Chapter 8, Like Father, Like Son Part III
The two halved doors to Kallius's office opened, splitting apart with a mechanical thud. In the now-open doorway, Jaune was revealed to be standing in the hallway outside the General's Office. Jaune rubbed the back of his head before peering inside. Kasha and Winter were the first to meet his gaze, standing before Kallius's desk as they turned back to him. Kallius stood at attention behind his desk, staring through the viewport overlooking the base.
Jaune took a breath and exhaled. He knew what that meant. He expected Kallius to lecture him about today's training. He blamed no one else for the Team's failures more than him. After all, he was the Team Leader, and if the Leader didn't function as part of the Team, why should the others?
Jaune came to stand before Kallius's desk
"You wanted to see me, General?" He asked.
Kallius glanced back at both Winter and Kasha, making a slight gesture on his head. They both nodded back before turning and walking back toward the doorway. Kasha paused for a moment, glancing at Jaune sullenly. She then turned and entered the hallway as the door closed behind her. After they had taken their leave, the Beacon General turned to face Jaune.
"It is not common for the Team Leader to stand alone in battle, especially when faced with significant opposition," Kallius proclaimed, sitting at his desk.
"You are aware that if this had been real, you would have gotten yourself killed. As well as the rest of your teammates."
Jaune turned back to face Kallius.
"I was just trying to complete the objective, sir," he said.
"Your objective was to work as a Team! But instead, you neglected them and went off alone," Kallius said.
"Sir, with all due respect, I tried to get everyone to focus before the match, but they..." Jaune said.
Kallius suddenly spoke up.
"That isn't the point, Arc!" Kallius exclaimed.
Jaune paused, squinting his eyes curious at the General.
"Your Team's lack of cooperation isn't the only thing holding you back," Kallius admitted.
"What are you talking about?" Jaune asked.
"Don't think I didn't notice. I saw what you did today, " Kallius proclaimed before turning back to face the viewport.
"You didn't make any attempt to pull everyone together. Instead, you rushed in against an entire squad of Grimm—hardly the actions a leader would take."
Kallius turned back to face him.
"Those are the actions of a reckless subordinate trying to prove he's something he is not," The General stated harshly.
Jaune glanced to the side, giving only a small sigh. He would not argue with Kallius's assessment or deny it—it wasn't as if he could. He had continued to allow the fact that he was the only one without a semblance to drive his actions, pushing himself harder than the rest—all to prove he was just as capable of being a Knight as everyone else.
"Sir... I..." Jaune said.
Jaune was cut off again by Kallius.
"I need someone to lead this Team, Arc. And I need someone who puts them first above all else," The General proclaimed.
"But not someone who is only out to prove himself. We've already lost more than enough in this war."
Once more, Jaune narrowed his gaze to the General's General's words, which were hardly encouraging, leaving him ashamed and contemptuous. They often felt this way whenever he was forced to endure any lecture from Kallius.
"You don't have to worry about that... sir," Jaune said.
With a nod of his head, Jaune turned back toward the doorway.
"I haven't dismissed you, Arc!" Kallius proclaimed to him.
Jaune paused.
"I understand what you have gone through. I know very well what it's like to lose your father," Kallius insisted to him.
"But that is no excuse to..."
Jaune closed his eyes as he tightened his fist at the mention of his father.
"I didn't just lose my Father, sir! !" He said.
Jaune sudden outburst silGeneralhe General from uttering another word.
"I lost my home, my family... my friend. Everything that mattered the most to me!" He proclaimGeneralhe General.
"And I'll be damned if I allow that to happen again. I appreciate your concern, and I know I've been such a disappointment to you. But I'll do whatever it takes to ensure the rest of my family is safe. And for what happened to Arthamore doesn't happen to Beacon or any of the other kingdoms."
With that, Jaune turned and walked back toward the doorway, Leaving Kallius with the grimmest feeling about what he had said. He stared back at Jaune, squinting his eyes at him. He had heard those words before—ones that sounded so brave and noble but simultaneously brought a sense of loss and contempt. They were the words his father, Zak, had once said to him. Which brought the very notion Kallius feared the most...
That Jaune would follow in his father's footsteps... and meet the same fate.
Kallius regained his manner a moment later before speaking up.
"With the direction you are going, you'll be of no help to anyone," Kallius proclaimed to him.
The sound of Kallius's doors opening from behind caused Kasha to turn back. There, she saw Jaune sauntering out of the office. He passed by her without acknowledging that she was there, making his way down the corridor. She stared back at him curiously before turning back to Kallius. She saw him narrow his head before sitting back down behind his desk. No doubt the conversation didn't go as well as he thought it would.
Kasha came back into the office, where she then approGeneralhe General.
"I take it the General subordinate tactic didn't go well?" Kasha asked, curiously
Kallius raised his gaze to meet hers with a stern expression.
"Is it that obvious?" He asked.
Kasha nodded her head to him with a sly smirk. Kallius only sighed, standing back up from his seat.
"I just can't get him to listen. No matter what I say to him, he refuses to hear me," Kallius insisted, returning to the viewport.
"He's acting just like... like..."
Kasha smirked.
"His father?" she finished his sentence.
Kallius paused at the mention of his former colleague. The words he sought to find returned feelings of loss and contempt for the Newly Appointed General of Becon. However, he would not show it, keeping himself composed with a simple nod.
"Yes... and that's what worries me the most. Jaune is turning out too much like his father, " Kallius insisted.
"Zak may have been one of the most formidable Knights in Beacon, but he was as reckless. If Jaune continues down this path, I fear he might meet the same fate as his father. And since he is without a semblance, the chances of that seem greater."
Placing his hands over his sides, he stood pondering for a moment.
"I never thought that teenagers would be this hard." He told her.
Kasha raised an eyebrGeneralhe General.
"Like you all weren't Akara?" She said with a sly smirk.
Kallius only glanced back at Kasha, hardly amused by her comment, though that was to be expected from Kasha. Kallius was not someone with a sense of humor and was always so severe and stern. He then sighed.
"I just don't know what to do," Kallius admitted.
"Well, treating Jaune like this isn't helping things. He isn't a soldier, Kallius," Kasha proclaimed.
"Nor are Ruby or the others. They don't need a General to command them..."
Kallius lifted his gaze, glancing back at Asha, squinting his eyes curiously at her.
"Father...?" Kallius said.
Kasha crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yes." she insisted to him.
Kallius's moment of disbelief turned to that of a stern expression, shaking his head.
"That is out of the question," He stated to her.
"Kallius," Kasha said.
"I told you before, Kasha, I'm not returning to that. Besides, that goes against the military's regulation," Kallius insisted.
"Well, regulations aren't helping them," SheGeneralhe General.
Kallius only turned forward, facing the viewport once more. He was unwilling or unable to argue with her about this any further. Whatever the reason, one thing was clear to Kasha: Jaune was not the only one affected by the wounds of their past. He might now show it, but Kallius bore his wounds by losing those he cared for deeply.
Kasha came up to him, placing her hand over his shoulder.
"Please, Kallius, they need a father to guide them," She insisted.
"Jaune needs a father."
Kallius remained silent and stared out over the base. HowGeneralhe General heard Kasha's words, causing him to bow his head in contempt.
Kallius was walking down the corridor that evening. He walked past several patrolling troopers and officers. The General continued pondering what Kasha said regarding Jaune and the other candidates. The very idea of a General was utterly absurd, to say the least. He shook his head.
"Be their father? How can she ask that of me?" He said to himself.
"I can't be their father. I'm already the General of Beacon Military. I can't just take on a responsibility like that."
In contrast, they both knew that regulations proved inefficient in their training. However, what she asked of him, being their father figure to the five, was not something he wished to endure. It wasn't as if he wasn't capable of it. He was, after all, the father of a young son and daughter of his own. Yet it was taking on such a responsibility, the same He couldn't be their father. They were not even his flesh and blood. What right did he have to take such a role?
Kallius walked past the narrowed, open doorway of the training dome.
"Okay, Jaune, you know the drill. Shield up!"
Kallius paused, glancing back at the doorway to the training dome. He squinted his eyes.
That voice. It sounded familiar.
"Zak?" He said
"One foot forward. Keep your grip tight. Ready... Now!"
With that followed several grunts and exhales from someone who seemed to be in combat and another voice General found familiar. Kallius turned back toward the doorway. He approached the narrow opening, peering inside the dome. He saw Jaune standing at the dome's center, swiping his sword as his father instructed.
"Again!"
Jaune gave Crocea a broad swipe as he exhaled loudly. He held his stance momentarily and took several long, deep breaths, indicating he had been at this for some time.
"Alright, let's take take a break!"
Jaune uttered another sigh before coming to stand back up.
"If you have been keeping up with these, you might be ready for a sword fight by the time I get back."
The young blonde turned to look off to his right. It was there, several feet from where he stood; his scroll was leaning against his bag. It was playing one of the training videos that his father had made for him. So he would be able to train while he was away fighting. Since joining the academy, he has been using these videos to help hone his skills.
"Of course, we'll keep in on the down low. The last thing I need is your mother on my ass again about you using real weapons again." Zak said, followed by a slight chuckle.
Jaune gave an amused smirk at the video of his father. Then he saw his father's amused smirk turn to that of a frown, glancing away for a moment. Not long after, he turned forward once more before speaking again.
"Jaune..."
Jaune turned back to look at the screen of his scroll.
"Look, I know things have been hard for you since I've been away. And I wish that things could be different," Zak continued.
"Every day I'm gone, I miss my boy becoming a knight like me. Assuming you've been keeping up with these exercises I gave you, you'll be a Knight of Arc in no time."
Jaune stared back at his scroll as he listened to his father speak. He struggled to hold back his feelings. He closed his eyes, feeling his tears seep down the sides of his face.
"I just hope that... I don't miss the day I see you become the Man I know you can be. And I know you will do me proud, son."
The recording on his scroll suddenly paused after his father said the final words. Leaving Jaune to stand there, his tears seeping down the sides of his face. He raised his saddened gaze to his scroll to meet his father's. It was there he gestured a nod back at him.
"I know, Dad... I know. I'll make you proud," Jaune Promised him.
Kallius now found himself faced with the truth of Kasha's words. He narrowed his glance from the narrow opening of the doorway, placing his hand over his sides. He had hoped to avoid this for the longest time. He never wished to have such a relationship with his candidates as he did with his former mentor, Akara. Never again be subjected to the loss if anything happens to them.
However, it was what Jaune and the Other candidates needed now. Not a General to take orders from.
Kallius bowed his head.
"I prayed that fate would spare me from this, from ever having to bear this pain again," Kallius thought.
"But instead, they ask this of me once more. If this is what I asked of me, it shall be done."
The Bordering realms of Lothadare
The Leviathan and its fleet of Starships cruised through the sea of stars several miles away from the bordering realm of Aladara. Despite their distance from the border, they remained undetected from Lothadare by hiding within a field of asteroids.
Admiral Syrus's patience for Cinder and her party to return from their mission in Lothadare was waning quickly. Standing at attention on the Levithan bridge, he looked over the field of asteroids at the fleet itself. What was to be but a quick detour to meet with the Arms Dealer regarding a particular relic of the Knights of Martanus, became a mission to infiltrate the Kingdom itself. They had already been gone for two days, and there still hadn't been any word from them since.
It would only be a matter of time before Lothadare would discover them. Despite the fleet's destructive firepower, they were still severely outgunned by the Lothadarian fleet. He already told Cinder before she left that he would be forced to pull the fleet out if she didn't return in the next two days. He couldn't risk a direct conflict with Lothadare.
Not with what they had planned.
It was then that Syrus was approached by one of his officers.
"Admiral, we have gotten reports of the Lothadarian fighter squadron outside the asteroid field," They insisted.
Kallius glanced inquisitively to the side. There was no doubt that Lothadare suspected their presence as he expected they would and were now scouting their bordering realms for their position.
"Have they detected our position?" The Admiral asked.
The officer shook his head.
"No, sir, but some of the channels we've been monitoring indicate an attack within the Lothadare capital," The Officer proclaimed.
"They may be scouting for any invasion force near their borders."
Syrus turned back to the officer.
"Well then, I think it's clear that we can no longer wait. I would hate to give Lothadare the wrong impression," Syrus proclaimed.
"Besides, they will be much easier to invade once we shatter the Alliance."
Syrus turned his attention to the rest of the crew of the Leviathan's bridge.
"Prepare to set course for-"
The sudden sound of the doorway opening above silenced the Admiral. He then glanced at the balcony above, where he saw Cinder walking inside and came to stand over the edge of the stairway.
"Leaving so soon, Syrus?" Cinder asked curiously.
Syrus paused for a moment. Only to regain his posture as Admiral, turning back to face the Empress's apprentice.
"Of course not, my lady. I wouldn't dream of it," he insisted.
Cinder only scoffed at what he had said. Despite his assistance, she could still sense from his voice that his words were not true to form. Not that it mattered to her. She did not care what he or the crew thought of her. All she expected from them was that they follow her command. She only turned away, walking back over to her seat.
Admiral Syrus turned back to the officer next to him.
"Prepare to set course to fo Ramoria," He said before approaching the stairway to the balcony.
Cinder came to sit in her command seat, staring out through the bridge's viewport at the fleet itself. Her expression was cold and stern at the Notion she had failed again in her task. Allowing the prodigy to slip through her grasp just as she did in Arthamore. Leaving her clueless as to where they had gone. Yet despite this, this encounter had its merits, which may prove most useful in her search.
Most notably, she learned that the Knight she had encountered in the Tertawa Highlands was with the Prodigy. The Prodigy herself has the seemingly familiar armor style of someone she had fought in the past. As she pondered this further, Admiral Syrus emerged atop the stairway before approaching the Empress's Apprentice.
"Judging by your manner, I trust your mission in Lothadare was inconclusive, my lady?" Syrus questioned.
"In a matter of speaking, yes. The Prodigy managed to escape me again," she insisted.
"It would seem they also have a pendant that can open portals to other realms," Mercury said, leading over the railings.
Admiral Sirus squinted his eyes.
"How is that possible? The Kingdoms destroyed all their pendants long ago," Syrus proclaimed.
"So, what now? We don't know where they went," Emerald asked curiously.
"On the contrary, finding them will no longer be a concern," Cinder proclaimed.
Syrus and the others turned back to her.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
Reaching down her hand, Cinder pulled out the locket of the former General of Beacon. She pressed the top, which came open, revealing the small picture of Lukas and what she could only assume to be his daughter. A sly smirk then formed over her face.
"We now know who they are. And thus, this will make our search for them much easier," Cinder insisted.
Cinder shifted her glance to them with a sly grinn.
"Let the hunt begin!" she proclaimed.