Jaune Arc blinked. His vision was hazy, his head pounded and he had a splitting headache that threatened to send him crashing back to unconsciousness.
He tried to remember everything. He vaguely remembered something big happening last night–or earlier, right before he passed out from exhaustion. He remembers being attacked by something black and losing consciousness. Then, nothing. He felt dizzy, nauseous, and weak.
Everything ached with a great amount of pain and suffering that made him wish that he was dead. He didn't remember having fallen asleep in the forest.
But that doesn't really matter right now. He needs to get out of the cold ground before anything happens to him. He tried to move his body but couldn't. Every movement brought him more pain.
The pain was so strong that he thought that he was bleeding internally. His entire body hurt immensely. When he touched himself, he discovered it was covered in dried blood. He could feel it everywhere in his body. In particular, between the ribs, around his chest, on his arms, on his face, on the backs of his hands. Some parts even appeared to be sewn closed but without the stitches. It was horrifyingly disgusting.
It was still dark out, but he could see clearly.
He looked around in disarray before noticing the weight pressed against his chest. Frowning, he pushed down against it lightly. Liquid stains his aching hand, and when he looks down—
"Oh gods..." His breath hitched. Blood, blood, blood.
There was a large, ball-sized gaping hole on his bloodied chest, just below his heart, that stretched all the way through to his abdomen. Ribs stuck out like decaying animal corpses. The flesh looked torn, the blood slowly flowing freely out, staining his ruined shirt, and dripping off his hands and legs. It was terrible. Just awful. And there was no way in hell that he would ever recover from this.
Either this is just a nightmare or his mind is numb enough that not even pain can knock him out.
He stared at it in horror, his eyes were wide, mouth agape, his lips turned gray and his breathing unsteady, tears flowing freely from his eyes. It was horrific. It was beyond comprehension. The blood pooled under his body, forming into a puddle. His legs felt weak, his heart beating rapidly.
A cold hand gripped his rapidly beating heart. No matter how hard he tried, he could not get any sound out. A soft sob escaped him, followed by a silent scream, noiseless and shrill.
He couldn't help it. The sight, the horror of it, the sheer agony of it—it tore at his insides, tearing into them with savage intensity.
When he thought of the others, he started sobbing. It was a horrible sound to have to make. He wanted to shout and cry, but couldn't even do that in this place. He was alone.
Memories rushed back to him and he realized what happened the night before.
Eyes widened, carefully, he sat up trembling and turned to look around him in growing fear. He couldn't believe that such things actually happened. How could something like that possibly be real? He just died. He was dreaming, that had to be it. Maybe he was truly dead and this was the afterlife?
His eyes searched the surrounding trees but they remained still and motionless. No Grimm in sight that mauled him.
He tried to lift his head again. Unfortunately, the effort proved to be impossible. It hurt so much that he was convinced that his head was going to explode at any moment. As if that weren't bad enough, the blood seemed to have increased to a terrifying degree due to gravity pulling it closer to the wound in his chest.
"No..." Jaune croaked. It came out as a whisper because he could barely speak. "Please... No... I don't want..."
He trailed off as his eyes filled with tears and tears rolled down his face, mixing with the dried blood. He couldn't breathe. Everything started to blur together. It was becoming too much.
"I'm sorry..." He apologizes to the mental image of his parents. "I'm sorry..."
But, not one reply came.
His throat was dry and scratchy. He needed water badly. He desperately needed water right now. His mouth was parched and it felt like his tongue was coated in sandpaper.
He coughed slightly, and it sent more liquid onto his already dirty clothes, adding to the mess.
He couldn't handle it anymore. He couldn't take much more. Not anymore.
With no more energy left to hold himself up, he dropped back to the ground, curling into the fetal position and letting his hands clutch at his chest desperately as he let out another broken sob.
A soft hum sounded from above him, a comforting melody filling the air. He could almost hear something humming pitifully to his cries.
"Small one. Broken by the dark. I mourn for you."
Another tear trickled down his face as he opened his eyes to stare up at the strange-looking being sitting above him. It was womanly in shape and form. From what little he could see, it consisted of a dark feminine figure with several golden symbols on her body. She reminded him of stars in the moonless sky. It was impossible to tell if she was real or not. He had never seen anything like her before.
It was amazing as it was unexpected. Like a diamond that fell from the sky blazing.
Her long, flowing black hair that floated like it defied gravity. Her naked but umbra body is slender and graceful, with curves and features that make his heart stop at the sight. She had a serene, beautiful face, with a gentle smile and closed eyes that he felt could stare at him.
Even with an undistinguished face, she seemed to be watching him with some sort of curiosity and pity. He wondered what that meant. If she knew something that he didn't.
He whimpered hoarsely, unable to stop coughing. The slow coughs turned into harsh coughing fits that took every ounce of strength in him not to pass out.
Another humming sound resonated within her, she began to float away. An ethereal voice echoed.
"Hurry. Your scars bleed pain." The voice came again. Softer this time, though he had no idea where he heard it coming from as her lips hadn't moved.
"...hurts..." He murmured, his throat raw, his voice cracking and raspy, as if he hadn't spoken in days. He struggled to sit up, leaning against one of the trees, before turning to look again at her.
A variable amount of moonlight reflected on her floating figure, outlining with a bluish hue. The symbols on her are celestial in appearance and vertically tattooed from her forehead, lips, and heart, to her pelvic region with luminous properties by the visible glimmer.
With shaking hands, he tried to pull himself up and push himself to sit on his knees. It took several painful minutes of pushing himself along before he finally managed to move himself to his feet. He was surprised at how he could move with the large wound that should've killed him. His legs were shaky, like jelly, but he could walk. Slowly and clumsily, but he could walk.
How unnatural that he was able to move.
He had no idea where he was, but he knew he needed to keep moving forward until he reached civilization. At the least, he knew that there was a road or something somewhere. Hopefully, it won't take too long.
It hurt so much. Tears fell as he felt every agony.
There was too much pressure against the wounds. All he could think about was that he wished that he could die in peace instead of suffering in this cruel and painful state. The only thing that kept him from giving up entirely was the faint memories of his family.
"They will find me. Somehow. Even if I can't make it out alive, they'll find a way to bring me back."
His vision began to spin again. This time, he was sure that it wasn't caused by stress or hunger.
His mind throbbed suddenly. An impulsive shock stuns his senses with a hellish-like screeching.
It wasn't only the physical pain; he felt sick, weak, dizzy, exhausted, and terrified. There was no end to the pain, it just kept getting worse.
Something was clawing his mind from the inside.
His bloodshot eyes flash.
It was overwhelming. He couldn't think of anything besides what was hurting him the most. His body was so sore, his skin hurt, his mind was pounding, everything was hurting and he didn't know why. He couldn't focus anymore, all he could do was cry as he walked. He stumbled, tripping over tree roots. He cried harder whenever he stumbled or stubbed his foot on something.
He collapsed to the ground, screaming and wailing incoherently as panic seized control. It was getting harder and harder to breathe.
The pain was excruciating. The worst thing imaginable.
"The beasts of darkness, bereft of soul, the ones like howlers, have caught your scent."
Almost tripping, his hands on the ground, Jaune glances at the mysterious woman above trailing after him.
All the while, her voice continued to echo, repeating those warning words over and over.
It made him feel insane. The pain, the fear, the helplessness... It overwhelmed him completely. It wasn't something a mortal should hear. But somehow, her voice managed to give him hope.
Hope that it wasn't really true. Hope that there was someone else out there at least looking after him. Someone who would come find him if he got far enough.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, his muscles screaming in protest, each movement sending jolts of pain coursing throughout his entire body and causing his brain to scream in agony. He held onto a nearby branch for support as he stepped forward, his eyes fluttering open to glance around.
Beasts of darkness. Grimm. Howlers—Wolves. Beowolves.
He was still alive. Still here. In this forest. With these creatures. They are searching for him.
As if sensing his thoughts, she smiled gently. "You are. You breathe, little spark. And you'll see the light of another dawn."
Jaune's breathing became labored as he stared at her wide-eyed. How can someone be certain of that?
She drifted towards him. As she neared, a sense of marvel affected him when the first touch of her divine aura that blazed like the sun's fires made in contact with him.
Jaune gasped and leaned backward as he stumbled. His arms and legs were trembling violently, and his whole body shook.
She smiled warmly and tilted her head to the side. "You are afraid, child." Her voice reverberated within her own head. "Do not be. I will shield you from the dark."
"I... I can't..." He replied through chattering teeth. "I... don't even know where my family are..."
"I am the light-bringer, and you are the lost one. It is a night of fear and dangers of shadow." She explained in a sweet, loving tone. "I am their bane. I am the protector. I shine the way in their midst." She added, almost whispering as she knew he was trying to listen. Her soothing voice gradually helped calm him down and calm his nerves and gave him something that resembled hope.
"I don't know... what's wrong with me, there's so much blood on me, it's hurting. Please, I need help." He murmured quietly.
"What is your name?" She questioned gently.
"Jaune... Jaune Arc."
He answered quickly, his voice sounding hoarse and pained. He coughed heavily, bringing his hand up to wipe away the sweat rolling down his face and dripping onto the floor.
"Jaune Arc, then," She repeated softly, smiling once again and lifting one hand out, her fingers gently stroking through his matted hair. He leaned into the gentle touch slightly.
Her head perked up, as something caught her attention. The sounds of heavy footsteps approaching were audible. Turning, she frowned.
Jaune glanced beside them to see what she looked at. A tall black shape loomed into his view. Its sharp talons and red eyes made him recoil back in fright. Soon enough, Beowolves came into view.
He could hear distant sounds coming from afar. It sounded like more Grimm calling out. Screaming. Screeching.
But strangely, his heart beat faster in anticipation of the approaching danger, against the thin flesh of his chest. He knew that he should get away from where he stood.
But something deep inside his soul stopped him. Something compelled him to stay and be with this strange woman, this strange creature, whatever she was.
His heartbeat raced, and yet a strange calm filled his entire being as she lifted an arm and stretched it toward the approaching monsters. The beasts screamed as if tortured and died, dissipating. Their bodies fell down lifelessly on the ground.
They set their eyes on him, ignoring her, she noticed.
One of the Grimm ran towards his direction, its claws outstretched ready to swipe at his neck. She raised another hand in front of her, and a beam of gold-black-colored energy shot out, hitting the beast squarely between its eyes, blowing the head, and making it fall on its stomach.
Jaune watched in awe as she effortlessly killed the ferocious beasts with just a simple gesture.
Suddenly, a loud howling resounded and the forest was filled with rumble. The wind blew away the smoke and he saw dozens of Grimm coming in his direction, charging. Their mouths were opened and they were emitting shrill screams, making it clear that they were hungry.
All of them had bloody eyes. Fear gripped him tightly as he looked at the oncoming threat. If any of them got close, they'd attack and he would die again. He wanted to run away, to leave now, but his body refused to let him. Fear paralyzed him, forcing him to watch. His breath hitched.
Another blast of energy flew out. The howls turned to agonized screams and cries of rage.
They moved rapidly, rushing toward them.
She raised her hand and pointed straight ahead, and a bright beam of light shot out and collided with one of the advancing Grimm. The Beowolf was knocked off course and crashed right into another, falling to the ground dead.
"Fear not, little one. I watch over you." The woman whispered tenderly.
It was as if the pain and fear had washed from his body, leaving him with nothing but a feeling of tranquility and a sense of comfort. It was strange, but it felt comforting in a strange way.
An avian born from darkness came flying overhead, white mask shrieking, producing sharp feathers at Jaune, tips barbed with shining acuity, only to be dispersed by cosmic energy.
"T–that was a Nevermore!" Jaune heard of them. A common type of Grimm that catches their victims by diving from the sky. "There will be more of them."
The woman didn't answer, but instead focused on the next enemy approaching. Her symbolic tattoos glowed and pulses menacingly.
Her eyes flashed, turning into flashing stars among the void. They were surrounded by glowing sparks as they expanded into spherical energies which glowed brightly in the moonlight.
"Begone." She spoke calmly.
And with reverberating of power, the glow intensified even further, turning into streaks of blinding light that illuminated the surrounding area.
It was dazing. The Beowolves and Nevermores stopped in place. The remaining beasts froze in their tracks. Some of them even turned to ash and died in explosive gores. He shuddered.
"This is a blessing that you will be endowed with." She said softly, slowly extending her hand towards Jaune and allowing her solar power to surround him. Her dark-golden energy accompanied by a pale yellowish glow enveloped him. She gently closed her fingers around his shoulder. "The Immortigon cannot be contained, it defies all walls, even with the manifested divine descent of the human soul. Should it break free from your body, this world will be but a victim of its neverending wrath. You require this security."
She released his shoulder, clenching as if placing some sort of seal. Distantly, he heard the roar of a hateful beast. Jaune immediately felt lighter, as if his entire body was being filled with newfound energy. When he blinked and shook his head, he noticed that his vision had been mostly restored. The aching pain in his body rapidly disappeared from his mind.
More of the Grimm flew in the sky, shrieking loudly as they closed in on them. Jaune's breaths picked up. This was it meant to be hunted relentlessly because of who you truly were, a living person. This woman was standing right there before him, a beacon of hope for his hopeless situation.
She raised her hands, holding her palms facing the approaching monsters.
Her eyes squint slightly and concentrate on the Grimm in front of her.
With small bursts of energy from the palms of her hands, two streams of blazing flames shot forth simultaneously, engulfing the nearest Nevermore and burning it into ashes. Two more shots followed in quick succession, obliterating three more Grimm.
A deafening screech echoed throughout the night.
It was a harsh scenery, Grimm are creatures that Jaune wished to rid the world of, but he could say he pitied them now. Beowolves bathed in the flames of the sun, fire as hot enough that even their biology is literally melting, black smoke and black tar spurting everywhere.
Nevermores' wings fell down after separating from the main bodies, burning like paper before it could naturally dissipate. The Grimm's white masks evaporated and blazed into superheated shards.
"Soulless, yet your sapience is unnerving. Die." She commanded, opening her void irises once more and gazing at the now raging mass of beasts and the lone figure that stood frozen. "Do not cower, Jaune Arc."
Jaune gulped and nodded weakly. He took several tentative steps forward. "Hang on, okay?" He told himself, staring nervously ahead and forcing his body to calm down.
Golden beams of light shot out, hitting each of the monsters, killing them instantly, and reducing them to ashes. Slowly he looked at her, stunned by her display. How does she do it? She's really strong. He breathed.
As if reading his thoughts again, "I am no ordinary woman, Jaune Arc. I am the sister of the Sun. I orbit my brother in loyalty as the Cosmic Warner." She informed him, her tone calm and soothing. "I was merely watching, but brought here, this world on the edge of ruin lacks saving. I will take action and choose to prepare you with some secrets along the way to survive."
She's going to–? She's the what–?! A Nevermore was burned away upon nearing their radius. A couple of other Beowolves were scorched in flames.
"Fight them." She asserted.
Was she referring to him? In his condition? Fear suddenly returned. Jaune's eyes shot open, "...What? N–Now?"
"Now." She affirmed. More like a demand he couldn't refuse.
His eyes glanced toward the back of his boots, a pocket knife he brought from home, stained from his blood. It was a blade he heard once used by his father to defend his little sister from Grimm. It was durable enough to withstand harsh force. He shakily held the hilt and started at it, clenching.
Her slender arms danced through the air, deflecting the relentless assault of Nevermores and Beowolves with grace, she called out to Jaune,
"Listen closely," She instructed her gaze never leaving the circling predators. "To survive, you must understand this Soulless Creatures of Darkness. They are seemingly creatures of negativity, drawn to your fear and despair. Stand firm, let not your heart waver."
Remain unyielding, let not your spirit falter. He swallowed.
Jaune nodded, clutching the hilt of his blade, the metal cool against his shaking palm.
"Good," She continued. "Now, see the small creature before you? It is young, inexperienced. Watch its movements, they are predictable. When it lunges, step aside—like this."
She demonstrated a fluid sidestep that seemed to flow with the wind itself. The novice Beowolf's legs were poised to jump and leap at the right time. She predicted it. Jaune mimicked her action, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of the small Grimm. Teeth inches missed.
"Now, retaliate!" She commanded.
With a burst, Jaune swung his sword, his blade meeting the Grimm's hide with a satisfying thud. The blade sunk to its neck.
Jaune twisted his knife with a sudden strength that surprised him, and the creature recoiled, for a moment, Jaune felt a surge of confidence.
"Courage is your light in this darkness," Her eyes met his. "Let it guide you, and you will find your way. Now, again!" Her back faced another Beowolf, and when it leaped at her, it was bathed in flames.
There were nine more Grimm, when one died, two more took their place. It was the middle of the night, nearing sunrise. They're drawn to the place's conflict and the underlying turmoil of the boy.
He slowly began moving closer. The Grimm, blinded by the flames of the sun, did not realize his presence.
Jaune pushed forward steadily, looking at the horde of Grimm, each one of which had their heads screaming low, red eyes constantly flickering.
Jaune approached closer, and closer until he was barely ten feet away from the first monster.
Jaune inhaled sharply, and with his strength, he swung his knife forward with all his might.
The flames didn't touch him, they merely licked his body like a breeze.
Valor is his beacon.
The knife struck the beast in the middle of the chest and cut deeply into its flesh. It cried out in a roar as he withdrew the blade from the wound. Tar-like blood started oozing out and splattering on his clothes. He stared at the blood, horrified by the sight, and he gasped desperately as he saw more blood pouring out, the wound getting wider and deeper.
Jaune's eyes were wide open. He actually did it.
He killed his first Grimm. And it was not something enjoyable.
Jaune tried to ignore the excruciating mental discomfort and continued to approach the second Grimm. As he did, he slashed with his weapon furiously. He could see that he needed more effort and determination to kill the beast than he thought. Each swing felt like his limbs were about to snap under the strain as he tried to fight against the pain.
Just when he thought he couldn't do it anymore, he threw the broken knife to the ground and held his wounded side while reaching for his second knife. He grabbed it, and with a strong grip, sliced the handle off and held it tightly with both of his hands. He took a deep breath and sprinted to the next Beowolf. He grew steadier, his strikes surer.
He shook his head quickly, trying to clear his head. The situation was getting bad fast. Too many Grimm were appearing too fast. They were swarming around them, blocking their escape routes and keeping them pinned against sides. The pain in his stomach abruptly hurt, but he ignored it, focusing instead on what was happening in front of him.
"We must move." The female called out, raising a hand in the air. Another orb of golden light shot out in a beam of light. It exploded when it met with a pair of Nevermores, causing them to fall to the ground and crumble into a pile of black ashes. Another golden orb soared through the air and struck other Grimm dead center, knocking it to the ground.
Another shriek rang in the air as the last two neared closer to where they were standing. Jaune quickly ducked behind the wood and watched as the Beowolves charged, slashing their long claws down and trying to dig into it. However, as soon as their claws touched it, it exploded in a burst of golden energy that engulfed them in flames, melting into gooey tar before disintegrating into thin air.
The woman gave a nod of approval before turning to look at him, with her hands beside her. "I catch sight of more miles away. Follow me. We must leave."
Jaune nodded. Her black eyes countenance others in different directions.
"Come." She beckoned, turning to walk away and disappearing through the trees, and towards the city. He quickly scurried over to follow her, stumbling slightly when his legs wouldn't move. He couldn't help it though, the pain from earlier, from his leg, was now intense from all the actions. He winced.
His ankle was definitely sprained or something.
He tried to keep up with the woman as she briskly walked—floated, through the forest in search of an exit.
She turned her head at the sound of his groan and looked at him in assurance, slowing down to allow him to catch up.
A loud noise erupted from behind them, and they quickly pivoted around. Several Grimm appeared in the distance before them, screeching aggressively. The blonde immediately flinched and ran away.
His foot scraped against the rough dirt as he ran, trying desperately to distance himself from the approaching Grimm. His muscles were quivering from fatigue.
He stopped, and with a heavy gasp for breath, doubled over, panting. His breathing slowed down. He was losing a lot of blood and energy, but it was manageable. He closed his eyes, and with one more glance behind him, he resumed running.
The wind of the forest hit his face with ease and he was forced to stop occasionally to breathe properly. He almost collapsed, feeling dizzy.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, and he wiped it away, grimacing. He was starting to feel the burning pains in his body again. His vision went blurry as he focused solely on the woman ahead of him.
He stumbled, leaning against a tree. With his head hanging in defeat, tears stung his eyes.
"Hasten not, Jaune. Ease your pace." She said encouragingly, stopping a few steps ahead, and looking back at the forest.
Jaune wiped the tears from his cheeks and straightened, giving her a weak smile. "Sorry for being so slow." He admitted quietly, his voice still ragged.
She shook her head, "Apology is unnecessary, dear boy." She replied, looking at him.
"It's just... It hurts..." He mumbled between breaths.
"Hmm…" She murmured, looking thoughtful at his leg with an inquiring look.
"Your leg is broken, fractured, the bone shattered amidst the chase must be."
She looks back to his surprised face. Jaune inspected the bruising on his leg, a red swelling, and the shape of his knee was in an odd shape. A hint of a bone poking out.
Looking at this, his head felt faint and sick. Now that he's paying attention to it, there are other obvious things, some more apparent than others. It looks like a large crack like his thigh joint has been dislocated.
He hadn't noticed it while running earlier, he hadn't even heard the cracking sound until she pointed it out, and now, with her confirmation of what had been hidden all this time by his thick skull, the pain finally hit. The ached of his whole body intensified, especially his leg, chest, and mind. Everything felt sore and tight, unpleasant. But it hurt, a lot, not compared to the when being mauled to death earlier, but still severe. He couldn't even feel his toes anymore, which he could tell because they wouldn't move when he tried to.
The woman placed a hand against his chest. "You cannot run. Lay down. You must rest and allow your body's regeneration to commence."
Jaune opened his mouth to protest as more Grimm could get closer to them but closed it as realization dawned upon him. She was right, and yet it didn't stop him from feeling anxious. He could place his trust in her. But at the same time, he wanted nothing more than shuteye, so he allowed her to lay him down on the trunk of the tree.
"Rest here. I shall watch over you patiently." She declared, turning away and facing the direction where a horde of Grimm was approaching.
It would only take another minute before the monsters reach them and she have to fight again.
Jaune looked at his legs. They were badly battered. There will be no recovery, even with natural healing. He'd be crippled for life. He'd never escape Grimm attacks again, ever.
That's what he thought briefly before he watched with a sick fashion, as the swell slowly reduce, the bone poking out of the skin receded with a horrific grinding noise realigning to its original position.
It was very slow, but he had to wait.
After swallowing, Jaune nodded, letting the silence wash over him, praying silently for a miracle… a miracle of life. His eyelids fell closed, taking him into slumber once more.
Hot. It was hot on his face, more so on the right side of his cheek. He could feel it against his eyelids. But he couldn't open them. His eyes were heavy and glued together with the feeling of solid cold in the back of his head.
His body seemed to react instinctively as if it had been waiting for some sort of stimulus, and so he opened his eyes and found himself closing them immediately from sun rays. He blinked several times, trying to adjust to the sudden light, and then turned his head and looked over at around him.
A forest with broken trees and litter with fallen branches, ground dented, and black masses turning to dust.
A crunch of leaves had his head snapping in that direction. A woman of the darkest color and gold designs steps in his way, her hand emitting an energy particle and a burning Nevermore behind her, beheaded.
"Awake at last, little one," She spoke, her voice a soothing melody amidst the now-bright forest. "The night has been unkind, but you have survived."
Jaune swallowed hard, blinking away the sleep from his eyes. His entire body felt exhausted as if the weight of exhaustion had been dragged across his entire body with every movement. It took a lot for him to get up from where he lay on the trunk, but when he did, everything ached. His body felt drained and tired, and every action that required effort made the entire process take longer and harder. All he wanted was to lie down, close his eyes, and sleep for probably a year.
He tried to sit up and wince. Pain flared through his entire body, but he endured it.
He glanced at the woman as he rose, and noticed that her dark eyes bore deeply into his, watching him carefully.
"What do you remember?" She asks him when she went into a sitting position in front of him.
"Uh, everything." He replied meekly, ignoring his discomfort.
"Good. Then we best make off from this forest. Those Soulless Creatures will not emerge until nightfall."
He paused at that. Hesitating, he told her, "Grimm appear every time, even on the day."
"Truly? I do not doubt, as you speak the truth. Then we should be careful when we fly off."
At this, she grabs him to his surprise, and positions him in her arms. Slowly, her feet left the ground and they started floating from the ground.
It was a weird sensation to be levitated and carried. Jaune tensed, gripping onto her tightly as panic filled his body. He was too weak to protest, he was barely standing, and there were probably Grimm around them. What the hell was going on? How the hell is she moving like that?!
"Wah!" He squealed and squeezed her tighter as she continued to carry him.
Her face remained calm, and she kept flying forward with her hands holding him securely, maintaining her balance. Jaune struggled and tried not to scream. His heart raced, his stomach churned, and his lungs burned.
"Aren't you scared?!" He questioned, his voice muffled by her shoulder.
She doesn't say anything at first. She merely kept her gaze fixed forward.
It was almost dizzying, but Jaune kept quiet and held onto the woman, afraid of being dropped. After a few moments passed, she said, "I'm afraid I can only use such tricks at most times. I fear there won't always be someone willing to let me carry them, and I am not used to such situations."
Jaune released his grip and stared at the woman. She wasn't joking, and neither was he, she was completely serious. Even the slightest hint that she might leave him alone and that she won't carry him would cause her grief.
Jaune didn't know what to say at that but instead decided to stay quiet. He kept looking forward, watching the trees fade further and further.
They flew for some time and eventually, the forest became less dense and more open. Birds chirped nearby and the air was fresh and clear as well as dry. He relaxed in her arms, his eyes heavy and heavy-lidded, drifting off to the land below.
It was then the woman spoke again.
"Jaune?"
He looked at her, "Yes?"
"Divulge me, those creatures you refer to as Grim, you know of them. Couldst thou tell me regarding them?" She inquired while holding him.
Jaune can't help but wonder about her weird speech pattern, it was something he read in fairy tale books and and saw in movies about when old kingdoms and knights were naturally everywhere. It makes it difficult for people to understand her.
Nevertheless, he understands her.
"Oh, um, I guess. You see, these things, uh… they're evil monsters. They're beings that just want to destroy everything they see. They come from everywhere, they can walk on land, travel in the sky, and swim in the sea." He explained with difficulty.
"Everywhere? Are they common on other lands?"
"Yeah, they're everywhere. In Vale, Mistral, and other kingdoms."
She took a quick look at him in wonder. The word 'kingdom' in his sentence quickly led her to assume the period this world's era lived in the olden, chivalrous times.
"Do you know how did they appear? Their origins?"
Jaune looks thoughtful for a moment before he answers. "No. The Grimm existed since the beginning. People have always been fighting in a war against them."
Since the beginning. She reviewed that thought for a moment. So the world began to develop and grow after a series of wars with the Grim. But how many people had suffered and died in the end? Was there still someone alive who knows why the Grim appeared, or what their purpose is?
Jaune continued talking, unaware of her inner question. "They eat living people. Humans and Faunus."
His words caught her attention. Faunus, as in the Greco-Roman minor deity? It was skeptical to hear a name that familiar to be conventional here. "Did you mention Faunus?"
"Yeah." He frowned from her shoulder as if confused about her. "People with animal looks."
People. She blinked. "Tell me about them."
He made a brief hum sound before answering her, "They're people with animal ears, cool tails, and sharp teeth. And they live with humans around the world." He coughs slightly, feeling his lungs heating up.
"Interesting…"
And she really did seem interested in his description of the Faunus from her smile. To think there was another collective race living alongside humanity.
"Have you met any other Faunus before?"
Jaune shook his head. "I have faunus friends back in my old school. But it's been so long so I can't remember their names."
"How long ago?"
"About, uh, when I'm still five."
She looked at him up and down, then to his tear-dried face. A child's face of around thirteen stared back at her. His facial contours are still developing, with softer angles compared to an adult, a small nose, rounded cheeks, and smooth and free skin.
Memories do fade away when eight years pass by.
"Mm... Why are asking these questions?" He looked at her, mixed up on why she was asking things about common knowledge. She spoke as if she was seeing the entire world the first time.
"Hm? To understand this world."
"... This world?"
"Yes. I have never been on the likes of this planet before in my travel among the cosmos."
"... Huh?" The boy blinked, baffled and mind blank.
Seeing how his face grew perplexed, she snorted amusingly. "I know what it is you are assuming, and indeed yes. I am someone who was not born on this planet and has traveled in space full of stars. You could say some might call me an—"
"–alien."
"–otherwordly an—what?" She glances down at him in surprise. A smaller part of her felt offended at being called one by a child, but he was technically correct, despite her originally from Earth.
Jaune's wide eyes were pointing at her face. "You. You're an alien."
"Well, yes, as I am not from this planet. In man's terms, I am someone similar to that of an alien, a foreigner from outside." She shook her head quickly and responded.
"You're an alien. A real alien." Jaune repeated, dazed.
"Yes, I am. You do not need to say it again." Her black eyes somehow held amusement at him.
"A real, real, alien! Oh wow, that's awesome!"
She chuckled. She actually found the fact also amusing. Although it explains why his reaction was the way it was.
She continued to hold him as the two continued to fly across the sky, passing by several clouds and flying over forests. Occasionally she would fly higher briefly, and he could feel the air rushing through his clothes, causing shivers to run down his spine.
He felt cold, and he quaked slightly. However, he knew it was because he'd spent so much time sleeping on the cold ground, and now the cold air caused goosebumps to rise upon his arms. He looked up at his savior and noticed that her golden eyes seemed to glow slightly in the light of the sun shining through the leaves above, giving off a yellowish tint. She turned towards him and smiled down at him.
He finally stopped talking and began to rest in her arms, closing his eyes as a breeze tickled his face. For some reason, the little boy seemed comfortable in her arms.
He felt safe and secure, and it surprised him. Usually, when strangers touched him, he couldn't bear to let them go or to feel so close to them. The closer he was to someone or the closer they were to him, the stronger his nervousness became, and it made it impossible for him to completely relax. When he felt the warmth of another person he'd tense, and that only served to ill-treat them.
But in front of her… He felt no pressure. No awkwardness or dead silence between them. It was refreshing and different from any other interaction he had with anyone. Maybe he was getting accustomed to the warm embrace, maybe he wanted it so badly he just needed to feel it, either way, it made it hard for him to move. He rested his head back, trying to calm himself. His breathing slowed.
The woman stayed silent and watched him. She was impressed that he trusted her enough to fall asleep in her arms and that calmed her worries greatly.
She gently caresses his hair softly, letting his bangs frame his face, brushing it away from his closed eyes. He was beautiful. She wanted nothing more than to keep him forever safe in her arms.
She allowed herself to stable her flight, listening to the sounds of the wind blowing through the forest. The birds sang songs and the birds chittered in unison. A peaceful silence surrounded them, and as they listened, she thought about everything that happened today.
This world was intriguing.
Everything was new and strange to her. Everything was so different yet so similar, and it gave her queries beyond belief. She never expected that landing in this new world would give her a new sense of marvel.
Kingdoms. Soulless Creatures. Faunus People.
Speaking of the latter, she had a suspicion of how the animal-like humanoids managed to coexist with humans. Surely, there is bound to be racial discrimination, yes?
If so, she understand why they fought and struggled with each other. They were both so different, both so very strange and so very riveting. Ultimately, they all had the same goal, and that was to fight against the Grim.
She remembered Jaune speaking of the Grim. Perhaps she should ask him more about it once they arrive in a town later. It could take them some time to get to the nearest city–kingdom from where they came.
Setting her goal in her mind, she leisurely flew with the sleeping boy in her arms, all the while feeling her celestial brother watching over her, where the sun indeed seemed unlike any of the people of Remnant had seen before.