Jaune woke up with a heavy feeling in his chest. What smithereens of relief he felt after declawing the Queen not making up for the heavy weight that had settled on his chest like a mountain. 'When did my convictions being meaning so little?'
Gently prying Violet of him, Jaune quietly got out of bed. Silently making his way to the bathroom. A shiver going down his spine as he felt something following him. He had expected things to change after his offering, it was just he hadn't known what. It came and it went, but a shiver raced down his spine every time it returned, the blood in his veins pupping and boiling while his mind screamed at him to hide.
He had felt this sort of attention before. When he had been exploring the Cathedral Ward and accidentally said a name. For half a second Oedon had paid attention to him, it had felt like an eternity, and he had been certain he was going to die.
'And now I have the attention of the being behind the dream.' Jaune shivered. A dozen other plans on how to better handle Amber came to mind now that he wasn't tired and stressed out of his mind. The worst part was, he would still have settled on sacrificing Amber's soul. It was the quickest and most permanent way to handle the situation. Clipping The Queen's wings before she got wind of what was happening. Having been preoccupied on lulling Amber's soul to sleep to properly pay attention outside.
Stepping into the bathroom, he closed the door and turned on the light. Instantly looking down at his right wrist where a rune now sat. 'One of Her three gifts.' Jaune thought with a grimace.
It looked like he had cut himself. A thin red line went down the middle with triangles sprouting out of it, and with dots surrounding it. "Heir." He whispered, running a finger over the rune. His patron having been so 'kind' as to inform him about what it meant. And with inform, he meant having inhuman knowledge quite literally dumped into his skull.
What the rune did was simple, the more 'skilled' his kills were, the more blood echoes he would be able to acquire. And by skilled, it didn't mean that he had to raise his Skill Attribute. Instead the rune rewarded precise timing, quick bladework, and clean kills over pure animalistic violence. 'Is this Her way of saying 'get better'?'
Not knowing what to feel, Jaune reached up to his neck, feeling another rune. "Moon." He whispered, not knowing what to feel. It felt like a brand. A mark of the dream saying, 'you belong to me'. He hated it, but he coulndt deny that the brand was useful. Compared to the Heir rune that required skilled kills, the moon rune simply siphoned more blood echoes from slain enemies.
'It even looks like a moon sort of.' He hummed to himself. The rune was made up a vertical line with a white x in the middle, with two arcs', one over and one under the x.
Turning around, Jaune took off his shirt. Not having bothered to change into his onesie yesterday. Sleeping in his hunter pants and shirt was surprisingly comfortable. Looking over at his back, he saw his last 'gift'.
A golden star in the middle of what could only be described as an eye. It was burnt onto his left back shoulder. The only silver lining was that it was smaller. 'That doesn't change the fact that my body is a canvas for whimsical Deities to play around with. But silver linings.'
"Blood Rapture." Jaune whispered to himself, taking a moment to look at the rune before buttoning up his shirt again. Out of his runes, he liked this one the least. The two others were useful, but they gave him some sense of control. After all, they were inactive if he didn't do anything. Requiring him to kill someone for the runes to be 'activated' of sorts.
This one just required the spilling of blood in a five feet radius around him. In return it heightened his concentration and awareness significantly. The rune was strong, and both concentration and spatial awareness were critical while on the hunt. But it also stirred his bloodlust. Even if he had sealed away his ability to feel it, the need to spill blood still stirred in his body.
'It's manageable.' Jaune sighed, turning on the faucet and splashing some cold water on his face. It didn't do much. Not when he could almost sense anything inside the bathroom. He had been unsure if there were tiers to runes, now he knew that to be the case. While he hadn't found many runes, there was a marked difference between those few runes he had found and the runes he had been 'graciously' bestowed.
He was hesitant to say gulf, but there was a divide. One that didn't stem from power but from 'completeness' for lack of a better term. Both the Communion rune and Formless Oedon rune felt lacking. So did the Beast and Lake runes do now that he thought about it. In comparison his runes felt whole. 'And since the meaning is whole, the effect is at its strongest. The only outliners are Oath Runes, who while not powerful in their own right, draws power from said Oath. The more binding and stricter the oath, the more powerful the gift.'
"Still, I could have done without Her attention." Jaune mumbled, glad that the ghosts had given him some space. The mind-numbing fear, the pure primal terror when everything locked up and he wanted to kill himself over feeling the fear for a second longer. It wasn't compared to the idly attention of Oedon that briefly shifted to him. If he before had some stray interest from Flora for being a hunter of the dream, now he straight out had her full attention.
The worst part was that She cared. He sensed some alien amalgamation of pride and happiness in her attention. Like a mother cooing over its child's first words.
"The Gods aren't terrifying because they are powerful. They are terrifying because they care." He had seen images of a man holding up a fish during the eclipse on his scroll. Back then it had been a funny meme, something to chuckle good naturally at, maybe even shake his head as he swiped to the next meme. It was when you suddenly became the fish, that things weren't so funny anymore. Instead descending directly to 'hehe, please don't stare at me too much. My head will literally explode' territory.
Running a finger over his palm, he looked at the locket. Hoping it could magically give him some titbit of knowledge. Some idea about what to do. Like everything that were fortified it had changed. He almost coulndt imagine it as the same tarnished golden locket it had been. It looked to be made of molten gold, pulsing in tune with his heartbeat. The metal itself felt like some horrifyingly weird abomination of organic and inorganic. There were spots where it felt warm, humane to the touch, whereas other areas were cold and lifeless. The scarring around it had also changed, bearing some semblance to the inscriptions on the locket.
However beyond simply being able to conjure golden chains from his wrist, nothing had changed. The chains were tougher, far more elegant and beautiful. But otherwise nothing had changed. Making his heart ache momentarily at the wasted resources.
'No, they weren't wasted. Being able to trap and seal something is great. It's just not what I wanted it to be.' Jaune mussed as he stepped out of the bathroom. Some surprise visible creeping onto his face when he saw Pyrrha nursing a cup of tea in the kitchen. The bags under her eyes were gone, but a weight sat on her shoulders.
"Jaune. We need to talk." She said when she saw him.
"Do we now?" He asked, wishing she could just let his problems be his.
"Yes." Not an ounce of hesitation was in her voice as she stared at him. "I saw you die. But it wasn't just that. I saw you get your heart ripped out. Jaune, I saw brain matter spill from your skull." At that, Pyrrha's voice broke. Taking a shaking sip from her tea, Pyrrha looked at him with tears welling in her eyes. "You were alive. And now you are here acting as if nothing happened. How can you be so nonchalant about it."
"I need to re-anchor that spell." Jaune mumbled to himself, quickly shaking the thoughts away as he went and poured himself a glass of water. "Because I knew what I was doing." He muttered softly, not looking over at Pyrrha. "I have… I have grown used to dying. I knew what the spell would do before I cast it. I knew what was going to happen. And so I prepared myself accordingly."
"You knew he was going to do, whatever it was he did?" Pyrrha asked with a frown.
"No. But I knew he was going to do something." Jaune replied nonchalantly. "Something always happens when you push someone into a corner, be it mentally or physically. So I cast a spell in preparation. And it saved my life."
"Still… Jaune. Pieces of your brain was falling out." Pyrrha tried.
"I know. Believe it or not Pyrrha, but I felt it." It took all his might not to shiver as he remembered the sensation. "But… there are some fights you can't lose, no matter what. And some discomfort was a fair price."
"How can you be so blaise about it?" Pyrrha asked, not hiding the warmth that crept into her voice. Her brows pointing down into a frown.
"Because I'm used to it." Jaune replied flatly. "Just like you and every girl in the world grows used to their period. It's still uncomfortable, some are more painful than others, but you get used to it."
"Jaune."
"Repeat something enough, and it will grow mundane." Jaune mumbled -to himself more than to her, cutting her off. "I know you are worried. But I'm fine. I'm doing better."
"Repressing everything isn't healthy, Jaune." Pyrrha said softly. Making his eyebrow twitch. He knew she didn't try to be condescending, but it was everything he heard.
"I know. But, at the same time, you will never understand. Just like I, or we, will never understand how it feels to have the power of the maiden." Jaune explained. Taking a second to catch himself before he said something harmful. "Just like the living can never understand the plight of the dead." Elizabeth's spectral arms came to wrap around his neck. A chilly breath tickling his ear.
"You need help, let us help you." Pyrrha hissed, hurt and anger flaring to life in her bloodshot eyes.
"Maybe." Jaune lied, looking into his glass. "But drop it for now. You should focus on getting ready."
"Are you saying?"
"Yup. Help me wake up Nora. We are heading out." Jaune ordered, giving her a look.
"We are grounded."
"Oh, no no no. We are not going out to look for the other half-maiden." Jaune explained. Laying her worries to rest. "Instead we will be having breakfast with my family down in Vale. And say, if we were to stumble upon someone else with a very specific set of abilities. Two of a kind, sort of unique. Well that's just luck on our part."
"Jaune." Pyrrha sighed, running a hand down her face.
######
"Wow, Vale really is a different city so early." Nora whispered, eagerly looking around.
The sun had yet to rise into the sky, painting the sky in beautiful colours. Soft reads and beautiful purples. Making Jaune think of Homer's wine-dark sea. 'It is beautiful.' He hummed to himself. 'Maybe I should take up painting?'
"Almost makes it worth getting dragged out of bed." Nora continued, breaking him out of his thoughts.
"It's not that bad." Jaune defended with a roll of his eyes. Personally enjoying the peace the early morning brought. Holding hands with his apprentice, it was as if nothing was wrong in the world. Even if he knew it to be nothing but delusion.
"So what is the plan?" Ren asked, cracking his neck. Fighting back a yawn as he looked around.
"Simple. We are going to take a walk around the city, have breakfast with my family, and know which of my sisters wants to sleep over." Jaune explained with a shrug. "The goal is to scope out where they are staying, and how accurately Pyrrha can sense the girl. Because I don't think they are the type to give up. Not when they snuck into Beacon to get their hands on the power."
"That is to be expected." Ren replied with a hum. His brows furrowing as his eyes wandered over Jaune. "But given what happened yesterday. Should we really be doing this now?"
"It's exactly because of what happened we are doing this." Jaune answered instantly. "The person the Headmaster sent to keep watch over us is asleep. And since we walked through the emerald forest instead of taking a bullhead down, the headmaster should be none the wiser. I don't expect it to last forever. However it gives us a window of time."
"Won't that put your family in danger?" Ren asked with a frown.
"Our families were already in danger." Jaune said, gesturing with his head at Pyrrha. Pretending he coulndt see the horrified realisation dawn over her. "You and Nora are orphans, but they can use our families to get too Pyrrha."
No more words were needed to be said. Everyone suddenly fully aware of the stakes.
"There is always a chance that I'm overacting. But..."
"If they made their way into Beacon just for said power. Who knows what else they would do for it." Pyrrha finished, holding a hand up to her heart. Clutching her fist with determination.
"Exactly." Jaune nodded. "While I'm sure the headmaster can protect us, his protection only entails within Beacon. And to us. But if said problem is buried six feet under, we don't have a problem anymore."
"Not all problems can be solved with murder Jaune." Pyrrha frowned.
"No, but this one can." Jaune quipped back. "Honestly, a lot of problems can be solved with murder. But more often than not, you simply end up with more problems."
"Yharnam really have knocked some screws loose." Nora chimed with a grin. "Were screwy-loosey buddies."
"Weren't we already buddies?" Jaune smiled, rubbing his shoulder against Nora. Before the joviality in his eyes disappeared. His brows frowning as he turned serious. "But Pyrrha. This is a neither can live while the other survives, sort of situation. Murder is the only answer. I don't know how the magic works, but I can see it reaching out to its missing part. And I can guess it's not pleasant."
"It's not." Pyrrha whispered glumly. "There is this incessant gnawing in my chest. I had thought maybe it would be different without Amber…. But…"
"If you feel it, she probably does to." Jaune summarized. "She probably revels in the sensation to be honest. Amber looked to have been attacked. Sought out most likely."
"All for what? Power?" Pyrrha whispered horrified. Disgust shining in her eyes as she shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself.
"You would be surprised what lengths someone would do to get their hands on even a drop of power." Elizabeth whispered, hanging of his shoulder. Her dress floating as if in water. "Power can be compared to sex. Everyone wants it, and some can never get enough."
"Not everyone." Ren frowned.
"You would be correct, not everyone wants it." Elizabeth said, turning her eye to look at Jaune. "However even then, some people will find power harped onto them. But I can't help finding irony in it none the less. Those who are least deserving of power are those who lusts for it the most."
"But isn't power corruptive?" Nora pointed out. "Heavy weights the crown and all that."
"That is only if you care." Elizabeth hummed. Flashing a beautiful smile of black and white teeth. Some of her teeth sharp like fangs. "And everyone likes to blame power, when the cause of everything wrong was giving someone with no morals and a heart full of lust in the first place. Everything that happens after is simply them exercising said power." Turning to look at Pyrrha, a wicked little smile etched itself on the ghosts lips. "And it is for that reason you will die."
"What." Pyrrha frowned, glaring at the ghost. Grinding her teeth as her fingers tapped against her biceps.
"Your partner is right." Elizabeth spat, pronouncing the word with a sharp smile. "There simply is no negotiating with certain people. Your opponent is coming after you with the intent to kill. And you are lacking the resolve to do the same. You might be prodigy in the arena; however you lack the resolve. Your opponent will not spare you the same mercies you have in your heart."
Jaune knew he should probably step in. Elizabeth was unnecessarily tearing into Pyrrha. But at the same time he knew she needed to hear this. Pyrrha was kind, she was a lot like him before Yharnam. 'But she isn't allowed to stay like that anymore. Not if she want's to be the one standing.' Jaune sighed to himself, sharing a glance with Ren. 'Better she hears the words from Elizabeth and not from me. It will hurt her less.'
Gently squeezing Violet's hand, he let his eyes roam around the city. Knowing he had to get Pyrrha something nice for later. Even if part of him didn't want to. Still angry at her from earlier.
"Mint." He mumbled, stopping abruptly as he saw a head of mint green hair further down. The woman must have sensed her because she stopped and threw her head over her shoulder. Ruby red eyes shooting wide open as she noticed them. In an instant she darted of.
Ren instantly sprinting after her. Also having made the same connection he had. Nora hot on Ren's heels as they raced down the street.
"Who was that?" Pyrrha asked, shooting him a disapproving look when Jaune pulled out his pipe. Snapping his fingers and lighting it before taking a drag.
"She used her semblance on Ironwood during the dance. It should be an illusionary type of semblance with how it clung around his eyes and ears. But the question isn't why she did it, it's why she recognised us." Jaune explained, blowing a puff of smoke out of his mouth. The corner of his might twitching upwards. "But it wouldn't be too far a stretch to think she had a team now would it?"
In an instant Pyrrha dashed forward, racing down the street to catch up to Ren and Nora. Making Jaune shake his head as he took another puff. "Really, so impatient." He chided. "Still… I'm not one to turn down good luck when it shows it's face."
Even if he said that, he didn't walk any faster. Puffing on his pipe as he hummed a jaunty tune. Reaching into his jacket he pulled out a coin, flipping it before catching it out of the air. Only rising an eyebrow when it showed heads.
"What are you doing?" Violet asked, curiously looking at his hand.
"Divination, not to be confused with perception magic." He spoke in Yharnamich. Not wanting anyone to overhear. "There are many ways to divine the future, it's not something blood magic have a monopoly on." Arching his neck, he looked up into the sky. Clicking his tongue as he read the signs. "There are many ways to hunt. Every hunter has their own methods, after all, not every prey comes charging out at you. Sometimes you have to hunt it down as well."
Violet scratcher her cheek as he could see the gears at work.
"I don't know how Gherman hunts as I have never seen him in action, however by his title of 'The first hunter' it wouldn't be completely wrong to imagine him using traditional hunting tactics." Jaune continued. Seeing his apprentice nod along. "As for the Viscount, his prey was different, so he hunted differently."
"He was kind. Inviting." Voilet pointed out, growing surer the more she spoke.
"You are right. He was open, inviting us in until he had us in a spot he could freely strike." Jaune affirmed. Smiling slightly as he nodded at her. "As for me, well I like being prepared. Information is priceless. Especially in the right hands. I have been burned one to many times by going in blindly. And it's about time that changed."
Stepping over the road, they cut into an alleyway between the towering buildings. Giving Violet a nod. Humming to himself they cut over another street and made their way through the alleys.
The sound of loud clacks rang through the alley as Jaune smiled. A second later the woman with mint hair came around the corner. Ruby red eyes shooting wide open in shock and surprise. In one smooth motion she sprang onto a nearby container and threw herself to an escape ladder. Hurriedly climbing up as if her life depended on it.
"Well, now that's just rude." Digging into his vest, he spun a knife in his fingers before throwing it after her. Taking another puff from his pipe as it hit the quick release mechanism. Sending the ladder she was clutching descend down with lighting speed. In a feat of surprising athleticism she jumped off the ladder onto another balcony. Not hesitating for a second as she smashed her hand through the glass and opened the door. Escaping into the house.
Puffing on his pipe, Jaune flipped his coin, he continued through the alley. Already reaching for his scroll when he heard it ring. "We lost her." Ren panted slightly out of breath.
"Don't worry. I'm on her trail." Jaune said with a little smile. "Do you think you can run damage control? I would rather Pyrrha didn't charge right into their base."
"I'll see what I can do." Ren sighed.
######
"Come on, pick up Mercury." Emerald hissed at her scroll as she raced through the city. Feeling like a trapped mouse. Eyes shooting wide open as she dived into another alley, scantly believing he was before her again.
Emerald knew the back alleys of Vale like the back of her palm. She had grown up on them, been moulded by them. The first time she had a proper warm meal had been after Cinder had taken her in. Until then she had survived by diving through dumpsters and fighting for scraps. It was only when her semblance awakened she managed to start stealing to survive. And even then she often had to run away.
The back alleys had been her home. She always had been able to dive into them to lose her pursuers. Be it bigger boys, the police, or wannabe gangsters. No matter if they had been bigger and stronger, or if it simply had been more of them, the alleys had been where she had managed to slip away.
A cat yowled as she raced right past it. Grabbing a trash container and using her aura enhanced strength to roll in into the way. Old rusty wheels screaming in protest as they were forced to move. The second it blocked the path she took off like a bat out of hell. Pretending she didn't feel her lungs scream in protest.
"Tsk, tsk." Her pursuer tsked, he and the little girl beside him leaning against another corner of an alley. Forcing her to run to the right instead. The little girl looking up at him with curiosity and confusion when they didn't give chase.
Emerald felt less like a mouse being played by with a bored cat and more like a sheep. Runing exactly where her shepherd wanted.
"!-" Emerald hissed under her breath. A tired rasp above anything else as she tasted blood in her mouth. 'I just wanted to see if the city was doing anything.' She thought with bitter hatred. She had wanted to be useful to Cinder, not to be chased around like some feral animal. 'At least I managed to slip away from his team.' She spat to herself. Eyes shooting open when she heard the familiar sound of a call being cancelled.
"Fuck you Mercury." She hissed with fury. 'The bastard hung up on me.'
Looking around, she bit down her anger and darted over another street. Not daring to look over her shoulder as she darted into another alley. Shivering as she felt an invisible breath trail down her back. The second she saw a ladder she raced up it. Taking to the roofs as she jumped and ran. Doing everything to lose him.
Touching down her heart froze in her chest when she looked up. A long shadow cast over her as he stared impassively down on her.
Her semblance screamed to life, tearing at her mind as she wrapped illusions around both him and the child. Running as if her life depended on it. Knowing that it very well could.
Her heart hammered in her chest, fire burned with each and every breath, each step sent pins and needles racing up her legs. Any thought of fighting completely gone from her mind. Emerald hadn't been on the train, but she had had first row seats to seeing him duke it out with Torchwick.
Emerald was a thief, a pickpocket, while she could fight her own battles, she much preferred to not fight at all. She knew when she was outclassed. She was good, but that was because her semblance could easily allow her to punch above her weight. The fear she had first felt when he tore her semblance to shreds during the dance coulndt be put into words. He hadn't as much looked at her and her best weapon crumbled like wet paper.
Darting through another alley she suddenly felt something grab her neck. The world blurred; a pained gasp escaped her as she was slammed into a wall. Apathic blue eyes stared at her, smoke tickled her nose as he puffed on his pipe.
"I tire of this." He spoke calmly. As if he was talking about the weather and didn't have a death grip around her throat. Her aura did nothing to help the feeling of dread that welled inside. Breathy chokes of air the only thing she managed to utter as he choked the life out of her. Dark spots appeared in her vision; everything grew blurry.
Then the hand was gone. Collapsing on her knees she coughed, taking deep and greedy breaths of air as she looked up through tear-stained eyes. Reaching for hear weapons as he puffed lazily on his pipe. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He pointed out flatly. Cold and unforgiving steel pressed against the side of her temple just a moment later.
A shiver raced through her body as Emerald took in the kid's eyes.
Cold. Inhumanly so. The longer Emerald stared; the tighter fear gripped her heart. There was no sick pleasure in them, neither was there any hidden sorrow, heavy guilt, sense of duty, loyalty, or anything. They were cold and empty pits. Making Emerald know in her heart of hearts that the girl felt nothing. Killing wasn't something right or wrong in the child's mind. It simply was. There was no difference between pulling the trigger and eating breakfast.
Emerald didn't know what weird hell she had spawned from, but she refused to believe the child was human. 'No one, not even Cinder is so unfazed when it comes to killing.' She thought to herself with a shiver. Remembering the sadistic euphoria that Cinder always wore when she exercised her power.
"Can you tell us about the maiden." The man spoke. 'Jaune', her mind said. Putting a name to the face. It was impossible to not recognise him. He was completely different from the stern but inviting boy that walked Beacon. His eyes were sharp, focused, there was a kindness to them. One she knew was not reserved to her.
"So it wasn't some coincidence that spurred you to run." He hummed, looking down at her with a twinkle of something in his eyes and the barest hints of a smile on his lips. "Good, I would have hated to harm someone innocent."
Reaching down, he grabbed her by the shoulder and roughly pulled her up. Letting her go as she stumbled. Instantly reaching for her Thief's Respite, ice gripping her heart when she felt nothing but empty air. Instead finding her weapons in his hand.
"An interesting weapon." Jaune said nonchalantly, holding one of her weapons in his hand, the other strapped to his waist. Sliding his finger down the side he effortlessly triggered the switching mechanism. The razor-sharp metal casting a sharp glint over the alley. With a gentle touch of his index finger the sickle shot out, wrapping chains around her neck as the blade of her weapon pressed against her throat. A dim shimmering light appearing as her aura sprang to life. "A gun form, a sickle form and a kusarigama. And nothing to overly complex. An ambush weapon for an ambush predator."
With a flick of his wrist the chain retracted, leaving Emerald room to breathe. Only for the child's gun to push against the back of her head.
"But you didn't answer my question." Jaune continued plainly, idly taking another puff of his pipe. The strong scent of tobacco and herbs clinging to him like a smoky cologne. "Amber." Emerald twitched slightly at the mention of that name. Memories of that disastrous fight coming to the forefront of her mind. "You recognise the name."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Emerald snarled, wiping the sign of weakness in her eyes away. "You have the wrong person; I would like my weapons back."
Jaune looked at her flatly, raising an eyebrow as he stared at her like she was stupid.
Her semblance screamed to life, her mind crying in pain as the strain smashed into her. Emerald threw herself to the side, gasping when she felt her semblance shatter like glass. Instantly a chain wrapped around her neck, pulling her back as she was forced to stare into the barrel of her own revolver. The hammer pulled back and a finger on the trigger.
"Who's your boss." Jaune asked flatly. "Black hair, golden eyes, choker around her neck. Dressed in a red mini dress. Uses a pair of twin blades that can be put together into a bow."
"I'm not telling you anything." Emerald replied bravely. Her captor only giving her a raised eyebrow. The strike never came. Nor did any punch for that matter. Making Emerald struggle to keep a smirk from her face. 'Goody two shoes.' She thought in relief.
"There is a thin line between bravery and stupidity." Jaune informed her cordially. "You really should learn to keep things off your face."
"Tell the bitch." A familiar drawling voice rang through the alley. Instantly Emerald felt the clutches of fear leave her. Mercury came walking out of the shadows, strolling forward without a care in the world. Sending her a glare that was part mischief, part anger, part enjoyment, and part 'you owe me'.
"I take it you are her partner? Or is reluctant acquaintance better?" Jaune asked, idly flicking his wrist. The chain and sickle instantly retracting from her neck as he spun her weapons around in her fingers. Emerald barley managing to make out the moment he switched out her ammunition with his own silver bullets.
"You hit the nail straight on its head right there pal." Mercury snarked. "Unfortunately I can't really allow you to leave with her. Or leave at all."
"Well, then it would seem we are at an impasse." Jaune replied calmly. "You see, I really can't allow her to leave. At least not alive. Resource denial and all that. And such a wonderful semblance at that. Honestly, it's such a shame. But unfortunately, I can't let it be used against my team on your next attempt for the maide-"
Jaune never got to finished, Mercury launched himself at him. A powerful kick racing towards his temple. With quick movement's Jaune brought up her weapon, catching Mercury's leg with the scythe and directing the force away. Only for Mercury to fire a dust round from his foot to launch his knee towards Jaune's face. Instantly he brought up his hand to defend, and Emerald took her chance.
Her semblance sprung to life, weaving an illusion over the little girl as she darted forward. Grabbing Jaune's sword in the scabbard, only for a pained yowl to escape her. Blood dripped down her palm as red spikes stuck out from the handle of the blade.
She didn't even get to think, instantly the little menace was upon her. Her eyes glowing an eerie blue as she launched herself through the air. Smashing into her back feet first and swinging a large silver sword towards her neck.
"Honestly now, is it so difficult to be polite?" Jaune sighed as he switched one revolver into its kusarigama form. The sickle tearing through the air, racing towards her as Mercury sprang to intercept with a kick. Only for Jaune to flick his wrist and snag the chain around his leg. "And I must say Mint, I really did underestimate how impressive your weapons are. I think I will be getting myself a pair."
"Those are mine!" Emerald shouted. Using her semblance on the child, hissing as the blade slammed into her back. Her body screamed in protest as she moved, reaching for a glass bottle and slamming it towards the girl.
"I mean." Mercury chuckled, barraging Jaune under a waterfall of lighting fast kicks. "Stealing from a thief doesn't really count as stealing now does it. But then borrowing from the dead isn't really stealing either."
"Violet, aim for her midsection." Jaune's order rang through the alley, followed by the clashing of steel. "That's where all the vital organs are."
"Are you really teaching a kid how to effectively kill someone?" Mercury drawled, upping his offence.
"Well you know how it is in this economy." Jaune snarked back, going on the offence, switching the weapons into their kusarigama form and turning into a storm of steel. "And it's not like Mint have some years over her opponent, fighting tactical is honestly Violet's only choice. Violet! Use the pommel of your sword to hit her in the kidneys. Aim slightly around where her ribs stop. Close to the spine."
"Can you take this seriously for one second Mercury!" Emerald snarled, the little hellion slipping under a sharp backhand before slamming the pommel of her weapon into her back. Even with her aura active and anticipating the blow, it still sent fire racing through her body. A sharp intake of air all she managed to do before Emerald slammed her palms into the concrete ground. Launching herself back first into a wall. Throwing the bottle in her other hand at the little hellion the second there was some distance between them. "And my name's not Mint."
Emerald didn't get a reply, barley managing to register Mercury's arm grabbing her hand and pulling her to the side. The echo of a gunshot ringing through her ears. With another flick of his wrist Jaune sent a sickle towards her while the other flew back and levelled the barrel towards her.
A barrage of bullets raced towards them, with the other sickle snapping through the air to keep them at bay. All of a sudden, the sickle wrapped around her neck, janking her forward.
"You owe me." Mercury snarled, grabbing the chain and pulling. Only to let go when another gunshot echoed. Shrapnel exploding from the walls as he let go. Mercury's foot shooting forward, kicking the sickle to force it to unwind, another kick launching it lighting fast towards Violet. Jaune instantly moving to stand before her and snapping his wrist, the sickle and chain spinning around him like a defensive shell.
Taking a hesitant step back, she noticed Jaune and Mercury being too busy trying to tear each other into pieces than to notice her. The only one that did was the kid, and she was behind Jaune. Unable to do something.
Without hesitation, Emerald ran down the alley. Defeat on her tongue, anger blazing in her stomach. Pushing her tired body to sprint, the morning sun washed over Vale blinding in her eyes.
#####
"I want to preface this meeting by stating how disappointed I am in you." Ozpin said, voice leaden with disappointment as his eyes travelled over his students. Seeing no sings of guilt on their faces. Having only noticed it momentarily in Pyrrha's eyes before it was replaced by stalwart determination. "I expected something like this from Team RWBY-"
"Hey!" Qrow opinioned, eyes bloodshot as he muffled a yawn with a hand. "Leave my nieces out of this."
"- Or Team STRQ." Ozpin finished. Not missing how Qrow blinked, nodding with a wry smile. "I didn't expect anything like this from you. I expected better from you."
Maybe he was laying it on a bit thick, poor Miss Valkyrie looked to be shrinking in on herself the more he spoke. 'Unfortunately, some things needed to be said.' He didn't much enjoy breaking his students down, far more wanting to pull them up into the pillars he knew they would become. But sometimes a strong hand was needed.
'An iron fist wrapped in velvet.' His mind whispered at him.
"Can anyone tell me what you were doing in Vale downtown when I clearly remember that I explicitly said to not leave the school." Ozpin asked.
"We were going to eat breakfast with my family." Jaune replied flatly. "We left early to not have to struggle with traffic."
"You should go into politics." Ozpin pointed out flatly as he searched the boys face for any traces of deceit.
"Thank you." Jaune replied with a polite smile.
"However, are you telling me you four chasing down one certain mint haired girl through most of the city was, what? A coincidence?" Ozpin continued with a frown. Giving the boy a hard look.
"Yes." Jaune replied straight faced. "And we were five, not four, Violet was involved as well." At his words, Violet nodded, nervously squeezing Jaune's hand as she stood beside him. Her nervousness practically radiating of her as her eyes darted around. "I recognised her since she was the same person who used her semblance on Ironwood during the dance."
"Excuse me?" Ozpin asked, feeling yesterday's migraine come back in full force. Inwardly glad that James didn't participate in this meeting. 'Or Glynda for that matter.'
"It's Violet's semblance." Jaune replied quickly, squeezing his apprentice's hand. "I can… I won't say borrow, but I can use her semblance once in a while. And sometimes I can't control it at all."
"And are you claiming you saw this woman use her semblance on Ironwood?" Ozpin asked. Multiple ideas already racing through his mind. None of them good.
"Yes. There was a string between her and the clouds that covered the generals face. It's a pretty advanced illusionary semblance, it changes what someone sees. I'm hesitant to say all, but it overwrites and changes most senses. Vision, scent, touch, hearing, to name the most obvious."
"Jaune is right." Ren said, stepping forward. "When we were chasing the suspect, I saw her run down one alley, only to find out I had chased nothing into a dead end."
"The same thing happened to me." Pyrrha added, hints of frustration briefly making it's way onto her face.
"So that's what happened." Qrow mussed from the side, arms crossed, and brows furrowed as he leant against the wall. "It was like clouds blurred them out when I rushed to save Amber. There, but not. Like really bad blurring, or bad editing, just in the real life."
"For me it was as if she naturally darted into the alley. Echoes, breathing, shadows, the whole deal." Ren added in. Making Ozpin's frown only deepen.
'That such a versatile semblance should fall into enemy hands.' He frowned, knowing how easily illusions could turn the battlefield. He was hesitant to say Team JNPR was right to do what they did; however the knowledge was useful. Resource denial was the name of the game, no matter how distasteful he found it. Especially with how resourceful this 'Cinder' was.
'Salem's agent no doubt.' He knew, there was no doubt about it. 'It only stands to see how she managed to sneak her way into Haven.'
No matter what his opinions on the matter were, Team JNPR wasn't of the hook. He knew how brash and reckless teenagers could be. Vale was already a powder keg waiting to go off. He knew intimately how much damage two maidens could do to the city, even if they were 'only' half-maidens. Neither was he going to let good meaning children endanger the maiden. The worst-case scenario was Pyrrha being assassinated and the power automatically snapping back to Cinder. They wouldn't know until after it was too late, and the culprits had already fled.
He rather they be safe in beacon, where he could keep a watch on them. They might not be happy, but they would be safe.
"From today, Team JNPR will have daily detentions with Qrow."
"Oh come on. Why do I have to get punished?" The grown man bemoaned worse than his teenage students. "You aren't even paying me. Shouldn't I be what, down in the city searching for a certain magical girl."
"Well, my good friend. As it stands, the most reliable way to find the maiden, is in this room." Ozpin said, sharing a glance with Pyrrha. "And until we have a plan on how to handle this Cinder, she is to be protected. I understand that both parties might dislike this, however, please bear with it for now."
"It's only till Cinder is dead, right?" Jaune asked with a frown. Sharing a distasteful glance with Qrow. Clearly liking the idea even less.
"Yes." Ozpin replied, frowning when a jaunty tune rang out from Jaune's back pocket.
"One minute, I really need to take this one." He said, holding up the scroll with a shit eating smirk. Clicking the answer icon a distinctly female voice rang through his office.
"Bitch! You stole my scroll!"
"Borrowed sounds better." Jaune replied with a cheeky grin, before frowning. "Or grave robbing. But we both know that you won't have a grave. So I'm not sure if the word really can be applied." Qrow's eyes boggling out of his eyes as he stared. His student completely ignoring him, pressing on nonchalantly. "And you have already gotten your hands on a burner already by the looks of it."
"Fuck you!" Emerald replied with a heated glare.
"Apologies, I like my women more… std free." Jaune said plainly. "However, as much as I would like to catch up, is fire bitch there? Because let's not kid ourselves, you would never do this without permission."
The other side was silent for half a moment, before a distinctly different voice rang through the speaker. This one warm and seductive, velvet and poison dripping from every word. "I do so love talking with someone who poses a functioning brain. Conversation tends to grow stale otherwise. Such a shame however, I could do well with someone of your calibre on my side. However, I don't much like being insulted."
"The sentiment is shared; however I don't know how I would feel sleeping in the same room with a woman I know will shank me if I was made team leader." Jaune quipped, letting a smile onto his face. Filled with teeth and sharp edges. "And if my specific chose of words insulted you, let me assure you, I meant to."
"I'm going to enjoy roasting you inside out."
"Pyrrha, dear, do you want her head served to you on a silver platter. Or is on a stake more up your alley." Jaune quipped, his smile falling by the second.
"In an unmarked grave also works fine." Pyrrha replied flatly, never having taken her eyes of the scroll since Cinder's voice echoed out. A single burning flame around her eye, while multiple orange-coloured spears suddenly materialized in the air around them. Every single one pointing at the scroll in Jaune's hands.
A silent heavy breathing rang out from the other side, making Jaune frown before loudly groaning. "Oh come on, don't tell me both of you have magical kill switches inside you." Ending the call, he turned to Pyrrha, gently placing a hand on her shoulder to shake her out of the trance that had fallen over her.
"As interesting as that were, Jaune, please leave the scroll with me. And I will see what we can do." Ozpin ordered softly but firmly, having been more than content to stay silent up till now. Not like Qrow, wheezing laugher escaped him as he did his best to be quiet.
"You do realise the signal that can be traces is most likely a dummy?" Jaune asked, getting himself an approving nod from Ozpin.
"Yes, I'm aware, it is everything else on the scroll I'm more concerned about. Pictures, notes, scroll numbers, everything can be helpful." Ozpin freely shared with them. "If there is anything else, you are free to take your leave. The duration of your detentions will be sent by mail soon."
"Aw come on." Miss Valkyrie grumbled, crossing her arms as she stomped impatiently into the elevator. Her team following after her, Jaune placing the scroll on his desk before walking into the elevator. With a familiar ding, Team JNPR was gone. Leaving him alone with Qrow to contemplate what had happened and what had been revealed.
"Miss Nikos and this Cinder can't be allowed to come to close to another. If the magic made them react in such a manner through a phone call, them meeting on the street is a fight waiting to happen." Ozpin shared his worried, getting a long-suffering nod from Qrow.
"Don't let the magic fireball through, weapon materializing magical girls get to close to another, got it." Qrow sighed, stopping and sniffing the air. "This smells suspiciously like tobacco."
"If my students smoke or drink while not on campus, that is for them to choose, as long as they don't do it on campus." Ozpin said flatly.
"But Oz, for detention, what do you want me to do? I'm not really working here." Qrow pointed out with a frown, pulling out his hipflask.
"What you feel is necessary." Ozpin replied flatly, idly taking of his glasses and cleaning them. "They are good kids with their hearts in the right place."
"Just no respect for authority, like most kids their age." Qrow added, earning a nod from Ozpin.
"I don't want you to be a drill sergeant, but I want them to be aware that there are consequences to their actions." Ozpin said, getting a hesitant hum from Qrow.
"Works for me." The man shrugged before opening the window and transforming into a bird before flying off.
#####
Note: This is the effect of Jaune's runes. Moon: 60% increase. Heir: 10% - 90% increase. So he can earn a total of 150% blood echoes if he performs 'skilled' kills. And Blood rapture massively heightens concentration and awareness, but also stirrers bloodlust.
Note: Emerald is not a frontline fighter, she is good, but she overly relies on her semblance to even the field. When her semblance doesn't work she is easily put in a disadvantageous situation.