Sadly, the beta reader for this story, Cawme, is no longer able to do so due to real life obligations. This has caused some delays in getting the chapter out and I don't doubt it will feel a little more rough around the edges. He gave a lot of time to helping me out and he will be missed. But like I have always said, this is all for fun and real life will always take priority. Which leads me to this bulletin:
Looking for a new Beta for this story. You can contact me through the Fanfiction site (When it works) or my P a treon site. What I'm looking for in a beta reader is someone who can help fix grammar and spelling issues naturally, but also to go above that and help me fix sections that are weak, awkward, or just need spiced up to make it more engaging. Along with making sure ideas I come up with make sense. There's quite a bit to this so all the volunteers I've had helping me really put in effort to make these story enjoyable.
If you enjoy my stories and feel like tossing a few bucks my way for expenses, please see my P a treon below.
P a treon . com (Slash) Darkbetrayer
Jaune spent the next couple of days preparing.
There were several things he needed to stock up on. First of which was his clothing. While the inhabitants of the island seemed to wear pretty similar clothes to casual wear in Vale, albeit lighter and many people went shirtless due to the weather, actually going out into the desert required specific clothing. To Jaune's surprise it wasn't short sleeves and shorts, which he had originally assumed was the case as a lot of layers would cause you to get hot. With a little research, he realized he needed loose fitting long sleeves and long pants. This would protect him from the sun and allow air to flow around his skin to help cool him off.
After that, he purchased a large robe to cover and protect his entire body and protect his under clothes from the environment. Next, he acquired a wrap to protect his head. He would have just worn a broad brim hat, but Kali explained that the wind can kick up sand and dirt into the air and he wanted more protection. Aura of course would help him from the most of it, but it was better to be on the safe side. Lastly, he did bring his patched hoodie for the nights when it got cooler.
His chest plate meanwhile could fit under his robes. Yes, it would be hot, but Aura also helped shield him from changing temperatures to a certain degree. That of course led him to making sure he had enough water, which was honestly the part he feared the most.
He couldn't carry that much water for the entire trip.
The weight would make it almost impossible to walk, even with his increased strength thanks to Aura. Jaune's only option was to rent a vehicle to hold his supplies, which would then make the trip shorter. Money wouldn't be an object, but Jaune barely had his license to drive on roads, let alone sand dunes. He had no idea how to do it safely and could just imagine himself flipped over and stuck in a ditch. Stranded with all his supplies destroyed.
"I could hire someone I suppose?" Jaune commented, as he sat in a chair behind the Belladonna's house under an awning. "Then have them wait outside the ruins so they don't see anything?"
"You will need more than just a driver." Yatagarasu informed him. "The road ahead will be treacherous, filled with darkness and obstacles."
"That's depressing… So what do I do then?"
"You managed to purchase everything you required, correct?"
"Yeah, Kali and Ghira were right. Most of the shops were more than happy to sell me supplies." Jaune reminisced. "Clothing, food and water, survival gear, I think that's everything. It's just getting to the temple is the problem. I can't do it alone."
"Then you need a group to assist you." Yatagarasu stated simply. "Just like your kind did thousands of years ago. If one of you can't achieve your goal, you bring more humans until you have the necessary numbers. Perhaps you should check with Kali if she asked her mate about you joining his tribe?"
"I really don't want to impose any more than I already am." Jaune sighed and began counting on his fingers. "If I do go alone, I need a driver, some bodyguards, someone who knows the trail like a scout. Plus, I'll need supplies for all of them, which means one vehicle might not be enough…"
"Jaune!" Came Kali's voice from inside, breaking his train of thought and causing Yatagarasu to be silent. "Are you here?"
"I'm out back!" Jaune called back and a moment later, the door slid open and Kali stuck her head out.
"Are you free?" Kali asked him. "Ghira wants to talk to you for a few minutes."
"Yeah, I just got back not too long ago." Jaune stood up without any desire to complain. Since he was getting a place to live and three meals a day, all for free, he would do just about anything for his benefactors. If they wanted him to do something, of course Jaune would jump at the chance. "Is there anything I need to do?"
"He just wants to talk to you, Jaune." Kali assured him with a light laugh. "You'll find him in his study."
Ghira's study was on an upper floor, accessible via a balcony through a sliding glass door. The walls and flooring were wooden like the rest of the house, and bookshelves line nearly every wall. Ghira's desk was sectioned off from the main space of the room, on a marble floor two steps up from the rest of the room. On the wall behind the desk was a painting of the view of Kuo Kuana from the Belladonna home's front door, framed behind glass. The main area of the study had an oversized coffee table, around which was a smooth couch and two loveseats.
"Welcome, Jaune." Ghira greeted him the moment he walked in. The man was currently sitting behind his desk and seemed to be looking through a pile of documents.
"Kali said you wanted to see me?" Jaune asked tentatively, stepping forward.
"Pull up a chair." Ghira gestured. "I have a couple things I wanted to ask you."
"About what?" Jaune was worried Ghira wanted to learn more about his history. He tried not to be vague when talking to him and Kali, but there were things he couldn't answer about the gods. Along with the fact he knew almost nothing about archaeology, researching geographical locations, and other things explorers and researchers should know.
"Kali mentioned to me that you suggested that you join my expedition to the ruins." Ghira stated.
"That was a joke!" Jaune interjected, raising his hands out in front of him quickly. "I can't expect you to take me on official duties."
"Because it's an official duty is the reason I was considering it." Ghira replied.
"...huh?" Jaune was momentarily disarmed as he tried to process those words. "What do you mean?"
"While other individuals have their own motives for wanting to visit these recently discovered ruins, I am going purely to ensure they are not used for selfish motives." Ghira explained. "Including possible theft of culturally significant artifacts. The people of Menagerie's culture run deep and we are always looking to learn about our history. Anything we learn should be shared among my people."
"Wouldn't it look weird for me to come then?" Jaune asked, still not getting it. "Being an outsider, along with being a human?"
"I said before that I was surprised you managed to ascertain the location of those ruins before we, the people who actually live here, did. Not only that, we only discovered it because of the earthquakes that uncovered parts of structures. You managed to do research from halfway across Remnant to learn of the location just from piecing together information. That's why I want you to come. There will be a lot of information that has faded away over the years and won't be complete. I want someone I can trust to give me an unbiased opinion on what we find."
"You trust me?" Now that he thought about it, the boy realized that was a stupid question. Ghira and Kali let him live in their house without being watched. That's already more than most guests receive anywhere.
"You were upfront with us about why you were here," Ghira explained. "Then you also helped my wife after you were treated so horribly by others. I can tell you're of excellent character. Combine that with your knowledge, I can't think of anyone else who should accompany me."
Jaune felt really guilty because he had lied about his experience with research. All of this was just Yatagarasu telling him where to go. If they wanted him to actually explain anything, it would quickly become obvious he was a fraud. Although, this was a perfect opportunity for him to travel with a group. Ghira and the others should have experience traversing the desert. Was there any other choice?
Should he continue to lie?
"I'm glad you think so highly of me." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck nervously after making his decision. "I hope I won't be a bother. I really don't have experience traveling in deserts so this would really help me out. That was the biggest issue I was running into while I was preparing the last few days."
"I thought that would be the case," Ghira nodded in agreement. "You're already thinking things more thoroughly than many who visit. Never underestimate the dangers out there. The Grimm are only a small fraction of it. There's the weather, poisonous plants and animals, earthquakes, sinkholes, you name it."
"I almost feel like you're trying to discourage me." Jaune tried to joke to lighten the situation.
"Just trying to make sure you understand what you're getting into," Ghira laughed for a moment and then grew serious. "I figured you were going into the desert one way or another, and decided this would be the best option. Not only will our caravan help you reach your destination, but your knowledge will be immensely beneficial to us. I see it as a win for both of us. This was mostly to see how prepared you were, and it looks like I don't have to worry."
"I can't argue with that logic." Jaune agreed with a small smile. "I would be honored to join."
"Great, now are you free this afternoon?"
"Are we leaving already?!" Jaune blurted out, afraid things were moving too fast. He didn't even have time to mentally prepare himself!
"No, no, no!" Ghira shook his head. "I'm going to meet some of the others coming along with us and wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to them. We're not planning to leave for a couple more days at least. There are certain things that need to be taken care of first."
"Oh, if that's all then, sure." Jaune agreed, relieved.
"Great. I'll let them know we're coming." Ghira stood up and then paused. "There shouldn't be any issue, but I do want to warn you Jaune. There might be some tension when you first meet them."
"Because I'm a human?"
"Yes. A couple of them are part of the White Fang, but swear they do not support the violence some sects orchestrate. I have never seen them or heard rumors of them doing anything unscrupulous, but I just wanted to make sure you were aware."
"Well, as you know, I'm pretty harmless." Jaune chuckled, trying to sound more nonchalant than he felt. "I also don't plan to take anything from the ruins, so they don't have to be worried."
"I don't doubt you." Ghira agreed, crossing his arms. "If things go well, it also might show them humans and Faunus can work together for the betterment of Menagerie." He reached for his Scroll. "I expect we'll leave within an hour."
Jaune left the office while Ghira contacted the others. He didn't want to eavesdrop, or even show the appearance of eavesdropping. Besides, Jaune had more important things to think about. Was his position going to be that important? And members of the White Fang? Jaune didn't know much about that organization, but he found some stuff online while he was here. They were a group who fought for Faunus rights over the years, but recently, they started perpetuating violence in certain situations. The other kingdoms considered them a terrorist organization. In Menagerie though, they were allowed to operate out in the open.
Honestly, this was way above Jaune's paygrade, and he didn't dive too much into it.
"So you are planning to travel with a large group then." Yatagarasu landed on his shoulder as he gave his remark.
"I didn't have any other option, did I?"
"No, I suppose not. At least any good ones. We'll see what happens when we get there. The odds of doing so are now astronomically higher."
"Should I still try to avoid revealing the existence of gods?" Jaune asked.
"If you can, do so. If you can't, it's not the end of the world. That's for if we fail to get there."
"So nothing at stake, got it."
That smartass response got a hard peck to his head.
Soon the hour passed and Jaune found himself in the back of a vehicle with Ghira in the front passenger seat. The driver was the captain of Meangerie's Guard, Saber Rodentia. The man had short dark brown hair and shaved at the sides. He had a scar running across his right eye and his Faunus trait were buck teeth, similar to a gerbil. He was wearing the typical Menagerie Guard uniform, which consisted of black and white cloth, metallic plates on the hips and a belt across the chest fastened with a yellow sash. There were also pauldrons on their shoulders with some features that appeared to be the Menagerie Guard symbol.
The man had eyed Jaune seriously when they first met, but he seemed really professional and didn't mention anything.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Saber asked Ghira quietly.
"It's needed." Ghira answered as the vehicle began to slow outside a medium size building. "We all have our own reasons for going. This should be a fruitful endeavor along with pacifying their organization."
"Then I hope things go well." Saber sighed and parked the vehicle.
"I do too." Ghira agreed, opening the door and stepping out. "Come, Jaune. It's time to introduce you to everyone."
Jaune was nervous after hearing the two men talk in undertones. The White Fang organization probably wouldn't be too keen to work with a human, even with Ghira's assurance he would be fine. His main reassurance came through his feathery guide on his shoulder. Yatagarasu wasn't worrying and was perched firmly on Jaune's shoulder once they got out of the car. Unlike with the Grimm attack or with Cernunnos's rampage, when the small god did panic, right now he was calm, which indicated there was no immediate danger.
"Ah, Chief Belladonna!" A calm male voice greeted them when they entered. "Welcome! We've been expecting you and your companion."
A long table had been set up, along with a larger, much more detailed map of Menagerie. Two Faunus men were already standing up and approaching Jaune and Ghira. They looked pretty similar, with one being shorter than the other. The two men wore nearly identical outfits that consisted of a red hood that functioned partially as a cloak made of two pieces of cloth held together by buttons and string. White trimming lined the cloak and hood. They wore a black tunic with two sections extending farther down than the rest at their front. They also wore detached white sleeves, bound at the mid-bicep and the wrists. Black gloves were attached to their middle fingers and their outfit was finished with white pants and black open-toed sandals with fabric extending up to his knees.
Really the only noticeable difference was the shorter man had holes cut in the hood for his fox ears, while the taller man had a fox tail.
They pressed their hands together and gave a short bow to Ghira.
"Jaune, this is Fennec and Corsac Albain." Ghira introduced in turn. The shorter man with fox ears was Fennec while the taller one with a fox tail was Corsac. "Fennec, Corsac, this is Jaune Arc, the one I told you about."
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Arc." Fennec turned to him. "Ghira has spoken most highly of you."
"You can call me Jaune," Jaune grimaced awkwardly. "It feels weird being called Mr. when I'm the youngest here."
"Very well, Jaune." Fennec gave a short nod, complying with the request. "By the way, you are also not the only young one here. One of our companions is around your age."
"Ilia." Corsac turned around. "Come and greet our guests."
A young woman, who did appear to be around his age, stepped through the door leading to the back room. Ilia's tan skin had somewhat darker spots on her arms, legs, stomach and face, resembling chameleon scales. Her brown hair was tied back in a ponytail that curled at the end like a chameleon's tail, and her eyes were a light gray with a faint bluish tint. She was wearing a short black cropped jacket with two tails, a gold zipper, buckle, button straps to keep the sleeves rolled up.. The girl also wore a gray short-sleeved cropped top that exposed her midriff, brown pants, and black over ankle boots with white slight wedge heels.
She wore a passive expression, but Ghira's eyes widened in recognition of the girl.
"This is Ilia Amitola." Fennec told Jaune. "Ilia, this is Jaune Arc. Since you two are around the same age, I hope you can look after each other on this trip."
"Hello." Ilia greeted stiffly.
"Um, hi." Jaune replied nervously. The girl was very attractive and he was not good with those types. Ilia was probably leagues above him. His eyes fell on the rapier she kept strapped to her hip and his nervousness intensified. His sword and shield were left at the Belladonna's residence due to Ghira's request, but Saber was armed just in case.
"It's good to see you again, Ilia." Ghira was much more composed and there was a slight fondness in the back of his eyes.
"Same, Mr. Belladonna." Ilia agreed. "Has Blake been around lately?"
"Sadly, no. She's been off traveling." This time, the man's words were forced and he quickly changed topics. "If everyone is here, shall we get started?"
"As you wish." Corsac agreed and gestured to the table. The six of them sat down, with Jaune next to Ilia. The girl seemed to be avoiding eye contact with him and Jaune turned his attention to Fennec, who started things off.
"Our convoy is almost finished being prepped." Fennec informed Ghira. "We're ahead of schedule so we can leave in two days if you are available then.
"There shouldn't be an issue," The man agreed. "If anything, the earlier departure will be beneficial so I'll be back to deal with the council on other matters."
"To limit our time out in the desert, I suggest we take one of the shortest routes." Fennec pointed to the map, where multiple lines of different colors ran from Kuo Kuana to their destination of the ruins. "There's a couple paths we can take, but this one will get us there over half a day sooner. Due to the treacherous terrain, we can't make a straight line towards the ruins with any other route. These two paths here are the quickest after that one, but things can change, so we also have a couple back ups that will take a day or two longer depending on the situation."
"I see." Ghira examined the routes. "Are these the paths the scout who originally discovered the ruins took?"
"No, he was investigating Grimm movements to determine if they were moving toward one of our villages."
"You can't take the shortest paths."
Jaune froze as he heard Yatagarasu whisper into his ear. Glancing over out of the corner of his eyes, Yatagarasu was looking at the map, stoned face. Instantly, Jaune was on high alert. Yatagarasu was the god of Travelers. He was the one telling Jaune where not to go because of dangers. So if he was saying for them not to take the shortest paths, then that meant whatever was there would be too dangerous for them to handle. What was awaiting them, Jaune didn't know and Yatagarasu usually didn't give him specifics, but Jaune did understand that the god didn't lie about something as serious as that.
There was also the fact he actually talked with other people in the room.
"We can't take those paths!" Jaune blurted out. "We need to take the blue line!"
Everyone turned towards him.
"Why do you say that?" Ghira asked, as Corsac and Ilia looked annoyed at his interruption. Fennec looked curious at least, not betraying anything other than that.
"I-It's because…" Jaune tried to think of a reason and then decided to repeat what Fennec had said earlier. "This route there has a lot of environmental dangers and this area here is most likely swarming with Grimm around this time."
"What do you know!?" Ilia snapped at him. "You've been here, what? A week? You've never set foot outside this city!"
"Calm yourself, Ilia." Corsac reprimanded. "I am sure young Jaune here has his ways of knowing. He did find the location of these ruins by information alone."
"And I agree with him." Fennec stated, causing everyone to focus back on him. "The reports I have received have stated similar hazards."
"They have?" Jaune blinked and coughed once. "I mean, yeah. It's pretty obvious from the map and historical Grimm movements."
"This area here is full of shifting sands, that can cause hazard pits that could swallow a vehicle in moments," Fennec traced his finger along the short red line. "It is rather dangerous for our convoy. This path here has reported quite a few Grimm stationed there. We did not think to examine historical documents on Grimm sightings to determine where they would be. Very wise to gather that information, Jaune."
"I don't have a lot of experience out in the field, so I do what I can with resources available to me." Jaune replied, hoping that sounded convincing. Ghira seemed pleased with his reasoning, giving him a small grin and a reassuring nod. Fennec also seemed to accept his answer without issue. Corsac appeared thoughtful, but didn't let his true feelings show in any way. Meanwhile, Ilia…
…was glaring at him as if his words were a personal slight against her.
"Do you have any other information that might be useful to know?" Fennec asked. "Like what we might discover in the ruins?"
"I can't really speculate…" Jaune admitted. "Not until I've seen it. All I know is people used to live there. But what they were doing that far in… it's possible when they lived there, the desert wasn't as bad as it is today." He was pretty sure hundreds of years, if not a thousand or more, could make a desert bigger.
"Interesting." Fennec mused. "It seems you'll be quite an asset on this trip."
"Since you're letting me come, it's the least I can do."
"Were there any issues ingathering the supplies?" Ghira asked. "You mentioned you needed to find a few more helpers to assist with the travel?"
"We have two supply trucks available to use, along with three security rovers." Fennec informed him. "Two will have mounted Dust rifles in case of larger Grimm, while the security detail will be armed."
"Quite a lot of firepower for a short excursion." Ghira frowned.
"One can never be too careful." Corsac reminded him.
"The desert is home to a great many Grimm," Fennec stated calmly. "If the Chief is coming with us, we need to make sure his life isn't put in danger. It would be safer for you to remain-..."
"I already stated that I will be going." Ghira held up a hand, his voice firm. "That is not up for discussion anymore. I am simply here to introduce Jaune and check on the progress. Since we are ahead of schedule, there doesn't seem to be a need to drag this meeting on any longer than necessary." He glanced at the map. "I would like two copies with the route we're taking so I can memorize it before we leave."
"Of course." Corsac agreed, standing up. "I shall retrieve them."
"While he is doing that, I would like to discuss something with you, Chief Belladonna. Privately." Fennec added the last word as he glanced over at Jaune.
"Certainly." Ghira agreed and then addressed Jaune directly. "Jaune? Could you wait outside for a moment? This shouldn't take long."
"No problem." Jaune stood up and briefly looked over at Saber, who wasn't moving or talking as he leaned up against the wall behind them. Then it hit him. Of course, Saber wouldn't go when he was Ghira's bodyguard. What would be the point of having one? As he approached the door to leave the room, Fennec spoke up again.
"Ilia, please go with him."
"Huh?!" The girl looked shocked at the order.
"This is a private meeting." His voice was soft and calm, but Fennec's words had a strong underlying tone to them.
"Hmmph." Ilia stood up and strutted outside to join Jaune without anymore arguing.
Once the door was closed behind them, Jaune stood there awkwardly. Ilia had leaned up against the wall of the building, her eyes narrowed and remained focused on him. He tried to ignore her at first, but after a couple minutes of Ilia's irritation oozing, Jaune wasn't left with much choice. They couldn't work with so much animosity there. Maybe it was time to break the ice? Taking a deep breath, he turned to her.
"So we're going to be working toge-..."
"Don't talk to me!" Ilia snapped at him.
Okay, now Jaune knew he wasn't imagining things.
"What's your problem!?" Jaune asked, a little annoyed. "What did I ever do to you?!"
"Your kind is the problem!" Ilia snapped. "Everywhere you go, you humans just want to stick your greedy hands into everything. I bet you want to steal some of our history for a quick buck."
"Hang on!" Jaune raised his hand. "You don't know anything about me! This is our first meeting! And I'm not coming along to take anything. I already told Ghira-..."
"That's Chief to you!" Ilia angrily interrupted again. "Show some respect! But I guess that's asking too much for a human." Her lips curled into a small smile.
"Seriously! What's your problem with me?"
"My problem is that you shouldn't be here." Ilia jabbed her finger into his chest. For a moment, her skin flashed red. Not just blood rushing to cheeks red, but her entire skin turned bright red for a moment. It seemed like she had more charmeleon traits than just splotches and hairstyle. "You aren't a citizen of Menagerie and worst, you're a human. Someone who forced Faunus here in the first place and even after all these years, your kind still hasn't changed. Thinking you can do whatever you want and looking down on us."
"Again, I'm not trying to do anything!"
"That's what they all say." Ilia scoffed. "Then the moment we lower our guard, you strike. Not this time. I may have to travel with you, but I'm going to be watching you like a hawk to make sure you don't try anything. You may have the chief fooled, but I know better. I've tried to befriend your kind be-..."
She suddenly closed her mouth as her words started to let something slip. Jaune didn't know what happened, but he wasn't an idiot. There was a story there. One which he probably wouldn't ever hear due to her hatred for him.
"...so know I don't trust or respect you."
"Why don't you try showing some respect and you might get it in return!" Jaune snapped back before he could close his mouth. It felt like arguing with a classmate back home and he let his emotions slip out.
"Why don't you learn to shut your mouth before you get hurt?"
Jaune couldn't defend himself in time as Ilia drew her rapier. He instinctively reached for his sword on his hip, before realizing he left his blade back at the house. She pressed the tip of her rapier against his chest and pushed against him in a threatening way. Jaune's eyes widened as he stepped back in fear. Ilia pressed the advantage and pushed him against the wall of the building with a thud. The force was strong enough to cause his Aura to flare up. Noticing the white glare, Ilia's eyes narrowed and she clicked a button on the handle of her rapier.
Electricity crackled.
"OW!" Jaune cried out as he felt the sharp pain in his chest. "GET OFF!" Out of instinct, he pushed her off him. To his surprise, the girl didn't seem to resist him. She took a couple steps back before stabilizing herself and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you crazy?! Are you trying to kill me?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ilia sheathed her sword. "I was just saying hello."
Before Jaune could think of a retort, as her random response completely disarmed him, the door to the building flung open and Saber stepped out.
"Is everything okay?" He asked, his expression stern. "I thought I heard something."
"It's all quiet out here." Ilia reported with a straight face, causing Jaune's mouth to fall open.
"Is that true?" Saber asked, turning to Jaune.
He most likely knew something was going on based on Jaune's expression. At first, Jaune was planning to tell the truth that this psycho tried to kill him but stopped himself. If she really wanted to kill him, Ilia should have aimed for his throat or struck with actual force. This seemed more like a threat of some kind. Maybe she was trying to chase him away from joining the expedition? Ilia obviously hated humans because of something that happened to her in the past. Jaune had sympathy for her for that, but that was no excuse to do what she did. There was also no way he was going to give her the satisfaction of making him quit, nor making him look like a coward.
He could do the latter well enough on his own.
"No, everything is fine." Jaune lied, feeling like he might have made a mistake. Though when Ilia's eyes widened slightly in surprise, a small smug feeling welled up within him as he knew he got a victory over her, even if only a small one.
"If you say so." Saber looked from one to the other, his gaze examining them closely. "You two are wanted back inside." He held the door open for them and Ilia went first, not even glancing at Jaune as she passed him. While his eyes were glued to the back of her head, Jaune wasn't sure what more he could do. Ilia seemed to be trained in combat, which meant there was no way he was going to beat her.
I really need to find someone to train me. Then I'll be able to back up my words with actions.
That was going to be a long time from now, though Yatagarasu did say someone who could train him would appear. Speaking of that god, he hadn't come with Jaune. The bird was still sitting on the top of a chair and seemed to be preening himself. Ghira, Fennec, and Corsac didn't pay Yatagarasu any attention as they looked up at Jaune and Ilia.
"Sorry about that." Ghira apologized to them. "There were a couple political topics they wanted to discuss of a more sensitive nature."
"No problem." Jaune shook his head in assurance. "I didn't mind."
"It was nice to meet you, Jaune Arc." Fennec said to him. "However, before you leave, we have another question for you."
"Um, sure?" Jaune was a little worried about what they were going to ask. How much would he have to lie? Worst of all, any lie he told them, he would have to remember since they would be traveling together. If the others find out he's a fraud, it would make Ghira and Kali look like fools for trusting him. "What is it?"
"Ghira already reassured us on this, but we wished to hear it straight from you," Fennec explained, almost sounding slightly apologetic. "Should we find relics or other valuables at our destination, will you be requesting a share of it?"
"Oh, that's all?" Jaune was relieved at the question because he didn't have to lie. While everyone but Ghira was staring at him intensely, Ghira was actually smirking a little. "No, I'm there purely to learn. Anything we find there is part of Menagerie's history and I have no desire to take anything for my own."
Fennec stared at him and then shared a look with Corsac, who nodded.
"That puts our mind at ease." Fennec admitted. "We were worried when Ghira mentioned you wanted to go with us to the site, but it seems those worries were misplaced. You are welcome to come along. We look forward to seeing what historical insights can be learned with your help."
"I'll do my best to help with what I can, but I feel like you already have everything covered." Jaune rubbed his neck, feeling embarrassed.
"If there's nothing else, we'll see you in two days." Ghira told Fennec. "We'll meet up at the east gate first thing in the morning."
"We pray for a safe journey for us all." Corsac said, bowing with Fennec. "This should be a most… enlightening experience."
If only those guys knew what Jaune did, those words would have an entirely different meaning.
"Come, Jaune." Ghira put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Let's head back and give Kali the good news."
"I think she'll panic about us leaving in only two days." Jaune laughed as he left the building with Ghira and Saber. "She's going to try to feed me until I explode."
"You understand my wife well." Ghira chuckled with a deep fondness radiating from him at the mention of Kali.
Meanwhile, back in the building, after the door closed, Fennec and Corsac turned to Ilia.
"Well?" Fennec asked. "How did it go?"
"I did what you told me to do," Ilia stated, standing at attention. "I provoked the human outside to see if he would give away his true intentions."
"And how did he react?" Corsac asked.
"I think… he was more confused about why I was antagonizing him?" Ilia admitted, nervously shifting slightly as she rubbed her arm. "He didn't say anything indicating he has ulterior motives. Are we sure he does?"
"Do not let his appearance fool you, Ilia." Fennec warned. "He is a human and even those that do not hate Faunus, will eventually exploit us should the need arise."
"I understand," Ilia replied quickly, nodding her head. "That's why I joined the White Fang in the first place. I've seen how humans treat us. Even when they say they are our friends."
"Exactly." Corsac confirmed, placing a hand on Ilia's shoulder. "It's why we must learn about our past without their interference. However, since he has manipulated Ghira, we must watch him closely to ensure he does not break his word."
"I don't think he will," Ilia muttered, glancing over her shoulder at the door where Jaune left. "He really doesn't seem that manipulative."
"Then he may even be more dangerous than we believed," Fennec considered seriously. "Think about this, Ilia. How could a human discover these ruins so easily? Information on Menagerie's history is scattered at best, with the other kingdoms ignoring us. For him to have so much knowledge… there are things he's not telling us. There must be something he is after and no matter what he says, that boy is no ordinary explorer. He will betray us the moment he has to accomplish his goal."
"Was there anything else you noticed?" Corsac asked, his gaze never leaving Ilia's face.
"There was one thing… but it's weird." Ilia frowned as one key piece came to the front of her mind.
"Go on," Fennec encouraged. "Anything you glimpsed could help us determine his true motive."
"He has Aura. A lot of it. I shocked him with enough electricity to knock a normal Academy Student to the ground, and he acted like it was a small shock."
Silence fell over the group as the two brothers processed her words.
"This is serious." Corsac said to Fennec. "He is definitely not a normal researcher."
"Indeed," His brother agreed with a nod of his head. "Could he be a former Huntsman or something more sinister? Showing up right when the earthquakes revealed the ruins, befriending the Chief, and now also having a large amount of Aura? He definitely isn't here by chance."
"Should we tell Ghira we reconsidered him coming?" Corsac asked.
"No, not without revealing to the Chief what Ilia did." Fennec frowned. "This might become problematic."
"Should I arrange an accident for him?" Ilia asked seriously. It wouldn't be the first time, even if this time it would leave a sour taste in her mouth.
"No, that will just draw suspicion from the Belladonnas." Fennec replied, not seeming disturbed at the thought of violence. "We need to know what he's planning." An idea came to him and he shared a look with Corsac, who nodded wordlessly in agreement.
"What?" Ilia looked back and forth between them.
"We have a new assignment for you." The brothers said together.
"Welcome back!" Kali greeted Jaune and Ghira the moment they returned. "Did everything go well?"
"It did," Ghira sighed in relief after his wife gave him a quick hug. "Better than expected to be honest. Fennec and Corsac seemed to accept Jaune without resistance."
"Really?" Kali blinked as surprise graced her face. "That's… interesting."
"Jaune here showed off his knowledge during the meeting, which I'm sure they weren't expecting." Ghira huffed, patting Jaune on the back. "His knowledge was too valuable for even them to argue."
"They didn't seem that upset I was there." Jaune pointed out, frowning a little. "They asked pretty obvious questions now that I think about it."
"Some people are skilled at hiding their true thoughts." Ghira muttered.
"Ghira!" Kali admonished, swatting his arms. "I'm sure they thought highly of you, Jaune. There shouldn't be any issues during your trip. Speaking of, when are you planning on leaving?"
"Two days." Ghira answered. "First thing in the morning."
"Two days!?" Kali gasped. "So soon?"
"We've been discussing it for several days, dear."
"Yeah, but you didn't have a date then! I need to prepare a going away feast to make sure you both have energy for the journey!"
"You really don't have to…" Jaune started to say, but Kali quickly stopped him with a single finger held up to his lips.
"No, this is tradition." Kali explained seriously. "It's also a good luck charm along with making sure you're at peak condition when you head out. Especially into a dangerous place like the desert. Then when you return, we have a celebratory feast."
"I hope I don't gain weight then." Jaune joked, causing Kali to laugh.
"You need to put some meat on your bones."
Ghira shook his head, looking amused at the antics, before heading inside. His wife followed him as she muttered to herself about what groceries she'll need to make sure they have. Jaune meanwhile headed toward his room to think about what happened and take a break to talk to Yatagarasu. The god didn't have the opportunity to say much with so many people nearby. Only that one cryptic warning during the meeting. Once inside, Jaune locked the door to his room and Yatagarasu left his shoulder and landed on the dresser.
"Thanks for the warning about the dangerous routes." Jaune started off. "It really got Fennec to respect me."
"There are always groups who are wary of those who are different." Yatagarasu sighed. "It's important to have them understand you're all the same, even if you have different strengths and weaknesses."
"Pretty sure that's what Faunus have heard in the other kingdoms." Jaune sighed, thinking back. "But I don't want to dwell on that right now. We're going to be going into dangerous lands, and I still haven't found anyone to train me. You decided to stay inside, but you remember that girl, Ilia? She hates me and threatened to kick my butt because she didn't think I belonged there."
"Could she defeat you?" Yatagarasu cocked his head.
"I don't know… probably?" Jaune shook his head. "I don't know how to fight! I can swing a sword and stick my shield in front of me, but other than that? If she had any training, I bet she could without breaking a sweat."
"Then why not ask her to train you?" Yatagarasu asked, completely serious.
"D-Did you hear me?!" Jaune spluttered in shock. "She hates me. Why would she help me?"
"Many great partnerships started off as rivals."
"That's nowhere near the same thing!" Jaune plopped down on the bed. "Forget it. You said I would find someone who can help me while I'm here? I probably just haven't met them yet. I'm sure they will appear out of nowhere, right when I'm about to die. That's pretty on par with how this journey has been going."
"Have you ever thought about being more optimistic?"
"I will when you start giving me more concrete answers instead of vague ones."
Jaune laid on the bed, his head sore from the pecking he received, while skimming through a history book about Menagerie. There wasn't much else to do. He already explored Kuo Kuana while shopping and even took a break to enjoy the beach. It wasn't as relaxing as he thought it would be when most of the other people there were staring at him, making Jaune feel self-conscious. There were friendly Faunus like Kali, who actually came up and talked to him, but they were never very long conversations. So staying inside when it was hot out seemed like the best choice of action. Reading up on Menagerie's history was just so he would understand more about the people here.
A knock on the door interrupted him.
"Yes?" Jaune called out.
"Jaune," Kali's voice came through, sounding a little amused. "There's a visitor here for you."
"Huh?" Jaune sat up, confused. "Who?"
"Come and see."
Was it Jaune's imagination or did Kali have a slight giggle in her voice. Confused, and a little suspicious due to Kali's nature, he got up and exited the room once Yatagarasu perched on his shoulder. At this point, Jaune was used to being the god's transport. Kali was already at the front door, talking to someone he couldn't see. Apprehension began to flow through his body, wondering who was coming to see him that would make Kali act this way. No one immediately came to mind and the moment Jaune drew near enough to see who it was, his body froze.
"ILIA?!" Jaune blurted out.
"Umm, hi." Ilia grimaced nervously as she gave him a weak wave.
"What are you doing here?!" Was she here to finish the job? Did his mouth get him into trouble?
"I need to talk with you." Ilia muttered, tapping her fingers together, looking at the ground. "Do you mind?"
Her hesitant demeanor was a far contrast to the girl who threatened and shocked him not more than a couple hours ago.
"I'll make you two some tea," Kali volunteered, clapping her hands. "Ilia, I hope after you talk with Jaune that we can catch up. You haven't come to visit in ages."
"I would love to, Mrs. Belladonna." Ilia replied with a smile, kindness showing through. Something she never gave Jaune.
"I've told you before, call me Kali. Mrs. makes me feel old."
"Okay, Kali."
Kali beamed at the girl and then ushered her and Jaune to the team room so they could talk. Ilia and Jaune didn't say much until Kali set down a pot of tea and left. Neither of them wanted to say anything in front of her that could be misconstrued. Jaune was waiting for Ilia to talk first, since he had no idea why she wanted to talk to him. Maybe to insult him a few more times for good measure? He already made up his mind to go and he wasn't going to let this girl talk him out of it.
"...I'm sorry."
Jaune thought for sure he heard wrong.
"What did you say?" He asked softly, staring at the girl who was looking at the teacup in her hands.
"I'm sorry for my attitude earlier." Ilia took a deep breath and looked up at him. She seemed to be serious, and it was completely unexpected for the boy to hear.
"You… are?" Jaune knew he sounded stupid, but his mind was having a hard time wrapping itself around her words.
"I wasn't in the best of moods earlier today and I took it out on you," Ilia continued. "That was wrong of me. Since we're going to be working together, I realized we should be getting along rather than fighting."
"Ah…" Jaune bit the corner of his lip and then shrugged. "Well, I accept your apology." She was saying pretty much the same thing he tried to say earlier so there was no reason not to accept. Everyone had bad days now and then and she did come all this way to say she was sorry.
"You do?" Ilia seemed to be a deer in the headlights.
"Why do you look so surprised?"
"I guess I expected…" Ilia trailed off. "Never mind." Her eyes fell on Yatagarasu. "Your pet bird is very well behaved. He didn't cause any trouble at all during the entire meeting."
"He is a pretty special bird." Jaune agreed, glancing at Yatagarasu. "If you ever want to befriend him, feed him some sweets."
"You're oddly calm about all this." Ilia pointed out seriously, returning to the main topic at hand.
"Ilia, if we want to trust each other, we need to clear the air." Jaune sighed. "I'm pretty sure I was never planning to do whatever you thought I was going to do. So can I know what you thought I was going to do? I won't get mad."
Her eyes narrowed like she didn't fully believe him before answering nervously.
"I thought you might use what I did against me and tell the Chief about it. Since I was apologizing, you might use the chance to try to blackmail me or something."
"Has that happened to you before?" Jaune couldn't believe someone would think he would do something like that. When Ilia didn't answer, that silence said all he needed to hear. "Oh… well, I can give you my word, I would never try to blackmail someone. And an Arc never goes back on his word."
"I've heard stuff like that before, so sorry if I can't completely trust those words." Ilia didn't sound mad at him, just a little bitter as she seemed to be reminiscing about something unpleasant.
"Is that why you don't like humans?" Jaune asked, seeing a pattern.
"You could say that." Ilia gritted her teeth for a moment before relaxing and sipping her tea. "I haven't had positive experiences with humans telling the truth."
"There's a first time for everything." Jaune assured her. "You'll find out I'm an open book."
"Really?" Ilia raised an eyebrow. "You'll just reveal secrets about yourself to strangers?"
"My mom always said strangers are just friends you haven't met yet."
A loud snort escaped the girl before she could stop herself and her skin flashed pink with yellow spots. She covered her mouth with her hand and glared at Jaune, like he was making fun of her.
"There we go." Jaune laughed. "That's the Ilia I know. You coming here and being super polite and nervous? That actually scared me more than you threatening me. And even if you think that's a corny saying, I would rather make friends than enemies."
"Oh, so you want to be friends?" Ilia raised an eyebrow.
"See, a little more snark there and I would have thought you were serious." Jaune pointed out.
"You are so stupid." Ilia facepalmed.
"I get told that a lot," Jaune confirmed, sighing himself. "But I'm serious. I'm willing to forget about what happened earlier if you're willing to too. I would like us to get along."
"You're willing to forget everything… even though I attacked you?" Ilia stared at him, with disbelief all over her face.
"I'm pretty sure if you really wanted to hurt me, you could." Jaune waved his hand, acting nonchalant but one hundred percent believing that. "All you did was give me a tiny electric shock." Ilia bit her lip at that, but Jaune wanted to continue to show that he wasn't a threat and really just wanted to help. "I'm serious about not being after any artifacts. I am really just going there to explore and learn."
Ilia crossed her arms but seemed to relax slightly.
"Alright, let's say I believe you." Ilia told him. "Are you serious about being friends?"
"Yeah, why not?" Jaune shrugged. "You can never have too many. Plus, if we're friends, we don't have to act all awkwardly around each other. We are the same age, right? I'm 17." Ilia confirmed she was too with a nod. "I'm sure you have your reasons for not liking humans. I've heard enough stories about discrimination. That doesn't mean we have to hate each other, right?"
"I suppose not." Ilia agreed, sounding only slightly reluctant. "Okay, Jaune. I accept your terms, but I still feel like I owe you for not getting me in trouble."
"Well…" Jaune rubbed his chin. Nothing immediately came to him until he glanced over at Yatagarasu. There was one major issue that still haunted Jaune he needed to overcome. An idea slowly came to him and Ilia did wield a sword. She might be able to help. "If you're insisting… are you a good fighter?"
"I've had some basic training." Ilia admitted, tilting her head. "Why?"
"There is something you can help me with," Jaune leaned forward. "If you want to get physical."
For some reason, Ilia slapped him across the face, causing him to fall back off the mat and onto the floor from the force of the blow, while the girl clutched her sore hand.
Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish to ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two. Comments, I tend to respond to in the next chapter.