Jaune the Imperishable or how Settra got his Golden Body (RWBY/Warhammer Fantasy) ch.16

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Evening came quickly. Jaune's mind had moved to other things. Before, he would have lazed back, watching videos in Scrolltube, idling away until sleep found him. But now, such activities could not be pursued with the same vigour. He was a Team Leader now, responsible for three exceptional girls who could quite literally kick him into next week without breaking a sweat. Expectations loomed over him like storm clouds, and this was his chance to prove that his heart was steeled and his blood ran with fire.

All thanks to the incessant voice rattling around in his head.

The Great King had all but demanded they begin training. Settra had spoken much about raising him up to his standards which was something Jaune was sure he could never reach considering whose standards they were. Now, it was time to begin. But just as he was about to leave, Weiss cleared her throat. Ruby glanced up from her comics, curiosity flickering in her eyes, while Pyrrha paused mid-polish with her weapons. Weiss stepped forward with an air of purpose.

"I have prepared an itinerary for tonight," she announced crisply.

"An itinerary?" Pyrrha asked, blinking in mild surprise.

Weiss beamed, retrieving her scroll and tapped it. Moments later, their own scrolls buzzed with incoming notifications.

"I've compiled a profile on every single member of our batch," Weiss explained, a hint of pride coloring her tone. "Strengths, weaknesses, potential allies, individuals to keep at arm's length. It's all there."

"Whoa," Ruby breathed, setting her comics aside. Pyrrha, intrigued, reached for her scroll and began scrolling through the document. It was expansive, filled with headings, subheadings, and meticulous detail. The kind of analysis you'd expect to find in a corporate boardroom or a military strategy briefing. 

"For all her unearned arrogance, this girl is proactive," Settra remarked in Jaune's mind, his tone begrudgingly approving. "That is a trait we shall hammer into you, boy."

Jaune ignored the Great King's relentless commentary, focusing instead on the document. "You did all this in one afternoon?" he asked, astonished. The level of detail was staggering to a worrying degree. 

"Compared to the cadets in Atlas, the students here are simple," Weiss said, hands on her hips, "Take Team CRDL, for example. I've reviewed their initiation performance. They rely entirely on brute force. There is no coordination, no strategy. Take out their leader, and the other three crumble like a house of cards. They're ripe for the slau-"

Weiss stopped abruptly, catching herself.

"Ripe for...?" Pyrrha prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"Murder?" Ruby supplied helpfully, flipping through the scroll.

"Ye-I mean, no! No, Ruby! We're not murdering anyone!" Weiss stammered, flustered.

"Aww..." Ruby pouted.

Weiss sighed, clicking her tongue. "Okay, maybe a little murder..."

"Yay!" Ruby cheered, her grin wide.

"We're not murdering anyone!" Jaune cut in, exasperated. "This isn't some dystopian survival game! We're going to be friendly with the others, got it?"

Weiss crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Oh, friendly, is it? Very well. Let's exchange roses and bread with our comrades. Let's sing songs of unity beneath the banner of the Color Revolution, ushering in an era of brotherhood and understanding across all nations."

"That's beautiful," Pyrrha said, her voice soft with wonder as she imagined the idyllic vision.

"I was being sarcastic," Weiss growled, massaging her temples. She leveled Jaune with an unimpressed glare. "Did you not notice that no one approached us earlier?"

Jaune blinked. "Was I supposed to?"

Weiss let out a long sigh. Dear Sister Winter, give her the strength to be patient with this idiot. "People kept a distance around us. They deliberately stayed out of our way." 

In one hand, that was something Weiss appreciated since she was irritated earlier. On another hand...

"What does that even mean?" Jaune asked, his confusion growing. "We didn't commit a crime or anything, did we?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Don't be ridiculous. We're not criminals." She gestured dramatically with her hands, as if trying to draw the answer in the air. "The reason people are keeping their distance is because of our performance during initiation."

Jaune blinked. "What about it?"

Weiss exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Because it was impressive, Jaune. Utterly, undeniably, and overwhelmingly impressive. Don't tell me you didn't notice the way they were looking at us afterward like we were some kind of untouchable, elite squad. You could practically see the awe and fear in their eyes."

Ruby tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Wait, so...they're scared of us because we're too good?"

"Exactly," Weiss confirmed. That was mostly Jaune's fault, Weiss felt. If he hadn't convinced the others to be idiots...

"But...what?!" Jaune sputtered, throwing his hands in the air. "How does that even make sense? We didn't do anything crazy! We just...we just..." He stopped, recalling the videos of them purifying the forest. "Ah..." he understood. 

"Exactly," Weiss thanked the Gods. "We dominated initiation. Competence is well and good, and it is something to be expected in a exam of all things. But being too competent gives us a....certain image." 

You mean people think we're arrogant?" Pyrrha repeated, her brow furrowing.

"Not exactly," Weiss clarified. "It's more complicated than that. They're unsure what to think of us. On one hand, we're clearly skilled. But on the other hand, that level of skill makes us...intimidating. Unapproachable, even."

She snorted. "I do not mind the image. After all, it suits me. It is natural to me. Like ice and fire." 

"Or me and cookies," Ruby giggled. 

"Y..yeah, you and cookies, we will go with that," Weiss said bluntly. "I have seen high risers in Atlas get pulled down by their peers by being too good. Fact is, we will have to ourselves outside forces who cannot comprehend us. If they will not love us, they will fear us." 

Jaune grimaced at Weiss's explanation, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. Discomfort at the certainty of Weiss's words, and the unspoken story of what sort of society Atlas was like. In his defense, that was not his fault. It was the damned voice inside of his head. 

Settra scoffed. "It is the nature of power to inspire awe and unease in equal measure. I wielded both in Nehekhara. The lesson in rulership is to balance both. Too much of fear, your subjects will hate you. Too much love, your subjects will think you soft." 

​This is your fault, Jaune whispered bitterly. Now we look like douchebags. 

"Tch, would you rather have me relegate you to mediocrity?" Settra retorted. "I am Settra the Imperishable, not Settra the Mundane." 

​"What can we do then?" Jaune asked, not wanting to entertain Settra's charming and wonderful personality. 

Weiss beamed, her eyes glittering with a schemer's delight. "We have two options. Either we double down and solidify our position as the best of the best, or we slow down and allow the other teams to shine on their own. Both paths have their merits and their consequences."

"Double what?" Ruby blinked. All she could understand was that they were cool. But they were too cool. One one hand, that didn't make any sense. But on the other, it did make a lot of sense. Yang? She was cool. So cool that Ruby did not want to be seen with her at Signal. She was with kids who were just as flashy as her. Pyrrha on the other hand felt a flash of familiar anxiety build in her stomach. She was already the Invincible Girl and now this?

"Let me explain," Weiss said, taking a deep breath. She raised a finger to emphasize her point. "If we double down, we will cement our reputation as the most elite team in this academy. They will look to us as leaders, as examples to aspire to or, more likely, as rivals to resent."

"That doesn't sound great," Jaune muttered, crossing his arms.

"That depends on your perspective," Weiss countered. "Being seen as untouchable has its advantages. We'd command respect. But at the same time…" Her expression softened slightly, almost reluctantly. "It would isolate us even further. People don't like being reminded of their own shortcomings, Jaune. And if we keep shining too brightly, they'll stop seeing us as people and start seeing us as something…other."

Her tone grew colder, like the land of her birth. "And if that happens, the isolation will only grow. We'll be feared, but we'll be alone. No allies. No trust. Just us against the world."

Jaune shifted uncomfortably, the thought of being so cut off leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "And the other option?" he asked hesitantly.

Weiss nodded, raising a second finger. "The alternative is to slow down. Hold back. Allow the other teams to have their victories, their moments in the spotlight. Let them build themselves up without feeling overshadowed by us. If we do that, we'll come across as more approachable, more… human. It would give people the chance to see us as equals rather than as insurmountable rivals."

Ruby tilted her head. "So, we just…pretend not to be awesome?"

Weiss shook her head. "It's not about pretending, Ruby. It's about giving others the space to grow. If we're always the best, no one else will feel like they have a chance. But if we let them shine a little, they'll feel more confident and more willing to approach us as friends instead of competitors."

Pyrrha nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. Giving others the chance to prove themselves could help build trust and camaraderie among the teams."

"Exactly," Weiss agreed, though her expression darkened slightly. "But slowing down has its own risks. We could be accused of giving them pity, for example. People are prideful. The last thing they want is to be pitied."

An uncomfortable look was shared between Ruby and Pyrrha, both not liking their options. Jaune too was uncomfortable. He did not like this, being made to choose two extreme options. Settra however...

​"She is an arrogant child," Settra hummed. "But she shows a promising mind." 

​It is what people from Atlas are like. They're known for facts and logic, Jaune sighed. Weiss is an heiress so her training is...you know, you get the picture.

"Ruthless!" Settra cackled. "Her father surely must be a great man."

Probably. Jaune shrugged. He thought about the choices, and how trapped he felt with that. No, he was not going to be forced to the extremes. This was Settra's lesson, wasn't it? Balance? 

"Why not both?" Jaune suggested. The words hung in the air as all three of his teammates turned to look at him, expressions ranging from intrigued to skeptical.

"Both?" Weiss repeated, her tone sharp. "That's not how this works, Jaune. You can't have it both ways. The paths are fundamentally different."

"Not really," Jaune argued, scratching the back of his head. "I mean, it doesn't have to be one or the other, right? We can still be strong and competent without making people feel like they'll never catch up. We don't have to hold back completely, but we also don't have to crush everybody every chance we get."

Weiss blinked, caught off guard. "And how exactly do you propose we do that?"

Jaune hesitated, feeling the weight of their gazes. His mind raced, trying to put the idea into words. "Well…we focus on teamwork. Not just within our team, but with the others too. Like…if there's a mission or training exercise, we don't just focus on being the best. We help others shine when we can. Show them that we're, you know, approachable. That we're not just some untouchable team of gods or whatever."

Ruby perked up at that. "Ooh, like a team of cool mentors! Like those heroes in the comics that help out the rookies!"

"Exactly!" Jaune said, latching onto Ruby's enthusiasm. "People don't hate strong leaders who lift others up. They hate leaders who act like they're better than everyone else. If we can show that we're willing to work with them, not just against them, they won't see us as threats. They'll see us as allies."

Pyrrha smiled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing. "That's…actually a good idea. Helping others grow while still showing our own strength could create a sense of unity rather than division."

Weiss, however, was less convinced. She crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "And what happens when we help others succeed, only for them to turn around and use that success to surpass us? How do we ensure they don't mistake our kindness for weakness?"

Jaune shrugged. "It's not about making sure we stay on top, Weiss. It's about making sure we're not alone when we get there. What's the point of being the best if no one's standing with you?"

Weiss opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. For a moment, she simply stared at Jaune, her expression unreadable. Ruby grinned, liking his idea. Fifteen and a mentor. Dad would be proud. Mom would be proud. Pyrrha enjoyed the idea as well. She wouldn't be an idol, no, she would be an equal. Finally, Weiss spoke. 

"That is the most idealistic and naïve thing I have ever heard," Weiss dropped bluntly. "If you said this in Atlas, you would be laughed out of the room." 

She imagined suggesting such a thing to her father. She inwardly winced at the image that formed in her head. In her father's world, ideals had no currency. 

​Ruby gasped. "Weiss!" 

Pyrrha's smile was wiped from her face. 

​Weiss saw the shock on their faces. A part of her sneered at that. They already knew who she was, were they really surprised at such a-

A shadow loomed over her. 

It was Jaune. 

It was there, Weiss was reminded that, their aura aside, Jaune was tall. He may be a lanky unassuming blonde. But he was tall. And when he really wanted to, he could stare into someone's eyes with a piercing deepness. Her breath hitched as his morphed. Weiss braced, expecting contempt and shock. After all, she had chided his idea. But instead of contempt or irritation, it was...softness?

[SPOILER="The Shire"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y_BE5yxQjw&list=RD6Y_BE5yxQjw&start_radio=1[/SPOILER]

"You aren't in Atlas," Jaune reminded her. "You are in Beacon, in Vale. There's competition, yeah, but it's not like, intense to the point of putting each other down." 

Ruby's shock vanished as she began to smile again. Pyrrha brightened as Weiss peered deep into Jaune. 

"There isn't a race here. I...think. Here in Beacon, you don't have to keep your guard up. Not here, around us. And with others too, I feel. Strangers are just people you haven't made friends yet, or that's what my mom says," Jaune laughed, memories of home in his mind. He shook himself of it. 

He gestured lightly to Ruby and Pyrrha, who both nodded in agreement. 

"Look at them," Jaune said, his voice gaining a hint of conviction. "Ruby's already on board with the idea, and Pyrrha? She's…well, she's Pyrrha. The Invincible Girl. And even she's tired of being put on a pedestal. We don't have to be untouchable, Weiss. We can be people. And people here? They'll respect us for that. Maybe even like us for it."

Ruby beamed at Jaune's words, her silver eyes sparkling with admiration. "Yeah! What he said! We're all just kids trying to figure this whole Huntsman thing out, right? So why not help each other out along the way? No one's saying we can't still be awesome while we're doing it!"

Pyrrha smiled again, her earlier anxiety fading. "Jaune's right. There's nothing wrong with being strong, but there's also strength in showing kindness. Isn't that what being a Huntsman is about? Protecting people? Lifting them up?"

Weiss looked between them, her mind racing. A part of her wanted to argue, to dismiss their words as the foolishness of children who didn't understand how the world worked. But another part of her, a quieter and more vulnerable part, whispered that maybe they were right. 

Jaune's voice brought her focus back to him. "Weiss," he said gently, "I get it. I really do. You've got this whole Atlas mindset, and honestly? That's not a bad thing. Your planning, your discipline, your focus, they're all things we need. But here, in Vale, we can afford to do things a little differently. We can choose to be better not just stronger, but better."

He took a step back, giving her space, but his gaze never wavered. "I'm not saying it's going to be easy. I know there's risk involved. But let's at least try, okay? What's the worst that happens? We fail? We learn from it and get back up again. That's what Beacon's for, isn't it?"

Weiss stared at him, her arms tightening around herself as she processed his words. The words were not unfamiliar to her, to the contrary. No, they were very, very familiar. In her youth, when the days were younger, and life was simpler, he made her believe. Warmth, protection, inspiration. She was far too little to remember his exact words but Winter knew. Winter asked him why he worked so hard. And he answered with a smile.

To bring to them a better world than the one they had last. 

Her mind brought her to the present, to Jaune, innocent and believing. Hopeful, idealistic, Jaune. Fire flashed inside her stomach, in her heart. The feeling was unfamiliar to her. She hated it. She hated how it stirred her. She hated how his calm, understanding tone was chipping away at the walls she'd built around herself. And, most of all, she hated how much she wanted to believe him.

Finally, she let out a long sigh, closing her eyes as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine," she said, her voice quieter than usual but lacking its usual sharpness. "We'll try it your way. But if this backfires, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so.' Repeatedly."

Jaune grinned, relief washing over him. "Deal."

Ruby cheered, throwing her arms in the air. "Woohoo! Team JPRW is going to be the most friendliest team ever! Never kill yourself!!!!" 

Weiss flushed immediately. "No one is killing themselves, you over-excited pigeon!" 

She huffed. But even despite the huff, Weiss allowed a small smile to slip through her façade. Pyrrha chuckled softly, her eyes warm with approval.. 

Deep inside the recesses of Jaune's mind, Settra watched. 

And scoffed. 

This was the hope of a fool. An unlearned dreamer and poet who had never faced true suffering. This was a boy who was not yet a man, yet speaking with ideas he had no authority to spread. 

And yet...even as he dismissed the boy's words, there was a lingering unease within Settra. He could not ignore the boy's hope....for was he not the same too? For a fleeting moment, an image flickered in Settra's mind: a younger version of himself, not yet a king but a prince of Khemri. How he saw the Gods were ignored, their temples ruined and desecrated. His people suffering from famine and disease. Their great homeland, torn apart by the craven and the greedy whose corruption outpaced their people's wellbeing.  

Settra focused on Jaune. The boy was no true Prince of Nehekhara. He simply could not even qualify the most basic requirements. He was clumsy, uncertain, and far too kindhearted for his own good. But he saw above such things. He saw the value and need of hope and ideals. Jaune Arc was a fool. But maybe the world could use a little foolishness. 

Settra? Jaune suddenly whispered into his mind.

"What?" Settra snapped. 

You got quiet there for a second. I got worried. 

Settra scoffed. "I was merely contemplating you, Jaune of Arc." 

Oh yeah? What, you gonna call me an idiot? Jaune challenged. 

Settra paused, considering that. Then, he shook his head. "Bless your fortune that Settra shan't, for now." 

Wow. Miracles do happen. Jaune snarked. 

"Use such a tone on me and I shall have you whipped a thousand times for your insolence," Settra growled. "Enough of this idleness. You are to train with with the Knight Gawain. Go now, or the whipping you shall receive from the King of Kings will be tantalizing!"

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A/N: Hopecore. 

I needed to write this down because I was crying, kings.

Taiga's results came. He has FIV.