The air was loud with the hum of engines and the distant howl of wind as the stolen airship began to rise into the sky.
"Damn it! Let's run!" a bandit shouted, panic lacing his voice as he and his cohorts scrambled aboard the stolen vessel.
Behind them, the sound of hoofbeats echoed in the distance, growing louder by the second.
One of the bandits looked over his shoulder and paled at the sight.
"He's here!" he cried, his voice breaking.
"Take off now!" their leader barked.
The airship's engines roared to life, its hull creaking as it climbed higher. Relief swept over the group — until they saw the figure chasing them. Mounted on a Jackalope, its antlers shimmering in the sunlight, a knight in armor charged forward. The white streaks in his blonde hair gleamed beneath his helmet.
"Are we good?" another bandit called out before freezing in horror as he looked back. "Wait, are you kidding me!?"
The knight spurred his mount forward with a quiet command. As the Jackalope lunged into a powerful leap, he dismounted mid-air, using the mount as his springboard, spinning with practice as he gathered his aura. Golden light flared around him as he unleashed a crescent slash of aura from his blade. The glowing arc tore through the airship's sails, shredding them with a burst of sparks and fabric, effectively slowing it down.
The knight wasn't finished. He extended his palm backward, concentrating his aura. With an explosive recoil, he propelled himself higher into the air, slamming shoulder-first into the airship's side with a bone-jarring impact. Metal groaned in protest, but the knight held firm, gripping the edges of the hold and pulling himself inside with utter ease.
The bandits barely had time to react before he was among them.
"Damn you!" one of them shouted, lunging with a serrated knife.
The knight sidestepped effortlessly, raising his gauntlet to block the strike before delivering a light yet punishing punch to the bandit's gut. The man crumpled with a wheeze. Another tried to rush him from behind, but the knight grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the ceiling with enough force to rattle the airship.
Drawing his sword, the knight's voice cut through the noise of the engines and the groans. "Get down. NOW."
The remaining bandits exchanged nervous glances, their confidence shattered. The pilot raised his hands in surrender, his voice trembling. "Okay, chill! I'll take us down!"
As the airship began to descend, the knight stood motionless, his blade perched casually on his shoulder. His presence was imposing, with a quiet threat radiating from his posture and the faint glow of his aura. Even if they tried to attack him, his aura would stop them, and they'd be beaten.
In the distance, the silhouettes of Mistralian airships emerged from the clouds. The stolen airship was quickly surrounded. The bandits had nowhere left to run.
A Mistral Police Officer, clad in a crisp uniform stepped forward as the airships docked near them. He clapped his hands together with a hearty laugh. "Mr. Arc, you've been doing the Brothers' work again, haven't you?"
Jaune removed his helmet, his blonde hair streaked with white glinting under the sunlight. He gave a modest shrug. "Just keeping things in check. Tried robbing a settlement, too bad I was in the place."
"Well, thank you for not punching a hole through them," The officer chuckled, pulling out a small case of Lien and tossing it Jaune's way. "You're making us all look bad, kid. Need a ride back?"
Jaune waved off the offer, tucking the Lien away. "I appreciate it, but I'll manage. Thanks."
"Alright, just call us if you need help. Hard to believe you're still a student. Guess not all Huntsmen are all Lien-hungry, eh?"
"See you around, officer," Jaune gave a casual salute.
"Alright, round these idiots up. You all got rotten luck or is this Karma finally biting your asses?"
As the officers began rounding up the subdued bandits, Jaune stepped away, his work done. From the treeline, Juniper, the Jackalope, emerged silently, her antlers catching light. She approached Jaune, nudging his side affectionately.
"Thanks for waiting, girl," Jaune said softly, scratching behind her ear. "How about we head to Kuroyuri now? Though I'll have to keep you hidden from Nora. She might try to make you hers."
Juniper's long ears drooped slightly, her golden eyes reflecting the faint light.
"Hey, don't worry," Jaune reassured her. "I'll call you when I need you, okay?"
The Jackalope seemed to understand, her presence fading as multi-colored leaves swirled around her. The leaves shimmered in the air for a moment before disappearing entirely.
Jaune's Scroll buzzed, breaking the quiet. He pulled it out and saw Nora's profile picture and name flashing on the screen.
Her energetic voice filled his ears as soon as he answered. "Jaune! Where are you, fearless leader? We need you!"
"Nice to hear from you too, Nora," Jaune replied, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "What's the emergency?"
"Emergency? Oh, no emergency… but kinda? But Ren says he'd really appreciate it if you could hurry up and get to Kuroyuri," Nora said, her voice lighthearted but tinged with insistence.
Jaune sighed, adjusting the strap of his pack. "I'm already near. Just got... sidetracked by some fools."
Nora snorted, unfazed. "Let me guess — some bandits?"
"Something like that," Jaune admitted, his smile widening.
"Well, hurry up!" Nora demanded. "And bring snacks!"
Jaune laughed, shaking his head. "Got it. See you soon."
With the call ended, Jaune pocketed his Scroll and took a deep breath. The quiet of the forest surrounded him again, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. He adjusted his gear, his fingers brushing the hilt of Crocea Mors. It still glowed faintly from the Aura he'd channeled earlier.
As he stepped onto the path leading toward Kuroyuri, Jaune allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. Life as a Huntsman-in-training was unpredictable, and no amount of preparation could account for the twists and turns. Yet, despite the exhaustion, he felt a quiet sense of purpose.
It always felt good to help people.
Then, with steady strides, Jaune moved forward, the path to Kuroyuri stretching ahead.
The village of Kuroyuri was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. Jaune spotted Ren and Nora near a cluster of villagers. Ren stood in calm conversation with a stranger, his posture composed yet focused. Meanwhile, Nora sat nearby, absently watching the ground as if in thought.
The moment Nora saw Jaune approaching, her face lit up. She leapt to her feet and waved with wild enthusiasm.
"Jaune! Over here!" she called, bounding toward him. Before Jaune could even open his mouth, she began her usual rapid-fire questioning. "What's with the helmet? And the red cape? Oh! Is this your new thing now? Did you grow your hair too!?"
Jaune chuckled, adjusting the red cloak draped over his armor. "It's cold out there camping, Nora. Didn't feel like using Aura to keep warm in the middle of the wilderness. That'd just attract Grimm."
Nora's eyebrows shot up. "No wonder the Grimm kept sniffing around!" she exclaimed, wagging a finger at him teasingly.
Jaune laughed again, shaking his head. "Nice to see you too."
Ren approached, his conversation seemingly concluded. The stranger he'd been talking to gave a polite nod before moving off. Ren turned to Jaune, his expression as neutral as always, but his voice carried a subtle warmth when spotting Jaune.
"You're finally here," Ren said. "Let me introduce you to the situation. This is Kuroyuri, my hometown. We've been working with some villagers to rebuild and… to face the Nuckelavee."
Jaune raised a brow, intrigued. "The Nuckelavee?"
Ren's jaw tightened slightly, but his voice remained steady. "A Grimm. The one responsible for the destruction of this village. It's been terrorizing the area ever since. We plan to put an end to it. We decided to end it."
Jaune nodded solemnly. "I see. And you'll have my help, of course. Always."
Ren's expression softened with gratitude, but before he could say more, Nora interjected.
"Okay, but first — what's with the sudden helmet thing?" she asked again, jabbing a finger at Jaune's headgear. "Trying to be all mysterious or something?"
"It's practical! I could use it outside and didn't you use asked me why I wasn't using it?" Jaune defended, lifting the helmet slightly before setting it back in place. "And as I said, it keeps the cold out. Plus, it's good for fighting—"
"You're finally taking my advice to accessorize," Nora teased with a grin.
Ren crossed his arms, an amused glint in his eye. "Let her have her fun, Jaune. She's been holding it in all day."
Jaune rolled his eyes, then turned the conversation back to Ren. "What's the plan here? And how long have you guys been prepping for this?"
"We've been gathering information and resources for weeks," Ren replied. "The villagers are helping where they can, but it'll be up to us to take the Nuckelavee down."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice quieter. "This… is personal for me, Jaune."
Jaune tilted his head, his expression softening. "What do you mean?"
Ren took a steadying breath. "Years ago, when this village was attacked, my parents… they didn't make it. Nora and I survived, but only barely. That Grimm took everything from me. From us. I wanted it dead."
Jaune's eyes widened, surprised at Ren's openness. Before he could respond, Ren offered a faint smile.
"I trust you, Jaune. That's why I can talk about it."
Nora, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during Ren's explanation, nodded firmly. "We're gonna stop that thing, Jaune. With you around, it'll be easy."
Jaune placed a hand on Ren's shoulder, his grip firm. "Then I'm with you. All the way."
The moment passed, and Nora was quick to inject her usual levity back into the conversation.
"By the way, where've you been, fearless leader?" she asked, her grin returning. "What took you so long? Did you go to Argus already?"
"No, I don't think I'll have time honestly. I roamed too much," Jaune said simply. "At first Vale, then Mistral. Lots of bandits, lots of trouble."
Ren raised a brow. "You didn't turn anyone into a meat patty, did you?"
Jaune paled at the thought. "Thankfully, no! I pulled my punches. You know, like we all learned to do!"
Ren chuckled, his tone dry. "That's one of the first lessons, isn't it? When and where to use Aura. As long as you don't infuse your strikes with Aura, you're fine."
"I mean duh, it would be a bloodbath, punching people into a meat stain on the wall," Nora said sagely. "We managed to hold back under pressure when those White Fang guys were attacking us."
"Exactly," Jaune agreed. "Still, it's easy to forget how much strength we have to control when fighting humans. With Grimm, it's simple — just hit them as hard as you can. But with people… you have to think about how hard you want to hit them."
"That's the kind of self-control we were trained to do," Ren said, nodding in approval. "Though we are still liable to mess it all up."
Jaune smiled, feeling a rare moment of pride. "I'd like to think I've gotten pretty good at it. My master drilled it into me from day one — control over Aura is everything. I'm just glad I've managed not to accidentally punch someone through a wall or through someone's chest."
"Well, we haven't heard any reports of human-shaped craters yet," Nora quipped, nudging Jaune playfully.
Jaune laughed, but his tone turned serious as he addressed Ren again. "Alright, tell me everything about this Grimm. If we're taking it down, I want to know what we're up against."
Ren didn't hesitate, launching into a detailed explanation of the Nuckelavee, its attacks, and the terror it had spread through the region. He spoke with a quiet determination, his voice steady even as he recounted the painful memories of Kuroyuri's destruction.
Jaune listened intently, absorbing every detail. When Ren finished, Jaune placed a hand on his friend's shoulder again.
"We'll end this," Jaune said firmly. "Not just for Kuroyuri, but for you and Nora too."
Nora's grin softened into something more heartfelt. "You're the best, fearless leader. You know that?"
Jaune smirked. "I try to be the best."
Ren then led Jaune along a winding forest path until they reached a small clearing nestled on a hill. From this vantage point, they could see the remnants of Kuroyuri below— crumbling ruins and sparse reconstruction efforts. It looks like they had abandoned it for a while. Jaune could guessed they stopped after the Grimm appeared.
A makeshift campsite was set up nearby, with a few settlers working quietly among the trees. Nora waved cheerfully to them as they arrived, seated beside a small fire that flickered gently against the growing darkness.
"Welcome to Casa de Ren and Nora!" Nora announced, gesturing dramatically at the modest setup. Ren rolled his eyes but said nothing, crouching near the fire to stoke it. He added a few logs, coaxing the flames higher, then began heating a tin pot that emitted a rich, comforting aroma.
"What's that?" Jaune asked, peeling off his red cape and setting his helmet to the side. He flexed his fingers within his gauntlet, letting the warmth of the fire seep into the metal.
"Hot cocoa," Ren replied, his tone as calm as always. "A trader came through yesterday. We figured it would be a nice treat."
Nora grinned as she held out a chipped mug. "And I was right! Cocoa is always a nice treat."
Jaune chuckled, accepting the mug and taking a tentative sip. The sweetness spread across his tongue, warming him from the inside out. "Thanks. This is really good."
Nora plopped down on the log across from him, watching as he adjusted his gear and leaned closer to the fire. "You look like you're used to camping," she remarked, tilting her head curiously. "What's the story there, fearless leader?"
Jaune smiled, rubbing his hands together. "I spent most of my training outdoors. My master liked moving between villages and forests. But my favorite spot was this beautiful beach. We camped there a lot."
"A beach, huh?" Nora said, narrowing her eyes playfully. "You don't look tanned enough for someone who hung out on a beach."
Jaune inwardly chuckled, recalling the strange world of the Everafter. Despite having two suns, the temperature was always comfortable, and he never once felt the sunburn or heat he'd expected. "Let's just say it wasn't your average beach. The weather was… unusual."
Ren stirred the cocoa, pouring another mug and handing it to Nora. "Sounds peaceful. A stark contrast to what we've been dealing with here."
Jaune glanced at Ren, who motioned toward the treeline and the scattered settlers. Many of them were busy with preparations, checking equipment and moving supplies. Jaune noticed the telltale signs of traps and devices concealed among the foliage—net launchers, spike barriers, and other rudimentary tools.
"These people are determined to reclaim their village," Ren explained, his voice low but firm. "The settlers have been laying traps and fortifying the area for weeks. Some Huntsmen were hired to clear out nearby Grimm. The rest of the settlers will join us here once the operation begins."
Jaune's gaze followed the line of traps into the dense forest. "Looks like they've thought this through. What's the plan for the Nuckelavee?"
Ren nodded toward Jaune's glowing aura. "We're hoping you can lure it out. Your aura might draw its attention, and once it shows itself, we'll force it into the traps."
"Works for me," Jaune replied, studying the setup. His eyes traced the carefully positioned nets and launchers. "This is a solid defense. You've been busy."
Ren inclined his head in quiet acknowledgment, but it was Nora who spoke next. Her usual cheerfulness gave way to a chilling seriousness as she stared into the flames.
"We're killing it here and now," she said, her voice resolute.
Jaune met her eyes, surprised by the sudden intensity. There was no trace of her usual levity.
"Yeah," he said softly. "We'll end this. For good."