Chapter 65 - Abode of All Demons
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness." - Mark 7:21-22
The Headless Ape was far more terrifying in practice than on paper. And a bit of a misnomer.
Not headless, in truth, for it carried its ugly, screeching, dismembered head around in its left arm. Even used it as a makeshift club. It swung around a giant rusted sword with the other hand, and with all the graceful technique of a dumb, angry animal. Every impact it's massive body made tore away chunks of earth, splashed the waters of the swamp at the base of the mountain. Damn thing was a terror with only its monstrous strength. Jaune didn't blame Ruby at all for struggling with it. He'd have hardly done better against an A-class Grimm.
He'd already hidden Blake's Alter and got to Ruby quickly enough to block the Ape's cut, but the strength of it was no joke. His guard nearly broke, his knees wobbled, his feet slid in the mud. Safe to say, it was best not to get it directly. Easily said, especially when the Grimm proved faster than he'd anticipated and sent him across the swamp with one swing of its massive head. Jaune swore he flew for a solid three seconds before he crashed through a tree, felt the world shake as it plummeted to the ground like a domino piece. But unlike the tree, Jaune got back up.
"Glacier!" Jaune shouted as he flung his arm in the direction of the charging beast. He grinned with satisfaction as a pillar of ice equal in size to the Ape burst from the ground and crashed into it head on, bowling the beast over, legs in the air. Did it keep it down? Of course not. That would have been too easy.
Ruby appeared before him in a scattering of flower petals. Clearing the distance Jaune had flown in a second. "You okay?" she panted.
"Fine," Jaune said, "Where's Neptune?"
Ruby pointed up at the sheer walls of the mountain base, puckered with big crags, steep columns, and trees bursting out of the rock. "Up the cliff. I think there's a village up the mountain. He went to check it out."
"Without you?"
"We split up to look for you. I came to see if you landed here somehow, then…" and she gestured toward the Grimm, an obvious impediment in her search. "So where were you?"
The Headless Ape has raised its head into the air and now released a mighty screech, sending ripples through the water, making Jaune's ears ring. Jaune spun his ax and began walking toward his target. "Tell you later. Let's kill this thing. Last thing we need is it chasing us up the mountain."
Jaune and Ruby charged together, but she reached their enemy far sooner, leaving a trail of jetting water behind. The Headless Ape brought its giant sword down on her, but she moved so quickly that for a moment, it seemed like Ruby had cloned herself and left it to take the blow. Seeing that she had not been crushed to pieces, the Grimm howled its displeasure and began to batter at the ground like it was playing whack-a-mole. Ruby jumped over its massive sweeps, danced around its land-breaking slams, movements deft and precise. The Ape stabbed at her, but she jumped over it, landed on its hand, then sprang toward the Ape's shoulder, her giant scythe poised for the first cut.
The blade dug in shallow. Barely breaking the skin.
Enraged, the Headless Ape stomped its rotten feet, pounded the ground over and over like a toddler that had his toy taken away. Silly though it looked, one could not deny how effective it was. The spraying rock and water, the ear-splitting roar, and the chaotic motions all made it difficult to find an opening. Jaune figured then that he ought to make one. But, of course, easier said than done.
Jaune's most powerful attack at the moment was Glacier and while it didn't take long to cast, the Grimm was jumping around way too much for him to get a clean hit now. He was forced to duck, roll, and backpedal away from an onslaught of violence that only an A-class Grimm could bring, with very few chances to land an attack of his own. The damn thing could attack and attack without hitting anything and still maintain the advantage. It was annoying, but they had to play the patient game until an opening presented itself.
Jaune leaped away from a slam, skidded in the mud, sprang at the Ape's head with his ax raised high. It spun around, sword arm extended, and Jaune chopped the ax into its giant hand, allowing the momentum to carry him around. He let go as he flew over its shoulder, summoned a sword of light, then plunged it into the Ape's shoulder. It might have screeched in agony if the blade had gone any deeper than the skin. So it wasn't that Ruby's attack was weak, this monster's hide was just thick. That was going to be a problem.
He dropped to the ground as the Ape's other arm came like giant fly swatter. He resummoned his ax, coiled ice around the blade, and spiked it into the Ape's ankle. To his furious surprise, the blade bounced back like it had struck solid concrete. He barely had a moment to take it in, for the Ape fell on top of him sumo wrestler style. He just managed to slip away, the rumbling ground nearly making him trip, but he'd be damned if he wasted this opening. Jaune jumped at the Grimm, ax raised, all his strength behind it, aiming for its big black eye. Couldn't be sure if it would do much, given the state of the head, but what other option was there? He chopped into it, heard the Grimm scream, felt it lash about, nearly wrenching the ax from Jaune's hands. Good. He ripped the ax free, took the eyeball and stem with it, then aimed for the other eye.
Only for the Ape's arm to catch him once more.
The world turned over and over as he tumbled away like a kicked shoe, he crumbled in a painful heap, his entire world confused.
"Jaune!" He felt Ruby's hand touch his back. "You okay?"
Jaune crawled to his knees, tasting blood in his mouth. He'd bit his tongue. "Super. You? Are you hurt?"
"Fine," Ruby answered. Though Jaune did not miss the cut in her side. Shallow, thankfully. Seemed even she was not quick enough to dodge this animal completely. "What's with this thing? We can barely hurt it."
Jaune was about to protest, but by the way the Headless Ape was getting up, the loss of its eye seemed to be of little consequence. Not even because it still had one to spare, but because what need was there to see anything if mindless thrashing was winning you the fight? Jaune envied that. He let out a breath through his nose. "I might do better if I could use my shield, but I haven't been able to summon it lately. I can't use my barrier powers."
"Really? Why?"
"No clue."
"Well, we need some kind of plan."
The Ape was already starting to amble toward them. A look on its twisted face like they were his longtime enemies and he was about fed up with their constant interference. The feeling was mutual. "I'm open to suggestions." Jaune said, getting to his feet and summoning his ax.
Ruby ran a hand through her hair, nose scrunched up in that way she often did when she was thinking. Then she gasped. "My Silver Eyes! This thing's tough, but not by much. I bet I could zap it easy!"
"You only have one shot a day. You can't waste here."
"It won't be a waste if this thing is gonna kill us otherwise."
Jaune had to admit she made a compelling point. Nothing like having no options to force you toward extreme measures. They still didn't know the full extent of how Ruby's Silver Eyes worked, but he supposed now was a good time to see it in action. Could Ruby at her current level eradicate an A-class Grimm? He supposed they'd find out shortly.
"I need some time to focus.," Ruby ordered, already taking a stance and closing her eyes. "Just keep it busy. The beam won't affect real people so you don't have to worry about getting out of the way."
Jaune nodded, wringing his hands around the shaft of his ax as he faced down the Headless Ape with a strange surge of excitement. This thing was really pushing him and he both hated and loved it. There was nothing quite so thrilling as a challenge, especially one on the verge of life and death. Few other scenarios got his blood boiling lately. "Leave it to me," Jaune said, and he charged the beast head on.
They met in the center of the wasted swamp. Surrounded on all sides by rotted trees, crumbled cliffs, and patches of withered weed. Hardly the most epic setting, but Jaune couldn't deny it suited. He rolled away as the Ape's sword crushed the ground where he had been. The other arm came next, unconcerned with the condition of its own head, as it battered at Jaune with reckless fury. Jaune stabbed the ground with the head of his ax, dragged it through like a farmer plowing the field, and unleashed a torrent of ice spears sprouting the ground. The Ape destroyed them with a single swipe of its sword and the shards rained on Jaune like shattered glass. He conjured a spear of light, hurled at the Ape's eye, but it bounced off the forehead instead. Because of course it would.
Back and forth they went, a vicious gambol that traveled the arena. Jaune's ax would bite, but not very deep, so he would swing harder. The Ape's arms flailed this way and that, fast and hard, windmill motions. Jaune dodged and dodged, but he couldn't escape everything. He was sent flying, flipping, tossing in the air. He became increasingly more covered in muck with each blow he took and yet his frustration only lessened, his battle joy grew. Such a real challenge! He had no idea how to beat this thing. And that made the idea of killing it that much more appealing. Could he pull it off before Ruby erased the Grimm? Only one way to find out.
"Roundtable!" Jaune called his sword army to life, making them spin rapidly around him. He pointed his ax at the Headless Ape. "Come on, you fucker! Kill me if you can!"
The Headless Ape must have understood the challenge, or at least Jaune's yelling. They met in a clash once again. Jaune laughed as he spiked the ax into the demon's head with all his strength, but felt it bite only slightly deeper than it had before. He jumped behind it, sent swords stabbing into the beast's leg, back, and neck. They did nothing. Jaune flung himself backward as the Ape scooped a shower of rock from the ground and hurled them at him. Jaune summoned a boulder of ice as a bulwark, bundling behind as the rocks tore at it. He wasn't safe behind there, so Jaune returned the assault. He jumped into the air, used one of his swords as a springboard and launched himself at the Ape, ax raised to—
And the Ape's head spiked him to the ground, flat as a board. Squashed him like a bug.
"When you feel the jaws of death close around your neck… call upon me."
Despite the pain, Jaune pushed off the ground, rolled out of the way to keep from being crushed again, stumbled to his feet, plenty of fight still in him. He released a wave of ice spears, then another, and another, chaining a wall of spikes that the Ape easily fought through, barely wounded at all. Unbelievable. How was he supposed to kill this thing? Did he really have to rely on Ruby to do it? Was he so weak that his girlfriend had to protect him? How insulting. How humiliating. Something inside him refused to accept it.
Jaune let go an animal roar as he lashed at the Headless Ape with all his rage. He matched its strength for a moment, slapping away its lunge with the flat of his ax. Then he hurled a spear at the open neck, accomplishing nothing beyond a shallow impale. He may as well not have thrown it at all. The beast in him demanded revenge on this stupid monkey for embarrassing him. He'd kill it so dead it would be erased from everyone's memory. Just as soon as he could get a good hit. Just one good hit!
"When you feel the reaper's scythe touch your very soul… call upon me."
Ruby's voice in the distance. "I'm almost ready!"
His pride, wounded. He was just this thing's toy to be played with until Ruby came in to finish it. How pathetic. All that training, all that growth, only to still be too weak? The fury rose to new heights. No, he had to win this. He had to win this! Jaune raised his ax to chop through the Ape's chest.
And it kicked him away like a flicked jellybean. Couldn't be sure how far he'd gone, only that he eventually slid to a stop, laid flat in the cold mud.
Oh. The moon.
It peered down at him, most of it obscured by darkness. Watching him like a half open eye, drifting asleep like it was bored of this fight. Jaune didn't blame it. What he had wasn't enough anymore, and Jaune doubted his shield would get the job done either. For so long, he'd run with whatever weapon his powers had conjured. Never thought too hard about it. All that mattered was that he could fight with it.
There was a ton of fight left in him, but the motivation to continue was slipping away. The need to succeed superseded everything else. He had to be better. He had to be stronger. He needed a better weapon. Something that suited him. That could win in any situation. He needed a true weapon.
The moon seemed to glow.
He looked at the ethereal blade in his hand, a projection of his roundtable technique. An imitation of a sword. Crazy to think about. He wore the armor, carried a shield, but not once had he used a real sword. The knight's true companion.
"We've got to win," Jaune whispered, though he wasn't sure who or what. He raised his hand to the sky, obscured the moon with his palm, its brightening rays slipping through his fingers. Needed a better weapon. A real partner. "Come to me," he said, low and slow. "Come to me…"
He was no longer in the swamp.
There was no Headless Ape and no Ruby. There was only a massive gray rock plain stretching far as the eye could see, puckered with craters as though meteors had pelted the land for centuries. Pure darkness enveloped the skyline, above, around, and beyond. But none of that mattered. Not at all.
For in front of him, something stuck out of the ground. Alone in this wasteland. Something that burned with a soundless blue flame.
Jaune knew her name somehow. Not it. For she was alive. Crocea Mors. And she beckoned him like a whore on the corner of an empty road.
Jaune's hand was numb. He couldn't feel it as he answered her summons. He did not hesitate at the fire, for when he touched it, it did not burn. It wasn't that kind of flame. His hand closed around the hilt and God did it feel so right. It was like holding the hand of his wife of fifty loyal years. By his side all this time. Never did she let him down.
He pulled the blade free and the flames coalesced like draining water, pooling into the emblem on the hilt. Double quarter-moons. The blade hummed when he held it close. Sang in his ear. Told him many things. To use her all he wished, to flourish her and boast her greatness, to slay their enemies with righteous justice, with savory lust. A queen of a sword. A slut of a weapon. His weapon.
Jaune felt… complete.
And that meant there was work to be done.
The Headless Ape was back. It was charging him. Ruby screamed for him to run. But Jaune obeyed no woman but Crocea Mors.
He held her in his right hand, summoned his shield in his left. A compliment to his partner, but no less powerful for that. He felt his clothes shift. The projections of the heart world had no more power over him. Baggy clothes gave way to tight armor. Samurai? No. A knight. That was who he was. Jaune Arc was whole.
The Headless Ape loomed over him, breathing like a revving engine. It raised its sword as it let go a final roar, then struck with the strength of a hundred men.
Jaune gently moved it aside in the manner like one parts a curtain.
Crocea Mors blazed to life and her flames were colder than an abandoned hell. Jaune sliced open the Grimm's belly with a single blow, leaving a gaping pit, the edges sizzling with frost. The beast bellowed in horror and Jaune's lip twisted into a satisfied grin. Another cut. It took the Grimm's leg clean off and Jaune sent it's limb rolling away with a careless kick. He then sprang into the air, pirouetting above its head, laughing as it snapped its jaws in a poor attempt to catch him. He landed behind it, tore its other leg off, then caught the Ape's falling body onto his shield. Too fucking easy.
He hurled the Headless's Ape tumbling across the water, body flopping over and over, eventually collapsing in a pathetic heap.
A spur of the moment idea. A spark of creativity. Jaune commanded the air around the Grimm to freeze. He thought of a technique he'd seen Cinder use before. Called his version, "Chains of Winter."
Chains of ice burst from the water like snakes. They stabbed into the protesting Grimm, digging deep, holding tight. They yanked him to the ground, strength uncontested no matter what the Ape did. Twisting, muscles bulging, desperate for freedom. It was afraid. The Grimm was afraid! He had no idea that Grimm could be afraid. Jaune didn't blame it. Not with what was about to come next.
"I've got him, Jaune!" called Ruby.
Jaune offered the beast a pleasant wave goodbye. Ruby could have this kill. He'd more than made his point.
It was a brilliant sight to see. The world was enveloped in a bright silvery light. So intense that Jaune had to close his eyes. It enveloped all. Consumed all like staring wide eyed into the sun.
When it was all over, there was no Headless Ape remaining. No evidence it has ever been there. Jaune half wondered if it had existed at all, and wasn't just some figment of his imagination.
Ruby came up to him, panting and holding her hand over one eye. "Since when could you do that?"
Jaune blinked, then looked at the weapons in hand. "What?"
"That blue fire slashy thing. You actually hurt it pretty bad. You might have been able to kill it. I've never seen you do that before."
Jaune thought back. It wasn't as if he hadn't been aware of what was going on. He'd just been so in the moment that he hadn't questioned himself. He'd simply followed his instincts.
"Good to see you can use your shield again." Ruby offered a tired smile, "You look like a proper knight. Why didn't you use that sword earlier?"
"Hm," Jaune blinked at his new weapon, yet somehow it didn't feel new. Felt like riding a bike again, that was how familiar it was. A beautiful blade with an elaborate hilt and jewel in the center. He looked at Ruby, who waited on him for an answer and he fought for an explanation that made it all seem intentional. "I was saving it for a tougher enemy?"
Thankfully, Ruby smiled and shook her head. "Well, think about using it a little earlier. You know, before we get eaten by Grimm."
Jaune sheathed the sword, rested his hand on the hilt. For some reason, he felt an incredible need to draw it again. To fight with it again. His hand trembled with anticipation. Whatever he'd done, it was strangely addicting. And well, if it had felled an A-class Grimm with that, perhaps he was better off with this for now.
Jaune couldn't help a rather self-satisfied feeling as he looked down at his new partner. "Yeah, got it, babe." He wasn't sure if he was talking to Ruby or the sword, but with the Grimm slain, the mission came back to mind. "Where's Neptune?"
Neptune grabbed his hair in total shock. He was doing that a lot lately and Jaune couldn't blame him. "This dude just snatched you out of the jump?"
He and Ruby had landed on the world together, and far closer to their eventual destination than Jaune had. They'd had no idea where they were going and had opted to look for him instead, resulting in their split up. Thankfully, Neptune hadn't gotten caught up with a dangerously high level Grimm and instead discovered the mountain pass, which Jaune supposed would lead them to Alter-Adam. The three of them, as well as Alter-Blake, now ventured the hidden path up the mountain together.
Jaune shook his head in agreement. "Yeah, that's what happened. I can't believe it even now."
"Our jobs just get weirder and weirder."
"You're damn right about that." Jaune had not revealed the more concerning detail that the guy looked exactly like him. He wasn't sure if he hadn't been imagining it. Who's to say it wasn't some shape shifting Grimm? Though he doubted that a shape shifting Grimm would acquire the ability to understand human language. With a sigh, he turned to the Beauty, who he kept close. "Anyway, that's when I found Blake's Alter. A little convenient, but I guess that's just my luck."
"But if we have her Alter, what's the point of going after Adam's?" asked Ruby.
"We didn't have to fight your Alter, Ruby. All we really did was help her accomplish her goal. I think it's the same case here. Fighting Blake's Alter most likely won't do anything. She didn't try to defend herself from anything and the Grimm rarely bothered her. That tells me she's close to succumbing to Despair." Jaune frowned. "Alter-Adam invaded her world and destroyed it. He's the reason her heart is in this state. I'm thinking that means we have to take him down so that Blake's Alter can wake up."
Ruby looked at the soulless Alter with pity. "She looks so… so dead."
Jaune nodded grimly. "The real Blake doesn't look much different. But we've made good time. Let's just find Adam's Alter, defeat him, then everything should be okay. I hope."
They ventured on then. For several hours, they followed a simple routine. Encountering Grimm, scraping through, taking a break, over and over as the mountain path stretched on in perpetuity. The day came to an end and the four curled up together in a small cave as the rain came down hard. The next morning, the path grew wider and the trees grew bigger. Ancient religious statues marked stone paths, were carved into the mountainsides. Twisting stone staircases pocked with moss and mold twisted up the uneven path, led them across rickety wooden bridges, up steep and crumbling cliffs. Old oriental houses began to appear next, long enclosed hallways and big elaborate temples, all lifeless and empty. The sounds of howling monkeys, cawing birds, hissing snakes, honking wild pigs, and more filled the air as they went deeper into the mountain territory.
Jaune adjusted the Beauty on his back, making sure to be careful with her. So far she hadn't uttered a thing, despite his hopes. It made Jaune wonder how Blake was doing back home. Wondered if anything he'd do on this journey would make a difference. That was, if he succeeded.
"Hey," said Neptune, slowing down to talk.
"Hey yourself," said Jaune, "Something wrong?"
"Nah. I was thinking we hadn't talked in a while. So much has been going on. Seems like we've only hung out lately when it's about…" he gestured to everything around him, "This stuff."
"It's okay. I wasn't mad or anything."
"Well, I just wanted you to know I didn't forget about you."
That made a knot form in Jaune's throat, but he quickly tried to cover it up and deflect. Only to stop himself. So much dodging, so much avoiding whenever it came to anything emotional. Would it really be so bad to let his feelings be known? Maybe it was time to stop ignoring how he really felt. "Thanks, that… that means a lot."
There was never a right time to catch up. You had to take whatever opportunity presented itself, so that's what they did. They talked about normal things, family, friends, school, video games. Apparently his dad was seeing someone now and Jaune found himself oddly happy for the man. Seemed everyone's lives were still in motion even when he wasn't paying attention.
"How's your dad?" asked Neptune. "Have you called him lately?"
"No."
"I bet he misses you."
Jaune gave that some thought. He missed his dad too. And his sisters. Why didn't he call them more? He couldn't think of a reason at the moment. It was so easy just to put it off till later. And that made him think about what he'd said to Blake. How it was time for her to return home to people that loved her. Jaune didn't think he'd be going home anytime soon, but he ought to take his own advice to some degree. So he told himself he'd call them once this mission was over. They kept talking and happened upon Jaune's latest dilemma, for it seemed he was never without them.
Neptune adopted a consternate frown. "I mean, don't take this the wrong way, but Ruby has a point."
Jaune stared at him. "Are you serious?"
"I don't think she'd say it unless she feels she has to. The company we keep will always have an influence on us, whether we think it will or not. Are you sure it's Blake you want to emulate?"
The idea of behaving like Blake was nothing less than horrific, Jaune had to admit. "She's been going through bad shit. Really bad. Anyone going through what she did would be messed up."
"Yeah, but we're not just talking about how she was after getting with Adam. He made it worse, but Blake…" Neptune shook his head, "She's always only cared about herself."
"What's wrong with caring about yourself?"
"You know that's not what I mean, dude. Look, Yang and Sun were her friends for years. I've known them all nearly as long. She's done all kinds of messed up things. You know she'd borrow money from people and never pay it back? She used to bum rides off me through Sun. He was so head-over-heels for her he'd beg me to take her whatever she wanted to go."
Jaune paused. "Really?"
"I wish I was joking. She knew Sun and Yang were in love with her. She knew and took advantage of them." Neotune's mouth twisted into a foul grimace, like he had bitten into a rotten fruit. "And any time someone called her out for anything, she'd act like the victim. A couple of times, I thought I was just being an asshole, but that's just more of her manipulation. She's so good at fooling people with her bullshit because she believes every lie she spouts."
All that definitely sounded like Blake. Jaune had a hard time denying it. "Okay but that's in the past, isn't it? People mature. People change."
"But is Blake one of those people? Does she even want to change?"
"I… think she does."
Neptune palmed his forehead. "I'm telling you, Jaune. She'll just cause you more trouble, like she did to all of us. I don't want you getting hurt because of her."
"What can she do to hurt me? I haven't known her for long."
"And yet here you are, defending her, when you haven't seen what she's done. You have to care enough to argue on her behalf. That's how she gets you. By making you care. And once she sees that you do, she'll think she can do whatever she wants to you." Neptune's shoulders hunched, as if even recounting this was painful for him. "You think she can't hurt you, Jaune, but you're wrong. She'll find a way. She always does."
Jaune had no words. All he could do was stare at Neptune for a few seconds. The only sound between them was their footsteps. "What'd she do to you?"
Neptune's shoulders fell. "I promised Sun I'd forget about it. I wasn't going to bring it up again but… Blake had Sun convinced that I was trying to sleep with her."
Jaune's mouth fell open. "What?"
"Guess it was two years ago now. Back when I was, you know, building my reputation. I have to admit it was kind of smart. I called out how she was taking advantage of Sun and Yang, in front of everybody, then later she turned the story around and told Sun I was trying to get with her and that she rejected me, and that I was being petty. Thing is, I don't even blame Sun for believing her. She knew exactly how to make him side with her. And that resulted in the biggest fight me and Sun ever had."
Jaune found it hard to swallow that. Blake had done such a thing? That sounded so ridiculous, so pointless, so petty. So… Blake. "But when I first arrived here, she was hanging out with you guys just fine."
"Only because everyone bit their tongues for Sun's sake. Sun decided it all was a big misunderstanding and made us make up. I never said anything because bringing it up again might make her lie seem more true. I apologized to her to save my friendship. For a while, I even believed that I really had made things up."
"That's… insane."
"You're telling me," Neptune rubbed his forehead, "Look it's not like I don't feel bad for Blake. No one should go through what she has. No one deserves it. But Blake hurt a ton of people. There's plenty of things I can forgive but… she almost ruined my friendship with Sun. My best friend. All because she didn't want to own up to own mistakes."
It was horrible, awful behavior, Jaune agreed. He was sure that Neptune wasn't lying. But he thought about how much fun he'd had with Blake, and now he had to consider whether it was all genuine or more of her manipulations. He looked back at the Beauty on his back, empty and lost. Was not one's Alter a reflection of who they were at the deepest level? If it was true, then Blake was a sad, lonely, empty person with nothing and no one around her. But was that because she was unlucky, naturally hated, and tended to be ignored? Or had she dug this pit herself, with her own choices and actions?
"But she's your friend." Neptune said, "I can't say for sure whether Blake will change or not. That'd be pretty hypocritical of me. I don't think I was any better. I used people too and didn't think about who I hurt. Maybe that's something we all do, to some degree." He looked at Jaune and patted him consolingly on the shoulder. "It's not my right or anyone's to tell you who can be in your life. Not even Ruby. Just… think about if Blake is really someone you want in your life. Whatever your choice, I'll respect it, dude."
Jaune could only return a guilty nod. What else could he do? At least Neptune allowed him the choice. Ruby hadn't even offered that much. But that still left the choice up to him, so the question now became, what was more important? His promise or his growth? Did he potentially ruin his progress by associating with someone who might tear him down just to keep a promise? Or did he break his word, cast her aside, and continue on the path toward self-betterment? What did he listen to, his heart or his head?
Jaune looked to the sky for an answer, for he could find it nowhere else. The sky did not answer.
It was something like a religious compound. And it was gargantuan.
The temples were built to be massive. All red, yellow, brown walls, the colors of autumn. Elevated foundations, tiled roofs, tall pillars, surrounded by red forest. Up a high cliff, an exemplary temple was built into the cliff face, while a waterfall gushed out of a hole beneath, its spray glittering with the firelight of sunset. There were even outside hallways piecing the structures together like a big maze, and so many that Jaune felt lost just looking at them.
"That stranger said the Demon Lord is up this mountain?" asked Ruby, "Sure doesn't look like it's been run through by a blood-crazed demon."
That was peculiar. There weren't many people but there were still some. Some children playing in the pool at the base of the waterfall. Shaven headed monks standing guard at the gate, or watching from rooftops, or making their rounds. People kneeled and prayed at the temples, before elaborate bull-shaped statues, presenting strange offerings, and whispered prayers. All in all, it looked like a normal village simply going about its business. Perhaps unaware of the destruction laid out to their neighbors.
"Maybe this is his base? Or his home?" Neptune suggested.
"Most likely." Jaune said. He saw no reason for an apparent genocidal monster to spare a village unless he had use for it. Or there was something there he cared about.
"What should we do?" Ruby asked, "Go knock on the door and ask, hey is the Demon Lord around?"
"Stranger things have worked before." chuckled Neptune. "Still, let's play it safe. The place looks big, but with so few people, even if we got some of their clothes, they might still notice we don't belong. We should wait till nightfall to look around. After everyone's asleep."
Ruby looked at Alter-Blake, who sat not far off beneath a tree with her thousand yard stare. More a statue than a living thing. "Er, maybe we shouldn't leave her alone. Two of us should stay."
Jaune nodded. "I'll search. You two stay here."
"Sure you'll be okay?"
"Somehow, this place doesn't scream high security outpost. I've trained enough with Blake to know how to be a little sneaky. I'll be fine. Well? Sound like a plan?"
Ruby and Neptune looked at each other, then him, then nodded.
A few hours after night had settled on the tranquil village, Jaune snuck into the grounds.
It was a peaceful kind of quiet. The sky was dark and starless, so the only lights around were the torch poles posted along the paths and stairways, and the lamps hanging over homes, flickering weakly, drawing flies. The monks carried their own lanterns as they patrolled, but they were easy enough to avoid. They spent more time talking to one another than actually looking out for enemies. Perhaps that would make sense if this place turned out to be Alter-Adam's home. What enemy was there to look out for if everywhere else had been destroyed?
He put that troubling thought aside and moved quietly through the night. He scaled the sides of the great stairway leading into the main temple, over the walls strewn with foliage, tucked behind trees when people passed. He breathed in and out, kept calm, and took his time about it. There was no telling if these warriors weren't just normal people or superhuman like the Blessed in Ruby's world. Jaune figured it best not to try to find out.
Once the stairs looked vacant, Jaune quickly made his way up, leaping ten steps at a time. Thankfully the waterfall made enough noise that anyone nearby wouldn't hear him. Once he made it to the top, he found the nearest tree to jump into, hiding himself in the leaves. He looked around. More guards on the higher level and with tighter patrol routes. There were fewer trees, statues, and walls to use as cover. Because of course things can't be easy. How the hell do I get around this?
It was mostly covered in shadows, but at the end of the winding path ahead sat the most pristine building among them all. An oriental mansion. Long, rather than tall. With white walls, a tiled roof with rising corners, and lanterns burning an eerie orange. Looked like a dozen eyes peering through the darkness. Watching him. Watching everyone.Well, lookie here. One of these things is not like the others. If there's one thing I've learned from video games, it's that if it stands out, it's probably important.
Jaune found a small window between two guards to cross the nearby garden, ducking behind some bushes, then leaping over the small pond beside the mansion.
"You hear that?" A voice.
Thinking quickly, Jaune jumped onto the roof, cringed at the sound of his boots crunching on the tiles, then threw himself down flat. He peeked over the edge just as two guards totting spears investigated the pond.
"Nothing. Fish probably." said one of them.
The other hummed, not sounding very convinced, but they eventually wandered back to their posts. Jaune allowed himself a breath of relief. He slid back down to the ground and snuck around to the back of the mansion.
He wasn't surprised to find a lavish garden there, barely lit by torch light. Intricately trimmed hedges, gardens sporting a hundred different flowers, bamboo water spigots, pink cherry blossom trees. He didn't see anyone around so he began to look around, if only to familiarize himself with a place to hide if things went south.
He happened upon a strange cloth hanging off a pole. Some kind of tapestry or banner flag. It had been torn by someone, quite obviously. The other half wasn't around and it was the only damaged thing in the garden. Torn in anger, no doubt.
The symbol was incomplete for obvious reasons, but it wasn't hard to get an idea of the full image. An eye, most likely. Perhaps the notches were meant to be eyelashes. Except they circled entirely around the eye. The circle in the middle, representing the iris, was designed the same way…
Hold on. Maybe it was a gear instead? One smaller gear inside a bigger one? Perhaps it was both a wheel and an eye—
Voices. They jolted Jaune back to reality. He ducked behind one of the trees closest to the back entrance, which was perfect, as two women came from around the corner whispering to each other. They wore long kimonos that revealed too much chest and leg and their faces were painted white and red, hair bundled up with fancy ornaments. He thought they'd come his way, but instead they sat on the deck and continued their conversation there.
"My cousin told me. Truly!" squeaked the younger woman, bright eyed like she'd heard the most revolutionary news of her generation. "Lord Adam refuses to return! They say he hides in the mountains, refusing his duty!" her voice dropped low, "I heard… he prepares to overthrow the Lord Father!"
The other woman, older and unimpressed with the gossip, simply scoffed. "And where do you hear such things, girl? Seems your ears catch everything, even complete falsities."
"Truly, truly!" The younger woman expressed. "My cousin heard from his father, who heard from his cousin, whose daughter told him after finding out from her cousin, who—"
"Yes, alright! Your family is a great network of whispers!"
The younger woman smiled with big, stupid pride. Completely missing her senior's not so subtle skepticism.
The older woman sighed. "Speaking of the Lord Father, It is about that time. He'll be waiting for me in his chambers, the old bastard."
The girl sighed. "That's a lucky girl being the Lord Father's favorite. Least old men finish quickly."
"But they talk far longer. The Lord Father don't want to be fucked, just listened to. Talking, talking, talking, on and on about nothing. Ain't nothing half so boring."
"Sounds like a dream to me. Most never say a word to me."
"That's because you're young. You still care too much what people think of you. Stay in the profession long enough, the old men start wanting more than two minutes in bed. Trust me, fucking them is the real dream. I'd better go."
The younger girl waved the woman off. Jaune watched her go, his brain working. Lord Father. Adam had mentioned his father before, about how he'd taught him the sword. Perhaps Adam's father had taken shape in this world, or his Alter had crossed over? Jaune had never met or even seen the man. No pictures in Adam's house either. No indication that they'd been close in any way. But if this Lord Father knew where his son was, then he could try getting it from him. Maybe he'd even be glad for it, since apparently he was trying to get his son to return to the village.
So Jaune followed the woman, slipping quickly in behind her after the younger girl wandered into the gardens.
The hall was dark. As in there were no lights at all. No sconces or lanterns or anything of the like. All Jaune could really see were the faint outlines of the walls, which felt grand and spacious, yet strangely congested. He saw the older woman now, her feet padding quietly down the hall, never once suspecting she was being followed. Jaune made sure to keep a fair distance between them, hoping the darkness would shield him from sight if she happened to turn around. Slowly she moved, and slowly he moved. The darkness closed more and more around them.
Then, she rounded a corner and for a moment Jaune saw her powdered face, heart skipping a beat, wondering if she might see him from the corner of her eye. Instead she carried on, vanishing from sight. He let go a silent breath, then pressed forward.
Someone came from around the corner.
Someone he recognized instantly.
Velvet.
She came strolling soundlessly across the floor, arms tucked behind her, at her leisure as if this place was her home and this was just another day. She didn't consider the fact that it was impossible for her to be here, and for a multitude of reasons. Jaune's heart started thumping, popping like pistol-fire. Why was this happening now? He hadn't seen her in weeks. He'd started to think the worst had passed. He saw now that he'd been wrong.
Just a hallucination. She wasn't real.
Velvet saw him now. Watched him from the darkness as she ambled toward him, swaying like she was trying to hypnotize him. She didn't smile and she didn't frown, but those eyes searched him all the same. Big and empty. Skull eyes.
Jaune felt cold, his hands started to tremble as she got closer. She wasn't real, he told himself. Not real…
Jaune could help but gasp, "Why are you here?"
Velvet never answered him. What did a dead girl really have to say? She only ever appeared to watch him, to remind him of her existence. To ensure he remembered her. But why? Why did he have to remember? All he wanted was to forget. Couldn't he move on from that night and live in peace?
Velvet stopped right beside him. The entire world stood still.
Jaune couldn't help but hear the silence as the empty black static of a television which was turned on but received no signal. Empty sparks and twitches. Glitches in the system.
Velvet's eyes only looked ahead, as she couldn't see him.
"What do you want?" Jaune breathed, lowering his head, refusing to look at her. But long seconds and he could still feel her next to him. He looked up.
His heart stopped, coiled in on itself, twisted with discomfort, once he saw Velvet's eyes. Now inches away from his face. Close enough to see the vastness of them, all-seeing. She had turned to face him, but again, her eyes were not on him. Instead, they pointed to her right. Down the long, dark hall. Toward the quarters of the Lord Father.
Jaune swallowed. "What's…"
But his question slipped away, and she never answered anyway. No less, those corpse eyes commanded him. Imploring him. Begged him.
Jaune's heart was in his throat, but he put one foot in front of the other and crept down the hall. Slow as slow. All the while fighting the need to turn back. Something was down there that he didn't want to see. But what?
He rounded the corner, and from the corner of his eye, saw that Velvet was still there. She had turned fully toward him now, and with that lost expression of hers, slowly, she lifted her arm and pointed down the hall. Egging him forward. Eager for him to see what she wanted him to see. Jaune obeyed.
The sliding door at the end of the hall did not look in any way special, at least as far as elaborate doors could be. But it felt like a forbidden boundary. Like opening a book that no human was meant to read. The gates of hell were right in front of him and he had the key. Or he was the key. Again, that feeling that he should turn back. One last chance. He was better off not knowing. Better off ignorant.
But Jaune was compelled forward. By curiosity, by courage, by fear. He slowly, anxiously pushed the door open.
The first thing he saw was the woman sprawled on the floor. Looking passed out drunk, rather than dead, which was something of a relief But she only had his attention for a moment.
The Lord Father was there, for who else could it be? His back was turned to him, and he seemed to stare at the wall. Or rather, the long tapestry that hung from it. It bore the double gear wheel symbol, revealed by the flickering fire light of a single candle. He wore a long eastern style haori coat, the back long and flowing across the floor like a trail of water. Jaune thought he imagined it, but upon looking again, he saw that the coat was a dark green. Like a faded emerald. The Lord Father wore a matching top hat, and the back of his head was all gray hair.
Jaune took in all of this in less than a second, and by the time the remainder passed, his heart had dropped from his throat with terrible realization. It fell a long, steep drop of an unforgiving edge and shattered like ice at the bottom of his stomach.
"Mister Arc…" said the Lord Father. Jaune felt the leash coil around his neck. "I'd say this is unexpected, but that might imply I did not constantly have eyes on you." The leash secured tight, silenced his voice. "Still, I applaud you. Even when I think I know what you will do, you divert my expectations completely. It is rather frustrating, I must admit. But also fascinating. Like watching a rat navigate a maze with no exit, only to chew a path through the walls.
Every word felt like it tightened the collar. StrongThe yanking of the leash. Heel. Sit. Good boy. "Certainly I warned you to stay out of the deep end. But it seems you have a… natural proclivity for being where you are not intended. I doubt at this point that you're even doing it on purpose. Perhaps this is just fate. The will of God. What do you think?"
Unparalleled horror had arrested him so tightly that Jaune was finding it hard to breathe.
The Lord Father raised his hand in an inviting gesture. "Why don't you have a seat, Mister Arc? You strike me as capable of intelligent conversation. At least, more so than these projections of my son's soul. I'm sure you have many questions. I do as well. This is the perfect opportunity to alleviate our curiosities, don't you think?" He raised one finger, wagging it disapprovingly. "But remember what I told Mister Slate… Knowledge is the root of insanity. It is imperative you ask only the right questions. To strike that perfect balance between what you wish to know and what you need to know."
The leash yanked tight, made him sit, panicked and alert.
The Superior had a hint of amusement in his tone as he said, ", I suppose I'll start then? As I said, in almost every instance you manage to divert or outright surpass my expectations of you. Your mere existence has led me to believe that what you are capable of almost… eldritch in scale. So let me ask you a bit of a speculative question, Mister Arc. "Do you think you can stop a war?"
And it just gets better and better.
ISA