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Meeting The Parents
Inanely, my first thought after seeing what had to be Jaune's mother — my mother — was, Huh, I guess levels really do go higher than 100. At level 57, I would be able to see anyone if 100 was the cap. Since her information was still hidden, clearly higher numbers were still possible.
My second, possibly even more inane thought was, I guess that's how badass you have to be, to survive having the Dead Anime Mom Haircut?
Turning back around, I took a better look at her. I would have called her petite if not for the obvious definition in her muscles — lean was a better word; she was lean in the same way as all my sisters except Bianca and Olivia. She was wearing traveling clothes, and a sheathed katana was stuck through her belt. Without boots she stood a few inches shorter than Azure. Her hair was a darker blonde than any of my sisters, and while her eyes were blue instead of hazel, there was a sharpness to them that reminded me of Grandma.
I'd put away my sunglasses while driving Amber home, since it was getting dark, and those eyes were glued to the scars on my face.
Before she could speak, the man on the couch also rose. By contrast, he was an inch taller than me, with a barrel chest, broad shoulders, and a densely-muscled build that spoke of functional strength more than weightlifting. His thick golden hair was going grey at the temples, and his bright blue eyes had laugh lines that hinted at a gregarious personality.
He also had a horrible moustache that hadn't been in the family portrait. I hoped it was temporary since they were obviously freshly back from a mission.
‹?›
LV ?
Jacques Arc
"Hi; I assume you got the rundown about the amnesia," I said, deciding to rip off the band-aid. "Jacques and Isabella, right?"
He winced instantly, as did Indigo behind him, but his voice was as boisterous as his appearance suggested. "Jack, please, if you can't call me Dad." He studied me. "You've grown up a lot, boyo."
I shrugged. "I suppose so. I've been working out a lot. Did you need something?"
He blinked. "What's with that tone? I haven't seen you since last new year's! Come sit down, tell your mother and I what you've been up to for a year and a quarter."
I raised my eyebrows, but gamely moved over to drop into one of the two loveseats, next to Indigo. I shot her a glance. Couldn't have given me a heads up?
She cocked an eyebrow right back. Not like I knew you were coming back tonight.
I had to shrug. Fair enough.
Our parents settled back onto the nearer sofa. Isabella folded her arms, still frowning at my left eye, while Jack threw himself into the cushions, tossing both arms across the back and smiling encouragingly.
"To bring you up to speed…" I mused. "Well, I'm enrolled at Beacon. I'm the leader of team Auburn — that's ABRN — with Blake Belladonna of Menagerie, Pyrrha Nikos of Mistral, and Ruby Rose of Patch. She's Taiyang Xiao Long's daughter, if you know him."
"I do, but wasn't she younger than you?" Jack asked. "I thought it was his daughter with Branwen who was your age."
"That's right; she's in our class too," I agreed. "Ruby was involved in a robbery by the mob, so Ozpin offered her an early position."
"And a tournament champion, and the Chieftain of Menagerie's daughter," Jack rubbed his chin. "Sounds like a talented squad in the making. Not to mention rooming with three pretty girls, eh?" He waggled his eyebrows.
I shrugged. "They all impressed me in Initiation and training. I look forward to Hunting with them backing me up — again, in Blake's case." I didn't address his last comment.
"He's not dating any of his teammates," Indigo said slyly, her emphasis making Jack grin and lean forward.
Rolling my eyes, I inclined my head. "And yes, I had a date on Friday with a girl named Amber."
"With an older woman, he means," Indigo corrected. I gave her a flat look, and got a shit-eating grin in return.
Jack's smile was identical. "Is that so? Tell us about her, Jaune."
I sighed. "I developed a Semblance that lets me heal myself and others." I shot Indigo another look to not contradict me, though I hoped Jaune's parents would take it as more annoyance at the topic of conversation. "I've been volunteering at the hospital since October to practice. Jump ahead to the entrance exam, and Ozpin decided to ask if I could heal someone. Her name is Amber and she's a protégé of Ms Goodwitch."
"And exactly how old is this friend of Glynda's?" Jack's eyebrows waggled again, and I rolled my eyes.
"Protégé," I repeated. "Amber is 21. She's a few months younger than Olivia, but she was another of Ozpin's early invitations, so she actually graduated between Azure and Indigo."
Jack was still smirking, but he obligingly let the subject change. "And how are your classes going?"
I shrugged again. "Not much to tell. It's only been a week. Oobleck isn't a great lecturer. Port takes too long to get to the point. Goodwitch's class is all right, although I seem to have made an enemy."
"Already?" Indigo leaned against the loveseat's arm.
I spread my arms. "I don't know what Winchester's problem is, but he came at me like I killed his dog."
Indigo's face froze, but Isabella spoke up again before I could ask why.
"Where were you tonight?" she asked. "You wouldn't have needed to borrow your sister's car if you were at school."
"I borrowed it for my date Friday night–"
"And you're only returning it now?" Jack interrupted, grinning again.
"I only just got back from Vacuo, so yes," I deadpanned.
"Kind of an expensive date," Jack quipped.
"Ah, you know, dinner at a nice restaurant, a scenic drive to the airport, quick five hour flight, kill a Named Grimm together; good first date material," I snarked right back.
"If killing a Named is your prerequisite, shouldn't you be dating your teammate as well?" Indigo asked. Her voice was a little strained, but she didn't respond to my raised eyebrow.
"Blake needed a friend more than anything," I replied. "She's great, but I don't think she's interested in that kind of relationship. Her ex was kind of a controlling dick, and he tried to kill us both the day I met her, so–"
"Jaune." Isabella interrupted. "Why were you fighting Named Grimm at all?"
"The first two ambushed me–"
"First TWO!?" she interrupted again.
"Yes, this weekend made three," I agreed, keeping my voice even. "Bianca called me so the Legion would have a healer when fighting Amphivena. I agreed. We killed it. Now I'm back."
"You're a freshman, you shouldn't be fighting any Grimm unsupervised!"
I frowned. "Last I checked, most of my classmates were fighting Grimm in combat school," I drawled. "I was on a bit of a crash course, because I didn't go to one." I paused, then turned to Indigo. "You never said anything about school once I got out of the hospital. Am I technically a dropout?"
"You tested into Beacon, so you're still in education," she pointed out.
"Point."
"Jaune." Isabella's voice was still calm, but there was something about the set of her jaw that spoke of anger. That, or the fact that Jack is actively leaning away from her. "Why were you fighting Grimm on your own?"
"In July? Couldn't tell you; I still don't remember," I replied. "In August I wasn't alone. Blake and I were less than a mile from the walls when Krios found us. In October my plane crashed, so I was alone until Vi got there. This weekend I was the backup for a professional squad, because if you haven't caught it, I'm attending a Hunting Academy."
"Without my approval," she retorted.
I gave her an incredulous look. "And that's relevant how?" I asked sarcastically. "What are you going to do, go tell Ozpin to kick me out?" I was starting to get annoyed myself.
Her brow furrowed. "Fine, then." Isabella rose to her feet, resting one hand on the hilt of her sword. "If you've really come so far, you can prove it to me with a spar."
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh, how about no? My plane landed less than an hour ago." And I've been through this already with Indigo. I have no intention of repeating it.
Not least because I understood my own capabilities a lot better now, and assuming they took me seriously I was pretty sure I couldn't beat any of my sisters, much less someone whose level was still hidden.
I folded my arms. "Considering you knew I wanted to be a Huntsman and still instructed all my sisters not to train me, I'm not particularly inclined to prove anything to you."
Jack's eyebrows shot up, while Isabella scowled at my tone. "Jaune, go to your room; we'll discuss this tomorrow when you've calmed down."
"I'm plenty calm." I scowled right back, getting to my feet in turn. "I haven't raised my voice once. And I may still be young and in training, but I'm not a child for you to dismiss because you don't feel like facing your neglect. Or the fact that it's a pattern, considering I didn't get so much as a text when I was in the hospital, or when I killed Krios and almost died, or when I killed Samiri and watched someone die in front of me. There's nothing to discuss. I don't know why you think you have a say in what I do; you're not my fucking mother!"
It was something I'd said to all of my sisters when they tried to baby me, and a few other people besides, but Isabella reeled back as if I'd slapped her. Behind her, Jack's face lost all expression, but at that point I was too angry to care.
"My sisters acknowledge me. Doctors and Master Hunters acknowledge me. Ozpin acknowledges me. I don't need your approval to do what I want with my life."
"You live under our roof–"
"Really, you're going there?" I interrupted coldly. "Fine, then."
I turned on my heel and walked upstairs. I didn't stomp.
I opened the door to my room. I didn't slam it.
Instead I laid a hand on the bed and shoved the linens and pillows into my [Inventory]. I did the same with each drawer of the dresser, the contents of the bookshelf, everything in the closet, and the two Named masks, leaving the walls bare. Lastly, I switched to my Riding armor set, because I was absolutely not staying here any longer.
I left the empty bedroom's door open as I stalked back down the hall, down the stairs, and out the front door, ignoring Isabella's call of my name as it swung closed behind me. With a gesture, I dropped Antares back out of my [Inventory], equipped my helmet, and threw my leg over the motorcycle.
[BGM Unlocked! – "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" by Billy Joel]
Rolling my eyes, I dismissed the notification. Light spilled across the driveway as the door opened again, but I didn't look back. I just opened the throttle and drove back toward the city's lights.
Isabella rounded on her husband, her left hand white-knuckled around her sword's hilt. "Thank you so much for your support," she said acidly.
Jack's tone was cool. "What did he say that wasn't true? He's been accepted into Beacon on his own merits. That was what we always told ourselves was necessary for any of the children; that we wouldn't let them coast by on either of our families' reputations."
"He's completely untrained, Jack!"
"Apparently not," Jack replied. "Ozpin's entrance exam may not require combat, but Beacon's Initiation certainly does. He's obviously been working out to a remarkable degree, given how much he's filled out, and the calluses on his hands can only come from swordplay."
"He didn't even sound like Jaune," Isabella whispered.
Jack pulled his wife into a hug, and she pressed her forehead to his shoulder. "Just because our boy grew up without us, doesn't mean we have to push him away, Belle. I'm proud of all our girls, and I'm proud of him. I know you are too, if you push past the anxiety."
"I am," she sighed. "I just don't want them to get hurt. Mother trained us all, and even after Haven, both of my brothers still died with the rest of their team."
"Shhh," Jack hushed his wife, stroking her hair. "All of our girls are stronger than we were at their age. They're better-trained, and more careful. They're all following their dreams. You can't blame them when we set the example ourselves. You're allowed to be happy for them."
Back in the sitting room, forgotten for the moment, Indigo toyed with her Scroll. She flicked to a picture Jaune had sent of himself with his team, all smiling at the camera. Jaune's jacket was on the ground behind him, leaving him in his uniform shirt, and he was carrying all three of his teammates on his shoulders with no apparent strain.
His scars were visible, because Ruby had stolen his sunglasses to wear for herself. She was posing with her arms crossed, perched with her legs either side of his neck. On his right arm, Pyrrha was hiding laughter at her partner's antics behind her hand. On his left, Blake's face was mostly hidden behind a book, but her mirth was visible in her eyes.
Jaune's own grin was reserved, but genuine. Her baby brother had come a long way from the noodly-armed, game-obsessed, comic book geek who would come home every week with obvious bruises he pretended were from training, as if his sisters didn't know the signs of someone being bullied.
She and Olivia had agreed, when Jaune lost his memory, to take the excuse to pull him out of school. When he revealed his Semblance, and his new attitude and dedication to training… she'd always loved Jaune, but now she was honestly proud of him.
Nodding to herself, Indigo began typing a message on her Scroll. At the same time, her shadow grew darker, and she sank into it, vanishing from sight.
As I rode back into town, I ignored the popup that Indigo had texted me. I am morbidly curious how that conversation went after I left, but if I check it at the moment I think I'll say something I might regret later.
Pulling into the garage at my apartment, I shoved Antares back into my [Inventory] — why pay for a parking space if I didn't need to? — and took the stairs two at a time to try to work out some of my lingering frustration. My CON and consequently my stamina was now so high I wasn't even breathing hard by the time I reached the penthouse floor, but the slight strain was still welcome. I wonder if Beacon has a stairmaster? If I crank it high enough it might be a better workout than the treadmill.
I swiped my Scroll and shoved the door open, barely catching it before it slammed against the wall. Entirely Done™ at the moment, I walked over to the couch until my legs bumped against the arm, and just let myself topple facefirst onto the seat with my hips resting on the arm and my legs still on the floor. It wasn't particularly comfortable, but I didn't move.
As soon as I'd gotten here, the simmering annoyance that propelled me out of the Arc house finally left. I didn't regret my words or actions, and I certainly didn't plan to apologize or go back, but I'd never been good at holding on to indignation. Righteous anger — the kind that would set off my Oath — was one thing, but with personal offenses my temper tended to burn out quickly.
Dimly, I was aware of the shower turning off, and a rush of damp air washed over me as the bathroom door opened.
"Jaune?" Amber wondered. "Are you all right?"
Still facedown, I waved vaguely then gave a thumbs-up.
I heard her bare feet pad across the floor, then the couch sank as she sat down on the far cushion. "Come here." She tugged on my shoulder, urging me to flip over.
Sighing, I did, allowing her to pull me onto the couch properly, ending up with my ankles over the arm and my head in her lap. She was wearing a towel, though it was sized for someone of my or Olivia's size, so it covered from under her shoulders to mid-thigh. The soft terrycloth was damp against my cheek, as were her fingertips as they carded through my hair.
"What's bothering you?" she asked, peering down at me.
I opened my mouth to say, 'Nothing,' but the look in her eye had me biting down on the word. "My parents were home," I admitted. "Jacques was annoying and Isabella was overbearing. I probably should have expected it, given the last time they saw me I was an untrained civilian, but it still pissed me off to not have my achievements acknowledged. So I left."
Amber didn't press, but I ended up telling her the whole story anyway. She didn't interrupt, letting me vent my frustrations at being treated like a stupid kid. Her fingers kept playing with my hair until I ranted myself out.
After a few minutes' consideration, she said, "It sounds like you were a little more worked up about this than you expected to be."
I sighed, relaxing properly instead of just compartmentalizing. "I guess so. I wasn't expecting to feel much of anything."
"They're your parents, Honey," she pointed out patiently.
I gave a shrug. "I don't remember them, though." I reached up and took her other hand, lacing our fingers together. "I think that bothered me more. They might as well be strangers; who the hell do they think they are to imply that everything I've accomplished isn't good enough?"
"In that case, I would think you'd be more annoyed with your sisters. Indigo did kind of throw you to the wolves."
"Maybe, but she's been here. She was the first one to pull that 'if you're serious then spar me' bullshit, but that was when I was fresh out of the hospital, and ever since then she's been supportive. She even started going back to therapy just because I suggested it. Olivia didn't think I could make Beacon either — she bet this apartment against it — but she held up her end without a complaint. Both of them sparred with me anytime I asked."
"But they weren't perfect from the first impression," Amber reminded me. "So what's the difference?"
After a moment's thought, I answered. "They apologized and we talked it out." I let out another sigh. "I take your point, I won't cut ties with my parents outright. I'll give them a chance to apologize. But I'm still not moving back there."
"That's no skin off my teeth," she assured me. "This is your apartment, after all."
I reached up and brushed my knuckles against her cheek. "It's yours too," I told her again. "And I'm glad you're here. Thanks."
She seemed to understand I meant thanks for more than just talking with me tonight, and gave me a radiant smile. "Why don't you go shower," she said, squeezing my hand. "You need to get up early to head back to Beacon tomorrow."
"Bleh, fine," I fake-griped, rolling off the couch and slouching into the master bedroom while Amber went to her own room and closed the door.
A few taps of the [Inventory] hung the Named masks up around the apartment — Krios' was over my bed, Samiri's over the mantle in the living room, and Amphivena's dual-toned skull appeared high on the opposite wall, near the peak of the vaulted ceiling.
[You have subsumed an Aspect of a Name-ranked Grimm, and now bear its mark. Aspects collected: 3.]
[Aspect of the Emperor Taijitu (Passive) LV MAX]
[30% increase to INT.]
[Decreases duration of negative status effects by 20%.]
Nodding in approval, I left everything else in my [Inventory] and went to shower, finding the three tattoos on my back in the mirror. They were arranged in a quarter-circle; respectively above, on, and below my right shoulder-blade. ︎ ︎ ︎
Starting to notice a pattern there…
When I emerged from the master bathroom, clad in just my boxers and drying my hair, it was to find the covers of my bed turned down, and Amber in her pajamas climbing in the other side. Knowing better than to question my fortune, I tossed the towel over the hook, turned out the lights, and slid under the silk sheets.
At once, Amber pulled my head to lean against her chest and started playing with my hair again. "Just rest, Honey."
Nodding, I closed my eyes and let myself lie there enjoying the contact for a while before letting my Semblance put me to sleep as usual.
It wasn't until I was cooking breakfast the next morning that I remembered I had a text waiting, and pulled out my Scroll to check it.
DM: Kagemane -› Paladin | Sunday 21:19
‹Kagemane› ma has a temper but she n da r proud of u
‹Kagemane› hope u rnt 2 pissed
Not impressed. They can tell me that themselves.
DM: Paladin -› Kagemane | Monday 06:27
‹Paladin› that's nice, but I'm not moving back in
There was no chance Indigo was awake, so I collapsed the device and pocketed it just in time for a pair of tanned arms to wrap around my waist.
"Careful of the bacon grease," was all I said.
Amber pressed her cheek against my back. "You're up so early," she grumbled.
"This is when I usually get up." I turned the bacon over, tilting the pan away so any splashes wouldn't hit her.
"You're very domestic, aren't you?" she yawned.
I shrugged, moved the bacon to a paper towel to blot the grease, then turned around in her embrace. "Good morning to you, too," I smiled at her sleepy face, then reached into my [Inventory] and took out a steaming mug. "Coffee?"
"Yes, please." She reluctantly let me go to take it and moved over to the fridge for cream. "Thanks, Honey."
I hummed, cracking eggs into the pan. "You've really taken to that pet name."
"I like it," she yawned again. "It's a bit… generic, and people don't necessarily think about what the word really means when they use it in this context. But my cousins kept bees and I've always liked honey." She shot me a smirk. "You're sweet and a bit dense, so I think it's fitting."
"Yeah?" I glanced over my shoulder at her with one eyebrow raised. "When you get a second, Mon trésor, could you get this knife out of my back?"
Amber giggled. "Is that old Valic? I bet my grandparents would be nostalgic… for how their grandparents used to talk."
"Do you not like it?" I asked, suddenly unsure.
"I kind of do, actually," she mused. "It means 'my treasure', right? Are you sure you're an Academy student? Because you don't act like it; half the time it's hard to believe you're younger than me."
"I read a lot of history books and encyclopedias after I lost my memory," I shrugged.
[Acting has increased by 1!]
"Upside, history class has been really easy since it's all pretty fresh in my memory."
"Are you really heading back this early?" Amber asked, stifling another yawn.
I considered it. I guess it's not like I need to get anything from my room or locker; I'm carrying everything in my [Inventory]. Aloud, I said, "I could probably stall a bit, but since I'm up, I might as well get back."
I started plating the eggs, since Amber and I both liked them sunny-side up, along with bacon and toast. Amber topped off both our coffees, and we ate together in comfortable silence.
I stopped off in my room to wash my face and change into my School armor set, and Amber stopped me again on my way out the door. When I turned back to see what she needed, she grabbed the lapels of my vest and pulled me down for a kiss. On reflex, I slid one arm around the small of her back and rested my other hand on the back of her neck, pulling her against me even after she broke the kiss.
"Have a good day, Honey," she murmured.
I pressed my forehead against hers. "After walking away from this? Not likely."
Amber smiled and gave me another peck before pulling away. "I'm going back to bed."
I laughed. "Sleep well and wake."
I equipped my helmet and jacket before getting on Antares, but didn't bother with the rest of the Riding outfit since the streets were empty and I wouldn't be breaking the citywide 30 kph speed limit anyway.
Vale was a beautifully-laid out city, especially compared to where I'd grown up — there was a heavy focus on multiple modes of transport instead of only cars. In the city center, where my apartment sat, most of the streets were one-way and single-lane, allowing for limited on-street parking and turning lanes at corners. Speed limits here were even lower, usually 20 kph, and consequently traffic was mixed, with plenty of people riding mopeds or bicycles. There were also bus-only streets, which made public transit fast and reliable, since they wouldn't get caught in traffic jams.
On larger streets outside the center, there was still usually either a median or a central lane for trams, splitting up one lane for car traffic in either direction. There were also dedicated bicycle lanes and pedestrian sidewalks, both of which were kept level so that it was cars that bumped up over them rather than pedestrians or cyclists having to drop down to the street level.
Most car lanes in the city were fairly narrow, accommodating the sedate 30 kph speed limit, with mostly mixed development of residences over businesses outside of the central business district. There were a bare handful of arterial roads that allowed driving up to 50 kph, but they were usually elevated and had no sidewalks, being meant entirely for commuting. Instead of having direct turn-ins to shopping centers or neighborhoods, you had to exit the road onto a parallel street or side street to actually access a destination.
Between the separation of higher-speed traffic and the slightly quieter Dust-engines, there was almost no traffic noise anywhere except the elevated highway ring road that encircled the city, which was itself shadowed by train tracks. Having grown up in decent-sized cities on Earth, the absence of traffic noise was constantly astounding.
Beacon operated its own bullheads to ferry students up and down the cliff the school stood upon, but I rode up the switchbacks to the student garage before stowing Antares back in my [Inventory] along with my jacket and helmet. Finger-combing my hair, I activated [Eagle's Splendor] as I usually did in school and made my way out into the April dawn.
Having already eaten breakfast, I didn't have anywhere to be until class started at 0700, so I decided to head around the back of Ozpin's tower to watch the sun rise over the mountains East of Vale. Reaching into my [Inventory], I withdrew an insulated flask of coffee, unscrewing the top to act as a cup. Pouring some of the coffee — still perfectly hot and fresh from when I made it last month — into the cup, I leaned back against the bench and watched the lightening sky.
"No matter how many years pass, I find I never get tired of seeing the sun rise," said Ozpin from beside me.
I took a breath, wishing I had my sunglasses on. Oh, right; forgot for a moment how terrifying you are. Thank you for the timely reminder, Mr Murphy. Pretending my heart wasn't racing, I held up the flask. "Coffee?"
"I am due for a refill, so thank you," he nodded, letting me top up his ubiquitous mug.
"It's my preferred ratio of cream, no sugar," I warned, setting the flask back down.
"Surely a resourceful young man, such as yourself, is carrying some sugar as well?" Ozpin mused.
I opened my mouth to lie, then paused. He said 'as well'. The flask is obviously not school property, so he might just mean 'in my pockets'.
…But. He also might know about [Inventory]. I haven't been that subtle with it.
Odds are… pretty good he knows I wasn't here this weekend, and so this still-fresh coffee had to come from somewhere. And I have no idea when he got here, so he might even have seen me take it out.
Closing my mouth, I shot him a glance.
‹̸I̵f̴ ̷E̸v̶e̴r̶ ̷A̵ ̸W̸i̴z̶ ̸T̸h̷e̴r̵e̴ ̶W̶a̶s̷›̴
L̶V̷ ̴1̵0̷0̵
O̵z̵p̷i̷n̷
Flat hundred, huh? Is that some kind of 'you can't fathom my true power' thing, or is he actually this weak after giving away all his magic?
I tried to [Observe] him, but I didn't get much more than a migraine.
[N̷̜̓a̸̛̲m̷̳̑ę̴̈:̷̺̌ ̴̼̏"̸̮̈́Ơ̴̝z̶̼͝p̶̥͝i̶̘̅n̴͔̂" ̷̣̱̖̤̝̟̩͈̬̩͇̓ͅ(̸̢̙̜̭͍̫͖̳͍̑͛̂͜͜͠͝Ơ̶͎̺̲͎̗̄͝ẕ̴̏_̶̖͚͐̋ ̴̀̈́)̸̟̟͔̱̠͖̤͖̞̠̍̓̊]
[̶̨̭̹̘̰͊̕ͅL̸̢̪̲̬̈́̃V̶̲̓̄̊͋ ̸͉̣͙̉̎̆?̴̢̺̯̺͔̉͛͜?̴̮̆́͑͊͆̎?̷͚͙̭̦̌]̸̖̈̐͗͝
[̴̥̟͉̳̆̍͠T̸͔̰̱̫̓͜į̶̺̲̟̬͆͒̆̋͌̚t̴̛͇̯̞̭͉͌l̸̡̲̬̃̇̅͆͌̐ȩ̸͈̺̠̰̜̐̇̑̂͒̊:̷͇̤̣̟̗͛̈́͜͝ ̶͓̗̲̫͍̚͝?̷̝͙͕̱̖͆͐̈́̆͆?̷̩̜̼̱̙̝̔͝?̸͕̙̤̞̩̈̋̅]̴̛͖̻͙̈̃͐
[̵̜͈͓̪̜̙̔̄̆͊͘Ṙ̶̦̙ͅͅa̷̡͈̜̬̱̅̂́͊̂̓c̶̫͉̣̬̞̃͂̆͜ë̶̤͔́̈:̴͔͈͚̜̼͐͒͠ ̵̱͙̝͔̠̂̿͝ͅH̸̱̹͍͚̏͗ũ̵͎̹̱̪̥̟̌̚m̴̥͛̈́̕a̸̧̮̦̞̿̓͠n̶̞̦̰̈͊̋͜͜ ̸͖̙͔̎͘ͅ-̵̢̯̕͜ ̸̹̂P̷̪̹̻̌͆r̶͉͉͍͕̈́̂͗̏̎́ę̸͎̥̤̊̐͋͌́͜͝c̵̪̟̾u̷̧̻͂̏͝r̶̓̇ͅş̷̰̩͖̉͊̾̚͘o̷̧͍̗̦̝̅͌̍̀̔r̵͙̙̊̏̇̎̽̅]̷̭̎͐̔̚
[̴͕̏̔̄͜A̴̛̟͈̬̠̞̳g̶̼̱̖̽̀̏̽̀͠ę̶̛̠̯̳̹̓̒̓͗͜͝:̴̬͙̞̟͚͛̂̓ ̵͇̼̐̅̈́͒̽?̵̨͓͎̭͎̐?̵̠̪͚̏͜?̸̺͎̰͖̀]̶͖̖̭̤̙́̈́́̾͐
[̶̬͆͛̕͜J̸̩͚̠͈̐̉͆͘͘ͅo̷̙̓̽̂́͘b̵̧̫̔͠:̵̡̲͎͎͍͆̏̽̚͜ ̶̫̙̀̇̾͊̿͠H̶̛̭̎̒̐͝e̷̲͖͍̾̂̋̋͐͐a̸̝͍̱̝̔̍͑̾͗d̸̛̹̟̼̳̜́̚m̸̧̛͓̮͎̲̥̾̑̄a̷̛̘͈̦̩̭̽͂̃̓ŝ̴̞̺͕̿ṯ̶̛͕̜̆̅̇̀͌e̴̫̽̅̄̈́́̿ṙ̴̛̤̬̈́́ ̴̞̞͎͍̩͗̎̓͐-̶̪̀ ̶̱̼͍͖̝̜̔̈͠B̵̗̬̗͇͙͈̄̈́̊͝ē̶͕͙̱̣ą̸̰͖̪̜̋ͅc̴̰̹̫̗̥̺̎̉̄͆̋͊o̸̧̩̘̜̅̾͠n̵̨͍͖̦̹̄̽]̴̛̛̩̫̒̌͝
[̴̻̩͖̾̌͜Ć̴͓̩̝͚̺̪ḽ̷̊̿a̴̪̟̥̟̭͋̐̉s̸̠̠̻̞̪̐̃̆̔̍̏s̷̗̬͇͕͓̽:̴̨̳́̓ ̶̛̙̬͗W̵̡̱̲̠̬̭̓ì̵̧͍̫̬̹̯̈́̈́z̶̨̢͔̰͍͑̽͋a̵͚͈͌͒͝͝ȑ̵̡͙̳͕́͑̆d̴̡̰̮̼̜̼̉͗]̴̝̩͙̣̓͊̾͋̏
[̵̢̡̝͍̥̋̍̒͊̊̚S̷̙͖̙̜͇̿͆̈̑e̷̡̱͉̞̿̃̽̚ḿ̷̢̱̮̬͖̓͐́́͘b̵̹͓͕̪͆̾l̸̗̣̉͗̍̐̑͝å̸̺͉̮̖̆ñ̴̝̣č̴̗̯̲̮̖̖e̷̪̅̓͋:̷͚͙̱͗ ̷̹͓̼͍̬̃͐̈́͑̋̚?̵̥̼̍̇̌?̷̧̲̥͊͋͌͠?̴̰͎̱͓̀]̶̨̮̍̊̕
[̴̨̛͚̯͎̩͕̯͎͙̫͎̘̏̊̿̎͆͛͗̈́̓͐͜͝B̴̘̤͇̗̗̹͇̩̯̣̮̉̽a̴̡̫̮̔̊̇͒̍̔͛̍̄̅̈̒̚͝c̵̝̝̝̈́̆͗̈̓̍̑̌̋̐̐̋̊̀̕̚ķ̴̪̼̫͔̮̊̑͊̔̐̋͒͂͊̈́̈́͘͘͜͠g̷͇͕̼͈̰̭̘͔͎͖̋̓͊̈͛̐̌̀̽͑͂̉̈́͆r̷̡̺̫̠̳̞̠͉̭̼̗̖̗̞̬̱̤͛͑̓͘ò̵̧̡̤̘̤͓̫̹̤̙̻̘̙̔̏̌͛͋̌u̶͎̝̺̙̅̉͆͊̑̉̿̍̾́̍̒̇̾̅̕͠ǹ̶̡̞̥̺̘̲͍̗̫͍̮̒͊̈́̓̅̊͛́͂̈͜͜d̵̗͈̣̰̱͂̐̿̔̅ͅ:̶̻̮̩̞̲̜̺̙̜̲̠̊͐̉̽̓̃̋̓̈́͠ͅ ̵̧̗͎͔̪̣̝̘̺̻̯̩̮̗̼͑̽͊͆̔̔͌̄̾̿͋͝ͅṪ̴̢̧̻̜̰͕̥̣͋́̓̈́̕h̸̛̺̞̪̙͒̀̽̀̍̂̄̓̒̑̑̔̇̌͊͑͜e̴͉̊̆̈́̽͗̂̾͘͝ ̵̨̢̼̦̱̘̜̭̣̈́̚̕̕͜w̸̛͇̺̪͎̖͓͚͉͙̹̗͇̪̾̀́̐͜i̸̧̫̦͉̬͍͕̜͇̜̼͉̼͊̊͌ͅẓ̵̢̣̳͚̖̥̬̱̾͘a̵̗̝͔̳̗͒̂̄̓̉͘r̴͇̳̠̩̙̓̿̉̀ͅd̵̨͙̥͕̩͚̝̞̞̯͈͔̫̥̋̿̈́͋͝͠ ̷̢̧͎̪͖̥͎̘͉̪̆̉ơ̶̛̼̼͓͖̝̭͇͖͎̋̔̌́̚͜͝f̷̼̖͒̋̂̂̐̈͛͊ ̴̨̳͚͓̞̱̲̳̂̌͛̋͝m̸̡̨̡̰͖͎̥̲͎̺̘̭̪̯̹̈́̀͑͠y̸̛̯̩͌̄͛̈͊̑̀͌̂͋̾͝t̸̤̳̥̞̮͈̐͌̄́̇́͑̄͂̋̚͜h̸͎̍̋͆̒͆̌͛͆̀͜͜ ̷̺̼̝͍͔͈̜̤̳͇̣͎̟͓̈̆̕a̴̛̫͉̳̯͍͐̽̾̐̓̐̀̒̔̊̓̑̑͌͘͜͝ņ̶̡̛̱͍̙̊̋͌̊́́̅̽̈́̑̾̃̆͘d̸̼̠̗̙̲̗̻̺̳̣̀͋̅͋̾̒̍̉̓̍̽͜͠ ̶͎̦̥͎̝͓̞̩͊̊͒̋̍̈́̌͗͂̐̓̄́̓́̓͠o̵̙̾̂̎̉͗̽͊̿̆͐͒͑̂͊͌͘ń̴̛̯͇͓̺̗̜̾̎̈́̾̀́̑̌̒̎́̆͘͝c̵̡̛̛̙̦̼͙̘̝̥͖͎͚̼̘̫̟̍̈̂͌̔̈̈̅͛̄̽̆̕͠͝ͅè̴̛̛̘͚͙͔̙͖͒͐͑͆̑͂̐͜ ̶̲͖̠͈̝̗̙̩̽̽a̸͕̮̫̖̜̬̹̻̩̘͔̣̙͇̙̳̽̿̓̄͗̔̈́̈̃̍͑͛̀n̷̛̗̟͍̫̬̽͐̅̏̓̎͛͆́̀͂͂̈́͐̓̚͜d̴̢̹̠̣̦̻͎̰̭͇̙̦̲̥́̒̿̽̇̋͌̚͘ ̸̣̩͗̑͐͐̋͐̆̌̿͗̎͝f̷̦͖͖͙͔̜͖̮͑͌̔̍́͆͜ű̵̢̨̗͓͇̻͇̟͍̬̰͇́̐̀̇͒̆̅́̈́̏̎̌ţ̵̲͖̘̤̈́̀̀̂̽̚ͅŭ̴̗͔̽͆̍͗̓̒̔͘r̵̨̗̠̥̞̳͇̥̙͙̝͇̈́͛̑̈́é̴̡̡̛̛͕͙̮̠̖͎͓̠͕̆̉̔͂̒͂̋̓̋̓̎̀̋͘ͅ ̸̧̳̩̖̦͖̝͚̮̹̰̜̪͚͈̮̏͐̌̉̓̑͆̒̈͋̔͛̉̃͝Ĥ̸̡̦e̸̛̖̊a̵̖̠͉̐̐̋d̸̮̱͈̄̾m̸̨͊̎̋a̵̡̛͊̐͝s̷̙̄̓̂̑t̸͙͚̥̫̒ę̸̝̈́̒r̷̦̺̗̉ ̸̱̥̂o̸͓͑̈̾͜f̵̭͇̠̃̚͠͝ ̶̮̘̰͊́B̵̦̜̩̼͌̇ḙ̵͗̑a̵̪͈̬̙̾̃c̶͓̰̗̊́̔o̶̩̬̲̐͒̃ņ̵̣̩̂̑͝͠ ̵̅͜A̴͇̥̒̓̕c̵͖͓̱̙̀̊̉̓ạ̵̳̿̊ḋ̸̝ȩ̸̝̻͐͜ṃ̶͗͠y̶̬̺͎̻̎̉̔͠.̷̩̍̾͝]̵̠̓̿͋
[̵̧͇͙̐̏͋͝Ȅ̸̘̖m̸̖͉̄̉̄o̶̢̩̞͈̐̒͝t̵̳̜̖̎̄̌͝į̶̡͇̲̎̓̈̚o̸̘̣̜͊n̵̥̫̫͍͋͒s̴̘̿͗̈́:̵͖̜͖̆ ̶̠̈̾S̷̨̻̼̽͛̓͐u̵̧̗̺̔̒̊r̶̥̔̇͊̎p̵̰̓̓r̵̤̎͜ỉ̶̯̠̟͕ś̴̰̃͆e̴̥͋͆͂,̴͚̪̇̇͆͘͜ ̶͉̜̗̈́̾̅͜c̷̩͋͌̆̀ȗ̸̪̜̻̃̉͘r̵̜̬̫̄i̴͖̼̻͋ǒ̴͍͔͓͙ṩ̸̗̝̋̔i̶͔̼̯͌͆̂͜t̵̫̣̹̊̈́y̶̟̆̀͝͠,̶̣̩͙̽̏ ̷̤͚͊̏̎͘r̷̥͖͙̈́e̷͔͊̕s̶͙͉̼͛ĩ̸͚̬̌̕g̷̯̜̘̞̽̆͝n̸̖̳͆ͅa̶̟͂́t̴̢͗̆̍̑i̸̡͈̅͊o̶̼͂̀n̴̞͑͊̈́.̴̰̩͐̅̌͑]̸͉͕̯̎́
[̸̮̌̽́͠Ṛ̷͍̹̏͜ē̸̮̣̘̊͝ľ̶̻̐͘͠a̷̜̦͍͐̋͌ͅt̵̩͋͂̊i̵̹̞̠̱̿͐̔o̶̺͎͑̒͠n̵̰͈̹̈́̂͒̌ͅs̶͓̭̣͖̽͠h̶̝̊̒͑̚i̸̡̒̉p̶͔͔̀̇̊͝:̸̡̬̬̳̎́̇ ̶͎̳͉́͜A̵̰̣̾̂̋̕l̷̨̦̙̞̒̈́l̸͉̮̠̗̏́̅y̷͔͊̽͛.̶̻̈́]
…Fuck it, we ball.
I reached out again and swiped a stack of sugar packets from a diner out of the interface, along with a spoon I'd stored the first week I woke up in Remnant.
"…Interesting. And here I thought you said you knew nothing about magic?"
"I believe what I said was that it seems no more unusual to me than Aura," I replied, trying to gauge his reactions from his expression, since [Observe] was just giving me a headache. "I've been able to do this since July."
"I see." His tone remained even.
…Yeah, I'm getting nothing from his face, either. "Professor Rumpole sends her regards, by the way."
Ozpin paused. "Forgive me if I express my doubts she said any such thing."
I considered what I'd observed from Rumpole. "Close enough for government work. She also might be sending a commendation."
"Yes, I heard from Theodore about your success. It would have been nice to know that call was coming."
"It was a rather impulsive decision," I admitted, overlooking his passive-aggressive comment.
He sighed and chided me, "Mister Arc, in light of your remarkable Semblance — even more certainly in the face of your apparent possession of magic — you cannot put yourself and Amber in danger like that–"
"With all due respect, sir," I interrupted, staying calm solely by dint of [Gamer's Mind] and [Eagle's Splendor]."We are adults, we were invited, and we were willing. Given the magnitude of the threat facing all of Remnant, can you afford to refuse our help?"
Tellingly, Ozpin didn't answer immediately. He took a sip of his coffee, and I did the same.
When he didn't seem willing to break the silence, I continued in a measured tone. "The world isn't stable, and it's not going to wait for me to grow up. I'm aware I can't do everything myself, but killing the Named is a tangible difference that I can contribute to right now."
Ozpin heaved a much deeper sigh. "I cannot logically disagree."
"I am deliberately keeping secrets," I admitted. "But honestly, I'm not sure I trust you with them. While she hasn't said anything about them, Amber does have issues with you, and at the moment… even with her own secrets weighed in the balance, she's earned more trust than you have."
He looked surprised. "She hasn't told you…?"
I pulsed [Detect Aura], but sensed nobody around except us. Cowabunga it is. "About the Enemy?" Ozpin froze. "No. But I've suspected since I fought Krios, and Amphivena clinched it. There's some puppetmaster controlling the Grimm. Or at least, controlling some of them, some of the time."
"What brings you to such a conclusion?" he asked, giving away nothing.
"If there was no… 'Overmind', the walls would be under constant siege. There will be no victory in strength; we'd all be dead by force of numbers."
"Surely the same would be true if there was such a controlling intelligence," he pointed out.
"Only if our extinction is their goal," I argued. "So obviously that's not what they're after. Rather, the evidence suggests they want mortals oppressed but not dead. The way the Grimm behave doesn't make sense otherwise. But it means we have a chance at survival, if not by eliminating the Overmind, then by figuring out what it actually wants and how we can steer mortals through it."
"I'm sure I don't need to impress on you how dangerous it would be if such… speculation were to spread," he said carefully.
"You're the first person I've mentioned this to," I replied. "I assumed if anyone would have insights to share, or could tell me I'm on the wrong track, it would be you."
Ozpin was watching me over his glasses. Come on, man; I've given you the opening. Now will you lie, or take me into your confidence?
But he didn't answer for a long time, and as the sun crept higher, I sighed and put my coffee away, getting to my feet. As I turned to leave, Ozpin finally seemed to come to a decision. "Perhaps you're right," he mused. "Perhaps a fresh perspective might have some value. I can't remember the last time someone came to me with such a deduction, rather than me approaching them…"
I looked back, but Ozpin's gaze was fixed on the horizon once more.
"If you truly wish to know more, please come to my office after classes today, Mister Arc. I may not tell you everything, but I will try to answer some of your questions. Just bear in mind… what you hear may change everything you think you know."
If only, I sighed internally as I started heading for class. If. Fucking. Only.
Name: Jaune Arc
Level: 57 (Next: 84.59%)
Title: Academy Student
Race: Human
Age: 18
Job: Beacon Student
Class: Paladin
Semblance: The Gamer
HP: 7470/7470
MP: 4061/4080
STR: 212 (100)
CON: 261 (101)
DEX: 150 (53)
INT: 128 (50)
WIS: 105 (52)
CHA: 139 (52)
Points: 92
Money: 1,231,438L
Status: Cursed – Yellow Death [High]
A/N: Not the usual 'meeting the parents awkwardness', huh?
I actually double-checked Jaune's STR from around the time of Initiation to make sure he was capable of carrying his team, but at 5kg/point he could do it with his base STR even back then.
Disclaimer that I don't speak French, but 'Old Valic' is French and 'Vytalian' is Latin. Neither is widely-spoken anymore because the Common language (English) was constructed and adopted after the Great War.