Everything changed after Noire
Immediately after Jaune made it home his father signalled the hunters association which were thankfully able to save Andel with minimal losses. For being the one to make the discovery many citizens made the trip to the Arc residence to thank the family and Jaune for saving the town the whole situation had even started a memorial day annually that everyone called "black friday"
But never had Jaune felt so empty
Enough to make him think that Apathy may still be watching him
Thanked for running away from his dying sister
Praised for having the "courage" to standup and flee
It all just felt so hollow
His parents took it hard, they had already been arguing about letting their kids go to the huntsmen academies and the death of their firstborn only made the arguments heat up
Which inevitably lead to his mother leaving, she didn't say where just took off in the night
Dad took awhile to bounce back but after that, one by one his elder sisters moved away when they became old enough
Scarlett to Vale
Violet to Atlas
Hazel to Vacuo
Cinnabar to Menagerie, she always did like the heat
Soon, it would be Jaune's turn
When he had turned eight, Jaune had cut himself over the eye with a wooden training sword
Much to his chagrin this led to his training being setback two entire years, and a lifetime of jokes hurled at him
But finally he could do something other than run, and even in Remnant, bad times didn't stay that way forever
"Jaune do you know why the Arc's are so special?" his father asked sitting cross legged looking at his son patiently
"yeah, yeah, bloodline of warriors, grandpa was badass, great-grandpa was even more badass, etc, etc" Jaune replied quickly, wanting to get to the good part
"I'll give you half points, but the real reason we are all badass is because our semblance is somewhat hereditary"
Jaune was really unsurprised, all of his sisters including Amber's semblances had something to do with energy manipulation and they specialized from there. Violet could use hers to manipulate water, while hazel could use it to enhance her physical abilities
While they still were unique, they all were deviations of energy manipulation which ahh that's what he's getting at
"So that means we can learn from the mistakes of the past" Jaune said in a fake old man voice causing his dad to smile
"Yes that's right, even though you have yet to unlock your semblance it is likely to share some similarities to the previous Arcs. If you weren't such a smartass it might actually be fun teaching you" his dad said patting his head causing Jaune to laugh himself
"But on a more serious note..." his father started
"There used to be an entire Arc clan in your great-grandfathers age which led to many triumphs for humanity, in fact much of the land that the SDC now hoards was earned thorough Arc sweat and blood" a whimsical smile found its way to his face
"I'm sure I don't need to explain why more dust is good for huntsmen?" he asked which got a snort from Jaune
"Interestingly our numbers slowly started to die out... It didn't happen overnight, but great-grandpa's journals list the many and often strange disappearances of clan members"
Jaune took a moment to grasp that
"Do you think the Faunus started assassinating us?" They had done some serious damage to them in the war, his grandfather was even a big-wig general at one point
"Maybe, but just know that you are the last remaining male Arc" Julius said now looking Jaune in the eye
"That doesn't just happen over such a short time without someone putting the wheels in motion"
Jaune looked at his father with slight disbelief
"Something to think about at least"
Training was hard, almost harder than anything Jaune had done. But he didn't complain, it was more clear to him than ever that this was life and death. But there were times like this where he couldn't help but be jealous that all of his sisters were much better combatants than him
"RAGGH!" Jaune yelled launching an overhead strike towards his enemy
"I don't think I've ever seen somebody so bad with a sword before" Julius stated once again knocking Jaune's training sword out of his grasp
Jaune grabbed his now bruised wrist
"Yeah, I know I suck, but you are the one who taught me all I know so-" A smack to the shin with the wooden blade had Jaune cursing his existence
"I think I know at least part of your problem though" his dad said which brought Jaune's attention fully onto him
"You think too damn much!" Julius declared with a goofy smile causing Jaune to deadpan
"Isn't that a good thing? Thinking things through?" He asked already anticipating a lecture
"It can be, but in a fight having good instincts is far more important. My father used to say 'Overthinking is the enemy of reflex, when your mind races, your body hesitates. When you are in the heat of battle, trust your gut, that's what we are really here to train'"
"So, stop thinking?" A whack to the shin was his response
"No, no, just stop thinking about the things that aren't important" Julius said with a heaved sigh
Jaune smiled "I think I get it"
As time passed, Jaune improved. It didn't happen overnight, hell it didn't happen over years but eventually he got to the point where his father felt he was ready for Beacon Academy the place that Noire would have gone had those damn grimm not... had he not...
Ran... But never again would he run away from a dying comrade
"Alright Jaune, I have one last thing to give you" Julius looked at his son proudly, while the kid was certainly no battle prodigy he made up with it through sheer hard work and determination, progress was steady but constant. In fact, Julius expected he could beat all of his sisters in combat at this point. Not that he'd be telling him that.
"Dad... I can't take this" His father held out Crocea Mors, the Arc family sword
"Jaune, I know things have been hard on you. Hell they've been hard on us ever since your mother left, but when I look at you I don't see someone who runs away when you would have every right to do so... I see someone who runs head on into the great unknown to spite it all... I think a proper weapon is something you have more than earned"
A tear dropped from Jaune's eye as he hugged his dad
"Thanks old man, I'll be sure to live up to the name"
A third set of hands grabbed onto both men
"Group hug!" Amber said, his last sister still home trying to use the hug as a way to cover her sobs
Jaune simply smiled "You know I'm going to miss you more than anything right?"
Julius feigned an insulted look which caused Jaune to smile, but the sobby grin of his little sister made it bittersweet
"you know what that means" Jaune asked and Amber shook her head not being able to form the words
"I'll have a little sister to come back and tell all my epic tales" he laughed messing up her hair and hiding tears of his own
Grabbing ahold of Crocea Mors felt a little heavier than he expected, hopefully it would get lighter with time and training
"Wish me luck on becoming the very best, like no one ever was!" Jaune said walking away with a raised arm
"What a nerd" was the last words he heard from Amber
Hopefully they wouldn't miss him too much