a little nod from Jaune.
"Yes, I was thinking challenging the difficulty grades till we failed, or either a score or time trail." Jaune answered, going over to correct Violet's form again.
"The difficulty grades will more than suffice. Then we will start five minutes from now. May the best one win." Weiss announced, plotting in the settings she wanted before drawing Myrtenaster. Jabbing her sharply into the air and sending a little barrage of thin ice needles at some skeets the ranged had launched.
Taking the empty range beside Jaune, Ruby switched her darling into her snipe form. Checking that she was filled with fire dust rounds. She wasn't planning to shoot much, dust was getting more and more expensive lately, but she could dump one or two mags into the range free of worries.
Aiming and taking fire, Ruby smiled. The skeet shattering far down on the range. While Beacon's range was great, she missed Signal's, because their outside range allowed her to really test her accuracy over long range. Or Beacons outside range was called 'Go and hunt in the forest', but she didn't want to go out alone, especially when her friends were having fun at the range.
"Master. Why don't you use dust?" Violet asked Jaune, making both her and Weiss stop what they were doing and look over at Jaune.
"Oh, that? It's mostly because I don't know how to. And I already have more than enough on my plate. If I want to force it in, I will be forced to cut corners." Jaune replied with a shrug. Violet nodded, curiosity satisfied, before aiming another shot.
Ruby sent a look over to Weiss, almost expecting a tirade of words on why he, or anyone really, should use dust. Giving herself a pat on the back when she started.
"How come you never learned to use dust? It is invaluable. You can't go wrong by having dust in your arsenal. There are many spars you could have won by simply sending a wave of fire from your sword." Weiss asked, giving Jaune a perfectly raised eyebrow.
"I wasn't allowed to learn, not to mention there was sparsely any dust I could use back home at that. My hometown, even if village is the more appropriate term, is just so far from central Vale that almost no one bothered to sell it. And what dust was sold is second rate at best. We mostly use firwood or coal from the nearby mine to for all out warming needs instead." Jaune replied with a shrug.
"Wait, so you really had no idea who I am the first time we met?" Weiss couldn't help but ask.
"Expect that you were a pretty girl? No, I had no idea who you were." Jaune replied with a little smile.
"Ugh, get a room if you are going to flirt." Ruby said, sticking her tongue out at them. Rolling her eyes as Weiss cheeks turned rosy. Jaune just smiling and shaking his head.
"I may have tried flirting with her when we met. And I do apologize if I came on a bit too hard. But as much as how fun it would be to have a girlfriend, but I'm sorry Weiss, I see you more as a friend." Jaune said with his usual kind smile as Weiss stared at him flabbergasted. "Also, I'm not in the right headspace to find someone special right now."
Not that Ruby was any better than her partner. There she was reading herself for when Jaune inevitably asked Weiss out for the dance, only for him to friendzone her out of the blue.
"Oh, that reminds me. What will you and Violet be going to the coming dance?" Ruby asked, needing something else to focus on. Not wanting Weiss to see her shaking shoulders.
"That? Well I sent a mail to Miss Goodwitch asking about it. She said Violet is also invited. There will also be another table with more 'child' friendly food for her and other's." Jaune answered. "So the two of us will both be going. That is if the little lady wants to go."
Violet threw herself at Jaune, a string of nonsense coming out of her mouth. Ruby didn't understand what she said, but she did understand the glee that radiated of her. Making a smile appear, followed quickly by rising anger. 'How could someone say something so cruel to such a kind child?'
A beeping sound rang out from Weiss's scroll. Checking it, she sent a burning gaze at Jaune. "That's time. Are you sure you don't need any time to warm up? I will admit that my victory will feel empty if you don't at least warm up properly. I won't go easy on you."
"Don't worry, I won't make it easy for you." Jaune chuckled. Going up to the stall, setting Violet down, and pushing her ammo to the side. Placing his own bullets onto the counter. Familiar paper cartridges beside some pure silver ones. Large, but beautiful, .50 calibre bullets. Looking menacing even when they just sat on the table. A hand reaching for them but stopping and grabbing a paper cartridge instead.
"Weiss." Jaune called out, slotting in the last cartridge into Mortem. "There is another reason why I don't use dust. A simple one, really."
Not waiting for a reply, he coked the hammer. Violet already having her hands over her ears, taking some extra steps away from Jaune for extra measure.
Tunder echoed inside the range a second time. Noting compared to the muted sound they heard when stepping into the range. Only a fine powder remained of the skeet hanging in the air.
"Dust is good, invaluable even. But power is king." Jaune finished, breaching his revolver and calmly loaded another round. Sending a calm look over to Weiss. "But are you ready?"
"I'll start. So none can accuse anyone of cheating." Ruby announced, getting two nods, two pings sounding from her scroll as they gave her control over the lanes. She didn't think they would cheat; Weiss was too proud and Jaune was too noble. But they were also extremely competitive, and she didn't want to find out if any of her friends were poor losers. Better just completely remove that option in the first place.
"Ok. Range challenge grade one starting in five." She called out. Seeing her two friends ready using the last seconds to collect themselves. A soft smile appearing as she saw Violet coming over to her. Looking curiously at her scroll and between the two.
"And go." She called out. Her voice completely drowned out by the roar of fire and the crack of thunder. Looking up at the ranges, she whistled softly.
The ranged hadn't changed, but obstacles in all forms and sized had appeared. Painted targets hidden in hard to hit locations. It was still the first grade, so it wasn't impossible, either requiring dust, or somehow bending bullets. Neither did they have to thread the needle. But it was a hint of what to come.
Weiss swung Myrtenaster around like a conductor's baton, using wind dust to control the path of her icicles, using her semblance as needed. And while not perfect, each of her icicles hit their target. Jaune on the other hand took his time. Aiming, firing, and reloading when he needed. Each shot a thundering echo. Each shot a bullseye.
'And they call me prodigy?' Ruby huffed and rolled her eyes. Knowing how some students had taken to calling her a prodigy for beginning two years early, when almost everyone was blind to the true prodigy in their midst.
Jaune had been spindly when he started beacon, no one would call Jaune that anymore. Jaune couldn't fight to save his life when he joined Beacon, he had humiliated her sister, one of their year's best fighters. Jaune's grades had been bad when he started, now he got nothing but straight B's, only small details keeping him from earning straight A's. Jaune had spent almost every waking moment at Beacon bettering himself, and it was showing.
Mortem Ignis was a young weapon, just barely crossing a month old. But Jaune held her with such familiarity that she almost would have thought he had had her for years.
"Time." Weiss exhaled, shooting Jaune a smirk. Acting as if it was a time trial. Jaune paying her no mind, only rolling his eyes while finishing up his part.
"Range challenge grade two starts in fifteen." Ruby called out, giving them a second to catch their breath before starting again.
The second, third, and forth grades went much like the first. Weiss swinging Myrtenaster around, the elements dancing to her wishes. While Jaune continued keeping his calm and collected pace, never speeding up or getting greedy. A shot for a target. Never trying to score multiple targets at once like Weiss. 'But then again, she has the clear upper hand in versatility.' Thunder echoed again. 'And Jaune have the upper hand in power.'
"Who do you think will win, miss?" Violet asked her. Pulling her eyes from her scroll where the statistics of both were neatly added.
"I don't know. I didn't know Jaune was this good with firearms." Ruby whistled as Jaune threaded the needle again. Bullet traveling between two moving trees just right to hit the target behind. Weiss instead 'steered' her icicle around the trees instead. "I have tried some of the upper difficulty grades, and they are disgusting. I don't think they will finish the fifth one, but it depends on who fails first."
It didn't take long before her words came true. The fifth difficult grade was where 'hostage's' and other obstacles that resulted in instant failure was introduced. Instantly spiking the difficulty.
"Drats". Weiss called out, huffing from exertion. Her wind current just tad to sharp, nicking a 'hostage' in the side. Making her automatically fail the difficulty grade.
"Tsk." Jaune tsked at the same time. His bullet having nicked the same hostage. However, because his ammunition was Nessler balls, what would have otherwise been a 'nick' turned into what could only be called 'casualty'.
"It would seem it's a draw." Jaune said plainly, holstering Mortem. Looking surprised that he managed to do so well.
"Draw? I don't think so." Weiss instantly replied, chest heaving. Cheeks rosy. Fierce competitiveness blazing in her eyes. "My hostage only had a small nick in its arm. Yours lost half its head. Mine survived, yours died. That clearly makes me the winner."
"Ah, but you are forgetting how I got a higher score the other grades. Since my overall score is higher than yours, that makes me the victor." Jaune replied calmly, a competitive spark in his eyes.
"Excuse me? By your metric I won all the time because I finished first." Weiss replied with a huff.
'Yang would have a field day with her words.' Ruby sighed. Rolling her eyes at her friends antics. But feeling the need to step up before they got thrown out of the range for disturbing the others. "You both failed at the ninety-five percent mark. It's a draw. Suck it up."
"Tsk." Weiss tsked, sending a glare at Jaune that screamed that this wasn't over. "Next month, after the festival. You versus me, a draw isn't a win, and it isn't a loss."
"Next month it is." Jaune replied after taking a deep breath. Looking visually calmer than he had. His eyes hiding a spark of competitiveness. Turning from Weiss and beginning to clean up after himself.
"You promised me to try the flamesprayer." Ruby couldn't help but whine, eliciting a snort from Weiss as she rolled her eyes.
"I promised no such thing. 'I didn't get to convince you to let me use the flamesprayer' are the words you are looking after." Jaune snarked with a smile. His warmth returning as he gave her a cheeky little smile.
"But maybe another time. It's late, and it's bedtime for the little lady soon." Jaune said, lifting Violet up in her arms. A large yawn escaping her as she huffed indignantly, even if Violet leaned into Jaune with a tired look.
"Not tired." She whined softly.
"So you won't fall asleep if I sing a lullaby?" Jaune countered good naturally. Gettig another huff from Violet. "See you at breakfast tomorrow. We both had fun. And Weiss, you can have the win if you want."
With his piece said, Jaune left his shooting stall before heading out of the range.
"It's good to see his mood taking a turn for the better." Weiss added from the side. Speaking her thoughts exactly.
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"So what's the plan, fearless leader?" Nora asked the second the door closed behind him. Making the smile he forced himself to show Weiss and Ruby disappear. His brow twitching irately as he felt fetid anger course trough his veins. "Are we busting some caps? Are we ganking them in a secluded corridor? Roughing them up in the changing rooms before a spar?"
"Nothing of that." Jaune said softly, gently setting down Violet and pointing at the bathroom. Getting a little nod from Violet as she sent a nervous look around the room. Seeing the grim look on Ren's face, a stark contrast to the eager, almost bloodthirsty gleam in Nora's eyes.
"Jaune. You can't be serious." Nora exclaimed. Standing up in shock and shouting loudly.
"Sit." Jaune ordered calmly, glaring at his friend. Nora gulped and sat down, nervously scooting over to Ren.
Breathing out he threw his greatcoat over his chair, slipping out of his vest and hanging it on a hook he fixed to his desk. Heavily sitting down and taking a deep breath.
"Did something happen?" Pyrrha asked carefully. Shooting a look between him and Nora.
"Some bitch from Vacuo thought it would be fun to pick on Violet. Would have sprained a bone in her hand if Violet hadn't unconsciously used aura." Nora spat. Shooting a glare at him.
"Oh, well we can't have that." Pyrrha replied emptily. Turning to him with righteous indignation burning in her emerald eyes. "Jaune. We can't let her get away with her this."
"And she won't." Jaune replied calmly. "I'm not stupid. I know she also insinuated I sleep with Violet."
That was probably the wrong words, Nora exploding up fury in her eyes. Pyrrha hot on her heels.
"What!" Nora bellowed, the only thing stopping her from kicking down the door was Ren. And the only reason he held on was more out of not wanting to be expelled than any sympathy towards the girls.
"Sit." Jaune growled, feeling the fetid anger inside yarning for release. "We won't do nothing. But pain is temporary."
At his words he felt the fetid anger calm down, a cruel excitement racing through him instead. Glancing over to Nora he noticed he had her undivided attention.
"Take a look at Cardin. He spent, what, a weekend at the hospital ward, and he is already back on his bullshit. Bullying those he deems weaker than himself. The only difference that he ignores us, for the time being. I bet my left arm, that if Cardin hadn't been afraid of retaliation that he already would have tried." Jaune cast out emptily.
"Suckers bet." Nora chuckled as she sat down. Anger still burning in her eyes. But it was focused, controlled. Not the fierce inferno from earlier but readied strike.
"So… I have decided that we will do to her, what she planned to Violet." Jaune said nonchalantly. Feeling his anger calm down, not threatening to consume and to burn anything. Bringing with it a cruel clarity. "Since she wanted to isolate Violet, make her scared and afraid of her own shadow. We will do the same to her. Isolate her and her team, accomplices everyone of them. Make them scared of their shadow."
"Oh my. You are devious." Nora cackled. Earlier anger nowhere in sight.
"I agree that trauma is the gift that keep on giving. But how do you plan to accomplish that. Our social circle is…"
"We have no friends so to speak." Nora finished for Ren. Getting a nod from her partner.
"As much I agree, it would be easier to just jump her and her team in a deserted hallway with no cameras." Ren finished.
"I don't want to break their bodies; I want to shatter their spirits." Jaune replied as he stretched and stood up. Going over to the bathroom and knocking on the door. Sighing as he heard scrambling inside. Violet having listened to their entire conversation. "You are better than that Violet."
"Do you have a plan?" Pyrrha asked softly, levelling him a look.
"Well yes. First is Cardin. I know his type, there is just a question of when he tries something again. So I thought we should start with him. Use him to send a message." Jaune replied calmly. There were also some curses he wanted to try out, but he shelved them for the time being. Blood magic was malicious by nature, it's curses doubly so. And he didn't want to risk a too sadistic curse for the cold satisfaction of revenge only to be expelled.
"Ohhhh… sinister." Nora grinned.
"And well. If anyone of you is in the ring with them, you are free to go wild… Just nothing permanent. And not something that will make them get cold feet. We don't want them leaving after all." Jaune said absentmindedly. Not at all caring for the feral grin that split Nora's lips. Nor the cold apathy that shone in Ren's empty orbs. Even Pyrrha, for all her goodness and seemingly infinite font of kindness, hummed to herself.
"Violet. I won't sing a lullaby if you aren't ready soon." Jaune called out again, instantly the door was dragged opened. Violet hurrying out, already dressed in her onesie and throwing herself into her bed.
"So we are all going to bed early, is that what we are doing?" Nora called out, throwing her clothes at the floor and hurrying up into her bunk in nothing but underwear. Ren quickly following suit. Crawling under his covers.
Throwing a look towards his partner, his heart fell when she was nowhere to be seen. Instead her armour was scattered over the floor, and he could see a head of red already in her bunk.
"Really. You are all overreacting." Jaune said, clicking his tongue. Blatantly ignoring the deadpan look Ren sent him. Instead he just tucked in Violet, humming to himself before settling on the song his mother used to sing while tucking him to bed.
"No more… sudden… movements please…" He started, softly smiling down at Violet. All anger gone as she grabbed onto his hand, not letting him go. Yawning up at him as her eyelids grew heavy. "So tired… I'm sleepless and haunted… by you."
"Falling… forever… was I always just a man… out of place… out of time." Jaune sang gently. Sitting onto the bedframe and feeling Violet's grip on his hand weaken. "So this… is what life is... No trouble now… just quiet…"
"Never knew what patience was, until it's face stared me down. Couldn't bear to witness… my own fate." Jaune sang. Finishing the song even if Violet and the rest of his team were already fallen asleep.
######
"Take me with you." Were the first words Jaune heard when he awoke in the dream. Violet staring up at him, her chest puffed out, forcing herself to put on a brave front as she had done most of the evening. Faltering under her stare until a quiet whisper escaped her. "I don't want to feel like that again."
Jaune felt the familiar fetid anger boiling within. Egging him on to just rip and tear. Pushing the anger to the side with herculean effort, he bent down and enveloped Violet in a hug. Tears she had held in the entire evening coming pouring down.
"No, I won't take you with me on a hunt." Jaune whispered softly, ignoring the pain he felt at the betrayed look Violet sent him. Instead he gently let her go and grabbed his notebook. "But there are other ways of growing stronger than just fighting. I wanted to wait a bit with this, have you work more on your boundary circle. But this serves as a good enough reason as any, I suppose."
Hope twinkled in her eyes, together with curiosity, glee, and a fetid anger that she hid in the recess of her heart. It wasn't a petty anger, nor was it childlike. Neither was it bloodthirsty. It was simply anger wanting for revenge.
Walking together over to their desk, Violet got up in her chair while he stood behind her. Fishing out his notebook, pulling out some pages that were folded like neat pamphlets.
"Now, while the four aspects of Corruption, Alteration, Usurpation, and Negation, are the purest aspects of all ritualism. Something that makes them the easiest to get into, even if mastery is a lifetimes journey. They also serve the foundation of all other aspects, as there are aspects that require different sacrifice steps for different rituals. You don't need to worry about that with the 'pure' four." Jaune lectured, gently placing the three pamphlets down befree her.
"Does that mean they are the strongest?" Violet asked curiously, eyes shining with desire.
"Yes, and no." Jaune replied calmly. "The 'strongest' aspect will always be subjective. At the higher levels, Corruption makes mockery of the world and it's rules. Alteration allows you to freely change flesh and blood to whatever your heart desires. Usupration can have you set 'divine' laws that will be obeyed by everyone in range, or if it's more up your alley, you can use people like puppets. Negation will allow you to play with spells like they are mere toys. Everything is powerful when pushed to the extreme. Doubly so for the four 'pure' aspects."
"And for mixed aspects, I only know two aspects. Reanimation, the study of life and death. The aspect of 'healing'." Jaune said simply. It was a strong aspect, but it was also one that didn't sit right with him. The healing rituals were some he would turn into spells the second he could, there was also some supplementary rite he would master. As their importance in the long run couldn't be put into mere words. But some things were sacred, the dead deserved their rest.
"The other aspect is Perception. The study of causality, what others would call divination, or the study of fate." Jaune continued, voice taking on a mystic tone as he tried hyping the aspect up. Not wanting Violet to be stuck on Reanimations branch of death. He wasn't as drawn to Perception as he was the 'four pure' aspects, but it would always have a special place in his heart. Divination was after all the first branch of magic he ever tried.
He let Violet soak in his word, looking towards the three pamphlets with unbound curiosity.
"Now, I have a task, and a challenge for you." Jaune said after a little bit. "Before you are three copies of ritual circles. Three different rituals. If you can draw a perfect ritual circle to one of the rituals, I will teach you the rest of the ritual and help you perform it."
Violet's eyes lighting up, head snapping to the pamphlet and opening one. Scrunching her brows when only diagrams of how to draw the rituals were there.
"The first ritual is called Overvoice, from the Corruption aspect. It shifts the location of effect of sound you produce. You can speak here and have your words heard in the graveyard." Jaune explained calmly. "The second is Cold Blood, an Usurpation ritual. It turns off pain, stress, and emotions for an hour. The last is from the Perception aspect and is called Intuition. It activates your 'sixth sense', giving you a mental tug when you are doing something that would lead to harm or maybe even death."
"All three are simple, beginner rituals. Teaching you how to draw ritual circles and the other casting steps required in order to perform rituals. They also offer a window into what each aspect is capable of. Of course you will learn all rituals, together with some other beginner rituals from the pure aspects. It will help give you an overview of what you like, and what aspect you have most affinity with." Jaune finished up his lecture, ruffling Violet's hair good naturally.
"I will be leaving you with Gehrman, here in the dream. Can you be a brave girl and stay here until we wake up?" Jaune asked gently, getting a hesitant nod from Violet. Ruffling her hair again, he stepped away from her. Giving him a brave face when she went back to the three pamphlets.
Walking down the steps of the workshop, having one last stop before awaking in the waking world. And that was getting his attributes in order. 'It's time to right a wrong. Both my Arcane and Bloodtinge attributes surpassed my Endurance as a result of my metamorphosis. My physical training has pumped it slightly, but it simply won't do."
He was sure he couldn't push past his Bloodtinge attribute now, especially since it gained another little boost thanks to the complicated ritual he held for Violet. But it should be enough to push it past his arcane attribute. Unfortunately, no matter how much he pushed himself in his training, he hadn't seen his Vitality attribute increase with a single point.
'Shame really. But it's also the only attribute that have surpassed thirty. It can just as likely be that it requires some obscure training method.' Jaune sighed, stepping down to the doll. Surprised when he saw a shimmery film around her.
"Rest your worries, Kindest Hunter." The Doll bowed softly. "The hope of tomorrow won't notice me until you will's it."
"That's good to know. Thank you for being willing to play along." Jaune spoke softly, giving the Doll a soft smile. "But I have some echoes to spare, and I was hoping you could help me infuse them."
"Very well. Let the echoes become your strength. Let me stand close, and please close your eyes." The Doll said softly, taking his hand and kneeling before him.
Doing as he was told, Jaune channelled all his echoes into Vitality and Endurance in his 2:1 ration. A surge of energy coursed trough him as his heartbeat grew stronger, blood deafening him as it surged like great rivers in his veins. His breathing grew steady, deeper. As if he had an inner well of boundless energy he could tap into at will. He felt like he could fight for days on end without collapsing.
Closing his hand, he spent a second just feeling the power that flowed in his veins. It wasn't a physical strength as much as it was a spiritual one. He breathed easier, his organs were more efficient, his blood was stronger, cleaner. His bones were denser, allowing him to pull out slightly more power from his muscles without harming himself.
He wouldn't be so arrogant to think he was unbreakable. But he would have survived five, maybe ten seconds longer when the Cleric Beast duo was wailing down at him. He had come to the point where part of him wanted to just ask Ren to fire a 9mm bullet into his arm to see if the 'bulletproof' thing Gherman had mentioned worked for lower calibres. Either way, he felt more than confident enough
'Who knows. If I pump Vitality enough I might not even need aura.' Jaune chuckled to himself. Taking a second to centre himself. His heart beating like a slow war drum, his breathing deep and measured.
"Thank you. But the night calls." Jaune said politely, giving the Doll a polite bow before stretching up. Rolling his shoulders, frowning as a stray thought entered his mind. 'When was the last time I ever popped a joint?' He thought, mind coming up blank. Something that was probably impossible now given his high Vitality.
"I will pray for you, Kindest Hunter. May the night treat you with the kindness you give others." The Doll said whispery. Performing a deep, reverent almost, courtesy.
Shaking his head, Jaune went over to the gravestone. Not knowing if the Doll was cursing him, or sincerely wishing him well. Her choice of words leaving him more than a little confused.
Shaking it off, he walked down the rest of the walkway. Stopping before the gravestone and taking a second to collect himself. 'My Vitality is almost tipping forty, at thirty-seven. I don't know what will happen when it passes forty, but I feel that something will happen. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, my Endurance is still lower than my Bloodtinge. The good news is that is tied with my Arcana at twenty-five. More than I expected, less than I had hoped.'
"You got some semblance of plan in that noggin of yours?" Gehrman asked from the side. Giving him a look, eyes filled with apathy, but some hint of life had returned to his eyes. A single spark.
"I have been summoned. And it is bad manners keeping royalty waiting." Jaune replied. Having decided on taking the Hemwick Lane all the way to the Castle. Getting echoes, hopefully gems and some runes, together with twin stone shards, and the rune workshop tool. The rune workshop tool being the real prize. If what he had read was true, it would give him permanent boosts, and while there could be runes and gems in the tomb. If he couldn't slot them, it wasn't worth all the blood and effort.
"Good. No prey will survive the prepared hunter. Never forget that."
With Gherman's advice, or maybe well wishes, Jaune awoke from the dream. Familiar smell of incense invading his nose as he was back in the chapel. The last stop before he made his way to Hemwick Charnel Lane. Hopefully he could get his hands on a map of sorts.
The map Gilbert had gotten him had been a literal godsend in helping him get his bearings in Yharnam. But it only showed lower Cathedral Ward, Central, and North, South, Easter, and Western Yharnam. Making it no help for him when he was going to explore Hemwick Lane. He wasn't hoping for much, he could make do with a rough hand drawn chart.
Taking inventory of what he had on him he absentmindedly noted that Arianna had found herself a rocking chair. Idly chatting along beside the old crone, her petal, nowhere in sight. Frowning slightly, knowing what volatile mood Aurora had been in when he last saw her, he hoped Arianna had managed to calm her down.
Stepping over to the dweller, he gave a soft smile. The dweller perking up from his prayers, looking at him with eyes the colour of the moon.
"I'm planning to take a trip down to Hemwick Lane. Do you think there is a map around here? Maybe a traveller's log or something?" Jaune asked softly, getting some looks from the women before they went back to their chattering. The old crone throwing a nasty look his way.
"I… I don't know if I can help you." The Dweller whispered hollowly, shoulders and spirit falling simultaneously. "The Lane, it was forbidden. The home of heretics. I do not know what it is you seek, but I implore than you to not set foot there."
"But I have to." Jaune whispered softly, it was that or the tomb, and the rune workshop tool was too important to give up on it.
"Then, maybe you will find something in the reverend's room." The Dweller whispers defeated. "Or maybe it is your room now. You might not accept the position of revered, but you are the heart of us few gathered here. The pillar that gives us hope. It is yours by deed."
"Thank you… but…" Jaune never got to finish his sentence before the Old Crone cut him off.
"Bah. You have earned it and let no one say otherwise." The Old Crone barked. Shooting him a dirty look if he dared to say anything else.
Sighing, Jaune just shook his head good naturally. Walking over to 'his' room. It felt weird calling it that. But he couldn't admit it felt good to finally be recognised for what he had done. Even if he wished it hadn't cost so much blood and death.
With a snap of his fingers, the candle in 'his' room lit up. Stepping inside he began checking trough the desk and the nightstand. While he wasn't expecting much, he had at least hoped it would be quick. 'I didn't know what I was expecting', he sighed. Nerves shooting to high heaven when he heard the door close behind him.
Followed by the rustling sound of clothes falling to the floor. Surprised, and mostly surprised. Jaune turned around with a frown. Coming face to face with an uncomfortable Aurora, standing naked before the door. Looking as uncomfortable as he was.
"What?" He asked frowning as he looked at her. Heart sinking when he looked her over, easily able to count her ribs.
"I… I wanted to repay you for burying my family and uncle." Aurora whispered, choking out the words. Removing her arms from her front and shivering and showing herself off. "I have nothing to repay you with… expect my body… Miss Arianna taught me, so I will be able to please you."
Jaune had never felt so dirty before. Quickly tearing of his greatcoat he marched over to Aurora, the young teenager only closing her eyes. Shivering more from fear than the cold. Waiting with bated breath for the inevitable. Wrapping her warmly up in his coat before she could get sick.
Aurora staring dumbfounded up at him. Blue eyes, just like her sister's, staring up at him with confusion.
"You don't need to pay me. I buried them out of my own accord. Out of the goodness of my heart. If you want to repay me, live a long and happy life. I want for nothing more." Jaune said gently. Softly wiping away the tears that welled up in her eyes.
A spindly form crashing into him, wailing as tears fell freely. "Shhh, shh, let it out… let it out… no one will think any less of you for crying…"
Hearing the door open, Jaune honestly didn't know what to feel when Arianna looked at Aurora as if she had expected this to happen. That hurt, but nothing close to the surprise in her eyes, that he hadn't taken advantage of the situation coming as a surprise to her. And Jaune had never felt so dirty and unclean.
"Stupid girl." Arianna sighed affectionately as she bent down and picked up Aurora's clothes. "Take care of her please." He heard Arianna whisper to him when he gently pushed Aurora of him.
A sigh escaping him as he knew what was coming.
"Teach me." Aurora all but demanded, red eyes staring up at her. Shooting a look over to Arianna, she gathered her courage. "I… I don't want to be a whore. But… father… wasn't brining home food, to intoxicated with the hunt… and my sister was going hungry. So I did what I needed to make sure my sister at least was fed. But… I don't want to be a whore… please."
Something about her earnest begging made him halt the instant no. Instead only a sigh escaped him. 'I should have seen this coming to be honest'. Jaune thought, looking down into all to familiar determination he saw in her sisters eyes constantly. There was nothing stopping him from taking another apprentice, there was no rule that said a hunter only could have one. But Violet was just settling down, not to mention all the logistics of adding another person into their honestly craped dorm. Then there was that he already felt he was imposing enough on his team by forcing Violet into their lives.
That they had taken so quickly too her was just pure luck on his part. They could just as easily have disliked her instead.
"I can't give you an answer right now." Jaune said softly, seeing the hope begin to dim in her eyes. "I can't protect you as you are now when I head into Hemwick Lane. However, if you still want to become a hunter when I return, having cooled down, I will give you a task. Not a physically demanding one, but a mental one."
Aurora gave him a nod. "I will hold you to that." She said, sending an apologetic look towards Arianna.
"You have always been spirited. Wanting to take fate into your own hands. I don't blame you for wanting a better life." Arianna smiled softly, bending down and placing a chaste kiss onto the crown of her head. "Part of me is glad you don't follow the same path as me, being a whore is no proper life. Being a hunter isn't better, but at least you will have your dignity."
'As if there is any dignity in what we do.' Jaune shook his head, stepping out of the room and letting the master and apprentice finish their little chat. Arianna coming out shorty after, his coat neatly folded in her arms.
"Take care of her." Arianna whispered again, a tinge fear in her voice. Not of him, but for what this entailed for Aurora.
"She isn't my apprentice, yet." Jaune replied as he slid on his coat. Doing his best to ignore the soft pearl of laughter that escaped Arianna. The woman only giving him a silent look, acting as if it was already a said and done occasion.
Ignoring her, and the pointed looks from the old crone, he made his way out into Cathedral Ward. A puff of mist escaping as he exhaled. Drawing Crocea Mors, he quickly sidestepped the church doctors swing, reliving him of his head with a visceral blood.
The fetid anger coming to life as blood splattered over the street. Relishing in the blood sport, pushing him on to just rip and tear until he worked trough everything he felt inside.
Slamming the anger and bloodlust back into their cage, Jaune exhaled another a puff of condense. Eyebrow already twitching erratically. Just knowing that it was going to be a long night.
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Note: Is there irony in Jaune singing his theme song to his apprentice? Yes. I also thought it would be funny. Song name for those who don't know: Quiet, by Casey Lee Williams. And yes, I added two words to make it more relevant to current Jaune as well.
Note: Jaune will soon be meeting his first soft stat cap in Vitality at 40. In that his health won't increase at with the same value anymore.
Note: The scene with Aurora was uncomfortable to write, but it also hammers home the tone of Yharnam. It isn't all eldritch horror, there are many horrors there, and some of them is horrifyingly mundane.
Note: I am currently writing my bachelor, so updates will be fewer and more sporadic in the future.