209Sleeping in the back of a wagon wasn't as easy as it sounded, though it had very little to do with the wagon itself and more the roads they traveled upon. Jaune could tell they were getting close to civilization because he hadn't been unceremoniously woken by a pothole or random stone under the wheel in over a day now, and when he opened his eyes on the twenty-fifth day of his travels, he was greeted by a magnificent sight.
The Kingdom of Vale was the jewel of Remnant, its lands falling within what was commonly referred to as the Cradle of Life. It was said that here in this valley, protected from Grimm by the natural lay of the land with the shallow harbor to the west and the mountain range to the north-east, lay the most fertile land on all of Remnant. Indeed, Vale was renowned the world over for its farming and its largest exports were meat, fresh produce and dairy, as well as things like wine and wheat. All around, for miles and miles, all he could see was farmland, rolling grassy hills and herds of sheep, cattle and more. Crystalline lakes and rivers cut through the land, feeding fresh water into the heart of the kingdom and it was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen.
He knew a bit about farming, seeing as he grew up on a farm; a farm that had been in their family for generations, as far back as their family history went. They raised cattle and sheep, but it was nowhere near the scale of what he was seeing here. In their small village, they were basically it – another family grew vegetables, and another focused on tending an orchard to provide fruit, but that was the extent of it. Three farms in total, with the Arc Family holding the largest lot of land at twenty five hectares. What he was currently seeing was simply on a whole new level.
"Ah, you're awake," the elderly man steering the wagon appraised him, chewing idly on a piece of straw. His shockingly white beard was long enough that he tucked it into his belt. "Thought you were gonna sleep right up until we rolled through the gates."
Jaune rubbed at his eyes and adjusted his body, stretching out to remove any kinks from sleeping on such an unforgiving surface. His back popped audibly and he sighed in satisfaction, resting his arms on the surrounding crates to prop himself up higher.
"How far are we from the city?" he asked, continuing to take in the sights. Their wagon was no longer alone, now a part of a larger convoy that was slowly making its way along the dirt road. It may have been dirt but Jaune could see that it was well maintained and looked after, and could feel it too. The wagon barely jostled as the pair of chestnut horses towed them along.
"A couple of hours, a little less," the man replied, shielding his eyes from the sun as he peered ahead. "Won't be long now and you'll be able to see it."
He was right.
As an hour went by, houses here and there began to appear alongside the road, and Jaune saw as the land dipped and leveled out, it revealed the true breadth of the valley they were in.
Tucked against the coast, the city of Vale was unlike anything he had ever seen before in his life. Protected by high white stone walls constructed in ages past, the urban sprawl was wedged between the ocean and a lake, a river slicing through the middle with a massive cliff towering above them into the heavens. Waterfalls tumbled down its face, and even from such a distance, Jaune could make out the famous Beacon Academy perched atop like a sentinel, acting as its name implied; a beacon for all.
He whistled in awe, staring with wide eyes. In the bay, ships were docked unloading their cargo while high above head, airships lazily hovered, awaiting their chance to land. The closer they got, the more people he saw; traders, tour guides, recruiters, all lined up on either side of the road, attempting to draw business. While Vale didn't have a standing military any longer, abolished some time after the Great War, Jaune could make out what he could only assume was the city guard, keeping watch and making sure no one was breaking the law, alongside regular law enforcement. The dirt road quickly transitioned into stone and then asphalt, connecting to a highway that passed through Vale and into the rest of the kingdom beyond, thousands of cars in motion.
He had finally made it.
The first step of his journey – of his new life – was now complete.
His hand curled around the leather grip of Crocea Mors, his fingers finding the comforting grooves formed from countless hours swinging his sword. How long had he been training for this moment? How long ago now had it been since the creatures of Grimm had fallen upon his settlement in a fury and he had unlocked his aura, a stroke of luck and desperation that had saved the lives of his sisters?
Too long – and not long enough. He could still taste the fear on his tongue, the terror quaking in his heart, and never wished to feel that way again. If he hadn't unlocked his aura that day, where would he be now? Dead, no doubt – along with the rest of his family.
Shaking his head to clear it of the morbid thoughts, he instead focused on his destination. His family was all alive and well, and though it had taken him longer than he wished to get here, here he was. Seventeen and ready to follow his ambitions, to become a Huntsman and protect the world from Grimm, to capture criminals and whatever else needed doing, the opportunities were endless. Not bad for a country bumpkin from a backwater village from the far north.
"You ever been to the city before, boy?"
Jaune shook his head. "No. My father makes trips here every once in a while but I always stayed behind to watch the farm. I'm his only son."
The elderly man nodded. "A son's gotta do what a son's gotta do, I get it. You gots to look after your mama. Not a world to be leavin' our mothers and sisters and spouses on their lonesome."
Jaune smiled. "Yeah."
As much as he wished to be a Huntsman, leaving his settlement hadn't been an easy decision. The Grimm had attacked once already and they could always do so again, even if it had been many years since. But he wasn't the only one with aura and training living there, and while an extra set of hands defending was always a plus, ultimately it had been his mother that had urged him to follow his dreams.
And she wouldn't take no for an answer. Not that woman.
It took some time to gain entrance to the city. If they were in a modern vehicle, they could have simply merged onto the highway and entered that way. Instead, they were entering through the old way, the passage flanked by towering guardhouses and protected by huge ironwood doors etched with ancient carvings of Grimm doing battle with Vale's ancestors. Occasionally, a wagon was pulled aside and searched for contraband but they passed through without incident.
The first thing he noticed when he passed beyond the great walls was just how loud a city was. He had never heard so much sound before. Of course it was loud; thousands, tens of thousands of people lived here. It felt like a wave, crashing upon him relentlessly, his poor country ears assaulted. The hooves of their horses clopped loudly against the road as the old man directed them over to a nearby building. It was some type of warehouse, bustling with workers. Several other wagons and carts had parked up and were unloading their goods onto a platform where workers rushed to gather them, hauling them inside. When it was their turn, Jaune helped unload the crates down to the ground as thanks for the lift, carrying loads that took three other men to handle.
"You a Huntsman, lad?" one of the workers asked, staring at him and the ease in which he tossed around his cargo. Two large antlers sprouted from his head, a quite impressive sight along with his large muscular arms.
"Hoping to be," Jaune replied, setting the final crate down. "I start at Beacon in two days."
"Not from around here?"
"I'm from up north. As north as north goes, on the coast."
The faunus whistled. "Long way to come, especially in one of those," he nodded his head at the wagon. "Well – welcome to Vale, kid. I hope you enjoy your stay."
Jaune then approached the old man that had given him a ride.
"Thanks for letting me come with you," Jaune said, bowing slightly at the waist. "I appreciate it."
"Ah, you're polite, ain't ya? Don't you worry about it, son. We both got somethin' outta it."
The man hadn't asked for payment in coin, only that Jaune would protect him should Grimm or bandits come calling. It was a fair trade. Protection could be rather costly and most went without, carrying a weapon and not much else. Even if Jaune wasn't yet a Huntsman, he was trained and had aura. Most people didn't care to tangle with someone that had unlocked the power of their soul. He was right; they'd both benefited from the arrangement.
"Even so," Jaune shook his hand firmly. "Thank you."
If he'd had to walk the entire way, he would have missed the start of the school year. His papers might have been accepted but his correspondence with the school had mentioned an initiation process, though he didn't know what that entailed exactly. Only that he had to be there by a certain date. He was simply happy that he wouldn't miss it.
Now he just needed to find somewhere to stay for the next couple of days.
Palming his wallet, he amended that thought. He needed to find somewhere cheap. While he had spent years saving up from doing odd jobs and pinching pennies whenever he could, his savings were a precious resource that needed to last him until he could find a way to make some cash. He was technically on a scholarship on account of a recommendation but while Beacon was all paid for, living expenses weren't.
After bidding the man goodbye, Jaune shouldered his backpack and walked. The area they had arrived in was very clearly old. Everything from the buildings to the street held an aged quality, well maintained but not modern, a time capsule of a sort. It was a look into Vale in the past and as he ventured further into the city, he saw how the architecture changed. Vale wasn't Atlas with its famed skyscrapers of steel and glass but the change was noticeable. Buildings went from stone to brick to concrete, rising higher into the air but only by five or six floors at most. The streets gradually widened to accommodate modern vehicles and population numbers, and soon he was walking amongst crowds of a size that dwarfed his entire village.
Not only that but a large portion of these people weren't human. They were faunus. Glancing around, he was met with a variety of different animal traits. Everything from dog ears to raccoon tails to feathered shoulders and even scales! While he wasn't new to faunus, he hadn't seen quite so many before and never with such range of traits. Now that he thought about it, most of the workers unloading the goods had also been faunus. Not all of them but definitely a great deal.
It didn't take him long to find affordable accommodation.
It was a nice little place with polished wooden floors and cream walls, the interior lit not with electricity but oil lamps. As he stepped through the door, he paused as eyes settled on him from all corners and immediately, he noticed something off. They weren't quite hostile but there was a subtle air of tension.
He quickly looked back out at the sign hanging outside to check in case he had entered the wrong place but no, it clearly advertised accommodation and even had prices listed. He was in the right place.
"May I help you, young man?"
The woman behind the counter stared at him curiously, her yellow eyes glowing in the dim light. A slender tail swished behind her back, flicking every which way as he tentatively approached. Several sets of eyes followed him and it took him a moment to recognize what was off.
None of them were human.
Not a single one.
Jaune was starting to get the feeling he was missing something.
"Uh, yes – I was hoping to rent a room for a night. Er – two nights, actually."
The woman peered up at him, considering his request.
"Two nights," she repeated. Her bright eyes settled on the sword at his waist and he did his best not to grasp the pommel, knowing that the nervous tick could come across as threatening.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered. "If it's not too much trouble," he added, gracing her with a smile.
Her tail moved faster and Jaune couldn't help but follow it with his eyes, hypnotized. He quickly refocused on her, waiting patiently for her answer and hoping his straying eyes hadn't insulted her or made her uncomfortable.
"Two nights," she confirmed, pulling out a large book. It thumped down on the counter loudly and when she peeled open the pages, Jaune was greeted by a list of names and dates. "That will be 60 lien for both nights; 80 if you want breakfast."
"Breakfast sounds good," he replied, pulling out the required money. "Jaune Arc," he offered before she could ask. She penned down his name and took the money, counting it quickly. She then reached into a drawer and pulled out a key with the number seven printed on the ring.
"Second landing," she gestured to the stairs. "First room on the right. You'll be facing the street."
"Thanks," he took the key and made his way over to the stairs. He was still being watched and he nodded at a man sitting by the stairs, a newspaper propped up in his lap. The man nodded back, his cheeks prickly with whiskers.
Ascending the stairs, he found his room without problem and slotted the key into the lock, letting himself in. The room was furnished simply with a bed, a bedside cabinet and a couch that faced the balcony. There was a small bathroom containing a toilet and a spacious shower, a rack of towels hanging by the sink. It may have been simple and plain, but everything was neat and tidy, spotlessly clean.
This was his new home for the next two days.
Now he just needed to figure out why he was being stared at as if he was some strange creature. He hoped he wasn't doing anything bad, though for the life of him he couldn't figure out what that could be. Maybe city folk were just strange?
He opened up the balcony doors and took a moment to stand there, feeling the cool breeze on his skin before sitting down on the couch. It was the softest thing he had felt against his bottom in almost a month and his body sagged blissfully into its embrace. He hadn't noticed before just how sore his body was but now that he could relax against something that wasn't hard wood, all the little aches and pains that aura tended to cover up bloomed to the forefront.
He needed a shower. While he had been able to wash whenever they came by a town, it had been a few days since their last stop. He was beginning to smell a little too fresh. He had kept up with his training whenever he could. Maybe that was why those faunus had looked at him strangely. Perhaps he just stank.
Now that was a little embarrassing.
He would rest for a bit and then shower, and then seeing as it was already the afternoon, he could seek out an eatery and acquire dinner. When that was done, if he had time, he would then visit Beacon's city side offices and collect his scroll, as well as his ticket for the airship ride up to the school. Plan set, he leaned back, sinking further into the soft cushion and within a blink of an eye he was out like a light.
He slept longer than he would have liked.
When his eyes fluttered open, the sky was already beginning to darken. Yawning, Jaune rubbed his arms. The air was cool as evening turned to night but not so cold as he was used to. Vale wasn't so far south that it never snowed here but where he was from, situated on the northern strait between Sanus and the island of Vytal, it just could not compare.
He spent several long minutes standing under the warm spray of the shower, allowing the heat to soak deep into his bones to chase away the aches and pains before vigorously scrubbing himself clean. Drying off, he applied a liberal amount of deodorant and sniffed his armpits, happy with the result.
He no longer smelled bad! Hopefully any insult he had caused could now be forgotten.
Dressing in a clean set of clothes, he belted Crocea Mors to his waist and stepped out after closing the balcony doors. The foyer was empty of people now, though the counter was still manned by the same woman.
"Evening," he greeted politely.
"Evening," she returned, still giving him that wide eyed stare.
Jaune did his best to ignore it.
It wasn't quite so busy out on the street now but again there was a noticeable lack of other humans from what he could tell. There were even less of them now than when he had first arrived and as he walked, he garnered a few looks.
Was this some sort of faunus-only area? No, that couldn't be right. There had been other humans around but it was definitely predominantly faunus here. Was this where they all lived? Or were they forced to live here? He wouldn't call it a poor neighborhood, though. Despite its aged quality, it was neat and tidy, well looked after. While the old entrance into the city surely wasn't used as much as in days past, it was still an important passage into Vale. Many goods passed through those doors.
Jaune shook his head.
It didn't matter. Not really. He just didn't want to step on any toes, seeing as this was his first night here.
It wasn't long before he was following his nose, drawn by the mouth watering scent of food. What he found was an old-style diner situated on the corner of an intersection, the long rectangular building lit up as night continued to encroach upon day. A small bell chimed as he stepped inside and again, he was greeted by more faunus.
The place wasn't packed but it was turning over some decent business, many of the booths filled with people. Jaune chose to sit at the counter, slipping onto one of the cushioned stools and shifting around to get comfortable. The floor was black and white checkered, well worn but clean. Above head hung a series of pendant lights from one end of the diner to the other, casting light along the length of the counter. A couple of waitresses were taking orders further down and while he waited, Jaune consulted the menu placed on the counter.
"And how can I help you, darling?" an older woman asked, drawing his attention. She was dressed in a simple uniform; a pale blue blouse and matching skirt with a black waist apron, a little fox imprinted on the front. Large feathered wings curled around the back of her shoulders, white as snow.
Jaune wasn't a fussy eater. A good meal was a good meal, and his mother had taught him to always eat his fill and never waste anything. In saying that, he felt like treating himself a little as a celebration for reaching Vale – and he was pretty damn hungry.
"Can I have the bacon and egg burger, please," he ordered.
"How do you want your egg?"
"Runny."
"Fries with that?"
"Yes, ma'am – and a chocolate milkshake, and a slice of lemon meringue pie."
She finished scribbling in her notepad, tearing off the page. "Comin' right up."
While she passed his order back to the kitchen, Jaune glanced around. The sky had completely darkened now but due to the lights of the city, he couldn't make out any stars. That was something he wasn't used to. All he could see was the dark void and none of the constellations that he knew were meant to be there.
It wasn't long before his burger and fries were set down in front of him, alongside his milkshake. This time his waitress was a younger girl. She was pretty with curly brown hair and yellow eyes.
"Thank you," he said.
She smiled and he was gifted with rows of razor sharp teeth.
The burger was good, the bacon crisp and the egg just right, the velvety yolk spilling over his lips as he took a large bite. The ground beef patty was juicy and perfectly seasoned, the lettuce and tomato fresh. There was only a hint of sauce, something with a little heat that he found to his liking. The fries were just as good, crunchy and expertly salted. Dipping them in ketchup, he devoured his main course in short order.
His chocolate milkshake was thick and ice cold, rich but not overpowering. It was the perfect chaser to his greasy dinner, and Jaune hummed in delight as he sucked on his straw. The pie was velvety smooth, the lemon tarty but sweet, and it melted in his mouth, the crust buttery. As he finished it off, Jaune set his spoon down and decided – he would be back tomorrow night. He might not have been a fussy eater but good food was a treasure, and this food was excellent.
"Enjoy that?"
It was the older woman, the one with the wings. She was wiping down the counter and began collecting his dishes.
"It was very good," he said seriously. "Best meal I've had in awhile."
She looked pleased. "My son will be happy to hear that."
The nametag on her chest read 'Melody'.
Melody bustled around behind the counter as he nursed the remnants of his milkshake.
"It isn't often we get human customers this time of day," she commented idly. "You new to town?"
Jaune nodded. "Yeah – just arrived today."
Her eyes dropped to his sword, belted at his hip. "Huntsman?"
"Looking to be," he grinned. "I start at Beacon in a couple of days."
He supposed there was no better time to ask, seeing as they were already talking and she had brought it up. Jaune just hoped that he didn't offend her.
"I noticed that most of the people around here are faunus," he waited until she met his eyes before continuing, "I wasn't sure at first but is this some type of faunus only community here? People were looking at me funny and I don't want to intrude."
Melody peered at him silent for a moment before smiling. "Don't worry, you aren't intruding, love. They just aren't used to seeing humans hanging around here any longer than they have to. Like I said, some come here for work but yes, I suppose you could call this area a faunus community. After the Great War, many faunus settled here in Vale but when the Faunus Rights Revolution began, I'm sure you can imagine that many didn't wish for us to remain."
Jaune nodded.
"So the faunus here in Vale decided to stick together and segregated themselves from the rest of the city. Afterwards, I guess most of us just decided to stay here. It isn't like the kingdom is forcing us to live here and nowhere else, and some faunus even own stores in the central commercial district. They are much more tolerant here in Vale than places like Mistral or Atlas, we aren't refused service in stores, even before the Revolution, and we can go where we want but there is always comfort found with your own people. Outsiders always misunderstand - other faunus, I mean, ones that come here from Menagerie or Anima, thinking that we are kept here against our will. It couldn't be further from the truth."
Jaune knew about the frictions between faunus and humans, of course, but he was not a scholar on the subject. The faunus in his village weren't treated any differently than anyone else, so he had grown up believing they were simply people. Because they were. Sure, they had animal traits but what did that matter? He always thought that was pretty cool, if he was being honest. Their ability to see in the dark was also really neat and had helped many of the hunters in their village track down prey during the night, when many animals rested. It was nice to know he wasn't being a nuisance by being here. That had been his main worry, especially with all the odd looks he had been receiving.
"I see," he said, because what else could he say? "That is a relief. I thought maybe I was breaking some rule by hanging around here but they let me rent a room, so that had to count for something."
"Heavens no," Melody waved his concern away with a laugh. "You probably just startled them, is all. They shouldn't be staring, though – that is awfully rude."
It must have been bothering him more than he realized, as he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders.
"Well, that is good. I'm glad."
"Don't let it bother you. I guarantee that most of them were probably just surprised. There will be some jerks around, no doubt – humans aren't the only ones that can be intolerant of those they don't understand," for a moment, her expression darkened. Before he could ask, she continued, "But they aren't the majority. You are more than welcome here – uh, I never got your name?"
"Oh," he exclaimed, a little embarrassed. "Jaune. Jaune Arc, ma'am."
She tapped her badge. "Melody – though I'm sure you already noticed," she then offered her hand. "Pleased to officially meet you, Jaune."
He shook her hand, her grip firm.
"Welcome to Vale," she added.
"Thanks," he replied. "Glad to be here."
And he was.
New story~!
This one is taking the place of The Temptation and will be updated weekly at around this time. This is an AU of Volume 1-3 and will contain harem, though it will be a slow burn. I'll be covering the storylines of the canon material with my own twists as well as brand new storylines, and this story should be around the length of Temptation or even longer, depending.
I hope you enjoy it.
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