Having sneaked away from his team, Jaune anxiously waited for the bullhead to Downtown Vale. Not that he had really snuck away per se. He had texted them saying he was going down to Vale to get some last-minute things for their weekend excursion. Which was true, in a way.
He loved his team, he really did. But he didn't want them around when meeting his twin sister. Especially since he technically ran away from home without as much as a goodbye. A part of him was half expecting to run into dad instead and be dragged back home, by force if necessary. The only reason his scroll wasn't pinging constantly was that he had set his family's numbers to mute. Not having the heart to read through Bloom and Dawn's messages. The youngest of his siblings that had always been rather taken by him. Always orbiting around him when they were younger.
A part of him didn't want to do this, not feeling ready to talk with his family. But he was running out of clean boxers, and he didn't want to use his part of the stipend on underwear when he could instead use it for plants and other ingredients that had 'spiritual' effects.
Or him spending half his available stipend on various knick-knacks that may or may not be usable. Why he had five dreamcatchers in his cache was for him to know and others to hopefully never find out. However the dreamcatchers were nothing compared to having half the vodka and moonshine that was confiscated monthly from his hometown's toll guard.
In all the references he had been reading trough there was always a mention of a 'clean base'. It might be water, but vodka and moonshine might be pure in another way. He didn't know as no book had a straightforward recipe, instead he had to cobble together ideas out from obscure references which was a hassle in of itself. Hopefully his hunch was correct, and hopefully he wouldn't be called up to the headmasters office due to his transaction history.
"At least your aren't mad at me Pumpkin Pete." Jaune sighed as he looked down at the bunny rabbit on his chest, having changed back into his 'casual' clothes. Not wanting to come dressed in his hunters garb. But given how tight his hoodie sat over his arms and shoulders, not to mention how his jeans clung to his butt, he was half regretting changing out of his hunters garb. At least then some girls didn't ogle him like a slab of meet.
In a way he was self-conscious, but not of his size. He was rather proud of the physique he had forged himself, his gruelling regime bearing fruits. No, he was self-conscious about how underequipped he felt. Even with both Crocea Mors and Mortem Ignis, he felt like he was stepping back into the streets of Yharnam, where beasts where prowling. A single misstep and he would be torn apart.
Yet he also knew that was wrong, he was surrounded by classmates. And while he didn't know much about them, he knew that the chance they would start attacking him with the intent to kill was miniscule at worst and non-existent at best.
But no matter how much he consciously knew that he was safe, his instincts screamed at him that he was walking to his doom. That his classmates would randomly attack him out from nowhere. He had already noted his exits ten times the last minute, had multiple plants of attack to incapacitate his fellow students as quickly as possible.
With practice eased he ignored those thoughts as best as he could, instead stepping onto the bullhead and strapping in. Glad that he his increased attributes made his airsickness almost irrelevant. It was still there, but muted. A soft nausea no worse than a mild summer's cold. Compared to what he had recently experienced in the dream it was effortlessly pushed to the side.
Setting foot into Downtown Vale, he made his way to where he had promised to meet his twin. A good twenty minutes before the agreed upon time, but his paranoia wouldn't allow him rest if he at least hadn't scouted out the area first. It would also make it easier to lose his dad if Lily had rated him out.
Not that he expected her to. Lily wasn't the type to rat out his secrets. Especially with how many times he had taken the fall for her. She owed him big time, and if he started counting favours, they would be doing nothing else for the next few days.
Taking stock of the café Lily had said to meet up at, Jaune took a walk around the block, looking for anything of note and making sure he had a way out if shit hit the fan. It was clearly a civilian catering café; more open and far more decorated than the huntsmen café Ruby's dad had taken them to. A light, almost carefree atmosphere permeated it. No one batting an eye as he bough himself a cup of coffee, a stark change from the cautious glares the other huntsmen had sent him.
He didn't have to wait long before the familiar form of Lily made her way down the street. Dressed in high platform leather shoes that went over her knees. Why and how she found that comfortable he would never know, but it wasn't like him to judge his sisters taste in fashion. A black skirt with silvery white highlights and a crop top with a skull motif. Together with her black makeup she looked every bit the goth she wanted to be. Even going as far as to colour her blonde hair black.
"Jaune?" Lily asked, almost disbelieving as she looked him over. "Damn bro. What are they feeding you at Beacon."
"Beacon? What Beacon?" Jaune started, shutting his mouth with a loud clack when Lily levelled him a look. Sighing, Lily sat down the duffle bag with extra clothes by the table before sitting down and ordering herself a cup of coffee.
"You sneaking away in the middle of the night with Great-Great-Grandpa's sword couldn't be more obvious if you tried. I'm, we all, are more surprised you managed to make it into Beacon before dad hunted you down. You should have seen his face when he returned home empty handed." Lily giggled with a smile, before a serious look settled over as she glared at him. "But, you know, I'm of half a mind to drag you back. Dawn cried when she had a nightmare and snuck into your bedroom only to find it empty. She thinks it's her fault you ran away from home. Not to mention how your aren't even answering her messages. Or any of our messages for that matter."
"Are you done?" Jaune asked as calmly as he could as he glared softly at his sister. Not liking how Lily instantly tore into him. He understood where she came from, even expected it, but he wasn't going to turn back. Because for the first time in years it felt like he was living his life. "If you are trying to make me feel bad, you succeeded. Congratulations. But you won't make me change my mind."
"You really are adamant in this, huh?" Lily muttered softly, sighing as she leaned back into her chair. "But it's not like I can blame you. Cooking, cleaning, handywork when it popped up, chaperoning Jade, Mari, Bloom, and Dawn to and back from their activities. All that without mentioning making time for yourself. It felt like the house stood still without you there to keep things running."
"Ehh, wasn't that bad in all honesty." Jaune shrugged nonchalant. With how hectic things got with ten people living in the same house, he had done his best to make give everything a sense of normalcy and calm. Allowing mom and dad a moment to rest.
"Don't 'Ehh' me." Lily glared at her brother's nonchalance. "You shouldn't have needed to do it in the first place. There is a difference between doing your chores and stepping up to make the household run smoothly. That's mom and dad's job. Do you know how ashamed mom felt when she found out how much you had taken on your shoulders? I mean… there is a reason why you haven't been dragged back kicking and screaming."
"So now you care huh?" Jaune snarked back venom, making Lily flinch. "When me and dad was screaming each other hoarse, you all shrugged, like it was normal, expected even. Not even giving me a moment of the day to wonder why. But the second I run away from home, chasing my own dreams you suddenly care? What a bunch of horseshit. Why didn't you, or anyone for that matter care then? Why now?"
Lily stared at her brother with hurt in her eyes. For the first time seeing the anger that was bottled inside come spilling out. Jaune snarked, sassed, and honestly could be a bit of an asshole from time to time. But he always stepped up, always smiled and was the first person to offer a hand to a stranger in need. He was kind and caring, always putting others before himself.
"That's not what I meant. You know that." Lily shot back, ignoring how her gut twisted as Jaune looked ready to tear into her. Kind blue eyes that always shone with love and supported, suddenly looked so inhumanly cold that she could barley recognise them.
"Look look Ren!" A voice called out, and Jaune's face fell. Cheeks losing their colours and turning white as his tongue lost it's edge. Looking at the trio on the sidewalk with an ashen expression. Not sensing his distress, or not caring, the bubbly orange haired girl excitedly pointed at her and turned to the pink eyes man beside her with a megawatt smile. "A big titty goth girlfriend in the wild! I thought they were extinct!"
"Please kill me." Jaune whispered, looking like he wanted to be everywhere but here. Cheeks a rosy blush as eyes turned to them.
"Friends of yours?" Lily teased, glad to have the forceful switch of topic. Not wanting to open the can of worms that was Jaune and his dream no one in the family had supported.
"Would you believe me if I said no?" Jaune tried as the trio come closer. Her shit eating grin told him the answer.
"You must be Lily. Jaune have told us much about you, all good things I promise. I'm Ren, this is Nora, and I'm sure you can recognise Pyrrha. We are part of team JNPR with Jaune as the leader." Ren said as he stepped forward and introduced both. "It's good to make your acquaintance."
Snapping her head to Jaune so quickly as she almost gave herself whiplash, she shot him a hissed whisper. "You never told me Pyrrha fucking Nikos was on your team."
"Partner actually." Pyrrha added, frowning slightly at Lily before shooting Jaune a doubtful look. "But you recognise me? Jaune didn't know who either me or Weiss was the first time we met."
"Dad… forbade us from talking about anything huntsman related when Jaune was around." Lily cringed, hating herself for placing her foot in her mouth. Shooting Jaune a quick look, she wished she had just stayed home instead. Jaune looked at her with eyes of burning rage. However that anger was nothing compared to the sheer amount of hurt and betrayal. The stray tear racing down his cheek a punch straight to the gut.
"I'm going to the gym." Jaune said curtly, grabbing his duffle bag and placing a stack of Lien on the table to cover his cost. Angrily stomping away as he ignored the looks she sent him.
"I'll follow him." Pyrrha said quickly. Leaving Lily alone with her brothers teammates as she sighed. Heart a mess of emotions as she looked at the departing back of her brother. "I really fucked that up, huh."
#####
"Shees, vomit boy is really going at it." Yang couldn't help but comment as she looked at Jaune laying into one of the punching bags with vicious abandoned. An angry snarl on his face as he rained blow after blow on the hapless bag, knuckles long since torn red but not caring. Each punch crashing into the bag with the sound of a whip cracking, sending it flying into another thunderous punch.
"Is he still going at it?" Pyrrha asked, stepping back into the gym after fishing of her workout, taking a shower, and finishing up her homework. Not having seen Jaune since she finished her workout.
She had decided on giving him some space to cool off. Also not wanting to push him further when he was so clearly incensed. Never having seen Jaune so downright furious. Even when he talked about the dream on end, it was never with anger. Instead it was with a solemn sadness, a quiet melancholy settling over him whenever anything about the dream was brought up.
"Yeah, he was going at it when I started my workout. And that was one or two hours ago." Yang said. While there was still some tension between Yang and Jaune, it mostly stemmed from differences in opinion instead of any lingering resentment. They might never become the best of friends, but they could hold a conversation, work together, and care for another. "What even got vomit boy so worked up? It's rare to see him mad like that. Even when that happened, he wasn't as furious as he is now. Not that he ever was furious, but you catch my drift."
"He… needs to work through some stuff." Pyrrha eventually settled on, not wanting to air Jaune's dirty laundry to Yang and all the other curious onlookers in the gym. While the gym wasn't pop full, a good dozen other people was working out.
"That doesn't answer my question you know." Yang said as she grabbed her towel, ready to head back to her dorm for a warm shower. While the gym's had public bathroom's, Yang liked the dorm's shower better. Not to mention she didn't have her products with her. So that was another point to her dorm shower over the gym one.
"Four, maybe five hours." Pyrrha cringed. Knowing fully well that Jaune was going to be hit with everything the second he lost focus. She had been there before, before she became the 'Invincible Girl'. When she was in her family's dojo drilling the basic stances and strikes for her weapon hours on end. Everyone would become good by laying in the hours of work needed, but one could only be the best by pushing one's limits day in, day out.
"Shiet, vomit boy got stamina." Yang joked as she sat down beside Pyrrha on a bench. Looking over at Jaune as he pummelled another punching bag into submission. With a soundless roar his fist thundered into the bag, thousands upon of thousand textile bits spilling out as he dug his hand out. With a sigh he lifted the bag off and carried it away, coming back with another bag and hanging it up on the same hock, before laying at it again with the same intensity as before.
"Soo, why aren't you stopping him?" Yang asked, not wanting to get up. Especially with how her legs ached in sweet relief at sitting down. Leg day was a must for any aspiring huntsman or huntress, power came from the legs after all. The stronger the legs, the more force one could bring into their blows. And as someone who relied on fighting almost as good as barehanded, Yang needed all the extra power she could generate.
"Why? While I'm concerned about Jaune, this was a long time coming. He needs to work through it." Pyrrha answered. Since Jaune had first been dragged into the dream, he had never openly grieved, whined, or mourned, or processed his emotions in any way other than bottling them up and hoping they went away. Even when Ren confined in her and Nora that Jaune had woken up completely shaken, bleeding from his eyes, ear, nose and mouth. Needing to be touched by his semblance to calm down. Even then, he never worked on what troubled him. Bottling everything up and pushing forward.
Finding out that his family had actively gone out of their way to make sure he was kept as distant as possible from his dream was just the final nail in a long series of happenings that cracked the bottle.
Everyone felt anger differently, Nora was quick to anger and just as quick to forgive. Jaune on the other hand was a volcano. Bottling everything up, to the point where it was unhealthy. Not letting anyone in on how bad he really had it, until something happened that cracks the thin veneer of composure he had. Then everything comes roaring out in a primal and vicious display of rage, a waterfall of fury that would drown anyone that stood in his way.
"Yeah, but?" Yang tried, gesturing at Jaune as he tore into the punching bag in a wild storm of brutality and viciousness. Dwarfing her when she fought in multiple magnitude's. And her fighting style mainly consisted of brawling. But compared to what violence Jaune was dishing out now, her style may as well look like proper boxing.
"I… don't think Jaune is in the mood to be told to stop." Pyrrha said weakly, doing a full body cringe as Jaune delivered blow after blow like a machine.
"One of those days huh." Yang added with a whistle, having been exactly where Jaune was now multiple times. The closest she could remember was when her dad had sat her down and told her about her 'mom'. The most spineless and worst woman to ever grace Remnant. Having pushed her out and taken one look at her and gone 'Nope'. And then fucked right of.
Shaking herself out of that trained of thought she could feel burnt out embers of anger warm in her gut. But it was easier said than done, especially when anger came so easy for her. Anger was warm, it was comforting, it fuelled her on to be better. However it would also chew her up and leave her a broken mess. The burnt-out hollowness anger left behind a feeling she was more accustomed to than she would like.
"So, I heard Nora talking about a training trip." Yang said, forcefully changing the topic. Something Pyrrha was thankful for if the way her shoulder's relaxed was anything to go by.
"Yes. We are going to be spending the weekend camping by one of the rivers bordering both the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall. So we won't be around during classes tomorrow. It's going to be grand. I'm so excited." Pyrrha said with a sweet smile, looking forward to the camping trip. Never having done anything like it before.
"Sounds fun." Yang said with a nod, before her eyes flew open as she laser focused on Pyrrha. "Wait. What do you mean you get to skip class?"
"It's not like you are imagining." Pyrrha said with a little laugh. "We will be tracked, and we will get detention if we step into Vale, as we should be all packed before tomorrow. We won't be graded but we are required to write an essay about what we did and how we went along planning and preparing for the trip. But should we prove to be trustful, we will be given a bit of leeway the next time."
"Way to take the fun out of camping." Yang groaned, excitement at the prospect of skipping glass melting out of her as Pyrrha went on. "That sounds more like a weekend assignment."
"I guess it sounds like it is. I'm sorry for getting your hopes up." Pyrrha apologized, even if she really looked forward to the camping trip. Never having done something before.
"Eh, don't fret the small stuff. You're only missing classes with Port and Goodwitch. Even if I did look forward for another shot against Jaune, I'll always have more chances for some rightly deserved payback. No one touches Yang Xiao-Long's hair like that and lives to tell the tale." Yang chuckled with a smile briming with fighting spirit, eyes burning red as she looked at Jaune. Already imagining the things she should have done better.
The second her burning eyes landed on Jaune, his head snaped towards her. Eyes an inhuman and sickly yellow with a pupil not to dissimilar to a wolf. Chillingly vicious cruelty the only thing in his eyes as he sized her up. A thousand and one ways to break her flashing in those inhuman pupils. Then in a blink only blue eyes remained, making Yang doubt what she had seen. Blinking and glaring at him, afraid that her eyes had played tricks.
Letting out a sigh, Jaune stepped away from the punching bag. Managing to take a single step towards where she and Pyrrha sat before his leg's gave out beneath him. Crumbling like a house of cards as he crashed face first into the floor, aura flashing briefly as he groaned. Followed by an absolutely deafening inhuman rumble from his stomach.
"I can't feel my legs." Jaune groaned from the floor, much to the laughter and relief of Pyrrha. Who was just glad to have him back. Not having known how to properly approach him when he was so angry. Social interaction's never having been her strong suit.
Pushing himself up, Jaune forced his legs under him. Managing to stand up like a fawn, wobbling legs as he looked fit to collapse again.
"Are you feeling better now, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked carefully. They hadn't planned to stumble upon Jaune and his sister. The plan was to visit 'Wand's and Witches' and see if there was any 'magical remedy', crystal's or anything else that could help ease Jaune's nerves. It was clear as day that 'the dream' was crushing him under heel. The few days he spent away from the hunt seemingly doing nothing in the grand face of everything else he experienced.
If they found some books or rituals that Jaune may or may not be able to do with his 'semblance' that actively helped ease his nerves, they would see it as a success. Hiding it, or them, with his things so he would 'discover' it by himself, not wanting to come off as to pushy. The last thing Jaune would need now was them pushing their opinions on him.
Especially when he was spending every night hunting beasts in a godforsaken city. He had hinted out that he had gotten a good enough grasp of his semblance to use the notebook to conjure up 'Echoes' of some of the beasts he had slain. Something he had promised to do during the training trip if they really wanted to. The look of pity he sent them after a unanimous yes was not something that went over her head.
The hunt was bad. And that was an understatement at best. Horrible, dreadful, soul crushing, and abhorrent being more fitting adjectives if what little truth Jaune shared with them was true.
"I… wouldn't exactly say better. Hollow or burnout would be more fitting." Jaune said trough moans of pain as he forced his leg's to move. Almost buckling and dry heaving as all the exhaustion he had ignored and powered trough came crashing into him. Hunger making itself known again as his stomach bellowed.
"Tomorrow's going be fun, huh, Jaune?" Yang teased good naturally with a mirthful smile on her face. She was mature enough to take her loss gracefully, Qrow drilling it in that an underhanded victory was still a victory. Not a piece of advice she was prone to following, choosing to instead overpower her opponents. But she wasn't one to let go an opportunity to get a one over Jaune. She was petty like that.
"Yay." Jaune said in the driest tone possible. Giving her a petulant look that made her preen and shot him a bright smile. Not at all hiding how she took enjoyment from his suffering. "You know, you can be a bitch sometimes Yang."
"I try~" Yang grinned as she stood up, acting the unflappable badass while her legs screamed out in protest. The way Jaune's brow arched up when he looked at her made it clear he had figured her out. But also being too tired to make a snide remark.
"So, vomit boy. Me, Rubes and the rest of the gang is having a girls night out tomorrow." Yang started. "There might be some drinking, or clubbing, I'm not sure."
"Yang. I don't care." Jaune sighed as he levelled her a look. "I don't care if Ruby, you, or anyone goes out having fun. You are there, and I expect you to take it slower since it's your sisters first time out. Go wild, you don't need my permission to go have fun."
"That… went differently in my mind." Yang said as she looked at Jaune with a smile.
"There is a difference between going out and having fun, and not feeling safe in your room." Jaune said with a shrug. Freezing and letting out a wheeze as pain assaulted him from sore muscles. "And… I mean… it's good to learn early that alcohol is bad for you so you learn to stay away."
"Ohhh~ That sounds like a juicy story vomit boy." Yang teased good naturally as they stumbled their way out of the gym.
"Let's just say not all of Vale's laws are as enforced in the outskirts, the age of underage drinking being one of them." Jaune started giving a soft reminiscing smile as he continued. "And, with the right amount of teasing, age is changed to the height of you and your dad's alcohol cabinet."
Leaving it at that Jaune hauled ass as much as he could towards the dorm. Wanting to take a shower as quickly as possible before heading down to the cafeteria. Doing his best to ignore the pearls of laughter behind him.
####
"We are going on a trip~, we are going on a trip~" Nora excitedly sang as they made their way through the Emerald Forest. So far, they had only stumbled upon a few grimm that was quickly taken care of. But that was to be expected, they were only twenty or so minutes away from Beacon, warm breakfast still in their stomachs with the sun gently peeking up from beyond the horizon.
It was the perfect mood for a camping trip, and if they kept at it like this, they would arrive at their goal before noon. Giving them more than enough time to set up camp without any haste.
"Nora please. It's too early for song." Ren groaned, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.
"Come on grumpy pants. I woke you up five minutes earlier than normal, and you are acting like the world is ending." Nora shot back, not losing the pep in her step. Instead she gestured at Jaune who was taking point, carrying a filled sixty litre backpack. "You should take a page out of fearless leader's book. He is carrying the tent, the sleeping bags and air mattresses together with clothes and all that. And you aren't hearing him complain."
"Now that you mention it, how are you Jaune? You barely could move yesterday." Pyrrha asked. Giving her friend and partner a sceptical look. Having firsthand experience of the day after soreness that overtraining brought.
"Oh that?" Jaune said as he looked back. "It's simple really. I'm dumping all my blood echoes in a 2:1 split between Vitality and Endurance. As of last night I managed to tip Vitality over the thirty mark, while bringing my Endurance up to twenty. Endurance as a stat is extremely self-explanatory, it just increases my physical and mental endurance for each stat invested. It may also do the same for semblance endurance, allowing me to use my semblance for longer. But I'm not really sure as my semblance isn't one I can really test."
"Vitality on the other hand is a bit more nuanced. In broad terms it makes me more durable with an increased healing factor. My bones become slightly denser, the same with my skin, as it takes more to puncture my skin now than it did before. Lactic acid is broken down faster, helping with endurance. The same is true with the speed muscles repair themselves. Creating a positive feedback loop where I train, relax and train again without needing much to worry about overtraining. I can also hold my breath for longer, and I think my blood carry oxygen better. On that note my blood has gotten an extreme red to it."
Humming slightly to himself he looked back, just in time to catch the smug look Nora sent Ren as he reluctantly fished out a sack of lien that she snacked with a beaming smile. Much to the amusement of Pyrrha as she giggled from behind her hand.
"Wait… were you betting on me?" Jaune asked, sounding more surprised than hurt.
"Yup. Pyrrha here was thinking you were going to increase your Skill, while Renny-boy was thinking you were going to up your 'Arcane' so you would get a better understanding of the 'Dream'. Looks like I know you best fearless leader, there is no way you wouldn't increase your survivability at the first chance you get." Nora prattled with a smile, handing a part of her earnings to Jaune which he graciously took.
"That's… a fair guess… I think?" Jaune asked as he pushed away a branch. Making sure the branch came back and gave Nora a whack in the face.
"Low blow fearless leader. Low blow." Nora called out as she massaged her sore nose.
"But you can't help but admit it was well deserved." Pyrrha said kindly, hiding her smile behind her hand. Pearl's of laughter ringing out as Nora blew a raspberry at her. "However… Jaune. Why the focus on survivability when you have aura? Wouldn't it be better to invest in Skill or Strength? Or maybe the more mystical attributes?"
"Twenty times and counting. That's how many times I have died to my aura shattering before I knew what happened. Aura… is amazing. I will be the first to say that. It gives you an extreme edge towards grimm, allowing you to shrug of blows that would have otherwise knocked you of out, shattering bones at least. But what good is it to be able to outclass every monster you meet if you are already dead?" Jaune asked, killing the mood.
With a shake of his head he looked back at them, mustering up a smile. "But… that doesn't happen anymore. Not to mention how Vitality is such a nuanced stat that I don't really know how to train it. Unlike Strength, Endurance or Skill. I plan to switch over to a 3:2:1:1 spread, or maybe a 2:2:2:2 stat spread, if I'm starting to feel confident, I might move over to a 1:1:3:3 spread. But for now Vitality is too crucial a stat to ignore. It's like it's the well everything else spring from."
"You have certainly given the matter some thought." Pyrrha said slowly. While she didn't agree with some of Jaune's choices for stat investment, being someone who heavily subscribed to the philosophy 'a good defence is a good offense'. She could understand where he came from.
"How can I not?" Jaune replied with an empty laugh. "While the 'dream' has some game-esque elements. I assure you; it is not a game."
Not letting the gloomy mood settle over his team, he looked down at his scroll. Humming as he ignored the rising sense of dread in his team. "That should suffice for a warmup."
"Jaune. No." Nora pleaded. Not wishing to find out what mad ideas he had conjured in that head of his.
"Jaune, yes!" Jaune shoot back with a cheeky smile. "This is a training trip after all. So giddy up. Let's step up our game, marching speed folks. Let's get there before the clock hits ten. I want camp to be set up before twelve."
Ignoring the despairing wail from Nora, he began hauling ass. Gait changing from a normal stroll in the woods to the long strides he had acquainted himself with in Yharnam. A quick peek over his shoulder showed that Nora, Pyrrha and Ren had no problem keeping up with him. No matter how much a drama queen Nora was at the prospect of a training camp.
As they marched on, traveling further and further away from beacon the scenery began to change. The tall crowns of emerald remained the same, however fewer and fewer good trails was available. In the end they had to march through bushes and foliage, making their own trail towards their destination.
Over streams, through mud, over and around tall mountains and cliffs, quickly taking care of the stray grimm. Jaune would say the trip was cathartic if anything. After spending so much time in Yharnam, a city of only doom and gloom. The verdant beauty and life of the forest was something that soothed his tired soul. There was no madness here. No beast's needing slaying expect the odd grimm.
It was peaceful.
A smile on his face, Jaune marched on. Ignoring the muttered curses thrown his way by his friends. He was in the zone, only having to open the map occasionally to check if they were on the right course.
"Ahh!" A piercing scream tore through the air, head snapping back he saw Pyrrha wince as she almost planted face first into a rock. Hobbling on one leg as she glared at the heel that had broken straight off.
"You alright Pyrrha?" Ren asked as he came over the tree with an elegant leap. Sweat pouring down his face, but he paid it no mind as he focused on his teammate.
"Yes, I'm good. Almost strained my ancle, but I'm fine." Pyrrha said as she sat down on a mossy stone. A strained smile on her face as she looked down at her boot, the heel having snapped straight off. "Unfortunately I can't say the same about my shoe. And I didn't bring a spare pair. I'm sorry."
"There is nothing to be sorry for. Accidents happen." Jaune said as he sat his backpack down. "If anything, we have made good time and I'm sure we can all appreciate a little respite while we figure a way out of this pickle."
"Finally." Nora whined, coming barrelling trough the foliage. Throwing her backpack of her back before diving headfirst into the little stream. Greedily gulping down fresh water. When she was done, she collapsed back panting. "Jaune-Jaune, not everyone is an absolute workhorse like you. Some of us needs to take breaks you know."
Giving Nora a bashful smile he sat down, taking a sip of water from his flask as he looked at Ren inspecting the shoe. One didn't need to be a genius to know that the heel breaking of was bad, but no one wanted to return early to Beacon. Doing so would leave everyone with a sour taste.
"It's bad. To put it mildly. You can't walk with these, at least not safely." Ren concluded as he sat down with a heave. Giving Pyrrha back the broken of heel with a frown. "If you can't walk properly, you can't fight properly. If you can bear walking back barefooted to Beacon we can get you a new pair without a heel, and hopefully still stay on schedule. But that's a longshot if anything."
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha said softly, having looked forward to this for an entire week. And now the trip was a disaster before it even properly began.
"There is nothing to be sorry for. Accidents happen." Nora said with a groan as she got up. "And now we have learned that walking with heels over longer distances in the forest or other rough terrain is bad. If you want to use heels while out in a forest, you want wide heels like mine, not sharp heels that dig deep. You want to be able to spread your weight over a larger surface area."
A silence fell over them as Pyrrha weighted her options, brows furrowing more and more by the second.
"I… don't get your hopes up, but I may, hard may mind you. But may have a solution." Jaune said as he fished out his bell to the curious looks of his teammates. A pair of high leather boots appearing in his hand as he sighed in relief, glad that the boots weren't sewed into the trousers like he had feared. "Here, this is the same types of boots I use. I don't know if you can use them or is there is any limits or rules to it. But it's better than nothing."
Sceptically Pyrrha took the boots, marvelling at how they almost 'materialized' in her hands. One second it felt like touching moonlight, the other the unmistakable feel of leather graced her fingertips. Almost giddily she got out of her heel's and stepped into the boots. Standing up and letting out a long-suffering groan of relief. "You know. You never know you have a bad pair of shoes until you get a good pair."
"I know right. They are great." Jaune said with a grin. "I always wanted a pair of seven-mile boots of my own. But they are expensive."
"Seven-mile boots?" Pyrrha asked curiously. Getting a nod from Jaune as he stood back up. "Yes. You should be able to walk seven miles without problem in a proper pair. Or that's what they say, so take it with a grain of salt. But they are great. Mud and grime just slide right off. So does blood and guts for that matter."
Muttering the last under his breath he sighed, checking his scroll before Pyrrha could push him for what he meant. "Ok. Five more minutes. Morning classes are just starting, and we are a bit over halfway there. Let's keep the good momentum going. After all, the faster we get there and set up camp, the faster we can slack of. This may be a training trip, and it is, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun."
"Now you are speaking my language fearless leader." Nora said with a grin, before collapsing back onto the forest floor, wanting to get as much rest as she could.
"I brough hammocks." Ren added stoically from the side. "I also have two bags full of marshmallows, some bars of chocolate and crackers for s'mores. No Nora, you can't have any now."
"I mean, what is better. Snacking on some marshmallows now, or eating warm s'mores by the crackling campfire?" Jaune asked teasingly as the most conflicted look he had ever seen settled over Nora. The energic bomber looking like she was pondering life's many mysteries.
With a mighty groan Nora forced herself up. Throwing Jaune a stinky look as she grumbled curses under her breath. "Well, lead on fearless leader."
####
"And, we're here." Jaune announced as he sat down his backpack, sweat racing down his back as he felt his leg's screaming at him. Taking in the little clearing he smiled as he caught his breath, the border between the Emerald Forest and Forever Fall. Green leaves slowly turning red, as if fall had come early. A wave of colour's giving the forests an otherworldly feel.
The gentle sound of a running creak rang out over the clearing, together with bird song, branches waving in the air, all coming together to create a tranquil oasis in a sea of towering emerald.
Idly kicking the ground he hummed to himself, it was good enough to sleep comfortable on with air mattresses, and if that wasn't up everyone's alley then Ren had brough hammocks. There were some stones sticking up, and some fallen trees that cramped the space. But with a little bit of elbow grease they could easily build a firepit and some sitting logs.
All in all, it was a nice area to set up camp, the access to the stream in the distance was just the cherry on top.
"That… that was far more tiring than I was expecting." Pyrrha said between pants as she sat down her backpack. While she was panting for breath, a content smile was on her face as she looked around the little clearing. Enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by bountiful nature, something she had never experienced before.
Nora sent her a tired glare as she collapsed over a broken tree, folding like laundry. To tired to get up, but not to tired to let out a loud groan, followed by a defending bellow from her stomach.
"I'm sure we all could go for lunch before we set up camp." Ren said as he sat down his backpack. A groan of relief escaping him as he rolled his shoulders, a soft smile on his face as he looked around the clearing. Stepping over to Nora he slid her backpack of her and started to dig around. Fishing up a storm kitchen, and some foodpacks, needing only hot water to get a warm meal.
"Chicken noodles, sweet potato curry, chicken curry and rice, and pasta and vegetables." Ren listed out. "First come, first serve. But Jaune, go fill up the water container. Pyrrha, gather up some sticks for a campfire. Nora, do a quick perimeter, just a quick look around so we know what is around."
"Will do." Jaune said, catching the foldable plastic container Pyrrha threw at him.
Pushing past foliage as he made his way down, fishing up his notebook and flipping to the pages he had made about different types of wildflowers that could have 'magical' properties. Only allowing himself a quick look around as he stepped past some shrubs before solid ground turned to wet gravel and large rocks. Quickly filling the container up he quickly returned. Food being a far to good incentive.
"We just got a fire going. Come sit down." Ren called out the moment he stepped back into the clearing. Quickly filling the largest pot he sat it down as Ren poked around in the fire. Leaving him to that he started to clean up the area. Moving some fallen trees and generally cleaning up the area. Making it easier to move around as well as clearing up space for when they would set up the tent.
"Food's done." Ren called out, quickly snatching the pasta and vegetables foodpack before anyone else could voice their complaints.
"Dibs on Chicken noodles!" Nora called out from the forest, as she found her fifth wind of energy and hauled ass towards the fire. Vaulting over a fallen tree as she snagged the foodpack before anyone else could get their hands on it.
"What is sweet potato curry?" Jaune asked as he looked down at the last foodpack, a bit miffed he didn't get his hands on the chicken curry and rice that his partner had snatched. Getting no answer from his team he shrugged and sat down on a rock. Shrugging as the taste hit his tongue before digging in. "Honestly could be worse."
Only the sound of hungry teens eating rang out from the clearing as everyone was busy shoving food down their throats. Tired body demanding nutrients.
"Ahhh~ That hit the spot." Nora dreamily sighed out as he let out a deafening burp. Patting her belly with a smile. "Almost makes the march from hell worth it. Almost."
"We are having another camping trip in two weeks. I want everyone's pulse rate to be down by at least five bpm." Jaune piped in from the side, holding his smile down for half a second before he broke at the shocked and betrayed looks his teammates were sending him. Not even Pyrrha was exempt, sending her partner a betrayed look as her leg's and calves screamed out in protest.
"Sorry, sorry, couldn't help it." He laughed out, as his team collectively let out a sigh of relief. "But we have to work on long distance marches, we won't always have a bullhead to drop us of. Not to mention it's good training no matter what. Can never go wrong with some extra conditioning on your conditioning. And when we get better, I will set some time limits, give the training camp a more 'ongoing mission' vibe. Maybe even add a required amount of grimm killed before we reach our destination."
"Maybe we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves?" Ren stoically added from the side as a stray drop of sweat raced down his face as he looked at Jaune.
"I pity whoever you take on as apprentice fearless leader." Nora quipped from the side. "But anyway, food is down, bellies are full. And I remember you saying something about being able to conjure up 'echoes' or images of foes you have faced in the dream. I… don't want to push, but I'm also more than a little curious about what you face. You are… doing better now… but in the start you looked almost afraid to go to bed."
A silence settled over the clearing as Jaune felt ten years older, even if he was impressed that Nora had managed to bottle inn her curiosity for so long. Patience not being something the pink bomber was known for. Having honestly been expecting the question earlier.
Glancing over Pyrrha and Ren he saw that both were giving him supportive looks, clearly wanting to find out what he was up against.
"Ok." He breathed out. "But… but, it's bad. I'm warning you, it's bad. Carnage left behind after grimm attacks bad."
Fishing out his notebook, he felt his mouth dry. Discreetly casting a look towards Ren and Nora, sensing the sombre look that fell over both. Two orphans who learned on the road, reading between the lines it was clear as day what had happened. But unless they wanted to open up, he wasn't going to push. Some nightmares should be just that, nightmares.
In a way, he envied them. Their nightmare was over. It still haunted them, shaped who they had become. But it was over. It had happened. It wasn't constantly ongoing, stripping him of morals while challenging his ethics and belief's with each new discovery he stumbled upon.
Pushing the dark thoughts away with a shake, he flipped to a page dedicated to the Cleric Beast. The first proper beast he had slain. The first horrific taste of what Yharnam had to offer.
Running his finger over the blade of Crocea Mors until he drew blood, running his bloodied thumb over the drawing and conjectures, he focused on the memories of the fight. The blood on his tongue, heart screaming at him in fear yet pushing on when he was half broken. The scream that still haunted him to this day.
"ooEEEeeEEEre!"
A familiar scream tore trough the forest, sending bird's flying to the sky as wildlife ran for their lives.
The smoke from the fire coalescing in the twisted grotesque form of the monster he had faced. Even when hunched on two legs it towered over them, the light of the fire making the grotesque monster stand out ever more than before. Giving life to the beastly eyes that shone with nothing but boundless hunger and malice.
A soul crushing silence settled over the clearing as colour drained from their faces. Three pairs of eyes turning to Jaune as he chuckled bitterly at the monstrosity before him.
"That. That was a person."
####
Note: This was mostly a transitioning chapter, moving the 'scene' from Yharnam to the forest without just a jump, while also adding some finishing touches on Jaune's family, giving some depth to how Jaune is coping, cleaning up the aftermath of the Jaune V Yang fight, while showing how Jaune's thinking behind his stat allocation.
Note: While 'The Beast Within' in Jaune is far from overtaking him, it is still there. Bubbling to the surface when he is experiencing any extreme highs.