the Classified Files of Jaune Arc

by EL PRISIONERO DEL MUNDO

The RWBY team, along with team JNPR, embarks on a journey full of mysteries as they explore ancient documents found in Jaune Arc's chest. Do the Grimm represent the greatest threat in this world? Uncovering the secrets of their friend could lead them to question everything they thought they knew about him; Jaune might not be the aspiring hero everyone imagined.

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Intrepid Adventurer

This story is a work of fanfiction based on the RWBY series. I do not own the copyright to the original series mentioned. This work of fiction has been created in order to explore the vast possibilities of the imagination and, above all, to provide entertainment. I hope you find pleasure in reading it.

-[]-

Leaving aside that meddling in a person's personal files is not right, that it is morally wrong and that for nothing in the world and under other circumstances they would do it, Team RWBY and Team JNPR were once again grouped in front of the computer in that room.

Yes, it's their fault that they were in that trouble in the first place, they shouldn't have played along with Nora, they shouldn't have read their friend's diaries. But in their defense, they didn't imagine that their friend was hiding so many things and that simply reading one fucking letter from his diary would cause them to be cursed for life. That if for some reason their friend found out that they knew about his diary, they would die instantly. Well, yes, no one would imagine that.

Now, while this was obviously a very bad idea, and that demon was clearly urging them for some strange reason to read their friend's files, it wasn't like they had much of a choice. The only way to break his curse was to first find out what the nature of the curse was, how it was made, and at what point in his life he put the curse on his diaries.

—"Okay, play this." Yang pointed to a file on the laptop screen.

They actually grabbed the first USB that came into view from the trunk. They didn't know where they were in Jaune's life right now.

—"Of course," Ruby, who was now in command of all this, played the video.

In the video

A loud voice resounded:

—"You're not getting past here."

A man in beautifully decorated golden armor, with a lion-shaped helmet, stood facing an imposing reddish creature that emitted so much heat that, even off-screen, they could feel the temperature rising.

That demonic creature had two enormous horns and in its hand a whip that crackled with evil energy.

—"Damn, I hope he at least gets a reward," the man in armor muttered. —"Galadrier never mentioned this thing was so hideous."

The man brandished his sword and pointed it at the creature.

—"No matter how powerful you are, no one stands between me and the kiss of a beautiful elf girl."

The creature roared, and the man, with a smile, added:

—"What's wrong? Jealous? Don't worry, you're not my type."

The creature, enraged, lashed out with a whip that the man agilely dodged.

—"Come on, big guy! Is that all you got? I've seen more intimidating kittens."

The man advanced with determination, his sword shining with a golden light.

—"Get ready, because no one, and I mean no one, is stopping me from fulfilling my wishes."

Out of the video

—"Okay, stop," Weiss urged Ruby to stop the video, and soon everyone in the room was looking at her curiously.

—"We're obviously going in disarray."

—"What do you mean?" Blake asked with a raised eyebrow. Was there something Weiss knew that they didn't?

—"Weiss, please, we're about to witness a fight against an incredibly horrifying creature and Jaune has some really cool armor. Whatever you have to say, say it later," Nora said excitedly, clearly more focused on the scene they were about to see.

—"What Weiss is trying to say is that we have no idea at what point Jaune placed the curse, so I think it's more advisable to look at his files from the beginning," Pyrrha explained, perfectly understanding what Weiss was trying to communicate. Weiss smiled, that was why she wanted to be Pyrrha's partner; it was as if they understood each other without saying a word. At least, that's what Weiss thought.

—"Exact".

—"Yes, that makes a lot more sense," Ren said, supporting Pyrrha and Weiss.

—"Damn, I hate it when they're totally right, but I wanted to see the fight," Yang complained, dejected but understanding.

It took a few minutes to find the right flash drive. The number was 01. Ruby searched through two files for the oldest one of them all. In her mind, she apologized to Jaune for the violation of his privacy, but it was a matter of life or death. One day she would make it up to him.

Finally, Ruby found the right file and inserted it into the computer. The screen flickered and the video began to play. The room filled with a blueish light as everyone settled in to watch. Weiss crossed her arms, clearly eager for what they were about to discover. Blake leaned forward, her golden eyes shining with interest. Nora, unable to contain her excitement, bounced up and down in her seat, while Ren watched her with an amused grin.

—"I hope this is worth it," Yang muttered, though a spark of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

In the video.

Jaune Arc was seen, and the recording seemed to be of questionable quality, nothing like the recent recordings they had seen. Jaune, who looked to be around 7 years old, said:

— "Wow! I hope this investment was worth it. I spent four months of my allowance on this camera. Recording stuff on my scroll is great, but this camera will make me look like a real explorer."

Jaune moved the camera from one angle to another, showing his room. There wasn't much there really, except for very strange things, like a collection of stones. There were many stones of different sizes. There were also dust crystals, although in smaller quantities.

On one shelf there were too many books with titles like "Potions", "Fables" and "Archaeology". There were many different subjects that were not relevant, like "Metaphysics", "Engineering", "Chemistry" that would be a bit complicated to understand for a child like him.

Off video.

Weiss muttered:

—"I'm sure he can barely understand many of those books." She didn't want to sound mean, but it was true, not even she at that age could understand anything from those books that were there.

Blake Belladonna simply had to add:

—"Yes, I think I'm looking at a level 3 engineering book. Say what you want, Jaune may seem smart but I don't think he's that smart. We're talking about a normal guy, a crazy guy but normal at the end of the day." That book, although it may not seem like it, she also read it once. Believe it or not, hunters are not simply subjects with special abilities that finish off the Grimm, they learn various skills, including engineering, necessary to take into account and maintain their mechanical change weapons.

Pyrrha muttered:

—"Jaune may be special. We shouldn't underestimate them, we've made that mistake many times before."

Ruby, with a mischievous smile, added:

—"Well, at least he's not recording a cooking tutorial. Can you imagine Jaune trying to make an apple pie? It would be a disaster!"

Nora, laughing, said:

—"Or worse, a dance tutorial! Jaune and his robot moves, that would be epic!"

Ren, with an amused smile, commented:

—"I think Jaune has more hidden talents than we imagined. Maybe we should give him a chance."

The room was filled with laughter as the video continued, showing a young Jaune excitedly exploring his room. The bluish light from the screen illuminated their faces, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun. Each of them, in their own way, was intrigued by what the video might reveal, and though the jokes and off-color comments continued, there was a sense of anticipation in the air.

In the video

On one wall of his room was a picture frame with lots of photographs, like in those movies where the main character has a conspiracy picture. There were pictures of lots of things, like a rabbit, a blurry photograph that looked like a flying object, and something emerging from a lake, although it was very blurry.

There was a picture of two girls kissing, looking strange. I don't know why that was in a conspiracy box, but Jaune had some reason, probably not a good one. There was also a picture of a man with a lot of hair and a girl with a sinister look, too sinister for her age.

Out of the video

—"That thing sticking out of the lake is fake, it's been disproven. That rumor of that creature in that lake, I think it was in the town outside of Vacuo. They first thought it was a Grimm, but there's no presence of those things there and then they discovered that it was simply a setup by a conspiracy photographer," Yang mentioned. She remembered that news, she didn't want to accept it but she was a little disappointed. The idea of a creature in a lake was strangely exciting.

—"That man has a lot of hair, what kind of creature could he be related to? A werewolf?" Nora hid her laughter but it was almost impossible.

—"Maybe a yeti," Ren added, with a mischievous smile.

—"Do you realize that Jaune has a picture of two girls kissing? Don't you find that strange?" Weiss added. She shouldn't be surprised but the truth is that she still can't get used to Jaune's perverted tendencies.

—"I'm sure Jaune doesn't mean it the way you think. In fact, those girls look a bit strange, those are too many piercings," Yang added, analyzing the image.

—"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's way too many tattoos, you can barely see any skin on that person," Blake added.

—"What about that rabbit? Why would he have a picture of a rabbit on his conspiracy chart?" Nora asked, trying to hold back another laugh.

—"Maybe it's a spy rabbit," Ren suggested, with a serious expression that made everyone laugh.

—"Or a mutant rabbit," Yang added, raising an eyebrow.

In the video

There was a photograph of Ozpin taken from a newspaper, the headmaster of Beacon Academy. All of those things were intertwined by red threads, as if Jaune was trying to solve a great mystery.

— "Yeah, it's been almost a year since I started researching fantasy creatures, paranormal stuff, and conspiracies, and I haven't had a good result ," Jaune said, dejected, like a dog that had been kicked.

Suddenly, Jaune scratched his head and added with a smile:

—" But at least I found this rock that looks like a dinosaur! Isn't that cool?"

Out of the video

—"I'm worried about what Jaune thinks Ozpin is, what he's sensing," Ruby said, looking at the image closely. She had to give Jaune credit, though, since Ozpin wasn't much help; the academy director was just plain weird.

—"Maybe it's a robot," everyone looked at Nora in surprise.

—"What? You can't deny it, the director seems lost, out of his mind, as if he doesn't understand social interactions," Nora said, shrugging.

—"Jaune looks defeated," Blake muttered. —"That shouldn't be a child's face."

—"It seems we're looking at your paperwork after a year of investigations. If you haven't found anything in that time, you're obviously discouraged," Yang added, crossing his arms.

The conversation turned more serious for a moment, as everyone reflected on Jaune's effort and dedication.

In the video

Then a voice was heard from outside the chamber:

— "Jaune, come down to dinner! And don't forget to wash your hands!"

Jaune sighed and muttered, —" Yeah, Mom, I'm coming. But first, I have to solve the mystery of the flying rabbit..."

Jaune turned off the camera, but not before making a funny face and saying,— "Scout Jaune, out!"

Out of the video

—"When you look at it that way, she does look a lot like Ruby," Yang said, stroking her sister's head. Ruby tried to push her away in annoyance; despite her age, she didn't like being treated like a child.

—"I'm all grown up now, for heaven's sake!" exclaimed Ruby.

—"Scout, that's the title Dai-sha called Jaune by," Blake reminded. —"I guess it suits him."

—"Do rabbits fly?" Nora asked, her expression genuinely curious. Everyone in the room looked at her, but it was Ren who answered.

—"Eh, no, not that I know of. I'm sure what Jaune saw was just a coincidence. You know, some idiot maybe threw a rabbit and Jaune saw it happen," Ren said, trying to hold back his laughter.

—"Or maybe it was a rabbit with superpowers!" Nora exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air as if she were imitating a superhero.

—"Nora, I think you've been watching too many sci-fi movies," Blake said, smiling.

—"Hey, don't judge me! Bunnies with superpowers could be real," Nora replied, crossing her arms with a pout.

—"Well, as long as they don't start flying for real, I think we're safe," Yang said, laughing.

—"Come on, Ruby, play another video," Yang urged her sister, who complied with a smile.

In the video

Jaune was visibly disappointed as he spoke.

—"In any case, I realized that that potions book was a complete scam. I should have known, it only cost me 3.45 lien," he said, letting out a sigh and looking at the book with disdain.

Out of the video

—"It was obviously a scam," Weiss said, unable to help but laugh derisively.

—"Come on, Weiss, he's just a kid... though yeah, it was obviously a scam," Yang said with a smile, giving Weiss a friendly nudge.

—"But of course, even for a slightly more elaborate scam, the book must have cost a little more," Blake added, surprisingly agreeing with Weiss.

—"Jaune should have known that nothing good costs less than 5 lien!" Nora exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air dramatically.

—"Well, at least he learned a valuable lesson about cheap shopping," Ren said, trying to look on the bright side.

—"Yeah, next time, Jaune should look for reviews before buying something," Ruby added, laughing.

—"Or better yet, you should ask us. We are your friends, after all!" Yang said, patting Ruby on the back.

—"Do you think Jaune actually thought that potions book would work?" Blake asked, arching an eyebrow.

—"Probably. Jaune's always been a bit naive," Weiss replied, shrugging.

—"Well, at least he means well," Ruby said, defending her friend.

—"Yes, but good intentions don't always save you from scams," Yang said, laughing.

—"Maybe we should do some research on the best potions books for Jaune!" Nora suggested, with a mischievous smile.

—"Or maybe we should teach him to be more skeptical," Ren said, smiling.

—"Or we could write our own potions book and sell it to Jaune!" Nora exclaimed, laughing.

—"Nora, that would be a scam," Blake said, laughing.

—"But it would be a scam with love!" Nora replied, winking.

In the video

—"And I still have a lot of reading to do. I don't understand a lot of these topics at all," Jaune added, scratching his head. It was kind of cute to see him trying hard to understand something he obviously shouldn't.

Out of the video

—"Well, at least we know that Jaune isn't a super genius, though that's not surprising either. But it's good to know that he understands his limitations," Weiss said, nodding her head. It seemed that Jaune was a bit wise.

—"I guess that doesn't stop him from trying to understand them. Maybe he asks his parents for help," Pyrrha added, with a smile.

In the video

— "In any case," Jaune quickly opened his desk drawer and pulled out a stone. In itself, the stone was nothing special. Then, the boy wet it with a cloth and on it a kind of drawing could be seen.

It was a tower, roughly drawn, with a figure at the top.

—" I found this on the edge of the forest," he said, his eyes shining with ecstasy.— "And it's not the first. Near Hazel I found small papyri buried there that speak of a tower, guarded by soldiers."

Out of the video

—"Ohhh, now it seems like Jaune found something that isn't just a scam anymore," Ruby said excitedly. It seemed like she was in the presence of something incredible.

—"Impressive, it seems Jaune found something truly interesting," Pyrrha said, her eyes shining with interest. It seemed like they were in the presence of something beyond common sense.

—"Do you think Jaune actually found something important?" Weiss asked, arching an eyebrow.

—"Well, at least it looks like he's on the right track," Blake said, smiling.

Inside the video

Jaune pulled out a pair of very worn-out papyri from his desk, almost reduced to pieces of paper.

—"Thank goodness these aren't hieroglyphics or anything like that. The language is in common parlance, so you can understand some of this," he said, waving his hands excitedly.— "I think I've found the clue to the whereabouts of the children's tale of the lady in the tower."

Out of the video

Silence filled the room as everyone stood stunned. This was something they hadn't expected. Was it even possible for Jaune to have found something like this?

—"If Jaune has found the clue to that tale... If he finds something like that, it would be the most impressive thing that has been done in recent years. Proving that a tale is based on a true story," Weiss murmured, her eyes expressing an ecstasy never seen before.

—"The Lady in the Tower, is it even possible that something like that could really exist?", Blake asked in disbelief. She loved that tale; her mother told it to her every night before bed. It was one of her favorite stories, and the idea that it could be real made her feel like she was back in her childhood.

—"I highly doubt that's possible or real, but if Jaune found the clues to that tower, I just hope his work is fruitful," Pyrrha said, looking at the computer screen with interest. Her eyes shone with a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

—"Imagine if she actually finds something! It would be like living in a fairy tale," Ruby exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She imagined herself running around an enchanted castle, wearing fancy dresses and going on magical adventures.

In the video

Jaune walked to the window and pointed out everything outside. It was a farm, a beautiful farm with crops of corn, lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes in large areas. The sun was shining down on the fields, giving them a golden glow.

Out of the video

—"Wow, that's a huge farm!". Ruby marveled. That was a large expanse of land where crops grew vigorously. It was a pity that there were no strawberries in those fields, but she wasn't complaining; after all, it wasn't her farm.

—"I understood that your family was a farmer, but this is too much. It seems like they supply an entire village," Ren said, impressed. Seeing such a large expanse of agricultural land was not something he saw every day. He remembered very little about his own village, and he had never bothered to look at the crops. That was someone else's job. Even when tragedy struck and he had to leave for Mistral to train as a hunter, he never had the chance to see anything like this. You could say he was a city boy.

—"It must be nice to be in a place so full of life and nature," Nora added warmly, imagining herself running through fields and climbing trees.

—"It smells like pesticides and fertilizers," Yang had to laugh. She wasn't entirely wrong. —"Although, if you think about it, it's better than the smell of smog in the city."

—"Or the smell of dirty socks after a day of training!" Ruby added, laughing. Everyone joined in the laughter, imagining themselves in the middle of the fields, enjoying the fresh air and the tranquility of the countryside.

In the video.

In the distance, houses could be seen. —"The only problem is that I've already searched the entire village and found no trace of that tower," he said, pointing towards the horizon where the walls surrounding the entire village, including his farm, were clearly visible.— "But maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. I need to go outside the walls and into that forest."

Jaune thought for a moment, then added with a mischievous smile, —"Or maybe I should ask the neighbor's cat. He always seems to know more than he's letting on."

Suddenly, her older sister Coral entered the room, carrying a tray of cookies.— "Cookies for the great detective?" Coral joked, offering the tray.

Jaune took a cookie and bit into it thoughtfully. —"Thank you, sis. I need all the energy I can get to solve this mystery."

Off video.

—"Wow, I'd like a cookie now," Ruby muttered, quickly moving to her room to return almost instantly. —"Where are my cookies?!" Ruby held up an empty box. Everyone looked at each other and had a consensus of what could have happened to those cookies.

—"Ask Jaune," they all said.

In the video.

Coral sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the scrolls. —"You know, Jaune, maybe you should consider the possibility that the tower isn't real. It could just be a legend."

Jaune shook his head. —"No, Coral. I'm sure it's real. I just need to find the right clue."

Coral shrugged. —"Well, in the meantime, enjoy your cookies. And if you need any help, you know where to find me."

Jaune smiled. —"Thank you, sister. I will."

With renewed determination, Jaune looked out the window again, towards the forest surrounding the village. He knew the answer was out there, he just had to find it.

Off video.

—"I have to admire her resolve. I wasn't this determined even at her age," Pyrrha said. It was true, maybe she was disciplined because she had to be, she was training to be a hunter, but she wasn't really a determined girl, she was more like a meek woman who went with the flow. That's something she's tried to change over the years, but it's hard for her.

—"Well, at least I understand that his family is supporting him," Weiss muttered, more as a reflection of her jealousy. She would have liked at least a little of that warmth that Jaune's sister showed him, but no, all she had was a mansion, the fucking Atlas weather, servants, money. She felt alone on a pretentious wall.

In the video.

the camera changed focus.

A tall, imposing blonde man could be seen, who looked like an adult version of Jaune.

—"Hey, son! How are you? Breaking out your new camera?" asked the man, who was clearly Jaune's father.

Off video.

—"Is that Jaune's father? Wow, not bad at all!" Yang licked her lips. The man was well built, just how she liked him. Although the beard could be removed, she wasn't complaining. —"Mom likes him, I like him a lot."

—"Yang, please! Don't do that," Ruby said, embarrassed. Her sister shouldn't act like that, much less talk about her friend's father like that.

—"Is this what Jaune will look like in a few years?" Pyrrha blushed and looked away. Her thoughts were elsewhere, far from Yang's, a little more sinful.

—"Wow, his father, unlike his son, is more formal. Jaune is very scruffy, but if he would tidy himself up a bit then...", Weiss shook her head, it was better to keep quiet before saying something out of place.

Yang, unable to contain himself, added with a mischievous smile:

—Well, if Jaune becomes as handsome as his father, I guess we'll all have to line up.

Ruby covered her face with her hands, wishing the ground would swallow her up. Pyrrha, for her part, couldn't stop imagining Jaune in a fancy suit, and her heart beat faster.

Weiss, trying to maintain his composure, commented:

—Maybe we should focus on improving Jaune now, instead of waiting for him to become his father.

Yang burst out laughing.

—Good luck with that! Jaune is a mess, but he's our mess.

Ruby nodded, finally smiling.

—Yes, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

The group stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts about Jaune and his family. The video screen was still showing Jaune's father, who was now talking excitedly about some project he was working on.

Weiss sighed, feeling a mix of envy and admiration. Maybe one day, she thought, she could find the same warmth and support in her own life.

In the video

—"Yes, and I also came for something else. Listen..."

—"If you come to ask me to train you to be a hunter, or enroll you in a school to be a hunter, or unlock your aura, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse," Jaune's father said sharply.

Jaune looked hurt for a few seconds. —"I didn't come for that. I wanted to know if you could take me for a walk outside the walls. I'd like to explore the forest like we used to."

Outside the video:

—"Wow, Jaune sounded a little hurt," Yang said with a little suspicion.

—"At what point did Jaune manage to enroll in a hunter school? If his father didn't train him, then he must have attended some academy. Maybe he did it on the sly," Weiss said, frowning.

—"Dai-sha mentioned something about you activating her aura. How is that even possible if Jaune had training to be a hunter?" Ren asked, looking at Pyrrha.

Pyrrha, visibly nervous, quickly replied, —"It's because Jaune didn't have his aura open when we did the initiation."

For a moment, everything was silent until Ruby spoke, her eyes wide. —"W-what did you say?"

—"We'll talk later, okay? Let's pay attention to the video," Pyrrha said, trying to divert the conversation.

—"Wait a minute! Are you telling me Jaune didn't have an aura when we did the initiation?" Weiss yelled in disbelief.

—"Yes," Pyrrha replied, in an apologetic tone.

—"That idiot was thrown from a platform to a cliff," Weiss said, almost in disbelief.

—"Yes," Pyrrha repeated, nodding.

—"He had no aura," Weiss added, as if she needed to confirm it once again.

—"Yes," Pyrrha said, with a small, nervous smile.

—"I'm not going to ask any more questions because I feel like I'm going to have an aneurysm. Let's keep watching the video," Weiss said, bringing a hand to her forehead with an exasperated sigh.

Yang, trying to ease the tension, added with a mischievous smile: —"Well, at least now we know that Jaune has more guts than we thought. Who would have thought!"

Ruby, still shocked, muttered, —"That explains a lot..."

The group turned their attention back to the video, but the revelation about Jaune still lingered in the air. Each of them wondered how he had managed to get this far without the protection of his aura. The silence became palpable, only broken by the sound of the video playing.

In the video.

Jaune's father spoke with a regretful tone,— "Thank goodness. The problem is that I'm leaving on a mission tomorrow."

It seemed like he really wanted to spend quality time with his son. Jaune, with a surprised expression, asked innocently,— "Aren't you a retired hunter?"

—"Yes, but there's been some Grimm activity around here lately. It's not safe to go outside the walls at the moment, so I was called in to help," Jaune's father explained, his voice filled with concern. Lately, some Grimm had been lurking around Hanzel's walls, creating an atmosphere of tension in the community.

—"I see. Next time then," the boy said, grinning from ear to ear as his father lovingly ruffled his hair.

—"It's a promise. Who knows, maybe one of your sisters will want to join our little expedition too," Jaune's father joked, though he knew neither of his daughters would sign up for that. Jaune's laughter echoed through the room, filling the space with a momentary warmth.

Off video.

Yang commented with amusement and a hint of dreaminess, —"Wow, Jaune's dad reminds me of my dad. It's pretty funny."

Ruby, with a bright smile, added,— "We should call Dad, we haven't done that in a long time."

Blake, raising an eyebrow, replied, —"Ruby, it's only been three weeks."

—"But that's a long time!" Ruby exclaimed, puffing out her cheeks in protest.

Yang, laughing, said,— "Yeah, Ruby, three weeks is an eternity. How about we send him a voice message right now?"

Ruby nodded enthusiastically, taking out her Scroll.—"Good idea! I'll tell him that we miss him and that we need his advice on how to deal with Weiss when she gets grumpy."

Weiss, rolling her eyes, replied,—"I'm here, you know? And I'm not grumpy, just… worried."

Blake, with a playful smile, added,— "Of course, Weiss. We all know that your worry is just a fancy way of saying that you're stressed."

The group burst into laughter, the previous tension dissipating as they shared this moment of camaraderie. The revelation about Jaune was still on their minds, but for now, they were content to enjoy each other's company and the little jokes that made their day-to-day lives more bearable.

In the video

Jaune laughed and then looked at his father with a serious expression. —"Dad, have you ever thought about how weird it would be if the Grimm had a fan club? Imagine, people cheering them on from the stands."

Jaune's father laughed. —"That would be something to see. I don't think Grimm are very good at signing autographs, though."

Jaune joined in the laughter.— "Yeah, probably not. But it would be fun to see someone try."

Jaune's father became serious again.— "Son, I know you want to explore and discover new things, but you have to be patient. The forest will be there when it's safe."

Jaune nodded. —"I know, Dad. I just want to do something exciting. Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped here."

—"We all feel that way sometimes," his father said, placing a hand on Jaune's shoulder. —"But remember, patience and preparation are the keys to any adventure."

Jaune smiled.— "Thanks, Dad. I promise I'll be patient."

—"That's what I wanted to hear," said his father, patting him on the back.— "Now, how about we go to dinner? Your mother has prepared your favorite dish."

Jaune brightened. —"That sounds great! Let's go!"

Out of the video

Blake commented, —"Wow, with a good family core I'm surprised someone with such an environment could turn out so reckless. We know that in the future Jaune will be, I don't want to say it in a bad way... reckless."

Weiss nodded.— "Yeah, even Yang wasn't that oblivious to his security status, and this is Yang we're talking about."

—"Hey, I'm not that bad," Yang defended herself, crossing her arms and frowning.

Blake continued,— "I'm right. In the future, Jaune will be very reckless, devoid of any sense of self-preservation. We don't know how long it will be before Jaune fights that vampire, but it can't be long. It won't be long before Jaune becomes such a reckless being."

Weiss sighed. —"What happened to him?"

Yang, trying to lighten the mood, added,— "Well, at least we're not talking about me this time."

Blake smiled and replied, —"Don't worry, Yang. There will always be time to talk about your adventures too."

In the video.

The camera shifted focus as Jaune retreated to his room. The focus shifted again, showing Jaune facing forward, with a somewhat lost look, as if he was considering doing something really stupid.

—"Alright, guys... tomorrow we'll be leaving the walls," he said, a mix of excitement and nervousness in his voice.

Jaune sat on his bed, staring at the scrolls and the stone with the tower drawing. His thoughts were coming and going, and he couldn't help but feel a little rebellious. He knew his father wouldn't approve of his plan, but curiosity was too strong.

Off video.

—"You know what? I take back what I said, Jaune was always reckless," Blake said, crossing her arms and shaking her head.

—"Are you seriously planning to go outside the walls even though you know what your father told you?!" Weiss exclaimed, shocked by the recklessness of Jaune's actions. She hoped, with all her heart, that he would repent before doing anything stupid.

—"Yeah! What the hell is wrong with her?! Is she just trying to be contrary or is she just..." Blake tried to say something, but her tongue stumbled. She wasn't one to talk either, since she often contradicted her parents just because.

—"It's because Jaune is very curious, he just does it because he's curious, damn it," Pyrrha said, she couldn't believe Jaune's words. It was too much, even for her.

Yang, trying to ease the tension, added,— "Well, at least we're not talking about me this time."

Blake said, —"Shut up, Yang."

Weiss, still in disbelief, added, —"I just don't understand! What's going on in his head? Does he think he's invincible?"

Yang said,— "Maybe he thinks he's the protagonist of an action series. You know, the guy who always survives everything."

Blake, with a wry smile, added, —"Yes, but in real life, things don't always turn out the way they do in the shows."

Pyrrha, trying to calm things down, said, —"Well, guys, maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he has a plan we don't know about."

In the video

Suddenly, her little sister, Violet, entered the room without knocking, as usual.

—"Jaune! What are you doing?" Violet asked, with a mischievous smile.

—"Nothing, just... planning a little adventure," Jaune replied, trying to sound casual as he quickly hid a map under his pillow.

Violet walked over and looked at the scrolls. —"The tower again? Don't you get tired of looking for weird things?"

Jaune laughed.— "Never. Besides, what would life be without a little mystery?"

Violet sat down on the bed next to him, crossing her legs. —"Well, if you need a partner in adventure, you know where to find me."

Jaune smiled. —"Thanks, Violet. But I'd better go alone. I don't want you to get into trouble."

Violet pouted exaggeratedly. —"You always leave me out of the fun stuff!"

Jaune ruffled her hair.— "I promise I'll take you with me next time."

Violet stood up and headed for the door, but before she left, she turned around and said, —"You better. And don't do anything stupid, okay?"

Jaune nodded, trying to look serious. —"I'll try."

Out of the video

Yang, her eyes filled with worry, exclaimed, —"Please, Violet, push him harder! Find out about his adventuring intent and stop him from going outside the walls! Goodness, be the voice of reason in this situation!" Yang spoke fervently. This situation felt a bit personal to her; she didn't want someone to do something reckless, especially since she was reckless once too and it almost cost her sister her life. That didn't stop her from being an adventurer nowadays, but this and that were another thing altogether.

Weiss, with a mix of frustration and concern, shouted, —"Come on! At least go to your parents' room and mention that Jaune is planning to do something!" Although she didn't like Jaune most of the time, she didn't like seeing him do something stupid and possibly get hurt.

In the video

After Violet left, Jaune looked out the window again. The forest seemed more mysterious than ever, and the thought of exploring the unknown filled him with excitement. He knew he had to be careful, but adventure was calling to him.

That night, Jaune could barely sleep. His mind was filled with images of the tower, the scrolls, and the possible dangers he might encounter. But he was also filled with determination. He knew he had to do it.

The next morning, Jaune woke up early. He dressed in some comfortable clothes and made sure to bring a backpack with basic supplies. Before he left, he left a note on his desk for his family, explaining that he would be staying at his friend Carl's house, but he was actually going to explore the forest.

As he walked towards the village walls, Jaune couldn't help but feel a little nervous. But he was also excited. This was his chance to prove that he could be a true adventurer, like the fairy tale heroes he so admired. His footsteps echoed on the cobblestone ground, and the fresh morning air gave him an extra burst of energy.

When he reached the walls, he looked back one last time, making sure no one was following him. Then, with a deep sigh, he saw the group of hunters preparing to enter the forest. They had a carriage filled with food supplies and tools. Luckily, Jaune was small and could hide among those things without being noticed.

Not even his father noticed his plan. Jaune had been very careful, watching the hunters' every move and waiting for the perfect moment to sneak into the carriage. Once they crossed the walls, he patiently waited for the right moment to grope his way out of the carriage and jump out. Luckily, no one noticed his presence and he quickly hid himself among the trees of the forest.

The hunters had a mission, and he had his. While they went deeper into the forest in search of their prey, Jaune moved stealthily, exploring the terrain and seeking his own adventure.

Out of the video

—"I'm surprised at how skilled he is at his age. He's surprisingly agile," Ren commented, admiring Jaune's dexterity.— "Even I wasn't that skilled at that age."

—"I'm more worried that it wasn't noticed by the guards," Blake muttered with a frown. —"The security in that village doesn't seem to be very good, or they were just a little distracted that day and Jaune took advantage. Or maybe Jaune is just really lucky."

—"I understand that Jaune is always accompanied into the forest by his father, but this time he will go alone. According to what we have seen before, this is not the first time he has entered this forest alone," Ruby said nervously.

—"Yes, but he's only gone when Grimm activity is zero," Weiss added, remembering that detail.

—"Jaune, the master of stealth! We should hire him as our personal spy," Nora joked, laughing. —"He could infiltrate anywhere without being seen."

—"Yeah, and then we could send him out to buy cakes without anyone noticing," Yang added, laughing as well. "That would be the best plan ever."

The group continued to watch Jaune from a distance, each with their own thoughts and worries. The forest was a dangerous place, but also full of wonders and mysteries. Jaune was determined to discover them all, no matter the risks.

In the video

The fresh air and the sound of birdsong greeted him, and Jaune felt a rush of freedom. He knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to face it. With every step he took, he came closer to the truth about the tower and the mysteries it held. The tall, leafy trees formed a green canopy above his head, and the forest floor was covered in fallen leaves that crunched beneath his feet.

And so, with his heart full of hope and determination, Jaune began his adventure, unaware of the incredible experiences that awaited him. Every sound in the forest, from the birdsong to the rustling of the wind through the branches, filled him with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Out of the video

—"Jaune is amazing recorded with that camera, he doesn't miss any detail of the forest," Pyrrha mentioned, more as an addition to the tense atmosphere that was being seen.

—"It's a nice forest, actually," Ruby added, with a smile.

In the video

Jaune walked into the forest with a determination that did not befit his age. It was not the first time he had been in this place, but now he had clues as to what he was truly looking for. As he walked, he muttered to himself,— "I hope there aren't any more ninja squirrels around here..."

The forest grew denser as he went, and Jaune had to dodge low branches and jutting roots. Every now and then, he stopped to listen to the sounds of the forest, making sure there were no dangers nearby. His heart was pounding, but he couldn't help but smile at the thrill of the adventure.

Out of the video

—"I hope the squirrel thing is just a whim to ease your nervousness that you're obviously hiding," Weiss said seriously, crossing her arms.

—"You're not fooling anyone, Jaune, you're scared to death," Blake mentioned, with a mischievous smile.

—"Jaune, the master of stealth and ninja squirrels!" Nora joked, laughing out loud.

In the video

The forest was dense and dark, with tall trees that seemed to whisper secrets between their leaves. The sunlight barely filtered through the thick foliage, creating a mysterious and somewhat eerie atmosphere. Jaune moved forward carefully, his small feet barely making a sound on the ground covered in dry leaves and fallen branches. Suddenly, he came across a few Grimm who spotted him, their red eyes shining with malice.

Out of the video

The girls were frightened and held their breath.

—"Jaune, run!" Ruby screamed in fear, her eyes wide.

—"Run away right now!" Yang exclaimed, his voice filled with fear.

—"You need to find a safe place to hide now!" Pyrrha shouted, her concern evident.

In the video

Without thinking twice, the boy began to flee, camouflaging himself among some branches and blending into the environment. His breathing was rapid, but his movements were agile and precise.

— "I'm an invisible ninja!" he said softly, almost like a mantra to give himself courage.

Although that wasn't very effective, as Grimm could smell people's fear, Jaune was oddly not afraid of them, so he went unnoticed. —"Maybe you two should consider a change of diet," he muttered as he crept away, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Out of the video

—"Did he really say that?" Weiss asked, raising an incredulous eyebrow.

—"Yes, and the worst thing is that he meant it," Blake replied, even more astonished.

Although they sighed in relief that Jaune had survived that situation, the truth was that they were deeply intrigued. Why did the Grimm just leave? Something wasn't right and they knew it.

—"Even if you conceal yourself well in the surroundings, without being noticed in plain sight, this shouldn't be possible," Weiss said, with a questioning expression. She couldn't comprehend what she had just seen in that small video fragment.

—"That's true, the Grimm must have sensed the fear and found Jaune," Blake mentioned. It was true, the Grimm would attack anyone who was afraid if they spotted them. Once you were hidden, it was best to keep your spirits up so the Grimm wouldn't notice your presence. But if someone was afraid, no matter how hidden they were, the Grimm would sense it. Jaune, however, seemed to ignore it.

—"It's because Jaune doesn't feel fear," everyone looked in Pyrrha's direction. She, absorbed, looked at little Jaune's face. —"They failed to notice it because he doesn't feel fear..., it's more like he feels..."

—"Fascination," Ren said, completing the words Pyrrha was going to say. She couldn't understand it. Why would Jaune be fascinated by these creatures? She felt sick to her stomach.

The atmosphere around them was tense, charged with a mix of relief and bewilderment. The shadows of the trees behind the window danced in the wind, creating an almost dreamlike scene. Weiss, with her snow-white hair, reflected the light of day, while her blue eyes searched for answers in Pyrrha's face. Blake, with her faunus ears hidden, captured every sound in the room. Ren, always serene, maintained a firm posture, although his mind was full of questions.

Pyrrha, her armor shining, looked like a bronze statue in the sunlight. Her gaze never left Jaune, who, despite everything, maintained a calm expression. It was as if the danger did not affect him, as if he were in a world apart, where the Grimm were nothing more than fascinating creatures, worthy of study and not fear.

—"It's strange," Pyrrha continued, her voice barely above a whisper.— "Jaune's always been brave, but this is different. It's not just bravery, it's... something deeper. It's like he sees something in the Grimm that we can't see."

—"Perhaps," Ren said thoughtfully, —"Jaune has a connection to them that we don't yet understand. Something that goes beyond fear and fascination. Something that could change everything we know about the Grimm."

Silence fell, interrupted only by the whisper of the wind through the trees. Ren's words echoed in their minds, opening up a range of possibilities and mysteries yet to be discovered.

In the video

When Jaune reached the place he wanted to enter, a clearing in the forest where the light barely filtered through, he found nothing more than that. He was disappointed, but at some point he stepped on something wrong and fell down.

—"This wasn't in the tourist brochure!" he exclaimed as he fell, his voice echoing in the void.

Out of the video

—"Jaune!" Pyrrha screamed, her heart in her throat. One moment, Jaune was still standing on the foliage of the forest and the next, he was falling downwards.

—"Wasn't this in the tourist brochure? Alright, I have to admit, your sense of humor is good," Yang said, trying to lighten the mood although she was also a little worried.

—"Alright, fast forward the video because Jaune will be unconscious for a long time," they all looked at Ren with a kind of annoyance.

—"Hey, I'm not trying to sound insensitive, okay? I'm just saying something reasonable," Ren defended himself, raising his hands in a sign of peace.

The atmosphere was charged with tension and worry. Pyrrha. Her gaze did not leave the screen,

Yng, with his carefree attitude, tried to keep the group's spirits up. —"Come on, girls, Jaune is tougher than he looks. I'm sure he'll come out of this with an amazing story to tell."

In the video

When Jaune regained consciousness, he saw a tower in front of him that was in disrepair, almost as if it could fall down, but its beauty was undeniable. The tower looked like something out of a fairy tale, albeit a bit more sinister. Vines climbed up its walls, and the sunlight filtering through gave it a mystical, ancient feel.

Out of the video

This was wonderful. Although the tower was in very bad condition, they could not deny that it was worthy of a movie, something straight out of a fairy tale.

—"Could it be possible that this is the tower from the famous tale?" Weiss exclaimed loudly, her eyes shining with excitement. She never imagined seeing something like this.

—"Let's not declare victory yet, it could just be some random tower," Blake said, sounding sensible but also excited. That tower could be the one from the famous tale of The Lady in the Tower.

The video continued, showing Jaune approaching the tower cautiously. His steps were slow and measured, as if he feared that any sudden movement could cause the structure to collapse. The sunlight illuminated his face, revealing a mix of fascination and determination.

—"It's incredible," Pyrrha murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.— "I've never seen anything like it."

—"Yes, it's like we're in a fairy tale," Weiss added, unable to take his eyes off the screen.

—"Or a horror movie," Yang joked, trying to ease the tension. "All that's missing is a dragon."

—"Don't say it too loud," Blake replied, giving a small smile. —"With our luck, it might just come true."

The group watched in silence as Jaune explored the tower. Every detail, every shadow, every sound seemed to come to life on the screen. The tower, despite its ruined state, had an undeniable beauty, a kind of majesty only found in the oldest stories.

In the video

— "Where's the dragon? There's always a dragon," Jaune muttered, looking around cautiously.

Jaune marveled, he had found it, the tower from the Lady in the Tower story. He approached carefully, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor. —"I hope there aren't any giant spiders ," he said, remembering his last adventure in the basement of his house.

The surroundings were gloomy, with vines climbing the tower walls and wind rustling through the cracks. Jaune pushed open the wooden door, which creaked ominously as it swung open.— "Hello! Anyone home? Pizza delivery?" he joked, though his voice echoed in the void.

Outside the video:

—"Damn, I have to commend Jaune for keeping his composure and daring to inspect a place that is both structurally and pathologically unsafe," Yang said, smiling in a very impressed manner. That place could fall down at any moment, but she still ventured in. Plus, from the quips he was saying, she knew that it was Jaune's way of staying calm and trying not to look scared.

In the video

Jaune continued to explore the tower.— "Where are the ghosts? There are always ghosts in these places," he said, trying to keep his humor. He paused for a moment to look at an old portrait hanging on the wall. —"Who is this guy? He must have been the owner of the tower… or maybe just someone who got lost here centuries ago," he joked.

The wind continued to whisper through the cracks, creating an even more eerie atmosphere. Jaune climbed the stairs carefully, filling up to the second floor of the tower, each step echoing in the silence.— "I hope these stairs don't fall apart," he said, looking down with a mix of nervousness and determination.

Out of the video

Yang commented: —"Jaune has always had a unique way of facing his fears."

—"It's amazing how he can keep his humor in situations like that," Blake said.

—"Yes, it's one of his best qualities," Ruby added.

In the video.

Inside, the tower was filled with dust and cobwebs, but there was also an air of mystery and magic. Jaune explored every corner, finding old books and curious objects. —"Who needs video games when you have this?" he said to himself, picking up a rusty sword he found in a corner.

He climbed the spiral staircase, each step echoing in the empty tower. Upon reaching the top, he found a room with a window overlooking the forest. The view was breathtaking, and for a moment, Jaune felt like a true fairytale hero.— "All that's missing is a white horse," he thought, smiling.

Suddenly, an unexpected sound broke the silence behind him. Jaune quickly turned around, only to find a black cat watching him with an almost human-like curiosity.— "Are you the guardian of the tower?" Jaune asked with a soft laugh. The cat, in response, let out a meow and curled up in a dark corner, its eyes shining like two emeralds in the dim light.

On one of the walls, an ancient painting hung, worn by the inexorable passage of time. The image depicted a woman with golden hair, whose beauty transcended the deterioration of the canvas. Her eyes, although faded, seemed to contain an ocean of secrets and her smile, barely perceptible, radiated an ethereal serenity. Jaune was amazed, unable to look away from that enigmatic figure. The dim light of the tower played with the faded colors of the painting, enhancing the elegance and grace of the woman portrayed. Every detail, from the delicate golden curls to the subtle curve of her lips, spoke of a beauty that time had not managed to erase.

—"How cute, I'll take you home to mom"

Off video.

For them, there was no doubt: Jaune had succeeded. He had found reality in fiction, a children's story that his mothers, or in Weiss's case, his butler, told him. Also in the case of Nora, who made Ren tell her stories when she was a child.

Jaune had found what many would say was simply fantasy. In the painting Jaune was looking at, there was no doubt about it: this was the lady in the tower, a woman of incalculable beauty locked in a tower, watching time pass by, eager to see the world but also afraid, longing for someone to take her out from the top of her prison.

—"How beautiful," said Ruby. The painting of that woman, although faded by time, could not help but fascinate her with the beauty of that drawn lady.

—"Yeah, it almost makes me feel inadequate," Yang said without taking her eyes off the painting.

—"A woman of incomparable beauty, so much so that armies fought in her name and kings fell before her beauty," Nora murmured. Those were some of the quotes she remembered from the famous tale. A woman so beautiful shouldn't be possible, but now, looking at that painting, she wasn't so sure. That woman, the lady in the tower, was very beautiful.

—"Yes, it makes Weiss look like an ordinary girl, almost more ordinary than ordinary," Blake mentioned. She was also dazzled by the image in that painting. Weiss, on the other hand, remained silent. Although she would try to defend herself in any other situation, she chose to remain silent. The truth was painful, but yes, that woman made her look like a normal person. If that woman in that painting looked like that, so beautiful, she didn't want to imagine what it would have been like to meet her in person.

Ruby, her eyes shining with admiration, moved a little closer to the screen to better witness the painting, almost as if she wanted to touch it. Yang, beside her, crossed her arms, trying to hide her own fascination, but her eyes couldn't tear themselves away from the image. Nora, always so energetic, was unusually quiet, lost in thought as she recalled stories from her childhood.

Blake, with his analytical eye, tried to unravel the secrets that the painting could hide. Each stroke, each shadow, seemed to tell a deeper story. Weiss, although silent, felt a mixture of admiration and jealousy. The lady in the tower represented a beauty and grace that she had always aspired to achieve, but that now seemed unattainable.

Each of them, in their own silence, wondered about the life of this woman. Who was she? What stories did her heart hold? What dreams and desires kept her alive in that lonely tower? The painting did not just show an image, but also evoked a myriad of emotions and questions, leaving each of them with a feeling of wonder and reflection.

In the video.

In that messy room, Jaune caught a glimpse of an unmade bed. He looked underneath it and found a small box, about the size of a microwave.

—" You're coming with me," he said with determination.

Jaune spent a good while exploring the tower, imagining stories and adventures. Finally, he decided it was time to return home.

— "Mom will never believe this," she said as she walked down the stairs.

As he left the tower, the sun was beginning to set, bathing the forest in a golden light. Jaune looked back one last time, promising himself that he would return.

— "Until next time, Mysterious Tower ," he said, before heading back home, with a smile on his face and a new story to tell.

And so, Jaune Arc, the young adventurer, left the forest, knowing that he had found more than just a tower; he had found a world full of possibilities and adventures waiting to be discovered.

—"Yes, the tale of the lady in the tower is true ," he muttered to himself, with a mixture of wonder and satisfaction.

Off video.

Jaune looked so happy that they couldn't help but smile. They were happy for what Jaune had just discovered, an adventurous child.

—"I can't even imagine the feeling of happiness Jaune is experiencing right now," Pyrrha said, cooing in her silky smooth voice, expressing happiness at seeing Jaune so happy.

—"It must have felt amazing, after a year of not finding any clues to anything, to finally find proof that a tale is real. It must have felt like he was the king of the world," Ruby said, beaming.

In the video

Jaune had found some really fascinating things, on his desk there were books, a couple of white and blue rocks that gave off a very faint, almost imperceptible glow, and a jar of honey. He discarded the honey immediately; it wasn't relevant at the moment. He already had honey at home and if not, he could get it at any store. But the books and the rocks, those did catch his attention.

—" That box had some very interesting stuff in it ," Jaune muttered as he focused the camera on the white stones.

Off video.

The girls looked at the rocks with interest. They looked a lot like that stone Jaune used to fight that vampire, that stone that was embedded in a stick.

—"That seems to be a dust stone," Weiss analyzed. But the truth is that this stone, at first glance, would look like a dust stone of some element, but it didn't feel like that.

—"What kind of element would it be?" Ruby wondered curiously.

In the video.

Jaune continued with his explanation.

—" These are not dust crystals. I have had time to study them," he added in a mysterious tone.

Jaune took one of the stones and, with a hammer in his left hand, split it in half.

—"If I did this with a crystal of dust of any element, my room would be smashed to pieces," he explained. —"Now, you might think that nothing happened because it's just an ordinary stone, which maybe shines because of some special property. But I tell you that's not the case."

Jaune took a fragment of the broken stone and clenched it in his fist. He closed his eyes as if concentrating intensely, and his hand began to glow faintly.

— "Look at this," he said, pointing a finger at the wall. Suddenly, a small flash of lightning, an electric current, emerged from his finger and struck the wall, leaving a large burn mark.

Jaune smiled, ecstatic, but his hand was numb.

Off video.

Weiss, watching the scene, closed her eyes and prepared for the worst. If that blast had been Polo, Jaune would be dead right now, and his room would be in tatters. But, to her surprise, Jaune was still unharmed.

The group of friends was stunned. Blake, wide-eyed, couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. Nora, always ready to offer an explanation, stepped in.

—"There are semblances that absorb energy from dust crystals. Although I don't do that, I also somehow channel energy into my body, specifically electricity."

Ren, more seriously, added, —"Yes, but unless you have a Semblance that allows you to do that, Jaune has no aura. He's just an ordinary human." His tone was thoughtful, as if he was trying to understand the phenomenon. "How is it possible that he can generate electricity like that?"

In the video

—"According to this book, this is a mana stone. These stones contain magic," he explained excitedly.

Like an excited child, Jaune began jumping up and down in his room.

—"Finally! I've proven that magic is real! This isn't some street vendor's trick, nor an optical illusion by a TV magician. This is real, true magic!" he exclaimed with joy.

Suddenly, Jaune stopped and looked at the honey on his desk.

— "What if honey has magical properties too? " he thought out loud, laughing.— "Imagine if I could make bees shoot laser beams!"

Jaune laughed at his own quip and turned his attention back to the stones and books. He sat at his desk, flipping through the pages eagerly, searching for more information on mana stones. Each page he turned seemed to reveal a new secret, and Jaune couldn't contain his excitement.

—"This is amazing! It's like I'm living in a fairy tale!" Jaune said, his eyes shining with excitement. His enthusiasm was palpable, almost contagious, as he held the ancient, worn leather-bound book.

Out of the video

—"Jaune discovering magic is like a duck learning to fly," Yang joked, still in awe of the revelation.

—"This could change everything! Imagine if this magic could replace dust. It would be a revolution!" Weiss added, her mind already spinning endless possibilities.

—"What will he do now with all this power?" Ruby wondered, imagining the crazy things Jaune could do.

Jaune, meanwhile, was busy trying to cast spells in an ancient language while holding the book in reverence. The surroundings seemed to vibrate with magical energy, and the characters found themselves in a limbo between reality and fantasy.

In the video.

—"But let's put all that aside, the important thing here is that these books contain the basics of magic and also something I found very interesting," he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

Jaune took one of the books from the box and opened it to a specific page. On it was a picture of a bald man. The illustration was simple, a normal, ordinary man, but his eyes were completely blue, even the sclera.

— "The Watcher," he began to narrate in a tone reminiscent of tales from beyond the grave, —"This is an entity that watches over all the events that seem important to it. In fact, that's the only thing it does: it watches everything, from any angle, at any time, at any time."

Jaune closed the book with a thud and looked at the camera with a mischievous smile.

— "But I'm not telling you this just to share information. There's something interesting in this book. If I can do a specific spell, I'll be able to contact that thing and form a deal."

Jaune never lost his smile, which now seemed wider and full of mystery.

—"What kind of deal? Well, this thing just keeps watch, so I want it to document all my adventures."

Jaune raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, clearly intrigued, he was pretending to talk to someone.

—"And what makes you think that thing would want to document your adventures?" he asked himself, in a tone that mixed skepticism and curiosity.

Jaune shrugged and let out a laugh.

— "Who knows! Maybe you'll find it amusing. Besides, who wouldn't want to follow my amazing exploits?" he said, making a grandiloquent gesture with his hands.

Jaune couldn't help but laugh too.

Out of the video

The girls widened their eyes. Sure, it sounded very reckless to contact an entity that monitored things. It sounded like something you should never call under any circumstances, but Jaune seemed to ignore the alarm bells. Obviously, they were ringing, or he just didn't have those alarm bells of conscience.

—"Recording your adventures," something in Blake's head clicked, —"the vigilante! That's why all of Jaune's recordings look like something out of a movie. The vigilante is the one recording everything."

Deep inside, Blake sighed. —"Jaune, you should be more careful. We don't know who or what this vigilante is. He could be dangerous."

In the video

Jaune cleaned up his desk, taking out a paper with a strange pentagram drawn on it. He placed on the paper some Mana Stones, a USB labeled 001, and a notebook that also said 001.

—"I have most of what I need here, except for two materials that are of utmost importance: unicorn hair and something divine," Jaune muttered, a mix of frustration and determination in his voice.

—"That's going to be a bit difficult actually. Where would a child get something like that? Especially the divine ," Jaune mused, scratching his head thoughtfully. —"According to this journal, there is a way to get a unicorn's attention, so that won't be a problem. The only drawback here is the divine," the boy sighed, slumping his shoulders. —"When the book mentions something divine, it doesn't mean a God, although that would be preferable. It mentions more like an object created by a God or something that has been touched by the essence of a divinity... Sounds like this is already lost. I don't know where to find something like that."

Out of the video

—"Wow, that sounds hard to come by," Yang said, this time not joking. —"Where would anyone in their right mind get unicorn hair and something imbued with divine power? It sounds impossible because it is."

—"Well, Jaune mentions that he can find a unicorn. That sounds really absurd, but I actually believe him... oddly enough," Weiss said, with a raised eyebrow and an incredulous smile.

—"I wonder how he'll even find a unicorn," Blake said, crossing his arms and looking at his friends skeptically.

In the video

—"I'll focus on getting the unicorn's attention," Jaune said, his determination leaving no room for doubt.

—"Luckily, I already left the bait in the lake outside the forest. I'll go check it out tomorrow," he added, while adjusting the camera to make sure everything was recorded.

Jaune looked straight into the camera, his expression serious. —"I haven't gotten a virgin yet, so that bait was out of the question from the start. I settled on the next best thing: a magic-emitting sonar. It took me a while to create one like that, but I followed the instructions in the book. Magic attracts magic, so that thing should come along eventually. I left it in the lake because they're drawn to nature and stuff. I just hope it works."

Out of the video

—"Oh, so that's how it will be, interesting," Weiss said, nodding slowly as she processed the information.

—"Although he's not entirely sure that will work either, it's more of a probability," Ren said, his expression thoughtful.

In the video.

Jaune leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.— "Can you imagine if instead of a unicorn, a giant duck appeared? Now that would be a problem," he said, laughing.

—"Or worse, what if a bad-tempered unicorn shows up? I'll have to run faster than ever," he added, making a dramatic gesture of running in place.

The boy stood up and started pacing back and forth, thinking out loud. —"Maybe I should bring a carrot as a plan B. Do unicorns like carrots? Well, if it doesn't work, at least I'll have a snack."

Jaune stopped and looked at the notebook with a mix of wonder and curiosity. —"This book holds more secrets than I thought. The lady in the tower wasn't just a princess… she was a very powerful mage."

Finally, she shrugged and walked over to the window, looking out at the forest beyond. —"Tomorrow will be an interesting day, that's for sure. I hope the unicorn isn't allergic to curious children."

Out of the video

The group of friends gathered around a table, discussing what they had discovered. Blake was the first to break the silence. —"That's a very valid question. If the lady in the tower was that smart and powerful, why was she locked in that tower?" she wondered, and it was a valid question with everything they had seen Jaune do at that moment with the mana stones. She had gotten it all from that book; that woman must be someone very wise.

Yang, ever pragmatic, suggested,— "Maybe a curse."

Ruby, with a thoughtful look, added,— "Or perhaps the people guarding her were more powerful than she was."

Weiss, in a barely audible whisper, said, —"Or perhaps she herself was unaware of the extent of her power, and her captors were afraid of her."

In the video

Jaune Arc, a boy of just seven years old, entered the forest with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The sun was setting, and the shadows of the trees created strange and mysterious shapes on the ground. Jaune carried with him a small backpack filled with magical tools and a heart full of hope. He had left a magic emitter in the nearby lake, hoping to attract a unicorn.

—"Come on, Jaune! It's just a forest! Nothing to be afraid of... except maybe wolves, or bears, or... No, don't think about that!" he told himself, trying to keep his spirits up.

Out of the video

—"How the hell do the guards let a child go outside the walls at that hour?!" Yang screamed, shaking her hair in exasperation. No one, absolutely no one, should let a child go outside the walls at that hour. It was common knowledge. Though she shouldn't be mad at those poor guards, maybe Jaune just snuck out. That was more plausible.

—"Incompetent cowards! I can't believe these guards actually exist in Remnant. When I have time, I'll make a formal complaint to the Kingdom of Mistral," Weiss also joined in the shouting. She couldn't handle so much incompetence. Ruby, although she didn't agree with the insults, was also very tempted to shout and say some curse words, but she kept them to herself. —"And if I don't hear a positive response, I'll personally go with guards from the Kingdom of Atlas to inspect Hanzel Village!"

In the video

The forest was filled with sounds: the rustling of leaves underfoot, the distant chirping of night birds, and the rustling of the wind through the trees. Jaune moved forward carefully, following the path he had marked on his last visit. Finally, he reached the lake. The water reflected the moonlight, creating an almost magical atmosphere.

— "Well, here we go," Jaune muttered, pulling out his flashlight and shining it on the area where he had left the magic emitter. To his surprise and delight, there it was: a unicorn, glowing with an ethereal light, its horn shining like a fallen star.

Out of the video

Weiss couldn't remember the last time she had felt so awed and amazed. That creature seemed to have come from the greatest dream and the sweetest song.

—"How beautiful," Weiss whispered, watching the creature's hair sway in the wind, giving it a divine silver shine.

—"There is no comparison," Blake said, also absorbed in the sight of the unicorn. It was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen.

—"It's amazing, how I wish I could touch it. Its mane would surely feel like silk, no, superior to silk," Yang mentioned, admiring the unicorn's mane. Unconsciously, she touched her hair as well, she couldn't imagine how magnificent it would be to touch such a creature.

—"This place is like a dream come true," Ruby said, her voice filled with wonder. "I never imagined I'd see something so beautiful."

Weiss nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. —"It's like we're in a fairy tale. Look at how her horn shines, it's like a star fallen from the sky."

Nora leaned closer to the screen, whispering reverently,— "She is the purest, most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Her light is so soft and warm."

Pyrrha, still touching her own hair, smiled.— "If I could touch it, I don't think I'd ever forget that feeling. Its mane must be softer than anything in this world."

Off video

—"Wow! It worked! It actually worked!" Jaune exclaimed, his eyes shining with amazement. But his joy quickly faded when he noticed something strange. The unicorn had blood in its mouth and was devouring a deer.

Off video.

The dream ended, frankly they hadn't expected that even in their wildest dreams. The beautiful image of their unicorn was replaced by a gloomy image, which wouldn't disappear from their minds for a long time.

—"What the... hell?" Yang said fearfully.

—"I think I'm going to throw up," Ruby said, her face pale.

—"Ren, I'm scared," Nora said, hugging her partner tightly.

—"I-I'm sure unicorns aren't supposed to eat meat, they're supposed to be benevolent beings," Pyrrha said, her voice shaking.

—"He eats it like grass, poor deer," Weiss said with disgust.

The atmosphere became sombre, the air filled with palpable tension. The girls, who had previously been filled with wonder and admiration, were now plunged into horror and disbelief. The unicorn's light, which had previously seemed so warm and welcoming, now looked sinister and disturbing.

Ruby whispered,— "I can't believe what I'm seeing. How can something so beautiful be so... monstrous?"

Pyrrha, still touching her own hair in a nervous gesture, added, —"It's like everything we believed about unicorns was a lie. What else don't we know?"

Nora, trying to remain calm, said,— "We have to keep a cool head. This is… unexpected, but we can't lose our composure."

Yang, frowning, muttered,— "This changes everything. We can't trust what we see."

Ruby, still pale, nodded slowly. —"Yes, we have to be more careful. We don't know what other surprises await us."

Weiss, looking at the unicorn with disgust, said, —"I never thought I'd see something like this. It's… it's just horrible."

In the video

—"Oh, wow... that wasn't in the book ," Jaune said, gulping. —"Well, I guess we all have to eat, right?" he added, trying to keep his composure.

Jaune approached cautiously, his heart pounding .— "Hello, Mr. Unicorn. I don't want to bother you, I just need some of your hair. Could you be so kind as to not eat me?" he said, laughing nervously.

Out of the video

Yang, watching the scene with her heart in her mouth, could not contain herself any longer. —"Jaune, please don't come any closer!" she screamed, her voice breaking with anguish.

Weiss, her face pale and her eyes filled with worry, joined in the clamor.— "Jaune, get away from there immediately!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing with a mix of fear and authority.

Blake, unable to contain his frustration, let out a cry of despair. —"I can't believe it! How can he be so reckless? Something must be wrong with his head. Maybe he fell as a child," he muttered, his voice filled with anger.

Ruby, her eyes filled with tears, looked at Blake and said in a shaky voice, —"Blake, he's just a kid."

Blake, without losing his sarcastic tone, replied, —"And that's supposed to reassure me?"

in the video

The unicorn raised its head, its eyes shining with an ancient intelligence. Jaune seized the moment and, with surprising dexterity for his age, snuck towards the creature. With one swift movement, he cut off a few strands of the unicorn's tail.

Out of the video

They sighed in relief, maybe the unicorn simply saw that Jaune was a pure boy and decided to simply ignore him, in any case why did he kill the fucking deer, are they sure that the servant was not bad, he was simply an animal, the concept of evil for them perhaps does not even exist..., in any case they just feel relieved...

—"Don't do that again, Jaune," Pyrrha said, her voice firm but full of concern.

—"Damn, I almost thought I was going to have a heart attack," Ren said, putting a hand to his chest.

—"I need some chocolate, I really want some sugar. I think my sugar level is low," Nora said, with a nervous laugh.

Out of the video

—"I got it! I got it! " he whispered excitedly, stuffing the hair into his backpack. But just as he was about to back away, the unicorn stared at him with its bright, enigmatic eyes.

—"Uh... you like carrots? " Jaune asked, pulling a carrot out of his backpack and offering it to the unicorn. The creature looked at him curiously and, to his surprise, accepted the carrot with a graceful gesture.

—"Yeah! He likes carrots! Points for Jaune!" she exclaimed, laughing in relief. Taking advantage of the distraction, Jaune slowly walked away, still staring at the unicorn, who was still calmly chewing the carrot.

The forest seemed darker and more ominous as Jaune made his way back down the path, but his heart was filled with joy and pride. He had accomplished what seemed impossible: finding a unicorn and obtaining its hair. The trees rustled around him, as if sharing his secret, and the moon illuminated his path with a silvery light.

Out of the video

The video tape ended and the girls were finally able to rest. Nora and Yang headed towards a vending machine in the academy, their footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. They got some candy and snacks to feed themselves and calm their nerves. Jaune really knew how to stress them out.

—"I can't believe he actually did that," Yang said, opening a bag of chips and offering some to Nora.

—"Yeah, it's amazing," Nora replied, chewing on a chocolate. —"But can you imagine what he could do with that unicorn hair? We know what he'll do, but what about next?"

Yang nodded, his eyes shining with a mix of admiration and concern.

—"I hope he doesn't get into any more trouble," Yang said, sighing.— "Though, knowing him, that's asking too much."

Nora laughed, her laughter filling the air with a comforting warmth.

—"Well, at least we have our sweets," he said, raising his chocolate in a toast.

Yang smiled and clinked his bag of chips against Nora's chocolate.

—"To Jaune and his crazy antics," Yang said, laughing.

They played another video

In the video

Jaune Arc sat in a chair in the park of his small town, Hansel. It was a sunny day, but his mood did not reflect the sun's brightness. He was disheartened because he was missing only one item to complete his magic ritual and call upon the entity known as the Watcher. He needed a divine item, imbued with divine power or containing the essence of some divinity, but he had no idea where to find such a thing.

As Jaune stared at the ground, deep in thought, a woman with silver eyes and ethereal beauty sat down beside him. She noticed the sadness on the boy's face and decided to start a conversation.

—"Hello, little one. Why so sad on such a beautiful day?" the woman asked with a warm smile.

Out of the video

Ruby and Yang were in shock. The woman in front of them was their mother, a figure they had lost a long time ago. Ruby, with tears in her eyes, could hardly believe what she was seeing.

—"Mom?" Ruby murmured, her voice shaking.

Yang, always the strongest, felt vulnerable for the first time in a long time. —"I don't remember our mother going on a mission to Hansel," she said, trying to understand.

Weiss, ever observant, noticed the resemblance. "So she's your mother," she said, struck by the similarity.

Blake, trying to remain calm, suggested,— "He must be on a mission."

Yang shook his head, his voice cracking.— "She passed away. She left on a mission and never came back."

Ren, Nora and Pyrrha remained silent, respecting their friends' pain. The moment was too personal, too painful to be interrupted with words.

in the video.

Jaune looked up, surprised by the woman's presence. —"I'm looking for something very special for a magic ritual, but I don't know where to find it ," he replied with a sigh.

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. —"A magic ritual? And what kind of object do you need?"

—"Something divine, imbued with divine power ," Jaune explained, with the seriousness of a child who firmly believes in his mission.

The woman let out a soft laugh. —"That sounds like quite an adventure. And what will you do when you find that object?"

—"I'll call the Watcher ," Jaune said with determination.

—"The Watcher?" the woman repeated, feigning surprise. —"And who is that?"

— "It's a very powerful entity that can see your destiny ," Jaune explained, his eyes shining with hope.

The woman smiled, clearly entertained by the boy's imagination. —"Well, I'm a hunter. I'm here to do a survey of the surroundings of the village. I'm hunting some Grimm."

Out of the video

—"If it weren't for the curse, I'd ask Jaune if he knows anything else about my mother, see if he can tell me some story I don't know," Ruby muttered sadly, her voice breaking. Yang simply comforted her, placing a hand on her back.

—"What was your mother's name?" Pyrrha asked, her voice soft and full of compassion.

—"Her name was Summer," Ruby said with a wistful smile, her eyes filled with memories.

—"What a beautiful name," Pyrrha said, admiring the beauty of the name.

—"Yes, the most beautiful name," Ruby said, her voice barely a whisper.

Nora, trying to lighten the mood, commented, —"Obviously your mother doesn't believe anything Jaune says," she said with a smile, trying to change the subject.

—"You obviously don't believe him. Who in their right mind would believe something about an entity from a child?" Blake said with a smile, following Nora's attempt to ease the tension.

—"Jaune is surprisingly open about saying these things," Ren commented, his voice calm and thoughtful.

—"It's either because he knows no one will believe him or because he simply thinks it doesn't matter," Weiss said, trying to understand the logic behind Jaune's actions, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and confusion.

Off video.

—"Grimm!" Jaune exclaimed, his eyes widening. "That sounds really dangerous!"

—"It is, but someone has to do it," the woman replied with a knowing wink. —"You know, you remind me of myself when I was a little girl. Always dreaming of adventure and magic."

Jaune smiled shyly, his cheeks blushing slightly. —"Really?"

—"Of course. Here, take this," the woman said, pulling a claw-shaped rock out of her pocket and handing it to Jaune. —"It's a little gift to cheer you up."

Jaune took the stone gratefully, his fingers caressing the rough surface.— "Thank you! It's very pretty. Does it do anything special?"

The woman stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes and preparing to leave.— "It's just a rock," she replied with a smile before disappearing into the distance.

Out of the video

—"Wow, how sweet of your mother trying to cheer Jaune up," Weiss commented, smiling tenderly at her companion.

—"That looks like some sort of Grimm claw," Blake said, watching the computer screen with scrutiny.

—"Yes, maybe my mother carved the shape of a claw tip into some stone. She always did that," Yang said, remembering with nostalgia.

—"Wow, that's surprisingly good. I can almost see how she emulated the wear and tear on the claws," Pyrrha said in awe, her eyes shining with admiration.

Ruby, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke up. —"It's amazing how something so simple can have so much meaning. It's like that stone carries with it a part of his adventurous spirit."

Yang nodded, her eyes reflecting a gleam of pride.— "Yes, my mother always found a way to make even the most ordinary things feel magical."

Blake smiled, his eyes softening. —"It's a special talent. Not everyone can see the beauty in simplicity."

Weiss, with a warm smile, added: —"It's a reminder that sometimes the smallest objects can have the biggest meanings."

The group stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, appreciating the connection and meaning behind the simple claw-shaped stone.

in the video

Jaune watched the woman walk away, and just as he was about to thank her again, he realized something.

The mana stone that Jaune had in his pocket began to shine and shake, with fascination he watched as the mana stone increased its brightness as he approached the stone that the woman gave him.

I had found it, the magic reacts to it if the woman knew what he gave her, but she had to thank him

— "Thank you!" Jaune shouted, but the woman was already leaving, without mentioning his name.

Jaune sat there in the chair, staring at the stone in wonder. The park, which had once seemed like an ordinary place, now had an air of mystery and magic.

— "Well, magic stone, it seems you and I have a ritual to complete," Jaune said, smiling with renewed determination.

Out of the video

The girls were speechless in disbelief. That stone had divine power? They didn't believe it. The air was charged with a palpable energy, as if Jaune's discovery had awakened something in the air.

—"Did you find it?" Weiss said, her eyes wide.

—"You said your mother carved stones?" Blake asked, looking at Yang with a mix of curiosity and wonder.

Yang, still staring at the screen, replied in disbelief:

—"That's what I assumed."

—"Do you have those stones in your room?" Nora asked, almost jumping with excitement.

—"I had them. One day they just disappeared," Yang replied, with a thoughtful expression.

—"It seems your mother was more than just a hunter," Pyrrha said, musing out loud. —"Maybe Ruby's mother was like Jaune, an explorer of the unknown," Pyrrha thought in wonder, her eyes shining with admiration.

Ruby, who had been silent, finally spoke, —"I always knew Mom was special, but this… this is incredible."

in the video

Jaune's room was completely dark, barely lit by a few candles resting on a piece of paper with a pentagram drawn on it. In the center of the pentagram, a pair of Mana Stones glowed faintly.

—"Alright, now just say the right words ," Jaune muttered, with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

—"Talk to me, you, the great storyteller," he recited in a trembling voice.

Out of the video

The girls watched the screen intently, their hearts pounding in anticipation. The atmosphere was charged with palpable tension, as if the very air held a secret about to be revealed.

—"I'm really nervous," Ruby said, staring at the screen with wide eyes, her voice barely a whisper.

—"I just hope nothing bad happens," Nora said, equally nervous, biting her lower lip as her fingers played with the hem of her shirt.

—"I hope that thing called the Watcher is friendly," Yang said with a frightened laugh, trying to ease the tension, but his eyes reflected a mix of fear and curiosity.

Blake, ever observant, added, —"Magic is unpredictable. We must be prepared for anything."

Weiss, with her usual pragmatism, commented,— "If Jaune has come this far, he must have a reason. Let's trust him."

In the video

Jaune grabbed a flask containing water infused with unicorn hair. He drank the liquid quickly, resisting the urge to vomit. It was not at all tasty, even though the creature it came from was magical and more or less benevolent at heart.

Then he took a knife and, with a cry of pain, cut his palm. The blood fell onto the pentagram.

—"Hear my call!" he exclaimed in despair.

For a few seconds, nothing happened at all. Jaune began to grow disheartened, disappointed. Once again his search for something magical had failed. But at least he had met a unicorn, so he had gained something.

—"Oh, please! That water with unicorn hair in it didn't taste good at all!" she complained, making a face of disgust.

Out of the video

—"Yuck, that was gross!" Ruby grimaced as she watched Jaune drink that water with unicorn hair.—"I know that creature was beautiful, but that was disgusting."

—"Wow, that was disappointing, nothing happened," Yang crossed her arms, though she was relieved that nothing happened.—"That thing about contacting an entity didn't sound safe."

—"I hope you don't get sick from drinking that water," Weiss said with disgust.

Blake, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up. —"Does anyone else think this is totally crazy? I mean, who drinks water with unicorn hair in it?"

Nora, ever the optimist, added with a smile, —"Maybe Jaune will turn into a unicorn! That would be great!"

Ruby, trying to lighten the mood, said, —"Hey, at least you didn't turn into a toad or something worse!"

Yang laughed. —"Yeah, imagine that. Jaune, the magic toad."

in the video

Jaune didn't know what he was doing wrong. Something was missing, and then, in a moment of clarity, he realized. He hit his head with his bloody hand, leaving a smear. —"Gross," he muttered.

He placed the stone that the woman had given him in the center of the blood-stained pentagram. The effect was instantaneous. The room began to vibrate. Jaune watched in fascination at everything that was happening, mentally hoping that nothing bad would happen.

It was then that Jaune felt something trying to communicate with him, or rather, something trying to get inside him. He fell into a trance, and his eyes began to glow a phosphorescent blue, even illuminating the sclera.

And then he started talking, he could see it, that thing, the guard, of course, he didn't expect to see the real figure of that entity, he could only see a silhouette and its eyes.

—"I want to ask you for a deal, ask for whatever you want but I want you to document my life, write my thoughts and experiences in my diaries, save and record all my adventures and store them on those USBs that are in the pentagram."

That entity was talking to Jaune, but he was the only one who could hear that thing.

—"You don't want anything in return? That sounds very suspicious... but I'm not complaining.

Out of the video

The girls were shaking in fear. The atmosphere on the screen was sinister; even they could feel a kind of presence in the room, as if an invisible power was flooding through it, transmitted from the computer screen.

Seeing little Jaune talking to himself didn't help calm her nerves, and the gleam in his eyes only added to her fear.

"It's unsettling to see him talking to himself," Weiss said suspiciously.

—"That entity is communicating with Jaune. It's like watching a horror movie," Ruby said, shivering. —"I don't like those movies."

Yang, eyes wide, added, "This is scarier than I expected. What do you think is going to happen?"

Blake, ever analytical, observed: —"There's something deeply disturbing about all this. The way that entity manifests itself... it's like it's messing with your mind."

Nora, trying to remain calm, commented, —"Jaune is strong. If anyone can handle this, it's him. But still, this is... creepy."

Out of the video

In an instant, the camera recording the entire scene seemed to move, and then, as if by magic, the quality of the video, which had previously been questionable, began to improve, becoming surprisingly clear.

Jaune returned to normal and smiled confidently, a confidence that disappeared instantly. —"I wanted to ask for a few more things, but that will be for another time," he muttered, with a hint of frustration.

Out of the video

For teams RWBY and JNPR, that was spectacular. It seemed like the question of how Jaune recorded his adventures, with different takes, angles, top-notch sound quality, and impeccable editing, finally had an answer.

—"One less question in Jaune's life," Weiss said, still in disbelief at what she had witnessed.

—"At least it turned out okay," Nora said, relieved. "That entity could have possessed Jaune's body, perhaps killed him."

Nora's comment was terrifying, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

The recording continued.

Jaune was seen alone, sitting at his desk, reading his spell book. Hours passed watching Jaune sit, ignoring his mother's calls for him to come down to eat. He insisted on having his food brought to his room.

—"How boring, fast forward the video," Yang shouted impatiently. —"Ruby, fast forward the video."

—"I don't think that..."

—"Fast forward!" Yang pressed, with a mix of frustration and curiosity.

Finally, they decided to listen to Yang. They fast-forwarded the video, and indeed, almost the entire footage was just Jaune reading the book. Yang, taking command of the situation, closed the video and opened another playback, the next video on the list.

—"Well, at least now we know how he gets such epic shots," Blake commented, with a wry smile.

—"Yeah, but who needs to watch Jaune reading for hours? What a waste of time!" Yang added, rolling her eyes.

—"Maybe we should give him an intervention about his study habits," Ruby joked, trying to ease the tension.

—"Or we could just enjoy the show," Weiss said, her tone sarcastic. —"After all, it's not every day we see someone possessed by a mysterious entity."

—"Exactly! And besides, who needs Valeflix when you have Jaune and his supernatural adventures?" Nora added, laughing.

In the video

— "This is great, look!"

Jaune held a glass vial with red contents in his hand. "I got it. It was a bit tricky, you know, finding those materials isn't easy, but I got it. The vial of blood, even this book said it was almost impossible to make, but somehow I did it."

—"Of course, I had to replace the unicorn blood with just its hair. First of all, they're technically parts of that animal and I'm not going to risk being eaten by that thing," Jaune shuddered. —"Leaving that aside, it's already been a month since I found the tower."

Out of the video

—"It's been a month already?" Ruby exclaimed, surprised. They assumed that the vigilante edited the video to show only the important things, but still, they couldn't help but feel that they had missed other details, like how Jaune made that potion and the exact procedures. Weiss voiced her displeasure.

—"This is the last time we listen to you, Yang," Weiss said, crossing her arms.

—"Yeah, sorry," Yang apologized, though he didn't seem to feel much guilt.

—"I wanted to see the procedure for that potion... I guess I'll read about it in the journal," Blake said, with a sigh of resignation.

—"Come on, girls! Admit it's not exciting to watch someone read," Yang said, trying to lighten the mood. —"Besides, who needs to see every little detail when we have the abridged and improved version?"

—"Yes, but some of us enjoy the details," Weiss replied, with a reproachful look.

In the video

Jaune walked over to his bed and pulled out a trunk, a sizable one at that. It was surprising how he could even move that thing at his age. —"You might be wondering, how is it that I can move this? Well, it's all thanks to this little handle right here," Jaune showed that in his right hand he had some sort of cloth or leather handle, rustic and with a small fragment of a mana stone and an inscription that said 'strength. '"

—"It increases my physical capabilities three times. Sure, the effect only lasts until the mana in this stone runs out, but it's not bad," Jaune said, holding a glowing stone in his hand.

Out of the video

—"Impressive," Weiss said, with a mix of amazement and admiration. —"It's not much strength compared to his age, but it's something."

—"I guess he still hasn't found that ring that gives him that super strength," Yang commented, with a mischievous smile.

—"Yes! Did you see how much resistance he had? By the brother gods, I wish I had that resistance," exclaimed Nora, her eyes shining with excitement.

—"And let's not forget that talisman with the drawing of an ox. That strength was monstrous. In fact, I don't think any hunter is that strong," Ren added, with a thoughtful expression.

—"I could match that strength if I use my Semblance," Yang said, his tone defiant, his eyes shining with determination.

—"Of course, but after you took a considerable amount of damage, you're left vulnerable after that," Ruby replied, with a wry smile. —"Jaune doesn't seem to have that problem."

In the video

—"But that's not what I came to show you, look at this," he added with a mysterious smile as he opened an antique trunk. Inside, there was a carpet.

Very carefully, Jaune spread the rug out on the floor. It was a very elaborate rug, with drawings and a strange language embroidered on it. It looked like something ordinary, but Jaune knew it wasn't.

—"Do you remember that rug I bought at Mr. Oswell's store?" he asked, looking at the camera.

The camera flickered to show Jaune at the counter of the store, where the rug was.

—"40 liens for this rug," said Mr. Oswell, with a sly smile.

—"30," Jaune replied, haggling with determination.

—"Done," Oswell agreed, shaking Jaune's hand.

Out of the video

—"Obviously we didn't see it, but I wonder whose fault it is?" Weiss said looking at a certain person, and that certain person looked away.

—"I already apologized," Yang said, crossing his arms in frustration.

—"Yes, but I feel like you're not really sorry," Weiss replied, with a raised eyebrow.

Ruby approached the carpet, her eyes filled with curiosity. —"What do you think this language means?" she asked, pointing at the intricate embroidery.

Blake, ever observant, leaned in for a closer look. —"It looks ancient, perhaps from a lost civilization," she suggested, her voice filled with fascination.

Nora, unable to contain her excitement, exclaimed,— "It's like a hidden treasure! What else do you think I could do?"

In the video

Jaune smiled at the memory. —"I knew there was something special about this carpet. The fact that it was so old and these characters," he said, pointing at the embroidered drawings on the carpet,— "mean Erebor. The books I found in that tower have characters very similar to these. They're not 100% accurate, but you can get some of it. And then there's this."

Jaune searched through an old notebook page by page until he found a drawing of a map. The drawing was basic, as if it had been drawn by a child.

—"Maybe it's fate. This notebook tells of a kingdom run by dwarves, where they traded jewels and gems, and also fish, though that part didn't interest me much," Jaune said, laughing. He began to read what was in the book. —"It seems that the lady of the tower acquired fabrics from that kingdom for herself, or rather, her father requested the fabrics as gifts for his daughter."

Jaune pointed his finger at a specific spot on the map.— "This is the tower," he said, tracing a path that ended at a lonely mountain.— "This is Erebor, the kingdom carved into the lonely mountain."

Out of the video

Ruby, a little nervous, commented,— "Okay, I'm starting to notice that this isn't going to go very well," This was a trend, it seemed that Jaune always discovered something that was in a dangerous part of the world, but that didn't seem to matter to him.

Blake frowned thoughtfully.— "Erebor… I've never heard that word. There are no tales of that realm."

Nora, her eyes shining with excitement, shouted, —"Dwarves! Do you hear that, Ren?! Maybe Jaune will find dwarves, like in fantasy tales!"

Weiss, with a raised eyebrow, asked,— "And what do you plan to do with this information, Jaune?"

In the video

Jaune, with a serious expression, asked himself,— "And what do you plan to do with this information?"

Out of the video

Everyone laughed at Weiss's expense, who blushed slightly. It was funny to see how they both thought the same way.

In the video

—"Adventure, of course!" Jaune exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his eyes. —"Imagine the riches and secrets we could find there. Plus, I've always wanted to meet a dwarf. Wouldn't that be great?"

—"I have it all planned out. My summer vacation is here and I'm supposedly," Jaune snickered as he flexed his fingers, —"going to summer camp for a month."

The little boy walked to the window, looking out at the walls of his village.— "My reference is from the tower. I estimate it will be a 10-day journey to get there. I need someone to accompany me, to act as a bodyguard."

Out of the video

—"A 10-day journey... That sounds like a very long way. I don't think it's reasonable to make that trip," Pyrrha said nervously. She looked at the map, noting where Erebor was and, taking the forest where the tower was located as a reference, she began to fear where Jaune was going to go.

—"I just hope I'm wrong, but I don't think Jaune is going to go there... right?" Yang asked fearfully. The question hung in the air, but no one answered. Even she, with her prudence, wouldn't dare step foot in that place, not without a team. Not even with a team; she would need an entire group of hunters if she wanted to go there.

—"I hope you're wrong, because this is already insane," Weiss said, eyes wide.

In the video

Jaune now found himself in a bar. He knew what he was getting himself into; he shouldn't be there for any reason, but he needed to find a hunter. And well, hunters weren't exactly known for being in good places when they were on missions. Most seemed to just enjoy the pleasures of life, and that involved alcohol.

When she entered, everyone was a little puzzled. Why was a child there? But they let him in. Maybe he was the owner's son or the owner's nephew. Or maybe his mother worked there and was looking for her.

With trepidation, Jaune approached a table. He assumed that the guy there was a hunter, just like his friends, because they had big guns and looked pretty tough. The man looked up and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

—"What are you doing here, boy?" the hunter asked in a hoarse voice.

Out of the video

—"Wow, this scene is strangely familiar to me," Yang said with an amused smile. Yes, this scene was exactly like the one she saw when Jaune went on a vampire hunt.

—"Yes, but this time he's not looking for a drunken madman, but for some drunken hunters," Blake said with a flat look.

Weiss sighed and said, "Well, at least this time he seems to have a clear purpose. Although, honestly, what kind of hunter gets drunk in the middle of a mission?"

Pyrrha smiled and said, "Jaune has always had a brave heart, though sometimes his methods are... questionable."

In the video

—"Good morning, sir," the boy said timidly.

Contrary to how the man looked and how Jaune expected the man to speak, the guy was extremely friendly. —"Kid, hey, what are you doing here? This is no place for a kid. Come back in a few years and I'll buy you a beer." Yes, this guy was very friendly. Jaune expected a deeper voice, but he wasn't complaining.

—"Are you lost? Are you looking for someone here?" said the other hunter who was at the same table.

—"We can take you to the police station. They might be able to help you better than us," said another man at that same table as he took a sip of his beer.

—"Hey, bring some chicken wings. We have a guest," said another man who was also at that table.

Jaune felt a little more relaxed seeing the men's kindness. Although their appearance was gruff, their actions said otherwise. He sat down in a chair offered to him and looked around. The bar was filled with smoke and the smell of beer permeated the air. The walls were decorated with pictures of hunters and trophies from their hunts.

—"Thanks, but I'm not lost," Jaune said, trying to sound more confident. —"I'm looking for a hunter who can help me."

The men looked at each other, surprised by the boy's determination.

"And why do you need a hunter, boy?" the first man asked, leaning forward with interest.

—"It's a long story," Jaune replied, looking down. — "But I need help finding someone very important to me."

The hunters nodded, understanding the seriousness in the boy's voice. One of them stood up and went to get the chicken wings, while the others continued talking to Jaune.

Out of the video

—"What nice guys," Ruby said with a smile. —"These guys, despite their rough appearance, are very soft."

—"Yeah, and I thought they were going to bully Jaune," Nora said with a bit of shame. —"I was about to say some insults if that happened in the video."

In the video

These guys were extremely friendly, and Jaune felt at ease.

—"I assume you're hunters," Jaune spoke this time feeling more at ease.

—"Don't we look like it? I told you, these clothes don't help us at all. They make us look more like the police from some town," one of the men said, opening his eyes. —"Oh, sorry. My name is Alexander."

—"My name is William."

—"My name is Norman."

—"And I am Leonardo."

The four subjects introduced themselves and Jaune did the same. —"Jaune Arc."

—"So, Jaune, what are you looking for?" Alexander asked, leaning forward in interest.

—"I need a bodyguard for an adventure."

—"Ahhh, an adventure," Alexander said with a laugh, and soon all his friends joined in. A child saying that word meant only one thing: play, nothing more.

—"Yes," but Jaune was serious,— "I want to be taken to the limits of Hazel. Beyond, in fact, to the limits of the kingdom of Mistral."

Soon Alexander and his friends' laughter ceased. They looked at Jaune in surprise, with some disbelief.

Off video.

—"Wow, you guys fell silent pretty quickly, I guess you understand what Jaune means," Pyrrha said seriously.

—"Yeah, even they know it's crazy," Weiss said.

—"You really have to be tough with Jaune and tell him things seriously, otherwise, I'm afraid Jaune will just do whatever he wants," Yang said surprisingly seriously, supporting her companions.

Ruby, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up.— "Do you think Jaune will actually do it? I mean, he's brave, but this sounds dangerous."

Blake nodded.— "Jaune has a good heart, but sometimes he doesn't measure the risks."

Nora, ever the optimist, added with a smile, —"Well, at least he's not alone. He's got those guys with him, even if they look like small-town cops."

Yang laughed. —"Yeah, and I hope they don't start giving out traffic tickets in the middle of the adventure."

Weiss rolled her eyes.— "This is serious, Yang. Jaune could get into real trouble."

Pyrrha looked at the screen with concern. —"I just hope he knows what he's doing."

In the video

—"Do you want me to take you to another kingdom? Maybe to Vale, or to Atlas?" Norman said, still smiling in disbelief.

—"No, I want to go to the outskirts of the Mistral lands," Jaune said very seriously.

The group of four looked at each other, their gazes complicated.

—"Are you saying you want to go to the wilds?" William said, leaning on the table and moving closer to Jaune. —"Do you realize what you're asking for?"

—"What? Wildlands?" Jaune said confused. He had never heard those words in his life.

Leonardo spoke with a sigh. —"You are a child, so you most likely don't know. The four kingdoms of the Remnant are the safest places there are for people and humanity. They have walls so that the Grimm don't attack people. But outside the boundaries of the walls of the great kingdoms, there are towns like this one that also have their own autonomy, their own security, and are also surrounded by walls. The problem is that even these lands belong to one of the kingdoms, in this case to Mistral."

Alexander continued with the explanation.— "In exchange for the protection provided by the Kingdom of Mistral, Hazel pays a tax, and the Kingdom of Mistral sends us hunters to test out the Grimm before they become a problem. The same goes for some of the other villages that are part of the territory of Mistral."

Norman raised his weapon, a beautiful spear. —"This applies to the other kingdoms. Atlas has Mantle, Vale has Patch Island, and in order to reach the other kingdoms, a kind of route and roads have been made that are now relatively safe. Although the fastest way to reach other kingdoms is by Bullhead or by sea."

Alexander continued the conversation. Jaune could only continue to listen intently. This was new information that he had no idea about. —"But beyond the borders of the kingdoms' lands lies what everyone knows as the wildlands. If you think the Grimm around here are bad, you can't imagine how many of them there are in those lands."

—"Not even the most experienced hunters in the world dare to enter those lands. It may look like any other ordinary forest, but it is downright impossible to even make a camp because the Grimm are always lurking around," Leonardo said with a tired look.

—"Unless you're going to bring the entire Atlas fleet to bombard that entire forest, I'd believe you could mount an expedition there. But even then, it wouldn't be an hour before the Grimm would swarm and wipe out the entire Atlas fleet," Norman said. —"Vacuo tried to do that once, it didn't end well."

—"So helping you on your expedition is impossible. If you're joking, it doesn't matter. Get out of here, kid."

Out of the video

Weiss, with a relieved expression, commented, —"Those are firm words, something Jaune really needs. He didn't even know what the Wildlands were. And he wanted to go to the outskirts of Mistral? Good thing these hunters talked some sense into him!"

Yang added,— "I agree. I mean, call me reckless, but this is on a whole other level. Luckily, Jaune has come to his senses and is giving up on this adventure. It's what's best for everyone."

Ren, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, —"If just the Grimm roaming the walls of towns and large kingdoms are enough to put hundreds of hunters on alert, Jaune has no idea of the countless Grimm out there in the wilds. He almost did something stupid."

In the video

In his room, Jaune sat on his bed, staring at the carpet. His eyes focused on a drawing embroidered with threads of cloth, depicting a lonely mountain. The dim moonlight cast soft shadows on the walls, creating a melancholic atmosphere.

Out of the video

—"Oh my god! He has that face!" Weiss said with a sigh, covering her face in frustration.

—"God, he has that face! Why?!" Yang screamed, almost wanting to tear out her beautiful hair, but resisted the impulse.

—"Why, he has that face again," Pyrrha almost wanted to cry in frustration.

Ruby, with a mixture of sadness and exasperation, approached the screen. —"He's got that face again, the face that looks like he's going to do something stupid."

Blake, watching closely, added in a soft but firm voice, —"It's like he doesn't learn from his mistakes. Every time I see him like this, I fear what he might do."

Weiss, trying to remain calm, replied, —"It's amazing how he can be so brave and so reckless at the same time."

In the video.

Jaune muttered with a glint in his eyes, —"Fortune favors the brave." His words showed bravery beyond what any man could witness in this world.

Jaune picked up a leather book and began flipping through it page by page.— "Imperception Potion," he read quietly, his words soft but filled with resolve. —"It hides your presence, making you invisible to the eyes of creatures."

If he wanted to venture into the wilds, he first had to leave the walls of his village, which could be simple. The only problem was that as he got closer to the wilds, the Grimm would become a more common sight. He had to be unnoticeable. —"Ingredients: blood of the one who will take the potion, item imbued with divine power, a frog's heart, mana stones crushed into powder, and honey… more to enhance the flavor. And say the words 'shadow thief.'"

Jaune sighed. He had all the materials except the frog heart, which he could get from any puddle. —"It's time. I'll get to Erebor, no matter what."

Although he didn't look like any other kid at first glance, Jaune was special in some way. When he wanted something, no matter if the obstacle was impossible or not allowed, he got it. He was always fearless... an adventurer.

off video

Blake, with a mixture of admiration and concern, commented, —"It's amazing how he always finds a way. But I'm afraid one day his luck will run out."

Weiss, with an annoyed tone, said, —"I have to admire your willpower and desire, but I just don't. Okay, I'm going to let out some steam. Next combat class I'm going to give you a beating you won't forget."

Yang, with a defiant smile, added, —"Get in line, Ice Princess, because I'll be going first. Someone needs to teach that reckless idiot some restraint."

Ruby, with a mix of concern and admiration, commented, —"Jaune has always been like this, hasn't he? Always willing to risk it all."

Nora, with her usual enthusiasm, added, —"That's what makes him special! But yes, maybe he needs to learn to be a little more careful."

In the video

For this spell, she had to mix the ingredients together until they became one. According to the book, everything had to be done in a mortar and pestle. She didn't have one, but she did have a blender. Blessed be modernity. She put all the materials in the blender, including the honey, making sure to put in a good amount.

As the blender did its work, Jaune looked around his room. The walls were covered in maps and drawings of fantastical creatures. In one corner, a small desk was cluttered with scrolls and quills. —"One day, this will all be history ," he said, smiling.

Everything was mixed together in the blender container. Jaune was a little nervous.— "The reason I'm nervous isn't because this tastes disgusting, though that is a part of it. There's a warning in the book that says something about this thing itself being untested or being 100% functional. Previous tests killed those who consumed it, as divine power destroys a mortal's body. Also, mana stones shouldn't be consumed because they are poison to the bloodstream, causing a death from mana overheating. That's why they're used in wands or staffs, as an external power source. And the frog heart is the least of your worries, because of germs and stuff."

Out of the video

They were speechless, they couldn't process the words Jaune said. On that screen was Jaune, clearly a child of no more than 7 years old, that child who is their academy classmate. They were watching how that child was practically going to commit suicide.

—"What did this idiot say?!" Weiss exclaimed in disbelief. She thought she couldn't be more surprised, but she was wrong.

—"Does this moron really want to die or does he really think he's special and will survive this?" Blake Belladonna said, with a mix of disbelief and concern.

—"If this is what Jaune did at 7 years old, I can't imagine how he's still alive today. He must be the luckiest man alive," Yang said, shaking her head in wonder.

Nora closed her eyes, she didn't want to see that, but she also felt morbid. So she opened them a little.

—"God, I don't want to see this," Pyrrha said, looking away from the screen, but curiosity got the better of her.

—"This is going to be on my mind for a long time," Ren said, with a worried expression.

Ruby, who had been silent, finally spoke, —"I can't believe Jaune was so reckless. It's a miracle he's here with us now."

The girls exchanged glances, each processing the information in their own way. The room was thick with tension and worry. Jaune's recklessness had left an indelible mark on their minds, and they knew they would never look at their friend the same way again.

—"Jaune has always been reckless, but this is too much," Weiss muttered, still in disbelief.

—"I hope you've learned something from this," Blake added, with a serious look.

—"Yes, we all make mistakes, but this... this is another level," Yang concluded, sighing deeply.

Nora, with a mix of concern and admiration, commented, —"Jaune has always been brave, but sometimes, being brave also means knowing when to stop."

In the video

The boy sighed deeply, a fierce determination flashing across his eyes.— "It's certain death ," he muttered. Without hesitation, he drank the liquid. Immediately, he felt his body begin to grow cold, a feeling of impending doom enveloping him.

His veins stood out and began to glow a faint blue-white. Blood poured from his mouth, he staggered, and his eyes began to bleed. His voice became a murmur, as if he were strangling an animal. He barely managed to get out the incantation, —"Thief… of… the shadows."

And then he collapsed. Luckily, he was in his room and his parents were fast asleep.

Out of the video

Ruby couldn't bear it. The scene was extremely gruesome; seeing her friend bleeding from his mouth and eyes was something that would stay in her mind for a long time. She retreated momentarily to the bathroom in the room and vomited.

Her companions were not much better. They felt as if their hearts were going to jump out of their chests and their stomachs were being squeezed. Nausea increased with each passing second.

—"God, I think we should skip these scenes, they're too strong," Weiss said, her voice shaking.

Yang, his face pale, added,— "I can't believe anyone could endure so much pain. It's... it's inhumane."

Blake, trying to maintain his composure, commented,— "The intensity of that scene is overwhelming. I don't know how anyone can write something so visceral."

Nora, still with a mix of emotions on her face, said, —"It's a reminder that bravery has its limits."

Ruby, after composing herself a bit, returned to the group. —"I'm sorry, girls. It's just that… seeing that affected me more than I expected."

Weiss looked at her with understanding. —"Don't worry, Ruby. We're all in shock. Maybe we should take a break before we continue."

Pyrrha nodded. —"Yeah, a break will do us good. We need to process what we just saw."

Yang, trying to ease the tension, smiled weakly. —"Maybe we should watch something lighter for a while. Something that won't make us want to vomit."

Blake, with a small smile, added,— "Good idea, Yang. We need some relief after this."

The group decided to take a break, each trying to process the intensity of the scene they had just witnessed. The room, while filled with tension, was also filled with a shared understanding of the harshness of what they had seen.

In the video

The next day, he got up with difficulty. He looked down at the floor and saw that it was all covered in blood. It was a horrible sight. He was shocked to realize that the blood was his own and that he had not bled to death.

The most important thing now: would it have been invisible? —"I hope this worked, I don't want to repeat it again ," he muttered to himself.

He cleaned his room meticulously. Every trace of blood was removed and put into a trash can. He knew he had to dispose of it quickly in the common trash bin without anyone noticing.

Out of the video

—"You should be more relieved that you survived than that you should be checking to see if that thing actually worked. Stupid!" Nora shouted, with a mix of frustration and relief.

—"It's okay... He's okay," Pyrrha said with a sigh of relief.

—"His room is very bloodstained," Ruby said with a disgusted expression. —"That was a lot of blood, too much for my taste."

Yang, still pale, added, —"I can't believe I went through that. It's... it's just terrifying."

Ren, who had been silent, finally spoke, —"The important thing is that he is alive. But this cannot continue like this. We need to find a solution to his suicidal tendencies."

Nora nodded, still frowning. —"Yes, Ren is right. We can't let something like that happen again."

Weiss, trying to remain calm, said, —"We need a plan. Something that will allow us to help him if he needs to risk his life like this."

In the video

He went down with the bucket and there, sitting in the living room of his house, was his father reading a newspaper. —"Who reads a newspaper in this day and age knowing that the damn scrolls exist?" said Jaune. Apparently, his father did, and many of the older people in this town... and him too.

—"Hello, father, how are you? Good morning ," Jaune greeted nervously. He hoped his father wouldn't ask what he had in the trash can. He would say it was trash, but his father would probably smell blood. He was a hunter, after all. Plus, there was a lot of blood and a lot of gut stuff.

But, curiously, his father did not approach him. He continued reading.

—"Did you know that dragons are allergic to cats?" Jaune said, trying to divert attention. —"...Hello father, how are you? Good morning." Jaune received no response from his father, even when he waved his hand in front of his face. Nothing. He didn't react.

—"No way, did it work?" Jaune muttered. It seemed like the potion had worked, but he wasn't sure yet. He picked up a baseball that was on the floor and threw it to his father.

—"What the hell?" His father looked around, wondering where that ball had come from, but then simply brushed it off.

Jaune, looking at his trash can, let go. This time he grabbed a pencil and threw it to his father, who turned his gaze towards the direction of the trash can.

—"Where did that come from?" his father muttered, confused.

Jaune smiled. Apparently, everything he touched became invisible to others. That was a good thing.

She threw something else at her father and when he was distracted, she grabbed the trash can and took it outside. She put it in the regular trash and then went to her room.

—"Alright, according to this, the spell will only last nine days. I have to hurry ," he told himself with determination.

Jaune bustled around frantically, packing a massive suitcase with everything he deemed essential for his journey. He packed supplies, potions, gadgets, knives, a map, and the precious spellbook. Each item was carefully placed, as if his life depended on it.

Finally, he had everything ready. He took a piece of paper and wrote with a trembling hand, —"Father, Mother, I left for the camp I mentioned a few days ago. Sorry for not saying goodbye, but I'm a big boy now and I want to do things on my own. I'll see you in a month. I'll bring my regards."

Off video

Despite having witnessed how their friend almost died from taking a potion with a 100% chance of fatality, and how it was almost a miracle that he hadn't died from lack of blood as well, the girls couldn't help but marvel at how things turned out in the end.

—"It worked! The potion worked! It's imperceptible!" Nora cried in ecstasy, amazed.

—"No one can tell, it's almost like my likeness," Ren said, with a satisfied smile.

—"He's good, but he's heading into the wild, he's not out of danger," Blake said, with a worried look.

—"Let's hope everything goes well," Ruby said encouragingly, trying to instill hope in the group.

Pyrrha, with a mix of pride and worry, whispered, —"I trust him, but I can't help but worry."

Ruby, with a determined look, concluded: —"No matter what happens, we will be here for him. We are a team, and together, we can overcome any obstacle."

In the video

It wasn't long before Jaune found himself at the gates of his village's walls. He walked forward confidently, his footsteps echoing on the cobblestones. The guards guarding the entrance didn't even notice him; they couldn't sense him, as if he were a ghost.

Jaune looked out at the horizon. He could already imagine it, the lonely, imposing and mysterious mountain.

—"I will find a place that is not even mentioned in stories ," he murmured with determination, his eyes shining with a mixture of hope and defiance.

—"By the way, this is advice for any explorer: learn to read a map. Some people are just stupid and go into any place without knowing the minimum of survival ," he added, laughing to himself as he adjusted his backpack.

Outside the video

—"Good advice," Yang said, crossing his arms and smiling wryly, —"I really can't read a map."

—"Yeah, me neither," Nora said, raising her hand as if she were in class, her expression completely serious.

—"Me too," Ren added, shrugging with a calm smile.

—"I can read a map," Blake said, raising an eyebrow and looking at the others with a mix of surprise and amusement.

—"I... of course I can," Weiss said, though she said it too slowly, as if she was trying to convince herself more than the others.

Pyrrha simply shook her head, an indulgent smile on her lips, while Ruby looked away, clearly uncomfortable. No, they couldn't read a map.

And they are hunters, or rather, future hunters. God help us.

Yang laughed and added,— "Well, at least we know how to kick ass, right? That counts for something."

Nora jumped up excitedly,— "Yes! And we also know how to make pancakes! That's important!"

Ren nodded, with a soft smile,— "Pancakes are definitely essential for survival."

Blake, trying to keep a straight face, couldn't help but laugh,— "Well, at least we won't starve."

Weiss, still trying to maintain her dignity, said, —"Well, we can always learn. It's not that hard, is it?"

In the video

The road to the wilds was long and full of danger, but Jaune was ready. With each step, he felt the thrill of adventure. —"Erebor, here I come," he said aloud, as if the destination could hear him.

With his backpack full and his heart brave, Jaune was ready for anything. Because, after all, fortune favors the brave.

Outside the video

Ruby, still staring at the screen, muttered, —"Anyone else hungry?"

Yang laughed even harder,— "Of course, Ruby! We've been watching these videos since Friday. Is it Sunday?!"

Everyone was silent for a moment, processing the information. Pyrrha was the first to react, —"Sunday? No way!"

Nora, her eyes wide, exclaimed, "No wonder I'm so hungry!"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Everyone was startled and looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

—"Who could it be?" Blake whispered, trying to stay calm.

The door slowly opened and Jaune appeared, a nervous smile on his face.

—"Hey girls! What are you doing?" he asked, unaware of the panic he had caused.

—"Jaune!" they all shouted in unison, becoming even more scared.

—"What's wrong? Why are you so scared?" Jaune asked, confused.

Yang, trying to regain his composure, said, —"We thought you were a monster or something."

Jaune laughed, —"Well, I'm not a monster, but I did bring pizza. Anyone want some?"

The girls looked at each other and then at Jaune, and they all started to fake laugh.

—"Pizza! That's just what we need!" Ruby exclaimed, running towards Jaune to grab a box, more as a distraction.

Yang put away the evidence while the others built a wall in front of Jaune.

They were brave, but with Jaune, fortune rarely favored them.

Ruby, still holding the pizza box in her hands, turned to her friends and said something with her eyes, —"Girls, we need to think of something fast!"

Blake, ever the strategist, whispered,— "Jaune, why don't you sit with us?"

Jaune, still not fully understanding the situation, sat on Nora's bed. "What were you watching?" he asked, trying to integrate himself.

Pyrrha, trying to divert attention, replied, —"Oh, just some old videos. Nothing interesting."

Nora, unable to contain her excitement at the fear, added, —"But pizza is the best thing that's happened all weekend!"

Yang, meanwhile, continued to hide the evidence, making sure Jaune didn't notice anything suspicious. —"Jaune, do you want a drink?" she asked, trying to keep him distracted.

Jaune smiled,— "Sure, thanks, Yang."

Ruby, seeing that the plan was working, relaxed a bit.— "Well, at least we have pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner," she joked, making everyone laugh again.

The tension in the room eased, for a moment,

-[]-

Hello ! First of all, I want to express my sincere gratitude for taking the time to dive into the pages of this chapter. Your thoughts, impressions, and constructive suggestions are not only welcome, but are the fuel that drives the creativity and effort put into each written word. This tale takes a path of its own, diverging from the RWBY canon, and ventures on a journey enriched with elements from a mosaic of franchises, as well as the spark of inspiration from other narratives.

Yes, I know, it's very long, but give it a chance.

I was choosing what Jaune's next adventure would be about, but yesterday on television they aired The Hobbit, Destiny!

I will not follow the original canon of the RWBY series, I take some creative liberties

I again invite you to share your impressions of the chapter. And if you liked what you read, don't hesitate to follow me for more adventures. Until next time, dear readers!