Chapter 6 - CHAPTER FIVE

"May you be able to watch over him "

In a small Village in south Anima, Jaune Arc was buying supplies from a local shop after a long trip on a boat from Vale's docks to Anima's only open docks, which happened to be down south.

"That's one tent, a sleeping bag, a 13 pack of MREs, and a small survival kit," said the clerk, "All that will be 219 Lien,"

Jaune looked in his wallet and found the cash he needed and handed it to the clerk, the clerk took it and saw that there was some changed and handed it to Jaune and he took it. Jaune thanked the clerk and took what he bought outside and began packing it all up.

Thankfully his backpack wasn't full and he could fit the MREs and the survival kit inside. As for the tent and the sleeping bag, he was able to strap the sleeping bag to the front of the backpack and hook the tent to the bottom. With all that done, he got everything he had and prepared to make his way to Shion.

Jaune planned to get some supplies here in the village, make his way to Shion and pick up some more supplies, and travel along the road and get some experience, both in survival as well as fighting Grimm, his first major destinations was Mistral, and then eventually making his way to Argus to visit his sister and her family for a bit. Once the visit was over he'd travel to Mantle and see about taking a trip to Atlas Academy, see if he could train there for a bit, and then after that, he'd make his way to Vacuo, a place he hadn't been but he had heard a lot about it and the people that live there.

He didn't know how long he would stay in each kingdom, but he would do his best to stay in each country, gain experience from his time there, and enjoy the culture there and here.

However, he wasn't going to leave the village just yet and managed to find a inn where he was going to rest for the night and then leave right in the morning.

Once Jaune made his way to his room and unlocked the door with a key he was given, turned on the light and he walked in, it was a one-bedroom room with a shower and a Tv, which wasn't bad. He smiled and entered the room and quickly set his backpack to the side and closed the door and locked it behind him, and then he unbuckled his belt that held his new sword Gram and set it on a small table, and he let out a heavy sigh and sat on the bed, and he wondered what the others at Beacon were doing.

"it's gotta be night by now, right?" Jaune asked himself, "I wonder if Ruby's staying up late and reading comics again, or if Ren is meditating, or maybe Nora's bugging him so much he can't focus," Jaune began with a smile, "I... I wonder if Pyrrha's still on the roof?" He said

That thought made him feel terrible. Pyrrha had offered to train him and he promised he would do whatever it took to earn his spot at Beacon, but now... now in a way he failed. He got kicked out. He was no doubt branded a cheater and faker. He was a terrible person in the eyes of his friends now. He was-

"No, no, no, stop thinking like that," Jaune said, shaking his head and cutting off his thoughts, "I should just get some rest,"

With a heavy sigh, Jaune took off his armor and then his shoes and went to turn off the light and lay back down, looked up at the ceiling, and relaxed, and after a while, he drifted off to sleep, which some time later after his good nap jaune was thinking for his next location to visit to, so Jaune set forth on his way to the village of Shion, to which he estimated would take him five to six days, and once he was there he would need some money to take a Bullhead to Mistral, which means that he was going to have to also stay in Shion for a few days or weeks maybe more to earn some Lien and be able to afford a ticket and to sleep indoor for night's to come. So He hoped that Shion had some work for him to do, even if wasn't Huntsmen-related work, but work is work and it is all I can do for now but I need was Lien after all so why not.

THREE MONTH LATER:

Just as can see it took me little longer to get lien and places to stay so yeah,

As soon as bullhead arrives at the landing port then I started to picked up all my stuff and perpar for landing, then 5 min later it ship land on the bullhead pad, passageer then started to pick there item and started to leave, so i get up form my sat and grab my stuff and then left the bullhead. Then my mean stop was to found the post office so that I can deliver the item that I have being caring so about 10 minutes of walking I found the old post office and i entre the village post office and say to the gruads and stuff, then wirting my name on the from of paper and some signings there and here then I sent Mr coper new sword by mail then I said my good byu to the surff and gruad and left post office so I walked to the nearest village my new home as I in village gruad greeted me and greeted them back soon I walked in the village I saw people stayer at me and then started greeting me like there ow, so further I walked in the village more people greeted then I saw human with fanaus in coexisting in peace they had family and together friends these talked and lurght together there children playing together, it bought a smile on my face and it's good to see the world is not in totel choes. So I walked in the village center and found an old couple sitting neary a old building so I walked in them to ask about how is these day going, these told me about it was nice and its good to see me around about then i left them behind and want to nearest inn in this village to where i curreting liveing at. So I thank god for another great day at this village and i saw the inn enters then I walked in the inn then i meet innkeeper lilly clark who is blonde and human who run her family inn who is at age of 25 stand near the mean disk i made my way to her and greeted her with a smile and hello and talked her then a cutie fanaus maiden who I think is the innkeeper helping Maid of this place name ray , so I went to her and ask for her my room cleared she told me to go and rest and the room is parpered then i thank her and left to my room. tired as I was I got into bedroom and it was very clean and room smell like new and refreahed and bed streets were cleared and bathroom was soaked clean but i was very tired and what i need is wram and soft bed so i took off sun of my armor and jump on the bed and begin to sleep.

TWO HOURS LATER:

I am wake up form my sumber I saw I was in my bed but in my armor so i decided to get up and took of my armor and strated put on my normal night clothes for bed and but my stomach was starting to growling then I remember I did not eat an thing so I decided to go down stair to check was there anything to eat and to drink, but then when I made my way down stairs something smell good then it hit me lilly cooking is the best in the world so why not and the small of was food was getting good, so I want in to saw people form the village were all garaged and eating and drinking together, then i relized that what time it was so then i saw outside the window it was noon and check the watch it was pass 6 clock so I made my way toward the table and I sat at the chair wait for someone to took my order so i grab a main but then nothing come to mind so i let it slide so i sat quit and guess what should I do now what's new I can do nowhere i am in now world has not turned upside down for me so what do i now ? keep doing deliveries boy or something new then the innkeeper maid came to me ask me to have something to eat but i refuse but my stomach bartered me let out a glowingly it was embarrassment and everyone who I getting to know in village started to watch and laugh at me a bit listening in where's happens learning now they told me to dig in this food is there best in the entire village so eat up. so i order rice soup and meat then she was gone with the wind so, I sat there in my chair quietly for 8 minutes then an old men come to me destination and sat next to me table.

he was human (I hope just joking he is human) with black hair with less white line in his hair and white bread then his body was fit in his age of 57 Year old who was wearing fram clothes his name was oviler copper lilly the innkeeper grand father i think he was a hunter and scary and were skilled then knowing that without his own aura, or any real combat skills, wasn't going to be able to do anything to stop it. he'd subtle wondered over toward the more competent village surely one by one by them must be some kind of badness martial artists or had a semblance that shot fires or lasers out of the broken hand or eye or something bah ! the man dismissed it easily.
This is me sitting in one place and and laugh with him want his family history fairy tail

"if she fallen to the men than she hardly deserted to been have. plus i would have "know" yeah sure jaune nervously laughed back. definitely no risk right ? " are all of lesson are going to be .... practical lessons dear sir . " by the gods no " the older man bemoaned, even as his entire frame slumped ' procuring live Grimm is an arduous and difficult task, frought with peril and danger ! conrincing change to let assigned the task as housework is frought with even most more perils" " well that a shame " jaune hazarded as he internally sighed in relief. thank the gods miss innkepper was there to stop his man. beyond that thoungh, one more thing boy I am shamed and most awed at your abilities with the young women! the older man she'll suddenly burst out and arms wide with a knife in hand as though to envelop jaune in a back breaking hug. thankfully he did not. to garner such attention so quickly, even in my youth i might have struggle at such a task as first. 'yeah ' jaune mumbled as his face flushed with sads .

'hey' what wrong boy you keep on looking at that meture space for awell now ? ho that thick thing of it jaune said just remenber past and sharing i am in hey if you need to talk about it i am here to listen but remember kid don't keep that hater for these people who you know inside of you it will eat you alive one day, and kid just talk to someone ok kid and have some of this. older hunter said before get up for his chier and went to the bar and garb some glass and a boolte of alochool and sat them down on the the table and put the glass in fornt of me , hey kid somthing a little alochool can help put things in perspective." the older men said in whispered softly, as the two of them took a deep drink in synchrony the effects this time were muted, but still drone the air from jaune lungs in an explosive sigh, taking with it all stress and worried he had first felt, glass had been great...juane had been great the grime had been great those legs of the innkeeper last night had been very great very much great the everything was great, I am drunk now,

Could the village counsellor help my little lilly with her little problem , the word escaped his lips before his mind had processed them, the heavenly giving him the clarity's he needed to penetrated all of the hunter subtlety word games. he felts as though he called hear words being burden and felling the touch of atoms fusing, the hunter turned to him, smiled softly, before clicked their mugs together in silent understanding. " he could " was the reverant answers 'I agreed let him stay .

what were the hell is happening it was really working, More he wanted to know or anticipated since he was nothing but a fraudulently liars and drunk who was just playing to be a hunterman and hero, but he had managed to help people like velvet , ruby and Sapphire and lilly in that school and in there goal to be turth huntersman and in there time of needs , He remember how his mother used to lies about father not home and when is he coming form working and always say about never lies to us, but she lie to make him and his sisters feel better and clam them down to comfort them, but when i tiered it backfire on me. but could this happen again that his lies do the same ?

I will do it"

"Mr Arc the older man welcomed, " i know we could relied on yo---" the moment was broken as the white haired man eye widened imperceptibly his eye before he slammed the globe shut with a sudden a cold feeling, "grand father" the unmistakeable voice of his grand darghter the innkeeper murmed as she strode up beside jaune, her face was confusedly and dark smile on her, a cliphord of notes clutched loosely to her breast and my food in her hand another " what are you doing now" ? one of the most powerful man in the whole village stared at her, as fear took him, before spinning the globe under his hands aggressively, a perfectly nonchalant expression on his face. 'playing " he offered uncertainly, then she started to rubbing her temples.

NEXT MORNING:

Are you excited Jaune? Three months of travel and were almost there." The voice sounded as excited as Jaune felt.

"Yep, it's almost miraculous that there have barely been any Grimm attacks." He turned to the merchant who had let him sit on for all this way. The wagon they sat on was on the front of a long line other wagons with guards stationed around them. The forest they were in would sometimes make the odd birdsong.

"The Traveler god's must have watched over us and you helped to Jaune, no need to be humble about it." The Merchant complimented, though Jaune didn't feel like he deserved it.

For three months he had been a part of the caravan and delivery boy for the village and he hadn't done that much. He helped prepare camp for the night, acted as an assistant when there was too much too do and prepared the food. It was the least he could do when he had asked for a seat right before they left his village.

The Merchant, Derulo, must have known how Jaune felt.

"Jaune, how many times do I need to tell you that when someone gives you a compliment that you take." Derulo ruffled his hair. "You might not think it, but every single person you helped are thankful for what you've done."

"If you say so." He didn't quite believe him.

"It seems I need to bring out the guitar once again." He gave the reins of the horse over to him. He took out a guitar and pricked at the strings. "You have to only ask if you want me to play, maybe 'A last dawn' would fit best for the occasion."

Derulo played a tune that started slow but slowly picked up the tempo. Jaune had to keep most of his concentration to make sure that he steered the horses right, but he couldn't but sing along. The chorus was what he liked the most about the song.

And even in the darkest of nights,
there will always be a morning waiting for you
A new dawn
There were a few other that heard the song, they started to sing along or bring in their own instruments for the song. It wasn't the first time the caravan would do this.

The first time Jaune had been slightly terrified when heard it since he feared that the sound might attract the Grimm. It was then he would learn that their ears were more for decoration than actual function. The same went for all their other senses to different degrees, except for whatever they used to sense negative emotion. That made so much noise helped them, a good song drove away any negative emotion.

It was a thing he would learn during his first month on the caravan, that those who travel would always learn some skill to make sure they didn't attract Grimm. Stories, jokes or puns were a few examples of ways the caravan had made sure to ensure as few deaths as possible.

For the times they didn't work, the huntsmen that had been hired as guards would step in.

It was only a few hours later that they would finally make it out of the forest and to his stop. The perimeter of the cleared forest was the first sign that a village was here. There were thirty meters of clearance before the farms started and not far from it was the wall that protected the place.

He gently shook Rufus awake as he had managed to exhaust himself with all the songs he played.

"Derulo, wake up." He didn't wake at first so Jaune got a little rougher. "We need you to give them the code."

He woke up and walked over to the gate, a small hole at eye level had opened up. Derulo had told him about this the first time they arrived at a new village. How villages might let small groups of people in with too much trouble, but once the group reached a certain size they would need special permission. It was a system meant to ensure the safety of the village as bandits had often tried to dress up as merchants or mercenaries to get into a town unopposed.

Derulo whispered a few words through the hole and the gate opened, he jumped back onto the wagon and led the caravan in. They were led to the plaza where they parked their wagons and set up shop. There were few wares set out since they only planned to stay here for half a day, a more prosperous town wasn't too far away from there. It would be the caravan's final stop before they made a long way home.

This place would be his.

Jaune stepped off the wagon and thought of how this place would be his new life. Jaune had set out to the frontier to make a name for himself, one that wouldn't be burdened with Arc legacy back home.

Jaune said his goodbyes to the people that he had spent the last three months with, people who he could easily call his friends. He was given his luggage, but also something extra that he easily recognized.

"You're giving me your guitar to deliver now, why would you do that?" The guitar looked brand new, but Jaune knew it was because Rufus would maintain it every night.

"Think of it as a gift for your services and besides," He pulled out a second guitar from the wagon. "I got a spare."

"I don't know what to say, except for thanking you. I don't know that many songs though." Derulo had taught him a few, but he had only fully learned two songs.
That's alright, I have a book you could borrow. I have already learned all the songs in them."

Derulo engulfed him into a hug.

"I wish you luck and I'll come here again in about a month or two if my wife doesn't kill me first!!!."

Jaune returned the hug and then went into the village. He found a villager and asked for directions to the mayor's office. The place wasn't too far away and soon he was in front of the building and on his way in.

The inside was cramped, dusty and it didn't look like someone had lived there for a long time. Jaune wondered if he had gone to the wrong place, but he saw a man that was asleep on the desk all the way in the back.

"Hello?" The man woke up with a start and Jaune could now see that he could easily have passed sixty with the amount of grey hair he has.

"What?" He looked around before his eyes settled on Jaune. "What kind of business do you have with the mayor?"

"I'm here to register myself as a new citizen. I just arrived with the caravan and-" The man's eyes bulged at the mention at the caravan, he stood up and started to move around the office at a speed that didn't befit his age. Jaune could only hear a few mumbled words as he did.

"Finally Where are my pills." It didn't take long until he stood in front of Jaune with a suitcase in hand and tried to storm past him.

Jaune stood in his way, more out of confusion than intent.

"Listen here boy, I have been the mayor of this town for the last thirty years and I cannot tell you how much I've hated it. Do you think that I will not beat down a child?" He looked at him with wide, crazy eyes. "If not then you underestimate how hellish this job has been and you better move by the time I have finished speaking." Jaune feared for his life with the way the man looked at him and stepped aside. The man didn't waste any time and went past him.

"But who do I speak to about registering as a citizen?" He whispered to himself, but not low enough for the old man not to hear it.

The inside was cramped, dusty and it didn't look like someone had lived there for a long time. Jaune wondered if he had gone to the wrong place, but he saw a man that was asleep on the desk all the way in the back.

"Hello?" The man woke up with a start and Jaune could now see that he could easily have passed sixty with the amount of grey hair he has.

"I'm here to register myself as a new citizen. I just arrived with the caravan and-" The man's eyes bulged at the mention at the caravan, he stood up and started to move around the office at a speed that didn't befit his age. Jaune could only hear a few mumbled words as he did.

"Did I say something wrong, I'm only here to register my-" The old man interrupted him.

"Listen here boy, I have been the men in charge of this town for the last thirty years and I cannot tell you how much I've hated it. Do you think that I will not beat down a child?" Jaune feared for his life with the way the man looked at him and stepped aside. The man didn't waste any time and went past him.

"Just write your name in the big book behind the desk, you know what" He set down his suitcase and turned around fully. "By the power invested in me, I appoint you to the position of mayor of Mining Outpost 341. May you suffer as much as I have." The words said weren't fully processed until the man was already long gone and even then the answer was only a simple word.

"What?"

Jaune Arc, at seven teen years old had become the new members within ten minutes of his arrival.

Jaune thought of himself as an adaptable person.

He has worked as an apprentice for many different jobs back home. How he worked as a farmer to how it was a doctor required very different mindsets, but this situation was in no way comparable to those. The only job that came close to comparison would be when he volunteered at the orphanage for a couple of weeks.

Jaune didn't think the skills needed to watch over a group of five-year-olds translated well when it came to the management of a village. Could he even be the mayor?

He wasn't even sure if the old man was the mayor, this could all be a prank.

"You know what, it's most likely a misunderstanding." He said it loud for good measure. "There's no way someone could be irresponsible enough to give a job like that to a person they had never met."

Jaune wasn't even registered as a citizen. He went over to the desk, found the book the man had talked about and turned the page until he reached the registry. There were hundreds of names listed, which made Jaune really hope he hadn't become responsible for that many people.

It worried him that so many were crossed out some had been noted as dead, but many more had simply moved in the last five years. Jaune counted the names of the people who still lived here, out of curiosity, and 157 people still lived here. It would be 158 once Jaune wrote in his name.

Then again, the old man seemed ready to leave when he stormed out so it would still remain at village for now.

Jaune found something to write with and wrote down his personal details. He left out an address and profession since he didn't have one yet unless he believed what the old man had said.

Jaune wanted to live in denial for a little while longer. The man that walked in a moment later, unfortunately, didn't know that.

"Ah, you must be the new are then." A man who had to be in his thirties with red hair and a beard that matched said. "Already getting acquainted with the job I see."

Jaune was once again confused, it hadn't even been five minutes since the old man left and people had already started to recognize him as the new here.

"I think you got the wrong guy here." Things had moved way too fast since he got here.

"I met the former mayor right outside and he said he had given the job to the scrawny boy at his office." Jaune wasn't that scrawny, or was he? "And since I'm the mayor assistant, that would make you my new boss."
Listen..." Jaune didn't know the guy's name, but the guy understood his pause.

"Slate Tritus at your service." He gave a small bow and Jaune couldn't help but think why this guy wasn't the mayor.

"Well, Slate, don't you think there's something wrong with putting a fifteen-year-old boy in charge of a village." Jaune truly felt how strange the situation was when he said it out loud.

"I guess it would be but out here age doesn't matter too much, it's what you do that does." Slate put on a thoughtful face. "You have completed basic education?"

"Of course." All of his sisters went through the same classes, so he basically had seven tutors when he had problems.

"Do you understand that people don't work faster by screaming at them?"

"Yes." Who would think that?

"You won't make me think you hired me for the sole fact that you would have someone to complain to when things don't go your way?"

"Of course not." That question sounded very specific.

"Well then." He walked towards Jaune and threw out his hand towards Jaune. "You're already ten times better than the previous guy then and I will have no problem working for you."

If this was some kind of prank then Jaune would really like for it to end. It didn't feel like it at this point, though, so Jaune had decided to at least play along until he was absolutely sure. Jaune shook Slate's outstretched hand and tried to get some understanding of his new job.

"I guess, I am the new mayor of Mining Outpost 341." Nope still sounded weird. "The first thing I would want to ask is if there's something you could tell me about the place."

Jaune had only asked Rufus to take him to a place as far away as possible and one that would definitely need new people. Who names their village Mining Outpost 341?

"Well, the best place to start would be the beginning." Slate moved over to a side of the office that had books stacked up from the floor to ceiling.

He pulled out a book from the middle of the stack and the stack somehow didn't fall apart. The book was laid on the desk and Jaune could read the title on it.

The History of Mining outpost 341

"The village was founded as a minor mining outpost over 40 years ago when the SDC discovered a large vein of fire dust." He turned to the first page which had a black and white picture. There were ten people in it, but one man in front held two dust crystals in his hands. "Nicholas Schnee was the one that discovered it and would later find and an equally large vein of earth dust and a small one filled with lightning."

Nicholas Schnee, Jaune had only heard about him through history books. His father had said that he was named after him, Jaune's grandfather was one of the huntsmen Nicholas had hired for his expeditions in Sanus. His grandfather had been so impressed by him that he gave his first son the same name.

"The SDC expanded their operations when they discovered iron a year later and soon there was a small, but growing population of people who called this place their home." Slate continued. "Things went well, at least, until the Faunus Rights Revolution started."
The Faunus Rights Revolution, or what they called the Faunus War in school wasn't a subject they taught much about. In school, it was made out as a war that started when Faunus resisted the kingdoms attempts to move all Faunus to Menagerie.

It was something his mom had not liked when she heard and she gave him extra lessons. It was in short, a war where the kingdoms were clearly in the wrong, but what the Faunus did to win made them almost as bad. Jaune was glad she didn't go too much into that.

"The SDC abandoned operations 28 years ago because of the rise of attacks and left only one man in charge. That would be the former mayor, Jenkins." He closed the book. "He used up all his money and influence to be the one in charge, two years before the SDC left. I didn't think he had the money to leave already."

Jaune took in all that information, the village had an interesting history, but there was still one thing that bothered him.

"Why haven't you changed the name from Mining Outpost 341 after all these years." It's has been a proper village for decades.

"The mayor didn't think it was worth the hassle."

"Oh." Jaune didn't know why he expected any other answer.

"Yeah, that was his response to most things. Now that you're acquainted with the history of our small village, we should decide what the pla-" Jaune's stomach decided to make itself known then, it made a sound that was similar to a Beowulf's growl. "Hungry?"

"Yes, it's been a few hours since the last time I ate." He didn't he was so hungry that his stomach would be that loud.

"It would be best that you ate first before we started. There's an inn that serves good food and drinks" He patted Jaune's back. "And you look like you need a little time for yourself. I can set up a list of tasks for you to look at when you're done, so you can get to know the village better."

"Thank you, but I don't have that much money right now." He had used most of it for the journey here.

"Just tell them that Slate is paying for it. The place is further into the village, walk back to the plaza and then go left towards the mines. It's impossible to miss, it's the third-largest building after the warehouse and the church."

"Thanks." Jaune was too hungry to say no to the offer and would make sure to repay him. "I'll make sure not to order too much."

Jaune left for the inn, he hoped that the situation could clear up once he filled his stomach. Things couldn't get any more complicated, could they?

Jaune had wondered if he should tell Rufus about his new position when he reached the plaza but thought better of it. He could tell him later, they looked busy with their customers anyway.

He noticed something weird as he walked past them, there only five people here to buy stuff.

They had arrived here early in the day so people might be busy, but there should be more people than this. A trade caravan didn't come often all the way out here. Rufus had said there were only two other caravans that travelled through this region and there would be months until they came.

It would be something to ask about later, he had to focus so he wouldn't end up lost. He took a left turn and was now in full view of the mountain that the village had been built against. Jaune hadn't focused on it much because of the excitement he felt of a new place, but he gave it a brief look as down.

A lot of villages would usually settle near a mountain. A mountain had a good chance to contain valuable resources. It also made it so that they only needed to defend from three sides and a sturdy bunker could be mined out. It was good that the place he was now in charge of had a good chance to survive an attack. The wooden wall worried him a little since his home had a stone wall and he didn't see any machineguns mounted on the wall.

It wasn't long until he reached a building that was as large as Jaune had imagined.

The inn was often considered one of the most important places in a village as small as this. It functioned as a place to sleep, but also as a place where people could wind down and relax. Food and alcohol would be served, it was a great deterrent against the Grimm.

After all, a good inn was one that always made sure their customers left in a good mood.

Jaune walked inn and he could tell that this inn was one that followed that idea. He could hear a catchy tune from a piano mixed with laughter and cheers from the people that were already there. Jaune wondered what the song was, but the smell of delicious food reminded him about why he was here and himself a seat at the counter.

The man who came to serve him was the classic image of an innkeeper. He had a muscular build with a bald head and a powerful beard. There was a glass in his hands that was clearly clean, but he continued to clean it with a cloth.

The apron he wore had the description, 'Please compliment the chef
What would you like to order?" A wide, friendly smile greeted Jaune, the cheerful tone he used made Jaune smile in response.

"Something filling, I haven't eaten for hours." Jaune almost forgot. "And I was told to tell you to put in on Slate's tab."

"Slate you say." He put the glass down and stretched out his hand. "That must mean you're new here, Slate only does that for newcomers and I'm sure I haven't seen you before. You can call me Innkeeper, people use that name more than my real one these days."

"Yep," Jaune shook his hand, the man had a gentler grip than one would expect. "Arrived here less than an hour ago with the trade caravan."

"They're already here? I will have to make sure to buy what I need before I leave." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation and went into a room in the back, Jaune guessed it was the kitchen. "A vegetable stew should fill you right up and no need to worry about the cost, this one's on me."

Jaune turned around in his stool so he could enjoy the music better, it would take some time before the Innkeeper was done with his meal. A waiter came up to him with a glass of water, one that Jaune thanked for, the cold water felt good as it went down. Jaune leaned against the counter and simply enjoyed the mood.

The Innkeeper came with a bowl after a couple of minutes and filled up his glass with more water.

"Here you go, enjoy your meal." He went straight back to the same glass he had put down before, started to clean it once again.

The innkeeper back home would do the same thing, maybe it's part of the job?

Jaune took his first spoonful of the stew, then instantly took a second, then a third and he didn't slow down until he was halfway through. The soup was so good, and a familiar aftertaste that he couldn't quite place made it even better. It had to be the spice he used and Jaune really wished he remembered when he last ate something similar. The Innkeeper looked satisfied as Jaune drank some water before he would get back to the meal.

"You must have been hungrier than I thought, I'm starting to wonder if you'll need a second bowl at this rate." The Innkeeper looked towards the door and frowned. "I had hoped they wouldn't come in today."

Jaune wondered who 'they' were and looked toward the door as well. What kind of group made a man like the Innkeeper mood worsen so suddenly? At first glance, the group didn't seem too bad.

They were miners and must have come out straight from the mines with how dirty they were. The group had five people in it and they didn't seem violent, they looked more exhausted than ready to cause any trouble. Jaune hoped that the Innkeeper didn't have a problem with their obvious Faunus features.

"Why can't they keep themselves to their own part of the village. Faunus are more trouble than their worth sometimes." Jaune was disappointed that the Innkeeper felt that way about the Faunus.

Jaune had met racists before, but he had hoped it wouldn't be as obvious all the way out here. He would always be surprised when a person with a friendly face would suddenly glare at a Faunus who passed by. It made it impossible to think that only bad people could be racist.Hmm." Jaune only hummed as an answer, it was better to act cautiously until he knew how much of a problem it was around here.

He had just arrived so this was hopefully something that rarely happened.

"I would advice you to stay away from the animals." The Innkeeper leaned and spoke in a hushed voice. "I saw that one of them had a White Fang tattoo a couple of months ago, the one with the wolf ears."

Jaune spotted the one he talked about, he had grey hair and one of his wolf ears was maimed. The man looked like he had seen much in his life and had scars with a large one that went diagonally over his face.

"A White Fang tattoo, I didn't know they did that." Jaune didn't know too much since they had never gone to his village, but he knew they were peaceful protestor turned violent terrorists. People who fought for Faunus right with violence and were responsible for a lot of deaths.

A waiter had given them some drinks, the waiter looked afraid as he dealt them out and hurried to another table. They took the drinks and made to leave, Jaune could understand why. The music had stopped ever since they walked in and the other customers didn't help, they weren't subtle with their glances.

"Who knows why terrorists do what they do, I can't bar them from the inn without fearing an attack from the White Fang." He sighed. "But I know what the symbol looks, it had that vicious animal head and a circle around it."

A circle?

Why would someone else have the old symbol of the White Fang as a tattoo? The only one that had something similar was his mom and she never told him why she would have that when he asked. The Innkeeper turned to another customer before he could ask if he was sure.

Jaune decided to ask the person with it directly.

He finished the stew, complimented the chef for the delicious food and ran after the miners. They hadn't gone too far, one of them saw him and alerted the rest of the group. The man Jaune wanted to talk was the one that stopped while the rest went on to wherever they were headed.

"What seems to be the problem." The man looked at him suspiciously. "Actually, I don't think I recognize. Are you new here?"

"Yes, arrived here today." Jaune decided to be as direct as possible. "Is it true that you have a tattoo of the old symbol of the White Fang?"

Was that too direct?

There was only silence after Jaune had asked the question and Jaune wondered what his reaction would be. Would the man laugh at him, threaten him to make sure he stayed quiet or just deny it. The deep sigh combined a facepalm was not a reaction Jaune expected.

"No wonder the guys at the inn had acted so strange." He sounded tired as he spoke. "Are you going to report me to the police or something?"

No, I was just curious since my mom had the same level of concern She would never tell me why she had it."

Yeah, but I don't remember what it said exactly." The tattoo was on her back and it was written in Mistralian, he had to write down what he remembered and ask his teacher what it said. "We fight. To defend the weak and the-" That was how much he remembered

"Oppressed." The man continued. "For if we don't, who will?"

"She never told you what those words meant, did she?" Jaune shook his head, but the words he heard resonated him and made him wonder why his mom never told him. "That was the motto of the White Fang division that fought during the Faunus Rights Revolution, one that consisted of both Humans and Faunus."

"My mom and dad fought in that war?" It would explain why she would sometimes go quiet when people talked about it. "I thought it was a war against humans and Faunus."

"No, plenty of Humans had something against their friends and family being forcibly deported. The White Fang division was a group that accepted humans that were willing to fight against the kingdom. What's your mother's name?"

"Her name is Juniper." The man broke into a smile at the mention of his mother's name. "You know her?"

" He chuckled. "A woman like your mother isn't a person one easily forgets. Never thought Juniper 'Freedom' implanter would settle down. How is she doing these days?"

"Fin-" Jaune was interrupted by another miner that ran up to them. She, a lion Faunus Jaune guessed with her sharp teeth and incisors that stuck out of her mouth, glared at Jaune. The two miners started a hushed discussion that ended quickly, the wolf-Faunus looked apologetic as he looked towards Jaune.

"Sorry about this kid, but there are some problems at the mines and they need the boss to take charge." He started to sprint towards the mines but called out to him in a voice that could clearly be heard over the distance. "Just come by the mines later for a talk, ask for Bazz when you get there."

Jaune stood there until they were out of view, it was a shame he couldn't hear any talk about his mom's past. He would make sure to remember to visit the mines later. As the new mayor, it would be one of his duties so he wouldn't even need to take a break from the job for the talk.

Slate had waited long enough at this point, it was time to see how much work the job as a mayor would need. It couldn't be too much for a small village like this, could it?

Jaune felt like he shouldn't have jinxed himself when he had made his way back to the office.

Slate stood next to the desk, but that wasn't what took his attention. It was the pile of paper on the desk that was almost as tall as Slate.

"There you are, was it a good meal?" Jaune wordlessly nodded still in shock about the number of papers Slate had gathered for him. "The stack of papers on your desk are the things that are the most urgent, if you have any questions then you have to only ask."

Jaune took a seat at his desk, careful not to jostle it so that the stack wouldn't collapse.

"I know that it might be a bit late to ask, but I never asked you what your name was. It's a bit tiring to refer to you as the mayor every time I think about you."

"Oh, it's Jaune Arc."

"Well then Jaune, if I can call you that." Jaune nodded. "Which task would you like to begin with first?"

"What do you think we should start with first?" Slate knew how out of his depth Jaune was, maybe Slate knew of something easier to start with.

"Well, the most pressing situation would have to be the sickness that's been going around."

"Sickness?" It would explain why there were so few at the plaza, were there that many sick?

"Yes, it been around for months and had led to twelve deaths and forty-three people are currently bedridden. It's not contagious, but we don't have any effective way to deal with it."

"Does the doctor know what it is?" Jaune wished they could start with something easier. The situation sounded too serious for him to ignore now that he knows about it.

"The doctor is one of the people who are bedridden and the former mayor refused to call for a second doctor, said it would cost too much." Slate spoke that sentence with uncharacteristic anger. Did he know one of the people who died?

"I see, then I will need to see this for myself. Could you take me to one of the patients, I have some medical training." Jaune had helped out at the clinic back home, maybe he could find some way to ease their pain.

This would be his first official act as the mayor, he was determined to not mess things up.

FEW WEEKS LATER :

I was sleeping in peace and having a cool dream but then all suddenly I heard some wierd noise and then a loud searm i then qukeily got up from my bed then want straght to the window and saw multiple grimm the creature of darkness but unlike the girmm i have seen, these girmm were more humaiod they ever different even in colors and shapes , sizes other ever like black skin white like purple, with red dolts and stipe on them. I was really seared I want to go back to bed to my dream world but then I heared frantic knocking on the door and scream outside the my room as I want straght to the door as I opened it, the innkeeper lilly was there stand in her night grown who was in a cold sweet and and blood on her grown, I asked whats going on out there ? with a sleepy and a surprised tone. then lilly said there are girmm in village and everywhere ! we need help getting people out of here and we need help now!!!!!! grab your item and run down stare. " OKEY do you have any weapons we can use ? jaune ask, Then lilly answered yes please take that spear form the wall next to the main disk !.

I grab my armor and sword then I ran down stair to the main disk area and grabed spear on the well and then I ran outside with my new spear and sword to do battle and what i saw was just flames and death the building I was staying at was on flames, further I ran in the village more blood on the well and burning house could be seen then I saw oliver my good friend blood on his wall ripped and tear ,shredded corpes of womans and childeren the people how I called friends and family all over the village grounds. I heard noise just a head what I saw was grosome A grimm eating and ripping limbs of a women and her baby, I ran toward that and inpaled on spear in its head I tried to save them but I failed so then I run toward a different dirdtion i meet more cropes and grime i started to sprinted toward a horde of grime with my spear in hand and sword at another hand and let out my battle cry.

This got all the grime in the area anttion then these run toward me so welcome then has my prey, I stabbed the first grime with my spear by trowning at it and then swig the sword on the next and then picked up my spear then stabbed three one then four five then ten more, I then lunched my sword on one of the girme on the head then with my free hand smashing its head to bits and then it disppered as black smoke, I used every bit of my aura I had on it. I know if I keep moving there will not attack the more villages and I need to keep fighting, I need to give villages the time to eapses on the bullhead just more time. As then the girme started to regrouped so I need to take this as a chance and help then village to espaed so i started to run toward the village then i saw a young boy crying next to his mother dead body then claw of the bewolf disfigured her intertions where ripped out and she was missing one her arms and legs , I see one bewolf creeping behind the same boy while he was crying I sprinted toward him spear in hand and then the it jump at the boy but trown the spear toward it and it inpale the girme and killed it, just in time staring at the young boy on his loss then i garb that some boy run toward the bullheard landing pad told him to find his father and run then juane run back to the village centure and want to find more people to help.

Then I seen two grimme on the roof of a house tireing to find way in, I got there to these two grimms, just in time saering the two children in hiding i saved by stabbing the ursa with my spear in its neck then i pulled out the sword and threw it at the bewolf head, I then quickly pulled the spear from the dead ursa then want after killing another bewolf, i then pulled the both weapons out and put the in my belt hip and spear on my back hold, I then grabbed both the kid and a cute baby and run toward the bullhead which was started to evacuating of the villagers. Almost everyone in the villager that are alive expect me and some of the defenders of the villages stay back to fight of the Girme and find anyone who are still alive.

As I saw a hordes of grime are done regrouping and about to attack the them but they stop and chacned her divedtion to the bullheads, SO we will still our ground I told the another defenders to from a line and shields ready spear toward we make our stand now!!! and we did I took my spear and smash it edge on the ground and said the last words "NO ONE SHALL PASS" and i let out my battle cry and we all roar togther form a define line and then Monster roar we roar they changed toward us and we hold the line. As I pick up another spear form the ground and put my aura in the spear and I threw it at the horde and it flow toward them and blow them away destoring them and turn them to ash to black smoke, The villagers were shocked and awma of the Knight, he picked up his spear and stabbed and smash every girme away then he started to pull out his sword and stalled the grime away one by one. Then he throw the sword at URAS head it was a hit.

That I can possibly see with my blood filled vision, as I looked around this place and it was pure choes and I ordered some the defenders to go find more surirous and we need to rescue and esconted to the landing pad to head for the bullhead now. Then we around up all we cad found in the vilage and made our way to the bullhead, then the rest of the suririrs of villager started to get on board on the last bullhead before we left.

Pilot " The horde of grime are coming back we need to leave now ! the rest of the village defender were get on board but they need time so I will give them time I told them the rst can get on board on airship but not me.

Defender Jason D ken " you sure about this jaune we have still some space on here" !! he ask me wiored about me. I have to stay behind and hold off the horde long euoght for you guys to leave. I told them with a sad smile,

Defender Raj sigh " Good luck brother may the gods be with you I wish and hope you survice brother. he said to me while having a sad smile, then he toss me a gun that looks like a handgun so I put it on my belt and get ready for combet then about 6 min later bullhead took off saying our goodbuys, I trued and started to spired toward the horde of monsters with my spear in hand and pull out my sword from the belt and in my hand and let out a cry for war.

I slabbed the first girme in the chest then picked pulled a broken shield shlashed second girme with his swrod before him, then he shamed his shield on the next one i used my every attack i had I know if I keep moving and fighting, I would give villagers more time, until I was slabbed in the back by a grimm tusks then my arm was grabbed by a mouth of a beawulf, then I get stabbed by a clans by the another pairs of bewolfs I cried out in pain and then I shamed the shield in the head of the bewolf to set me free then it become ash, then hurrly graped the hand gun and shoot the grimm in the face then become nothing just black ash, I thinks it time to move he is only slow him down, after all it felt like he been running for hours he stops by a tree for bit to catch his breath and his arua to heal him up, he can hear the girmme started to catching behind him so I run toward the forest despite being a little hurt he keeped on running when was running a single beowelf came out of the bushes and attempted to pounce on him but he barely missed him, but then unfortunatly another beowolf was able to do some damage to him, jaune scream in pain as he clutches his wound but fortunately he pushed on by running off again holding his wound, after running for 30 min stand he hoped he would be alright but he though wrong infront of him is the edge of some cliff the bottem is so deep that he can't see the botton. He frantically looking for a another way only looking around to be cornered by the horded of girme the beowelf were snaring at him ready to kill this ( bitch ) prey.

Jaune stared wide eyed at the situation that he was in he feared for the worst, and tries to find away to esceped but then somthing came to his mind is it really worth it humm anymore, he thought sadly as he turned around and face the monster one on one, The grimme were in range ready to pounce on him. He thought painfully as a single sthat fall down his head and glance at the cliff behind him before looking at the girmme again and said " You will never take me live Bitch ass girmme see in the afterlife." He took a step back as the girme pounce on him as he jump form the cliff ready to embrace death his life flashed before him his eye and it was all BLACK.

Until something change this terrible fate, I some how saveed the fall and I was alive but Unconscious and feel wiered.

FRPNTIER:

Fire raged around him. Ash drifted slowly to the ground like bits of black and gray snow. The village, his home of Ansel, was engulfed in flames as each building burned as brightly as a roman candle. Jaune coughed and hacked, the smoke he'd inhaled as he pulled himself from the burning refuse of his home choking his lungs as he struggled to breath in unpolluted air. His eyes burned from the smoke and heat, watering profusely as his body reacted to the foreign substance. Before long he managed to struggle to his feet, gazing at the bonfire that had once been his home. Looking around he saw a similar sight as he gazed upon the fire that had spread to engulf the whole village. Panic filled his chest as he cried out, hoping someone else had survived.

"Mom! Dad! June! Sapphire! Rose! Anyone!"

His cries received no answer except for the sound of muffled coughing and crying. Feeling a surge of hopefulness, Jaune pushed himself to his feet and raced towards the sound. It didn't take him long to see the source of the noise as his eyes zeroed in on a young wolf Faunus girl barely four years old. She was laying on the ground just outside her home, her clothes singed from the flames and black soot marks on her skin. As far as he could tell she was relatively unharmed but she wouldn't remain that way for long. Struggling to her feet, the young girl looked towards her house, fear and panic painted across her features.

"MOMMY!" she cried out, stumbling towards her house.

"Girl, no!" Jaune yelled, rushing in to scoop her up in his arms and pull her away from the burning wreckage.

"Mommy!" she cried, struggling against Jaune's grip as she gazed back at her home.

"Girl, no, it's too dangerous," Jaune told her.

As if to accentuate his point, the roof of the house caved in, fanning the flames and confirming that no other survivors would be crawling out from the death trap. Jade's struggles began to weaken as she fell into a fit of crying. Jaune held her close, comforting her as best he could. They stayed there for most of the night, watching as the fires slowly burned out as the sun rose slowly over the horizon of the village of 32 . No one else would be found come the morning. They were the only survivors left behind.

Jaune pushed the rubble and charred wood aside, using a large branch he'd found broken off from a nearby tree. She sat a few feet back, sniffling occasionally as she clutched a small stuffed bunny Jaune had managed to save from the ruins of another building. She starred at the ground, completely oblivious to the world around her. It may have been for the best. From the multitude of charred corpses he managed to unearth, it was certain that no one had survived. It was clear her family had all been killed in the fire and Jaune struggled to keep his stomach from expelling its contents at the sight of their burned bodies. He couldn't hold back his tears, however, and as much as he would have liked to take the time to give them all a proper burial, he knew that with the Grimm in the area and a lack of tools like a shovel, it would take him several days just to see to her family put to rest at all.

With a great shove he pushed aside enough of the rubble to expose a small trap door his father had built into their home for emergencies. Throwing aside his stick he pried open the door and was glad to see all of its contents were unharmed. Inside he found several backpacks prepacked with food, clothing, and other essentials needed during emergencies. He also found a good amount of lien, vital for two orphans who now had to make their way through Remnant on their own. Scoping her father's pack up as well as his own and a couple of his younger sisters, he threw them over his shoulder and began making his way out of the wreckage. With how unstable everything was, it was difficult for him to find his footing and he tripped once or twice, only to land on something hard. Looking down he found the morning sun reflecting off something in the rubble. Curious, he showed the charred wood aside and was astonished to find sword like Crocea Mors but different than his this is a little heavier and it's color is sliver and white and it's her family's ancestral sword, lying there, completely untouched by the fire. The steal felt cool in his hands and he hesitated for a moment, wondering if he had any right to take it. It had always been his dream to one day leave his home to start his education as a huntsman. His father had been one and his father before him, going back generations to the time before the Great War. While he had no prior training nor any idea of what it took to become a huntsman, he nevertheless aspired to be one, even to the point of planning to run away to Vale to start his career and what happened at beacon I don't think I can do it. As he clutched the sword and sheath in his hands, his hesitation gave way to determination. He would become a huntsman that much hadn't changed. However, the circumstances had and, with only a year left before his eighteenth birthday, he would have a great deal of time to prepare himself for the road ahead. He strapped the sword to his hip, feeling its weight on him, as he made his way back out of the rubble.

"Girl, it's time to go," he said gently.

"But my mommy," she said, her lips quivering as fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry little one," he said, pulling her into an embrace as he stroked her hair. "They're gone. There's nothing left that we can do for them, but I can promise you I won't ever abandon you. We'll survive, together, and I'll make sure you grow up to have a life filled with happiness."

The little girl stifled her sobs, burying her face in his hoodie as he gently picked her up in his arms. Despite the weight of four fully packed backpacks and a large sword on his hip as well as a young child in his arms, Jaune didn't notice their weight pulling him down. Instead, he focused his sights on the forest ahead and marched forward, ready to face the world and carve out a life for himself and his little Girl.

As Jaune continued to walk along the road, which already felt like hours even though he was sure it was more like 20-30 minutes. However, as he continued to travel along the road, he couldn't help but feel he was being watched, he had made it a good distance away from the Village by now, and as far as he could see every time he turned around, there was no one tailing him, but that didn't stop him from feeling watched.

'Maybe I'm just being a little paranoid' Jaune thought 'It's been a while since I've been alone, the last time I was by myself and traveling is when I ran from home,' Jaune thought with a small smile.

Thinking about his time before going to Beacon he smiled, He remembered how he first came to Vale City and how he thought it was so different then Argus, he remembered the Motel he stayed at for a bit as well as his first job at the book store in Vale.

As he remembered the happy memories of his time before and during Beacon, Jaune and with little Ave continued walking for hours. Eventually, he came across a fork in the road, but thankfully, there was a road sign that pointed in the direction of certain towns, Jaune looked to see two signs. One that was pointing to the road on the left said "Kaion" and the other one that was pointing to the right said "Shion", which made Jaune smile, knowing he was going on the right path, however before he could take the path on the right, a gunshot rang out and acting quickly, he ducked.

"Son of a Bitch!" came a strange voice from behind Jaune

Jaune quickly got up and looked behind him only to see two figures emerging out of the woods, one guy who appeared to be in his early 20s and a teenage girl that seemed to be around his age.

The teen girl had tan-colored skin, short brown hair in a pixie cut, and icy blue eyes, and Jaune noticed that she had a tattoo of a bird rising from flowers on her left arm. She wore a light brown vest with dark brown panels on the top and a dark brown buckled strap on the back, over a torn white shirt that was partially unbuttoned revealing what appeared to be a black bra, alongside a collar that appears to be slightly turned up behind her neck. She wore maroon-colored jeans with the right side rolled up to her thigh revealing the dark pink lining alongside a brown belt with a pouch attached to the right side. She also wore dark brown calf guards with one having a garter-styled strap that went under her rolled-up pant leg, and she wore a pair of beige and dark brown lace-up boots with folded over sides, showing over the white lining accompanied by a pair of maroon socks that partially covered her calf guards. On her hands, she wore a pair of dark brown fingerless gloves, and lastly, she wore a narrow dark brown choker strap around her neck. He also noticed she had two Pistols holstered to her sides
Jaune then turned to look at the man, who had a gun in his hand and who Jaune figured was the one who shot at him, he was a skinny man with long dirty blond hair and gray eyes, and he has stubble around his mouth. He wore a dark blue and gray jacket with torn sleeves over a long-sleeved shirt, a red bandana around his neck, and a shoulder pad on his right shoulder, and wore a pair of brown pants with brown boots, and he also wore a pair of brown leather fingerless gloves.

The teen girl looked over at the man with a smug smirk, "Nice shot Shay," she said

The man, now known as Shay, glared at the teen girl, "Shut it Vernal! He just got lucky!" cried Shay

The teen girl, now known as Vernal, kept smirking and just ignored Shay and turned to him. "What's your name?" She asked

Jaune swallowed his nerves and looked at Vernal, "Jaune Arc," Jaune told her, "And you?" He asked

"I'm Vernal Branwen," Vernal told him, "The shitty shot over there is Shay D. Mann," she told Jaune with a gesture of her thumb

'That girl is a Branwen!?' Jaune thought to himself, he knew that name, anyone who visited or lived on Anima knew the name Branwen, it was the name of a notorious bandit tribe. "So you guys are Bandits," Jaune told them,

Shay smiled, "Yeah," Shay began, "So you can guess what we want," Shay said

Jaune looked at Shay and he felt a familiar feeling radiating off of the man, it wasn't the feeling of Jaune somehow knowing the man, it was more like... he reminded him of someone. The more Jaune thought about it, he finally pieced it together, Shay reminded him of Cardin, but there was a difference between the two. Both were cocky and no doubt thought highly of themselves in a sense, however, the difference was that Cardin had the power to back it up while Shay... well it was easy to tell that without that gun, he wouldn't act so tough.

He then looked over to Vernal and felt a different feeling from her, she also had a pair of pistols holstered to the side, but they looked much different than normal ones, letting him know that they might be Mecha-shift weapons and that Vernal might be trained.

"And If I don't hand over my things?" Jaune asked, in a serious yet nervous tone.

"Well then I got a question," Shay began, as he smirked and raised his gun at Jaune, "You feelin' lucky punk?" Shay said

Jaune thought about how he could escape the situation, however, he had a feeling he couldn't, if he tried to run, they would shoot and while his aura could protect him, they would ruin his gear, and he simply couldn't hand over his things as he was sure they'd still try to kill him.

Jaune sighed and he began to unhook his backpack from his shoulders.

However, Shay didn't know that this was part of Jaune's plan, as once Jaune set his backpack on the ground, he quickly pulled Crocea Mors out of its sheath and activated his shield, and ran at the male bandit.

Shay didn't even notice until he felt the weight of Jaune's force and his shield ramming into him and sending him back and landing on his back and knocking him out. Vernal was surprised by the sudden attack, but acted quickly and went for her pistols, however, Jaune knew this was going to happen and quickly turned around and still held his shield in front of him, just as Vernal aimed her pistols at Jaune and fired at the blonde knight.

As the Bullets hit Jaune's shield, he stood his ground before he charged at Vernal, and seeing him running at her, she quickly stopped firing and stepped out of the way, dodging his charge. once he was missed, Vernal didn't miss a beat, as she quickly aimed her gun at Jaune, and shot him in the shoulder, but while he staggered, his Aura protected him. Jaune shook off the shot and looked at Vernal and took a fighting stance as did Vernal, her pistols still pointed at him.

Vernal looked at him with a glare, 'He's got Aura, and has some training, could he be a huntsman-in-training? But what the hell is one doing out here?' Vernal asked

Jaune examined Vernal with a glare as he still held up his shield, 'She's quick on the draw, way more than Ren, not only that, her reactions are sharp, she's got training,' Jaune thought 'I better be careful, one slip up and she'll wear me out and break my aura,'

Both stood tall, wondering who was going to be the first to attack, both waiting to either act or react. Vernal then decided to be the first to act and quickly fire her weapons. Jaune quickly blocked the shots with his shield and backed up, Vernal kept firing until she was out, which quickly spelled bad news for her as she backed up and dropped the magazines from her pistols, and tried to quickly reload, but Jaune knew no more shots were being fired and quickly charged at her, ready to bash and send her to the ground.

Vernal saw him charging in once again and due to feeling rushed, she only managed to load one of her pistols and fired a single shot at him. The bullet hit Jaune right in his lower left side, and he felt the force of the shot and felt slight pain, but he ignored it and still charged in. Vernal growled and waited for him to close in, and once he did and pushed his shield forward, trying to bash her, but she side-stepped the attack and delivered a side kick to the back of his leg, causing him to fall to one knee and Vernal quickly aimed her gun right at his head.

Vernal smiled as she looked down at Jaune, "Got ya," She said, "You give up Arc?" Vernal asked

Jaune looked to his side to see the barrel of Vernal's gun, but he didn't seem to look scared, and taking a huge gamble and also thinking on his feet, he quickly raised his sword, and with the pommel of Crocea Mors, he struck the bottom of Vernal's wrist, causing her to wince and drop her gun, she backed up only to be kicked out from under her feet and she fell backward and onto her ass. Vernal growled and looked up only to see the point of Jaune's blade in front of her and sort of smirked.

Vernal growled and glared at him.

"Look, I don't wanna hurt you," Jaune said, "I just wanna make my way to Shion in peace, so if you're willing, we can just go our separate-"

However, Jaune didn't get to finish his sentence as a figure burst from the trees and delivered an extremely powerful kick to Jaune's stomach, and the young knight was sent flying back and tumbling across the ground like a small rock.

Seeing who it was Vernal was surprised but also embarrassed, as it was her leader who had just saved her. The infamous Raven Branwen, wearing her signature Grimm mask stood in front of her and looked at the young blonde teen who was slowly getting up, before turning around and looking down at Vernal.

"Are you alright, Vernal?" Raven asked, her tone neutral, no ounce of concern was to be found in her voice.

Vernal looked down in shame, "I-I'm fine..." Vernal said

"Then stand up," Raven said
Vernal was slightly angry and ashamed of herself, knowing she had seemingly disappointed her leader and the person she looked up to the most, she stood up and looked at Raven, who was looking back at her. Vernal was a little confused as to why Raven was here, but ignored it and looked over Raven's shoulder and saw the young man stand up and look in their direction.

When Jaune stood up, he groaned in slight pain from the kick he received. He looked back over to Vernal, he saw the new figure that was responsible for kicking him in the gut.

She was a woman who was a bit taller than Vernal. Jaune couldn't see her face or eyes due to the Grimm mask, but she had long black hair that was just as long as Yang's hair. She wore a v-neck black and red wrap style top with a black pleated skirt that has black shorts underneath. A series of beaded necklaces were around her neck, a red obi sash around her waist alongside a red tasset wrapped around her waist that carried her weapon's sheath, and attached to it was a long black object that was either fur or feathers, with a red and white bandana material like hanging from behind her. On her forearms, were a pair of bear red armored gauntlets that protrude outwards and black fingerless gloves, and she wore a pair of black mid-thigh high boots, that had armor plating with red splatter patterns and black heels.

Jaune looked at the woman only for the woman to look back at him, and he felt an overwhelming sense of danger, and in an instant, Jaune saw her appear right in front of her and stab him in the neck!

Jaune's eyes widened, but when he looked in front of him and to his surprise and utter shock... The woman wasn't there. There was no blade in his neck, and to make sure, Jaune touched his neck and felt nothing.Boy," The woman called out to him, "What is your name?" she asked

The woman's voice held authority and power, and yet... every nerve and every bone in Jaune's body told him that this woman was immensely dangerous. Jaune gulped once again and looked at the woman. "Jaune Arc," Jaune told her

"An Arc... how curious," Raven muttered to herself, "Your father... is he Nicholas Arc?"

Jaune was shocked to know that this woman knew his father, "He is..." Jaune said with a questioning look, "How do you know that?" Jaune asked her

Raven however didn't respond to the boy's question but stayed quiet for a little while, confusing both Jaune and Vernal. Raven's sheath spun for a little before it stopped, and once it did, the Bandit leader then unsheathed her red sword, known as Omen, and then pointed it at Jaune. When the blade was pointed at the young blond teen, he felt the urge to run away from the fight that was no doubt about to take place, however, he tried to steel his nerves as best as he could, he was not gonna run and be stabbed in the back.

"Will you surrender and be robbed? Or will you fight and die young Arc?" Raven asked

Jaune gulped thrice, and took a fighting stance, thus, giving Raven her answer.

"Very good," Raven said, a hint of amusement in her voice

Without even missing a beat, Raven appeared right in front of Jaune, shocking the young knight. Raven pulled back her blade, intending on stabbing him, and seeing this, Jaune had a flashback to earlier when he thought Raven had stabbed him through the throat, so he quickly raised his shield to block the attack, and Raven had struck his shield, and the force was so great that the young Arc staggered back, which is all Raven needed and quickly swung her sword in an upward horizontal angle, slashing jaunce across the chest, but still only hitting his Aura. However, the result of such an attack put Jaune on his back.

Once again, Raven didn't even miss a beat as she turned Omen around and tried to stab Jaune while he was down, however, Jaune acted quickly and used his blade to redirect the hit, but to his surprise, her blade became engulfed in flame, and instead of stabbing him in the gut, the blade managed to bypass his aura and was able to stab his leg!

Feeling the pain, Jaune's eyes widened with shock, as he cried in pain. The pain was intense, more intense than any other wound he had before, as there was a burning sensation to the pain. However, Jaune pushed Aura through it to relieve as much pain as he could and tried to slash at Raven, but she jumped back and sheathed her blade, her sheath rotating once again before stopping and Raven's blade was no longer red, but blue.

Jaune stood back up as best as he could, but excruciating pain shot through his leg the moment he put weight on it. He took a few deep breaths to ease the pain and calm himself down, he looked over to Raven, examining her weapon and trying to figure out how it was able to bypass his Aura so easily.Raven knew that Jaune was trying to figure out how she was able to stab him, as his father had done the same when they had met once after her Beacon years.